Small churches don’t mean small impact. In fact, some of the most amazing Christian leaders of our time came from small churches. The Sunday School teachers and church leaders in their lives may never have their names known on this side of heaven. When we serve with that kind of mentality, it can empower us to view even the smallest of programs with a kingdom perspective. Below are some big ideas to match a big calling to serve children, even in a small church.
Maximize the Budget
In the simplest of terms, there is human math, and then there is “God math.” When we work towards being faithful with the things the Lord has entrusted to us, let’s not underestimate the “God math” side of the equation. He can help our budgets stretch much further than we think when we are obedient to what He is calling us to do. There are some very practical ways to do this. A great place to start is with people in the church. Many times there are senior saints who have a heart to serve but no longer can for some reason. It can bring them so much joy to contribute popsicles, juice boxes, or whatever the current need is. The key is communicating this to them. A small line in the bulletin expressing prayer requests and supply needs can be a simple tool that can have a large impact. The result? Bringing in support with materials and prayer, both of which we always need.
In addition to the senior saints within the church, there is often an untapped resource with the other families in the church. Parents, elders, and other leaders often have full-time jobs at various companies around town. Asking for sponsorship of an event through supplies, food, and even discounts can allow them to get involved when they otherwise might not be able to. The goal is for the entire body of Christ to feel a community calling to helping raise up the children in your church. Helping them find ways to connect can go much further than donations, it can help communicate this need that often goes unseen.
Smaller churches many times are also in smaller towns. Regardless of town size, it can be a great benefit to our programs if we seek to get local businesses involved. Hosting a movie night? Ask the local movie theater to provide the popcorn. Early morning prayer at the school? Maybe a local coffee shop can donate coffee. Getting creative with in-kind donations can help extend your budget in a way that also brings community connections.
National businesses often have reserved funds specifically to use for children’s programs. Large companies that have a local presence are often looking for ways to get involved in the community. Presenting options to them can be a really effective way to serve both your needs and theirs.
An often overseen concept when trying to stretch the budget is being generous ourselves. Extra school supplies in August? Call the local women’s shelter. Leftover pizza? Find the homeless in your community. We can be good stewards of what God gives us, even if it’s not much.
Maximize Community Partnerships
Churches are often left out of the community organizations that are making decisions that affect our children. Working together with these organizations can help you to have a voice in some of those decisions. Most communities have a System of Care network that brings together various leaders from the community. Examples of these leaders are school district administrators, health and human services directors, and medical professionals. Churches and faith leaders should have a seat at that table. Working to develop relationships with these types of organizations can help your church to have a posture of readiness within your community so that when hard conversations come up, you do have a seat at the table. These relationships can prove to be so valuable in your community.
Another great way to establish some community partnerships is by serving your local helpers like police and firefighters. Sending some pizza with a note from the kids can show how much they are appreciated and help build your reputation within the community.
Maximize Props
Many of us understand the old mantra of reuse and recycle. This goes for props too. Donated paint and cardboard can be reused over and over. Local thrift shops can be treasure troves. Parent’s attics can sometimes hold the best sermon illustrations. Don’t be shy about asking for help or borrowing items. This can often be a great way to allow your church family to get involved in your ministry.
Maximize Exposure
Community events can mean two things: free advertising and an opportunity to engage with the community. Throughout the year we have the opportunity to engage with things like car shows, outdoor concerts, and 5k’s. Why not take advantage of those days to set up a table offering free water, a bounce house, or even hot dogs? These kinds of small-cost items can have a huge impact on the visibility of your church as you become known as a place that truly cares about its community.
Maximize Impact
The goal of making a difference in our community rises and falls with not just our current impact but our eternal impact. Regardless of all the other areas we work hard in to make our presence known, the most important thing is helping our communities to know Jesus. Our goal, regardless of program size, is to know Jesus and to make Him known. We can accomplish this by teaching the children in our programs how to evangelize and share their faith. How? Start by modeling it. Every time you are in the community, don’t just share water bottles with the church name; share the reason you are even there. Our ability to share our faith with strangers becomes a valuable tool to help children replicate that behavior. Once children have seen you model that behavior, allow them time to practice with each other. As they become more comfortable, help them to practice within their community. When kids start sharing Jesus, that’s the largest impact your program can ever have.
Rachael Groll helps maximize the impact of small children’s churches in her small rural town in PA. You can keep up with her at her website http://shehears.org/ where she shares free resources to help point people to Jesus.
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