Missions
THE GOLDEN RULE OF PEACE
THE GOLDEN RULE "RULER"
Create a fun and memorable "Golden Ruler" bag to teach your children
The Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you)
Bags include a ruler, bookmark, backpack tag, a sheet of "Situation Cards" to encourage family discussion, a candy bar (hide a golden ticket inside some of the candy bars for a chance to win misc. school supplies), and anything else that you would like to include.
The Golden Rule for Peace
Porch Drops, Drive-By Pick-Ups, Hand-Out's
or Back to School
PURCHASE A RULER FOR EACH BAG. USING A SHARPIE, WRITE "THE GOLDEN RULER" ON THE BACKSIDE. 'IF YOU CAN FIND WOODEN RULERS, THEY WOULD WORK BEST.
Create "Situation Cards" to go inside each bag.
Situation Cards will encourage family discussion and devotion time.
There is a sample card below along with a link to an editable version of the card.
The font used to create the Situation card is
"Princess Sophia" and can be downloaded free at 1001freefonts.com
PRINT OUT THE BLANK CARD BELOW, CREATE DIFFERENT SITUATION CARDS AND INCLUDE SEVERAL IN EACH CHILD'S BAG.
BOOKMARKS
GOLDEN TICKET TO SLIP INSIDE OF A CANDY BAR WRAPPER - GIVE AWAY PRIZES TO LUCKY TICKET WINNERS
BACKPACK TAG
Golden Pencils
If you would like to purchase golden (personalized) pencils that read "The Golden Rule, you can find them at oriental trading for $9.99/24 Count
BON VOYAGE CORONA
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:23
NOTE: This event can be re-named and used any time of the year. Bon-Voyage Winter, Bon-Voyage School, etc.
Encourage your families to throw a Bon Voyage party that will send the Coronavirus packing!
Families will use items that they already have around their home...or make their own.
Encourage families to decorate, decorate, decorate by using:
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Leftover party decorations...from ANY or ALL holidays, parties, etc.
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Cut up scraps of paper to create confetti
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Create "Goodbye Coronavirus" posters, yard signs, banners. sidewalk chalk farewell's etc.
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Hang streamers
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Hang balloons on their mailboxes
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Display their banners, posters, yard art in their windows, on their front lawns, etc to encourage their neighbors.
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Bake a cake...or any other party favorites!
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Dress in summer outfits...sunglasses, shorts, sun hats, etc and party! party! party!
Games
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Cruise on outa' here: Families will make their own paper boats (sample template below) and award prizes for different categories. (If you prefer to make a paper airplane and have a competition...that is fine too.)
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Protect yourself: Families will draw names; amongst their family members and wrap gifts for each other. Gifts can be hand sanitizer, soap, hand wipes, homemade funny mask, etc...anything that will protect them while sending off the virus.
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Take a hike: If families are allowed to go outdoors, encourage them to take a walk around their neighborhoods. They may carry their posters, banners...even their balloons if they choose...to spread a little cheer amongst their neighbors!
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Encourage families to spend time in God's Word...and to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for the virus to "take a hike"!
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Quick Pick: Arrange items about the floor and have family members pack a suitcase or travel bag as fast as they can. Set a timer and have prizes for whoever can pack the bag fastest.
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Where is it? Name a place in the Bible and have a competition to see who can find it (in the Bible) first. You may have to team up if you have small children.
Devotional and Prayer time...Pray, pray, pray!
Matthew 14:22-33 as a family.
Use the download below to get you started.
Peter Walks on Water
Put Your Trust in Jesus
Faith
Additional Activities
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Use this family time to discuss upcoming vacation plans...or dream vacations.
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Plan a special outing for "post" virus days...when things are safe. A picnic, a hike, a day trip, etc. Or, allow each person to select a family "day" trip outing and spread the celebration out over several weeks.
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Have each family member select a place that they would like to visit one day...encourage them to research that location during their free time and then gather together for another fun night of learning about each person's "dream location."
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Search for churches in selected "dream" locations and become "pen" pals with them (e-mails, text, etc). Learn even more about each selected location...how is the virus affecting their area, how is it affecting them etc. Pray for them.
JUST
POPPED IN
(Drop and Go Challenge)
Just Popped In
Looking for a new way to connect with your families?
Try a "Just Popped In" popcorn challenge coupled with a "Friday Night at the Movies" family night.
Two great activities all rolled into one BIG, FUN, EXCITING, FAMILY FRIENDLY CHALLENGE!
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Drop off bags of popcorn...regular popping corn or microwaveable bags will work...just make sure to leave plenty for each family,
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Challenge families to create their own "special" popcorn and host their own "Friday night at the movies" event....complete with sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, pj's, a family-friendly movie...and their very own popcorn creations.
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Challenge families to take and 3 pics from their fun evening and text them to you. Or, create a special Facebook post promoting your event and ask parents to submit their pic in the comment section.
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One of the pictures must be a photo of their popcorn, they must include a list of the ingredients used and a name that they have chosen for their popcorn creation. One photo must be a family photo, and one photo of their own choosing.
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Grand Prize - Theater tickets for the entire family (support local theaters), a new "Family-friendly" DVD, a movie night gift basket...or whatever you choose.
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Encourage families to take an intermission time (if they can pause their movie) and do a quick devotion. The Parable of the Popcorn (based on the Parable of the Sower) is attached. You may use it, create your own, or have a parent's choice.
Flyer - Front
Flyer - Back
Download and Add Your Own Details
Intermission Devotional
Fun Printable Tickets
Print one for each member of the Family and place in their drop-off packets!
Snack Tickets that can be added to your "drop off" packets. (Optional)
I always pass these out to each child when they arrive and another one at intermission time to regulate how much junk food they are having. Parents may or may not want to use them.
I always make several unique popcorns for our "Friday Night at the Movies" events. Each popcorn is based on the movie. Below are a few of my fun creations!
POPCORN is so FUN!!!
STUFF A PUMPKIN
FOR THE
HOMELESS
Remember the Homeless in your community!
A great teaching moment on loving and caring for each other.
Fill your leftover plastic pumpkin buckets with hygiene items, a warm pair of socks, and a tract for the homeless in your community.
You can hit the streets with your buckets, drop them off at homeless shelters or leave them with an organization that ministers to the homeless.
As a Thanksgiving alternative, the buckets can be filled with a turkey sandwich, a piece of pumpkin pie a warm pair of socks, and a tract. Hit the streets to spread hope this Thanksgiving!
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CHRISTMAS
IN JULY
Now that Christmas is over, are you wondering what to do with all of those old Christmas cards? Save them for a Christmas in July mission project with the children. Each Sunday (July), hand out a donated Christmas card to each of your children. The children are to take the card home, place it in an area where they are sure to see it and pray for the person (and their family) whose signature is on the card. Set up a box, bin, tub, whatever you choose and ask your church members to bring their cards and drop them into the bin. Start collecting now! Make sure to ask for the entire card...some will tear off the front and drop them into the box. If this happens, pass them out anyways. The children can pray for the unknown person who sent the card...God knows who they are!
GERM
BUSTERS#2
Intro
Draw a Germ
Chore Chart
Newsletter and Scripture Chart
Slime
Word Search
Scripture Cookies (Family or Kid Time)
Tic-Tac Toe
Board Game
Germ (Lava) Jar
Germ Scavenger Hunt in a Bottle
Stomp a Germ - Hop Scotch
Create a Germ Buddy
Bitmoji's
Germ Busters
Families stuck at home with nothing to do?
Looking for creative ways to engage your children while waiting out the Coronavirus?
Need something that will engage parents AND keep the children entertained?
Try some of the Germ Buster activities below.
A PERFECT TEACHING OPPORTUNITY!
What if we shared Christ...with just one person...and then they shared Christ with one more person...and so on. Would the good news of Christ travel as quickly as the Coronavirus has?
Use outbreak maps to show how fast the virus has spread in such a short period of time.
Share with your children how the virus began with just one person and how quickly it spread...how fast it traveled around the world.
Explain that when we share the good news of Jesus...with just one person...and then they share the news one more person...etc. etc. the Word of God can travel around the world just as quickly as the virus...but with a much better outcome.
DRAW A GERM
Dice Game
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Download the templates above.
You will need one "Germ" pic per person and one or two
"Dice" pics (pic can be shared).
You will need 1 die (or one per person if you are being cautious of germs) and one pencil per person.
Players take turns rolling the die and drawing the appropriate monster parts onto their monsters.
If a player rolls the same number twice, they can draw more than one of each item on...after all, they are germs...what's wrong with two noses?
The first person to complete their germs wins!
Do not practice "Social Distancing" with God...It is time to draw near!
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,
you double-minded. James 4:8
CHORE CHART
Download the above template, add your Bible scripture reference(s), memory verse(s) and "Germ Buster" activity for the week. (Or post the chore chart on Facebook and allow each parent to download the chart.). Parent's will add their own "Germ Buster" chores.
At the end of the week, the child will return their completed chart or take a quick pic and send to you.
Download and Customize Your Own Newsletter or Bible Scripture Page
Slime Activity
Create Oooey, Gooey, Germ Slime!
Once the children are finished playing with their slime, they can scrub,
scrub, scrub to get their hands clean!
Word Search
Busy Game Time or Fun Family Competition
Who can find all the Words first?
Want to create your own FREE word search puzzles?
Log onto https://thewordsearch.com/maker/
Scripture Cookies
Grab your Bible, Fill in the Blanks, Mix, Bake and Eat!
This activity is perfect for "Family Time" or a "Busy Kid" activity
Tic-Tac-Toe
Family Game Time
BOARD GAME
Download and Print Game Board and Game Pieces
Trim and tape the two pieces together
Grab 1 Die, your mom, dad or a sibling and get ready for some Germ Competition!
GERM JAR
Hours and hours of germ blob fun!
FIND A GERM
SCAVENGER HUNT
CAN YOU FIND ALL THE HIDDEN GERMS?
STOMP A GERM
Hop Scotch
Indoors or Outdoors
CREATE A GERM BUDDY
Bitmoji's
Looking for a fun way to keep in touch with your kids?
Looking for some cute clip art for your take-home bag materials?
Looking for something to post on your Facebook page?
Download a Bitmoji App (FREE)
Just download APP, Design the Bitmoji to resemble yourself, start texting, emailing, etc. instantly.
Want to use it on your take-home materials? Just download it to your computer (or email/text it to yourself). Quick, FREE, Easy!
GERM BUSTERS #1
Germ Busters
(Serving the Church)
We Ain't Fraid Of No Germs!
Want a quick and easy service project for your children?
Try a "Germ Busters" event!
Each year...when the germs are at their height, we spend the morning "busting germs" in our Worship Center.
We clean every single seat in the Worship Center...and it SMELLS AMAZING when everyone comes in for Worship time.
A few containers of Disinfectant wipes (scented if possible) ana few small trash bags (Wal-Mart bags work great) and your team is ready to tackle even the nastiest of germs.
We "bust germs" during our Sunday School (approx 30 minutes) hour.
We bust germs for 30 minutes and then have a shorter class time (30 minutes).
I lead the children to the Worship center and explain what the project is.
We wipe down the armrests and the backs of the seats (the area where you place your hands
while standing to sing.)
Each child is assigned an entire row of seats. They clean the armrests and backs....changing our wipes for each seat.
Leaders stand in the isles and collect used wipes (trash bags).
I received a large donation of wipes so each child had their own container. If you do not have wipes for each child then have leaders stand in the isles and collect used wipes as well as pass out new ones.
As part of the project, you could consider asking each child to bring a container of wipes or ask the congregation for donations.
One year, I found little germ clings at Target and stuck them around on the seats...if a child found a cling, they removed it, wiped under it and kept the germ clings. I did not put these on the arms or the backs where most germs would be...but rather under the seats.
NEVER FORGET
The Never Forget Project
Veterans and Active Military
Needing a mission project for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, National Military Appreciation Month, etc?
Host a "Never Forget Project" for your children as well as every member of your church.
It's easy
1. Purchase several packages of plastic army men
2. Purchase cans of Red, White and Blue Spray Paint (OPTIONAL) You do not have to paint your army men if you choose not to.
3. Divide your army men into three groups (OPTIONAL)
4. Paint one group red, one group white and one group blue. Let dry completely, turn over and paint the backs. Let dry! (OPTIONAL)
5. During the "time of remembrance at your church, allow the children to pass out one army man to each person.
6. Instruct members to place their army men in an area where they will notice them often. Each time they see their army men, they are to pray for our veterans, their families and our active military members.
Alternative: Place the army men in a basket with a sign attached (download sample below).
Place the basket in an area where members will notice and pick up an army man on their way out of the worship center.
EYE GLASSES
Eyeglass Mission
Lions Club Project
Recycle Old Eyeglasses (even broken ones)
Partner with the Lions Club to give new life to your old prescription glasses.
Give the gift of sight to millions living in low and middle-income countries who lack access to basic eye care services.
Simply set up a collection drive in your children's center and collect old, used, unwanted...and even broken glasses.
Drop them off at your local Lion's Club to give the gift of sight to those in need.
The lions club will clean, repair and deliver your glasses to men. women and children around the world. Bringing sight to those who have no access to the things we take for granted.
POP TARTS
AND PAJAMAS
Pop-Tarts and Pajama's
Food Pantry Mission Event
Make any day special by hosting a Pop-Tarts and Pajama's Event.
Children will arrive in their pajamas and enjoy pop-tarts and milk.
Encourage each child, family or church members to bring a box (or two) of pop-tarts for the church food pantry
to help those in need.
Consider hosting your event on Daylight Saving Day so that kids can simply roll out of bed and be at church on time.
See the Pop-Tarts and Pajama's event under the "events" tab for more ideas.
sALVATION aRMY rED kETTLE bELL rINGING
Ring-Ring-Ring...Ring-Ring-A-Ling
That's the sound of Red Kettle Bell Ringers!
This mission event is one of my absolute favorites. If you do only one mission event this year...make sure that this is the one.
We sign up for an entire day of bell ringing however, I schedule 2-4 children per each one-hour time slot.
1 hour is plenty of time for the younger children. You could stretch the time slot to 2 hours for the older children.
The children LOVE this event.
Hint: Take thermoses of hot chocolate for the kiddo's...it can get chilly in our area.
DO YOU WANNA BUILD A SNOWMAN?
Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?
(Family Fun Day - Community Outreach)
Family Fun Day
Open to Everyone
Facebook Competition
A "Do you Wanna Build a Snowman" event is an easy and fun way to encourage family time.
1. Create a flyer (sample at the bottom of this page...download, and edit if you choose)
2. Pass out your flyers to each child
3. Promote your event on the big screen, Facebook, Instagram...however you communicate with your families.
4. Purchase prizes for the winner.
5. Any time that snow is in the forecast, re-post or re-share your information...add some fun comments to keep the kids excited. "Snow in the forecast tonight...will we be making snowmen tomorrow???"
6. When the snow begins...re-post or re-share your information again.
7. First big snow...Family fun time begins! Families create their snowmen...take lots of fun family pics...and submits 1-2 pics to you via text (or whatever method you choose)
8. Winner is chosen
9. Prizes are awarded
10. All pics are posted on Facebook. Don't forget to take the winner's pics with their prizes.
Challenge your entire community...as well as surrounding communities by hosting a "Do You Wanna Build A Snowman" Community Competition.
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Create a flyer
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Pass out flyers to your church families.
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Post Competition on your Facebook Page.
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Do a Facebook blast...which simply means that everyone shares your Facebook post at the same exact time. During announcements would be a great time to have everyone pull out their phones and share...if allowed.
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Ask your church members to share your Facebook post with family and friends.
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Post your flyer on all community Facebook pages.
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Send flyers home with your kids...to pass out to their friends at school.
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Purchase prizes... a basket (or two...or three...if you want to pass out first, second and third place prizes) filled with "wintery" items is a great gift idea. Note: I have found that a 5-gallon bucket works great as an alternative to a basket...they come in many colors and cost only $2-3 at Wal-Mart)
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And then.....WAIT...WAIT...WAIT...for that first BIG SNOW.
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Re-share your flyer any time that snow is in the forecast...as a teaser...leading up to the big competition
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When you receive your first big snow of 2020, post details on your Facebook site...Starting time, deadline, where to send pics etc.
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Families will create their snowmen, take lots of pics and send (text, e-mail) their two...or three...favorite pics to you. I would encourage families to include their entire family in one of the submitted pics.
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If you have a large parking lot or field at your church, invite people (who do not have a yard) to come to the church to build their snowmen.
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Once the deadline has expired, post each submission on your Facebook page. You can then choose your favorite or give each snowman a number and invite people to vote for their favorite snowman on Facebook
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Award your prizes...post the winners on-line.
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Winners will pick up their prize at the church.
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Make sure to thank each of your entries and invite them to church on Sunday. (You may want to set up a hot chocolate station and encourage all participants to join you for come some hot chocolate goodness...on Sunday morning).
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If there were snowmen built in your parking lot/grass area, invite everyone (all your church family too) to join you for a "viewing" at a specific time (1-2 hour time span) and serve hot chocolate as well.
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If you come up with some new ideas that will make this event even better...please share them with me @ 479-619-9932 or arleneclark@sbcglobal.net
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Please share some pics from your event...I would love to see all of the creative "snowmen".
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This event can be tailor-made to fit your church and your community.
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Be creative and have fun!
Download Flyer
Editable Flyer
SLEDDING COMPETITION
Family Fun Day
Sledding Competition
A Family Sledding competition is an easy and fun way to encourage family time.
1. Create a flyer (sample at the bottom of this page...download, and edit if you choose)
2. Pass out your flyers to each child
3. Promote your event on the big screen, Facebook, Instagram...however you communicate with your families.
4. Purchase prizes for the winner.
5. Any time that snow is in the forecast, re-post or re-share your information...add some fun comments to keep the kids excited. "Snow in the forecast tonight...will we be sledding tomorrow???"
6. When the snow begins...re-post or re-share your information again.
7. First big snow...Family fun time begins! Families grab their sleds...take lots of fun family pics...and submits 1-2 pics to you via text (or whatever method you choose)
8. Winner is chosen
9. Prizes are awarded
10. All pics are posted on Facebook. Don't forget to take the winner's pics with their prizes.
Challenge your entire community...as well as surrounding communities to a "Sledding" Competition.
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Pass out flyers to your church families.
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Post Competition on your Facebook Page.
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Do a Facebook blast...which simply means that everyone shares your Facebook post at the same exact time. During announcements would be a great time to have everyone pull out their phones and share...if allowed.
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Ask your church members to share your Facebook post with family and friends.
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Post your flyer on all community Facebook pages.
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Purchase prizes... a basket (or two...or three...if you want to pass out first, second and third place prizes) filled with "wintery" items is a great gift idea. Note: I have found that a 5-gallon bucket works great as an alternative to a basket...they come in many colors and cost only $2-3 at Wal-Mart)
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Re-share your flyer any time that snow is in the forecast...as a teaser...leading up to the big sledding competition.
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When you receive enough snow to sled, post details on your Facebook site...Start time, deadline, how to submit pics, etc.
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If you have a great sledding area at your church, invite families from your community (who do not have a place to sled) to join you at the church. (Set specific times)
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Set up a hot chocolate bar inside the church (gym area, or area when snow is not a problem) and invite sledders in to warm up and enjoy some hot chocolate.
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Once the deadline has expired, post each submission on your Facebook page, select a winner or give each sledding team a number, invite people to vote for their favorite sledding pics.
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Award your prizes...post the winners on-line.
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Winners will pick up their prize at the church.
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Make sure to thank each of your entries and invite them to church on Sunday. (You may want to set up a hot chocolate station and encourage all participants to join you for some hot chocolate goodness...Sunday morning).
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Consider creating a short photo video or a slide show of the sledding activities to share before worship.
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If you come up with some new ideas that will make this event even better...please share them with me @ 479-619-9932 or arleneclark@sbcglobal.net
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Please share some pics from your event...I would love to see all of the fun sledding family time.
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This event can be tailor-made to fit your church and your community.
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Be creative and have fun!
APRIL SHOWERS
April Showers - Splash Day Competition
(Family Fun Day - Community Outreach)
An April Showers - Splash Day Competition is an easy and fun way to encourage family time.
1. Create a flyer (sample at the bottom of this page...download, and edit if you choose)
2. Pass out your flyers to each child
3. Promote your event on the big screen, Facebook, Instagram...however you communicate with your families.
4. Purchase prizes for the winner.
5. Any time that rain is in the forecast, re-post or re-share your information...add some fun comments to keep the kids excited. "Rain in the forecast tonight...will we be splashing tomorrow???"
6. When the rain begins...re-post or re-share your information again.
7. Rain begins...Family fun time begins! Families grab their rain boots...take lots of fun family splash pics...and submits 1-2 pics to you via text (or whatever method you choose)
8. Winner is chosen
9. Prizes are awarded
10. All pics are posted on Facebook. Don't forget to take the winner's pics with their prizes.
Challenge your entire community...as well as surrounding communities to an "April Showers" Splash Competition.
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Pass out flyers to your church families.
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Post Competition on your Facebook Page.
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Do a Facebook blast...which simply means that everyone shares your Facebook post at the same exact time. During announcements would be a great time to have everyone pull out their phones and share...if allowed.
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Ask your church members to share your Facebook post with family and friends.
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Post your flyer on all community Facebook pages.
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Purchase prizes... a basket (or two...or even three...if you want to pass out first, second and third place prizes) filled with "rainy day" items is a great gift idea. Note: I have found that a 5-gallon bucket works great as an alternative to a basket...they come in many colors and cost only $2-3 at Wal-Mart)
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Re-share your flyer any time that rain is in the forecast...to remind people of the splash competition.
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Post information on starting time, deadline, photo submission info, etc on Facebook
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Once the submission deadline has expired (April 30th), select a winner or post each submission on your Facebook page, give each entry a number, invite people to vote on their favorite splash pics.
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Post the winner's names on-line.
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Winners will pick up their prize at the church. Make sure to take their pics with their prizes and post on-line.
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Make sure to thank each of your entries and invite them to church on Sunday.
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Consider creating a short photo video or a slide show of the splash pics to share before worship.
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If you come up with some new ideas that will make this event even better...please share them with me @ 479-619-9932 or arleneclark@sbcglobal.net
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Please share some pics from your event...I would love to see all of the fun sledding family time.
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This event can be tailor-made to fit your church and your community.
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Be creative and have fun!
BIG, BIG, BIG BUBBLE NIGHT
Facebook competitions are a fun and easy way to connect with families in your community.
Challenge your church families, neighborhood or the entire community and beyond.
Competitions are easy to create, easy to host and easy to manage.
You may have to host one or two before you get people in the habit of checking your Facebook page on a regular basis.
Hosting competitions will draw people to your Facebook page where they will learn more about your church...and hopefully, make a connection. However, the main purpose is to draw families closer together...including your own church families. Families will work together as a team to complete the competitions.
You can host any type of competition that you wish. You are only limited by your imagination. Start by checking your calendar for various seasons or holidays. You will come up with lots of great ideas by looking at each month.
Basis Competition Information
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Create a flyer or Facebook slide
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Post your competition flyer or Facebook slide on your Facebook page. Make sure to add all details to your post...such as start and ending date. etc.
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Adding "OPEN TO THE PUBLIC" AND "DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN" are important things to add to your post.
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Do a Facebook flash...which simply means that everyone opens their phones and shares your post at the same exact time. You can do this during announcement time if you are allowed to do so. Just ask everyone to get out their phones and lead them through it.
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Ask all members to share your post with family and friends
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Send a flyer home with each child
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Have flyers at the information desk for families to take and share.
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Post your flyer on all FREE community Facebook pages.
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Purchase prizes... these can be as simple or as elaborate as your budget will allow. A basket (or two...or even three...if you want to pass out first, second and third place prizes) filled with "seasonal items" is a great gift idea. Note: I have found that a 5 gallon bucket works great as an alternative to a basket...they come in many colors and cost only $2-3 at Wal-Mart)
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Families will compete in the competition, take pics of their adventure and share 2-3 with you via text.
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All pics will go on Facebook and a winner will be announced.
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Post the winner's names on-line.
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Winners will pick up their prize at the church. Make sure to take their pics with their prizes and post on-line.
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Make sure to thank each of your entries and invite them to church on Sunday.
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Make sure to remind them to watch for more competitions coming soon.
Post all event details in the text portion of your Facebook post.
Create your own (3) Catagories. Do not base all the categories on the size of the bubbles...some will not have big bubble blowers. List your own prizes
GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION
Facebook Competitions
(Family Fun Day - Community Outreach)
Gingerbread Houses and Gingerbread Cookie Outreach Competition
A Family Gingerbread House or Gingerbread Cookie competition is an easy and fun way to encourage family time.
1. Create a flyer (sample at the bottom of this page...download, and edit if you choose)
2. Pass out flyers to each child...pass them out again when the event date nears.
3. Promote your event on the big screen, Facebook, Instagram...however you communicate with your families.
4. Purchase prizes for the winner.
5. Host your gingerbread event anytime between Thanksgiving and Christmas...or any time that works for your church. You may even decide to leave the date open. Promote it as an event that can be done between two specific dates. Such as November _____ to December _________ with a deadline of __________.
6. Each family will bake and decorate their cookies...remembering to take pics of their family during each stage of the cookie baking.
7. Families will submit 2-3 of their favorite pics (via text or e-mail)
8. All pics will be posted on Facebook
9. Winners will be selected from the submitted pics.
12. Prizes are awarded
13. Winners will pick their prize up at the church.
14. Don't forget to take the winner's pics with their prizes.
Note: You may want to purchase gingerbread boy or gingerbread girl cookie cutters and attach the flyer to the cookie cutter. Hand out the cutters along with the flyers to promote the event. If you decide to do a Gingerbread house competition, you may want to pass out small bags of candy (to use on their houses) with the flyer attached.
Facebook competitions are a fun and easy way to connect with families in your community. Challenge your church families, neighborhood or the entire community and beyond.
Competitions are easy to create, easy to host and easy to manage.
You may have to host one or two before you get people in the habit of checking your Facebook page on a regular basis.
Hosting competitions will draw people to your Facebook page where they will learn more about your church...and hopefully, make a connection. However, the main purpose is to draw families closer together...including your own church families. Families will work together as a team to complete the competitions.
You can host any type of competition that you wish. You are only limited by your imagination. Start by checking your calendar for various seasons or holidays. You will come up with lots of great ideas by looking at each month.
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Pass out flyers to your church families.
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Post Competition on your Facebook Page.
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Do a Facebook blast...which simply means that everyone shares your Facebook post at the same exact time. During announcements would be a great time to have everyone pull out their phones and share...if allowed.
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Ask church members to share your Facebook post with family and friends.
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Post your flyer on all FREE community Facebook pages.
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Purchase prizes... a basket (or two...or three...if you want to pass out first, second and third place prizes) filled with "baking items" is a great gift idea. Note: I have found that a 5-gallon bucket works great as an alternative to a basket...they come in many colors and cost only $2-3 at Wal-Mart). You can add lots of filler if the bucket it too large.
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Re-share your flyer often leading up to the event date.
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The day of the event, post details on your Facebook site...Start time, deadline, how to submit pics, etc.
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Once the deadline has expired, post each submission on your Facebook page, select a winner or give each picture a number and invite people to vote for their favorite pics.
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Award your prizes...post the winners on-line.
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Winners will pick up their prize at the church.
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Make sure to thank each of your entries and invite them to church on Sunday.
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Consider creating a short photo video or a slide show of the sledding activities to share before worship.
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This event can be tailor-made to fit your church and your community.
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Be creative and have fun!