christiangrants.com has a 2 for 1 deal running from December 28 - 31. You can get 2 years for the price of 1!
In it you will find access to over 175 Foundations funding Christian Organizations. The directory is your one-stop source for the latest information on organizations that can help you fund your ministry.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Low-Cost Ideas for Effective Ministry
It is possible to do more with less! Save money without having to compromise creativity and fun. The $5 Youth Ministry by Todd Outcalt is full of a variety of great ideas for youth or preteen ministry. It includes ideas for activities, games, icebreakers, worship, teaching, missions, outreach, food, camps and retreats. Available at the For Kids Only Bookstore.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Government assistance?
Have you visited afterschool.gov? Though many faith-based programs believe they cannot receive any federal funding, there may be areas where it is possible. Programs can be eligible for funding through the Federal Food and Nutrition Program to help supplement the food you provide for your program, or through your academic focus, you could be eligible for funding with The 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which provides funding to both public and private organizations that work with high poverty or low-performing schools. Check it out for more information and see if your program is eligible for government funding!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Please Share!
Please share with us your comments or personal stories of how your family is serving or has served others.We would love to hear your thoughts!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Ok, we gave the coupon out this time!
Response #4 to a challenge Johanna gave to Mothers of Preschoolers Each family was given a McDonald's gift certificate and challenged to find a way to reach out and serve their community together as a family.
Johanna, Ok, we gave the coupon out this time!
We were on our way to Disneyland, almost at the main entrance. I saw a homeless man on the sidewalk and pulled over into one of Disney's parking lots (it was currently closed). I made such an abrupt turn, that Katie asked, "mommy, what are you doing that for?" I reminded her of the coupon we had and pointed out the man on the street. We said a quick prayer for him. He was about 30 yards away from where I parked my car, and so I jumped out and called him over. I met him halfway and gave him the coupon and a ziplock bag of change I had in the car. I explained that I had a little coupon and change so he could buy something to eat. He was so surprised and repeated "Your giving this to ME?". I just wished him a good day and headed back to the car.
Katie asked what he looked like and what his name was. Oh man, I didn't even ask his name. I told her that it would've been a good idea to find out so we could pray for him by name. I told her that he was so excited about the coupon and money, that he was hungry and very dirty. I explained why he was dirty and she didn't say much.
Later that night we got home and she said, "mom, that man was dirty because he doesn't have a bathtub to get clean". She was still thinking of him. I wish she could have met him and saw him for herself, but we will continue to pray for more opportunities to serve people we don't know together!
Johanna, Ok, we gave the coupon out this time!
We were on our way to Disneyland, almost at the main entrance. I saw a homeless man on the sidewalk and pulled over into one of Disney's parking lots (it was currently closed). I made such an abrupt turn, that Katie asked, "mommy, what are you doing that for?" I reminded her of the coupon we had and pointed out the man on the street. We said a quick prayer for him. He was about 30 yards away from where I parked my car, and so I jumped out and called him over. I met him halfway and gave him the coupon and a ziplock bag of change I had in the car. I explained that I had a little coupon and change so he could buy something to eat. He was so surprised and repeated "Your giving this to ME?". I just wished him a good day and headed back to the car.
Katie asked what he looked like and what his name was. Oh man, I didn't even ask his name. I told her that it would've been a good idea to find out so we could pray for him by name. I told her that he was so excited about the coupon and money, that he was hungry and very dirty. I explained why he was dirty and she didn't say much.
Later that night we got home and she said, "mom, that man was dirty because he doesn't have a bathtub to get clean". She was still thinking of him. I wish she could have met him and saw him for herself, but we will continue to pray for more opportunities to serve people we don't know together!
Monday, September 28, 2009
MOPS McDonald's Coupon Story
Response #3 to a challenge Johanna gave to Mothers of Preschoolers Each family was given a McDonald's gift certificate and challenged to find a way to reach out and serve their community together as a family.
Hi Johanna,
I am one of the mothers that was present at MOPS on Sept 10th. I am the mother of two boys ages 3 and 16 months. I hadn't emailed you earlier because we haven't actually found the person to give the certificate to. However, your idea has brought wonderful conversations with my three year old boy. After I explained that we were to give the certificate to a "poor" person and that we were to pray to God to lead us to that person, he kept asking about poverty. At first, he pointed at every man walking in the street and said "There is a poor person. See, see, see, Mommy!" So, this gave me the chance to explain to him what the word poor meant. I told him that a poor person was someone who has no home, no money, no food, no clothes, etc. I explained to him that God had given him a mommy and a daddy, a house, a car, clothes, food, but that there are children who have no mommy or daddy or anything else. Now this is even more special as we would like to adopt or foster a child in the future, if God is willing. I continued to tell him that we must pray for them and take care of them as God wills.
He was really cute and asked by name whether each of his cousins were poor. I kept saying: "No, they are not poor. They have many things." Finally, I told him that God would lead us to the person that He wants us to give the money to. So, now, every time we go in the car, we pray for God's guidance to that person before we leave the house. I keep reminding him that God wants us to care for the poor, and that He is happy when we do so. We haven't found that person yet, but I am so glad that he is now aware not only of poverty around him but about God's blessings in his life as well, and even more important, about God's concern and command to us to take care of the poor.
Also, I have attached to the certificate a $1,000,000 (fake, of course) bill explaining Jesus' love and message of salvation.So, thank you very much for helping us initiate this conversation. I am looking forward to finding the person to give the certificate to and to have Matthew hand it to him/her. And most of all, I am hoping that this will be only the beginning!
Hi Johanna,
I am one of the mothers that was present at MOPS on Sept 10th. I am the mother of two boys ages 3 and 16 months. I hadn't emailed you earlier because we haven't actually found the person to give the certificate to. However, your idea has brought wonderful conversations with my three year old boy. After I explained that we were to give the certificate to a "poor" person and that we were to pray to God to lead us to that person, he kept asking about poverty. At first, he pointed at every man walking in the street and said "There is a poor person. See, see, see, Mommy!" So, this gave me the chance to explain to him what the word poor meant. I told him that a poor person was someone who has no home, no money, no food, no clothes, etc. I explained to him that God had given him a mommy and a daddy, a house, a car, clothes, food, but that there are children who have no mommy or daddy or anything else. Now this is even more special as we would like to adopt or foster a child in the future, if God is willing. I continued to tell him that we must pray for them and take care of them as God wills.
He was really cute and asked by name whether each of his cousins were poor. I kept saying: "No, they are not poor. They have many things." Finally, I told him that God would lead us to the person that He wants us to give the money to. So, now, every time we go in the car, we pray for God's guidance to that person before we leave the house. I keep reminding him that God wants us to care for the poor, and that He is happy when we do so. We haven't found that person yet, but I am so glad that he is now aware not only of poverty around him but about God's blessings in his life as well, and even more important, about God's concern and command to us to take care of the poor.
Also, I have attached to the certificate a $1,000,000 (fake, of course) bill explaining Jesus' love and message of salvation.So, thank you very much for helping us initiate this conversation. I am looking forward to finding the person to give the certificate to and to have Matthew hand it to him/her. And most of all, I am hoping that this will be only the beginning!
Friday, September 25, 2009
McDonald's Coupon
Response #2 to a challenge Johanna gave to Mothers of Preschoolers Each family was given a McDonald's gift certificate and challenged to find a way to reach out and serve their community together as a family.
Hello Johanna,
We actually haven't given our coupon away but here was our first service idea together.
After getting the McDonald's coupon, Katie and I discussed why we had it and prayed about who we could give it to. A couple days later, I took the kids on
a bike ride to the regional park. As we approached the playground, we saw a man sleeping with all his stuff about 50 yards away. I pointed him out to Katie and asked her what she thought he was doing. She said he was sleeping. I asked her why and she said, "not sure" We talked about the possibility of him being homeless and not having food, a place to sleep, a shower, among other things. She paused for a minute and then very excitedly said, "Mom, he needs the coupon!" Unfortunately, the coupon was in my car and we had the bike and child trailer. We did pack lunch and I remembered keeping a plastic bag with about $4 in change in the bike trailer. I asked Katie if we should give him something from our lunch and she agreed. She picked out the banana (she wasn't willing to part with the PB and J) and when she saw the bag of money she said she would give it to him. After we finished playing, we approached the sleeping man. I didn't want to scare him so I called out and let him know what we were doing. He just grunted and didn't pick up his head. Later I explained to Katie that even when someone doesn't say thank you or look at you, we still can help them.
Since your talk at MOPS, Katie and I have done a few service things. The first thing we did was purchase toiletries for a women's shelter. Katie had a blast picking out shampoo, lotion, brushes, and other needed items. She really took ownership of this one (do I have a beauty queen on my hands??) We also have a scheduled date to visit a local convalescent home this Friday Sept. 25th. When I called to set a time for the convalescent home, the lady was dumbfounded. She kept saying, "Well I don't really get why you are bringing your kids here?" She kept asking me why I was doing this. I'm not sure if she thinks I'm critiquing the place or what. I just explained to her that I am trying to give my kids lots of opportunities to serve other people and thought the elderly people would love seeing my sweet kiddos. I also want my kids to be comfortable around the elderly and practice serving with their time.
We already have a routine down for serving our neighbors, but I had never really thought of praying for them before we deliver the meals with Katie. Now we pray and talk about how God has called us to serve people, and how good it feels to help other people. Katie is digging this and I LOVE serving with her.
Hello Johanna,
We actually haven't given our coupon away but here was our first service idea together.
After getting the McDonald's coupon, Katie and I discussed why we had it and prayed about who we could give it to. A couple days later, I took the kids on
a bike ride to the regional park. As we approached the playground, we saw a man sleeping with all his stuff about 50 yards away. I pointed him out to Katie and asked her what she thought he was doing. She said he was sleeping. I asked her why and she said, "not sure" We talked about the possibility of him being homeless and not having food, a place to sleep, a shower, among other things. She paused for a minute and then very excitedly said, "Mom, he needs the coupon!" Unfortunately, the coupon was in my car and we had the bike and child trailer. We did pack lunch and I remembered keeping a plastic bag with about $4 in change in the bike trailer. I asked Katie if we should give him something from our lunch and she agreed. She picked out the banana (she wasn't willing to part with the PB and J) and when she saw the bag of money she said she would give it to him. After we finished playing, we approached the sleeping man. I didn't want to scare him so I called out and let him know what we were doing. He just grunted and didn't pick up his head. Later I explained to Katie that even when someone doesn't say thank you or look at you, we still can help them.
Since your talk at MOPS, Katie and I have done a few service things. The first thing we did was purchase toiletries for a women's shelter. Katie had a blast picking out shampoo, lotion, brushes, and other needed items. She really took ownership of this one (do I have a beauty queen on my hands??) We also have a scheduled date to visit a local convalescent home this Friday Sept. 25th. When I called to set a time for the convalescent home, the lady was dumbfounded. She kept saying, "Well I don't really get why you are bringing your kids here?" She kept asking me why I was doing this. I'm not sure if she thinks I'm critiquing the place or what. I just explained to her that I am trying to give my kids lots of opportunities to serve other people and thought the elderly people would love seeing my sweet kiddos. I also want my kids to be comfortable around the elderly and practice serving with their time.
We already have a routine down for serving our neighbors, but I had never really thought of praying for them before we deliver the meals with Katie. Now we pray and talk about how God has called us to serve people, and how good it feels to help other people. Katie is digging this and I LOVE serving with her.
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