Put your Budget where your ministry is!

Now is a great time to try and increase your small group ministry budget for next year. What? No budget???

This is common. Many congregations have little or no budget for small group ministry resources, training and support. Why do you need a budget? There are many reasons. Here are a few things you can do with a larger SGM budget.

* Celebrate your leaders. Hold events to celebrate your small group ministry including food ($).
* Put ads in the paper ($) about small group ministry.
* Invite a guest speaker to preach ($) each year.
* Hold enrichment workshops ($) for your facilitators. You can do this or you can bring in an outside consultant. Either way, food is a must. If you don't know what you'd do as an enrichment program you might pay ($) to consult with someone like me who can help you design a program.
* Have a retreat at a confernece center or hotel ($) for your top SGM leaders & coaches where you explore spirituality, personal growth, and vision for the coming year.
* Just ask yourself what you could do to support your ministry and shared ministry leaders if money was no object!

Obviously it is an issue. But it is essential you remember that the quality of your ministry is what leads to larger pledge units and more pledge units. Multiplying ministry and increasing its quality is a guaranteed way of raising funds. Yes, it is kind of a chicken and the egg deal. Which comes first, the pledge units & funding or the vision & ministry?

I think the vision and ministry must come first. If you have ideas for Small Group Minsitry budget items, please let me know. That would be a great new resource.

Budget ideas?