Ideas for tracking your church's gifts
Tell us how your church has tracked progress toward your goal.
Uncover the faces - First Baptist Church of Cullman, Ala., hung a large cloth banner of people’s faces. They covered it with black paper cut into closed “window” sections in front of the faces. With a goal of $60,000, each time $3,000 was given they uncovered a window section revealing one or two faces, symbolizing people groups going from darkness to Light because of sacrificial giving to missions. Cloth banners such as the one used by FBC Cullman are available for purchase.
Missing chairs - Remove most of the chairs or pews from your worship facility at the beginning of the Lottie Moon Christmas Season. On the first day of the emphasis, have your pastor or missions leader explain that while we sit comfortably in our chairs each Sunday, many around the world haven’t even heard the good news of Christ or been given a chance to worship Him. As your church gives each week to the offering, bring back the seats. Be sure and leave enough chairs for elderly members or those who physically can’t sit on the floor. If removing seats from the worship facility is logistically not possible, consider this for the fellowship hall or a Sunday School room.
Banner puzzle - Cut this year’s LMCO goal banner or poster into puzzle pieces. As your church reaches its goal, add pieces to the puzzle. Consider leaving one piece off, even if your church reaches its goal, to remind the church that the work of Christians must continue in order to reach all peoples in every nation.
On the wings of a dove - Miller Heights Baptist Church asked members to sponsor a white dove to be added to the Christmas tree in the sanctuary. Each dove represented the Holy Spirit bringing the Word to a people group who had never heard. They watched each week, as the tree filled with doves. They surpassed their goal by 46 percent!
Light up the world - Trinity Baptist in Lebanon, Ore., added a red light to a world map for each $100 that was raised. Other churches have used lights on the tree, candle lights in the windows and even light bulbs in the church to represent the money raised for missions.
International reminders - Sharpe Road Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C., used dolls from various countries to represent the different geographic areas where Southern Baptists have missionaries. The dolls were placed with their backs to the congregation facing a black board that read “Tell Me the Story of Jesus.” As a specified amount of money was given to LMCO, each doll was turned to face the congregation—going from darkness to light.
Paper people chain - Spring Valley Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nev., cut out 365 pictures of men and women walking. Each cut-out represented $113.04 (their goal divided by 365). As the money was given, the paper people were placed hand-to-hand around the auditorium.
Glory Hallelujah goal - FBC of Garrison, Texas, has a three-tiered giving goal. The first level is the “Amen” goal and when they reach it, the whole congregation says, “Amen!” The second level is the “Praise the Lord” goal. The third level is the “Glory Hallelujah” goal. Last year they surpassed the “Glory Hallelujah” goal by $3,000!
Black arm bands - Ask students to wear black arm bands to church during the month of December, each representing a percentage of your church’s LMCO goal. Let your church members know to be looking for these reminders of people who live in darkness without Jesus. Ask your pastor to recognize youth wearing the bands during the Sunday morning services. Each Sunday as your church comes closer to its goal, ask fewer and fewer youth to wear the bands. Hopefully, by the last Sunday in December, no one will be wearing the arm bands! This will indicate that the church has met its goal. Also consider asking choir members or worship leaders to wear the arm bands.
More Ideas for tracking your church's gifts
Ideas for Adults, Students, Children, Families, Whole church, Worship services
