Calendars & Budgets

It is that time of year again. For many, the fall season includes multiple meetings with various committees within the church to plan for the new year. The calendar must be set. Budget numbers must be calculated. While we certainly don’t want to confuse these tasks with ministry – the work of the church is certainly dependent upon this planning.
As you plan your church calendar and budget for 2010, allow me to remind you of a few calendar items and budgetary suggestions.

Calendar Dates

First, important calendar dates for your Sunday School and Vacation Bible School in 2010:

• V.B.S. Jumpstart Clinic – Saturday, March 6th at First Southern Baptist Church in Salina
• HOKSBA Associational V.B.S. Training – Thursday, April 8th at Sharon Baptist Church in Wichita
• National Sunday School Director Seminar – Friday, April 16th and Saturday, April 17th at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Wichita
• Flight School (Sunday School) Training – Monday, August 23rd at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Wichita
• Evangelism Rally with Thom Rainer – Sunday, August 29th

Please make sure these events are marked on your church calendar and be looking for additional information as each opportunity draws near.

Budgets

Budgets are of primary concern for many churches, especially during difficult economic times. While we should always strive to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us, it becomes even more essential as we find that we have less funds with which to do ministry. In the areas of Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, consider these cost saving options.

• Providing training for Vacation Bible School workers is important. While we want to support the KNCSB Jumpstart Clinic, it is also costly to send a lot of workers to this event. But, the local evening VBS training is offered free of charge! So, if you have utilized the Jumpstart Clinic as your primary training in the past, you may consider sending your key leaders and directors to this full-day training and then request that all of your workers attend the local training.
• Vacation Bible School can be an expensive undertaking. Don’t be hesitant to ask other churches in the area to borrow their resources at the conclusion of their V.B.S. At the associational office, we try to keep a calendar of when our churches are holding Vacation Bible School. So, if you are doing your event later in the summer, we could possibly give you the names of churches that have completed their school and might be willing to pass on to you their teacher resources and decorations.
• For Sunday School literature, prior to placing your quarterly order, ask your teachers and directors to confirm that resources purchased are being used. Sometimes we get into the habit of buying the same supplies that we have purchased for years, even though they may not be utilized the way they once were. Also, look at the number of student resources and consider whether you need to increase or perhaps decrease these materials so that you have minimal waste.
• For other discipleship-style studies, utilize the resources of the HOKSBA and KNCSB offices. Both of these entities maintain discipleship libraries that very well may have the teaching kit that you need for a study which you are going to provide. However, you must plan in advance as these titles may not be available when you wish to use them.

If our team can be of assistance to you as you consider these and other issues in the areas of Sunday School and/or Vacation Bible School, please do not hesitate to contact us.