Press!
The AZ Republic (local paper) did a write-up about what we are doing. It is well-written and I think does a good job at making me sound smart…
Read the article HERE.
Cabin Needed
Like any student ministry, ours could not function without our awesome staff of volunteer adults who give up time to minister to students. It is because of this that we have made it a priority to value them and love on them. We like to take a retreat with them each January, last year we went to a HUGE cabin in Strawberry, AZ and sang Karaoke at a restaurant in Payson and just enjoyed each other.
This year, we have not a lot of money to spend on such a trip.
Our MoZ giving is going great, but we don’t have the cash up front to put on a nice cabin or meeting place to have this retreat. Any ideas?
Small groups cost $$!
We just launched our version of small groups called Fuel Cells (get it, BURN student ministry, FUEL, get?) Anyways, we are quickly realizing that printing snazzy leader and student materials cost dough. So, this semester, our stuff won’t be AS snazzy.
Long story short, Michelle and I spent a good amount of time today sorting and “metal-ringing” our small group packets for junior high. Kerry innoculated himself from this fun game by becoming “unavailable” during this time. We knocked it out all right though… who needs Kinko’s!?
Our first setback
The stage is built. It just looks like wood. It needed carpet. The quote we got was $500 plus labor. Kerry and I looked at eachother and said, “Psshhh. We can do ‘dis ourselves!”
Two trips to Lowes and $93 in scrap carpet returns later, we are dipping into the MoZ fund and biting the bullet. Hopefully, the carpet people can do it before Sunday!
Room Improvements
We needed to make room in our student center to fit more students for our Sunday programming. We decided to get rid of our massive, tall stage and build a shorter one so we can add seating to the sides (180 degrees). Since we are on Ministry on Zero, building a new stage was going to be interesting. We dontated the old one to a local church plant and then had a student ministry parent who is also a framer build us a new one for free. Here is a pic from my iPhone of mid construction, I was the master of the nail gun and Kerry was tearing it up with the glue.
Representing on the big stage
Every so often, our lead pastor, mar Connelly, likes to celebrate things in front of the church. This last weekend during SSCC’s four services, we celebrated Ministry on Zero and how the students have responded to date. Kerry and I both felt the love in the 2 services each that we got to talk about it and its always huge for the student ministry when we can wave the flag in front of the whole church.
As of late, if the students keep giving the way they have been since July 1, we will almost double last years budget. God is sometimes just silly.
One and done
July is behind us, our first full month of Ministry on Zero. Frankly, I am surprised.
To date, our students have almost MATCHED our budget from last year. And we just started the series explaining Ministry on Zero. In the end, this may turn out to be brilliant financial decision after all!
Starting to feel it
We had our weekly student ministry staff meeting (Wednesdays 9-noon) and afterwards went by the Warehouse to check things out for the weekend. Then we started talking about out the fall and the capacity of the room. Then we started listing the things we were missing in the room… and blown main speakers… and the over-sized stage.
Then it came out… if only had money!
Mark it down, only 16 days into the MoZ experiment and we are already feeling it. Time to get creative… any ideas for us?
And we’re off
It’s official. The safety net has been removed. Our “blankey” has been taken away. As of July 1, we are operating our student ministry of almost 300 student with an annual budget of exactly $0.00. And you thought YOUR church gave you the shaft in budget meetings!
Except we asked for it.
This adventure we chose has begun and we can’t wait to share our struggles and lessons with you… who knows, maybe you’ll be begging your church leadership for ZERO someday soon, too!
