The easiest way to be resourceful is to simply use everything you already have. Or to phrase it differently, build your ministry based on the resources available to you.
What resources are available to you?
1. Audio & Video Equipment
If you don't have the appropriate audio and video equipment, having a full band won't work, and I say that having seen some worship sets where it did not work because of the sound.
On the flip side, if you have the killer sound system and 10 ft. screen for your band, think of the many additional uses you can get out of it.
- Movie nights
- Huge screen video game night
- Free blue screen technology for video editing
2. Facilities
What ideas should you throw out because your facilities don't allow it?
- When I was in middle school my church had gym nights, and they were great. I currently don't have access to a gym. So I've completely thrown out an idea which I really like.
- My church meets in a school on Sunday mornings. We setup an hour before the services start. Therefore, I don't attempt anything too setup oriented for our Sunday morning middle school class.
What unique thing can you do with your facilities (or a church member's home) which no one else can do in your area?
- Several members of our church have homes on 5 acre plots of land. Therefore, I CAN easily do large scale outdoor sporting events.
- During the week we have an office space with a meeting room which we can leave setup. Therefore, our Sunday night high school worship gathering is highly setup oriented
3. Talent
- What talents do your leaders possess?
- What talents do you possess?
- What talents do your students possess?
- Do their talents match the purpose of your ministry?
If you take a trip over to YouTube and search for videos of youth group praise bands, you'll find hundreds of videos of bands of men in their 40's and 50's attempting to play piano driven versions of Hillsong United songs for 14 year olds. I don't mean to criticize their willingness to serve. I'm sure they started with the best intentions and a good idea, but they didn't have the resources available (the correct musical talent) to do what they wanted to do. So they took the resources they did have and attempting to force it to be something it's not (Hillsong United).
Think, "What can do best with the talent we have?" A group of men in their 40's and 50's CAN put together a band which plays Hillsong United songs, but they'd probably be better at doing something else. They could use some of their other talents or have a relational ministry where they share their wisdom.
4. Volunteers
- How many volunteers do you have access to?
- How committed are they?
- How much instruction do they need?
- How committed are they spiritually?
- Do they get it?
- How available are they?
My Sunday morning middle school class is frequently over-stocked with leaders. Therefore, we put far more emphasis on small group time than we do on upfront teaching and music. However, our high school ministry on Sunday nights has a less consistent group of volunteers. Therefore, the programming is more stage focused.
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