One of the greatest frustrations in children’s ministry is lack of funds, resources, and workers. But this should not be. Our God owns a cattle on a thousands hills, and He can provide what we need.

Lack of Funds:

Lack of funds in this economy is a very real issue that faces all ministries including children’s ministries. Here’s some idea to increase your funding.

Ask your pastor for a regular budget even if it’s a small amount. If you can count on a certain amount of money coming in, no matter how small, it will help you figure out how to meet your needs.

Plan a budget based on what you believe God wants you to do, not on what you think you can afford. If you obey God, He will provide your needs according to His riches in glory. Take a step of faith, and start believing that.

Plan fundraisers to supply funds for the budget. For this, think out of the box. Get some creative people together for a planning session. Here a link to give you some ideas.

Find Prayer Sponsor who will provide prayer and funding for the children in your church. To find out more about how to do this, click this link.

Apply For Grants and ask Christian businesses to contribute to your children’s ministry. This is especially helpful for outreach. There are many sites on the web that teach how to apply for grants.

Give. Don’t hoard the money the comes in to children’s ministry. Teach children to give to missions and other outreach ministries by setting the example.

Pray. John 14:14 says If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Lack of Resources:

Make a list of the resources you need. Include everything you need or want for children’s ministry on the list. Don’t hold back. Then prioritize the list according to what you need first, than second, etc.

Let your needs be known. There maybe someone in the congregation who knows someone who has what you need. By letting your needs be known, you may receive what you have on your list from unlikely places.

Look for bargains. Don’t be afraid to scout Ebay, thrift stores, and yard sales. Let God lead you to the places you can find resources.

Ask larger churches and ministries if they are getting rid of the supplies you need.

Have the children pray for your needs. I once needed a new sound system. The old one was terrible. It squeaked and went in and out during children’s church. But the children’s ministry didn’t have the money to replace it. Every week I would have the children pray for a new sound system. Every time the sound system cut out, I would say “Lord, give us a new sound system” in front of the children. In two months time, someone came to me with a new sound system they had bought but never used. This increased the children’s faith. We spent the next service thanking and praising God and teaching about how God answers prayer.

Lack Of Workers:

Don’t lower your standards. Sometimes children’s pastors are tempted to lower their standards because they can’t get enough workers. This is a mistake. No matter how tempted you are, trust God to provide quality people.

Make a list of all the workers you need. Don’t limit yourself to only the workers you must have. Include on your list everyone you could use if there were enough workers to do everything you want to do.

Use children as workers. Here’s a link that talks more about this.

Make recruiting a year long process. Here’s a link about how to recruit workers.

Pray for workers. Matthew 9:38 Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

There should be no lack in ministry. If we trust God to provide where we lack, He will meet our needs.