Host a missons banquet at your church.
Hosting a missions banquet provides the opportunity for people to share their testimonies, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. Offer food and drink to guests. Keep everyone entertained with short messages of testimony and a keynote speaker. Consider following your missions banquet with a worship service. Accept donations for future mission trips. The ultimate goal is to share positive experiences and encourage others to participate in a mission trip. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Begin planning a month in advance by lining up speakers, including a keynote speaker. Secure and test video and audio equipment. Make catering arrangements at least one month in advance. If you do potluck style, have guests sign up on a sheet that lists all food items that can be brought. This can be posted at your church one month in advance.
2. Set up food and drinks in a banquet hall or in your church gathering room before your starting time. Also, set up easels to display photos from mission trips on poster boards.
3. Place a donation jar on the banquet table. This encourages guests to make a money donation toward future mission trips. You can use any type of jar with an open lid or slit in the top. Place a sign on the outside that reads "Donations for future mission trips."
4. Direct guests toward the banquet food and drink table. Have everyone fill their plates and glasses prior to hearing testimonies. Wait until everyone is seated with their food to begin the speaking portion of the mission banquet.
5. Introduce church members who have participated in missions to share their experiences. Have each person speak for five minutes at a time. Allow guests to ask questions of those who shared their mission testimonies.
6. Introduce your keynote speaker and let him give his testimony. Provide the projector, screen, and laptop in case he has photos or a PowerPoint presentation to share. Allow guests to pose questions to your keynote speaker.
7. Provide a worship service in the sanctuary after the banquet ends. If you have a worship service, collect money in the collection plates for future mission trips. Conduct the service the same as your regular services. Simply set some time aside during the sermon to briefly encourage church members to participate in mission trips and encourage members to make donations toward missions.
Tags: mission trips, future mission, future mission trips, keynote speaker, month advance