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Jen Bradbury
Dec 16 · 5 min read

Budgeting Basics: Cutting Your Budget

Churches today are struggling financially.

Oh, I know that's not true of ALL of them.

But I know it's true of a lot of them.

As a result, it's entirely possible for you to do the hard work of crafting a budget proposal only to be told, “We'd love...

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#money #church #youth ministry management #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Nov 11 · 5 min read

Budgeting Basics: Translating Dreams Into Numbers

After you've let your dreams percolate, the next step in crafting your budget proposal is to translate your dreams into actual numbers.

To do this, go back through your lists, paying particular attention to your answers to this question: What...

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#money #Prayer #youth ministry management #student leadership #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Nov 04 · 5 min read

Budgeting Basics: Dream Big

One of my early church memories is participating in my church's pony express giving campaign – a campaign in which a saddlebag was passed from home to home along with stories about our church's ministries and our pledge cards. Families were then...

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#money #church #youth ministry management #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Sep 25 · 5 min read

Recent Reads: Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider

Filed in Recent Reads

Notes From A Blue Bike

What the book's about: Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider is about living intentionally in a chaotic world. It's about living simply in regard to five key areas of life: food, work, education, travel, and entertainment.  

Why I read...

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#money #discussion #travel #education #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Feb 04 · 5 min read

Why teens should attend church-wide meetings

Annual Meeting 2014

Our church's annual meeting was two weeks ago. Each year at this meeting, the pastor talks about the state of the church, we discuss various issues impacting the church, and we vote on a budget.

Although the meeting is open to all members of...

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#money #church #student leadership #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Jan 08 · 5 min read

Keep It Going

I’ve often heard people moan about the ineffectiveness of big youth ministry events like the 30 Hour Famine or summer mission trips. Such rants usually go something like this:

You spend a lot of time, energy, and money on X. And sure, teens are...

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#30 Hour Famine #money #justice #Missions #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
May 13 · 5 min read

Why I take students to fundraising banquets

Unlike so many homes, mine was one in which we frequently discussed money.

In fact, money is still one of my dad's favorite topics. When it comes to money, he often runs past any semblance of social respectability and instead proceeds to ask...

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#Fundraising #money

Jen Bradbury
Feb 14 · 5 min read

How to Keep Mission Costs from Being Prohibitive

Filed in Missions and Missions

In every youth ministry I've served, I've had students who come from families that struggle financially and, therefore, cannot afford expensive events such as summer mission trips. Although we spend a year fundraising for mission trips and...

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#money #Missions

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Latest Posts

  • Budgeting Basics: Cutting Your Budget
  • Budgeting Basics: Translating Dreams Into Numbers
  • Budgeting Basics: Dream Big
  • Recent Reads: Notes from a Blue Bike by Tsh Oxenreider
  • Why teens should attend church-wide meetings
  • Keep It Going
  • Why I take students to fundraising banquets
  • How to Keep Mission Costs from Being Prohibitive

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