Offering Goal Display/Visual Ideas
Depict progress toward your church's Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Goal by considering one of these visual display ideas. Some are simple; some require the help of skilled craftsmen. If you have an idea for a visual, pleasee-mail us.
Basket Visuals
Using a big cardboard sheet draw an Easter basket with handles. Cut out the middle and make large eggs of different colors. The "basket' was taped to the wall and each time we received $10 there was an egg taped in the basket, so it would show and the basket was running over by end of the month. Loreta Allison, Stanford Baptist Church, Beech Grove, Ark.
Obtain a large basket or create a cut-out of one using a large poster board. As eggs represent new life, plan to fill the basket with eggs (either plastic ones or cut-out ones) as progress is made on the goal. Remind people that each egg added to the basket represents more opportunities for people to hear the gospel and experience new life in Christ.
Use a very large Easter basket, place green (or other color) grass in the basket. Prepare different colored plastic eggs with dollar amounts on them and place them in an area near the large basket--the number depending on the church goal. As offerings come in, place an egg in the basket for the amount given. It might be a good idea to let the children participate by allowing different children to do this each service. -- Submitted by Naomia Brown
Buy/Sponsor A State
The emphasis I used for the AAEO for 2000 was "Buy A State." We "sold" each state for $10.00 each. I placed a map of the US at the front of the church and as each state was sold I placed a sticker on that state. Not only did we reach our goal and surpass it, but we did it quicker than before. You just wouldn't believe how the members rushed to buy a state before someone else bought it. Bettie Meadows, Rocky Point, N.C.
We used a PowerPoint presentation with a map of the U.S. Each state represented $50 but you could sponser a state for $75 and that state would have a special designation (it was colored gold). As the money was raised we would call out the states that we were highlighting for the week. As an introduction to the mission moments time during the service, we would play a song that was applied to one of the states that we would be lighting. (example: West Virginia—John Denver's "Country Roads"; Tennessee—Chattanooga Choo Choo; Louisiana—Blue Bayou; and for California, we had the Momma's and the Poppa's come and sing California Dreamin'!) The church gets excited about missions. Our goal was $3,000 and we raised over $3,500! Missions Committee/Women's Ministry, First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge, Jacksonville, Ark.
Map Ideas
We have constructed a huge poster with a black and white drawing of the United States. It is in the entry way of the church. For each $40 given to Annie Armstrong we will be coloring in a state. We have received $80 so Hawaii and Alaska are colored in. This will give a visual of the progress we are making toward our goal. Teresa Draves, Maine Street Baptist Church, Brunswick, ME
Light up North America as you reach your goal by having someone craft a wooden outline of the United States and Canada and plan to string a light strand on the backside of the outline. The crafter should include holes in each state and province in which a mini light can be pushed through. All the light bulbs should be loosened, and as money is raised, tighten the light so that it will come on in the appropriate amount of states and provinces.
Use a poster-size map or larger, which can be laminated, and place on an easel. As dollar amounts come in to reach the specific AAEO goal, (our church usually designates $100 increments), place a cross on various cities on the map. These crosses represent the message of the gospel of Jesus being spread across our nation. - Submitted by Alice Farrar
Blooming Dogwood Tree
A visual that I have used in years past is a small tree with several limbs (no leaves) in a bucket or on some type of stand. As money comes in for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, we add silk dogwood flowers to represent the money. Then on Easter, our dogwood tree is in full bloom. It makes a great visual to watch the tree "come to life." Peggy Thompson,Gastonia, NC
Easter Lily Cross
For the past few years our church has used a large wooden cross made out of landscape timbers and strung with clear lights. We put Easter Lilies (1 bloom for each $5 or $10) on the cross. It is really pretty when the cross is full of blooms. Helen Nichols,Bentley, LA
The visual we are using to track the AAEO is a set of steps made out of red poster board. Red was the chosen color to represent the blood Jesus shed for our sins and we started with 12 steps representing the 12 disciples that Jesus chose to follow him and tell others of His love for us. Each step represents $100. A picture of a missionary is placed at each step to track the offering visually. Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Defuniak Springs, FL
We had a church member make us a tomb (photo below), and a stone covered the entrance. We added lights to the tomb. As money was given toward the goal, lights were turned on. After all the lights were lit, the stone was rolled away to reveal a beautiful picture of Christ ascending with the words “HE Is Risen.”
– Submitted by Julia H. Jackson, President, WMU, Pacolet Baptist, NC
