The Church Furniture Guy » Children’s Ministry

Introducing Save Your Church PLANT Money.com

George — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:20:50 +0000

Twenty-three years ago I became the pastor of a small church. Resources were scarce! I remember a hand-me-down copier that acted up constantly, laying carpet ourselves to save money, and sound systems that were cobbled together. Every dollar was critically important! God blessed our ministry tremendously over the years, and now we’re able to afford items we could only dream about in those early years.

Over those same years I have been thrilled to see three of our staff members step out to plant churches! I have family members who are also planting churches. And as I interact with them on a regular basis, I experience again through them the importance of every dollar!

They and thousands like them are the reason for Save Your Church Plant Money coming into existence! Save Your Church Plant Money.com is committed to assisting church planters across this country by:

* Offering practical advice on church furnishings options for church plants and their unique environments!
* Leveraging the buying power of Save Your Church Money.com to provide at-cost pricing!
* Journeying with each church planter through each life phase of their church as growth and needs develop!

You can contact Save Your Church Plant Money here.

Bean Bags Catching On in Children’s Ministry

George — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:15:12 +0000

It’s been interesting to observe Bean Bags becoming more popular as a substitute for chairs in preschool and elementary ministry environments! Several recent studies have concluded that bean bags provide a more comfortable and effective learning environment for children. The first time I read these findings, they caught me by surprise. My assumption had been that a more structured seating style would produce the superior results. But additional research has supported the advantage of bean bag seating for children’s seating.

Some time later I learned about Grantco Manufacturing. Grantco makes a complete line of “soft play” church furniture for children’s ministry. As a part of that product line, they provide a superior bean bag chair that has proven to be extremely durable with double stitched seams and over-stuffed with beads. The vinyl exterior is easy to clean and disinfect. These bean bags come in multiple sizes and are quite cost competitive. And despite the significant quality of these bags, they are less expensive than many you will find in department and home furnishing stores. Many churches are trying out the bean bag option in a select classroom as an experiment. You may want to do the same!

If you decide to pursue this idea, you’ll want to check out Save Your Church Money as a source for bean bags. Their pricing will make bean bags even more affordable for your church.

Steffywood Changing Tables

George — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:06:36 +0000

Several years ago we built an additional church nursery to help accomodate New Hope’s baby boom. Our Children’s Ministry Director searched across the country for the most attractive and functional children’s furnishings she could find. I was surprised when she discovered a small company in Angola, IN, just 25 minutes from where we’re located, that manufactures exactly what she was looking for. Steffywood is a company I hadn’t even heard of at the time, but they have become one of my favorites. They have an extensive line of wood products that are entirely made in the USA. This most often means that maple and oak are the woods used, versus the very common use of rubber-wood when similar products are manufactured overseas, a significant benefit for the customer.

Over the years, because of the numerous building projects we have experienced at New Hope, I’ve had the opportunity to show several visiting building committees through our facilities to assist them with church furnishing ideas. Almost every time, the products from Steffywood capture their interest. I’ve seen several churches purchase the same products we have at New Hope such as this changing table. And I then hear later how much their nursery workers and visitors love them. It’s a great choice for your nursery.

For the best pricing on the entire Steffywood line of products, be sure and contact Save Your Church Money for a great quote. Give Steffywood a close look for your church nursery!

Sizing Up Children’s Seating

George — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:03:43 +0000

Here’s a chart to help you determine chair sizes for the children in your kid’s ministry.

If you have a dozen children in a first grade classroom, likely one size chair will not fit each child comfortably. If their chair is too large, you will find a child antsy. If their chair is too small, he or she will be quite distracted. Helping each have a chair that fits their height well will increase their focus and attention.

Chair sizes are measured from the floor to the top of the seat. Most adult chairs are 18″ high. While the above chart is helpful, you can also measure from the floor to the back of the knee on children to determine what size chair will work best for them. You’ll likely be surprised at the variance you’ll find within the same kid’s age group!