Coach Shef took the money man at his church out to lunch to see what he (we) could learn about budgeting.

Everybody needs something, and theres only so much to get stuff with. How do the people who decidedecide? Who gets the resources?

I dont know how it works in your organization, but there are some basic principles to keep in mind.

Always Present your idea within the context of mission and strategy. For middle schoolers, attention is always an issue and containment is key. Sixteen groups in a large room will never cut it for quality community. When presented in the context of mission and strategy, there was no doubt that the leadership wanted to help. It was just a matter of when. When the money was availablewe got our small group rooms. It was huge for us and continues to be!

Never Assume you are different or smarter than those who came before you. Its new is not a reason to spend money.

Always Shop prices. Dont present a project without getting a few quotes.

Never Get wrapped up in the excellence trap. What do you need to doin order to do what you want to doas well as you need to do it? I see this a lot with sound systems in youth rooms. Buy wiselybut dont get wrapped up in having the greatest system of all time!

Always Present Pros and Cons. It should be clear you are aware of the limitations of what you want to buy. There is no perfect solution to an issue. Be clear that you know the down sideand you are still comfortable making the purchase.

Never Chase other organizations. Everyone else is doing it is a terrible reason to spend money. It may make sense to do itbut competition is not ever going to be a good reason.

Always Get to know your money person. Learn how he/she thinks. Let them in on how you think. Let them in on your passion and vision. Help them understand how to help you and how to understand your strengths and limitations when it comes to this.

When making a budget request…

Never Make a mistake twice. Not a lot to expound on there.

Always Be organized. Last minute requests are a reality of ministry. Dont do it more often than you have to.

Never Surprise your money person. If you made a mistake, own it. Be the first to break the news.

Always Read the culture and fall in line. Spending is cultural. Make sure you dont act as though your ministry is any different than any other. Strategy may call you to vary from cultural patterns…thats fine…get permission and dont surprise those above you.

Never Use the fact that another ministry got something as a reason to request money. Andy tells us regularly that fairness ended at the Garden of Eden. Fair doesnt even make sense in an organization like a church. Being relevant to different groups of people (babies, children, middle schoolers, high school, etc.) takes different strategies and different budgets.

Always RememberPerception is reality. Your church congregation is watching you spend their money. If youre going golfing with their moneyit doesnt matter that a small group leader got you on the course for $10youre still out there golfing with their money and they have no idea what you paid.

Are there any other Always or Nevers that I missed? What other tips can you share about getting stuff you need for your ministry?

I hope you can join me in improving our reputation when it comes to stewardship.