Theme
Gather the women in your church and have a time of crafting with a purpose. This event is designed to involve your women in ministry and mission through crafts.

Invitations
Attach a card with all the information to a small M & M candy package.

Decorations
Anything related to M & M candy.

Icebreaker
Prepare a bowl or other container with M&Ms and have something to scoop out M&Ms or use a large spoon. Have each woman take a scoop of M&Ms from the bowl and whichever color she has the most of will determine the question to answer. Form smaller groups to answer questions if necessary.

• Red: Tell about a craft project you are currently working on.
• Green: Tell about a craft project that you never finished.
• Yellow: What craft project are you most proud of?
• Orange: What kind of craft would you like to learn how to do?
• Blue: How many times have you been to a craft store this month?
• Brown: How many craft fairs have you been to this year?

 Event Details:

• Explain that a ministry project is directed to church members and a mission project is directed to those outside the church that you are trying to share the gospel with. Every Christian should be involved in both ministry and missions.
• Choose at least one ministry and one mission project and provide all materials needed to complete projects.
• Prepare samples of projects and have someone ready to lead each craft.
• Contact someone to give a testimony of how they used their crafting to show God’s love.
• Include a time of prayer for those who will receive your crafts.
• Brainstorm other ways crafts can be used in ministry and missions.

 Ministry Project Ideas:

• Cards: get well, encouragement, sympathy, birthday send to members.
• Cookie Mix: put in decorative container and include recipe. Give to a single mom or someone who needs some encouragement.
• Dry Soup Mix: put into a Ziploc bag wrap in a bandana and attach to a wooden spoon include card with recipe for making soup. Give to a member who recently was in the hospital, single mom or family who needs encouragement.
• Candy Wrapper: design for different occasions.

Mission Projects Ideas:

• Boo-Boo Bunny: give to crisis pregnancy center, preschools or new moms.
• Comfort pillow: give to surgical patients.
• Preemie Gown: give to hospital or to a new mom of a preemie.
• Comfort Cap: give to hospital for cancer patients or a chemo clinic.
• Doll: go to www.womenonmission.com for dolls and mission information.
• Lap Quilts or Afghans: give to nursing homes.
• Baby Blankets: give to crisis pregnancy centers.

Helpful Tips:

• Include some type of card identifying who you are and why you are doing this project (to show God’s love in a practical way, God loves you).
• Search the internet for information on these projects and others.
• Check with agencies to make sure they would welcome your craft. Ask for suggestions for what they need.
• You are representing Jesus - insist on quality items.