5 Best Practices to Promote EBO

Have you seen a decline in your state missions offering giving? Sometimes its how we promote the offering that makes the difference. Take a look at these "5 Best Practices" and try a new way to inform your church of giving to State Missions. 

​

1. Prayer- Start your campaign with individual and congregational prayer.  As an individual, it will focus you on Kingdom pursuits.  As a congregation, it will encourage an atmosphere of sacrificial giving.  If you need guidance, consult the EBO prayer guide on Kentucky WMU’s website. 
2. Pulpit- Unless your pastor is promoting EBO from the pulpit, most of your congregation will not be invested in your campaign.  In advance, meet with your pastor.  Provide the Churchwide Guide from Kentucky WMU’s website.  Explain the EBO’s impact on Kentucky missions.  Allow him to catch the “fever” for missions from you.  Ultimately, if your pastor is genuinely excited about the work of the EBO, it will show in the pulpit. 
3. Mission Moment- Speak with your pastor and/or worship team about setting aside a part of your weekly service to play EBO videos from Kentucky WMU’s website.  Often, hearing the impact of the EBO directly from grant recipients will resonate with your congregation. 
4. Social Media- Kentucky WMU supplies several graphics for your church’s social media platforms.  Link your online giving platform to every post and make donations effortless.  Post often: 2-3 times a week leading up to and during your campaign.  Include pictures of team activities, prayer, classroom involvement, etc.  Share the same videos you may have played for mission moments and even the ones you didn’t.  Provide updates on your church’s progress towards its goal.  Encourage your team to share every EBO post to their page/story for maximum reach.   
5. Sunday School/ Small Group- Schedule a meeting with your church’s Sunday School/ small group leaders.  Supply the age-appropriate study guides offered on Kentucky WMU’s Website for their perusal.  Encourage them to dedicate a class to EBO or to designate time weekly for snippets of curriculum. 

Written by Darcy Jo Porter, Kentucky WMU Executive Board Member.