I’m continuing to suggest ideas for you to prepare for the year ahead. Pick out what is relevant to you. Fit the ideas into your time constraints. I recommend doing the tasks in this four-part series in January or February.

Meanwhile, I’ve got a photo of a cozy winter desk. You can imagine you’re working from there.

Your January Guide: Part 2 of 4

The highlighted items will help you discover what you want to add to your to-do list.

At the bottom of this post, I listed some of the topics in the series so you know what’s coming up.

MPD*

I started writing our January prayer letter. I look back at past newsletters to make sure I have a variety of topics.

Every January, I also make a year plan for prayer letters. (I often don’t know our subject matter until it’s time to write.)

Here’s my plan for 2025 that you may download and adapt. I had some family events, fund appeals, and Cru25 in mind when I made the schedule.

• For each newsletter, I allow two weeks from concept to mailing.
  • After I made the plan, I put the concept dates and the mailing dates in my calendar.
  • I tweak the plan during the year if something unexpected comes up.
• We mail on Tuesdays or Thursdays because Lake Hart Donation Services seals and mails prayer letters for free. (Thank you, Donation Services! I have a corn allergy and can’t lick envelopes.)
• The original spreadsheet started on Sundays. This year’s starts on Tuesdays. If needed, type in your weekly January dates. Then, drag the dates through December to change to a different day-to-mail date.

Read Do You Have a Communication Plan and Free Download for more help with the spreadsheet if you need it.

(Refer to the Annual MPD Plan on Workspace. Our MPD team has suggestions for MPD for the entire year. I’ll avoid duplicating what is in that document.)

Reimbursements

Ministry

I always make new reimbursement spreadsheets for the year ahead. I updated the spreadsheet and instructions last year. This post, Free Download: Ministry Reimbursement Spreadsheet, has all the information you need to use your copy of the Ministry Reimbursement Spreadsheet.

Download the 2024 Ministry Reimbursement Spreadsheet Template. Save a copy to your Google Drive.

(My medical reimbursement spreadsheet information needs an update. I hope to simplify that content for you in February.)

Digital Files

Meanwhile, you need a new digital folder for your important reimbursement receipts. I recommend my naming system described in Organizing Reimbursements.

I don’t use the paper folder system, but I’m diligent about naming and filing our digital information.

• Soon after you have a reimbursement receipt, scan it and put it in your 2025 PDFs folder. A receipt for today might be 20250114 S dermatologist visit. Use the YYYYMMDD date format for easy sorting, followed by an initial for the family member, and finally, a short description of the doctor visit, Rx purchase, etc.
• Every week or so, upload your folder content to the cloud. You can start with the cloud if you prefer.

Miscellaneous

In the last post, I mentioned I lost my BCBS card. I’ve had two appointments already without an insurance card to show. I ordered a new card and finally downloaded BCBS’s app. I can now show a digital card from the My Health Toolkit app.

How are you doing on your January tasks? Am I missing anything?

NOTES:

• MPD is Ministry Partner Development
• The planned series:
  • Part 1
    • Finish up EOYA tasks
    • Address January greeting cards if you haven’t done so.
  • Part 2
    • Make a year plan for prayer letters. Start your January letter.
    • Start your reimbursement spreadsheet for the year.
    • Start a digital folder for your medical PDF files.
  • Part 3
    • Make financial MPD plans.
    • Make correspondence MPD plans.
    • Finish prayer letter.
  • Part 4
    • Update the Reminder System on the StaffWeb
    • Update thank-you note wording for the year.
    • Create thank-you note story insert.
  • Photo by Roberto Nickson  on Unsplash

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