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The Value of a Great Teacher and The Wonder Years of ChildhoodI truly believe wise long-term investments reap wonderful rewards for children, parents and teachers.
When I think of influential people, I think of a music teacher I had growing up. He inspired excellence, dedication and a hard work ethic that always persevered. I did not realize then how his passion, example and love for kids would carry over into other areas of life. Years later, I still find myself grateful for his investment.
Christoph Willibald Gluck perhaps said it best. He was a reformer, not a composer. Consider the influence on his life, which contributed to his great reform in opera:
“If my music has had some success, I think it is my duty to recognize that I am beholden for it to him, since it was he who enabled me to develop the resources of my art…No matter how much talent a composer has, he will never produce any but mediocre music unless the poet awakens in him that enthusiasm without which the productions of all the arts are but feeble and drooping.”
I pray that we can wisely invest in Hope’s kids and draw out of them; great things!
God places great importance on children. I believe childhood is a very critical time for laying the foundations for life. Consider Jeremiah’s and King David’s understanding of how important children are to God:
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5 NASB)
“For thou didst form my inward parts; thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalms 139:13-16 NASB).
It is my desire that children look back fondly on their childhood, remembering those who invested in them and contributed to their spiritual foundation and development.
I desire your serving experience to be a positive and rewarding one. Thank you again for your desire to minister to Hope’s kids!
Where Do I Belong?Not feeling connected? Consider serving in one of our Kids of Hope ministries:
1) Look at the Pieces…What are your gifts and passions? When can you serve? What ages are you drawn to?
2) Make it Connect…Let us know! We’d love to help you match up who you are with what you do
3) Discover how it all Fits Together…Get involved! Employ your gifts. Unleash your passion. And just watch and see what God does.
Finding your place always involves stepping out into the waters of the unknown before they part to escort you through. Believe God. Increase Your Personal Impact. Get ready to Live the Adventure!
Contact Caren Hoehn, Children’s Ministries Coordinator, for more information on Kids of Hope serving opportunities.
Who’s My Valentine?Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400)
In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century
Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s
By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women
In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France and Australia
The History of Valentines Day – The history of Valentine’s Day is not clear, but some believe during a time when marriage was unjustly banned for soldiers, a man named Valentine continued to secretly marry couples. He may have tried to help Christians escape harsh prisons and been imprisoned himself. Some believe he sent the first valentine to a visitor he fell in love with while in prison, signed “from your Valentine”. Still other history points toward to time for purification and fertility festival. But whatever the truth, Valentine was regarded as a sympathetic, heroic and most importantly, romantic figure. (source: History Channel)
“be my valentine” – Many years ago, the disciples asked Jesus “who is my brother”? I believe we have “brothers” right here at Hope and in our community who could use a “valentine” this year. If we listen closely, we can hear…those who don’t know Christ; a widower or widow who needs to know he or she is special; a senior who longs to feel his or her life has made a difference; a single co-worker who dreads Valentine’s Day; a friend going through tough times; a teen who feels God is far away; a child who matters to God; special people God has blessed your life with; those who are afraid, lonely or discouraged; those who have experienced abuse, loss or betrayal; people facing tough decisions or an uncertain future and volunteers who continually, obediently, faithfully serve for little recognition and no glory.
“from your Valentine” – Thanksgiving isn’t the only time reserved for being grateful nor Christmas for being “nice”. Being and having a valentine doesn’t mean you have to buy into all the commercialism of our culture. Look for simply ways to reward those who love others, and give His love to those in need. God’s “valentine” love for us is meant to be shared. Who is my valentine? Brothers and sisters in Christ, and those we pray would be. Let’s make February a month when we demonstrate our love for God by responding to those whose hearts cry out. Answer their “be my valentine” with a pure heart full of life “from your valentine”.
“God has a record of every diaper that we’ve changed, every baby that we’ve rocked, every runny nose that we have wiped and every story that we’ve read, every lesson that we’ve written and every prayer that we have prayed.” - Sue Miller
It’s All RelativeRecently I visited my home church. They just completed their new sanctuary this year, which is 50% larger than the old one. What struck me was my conversation with a senior gentleman. We got to talking about how the church began and grew over time. What he said next really made me think…he said the new sanctuary felt like home but that now when he goes back into the old sanctuary it suddenly feels “cozy”. Cozy. He used the word cozy. A room of 6,000 never felt “cozy” in the past. This is a church that seats almost 10,000 people now and suddenly 6,000 felt “cozy” to him!
We here at Hope and in the Stateline area can feel at home in our new surroundings! Even though our Kids of Hope ministries continue to grow and expand, they have been designed with “cozy” in mind. While adults enjoy the worship service, kids can have their own “cozy” worship for kids. And while their parents enjoy an Adult Bible Fellowship and Cell Groups, kids can enjoy their very own Kids Bible Fellowship Sunday School and Cell Groups for Kids Small Groups too.
Family ministry is important to us, so come, learn, grow, have fun and get “cozy” by participating in worship, mini-congregations and small groups for kids and parents alike! After all, “cozy” is simply relative!
Moms and Dads In TouchWhat does being “in touch” mean? It means personally drawing near to God so we have something to offer others.
Touched by God…Being touched by God means making your relationship with Him top priority. In today’s busy day and age, this is often the last thing we all think about. And my experience is it is also the hardest thing to do. But when it is toughest for me to connect with God and I somehow find a way to do so, He richly rewards me. Those are the times I suddenly “get” a passage of scripture I avoided because it was hard; meet someone new; connect with someone who brightens my day; am there for someone else; solve a problem I’d been struggling with; set an example for others about priorities; feel closer to God.. The list goes on and on. My most rewarding “God moments” occur when the opportunity is inconvenient or seems impossible – when it is hardest to be faithful, available and teachable – when obstacles are many.
Touching People’s Lives…We’re often times so busy reaching out to others that we forget that we minister out of what fills our own hearts. This is especially true for young moms. You might be tempted to think you are simply there for your kids now and later when there is “more time” you’ll get involved in spiritual things. But if your heart is empty, you will constantly feel drained. You need to be filled up with truth from God so you aren’t tempted to try to fill your life and the lives of those around you with convenient substitutes.
I am not a scientific person. I will never understand science like those who “get it”. That is their gift, not mine! But here is the beautiful thing about Scripture…we ALL can “get it” because it is the Holy Spirit who helps us understand spiritual truths. God doesn’t command me to study science; He does command ALL of us to study His word. And ironically, I have come to better understand science by studying God’s word!
When did I get fed the most in the past? When I said no to things in order to say yes to God. In addition to my own time alone with God, it was those 5 trips to church or my small group every week to study God’s word and serve with others. Those drives were at least 45 minutes each way and required me to arrive early and stay late to serve. Often times I ate dinner after 10pm or in my car on the run. Many times I was exhausted after working a full time job and many times I didn’t want to have to drop off 4 extra people, which took me an additional hour, knowing I had an early morning and long day ahead, as well as another night out. It was not fun waiting 45 minutes to get out of the icy parking lot, knowing I still had an even longer icy drive home after that. But do you know what? Those were the times I grew the most. I wouldn’t trade them for anything now!
Ok moms! It could be tough. Your kids might now make it easy for you to be involved. But you need the fellowship. You need the teaching from God’s word. And you need to find a place to serve within the church body where you can unleash your gifts and passions and enjoy becoming part of a team. So please consider how you can take advantage of the childcare options available at Hope…
Sunday Mornings: Our Kids of Hope Ministries serve children 0-5th grade during our two worship services and adult bible fellowships.
Wednesday Mornings: Our Women of Hope Ministries offer childcare during ladies’ bible studies.
How will you get “in touch” by opening up God’s blessing to your heart and touch those around you?
Living Beyond Yourself“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)
LIVING beyond yourself. Living BEYOND yourself. Living beyond YOURSELF. No matter how we say it, we’re talking about the difference between two words: change vs. transformation.
Change. Picture this as “contraction mode” – only labor and delivery without a 9 month pregnancy! When I think back on my life, I am reminded of so many unanticipated changes. My youth group started a history-making church that grew from 50-15,000+ people. We met in a theater, office space and a high school cafeteria and auditorium before purchasing land and building. Senior High youth group was over 1,000 kids, and new ministries were developing rapidly. The building expanded again and again and continues developing to this day.
When I went away to college, I lived in 3 different dorms and 5 different rooms with 5 different roommates. Life changes began. I’ve moved every 4 years on an average, but I remember one summer when I moved 5 times in 3 months while completing my degree and planning my wedding. I started my work with Discover Card, which was newly developed from Sears and part of Dean Witter and eventually Morgan Stanley, the former world trade center’s largest tenant. During my 15 years in corporate America, 13 were spent with this company as it grew rapidly; 11 at corporate headquarters where I moved 17 times. I worked in 5 different locations in 3 different states. Ironically one area was called “change management”.
Skill sets changed too. I went back to school after college for technical training. In my ministry I learned full life-cycle ministry from kids to seniors. Communities exploded. Just look at the Rockford area during the past decade! And we here at Hope have just gone through a major building program and our Kids of Hope ministries are thriving.
It is clear to me we’ve been through a technological revolution since the 80’s similar to “contraction mode”. Video game technology and a little company called Microsoft changed everything, so how we do things has had to change. Imagine how people felt when we went from horse and buggy to automobiles! Here we are in the internet age.
Through all these changes in my life, I have learned two major lessons. The first lesson is the only thing that hasn’t changed in my life is change. The second lesson? God is the only Thing that stays the same forever! (Hebrews 13:8)
Transformation. Picture this as focusing and breathing. Think about the benefits of a pregnancy. When I think of transformation, I am reminded of some lessons from the Marines. Marines learn to adapt, adjust, improvise and overcome. I also think of lessons from one of my youth pastors, Dan Webster. Insight (internal character) affects Impact (external competence). Our kids have some lessons for us too. They were challenged to let Jesus’ love flow this summer on “Lava Lava Island”. Did you know they are beginning a 10 week fall series called “Metamorphosis”? They will be learning how to transform their attitudes, actions, words and relationships. How about a lesson from researcher George Barna: Transformation is “an enduring process in which the person is radically reformed and does not revert to his or her previous condition”, not “a shift that may or may not last” such as change. Lastly, author Beth Moore helps us better understand transformation. Beth’s Breaking Free study teaches living beyond YOURSELF; her Living Beyond Yourself study teaches LIVING beyond yourself; and still another study (coming soon!), living BEYOND yourself.
There’s someone you should know…Cathy Alexander, one of our teachers and Awana Cubbies director, has watched Hope not just change, but transform since it began. Her secret to adapting to change? Find your passion, use your gifts, serve with all your heart and trust God with everything else. What good advice!
Eric and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary on September 6th. Although change has been characteristic of my life, transformation proves much more difficult. My challenge remains to focus on that Fixed Point which never changes and breathe. Perhaps I will learn a few lessons about transforming my attitudes, actions, words and relationships from our Metamorphosis kids? Maybe I’ll even “Re-Ignite the Fire” and let Jesus’ love flow? Only then will I discover the secret to LIVING BEYOND YOURSELF. Now that’s Metamorphosis!
THE REAL DEAL“He has [formed] and is forming you for impact” - Dan Webster
“The Good, The Bad and The Bugly”
In a modern-day bug parable, Skeeter showed our Metamorphosis kids just how foolish Stinky McKree was and taught them how to be a smart bug by being patient. Sheriff Black Flag Jackson had said it all along – “Flying off the handle ain’t gonna do nobody no good. A smart bug knows when to get angry and when to let it go”.
“Anyone who is patient has great understanding. But anyone who gets angry quickly shows how foolish he is.” (Proverbs 14:29 NirV)
“The Tale of the Poisonous Yuck-bugs”
Don’t be a Yuck-bug
What is a Yuck-bug?
“They’re poisonous, these Yuck-bugs. They’re toxic. They reek! For their poison is found in the words that they speak. The words that they speak are so vile and so rotten, they can make you much sicker than you’ve ever gotten. To whoever’s around, they don’t really care who. And the creatures nearly all get sick when they hear ‘em so the creatures of Gak all try not to get near them. Backwards and forwards the words flew this way on this terrible poisonous-word-flinging-day. And the more poison-yuck-words the two yuck-bugs threw, the sicker and sicker the two Yuck- bugs grew.”
Our Metamorphosis kids are learning “when we follow the Bible’s wisdom, we can change from speaking words that hurt to speaking words that heal and encourage”. We don’t have to be a Yuck-bug!
Becoming a Watch-What-You-Utterfly
A Watch-What-You-Utterfly is the Real Deal.
“See, the Watch-What-You-Utterfly has a great power. Some say that it comes from the Meer Mountain Flower. Others say that it comes from the nectar she drinks, but the truth is it comes from the words that she speaks. For the un-yucky stuff in the words that she’ll say makes the yuck from the yucky words all go away. And that’s what the Yuck-bugs were feeling right now. Their insides were un-yucking and healing somehow! Just how they were saved, well they still haven’t guessed about the Utterfly bug who had stopped for a rest. And what happened then, on the Island of Gak? It is said they were changed by their yuck-word attack. It is said the two bugs in the Boingo Leaf Tree aren’t the poisonous Yuck-bugs that they used to be. In fact, they’re quite liked now by bugs, beasts, and birds, for they know what it feels like to hear yucky words.”
“Thoughtless words cut like a sword. But the tongue of wise people brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18 NirV)
Living a Life Worth Following
“Leadership, first and foremost, begins on the inside and works out - it’s about being a person that others can take seriously. Influence isn’t initially about the words we speak – it’s about living a life worth following. In a day when image, persona, position and pizzazz are the chosen charisma of many leaders – an authentic leader understands that the size of his or her soul matters.” – Dan Webster
A Heart That’s Being Transformed
“The authentic leader’s charisma flows from a heart that’s being transformed slowly by God. They recognize that very little can change around them until things change inside of them. A man or woman who pursues authenticity leads himself or herself into this change process before they attempt to lead or influence others. As they do this they become THE REAL DEAL.” - Dan Webster
Family Time ManagementIn one year, your kids will spend about…
40 hours at church
400 hours doing math
500 hours playing video games
3,000 hours home with their parents
source: Reggie Joiner
How can you as a parent maximize those 3,000 hours you have each year as a family?
Our Kids of Hope ministries exist to supplement parents in shaping godly children. Are you taking advantage of the investment by our teachers and shepherds into you and your child’s life?
Why not…spend some quality time this week going over the things your kids bring home from church each week?...invest yourself in a women’s or men’s bible study?...take advantage of Hope’s adult small group (cells) and large group (ABF) ministries?...become part of a team and discover the joy of serving in your area of giftedness and passion?
How are you preparing for and spending those 3,000 hours?
Leading by ExampleI am reminded of a story Pastor Eric often shares. As a little boy, he came across a butterfly trying to break out of its cocoon. He wanted to help the struggling butterfly by cutting open the cocoon for him. But his dad, who had a tremendous soft spot for God’s creatures, encouraged him not to. Eric didn’t understand why he had to let it “suffer” when he could help it. Then his dad shared how the butterfly must do this for himself, even though it is so hard. By struggling, the butterfly would build the strength needed to fly once he was free (after all, he used to only crawl as a caterpillar). If he simply “helped” the butterfly along he would never learn to fly and his life would be even harder later on.
I also remember a teen from one of our youth groups named Jesse. Jesse was blind since birth. Jesse’s mom understood how she must equip him for life. She always challenged and encouraged him. When Jesse would try to get out of something difficult, his mom would say, “Jesse, you can do that for yourself”. He knew his public high school completely and learned to play piano by ear. He would set up sound equipment by himself, even when it took him 6 hours. He took advantage of his talking laptop PC since he couldn’t read. He went away to college thousands of miles away from home. And he serves as a music director in a church today, all because, I am convinced, of his “mama bird” who knew just how and when to push her ”little bird” out of the nest, even though it meant him leaving the safe and familiar.
Our goal should be to launch Christ-like children into the world to honor God by fulfilling their calling. Are we clinging to them to meet our own needs, or are we pursuing God who will meet our needs so we can meet theirs? Do we view them as gifts on loan from God? Are we fulfilling OUR calling? Can we adapt to change and grow? Are we grateful? Do we ourselves live in fear or do we tackle the tough stuff going on not just in our lives, but deep within our hearts? Are we team players or do we “take our ball and go home” when we don’t get our way? Are we respectful to authority or do our kids give us the same lack of respect we model for them? Do we gossip, slander and take up the offense of another or have we lived enough of life to realize many things are not our business and we rarely have all the facts. Do we apologize and ask for forgiveness when we’re wrong, or do we leave loose ends everywhere and never resolve conflict? Do we try to fight our kids’ battles for them, or do we show them how to deal with life on their own? In short, can they see Christ in us?
I am ashamed to admit, that often times, unbelievers show me up. I used to work with a girl who came to me one day and said she needed to apologize and ask for my forgiveness. She said she had been listening to gossip and slander and even though she knew it wasn’t true, chose to believe it anyway. I almost fell over in my chair. Never had I experienced such class. I have never forgotten the example she set for me that day. She was ashamed of what was in her heart and how she had chosen to deal with it and how it wrongfully hurt other people. I saw more “Christ in her” than I felt in myself or saw in most Christians. She led by example. And she set a very high bar.
This summer, our elementary kids will be rediscovering “Metamorphosis”. Why not choose to lead by example and transform with them? Romans 12:2 provides us ALL with the challenge: “let God transform you”. LET God. Let’s all as adults choose to lead by example, from the “Inside Out”. Let’s each commit to re-evaluate our own attitudes, actions, words and relationships. Are we being Christ-like? How will our kids ever grow up loving God, His word and other people if we ourselves don’t? Are we as adults taking advantage of opportunities to develop our own personal walk with Jesus? How do we live it out in the real world every day? Are we teachable in spirit and authentic in character? What are we modeling and what impact is it having?
The future is at stake, for many little eyes and ears are always watching and listening, whether we realize it or not.
“Give me a ‘Heart Attack’, PLEASE!”Heart Attack. We all have an initial reaction to these two words. I’m sure it is safe to say, it is never positive. I remember a friend of mine from high school. The bad news is that her mom, Emily, had seven heart attacks. The good news? She lived to tell about them! Pretty amazing.
But let me tell you about another kind of “heart attack”. I’ve been watching a lot of them lately. They’ve occurred in our Kids of Hope ministries. You might just be surprised how a “heart attack” like this can be a good thing. And it’s even contagious. Here’s seven we encountered…and lived to tell about…
Leadership. I personally witnessed Cheryl Cummins have a “heart attack”. No, it’s not what you’re thinking! Yes – as both director and teacher, she started the fall quarter with no small group shepherds for her 2nd-3rd graders. Did she quit? No way. She volunteered to lead anyway. And God rewarded her. We welcome Rachel Gustafson and Liz Christman to her team. We know there is another small group leader out there whose “heart” is ready to “attack” the opportunity to love kids and help them apply God’s word to their lives. Who will join their team?
Ministry. I’ve watched our Awana Directors and KBF Sunday School/Small Groups Ministry Team have “heart attacks” too. They love kids. They love their staff. And they are all stepping up from simply serving to actually leading. They are leading teams of teachers, shepherds and administrators. And they are giving THEM “heart attacks” too! Way to go Bev Pommering, Ed and Kim Conley, Karen Platzbecker, John Berg, Cheryl Cummins and Janice Shaw! Who will join them? We’re still looking for one more person ready to have a “heart attack” like each one of them has.
Teaching. What do you do when you have 30 K-1st graders, 4 small group leader shepherds and no teacher? That’s what small group leader shepherds Pat Ahlberg and Elaine Winebrenner are experiencing! Their “heart attack” needs were just the opposite of Cheryl Cummins’. And yet they continue to serve until a teacher with a “heart attack” joins their team. Who will it be?
Shepherding. New life. Our “hearts” go on the “attack” immediately to protect these little ones and love them. I am so grateful for those who have recently had “heart attacks” to join our nursery team: Polly Quinn, Laura Bally, Wendy Lowery, Kim Dietrich and Vicky Steege. Thank you all!!! And special thanks to Sue Price who has handled sanitation. Who else might be inspired to join this awesome team?
Administration. Our moms are starting to have “heart attacks” too. They want to get involved. And we’re making sure they have a place. Why not join our mom-to-mom ministry? They are “attacking” our facility, equipment and security Kids of Hope ministry needs with their “hearts”. You don’t have to be a mom to join! Is YOUR “heart” ready to “attack”?
Hospitality (First Impressions). There is nothing like watching a gifted person like Mary Montagner decorate! (She’s not only having a “heart attack” of her own, but also an art attack in our preschool wing!) We so value people who like to create a warm, inviting environment and make people feel special. Welcomed. Valued. Loved. That’s why we’re always looking for those who want a person’s experience here at Hope to be a very positive – and lasting – one.
Music & Drama (Creative Communications). Brad Keyes is also having an “attack” of the “heart”. His passion is drama, so he has begun to head up our Kids of Hope drama team. Is your passion drama or music? How about multimedia? Why not join the Kids of Hope Creative Communications team?
Our K-5th graders at 9am are learning how to “do life with God in the picture” this year. Will we, like them, experience “5G Discovery, Challenge and Impact” in our own lives? And as our K-4th graders at 10:30am learn how Jesus turns our lives upside down in “flipt” Worship for Kids this fall, perhaps you might consider how your life can get “flipt” too and ask God to give you a “heart attack”? Can you imagine the possibilities of how you could be a valuable part of our exciting Kids of Hope ministries? I assure you, none of those who have been having “heart attacks” around here could either. But now they’ve even got other people asking God “Give me a ‘heart attack’, PLEASE!” Like I said…it’s contagious!
A NEW DAY!WOW! I can’t believe how we’re all being challenged to respond to the changes going on around us in our community, here at Hope and within our Kids of Hope Ministries. I recently looked back on my past 4 years at Hope and was reminded again and again, without change, there can be no growth. (And with growth comes change!) Here’s just a few of our challenges that came to my mind…
v A building program! With every building program come new challenges and opportunities. Having the building completed is only the first step; implementing that vision which required the building program in the first place is now our task at hand.
v 50% increase in weekly Kids of Hope staffing needs: from 100 to over 150
v 6th graders moved up from elementary to Jr. High Crossroads ministry (yet attendance not affected)
v Nursery/Preschool 0-K increase in facility needs: from 1 room to 6
v Nursery/Preschool 0-K increase in member needs: from 1 to 6
v Nursery/Preschool 0-K increase in staffing needs: from 2 to 6
v Nursery 0 to 24 months increased staffing needs by 50% (just in the past year)
v Elementary restructuring reduced member need: from 8 to 3
v Elementary restructuring reduced teacher need: from 8 to 3
v Elementary restructuring reduced staffing need: from 8 to 4
v Elementary summer restructuring decreased staffing needs by 50%
v First Impressions team in development
v Kids of Hope Leadership Team and Ministry Teams stepping up from serving to leading
v Kids of Hope Student Leadership Team in development
v Administration Team developed for Facilities, Equipment and Security
v Need for Lead Teacher, Lead Shepherd and Lead Administrator
v Creative Communications: Drama, Music and Multimedia Teams emerging
v Process Re-Engineering: Reusability & Communication (how we do things to run our ministries)
v Holiday and Special event childcare reduced: for 0-3 years Saturday evening Cantatas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, quarterly congregational business meetings (we are currently maxed for space at the PAC on Easter Sunday just to handle ages 0-3 years)
v Increased usage of our facilities, esp. nursery, and supplies by non-Kids of Hope ministries
v Updating and converting from a sequential teaching model to reusable, modular, relational team and gifts-based curriculum designed for today’s kids, their world and their future (rollout of new less labor and resource intensive Promiseland Curriculum for elementary)
v Integrating multiple Kids of Hope ministries internally, as well as within the larger Hope body
v Contention for resources to run various ministries; inability to staff “nice-to-haves” when “need-to-haves” still remain despite the fact that we still offer more and staff better than most churches.
v The inevitability of change; being flexible; prioritizing ministries according to vision and values.
As I look forward to “A New Day” in 2006, I am again challenged by what God continues to do. How will I respond? Inevitably I will respond according to what is going on in my own heart. Is it being transformed – upside down, inside out? I mean, REALLY? Do I fear the future, or do I have hope? Am I like the Israelites who just wanted to go back to the familiar onions in Egypt where they were slaves instead of facing the future – the unknown - with courage by trekking onward into the Promised Land where freedom and God’s gracious gifts awaited? And then I am reminded, whatever is not from faith is sin (Romans 14:23b).
God longs to part waters…and show us how to walk on them too! I am convinced blessings of many a new day await us in 2006! Are we ready?
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)
February is Volunteer Appreciation Month!Here’s how you can participate…
PRINCIPLE (the “what”)…
LOVE: No strings attached (1 Sam 17-20; 2 Sam 1)
PATIENCE: Take a long time to get hot (1 Sam 18-26; 2 Sam 1)
KINDNESS: Treat ‘em like royalty (1 Sam 20; 2 Sam 9-30)
GENTLENESS: Handle with care (1 Sam 25)
INTEGRITY: Do the right thing (2 Sam 11-12; Ps 51)
ref. Teaching pastor Randy Frazee, WCCC
PRACTICE (the ”how”)…
How will we really love someone this month? THE CHOICE IS UP TO US!!!
Please take the opportunity, especially this valentine month, to demonstrate love, patience, kindness, gentleness and integrity and make those who serve in our Kids of Hope Ministries feel appreciated. How will you do that? Be creative and take action!
Our teachers, shepherds and administrators serving in our weekend, weeknight and annual summer-only ministries deserve thanks for all they do, as well as those First Impressions greeters and our Creative Communications music & drama team.
And need I mention our Leadership Team who is doing a fantastic job not just serving, but leading? Thanks to Debbie Moore, AWANA; Karen Pack & Amy Nagel, Nursery; Amy Hill and Candy Tichgelaar, Preschool; Jo Ott (interim assignment for Cheryl Cummins – elementary); Lori Mason & Angie Irving, Camp Timber-lee; and Karin Storm, VBS. And thanks also to Brad Keyes who is developing our Kids of Hope Drama Team and whoever will fill our vacant positions: Elementary 9am KBF Sunday School & Small Groups K-5th, Elementary 10:30am Worship for Kids Children’s Church K-4th.
Our Ministry Teams have also been working hard serving and leading, so be sure to thank our AWANA and KBF Sunday School & Small Groups directors too!
Won’t you take advantage of this opportunity to make someone feel valued?
“But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. (Galatians 5:22-26 MSG)
Turning our Pain into Prayer: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
“Jabez was a man who got his name because of the pain he caused his mother during birth. But he was still the most respected son in his family. One day he prayed to Israel's God, ‘Please bless me and give me a lot of land. Be with me so I will be safe from harm.’ And God did just what Jabez had asked.” (CEV)
In Hebrew "Jabez" sounds like "pain." We might say, "keep me from harm, so I won't cause any pain." Are you “Living on a Prayer”? (Ref. Gene Appel, Lead Pastor WCCC)…
Bless me indeed!!! – with whatever You choose, however You choose, whenever You choose, for Your purposes and glory (this virtually eliminates jealousy, envy and coveting)
Enlarge my territory – expand my life impact to increase the Kingdom; open my eyes to the fields already ripe for harvest
Let Your hand be with me – asking God for the power to change
Keep me from evil – that I may not cause pain; don’t let my fatal flaws cause me to sin; help me run and hold on
“Feed My Sheep…Tend My Lambs” (John 21)
We are just like sheep. Clueless to danger. Can’t survive on our own. Follow the crowd. Quick to panic (from Promiseland’s Show Me the Shepherd)
Pass the Buck? 7th grade student Trevor: “What’d you ever do to change the world?” 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher Mr. Simonet: “Well Trevor, I get a good nights sleep, I eat a hearty breakfast, I show up – on time – and then I pass the buck to you”. (from the movie, “Pay it Forward”)
The Best is Yet to Come. “Our children are the messages we send to the future.” “God has called and anointed you to shape the ‘messages’ that this generation will send to the future.” Kenneth Ulmer
How’s Your Heart? “The greatest challenge of the day is how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us.” Dorothy Day
Our Example. Jesus, our Ultimate Shadow Buddy, paid it forward. Let’s remember our Good Shepherd this Good Friday and Easter Sunday. What idea will we each put into action that will change the world? How will we “pay it forward?”
Teach & Shepherd. Need some help? Here some great tools and resources…
The Real Deal and Increasing Your Personal Impact by Dan Webster, our men’s retreat speaker (let your heart and life be transformed from the inside out)
http://www.authenticleadershipinc.com/A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller
Visit
http://www.promiselandonline.com/ for more about…
Leading Kids to Jesus and Leading Your Child to Jesus by Dave Staal (we’ve been waiting for these!)
the ‘flipt’ Family Experience (check out the parent packs for Sunday School this summer!)
Making Your Children’s Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kids Week by Sue Miller & Dave Staal
24 hour online Promiseland Curriculum support
Promiseland Curriculum scope and sequence
Promiseland “A New Day!” ’06 Conference Session Highlights (you can order dvds and/or cds!)
Other websites:
http://www.timber-lee.com/,
http://www.groupvbs.com/,
http://www.awana.org/Lessons From My CousinRecently I thought of my aunt Jean. I was thinking about teachability and I remembered her life-long learner attitude. I marveled at how little time I’d spent with her growing up in comparison to her positive impact through just moments in my life.
I recalled Eric’s and my move to the east coast over a decade and a half ago and her giving me directions to their house just outside NYC. It was someplace I had never visited, let alone driven to. I had listened carefully as she gave me detail after detail, thinking all the while, “why all the extraneous information? Just give me what I need to know.” My heart wasn’t very teachable, yet I did manage to write down what she said.
As Eric and I both approached NYC in separate cars, I vividly recalled every one of her instructions in my head after our 15 hour drive from Chicago. All of a sudden every seemingly unimportant detail she had said over the phone (“the white sign”; “the pine tree”; the “right spot” to be in to cross the GW bridge) took on new meaning. Landmark after landmark approached so quickly, I had no time to even reference my notes, acting on memory alone. All of a sudden I found myself in her driveway, thinking, “wow, NOW I understand.” Every landmark she had given me was of utter importance and unbelievably accurate. Because she took the time to carefully communicate to me, her voice kicked in at the right moment in time. I marveled at how she knew from experience what I would be facing and gave me all the detail I would need to navigate so quickly with so little time for good decision making. Nothing about her information proved extraneous!
Then just this past week I discovered something very amazing. Her son Keith (my cousin) has written a book about lessons famous and successful people learned from their fathers. What impressed me was the process he went through to put this book together…
· Keith sent out over 400 letters to famous and successful people all over the nation, asking for their participation
· He received a positive response back from only 1 person
· That’s .25% (yes, a quarter of a percent!)
· But that .25% “seed” happened to be golfing legend Arnold Palmer
· That .25% “seed” was enough encouragement for Keith to press on
· If Arnold Palmer had confidence in his idea and felt it had merit, he figured others would too
· There was tremendous potential and power in just that ONE single seed
· From there the process picked up steam
· Collaboration followed
· Participants emerged
· And just look what started from that “seed” vs. the other 99.75% or 399 plus
It is one thing to PREPARE for something by being teachable; it is quite another thing to RESPOND with a teachable heart. Keith wanted to know what life lessons other people’s dads had imparted to them. He was teachable. But he was also put to the test when his request for participation in his project brought so much rejection. It was only through pressing on with the encouragement from that .25% that responded positively, collaboration followed…which led to participation - the long way round!
Little did Keith realize that throughout this whole process, he demonstrated lessons he had learned from his own father. And after such a long, difficult, discouraging process he was rewarded during nested moments with people and their stories which blessed him with answers to his questions. Keith could have been disappointed that 99.75% of his initial list of people chose not to participate; but never could he imagine the end result. In the end, Keith spoke with Presidents, Senators, Ambassadors, Civil Rights icons, Nobel Laureates, Rock and Roll stars, Hall of Fame athletes, business titans and world renowned artists; women and men from all different racial and religious backgrounds - a regular who's who of America. Now he is working on his second book which looks at lessons imparted by mothers.
Our Kids of Hope ministries are possible because of the collaboration and participation of over 150 volunteers each week. We are excited to provide training opportunities for leaders and staff, as well as parents and families:
1. “Becoming A Minister” Leadership Training – from heart to impact, what stands in the way of brining God glory? Removing and/or overcoming obstacles to Christ-likeness
2. “Doing Ministry” Ministry Training – vision and values, how to’s
3. “Ministering” Serving Training – gifts, roles, passions
We believe the truth and life lessons from the authors of these training resources are very valuable to us and worth the time and effort it takes to apply them to our own hearts, then impart them to others and for others to receive then impart them to yet others with a teachable heart:
Leadership Training… Our Kids of Hope Leadership Team has been going through Dan Webster’s The Real Deal and will follow up with Increasing Your Personal Impact
http://www.authenticleadershipinc.com/.
Ministry Training… Several of them have also gone through Promiseland Vision and Values training and will be leading their respective ministry teams through this training as well.
Serving Training… And we are very excited to provide training for parents and those working directly with our kids via Leading Your Child to Jesus and Leading Kids to Jesus by Dave Staal.
Lastly, we have made parent packs available for the Flipt FX Family Experience for this summer’s K-4th Sunday school so kids and parents can also learn biblical life lessons at home, together as a family.
As we strive to impart valuable life lessons and truth to our children, we know that the biggest imparting comes from our teachability before our Father. He asks our heart participation in his work to share the lessons He teaches us with others. Will we, like Keith, choose to collect these lessons and learn from them? Will we choose to be that “Arnold Palmer” and participate? Will we be that .25% encouragement that helps someone press on via collaboration to participation? The process and end result could be different than we anticipated…and bigger than we ever imagined.
"Surrendering to God the essence of who we are allows Him to whisper a secret to us." "As our hearts finally receive all that we have longed for, I imagine some will dance, some will weep, but all of us will know we are home, at last". "And she has a purpose - to be her Maker's advertisement and bring Him applause." from Devotions for a Sensational Life (thank you fall 05 Breaking Free ladies!)
