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3-11-07 -- From Preschoolers to Teens
Main Event
While churches in the States develop MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) programs, Shore Community Christian Church (Auckland, New Zealand) offers “Mainly Music” as a way for parents of young children to connect. At Shore, the initiative serves “mums” both inside and outside the church—and creates opportunities to share Jesus.
Groups throughout Australia and the United Kingdom organize Mainly Music gatherings. At Shore, the nonreligious format attracts unchurched families as well as current members. “This is very much a friendship ministry,” says Robyn Black, community pastor. “We encourage our church mums to pray and build friendships. Many catch up outside the weekly session and they are a great witness in sharing their lives with the women who don’t know Jesus.”
Moms and preschoolers meet one morning each week for 90 minutes. The first half hour includes simple songs, creative dance movements, and fun rhythm activities for moms and kids to enjoy together; during the last hour the children play while moms relax with tea and conversation.
Black and her team also extend the group’s outreach in practical ways. When Mainly Music moms have a new baby, the church supplies them with a week of meals. “In church we often take this for granted, but in the wider community this is not always the norm,” says Black. “The response has been amazing.”
Shore’s efforts to combine evangelism with a program encouraging family relationships is paying off in changed lives. The church began a MOPS group just in the last few months, after establishing good relationships through Mainly Music. “We now have the opportunity to sow biblical truth into their lives,” Black says.
http://shore.ccbchurch.com/app/
Going to P.O.T.s
Most churches host MOPS ministries to encourage young mothers, but few organize groups to support parents of teenagers—and these parents desperately need support! To meet this need, Maple Grove Christian Church (Charlottesville, Virginia) created “ClayP.O.T.s” to help parents “launch godly young people in an ungodly world.”
P.O.T.s, which stands for “Parents of Teens,” meets in homes; the format includes an informal meal and opportunities for parents to discuss experiences and struggles.
But P.O.T.s gatherings serve the teens, as well. Each meeting includes the kids in prayer times and relationship building, and throughout the year the group organizes fun activities for families to enjoy together.
www.maple-grove.org
Back to School
While our colleges and seminaries continue to provide higher education on their own campuses, several now meet the needs of busy church leaders by bringing coursework to the local church. As a result, both ministers and members benefit.
Englewood Christian Church (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Mission Indy, a partnership of Indianapolis churches, collaborated with Emmanuel School of Religion (Johnson City, Tennessee) and Lincoln (Illinois) Christian Seminary to create the Urban Ministry Institute in April 2006. The institute teaches church members and local church leaders while also providing accredited classes for undergrads and graduate students.
Leaders of the UMI hope to create a more holistic approach to training and education for urban ministry, and envision a combination of hands-on experiences as well as classroom learning. They write, “Several factors have led to the reduction in the numbers and effectiveness of urban churches, especially within our broader fellowship. There is a very real need for concentrated studies within an urban environment, combined with practical experience in those areas, if we the church are to remain faithful to our calling.”
The institute held its first class in September 2006, and this spring it offers two more: “Islam and Ministry in Today’s Urban Context,” taught by Dr. Robert Douglas of Lincoln, and “Ethnic Relations in Urban Ministry,” taught by Dr. Alvin Sanders of Cincinnati Christian University.
On the other side of the country, another church partners with Lincoln to enrich Las Vegas learners. Central Christian College (at Central Christian in Henderson) provides classes for personal growth, offers a certificate program for small group and ministry leaders at the church, and also enables students to work toward a Lincoln Christian College degree. Central even discounts the tuition by more than 50 percent.
CCC is currently offering six classes, including “An Introduction to Biblical Research,” “Ministerial Ethics,” and “Acts: A History of the Early Church.”
www.englewoodcc.com
www.missionindy.com
www.centralchristian.com
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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