|
Doing Double Duty
This week’s stories describe ministries reaching several groups with one new idea. Is your church multiplying its impact in an interesting way? Write buzz@standardpub.com to share your news!
Pour Planning
Last month Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, located near Indiana University in Bloomington, opened a coffeehouse as part of its college outreach ministry. The 2,500-square-foot “Pour House” provides several areas for studying (including a large back room with a fireplace) as well as high-definition TVs, open spaces for live music, and areas for Bible studies and community gatherings.
But even as SOCC launches this new ministry, it also plans to make a global impact.
“If you buy a cup of Guatemalan coffee, money will be sent to help people in Guatemala,” shared John Robertson, Sherwood Oaks’s college minister, in an interview with the Indiana Daily Student. The paper reports profits will also build wells in Africa and support other poverty relief efforts, both international and local.
In August Sherwood Oaks members pledged $170,000 to fund the project, and many volunteers donated time and materials to prepare the location. The Pour House opened January 7, the first day of IU’s spring semester.
www.socc.org
Class Room
Pleasant View Church of Christ (Cassopolis, Michigan) solved two problems with its “Your Good Question” study. Not only does the one-hour class provide answers to common questions about the Bible, it also frees space for the church’s growing youth ministry.
“We moved our Wednesday night adult class to Wednesdays at noon,” says Jeff Oliver, senior minister. “Our youth groups needed space, and we needed some of our adults to help with their activities. A small church plus limited space plus growing teens equals generous adults willing to change.”
These generous adults now enjoy lunch together before diving into topics ranging from Bible “basics” to questions about leadership qualifications, divorce and remarriage, the end times, fasting, prayer, and more.
Oliver usually prepares answers to questions ahead of time, but occasionally “shoots from the hip” and leads the group in researching answers together.
Fifteen to 20 adults attend the class each week, donating a dollar for the volunteer-made meal and leaving early to return to work if necessary.
Oliver hopes the class will continue to grow and attract non-Christians from the community. Meanwhile, the junior and senior high teens enjoy a new worship time in the sanctuary each Wednesday night.
(269) 445-2655
Second Service
After Don Marshall retired from 25 years as senior minister at First Christian Church (Elizabethton, Tennessee), he discovered there was a problem: he didn’t like retirement.
Soon he began working as an interim speaker and preached several weeks at Brick Christian Church in nearby Watauga.
“After a few Sundays the church asked him to stay on as the minister,” says Don’s wife, Shirley, who is assistant to the president at Emmanuel School of Religion (Johnson City). “We loved the people so much we said yes.”
And BCC seems to love it, too. In just four years the attendance has tripled to its current average of 90, and Marshall shares his sermon with countless others via local radio stations.
In addition, Brick Christian now embraces opportunities to make a difference outside eastern Tennessee. After Marshall hired a Brazilian student from Emmanuel to lead the youth group, other Brazilian families began attending weekend services.
“These folks couldn’t believe how much the people at this little country church wanted to know them and to learn about Brazil,” Shirley says.
The growing relationships also prompted new levels of missions giving.
“The church provided every penny necessary for that youth minister to participate in a trip to Russia,” Shirley says. “It seemed a lot to ask, but our members didn’t hesitate. Their donations even covered all his spending money.”
Although Shirley describes the experience as “a great conclusion to our paid ministry,” don’t expect Don to explore retirement again soon. “My husband is 73, still ministering, and loving it,” she says.
(423) 542-4990
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS:
Surprising and Successful
‘Your Class Ring Could Save a Life’
Helping Victims of Abuse
A New Way to Raise Funds Via Golf
Teaming Up to Spotlight Homelessness
Helping Students Here and Abroad
Adding a Satellite Campus
‘Close Interaction that Doesn’t Fit a Formula’
‘The Best Link Between the Generations’
A Multicultural Model
Inspired by James 2
Putting Feet on Our Faith
Enriching the Neighborhood
Helping in Hard Times
Rooftop Exploit
A Network of Care
‘Training Rooted in Our Movement’
Accomplishing the Mission
Coming Together
Multiplying Blessings at Christmas
Training and Resources
Musical Partnerships
Online Services
More Than an Event
"An Explicitly Theological Agenda"
A Partnership with the Community
Hmong Worshipers Move into Own Place
Coffee with a Mission
Impacting the Community
Encouraging Entire Families to Attend
‘Festival Evangelism’ to Muslims
Growing Opportunities
Church Design Lauded
Prayers and Exercise
Fun Ways to Make Connections
Getting Away with God
A Model for Future Ministry
Florida Gator on the Go
It Never Hurts to Ask
"A Natural Connection"
Working Together in Kenya
New Ways to Serve
A Natural Connection
Following David’s Example
Turning the Tables on the Teens
A Partnership of Churches
Introducing Couples to Christ
Illinois Hunters Feed the Hungry
Major Move Leads to Better Opportunities
11-18-07 -- Multiple Improvements Planned
11-4-07 -- Multiplying Missional Impact
10-21-07 -- The Church Van with ‘Free Stuff’
10-7-07 -- Emotional Times for Missionary Moms, Dads
9-9-07 -- A Place for Prayer, a Place for All
8-26-07 -- Cookouts, Bibles, and VBS
8-12-07 -- Changing Lives in a Day Or Less
7-29-07 -- Reaching Out to Arabs
7-15-07 -- A Second Site with Curb Appeal
7-1-07 -- Developing a Desire to Dig Deeper
6-17-07 -- Growing Leaders
6-3-07 -- Vacation Ministry School, Anyone?
5-20-07 -- Uniting to Serve
5-6-07 -- Real Struggles, Real Solutions
4-22-07 -- The Ministry of Giving Back
4-8-07 -- Cultivating an Interest in Missions
3-25-07 -- Morning Worship for Teens
3-11-07 -- From Preschoolers to Teens
2-25-07 -- From Christian School to Art Studios
2-11-07 -- A Ministry to Parents
1-28-07 -- Reversing the Sexual Trend for Teens
1-14-07 -- An Airline Industry Ministry
12-31-06 -- Partnership in Nebraska
12-17-06 -- Taking Jesus to the Community
12-3-06 -- Musical and Spiritual Training
11-19-06 -- Missions and Mentoring
11-5-06 -- Help for At-Risk Kids
10-22-06 -- Cardboard Catacomb
10-8-06 -- Community Building
9-24-06 -- 'Grace-Driven' Ministry
9-10-06 -- Introducing Skateboarders to Jesus
8-27-06 -- Reaching Families . . . With VBS!
8-13-06 -- Communicating Ideas About God
7-30-06 -- A Ministry of Clothing
7-16-06 -- Strengthening Marriages
7-2-06 -- Balloon Ministry Blesses Children
6-18-06 -- Church on the Move
6-4-06 -- Bold Moves Paying Off for Everyone
5-21-06 -- New Ministries for Hurting Families
5-7-06 -- Sharing Jesus' Love Through Daily Donations
4-30-06 -- Georgia on My Mind
4-9-06 -- Bringing the Old Testament to Life
3-26-06 -- Experiencing Exciting Adventures
3-12-06 -- Connecting God to a Wider Culture
2-26-06 -- Churches Using Dogs for Outreach
2-12-06 -- A Bike a Child Can Call His Own
1-29-06 -- Comforting Those Who Are Grieving
1-15-06 -- Preschool for Teens
1-1-06 -- Servant Evangelism for All Ages
12-18-05 -- How Will Your Church Celebrate Christmas This Year?
12-4-05 -- The Hot Place for Teens
11-20-05 -- Linking Adults with Young People
11-6-05 -- Stories of Successful Partnerships
10-23-05 -- Serving Specific Groups
10-9-05 -- An "At-Home" Mission Trip
9-25-05 -- At Work in New Orleans
9-11-05 -- An Evening to Remember
8-28-05 -- Up, Up, and Away
8-14-05 -- Growing Despite Limited Space
7-31-05 -- Christians Come Together Along Rio Grande
7-17-05 -- Reaching Into Downtown Savannah
7-3-05 -- Considering God's Call to Service
6-19-05 -- Community Involvement Being Noticed
6-6-05 -- Spring VBS Gets Great Response
5-22-05 -- 'We Call It Cyber-Evangelism'
5-8-05 -- Production Company Evangelizing Through Film
|
