|
Fun Ways to Make Connections
Week Links
During the last full week of June, Mountain Christian Church (Joppa, Maryland) organized its second-annual “Mountain Adventure Week,” a seven-day series of events ranging from tennis and golf to history tours and a pancake breakfast.
“We began Adventure Week as a way to reach our community and to help our members invite others,” says Liz Ross, a children’s ministry team leader and one of the Adventure Week coordinators. “We remind our folks these are ‘inviting events,’ designed as fun, low-pressure ways to connect non-Christians with our church—the people, not the building!”
In fact, only half of this year’s activities took place on MCC’s property. Many of the outings were free or low-cost, and most were kid-friendly. Thousands participated in at least one of the 21 offerings, including a “Grand Finale” tailgate picnic featuring music and surprises.
“We learn new things each year,” Ross says. “For instance, last year a couple in our church suggested a motorcycle ride. None of our staff members ride, so it didn’t occur to us. But today a ‘Mountain Riders’ ministry involves 15 people who attend church and ride together throughout the year.”
Another unexpected benefit is the creation of short-term volunteer roles. “We intended Adventure Week to serve as an introduction to those outside our church, but discovered people within our church became more involved as well,” Ross says. “Many people who ‘sampled’ volunteering at last year’s event now regularly serve behind the scenes in other ministries.”
Each volunteer is needed, since Mountain continues its regular schedule of programs and worship throughout Adventure Week. But Ross believes the extra work is worth it. “We like to think of it as a seven-day party for the community designed with one goal in mind: to celebrate life because God is good!”
www.mountainchristian.org
Prime Ministry
Fifty dollars may not seem like much to you or me, but for children from inner-city Cincinnati it’s a valuable sum of money—and a sacrificial gift.
Kids involved in Prime Time, the children’s ministry at State Avenue Church of Christ, saved their money for almost six months as a gift to Cincinnati Christian University student Robert Mwangaula. He plans to build a church in Kenya, his home, where bricks can be purchased for 25 cents. The “Prime Timers” donated $52.41 and adults gave another $30, for a total of almost 330 bricks!
“This was their first project of giving . . . and they were good at it, too!” write Josh and Chloe Glenn, who lead the program.
After giving the money, the children laid hands on Mwangaula and prayed for him. “Their prayers were so sweet. They prayed for his safe travel back to Kenya, for his new church, and that people would come to his church,” the Glenns share.
http://jpandchloe.blogspot.com/
Giving Together
Churches in Lincoln, Illinois, have partnered to plan “Together for Lincoln,” a citywide service project scheduled for September 28. Dustin Fulton, preaching minister at Jefferson Street Christian Church, serves as one of the project leaders.
The initiative launched after conversations between JSCC and Lincoln Christian Church, and soon expanded to include other churches in the community.
“Almost every pastor we talked to said they had been looking for something like this,” Fulton said in a recent Lincoln Courier article. “I really see it as something God ordained—it’s on the hearts of all of the churches in Lincoln.”
So far, 15 area churches—Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal, and others—plan to participate, and the venture’s new Web site encourages others to volunteer, as well.
The Web site also includes an application for assistance; individuals may use the form to request help for themselves or for neighbors and friends in need, and the nature of these requests will determine the final list of service projects.
Projects of all sizes will be considered, the Courier article shares, as will requests from people of all ages, income levels, and religious faiths.
Participating churches will begin the day with short services at their own buildings, and the entire group will gather at the Lincoln Christian College chapel for a community worship service that evening.
www.togetherforlincoln.org
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
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
Doing Double Duty
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
|
