Articles for tag: Sherwood Oaks Christian Church

December 23, 2010

Christian Standard

Churches Provide Mission Opportunities at Christmas

Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (Bloomington, IN) created a Global Christmas Market catalog to provide opportunities for missional giving this season. The catalog included information about the local and global missions supported by SOCC, as well as specific “wish list” items for each ministry: food for the hungry, a week at camp for a needy child, mosquito nets, and many more. Participants could designate their financial donation toward any item and the church also provided gift acknowledgement cards for them to explain their donation to recipients. Common Ground Christian Church (Indianapolis, IN) also created a way for members to give to

November 1, 2010

Christian Standard

Fun and Games

By Jennifer Taylor Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (Bloomington, Indiana) doesn”t usually offer midweek programming during the summer, but this year it tried something new””and discovered a program adaptable to any church at any time of the year. SOCC developed the approach around Tom Ellsworth”s new It”s Your Move books, which connect the fun of popular board games to Bible study and real-life application. Ellsworth, senior minister at the church, wrote the books for small group use but found the material translated well to a larger gathering. “We spent the first half hour or so playing the game together around tables;

May 5, 2010

Christian Standard

Interview with Bill and Mike Buher

Bill Buher and his wife, Mary, raised their two sons in an a cappella church of Christ in southern Indiana and then, a few years ago, transferred membership to Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington. Bill was called to serve as an elder at Sherwood Oaks and was one proud dad when his son Mike was similarly called to serve at Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, Maryland. Bill, retired for about 10 years, finds plenty of ways to keep busy serving Christ. Mike is an audit partner for Grant Thornton, an international accounting firm. Did you grow up in the

March 1, 2009

Christian Standard

Mexico Family Camp: Families Building Homes, Homes Building Families

By Gayla Cooper Congdon In his book, Ordering Your Private World, Gordon MacDonald encourages families to make memories rather than investing in the accumulation of things. This was the premise that sparked a discussion 15 years ago with my longtime friends from Pacific Christian College, Dean and Amy Mathis, to impact families by taking them on a short-term mission trip. We recognized we lived in a culture where a constant spiritual battle was waged for the family. We noted all the factors that made it difficult for families to connect. It begged the question, “How much quality time do families

February 27, 2008

Christian Standard

Interview with Tom Ellsworth

By Brad Dupray Standard Publishing”s Vacation Bible School has provided concentrated, “true-to-the-Bible” Christian education for young people for more than 80 years. VBS is not limited to young people, however. Standard provides correlated study for adults, as well. This year”s theme, “God”s Big Backyard,” is coupled with Tom Ellsworth”s new book, Beyond Your Backyard. Tom recently celebrated his 27th anniversary as senior pastor at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington, Indiana. He is a graduate of St. Louis Christian College and holds a MMin from Cincinnati Bible Seminary. Tom and his wife, Elsie, have been married for 30 years and

January 13, 2008

Christian Standard

Standard”s VBS: More Than Learning, Beyond Fun

By Joni Baker “The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” “”Billy Graham, as quoted in Beyond Your Backyard, by Tom Ellsworth (Standard Publishing)     Churches today are rediscovering the world outside their four walls. In fact, a movement of “externally focused” churches reaches out to show love in practical service to schools, parks, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in their communities. Within these churches, all ages can serve together. Even small children learn the joy of helping others. But even though the value of service in Christ”s name has been

October 21, 2007

Christian Standard

Welcome Back! How Some Churches Work to See Visitors Return

By Krista Petty The outreach strategy is working. Your church has an abundance of first-time guests, or maybe a nice, steady stream of curious new people from week to week. Now what? What does it take to get them back for a second look at all your church family has to offer? And just as important, what gifts and strengths does that new person or family have that the kingdom of God may miss without their involvement? Without planned and purposeful follow-up, visitors may come and go through a revolving door without setting down roots or feeling involved. Several growing

July 24, 2005

Tom Ellsworth

wisdom

Wisdom Is a Good Thing

Reflecting on Ecclesiastes and James, Tom Ellsworth shares how God teaches wisdom through life experiences, relationships, and hard seasons—inviting believers to hold on loosely to this life and keep eternity in view.

June 19, 2005

Tom Ellsworth

Experiencing the Awe of God

‘Awe’ Moments

From ocean waves to a helicopter view of the Grand Canyon, Tom Ellsworth explores “awe” moments that point to God’s majesty—and to the greatest awe of all: Christ’s total sacrifice for us.

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