Using a cup to explain God focused Thanksgiving!

On the church blog, the 28th entry is entitled Thankfulness Enriched by Relief.
There is a great illustration of what real thankfulness is using a cup illustration.
"I am grateful for the wrath I am not receiving and for the blessings that are given to me instead of His wrath."
http://blog.emmanuelbaptist.com/2013/11/is-the-cup-half-full-half-empty-or-something-else-thanksgiving-through-a-cup/

The Best Way to Grow a Ministry

This is more of a ministry related post.
In reading several books and talking with other churches I have been learning some very important lessons about ministry development.

PERSONAL INVITES:  
While we* will announce opportunities through large group formats such as church wide emails and targeted blog posts.  We want to minimize the amount of announcing we do from the pulpit on Sunday mornings.  The Sunday morning worship service should not be the time we stand before a mixed group of members and visitors and plead for "workers" to fill in slots.  Personal invites and shoulder tapping by those serving in ministry already is the best form of recruitment.
I have been encouraging those serving to invite people to serve with them.

RECRUIT TO VISION NOT OPENINGS:
I want to communicate our mission of making disciples who make disciples and helping parents make disciples of their own children.  One way I have been trying to do this is by working with small groups of parents and teachers on Sunday mornings and in Soul Care groups.  This is a slow process.  If you have any questions about children and family ministry, please let me know.  I would love to talk with you.  Just email me drodgers@emmanuelbaptist.com or call the church.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT:
I am very excited about the opportunities that we have to share the gospel with children and their families.
I want to encourage you to pray for the children and families God brings to Emmanuel.
I also want to ask you to pray for the teachers, those currently serving and those who will be serving, at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Prayer is the most important thing in our ministry!!

*The "we" (first person plural) is the pastoral staff.
The "I" & "me" pronouns (first person singular) is Pastor Dave, pastor of Children/Family ministry and Soul Care.

Great Day Yesterday!!!

We are very thankful for the great day yesterday
It is my prayer that Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was showcased even more than the building.

If you had your Soul Care meeting yesterday or are meeting sometime this week and you didn't know the answer to the Bible questions or just wanted to check your answer.  Look below the blog title for the answer.

And just a reminder from yesterday.

• Computerized check-in systems do not replace the need for us to be crying out to God for our children and grandchildren.
• More square footage does not replace the diligent work of teachers and helpers who fill those rooms with Christ-centered Biblical teaching.
• An amazing new facility does not replace the role each parent plays in the spiritual growth of his or her child, no matter what the age of the child or parent.

We want families talking about Jesus Christ at home, which is why we have things like this family ministry guide.

We want children, parents and grandparents to know that every single aspect of life, even sports, should be impacted by Jesus Christ, which is why we do things like UPWARD.

Even the book Breeze & Slate is set up to provide opportunities to talk with kids about Jesus Christ.  We are selling those books in the foyer after the service and all the proceeds will help with the cost of audio/visual equipment for the chapel.

With the new building there are many different opportunities to serve in Children's Ministry!

Check out www.emmanuelbaptist.com/service.php for opportunities around the church to serve.

KIDS IN CHURCH - 11.23.13

THIS SUNDAY:
Parents of 1st through 5th grade children:
You will want to let you your children know that the passage for tomorrow's message is Matthew 19:13-15.

And the kids will be singing God of Wonder and Happy Day There are sing a long videos to both of these songs on the right side.

Here is the link for the kid's sermon notes page
www.emmanuelbaptist.com/images/File/children/childrenssermonnotes112413.pdf

God's Sovereignty in the Book of Ruth

Children and Soul Care

In Soul Care groups, children can 

  review Sunday's lesson.

  pray for missionaries

  work on the Fighter Verses

  

God Uses Samson to Deliver Israel

The Idol of Control

"I'm increasingly persuaded that there are only two ways of living:  1) trusting God and living in submission to his will and his rule, or 2) trying to be God"

"Successful parenting is about rightful, God-ordained loss of control."

To read the entire article, read www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/the-idol-of-control

God uses Gideon to Deliver Israel

PLEASE NOTE THE MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK IS ROMANS 5:8a or 5:8 

not 2:8a or 2:8

One service time, Different service oportunities and learning opporutnities

There is one motivating factor in why we do our service schedule the way we do.
We believe parents are the primary disciple-makers in a child's life.

So why do we schedule teachers and assistants quarterly and monthly?

• We want our teachers, parents and children to glorify God, grow as disciples and help others.  
• The quarterly commitment during the 9:00 am Bible Teaching Hour provides opportunities for the same teachers to build into children's lives and connect with parents over an extended period of time
• The quarterly commitment during the 9:00 am Bible Teaching Hour also provides opportunities for teachers to take classes and learn and grow so they can even more effectively minister to the children.
• The monthly commitment during the 10:30 am Worship Service allows teachers to serve the children and not miss our great Sunday morning worship services too many weeks in a row.

Currently, our biggest need is during the 10:30 Worship Service time.

During the 9:00 am Bible Teaching Hour

• Service Opportunities.  These service opportunities are offered on a quarterly basis.
• For Adults
• Nursery (under 2 years old)
• Bible Teaching Classes (2 years old through 5th grade)
• Intercessors Prayer Ministry
• Ushers and greeters
• Other areas
• For Teens
• Nursery (under 2 years old)
• Bible Teaching Classes (2 years— 5th grade)
• Ushers and greeters
• Other areas
• Learning Opportunities.  These classes are offered on a quarterly basis
• For children
• Bible Teaching Classes (2 years old - High School)
• For teens and adults
• Bible Teacher Classes
• 3E classes
• For adults 
• 3E classes 

During the 10:30 am Worship Service Time

• Service Opportunities.  These service opportunities are offered on a monthly basis.
• For adults and Teens
• Nursery  (3 nurseries)
• Assistant
• Assist the lead teacher in facilitating a great Sunday morning for the children who attend EKIDZ
• Connect with the parents of the children
• Teacher
• Learn the Teaching Babies lesson and teach the children this lesson.
• Shepherd and love the infants and families who attend EKIDZ
• 2 years old - kindergarten Children's Church (4 smaller classes)
• Assistant 
• Assist the teacher by greeting children and parents, help with the lesson, promote a healthy learning environment and help during the pick up time
• Teacher
• Teach assigned lessons and help children live out Biblical truths.
• Be the kind voice of authority in the room.  All other volunteers will follow your lead.
• 1st through 3rd grade Children's church (one large group)
• Small group leader
• Work with a group of 8 to 10 children.  Responsibilities include sitting with them during worship time, leading designed in class activities such as prayer times and lesson reviews and promoting a healthy learning environment.
• Pray for the children in your group.
• Teacher
• Design lessons using the curriculum that point children to Jesus.
• Be the kind voice of authority in the room.  All other volunteers will follow your lead.
• EKIDZ check-in volunteer:  Welcome parents and children and help with check in experience.
• EKIDZ security volunteer:  Create a safe environment by being the “gate” and ensuring that everyone who enters has a reason and is identified and be on the look out for potential problems.
• Ushers and greeter
• Other areas
• Learning Opportunities 
• For children
• Nursery
• Children’s Church (2 years—3rd grade)

Service during the 10:30 occurs every TWO to FOUR months. 
If you are interested in serving during the Sunday morning hour, go to  www.emmanuelbaptist.com/service.php 
For more information email  children@emmanuelbaptist.com or contact Andrea Fansler.