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February 2012 |
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Charge Conference Ministry Report - Children's Minstry |
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Written by Victoria Cleveland
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Sunday, 25 December 2011 |
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I have been employed at FUMC for over 9 months. I truly feel a calling to work with children and adults in the context of ministry and teaching. I believe this church has extended love and acceptance for me when I moved to the Altus community and I am very appreciative of that. I absolutely love my job. I am a born again Christian and I have a love for children and families.
I have a desire to grow and build this Children’s Ministry. I am working on creating leadership and volunteer teams to help with the programming and ministry to our children ages Kindergarten through 6th grade. Having strong leadership teams and finding people who love the Lord Jesus and who love children is vital to the growth of this ministry.
It is a challenge to create environments and activities for each age group that will facilitate learning and encourage spiritual growth. I enjoy teaching children about the Word of God and the unconditional love of Jesus Christ for everyone.
We are averaging about 20 kids in Sunday School and about 15 in Children’s Church. I am working to grow these numbers in Sunday School because we definitely have incredible class rooms that I believe need to be filled every week! Wednesday Night Wow classes average about 25 to 30 kids. Our 5th and 6th grade Wednesday night class is the biggest with almost 17 to 20 kids per week!
There have been some new changes that have occurred this year. The one that takes the most time and money at the moment is our KIDS Club after-school program. I have seen this as a very good success. We average 60 kids a week. This has been set up as primarily an outreach project to serve kids a snack and provide a loving and Christian environment for a few hours every week. We pray that these kids will be touched by the love of Christ and eventually their entire family will begin to see FUMC as their home church. This ministry is a vital part of this church because it activity pursues the Open mind, Open doors, and Open heart mentality. This is an outreach program, more than a church program. I have already seen fruit in the lives of the kids, and growth of our church.
This was also the first year of our 5th and 6th grade "OutCast" retreat. We had 12 girls and 3 boys stay the night in cabins at Quartz Mountain. This retreat was an amazing success! The kids said they had a blast and want to do it again.
We played a lot but I also was able to work in about 3 or 4 hours of teaching time with kids actually taking notes. This retreat is close to my heart because I do not want to see kids wonder off from their foundation when they hit Jr. High or High School.
We also took 20 kids to summer camp this year. The kids had a fabulous time and we expect to take even more kids next year and the years after that.
This year we had a wonderful Vacation Bible School under the amazing direction of Len Gregory. The church was full of children and volunteer leaders and I love to see a church buzzing with people and ministry. We also for the first time had an Outreach Mission VBS focused on under privileged children. We had a clothing drive to provide them shoes and summer clothes. This was a one day event and we expect it to grow every year. Our church also loaned out many of our VBS supplies to the Korean Church in Lawton. Essentially our church was able to be a part of 3 different VBS’s that were effective in ministering into the lives of children and the adults who volunteered.
We had a Fall Festival that was great fun. We gave out about 120 hotdogs, and had fun games, and a large blow-up slide for the kids to play on. I believe this event was also very successful.
Before the year is over we will have a Happy Birthday Jesus party and this will include our church kids as well as the after-school KIDS Club kids – so I am expecting over 70 kids!
Sometimes I get a chance to stretch outside the normal parameters of children’s ministry and accept the special honor of preaching in the Gathering. I love this, and I am thankful for these opportunities.
I take pleasure in extra projects such as promoting the movie "Courageous". This was fun for our members, but it also inspired us to become better parents. This is one of the heart issues of Children’s Ministries; to help equip moms and dads to be the Spiritual Leaders of their family. And by the way – we still have several t-shirts for sell if you would like to buy one for you or a family member – please see me - they might also make a great Christmas gift.
I volunteer at Tamarack Assisted Living 1 or 2 Tuesdays a month do give the devotion. I really enjoy this time with my new "old" friends. They give me encouragement as well as opportunities to glean wisdom from someone who knows more and has certainly lived more than me.
I am still learning many aspects of this job as Children’s Pastor, and I am aware of this church’s patience with me as I grow in my understanding of my duties. I have a vision to see growth in the lives of these children. I want them to know who Jesus is and I want them to be very familiar with the Holy Word of God. This program is not just fun or babysitting. This program has a strong mission statement and measurable goals to extend the loving hand of God to all those we come in contact with.
The Mission of 1st United Methodist Church in Altus Ok:
To strive to communicate to children the life-changing power of Jesus Christ in a practical and understanding way. We will be devoted to prayer and discipleship showing God’s love and respect to each child. We will provide opportunities for worship, fun, service, and develop strong positive relationships with children and other Christian leaders. We will promote the family and equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes.
As I close out my report I would like to again ask you – the church to remember that prayer is a very very significant and power source. If all you do – for me and for the children of this church is to pray every day – that in and of itself will make a astonishing difference. We do also need volunteers for Sunday School Teachers, and especially for Kids Club after-school program, and as always financial gifts towards our Children and the programs that are challenging and rewarding at the same time. Knowing and believing that every good gift comes from the Father above and that God’s Word is alive and will take root in the lives of these kids and remain in their hearts.
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THE WIDOW'S IMPRESSIVE OFFERING |
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Written by David Player
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Sunday, 25 December 2011 |
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Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." - Mark 12:41-44 (NIV84)
As I sit in my office today, reflecting on the extravagant generosity of our church and our community in funding and hosting Project Noel, I am reminded of the Biblical Widow who truly gave extravagantly. Jesus was impressed with her generosity, because she gave out of her need, not out of her excess. Clearly she did not have any money to spare…yet she gave. Times are tough for most of us right now, but in spite of this our church gave more financially to project Noel than it has ever given. We also had more servants assisting than ever before. The total funding was just short of $20,000. Over 800 children were served and given a wonderful Christmas. This wide-spread kindness among our church members and partners blesses me as a Christian and especially as your pastor.
With us approaching Christmas and the end of our financial year, Darlene Johnson, our church Financial Secretary, printed out a financial statement reflecting our outstanding pledges. There is a little over $70,000 still expected in the pledges that were made by our members for 2011. At least $1,000 of that amount is the fulfillment of my pledge and I am committed to reaching my goal. I want to ask everyone to give as extravagantly as possible so we can fulfill our Apportionment goals for this year. If the $70,000 in outstanding pledges comes in our church will end the year in good shape!
So far, we have been able to send $10,000 to our missional partners this month and now we only have another $45,000 to go. Please check you giving year-to-date totals and join me in ending the year at one hundred per cent! With Reece in college and the cost of going on Cambodian Mission I have been cash shy this year, but I want to join the Biblical Widow and give out of my need. I know I am not the only one who has struggled this year, so I ask all to join me is giving sacrificially to advance God’s Kingdom!
Be encouraged!
Pastor Dave
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The Call to Serve - A Devotional |
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Written by Jon Beets
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Friday, 18 November 2011 |
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But he was pierced for our
transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed - Isaiah 53:5 NIV
Becoming
a Christian is not something you just decide to do one day. Being a Christian is a calling, a lifelong
journey in a personal relationship with Christ.
There’s no such thing as a part time Christian! He asks us all to be his hands and feet in
this world; to pick up our cross and serve others. Not just at Church or on Sunday but in every
facet of our lives. Everything from
marriage, relationships with family, friends and coworkers, and how we work or
play should be approached with a Christlike heart and mind. When we serve others we honor Him….
Christ
told his disciples that the Son of Man did not come to be served but to
serve. From before creation Jesus knew
he would be called to serve as Emmanuel, “God with us”. That he would be tempted and yet live without
sin. That he would serve us by suffering
and dying a horrible death on the cross for OUR sins past, present and
future. God gave us the greatest gift in
the world through Jesus Christ. Most
people spend the few days just before Christmas running around trying to find
those last minute gifts, deciding on what the third dessert item will be for
Christmas dinner, or who will be sleeping where when all the relatives
arrive…. Others spend their every waking
moment wondering where their loved ones are, where their next meal will come
from, or if they will be sleeping somewhere safe and warm tonight…. Can you pick up your cross and follow
him? Can you sacrifice some time or
resources to help those in need? Can you
be a gift to someone and give them peace and healing with and open heart,
without judgment and without reservation in much the same way the gift of the
life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was given to us. Pray and ask God how you can serve and make a
difference in someone’s life. Maybe it’s
working with the homeless by volunteering at a shelter, checking on those whom
are homebound; organizing a mission trip, providing prison ministry, helping a
single mother, or even mowing your neighbor’s yard. Remember, whatever you do for the least of
Christ’s children you do for Him….
Dear Lord, we thank you
deeply for all you have done in calling us to serve you. Give us your wisdom to see those in need and
your heart to love them as you do. We pray that you continue to guide and
direct us, to shape our character so we become more Christlike. We know that we will stumble through our
journey of carrying the cross but you will always be there to pick us up and
give us strength to carry on. In Jesus’
name we pray, Amen…
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Written by Pastor Player
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Friday, 18 November 2011 |
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“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." - Matthew 6:1–8 (NIV84)
The number one reason people mention for not attending church is hypocrisy among Christians. I think they mean that Christians condemn attitudes and behaviors in others that they themselves often practice or that Christians claim to be more righteous than they actually are. There is no doubt that Christians are guilty of doing this.
Jesus disliked hypocrisy as much as anyone I know and addressed it with clarity and sternness. In the passage above Jesus deals with those who perform religious acts for recognition, praise, and human approval rather than to honor God.
Hypocrites sound a trumpet when they give alms (Matt. 6:2)
Hypocrites love to stand and pray in worship and in public (Matt. 6:5)
Hypocrites try to impress by looking gloomy when they fast (Matt. 6:16)
Scribes and Pharisees are hypocrites! (Matt. 23:13-15)
There is no doubt that God hates sin and speaks out against all sinful behavior. This holds true whether or not those who know God and claim to follow God are living holy lives. It is God’s intention that all Christians become holy allow their lights to shine brightly helping others find God. The Church is both a spiritual hospital where sinners can be “healed” through God’s grace and a faith community of those who have found God and are moving on towards perfection. We are not called to condemn others or pretend we are better than others. We are empowered by God’s grace to become children of God who are Spirit-filled and allowed to reveal God’s love and goodness to all we meet. May God remove all hypocrisy from us!
Be encouraged!
Pastor Dave
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Written by Bellringer
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Friday, 18 November 2011 |
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The “OutCast” 5th and 6th grade retreat at Quartz Mountain was a tremendous success! We had 15 kids come for an enjoyable weekend.
The kids had a fabulous time and we learned the importance of knowing who we are in Christ, and the value of memorizing scripture.
Thank you to all the parents who donated food and snacks. Thank you to Brenda Howard for donating wood for the campfire. Thank you to
LaWanda, Brandi, Steve, and Reece for being over-night sponsors!
We will not have KIDS Club the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. School will be out for this special family holiday.
Are you ready to teach a Sunday School class? The 5th and 6th grade class is in need of a teacher. Please pray about this wonderful opportunity to minister to these kids.
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