I wish I could do a Spockian mind meld with you right now. If I could, you
would know how anxious I am getting about the next two months. What’s up in the next two months you ask? Well, I’m glad you did because I would really like to share my heart about what is ahead for your pastor for June & July.
First up is VBS taking place here at HFM June 15-19 and then Family Camp follows July 11-19. Normally, I get pretty geeked up about doing children’s ministry. I love kids. They seem to tolerate me. For VBS, I get to share the Gospel message about 20 times in 5 days to around 70-80 kids, many who have never even opened a Bible, been to church or heard about Jesus dying on a cross or raising from the dead. And for Family Camp I get to share the Gospel to around 180-200 kids twice a day. Besides, I know how much of a priority children’s ministry is to Jesus (see: Matt 10:42; 11:25; 18:2-14; 19:13-14; 21:15-16; Mark 9:36-42; 10:13-16; Luke 9:47-48; 10:21; 17:2;18:16-17) and what kind of a blessing He gives to those who do children’s ministry. In fact, if you want to destroy the effectiveness of any church, simply discourage or diminish that church’s ministry to youth and especially children. In fact, since I have been involved in youth and/or children’s ministry full time for 23 years and part time for another 10 years I am convinced that a good, effective, children’s and youth pastor is much more valuable for church growth and vitality than the senior pastor. And that a church that finds an effective children’s or youth pastor should pay them more than the senior pastor.
Why do I say this? Simply because of the compelling statistics. Did you know
that if a person regularly attends church as a youth their likelihood of attending as an adult is exponentially higher? Did you know that 95% of adults who have made a decision for Christ, did so before they reached the age of 18? Did you know that most people’s character and value system is formed BEFORE they reach the age of 7? Did you know that the writer of Proverbs and Jesus knew all this and that is why children have such an intimate place in their hearts? So, if we as 21st century Christians, want to reflect the values of Jesus, and make the most of our mission to bring others to Jesus; we need to place a high priority on youth but especially children’s ministry.
I also am convinced that one of the main reasons why this church has been
blessed by God over the last decade, when a lot of other churches have struggled, is because this church has always had an interest and a priority in youth and children’s ministry.
So, back to my Spokian mind meld. Why am I so anxious? Because, with over
30 years’ experience in children’s ministry, I know what kind of a physical, emotional, and mental demand children’s ministry (that is done right) can have on its leaders when they don’t have enough help. And, to be quite honest with you, if we don’t get sufficient help, I’m not sure I am up to filling in all the gaps this year.
And now, to the point of this Keith’s Komments: The VBS and Family Camp
leadership could sure use your help. We could use your help with HFM VBS June 15-19 and then Family Camp July 11-19. Sure it will be demanding. Yes, kids can be noisy. I know you have other things you would like to do . . . so do I! But, if you could just understand how important these times are, you would invest in them.
Jean and my daughter Jody Saunders do a great job of simplifying ministry to
children. You basically learn how to do one thing per day and repeat it 3-5 times over. It doesn’t take a genius, and it doesn’t take a lot of time to learn. But, it does take an adult with a heart for kids and a heart that wants to see them come to a saving knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for them. We need everyone from adults who simply go with kids and offer crowd control and occasionally take a kids to the bathroom, to craft leaders and helpers, recreation leaders and helpers, and snack leaders and helpers.
Again, this is not rocket science. Last year for VBS and Family Camp, we had
7th graders who were able to pick up what needed to be done in about 10 minutes and were a great help the whole week of VBS and/or Family Camp. But, we (Jean, Jody and I) cannot do it without help.
Won’t you consider helping build the kingdom of God among the most receptive hearts in all of humanity . . . children. Please see myself (Pastor Keith) or Jean or Jody Saunders for answers to your questions, more information or to do us all a great service and sign up to help. Thanks for your prayerful consideration!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
May 2009
You all continue to amaze me. If you will give me about 10 minutes of your time, I want to simply share some good news/bad news issues that are really close to my heart right now.
The good news is we continue to grow! The bad news is we have some issues now we didn’t have a year ago this time. Attendance April 19th (the week after Easter and traditionally one of the poorest attendance days for US churches) was 276 — and there really wasn’t anything special going on for either service or Sunday School! This is great that we are able to minister to so many. And the really exciting thing is that we continue to see new faces among the college students. Which means we must be having an impact on their lives.
I don’t know if you have thought about it or not, but what college students learn here at HFM will be shared all over the USA and even to parts of the world! And one of the really cool things I hear over and over as I talk with college students is that HFM is really blessed with a great number of really awesome adults who take an interest in their lives. All I can say is, “Thank you for all you do in this area and keep up the great work!”
We do have some growth issues I want to share with you with which you may or may not be able to help. First is a parking issue with the second service. We still have some parking spaces available but if we continue to see growth, they will be used up shortly. Anything you can do to car pool, walk to church, or (if you attend first service and Sunday School) possibly surrender your spot ASAP after Sunday School, we can use your parking spot for second service worship. We don’t want to diminish your worship experience here at HFM. So if you feel any of these accommodations are pressuring you to do that, please ignore this recommendation. But, it doesn’t hurt to let you know what our needs are and allow you to best work with meeting those needs.
Also, in regard to growth issues: Slowly but surely we are seeing growth in our
Wednesday night Youth and Kid’s Club meetings. We have already asked for a number of concessions from the adult Sunday School class that meets in the Fireside Room and from the adult Wednesday Evening Bible Study; but we may be forced to ask even further concessions to try and accommodate continued growth in these two areas of ministry.
We are pretty sure we are going to be able to make it through this school year with our present arrangements. But, after next school year begins to gear up, we may have to make some changes in order to try and accommodate growth in these areas as well.
I have been so pleased with the number of our faithful who have taken it upon themselves to go and pray with those who come to the altar on Sunday AM. Thanks so much! It is great to see you come-along-side of those who are reaching out to God in a special way. As your pastor I am really proud of the fact that you are concerned enough to do this.
Right now, we are holding the line in regard to our finances. Thanks so much for your faithfulness that has allowed us to continue on with ministry without reigning anyone in too severely. I am especially grateful for the number of past memorial contributions that have so blessed this church because (through the memorial money) we have been able to make many, much needed, improvements without putting stress on our Unified (annual) Budget. By the way, it is because of those memorial monies we were able to remodel the gym, the landscaping, as well as make improvements in the sanctuary and educational rooms.
I am also so very pleased with the way this congregation listens intently to Sunday morning messages. Not only is this a great encouragement for your pastor, but it is also a wonderful example and model for our visitors as to the proper posture and attitude of a congregation when God’s Word is being read, preached or expounded upon. Thanks so much for your God-honoring, careful listening to God’s Word.
Finally, thanks for the number of people who volunteer to do more jobs per week here at HFM than I can keep track of. Nearly every day I am blown away by the work that gets done by those who are never paid, never formally recognized, and do it cheerfully, and effectively. Without you ministry could never take place here at HFM.
To sum this all up . . . I am honored to be your pastor. Thanks!
The good news is we continue to grow! The bad news is we have some issues now we didn’t have a year ago this time. Attendance April 19th (the week after Easter and traditionally one of the poorest attendance days for US churches) was 276 — and there really wasn’t anything special going on for either service or Sunday School! This is great that we are able to minister to so many. And the really exciting thing is that we continue to see new faces among the college students. Which means we must be having an impact on their lives.
I don’t know if you have thought about it or not, but what college students learn here at HFM will be shared all over the USA and even to parts of the world! And one of the really cool things I hear over and over as I talk with college students is that HFM is really blessed with a great number of really awesome adults who take an interest in their lives. All I can say is, “Thank you for all you do in this area and keep up the great work!”
We do have some growth issues I want to share with you with which you may or may not be able to help. First is a parking issue with the second service. We still have some parking spaces available but if we continue to see growth, they will be used up shortly. Anything you can do to car pool, walk to church, or (if you attend first service and Sunday School) possibly surrender your spot ASAP after Sunday School, we can use your parking spot for second service worship. We don’t want to diminish your worship experience here at HFM. So if you feel any of these accommodations are pressuring you to do that, please ignore this recommendation. But, it doesn’t hurt to let you know what our needs are and allow you to best work with meeting those needs.
Also, in regard to growth issues: Slowly but surely we are seeing growth in our
Wednesday night Youth and Kid’s Club meetings. We have already asked for a number of concessions from the adult Sunday School class that meets in the Fireside Room and from the adult Wednesday Evening Bible Study; but we may be forced to ask even further concessions to try and accommodate continued growth in these two areas of ministry.
We are pretty sure we are going to be able to make it through this school year with our present arrangements. But, after next school year begins to gear up, we may have to make some changes in order to try and accommodate growth in these areas as well.
I have been so pleased with the number of our faithful who have taken it upon themselves to go and pray with those who come to the altar on Sunday AM. Thanks so much! It is great to see you come-along-side of those who are reaching out to God in a special way. As your pastor I am really proud of the fact that you are concerned enough to do this.
Right now, we are holding the line in regard to our finances. Thanks so much for your faithfulness that has allowed us to continue on with ministry without reigning anyone in too severely. I am especially grateful for the number of past memorial contributions that have so blessed this church because (through the memorial money) we have been able to make many, much needed, improvements without putting stress on our Unified (annual) Budget. By the way, it is because of those memorial monies we were able to remodel the gym, the landscaping, as well as make improvements in the sanctuary and educational rooms.
I am also so very pleased with the way this congregation listens intently to Sunday morning messages. Not only is this a great encouragement for your pastor, but it is also a wonderful example and model for our visitors as to the proper posture and attitude of a congregation when God’s Word is being read, preached or expounded upon. Thanks so much for your God-honoring, careful listening to God’s Word.
Finally, thanks for the number of people who volunteer to do more jobs per week here at HFM than I can keep track of. Nearly every day I am blown away by the work that gets done by those who are never paid, never formally recognized, and do it cheerfully, and effectively. Without you ministry could never take place here at HFM.
To sum this all up . . . I am honored to be your pastor. Thanks!
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