Faith Into Action

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Patricia Violet Joy on March 30, 2010 at 1:10pm

Summer camps, holiday clubs, after school clubs, all help through the children. A friend of mine had the agreement to start an after school club at his local school. He gave the school a flyer to give to the children and got a good response, but had one mother come up to him saying she had signed the form, but didn't want her children being taught 'all that Christian muck'. He pointed out on the form that it said it would be Christian based. Wanting her children off her hands for an extra hour twice a week she let them come. It took a few years, but now the whole family comes to church and have started getting involved.

Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Vest on March 30, 2010 at 3:36pm

Patricia, thanks for the suggestions. Today we were discussing short and long term activities. We're preparing welcoming activity packets for the kids for Easter and welcoming information for the adults with a small gift. Some of the young adults also find this outreach touching their hearts. Keep us in prayer as we will you.

Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on April 1, 2010 at 7:51am

Rosemarie, this is a great discussion! Thank you for starting it. I've been thinking about it the last day or so.

We have this initial social inertia. Sometimes the hardest steps to take are the first to 'break the ice' as it were.
If you have some great cultural tips, things that young families would enjoy doing. We appreciate that. Also, if you know of other families with small children that would make good playdates, that's very appreciated.

One of the things that has always been a source of sadness has been the reluctance to socialize outside of the church building. My children have always been puzzled why the friendliness stops after everyone goes home. For them, it means 'it's not real'. I have worked very hard to connect in many ways and that's the 'glass gate' as it were. Everyone has gotten the concept that we're all supposed to be friends in the church service. After it's over.. good luck! You're on your own.

If you could help people get through the 'glass gate' because we need connection .. having someone at your home for a barbeque.. allowing people to play cards .. going to their home! I can't tell you how much I"d like to have someone at my house. No one is interested in that. I've had some foreign people here with good success. The 'glass gate' for me is one of the reasons I love this online community. You and I are having this conversation. You know.. you might let the young mothers know about this place. They'd be welcome here. Hopefully with those 15 -30 minutes of time they have while the dishwasher was going, they could really be encouraged.

I know some of this post sounded like a vent. I just see the potential in helping others not struggle so hard to be in the body of Christ.

Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Vest on April 1, 2010 at 8:53pm

Juline,

Thanks! Four of the young adults started "breaking down the walls" so to speak by asking some of the other young adults and families if they'd be interested in a progressive dinner.

You bring up one concern I have. I don't want to see the church become a Sunday only expressway of friendliness. I feel if we're really serious about outreach, we need to be concerned about Monday through Saturday too.

We are looking at two ways to share knowledge about Max Lacado Communities. One is through the power point announcements every morning. Another is with a bulletin insert. The pastor and administrative board embraced the ideas without hesistation.

Will let you know more as it develops. :-)

Rose

Juline Bruck said:

Rosemarie, this is a great discussion! Thank you for starting it. I've been thinking about it the last day or so.

We have this initial social inertia. Sometimes the hardest steps to take are the first to 'break the ice' as it were.
If you have some great cultural tips, things that young families would enjoy doing. We appreciate that. Also, if you know of other families with small children that would make good playdates, that's very appreciated.

One of the things that has always been a source of sadness has been the reluctance to socialize outside of the church building. My children have always been puzzled why the friendliness stops after everyone goes home. For them, it means 'it's not real'. I have worked very hard to connect in many ways and that's the 'glass gate' as it were. Everyone has gotten the concept that we're all supposed to be friends in the church service. After it's over.. good luck! You're on your own.

If you could help people get through the 'glass gate' because we need connection .. having someone at your home for a barbeque.. allowing people to play cards .. going to their home! I can't tell you how much I"d like to have someone at my house. No one is interested in that. I've had some foreign people here with good success. The 'glass gate' for me is one of the reasons I love this online community. You and I are having this conversation. You know.. you might let the young mothers know about this place. They'd be welcome here. Hopefully with those 15 -30 minutes of time they have while the dishwasher was going, they could really be encouraged.

I know some of this post sounded like a vent. I just see the potential in helping others not struggle so hard to be in the body of Christ.

Permalink Reply by Peter McMurray on May 1, 2010 at 4:13pm

I think the only effective way I have found of sharing my faith is through personal relationships with people. I have found that when you try to start things off by sharing your faith (for example through a big outreach event) people aren't interested. But if you take time to get to know people as individuals, and engage with them where they are eventually they will want to know about your faith and start asking you questions. And then the chance to share comes.
Personally if the church I was at did not have young children I would be having major concerns about it and would be looking to change either the way things were done to make it more open to young people, or where I actually went to church, as I passionately believe that the youth of this generation need the love of Christ

Permalink Reply by Haelie on May 1, 2010 at 8:59pm

Amen, Peter...that's all I can say to that!

Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Vest on May 1, 2010 at 9:37pm

Hi Peter, I am blessed to be part of a congregation that has young families and children, but also realizes God doesn't call us to be comfortable to the point of excluding people intentionally or not. The demographics of our area show many young families. I don't believe that for one minute we can expect one approach to meet all needs. The ideas I have had shared with me are helpful and keeps those of us seeking to share the love of God on our toes and ever hopeful. Eventually I'd like to see church become more than Christmas and Easter for many people. Blessings, Rose

Peter McMurray said:

I think the only effective way I have found of sharing my faith is through personal relationships with people. I have found that when you try to start things off by sharing your faith (for example through a big outreach event) people aren't interested. But if you take time to get to know people as individuals, and engage with them where they are eventually they will want to know about your faith and start asking you questions. And then the chance to share comes.
Personally if the church I was at did not have young children I would be having major concerns about it and would be looking to change either the way things were done to make it more open to young people, or where I actually went to church, as I passionately believe that the youth of this generation need the love of Christ

Permalink Reply by Kay Aeby on May 5, 2010 at 1:22pm

This is a great topic! I am blessed that my husband and I have our own business. It is medical, so we see alot of people that come through our doors with needs. And these needs are not just physical but emotional as well. We are able to discuss Christ, we are able to offer up prayers and that is my faith in action. In Texas, we also have an Emmaus community which is a spiritual weekend for men and then a separate one for women. That has also been a wonderful means for putting your faith in action as you serve other people that attend.

Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Vest on May 6, 2010 at 11:18pm

Hi Kay, I am glad you are able to be a resource for encouragement and Christ's hands and heart in your community.There are so many needs within our community. Last fall eight churches sponsored the Convoy of Hope and in addition to helping 2900+ families with groceries the total number of people coming through for prayer was 4125. 45 prayer teams prayed with people and it was nonstop from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. People asked for prayers for family and themselves and how to establish a relationship with Christ. I came home tired but in awe of the power of prayer.

Kay Aeby said:

This is a great topic! I am blessed that my husband and I have our own business. It is medical, so we see alot of people that come through our doors with needs. And these needs are not just physical but emotional as well. We are able to discuss Christ, we are able to offer up prayers and that is my faith in action. In Texas, we also have an Emmaus community which is a spiritual weekend for men and then a separate one for women. That has also been a wonderful means for putting your faith in action as you serve other people that attend.

Permalink Reply by Kay Aeby on May 7, 2010 at 5:59am

Rosemarie, that is absolutely incredible! I love to hear how God is working in so many peoples lives. If I may ask, what part of the country are you in?

Permalink Reply by Rosemarie Vest on May 7, 2010 at 8:28am

Hi Kay, I'm in Southern Colorado. What amazes me is so many of the people (almost a year later) are still attending churches and remain faithful and in study. We have a scheduled prayer service in a chapel once a month and the chapel fills up. It serves as a testimony that people need prayer, need guidance and are looking for that help. Blessings, Rose

Kay Aeby said:

Rosemarie, that is absolutely incredible! I love to hear how God is working in so many peoples lives. If I may ask, what part of the country are you in?