The Bittersweet Side of Adoption

Last week I wrote about the "Emotional Side of Adoption" we have been experiencing the last few weeks. As I said, it has been quite a road.  A road that we were traveling and maneuvering until we recently came upon a 'wall' called Bittersweet.

Throughout the whole process, bittersweet hadn't even occurred to me until it hit me - and in the effort of being honest, it hit me pretty hard.  I think our 'car' was lacking airbags because it hurt.

This weekend our power went out on Sunday and the roast we had in the oven didn't finish cooking properly.  We packed up shop and took the boys for a fall drive to the country side for lunch.  Little did I know, but this was uniquely designed plan to help me realize something.  

It soon occurred to us that this would be the last day like this for the 4 of us as we know it.  You see, these kids we are potentially adopting are moving into our house soon.  Don't get me wrong, we are very excited about what the new family will look like and the memories that will come with that.  But for years, it has been the 4 of us.  So many good times with the most amazing 3 people in my life.  Those simple memory making rides, experiences, moments of laughter and joy are becoming just that.  Memories

Kelly and I will be the first to tell you what blessed parents we are with these 2 boys.  We have enjoyed the last 8 years more than we ever thought we would.  But now that changes.  Bittersweet....very bittersweet.

Admittedly, the more I began to realize this, the more I broke down with sobbing multiple times.  This was then magnified by how amazingly the boys responded to me in those moments.  With love, concern and care - How beautiful they are.  This then lead to an array of thoughts and emotions in me.  I couldn't shake them.

• As the "head' of my household, am I leading my family down a road that will affect myself, Kelly and the boys in a negative way?
• Regret?  Are we doing the right thing?
• We have opened an emotional, stress-inducing, money-pulling door that will change our life forever.  
• What will the teen years look like?
• and so on.  

As usual, a great moment of prayer with Kelly to close the evening helped right the ship.  Are we still emotional, yes?  Are we confident in God's calling, yes - however this ends up.  We stay the course and be parental examples in God's love, mercy, acceptance and redemption.  For our boys and any future world changers the God brings our way.  We will be obedient to that.  

The Emotional Side of Adoption

Emotions?  Thought I have felt them all; looks like I was wrong.

The last two months and few weeks especially have really brought out thought processes, strengths, worries and emotions that I have never really experienced before.  At various times for both Kelly and myself, we have been high and low on every end of the emotional spectrum.

‎"For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, 

I am the one who helps you.” Is. 41:13

You know how when you go through an amusement park, you get a map of all the rides and the park lay out?  Here is the best map I can give you of the variety of emotions we have been feeling.  Some our obvious and some just happen:

• Excitement
• For multiple children potentially coming
• How this will make our family dynamic so different
• The opportunity to influence children in the way God has called us to
• Worry
• Are we equipped to walk these children through hurts, abandonment, etc
• What affect with this have on our boys
• Clothes, Food, College Educations, etc AHH!!!
• Confidence
• In knowing we have been called to this
• God wont give us anything we cant handle or that He hasn't equipped us for
• Not only are Kelly and I a great team, but the boys both have very special gifts to bring to the table in this
• Sadness
• Our hearts break for the kids and the life they have experienced
• Our hearts break for parents who are potentially losing their children

I could go on and on.  It has been a very strengthening time for my relationship with Kelly.  Every leans on certain things in life circumstances like this.  We both have leaned very heavily on God, scripture, others praying for us, books, blogs and support groups for those in the same situation.  If you find yourself in this situation, I highly suggest you find a compilation from the above and stay focused.  Maybe you have found something else that helps you?

The Call Came.....

Around the same time everything mentioned in my "Adoption? Remember That?" post happened, we were also influenced by our dear friend Erica who was championing adoption out of foster care around Grace.  So Kelly and I ended up going through Family Services in Erie, PA to explore training and opportunities to be a loving home for a child who for reasons beyond their control were in need of a loving home.

We attended training and eventually put together a profile and ended up on a list for case workers to pull from as they try to match children with appropriate families.  After some hits and misses, we received a call on vacation this July about a child........well actually more than one.  We were kind of blown away, excited, scared and prepared for anything at the same time.  We knew that there are no guarantees until the final day before adoption.  Kids could go back with their parents or a family member could pop up.

Well, its been an emotional road!  It's kind of hard to explain unless you are going through it.  To make a long story short, we have had weekly visits including overnights to slowly introduce the children to our home and family.  They have currently been with the most amazing foster family who have really helped them emotionally and grow in their physical abilities, etc.

A few weeks ago, a judge issued an order a move to fully begin the process of adoption.  Just out of the blue….. So, Kelly and I have been able to have the kids every weekend F-Sun.  We are excited, yet our hearts break for the parents.  Like I said, it is kind of a mixed bag of emotions.  We know God has a plan and whatever it is, the road will be less dragged out and these kids can get to some form of stability and begin a healing process.

Now this doesn’t come without the possibility of any glitches.  There is always a risk until the adoption is final and the last name of the changes. That could take 3 months to a year and a half.  But regardless they will be living with us and we can walk the road of transition, etc.

We are thanking God for this step so far and are asking for continued prayers for the following:

·         Transition – This can be tough, these little girls are dealing with confusion many of us have never experienced.  And for Eli and Owen becoming big brothers in a short time.  They have not had nine months to process a baby coming let alone multiple kids. 
·         The Parents – God loves them as much as their children they may be losing. 
·         That if this truly is God’s will, the timing of the rest of this will proceed quickly.  The major hurdle will be the parental rights.

Please join us in prayer - it will be gratefully appreciated.   

Adoption? Remember that?

My wife Kelly and I spent a lot of time and prayer in our early years of marriage thinking that adoption was for us.  This faded away naturally as we became expectant parents of our quiet and loving first son Eli.  2 years later, our second son Owen "kool-aid manned" his way into the world.

Sometimes in life it's kind of funny the way things happen.  Many of you have experienced the type of moment I am about to describe.  It's a moment that you remember like it happened 5 minutes ago.  Kelly and I (and the boys) were on our way to a family reunion one beautiful late fall day in November in Tennessee in 2010.  Often times when you travel, your conversation can go up and down roads of the past, present and future.  We slowly made our way back down the road of "remember the whole adoption thing".  As we traveled down the road (no pun intended) we began to realize the following:

• We each still very much had the feeling that God was clearly calling us into caring for orphans.
• We each felt like we were the only one feeling that way in our marriage and we each were avoiding the conversation with the other simply because we thought our spouse had moved on from that calling. 

Well, it was one of those light bulb moments.  In that car, we laughed, we cried, we talked about how God has uniquely designed our hearts and both of our boys in a unique way to open our home to His calling on our lives.  

Thus began a ride we have been on ever since...........

The Value of the Goal Check In

Ever make a goal and forget about it or slowly stop chasing after it?  That usually means one of 2 things:

1.  You never captured the goal in writing.

2.  You never communicated it to someone that could hold you accountable.

These are 2 obvious keys to measuring the success of a goal yet poorly practiced.  

This week I will begin checking in with the staff on the goals they set at the beginning of the ministry year separate from their team goals.  It is such an honor to check in with these God-gifted and talented people.  I have such affection for each of these hard working individuals and I love discussing their goals with them, especially when it is an area I have no gifting in.  I am humbled to help lead people who are more talented than me.  

This year we each have a goal in the following 4 areas:

• One to represent a goal with the teams you work with.  Either how you are developing, progressing or leading them.
• One to represent a goal among the staff and your relationships with them.
• One to represent a goal with the specific ministry you lead.  This can include events, weekly initiatives, culture, etc
• One to represent a goal with a leadership attribute you recognize needing your focus and attention

The Church is not perfect; neither are we

"and that's the amazing thing about grace.  Regardless of how we struggle or how we fall, regardless of how many people are affected by our actions, God is a God of healing.  God is a God of restoration and life."  - Anne Jackson

The Church isn't perfect; neither is Grace; neither are you.  Yet some Non-Christians (and Christians) hold us (or each other) to that standard and chastise us when we [the church] fail.  On the flip and more importantly, some Christians need to stop acting like the picture of perfection while positioning themselves as anointed judges for those outside the church while critiquing every move of those leading the church. One of the most beautiful creations God has given us is the Body of Christ; His Church.  Isn't it unbelievable how much we can fail others, yet how beautifully God builds his Church with all of us that fail each other? I think He wants to see our responses each other as we fail and to understand how He responds to our failures everyday in the most beautiful and humbling way. As a human, man - I find this difficult as I am sure you do to. 

If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves 1 John 1:8

There are really 2 groups here:  those of us who have accepted the love of Christ, the gift of salvation and the most undeserving blessing of grace and those who haven't.  I hold those who have accepted His grace to a higher standard of responding to failure than those who haven't. 

I am humbled every morning to wake up an imperfect father/husband/leader/child of Christ to help lead a group of imperfect people who help lead a group of imperfect people to serve and worship God in a way that is honorable to Him, not ourselves or others.  And all of this is under the umbrella of grace, love, mercy and forgiveness granted us through the death and resurrection of Christ.



The Church has led poorly in the past and will again.  We lean on our own understanding too much and we are a group of people struggling with sin. We have made some bad decisions in the past year and we will make bad decisions again.  We will fall and we will fail in our pursuit of Jesus.  None of that changes the beauty of what God designed the church to be.  Its not a good enough of a reason for some of us to bounce around from church to church.  And it's disheartening to know when some of us act the way we act it invites hypocrisy statements from those outside the church. 
 
It also means that if God accepts me in the imperfections I struggle with, He also accepts others and the imperfections they struggle with; so should I; so should we. 

So let all imperfect people accept the gift of grace and mercy and pursue Jesus together with a passion from us that only He deserves!  That is a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ!

We will fail each other at times, but our Lord never does - "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man." - Psalm 118:8

He is PRESENT, are you?

BE HERE NOW from blaine hogan on Vimeo.

When am I not fully present? When am I not intentional? In what instances do I let my now not become my then?

The Most Powerful Images of 2011 - What is your response?

I recently came across the 45 most powerful images of 2011.  I was blown away at each of these.  I felt something very different as I looked at each of these and you should too.

#'s 6, 7, 11, 16, 22, 24, 25, 31, 34, 35, 39, 42, and 44 all display someone wanting freedom, finally getting freedom or sure fighting hard for something they believe in.  

#'s 2, 3, 8, 10, 13, 15 17, 18, 22, 26, 27, 29, 32, 33 and 43 all display the fury of the earth, destruction and the devastation of pain that people feel when they lose everything.

#1 displays something I hope I never have to feel yet so many parents do.

#4 displays the heart of leaders.  Leadership can be a difficult, energizing, scary, rewarding type of position.  The weight leaders feel is huge.  

#12 intrigues me.

There are so many other pictures.  To see them, look HERE 


This brings up a few questions for each of us to ask ourselves:
1.  What is your role in this world?
2.  How are you responding to others?
3.  What freedoms are you taking for granted?
4.  How do you respond, pray for, respect your leaders?  Whether political, in your organization or at home?  How do you react when you don't agree with them or their leadership?


Christ calls us to be the Salt and the Light; are you?

Matthew 5:13-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

Salt and Light

 ¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.  ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that^[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Disciplining My Wayward Nature

We live in a world that is ME-focused and far too often I find myself falling into the trap of inconsistent practicing of some spiritual disciplines. 

Thanks to some books I have recently read including The Next Christians, by Gabe Lyons I was reminded of the following disciplines.  As I began to rank them as to what was my weakest vs best practiced discipline I began to realize how difficult it was to label my "best practiced" discipline.  That was disappointing for me because I know in my heart that consistent practicing of these restores me from my wayward tendencies.

1. Immersed in Scripture (instead of entertainment) - TV, Talk radio, NPR, Facebook, music, film, Internet, iPhone games, video games, social activities, etc
2. Observing the Sabbath (instead of being productive) - Ignoring yesterday and tomorrow to be present in the moment. Disengage from a highly productive culture so God can restore us.
3. Fasting for simplicity (instead of consuming) - Discomfort from not having to give us a more thoughtful way of living that gives others a glimpse of what restoration is all about.
4. Choosing Embodiment (instead of being divided) - "Less is more" concept in giving others our attention.  Mastering the practice of being fully present in your relationships, meetings, one on one conversations and community. 
5. Postured by Prayer (instead of Power) - Prayer by its very nature settles the soul in a me centered world.  Reminds us that we are not in control and that we are not the ones responsible to "make it happen".  

I think we all recognize the importance of these practices.  We(I) need to rank how we are doing with these on a regular basis so was can be on the front edge of living to be the most appropriate examples of restoration.

Honoring Evelyn - a Grace Faithful

This post is in honor to Evelyn, who we lost this week to Heaven.  She was such an example to me.  I wrote this on her birthday in 2009.  

Her Funeral information is HERE


and this is the post from 2009:

I have a confession to make. 15 years ago, I was a teenager who did teenager things. My buddy Benny and I could really give adults some stress. Our actions actually helped originate the phrase, "shock and awe".
As teenagers in the youth group we came to be constant pests to Grace's faithful custodian. She learned to always worry(and rightfully so) when we were around. I am sure she grew to dislike summer when kids were off school because of us.

Some headaches we graced her with:

• racing wheelchairs down the hallway
• shooting water balloons off of the roof of the church
• water fights in the hallway
• food fights in the hallway

I know what you are thinking. What was wrong with me? Good question.

Don't worry, I think I turned out okay. As God would have it, after a long stretch in the business world - He planted me here at Grace as Director of Staff and Ministry Development AND her supervisor. (Not quite sure how she felt about that at first)
I would like to publicly say what an honor it is to learn from her and watch her service and dedication in action.

Some lessons she has graced me with:

• What a servant of God looks like
• What is means to be a dedicated hard worker
• The work you do when no one is watching speaks volumes about your integrity

Happy 74th Birthday Evelyn! You are the heart and soul of Grace. Please thank Evelyn for all she does when you see her in the hallways. Over 30 years of faithful service!“Dedication is not what others expect of you, it is what you can give to others.”

New Vision Initiatives at GRACE - You in?

Hard to believe it has been a year since this transition:

Staffing Structures and Team Updates (part 1 of 5)

And now we are into a year of new Vision Initiatives at Grace.  Derek spoke about these HERE.  Everyone has a chance to be a part of these and help move them to the next level of development.  Which one gets your attention?

Personal Vision - Helping to define your mission, vision and purpose? Check this event out for NOV 1st!

Reaching - Check out the date for these conversations!

• November 8 - Vision Initiative #1 - 3 more multi site locations.  RSVP by 11/7 to join this conversation and be notified of location. 
• November 12 - Vision Initiative #2 - 50 local churches serving the Erie community.  RSVP by 11/11 to join this conversation and be notified of location. 
• November 16 - Vision Initiative #3 - 2 global church to church partnerships.  RSVP by 11/15 to join this conversation and be notified of location.

Family - 936 (# of weeks from birth to 18)

• For more information on how we are partnering with parents for 936 weeks contact Aaron. 
• But check out THIS and THIS 

Discipleship - 212 (#boiling point)

• To be a part of this discussion on how we are bringing the temperature of discipleship to 212 degrees, contact Aaron. 

We are so pumped about where we are being led these next few years and would love any participation you may want to have in helping to get us there. 

For a better understanding of our staff structure over the last year, check out the following

Weekend/Creative Team Update (part 2 of 5)

Operations / Stewardship Team Update (part 3 of 5)

Family Team Update (part 4 of 5)

Next Steps/Elder Team Updates (part 5 of 5)

E.T. phone home

Text, Twitter, Facebook, Chat......With the latest and greatest forms of communication, have we lost the art of when it's appropriate to just make the call?

God has really been pushing me in this area. Because people matter (Thanks Mark), we need to meet them where they are at during specific times. Certain things just require a phone call and nothing else (other than in person). I have leaned too far away from phone calls and need to move back.  Phone calls mean more to people in certain situations and you will get the best response when asking something of someone.

In you ministry, business, family:

• What times/issues do you need to be more sensitive to making a phone call and not send an email?
• Who on your team needs your attention this week over the phone?
• Who in your congregation or organization needs to hear from you in a different form than text?

So don't make the phone an alien form of communication.  Remind yourself to make some phone calls each week even if it may take more time.

Now, if you get a voice mail and they never call you back, that's another conversation ;-)

Hey GRACE! What about the Kids and Teens?

WE NEED YOU!  That simple.

One of the things we struggle with in a church like Grace that feels called to serve the community is finding the balance in what areas the church serves the church.  There is always much healthy debate.

One area you just can't debate is with our Family Ministry.  In a world where, children and youth are being pulled so many directions and need their church family to help with everything from changing diapers - to singing them songs - to mentoring - to teaching - to sending them onto adulthood well equipped to be ready for this world. 

We have 936 weeks with a child from birth to adulthood.  If there is a place where the church is going to band together to pour into the church, that place is GraceKids and GraceYouth.

• It is a common misconception that we have enough people serving in these areas.  
• Yes, this is more important that PTA and the soccer team you coach for your kids, etc.  But we also need more than just parents; this isn't an I served my time kind of area.
• We need your help in the following areas:
• Youth (McKean and Harborcreek)
• Fun, energetic and outgoing adults who have a desire to work with Middle School kids (6-8th grades) and High School students 
• Men to help plan and facilitate the game/activity time in the fall 
• Specifically could use some strong male leaders, but are looking for female as well.
• Contact Kristin with interest and/or questions 
• Kids (McKean and Harborcreek)
•  TOP NEED - Preschool and Elementary team members (worship, storyteller, skit leader, small group leaders
• Event helpers
• Nursery workers
• Contact Jess in McKean and Erin in Harborcreek

Volunteering in a ministry is an important step in anyone’s faith journey.  What a way to do it impacting a child's growth into adulthood.

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby - no really let's talk.

Sunday night our youth at Grace had an interesting night to have discussions about sex, how its affects them and compare what the world tells them about it vs. what God's word says about it. 

After getting input and feedback from Kristin, our Youth Director about the night, I am still dumbfounded by what was was most shocking part of the night.

It wasn't that they asked questions about if homosexuality is a sin and how to act towards others, it wasn't that they had questions about masturbation, it wasn't that they had questions about addictions to sex; none of that, although those questions were asked.
Instead, the most shocking learning from the night was that MOST of them have not had any conversations with their parents about the subject of SEX.  What?!?

I'm not an expert in parenting as I only have 2 children under 7, but I know I need to have the tough, uncomfortable, the awkward conversations with my child or teen before they hear it on the playground, the lunch room, the Internet or at their friends house.  We have already begun this at our boys early age and I probably need to get better as well.  It is also not the church's job to completely do this "dirty work" for you.  It is our job to partner with you in this and help resource and equip you to have these conversations.

The Family Team at Grace is here to partner and equip you in this.  If you are looking for resources or want to have a conversation about this and how to talk about this at different age levels, please contact Larry Shallenberger or any of our other Family Team members. 

But by all means, talk to your children and teens about SEX or someone else will and you may find yourself talking after the fact instead of proactively.  Its a conversation not a "get it out of the way" moment.

One Day Staff Retreat

What is happening on staff at Grace you ask? Last Thursday, the staff had our one day spring retreat. It is great to get around this team and talk:

Vision: Heard from Derek on what God has been laying on his heart for the future at Grace. We talked about what excites us, what scares us, what isn't clear, what's missing and how vision guides us. We looked at Acts 20-21 and had each staff member pare down 2-3 measurable vision statements for their department that they could not be dissuaded from.

Remember, vision leaks so fill the buckets often~

Momentum Gaining and sustaining it. Sometimes coming out of a momentum filled time (like launching another campus) its easy to fall back into cruise mode. But it is key to continue to sustain momentum when working with the hearts of people in the community. We looked at Exodus 18:17-26 and the importance of having the right leaders around you to accomplish your vision for momentum on your teams, in your ministry area and how are you developing them.

Remember, If you don't learn to lead under, you probably won't have as many opportunities to lead over. (wish I could remember who said this)

Systems, Processes and TEAM'S We watched Stanley's talk on Liberating your Organization. This isn't about creating systems for people to pursue a relationship with Christ better. It's about having a quality foundation for your teams to lead and for ministry to happen effectively. Its about systems that free you and not restrict you as a leader so the day to day can be efficient and time can be spent walking with others as God changes their hearts.  Ultimately, there are so many other factors that come into this at the global church level involving hearts and the Holy Spirit.

Remember, its the staff's job to create the right environment for "things" to happen., but God still is the one moving the hearts.

So it was an awesome day, God wins every time.

Twitter "Breaking-News Juked" Brian Williams & Friends

How very clear it was that the world is moving more rapid than we sometimes are prepared for.  As bulletins began to come across to stay tuned for Obama's press conference, twitter began to light up.  Not only did it light up, but it juked the television news media and proved that it is no longer the most reliable source for the most up to date news.  Twitter now is.
At 10:25 p.m. Sunday night, while Mr. Obama was writing his speech, one particular tweet seemed to confirm it. Keith Urbahn, the chief of staff for the former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, wrote at that time, “So I’m told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden."  Then it all came out.

Brian Williams and his cronies were breaking news juked.

Check out this video on how quickly the world is changing and evaluate how your organization is managing the tension of shift vs consistency when it comes to your direction, vision and mission.



3 Questions:

1. Who is juking you? Is your ministry, business, church or organization keeping up with the quick changes is this world in communication and relevance? Do you know how to manage that tension?
2. Are you listening to those who are catalysts of innovation or to those who drop phrases like, "we always did it that way" or "but that's how we like it"?
3. As a follow-up to Question #2 - Is your organization on the rise or the dangerous slope of decline?

The Round Up - Balancing Efficiency & Trust in Ministry Staff/Volunteers

Here is the round up of a blog series where I explored the balance of getting efficiency out of those leading in ministry, pushing them (and myself) to high standards, holding them to a firm/fair/consistent working environment; while having heaps of trust in the amazing people I lead with who have skills and talents I will never have or understand - and watching them flourish into what they do so well into the gifts He has blessed them with.

As we passed another Easter season and I was brought to reflection, adoration, worship and love (as were many others) because of so many God-gifted staff members and volunteers at our different campuses, I was reminded of 2 things:

1.  I am led to this because others worship God well by serving Him within the gifts He has gifted them with.

2.  The art of balancing efficiency and trust in staff and volunteers so that God is honored is an art that needs practiced well.

Here is the round up - Click on any link to go to that post.

Balancing Efficiency & Trust in Ministry Staff/Volunteers Intro

 

#1 - Care for the people who care for the people. (2 of 5)

 

#2 - Drive the people that drive the people (3 of 5)

 

#3 - Serve the People that Serve the People (4 of 5)

 

#4 - Trust - is it achievable? (5 of 5)

TWLOHA - Does that mean anything to you?

You start by loving one.  I am sure most of you know this story, if you don't; you should. To Write Love On Her Arms

I have been intrigued with Jamie Tworkowski since the day I first heard him.  Jamie (and those like him) impress me to the core.  We were created to love God and love others. (Matthew 22:37-40)  Jamie's version of loving others started with Renee and has not ended in the least.  He is a great reminder for me that I(we) need to invest in others because everyone deserves to hear about Jesus and be loved by others no matter who they are or what their struggle is.

We are all uniquely created.
Who have you been uniquely created to love?
Who is your "Renee"?
How many "Renee's" do you pass by every day?

Thoughts?

The Round Up - Grace Staff Teams/Volunteers

So here is the round up of the new ministry teams at Grace Church.  These are not our only teams, but for now our 5 main ones.

We

• Have been blessed not only with hundreds of people who volunteer their time to serve God well in their gifts, but we have over 30 (almost 40) people in these key roles on these teams.  My highlighting of these teams does not take away from the amazing commitment from everyone who makes the church the church.
• Are blessed and humbled by the fact that most of the over 400 volunteers spend their time being Christ outside the walls, not here at Grace.  Which, quite frankly is what matters and what we are here for other than discipleship.
• Have so many sub teams that complement each of the champions in each of these ministry areas
• Have central staff that has their hands in every team and campus to help support and lead in any way needed.
• Have support staff and volunteers as well.

Staffing Structures and Team Updates (part 1 of 5)
Weekend/Creative Team Update (part 2 of 5)
Operations / Stewardship Team Update (part 3 of 5)
Family Team Update (part 4 of 5)
Next Steps/Elder Team Updates (part 5 of 5)

I love being a part of a church that worships God not only by loving Him, but by serving Him through serving others. THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS MINISTRY HAPPEN!

Grace Church Staff Updates - Next Steps/Elder Team Updates (part 5 of 5)

(Part 5 of Grace Church Staffing Structure Update)

Finally we look at our last teams:

Next Steps Team
WHO? – Live Champion, Invest Champion, Volunteer Champion, Equip Champion, Communication Strategist, Coaching Director and Care/Support Champion. Each champion has sub teams.

WHAT? – Every faith journey is different and there is no such thing as assembly-line spirituality. God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer. We do believe that, no matter where you are on your journey, there is always a spiritual next step to take. Part of that responsibility is with the church, through programs, classes and events. The other part is up to you. Think of it this way: "You can do it. We can help." One of the ways that we can help is through "L.I.V.E.", which are four common characteristics of growing disciples:

* LIVE in community * INVEST in others * VOLUNTEER your time * EQUIP yourself

CURRENT GOALS –
• Create compelling growth environments
• Personalize – people over programs
• Tracking
• Synergize
• Develop sub-teams
• Communicate Next Steps options

We want to do everything we can to meet people where THEY are, not where we are. And in doing so help them find their way on their walk through coaching, care/support and these 4 values of a Christ-filled heart.

Lastly we have one of our most important teams. The Elder Team under the direction of our Senior Pastor, Derek Sanford. This team has huge responsibilities in the vision of Grace, the care for the people of Grace and prayer and watch over this biblical community.