Children's MinistryPIONEER GIRLS LFC’s Christian-based group reaching girls from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Meeting on Wednesday evenings October - May, the girls learn about God’s love and His great gifts for each of them. They also learn the importance of the family and friends and how our Lord is in every aspect of their lives. During class, the girls have the opportunity to experience a variety of crafts & cooking techniques while making new friends and strengthening old one. We hold a few special events throughout our 8 months together. In February, we have our Mother / Daughter Night, which gives the girls special time with their moms. They hear a great message, create a craft and enjoy fellowship together. Fathers have their time together with the girls one night in March. Our Father / Daughter Bake-Off has them work together at home to create a baked item to enter into our friendly competition. The main focus on the evening is that the girls spend quality time with dad, and is topped off with a message of God’s love and eating all of their delicious creations. We break for the summer months and return in the fall with a Mini Missions Campout trip to a 4H camp in Stokes. While there, we help the camp clean and close up for the winter. This a great experience for the girls to learn about doing for others, while enjoying God’s beautiful creations. October ends with a Hayride through a Hardyston neighborhood, were the girls spread God’s love singing out His praise. Our Pal/Gal Christmas Party brings women mentors of LFC together with the girls for caroling, crafts and fellowship. (The mentoring is an important function to show the girls how the women of God should live. We continue to look for women to mentor our girls. If you’re interested, please give me a call.) Pray that they continue to grow closer and that the Pals show each girl how the Lord is center in their own lives. We end the calendar year with the highlight of spreading our Love of Jesus as we go Christmas Caroling at a retirement home in Sparta.
Pioneer Girls theme verse is Psalm 119:105 - ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path’. Our Leaders, teamed with the parents and mentors in our church, are working together towards our goal, to help ignite that light in each of our girls; to show each of them the path that will lead them to our Lord and Savior.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE BRIGADE
Once again CSB has continued to be a steadfast program, reaching out to the young men of LFC and the surrounding community. This year we had a total of over 70 boys and men participate in the program. The program disciples the young men in the way of the Lord, and as they grow in the knowledge of Christ, we begin to train them to be the future leaders within the church. The program reaches out to boys between Kindergarten and 12th grade. We meet on Wednesday Nights October – May. Here are some of the highlights of 2009 and a look at some of the things we have planned for 2010: We continued with our now annual May campout on church property. We are blessed with some of the most beautiful property, and the boys and men love to head up to the northeast corner for a night of fellowship. It is great to spend some quality time with our sons in the midst of God’s beauty and surrounded by good Christian men.
In October we kicked off the program with our annual work weekend at the 4-H camp in Stokes. This weekend is a wonderful way for men and their sons to take a break from school and work, to spend time serving others, fellowshipping and hearing God’s word. In 2010, we hope to have our second annual Mother/Son bake off. More details to follow. The most important thing happens every week: All of these boys have a chance to hear about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and see Him through the love our leaders show them. This only happens because we as a church have been blessed with a wonderful, dedicated group of men who I cannot thank enough. It is so awesome to walk around as a leader, look into the various rooms, and see our men and boys digging into God’s Word; or see them all with their heads bowed praying to our wonderful God.
JUNIOR CHURCH Junior Church is a ministry to children ages 3 through 5. At this age, the children have outgrown the nursery but many of them are not ready to sit through the entire Worship Service. Junior Church helps them make this transition and provides them the opportunity to learn on their level. The children attend the first half of Sunday Morning Worship with their parents and then are dismissed during the second half for Junior Church. During our time together, the children hear a Bible lesson, have prayer and complete an activity or craft that emphasizes the lesson. We began this year by looking at the children in the Bible and how God used them. Our children learned from their example that no matter how young they are, God can use them too. During the summer, the children enjoyed the Beginners Bible video series. Then we ventured through Old Testament times, leading up to the birth of our Savior.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Vacation Bible School is just one week, actually only 17 ½ hours and yet it can change a child’s life. On numerous occasions I have heard testimonies that relate how they first met Jesus at Vacation Bible School, which simply warms my heart and reminds me just how important this ministry is.. VBS is a lot of work and time and energy but certainly worth every bit. Plans begin in January and by July we’re still scrambling but it’s all part of the fun. To see LFC fill up with children is truly an answer to prayer. I invite you to join us in any way you can. We need teachers, helpers, crafters, kitchen help, nursery workers, recreation teams, etc. In 2009 our theme was Son Country an Adventure Camp where children learned that Jesus is the Rock. My grandchildren are still singing the songs and doing the motions so I can attest to the fact that seeds were definitely planted. We had a total of 214 children in attendance with a staff of 90. To the 2009 staff – THANK YOU, thank you so much for all your work, you’re terrific and I thank the Lord for each and every one of you. I’ve signed you all up for 2010!! VBS 2010 will be Saddle Ridge Ranch from July 12th – 16th. We need more volunteers – 2 teachers per class would be wonderful and some horses would be outstanding. . Please pray about your part in this exciting ministry.
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