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Like many denominations, the Christian Reformed Church has too many youth who make profession of faith, go away for college or work—and drop out of church. This trend is pushing churches to ask what profession of faith is for.
The Christian Reformed Church made an express commitment at the 1985 meeting of the Synod to break down barriers and work for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the congregation. The following is the wording of that commitment.
As many grains are gathered into one loaf, partaking of the elements binds God’s people together into one. Ironically, when church leaders ignore the unique needs of worshipers with disabilities, some are excluded from the sacrament whose very name includes the word union.
Alternating silence and speech and silence is the very rhythm of God, as old and deep in the nature of things as creation itself.
Video imagery in worship needs to be grounded in the purpose of worship.
What does it take to become intentional about intergenerational worship?
Given the inevitable craziness of ministry, how can you optimally create space for people to meet with God? How can you deepen your worship leading skills, while avoiding the temptation to drown in the glut of ministry needs? Consider a few other pointed questions.
Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words. This ancient maxim, attributed to Saint Francis, may be more relevant today than ever before.
There are many things you can do to keep the flame alive and to continue to be a LIGHT in the world. Here are some practical steps you can take to stay on track spiritually and in ministry.
In a world in which we have endless ways to communicate, people are disconnected from each other. The internet provides an opportunity to reconnect with other believers.
The preteens in your group can vary all the way from the boys who profess to hate the opposite sex to the sophisticated young teen whose thoughts have turned to make-up and boys. Here are a few reminders for you to consider as you prepare to teach your middle schoolers.
Being aware of the patterns of development of fourth and fifth graders can help you understand and minister to the unique persons God has placed in your care. Here are few useful reminders.
Having survived learning the basics of reading and writing, children in this age group are (usually!) eager learners. Here are a few “typical” characteristics of this age group.
Going to school marks a tremendous change in the lives of these little ones, a change that’s felt not only in the home but in the church school as well. Here are some of the characteristics you’ll see in children in kindergarten and first grade.
Here is a brief description of some characteristics you’ll see in the children you lead and learn from. We hope it will give you some insight into what you may anticipate from preschoolers—intellectually, socially, and spiritually.
It's natural to have some feelings of uneasiness about working with children who have disabilities, but these fears will quickly disappear as you gain some experience. Here are some general tips.
The idea of including people with disabilities in church life can sound overwhelming when someone doesn't know where to begin. Most of the following ideas are easily implemented and at minimal cost.
Our calling as disability advocates is to carry on Jesus’ work so that all people, especially people with disabilities, will be welcomed to the body of Christ and encouraged to use their gifts in ministry. The Scriptures provide us with a basic foundation for this work.
The medical, educational, and social service communities give labels to people such as “autism,” “cerebral palsy,” “dementia,” and “macular degeneration.” As advocates for people with disabilities, we must encourage people in our churches to focus on people and relationships and not be overly concerned with labels.
Kids today have too few images to draw on to help them think about God or share God’s story with others—they need to develop a “visual vocabulary of faith.”
Does your church not currently have a website? Is it unmaintained or out-of-date? Any church website should at least have the following basic information.
Getting folks on board with your church’s children’s ministry program can be a struggle. I’ve got a few ideas you might want to try.
It’s important to invite kids into your conversations with God. Your prayers may be the thing they remember most! Use these prayer pointers to expand your "comfort zones" when it comes to prayer.
For all who want their church to be a healthy, vibrant community where everybody belongs and everybody serves, here are some ideas.
Do you have a Personnel Team at your church? It is important for churches to maintain a healthy relationship with the people who serve the church and having this responsibility defined can assist the church in healthy relationships.