Amy Schenkel
I am the Great Lakes Regional Mission Leader for Home Missions, and currently serving as the interim Operations Director as we prepare to become a new mission agency with World Missions! My husband, Henry, and I had the joy of planting and pastoring a church plant from birth to adulthood, and so I have a special passion for church planting. I also find joy in Adventure Races, triathlons, National Parks, and doing anything with our two children.
Posted in: Growing Churches
Good question about the "not near" other CRC churches factor. These were churches that found themselves in a geographical location where there were not other Reformed churches available. So, if someone was looking for a church with Reformed theology, they were the only ones in town and therefore saw that growth.
However, in the church planting world (where I do much of my work), I know that one principle of church growth is to plant churches like Starbucks builds coffee shops. Namely, within a mile or so of the nearest CRC church. With Starbucks it builds brand recognition and easy-access for its customers. What does proximity do for new churches? It allows for cooperation and collaboration of resources and community connections. In the recent work CMI has done with Kingdom Enterprise Zones, we have seen the mission-focused energy that can result when churches build collaboration.
I wonder if these two models allow for different types of growth? Does one tend to attract more churched people, while the other one reaches unchurched people more effectively? This study did not consider the types of people who were growing the church. That would be another great study.
Posted in: Kids Leading Worship
We just began a new program (so we'll wait to determine its success!) called weWorship. (One child thought I said WiiWorship and was a bit dissappointed). During our family nights twice a month the 1st-6th graders gather to think about the many different ways we can worship God. Each month a different leader guides them in a different theme. For example, last month they thought about how God is worshipped through dance. They read a Bible story about David dancing, they drew pictures, and they came up with a dance to a worship song. They also talked about the difference between performing a dance and using it to help people worship. Then, the last Sunday of the month the children have an opportunity to lead us in worship using what they've learned. For us it is a way to integrate children into leading worship.
Posted in: A Wrap of a Rap on the Heidelberg Catechism
This is great- thanks so much for the link!
What a great way to bring the HC into a church planting environment- this will surely show up sometime in the next few months in one of our worship services!
Posted in: "Contemporvant" Worship Video--Funny? Offensive? Satirical? Mean?
Thanks for a good laugh this morning.
This is where it strikes me (coming from a church planting situation): sometimes we try too hard from our own efforts to make the worship gathering flashy and meaningful and emotional and...contemporvant. Like if we just try harder then we'll see the life transformation we're hoping for. But we forget that no matter what we do, no matter what style we worship in, it is the Holy Spirit who works to do the transforming. I am reminded of this everytime I think a worship service- or a sermon- flopped, and yet God uses that broken attempt to do amazing things.
Posted in: Pastors: Low-Prep Ways to Connect With Your People
Great, practical advice, Dave.
I also think these everyday spaces are places where we could meet our neighbors! :)