A few years ago, at First CRC Orillia, the stewardship team provided envelopes for the Sunday School classes. Parents received the tax receipt and the children received a letter showing how much they had donated for the year, We used the "World Renew Catalog" and about every six months the children decided what they would buy. We then purchased the items and asked "World Renew" to send a letter thanking the children. In addition, the stewardship team would bring cake and ice cream to the Sunday School to celebrate and to confirm what items had been purchased. . A PowerPoint presentation of the children's ministry was shown to the congregation during "children's time" at front of church. Giving went up substantially.
Also we gave each child a bank that had three compartments. One for giving, another for saving and a third for spending.
If those trends are true then the church is on a slippery slope.
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7-8)
Iain Murray, in his book, "Revivals & Revivalism" documents how, from about 1740 until the early 1800s, revivals took place. They took place in churches where the pastor preached the word of God fearlessly, at times for many years, and the church had a deep concern for the "lost". The revivals were always instigated by God and not by man's pleading or emotional gatherings.
Do Calvinists have a deep concern for the lost or do we leave it all to God? If so, why did Jesus command his disciples to go into all the world .......?
I am a member of a Kairos Prison Ministry Team, currently holding weekends and reunions with residents in a federal prison in Ontario. Kairos is operating in 350 prisons around the world. Kairos has published statisitics that show the rate of repeat offenders is reduced by 50% for those particpating in a "Kairos Weekend". The would mean that the rate of repeat offenders for Kairos is about 35%.
When reflecting on this recently, I looked back over 15 years of personal prsion ministry (Bible studies), I probably ministered to about 500 men during that time. Those residents also attended other Bible stuides and Christian ministries. I can count on two hands the number of offenders I have seen come back. I also attend their chapel service every sunday evening.
The most effective method of ministry has to be when somone takes the time to sit with another person and to share their faith and understading of the Gospel and who Jesus is. You have to build a deliberate relationship built of trust, not judging. You need to be consistent. If you say you will be there, be there. Inmates have been betrayed and disappointed by people all their lives.
In addition, I have been the one most blessed from the interactions.
I see inmates who particpate in Crossroad Bible Study. they are very dedicated to the studies. I have no doubt that Crossroad adds to the rehabilitation of inmates. Now we need circles / groups outside willing to walk with those returning to a hostile environment as an ex-con.
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Ro10:9-10).
If a person does this, are they not saved without studying the catechism?
Neither of these holidays have anything to do with Christianity. They were created by secular society to increase material consumption. The church is supposed to change society, not the other way around. So why celebrate it?
There is a Christian Counsellor, Alf Davis, who resides in Bracebridge Ontario.
He has a healing prayer ministry where during the counselling process, asks the client to invite Jesus into a memory and then to ask Jesus to tell them the truth. Healing is instantaneous.
Alf comes to two federal prisons where I volunteer. Statistics show that 90% of the men in federal prisons come from fatherless homes or homes where they wish the father had been absent. I have seen men, when they meet with Alf, completely changed in one or two one hour sessions.
Alf travels around the world teaching lay people how to do this type of healing. His teaching manual and 5 hours of free video instructions are on his website: https://www.lovehealstv.com/
All the materials are under the heading: "Counsellors".
Alf says his counselling is easy as he spends most of his time leading the clients to be led by Holy Spirit into a memory and then asking the client to ask Jesus to be present bringing his truth.
Posted in: Hello from the Holy Land
"They talked about us all being one as we worship the One True God."
I am sorry but Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God. This sounds like the "Chrislam" movement. Jesus is all I need.
Posted in: One Motorcycle Ride
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Blessings on your ministry.
Regc
Posted in: The Sunday School Offering
A few years ago, at First CRC Orillia, the stewardship team provided envelopes for the Sunday School classes. Parents received the tax receipt and the children received a letter showing how much they had donated for the year, We used the "World Renew Catalog" and about every six months the children decided what they would buy. We then purchased the items and asked "World Renew" to send a letter thanking the children. In addition, the stewardship team would bring cake and ice cream to the Sunday School to celebrate and to confirm what items had been purchased. . A PowerPoint presentation of the children's ministry was shown to the congregation during "children's time" at front of church. Giving went up substantially.
Also we gave each child a bank that had three compartments. One for giving, another for saving and a third for spending.
Posted in: What Disruptive Church Trends Did You See in 2016?
If those trends are true then the church is on a slippery slope.
"And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7-8)
Posted in: What Disruptive Church Trends Did You See in 2016?
Iain Murray, in his book, "Revivals & Revivalism" documents how, from about 1740 until the early 1800s, revivals took place. They took place in churches where the pastor preached the word of God fearlessly, at times for many years, and the church had a deep concern for the "lost". The revivals were always instigated by God and not by man's pleading or emotional gatherings.
Do Calvinists have a deep concern for the lost or do we leave it all to God? If so, why did Jesus command his disciples to go into all the world .......?
Posted in: Could Prison Ministry Be Causing a Decline in Crime?
I am a member of a Kairos Prison Ministry Team, currently holding weekends and reunions with residents in a federal prison in Ontario. Kairos is operating in 350 prisons around the world. Kairos has published statisitics that show the rate of repeat offenders is reduced by 50% for those particpating in a "Kairos Weekend". The would mean that the rate of repeat offenders for Kairos is about 35%.
When reflecting on this recently, I looked back over 15 years of personal prsion ministry (Bible studies), I probably ministered to about 500 men during that time. Those residents also attended other Bible stuides and Christian ministries. I can count on two hands the number of offenders I have seen come back. I also attend their chapel service every sunday evening.
The most effective method of ministry has to be when somone takes the time to sit with another person and to share their faith and understading of the Gospel and who Jesus is. You have to build a deliberate relationship built of trust, not judging. You need to be consistent. If you say you will be there, be there. Inmates have been betrayed and disappointed by people all their lives.
In addition, I have been the one most blessed from the interactions.
I see inmates who particpate in Crossroad Bible Study. they are very dedicated to the studies. I have no doubt that Crossroad adds to the rehabilitation of inmates. Now we need circles / groups outside willing to walk with those returning to a hostile environment as an ex-con.
Posted in: Never Quite Sure
Thank you Pastor Tamminga. Now posted on my Facebook!
Posted in: New Discover Your Bible Materials for Fall 2016
Love the materials available. have used them in prisons for 16 years with great success.
Prison is my men's group and Bible study all in one.
Posted in: From “neat and tidy” to “graciously messy”
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Ro10:9-10).
If a person does this, are they not saved without studying the catechism?
Posted in: Continue Welcoming Refugees With a Faithful Budget
Why isn't Saudi Arabia and Iran taking muslim refugees from Syria? Why aren't we bringing Christian refugees, who are the most vulnerable?
Posted in: How Does Your Church Celebrate Mother's and Fathers' Day?
Neither of these holidays have anything to do with Christianity. They were created by secular society to increase material consumption. The church is supposed to change society, not the other way around. So why celebrate it?
Posted in: Trauma Healing
There is a Christian Counsellor, Alf Davis, who resides in Bracebridge Ontario.
He has a healing prayer ministry where during the counselling process, asks the client to invite Jesus into a memory and then to ask Jesus to tell them the truth. Healing is instantaneous.
Alf comes to two federal prisons where I volunteer. Statistics show that 90% of the men in federal prisons come from fatherless homes or homes where they wish the father had been absent. I have seen men, when they meet with Alf, completely changed in one or two one hour sessions.
Alf travels around the world teaching lay people how to do this type of healing. His teaching manual and 5 hours of free video instructions are on his website: https://www.lovehealstv.com/
All the materials are under the heading: "Counsellors".
Alf says his counselling is easy as he spends most of his time leading the clients to be led by Holy Spirit into a memory and then asking the client to ask Jesus to be present bringing his truth.
Blessings
regc