LWY: Behind the Scenes


[PDF]LWY: Behind the Scenes - Rackcdn.com86cfbbdaa867bcbeb516-feb44d1426e02b41354dfa96d933285f.r19.cf2.rackcdn.co...

66 downloads 341 Views 1MB Size

In This Issue:

October, 2009

Features

Departments

1

LWY: Behind the Scenes

3

The Mission Field in the Public Schools

7

Lady Scavenger Hunt

LWY: Behind the Scenes

by David Bayly Of all the responses to the question, “What would you change in the ministries of your church?” in a survey taken at the initial rally of our Thousand Generations campaign, the most surprising was the one that said CTW’s youth should spend less time having fun and more time serving their church. Our youth don’t serve? Honestly, I suspect there’s only a handful of churches in all of America where the youth do more. My conviction is

2,4 5 5 6 8

that pound for pound, our teens are the hardest-working age group in our church. I don’t say this just because I’m the father of four teens. I say it because it’s true. I say it because our teens are a continual source of delight to me in a thousand ways, especially as I watch their service in our midst. I say it because I want everyone in CTW to take pride in the godly young men and women of our church. I say it because we must give honor to whom honor is due. Take Jordan Ahrendt as one example. Last spring the deacons realized that the Sunday morning setup of the SDA fellowship hall and classrooms was no longer primarily attended to by deacons. Who had assumed responsibility? Jordan, together with a supporting cast of young teenage men. In fact, without being asked, this group of 13, 14 and 15-year-olds was arranging for setup to go on seamlessly even when members of the group were away on vacation. How did Jordan come to do this? He was following an example set by Robert Forney who, with his brothers, had assumed responsibility for Sunday morning setup for years. Take Scott Forney… Scott’s not the only teen involved in CTW’s music program. But have you stopped to consider that Scott has actively led

Getting to Know... FYI Budget Update Women of the Word Calendar

our church in worship over seven years now? Scott practices and plays both with the Everlasting Word Band and with the Wee Lads— whose teen members are themselves an increasingly important component of our worship. Take Eric Beerbower, for instance. Ask Harold Guthrie what Eric means to him and what he thinks of Eric’s work ethic. Ask Harold how Eric has helped him with yard work over the years. And not just Eric, the entire youth group has held regular workdays at the Guthrie home for years now. I could go on. Look in the sound booth Sunday mornings: youth helping with sound. Look at our ushers: youth ushering, led by the youth ushering coordinator, Johnny Zellers. Look at the snow shovelers on snowy Sunday mornings: youth again. Look at the setup crew for Sunday evening worship, the breakdown crew, the cleanup crew afterward: youth, youth and more youth. And not just our young men. Our young women serve equally. Did you know that every Sunday evening our young men and women of our youth group (together with their leaders) provide the entire nursery for CTW? That they work in Sunday School and Children’s Church on Sunday mornings? That they provide a core group of workers for our morning nurseries? Have you heard of the Bi-

The Gazette ble studies held by high-school girls for the younger girls of our church? This is the second year that several high school girls (Autumn Brown, Heidi Turner, Audrey Miklovic and my own Elizabeth) held a summer Bible study for junior high girls. And this year junior high girls (Quinn Schriner, Kristen Speweik and Rachel Ahrendt) led their own Bible study for fifth and sixth grade girls. It’s no exaggeration to say that CTW survives by the child care afforded us by the young women of our church. The debt we owe these young women for their care of our children is immense. One hot, muggy night in early June three young women, Katie and Kelsey Hite and Elizabeth Bayly, watched 27 children of our church for four hours while their parents trained for the capital campaign. Six of the 27 children were babies. And this isn’t unusual, this kind of silent service is routine for the young women of our church. Our young women are gold. Our young men are gold. Together they’re the treasure of our church. Yes, they have great parents. Yes, they’re led by good leaders. Yes, adults are working equally hard in many of the areas I mention above. But what other church has more committed, more responsible, harderworking, more God-honoring young men and women than CTW? Show me that church because I want to go there and learn…. For years now I’ve pushed our youth leaders to do more fun things with our youth. They work so hard, they serve so diligently, I want them to have fun as well. But the greatest privilege our youth are accorded in our life is not the privilege of being treated like children with parties, play times, etc. The greatest privilege they receive is adult responsibility: equal partnership in the work of God’s Kingdom with their elders. When we have treated our youth like young adults they have responded like men and women of God. And we are the richer for it. Let’s remember this and be grateful to God for it.

2

Getting to Know... The Miklovics by Renee Brunner Adrienne Miklovic grew up in a German Catholic family in Idaho. She became involved in Young Life in high school and became a baby Christian during this time. She went on to college at Georgetown University, where she studied English. Her plan was to go on to study journalism at Northwestern, where she had

been admitted into their Masters program. Adrienne thought that she would defer her Master’s degree for one year, and volunteer somewhere for a year. All that this bright young lady asked for in return for her services was room and board. She applied to many different agencies all over the country, yet she found no willing takers. Then she was caught by the giant vortex of Toledo. Adrienne was placed with a family in Toledo, through Young Life, to work at a group home for delinquent boys. The home belonged to a Christian family with nine children, and the father ran the group home. Not knowing what to do with a young woman at a home for delinquent

boys, he set his wife to mentoring Adrienne, and she cooked for the group home. Feminist views had been deeply ingrained at Georgetown, and it took some time for the godly woman to chisel away at Adrenne’s doctrines. Meanwhile, Matt had graduated from BGSU with a degree in Communications and was running his own marketing company. He attended Friday Night Bible Study at the Forneys’ and was in charge of running the video camera. The camera was not focused in on Adrienne when she first arrived. It took several months for them to actually meet.

This allowed time for Adrienne’s deprogramming from the feminist world. Once Matt noticed Adrienne, he needed to make sure he got the opportunity to speak with her. They had both gone to a party with other “Friday Nighters” when Matt saw Adrienne enter and hurried to get to her before she had taken off her coat, and before any other men could start talking to her. Their first date was a week later, and this sealed the deal. That night Adrienne wrote into her journal that she thought Matt was the one, and she was right. And she never turned back from or regretted

God’s plans for her. They married about a year after their first date. Nathan and Audrey were the first shift of children sent by God. Nathan is a senior at Sylvania Northview where he plays tuba in the marching band and bass guitar in the jazz band. He plans on attending college next year and feels called to be a pastor. Audrey is a sophomore in high school and is great fun to be around. She is a big help at home and enjoys church, youth group and Friday night Bible Study. She also likes to ride with her dad on his motorcycle. After a several year hiatus, Isaac became the first child of the second shift. He is now in first grade, and is excited about turning seven years old. He loves to talk. There are no strangers in Isaac’s life, as he says hello to everyone and will talk to anyone. Calvin is now four years old and is the cuddly kid of the family. He is sweet and likes to keep the peace. Luther is two years old and has recently gotten over being shy. He likes to be dramatic and funny. And finally, a baby girl is expected for the Miklovics on October 31st. The Miklovics have found a few activities that the whole family can enjoy regardless of age. They like to have dinner as a family on most nights, as everyone likes food and fellowship. They also enjoy high school football games where the younger boys love to watch Nathan march in the band. He is their hero when he is on the field. You can also find them taking walks on the trail in their neighborhood. Matt and Adrienne were among the founding families of Christ the Word. Matt was a founding Elder and still serves on the Elder Board. Adrienne is the director of children’s education and hosts a Wednesday Morning Bible study at their home. They are also home to the Sylvania Pathway and a Back Yard Bible Club. Matt runs and owns his own business doing special hazard fire protection. He develops and installs fire suppression systems for things that are highly volatile, highly critical, or that could blow up. This may come in handy in a family with six children!

The Mission Field in the Public Schools by Michelle Holder This year marks the 19th annual kick off of Children’s Outreach Ministries Kid’s Clubs. These clubs take the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the local public schools. These clubs meet after school on a weekly basis. Several members of Christ the Word participate in this valuable ministry: Doug and Sue Beat (Central Elementary), Rachel Turner (Glenwood Elementary), Renee Drees (Harvard Elementary) and Michelle Holder (Hawkins Elementary). The leaders, along with their many helpers, see the fruit of being involved with kids with whom the Gospel message has not been shared. Many children have only been exposed to incomplete teachings about Christ, and the clubs seek to build this into a complete Gospel teaching. Most of the children do not attend in church, and Kid’s Club is the only hope for exposing them to the love of Jesus. Currently, there are 39 elementary schools in the Toledo Public School system and only 6 of them have clubs in them. The other 19 schools that are homes for Kid’s Clubs are in the outlying school districts – even as far out as Napoleon (with almost 100 kids in their club!). Perhaps you would be interested in leading a club – here is a list of some of the schools that need clubs: Arlington, Beverly, Birmingham, Burroughs, Chase, Crossgates, East Side Central, Edgewater, Elmhurst, Garfield, Glendale-Feilbach, Grove Patterson, Keyser, Lagrange, Larchmont, Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., McKinley, Navarre, Old Orchard, Old West End, Ottawa River, Pickett, Raymer, Reynolds, Riverside, Rosa Parks, Sherman, Spring, Ella Stewart, Walbridge, Westfield and Whittier….see one in your area? Is this YOUR time to get involved? Some Common Questions Concerning Kid’s Clubs: How many hours of commitment are required?

The average length of a club is 1.5 hours (3-4:30). Clubs can run any number of weeks that you are available – most of them operate from the end of October to Easter, with school breaks (about 18-20 weeks). Clubs can be shared – how about a month on/month off, or week on/ week off scenario?

Vol. V, no. 10

What do you do at a club? Share the Gospel message, engage the children in worship of our Heavenly Father! Also, you can have snack time, game time, craft time – these extras are up to you! What is the financial responsibility? Minimal – materials are available through COM at a minimal cost, and there is assistance in paying for these materials through CTW Snack time and craft time can be funded through a snack/craft “pals program” with the parents (generally craft time is reserved for holiday parties). What materials do I need to own to run a club? Just the teaching materials and a CD player, if you like. For worship time, an encouraging, patient spirit and a love for Jesus! How do I get started? Join us at the 19th annual kick-off event at WPOS on Thursday, October 1st at 7:00pm. Also, COM directors Dennis and Liz Tracy will be at CTW during the Sunday evening service on October 4. Come ready to ask questions, and to consider the impact of this ministry. Other questions? Make a visit or contact any of the leaders and their host of helpers (Elizabeth Bayly, the Beerbowers, Lynnette Killy, Melina Smith, Fred & Diane Walls, Jordan Ahrendt, The Holder girls, The Turner kids and others!) This is an amazing time to reach children for Christ and make an impact on their lives! Pray for everyone involved in this ministry, for the schools – that they would allow the ministry in, and for the children. To God be the Glory!

3

The Gazette

4

Getting to Know... The Thomases by the Editors For Quincy and Joni Thomas, the road to CTW has been a long and fascinating one. Quincy was originally born in Brooklyn, NYC. When he was still just a tot, his dad was transferred by the Army and they moved to Fairbanks, Alaska. While there, Quincy grew up in a Baptist church where, according to Quincy, he was “scared straight” into becoming a Christian through repeated viewings of the infamous “Thief in the Night” eschatological film. Actually, Quincy says he came to faith there through talking with his youth pastor when he was a little older. “The Q” would attend Hamilton Acres Baptist Church High School for his entire young life, then move down south upon graduation to attend Bob Jones University. At Bob Jones, Quincy would meet his lifelong friends, Renton and April Rathbun. He also discovered his love for writing and for producing and performing dramatic, talk, and top 40 radio programs. Quincy’s skills in radio ended up earning him a job at a South Carolina tri-state area radio station after a producer there heard his productions for Bob Jones’ campus radio. A brief time later, after graduation, Quincy’ s college bud Renton Rathbun gave him a call from Brainerd, Minnesota, to see if Quincy would work with him to run a theater program for Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, a small Christian college there. While there, Quincy continued polishing his stand-up comedy routines, which had turned into a healthy, long-running side business, due to his writing and theater-related skills. Since the Pillsbury College basketball games were literally the

only social outlet available during the frigid and interminable Brainerd winters, Quincy used them as an opportunity to hone his stand-up routines on the folks around him in the stands (the Q. deplores sports.) And that was how he met his beautiful wife, Joni, who happened to be a student at Pillsbury at the time:

Q. (Telling lots of jokes, crowd laughing...) Joni: “Oh, you think you’re pretty funny, don’t you?’ Q. (long pause.) “Judging by all the laughter....YES!!! Interestingly, Quincy had attended Bob Jones with Joni’s brother and sister, and Joni’s parents later remembered that “the Q.” had been entertaining a considerable group of people with his comedy in a campus snack shop -- long before Q. and J. even met each other! To make a long story short, Q. and J. were “forced to work together” in the Pillsbury Theater program, get past their differing views on comedy, and were eventually married in October, 2003. In the meantime, Renton and April Rathbun had moved on to Toledo, where Renton had taken a job teaching at Owens community college. Quincy and Joni would come to Toledo to visit their old friends about once a year, and eventually decided that Toledo afforded them more opportunities to put down roots than Brainerd could. Renton and Quincy both had tried other churches in Toledo, but there was

a different quality to the fellowship that was evident as soon as Quincy first came to CTW. Upon coming to CTW, Quincy realized that he, and his closest friends from Bob Jones, had gradually grown into the Reformed faith. Quincy says that he had originally started his Christian walk “basing his concept of Christianity on people rather than on God.” As he and Joni have grown closer to the CTW fellowship, Quincy has realized what a true family a congregation can be, when it is founded on the rock of Christ. Exciting milestones have marked this last year for Quincy and Joni. First, Quincy realized he wanted to go back to school at Bowling Green and get his Masters Degree, after having guest-lectured for one of Renton’s classes at Owens. God has even providentially arranged that the chair of the BG theater program would be a former Bob Jones alumnus! Secondly, Joni gave birth to their first child, Lincoln Xavier. “Lincoln’s really smart,” says Quincy. “Its always easy to underestimate how smart kids are.” Quincy attributes Lincoln’s smarts to his mom. While Quincy is a good writer (he considers C.S. Lewis to be his literary father,) he says that Joni is really the more formidable wordsmith. Joni’s interests run to an array of other things as well, such as decorating, landscaping, gardening and even re-roofing houses (including the tear-off!). Quincy says “Joni loves anything that speaks to her curiosity about how the world works.” And a final milestone for the Thomases was Q.’s first time attending CTW’s Basic Training men’s class. Q. says that it was simply the perfect time to take the class, and that “The more you get into it, the more you realize this is the way life is supposed to be.”

f.y.i. Parent’s Night: Wednesday, October 14.

When: Saturday October 10th at 3:00 pm Where: The Heyerlys’ (8084 County Rd C Delta, OH 43515) What: There will be the annual CTW Hoedown, including a Pathway Corn hole tournament & Chili Cook-Off! We’re asking every Pathway to make their best chili and compete for a fabulous prize to be named later. Your Pathway will only need to make one crock pot’s worth of chili. A general consumption chili will be provided by the church. Games: Childrens games, candy pit, hayride, gourd painting, corn hole tournament! AND OF COURSE the annual square dance called by Tim Borton!

LWY 2010 Winter Retreat Informational fliers are available on the table in the Narthex today about the Living Word Youth’s 2010 Winter Retreat. The sign-up form is inside the informational flier and registration is due by October 14 (the date of the Parent’s Night). If you have questions, please speak with Hunter Turner.

New Membership Class this Fall A new membership class will begin November 22. If you have interest in joining this class or have questions please contact Andrew Dionne.

Have you ever wondered what the CTW youth do at their regular Wednesday night meetings? We encourage all parents of current and future Living Word Youth members to join us for a regular Wednesday night meeting on Wednesday, October 14 at 6:15 p.m. Following our regular worship, teaching and prayer time, we will have a short parent meeting while the youth are having snacks and playing games.. Homeschool “Prayer Night” Christ the Word homeschooling moms are welcome to a “Prayer Night” at Wendy Foulke’s home on Monday, Sept. 28, at 7:00 p.m. This will be a refreshing evening where moms can lift up homeschooling joys and concerns with one another in prayer. The focus will be on drawing our strength from God alone. Please contact Wendy Foulke or Julie Van Wormer with any questions.

New Adult Sunday School Classes Two new adult Sunday school classes have begun. Andrew Dionne is leading a class on Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, covering such topics as sanctification, love, death, the Day of the Lord, and the man of lawlessness. The second class, limited to 30 participants, will work through Doug Wilson’s book “Future Men,” a how-to book on raising young men. Matt Miklovic and Kevin Zellers will lead this class. If you are interested in attending the Future Men class, please contact Andrew and let him know. Books will cost $10/copy or may be found online for free at http://tinyurl.com/n8lbkk.

Vol. V, no. 10

New Compass Class Has Begun If you have ever asked yourself… What is Christ the Word really about? How do I get involved? Which “Pathway” should I attend and what is a “Pathway” anyway? Then this is the class for you. Compass is informal and conversational. It offers the opportunity to learn more about CTW and meet both recent and long-term CTW worshippers. Conversation and refreshment will be the main emphasis with a new topic each week. The class will also gather together for an afternoon luncheon following a Sunday morning worship service on November 15. The class meets in the Kitchen during the Sunday school hour.

Budget Update

STAY IN TOUCH THROUGH CTW’S ONLINE COMMUNITY! www.christtheword.com ->church directory ->sermon podcasts ->news ->upcoming events ->photos ->contact info ->ministry blogs

by Kevin Simpson

5

The Gazette

7OMEN OF

THE

Armchair Evangelism by Wendy Foulke “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 “Are you ready for some…evangelism??” Isn’t that the slogan that we hear this time of the year? Okay, I know it’s football season and everyone is gearing up to watch their favorite teams. The litany begins: chip and dip? Check. Favorite drink? Check. Bigscreen TV? Check. Comfy armchair? Check. Maybe you know someone who is a classic armchair football player—he calls plays or yells at the referees from the comfort of his living room. He has a fun time, but the fact is that the team wins or loses without his participation. He is merely an observer that has no impact upon the actual game. I am challenged to consider how many of us sink comfortably into our own ‘evangelism armchairs’. We

O RD

lounge in our comfort zones while watching other Christians reaching out to others with the gospel of Christ. We may think those Christians are the specially trained; they have the talent, the practice, the motivation and skill to reach out. We haven’t been trained so we sit on the sidelines watching others get the playing time. Or perhaps we feel like we are “flabby” and don’t have the skill level to reach out to others. This year the WOW committee has divided into subcommittees, one of which is outreach. Some of our goals include offering education, training and encouragement to the women of CTW so that we might reach out to many in our families, neighborhoods, and beyond with the hope and truth of Christ’s saving grace. We want to provide the skills for you to get out of your comfort zones and get on the playing field. Because we are all so different, this may take on a variety of appearances. If you already reach out on a regular basis to neighbors and friends, then perhaps you’ll want to take the next step and organize a bible study with them. Maybe you just need to walk

outside and meet your neighbors for the first time. Or perhaps you need to start even smaller and read a book on outreach or begin to pray for a heart that desires to share Jesus with those who don’t know Him yet. Continue to enjoy fulfilling times with our Christian brothers and sisters, but please know when it is time to be challenged to get out of our armchairs and get out into the world. Not everyone enjoys the precious fellowship that we do here at Christ the Word; not everyone knows they don’t have to work to be accepted by God; not everyone has the security of spending eternity with Jesus; not everyone has the hope to make it through the day. In the upcoming year, we will be giving you monthly encouragement to take a step towards reaching out and winning souls to Christ. You won’t have to just be content to ‘watch the game from your living room’, but you will have the opportunity to make a real impact as God uses you mightily!

Monthly Morsel-

This month, find one woman at CTW you don’t know well, and extend yourself to her. Plan to get together with her over a cup of coffee or for dinner at your house. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angelsunawares.”-Hebrews 13:2

6

-It’s back!

2010 Christ the Word Women’s Retreat by Tai French Let’s face it, Ladies, life is just busy sometimes. While we love the work that the LORD has given each of us, we also greatly enjoy the rest that He gives us, especially when that rest comes with time in God’s word, biblical teaching, and Christian fellowship with other women. That is why the WOW Women’s retreat is such a joy; it is a time when we can step away from the challenges and concerns of our daily lives and focus on a special time of learning and growing. The February 2010 retreat brings a new venue. This year we will be gathering at the beautiful Maumee Bay State Park and Resort. The resort is located on the shore of Lake Erie, a mere 20 minute drive for Toledo residents. As a state park, Maumee Bay offers miles of hiking trails and breathtaking scenery. For those willing to brave the cold, there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy fellowship while admiring the glories of creation. If you prefer a cozier setting, you can admire the view from your lakefront room, take advantage of the indoor swimming pool, or simply bask in the warmth of the two-story stone fireplace. Many of you may wonder why we would want to gather anywhere other than the Sauder Heritage Inn, home of the Barn Restaurant and that lovely indoor oak tree. The wonderful truth is that there are simply too many of us! So, while we may

miss the site where we made so many sweet memories, the time has come to make new memories and discover new delights! Each retreat brings two great opportunities for learning; the first is, of course, the speaker. This retreat brings a new speaker, though she is known to many of you, Kim Lechman, sister-in-law to Michelle Holder and Sara Shields. As we step back from our very full lives, it is appropriate that her topic is “Just You and Me: Growing your relationship with the LORD.” No matter what calling God has placed on our lives, we all need to make our relationship with the LORD and our spiritual growth a priority. The second opportunity for learning is the sweet times of fellowship with our sisters in Christ. The fellowship times in between sessions, at meals, and on Friday evening provide the perfect chance to get to know the women that you see each Sunday, but may never get to converse with otherwise. As we gather around the tables and couches to eat, talk, play games, or work on crafts, fellowship time becomes a cherished opportunity to form friendships and encourage one another. At past retreats I have been greatly blessed by hearing the life stories of many of these women; I have learned how God has been faithful to save and to sanctify them, how He has worked in their lives, and how they are living out their faith. Additionally, it is an excellent time to share ideas for crafts, organization, recipes, readings, and schooling! The 2010 retreat will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 5-6. The registration for the retreat will be closing in early December, earlier than in previous years, so now is the time to be prayerfully considering attendance. This is also the time

to be considering roommates; do you want a quiet room for one or two or do you want to party the night away in a packed room of four? If you have not attended any of the past retreats, I would encourage you to speak to one of the women who has and ask them to share their fond memories of retreats past. If you have been on retreat, then you will already know what a joy and a delight they can be! In the coming months, each lady will receive her registration packet with all the information on dates, rooming, and rates. Be sure to keep an eye out for those packets and keep checking your CTW Gazette for more information on the retreat and the speaker!

Vol. V, no. 10

WOW Christmas Gathering “Wait! Wait,” you say!“It is still fall, let me enjoy the leaves and pumpkins!” We do want you to relish God’s fall creation, but we also know that your December calendars fill up quickly. Get out your pencil and put “WOW Christmas Gathering at 7p.m.” on your Tuesday, December 1st space. This event is always a great way to start the holiday celebration of our Lord’s birth. More details will be coming in the November Gazette.

Lady Scavenger Hunt New to the Gazette! Each month we will have a “who’s this” question in the gazette. If you do your best sleuth work and be the first lady to email [email protected] with the correct answer, you will win a prize!

WHO DOESN’T “Who threw the LIKE PRIZES?! shot-put in high

school and once chipped her tooth during practice?”

7

calendar of events October Calendar

Mark Your Calendar

Oct. 10

Annual CTW Hoedown

Dec. 1

WOW Christmas Fellowship

Oct. 14

LWY Parent’s Night @ Strawberry Acres

Dec. 13

Messiah Sing-Along

Dec. 31

CTW New Year’s Variety Show

Oct. 23-25 SemperRef Fall College Retreat Oct. 31

Emily Wiltse’s baby shower

www.christtheword.com please deliver to: 5432 West Central Avenue Toledo, OH 43615

Christ the Word Presbyterian Church