And The New Name Is....

This fall our Children's and Family Ministries vision teams met for a two day retreat in Niagara Falls to not only plan the 2011-2012 calendar, but to discuss the possibility of updating the name of our children's ministries at Lakemount.  We prayed, we brainstormed, we laughed, and we got excited as things slowly came together about what image best described how we wanted to empower our children.

Janira Willis read the scripture describing the call of Jeremiah from the Lord:

The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.'  You must GO to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you," declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 1:4-8

At Lakemount our mission is to connect people with the life-changing presence of Jesus Christ.  As we partner with parents to position kids close to Jesus (both His presence and His teachings) we must first and foremost believe that a child is never "only a child". Rather, our children are individuals with God-sized destinies greater than what can sometimes be seen on the surface. When we embrace the significance of pouring into the lives of children a sense of purpose and destiny, then we can reap the privilege of seeing children actively living lives honouring to God.

Seeing Green

Have you ever bought a new car and found yourself suddenly noticing how many other cars are the same as yours on the highway?  Let's say you used to drive a Honda, but now you've decided to buy a Toyota.  Suddenly you can't believe how many other Toyota's you pass every day on the way to work.

A similar situation is happening with me right now, but it has to do with a BIG change that's coming to Lakemount Kidz ministry.  We are in the process of getting a logo make-over which will include the introduction of a brand new name for our children's ministries.  Afterall, our youth ministries have"Vintage" and "the Gathering" and our young adults service is called "Encounter".  Why should they have all the name fun? ;)

With a new name of course comes new volunteer shirts!  And this is where suddenly all I can see is GREEN!  This past week alone I was drawn to a Starbucks apron (green), a mini Cooper (painted green), a boy's camp shirt (green), and every stoplight I sat at waiting for it to turn....green.  Green is everywhere!  I know for certain that the reason I'm suddenly noticing it is because of the excitement in my heart for what all this change represents for the lives of the children we minister to each Sunday.

After much prayer and consensus a new name is coming for Lakemount's kids.

What is it, you ask?

Tune in next Monday for the big announcement! 

PM

"A Work in Progress"

This excerpt was taken from a devotional for teachers called "Make Your Day Count". It's the perfect reminder of God's love for us as leaders of young children whom God has entrusted us with.
Enjoy.

 

"There is one student in my life with whom I am more closely acquainted than any other. This particular student requires far more of my time and focus than the rest. You could say she is 'challenging'. Maybe you know the type.

This is the student who often procrastinates, turning what would be very beneficial learning experiences into last-minute frenzies to meet deadlines. She is frequently caught daydreaming out the window during quiet moments, which are intended for serious study. She repeatedly fails to temper her words with patience or season them with love.

On more than one occasion, this individual has arrived to class completely unprepared for the day ahead. She must frequently comfort herself with silent reminders of her good intentions. In addition to all of this, this well-meaning young lady seldom gets to bed at a reasonable hour, causing her to be even rougher around the edges.

Occasionally I find myself doubting that I will ever accomplish much wth this individual. Nonetheless, God often whispers to me how precious this child is to Him and how much He loves her. He tells me of His unflinching patience and mercy toward her and assures me that He has a marvelous plan for her life. He let's me know that He is daily crafting her into the beauty she is to become. In His own image and likeness, He is molding her. God never fails to exhort me to be patient with her, so I always return to trusting Him to finish the work He has begun.

"Who is this troubled young woman?" you may ask.

I am she. His work in progress.

By: Tonya Hudson

"I wll praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well."
Psalm 139:14 NKJV

M.V.P.'s on Monday mornings

Monday mornings are always a love-hate relationship with me.  I love Monday mornings because they are a fresh start to a new work week and a chance to start preparing for the coming week.  Of course the part I dislike about Monday mornings is the tiredness that follows a busy Sunday. 

However the thing that has really struck me this Monday morning is the number of M.V.P.'s (most valuable players) that may have gone unrecognized yesterday in the busyness of things.  Here are a few examples of people 'making it happen' on Sunday mornings which you may not have been aware of.  I'm not even going to mention their names but they know who they are, and you may too.

Winner of the 5th Monday Madness Contest

Congratulations to Micheline Higgins for her entry on Monday's blog "Getting Over the Uglies"!

You have won a $25 gift card to Chapter/Indigo/Coles bookstore which can be used at any store or online.

It was that easy!

So don't be shy everyone.  You never know when another contest will pop up.  There will be one more give-away sometime before Christmas.  This blog is for you to interact with one another, to help raise awareness of the significance of children's ministries, and to resource you as a ministry leader.

Congratulations Micheline.