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Coming this fall, our Family Ministries will focus on the theme of being Rooted: growing deeper in our faith as a family. This theme will focus on building strong families and kids who are ready to face the challenges of the world and bring the healing presence of Christ. We have ways we will do this both through Kidz for Christ and Youth Group, Children’s Choir and Confirmation, as well as new Family Investment Nights. See below to learn more and view a letter that went out to our families about just this!
This comes from a deep-dive assessment Elisa did with our families this past spring and summer. We wanted to know how to best serve our families, whose time is increasingly stretched. How do we build strong families and invest the love and grace of God in our children and youth here at Mulberry? How do we do so in a way that meets the challenges of our time?
The result is Rooted. How can you help?
- Practice presence. There are forty-five families with school-aged children on our roll. If everyone was involved, we would have twenty-one kids at Kidz for Christ and thirty-three at youth. Having that many children at once generates energy, which attracts in new folks. We need the presence of our families to generate the energy and momentum for us to meet our goal to grow engagement by twenty-five percent and, more importantly, to grow deeper in faith.
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Volunteer: there are many ways, both big and small, to engage with our families. The more members of our church are involved, the greater the energy and enthusiasm around these ministries. If you can volunteer any time, whether a little or a lot, please contact Elisa at ereece@mulberrymethodist.org.
- Invite: If you know families with school-aged children, whether they’re members or not, invite them to be part of what we’re doing! See the flier and letter linked below for more information.
We will continue to learn about how to do children and youth ministry now, responding to the challenges of this moment and the opportunities those challenges create. To that end, Elisa and Payton will join five church members in an in-depth, 24 week, study over the course of the next year. This class is provided by the Candler School of Theology and designed for church members engaged with children and youth. It will examine best practices, the challenges churches are experiencing, and provide coaching for our children and youth leadership from Candler faculty and staff who are themselves engaged in children and youth ministry. Elisa is currently in the process of selecting individuals to participate in this. If you are interested, please reach out to her. This class will also cost about $4,000. If you would like to contribute toward that cost, please let me know: tgoshorn@mulberrymethodist.org. I believe this will be a great boon to our family ministries efforts.
We have opportunity to build strong families and strong kids ready to face the challenges in the world—a way of healing. As we invest our love and grace in our children and youth, we will raise up future healers who will live out God’s love and grace. Building strength in family ministries will take time and asks that we buck the trend of churches across the country. But after a year here, I have no doubt that we are up to the challenge. Please pray for our church and specifically for family ministries. Invite families you know to come and join us on Sunday evenings, as we, together, build rooted families.
Read a letter mailed to families here at Mulberry this week by by clicking here.
– Ted
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