the Next Milestone

We're developing a new Milestone for 4-6 year olds and their parents, it will debut on July 22nd!

At Suncrest, each milestone is an attempt to connect with parents. Specifically at a time when they are already open to input with regard to their role in spiritually nurturing their children.  Milestones 1 and 3 are in place and we're seeing a great response from parents and children.

Milestone 1 is Parent-Child Dedication and includes a Covenant that parents write for their child/children.

Milestone 3 is a class called Lifebuilding - a class dedicated to helping parents lead their kids through the basics of our faith and baptism.  One of my favorite things is the Blessing that parents write for and read to their children! Love reading what parents write about how they see God at work in their child's life.

Now we're working on the middle.  Milestone 2 will be designed to give parents some tools to help them lead their child through the preschool and early elementary years.  Right now our list looks something like this:

Teaching your child to pray

Praying with your child

Helping your child see God at work in their life

Simple faith conversations

What do you think? What would you add to or take away from our list?

Parent/Child Dedication

Our next Parent/Child Dedication at Suncrest is on Father's Day!
One of the really terrific parts of our process is that I get to meet with each parent who wishes to dedicate their child.  I love this part of my job!

• One of our Campus Kid's Directors and I sit down and listen to each parent's faith story. Wow! this is amazing!  We get to hear about all that God has done in the lives of these parents of little people...love it!

•  I get to talk about how we want to partner with them, to be the "other voice" helping their kid learn to love Jesus.  I get to tell them about how excited our leaders are to participate in this milestone in the life of their family. Love this too!

• Every family who dedicates a child will write a covenant - a promise to their child and to God.  This serves as a tangible reminder of this day and the commitment they are making.  Can't wait to read them...we have some amazing parents who are very passionate about loving Jesus and loving their kids.  Love this one, too!

Tomorrow I get to meet with three more families and two Campus Kid's Directors...expecting a great day!

For those of you who are in kids ministry, I will be posting the details of our process later this week. Hope you find it helpful.

  

finished another trip around the sun

I'm not even sure how to describe the last seven days of my life.  Rather than trying to write coherently I think I'll just make a list:

• Had a bit of a bug that put me in bed for a couple days (I'm all better). 
• Spent some quality time with my girls (individually).
• Got a sweet gift from my boy and am totally surprised at how old he is becoming!
• Welcomed my little brother into our home for the summer...did I mention that he is the same age as daughter #3?
• Had some amazing conversations with a couple of newer friends (I am SOOOO blessed)!
• Got to talk to an old friend (love some Delia conversation)
• Received about a billion birthday wishes on Facebook...one of the crazy benefits (maybe the only benefit) of 5 different kidmin positions since 2005.  I have made some amazing friends! 
• Learned a bit about iPhone and Android Apps from a KidMin friend who is now the CEO of r04r.com 
• Reminded (again) that God is in control and loves my kids more than I ever will (ask me about it).
• Another Tuesday full of meetings with people I respect and love...wow! Suncrest has been an amazing gift to me and my family.

I'm pretty sure that I haven't begun to scratch the surface on all that has happened during this amazing week. This is what I do know...I'm tired, excited, encouraged, challenged and determined to live through next week!

My crazy,busy life!

This season in my life and ministry has been crazy busy...ok, if you know me at all, you know that it's always crazy,busy! and that some (sick) part of me loves it.  But this is an amazing, love what God is doing, hope that it doesn't end any time soon, kind of crazy, busy.

First, there's this crazy family of mine! They are my favorite people and I'm blessed to have them around.  Our girls are in that place of life where they could be anywhere, but they choose to be with us!  I get a front row seat to seeing how God is moving in their lives...and wow, is He moving! Our son is growing up to be this amazing young man, his best friend is his dad and Aidan's favorite place is anywhere with Daniel!  This year Daniel and I will celebrate 28 years of marriage!  I love this man with all of my heart.  We are truly blessed! 

Ministry is crazy, busy too! and I love it!  I am leading the most amazing team of Kid's Ministers!  I have the privilege of meeting with this team every Tuesday morning at 8:30...kinda crazy since I hate morning! We get to talk about mobilizing leaders and helping kids fall in love with Jesus.  Then there is the team I get to be part of on Tuesday afternoons.  I am honored to be part of a team of people who live for being used by God to change lives...these Campus Pastors and Global Leaders love seeing God at work in the lives of people.  I've spent my fair share of time hanging out with church leadership types but this team is remarkable!

Loving this season of life...not always easy but God is working in and through all of it!

Ms. Pearl's Day Care

Several members of my family joined a team from Suncrest to hang out with the kids at Ms. Pearl's Daycare Center last week.  There are some amazing things happening at that place in the Roseland neighborhood on the south side of Chicago!  I know that I was challenged to love more, pray more and do more...this week I am praying for a little guy that fell asleep in my arms on the way home from a field trip to the water park.  I am praying that he grows up healthy and strong, that he will be a blessing to those around him and that he will be available to do whatever God has in store for him.

my first 3 months at Suncrest

It has been about 90 days since my first day here at Suncrest Christian Church in NW Indiana. I have had several "first days" but none like my first day at Suncrest! I spent my first day on staff at Suncrest at Catalyst One Day at Willow Creek Community Church. At the time I didn't really think about the tone that day set for how I perceive Suncrest but it did impact my perception. Suncrest is led by people who are continual learners, people who believe that we should partner with those around us, learn from those who are ahead of us and lead those who are not as far along.
I am very excited about all that God is doing in this corner of the world and anxious to see how He will use our family in "the region"

Things I Carry with Me

I packed up my office today...books, pictures and stuff. You see, we have pretty clearly heard God telling us that it is time to move on, that my time leading Children's Ministry here is done. We are excited about where God might take us but leaving is never easy. This morning I was kind of feeling sorry for myself and just a little apprehensive about this new beginning in my life.

I don't think of myself as sentimental...but as I was going through those items that I carry with me, I realize that I might be a bit more sentimental than I thought. Here are just a few of the things that have moved from Michigan to California, back to Michigan, and then to North Dakota...
1. a small polished rock that was given to me by Rod Pierce - everytime I see it I am reminded to pray for him.
2. a snow globe type craft that my friend Lori Overbeek designed - it reminds me that God's voice is most often heard in those still, quiet moments, when I am really listening
3. a large framed photo from the Urban Family Ministry kids - I am reminded everytime I see it that God is faithful, and of the ministry that touched my family
4. a picture of a pack of hound dogs with a fox in the middle - the caption reads "when you are in trouble, look straight ahead and keep your mouth shut" makes me laugh
5. a scrap of paper that says "Debby's Mind" - reminds me that "losing my mind" can bring great laughter to a bunch of teens for several weeks/months. will pray for those kids all my life
6. picture of my family at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, MI - they are all pretending to be monkeys and laughing very hard! loved that day
7. Fridaze party agendas and game lists, because they remind me of Laurie Mahdasian and the fun we had planning those crazy events.

I have been blessed to have amazing friends, who know me well and still love me. I have a husband who lets me be me and loves me, even if I'm not the perfect wife. I have kids who actually like to hang out at home and enjoy one another's company. I have parents, brothers and sisters who are always there for me and for each other.

Wow! God has been so very good to me. Bring on the New Beginning!