Grants for Network Groups!

ACRE would like to encourage you to start a network group of church educators! A $500 grant is available (through Faith Alive Christian Resources) to help for any ACRE member start a group. This grant can be used in a variety of ways from purchasing books for book discussions or paying for a guest speaker. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the educational ministry and to build relationships with other educators in your area. A trip to the APCE (Association of Presbyterian Church Educators) conference in January in San Antonio, TX for the leader is also included!

Why all this emphasis on network groups? Many church educators are volunteers or ministry staff with a heart for ministry but not necessarily a lot of training in church education. A network group can provide support and encouragement for your ministry and build a broader awareness of what church education is all about.

Recruiting Volunteers with Armor On

Summer in Michigan is great for a lot of reasons. But it always goes way too quickly and as it gets to be late July it is time to check the volunteer lists. We always like to give our teachers and leaders a rest before we ask them to commit for another year so every summer we face the same questions: Who will teach again? Who else should I ask? How many calls will we have to make to get all the slots filled?

Of course, it isn’t just filling slots. We try to match people with tasks so that they feel fulfilled in their work and so that the kids are ministered to by someone who has gifts to do what we’re asking them to do but, even with all that, the classes have to be staffed and we need names to go in every slot. I have a very many veterans who return and teach the children and youth programs every year. It is pretty easy to call them – they sometimes wonder why I don’t just assume that they’re going to do it but we both know that I need to ask them anyway. But even for some of those people I hate making the calls. Partly it’s because there are a LOT of calls to make and you can get to the point where you don’t even know who you’re talking to if you do too many in a row. But it is also because you never know when someone will hit you with an unexpected response. I was talking with Kathy, another children’s director, about asking people to volunteer. We both admitted that this is a particularly difficult part of the job. We both find it hard to avoid taking the “no thanks” remarks personally. I find that every time I need to make a call I have to get prepared. I have to somehow gear up for the conversation (which is really strange because I know and like all of these people.) Kathy says that she does the same thing. She calls it “putting on her armor.” I kind of liked that image because it really does describe what I do too. The problem, though, is that I put on the armor for Monday when I make the calls but on Wednesday, when I’m not wearing it, I get the calls returned and I’m not ready.

So, other church educators out there - how do you avoid taking the negative responses personally? Any advise?

Join ACRE Now!

If you’re a staff member or volunteer whose role fits these titles: Sunday school coordinator/superintendent, education director, education committee chair, children’s ministry director, director of discipleship, family pastor, etc., you may want to consider joining ACRE. We believe this organization will be the voice that shapes the future of educational ministry within our denomination!

The annual membership fee of $55 for volunteer educators and $65 for professional educators includes these benefits:

• Copies of three new educational resources from Faith Alive throughout the year (valued at $50), and an opportunity for your input to shape future resources.


• A $45 registration discount for the annual Grow conference.


• Full membership in the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE), including
  a subscription to The Advocate, APCE’s quarterly educator’s journal that features articles and ideas from educators in the CRC, RCA, and PCUSA (valued at $30).


• a $175 discount for the APCE Main Event (the 2009 Event will take place in San Antonio, Texas, January 28-31).


• access to $500 grants for ministry networking groups, and full scholarships (including registration, travel, lodging, and meals) for the APCE Main Event for educators who lead networking groups (five grants and five full scholarships awarded per year).

Most important, access to the wisdom of a bi-national network of church educators connected through e-newsletters, a webpage, and a blog that tracks educational ministries throughout the CRC—from opportunities for continuing ed. to great ideas from educators across North America.

For more information click here

Faithful

The year is winding down but my thoughts are about what the next year will look like. Who will teach? How many three and four year olds will be coming? How much material and supplies should I order? Sometimes my mind gets so caught up in thinking about the details that I forget to think about the people.

Ministry includes so many children. I think about the 3 year old who is allergic to wheat and the child who does not want his mother to leave. I think about the 7 year old who appears to have no friends. I think about the 12 year old who who seems to always be irritated about something. I think about the 15 year old whose parents are getting a divorce. I think about the 16 year old taking on the responsibility of driving. I think about the 17 year old who is making decisions about what do to after high school.

These thought can leave me feeling overwhelmed. How can all these needs be met? Focusing on details is a lot easier.

Then I remember that I really only need to be faithful. This is a word that has meant a lot to me ever since I read Real Kids, Real Faith by Karen Marie Yust. I’m not sure I am using the term the same way she does but I’ve been thinking about that word a lot lately. I have been called to serve the Lord and use my gifts in ministry. This isn’t a vocation I chose. It chose me. My focus needs to change from me to God. It helps me to remember that it isn’t my job to form the faith of the children. My job is a lot smaller than that. It is my job to provide the tools for children and other adults to know God and see recognize the gifts that God has given them to be faithful. I’m merely doing the work that he’s asked me to do – I don’t have to do everything to build up the faith of all the people I work with. I only have to be faithful in that work. And as I am, I have the privilege of listening and watching to see God’s work as I and the people I serve are being formed by God in our faith.