Church Tours & Volunteers

I just got back from a 2,000-mile, 4-day road trip to Oklahoma and Texas with 5 other Chapel staff involved in children’s ministry. Our goal was to observe three large non-denominational churches and meet with their children’s ministry staffs to learn specifically about their volunteer staffing models. We wanted to investigate how other large children’s ministries recruited, equipped, shepherded and developed volunteers. Here’s what we discovered:

• All three churches used personal invitation as the primary means of recruiting volunteers into ministry.  Two of the three churches never had the opportunity to make an “up front” ask in the adult service. My take key aways from that are: 1) we are blessed to be in a church that gives volunteer recruitment stage time in the main service; 2) TGA volunteers are one of our greatest assets and spokespeople, and we need to encourage all of you to invite people into the serving experience.
• We observed 3 different children’s ministries in action and found that where volunteer staffing ratios were not managed well, the experience was chaotic and the look of frustration on volunteers’ faces evident. On the other hand, where staffing ratios were actively managed, by a team leader who was freed up to shuffle volunteers around and call in back up, I experienced a feeling of peace and joy in the hallways as each child was warmly greeted by a well-prepared team. My take aways from that are: 1) we need to continue keep our volunteer positions staffed as close to 100% as possible, which means we ALWAYS need to be inviting people into the serving experience; and 2) we need volunteers to continue to arrive on time for their team huddle so that we can open classrooms on time with a full staff of volunteers.
• The most powerful experience was visiting the church whose children’s ministry team met 1 hour before the start of the service for worship and prayer. When we walked around the hallways during parent check in there was a palpable sense of God’s peace and order. Then, when we walked into each classroom’s teaching time, we observed children being prayed over and ministered to and kids enthusiastically engaged in worship. My take away: I want more of that for our ministry. More prayer. More God. More ministry led by the Spirit so that children’s lives are being transformed by the One who created them.

My favorite reflection from the trip came during our 16-hour ride home. YOU! We are a 300-volunteer strong children’s ministry that ministers to over 450 children every weekend. Each of you has been equipped and empowered to lead, shepherd and minister into the lives of children. You are children’s ministers who arrive on time to huddle and pray, prepared to be the hands and feet of Christ to children who need to know how much God loves them. You value their safety and know how to create a warm, inviting environment. One of my greatest joys is serving alongside you. Thank you for what you do!

I have one thing to ask. Invite someone you know (or want to know better) to join you in this ministry, to serve alongside you, to share in your experience. There is no greater privilege than to welcome a little one in the name of Jesus. Thank you for ALL that you do!

Prayers for Jackson

Friends, I am asking for your bold, pure-hearted prayers for Jackson, a precious little boy in our preschool classroom. James 5:16 says, ”Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Jackson was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor several months ago, for which he had surgery. His first MRI following that surgery and treatment is March 17 at 7:45am. Please pray that the doctors would find no trace of the tumor and that Jackson would be healed!

Jackson is an amazing boy who loves God. As he was recovering from surgery, his mom and dad would take Jackson with them to the adult service instead of to TGA, but Jackson quickly put an end to that! He told them he wanted to go back to his TGA classroom. With the help of a special friend, Kristen Clay, Jackson’s been coming every week. Just like all of the other boys in the preschool classroom, he loves to get down on the carpet and play cars and dinosaur. When it comes time for the teaching, he’s right up near the front answering questions and is totally engaged in the worship time, doing the handmotions. He loves being there and has added a very special dimension to that classroom. Though Jackson has lost most of his hair and his ability to walk, what stands out most to me is his tenacious will to live. You see, I got to play dinosaurs, sharks and reptiles with Jackson one Saturday night in TGA. He wanted to be the alligator, which meant I got to be the shark AND the T-rex. And, even though in my way of thinking a shark clearly takes out an alligator, Jackson just would not back down. Though my T-rex and its sharp teeth towered over his alligator and my shark could wrap its jaws around his alligator, Jackson refused to be beaten. He ALWAYS came out on top, the victor.

God, I thank you for the “fight” you’ve put inside of Jackson, and his passion for life and his will to win. I thank you for bringing him and his family to The Chapel. Their faith and their strength is a blessing and testimony to us all. I pray, God, that you would fight for Jackson and be the victor over his cancer. All for your glory! Amen.

The Henry Legacy of Love Continues

The Chapel family mourns the death of Greg Henry, a 12-year old boy who died on Sunday after his body and organs were overtaken by an agressive virus. Greg grew up in The Great Adventure (TGA) and is truly one of our own. I’ll never forget my interactions with the three Henry brothers (Jake, Scott and Greg) while I served in TGA. (There are also two younger sisters, Robin and Jennifer.) They are awesome kids, who loved coming to church. They really stood out because of their attitude of excitment toward learning about God and their kindness and respect for others. Because of their actions, my husband, Dan, called their dad, Bob, on the phone and asked if he would come and serve as a small group leader in our grade school ministry. Dan thought with kids like that, the dad has got to be incredible.  Bob said, “yes,” and though Bob didn’t share this with Dan at the time, he had not yet become a Christian. Over the course of a few months, leading a small group of 2nd grade boys, Bob was so impacted by the questions kids were asking and the faith that they were professing, that he himself made the decision to follow Christ.

When The Chapel moved from the high school to our new building in Grayslake, Bob became one of our key leaders in the K-1 classroom. Then, as we launched a Saturday night service, Bob and his family became the key hosts of the after-service dinner we served to volunteers and their families. Every Saturday night Bob, his wife, Mary, and their family would make sure everyone had GREAT food to eat. To this day, despite Mary enduring two life-threatening battles with cancer, the Henrys continue to host many gatherings at their home after the Saturday night service.  

The Chapel became central to their lives, and they have given everything at their disposal to the advancement of God’s kingdom. They look for every opportunity to shower love on people through their hospitality, their leadership and their gentle demonstration of faith. Though having 4 children of their own, they reached out to adopt their precious little Jennifer from Quatamala. They are a family who lives the Word, especially that described in James 1. Despite many trials, they live joyfully and perserve in their faith.

Greg, a quite, kind, trumpet-playing 7th grader (after celebrating the Super Bowl win of his favorite team) is now on the greatest adventure of his life: he is livin’ it up with the King of Kings! Depsite the gaping hole Greg’s absense on this earth has left, the Henry family continues to glorify God in all they do. As Chapel funding fell short for the Community Care Center, the Henry family has asked that there be no flowers at the memorial service, rather they humbly ask that donations be made to The Chapel to fund the building of The Chapel’s new Community Care Center so that all people have a place to come for food, clothing and love.

Some of you have asked how you can be a support to this family. If you feel led, please make checks out to The Chapel. In the note section write: Greg Henry. All donations will go to the building of The Chapel’s new Community Care Center. Thank you!

Prayers for Greg Henry, Age 12

Hello Mighty Praying TGA Team!

Please be on your knees for a boy who grew up in our children’s ministry. Here’s the prayer request from his dad, Bob. Their family attends the Grayslake campus.

Prayers are needed for our son Greg.

 He contracted what is believed to be a severe virus infection that started out with flu-like symptoms Tuesday night. Mary took him to the doctor early Wednesday afternoon, where our doctor then rushed him to the emergency room due to hampered breathing problems. In the ER, his symptoms kept getting worse so he was sedated, attached to a respirator and transferred to pediatric ICU at Lutheran General Hospital.

 In ICU throughout the night, Greg’s conditioned continued to deteriorate. His lungs were unable to function properly so the doctors had to perform an ECMO procedure. This procedure allows the blood to flow into a machine that performs the same tasks that his lungs, kidneys and liver would do and pump it back into him. He is currently stable but in critical condition and will remain in a coma like state for the next several days.

 We are waiting on blood tests to determine what cause this extremely aggressive infection to occur.

The Calling

The Calling

I am a minister. I minister to the largest mission field in the world. I minister to children.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach boys and girls for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children. This is who I am. This is what I do.

Roger Fields

TGA Looking for Weekday Support

Do you love organizing and prepping materials for kids? Our Children’s Ministry Central Support team that produces and packages materials for The Great Adventure for all Chapel campuses is looking for weekday volunteers to serve at the Libertyville campus starting in January.  Serve flexible hours Monday, Wednesday or Thursday in a super fun environment!  They have a bunch of serving opportunities available for general office and prep/packaging support. Take home projects are also available – great for you, your small group or family!  Contact Cheryl Kouris, ckouris@chapel.org for more information.

If you come into the office to serve during the week, you’ll get to hang out with Kim, Krystie, Tina and Kirk, too! Now, that IS fun!

The Great Adventure, Libertyville, adds Kirk Cribb to staff!

Kirk Cribb (yep, Tina’s husband) accepted the position as Grade School Experience Manager in The Great Adventure at The Chapel, Libertyville. Kirk is leaving his management position at Hobby Lobby and stepping out in faith to pursue ministry, a dream he’s had for the past several years. While Kirk brings tons of management experience to this position, I am most excited about his passion for teaching kids about Christ in new and exciting ways.  Afterall, he does star in two of TGA’s original curriculum series:  “The Stars of Christmas” and “Jesus is Real.”  He has a dynamic personality with kids and will lead his teams of volunteers with love and grace.

Please be in prayer for the Cribb family, as they make multiple sacrifices to answer this call into ministry.  His first official day on the job is December 1, but you might see him around on the weekends before then.  Be sure to give him a high-five and let him know you’re praying for him.

Facebook, Christmas, etc.

Hello TGA Team,

Welcome to The Chapel, Libertyville’s very own volunteer site for The Great Adventure. It is here where you’ll find out the inside scoop and important information going on for volunteers and our ministry.  Please subscribe to this blog so that you’ll automatically get the updates when they are posted (don’t worry, no more than one post a week).  It is at this website that you can also access preschool, K-1 and 2nd-5th grade lesson plans. 

Facebook.  If you are on Facebook, please friend me, Kim Huffman. You can also become a fan of

The Great Adventure (TGA), The Chapel, Libertyville

this is where I’m going to be posting some great resources for families or just sharing what’s on my heart.

TGA Christmas Decorating. It’s almost time to deck the halls in TGA.  Kids are crazy about Christmas, and we want them to be so excited to come to church.  So, please plan to stay after church on Sunday, November 21, to deep clean and decorate for Christmas.  We’ll be ordering pizza for everyone. 

Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Party. We’ve got a Christmas party coming up for all volunteers. So save Friday, December 3. Your whole family will be invited.

TGA Volunteers RUN in the 10/10/10 Chicago Marathon!

1 Corinthians 9:24 says:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

There are a handful of volunteers who serve in The Great Adventure who will compete in the Chicago Marathon this Sunday.  A marathon is a 26.2 mile run that requires months of consistent and disciplined training and a great deal of stamina and perseverance.  Let us pray that they will run the race strong and feel the smile of God all the way!

Here are the runners that I know of. Please let me know if I missed anyone:

Eliza LaBelle, Volunteer Central
Mike Bullington, 2nd-5th classroom
Jen Neuman, Registration
Dena Klapperich, Registration
Bob Casey, K-1 classroom

Let’s cheer them on in prayer!

It’s GO Time!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entagles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Ready . . . Set . . . GO! 

Thanks to all of our TGA leaders and frontline volunteers who carved out two hours of their night to attend “It’s GO Time” training this week!!!! 

It’s fall and many families, new and old, are coming to church, and TGA will be ready for them.  It’s going to take all 300  (150 each week) volunteers to bring our “A” game to the children’s ministry playing field.  Here’s what you need to know to be ready:

 Ready . . .
Team Leader/Experience Mgr: checks all teaching materials and/or supplies, communicates to their serving teams any pertinent information and confirms all volunteers. The day of the service, they ensure all materials are in place and the classrooms are set up.

Safety Team: sets up STOP signs & activates alarm

Volunteer Central/Check-in: activiates computers & check-in systems

Set . . .
Safety, Reg, Tour Guides, Volunteer Central & Exp. Leaders: meet 45 min prior to the start of the service for central Huddle & prayer time.

ALL FRONTLINE volunteers checked in & on their post by 35 min prior to the service. Smiling faces. Tour Guides armed w/clipboards.  Secure hallways. All “set” to check in families.

ALL CLASSROOM volunteers checked in & in their classrooms by 30 min prior to the service for Huddle & prayer.

GO!!!!!
All Classroom Volunteers: Already huddled & prayed. Greeter at the door. Activity stations manned.  Smiles. Eyes on the door. Ready to greet & include kids. DOORS OPEN!!!!!

FALL Teams Begin as Adventure Ave. Takes Shape!

Faux painters make

Faux painters make . . . BRICKS!!!!  A team of carpenters and faux painters are busy at work creating a very exciting children’s ministry space for us — Adventure Avenue.  The train station, train tunnel, CARE-4U Coffee, fire house, bank, police station, hardware store and back-alley gallery are all underway.  We’ve even got a back alley with the graffitied names of God.   Just like kids, Adventure Ave continues to grow and change on a daily basis.  Come and check it out this weekend — I guarantee it will be different from the last time you saw it.

While you’re checking out Adventure Avenue, introduce yourself to one of the 20+ new volunteers who just joined us for the FALL serving season.  There’s no better place to serve then in TGA!

New volunteers and returning volunteers will also want to explore this webpage further.  You’ll find your team schedules, a photo of the TGA Libertyville staff team and a leader’s calendar, among other things.

Welcome SPRING Volunteers!

I just love when God brings new people to serve in The Great Adventure.  It’s so cool to go through Adventure Training with you for the first time and to see the look in your eyes when you connect with the purpose of this ministry: 

 ”Joining parents on The Great Adventure
 of raising up kids who are Livin’ It!”

What a great privilege it is to see kids get excited about God and begin to understand what it looks like to live for Him!

Take some time to introduce yourself to our new TGA teammates.  Here’s what they like to do for FUN:

• Austin Linville, Age 2-3: Play video games
• Heidi Jones, Special Friends: Travel & read
• John Demaree, Registration: Wave running
• Kaitie Manning, Preschool: Read, write & sing
• Diane Peters, Infants: Go out for dinner
• Nancy Cash, Age 2-3: Go out w/friends & movies
• Kaya Demaree, Registration: Tubing & reading
• Jay Gucky, Registration: Play w/the kids, basement remodeling
• Maureen Gucky, Registration: eat candy & run (NOW THAT’S A COMBINATION!)
• Katie Summerfield, Age 2-3: Sing, crafts & time w/friends
• John Stair, 2nd-5th: Run & watch da Bears & Cubs
• Savannah Bullock, K-1st: Bowl
• Curtis Dunlap, 2nd-5th: Golf, garden & workout
• Joan Casey: Watch kids’ games & camping w/family

Eggstaordinary Volunteer EGG Hunt

In preparation for the Easter season and the most extraordinary story ever told AND in celebration of the launch of our Chapel-created Easter series for preschool and grade school, TGA staff is sending volunteers on an Easter EGG, Bible verse hunt. 

Sneak peek @ Week 1 grade school:

Part 1 Link is… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ1pX_QYTLE

Part 2 Link is… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O_AVMsrD4g

BACK TO THE EGG HUNT: Our team has hidden TEN plastic Easter EGGS all around Adventure Avenue.  Hidden in each of the TEN EGGS is a small portion of ONE Bible verse.  The clues to finding each of the TEN EGGS are below.  Each EGG has a number on it, 1-10, just so you can be sure you find all TEN of them.   Once you find an EGG, here’s what you do:

• Don’t tell anyone where you found it.  Let them figure it out (cuz that’s part of the fun).
• Open it up and write down the # on the EGG and the portion of the Bible verse you find inside.
• Put the Bible verse back inside the egg, and put it back exactly where you found it.
• Once you’ve found all TEN EGGS, unscramble the words to make ONE Bible verse.  The verse is from the New Living Translation (NLT).
• Memorize the verse and find it’s address in the Bible.
• The first TEN volunteers to come to Kim Huffman with the verse memorized WIN A PRIZE!
• GO!

Here are the TEN clues:

1. Read what is happening in children’s ministry this week.
2. What time does the train leave the station?
3. Hungry? Grab a snack.
4. It wasn’t a robin that laid this egg.
5. Check-in 30 minutes before the service
6. What’s playing at the Liberty Theater?
7. Jam at Ken’s.
8. Don’t extinguish your fire for Jesus.
9. Can you believe the price of eggs these days?
10. What came first? 2 chicken’s or the egg?

 

What’s to Come

Finally there is evidence of Spring!  The crocuses are blooming in my yard and the temperatures are above freezing!  Things are beginning to come to life and the church is no exception.  The Chapel’s Good Friday and Easter services, which hosted 14,000 worshippers, are further evidence that Spring is here and God is ready to change lives!    The local church is the hope of the world, so let’s pray together AND INVITE families to come and get plugged into our church.  Check out what’s to come. 

April 14th: Postcards went to all first-time families who came to a Good Friday or Easter service inviting them back to The Chapel.  Pray those families would come back and discover more about our great God.

April 26th:  Rob Biagi, a talented, nationally-known children’s worship leader, is coming in concert to The Chapel, Grayslake.  He’s doing two performances.  Invite your neighbors and friends to this exciting experience.  Tickets are available for $5/each at The Chapel bookstore.

May 15th:  Family Fusion is hosting a FREE dinner & movie night at the Libertyville campus.  Invite your friends to an Italian feast then stay for some interactive worship & fun as well as BOLT the movie.

Our Culture

Actions do speak louder than words, don’t they?   Especially when it comes to Christianity.  Have you noticed that we, as Christians, are under the microscope for how we behave?  People are watching to see how we live.  Are we judgemental, gossipy, narrow-minded, unforgiving and bitter?  Or, is there something different about us that draws people in?  Like me, I’m sure all of you have the desire to love others unconditionally, to extend grace and forgiveness, and to live by the Spirit producing tangible fruit such as joy and peace.  

There are FOUR things we want to BE as a church.  These four things represent our CULTURE and how we want to present ourselves as people of Christ.   These four ways of being speak volumes to a world that is critical of Christianity.  They are what make us a light in the darkness.   They are what attract families and children to our church.  They are who we want to be:  Authentic, Loving, Joyful & Inspiring

Check out how these four things relate to how we do children’s ministry

The Four Things We Are: Our Culture

Your INPUT on Strengthening Families

As key volunteers in our ministry, I’d love your input.

 One of the core things we want to be about as a church is Strengthening Families.   The purpose of our children’s ministry is “Joining Parents on The Great Adventure of Raising Up Kids Who are Livin’ It.”   Though TGA represents families who have children birth through 5th grade, the family extends far beyond those years.   As a ministry and church, we want to grow and strengthen families, yet we’re still trying to identify what that looks like.   How can the church be proactive in strengthening families?  

As we gear up for Fall 2009, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what Strengthening Families looks like to you.  Think about (or even answer)these questions:

1. What one thing, if added to your life on a regular basis, would strengthen you spiritually?
2. What top three struggles do families face today?
3. What is the greatest deterrent to spiritual growth families face?
4.  How does The Chapel strengthen your family now?
5. How would you like to see The Chapel come alongside you in strengthening your family?

Please post your responses or send me your comments at khuffman@chapel.org.  Your input is invaluable.  Thank you!

Pray Continually!

Paul said it best in 1 Thessalonians 5:17:  pray continually!  That’s not just a suggestion, it’s a command.  If we want anything good to happen at all, we need to go to God in prayer.  Psalm 17:6 says, “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.” 

With the worst economy since the great depression, people in our own church have lost their jobs and some their homes.  People all around us are struggling with real hardships, one right after another.  Our need for God and prayer has never been greater!    

That is why TGA now has a Prayer & Praise bulletin board in the train station.  If you have a prayer request, please post it there.  If you want to praise God for answered prayer, post it there as well.   In addition, I am going to be posting prayer requests on this web page. 

Please join us in praying for each other.

Why There is Christmas: Luke 19:10

I am doing a  rewrite of my last entry where I shared an excerpt from Perry Nobel’s blog (Nobel is the senior pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina), which caused some controversy because it quoted a certain four-letter word minus a vowel that got everyone’s attention.  My apologies.  It’s not a word many of us hear in church.  Though I don’t use profanity myself, I am thankful to be part of a church that welcomes those who are lost and possibly using such language.  
In just five days, we will be celebrating Christmas, which, 2,000 years ago, was a much anticipated night.  God’s people had been awaiting a Savior for thousands of years, even enduring a 400-year period where God remained silent.  Following the conversion of the sinful tax collector, Zaccheus, Jesus proclaimed in Luke 19:10 why he came, “the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” This verse is the reason we celebrate Christmas.  It is the Good News for all to hear. God came to live among and even eat with the broken, lost and sinful. Not to conform to their likeness, but to transform us into His likeness.     

As volunteers in children’s ministry, you are the church. You are Jesus with skin on to every single child and family who walks through our doors.  I celebrate how you love children the way Christ does. It doesn’t matter if the child uses foul language or misbehaves; comes from a Jewish, Hindu or Muslim background; or has a debilitating condition. You love, accept and welcome them just as Jesus would. 

Thank you for bringing Christmas alive every day in our church by being used by God to seek and save the lost. Thank you for pointing them to the only hope there is: Jesus!  

Here is an excerpt from Pastor Nobel’s blog in regards to a 10-year old boy who came to church for the first time and blurted out a four-letter word.  This is the truth I see you living out every weekend:

 ”I know many churches would not want a kid like that…but we do because HE MATTERS TO JESUS…even though his behavior is not perfect!

Here is what I know about that kid…

• He was greeted by children’s workers that made it a point to learn his name.
• He was treated like he was special, not like an outcast.
• He was NOT taken to the bathroom where his mouth was washed out with soap; in fact, he wasn’t even rebuked.  (Why in the world does the church expect those who do not know Christ to act as if they do?  It is the most ridiculous/stupid idea!!!)
• He was placed into an environment where he was taught th e Scriptures.
• He was placed into an environment where he was taught about Jesus.
• He was placed into an environment where people went the extra mile to make sure the presentation was on his level.
• He matters to God; therefore, he matters to us…and we are going to continually do all that we can to reach him.

Church is not a place for “perfect people.”  (And BEWARE of the church where you go and EVERYONE seems perfect!!!)  It’s a place where the broken, the lonely, the addicted, and the struggling can go.

I love the fact that this kid came to our church…didn’t pretend to be someone he was not…and was STILL accepted and heard about Jesus.”

Making Volunteer Check In Easier

To ensure the highest standards for volunteer screening and safety, TGA has ONE designated volunteer check-in kiosk.  The Volunteer Central Specialist at this station has unique access to our volunteer database and specialized training to check in volunteers. To keep the volunteer check-in line short and fast-moving, I want to ask each of you to:

•  Check in at the Volunteer Central kiosk on the lower level.  Every time you serve. 
• Remember your TGA ID badge. Every time a volunteer forgets to bring his/her badge, the Volunteer Central Specialist must take the time to manually record the person’s name on a login sheet as well as look them up in the database to ensure they are a screened volunteer with completed paperwork.
•  Use the “fast pass” Chapel Key FOB to check in. Just walk up to Volunteer Central with your TGA ID badge, swipe your key FOB, and you’re good to go! This will make the line move quickly.  If you don’t have a Chapel key FOB, please let the Volunteer Central Specialist know and s/he will make you one!

THANK YOU for ALL you do!

Our Brother, Dan

Our brother in Christ, Dan Nekich, has gone to be with the Lord after suffering a heart attack just over a week ago. Many friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow TGA volunteers, Chapel attenders and kids all joined together in praying for a miraculous healing. God chose instead to take him to the greatest place any of us could ever hope to go . . . heaven.  In Philippians 1:23, Paul wrote, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far . . .” 

Please join me in praying for wife, Janet, and their three wonderful children. Dan has left a legacy of Christ’s love with his family and with the children in The Great Adventure. He will be so dearly missed.

More information to come regarding services and the celebration of Dan’s life.