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.

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!

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.”

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.

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!

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

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.

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?

 

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

ALL ABOARD for the Spring Team!

A HUGE thank you to TGA’s FALL serving team.  You are mighty and faithful and have been a blast to serve with.     

TGA is now loading up the train for the SPRING serving team, which runs February-Mid June.  Many of you on the FALL team have decided to stay on for the SPRING adventure.  Thank you! 

If you’re just getting started serving in The Great Adventure, here’s what you need to get on board:

• Decide which classroom or area you want to serve in, then decide at which service you’d like to serve:  Sat @ 5pm, Sun @ 9am or Sun @ 11am.
• Be in communication with the TGA staff person who oversees the classroom or area you are serving in.  If you’re not sure, click on “Meet Our Staff” 
• Let your TGA staff person know which Adventure Orientation you will attend:
  ___Sunday, January 25^th @ 9am
  ___Sunday, February 1^st  @ 9am
• Click on “Volunteer Applications” and print out and complete the appropriate volunteer applications. 
• Turn your forms into TGA’s Volunteer Registration kiosk located on the lower level where you will have your photo taken and receive your RED TGA shirt.  Please turn in applications by January 18th.  Thanks!