Posted December 30, 2008 in Winter 2008, GARBCnews, Synergy
Energize with Synergy! View the Winter issue now. This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. Written by ministry leaders for ministry leaders—the best kind of synergy! Share your ministry ideas.
Enjoy this Winter 2008 issue:
Posted December 29, 2008 in Winter 2008, Greeting, Synergy
Happy New Year!
As we ring in the new year, let’s improve with age! Older does not necessarily mean wiser. While gaining experience in serving the Lord, we must not be satisfied with maintaining the status quo. Instead we must actively pursue learning and improving ministry skills. This issue of Synergy offers valuable ministry assistance in a wide range of topics related to deacons, children, teens, women, teachers, pastors, and the total church. May we press on in becoming effective servants! May God give us a prosperous 2009 in doing His work!
Serving with you,
John and Daria Greening
GARBC national rep. and wife
Posted in Winter 2008, Ministry Toolbox, Synergy
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Today we hear much about attaining personal fulfillment. What does “personal fulfillment” mean? Is being fulfilled synonymous with being happy or complete? You might picture a fulfilled person as always on the mountaintop in response to life’s experiences. However, even when someone has reached the highest level of attainment, that person may have inward battles and struggles. As Christians, we need to guard against hypocrisy.
In order to clear misunderstandings, a truly fulfilled person is NOT
- always smiling or laughing;
- always optimistic (sometimes pessimism is present; electrical currents need a negative and a positive combination to work);
- always brave and courageous (it is beneficial to admit weakness or a wrong decision; an honest confession is good for the soul);
- always free from doubt, fear, tears, or sorrow (Elijah and Peter experienced sorrow and fear; so do God’s servants).
If fulfillment does not consist of things listed above, then what constitutes being a fulfilled person? Though trials may hound our footsteps as believers, fulfillment is available. And when we are fulfilled, we evidence the following three characteristics: identification, acceptance, and involvement.
Identification: The need to belong
As believers, we belong to Christ. Jesus referred to Christians as His sheep. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Nahum 1:7 assures us, “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.” People join movements, clubs, and organizations to meet this need of belonging. The believer has a special affiliation, a Biblical identification (Eph. 3:14, 15). Our identification with God and fellow believers is an uplifting relationship that brings fulfillment.
Acceptance: The need to be loved
The individual desires to love and to be loved. God loves us with eternal love (Rom. 5:8). The believer is accepted in the Beloved.
Involvement: The need to do something, to occupy, to keep busy, to work
God put Adam to work before the fall (Gen. 2:15). Using the parable of minas, Christ challenged believers to be busy in His work: “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Do business till I come” (Luke 19:13).
True fulfillment grows out of becoming a new creation in Christ by trusting Christ as Savior (2 Cor. 5:17). As believers, we are to “yield [ourselves] unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and [our] members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:13, KJV). Our salvation prompts us to do good works (Eph. 2:10), to let our lights shine (Matt. 5:16), and to show forth His praises (1 Pet. 2:9,10) Ultimately, our fulfillment will come at God’s right hand (Ps. 16:11), when we are clothed in the garment of immortality (1 Cor. 15:54).
Until we reach ultimate fulfillment in eternity, we can claim and act upon this promise of God: “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
John Lineberry, Pastor
San Mateo Baptist Church
Jacksonville, Florida
Posted in Winter 2008, Building Your Ministry, Synergy
In this day of well-publicized corporate financial misdealings, the church should be a shining model of integrity and precision in its financial record keeping. The following principles will help you maintain exemplary accounting practices:
1. The accounting process should begin before the first gift is given. A well-detailed plan that follows GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) is a must.
2. Giving is an important part of the accounting process. Encourage givers to give by means that assist in showing evidence of good financial practices, such as using checks and giving envelopes for contributions.
3. The handling of all finances and transactions should have oversight, and safeguards should be implemented against any possible mishandlings.
4. Transactions with other institutions must have appropriate accounting information and documentation, no exceptions.
5. Give the church a simple financial report that everyone can easily understand. It helps everyone share in the praises and prayer requests.
Michael Nolan
Director of Operations/Treasurer, Regular Baptist Ministries
Posted in Winter 2008, Women's Ministries, Synergy
This women’s ministry idea shared by Grandview Park Baptist Church, Des Moines, Iowa, can be used as a tool to improve publicity and promote connections among women in your church. The women’s ministry team keeps in touch by publishing a newsletter, The Encourager, every other month. The newsletter has regular columns: a recipe, a missions update, a short biography on a female church member, an uplifting message from a secret encourager, and an inspirational article that comes from a woman’s personal study. The Encourager includes dates and times for upcoming events as well as highlights of past events for women who were unable to attend but might choose to do so in the future. The women’s ministry team distributes the newsletters through the adult fellowship groups (Sunday School) and the church welcome center.
The pastor’s wife, Ronette Smith, reports, “We have a team of four or five ladies who regularly work on The Encourager. One woman serves as the conduit, setting the deadlines and receiving the articles via e-mail. She contacts writers and follows up with deadline reminders. Another woman works on the newsletter graphics. Once all the articles are assembled in a document, I proofread the text, then send the document on for layout and graphics insertion. The church copies and prints the newsletter for us.”
Perhaps your church is small and could not publish something on this scale, but don’t give up on the idea. Even one person could send a small, monthly newsletter from her computer to ladies in the women’s ministry. The newsletter could include announcements and one of the previously mentioned features. Getting the word out is half the battle of getting women to participate!
Jeannie Vogel
Women’s Ministries Consultant, Regular Baptist Ministries
Posted in Winter 2008, Reach Out, Synergy
A well-designed church sign can result in increased visitor foot traffic to your church. Make sure your outdoor sign is an asset to your church, not a liability. The following suggestions will assist you in using your outdoor sign to make your church known in your community.
- Have a church sign! The name of the church in big letters on the side of the building isn’t enough; an attractive sign near the road is a great visibility tool.
- Place the sign perpendicular to the road, not parallel to it. A sign parallel to the road is harder to read and not visible from down the street. The best approach is to place the sign on a slight angle facing those who drive by on either side.
- Make sure the lettering is big enough. Often church signs have small lettering that only pedestrians can read. Be sure all your sign lettering can be read by those driving by.
- Illuminate your sign. Spotlighting is good; backlighting is better. LED signs are expensive but are the best for visibility and changeability.
- Maintain your sign. There’s no excuse for signs with peeling paint or lettering that is faded and falling off. Also check the landscaping surrounding the sign; weeds and overgrown grass communicate the wrong message to potential visitors.
- Include the times of services. Yes, your people know the times of the services, but those driving by probably don’t. Some people still “stake out” a new church before coming for the first time and will benefit from knowing the times of the services.
- Share appropriate info. Concise, inviting facts about special ministries and events can create interest in your activities.
- Keep it up-to-date. If the times of the services have changed or your pastor has changed, be sure to update the sign. One church kept the previous pastor’s name on its sign two years after he had left the church. Remember that news even a week old is too old.
Dr. Jim Vogel
Associate National Representative, GARBC
Posted in Winter 2008, Student Ministries, Synergy
A New Perspective on Junior High Bible Studies
When I was in junior high, the last thing I wanted to do was sit in a circle and discuss a book—even if it had fill-in-the-blank questions at the end. So, as a junior high youth worker, I decided to try a little different approach to studying the Bible. I met with the girls twice a month: first, to open the Bible and learn about a type of love, and then to practically apply what we learned. Once a month we spent a Sunday afternoon together preparing a skit to perform in church, making cards for sick church members, and decorating cookies to give to local firefighters. Our various activities were fun yet provided a hands-on learning experience that I felt I couldn’t achieve through a Bible study book. As a result, the girls grew closer to one another and to me, and have experienced firsthand the joy of loving God and serving those around them.
Karis Vogel
Production Artist, Regular Baptist Ministries
Posted in Winter 2008, Children's Ministries, Synergy
“Come in and learn about God!” You may not say those words as students enter your classroom, but your teaching practices should definitely communicate that invitation. As a teacher, you have the power to influence the extent to which your students learn the Word of God.
By practicing a few teaching basics, you can create an inviting learning environment for your students. To make sure you are ready for effective teaching, use the following teaching practices.
Make your classroom ready. Have tables, chairs, teaching materials and activities, craft supplies, and snacks ready at the beginning of every Sunday School session. By organizing your classroom, you can concentrate fully on your students from the moment they enter the door. More learning will take place!
Smile and greet each student by name as he or she enters. Your smile communicates, “I am glad to see you; I am here to help you.” When you address the child by name, the student senses that you view him or her as important.
Establish routines. When you set routines, you spend less time giving directions, and students have more time for learning and participating in activities. Students function better with structure.
Set high expectations. Expect the best from your students in their attentiveness, behavior, memory work, praying, and learning activities. They can surprise you with their abilities! (Note of caution: Make sure your expectations are appropriate for each student’s age and ability. Asking a student to perform at a level beyond his or her capabilities will make the child feel stressed and will result in decreased learning.)
Use affirming words. Generously include phrases such as “Good job in remembering the Bible story!”; “Thanks for helping!”; “What do you think?”; “Good idea!”; and “May I help you?” Your words have the power to give your students confidence in the way that God made them. They will be willing to exert more effort in learning if you believe in their abilities.
Streamline decision making. Offering students too many choices is frustrating for the students and time-consuming for you. Students will spend more time learning and less time quarreling if you limit their options.
Stand your ground. Think before you speak to your students; don’t make a demand that you don’t intend to see them obey. If you get into the habit of changing your mind after making requests, the children will learn they can manipulate you through whining or negotiating. When they draw you into debate, learning time is wasted.
Are you shaping your classroom to be productive in student learning? You have great power to affect change as a teacher. Pray that the Lord will use you in leading your students to know more about the Savior. Don’t get discouraged—every time you teach, you’ll learn more about working effectively with your Sunday School students. Keep teaching and learning!
Daria Greening
Seminar leader, Regular Baptist Ministries
Posted in Winter 2008, Children's Ministries, Synergy
When you hear the word “teacher,” what picture comes to mind? Perhaps you visualize a favorite teacher from your past or yourself with a lively group of students. Probably the picture of the four walls of your classroom does not come to mind. However, your classroom teaches too! The way in which you equip, arrange, decorate, and organize your classroom makes an impact on the learning and behavior of your students.
Choosing color wisely
Colors in the classroom can effect your students’ emotions, activity level, and learning potential. Children respond to colors in different ways. The use of neon or red colors may have the negative effect of increasing activity and decreasing attentiveness in a hyperactive child. However, those same bright colors may energize and increase the participation of a lethargic child. If the child’s brain associates color with positive emotions, color can increase long-term retention of the content of your lessons. Conversely, if the color elicits an unpleasant emotional response, less learning may occur.
Colors listed below may illicit the following effects:
| Red |
Engaging and emotive; disturbing to anxious learners, exciting to calm learners |
| Yellow |
Stress, caution, and apprehension; first color a person decodes in the brain |
| Blue |
Most tranquilizing universally increases feeling of well-being lowers stress |
| Green |
Calming |
| Brown |
Promotes a sense of security, reduces fatigue |
| Gray |
Most neutral |
Generally darker colors lower stress and increase feelings of peacefulness; brighter colors increase energy and creativity, but also have the potential of increasing aggression and nervousness.
Personalizing the classroom
You can increase students’ identification with their Sunday School classroom by posting their photographs and names. You might choose to display pictures of their families and pets. Younger children enjoy having their own attendance charts on the wall and and having a mailbox just for their things. When you display the students’ art work and learning activities in the classroom, they sense that you view their work as important. As students identify with their classroom, their comfort level increases and their minds can absorb instruction.
Instructing with the walls
Students learn in multi-dimensional ways involving seeing, smelling, hearing, and touching. Take advantage of the children’s learning potential by displaying visuals on bulletin boards and cork strips. Research indicates that children retain material better in classrooms where teachers use the walls to display information. To extend learning beyond the Bible time, hang teaching visuals at the children’s eye level .
Attractive bulletin boards not only extend the children’s learning, but also create favorable impressions with parents. Your RBP Teacher Book provides step-by-step plans for bulletin boards that coordinate with lesson themes. RBP has bulletin board borders, letters, and bulletin board books and kits available to make your work easier (1-800-727-4440).
Daria Greening
Seminar leader, Regular Baptist Ministries
Posted in Winter 2008, Idea Exchange, Synergy
God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained
as published in church bulletin by Sandra LeMaster, pastor’s wife
Brooklyn Baptist Church
Brooklyn, New York
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