WELCOME to the APRIL eNews

It's that time again! So grab a coffee and have a look at what we have for you this month. A big welcome to those who have just joined us. We are so excited to be sharing this journey with you.

Grow eNews now has 841 subscribers, share with your friends and help us acheive 1000! 

In this month's edition:

• GP #6 Support during crisis
• Rethinking Training available
• John Roberto is back!
• GIFT Trinity - order now
• GROW together - what a response!
• ....plus MUCH MORE!

Guiding Principle #6

During times of personal crisis, children, young people and their families are supported witin an engaging Christian community.

Family breakdown, bullying, career issues, lonliness, addiction, drugs, violence and illness are just some of the many difficult circumstances endured by God's people. How can we ensure that we are there to provide help?

Click here for GP3 Fact Sheet

RETHINKING TRAINING

How does your congregation embrace families and young people?

Do you understand the current culture and how it affects faith formation?

For many congregations and families, sharing the Christian faith with children and youth is an area of struggle or challenge. Culture and society has changed so much, raising many new questions and issues and pressures.  This isn’t about a new program or ideology, but instead remembering the ways God showed us to incorporate ministry into our everyday lives.

Did you know that Grow Ministries would love to encourage your congregation by holding a training session in your area that outlines how we can embrace and encourage faith formation. 

WHO IS THIS TRAINING AIMED AT?
All those involved in child, youth and family ministry - Pastor, parent, grandparent, caregiver, children’s ministry leader, Sunday school teacher, kid’s talk presenter, youth ministry leader, youth leader, congregational leader and those involved in community programs. 

Everyone plays a part in growing communities of faith!

FEEDBACK:

In February 2016, St Petri and Langmeil Church hosted a ‘Rethinking Child Youth & Family Ministry’ workshop, inviting many congregations from all over the Barossa.

Here's some 'God Nuggets' from those who attended:

"I think it was a wonderful day of great teaching, resource sharing and networking. And wasn’t it wonderful how many came from our neighbouring congregations!!"

"The excitement of knowing that the wider church (LCA) is thinking constantly about how we can keep our young people engaged/excited in wanting to grow their faith. They are doing this through providing us with many of the resources that were shared on the day."

"The notion that whatever programme/event we come up with we should always have in the back of our mind the question: Is it intergenerational? Are all generations within our community given the opportunity to connect to our young people (and vice versa) through the activity. It’s through the mix of all ages that our young people will feel connected and want to belong to our amazing church family."

If you would like to find out how you can host an event please head to our website or email us at growministries@lca.org.au.

Faith Formation Conferences - Sydney

John Roberto is coming to Australia in August for two conferences focussing on the family and ministry in the digital world. If you missed out on seeing John in 2014, we would highly recommend that you consider attending one or both of the conferences.

23-25 AUGUST
LEARNING INTENSIVE - ENGAGING ALL AGES & GENERATIONS

• How formation and education are changing in today’s mission context?
• Promising approaches to faith formation
• Thinking beyond the gathered congregation
• Learning within and across generations

26-28 AUGUST
NATIONAL CONFERENCE - FORMATION & MISSION IN A DIGITAL WORLD

• The impact of digital technology in a social world
• Blended faith formation in a digital world
• Curating learning experiences
• Resources and tools for faith formation
• Social Justice and Social Media
• Engaging Content for Websites, using website more effectively
• Marketing Your Ministry: Best Practices for Effective Evangelism

For more information download the flyer below. This event is organised by the Uniting church.

Download flyer here

Godly Play Core Training - South Australia

An intense three day course in which participants are immersed in Godly Play practice, learn and tell a story for supportive feedback.

26, 27, 28 May 2016

Adelaide College of Diviinty | 34 Lipsett Terrace | Brooklyn Park

$450 per person *includes moring/afternoon tea and lunch

For more information download a flyer or contact:

Kerry Folland | 0417 606 255 | children@ttguc.org.au

Shannon Schuster | 0451 155 447 | godlyplaybeta@gmail.com

or visit http://sa.uca.org.au/cfm/ministry-leaders/godly-play/gp-events-and-training/

Here's a sample of what you will find:

Mother's Day | Sunday May 8

Pentecost Preperation | Sunday May 15

Devotion ideas | For families

Trinity GIFT samples for you

The Trinity GIFT event will help people of all ages explore the mystery of the Trinity. Our one true God is Father, Son and the Holy Spirit - three distinct Persons in one God. The Trinity GIFT event will help people of all ages explore the mystery of the Trinity and how each Person serves us in different ways.

Trinity Triangle Craft

Trinity Plait

Trinity Shamrock

For more information about GIFT, click here.

To head straitght to our store - click here.

GROW together

The interest in our newest addition to GROW has been amazing and positive! Thank you so much for the encouragement.

Feedback from a happy recipient:

"As I was contemplating how to encourage my 8 year old boy and 6 year old girl in prayer a copy of the new GROW Together Newsletter with the Prayer Cross on the back was given to me.  So at the beginning of April we began making our way around the cross.

Both children share quite an enthusiasm each as to what the date is so we know who to pray for with their bedtime prayers.  The prayers have been as simple as ‘The homeless to find a home’ to ‘That my neighbour friend stops teasing me’.  They both look at me to check if it’s ‘right’ or not, which I always respond with “There isn’t a right or wrong because you are just having a talk with God”.  The joy and satisfaction on their faces after we say Amen melts my heart every time."

There has been great interest in receiving further editions by individuals, congregations and schools. Please bear with us as we sort through the process. Our intention is for GROW together to be in printed form.

Churches can order their copies through the relevant LCA district office. Schools and other denominations will be able to subscribe through the store on our website. We plan to have this available before the next edition is ready. Please keep an eye on our website for updates. 

REMEMBER TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Remember to regularly like and share our posts to help us reach people with our news! Thank you to our growing group of faithful followers!

FREE RESOURCE SAMPLE DISK

We've created a resource disk that has a sample of all the exciting things we create for you at Grow Ministries. Do want to know more about Taking Faith Home or GIFT? Perhaps  you've heard of Faith Trail but want to see it? You will find samples of Faith Trail, Faith Inkubators, Taking Faith Home, GIFT, OYHS and Faith 5.

Head to the website HERE and order your FREE sample, we'll even pay the postage. 

We hope you enjoyed this edition of our eNews.

What has been happening in your church community?

Do you use GROW resources?

Please send us photos and stories, we would love to encourage others by sharing your experiences!

The Grow Ministries Team

Jodi, Vaughn, Leah, Rachel and Vicki

e: growministries@lca.org.au

p: 08 8267 7300