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Grow Ministries eNews

HELLO!

What a busy month it's been for our team! We've travelled to Victoria for our Conference (see below) and to Queensland for District Synod. While there we also were able to catch up with some of the team from LYQ and local Child, Youth and Family Ministry friends in Brisbane to share stories and ideas.  It's been lovely to put names to faces and we remind you that we are only an email or a phone call away!

MELBOURNE CONFERENCE

One of the things we love to do at Grow Ministries is meet the people who are on the ground, in congregations, ministering to our children, youth and families. At our recent conference in Melbourne we had an excellent time listening, sharing, learning and growing.

One of the things we learned is that Child, Youth and Family Ministry is an opportunity for the whole congregation to use their gifts, not just those working in these ministries.

Everyone, young and old has something to contribute to the faith life of others. It's all about multi-generational community and sharing our faith with each other.

Here are some comments from our participants...

It was great to have people from our CYFM team come to hear about re-thinking CY&F ministry, so that we can discuss and plan how we implement this in our congregational context, as well as affirm a lot of what we are already doing and how to build on that.  Keren, St Paul’s Box Hill

It has been a wonderful time of learning and sharing together our passion of children and youth ministries.  Connecting and meeting with Grow Ministries team has been inspiring.  New friendships with each participant of the conference has also encouraged me and given me focus and renewal.

Attending the GM National Conference has provided a wonderful opportunity for someone not involved in Child and Family Ministry to broaden their experience and equip themselves to support the Youth and Family Ministry worker in their congregations.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet connect with other people in difference congregations – to hear ideas but also share the challenges and struggles.  Jemimah Juers, St Paul’s Box Hill

One of the things we discussed was that in our effort to offer relevant and developmentally appropriate teaching and fellowship for children and teenagers we have segregated these ministries from the rest of the church. This video gives another perspective on this...

CLICK HERE

 

TRAINING / TEAM GROWING OPPORTUNITIES

There are some excellent opportunities coming up to encourage and support your church in it's ministry to Children, Youth and Families. We encourage you to bring your pastor and teams to learn and grow together. For more information and to register, click on the links!

Home and Church in Partnership 

Discover how both home and church can partner together in passing on the faith to both children and families, by looking at 12 guiding principles. Based on Deuteronomy 6, this workshop will explore the guiding principles for effective Child, Youth and Family Ministry, and how these ideas and resources can be used and shared in your ministry context. (Facilitated by Grassroots and Grow Ministries.)

Halls Gap / VIC / 25-26 June
Adelaide / SA / 2-3 July
Nundah / QLD / 17-18 July

CLICK HERE  Home and Church in Partnership

Grow Ministries Conference

For many congregations and families, sharing the Christian faith with children, youth and families is an area of struggle and challenge. Culture and society has changed so much, raising many new questions, issues and pressures. We invite you to join us in rethinking Child, Youth and Family Ministry for a new time and a new age.

CLICK HERE  Grow Ministries Conference / Adelaide / 12 - 13 August

 

SHARE

Each month we like to share a resource or an article with you. This month we would like to encourage you in the area of sharing your faith and having a devotion time. One of the easiest ways, we think at Grow Ministries anyway, to share faith and promote intentional conversation is by using the Faith5. It's a favourite!

You could use it at meal time with your family.We have heard stories about  ministry teams using it as a way to begin meetings, youth groups and children's ministries start their sessions with it. We even heard a story about a group of families using it to guide their time of celebrating Easter morning while out camping.

You Share - your highs and lows for the day (just one each or it might take all night!) Read - from the bible or a short devotion - maybe you have a favourite children's book if you're doing this with your family. Talk - about what you've just read, share any thoughts you might have about it. Pray - you could thank God for the highs and bring Him the lows. Bless - bless each other, you could do the sign of the cross on each other's forehead. "(Insert name) You are a child of God and He loves you!"

We have Faith5 cards available to share with you. Maybe you would like to hand them out at church or to your friends. Email Leah at our office leah.cronin@lca.org.au 

God's blessings and we'll see you soon,

The Grow Ministries Team,

Jodi, Leah, Vicki and Shannon :)

 

 


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