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Sharing the Excitement:
ChristCare Ministry Networks
Celebration, sharing, and renewed vision and purpose--the ChristCare Group Ministry networking event for congregations near Thousand Oaks, California, was an experience rich in all three--and a resounding success!
Ruth Singelyn and the other ChristCare Equippers at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, California, hosted the event, which took place on Saturday, March 3, 2007. Rev. Bill McKay from Stephen Ministries St. Louis was the featured speaker. Participants included Equippers and ChristCare Group Leaders from ChristCare congregations, as well as leaders from area congregations interested in learning more about the ChristCare Series.
Participants are still talking about the excitement generated that day! Some--like LaVonne McGee, Equipper and ChristCare Group Leader from Bethel Lutheran Church in Santa Maria--drove three hours to attend. "As soon as I received the invitation, I put the date on my calendar," LaVonne said. "I was really excited about having additional contact with Stephen Ministries. I had attended the Equipper's Training Course (ETC) almost three years ago. The opportunity for a refresher really appealed to me."
Celebrating and Sharing Great Ministry
This networking event gave area Equippers and ChristCare Group Leaders the chance to celebrate their ministry with others who share their vision and goals for ChristCare.
"In our ChristCare network, we can get motivated and re-energized," Ruth said. "We can encourage one another. We can think of new approaches and gain new perspectives together. We can build relationships and share our challenges and successes.
"With several denominations involved, we also have the opportunity to see a broader vision for ChristCare Group Ministry. We help one another find new ways to realize the vision of bringing people to meet Jesus."
New Vision and Purpose
"It was refreshing and encouraging to get together with people from other ChristCare congregations," said Rev. Joseph Strubbe, pastor and Equipper from Christ Lutheran Church in Costa Mesa, a successful ChristCare congregation since the mid-1990s. "Bill's presentation on leadership was a great reminder of what needs to be at the forefront of our ministry. And our Equippers had time to apply what we were learning to our congregation's ChristCare Group Ministry--it reminded us of our rich experiences at the Equipper's Training Course."
Rev. Strubbe and his team have already begun incorporating some of the valuable leadership ideas Bill shared into their ChristCare Group Ministry. "In our ministry this year, we want to catch people doing great things and celebrate them," he said. "We're adding more celebrations for group members, ChristCare Group Leaders, and Equippers."
Though LaVonne was the only Equipper able to attend from Bethel Lutheran Church, she's planning to share the ideas she gained from the networking event with the other two Equippers on her team as soon as possible.
"I enjoyed experiencing some of the same excitement we had at the ETC," she said. "I would love to see us get together like this every year. There's such a synergy when you're with others who have the same focus and the same goals."
Enriching ChristCare Group Ministry
through Networking
"Tracking the Treasure"
was the focus of the March networking event
Networking is a powerful way to enhance ChristCare Group Ministry. It allows ChristCare congregations in an area to pool resources. Congregations share best practices, fellowship, and encouragement--as well as brochures, activities, and ideas for missional service or Biblical Equipping resources. A network might sponsor joint continuing education events to help group leaders and Equippers learn more about small group ministry and grow spiritually. Networked congregations might keep in touch through sending a monthly or quarterly newsletter, maintaining a network Web site, or setting up an e-mail correspondence group for members.
Networking has made ChristCare Group Ministry an even richer experience in the congregations that participated in the March networking event in Thousand Oaks.
"As an Equipper and a pastor, I'm thrilled to see ChristCare Group members growing closer to God through Biblical Equipping and the other ChristCare Group activities," Rev. Strubbe said. "ChristCare has helped me grow spiritually through interaction with other Christians. I'm tremendously excited to see group members' lives change because of ChristCare Group Ministry."
Ruth agrees. "My heart has been transformed through ChristCare," she said. "It's fulfilling to know that others are being transformed through my involvement as an Equipper."
If your ChristCare congregation would like information about building a network for ChristCare Group Ministry congregations in your area--or if you would like more information about beginning ChristCare Group Ministry in your congregation--call Stephen Ministries at (314) 428-2600. We'll be happy to help!
