intentionality in action: lighthouse church of all nations children's ministry

PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012

1


2

Move Forward → Intentional Multicultural Ministry

Identify the multitudes

+

Take intentional actions to

reach them

Plan

Bringing the body into

oneness =


3

Next 10 Years = Diverse Church Growth Explosion

“… it was God’s plan for His church from the beginning” (Rainer Research, 2011).


Google Translator

Jesus Wants His Church to Be One in Him

لله الشكر هللوياaleluyaहलि��य

Алелуя

alléluia

Halleluja

할렐루야

αλληλούια

Hallelujah

ハレルヤ

аллилуйя

הללויה

aleluia

54501 West 127th Street, Alsip, IL 60803 http://www.thelighthousechurch.org

Learn From Others →

66 Nations StrongThe Lighthouse Church of All NationsChicago’s Bridging the Gap Church

3,500 + membershipfrom a tri-state area

Highlights

• Culturally-relevant curriculum

• Multi-layered structure

• Culture of love & brotherhood

• Diverse, empowered staff

• Reconciling communication

• Strong cross-cultural relationships

• Consistent growth over an eight-year period

PerSpetives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012

Intentionality in Action:Lighthouse Church of All Nations, Children’s Ministry

Exploring Intentionality With Children’s Ministry Director, Rachel A. Cole


Questions• How do you structure for intentional

ministry?• What are the ministry’s intentional

actions?• What are examples of intentional

activities from the ministry?• Would you give recommendations?

?PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012

How do you structure for intentionality?

Bringing the body into

oneness =

Identify the

multitudes +

Vision: Nurture and prepare a diverse body of children

Core Belief: Forward the Gospel in a way that is understandable to children from different backgrounds

Ministry Philosophy: Children from a wide-ranging ethnicities & complex geographic areas need a curriculum that meets their changing needs

Critical Attitudes

for a Sound

Structure

Take intentional actions to

reach them

Plan

• Is Christ-centered & biblically-based

• Built on a foundation of prayer

• Has culturally appropriate communication & discipleship

• Embeds real-life application

• Incorporates multi-sensory & culturally-responsive instruction

• Uses contemporary worship that appeals to a wide range of children

Key Actions That

StrengthenStructure

?

What are your intentional actions?

Plan using these

actions

Make time for reconciliation with God


Children unified as one Children pray

for children

Children worship together

Children access the Good News

Community Measurement

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower

Diverse Team Reconciliation Invitation

Relationships

Invite & welcome the multitudes in all facets of the church

PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower


Each small cluster of children has a shepherd assigned to them. The shepherd cares for the children, making each feel welcome and part of a community.

Bring together a diverse ministry team

14PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012

Four generations

Cross-cultural teams

Adult and young adult training programs

Community Measurement Relationships

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower



Involve diverse team members in the circle of power

Community Measurement Relationships

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower


Decision Make

Members meet twice monthly with respect to the spiritual needs & cultural perspectives of children

Design

Plan

Empower

to be

self s

tarte

rs

Live in brotherhood & esteem one another’s culture

16PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower


Multiple generations work side-by–side. They love, support and care for one another.

Develop cross-cultural relationships with those of a different culture

PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower


Create a culture of love and unity in Christ within relationships

Use spiritual measures of growth1 with a diverse population (Acts 2:42-47)

18PerSpectives12-Jan Paron All Rights Reserved 2012Community Measurement Relationships

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower


Growth in Maturity

Growth in Unity

Growth in Favor

Growth in Numbers # Sunday School participants broken down by different cultures

# Youth interns working w/other teachers from different generations

# Children praying with & for children across cultures

See slide notes for other examples (1 Whitesel, 2000, pp. 206-21)

Disaggregated feedback about working in harmony within the ministry

Structured observations of cross-cultural interactions

Parent survey about different components of children’s ministry

Growth rates by people groups

Learn about the community’s culture and felt needs

19Community Measurement Relationships

Brotherhood

Shared P

ower


?The ministry understands its immediate and broader communities.

They determine children’s & families’ felt needs.

?They learn about the cultural backgrounds of families and children within and outside their church.

?

Puppeteering

Illustrated Sermons

Culturally-Relevant Teaching

Interactive, Engaging Games

Treasure Chest Tithing

Technology Assisted

Youth-Led Worship

ProcessChildren rotate through different rooms each week, learning about the same biblical topic but in various formats

LearningEngaging, interactive, critical thinkingCulturally responsive teachingMultiple intelligences

Rooms Heaven.com, Treasure Cove, The Tent, The Coliseum, Creation Station and Holy Word Studio.

Youth Training

24

Train young adults in children’s ministry

They work along side the adults as they train, as equal partners in ministry

As they mature, young adults become teachers, shepherds and lesson designers

Later, they also train the next generation of children’s ministry members.

Be flexible Be strategicBe patient


27

References

Hunter, K. (1997). Your church has personality: Find your focus-maximize your mission. Coruna, IN: Church Growth Center.

Lighthouse Church of All Nations. (2012). Various Images. Alsip, IL.

Whitesel, B. & Hunter, K. (2000). A house divided: Bridging the generation gaps in your church. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.


PerSpectives12http://specs12.wordpress.com/

[email protected]

Jan Paron

? ?? ?

Training, Jan Paron

[email protected]

Lighthouse Children’s Ministry,

Rachel A. Cole708-385-6020,

Ext 109

http://specs12.wordpress.com/

mailto:[email protected]

intentionality in action: lighthouse church of all nations children's ministry

Spiritual

children unified children

diverse ministry team

paron oneness

childrens ministry highlights

multitudes actions

intentional actions

key actions

brotherhood esteem