Every year I submit a report for the annual business meeting at Fellowship Baptist Church. Here is a review of what God did in the ministries I’m involved in:
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
One of the joys of children/youth ministry is the privilege of seeing God beginning and continuing amazing works in the lives of children and teens…and even adults! The following paragraphs are just a summary of all that took place in the children and youth ministries of Fellowship Baptist Church. These events however are just a small part of the stories that God is writing in the lives of those children and teens as well as in the lives of the leaders and my wife and me.
Wednesday Night Children’s ministry (AWANA)
Wednesday nights at Fellowship Baptist Church are exciting nights, due in large part, I believe, to the presence of many children running here and there around the church buildings. These children have some amazing leaders that cheerfully put up with all sorts of hyper behavior and sometimes misbehavior in order to develop a relationship with them that will set a foundation for spiritual growth in their lives. While I do a lot of the general oversight of the program, the program is actually run by 3 very competent and passionate directors along with the individual leaders. Emily and Kathie have done outstanding work with the Cubbies and Sparks. Emily does Cubbies basically by herself, and Kathie has developed a leadership team that continues to impress me. 2009 was a year of transition for the T&T (3rd – 6th grade). Theresa Gaudet did an outstanding job during her rookie year as director and the leaders she worked with are also outstanding. With her rookie year behind her she was looking forward to another year, but God had other plans and a couple of months into the new Awana year God directed the Gaudet’s back to New York. With the year already started the potential for a rough transition loomed, but God had already been working in the life of Sherry Strickland and she was able to step right in as the new T&T director, and I don’t think the leaders missed a beat. We covet your prayers greatly for the children’s ministry and we pray that God will raise up even more godly leaders for this vital ministry of the church.
Youth Group (Word of Life) 
Wednesday Nights continued to be a great night of discipleship as the Gibson’s, Colliers and Scroggins spent part of each meeting interacting and developing godly relationships with the teens. Whether it’s encouraging an individual to spend more time in God’s Word or getting excited about something that has happened in the teens life these leaders have demonstrated time and again their genuine heart and concern for the lives of the teens. As our youth group grows, and God calls some of our leaders to different ministries…like Portugal…my prayer is that God raises up new leaders with the same passion for lives committed to Christ.
Snow Camp – Over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend Emily and I took a small group of Juniors and Seniors up to the Schroon Lake campus of Word of Life for snow camp. The purpose of this trip was two-fold: first to give the students a chance to visit the campus of the Bible Institute and second to have fun in the snow! Both purposes were accomplished, and the group even came back with a volleyball tournament trophy! Many thanks to those who made it financially possible for the students to attend this event.
Graduation Banquet – At eight seniors this year we had our largest graduating class in the years that I’ve been working with the teens. This was a special year for Emily and I as it marked the first graduation class that we have been working with since they came into the youth group. Of the six Fellowship Baptist Church members in that class, all are still actively involved a church, 4 are at a Bible college or institute, one is working in Awana, and one being a witness for Christ in the Marines.
Shepherds mission trip – Right after school let out Emily and I accompanied 2 Sr. High girls and 4 Sr. High guys up to Union Grove, WI for a week of ministering to/with the residents at Shepherds. This trip is always one that stretches the participants as they work with the mentally disabled. We learned of the discrimination that these people face as well as the intense, yet child-like faith that each one has in their savior. Each student spent the week interacting with one particular resident, talking with them, working with them and basically being a part of their daily life. On Wednesday we shared a drama presentation and a message. By the end of the week the team was exhausted….but not too tired to have a quick tour of Downtown Chicago in the rain, hitting high points like the Sears Tower and Giovanni’s Pizzeria. A special thanks to all who made it financially possible for this trip to take place, and to those who supported us through prayer throughout the week.
The Wilds – This year the students who attended a week at The Wilds Christian camp in North Carolina had an adventure on the high seas…figuratively speaking of course. This trip introduces out teens to a different style of preaching and a top notch camping program. The ride back in the van is always fun as the students share the exciting adventures of the week along with ways that they have been challenged to grow spiritually. Thank you to those who provided scholarships for individual students to take part in this opportunity.
Personal Events
Shepherds Conference – In March I had the privilege of attending the Shepherds Conference at Grace Community Church. This year I was accompanied by a child-hood friend that is ministering as a worship leader at a church near Philadelphia. We have slightly different philosophies in ministry so the conversation surrounding the many excellent sessions was very stimulating. I have always enjoyed these conferences as they offer somewhat of a recharge to my theological batteries. I am very grateful to this church for investing in my life in this way.
Road Trip! – This is more personal than ministry oriented, but in at the end of June/Beginning of July Emily and I fulfilled a long-time dream – we took a road trip from Lakeland to Dallas, to Denver, to Yosemite, to San Francisco, to Mt St. Helens and Mt. Rainier, to Seattle, Glacier National Park, to Yellowstone, to Mt. Rushmore, to St. Louis, to Indianapolis…and back to Lakeland. And we did it all in 13 days. I mention this because just as the church is interested in making sure my theological batteries are recharged Em and I are also thankful for the opportunity to recharge our physical batteries, and since we love to travel, this trip did just that!
Adoption – It has always been a desire of Emily’s to adopt a child, and when I married her it became a desire of mine as well. In March Emily and I officially started the adoption “ball” rolling by beginning, and completing adoption classes and then our home study and all the necessary paperwork and background checks. As of today we are still in the waiting process. We are very humbled and grateful for the outpouring of love and interest that this church family has shown to us and would appreciate your continued prayers as God directs us in this area. We are excited to think that what was begun in 2009 might come to pass in 2010.
We have seen God working in the lives of many of the children and teens as well as in our own life. It is terribly exciting to see what God is doing. Even when we aren’t exactly sure what God is doing we are confident that the work God has begun in the lives us His children, He WILL complete!
Sounds like you had a very busy, but profitable year!