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Hi everyone! I trust that you’re all having a good week, even though the rain is back. If the fog and mist have you feeling a little down this week, my suggestion is to have a look at the very chilly temperatures elsewhere in Canada. This is not an invitation to gloat, of course, as that wouldn’t be loving. But it is an opportunity to be thankful for our many blessings!

I don’t have a lot of entertaining news to share this week. But perhaps it would be useful to say a little more about the upcoming “Family Ministry Forum” that I mentioned during our announcements on Sunday.

I believe we’re at a strategic point on our church’s journey this year. Many good things are happening, for which I’m very grateful. Of course, there are always areas for growth as well. It strikes me that the time is right for us to think a little together about how we can take our ministry to families (including our kids and youth, though not limited to those groups) to yet another level over the next few years. This is partly about being good stewards of what God has given us. It’s partly about doing our best to serve the young families that are among us well, and also to serve those whom the Lord may bring to our church in the next little while. It’s not a criticism of what we’re doing at present; it’s an attempt to see where God might be leading us as we continue to grow together.

“Together” is a key word in all this. You’ve heard me say before—and I will keep on saying—that the church is not a business where a few professionals are paid to provide services to be watched or consumed by everyone else. A biblical church is a community of people who are following Jesus, being transformed by His Spirit, serving one another and reaching out to the world around us in Jesus’ name, worshipping our Lord and working to extend His Kingdom. We are the church—we who love Jesus and gather at WVBC.

We have different gifts and different roles in that process. But God leads us together and He works through us all to accomplish His purpose for WVBC. So, if our church is thinking about the future of family, kids, and youth ministry, it’s something we should do together. That’s the goal for this event. I hope the result will be some exciting new things in our overall ministry. But it begins as we pray and plan and think and talk with each other, guided by the Spirit.

Specific goals for the event include:

  • Engaging our congregation in discussion on the future of our ministries for families, kids, and youth.
  • Building a framework of shared goals, expectations, priorities, and principles—to ensure that we’re all pulling in the same direction as we move forward.
  • Laying a foundation for next steps: to affirm and reinforce what is good, and to build and strengthen our growth areas.
  • Inviting and encouraging congregational involvement in these vital areas of our church’s ministry.
  • Inviting and modeling good prayer support for these and other ministries.

I’ll say more about what the forum will look like in coming weeks. (It’s still under construction, and Aldo and I welcome input as we prepare.)  I know this much: it will be a couple hours long. We want it to involve lots of conversation and dialogue. It will involve discussion of what our ministries should achieve and what principles should guide us as well as consideration of practical action steps. And it will include time for prayer.

We’re not assuming that everyone who joins the event is going to sign up to be a kids’ teacher or youth leader. There are many different ways for each of us to support the church’s larger ministry to families. And many of our members have a lot to contribute in terms of insights. So, we’re throwing the invitation as wide as we can, to anyone who is interested in joining.

As I said on Sunday, we’re still confirming specifics of date and time, though we’re aiming for the weekend of February 20-22. It looks like the most likely schedule will be Friday evening, though a Sunday afternoon is also possible. We’ll nail that down this week. (Again, input is welcome. Feel free to shoot a quick email with preferences to the office, if you’re wanting to come.)

You’ve all heard the old saying that “It takes a village to raise a child.” I think it’s true. When Diane and I were raising our kids, we were very conscious of our need for the support of our whole church community. So, think of this as an “It takes the whole church to maintain a really effective family/kids/youth ministry” project. And whether or not it’s something you personally feel led to join, please be in prayer for us as we plan and gather.

Thanks much. Meanwhile, have a wonderful week. Keep dry and stay safe, and may God bless you richly!

—Pastor Ken