October 2008 Newsletter


“A Change for the Better”

By: Craig Rippy


January 1st begins the New Year. It also will be when Solid Rock Christian Church begins a new educational format.

We have been trying to accomplish a full board of activities and educational programs. We have understood for quite some time that we haven’t been doing all things well. We are doing more than we could achieve with the resources we have.

At present, we have two Sunday worship services, children’s classes during each service and Sunday School for all ages. We also provide a Sunday evening worship service with music, Lord’s Supper devotion, prayer time, and message. Mondays, we offer a Men’s activity (F-Troop) and a Ladies Group (WoW) and O.E.F. is in that mix as well. Wednesdays, we offer a full slate of classes for all ages and a nursery. We also have preschool from the first of September through the first week of May each year.

If you aren’t a regular attendee of each of these, you may not understand the problem. I’ll use my wife, for an example. Becky teaches a children’s Sunday School class every Sunday, sings in the praise team two morning worship services (practices on Thursday evening), does Wee Kid’s Kingdom on a schedule, plays the piano on Sunday evenings, teaches preschool two days a week, teaches a Wednesday children’s class, and usually has a personal Bible study with someone each week. Occasionally, she attends WoW. Please realize Becky is a wife, mother, homemaker, and homeschooler, as well.

Don’t get me wrong- Becky loves serving Jesus and hasn’t complained one iota about her service. But, I do. If you are a part of one of the few families who has a mate who serves so selflessly, you know how I feel. Doug Daniel may understand. His wife serves industriously, as well. Jena Huizinga recognizes this, too. Rick is Praise Team leader (two morning services, practice, etc.).They have lead Youth Group for years. He has taught a Wednesday home Bible study, and is the Church Treasurer. How about Greg Campbell… I’m sure we get the point. We only have so many servants and we try to accomplish the work of a congregation of 300.

Starting January, we are going to become more specific in our ministries and hopefully do a better job educating our congregation.

Change one: Sunday, January 4, we will begin a Children’s program for grades 1-6. We will offer a communion service in one of the rooms off the fellowship area. We will not have a Nursery – K program, nor an Adult program, except for the communion service. Gene and Alan will use the evening for pastoral calling. Our Minister of Education, Brian Buehrlen, will be organizing and administrating the new Sunday evening children’s program.

Change two: Wednesday evening, January 7 we will begin having home Bible studies (Core Groups). At first, we will have three adult and one youth home Bible study groups. The church building will be used for child care, (nursery through 6th grade). Brian will be organizing and administrating the child care.

We will have home groups for eleven weeks in a row followed by a united worship time the 12th Wednesday, at the building, and on the 13th Wednesday we will have family time. Family time means we will not have any church activity that evening and families can enjoy time together.

We will constantly evaluate the effectiveness of these educational programs. If they don’t have the results we hoped for, they will change. Sometimes things don’t work well and we need to make changes to do a better job of accomplishing God’s will for us to Grow in Jesus.

Change three: We are going to have a Ministry Fair on Sunday the 9th of November. That Sunday only we will have Sunday School and one morning worship service. The service will give everyone an opportunity to experience everything we normally do, but be abbreviated. We will also have booths or areas showcasing our ministries. We strongly encourage everyone to attend this service and view the various ministries and sign up to help in one or two of them. The commitment will be for one year. In November 2009, you will be given another opportunity to view and sign up to serve Jesus with SRCC ministries. You may change ministries or remain in the one(s) you enjoy.

The Youth Group will continue to meet on Sundays, but at a different time. They will meet Sunday afternoon with Rick and Jena, instead of evening. Ask Rick about new Youth Group time.

The leadership of Solid Rock Christian Church is committed to providing the best Biblical education possible. To do that, we must make changes now and again. We also recognize, that after they are made, the new programs may not accomplish the desired results. If that occurs, be ready for another change. We will all work together to build up the Kingdom of God, but we must be willing to take advantage of a few changes to do that well.