I would be honored to serve alongside you in 2013

It was a joy serving with you in 2012 and I'm excited to see where God takes us in 2013! Please re-evaluate the commitment that you made in 2012 and see if you're ready to re-commit! Remember that no one is ever "stuck." I want team members to have a "GET TO" attitude instead of a "HAVE TO" one. Maybe you are ready to check out a different area than you currently serve in? Let's commit together to pursue with excellence everything God wants for us as we serve Him and make a difference! :o)

PS--I'd love to sit down and chat with you for 30 minutes these next few weeks to talk about your 2013 serving comittment! If you would like to do this, please contact me!

Love you guys, Pastor Tiffany

Our Mission: We are a safe and fun place for kids to DISCOVER God.

Our Vision: Through worship, teaching, and a variety of fun activities, children are exposed to God's Word and challenged to grow in their relationship with God in the most positive environment they will enter into that week.

Core Values: The Greenhouse is built on four core values that act as the pillars of our children’s ministry: Safe, Fun, Teach God’s Word creatively, and intentionally build relationships. They grow in the Greenhouse through:

• Relevant Environments. This means that the environment is creative, positive, safe, and eye catching to children and parents.

• Engaging Presentation. This means that each of our different environments have different teaching style, different music, and different events that are designed to be relevant, fun, and engaging for each child.

• Consistent Relationships. This means that each child will be exposed to a lot of the same teachers, small group leaders, and other children which will produce excitement about coming and comfort once they arrive.

• Biblically Focused. This means that everything that we do will be focused around teaching children biblical truths and showing them how to live out those truths as they walk through life.

• Family Minded. This means that we try to view everything that we do as an opportunity to team up with parents in order to help you raise your child with a strong spiritual foundation and a strong moral foundation as well.

• User Friendly. This means we want your experience to be comfortable and easy for you to enjoy.

Honor Code Freedom Church The Greenhouse

As an essential part of the Freedom Church Leadership family, you have a responsibility to develop and exhibit mature Christian behavior. This should be the basic premise of your desire to work in a Servant/Leader position here at Freedom Church. All Core Team Members, Leaders in all areas, and interns are asked to adhere to the Honor Code.

While serving the Body of Christ as a leader at Freedom, you pledge to present appropriate modesty in your appearance at all times. In both attire and behavior, you should strive to demonstrate Biblical standards in all situations.

As followers of Jesus, the way we present ourselves to others is of vital importance to the way others perceive Christ. Our conduct should never be an embarrassment to Christ, but should exemplify the best qualities of a mature believer and Servant/Leader.

Exemplifying the highest moral commitment, Freedom Church leaders are to maintain a disciplined life of Bible reading, prayer and fasting. You must also try to refrain from such things as:

• profanity

• smoking or chewing tobacco, illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages

• gambling

• dishonest gain

• pornography

• Inappropriate pictures (cleavage, short length bottoms, or in a place that might cause others to think lowly of God and the church), gossip, and statuses that de-value others on social media

• the appearance of evil such as sexual immorality, living together before marriage, and all behaviors which might cause Christ to grieve and others to stumble.

“Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.” 1 Timothy 3:8-10

By providing an example in speech and action, we encourage others to grow in Christ and become Servants/Leaders themselves. This is a way of life measured by the heart and commitment of each leader in the Freedom Church family. We should regard it as an essential part of our development, not as an imposition or restriction. By signing below you agree to adhere to the Ministry Description, Honor Code, Vision and Core Beliefs of Freedom Church.

__________________________________________________

Do these words describe our children's ministry?

I found this article and it made me think! Check it out!




If you asked people what words come to mind when they think of your children's ministry areas, what would they say?

Here are the words I want to pop in people's mind when they think of our children's ministry areas.

Nursery - CALM/SAFE

Preschool - FUN

Elementary - EXCITING

Special Needs - WELCOMING

Pre-Teen - COOL

Parents - PARTNERSHIP

Volunteers - TEAMWORK

Staff - SERVANT

Entire Ministry - JESUS

What words do you want to describe your children's ministry? Share your words in the comment section below.

2013 New Year Prayer

Happy New Year Team! Join me in this prayer, "God, may you use us to serve you well this year, may we continue making a difference, and may we step up our commitment to serving you and building the Kingdom. Bless us as we serve you and pour out all we have. And God we pray that we will bring in more than 30 new team members to help us serve the kids of Boone County! Help us have a GET TO attitude instead of a HAVE TO attitude---and let it be the most positive attitude we can have so we can allow these kids to enter into a welcoming, positive, nurturing environment. Help us do our best to make the Greenhouse a safe and fun place for kids to discover God! Thank you for creating us on purpose for a purpose and for putting us all on this journey together. Amen"

A look into 2013

January we will be starting off the year strong with our STAND STRONG series! Then we'll focus on how God's LOVE for us helps us use that strength in February. Then we'll learn how to use that love to reach ONE MORE--the alone, hurting, and searching and realized it's our mission in life-it's what we're all about!

Then April we'll be going through our HEAVEN IS FOR REAL series and----then the rest is a surprise---but it's exciting!!!! A teaser though... relationships, book of Luke, serving series, and God using ordinary people to do extraordinary things!

 

I'm so excited for all things 2013 and I'm even more excited to be on the journey with you to love on these kids in a safe and fun environment where they'll discover Jesus with YOUR help! :o)

 

Love and appreciate you all!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Team!

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I want to personally thank you for being a part of the Greenhouse Children's Ministry family. It's an honor to invest in you. And thank you for investing back into this ministry. I have learned so much this year from you!

Thank you for your passion, commitment, and love for reaching the next generation. Thank you for giving yourself week in and week out for kids and families. You are a difference maker.

I'm believing with you that 2013 is going to be your best ministry year ever. I look forward with anticipation to what God is going to do in us and through us.

Your Friend in Ministry,
Tiff

3 Simple Words That Will Help You Have That Difficult Conversation

Do you dread or totally avoid difficult conversations? Many people do. But they are necessary at times.

You can improve your ability to have difficult conversations. In fact, here's 3 simple words that can help you navigate even the most tense situations.

State the FACT.

Share how it makes you FEEL.

Explain what you'd like to change or adjust in the FUTURE.

Here's an example of using these three words.
You have a volunteer that is being brash and rude to parents when they come to pick up their kids. You've received several complaints. You know you need to have a conversation with the person.

(state the fact) John, I've had several parents say you are rude to them when they come to pick up their child. I stood by the door last week when parents were picking up and I did notice you were abrupt with several parents.

(share how it makes you feel) When you do this, it makes parents feel like you don't care about them or value them. And it makes me feel like we're treating them as a bother instead of the blessing they are.

(explain what you'd like to change or adjust in the FUTURE) In the future, I'd like to encourage you to be more loving with your words and tone. I know your heart. You love kids and parents. That's why are you serving. I think sometimes it just gets lost in translation when you are under stress.

If you'll allow me, I'd like to invest in you and help you improve your people skills. I have a great book that has helped me that I'd be glad to share with you. I'd also like to spend some time with you in the next few weeks working on this.

Try using this approach when your next difficult situation arises. It will give you confidence going into the conversation.

 

16 Signs Kids love coming to our church

Have you created an environment where kids love coming on weekends? Here are some signs that they're lovin' what you're doing. These are things you will see kids doing and hear about from their parents.

1. They wake up their parents on Sunday mornings...excited about going to church.
2. They invite their schoolmates to come.
3. They sing the songs from church during the week.
4. They line up early to get in.
5. You hear laughter in the hallways.
6. You see lots of smiles.
7. They actively participate in the service/classroom.
8. New families with kids show up and say their heard about the church from friends.
9. They talk about a specific leader they have connected with.
10. You can hear them singing through the walls at church.
11. They tell their parents what they learned on the way home...without mom and dad having to ask.
12. They get upset when they can't attend.
13. You can feel the energy in the hallways. When kids and parents walk in, they sense something different about the atmosphere.
14. They answer "yes" when their parents ask if they had fun.
15. Your attendance is growing.
16. They keep coming back.

How many of these are you experiencing?
What adjustments or steps do you need to make to accomplish this?
What are some other signs you would add? Would enjoy hearing your feedback in the comments section.

One of the coolest moments I've experienced in Children's Ministry happened a couple of months ago. I was walking through one of our environments and noticed that a little girl was crying. I went over to see what was wrong. With tears flowing she said, "Mom said it's time to go and I don't want to leave!"

I didn't want her to be upset, but what she said was music to my ears!