Priorities in Order, in Order to Serve

Sam Keyes is under the SERVANTheart Spotlight this week.  You see him regularly in the P/33 Praise Band playing the acoustic guitar. 

His personal testimony has something important to teach all of us.  Let's see what he has to say. 

"I have been involved in music and band for as long as I can remember, at least since I was in junior high school.  Since I grew up in a Christian family, I naturally participated in the church youth choir and eventually what was the early praise band equivalent, a small youth ensemble.  In fact my wife Ruth and I met..... when I played acoustic guitar and she played the piano in a youth ensemble called “The Notations” at Broadmoor Baptist Church.  Music is one thing that kept me active in my youth group when I was growing up. As an adult I have continued to have an active part in the worship ministry through choir and handbells in most of the churches Ruth and I have been in over the years.

That continued at Colonial Heights.  Eventually I guess Brother Larry Kulcke knew I wanted to pull out my guitar and join the orchestra.  So when the LINK, our forerunner of the contemporary service was begun, he gave me that opportunity.  Several years later, when Andy LaValley invited me to continue under his ministry, I was thrilled.  The different areas of worship have always been an important ministry for me.

Today the biggest challenge for me to be a part of the praise band is the time commitment.  Just on Sundays it has meant being at church ready to go by 7:30 a.m. and giving whatever it takes until around 12:30 p.m.  Then the day is not finished until the evening activities for worship are done, well after 7:00 p.m.  Wednesday rehearsals start at 8:00 and often last until 9:30 or 10:00 p.m.  In addition, the self discipline of practicing, learning the music, and being ready to rehearse presents a challenge as I juggle among other priorities I have as an adult with a family and career. 

I tell young people that they have more time now than they will ever have again.  Once they start their career they will find it even harder to balance priorities, responsibilities, time and energy.  So for them, now is the time to prioritize what is really important in their lives:  their relationship with the Lord and service under His Lordship.

That being said, I am not sure it would be so much of a blessing if it were really easy.  It brings me great joy just knowing that what I am doing is a small part of Colonial Heights’ effort to reach out to a lost world as well as minister to the church body."

Showing What Jesus Did for Me!

SERVANTheart is now spotlighting Soul Station teacher and R.A. leader Dan Hart.  In his testimony he describes the joy of showing what Jesus did for him. 

"I began serving in Soul Station at Colonial Heights about three and a half years ago.  Michael Edwards invited me to work as a R.A. leader with third grade boys.  I prayed about it first, and then accepted the invitation and started.  I have followed this same group of R.A. boys until now they just finished the sixth grade.

About a year and a half after I started with R.A.’s I took up a life group class also.  I have been working with fifth grade boys for the past two years.  Next year I will lead a third grade life group of boys and girls.

As for the hardest part of working in Soul Station, I would say that in the small group sometimes it is difficult to keep the boys’ attention.  However, the most difficult thing is to see them leave my group when they move on up to the next grade.

Now the biggest blessing is to see them get excited as I teach them God’s Word.  It really blesses me to see them want to learn more.

To someone who is considering a place to serve, I would say that serving as a teacher has become way more of a blessing than I ever thought it would be.  At first I imagined it would be boring, but now I see that it becomes more rewarding every year and I am blessed just to be able to show what Jesus did for me."

Servant From Experience

This Servant Spotlight is on Jo Willet, the Facilitator for the Single Mom's Support Group.  She shares in her testimony how her own experience prepared her to help other women.  Read what she has to say.

"Just over a year ago I participated in a Wednesday evening Growthgroup on “Friends” led by Carol Ann Poore and Lisa Lucas.  It was a wonderful opportunity to open up and share our hearts.  It was then that God placed on Lisa’s mind that I could be a facilitator for the Single Mom’s Support Group which she was leading at the time.

Before I married Ron, my husband, I had been a single mother for 10 years.  As I prayed about the group, I felt God leading me to accept the responsibility because I realized that there was probably nothing one of those mothers would face that I had not gone through.  I was drawn to this group also because I understand their isolation and difficulty in finding a niche among all the different groups in the church.

We started with 3 women in the group and now have 9 who meet with us on a regular basis.  In the meetings we do not follow a regular agenda, although we have studied a couple of books.  What works best for the group is an opportunity to talk – to share their deepest needs.  When you are reluctant to discuss your personal issues with others who might not understand your situation, it is a positive thing to be able to talk about what is going on in your life – both good and bad.

What is hard for me?  As I get to know the group members, I want to get involved at a deep personal level and help.  The biggest challenge for me is resources to meet needs.  I want to get in there and fix things and I just can’t do that for everybody, so I follow God’s leading and do the best I can.

What has blessed me more than anything else is to watch the ladies as they come and open up to each other.  As they have made friends and ministered to one another, they have grown in their spiritual walk and confidence in themselves.  They have become each others’ listeners.  One will have advice for what another is going through.  It is a close group, but open enough to welcome newcomers and minister to them.  While group members receive support from one another, some also reach outside the group to serve in other ministries of the church.  It is a wonderful group and I am blessed to serve them.

CHAVL Volunteer With A Passion

This week's Servant Spotlight is on Michael Shadow who serves in the Audio Visual Lighting Ministry as the Sunday AM Technical Director, Teleprompter Operator and Special Project Assistant.  He shares his deep passion for the ministry to which God has called him......

I was involved in the very active AV Ministry in my church in Hattiesburg before I was married.  About 11 years ago, after I married my wife Dawn, moved to Jackson, and found Colonial Heights, I decided that I had done my time as a volunteer and could sit back awhile now that I was married.

But Dawn kept saying that we needed to get involved, and even more God didn’t turn me loose.  I tried a few ministry areas, but in the CHAVL ministry on the old campus it felt like everything was in place and I couldn’t find my niche.  Then just after the church moved to the new campus and we were spread between the two campuses, there seemed to be a lot more to do, more little things in the CHAVL ministry.  It felt more like an entry level type thing.  AND God really convicted me about helping out on the new campus.

From that time eleven years ago when I thought I would just sit on the sidelines, God has created in me a passion for media as a ministry to the extent that I understand and have surrendered to His call to full-time ministry.

The hardest part of serving in the CHAVL ministry here at Colonial Heights for me is the fact that not everyone shares my passion for media, and there are other priorities and needs, so that the resources are limited.  There are not enough budget and personnel, even volunteers, so that I feel held back and unable to do so many ministry things of which I dream or envision.

On the other hand, what a blessing it is to be able to serve and see the big perspective.  I get to see the whole process of what we at Colonial Heights are trying to accomplish as I participate in creative worship planning, serve in all the worship services and assist with special projects.  It’s all about lives changed. 

THANK YOU MICHAEL AND ALL OF THE CHAVL TEAM FOR HELPING TO MAKE WORSHIP SO SPECIAL AT CHBC!

Soul Station Large Group Leader

The Servantheart Spotlight now shines on Michael Edwards, an outstanding servant leader who not only serves in Soul Station on Sunday mornings, but is also Director of Kids in Action on Wednesday evenings.  In addition he serves as a Deacon, a choir member and a SHAPE counselor.  You will be inspired by his testimony.

My wife, Stephanie, and I started teaching in Soul Station when this year’s rising seniors in Solid Ground were in 2nd grade at the old CHBC campus in 1998.

Initially, we began serving in adult choir and assisting in the preschool ministry.  During this time, Barbara Brown approached Stephanie about serving in the children’s ministry.  God opened the door and I began serving, too.

During the first year, we trained under veteran small group leaders.  After that, we had our own small group until 2002 when Stephanie became a children’s ministry assistant and I became a Soul Station large group leader on the new campus.  Through God’s leadership and Barbara’s obedience to Him, we pioneered the beginnings of Soul Station.  In the early years, we usually wrote our own scripts for drama, games, and music.  Fortunately, God now blesses us with material specifically produced for large group.  This allows us to be more creative in teaching.

Our large group team works together with a common goal to reach the children.  Above all, we want to show them that God loves them.  He cares and we care.  God has blessed our church with a two-fold teaching opportunity.  What is taught in large groups for 30 minutes is reinforced in the small groups immediately following.

The hardest part is trying to do it all.  I try to be all things to all people, but there are so many children and so many opportunities to serve.  There’s only one of me and so many kids.  Regardless, I press on.  I want them to know God and His love and everything about Him.  So, I work where God is working and know He will provide more people to serve and love His kids.

The best part of this ministry is “when the kids get it”.  You work on a lesson.  You teach it.  You talk about it.  Then, you hear parents come back and tell you how they heard their children talk later in the week quoting what we taught about loving God and loving others.  This is a “true gem;” knowing they are learning, applying and following God’s principles.  When I know God used me to help children grow in church and experience it in their daily lives at home, that’s a “WOW” factor for me.

Faithful Servant Teacher

Our spotlight shines on a veteran preschool worker, Treasure Land Teacher Rose Hopper. Read on to see why she continues to work with preschoolers after ten years.

>...."I have always liked children.  They have a very special place in my heart.  I enjoy doing activities with them – taking them to the zoo, for example, and then letting their parents take them home!  I became involved in the preschool ministry when Becky Carruth was in charge of the preschool choirs and asked me to give a try at helping out.  After about 4 years, Dianne Wentworth asked me to teach preschoolers in Treasure Land.  At first I said, “No”, but six months later she asked me again and I accepted.  That was 6 years ago.

Dianne draws you with her enthusiasm.  She helps you understand that the preschool ministry is not baby-sitting.  It is imparting truth! Truth that stays with the children.  Our ministry is so intentional with our message.  The children may not remember you, but they go home and tell their parents the truths they learn.

Through these years I have learned to teach with the overall purpose of creating a portrait of certain things to the preschoolers.  At CHBC every child experiences that “God loves them” and “They are special.”  Everything I do aims to portray those truths.  Children are not pretentious.  They are real and trusting and look at each other without bias.  They drink up the truths you lay out there.  The Bible speaks for itself and they get it!  It infuses energy to me!!

I also love how creative in ministry we are permitted to be as long as we maintain those biblical truths.

What is the hardest part of this ministry?  You see them for so little time.  Just a year and then not every Sunday.  It is so hard to know them really well and meet their needs and know that you are truly making a difference.  Yet you see them a little later – a year or so – as they are baptized and you know you had a part.

What is the best part?  That is hard to say.  I do like the hugs, but most of all, I like their excitement, even when you bring peanut butter for snack!  They are just excited about life!"

Coordinator Sunday AM Welcome Center

Special thanks go to Vickie Smith as our Spotlight shines on her - the Coordinator of the Welcome Center Sunday Morning Greeters.

Vickie tells her story....

In January 2002, I received Christ as my Savior. It’s like Bro. Mark has said, when you know Him you want to share that with others. So, when they announced an upcoming leadership meeting for those interested in serving, I attended. At that time, we had First Impressions and I became involved in the Singles ministry in that area. I wanted new people to feel welcome in our church. I volunteered to help with special events at the church and then eventually to serve on a First Connection’s team. Last fall, I was asked to help with the coordination of the Sunday morning greeting teams. I feel honored to be able to serve in this area.

I want to make people feel at home in our church and share the enthusiasm that we have. I feel it is very important that people feel welcome as they join us for worship. I want them to know that we are happy they are here. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to smile, to be joyful in the Lord and have pleasure at being in His house....I want people to know that joy.

I love this ministry so much that there isn't really anything too hard, except maybe trying to remember everybody's names. If only we all wore name tags!

It is a blessing just to serve - no matter where in the church. But it is a special treat to help senior adults and little children; they always speak and are so very sweet and so special. And it is fun to work the special events, there is always a sense of enthusiasm in the air and people are so willing to help out.

THANKS VICKIE AND TEAM FOR MAKING CHBC HOME FOR ALL OF US!!

Treasure Land Teachers

Salute to Kevin and Renee Williams....

Kevin says: I feel it is important for small children to see men involved in teaching them.

 Since last August Renee and I have been teaching two year olds in Treasure Land. We had been at Colonial Heights and serving as substitute teachers in Treasure Land for about six or seven months. Miss Dianne then approached us to teach on a permanent basis. I accepted not only because of the importance of the role of men in teaching children, but also, all the other churches we had attended had people who were great to take care of our child, so I wanted to do that for other children.

Sometimes it isn't easy keeping up with two year olds. They have so much energy and on occasion to corral a room full of them is difficult.

However, the smiles on their faces every Sunday make you forget the hard part. A few of the kids sing the praise songs, and some repeat that Jesus loves them. To hear them soak in the Word and know that even at two they are learning about Jesus - THAT makes it worthwhile.

Renee says: Two year olds live in their own little world, but each Sunday I have the special privilege of being part of it.

I went from being an Acteen to teaching Acteens. Immediately after the service in which we joined a former church, our pastor approached us and asked where we wanted to serve. I asked him, "What do you need". His response was, "A teacher for younger G.A.'s." So first to fourth graders it was!

At Colonial Heights what attracted me to Treasure Land was the love and commitment to the children.....the way everybody loved Jameson (our son), how he would talk about the Bible stories, the activities, his teachers, and the rally room.

When asked if we would be permanent teachers, it did not take long to say "Yes". It is so easy to love the babies; such a privilege and honor to work with the kids. It is more fun than anything else to arrive on Sunday and see the smiles they give you and receive their hugs. I suppose that changing diapers is the worst part, but even sharing in the victories in potty training compensates for that. In the end we get the blessing.

I absolutely know that I am where God wants me to be.