Monday, June 22, 2009

Speechless

From our little local newspaper.

What will the Alliance Church come up with next. Do they have all the good ideas? They have done so much in this community, it's unbelievable. Just in the last while they have brought Bibles to every house in town, they ran a huge Truth Project, they have sent out attractive and handy invitations to every home. They have busy little churches in every little town here, now.

They had a man with my dying son and they had a man help me with my son's truck. They have prayed for me and with me, but they don't have the gospel straight. I have to find out more what they believe, exactly. I know it will be decision theology and rebaptism to join, etc.(not that I'm joining. nonono). I know "grandma Julie" and many of them.


The Sturgeon Alliance Church is starting an evening Youth program during the summer, and hopes to expand its Coffee&Chaos program when it resumes in the fall.

"We're having Youth Drop In on Friday, June 26, and are hoping to have it throughout the summer and into the fall," said executive pastor Jason Roffey. Youth night will give young people a safe place to hang out and play games such as pool, air hockey or fooze ball or to sit and watch TV.

Coffee&Chaos (C&C) began in March, and its first few months were so successful organizers are looking to expand it. "We're looking forward to getting it going in the fall," Roffey said.

C&C grew out of the pre-school programs run for three and four year old children. Their parents, usually with other children in the family, would sit and visit while the one child attended the program.

"It's a chance for them (parents) to get out of their home and connect with others," said Roffey.

One of the participants is a senior fondly known as 'grandma Julie' who comes in to read to children.

Having a Grandma is great for some kids who don't have nearby grandparents," Roffey said.

With that in mind, he has applied for a $15,000 New Horizons federal grant to expand C&C. The grant application was formally supported by the Town of Gibbons council. The grant is geared to community and leadership with a focus on Seniors.

"We looked at that grant and this program and thought, yeah, that fits," said Roffey. "There's a pretty significant Seniors population in town. We're looking to engage some folks that way."

The grant will enable the program to expand to include a greater multi-generational component. With the fund C&C can increase leadership opportunities, the chance to build relationships with others in the community and inter-active play. Grant funds will cover the purchase of a high quality coffee machine, removable walls, interactive play toys and promotion of the program.

C&C is primarily run by Kelly Kozak and her ministry team. They welcome everyone to just show up for a cup of coffee and the chance to spend time in the chaotic atmosphere of playing children. C&C ran from 9:30 to 11:30 am in the spring, and is expected to have the same time slot in the fall.

Both the Youth program and C&C are held in the bright, wide open expansion of the Sturgeon Alliance Church facility.

4 comments:

Bror Erickson said...

I really don't know why it seems that other churches have an easier time doing these things. There should be no reason why Lutheran's couldn't do some of the same types of things. Yet I think Lutherans tend to think of Church as church, and leave it at that. Want a coffee shop go to a coffee shop, why do we need a Christian Coffee Shop? is the reasoning. And there is truth to that. But there is also great benefit in providing a place for teens to hang out with one another with some adult oversight, and a Christian ethos. There is also great danger in providing a place for teens to hang out. Teens are teens no matter where they are. I think many have the idea that it is better to keep them seperated than run the risk they will use a sunday school room for less than wholesome activities. Not saying that is my attitude, just saying it is somewhat the thought amongst many.

Brigitte said...

Well, yes, we had that the other day: where there is an adolescent there is a way to do something dumb. (You were going to have it as a bumper sticker.)

The other ideas with coffee and chaos, for example are good, too. Young moms can go insane with having no social outlet. Then they put children in care of others. Here they can get together and still watch their own children. I'd be worried about picking up a lot of germs off the equipment and who will be cleaning it and so on. (Andrea caught a terrible virus at her babyshower in church. It was reportable. The health nurse phoned me later to find out where we might have got the virus.) It might have to be regulated properly, like a daycare.

Some of our churches have playschools that are very successful.

Steve Martin said...

Doing, doing, doing, is a great part of many churches theology.

Doing is not bad. Not bad at all. Unless it overtakes the gospel and unless it becomes law that can be kept for becoming a better Christian.

I'd rather have a church that has zero programs, but gets Law and Gospel right, than a church that has a million programs and does not know the Law from the Gospel and deprives it's people (therefore) of the true gospel.

Brigitte said...

I am going to have to go once to a service and listen to a sermon.

Doing or no doing, or doing what and with what motivation, I often wish we were better organized on the ground, getting things done.

We are super organized on other levels. What was that joke on Veith the other day about Lutherans changing lightbulbs? How many committees to get it done and supervised and evaluated and everything else except doing it?