family ministry

Have a kid heading back to school this week? Know a parent or a teacher who is stressing about back to school? This special episode is encouragement just for that! Hear from Talena Ra, Assistant Director of Tomorrow's HOPE Preschool, who has worked in education for many years, has a master's degree in Elementary Ed, and is a mom of three! Talena shares the hope she has for her kids this year, how she manages back to school anxieties, and a special prayer for everyone heading back to school. 

NOTES & RESOURCES:

• Contact Talena at talena@meethope.org
• Places to connect at HOPE based on your kids age:
  • HOPE Kids, Ages 0-5th Grade: meethope.org/hopekids
  • HOPE Youth, Ages 6th-12th Grade: meethope.org/hopeyouth
  • For Parents: Contact Amanda Cavaliere, Marriage and Parenting Coordinator @ amanda@meethope.org or check out the Small Groups page: meethope.org/groups
• Back to School Prayer, borrowed from Illustrated Ministry: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvP0c6fr9eP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 
  • “God of fresh starts and new beginnings, 
    We bring ourselves, our big feelings, and our backpacks to you. 
    In our backpacks, we carry blank pages, sharpened pencils, and pointy crayons, 
    And in our hearts, we carry big feelings, unanswered questions, and hopeful expectations. There are endless possibilities of what this new year might bring — of what we might learn, who we might meet, and who we might become.
    God, our friend who is always with us, be with us through it all.” 

Thanks for being a part of the HOPE community as we continue conversations about faith and hope! You can learn more at meethope.org or find us on socials @meethopechurch. Join in for worship on Sundays at meethope.live! Have a question? Contact us at podcast@meethope.org.

What happens when a Family Life Minister and a podcast host share a conversation? We find ourselves in the comforting and enlightening presence of Bethany Kohen, a devoted Minister for Family Life at Andover Christian Church. Her journey from humanities graduate to infant teacher to the minister is as fascinating as it is inspiring. This episode sees her sharing invaluable insights into children, parenting, and church life that are bound to leave you pondering.

It's not often you get to hear such diverse perspectives on faith and its nuances. A conversation that delves into the importance of Diversity and Equity in the church, comparing it with the melting pot of cultures in the military, further enriches this discussion.

The concluding part of our chat touches upon some intriguingly unconventional topics. Ever heard about possession in different cultures? Or CS Lewis's insights on demons? Well, this episode's got you covered. We wrap up this enlightening journey discussing the pivotal role of parents in guiding their kids and fostering exploration, and how the church can facilitate this. So, ready for some thoughtful discussions, hearty laughs, and a whole lot of wisdom? Tune in!

Are you ready to be inspired by the voices of the future? Join us on a joyful exploration of faith through the lens of art and drama, as we connect with some of the talented young members of our Hope community. Their enthusiasm is infectious as they share why they come back to drama camp year after year! Perhaps it will make you too ask  yourself why embracing art in all its forms can be an valuable part of our faith journey.  Special thank you to Corinne, Carson, Jacob, Jocelyn. Gabby, Faith, Charlotte, and Cain!

NOTES & RESOURCES:

• Learn more about Music Drama Camp by contacting our amazing director! Christy Appello - christy@meethope.org
• Get involved in the arts at HOPE: meethope.org/worshiparts

Thanks for being a part of the HOPE community as we continue conversations about faith and hope! You can learn more at meethope.org or find us on socials @meethopechurch. Join in for worship on Sundays at meethope.live! Have a question? Contact us at podcast@meethope.org.

Well, all that hot fun in the summertime that sly and the family stone sang about so long ago is coming to an end as the fall is upon us and we are getting back into the swing of things with our youth ministry schedules. The big question we’re asking you today is this: What are you doing with parents? We’ve put together a roundtable of youth workers who talk about the importance of ministry to parents along with a host of parent ministry ideas and strategy, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

In the new series What To Do When Parents Come To Church, Elisabeth and Jeremy flip the conversation from the last series, What To Do When People Leave. What do church leaders do when parents drop by? What about when they drop in? This three-part series gives you quick and easy tips that help you learn how to connect with the different types of parents. In this episode, you'll learn about the Drop-Off Parent and four ideas to best relate to them.

In the final episode of What To Do When People *Leave* series, Elisabeth and Jeremy answer a question that church leaders entertain at some point during their duration of ministry...When is it time to leave work for this particular church?  Because each circumstance is unique and specialized for each person, they offer four markers that help leaders identify if they are ready to transition.

Part of working in Family Ministry means you work alongside other staff members (paid or volunteer). So when one of them leaves, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the exit, there are always social dynamics at play. For example, certain families have lost a friend, and responsibilities are left open-ended. So in today's episode from the What To Do When People *Leave* series, Elisabeth and Jeremy Lee give church leaders four pieces of advice to equip them with the soft skills needed to walk through the transition with ease.

In the second episode of What To Do When People Leave Your Church, Elisabeth and Jeremy cover a lot of ground discussing the moment that many church leaders dread...when a volunteer says they're leaving. Is it possible to create a positive experience from the transition for all parties involved? They believe it's realistically possible with these four tips. From learning how to say thank you to starts and stops, they give you sound practical advice to create a healthy, collaborative culture that honors the concept of "leaving well." You'll leave with a vision on how to treat volunteers in such as way that they'll be lining up at the door.

Do you know that moment when you run into a family and find out they're at another church? It can be awkward for both parties creating opportunities for some clumsy interactions. But what if church staff had a well-planned strategy in place for families that leave? Many times, they focus on the front door forgetting the back door. In the first episode of the new series What To Do When People Leave, you'll learn four steps to ease the transition for all parties involved.

Amy Diller brings her experience as a children's director in the 3rd episode of How To Heal From Church Hurt sharing how sometimes children's ministries can be out-of-sight and out-of-mind for some church staff, leaving children's leaders feeling invisible. She courageously shares her experience of church hurt and what she does to work through it. 

In the second episode of the series How To Heal From Church Hurt, Elisabeth takes the interviewee's seat as Jeremy invites her to share her experiences regarding church hurt. Sharing personal stories, she talks about her interactions with misogyny and offers encouragement to those who have encountered it. Having thoroughly studied the topic of spiritual abuse, she shares her top five books along with her first go-to choice...if you only read one.

Ministry to Parents features their brand-new podcast series How To Heal From Hurt with a special episode where Jeremy takes the interviewee's seat. As a twenty-year + veteran in ministry, he recalls his church experiences and the life lessons he gained from them. In today's episode, church leaders will find wisdom, counsel, hope, connection, camaraderie, and insight as Jeremy shares his answers to the questions below.

Will you tell us a bit about how you got into ministry?

How did you come to learn about church hurt?

How would you define church hurt?

Are there different side-effects of "church hurt" versus "hurt in general?" If so, what are they?

Is it possible to recover from church hurt? If so, what are some of those steps?

Our listeners are people who work in the church. What specific insight can you give them regarding church hurt?

If you could recommend one to two books or a podcast for a church leader, which ones would you suggest?

In this final episode of Talking All Things Family Ministry, Dr. Brandon James joins the M2P Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of connecting with parents. He shares with leaders his tried-and-true ideas, such as "volunteerism," attaching small things to the end of your email, and book recommendations. Sharing a twenty-year history, Elisabeth and Jeremy are thrilled to have Dr. James close out the Family Ministry Series, sharing his exhaustive understanding of multi-generational ministry.

In today's episode of Talking All Things Family Ministry, Elisabeth and Jeremy Lee interview Greg Clydesdale, a Next-Generation pastor from Naples, Florida, who oversees discipleship in the Birth-College Church ministries, simultaneously helping families do the same. This twenty-year ministry veteran talks about his transition from student pastor to family ministry and his lessons along the way. Sharing his contagious passion for family ministry, Greg inspires leaders to equally value connection with both students and families while giving solid, practical tips on "how" to do so.