Category Archives: actionkidz

Systems upgrade

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Several years ago, while we were still meeting at Club 19, I built the “FoodDOMINATOR2000” as a sermon illustration. I can’t remember exactly what I was trying to illustrate (which means it wasn’t nearly as memorable as I hoped …since even  I don’t even remember ), but I do remember the process of building it. I remember thrashing it together in 20 minutes before people showed up at the club that morning.   I still remember the look on the face of the  cashier at the salvation army thrift store, as I purchased an entire cartload of busted up small appliances…and then donated them all back to the store the following Monday.  The entire “FoodDominator” system was nothing but a bunch of different appliances held together with duct tape and actionchurch stickers.

In many ways, that’s the story of actionchurch.   We’ve got a bunch of different systems mostly held together with duct tape and actionchurch stickers. :-)  Over the years we have upgraded many of our main systems as the church’s needs grew and changed.  Some have been updated and changed multiple times.   We are so blessed to have just celebrated four incredible, improbable, unpredictable  years together as a church.  We are also blessed to be growing in numbers each week. Our actionkidz area has nearly doubled this year.   New opportunities are also opening up for us to serve our community every week.  We have more resources…and more needs.  All of those factors are leading us once again upgrade many of our systems.  Stuff that worked in the past just isn’t adequate for our needs now.  We’re not going to let ANY of our many systems slow us down from Loving God, Loving People, and Taking Action together.  2012 is shaping up to be the year of the systems upgrade.

I’m sure many of you are wondering, how will that change actionchurch?  What can I do to help?  How can I purchase a FoodDOMINATOR2000?  I’m glad you asked.  Some changes will be really obvious.  (We’re working on a new way to check in your kids into actionkidz that should be really sweet).   Some changes won’t be so noticeable…but will make HUGE difference in how we operate as a church.  Some of you can help by being patient with as we change and upgrade each week.  I will be asking some of you to be part of a new system…or in upgrading one of our older ones. In almost every area we are in need of new crew members as we expand and upgrade.   EVERYONE can pray for wisdom and strength for all of our actionchurch crew each week.  They are doing amazing work.

And, sorry to say, the FoodDOMINATOR2000 is not available for civilian use.   Something about national security that I’d really rather not talk about…

Sunday @ actionchurch

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Sunday will be the final week of the “You reap what you sow” teaching series.  Over the past three weeks we’ve talked about why we should plant (Potatoes), how many (Potatoes) to plant, how to get started planting (Potatoes) even when you have “nothing”, and how not to give up while you wait for your (Potatoes) to grow.  And, (if you are not a total potato aficionado :-) , we’ve even talked about how to plant a life and legacy that is successful not only here on earth…but for all eternity .  Don’t miss this week as we talk about the very best part of the series (and sowing and reaping in general): Harvest!

This Sunday will feature music from Mitch Meador, and your kids will NOTwant to miss the new expanded actionkidz!

It all starts at 10:30 am at Frank Theaters Queensgate (Directions).  Come early to enjoy a  Coffee, Maple Donuts, bagels, and Muffins with the friendly folks of actionchurch.

Love God, Love people, borrow a bounce house?

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If you are looking for a simple and effective way to tell your neighbors about actionchurch, It could be as easy as borrowing one of the bounce houses we use at events for a neighborhood party.  Granted this probably only works if you have small children or grandchildren, if not…putting up a bounce house in your yard and inviting neighborhood kids over will probably just seem creepy.  :-)

However, if you do have children, both bounce houses are available for your neighborhood parties…for free…no strings attached.  Just check in to reserve yours at the actionkidz table, and when your neighbors ask where you rented it, you can tell them that your church loaned it to you for free.   Sounds ridiculously simple?  It is…and families DO actually attend actionchurch because they first heard about it through a “monster truck” bounce house last summer.

Just another way to use EVERYTHING we have to Love God, Love People, and take action.

actionkidz update

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Coming this Sunday, actionkidz will be kicking off a new summer teaching series called Dr. Tomorrow’s Robot Repair Shop which will continue through the months of June and July.  During the series, your kidz will learn how the parts of our bodies can remind us about the thoughts God wants us to think and the actions he wants us to take.  Dr. Tomorrow and his faithful assistant Gasket, will show how these different parts of our bodies can remind us to show love to others, be kind with our words, and so much more.

I am so thankful that actionchurch can offer such life changing lessons…in an environment that truly captivates your child’s attention and imagination every week!   As a dad of a seven year old, I can’t tell you how grateful I am to the actionkidz crew for all she has learned…and how much she has come to love church!

Here’s some important things you should know about actionkidz that I would encourage you to pray for and support.

1.  Dr. Eric and Kari Brink will be moving in June, to begin serving a tour as surgeon on the Navy base in Japan.  Kari has been absolutely invaluable as the main teacher/leader of actionkidz for the last two years.  On a personal level, our family will miss their friendship and support, as they have been with us since the very beginning of Pre-launch actionchurch.  As a church, Kari will be VERY difficult to replace, and we are considering a variety of paid and volunteer options to fill the void left by their move.  Please take time to thank them for their service.  Also, we would love your prayers and support both financially and by volunteering to serve in the actionkidz are.

2.  Due to growth in both the toddler and main actionkidz areas.  There is a need to add an additional theater, involve more volunteers, and further seperate the age ranges of our actionkidz.  The great news is that it would allow us to have smaller class sizes, and the opportunity to make teaching more directly age appropriate.  The challenge will be that it will require even more volunteers…and even more funds to rent the additional theater and pay for more curriculum and equipment.  At our current rate of growth, this change will become VERY necessary for our fall season.

Thanks for being part of Loving God, Loving people, and taking action at actionchurch.  A very special thank you to all of our great actionkidz crew!  I fully believe you are doing some of the most important (and often unseen) work of the church.   Let’s gather as a church and offer our great crew the tools, prayer, and resources they need!

 

Upside Down Town

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“Come with us to a very strange town, a place where people live their lives upside down. Now that doesn’t mean the people stand on their heads or that you’d climb to the ceiling to get into your bed.  It’s the choices they make we call “upside down”.  And some of their choices are the strangest around.”

That’s a quick preview of the eight week series that actionkidz started teaching last week.  I suggested that for this series they remove all the theater seats and re-attach them to the ceiling each week.  (Fortunately they don’t listen to me.) 

In spite of being slightly hurt that my suggestion was ignored, I am so glad that our kids are learning the “upside down” teachings of Jesus in actionkidz.   Jesus taught that the first would be last…giving is better than receiving…forgiveness is better than revenge…”upside down” ideas all.  The crew members of actionkidz are truly the hardest working and committed people on our team.  Each week they truly make actionkidz the best part of actionchurch.

If you have a child in actionkidz  (or even if you don’t) take the time to stop and thank and actionkidz crew member for loving kids and turning the idea of Sunday morning at the movies completely upside down!