| The Mission...
The community of Grace is here to reach people for Christ and to help those who believe in Christ to become more like Him. |
 GEM Express Reaching our Community
I've got an answer for those of you who think that Sunday is the busiest day of the week at Grace, and that it gets rather quiet around church during the rest of the week: GEM Express Preschool and Kindergarten!
We began 6 years ago with a vision to reach the people in our community for Christ. With an initial enrollment of 16 children, GEM has grown by 682% with an enrollment of 116 and a staff of 20. There have been many changes in that period of time, but one thing has not changed - the desire to impact a community that doesn't know Christ and His love for them.
But why do we have a weekday ministry to preschool and kindergarten age children? Obviously our community has lots of children in it, and our culture embraces a philosophy of early education for optimal success later in life. At the time we began to consider developing GEM Express, there was no preschool program, let alone a Christ centered program in the community. We began to ask the question; how can we reach and minister to families that might not ever think of attending Grace church? The answer was to provide a preschool program to support these parents in the development of their children at this early age. And the most wonderful part of it is that we were able to offer their children a first class, academically excellent program from a Christ centered philosophy.
Over the years, Grace Church has been blessed by this community outreach (See Real People below). Our church family to non-church family ratio continues to be about 10% to 90 %. That's not to say that all of these families don't attend church or already know Christ as Savior. But a significant number of them do not, and that means we have a mission field right here in our community. Each year a number of them decide to make Grace their church family as well.
I'm very thankful that God has given us the GEM Preschool and Kindergarten ministry, an excellent director in Diana Abbott, and great staff who are truly committed to reaching children for Christ. The GEM ministry is an excellent example of how we as a church can make a difference in our community.
Please continue to pray for the GEM ministry, our director and staff. We look forward to seeing what God is going to do in the lives of the children and the families we have served.
Pastor Joel
Senior Pastor |
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Ready to Discover Grace?
Discover Grace is an ongoing three week series designed to help you get to know Grace Church, its mission and ministries. Make your reservations by contacting Sheila Hoekstra at sheila@grace-efc.org or by calling 972.727.4512 ext. 102
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 GEM Express
It is hard to believe we are in the 7th year of ministry at GEM Express Preschool & Kindergarten! God continues to guide and grow this ministry as we seek to be faithful to His calling to reach our community for Christ and help those who know Him to become more like Him.
This year there are over 116 children enrolled at GEM. We are offering 10 classes to children 2-6 years old. God has continued to bless us with an awesome staff of caring and committed teachers and assistants to support our weekday preschool & kindergarten ministry. 20 women serve on the GEM staff this year. The GEM board is led by board chair Wally Getz, secretary Craig Hall, deacon representative Jim Rousey, elder representative Lorin Netsch and Amy Drees. The GEM board develops the vision for this ministry and determines guidelines for the implementation of the set vision.
It is a real privilege to work alongside parents as they teach and train up their little ones. What a thrill it is to hear the children singing songs of praise to the Lord throughout the school day or to hear them read for the first time. As we look back over the early years of this ministry, we are reminded of the many ways God has been working in the hearts and minds of our students and their families as well as in the lives of GEM staff and family of Grace. We have had the opportunity to minister to students from Romania, South Africa and Puerto Rico who have enrolled in the GEM program. Some of these students have returned to their home countries having heard and in some cases embracing the truth of the gospel message. How amazing that God would choose to bless our desire to be obedient to His leading in the development of this ministry to literally reach across the world! We truly serve an awesome God who works and moves in ways we do not anticipate to build His kingdom. Locally, we have been able to minister to families without church homes who might not attend a traditional church service. Several of these families have made Grace Church their home. At least six former GEM students have taken the step in their faith to be baptized and publicly identiified with Christ. At least one GEM dad renewed his relationship with the Lord and was baptized at Grace. What a blessing to watch God work in the hearts and lives of people seeking purposeful lives and a relationship with Him!
On behalf of the GEM staff and board, I want to convey thanks to the Grace family for your continued prayer support for this ministry. It has been exciting to see members of the Grace family step up to be prayer partners for the GEM staff throughout the school year and support the ministry in this way. We appreciate your faithfulness in this vital part of our ministry at GEM.
Registration for the 2008-2009 school year will begin Friday February 8th at 9:00 am for students currently enrolled at GEM. Open Registration begins Friday February 15th at 8:30am for new students. Program and tuition information will be available February 1st. As plans are made for next year, it is our desire to follow God's leading. We are excited and awed by the new opportunities God is opening up to expand this ministry through the provision of additional classroom space made available through the Grace building program.
I thank God for His faithfulness and for allowing me to serve Him in this ministry to our community and to the Grace family.
In His Service,
Diana Abbott
Director |
Legacy: Leave a Mark
Have you ever thought about "leaving a mark?" When I fell and skinned my knee as a kid...that left a mark. After I had kids, the time I spent and still spend with them leaves a mark - for good and bad. When I went on that missions trip to Mexico? Yep, that left a mark too. Ultimately because of Christ in me, I trust I'll be leaving marks all over the place - everywhere I go and with every person I come in contact with - I pray that mark resembles my Savior's mark.
Grace youth just returned from a retreat to Rockin' C Ranch in Lindale, TX where they not only got to get away from parents, but they got some concentrated time with their Savior deciding what "mark" they will leave behind - Wes Tarbox writes the following about that revolutionary weekend...
Our Youth were challenged through speakers and focused small group times where they were asked, "What has God called you to do with your life? What mark will you leave for Him?" "Legacy" was the theme for the retreat, as students learned to understand that no matter what, they are leaving something behind each and every day. What they leave behind is a result of their submission, obedience, and acceptance of who God has created them to be.
Each of us is unique and has various physical gifts and talents God has blessed us with. He's given us desires and passions that are often overlooked when it comes to being used for His kingdom. The students were challenged to find specific ways to use these talents and develop a passion for using them in a way that will bring glory to God...right here, right now as a teenager in this community. We were not called to sit on the sidelines. We are called to "get in the game," to be servant leaders, and to live lives that are examples of Christ-like character, and young people of action...not just words.
We talked and laughed a lot. We cried a little. The highlight was hearing students give public testimony to God's faithfulness in their own lives during times of struggle and fear. We heard of the boldness and encouragement only God can give, as well as His peace which surpasses all human understanding.
What did the kids say? "The weekend was too short! The curfew was too early" - my hope is that these legacy-leaving kids will bring back and live out some of that "fire" we experienced and keep that with us until the next time we can get away...a next time we're all looking forward to. |
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 Real People
The following interview was conducted with Chad and Tamara Leraas. Chad and Tamara have been married for 14 years and have three daughters; Mykaela - 9, Moriah - 7 and Marissa - 4. Both Chad and Tamara serve in the A.W.A.N.A. ministry.
The Leraas family was the first public registration for GEM. All three of their girls have gone to preschool and kindergarten (for the older two of course) at GEM. Tamara is her fourth year working at GEM, and 2nd year of teaching the 3 year olds. Chad works for Hotels.com.
"When we were looking for a preschool for Mykaela we were looking for a Christian environment where Mykaela would feel comfortable and we, (especially me since I would be dropping her off) would feel good about leaving her. The day I went to register Mykaela, she just walked right in and acted as though she had always been a part of GEM. That alone helped me feel confident in bringing her to GEM, but after visiting with Diana and meeting Janice Richards and Dawn Bruchan I felt a real sense of peace.
On the first day of school many things went through my mind, especially after Mykaela left the car in tears and I left the parking lot in tears (first day jitters for both of us J). It was so hard, though I was assured over and over that she would be okay, and they would call if she didn't settle down. A little later, Diana called just to let me know that all was well and Mykaela was doing just fine. I was so joyfilled when I picked her up that afternoon and Mykaela was all smiles and so proud of all she had done at school.
GEM was truly a life changing ministry for our family. Chad and I had been in and out of church for several years, never finding a place that we fit. As I got to know people on the staff that attended Grace and then became part of the staff, it gave me the courage to begin attending Grace with the girls. Once I began to attend I felt at home, like I belonged. Soon after, Chad met Blair Abbott and Dave Bruchan which helped him make a connection with men in the church. After that, we began to attend as a family and seek out areas that we could be of service. We know that GEM was the tool God used to bring our family to Grace, our church home that was life changing and allowed us to use the gifts God has blessed us with.
The benefit of being a part of GEM, both as a family whose children attend/attended and as part of the staff, has been to get to know the families that are searching for the same things we were six years ago. We can share our hearts about the preschool and about Grace hopefully giving back what we were given all those years ago. One of the most important things to Chad and I is that we are a LIGHT, that God who lives in us, is evident and visible in our attitudes, our lives our and family."
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EFCA District Conference
Youth Super Bowl Party
February 3, 5:00 PM
Tarbox home
Creative Worship Team
Ministry Impact Conference
February 8 - 9
DeStefano Newly Wed Shower
February 9, 10:00 AM
McPherson home
February 10, 4:30 - 5:30 PM
White Cross Work Day
February 12, 12:30 - 3:00 PM
Deacon Meeting
February 12
February 15, 8:30 AM
Valentine Banquet
February 15, 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Carter Blood Drive
February 17, 12:00 noon - 4:00 PM
Ladies Get Tegether
February 21, 7:00 PM
Brandt home
DelMul Baby Shower
February 23
Church Board/Elder Meeting
February 25
Women's Retreat
February 29 - March 2
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Valentine Banquet
TOP THREE WORST REASONS NOT TO COME TO THE VALENTINE BANQUET
1. "I don't have a date."
2. "I don't have a babysitter."
3. "I'm new - I won't know anyone."
FUN! is what this night is all about...well, fun and supporting our youth. You don't need a date, you won't need a babysitter and you'll make new friends over dinner - so COME-ON, JOIN THE FUN!
February 15
6:30 - 9:00 PM
Dinner
Entertainment
FUN!
Tickets on sale January 27
Child care available by RSVP
Encounters with Christ
February 29 - March 2
All Saints Camp and Conference Center
Cost: $95.00
Register now! | |
