A change of plan has taken place.
Our youth has decided NOT to do a mow to sow project, but a car wash instead. The plan to raise money for the cause is still the main goal, but the approach is different.
We decided to do a car wash instead because we figured is was easier. Plus, one of our leaders said that someone came to their yard one night, couple of days ago, and stole their lawn mower. So we took that as a sign not to do the project!..... (kidding):D
The reason we changed plans is because many of the materials needed for the mowing was too much for the youth to prepare for, and we needed to start the project right away.
Our plan is still the same, and the other youth(from Love fellowship church) are still willing to help us.We still plan to give a small pamphlet to the people we will meet. The pamphlet; that lets them know about our church, the project cause, and Jesus. We will be starting on Saturday, then maybe 3 more Saturdays after. Hopefully the Seattle weather will be good for a car wash.
We rarely change our plans when we start a project, but in this case, I decided it was for the better. I am sure this was the right decision. At least the youth is still ready and willing to do it!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Mow to sow...
Hello
This week was cool. Our Easter Sunday was very special and many people attended. I thank the lord because I saw some of my friends asked Christ to enter their lives and wanting to receive his gift of grace!
This week in our youth night(Thursday) was also special. We had our typical youth night gathering: Praise & Worship, lesson, games, then food. We had a lot of fun.
Even though it was a great night, I always think of ways it could improve. For this particular youth night, I thought the message(from my cousin) was not penetrating to our younger youth audience.Our youth consist of typically between 8 year olds to early 20 year olds(me being the oldest:/) So its a very broad age range, but I think its still possible to have a message that is understood by everyone. So we came up with placing a more visual presentation for the younger crowd, so that they might be able to understand the message better.
Also, last youth night, we introduced to our youth: Mow to Sow- our Spring project.
Its an idea where all the youth are involved to go around the church neighborhood and ask people if they want their lawns mowed and donate for a good cause. Our cause is to raise money to help give food to needy African kids. The money we raise will go through an aid organization that sends chickens, goats, etc. to families in Africa. We are raising $500 to send chickens to them. Our project is planned for 3 weeks starting this coming week. We are doing this for a number of reasons:
1 The church(the youth) gets to know the people around the neighborhood and the neighborhood gets to know about the church.
(we plan to give them a pamphlet with info. about the church, the cause, and the word)
2 We help the community with their yard work.
Also, we might add car wash (if the weather is okay)
3 We help needy people in Africa
4 The youth gets to work together as a team in making this happen
I believe this is a nice simple project that our youth can do. I pray that it would be fruitful, blessed, and fun!
This week was cool. Our Easter Sunday was very special and many people attended. I thank the lord because I saw some of my friends asked Christ to enter their lives and wanting to receive his gift of grace!
This week in our youth night(Thursday) was also special. We had our typical youth night gathering: Praise & Worship, lesson, games, then food. We had a lot of fun.
Even though it was a great night, I always think of ways it could improve. For this particular youth night, I thought the message(from my cousin) was not penetrating to our younger youth audience.Our youth consist of typically between 8 year olds to early 20 year olds(me being the oldest:/) So its a very broad age range, but I think its still possible to have a message that is understood by everyone. So we came up with placing a more visual presentation for the younger crowd, so that they might be able to understand the message better.
Also, last youth night, we introduced to our youth: Mow to Sow- our Spring project.
Its an idea where all the youth are involved to go around the church neighborhood and ask people if they want their lawns mowed and donate for a good cause. Our cause is to raise money to help give food to needy African kids. The money we raise will go through an aid organization that sends chickens, goats, etc. to families in Africa. We are raising $500 to send chickens to them. Our project is planned for 3 weeks starting this coming week. We are doing this for a number of reasons:
1 The church(the youth) gets to know the people around the neighborhood and the neighborhood gets to know about the church.
(we plan to give them a pamphlet with info. about the church, the cause, and the word)
2 We help the community with their yard work.
Also, we might add car wash (if the weather is okay)
3 We help needy people in Africa
4 The youth gets to work together as a team in making this happen
I believe this is a nice simple project that our youth can do. I pray that it would be fruitful, blessed, and fun!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Teaching to change lives- book review
This is a review of the book- Teaching to change lives, seven proven ways to make your teaching come alive- by Dr. Howard Hendricks. It is a 150+ page book and has mainly 7 chapters. The books contents are exactly what the title reads. It is a teaching method for "every parent, teacher, pastor, leader, coach, and mentor" it writes in the back of the book. The author is Dr.Howard Hendricks, a professor from the Christian leadership at Dallas theological seminary.
The book Starts by introducing 7 ways called "laws" for a teacher to use in effectively teaching a student. In chapter 1 " the law of the teacher", speaks about why and how a teacher should continue to keep improving in their craft. In page 18-19 says "(God wants to) use you as his instrument, but he wants to sharpen and cleanse that instrument so it becomes a more effective tool in his hands". It goes on in explaining how a teacher can improve on himself/herself - mentally, physically, spiritually and improving on the audience - in communication and understanding.
In chapter 2"the law of education" is mainly focused on the teacher and how well they perform based on the students reaction. In page 39 says " the teacher is primarily a stimulator and motivator... Not the player, but coach who excites and directs the players." this part if the book explains the teacher teaches the student to -think, to know how to learn, and how to work(apply) what was taught.
In chapters 3 "the law activity" speaks on how involved the teacher gets with the students in helping their learning process. In page 55 says " your task as a communicator is not to impress people, but to impact them; not just to convince them, but to change them" this part of the book explains the importance of activity in a learning process. It give 5 ways to approach this;
activity that provides direction without dictatorship:
Which basically means helping the students draw out what they want.
Second- activity that stresses function and application: Which is to know the
students capabilities and to not put to much work for them. Because too much work may
negatively affect what the student learns.
The third is - activity with planned purpose: which means having a clear goal of why do
the activity the teacher plans to do and seeing if it will really help the student learn.
Activity 4 is all about letting the student know why they are learning the material.
Activity 5 is- giving the student problem-solving situations: It helps the student apply the
material taught and challenges them to think deeper on the material.
The next chapter is 4 -"the law of communication" this part of the book explains why communicating is very important in a teacher-student relationship. The teacher must also have three main components : thought, feeling, and action. Which basically teaches that a teacher must really know and own what he/she teaches to have good grounds to communicate to students.
In chapter 5 "the law of the heart" which writes about how a teacher must teach from the heart. The heart which is defined in the bible in totality of character- compassion-content. The book convincingly explains this.
In chapter 6 " the law of encouragement" is explained in page 100 "the law encouragement is this: teaching tends to be most effective when the learner is properly motivated." this part of the book explains how the teacher should be motivating and give a list on how to approach that.
In Chapter 7 " the law of readiness" speaks on how a teacher prepares and how the teacher should prepare the student(s). This part of the book explains how to effectively teach the lesson and how to let the student(s) be engaged by the subject. The book concludes and also has a lesson plan that teaches this book chapter by chapter.
The book has many methods and approaches to effectively teach. In my own personal time, I would definitely reread this book for guidance and also to use the lesson plan it provides in the last pages. Although it is only less than 200 pages, its teachings and ideas can be easily elaborated by the reader to dwell in, ponder, absorb, and apply.
The book Starts by introducing 7 ways called "laws" for a teacher to use in effectively teaching a student. In chapter 1 " the law of the teacher", speaks about why and how a teacher should continue to keep improving in their craft. In page 18-19 says "(God wants to) use you as his instrument, but he wants to sharpen and cleanse that instrument so it becomes a more effective tool in his hands". It goes on in explaining how a teacher can improve on himself/herself - mentally, physically, spiritually and improving on the audience - in communication and understanding.
In chapter 2"the law of education" is mainly focused on the teacher and how well they perform based on the students reaction. In page 39 says " the teacher is primarily a stimulator and motivator... Not the player, but coach who excites and directs the players." this part if the book explains the teacher teaches the student to -think, to know how to learn, and how to work(apply) what was taught.
In chapters 3 "the law activity" speaks on how involved the teacher gets with the students in helping their learning process. In page 55 says " your task as a communicator is not to impress people, but to impact them; not just to convince them, but to change them" this part of the book explains the importance of activity in a learning process. It give 5 ways to approach this;
activity that provides direction without dictatorship:
Which basically means helping the students draw out what they want.
Second- activity that stresses function and application: Which is to know the
students capabilities and to not put to much work for them. Because too much work may
negatively affect what the student learns.
The third is - activity with planned purpose: which means having a clear goal of why do
the activity the teacher plans to do and seeing if it will really help the student learn.
Activity 4 is all about letting the student know why they are learning the material.
Activity 5 is- giving the student problem-solving situations: It helps the student apply the
material taught and challenges them to think deeper on the material.
The next chapter is 4 -"the law of communication" this part of the book explains why communicating is very important in a teacher-student relationship. The teacher must also have three main components : thought, feeling, and action. Which basically teaches that a teacher must really know and own what he/she teaches to have good grounds to communicate to students.
In chapter 5 "the law of the heart" which writes about how a teacher must teach from the heart. The heart which is defined in the bible in totality of character- compassion-content. The book convincingly explains this.
In chapter 6 " the law of encouragement" is explained in page 100 "the law encouragement is this: teaching tends to be most effective when the learner is properly motivated." this part of the book explains how the teacher should be motivating and give a list on how to approach that.
In Chapter 7 " the law of readiness" speaks on how a teacher prepares and how the teacher should prepare the student(s). This part of the book explains how to effectively teach the lesson and how to let the student(s) be engaged by the subject. The book concludes and also has a lesson plan that teaches this book chapter by chapter.
The book has many methods and approaches to effectively teach. In my own personal time, I would definitely reread this book for guidance and also to use the lesson plan it provides in the last pages. Although it is only less than 200 pages, its teachings and ideas can be easily elaborated by the reader to dwell in, ponder, absorb, and apply.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Holy week
This week was a little different.
Instead of our usual Thursday youth night, the church decided to make last thursday a holy week event. The church organized a small sermon-like event late at night (7:30pm). The main topic of the night was on the last sayings of Jesus Christ on the cross. Many of the leaders of the church were involved with the sermon. Each leader was to present one saying Jesus did on the cross. So seven were involved in presenting that night. The youth were in charge of the music. We invited many people to the occasion, but only a few came. It was mainly because people were busy on a thursday night. But it was still a very blessed event nonetheless because:
-Many of the leaders were involved and challenged to speak.
-It was a little unique, because the leaders had to come together to talk about one sermon.
As for me, I had wanted to have a part in the sermon, but I had no time to prepare because of my school work.:(
This event was also special because one of the youth leaders(my cousin) was given a chance to have a part in the sermon. This was his first time speaking in our-Last Sayings event. He did the fifth saying of Jesus and did very well.
It's nice to see that the church is slowly letting us(the youth) get more and more involved with the main church activities. Because its a way of blending and introducing the younger leaders to start being more responsible and having some experience, as they may soon be the head leaders of the church.
Tomorrows Sunday service is expected to have plenty of new people. I hope the lord will guide the leaders greatly into sharing the love God and what he did on the cross.
Happy holy week!
Instead of our usual Thursday youth night, the church decided to make last thursday a holy week event. The church organized a small sermon-like event late at night (7:30pm). The main topic of the night was on the last sayings of Jesus Christ on the cross. Many of the leaders of the church were involved with the sermon. Each leader was to present one saying Jesus did on the cross. So seven were involved in presenting that night. The youth were in charge of the music. We invited many people to the occasion, but only a few came. It was mainly because people were busy on a thursday night. But it was still a very blessed event nonetheless because:
-Many of the leaders were involved and challenged to speak.
-It was a little unique, because the leaders had to come together to talk about one sermon.
As for me, I had wanted to have a part in the sermon, but I had no time to prepare because of my school work.:(
This event was also special because one of the youth leaders(my cousin) was given a chance to have a part in the sermon. This was his first time speaking in our-Last Sayings event. He did the fifth saying of Jesus and did very well.
It's nice to see that the church is slowly letting us(the youth) get more and more involved with the main church activities. Because its a way of blending and introducing the younger leaders to start being more responsible and having some experience, as they may soon be the head leaders of the church.
Tomorrows Sunday service is expected to have plenty of new people. I hope the lord will guide the leaders greatly into sharing the love God and what he did on the cross.
Happy holy week!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Last Sunday..
I forgot to mention about what happened yesterday in the church.
We had our church service by having the children ministry involved. It took a week and a half to plan before yesterday, and it was great.
After the missions sunday (2 weeks ago) the youth team planned for the church service to have the children be involved for an upcoming sunday. We decided to do this even as part of the "missions" theme of the church. We were thinking its a way to give variety to the new people who came to the "missions" Sunday. Our church believes having variety(at times) on church services will interest people in many ways..
1. It can show new people(in the church) the different types of ministries in the church.Like showing that there is a strong kids ministry.
2. It can break a boring, monotenous, predictable sunday to the usual members.
3. It challenges and gives opportunities to different parts(ministries) of the church to be more active and inloved with each other.
4. It can give rest to, or give time to plan for other ministries.
It's like a head pastor letting his/her assitant pastor preach on one Sunday and gives time for the head pastor to plan/focus on other things around the church, or maybe work on two sermons so he/she can be well prepared for upcoming sundays.
On yesterdays service, we let the kids ministry join and lead the praise and worship part of church. We also let them do a special number and skit. Also, the pastors message was directed (mainly) on the kids. This was great because, we invited a lot of kids(around 8-15 yrs old) to that Sunday.
The whole service was great. Many kids came to check out the church. Also, the youth kids team did a great job singing and performing for the Lords glory. It was also another opportunity(for the leaders) to share and build relationships with new people(especially to the new kids who came).
We had our church service by having the children ministry involved. It took a week and a half to plan before yesterday, and it was great.
After the missions sunday (2 weeks ago) the youth team planned for the church service to have the children be involved for an upcoming sunday. We decided to do this even as part of the "missions" theme of the church. We were thinking its a way to give variety to the new people who came to the "missions" Sunday. Our church believes having variety(at times) on church services will interest people in many ways..
1. It can show new people(in the church) the different types of ministries in the church.Like showing that there is a strong kids ministry.
2. It can break a boring, monotenous, predictable sunday to the usual members.
3. It challenges and gives opportunities to different parts(ministries) of the church to be more active and inloved with each other.
4. It can give rest to, or give time to plan for other ministries.
It's like a head pastor letting his/her assitant pastor preach on one Sunday and gives time for the head pastor to plan/focus on other things around the church, or maybe work on two sermons so he/she can be well prepared for upcoming sundays.
On yesterdays service, we let the kids ministry join and lead the praise and worship part of church. We also let them do a special number and skit. Also, the pastors message was directed (mainly) on the kids. This was great because, we invited a lot of kids(around 8-15 yrs old) to that Sunday.
The whole service was great. Many kids came to check out the church. Also, the youth kids team did a great job singing and performing for the Lords glory. It was also another opportunity(for the leaders) to share and build relationships with new people(especially to the new kids who came).
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Last last week....
I forgot to update this blog. Sorry.
But here's what you've missed..
2 weeks ago I wrote that the youth had to do something for the "missions" project. Well we did something, but not a significant thing. The church challenged the youth to come up with something creative for that Sunday and make it about "missions giving to the Philippines".
I thought the youth could have come up with something more creative for the missions Sunday, but because of work and school schedules of the youth, it was hard.
Sometimes there is not enough time.
But we still managed to do something. We challenged the youth leaders and the youth members to call people and invite them for that Sunday. We used all the media network available to us. Things like facebook, website, txt, and call. Many of the people we called were usually the hesitant ones to come to church but, they were told that it is a beneficiary Sunday. We also managed to present a little video and slide show about the ministry in the Philippines. To show the audience what they can be giving to and the hard work my Uncle (pastor Danny) does in the Philippines.
It was a good outcome. Many people came. Also, as for the people who came just for helping a "good" cause, we used that time(after service) to minister and build relationships with them and letting them know about Christ in our lives.
But here's what you've missed..
2 weeks ago I wrote that the youth had to do something for the "missions" project. Well we did something, but not a significant thing. The church challenged the youth to come up with something creative for that Sunday and make it about "missions giving to the Philippines".
I thought the youth could have come up with something more creative for the missions Sunday, but because of work and school schedules of the youth, it was hard.
Sometimes there is not enough time.
But we still managed to do something. We challenged the youth leaders and the youth members to call people and invite them for that Sunday. We used all the media network available to us. Things like facebook, website, txt, and call. Many of the people we called were usually the hesitant ones to come to church but, they were told that it is a beneficiary Sunday. We also managed to present a little video and slide show about the ministry in the Philippines. To show the audience what they can be giving to and the hard work my Uncle (pastor Danny) does in the Philippines.
It was a good outcome. Many people came. Also, as for the people who came just for helping a "good" cause, we used that time(after service) to minister and build relationships with them and letting them know about Christ in our lives.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Missions....
Last week, our church was reminded that our head pastor from the Philippines is coming to Seattle. The head pastor( my uncle) Danny Calamiong is the leader in charge of the whole IFGC church branch in the Philippines. He oversees 13 churches all around northern Philippines. He comes to Seattle almost every year. He gives us reports on how the churches are doing and their needs. He is a very active servant of God.
He is coming next week and I am very excited. He is an inspiration and a great example of a leader doing Gods work.
The church has made plans to make this month and the next month(I think) called "missions project"
A project in which most of the activities of the church will be about ways to bring
notice of the work of the IFGC Philippines and their needs.
For example the church activities will benefit to recognize, aid, support, fundraise for, and help in any way to the work of the IFGC churches in the Philippines.
As for the youth in our church, we are challenged to make programs to fit the "missions project'' and be creative in making special events and activities.
I think this is a great opportunity because one of the youths' plans are to do something for the Phil. churches and people. I think my youth leaders and even the youth members will be blessed by doing this task because
-Its always great to help others
-It makes what were doing feel important and worth it.
-It helps raise awareness of peoples lives, culture, and struggles in a different country.
Doing missions work is always a great and noble act for a Christian, because its a way to show Gods love to others.
--------
I will update soon, for what the youth has come up with.
God Bless
He is coming next week and I am very excited. He is an inspiration and a great example of a leader doing Gods work.
The church has made plans to make this month and the next month(I think) called "missions project"
A project in which most of the activities of the church will be about ways to bring
notice of the work of the IFGC Philippines and their needs.
For example the church activities will benefit to recognize, aid, support, fundraise for, and help in any way to the work of the IFGC churches in the Philippines.
As for the youth in our church, we are challenged to make programs to fit the "missions project'' and be creative in making special events and activities.
I think this is a great opportunity because one of the youths' plans are to do something for the Phil. churches and people. I think my youth leaders and even the youth members will be blessed by doing this task because
-Its always great to help others
-It makes what were doing feel important and worth it.
-It helps raise awareness of peoples lives, culture, and struggles in a different country.
Doing missions work is always a great and noble act for a Christian, because its a way to show Gods love to others.
--------
I will update soon, for what the youth has come up with.
God Bless
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)