As we wrap up Advent and dive into the 12 days of Christmas (from Christmas Day to Epiphany Sunday), we’ll gather together as one big church family for worship. On these in-between Sundays (Christmas and New Year’s), there won’t be small groups for the littles, giving our dedicated servant leaders a chance to relax, wonder, and worship with their families.

What’s happening the first Sunday back? We’re kicking off the New Year with a toast—literally! Introducing our Toast Bar, inspired by a colleague’s post from a Facebook group. Here’s the setup:

• Toasters (borrowed of course!)
• A variety of delicious breads (cinnamon swirl, raisin, pumpkin swirl, all the swirls, etc.)
• Easy-to-use squirt butter and jam (because spreading is so last year)
• And some surprise toppings to make it extra fun!

We’re encouraging families to dive into Proverbs—31 chapters for 31 days. To keep it engaging, we’re sending home scratch-off wise word prompts (thanks to Deeper Kidmin) for daily discussions and prayers. We’ve ordered scratch-off cards for February (28 chapters of Acts in 28 days) and March too, helping families build a habit of scripture reading and prayer together.

With the hustle and bustle of year-end seasonal ministry, we’re slowing things down ministry event-wise in the first few months of the year. By tapping the brakes on big ministry events, we’ll have a season to

• Equip and train our leaders through workshops, labs, and faith milestones
• Empower parents and grandparents with resources to disciple their kids and their kids’ friends
• Grow in relationship with our great God and one another

So, how are you preparing for intentional discipleship in the new year? Let’s set the table for growth, together!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

I love how the second chapter of Matthew’s gospel shares some extra details about the Christmas story the gospel of Luke never touches: Magi.

Some great insights into the Magi that make me smile . . .

1. We really don’t know how many wise men were in the entourage, only that there were three gifts. But allow me to share a precious friend’s insight…there were really 4 gifts.

Go ahead, I’ll let you run to your Bible and check out Chapter 2, verse 11.

Yep, the first gift was WORSHIP. THEN, they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of frankincense and of myrrh.

Do I offer the gift of worship first?  Is worship a priority? Worship is anything I think, say, or do that tells Jesus, “I LOVE YOU!”

2. Mary and Joseph were Jewish. Shepherds? Jewish. Magi? Not Jewish.

This event was choreographed by a great God who invited those outside the Jewish faith to participate. This is where WE, the Gentiles, come in.

Am I living up to my starring role?  Or am I satisfied with being an “understudy” in the story He has for me?

3.  The Magi did not arrive at the stable as all of the Nativity scenes suggest.

Verse 11 continues, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary.”

This realization was a huge turning point for me many years ago.  While visiting what would become our home church during our time in New England, the pastor taught that the Wise Men didn’t come to the stable.  I just knew he had it wrong and went home on a mission to prove it.  Upon every reading of all three bibles we had in the house at the time, I discovered that I’d been relying on someone else or a plastic scene to tell me the truth of the scriptures.  I confessed it as sin and said, “No More!”  My journey through the scriptures and the life it gives began that very day.  Jesus was no longer on the flannelboard for this Jesus gal.

4.  Verse 12 shares that upon being in the presence of the Savior, “they returned to their country by another route.”

After I am in the presence of the Lord especially in the season of Advent, am I prepared to go home a different way?  I sure hope so.

Several friends have shared how this affects their Advent celebrations with family.  One exclaims, “Three gifts were good enough for Jesus, then three gifts are good enough for each one of my kids.” 

And then a young mother shared how her family models what the Magi brought Jesus in three gifts:

Frankincense (used by priests in their offerings to God, pointing toward Jesus’ role as our high priest) – the gift should be good for your mind…books, museum tickets, lessons, learning opportunities, learning kits, etc.

Myrrh (a spice for a person who is going to die) – the gift should be something to aid healing or a practical gift…clothes, shoes, conference, a box of medicines for that college student who has let himself get run down due to final exams, a Bible or something that encourages the recipient’s spiritual journey.

Gold (a gift for a King – or maybe a princess or son of The King) – something extra, fun, shiny, sparkly…toy, game, jewelry.

In Daniel Darling’s book The Characters of Christmas: The Unlikely People Caught up in the Story of Jesus, he suggests this was probably a caravan of quite a few people. “It’s likely there were more than three wise men given how much of a stir they caused when they arrived in Jerusalem.” 

This I know: though I’ve heard and studied the account of Jesus’ birth over my entire life time, there is still more to learn, still more questions to ask, and still more delight to enjoy.

Oh come let us adore Him!

“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” Matthew 2:12

I’ve been absorbing books on family ministry since the first Christian bookstores started popping up in the 1990s. The first one hit me like a ton of bricks as a mom freezing in New England my first winter. The cover was red, I think it was by Tim Kimmel, and as a new mom I was on a mission to make sure my two littles, preschoolers at the time, would always know the Lord’s presence and directing for their whole lives.

If you are thinking of expanding or growing your ministry with children into a Family Ministry Model, have I got a book and guide for you! As a student of the Family Ministry Academy by Renewanation, the first book to read and report on is Perspectives on Family Ministry, 2nd edition by Paul Renfro, Brandon Shields and Jay Strother, with Kevin Jones. This paperback uses its full 222 pages to share three family ministry models as well as the celebrations and challenges of all three. It’s the best book on family ministry in layman’s terms I’ve ever read to offer clear, concise vocabulary, definitions, and what family ministry is not.

Within the two parts, Perspectives lays out the foundations for Family Ministry with a historical context with definitions of Family Ministry, followed by the practices of three models for ministry with families.

1. Family- Integrated Ministry Model – nearly all age-level classes and events are eliminated; aka family-driven or family discipleship approach; best practices are clearly presented in Voddie Baucham’s Family-Driven Faith.
2. Family-Based Ministry Model – congregation still maintains youth ministry, children’s ministry, senior ministry, and so on coupled with additional intergenerational activities, curricula, and events with each ministry sponsoring faith formation experiences designed intentionally to draw generations together; best practices are clearly presented in Mark DeVries Family-Based Youth Ministry which also equips families to care for spiritual orphans.
3. Family-Equipping Ministry Model – age-level ministries remain intact ‘yet church leaders plan every ministry to champion the place of the family as a primary unit for discipleship and the place of parents as primary disciple-makers in their children’s lives’; when the church equips parents to disciple their children, and parents see the church as an active partner in the process; the church and home as co-champions.

There are a lot of voices speaking in this book in support of each model and graciously exposing the challenges that each model presents. As I read and re-read this resource I felt better equipped to define the goals of the family ministry I lead and offer clear measurables for transformational impact which we call ‘fruitful celebrations’.

As more and more local churches are drawn to a family ministry model of faith formation in areas which have been typically siloed, this is one of the best resources for those who are keepers of the vision and the stories as the local church seeks to equip families to love the Lord with their whole hearts for their whole lives.

Which family ministry model are you striving for?

“The mission of family ministry in today’s world is to accurately handle the word of truth while teaching a new generation the timeless message of hope and redemption.” Dr. Michael Anthony and Dr. Michelle Anthony, Perspectives on Faith Ministry, forward, pg xx

The children I serve often ask amazing questions, like “What language did Adam and Eve speak?” and “Where are the 10 Commandments now?” Some families have started encouraging their curious kids to write these questions in a journal to discuss during family dinners on Fridays. This reminds me of the TV show Kids Say the Darndest Things, which holds a special place in my memories.

Throughout history, Christians have used questions and answers to teach the Christian faith through a method called catechism. The word comes from the Greek katecheo, meaning “to instruct” or “to teach.” Catechisms provide a clear summary of a church’s teachings, often in a question-and-answer format, to help people of all ages understand the essentials of the Christian faith. This practice dates back as early as Augustine (AD 353–430) and is experiencing a revival today—and I’m all for it!

“Questions are natural ways to find out the basic answers to life. Questions are also an essential part of growing in your faith. They help us discover the mysteries of our faith. They are how we learn, grow, and ultimately come to believe. Once you stop asking questions, you stop learning, growing, and believing.” ~ Dr. Winfield Bevins, Grow At Home: A Beginner’s Guide to Family Discipleship

Catechisms are a proven way to teach littles and bigs about their faith in a simple, engaging format. They help families learn together at home and provide a way to love God with not just our hearts but also our minds.

When the Global Methodist Church launched in 2022, I was thrilled to see their partnership with Seedbed publishers to produce A Catechism of Christian Faith and Doctrine for the Global Methodist Church. This 32-page booklet uses a question-and-answer format, includes scripture references, and is perfect for all ages. In our church, we use it in New Member Classes, weekly worship services, and as a resource on our information table.

Rev. Jeffrey Rickman shares on his PlainSpoken podcast a precious model for teaching a catechism for the Global Methodist Christian faith with his 7-year-old daughter in several episodes. These are absolutely delightful!

Many catechisms are affordable and convenient for families to use during car rides, while waiting at appointments, or during family worship times. However, it’s important to ensure the catechism aligns with your church’s theology. I learned this firsthand after ordering what seemed like the perfect nursery Christmas gifts, only to find they didn’t match Wesleyan theology. Thankfully, Amazon’s return policy saved the day!

Catechisms are making a comeback and offer solid teaching of the basics of our Christian faith. As we embark on prioritizing apologetics (equipping to defend your Christian faith) and promoting a Biblical worldview a catechism system of questions and answers make for incredible discussions for disciples of all ages and stages. 

What are the resources your church offers to families to teach and equip to defend the Christian faith?

“I am persuaded that the use of a good Catechism in all our families will be a great safeguard against the increasing errors of the times.” – Charles Spurgeon

Little people can make the traditional Christmas season gingerbread house OR we can get our “Jesus is the reason for the season” on and do a little something different: edible gingerbread nativities. 

Prepare ahead of time to line a lid or box bottom of some kind with a low edge with aluminum foil.

Prepare the ‘glue’ for the graham cracker stable the day of, put in cups with craft sticks:
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tbl meringue powder
5 tsp water (more until desired consistency)

Must haves for decorating:
Mini M&Ms for a pop of color
Mini candy canes
Gum drops
Animal crackers
Fruit tape
Raisins/chocolate chips
Star, ginger people, cookies
Jumbo shredded wheat blocks
Coconut (mixed with shredded wheat for hay)
Pretzel sticks/star pretzels
Marshmallows – mini & large

When all the decorating is finished, top it off with a good crunching of a Shredded Wheat bar and a sprinkling of coconut all over it for hay.

We’ll save this for the Sunday morning before Christmas and follow it up with a Christmas right-left game with Mini Christmas Squishmallows I picked up at Costco though I typically use crazy-flavored candy canes.

What are the ways you’ll tell the Christmas story this Advent?

“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” Psalm 128:2

Spirit & Truth is a global movement helping local churches experience renewal in purpose through faith, the Holy Spirit, and living intentionally to make disciples of Jesus. My church partnered with four others to bring this weekend conference to North Georgia, and as someone who loves collaborative ministry, it was incredible to see us work together on this meaningful event.

Friday Evening: Worship and Word
We began Friday night with worship and a fresh message shared by a young woman in her twenties who spoke about the power of staying close to Jesus. She walked us through Mark 14, reminding us that “we are a peculiar people.” Several youth attended with their parents, which made it a particularly inspiring start.

Saturday: Teaching, Listening, and Going Out
Saturday morning involved a session on listening to the Holy Spirit, followed by an exercise in listening.

It was on Saturday afternoon we were taught then sent out in groups of three or four to share our faith through prayer (Jesus never sent out His disciples alone, but in groups of two, three, or up to seventy) in our own community. And no one died. Really. By being available and obedient to love my neighbor through prayer we asked, “I know this may sound off the wall, but is there something I can pray about for you?” And no one died. Really.

My team of four headed for Dairy Queen in our downtown area. In full transparency, I didn’t even know there was a Dairy Queen downtown. Now I do. And now I know about the folks who work there. Within the forty minutes we were there, we ordered some sweet goodness, prayed for a family in a car and just about every staff person on the line, including the manager. As we left the manager invited us to come back in a couple of hours to pray over the next shift.

Stories of Connection
One introverted team member, wearing a church name tag, even had someone approach him to ask for prayer, proving that visible signs of faith—like a simple T-shirt—can begin a conversation and prompt to pray. God’s tenderness showed up, encouraging us all to trust and obey in new ways.

A Weekend of Worship and Testimony
Saturday night ended with a worship service of gratitude and thanksgiving. Pastor Matt shared the message on Sunday morning leading with several telling the stories of God’s people being taught then practicing what it looks like to live on mission of making disciples of Jesus all day, every day.

Teaching Confirmation: The Wesleyan Way
This weekend, I’ll wrap up our Confirmation class, moving from “The Absolute Basics of Christian Faith” to finish with “The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way.” I’ll be answering the question, “What do Wesleyans do?” Even 8th & 9th graders know the internal and external practices of the faith through holy habits and community. But what really sets Wesleyans apart?

The Wesleyan way of holiness isn’t meant to be traveled alone, because our relationship to one another is connected with our relationship to God. The Wesleyan way is a way of friendship: building friendships centered on common love, worship, and service to God. When Methodism started out, it wasn’t a new church. It was a group of church-going Christians seeking to grow closer to God through fellowship. They were a group of friends. (pg 68-69).

A Methodist Method

May we be faithful in making friends wherever we go, even if it’s just offering to return someone’s shopping cart and asking if we can pray for them—a simple yet powerful way to live out our faith in the Methodist tradition.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23

Family Ministry involves the discipleship, care, and resourcing of families of all ages and all stages to love Jesus with their whole hearts for their whole lives in Christian community. It’s not just the developmental stages either. Life happens. Challenges come from all directions to distract and attack the family which is the nurturing vehicle for littles and bigs to become more like Jesus. Challenges like addiction, facing infertility, prodigal children, a difficult marriage, family finances, raising a child with special needs, empty nest, exploring adoption/foster care, your child’s schooling options, hoping to marry, and more.

At the 2024 Children’s Pastors Conference, I discovered a fantastic tool for families: Homepointe. Homepointe is an equipping resource from a Biblical worldview. The pieces I saw came in a hardcopy and digital format to help families drive faith home as children aged as well as equipping ideas for celebrating holidays.

The Homepointe strategy is to set the table for intentionality to fulfil the Deuteronomy 6 call to family discipleship by making it easy, likely, and making it happen.

Last summer I learned the team who designed the resources partnered with D6 to include resources for special circumstances. Special circumstances families face every day where the local church with trained pastoral direction should be the ‘go-to’ for navigating well, but typically don’t. Jesus is the answer to all the world’s ‘special circumstances’. The Holy Bible is the basis for walking through all ‘special circumstances’ because there is nothing new under the sun.

Our local church has partnered with Homepointe to equip our congregation for both the joyful moments and the tough times. We also see this as a tool to help us begin meaningful, faith-centered conversations with people we already know—our extended family, coworkers, and people we interact with regularly (like hairdressers, medical staff, and childcare providers).

We spoke about the Homepointe partnership during the Christian to the Core: Family sermon series a couple of months ago. Last Sunday we rolled out the Homepointe partnership at an after-church picnic.

The printed resources are digitally provided which can be customized with your logo and space to offer connection through a QR code for the website and more. The printed resources for birthdays can be purchased separately since there is much more to share to make it super easy to roll out as our littles celebrate specific birthdays. We did this, too. We’ll start with the beginning of the church liturgical year, Advent.

Find out more information here or contact me directly. I receive no financial benefit. Homepointe is just a really great resource to guide us to disciple, care, and resource our families through life with Jesus at the center. D6 provides a free assessment your local church can use to aid families to know from where they’re starting here.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

Dan Reiland, Executive Director of Leadership Expansion at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia, recently wrote a blog entitled 7 Questions to Help Follow Your Calling.   Serving in the 4th quarter of my call to vocational ministry as a lay person (not a seminarian, academic, nor clergy), I found myself reflecting on each question for effective ministry over the long haul.

I have the amazing opportunity to practice the Timothy mandate, investing in the next generation of leaders serving alongside ministry interns and younger church staff in the early stages of their callings. Beyond skills and systems, the focus is on building character that endures, so they, too, reach their final quarter still committed to saying “YES” to God’s calling.

Reiland’s first question asks, “What is God saying to you?” This is not a forever or even a later thing, but a now thing. It’s been my experience that God uses everything. King David is the perfect example of God placing him in situations and relationships all to prepare him for the next step, ultimately a kingdom-hand-off. Don’t wait for the invite, Say YES to humbly and joyfully serve where you are needed now and watch the doors open.

Another question is, “Are you prepared to pay the price?” Church work, like all work done well, is trench work. It’ll be filled with easy and not-so-easy situationships. Be prepared for seasons of discouragement AND joy, tears AND cheers, by discipling yourself in daily, weekly, monthly, annual holy habits to keep you close to the Christ of the Bible. Always be thankful.

“What is your gifting and passion?” Each of us reflects aspects of God’s image and has unique spiritual gifts for building up the church. Embrace challenges; mistakes and scars become stories of God’s faithfulness and mercy.

“Are you willing to follow first, make mistakes, learn, and grow?” A good follower is willing to take direction, flee from defensiveness, have a teachable spirit, and be willing to continue to learn and grow.

“Do you have the resilience to play the long game?” The iron-sharpening-pruning seasons will come ‘cuz God isn’t finished with me yet. So to keep my eyes on the prize of pleasing my King, I’ll continue to practice scriptural holiness through acts of piety (holy habits), take care of my body, mind, and soul, and invest in meaningful relationships. I still have so much to learn until I see Him in Glory.

“What keeps you connected to your values and convictions?” Calling and ability open doors, but character keeps us there. Like Joseph and Daniel, purposing in our hearts and minds how to handle sticky situations from a biblical perspective will provide holy boundaries to protect our witness.

Finally, “Is your vision aligned with Heaven?” Reiland emphasizes that our lives should reflect the priorities of the first part of the Lord’s Prayer, aligning our will with God’s: that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), to be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18), law-abiding (1 Peter 2:13-15), not conformed to the world (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7), serving with pure motives (Ephesians 6:5-8), and living wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17).

Serving in the local church has been my lifelong calling. It started simply, bringing a casserole to a new mom. I haven’t always done it perfectly, but I’m learning and committed to doing better. God has been too good to me for anything less.

⁴ “One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” Psalm 145:4-7

Last week, I spent eight days with a wonderful group of fellow believers, exploring the life of the Apostle Paul on an educational tour through Greece. After a 2018 trip to the Holy Lands, I wanted to take the next step, diving deeper into the New Testament, almost like it was coming to life in 3D.

Our amazing, multi-lingual guides shared so much with us. Greece’s key exports include pistachios, feta cheese, honey, and Corinthian leather. The hills are still dotted with monasteries and ancient ruins from the Greek and Roman eras. While Greece was once made up of independent city-states, half of its population now lives in Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world. Though people in other areas often relocated due to natural disasters, the people of Athens never left.

The country expanded its roads and infrastructure for the 2004 Summer Olympics, with venues spread across the land. The museums, myths, and friendly locals—even at a small grocery store near one of our hotels—gave me plenty to reflect on.

Key Takeaways

1. Traveling with Paul Was Hard, but Purposeful
   Travel in Paul’s time was difficult, expensive, and always done in groups. Paul journeyed with companions—both peers and younger believers—on rough roads, avoiding the easier, more convenient routes reserved for the military. This wasn’t just travel; it was a form of mentorship. By including others in the journey and everyday work, Paul helped shape not just skilled communicators but disciples with deep character.
2. Paul’s Strategy: Influence Through Daily Encounters in Groups
   Paul aimed for an audience of great groups of influential people (marketplace). Though I’m sure there were conversations among the fellow travelers as they went from marketplace to marketplace, the lingering happened where folks would hear the good news of the gospel often and over time. His stop at the river where Lydia was gathered with others was my favorite location. Just a reminder that when God typically spoke or made Himself known to women, it was as they were carrying on their everyday chores of service to their families, in community. I’m thinking this might have been laundry day, but that’s just me.
3. Paul the Philosopher
   While we see Paul as a missionary, the Greeks and Romans viewed him as a philosopher—a person offering ideas on deep subjects. He spoke at Mars Hill (Areopagus), where the supreme court of 30 men heard only serious cases, like arson, treason or murder of a family member. When not hearing cases, the court became a gathering place for philosophers. Each speaker had just six minutes, timed by a water clock. Imagine a supreme court judge hearing Paul’s short, practiced message again and again! One of them, Dionysius, was so moved by Paul’s words that he believed (Acts 17:34). Paul’s six-minute elevator pitch seem to have had more lasting impact than a long sermon—at least in my view. Mars Hill remains a peaceful, rocky spot where lots of people still gather, without a big church built over it.

Surprises Along the Way

1. Graffiti is everywhere, especially in Thessaloniki and Athens. Lots of it on everything.
2. Jewish hospitality (Holy Lands) felt very different from the more individualistic Greek culture.
3. Religious icons are scattered everywhere, telling the stories through art of important faith leaders.

A Wonderful Group

My travel companions were lovely, and we shared meals every day as well as afternoon naps on long bus rides. Check out the map below. We flew into Thessaloniki travelling to Kavala and Philippi early on. The remaining week we spent time at each place noted all the way to Athens. My roommate was a woman originally from Selma, Alabama, who moved to Brooklyn in the 1970s. On our bus of 42, we had people from different faith traditions—Lutherans, Baptists, Global Methodists, Seventh-Day Adventists—and even a fellow LSU alum! There are hardly any places for souvenir shopping, but we took lots of pictures and made memories I’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Gratitude

As I continue my journey of faith, I want to thank Paul, Lydia, Silas, and—most of all—our great God for the call to follow Jesus as my Lord and King. May I not limit my obedience to the Great Commission to what is easy, convenient, or comfortable. It’s good to be home.

“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10

All the churches on our road host fall festivals or trunk-or-treat events at the end of October, so as the new kid on the block we decided to offer a family connection ministry event on the first Sunday of October to celebrate the change of seasons. This is one of the those opportunities to be a good neighbor to our neighbors.

A team of eight started planning six weeks in advance, using a 90-minute schedule that included 50 minutes of activities and food, 10 minutes for a message, and 30 minutes for live music.

50 minutes of connection and food activities
Each part of the Family Ministry Team organized a fun, interactive activity with prizes for the purposes of connecting with folks through conversation, hospitality, and generosity:

• Art: Paper bag pumpkins
• Men’s Ministry: Cornhole
• Senior Saints: Ring toss for young kids
• Young Adults: Pumpkin checkers
• Nursery: People scavenger hunt
• Children’s Ministry: Bible trivia with dry-erase boards
• Confirmation: Puffy paint leaves
• Youth Ministry: Pogo sticks
• Other small groups: Chalk art, fall-themed face-in cutouts, skee-ball
  We also set up a shaded area for making Chrismons (similar to a quilting bee).

For food, we kept it simple with a chili potluck and all the fixings, with ice water. Desserts were offered through a “pumpkin walk” game, where participants could win seasonal treats from local markets.

10 minutes of a message
A lay-servant leader, experienced in public speaking and active in children’s and youth ministries, delivered a message on nurturing faith daily. His background in farming and science tied in perfectly with the theme, and he did a fabulous job.

30 minutes of live concert
We invited a local Southern Gospel group to perform and share the gospel through music. The stage was set with hay bales on the front lawn, and the multi-generational group was fantastic. This multigenerational group is well-known in the greater Atlanta area and they do this extremely well. There are so many genres of Christian music so this was a great platform for our congregation to hear and see something different done well.

Folks were encouraged to bring camp chairs and chili to share, fostering a friendly, neighborly atmosphere. A banner along the road and a simple Facebook ad promoted the event.

And I personally sent text reminders to church members who had texted me in the past two months, asking them to share the event graphic while drinking coffee and watching Nick Saban on the GameDay crew on the Saturday crew. 99 texts later, I hear we altered the West Cobb Facebook algorithms. Several couples told me they came because they saw it in their feed all weekend.

We’re still learning how to best use the spaces and resources the Lord has graciously provided. This was the first front lawn ministry event so we’ll debrief this week and make a list of what we learned.

How are you celebrating the season change this fall with your neighbors?

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2