|
|
|
|
THE ZONE DEBUTS AT HARVEST CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
 Few things sound more heavenly than the sounds of children laughing and playing, and that harmony has been the norm since The Zone debuted at Harvest Christian Fellowship. White round tables, old cranberry fabric chairs, and drab gray carpet have given way to game stations, modern seating areas, a toddler play station, craft stations, and even a new nursery. White, monochromatic walls are now artfully crafted with murals, vibrant colors, and larger-than-life puzzle pieces. Now, the children’s laughter bounces off of the walls of a space, previously belonging to a Fellowship Hall, that has been transformed to house a “Zone” specifically des igned for them.
“Woooaa,!” was a consistent sentiment as child after child poured through the doors propped open to reveal the new children’s area, christened as The Zone. It was clear that the new hall was no longer a place where children and teachers felt like they were required to go, but it was now a warm and inviting place where everyone is excited to go. Even some of the adults “want to do church here!”
Kim Morton (President of the Kim Morton Designs design firm and co-visionary behind The Zone), is very excited about the new space. Kim, pleased by the outcome of the work with her team, Tiffany Small, Angela Lyon, and their husbands, respectively, Breydon, Ed, and Malcolm. Kim expressed, “The children seem to love it! The main purpose is to have fun and fellowship, and I think, it’s going to draw other kids to this area. When kids are drawn to this area, their parents will be drawn as well, which will add to the growth of Harvest as a local church, building disciples for Jesus Christ.”
 The Zone has also sparked a resurgence of volunteer interest to help with the children’s ministry, especially by our JWalkers, the Harvest’s teen ministry. There have already been several Sundays where the teens have been excited to serve alongside of the teachers by helping with Sunday morning lesson preparation and facilitating activities that the Orange curriculum uses to support the Biblical Bottom Line.
“It’s Awesome!” Children and parents are really embracing The Zone and Orange. By giving the children a space of their own, organized for a fun learning environment, and by engaging them with the new curriculum, there is now heightened attentiveness and interaction during the lessons, even among preschoolers. These tools that God has given the church have helped teach the children about Jesus in ways that were not possible in the past. From the check-in kiosk, to the ParentCue sheets, parents love the changes because it expresses how much the church values  children, and the updates equip parents with tools to partner with the teachers in developing a child’s relationship with God.
The congregants are excited about everything that God is doing in and through Harvest and look forward to how He will use His church to continue to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
REAL LIFE SOUTH LAUNCHES ON JANUARY 18
 Real Life Wesleyan Church has been looking for creative ways to expand influence and open up seats at its campus in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Increasingly, many are finding the church from the heavily populated Lexington Park area, which surrounds the Pax River Naval Air Station. This area is 30 minutes south of the main campus of Real Life and creates a challenging dynamic for those trying to invite friends and neighbors.
“God has given to every person a specific Oikos, their sphere of influence,” says Pastor Todd Crofford, “and we each have a responsibility to share Christ with those people who are in our world. We are all much more effective at inviting to church when the location is closer to our homes.”
 With this in mind, Real Life has found a site for a new campus in Lexington Park. On January 18, 2015 Real Life South will launch as a video venue- an extension of their current campus. All the elements of “regular” church will be there on a Sunday morning, with excellent children’s ministry, live and energetic worship, as well as a campus pastor to lead the people. The only portion of the service that is unique is that the sermon will be displayed in video form, having been recorded live at the main campus on Saturday evening.
Pastor Shane B eauvais will serve as campus pastor at Real Life South. He and his family are leading a group of people off the main campus who have volunteered to be a part of the new endeavor. Pastor Shane believes this campus will have strong appeal to youth and looks forward to reaching a widespread demographic of people throughout the area.
Please be in prayer for the Launch of Real Life South and the ongoing work of God in Southern Maryland.
HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS EXTENDED THROUGH HYATTSVILLE NATIONAL WESLEYAN
 During the 2014 Thanksgiving and Christmas season, National Wesleyan Church (NWC) reached out to its surrounding communities. The Community Bridge team donated twenty Thanksgiving turkeys to the needy families of Cesar Chavez Elementary School, Hyattsville, Maryland where the church provides an ongoing after-school tutoring program for many students. Also, as part of the Christmas celebration, NWC’s Nursing Home Visitation team presented a concert to about forty residents, family members and staff of Hartland Nursing Home located in Hyattsville, Maryland. During the concert, Holy Communion was administered and gifts were given to the residents.
 The hands and feet of Jesus were also extended to the Central Union Mission in Washington, DC through a check of $500.00 donated by the Women’s Group of NWC. This donation provided Christmas meals for about 350 needy people. The Women’s Group also delivered sixteen shoeboxes with gifts and coats for children at the Shepherd’s Cove Women and Children’s Center in Capitol Heights, Maryland.
NWC celebrated the Advent season with several events that commenced on Sunday, November 30th and continued through Christmas Day. In keeping with the Advent theme: SENT, the church presented its special Christmas celebrations on Sunday,  December 21st at 10AM, 5PM; and on Christmas Day at 7AM. Approximately 450 worshippers were in attendance at both services on December 21st while about 140 worshippers attended the Christmas Day celebration. All services were blessed with many guests and some conversions. -Reported by Assistant Pastor, Rev. Michael E. Bryson
GOLDSBORO BETHEL REACHES OUT THROUGH LIVING NATIVITY AND COMMUNITY CAROLING
 Bethel Wesleyan Church hosted a Live Nativity on December 19 and 20 complete with camels and donkeys from a local rescue farm. Over 200 people from the community and surrounding area reconnected with the true meaning of Christmas while church members re-enacted the story of Jesus’ birth as told in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Following each set, guests were invited into the “Inn” for refreshments and fellowship. One family shared, with great appreciation, that this event “has become a treasured part of our Christmas tradition.”
 Several members of Bethel Wesleyan also gathered on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 14 to spread Christmas cheer to the elderly and shut-ins of the community through caroling. Congregants traveled by caravan to several homes as well as to nursing and assisted living facilities sharing the love of Jesus through singing, prayer, and the giving of gifts.
WALK-THRU LIVE NATIVITY AT GUMBORO WESLEYAN CHURCH
 On December 14 and 15 Gumboro Wesleyan Church hosted a walk-thru Live Nativity and provided hot cocoa, Christmas cookies and a Christmas family photo for those who visited the presentation. The city of Bethlehem came alive with live actors and animals as travelers searched for the newborn King. Congregants greeted visitors and had a wonderful time sharing the story of Jesus' birth. Congregants also delivered twelve Mountaire Chicken dinners for Thanksgiving and seven turkeys and Walmart gift cards to community families for Christmas.
CHURCH EXPERIENCES LIFE CHANGE
This past fall Alexandria United Wesleyan Church came underneath the umbrella of the New Life Network and began a journey of renewal as God’s promises came into fruition and prayers were answered. Scott Macbeth, former worship and youth leader, had been an active member of the United Wesleyan congregation and through a providential turn of events was able to return from graduate studies in New York City to fill the post as the campus pastor at New Life Alexandria in October.
 With a financial investment from New Life La Plata the church building underwent renovations including a new fellowship area, completely renovated worship space, new cooking kitchen, as well as an updated children’s ministry space.
Since New Life Church is a multisite church, the now New Life Alexandria campus utilizes a unique video venue to reproduce the experience of Pastor Mike Hilson’s messages on a 160” projection screen. This media platform change not only allows viewers to feel more connected to the senior pastor but also allows for the implementation of more services.
 During the six-week renovation period, Pastor Hilson met with the congregation on Sunday evenings in the modified fellowship hall. These evening meetings strengthened the relationship between senior pastor and congregation, all while setting up the foundations for the new church. The final touches to the sanctuary were completed by the end of November, and the congregation began holding services at 9 and 11 am on Sunday with new people visiting every week.
New Life Alexandria looks forward to empowering youth, strengthening its partnership with college campus ministries, and serving the needs of the surrounding community. According to campus pastor, Scott MacBeth, "One of the things I enjoy most about my role at New Life Alexandria is empowering the younger generation to grow in their faith and step into positions of leadership in the church."
The first Sunday of the New Year a visitor made a commitment to follow Christ! May he be the first of many as God grows the New Life Alexandria ministry in 2015.
JINGLE JAM AT LAUREL WESLEYAN CHURCH
Laurel Wesleyan Church presented their first FX Event, Jingle Jam, on Dec. 14th. Parents and other family members were invited to experience learning in a kid's world. The Orange learning application for the month of December was generosity, making someone's day by giving something away, was reinforced throughout the  program. The concept was taught through comedy, interactive games, a sermonette from Pastor Scott Conn, and of course the telling of the Christmas story through a child's perspective. Many new families participated in a cookie and cocoa time after the presentation. The church is anticipating another family experience in January.
ORANGE SUNDAY AT LIFEPOINT CHURCH
From the moment you walk in the door, you will notice that something is different on this special Sunday - it's ORANGE SUNDAY at LIFEpoint Church. Held in any month that there is a 5th Sunday, Orange Sunday is a wonderful way for our church to build into the next generation. With family-oriented services that allow families to serve together, worship together, and grow in their faith together, Orange Sunday places an emphasis on the next generation. LIFEpoint Kids and EPIC Youth are  incorporated into the service by serving as greeters and ushers, leading worship with both vocals and instruments, reading Scripture, and praying. In addition to incorporating the children and students into the service, we hold a Child Dedication Ceremony with the special families who wish to take this important faith journey step! What a way to partner the church and the family to make the greatest impact possible in the lives of the next generation!
CALVARY WESLEYAN CHURCH PARNTERS WITH GLOBAL AID NETWORK TO FEED HUNGRY CHILDREN
 On Saturday, March 28th, Calvary Wesleyan Church in Harrington, DE will be partnering with Global Aid Network to respond to a crisis that millions of children and families around the world face each day - extreme hunger. Roughly 300 volunteers will gather at the church to pack 100,000 rice and bean meals for hungry families displaced and devastated by natural disaster, war, and poverty. Global Aid Network will then ship these meals to countries like South Sudan, Guatemala, Zimbabwe – even to Syrian refugees who have fled into Jordan.
For more information, contact Calvary’s Mission Director Rob Zlock at 302-377-5724 or rzlock@yahoo.com.
BETHEL TEENS ATTEND FOLLOW TOUR 2014 IN HOUGHTON, NY
 Twelve teens and sponsors from Goldsboro Bethel Wesleyan Church attended Follow Tour 2014 Youth Convention in Houghton, NY on December 29 through 31. The Brothers McClurg Band led the convention in worhsip as speaker Matt Deprez spoke on the topics of grace and forgiveness during the rallies. On January 4, the youth shared their experience with the congregation as Lori Richard and Nicole Shuba recapped the themes of the convention as a part of the worship service.
THE ORANGE CONFERENCE
 The Orange Conference, April 29-May 1, 2015, Gwinnett Center, Atlanta, Georgia is a place for your church’s entire age-group ministry to come together to experience something for several days that will affect how you work together, play together, budget together, serve together, and lead together for the next 52 weeks. Theme for these 3 days is It’s Just a Phase.
A LOT OF KIDS IN YOUR MINISTRY THIS YEAR WON’T BE THERE NEXT YEAR.
Before you know it they will simply move on to what’s next. And your chance to impact their present and shape their future will be gone.
That’s why every phase in a kid’s life is more important than most of us realize.
EVERY PHASE HAS UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS TO UNDERSTAND.
EVERY PHASE HAS DISTINCTIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE.
EVERY PHASE HAS SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS TO INFLUENCE.
A lot can happen in a kid’s life over the next 52 weeks.
Someone will . . .
- take a first step,
- flush a valuable item,
- color the walls,
- begin kindergarten,
- lose the training wheels,
- outgrow the kid’s menu,
- start wearing deodorant,
- get a drivers’ license,
- graduate high school
These moments only happen once.
Your job is to help parents and leaders become more present in the lives of kids during critical life stages.
IT’S JUST A PHASE . . .
SO DON’T MISS IT.
MAKE THE MOST
OF EVERY PHASE
IN A KID’S LIFE.
Check out the Orange Conference website at www.theorangeconference.com for conference details and registration.
ALIVE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
April 17-19, 2015
Join women from across The Wesleyan Church who share a desire to be ALIVE in Christ at the upcoming Women's Conference in Nashville, TN on April 17-19, 2015.
The Wesleyan Women's Movement believes in every women transformed and giving life to the world around her for Jesus Christ and the church. This event will bring women who represent all seasons of life together in one place for a intimate and interactive event that will help them GROW in God's word, THRIVE by serving others, and ENRICH their relationships by sharing with Christ and with each other.
There will be Powerful Preaching - Authentic Worship - Interactive Life Tracks!
John Wesley taught that Spiritual formation is a lifelong process. But he also believed that there are supernatural moments of transformation along the way. We can't manufacture these moments - but we can create the space for God to move. Let's meet Him there.
Click HERE for more information and to register for this event.
To make the Alive experience more accessible there are several satellite locations that will be simulcasting the conference live over the same weekend. Christ Wesleyan Church in Milton, PA is the designated satellite location for the North East region. For more information and to register for this event please go to www.wesleyan.org/2740/alive-northeast.
GROWTH POINTS with Gary McIntosh
What is your approach to inviting people to serve in a ministry role in your church? One insight Dr. Gary McIntosh shares in this edition of Growth Points is that the length of time people are asked to serve affects the response they give. That is why "The One Year Rule" is a good rule of thumb when asking volunteers to serve. Click HERE to download the January 2015 edition of Growth Points. Additional articles can be accessed at Dr. McIntosh's new website www.churchgrowthnetwork.com.
Please mark your calendars with the following important dates:
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
|
The GATHERING
January 13-16 - Orlando, FL |
DBA Meeting
January 20, 9:00 am |
DBMD Meeting
March 10, 7:00 pm |
Building Committee Meeting
March 14, 9:00 am |
DBA Meeting
March 17, 9:00 am |
Building Committee Meeting
May 02, 9:00 am |
DBMD Meeting
May 16, 7:00 pm |
DBA Meeting
May 19, 9:00 am |
Kids Camp
June 22-26 |
|
|
ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE DISTRICT
Mission
The Chesapeake District exists to create and empower local churches to impact their communities for Christ.
Vision
By District Conference 2020, the Chesapeake District will reach 20,000 new converts and will average 20,000 in primary worship attendance.
The entire operation of the Chesapeake District will be focused to this vision. Every church and every pastor will be mobilized to double or triple its influence through evangelism, church health and growth, community service, and multiplication.
Core Values
Communicating Christ-Likeness
Developing Effective Pastors and Leaders
Reaching Our Communities for Christ
Multiplying Healthy New Churches
Pursuing New People and Cultures
Nurturing Vibrant Student Ministries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
