Ministry profiles, 2003

Title

Description

Profiles of the various ministries of the church, prepared for the pastoral search in 2003 that led to the call of Rev. Luis Centeno.

Ministries profiled:
Sunday Bible School
Teen, Young Adult, and Adult Sunday School
Girls Guild
Choir
Women's Missionary Society
Teen Youth Group (Christian Endeavor)
Pre-School Program
Vacation Bible School
Tuesday After-School Club

Date

2003-11

Text

SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL
Begun in February of 2002, this program serves as a combination of Sunday School and Childrenâ€™s Church for children from Kindergarten through sixth grade. Held each Sunday morning from 9:30 until noon (or whenever Morning Worship is through), it includes worship and singing, Bible lesson and life application, Bible memory work, game time, snack time and crafts. While it has attracted as many as 22 children on a given Sunday, the average attendance is 10, and sometimes has dropped to 2 or 3, or even none. The adult staff consists of the lead teacher, an assistant teacher, the craft teacher, and a secretary, all of whom assist with keeping order and helping children with their work. Occasionally, teen helpers are employed during the game, snack and craft time (coinciding with Morning Worship).
The program has many positive elements. Since itâ€™s beginning, we know to have had two children pray to accept Christ. The invitation to do so has been presented a number of times, and we hope there have been more. While the children are here, most of them seem to have a good time, and show interest in the activities presented. Many are able to show what they have learned, at least as far as repeating facts is concerned. Varied presentation methods and learning styles are used, so that all may be reached in the way they learn and respond best.
There are negative elements. The main one is sporadic attendance. Very few students are present week after week. If they were, we would perhaps have as many as 35 at a time. Much of this seems to be caused by three main things: First, virtually all of the children we have seen are from families who do not regularly attend our church, and most do not attend any church. So the children are getting up, out and to church by themselves, with little more than parental knowledge (if that), rather then parental involvement. Second, many come from divided families, so that there is the â€œevery other weekend with Dadâ€ type arrangement that keeps them from attending. Third, the lack of a ride or an adult to walk with children prevents attendance as well.
The other negative element is out-of-control behavior exhibited by some students upon occasion. It is possible that learning and behavior disorders may contribute to this problem with certain students, accompanied by our inability to properly respond to such disorders because of such a small staff. In working with the students, it is clear that many have no concept of what respectful, kind behavior is, even when asked to give an example. The understanding of how to apply Biblical truths to their lives and behavior seems to be a difficult task for many. There have been instances where visitors to our church have not returned because their well-behaved children were so offended by those with the behavior issues. We seek Godâ€™s continued help in loving each one, and finding times when they can be praised or rewarded for good things, but it is always a challenge.
Some solutions to these problems would include more committed, dependable teachers; especially those able to take full charge including lesson preparation and presentation for a small group on a regular basis, in order to more effectively reach each child. In addition, a means of providing a ride to those who need it might encourage more frequent attendance. Of course, the main thing would be to have the church as a whole provide the childrenâ€™s families things that would be seen as â€œreasonsâ€ for parents to attend as well.
TEEN, YOUNG ADULT AND ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
This program currently provides three classes that meet Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30. The teen and young adult class has members that can encompass seventh grade through college age. Two adult classes exist, each containing remnants of what was a young womenâ€™s class many years ago and the combination of the former menâ€™s and â€œladiesâ€™â€ classes. However, any adult would be free to join either today, as they prefer. The main difference between the two adult classes is the meeting environment â€“ the first class meets in a smaller room in a â€œcircle,â€ and the second class meets in the main sanctuary. Beginning in September 2003, each of these classes along with the childrenâ€™s Sunday Bible School is using Faithweaver curriculum materials from Group Publishing. The main features of this curriculum are a common lesson subject and Bible passage studied by all, the use of presentation methods and learning styles that seek to involve every learner, and a focus on the practical application of Biblical principles to everyday life.
Positive elements in this program are a dedicated and knowledgeable staff and relatively steady attendance. The attendance is mainly due to the fact that the classes are made up of regularly attending church members. But like church membership, the numbers are small.
Possible negative elements may be the existence of the two adult classes, where one would suffice, and possibly open up the ability for rotating small discussion groups of two or three during the lesson, as the curriculum suggests. This would also allow for the sharing of teaching duties. Conversely, having only one class for such a wide age span as the teen and young adult class may not always allow for the addressing of studentsâ€™ needs. As with the church as a whole, these Sunday School classes would benefit from new members brought on by greater community outreach.
GIRLS GUILD
This group is a Christian service club for girls, ages 6 and up, with an emphasis on both missions and growth into Christian womanhood. It meets on the second Saturday of each month, September to May. The existence of this group in our church goes back many decades. Historically, the groupâ€™s purpose was to assist the Womenâ€™s Missionary Society with their handwork, and act as a feeder organization for that group. Today, without girls and young women in our churchâ€™s families, it has become another opportunity to reach out to the community in a way that may attract particular girls due to its unique form of ministry. Customary service projects include baking cookies for donation to the Philadelphia Park Race Track Ministry and the Whosoever Gospel Mission, making and selling candy at Easter, and using that money to fill and send shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child. In addition, the group has collected Campbellâ€™s labels, prepared them, and sent them to mission programs that could use them, as well as tearing bandages from old sheeting for use by the Womenâ€™s Missionary Society in fulfilling their projects. While doing these things, time is taken for Bible study on topics of specific interest to girls of this age, answering their questions, and acting as mentor.
Positive elements in this ministry are of course the good that is done by the service projects, and the special skills and fellowship enjoyed.
The negative issue, as for other programs, is attendance.
Factors working against this program are its once-a-month meeting time (making it easy for members to forget), interference with other activities or family responsibilities due to meeting on Saturday, lack of transportation, and the fact that most members are drawn from the community at large as opposed to families of church members.
CHOIR
The Choir serves as an integral part of the Morning Worship service. The staff is made up of the director, the rehearsal pianist, and the sound technician. Members are accepted as young as middle school age. Rehearsals are currently being held on Thursday nights at 7:30, September â€“ June. As the church is without a professional organist, the choir usually performs with purchased, prerecorded accompaniments.
Positive elements in this ministry are the faithfulness of those who attend regularly, and their flexibility and willingness to employ varying musical styles.
Negative elements are sporadic attendance by some members due to either work issues or the lack of transportation, or both. There are currently eight members â€“ five women and three men.
WOMENâ€™S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
Womenâ€™s Missionary meets in the church every 3rd Thursday at 10:00 am. Attendance is usually about six women who diligently set upon the task of cutting new material into 3x5 rectangles which are sent to the Philippines and made into dresses and other useful things for children. They also cut sheets into stripes and then roll them to be used for bandages in Togo, Africa. Another labor of love is sending cards to the sick and shut-ins from our church.
Every meeting ends with a time of fellowship and food. Periodically they will have a guest missionary come and address the group. This meeting is usually followed by a luncheon.
The negative side of the group is that there are too few women. Their belief is that low attendance is caused by a lack of transportation, and to many working women who would like to attend.
At present there are no immediate or long-term changes planned.
TEEN YOUTH GROUP (C.E.)
Every week the young adults of Wyoming and neighboring streets meet in Fellowship Hall to fellowship. The designated time of the meetings was Saturday evening at 6 oâ€™clock, but have recently been changed to Sunday, after the morning service, at 1 oâ€™clock. Previously the meetings began with a game time where most members played basketball or prison dodge ball. By 6:45pm a snack is served and shortly after we meet in the prayer meeting room adjacent to the sanctuary to receive the message, usually given by Cindy Rice, George Wilson, or Alexandria Ianovale. The meeting always starts off with a prayer which takes us to the message. The source of the message either comes from a devotional book, a testimonial book, or a video series. No matter what the source of the message, throughout each meeting, time is spent reading the Word that corresponds to the message. The meeting ends around 7:30pm, when we end in prayer and head home.
The positive aspects of this gathering would be the kids from the neighborhood who come to play basketball and at the same time are given a chance to learn about Christ. Those kids always return, some more regularly than others. Everyone is given a chance to meet in a more relaxed environment outside of the church service.
The negative aspects of youth group would be the small size of the group. Currently there are 6 regular members excluding Walt and Cindy Rice. Occasionally more members of the community will come out to the meeting, but for the most part they come to play basketball. Out of respect they stay for the message. Poor communication between the members has a large role in the small size of the group. If the members became more involved in each otherâ€™s lives then maybe attendance would improve.
Solutions to the groupâ€™s challenges would be to make more contact throughout the week through e-mail or telephone to every member of the group in order to make a more personal connection. Some disinterest has been shown for some messages. If the group spoke about solutions within the Bible for everyday challenges then more members may receive a passion towards Christ.
PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM
Comments from Nancy Dambach, director. As I have been with the school since it started I can say there have been many changes over the years, some for the better, and others that could be improved on. I find that the biggest problem is the change in the children.
Behavior is a main problem that we deal with from day to day. Language is another difficulty. Some of the children speak no English, others a little. Same problem with the parents, sometimes it is very difficult to communicate. Annie has been a big help with the Spanish speaking students and parents.
We have 24 students this year compared with the 14 we ended up with last year. The attendance is good so far, and I feel everything is going along nicely. I donâ€™t think there is anything we could do to change our current situation.
To improve our school, we could use a few more new toys, as our toys are quite old, and some new ones would really help. We have two tractors (ride-on toys) and we could use two more. Both Shirley and Annie are doing a great job teaching the children, and I feel we are doing our best with what we have to work with.
Comments from Shirley Parcell. I feel we have a good teaching program. The children are prepared for school when they complete our program. We teach them about God, we teach them manners, how to get along with each other. How to behave, which I believe should be taught in the home, is not. We have many nice toys which the children love to play with. We play learning games with them, such as alphabet bingo, and the winners can choose a little something from Miss Nancyâ€™s toy box. They all play to win, of course. Snack time is a time they all look forward to. We have parties, such as birthday parties for each child, and a gift for them. We have a Christmas party and a Christmas gift for each of the children. These are fun times all the children love.
In terms of negative elements, language is a big and major problem in our school. However, I canâ€™t see anything that can be done about it, so we just have to deal with it. At the present time, we have a lot of children (24). Many times we have children drop out, so not being able to depend on their staying through the whole program is a problem.
To improve the school, we would like a new floor in the Bona-Fide room. The floor is always powdery and children get dirty. It certainly would improve the looks of our room.
Comments from Ana Rodriguez. We strive to teach the children of Godâ€™s word and of everyday manners, also the things the children need to know (school work). We have a great communication system (the intercom), and we also have a great and comfortable place to work. We are able to talk to each other about whatâ€™s going on. Having someone like Mrs. Mary to open the door for the parents is a great idea. It gives Mrs. Nancy and Mrs. Shirley more time to get things done. I like the snack time too, Mrs. Nancyâ€™s selections are great. Having video time on Fridays for the children is good for them to learn positive things.
Negative elements. I believe that having too many children in the classroom can be a safety problem. As an example, the playing area is too small, they donâ€™t have enough room to play, theyâ€™re too cramped playing all together. They also need more toys for the girls.
As for protection for the teachers, maybe having a video camera would be great in the near future. For example, on 10/17/03, I had a student that accused me of biting him, which was not true. But I believe this student not speaking English and/or maybe not understanding it, said something else to his father. I think we should try to take in students that can speak English, and understand what we are saying.
I hope my input can be of some help, sorry for the way I may have phrased it. Thank you for everything, and I thank God for the opportunity he has given me to serve him.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Held every morning for one week in early July, this program is a popular one for neighborhood children from Kindergarten through sixth grade. During that week, the main sanctuary and several other areas of the church are transformed into other places and times, whatever is called for by the theme of the School that year. We have had a rainforest, a remote island with a lighthouse, a science lab with a time machine, a southwestern sheep ranch, a circus tent, and an old mansion, to name a few. The program consists of the traditional VBS features - worship and singing, Bible lesson and life application, Bible memory work, game time, snack time and crafts. The week finishes with a closing program held on Sunday evening, at which the families are presented with a program that reviews what the children have learned, and presents the Gospel. In addition, the children who have earned memory work prizes receive them at that time.
The program has many positive elements. Children who have not had previous contact with our church are attracted, as well as children from other churches, including Catholic churches, who come year after year. Since the program is child oriented, the music is lively, the atmosphere is casual, and the adult staff usually has as much fun as the children. Children from unchurched families learn that the church is a positive place to be.
There are negative elements. The main one is a lack of sufficient available adult and teen staff. The staff members we do have on an annual basis are hard-working and committed, but the needs of the children could be better served with more workers. The other negative element is that we are able to do little in the way of follow up. While it is true that the majority of children in the regular Sunday Bible School were originally VBS contacts, most of those in VBS do not establish an ongoing connection to our church. This prevents us from being able to reach them and their families for Christ in an effective way.
TUESDAY AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB
We have been very fortunate to have a group of young students from Philadelphia Biblical University coming to our church each week. They teach the after-school program. There have been very few students taking advantage of this program, however. We have plans to increase the attendance by sending out flyers in the near future to the homes around the church. We pray that this advertisement will bring out more students. Presently we have between three and five in attendance.
The students are taught Bible stories and Bible verses, math, and other subjects as needed by the students. They are given light refreshments and the thing they love most is the game time supervised by Eric. Sarah teaches Bible and Chandre helps with math. There are other students from the college that come out to help if needed. This is possibly a way to reach children that do not go to church at the present time. Your prayers are needed for this very worth-while program.

Files

Citation

“Ministry profiles, 2003,” Wyoming Avenue Baptist Church Digital Archives, accessed April 26, 2024, http://omeka.wabcphilly.org/items/show/100.