Family Integrated Church

The fruits of the labor are beginning
to show themselves in the lives of
our young people.

It has been a bit of a struggle,
I have to be honest.
It goes against the grain to offer
only a family Sunday School,
rather than several age divided classes.
It is also somewhat unusual to not
offer a staffed nursery or Children's
Church.

The lack of a Youth Group is hard for some.
I understand where they are coming from...
however, our experiences show this to be
much better for our young ones.

What we have, though, is a church where
the adults and children are together in
praise, worship and fellowship.

Yesterday, I needed to get some photos for the
church web site and I had some volunteers for
some other shots.











Do you know that we have a lot of fun in our
church? Our Pastor is one to really relate
to all of the ages...actually, I am pretty
sure he never really grew up...and that is
a good thing. He loves to talk with the young
people and talk with the children.

So yesterday, when I needed a new picture of Mike
for the web site, Jarod wanted to be "Just Like Mike",
and got behind the pulpit.





I asked him if he wanted to be a pastor when he grew up.
He said "yes!" without any hesitation.
Now, we don't know if the Lord will call him into that
kind of ministry...but we do know that he does not see
Pastoring as a dry and boring job.


At lunch, there was a lot of discussion that was inspired
by one of the teens who was not even with us. Anthony has
been very interested in our Sunday School class on Apologetics
and had been asking Pastor Mike some excellent questions.
These were part of the discussion yesterday.

It blesses my heart to see all of the young people mingling
and playing together. There was an adjustment period for
them to get to know one another....the "old" church teens
and the "new" church teens...but that bridge has been crossed
and they are best of friends now.

We look forward to additional families joining us and the
children in those families being warmly welcomed.

I just received a call from one of the ladies in our church, Ruth,
who has pneumonia...I need to run to the store and pick up
some groceries for her and do a couple of things at her house.

This is also a part of the Body of Christ working together in
times of need.

Last night, another woman took Ruth to the E.R. today I am
blessed to be able to serve. This afternoon another will take
her to a doctor's appointment. Everyone working together.
Helping each other. Ruth, who is now ill, has made many a dinner
for our family after I have had a surgery....or three! It is a
pleasure to get to serve her. This woman has such a heart for service!

I truly hope that you are in a worship situation where you are a
part of the family.

Mike preached yesterday that the church is what the World has to
look at as an example of Heaven. Too many times what the World
would see in our churches would not encourage them in this way.
I hope and pray that God would use Sonrise Christian Fellowship to
create a longing in people's hearts for more of Him and His Word.

Have a great week!

Becky K.