Some thoughtful words from Amy...

As Children's Ministry leaders we all know that safety and classroom management go together.

It is most important in children's ministry to keep our kids safe. A large part of keeping children safe is maintaining control of our small group environment. I realize that this can be a challenge because not all kids want to sit still and listen. Some seem to look for every possible way to be loud, or seem to find a way to throw whatever you give them, or get physical with whomever they are next to.

Some of the best ways I have learned to prevent this is to get to know your kids and figure out what they like, keep them busy and show them they are important. If they like to help, find ways to let them help (pass out supplies, be the first to find the verse in the Bible and show everyone else where it is, or be a friend to the new visitor). Show up on Sunday prepared to lead.  Read over your curriculum and check over supplies before the children arrive. This lets you go straight into the activities when they come to small group and allows for very little unstructured time for them to get distracted or out of control. Create a small group environment where they all know they are welcome, cared about and respected. We know that each child is loved and created by God, and you may be the only person all week that shows them this truth.

Relationships with each other as leaders, and as the church to visitors, attenders and members alike are important too. We should all be conscious of how we treat and respond to each other wherever we are.

I read a blog this week by marketing guru Seth Godin, and I want to share it with you. It is from a business perspective, and I realize as leaders and followers (not fans) we are not exactly marketers but I was struck by how much this does apply. I know I have had this experience, in business as well as in church. Unfortunately, I have been the reason someone else has had this experience too.

"I don't like that guy," she said.
"Why not?," I wondered...
It turns out that she had done some business with him years ago and it hadn't gone well. When pressed, though, she couldn't actually recall what the problem had been, or how much financial or project damage had been done. All she remembered was that she didn't like him.
That's the way it usually is.You read those letters to the complaint columns in the paper or online, and the actual facts are often pretty trivial. What we remember isn't the financial hit, we remember the injustice, the disrespect, the way we felt at the time.Your accountant might care about the facts. You, the marketer, need to care about the conversations and the memories.

As leaders we should focus more on the relationships (conversations and memories) with our kids and their families, fellow leaders and whomever God puts in our path. We are not just communicating words and rules, we are communicating love and life to them! We have less than an hour, once a week to do so. Being able to keep order alone does not win hearts and minds for Jesus, and He is why we do what we do.

Grace and Wisdom in Christ,
Amy Gieger
Children's Ministry Director

Why we do what we do...

We have said that we measure success here at Argyle a little differently. Our main "win" is a changed life. Everything we do is aimed at leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. When that happens, lives are changed, and you can see it.

We recently baptized Jennifer Thompson. We talked with her about her decision, and planned a time for her to come in and record her baptism video. To help herself organize her thoughts, she wrote us a note she brought with her. With her permission, here it is. It's a pretty good way to see a life being changed by the power of the Gospel of Jesus working through His people, the church.

Reasons I would like to be baptized now.

We moved to Jacksonville in January 2010. I remember Googling the church one day because I passed by and we were looking for a church. We began coming to The Church at Argyle in February right before Married Life Live.

I was raised Roman Catholic, and I was baptized in the Catholic Church shortly after I was born in 1980. My husband was not a Catholic although we baptized our daughter, Jianna, in the Catholic Church in 2008.

I knew I wanted to find a church where we would both feel comfortable. Once I looked at the web site for The Church at Argyle and saw what the church does for kids (KidStuf, Amazing Place and UpStreet) I was hooked. As I mentioned it was right around the time of Married Life Live 2010. We were able to hear to last two messages Pastor Ken was preaching in the series I Do – Again.

The first time we came to church and met the people walking in the door and watched everyone sing, fellowship, hearing Pastor Ken’s words, and meeting Pastor Hal I knew this was where we were meant to be. I am not a public crier by nature but I actually cried during services.

2010 was a hard year for me. My dad had just passed away five months before we moved to Jacksonville and I was struggling with many issues, so we were not consistent with going to church. I almost felt I was not good enough to attend. I felt like everyone in the church had something I did not. I have not worked since I was in the Navy from 01-06 – I am a disabled veteran. I have not completed my college degree I have wanted since 1998. I felt abandoned by my father as well as that I let him down by not being able to save him from passing.

I once busted into Pastor Hal's office and just said, “I don’t know what to do!” I was carrying so much guilt. He spoke to me in common terms and explained what the church was about and that God doesn’t want us to feel guilty. He helped me to understand that since my dad had accepted Christ that I would see him in heaven as long as I was a true believer and follower of Christ. I felt much better leaving his office than I did going in, but it still was not enough. I was not yet ready to commit my life to God.

This year, around January, my husband and I were unhappy living in Jacksonville. We had not been attending church. We really had no social life and wanted something more. We decided we needed to get back into church. What would you know, this was the "year of the Life Group"! We signed right up even though we were both a little scared since we hadn’t been regularly coming to church. Also, we have two kids (4 and 7) and we were scared of the commitment. We were put in the perfect Life Group for us. Dan and Jean Mulvaney are our Life Hosts and Home Hosts and each member of our Life Group has played a major role in getting me to realize that God does not expect me to be perfect, and that God uses people’s imperfections to help others and to glorify Himself.

Through listening to Pastor Rick (who explains everything as if he is talking to me personally), meeting with my Life Group faithfully, asking questions and sharing parts of my life, and realizing how much God loves me and just wants a relationship with me personally, I finally realized – I owe it to God to show him my love, obedience and my thankfulness to Him for all the blessings He has given me and my family. I now know peacefulness over things I once felt would haunt me forever. 

One of the major things that made me realize Jesus does hear my prayers was when I came to church and saw that a new Grief Share Connecting Point was starting on Labor Day. Not only had I lost my father in August of 2009 but I also lost my biological mother in 2007. She and I had never met but we had started a friendship a few years before she suddenly passed away from a brain aneurism. I had been praying and praying to find someone who would understand the grief I was feeling without burdening them with my grief or making them feel uncomfortable if they haven’t dealt with the loss of a loved one. That day I opened the Argyle Connection and saw the announcement about Grief Share I knew in my heart God had answered my prayers. Donna Painter and Becky Dyal lead Grief Share. They have both been so sweet and kind to me, and models for the type of Christian women I want to become. Connecting with them about a topic that is so painful and be able to meet with other people going through the same unfortunate pain, I realized again that I may not know God’s plans for us, but I know he does have a plan for each of us, as imperfect as we are. I know that the more I pray and open my heart to Him that he will reveal His plans for me.

My husband and I also realized this year that we wanted to be more involved in the church, not just at service on Sundays but in any way we could. We started hearing about the different places to serve and how important giving to the church. We both came home and felt our hearts had changed so much. We decided we wanted to do more in both giving and serving.

I felt led to the Children’s Ministry. I was so scared where I would be assigned, but I told Children’s Ministry Director Amy Gieger that I would volunteer anywhere she could use me. I prayed and prayed, asking God to just put me somewhere I wouldn’t mess up! Wouldn’t you know, I was assigned to the registration team, the perfect place for me! I was scared that I didn’t know enough to lead a small group yet, but the registration team lets me meet other members of the church and their children, and has just been such an amazing example of how God knows exactly where we need to be and when to be there.

So here I am – ready to accept Jesus Christ as my savior and to grow in my relationship with Him – regardless of the fact I don’t have a job, that I’m still working on my paralegal degree and that I am not a perfect wife or mother, daughter or friend. But with all that I know and believe with all my heart that through Jesus all things are possible and while I can never be perfect, I can always try to be better with His help.

A Guest Post... Thank You...

First, a word of explanation for those who aren't familiar with the back story.

Our guest poster, Beth Reed, is a member of the Argyle family. Her 13 year old daughter, June, was in an accident on Saturday, January 22. She suffered a serious head injury, and was admitted to Wolfson Children's Hospital that day. Her injury was potentially life-threatening, with the possibility of permanent damage.

Dear Church At Argyle:

I've been trying for a few days now to compose this thank you but I'm struggling. The words just don't seem to want to flow. They are all kinda log jammed in my brain. I know sometime soon the log jam will clear and the words will rush out of me like a verbal water fall but until then I guess this will have to do. 

Yesterday marked the end of what I can say with clear conscience was the single worst week of my life. It ended when I left June with her sister and ran to the store to get her prescription. Returning home I could hear it before I got out of my car. Music. Loud music. The path my heart took from chest to stomach when I saw the police car last Saturday was now reversing. I could feel its joyful beat and it dislodged itself from my stomach and happily marched back into my chest. As I opened my front door and walked straight into a wall of music, God was there and He said “See, I told you.” I walked into the kitchen and just let it roll over me. The sight of my girl, no, not MY girl, OUR girl perched in her daddy's chair whaling away on her drum kit. I knew it was going to be alright. 

You, my beloved Church at Argyle have been there every step of the way. From Mrs. Sarah showing up in the ER before June had her first CT-Scan, to the Bass family surviving getting puked on in the ICU, (dude, by the way - June puking on the Student Pastor has now become family legend) to Mrs. Donna holding her hand while June talked her way through her PICC-line installation, to Mrs. Amy standing on her feet for HOURS holding June's hand and bringing tape! To “Awesome Emmie” bringing love and letters, to Pastor Hal defending Peter and Paul, to Mrs. Sarah laughing off June's verbal filter failure and finally, to the vastness of the prayer chain, thick and ponderous with its power. 

I have never experienced anything quite like the last week but what amazes me most is what I've found in the midst of the chaos. The moments of love and laughter and support and learning that your prayer afforded me. God saved my child, He brought her back to me, but you? You lifted me up and you opened my eyes so I could see. 

In the face of all of this, thank you seems rather inconsequential but as Mrs. Sara admonished me “Beth, just say thank you.” (Yes Ma'am Ms. Sarah.)

To you Pastor Rick, Mrs. Donna, the leadership, staff and congregation of The Church At Argyle, I say,

Thank you!

Beth Reed

A Word From Amy...

Dear Faithful and Loving Children's Ministry Leaders–

Sunday, something happened. I was washed with a feeling of gratitude.

I was going around the church to see our small groups this past Sunday. It was at too fast a pace because I had to get to the next thing, but I noticed something important. I saw how blessed we are with leaders who love the children they are leading. I know I tell you that I appreciate you but I want to give you some specifics so you know that I do see you and recognize your effort and dedication to the Lord in your service to Him.

I talked to leaders who connect with the parents of their children on Facebook or let them know they missed them when they miss a Sunday – not in the "where have you been?" tone that makes someone ashamed they've missed church, but in that "we've missed you and are so glad to see you" tone that lets a person know they matter and that you care about them.

I saw leaders comfort an upset child nervous on their first visit, whether the child is in their small group or not.

I saw leaders who are glad to be here, and know their small groups well, who take time to make sure everyone's name is on the roll and even try to get the spelling right!

I saw leaders who see that their small groups are into an activity that they didn't get to finish, and do their best to let them finish it the next time they serve.

I saw leaders who listen, who give, who get here early, who do the extra stuff, so often without anyone else knowing.

That is service to the Lord! I know you do it for Him. Thank you for blessing me and more importantly our children and their families, with your time, energy and love!

Renewed Energy and Peace in Christ,
Amy

One Woman's Journey... A Guest Post

Not all that long ago, if you were to ask me "What do you think about God?" I would have gone on this long tirade about Christians. At my kindest moments I would think them boring, naive and bad dressers and I regularly said "I will NEVER be one of THOSE people". I equated God to his people and not the other way around and my opinions were not kind.

Then I lost a  bet with God and I reluctantly returned to church. In those early days I was aggressive, even MORE judgmental than usual, and defensive. I just knew those people would condemn me so I condemned them first. I steadfastly kept God OUT of my blog, out of my life and out of my heart. Those days the only thing that kept me coming back was KidStuf and Mary's hugs. In those early days Pastor Ken was not MY pastor and in fact, I was convinced if he said the word "Literally" ONE more time, well, even I would not spork a pastor, but...

It was before Pastor Hal refused to let me goad him. It was before Ms. Amy cast her spell on me and made me love her. It was before my beloved 4th grade tweens, before the Dorcas ladies, before the Cafe Club. Back then I mocked The Promise and thought talk radio was for freaks and kooks. Then I showed up at the doors of the church one November Sunday and found KidStuf.

To you, the leaders, players and Students of KidStuf, I say thank you. Every cold morning, every missed vacation, every night rehearsal and every other imaginable sacrifice you made to put on a production of KidStuf every week saved me. You broke down Christianity into bite sized pieces and fed it to me in a way I could digest. When Pastor Ken was still talking over my head, you spoke directly to my heart. You found me and you lead me to a real relationship with Christ. One virtue, one song and one laugh at a time. You broke through my strong defenses. With each new secular song I heard in church the wall cracked. When I saw a grown woman in pigtails bouncing around the stage the cracks deepened. When I saw a strong black man dressed as a pregnant woman the wall crashed to the ground. Once you brought down my defenses Pastor Ken got in and was never again THE pastor but MY pastor. Once that happened there was no going back. God walked it and did what God does.

Over the next few months I discovered I was the one Pastor Ken spoke of when he said "Those no one else wanted." I was Mary Nobody. I was the beaten down, the scorned, the lost. I was the one who felt I was too broken to be saved. I was convinced I was going to hell and I would take you with me given half the chance. I knew every section of the Bible that I could mock or use in my arguments but had no idea how many books in contained, how it started or how it finished. I knew every verse that was inconsistent, or could conveniently be twisted but had no idea how many times the word "Love" was used. Yes, I am the one this church changed course for. I am the face of Mary Nobody.

These days there is rarely a day God is not in my blog. Should  you find yourself in my car you will hear either a podcast for my "God Pick" playlist. I am married to the same man, live in the same house, drive the same car, have the same job but nothing is the same.

Now, I give God the credit for the dramatic changes in my life, but The Church at Argyle was His tool. THOSE  people pried open my heart so God could get in and completely transform me. I am not worthy to be called one of THOSE people but I'm honored to be among them and I am forever grateful.

With Gratitude & Love,
Beth Reed

Some words from Rick's heart for the Argyle family...

Dear Argyle Family,

Last Sunday night was a wonderful event and experience for us. I found myself getting verklempt (Mike Myers/Coffee Talk) at the end and wasn't able to express all that I wanted to share.

My partner in ministry for 34 years (in fact, we were in ministry together 2 years before we married) is vital to everything God has called us to do. (You think I don't know that the only reason you keep me around is so you can have Donna.) Her heart, commitment and love for people is a beautiful thing to behold. I cannot imagine doing this without her. Like Ms. Becky, she is a model pastor's wife. It truly was love at first sight.

Our children are such a joy and inspiration to me. I've learned so many life lessons by hanging with them. To know they love me and are praying for me is huge.

My parents and Donna's parents are extraordinary people. How do you put a value on never doubting for a moment that you are unconditionally loved? The only problem with having parents like that is that I don't have anyone to blame for my screw-ups.

My dear friend Ken shaped my heart and life in so many ways. I miss him greatly. I still feel as though I'm just filling in for him. Maybe someday I will be a smidge of the gentleman and Christ follower that he exemplified. To have the support of Becky, Kenny and Darrell in this new adventure is beyond expression. Becky, thank you for your affirmation again Sunday night.

Amy, Terri, Hal and David are all very gifted and have a heart for God and the Argyle family. Thank you for your words and actions of encouragement. We are blessed with a wonderful team.

Our Creative Team, Drama Team and Technical Team all play a part not only in last Sunday night's event but every week as we work together to bring people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything you do, on or behind the stage, makes an impact. I know that it doesn't happen by itself. Thank you.

It's a beautiful thing to see your racquetball buddy grow into a Christ follower with a servant's heart. Thank you, Leroy and Kitchen Team. You are amazing.

I appreciate very much the words of encouragement from Phil and Tim. They have known me many years. It's hard to fake someone out for that long. The fact that they seem to still have respect for me is very humbling. Also, thank you Evie and Connie.

Some of the video was a little embarrassing. But I did it, so I've gotta take it like a man. Yet, we were very passionate that we needed to speak The Message in the language of the 70's and 80's culture. Maybe God found a way to use some of that stuff for His glory.

Thank you, Argyle Family, for your love and support (though you are my main source of High Anxiety). The anxiety is not because of anything that you have done. It's the weight of the responsibility. Since I'm teaching that to have anxiety is wrong, I probably should stop it. I am thankful that God is growing me to trust Him to care for you.

I'm convinced that some of the world's most wonderful people are in our midst.

If I left you out, I'm sorry. I'm getting verklempt again.

Rick

A word from Rick...

Dear Argyle- September 5 was an incredible day at Argyle! What a beautiful thing it was to see the different parts of our body work together as one. I am so thankful for and proud of our KidStuf Team, our Greeters and Ushers, Dan and the Chairmen, Leroy and the Kitchen Team, Amy and the Children's Ministry Team, Beth, David and Kim for capturing the event with photos, Tommy and Ricky for building the Snow Cone House, Leroy's Dad for donating the Snow Cone Machine, Leroy's brother, John, who delivered the machine and everyone who stepped up to cover all of the costs of the day so that we could offer everything without charge. Over 600 attended and everyone enjoyed a great show, food, fun and Christian fellowship. It doesn't get any better than that! Two weeks ago, 30 wonderful people became members at Argyle with two coming for baptism. God is good! See you Sunday, Rick