WHY DO WE HAVE A MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION? FOR WHAT REASON DO WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN, & YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS?

What is the vision that we have for our youth in the next two years? What is the aim of our education? What do we believe is the most important result of the ones that enter into our building to each week? What do we hope will occur in the lives of our young people?

A Vision: visualize

Now what is the most fundamental thing we can say about Christian Education?

This vision and this ministry , this building are about educating children, and youth and adults to love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts, mind, and body.

The vision in part is to see children, youth, and young adults have a recognize love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the first essential teaching that will produce that kind of fervent love is teaching "Knowing God." If they had a vision of God as Isaiah had. Isaiah 43 and 44 give an overwhelming description of the absoluteness of God. "God’s commitment to being God and being known as God is like a thunderclap in these chapter."

• "Authenticity and transparency in communicating in large and small groups settings." A reasonable idea. I really am beginning to love our group in Discipleship hour at our table.

• "Vulnerability with our imperfections that encourage candor, not concealment."

• "Equipping "incubators" to support the "newborns" that God brings forth."

• "Cultivating a ministry mindset of creativity, flexibility, and responsiveness to new
• needs."

• "Increasingly visible, authentic, practical ways of loving each other."

• "Eager openness to new people and the avoidance of cliquishness."
  
• "The freedom to relax and enjoy each other and God’s Word in casual ways."

• "The importance of small groups for building caring, faith-sustaining relationships.
  
• "A strong attention to bringing children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

• "A spiritually dynamic youth ministry that equips teenagers for courageous Christianity."

• "Capturing the hearts and minds of college / career students with a biblical vision of God."

• "Being a place where single people can flourish with each other and in family."
  
  
  Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant