Recently our children gave to a special missions project. They were challenged to give only their own money … no parental help expected. Pennies, nickels, quarters, and a suprising number of dollars made their way from allowances, special jobs, birthday gifts, and the like over the course of the month. $706 came in by the appointed Sunday, which means 88 children in Rawanda will be going to camp this summer to hear about Jesus.
A few weeks ago I wrote about a staff transition in Children’s Ministries. At that time we had been in a search for a Children’s Pastor or Minister for several weeks knowing that this would be a most difficult position to fill. We received several applications and connected with a few interested individuals yet none of them fit who we are either doctrinally, philosophically or programmatically.
In the meantime Charla Mills, and the entire Children’s coordination team, have been doing a wonderful job - not just holding down the fort - but continuing to develop ministry as well. In fact, you will not find a more motivated team anywhere else in the church (and we have some great teams!) so it was an exciting moment when we discovered a way to bring effective leadership to this ministry without making much of a change at all. We have hired Charla as Children’s Ministries Director serving about 25 hours weekly. We added depth by bringing on Faith Sodefi (formerly the departmental administrative assistant) as Co-Director to assist with the oversight of the ministry. Both of them will be accountable to the Executive Pastor and will be working with several Elders on the Children’s Ministries Task Group.
Sometimes God likes to change our minds about something. This is one of those times.
As I mentioned in the last post, we are in the midst of a significant season of staff hiring. Children’s Ministries is one of the positions we are seeking to staff.
Since October of 2007, Children’s Ministries at Crossroads have been in a transition. Children’s Pastor Jim Welles and his wife Sharon will be leaving Crossroads’ staff this Spring. Since October, Jim has focused on finishing up the Team 3 curriculum and materials (Team 3 is a unique children’s mid-week club program created by Pastor Jim and friends). This great ministry fills our building with laughter, learning and happy kids on Wednesday evenings. This past year has had the greatest participation. What a great legacy Jim will be leaving! In order to maintain the quality of the Team 3 programs we have hired Elisabeth Tasche part-time as Team 3 Director.
I’ve been told by many other church leaders that the most difficult position in a church to fill well is that of Children’s ministry leader. So, … while we are currently searching for a Children’s ministry leader, it may take some time - probably into the Summer - until the position is filled.
With Jim focusing on Team 3 ministries, Charla Mills has been serving as Lead Coordinator for Sunday Children’s Ministries. She’s actually fulfilling the role of a Director (no matter what title we give her), and she has been doing it with grace, skill, and a wonderful servant spirit. The ministry has not wavered one bit in this time of transition. It is always amazing to see how God puts His team together.
Charla will be the first to say that having a great staff of coordinators and volunteers makes it possible to have such excellence. I have to agree - what a wonderful team of workers we have at Crossroads! Dian Williamson currently handles training and staffing for infants and toddlers, Anita Fossum is our Elementary Coordinator. Mindy Rowe covers so many broad administrative tasks, and Faith Sodeifi provides backup for all - including Team 3. Melissa Dideriksen has done a great job with the mid-week Children of the Word (COW) ministry in support of Women’s Bible studies. Saturday evening children’s ministries have been covered by Patricia Sessions (along with Joanne Dingman who has brought her expertise to overseeing the unique One Way children’s programs at the Saturday service). Our goal is to once again bring all of these diverse children’s programs under the oversight of a single overseeing leader.
