Annual Children's Ministry Report

Below is the text from the Annual Report for Anchor Children's Ministry.  Thought you might like the preview long before the report comes out this early Spring.  Enjoy!
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What a busy, but GREAT, year this has been!  Anchor CM @ CWMC has grown by leaps and bounds as we have seen many new families attending Colonial Woods. 

Purpose of Anchor CM

It is my desire to see Anchor CM be THE PLACE for kids and families seeking to go deeper in their walk with Christ.  Children’s Ministry exists to partner with parents of children (Birth – 5^th Grade) to see them become fully, committed Disciples of Christ.  It’s about Changed Lives & Hearts in the lives of our kids!  It’s not about Baby Sitting – It’s about serving our Lord & Savior, Jesus.

Saturday Venue Live            

For over a year now we have had full Children’s Ministry programming available during Saturday Venue Live.  We operate 3 different rooms that utilize volunteers to oversee, teach and help in each one.  Recently, in the 1^st – 5^th Grade room, we switched to using the same curriculum we use on Sundays during the 10:45 service – Elevate!  Elevate is a dynamic, engaging kid’s curriculum we use to encourage kids to take Biblical truths and live them out in their daily lives.  If you are interested in checking us out on Saturdays or Sundays, feel free to stop by!  Or, better yet, ask your Elementary kids all about us!

The other part of Elevate is the on-going desire to see kids to grow in mentoring relationships with mature adult Believers.  As a church, one way to partner with the home to help kids become ‘Anchored to Christ’ is by having a 2^nd adult (besides their parent) giving them the same message of God’s Love and Truth.  In order to accomplish that we are hoping to begin adding small group shepherds who will simply hang out with kids and encourage them in their walk with Christ.  Ultimately, we would like to have 1 adult for every 7-8 kids.  If that’s something you are interested in, let us know.

Praying for Leaders

One major thrust for the next year will be in the area of leadership.  There are nearly 150 volunteers in Children’s Ministry who serve either weekly, monthly or on a 6-week rotation – far too many for a single person to manage.  What I will be seeking God and others on is to identify and train 6 ministry coordinators who will be asked to oversee a certain sect of the on-going ministries – Sunday AM and PM, Saturday PM, & Wednesday PM. 

One of those coordinators is already in place, Elementary @ the 10:45 service, but more are needed.  This will allow me to then work with these 7 individuals to manage and oversee the volunteers to ensure program needs are met and kids are effectively being ministered to.

Kid’s Spring Musical

Please take not that we are NOT conducting a Kid’s Spring Musical but will re-group the Kid’s Choir and hopefully perform the annual Christmas program the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  If you are interested in that leadership, please let me know.

Anchor CM Blog & Facebook

Keep in mind that Anchor CM is also has a blog:  www.anchorchildrensministry.blogspot.com and is also on Facebook as a ‘Fan Page.’  It is a great way to stay connected with various happenings around the church – not just in Children’s Ministry.

Calendar of Event

Pinewood Derby             April 30^th

Tea for Two                    May 8^th

Happy Time Camp          June 21^st – 25^th  

VBS                                July 18^th – 22^nd  

Back to School Bash       September 1^st

Trunk or Treat                 October 30^th

Christmas Musical           Nov.  28^th  

Christmas Day Camp    Dec. 4^th  (New Date)

In His Service,

Dean L. Butterfield

Director of Children’s Ministries