Live The Great

No poco alboroto - Me gusta esa frase. Lucas la emplea en el libro de los Hechos para hablar de algo significativo que sucede. Hubo no poco alboroto entre los soldados romanos (Hechos 12.18) cuando Pedro fue liberado de modo sobrenatural de la prisión. Cuando Pablo predicó en Éfeso, dice que hubo un disturbio no pequeño acerca del Camino.

No poco alboroto – Hay una onda, algo está sucediendo. Dios está agitando las cosas, ¡tal como está sucediendo en nuestra iglesia! El 14 de septiembre fue la fecha de lanzamiento de tres clases nuevas para adultos durante tres horas diferentes los domingos por la mañana, al igual que de un formato más juvenil en nuestro segundo servicio a las 11:15 am. Hemos hecho muchos cambios a través de los años, pero pocos han recibido una respuesta tan entusiasta como estos. ¡Gracias por los buenos comentarios, sugerencias y mensajes de email!

Expansión de Nuestras Instalacione

Permítame compartirles algunos puntos salientes de otros eventos que están causando no poco alboroto en KCBT este otoño. Para cuando lea estas líneas, se estarán finalizando los documentos de construcción de la expansión de nuestras instalaciones. Originalmente habíamos planificado el inicio de las obras para este otoño, pero ahora estamos proyectando que será al principio del año próximo. En esta etapa del proyecto de construcción parece que siempre surge algo que nos saca de nuestro calendario, pero lo importante es que este proyecto se está convirtiendo cada vez más en realidad conforme pasan los días. Una vez que se haya completado, ni nos acordaremos de estar retrasados por uno o dos meses.

El propósito de esta expansión es permitirnos hacer un mejor trabajo en la edificación de la gente, y no sólo nos dará instalaciones de primera para nuestros niños, sino que mejorará nuestra capacidad de alcanzar a toda la familia, desde los abuelos hasta los niños de cuna. Ha visto en el boletín y me ha escuchado decir varias veces que estamos orando que Dios aumente nuestras ofrendas $10,000 por semana para poder pagar por nuestras nuevas instalaciones y continuar nuestro nivel actual de ministerio. Asusta, ¿verdad? ¡No! Eso sólo significa que estamos confiando en que Dios nos permita alcanzar a más personas y enseñarles lo que hemos aprendido acerca de ser discípulos de Jesucristo. Y, tenemos un año y medio para alcanzar este nivel. ¡Esto es lo que siempre debiéramos hacer, no importa qué!

Formato nuevo para la Cena del Señor y los Bautismos

Con el cambio de horario y formato de nuestros servicios, también hemos ajustado la forma en la cual llevamos a cabo la Cena del Señor y los bautismos. En los meses que tenemos cinco domingos, ese quinto domingo quedará apartado para observar las ordenanzas del Señor. Esto nos permitirá darle mejor atención a esos elementos tan importantes de la vida en la iglesia.

La Cumbre v.2.0

En septiembre recibió una tarjeta de «aparte la fecha». ¿Pudo adivinar de qué se trababa? Hay que apartar el 1° al 8 de marzo para La Cumbre. Durante el verano formamos un consejo misionero juvenil y les hemos encargado la responsabilidad de planificar y ejecutar La Cumbre. ¡No puedo describir lo emocionado que me siento al respecto! Cada vez que nos reunimos vemos la frescura y creatividad que Dios ha dado a nuestros jóvenes. Me pregunto por qué no hicimos esto hace tiempo. Hablando en serio, ¡no querrá perderse ni una sola noche de La Cumbre! Lo que puedo prometerles es que será diferente a lo que haya experimentado antes.

Un anuncio más en cuanto a La Cumbre: Durante los años recientes hemos estado trabajando para aprovechar a nuestros contactos en América Latina para trabajar juntos y alcanzar el mundo. He enseñado sobre misiones a cientos de cientos de pastores en América Latina. Me he retorcido el cuello durmiendo en asientos de avión al volar de aquí para allá entre Kansas City y América latina. Durante La Cumbre, compartiré la dirección en la que creo que Dios nos está guiando para «conectar los puntos» y poder afilar nuestro enfoque para cumplir la Gran Comisión. Creo que Dios nos está dando la oportunidad de hacer algo asombrosamente significativo en estos postreros días.

Edificando a Transformadores del Mundo: Direcciones en Tiempo Real

En octubre continuaremos nuestra serie sobre Edificando a Transformadores del Mundo: Direcciones en Tiempo Real. Continuaremos examinando elementos clave que formaron parte de la asombrosa transformación que convirtió a Saulo el fariseo en Pablo el apóstol. El último domingo de octubre quiero presentarles una ilustración de la vida real de un transformador del mundo, un hombre que se elevó de los distritos de la ciudad de Nueva York para convertirse en un erudito, evangelista y misionero. ¡No se lo pierda!

One of the emptiest feelings in life is spending five hours putting a puzzle together and realizing you are missing a piece. That piece is key to that puzzle fulfilling its purpose in your life. Whether it is esthetic beauty or a sense of accomplishment, all the pieces coming together are the key to the satisfaction you seek. That feeling of emptiness or incompleteness is only solved by finding that piece. Maybe the piece that is missing in your life is the beautiful puzzle piece called volunteerism.

This volunteerism puzzle piece was created in 2006, through the vision of Jeff Cox. The volunteer ministry called VP820 was launched, and scores of you donated a couple hours, one Friday each month for a whole year. You showed up and accomplished what the church needed. You felt the bond of teamwork and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Almost three years later KCBT wants to take the next step in this vital ministry. VP820 has a new name - RS09 (Reasonable Service 2009) - and we are expanding this ministry to include new areas that match the gifts and talents the Lord has given you. For a church our size to function adequately, we need the help of the “pieces” of our church. You may be the piece we are missing. Please prayerfully consider the coming opportunities to serve your church body in an exciting and practical way. We will be asking for a one year commitment to your selected area of service. More pieces to the volunteer puzzle will be coming soon; for now, will you consider the piece that God would have you to be?

We’ve been beta-testing the new SkyKids electronic check-in system for the past month and are excited at the positive response! Using our Second Grade class as test subjects, we’ve shown parents and teachers how to use the system. Pastor Jim Lee (Student Ministries and Focus) has even been spotted checking in his son! Within just a few seconds children are checked into classes and parents are off to main worship services, ministry fellowships, or an adult education class.

Sunday, October 19 this system will be used to check-in all SkyKids classes (birth to Grade 5). In an effort to make this transition as smooth as possible, SkyKids workers will ask you to verify family contact information prior to October 19. The electronic system uses phone numbers to locate your child, so keeping this information up to date is vital. You can use a main home phone number, cell phone, or even a work number! If you are a KCBT member you have the option to update your information by logging in to mykcbt.org.

Two electronic check-in stations are located on the Connections Counter in the main lobby, two are at the top of the stairwells on the third floor, and two are in the hallway outside Grade 3, 4 and 5 classrooms. Stations open at 8:15am and remain open throughout the morning, allowing you to check your child in as soon as you arrive in the building.

It’s so easy!

Each check-in station features a touch screen monitor. To ensure a speedy check-in for all our SkyKids, we ask that only adults use these stations.

Step 1: Enter the last four digits of your phone number. The system locates all families that match the digits.

Step 2: Select your family; the screen will show a list of all your family members that are able to check into a class.

Step 3: Your child will already be selected, if one of your children isn’t present that day, simply uncheck that child’s name. The screen indicates your child’s name, class, and if we have a picture of them on file, you’ll see their picture. Confirm the information, then touch the “check in” button.

Step 4: The label printer generates two labels per child. The printer pauses for a few seconds after each label. Pull down to remove the labels from the printer.

Step 5: The first label, which goes on your child, includes your child’s name, class, date, and any medical or allergy information we have received. Please let our SkyKids workers know of any important changes to your child’s medical condition so we can update our records. The second label is your claim tag and will be required to pick up your child after class.

Step 6: That’s it - you’re checked in!

Checking Out

You do not need to return to the check-in stations to check out your child. Return to your child’s classroom with your claim ticket. Your ticket has a three digit, randomly selected alpha numeric code that matches your child. This code changes every week and adds another layer of security. This label also includes an important message from our SkyKids team.

No small stir - I like that phrase. Luke uses it twice in the Acts to speak about something significant happening. There was no small stir among the Roman soldiers (Acts 12:18) when Peter was supernaturally released from jail. When Paul preached in Ephesus, there was no small stir about that way.

No small stir – there’s a buzz, something is happening, God is shaking it up – just like now in our church! September 14 was the launch day for new adult classes on Sunday mornings during three time slots and for a new, more youthful format in our second service at 11:15am. We’ve made a lot of changes over the years, but few have been met with more enthusiastic response than these. Thanks for the good comments, input and emails!

Campus Expansion

Let me share a few other highlights of some other events causing no small stir at KCBT this fall season. As you read this, the construction documents are being finalized for our campus expansion. We had originally hoped to break ground this fall, but we are now looking to early next year. At this stage of a building project it seems that something always comes up to put things a bit off schedule, but the important thing is that this project is becoming more of a reality with each passing day! When this project is completed, we won’t even think about being a month or two off schedule.

The purpose of this expansion is to enable us to do a better job of building people, and it will not only give us a first class facility for children, it will improve our ability to reach the entire family from great grandparents all the way down to the crib. You have seen in the bulletin and heard me say several times that we are praying for God to increase our giving by $10,000 a week in order to pay for this new facility and continue our current level of ministry. Scary? No! It just means that we are trusting God to reach more people and teach them what we have learned about being disciples of Jesus Christ. And, we have a year-and-a-half to reach this level. This is what we should be doing regardless!

New format for Lord’s Supper and Baptisms

With our change of service times and formats, we have also tweaked the way we do the Lord’s Supper and baptisms. Every fifth Sunday we are setting aside to observe these two ordinances of the church. This will allow us to give better attention to these very important elements of church life. I predict you will like this!

The Summit v.2.0

In September you received a “save the date” card. Did you figure it out? You need to set aside March 1-8, 2009 for The Summit. Over the summer we formed a student mission council and tasked them with the responsibility to plan and execute The Summit. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this! Each time we meet and I see the freshness and creativity that God has given them, I wonder why we didn’t do this long ago. Seriously, you will not want to miss a single night of The Summit! All I can promise you is that it will be unlike anything you have ever experienced before.

One more teaser about The Summit – for the past several years we have been working to leverage our contacts in Latin America in order to work together to reach the world. I have taught missions to hundreds and hundreds of pastors in Latin America. I have twisted my neck like a pretzel sleeping in coach seats flying back and forth between Kansas City and Latin America. During The Summit I will share with you how I believe God is leading us to “connect the dots” and enable us to sharpen our focus to carry out the Great Commission. I believe that God is giving us the chance to do something amazingly significant in these last days.

Building World Changers: Direction in Real Time

During October we will continue our series on Building World Changers: Direction in Real Time. We will continue examining key elements that went into the amazing transformation that made Saul the Pharisee into Paul the Apostle. On the final Sunday of October I want to introduce you to a real life illustration of a world changer, a man who rose from the boroughs of New York City to become a scholar, evangelist and missionary. You won’t want to miss this!

Recently, SkyKids Early Childhood Department launched a recruitment campaign, simply called, “The 100”.  The nursery, 0-30 months, had 100 spots to fill with people possessing loving hearts and an attitude to serve our babies and their families. In only a few short weeks, the nursery has almost filled every available opening! God has provided amazing people in an incredible amount of time. Thank you to everyone who has filled one of these openings. The Early Childhood team appreciates your commitment and cannot wait to get to know you!

There are a still a few needs in Early Childhood. Interested in joining the team? You’ll find details about Nursery Classes (0-30 months) and Preschool Classes (2.5 - 5 years) on their webpages, including a breakdown of each class and corresponding openings in each age group. Prospective volunteers are asked to serve one service time, two Sundays a month. Signup online today! You’ll be contacted before beginning work in the minstry.