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| Another conversation in another thread has inspired me to take a new approach in my efforts to reach today's busy families. I decided to venture outside the walls of our church. My goal is to join families in their natural habitats. Not only does it allow me to support families by my presence, it allows me to take the gospel message out to where the families are... on the sports fields and at community events. I committed to attending 2 community sporting events or extracurricular activites that the children in my church are participating in each week. With a 30 hour per week schedule, I thought that 2 events was a reasonable goal. To get started, I emailed the families in our children's ministry and asked for invitations. The first invitation I got was to a play that 2 of our kids were in. It just happened to be a Christian Theatre company that takes traditional tales and writes inspirational musicals focusing on Christian living. It was quite a production that included elaborate sets, costumes, professional make-up and small orchestra and a cast of 52 ages 8-17. What a delight it was to cheer on kids sharing the gospel through drama! It was even more exciting to see they had a full house on a Friday night even with a suggested $10 per person love offering to attend. WOW! Get this - This troupe is not sponsored by a church. It's totally independent. There IS a fee for each child who participates (a little more $$ than it costs for a season of soccer.) Each rehearsal and performance begins with prayer and devotions that help kids relate their theatre activities to their spiritual walk. By venturing outside the church walls I must admit I assumed that I was going to be the one doing the ministry. Low and behold, I was ministered to by 2 of my own kids and their community troupe of kids. Go figure!?! Isn't God amazing??? What are you discovering about families when you venture outside the church walls?
Lisa B from NC
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| Wow! That's incredible Lisa! Today, Roger (pastor in a small town) and our two teenaged sons joined a "Corn Hole" tournament in town to help raise money in memory of a local boy who lost his battle with cancer last year. It was fun to see so many local faces there both church members, their families and many others. I think many folks are always surprised to see a pastor and his family at something like that. But we're passionate about supporting events. Right now, with three children of our own on the run all the time, I can't add any more sporting events!  But we are at many of them already because of our kids and hope to continue the tradition after they are grown.
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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| Sorry, I am a city girl and I'm dying to know! What is a "Corn hole" tournament? And if you have your own kids involved in these community events, you are a step ahead of this empty nester.... no invitation needed. 
Lisa B from NC
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Last week I visited a child's baseball game. He scored 2 runs. (His first of that season.) The child acted real cool about my being there, but I could tell he was excited because he asked if I would be coming to all his games. (His dad told him I must be good luck, so being a first grader, he took his dad at his word.)
Anyway, I got to watch one of our kids enjoying a special game, meet some of the child's team mates AND visit with his grandparents and parents on the sidelines.
I think we created a shared memory that night. One we can talk about and share in the years to come.
Oh, yeah! It was unseasonably cold for NC, so instead of the water bottles, I realized I should have brought a thermos of coffee or hot tea! Guess I now have a winter sports plan, too.
Lisa B from NC
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| (Psst... Corn Hole is like horseshoes, but it's played with bean bags and a big sloping board with a hole in the top center.) http://www.playcornhole.org/ There is, apparently an association for this game! LOL
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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Sounds like a great game for Fall Festival. Got any pictures you could send?
Lisa B from NC
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| I don't! But here are some I found online: 
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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| I really love this idea! We have a very small ministry at our church, so many outreach ideas that take a lot of resources, not just financial but also time and energy, are just a little out of reach for us at this point. As you are attending the event do you hand out business cards? Brochures?
Take Care,
KNice
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We don't pass out anything at this sort of thing because we're just there to be part of it. We're there to begin to build relationships!
Pictures taken on vacation at Lake Junaluska, NC.
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