Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Recognition pix added
Some pictures from our recognition event have been added to the posting below.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Blitz day!
(posted by Paul Zilmer)
Today we did a leafleting "blitz", distributing 2,500 brochures for our upcoming classes at the BEC. We had great help from 3 other Illinois ecclesias: Seth & Jessica Turner, Hannah Fadelle, and Russ & Sherry Johnson from Rockford; Arlene & Jared Johnson from Bloomington; and Trent & Sue Johnson from Chicago. From the Champaign ecclesia we had Ray & Dana Pratt and Paul & Jane Zilmer. Many thanks to all who helped out! We had a day of enjoyable fellowship, working together in our Lord's service.
And we must recognize our support crew: Deb & Abby Fadelle from Champaign staffed the BEC, served lunch to us all, and cleaned up after us. Thanks to you as well — couldn't have done it without you!
Before the first member of our team got back to the Center, there was already someone who had gotten a brochure, who came in and signed up for a class. We pray that there will be many more!
Today we did a leafleting "blitz", distributing 2,500 brochures for our upcoming classes at the BEC. We had great help from 3 other Illinois ecclesias: Seth & Jessica Turner, Hannah Fadelle, and Russ & Sherry Johnson from Rockford; Arlene & Jared Johnson from Bloomington; and Trent & Sue Johnson from Chicago. From the Champaign ecclesia we had Ray & Dana Pratt and Paul & Jane Zilmer. Many thanks to all who helped out! We had a day of enjoyable fellowship, working together in our Lord's service.And we must recognize our support crew: Deb & Abby Fadelle from Champaign staffed the BEC, served lunch to us all, and cleaned up after us. Thanks to you as well — couldn't have done it without you!
Before the first member of our team got back to the Center, there was already someone who had gotten a brochure, who came in and signed up for a class. We pray that there will be many more!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Plans change
(posted by Paul Zilmer)
This week we've come across two situations where we've needed to adjust our plans. Flexibility remains a key element in our approach! We continue trying things, and then adjusting as we learn.
One class extended, another postponed.
Our Wednesday night class has been "Living Out Your Faith", with 10 students attending. Our premise is that our faith has to show in the way we live, and God has expectations of us, and will hold us to account. Our approach has been to explore a significant number of scripture passages that have plain teaching about what we should DO, and what we should NOT do. We have built lists on flip-chart paper as we accumulated the Bible's teachings. After we add to the list from a given passage, we then look at Bible examples of faithful people actually putting these into practice, or in some cases unfaithful people failing to do as God directs. The pictures below show the DO and NOT lists we've been building on the wall.
The students have been very engaged in these explorations, and as we were nearing the end of the 4 planned weeks, one student asked that we extend the class. I put it to the rest of the students, and nearly all agreed, including all of those who were scheduled to start on the next scheduled class ("Bible History and Geography"). With that input, we are now going to carry on the Living Faith class for 2 more weeks, and we will re-schedule the History & Geography class for another time. For the current class, anyone who has completed the originally planned 4 sessions will be counted as a completer.
Teen activity put on hold, for now
Dana Pratt and Jennifer Millay have been trying for several weeks to get an after-school teen activity off the ground. There has been interest, but not much attendance. Two teen girls came one week, and that's been it. With nicer weather now here, it seems even less likely that we'll get teens stopping in. So Dana has decided to put this activity aside for now. She will try again in the fall. We still believe that there is an opportunity here for something really good — we just need to a couple of kids to try it & find it enjoyable, then tell their friends.
This week we've come across two situations where we've needed to adjust our plans. Flexibility remains a key element in our approach! We continue trying things, and then adjusting as we learn.
One class extended, another postponed.
Our Wednesday night class has been "Living Out Your Faith", with 10 students attending. Our premise is that our faith has to show in the way we live, and God has expectations of us, and will hold us to account. Our approach has been to explore a significant number of scripture passages that have plain teaching about what we should DO, and what we should NOT do. We have built lists on flip-chart paper as we accumulated the Bible's teachings. After we add to the list from a given passage, we then look at Bible examples of faithful people actually putting these into practice, or in some cases unfaithful people failing to do as God directs. The pictures below show the DO and NOT lists we've been building on the wall.
The students have been very engaged in these explorations, and as we were nearing the end of the 4 planned weeks, one student asked that we extend the class. I put it to the rest of the students, and nearly all agreed, including all of those who were scheduled to start on the next scheduled class ("Bible History and Geography"). With that input, we are now going to carry on the Living Faith class for 2 more weeks, and we will re-schedule the History & Geography class for another time. For the current class, anyone who has completed the originally planned 4 sessions will be counted as a completer.
Teen activity put on hold, for now
Dana Pratt and Jennifer Millay have been trying for several weeks to get an after-school teen activity off the ground. There has been interest, but not much attendance. Two teen girls came one week, and that's been it. With nicer weather now here, it seems even less likely that we'll get teens stopping in. So Dana has decided to put this activity aside for now. She will try again in the fall. We still believe that there is an opportunity here for something really good — we just need to a couple of kids to try it & find it enjoyable, then tell their friends.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Recognition for winter completers
(posted by Paul Zilmer)
We didn't have as many people turn our for our recognition event as we had hoped. The completion results were excellent — 17 students completed at least one course from Dec thru Feb. We offered 7 on-site classes and 2 self-study courses. One student completed 6 classes, and two others completed 5. But a number of people had conflicts and some simply didn't show. The ones who came heard a nice Bible talk from Norm, who spoke about "Telling Another Person About Jesus", using examples from the New Testament, as well as examples from among our students, many of whom have told friends & family members about their experience at the BEC, and those people have now also become students.
We've now had two recognitions on Saturdays, one am and one pm. The am time got better response, but we would still like to get more. Next time I think we'll try a weeknight. As you can tell, we're still experimenting, holding onto what works, and trying something else when we think we might do better.
Bottom line - we were very proud of our students, many of whom are taking class after class with us. The level of commitment to study God's word is awesome.
Here are some pictures, mainly showing the informal interaction while we enjoyed the appetizers provided by the sisters.
We didn't have as many people turn our for our recognition event as we had hoped. The completion results were excellent — 17 students completed at least one course from Dec thru Feb. We offered 7 on-site classes and 2 self-study courses. One student completed 6 classes, and two others completed 5. But a number of people had conflicts and some simply didn't show. The ones who came heard a nice Bible talk from Norm, who spoke about "Telling Another Person About Jesus", using examples from the New Testament, as well as examples from among our students, many of whom have told friends & family members about their experience at the BEC, and those people have now also become students.
We've now had two recognitions on Saturdays, one am and one pm. The am time got better response, but we would still like to get more. Next time I think we'll try a weeknight. As you can tell, we're still experimenting, holding onto what works, and trying something else when we think we might do better.
Bottom line - we were very proud of our students, many of whom are taking class after class with us. The level of commitment to study God's word is awesome.
Here are some pictures, mainly showing the informal interaction while we enjoyed the appetizers provided by the sisters.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Class completion
(posted by Paul Zilmer)
Belatedly, here are some pictures taken at the completion of the class "Kingdom of God – Past, Present, Future". The students all made remarks along the lines of "I never knew how central the teaching of the Kingdom is," or "I always thought the kingdom was in heaven".
In the pictures: some of the students receiving their completion certificates. One student, having seen volunteers wearing the Kingdom of God T-shirts, asked if he could buy one. We were happy to oblige, and he was happy to have a way to proclaim his new understanding of a key Bible teaching.
(Postscript to my beloved brother Barry: Your GNOTKOG logo has traveled well across the Atlantic and into the northern hemisphere!)
Belatedly, here are some pictures taken at the completion of the class "Kingdom of God – Past, Present, Future". The students all made remarks along the lines of "I never knew how central the teaching of the Kingdom is," or "I always thought the kingdom was in heaven".
In the pictures: some of the students receiving their completion certificates. One student, having seen volunteers wearing the Kingdom of God T-shirts, asked if he could buy one. We were happy to oblige, and he was happy to have a way to proclaim his new understanding of a key Bible teaching.
(Postscript to my beloved brother Barry: Your GNOTKOG logo has traveled well across the Atlantic and into the northern hemisphere!)
Friday, March 5, 2010
Spring Term underway
(posted by Paul Zilmer)
Last week, we finished up the last 2 classes of what we are calling our Winter Term. This term included 3 stand-alone classes in December, and 4 multi-week classes in January and February. We also offer two self-study courses. A total of 17 students completed at least one class, and most of these completed more than one. (One woman completed 6, and two others did 5!) We have invited all completers to a special recognition event on March 20.
Here is a picture of some great after-class discussion at one of the classes just concluded.
This week we launched two new classes. I'm leading "Living Out Your Faith" on Wednesday evenings. Ten students attended, of the 14 who registered. This class will run for 4 weeks. On Thursdays Norm is leading "Life of Jesus - Harmony of the Gospels", which will go for 6 weeks. Five attended of the nine registered.
Meanwhile, our Tuesday evening discussion class keeps going. We haven't given as much attention to that class in these postings. This class is a study of a book of the Bible, led by Ray Pratt — we've been studying 1 Corinthians, and we're about to finish it up. We'll then move on to 2 Corinthians. We've had 3 regular students from the BEC who attend this class, as well as ecclesial members.
Last week, we finished up the last 2 classes of what we are calling our Winter Term. This term included 3 stand-alone classes in December, and 4 multi-week classes in January and February. We also offer two self-study courses. A total of 17 students completed at least one class, and most of these completed more than one. (One woman completed 6, and two others did 5!) We have invited all completers to a special recognition event on March 20.
Here is a picture of some great after-class discussion at one of the classes just concluded.
This week we launched two new classes. I'm leading "Living Out Your Faith" on Wednesday evenings. Ten students attended, of the 14 who registered. This class will run for 4 weeks. On Thursdays Norm is leading "Life of Jesus - Harmony of the Gospels", which will go for 6 weeks. Five attended of the nine registered.
Meanwhile, our Tuesday evening discussion class keeps going. We haven't given as much attention to that class in these postings. This class is a study of a book of the Bible, led by Ray Pratt — we've been studying 1 Corinthians, and we're about to finish it up. We'll then move on to 2 Corinthians. We've had 3 regular students from the BEC who attend this class, as well as ecclesial members.
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