Just as a friendly reminder, this Sunday is when we spring forward and we all lose one hour of great sleep. With a lot of our KidzWorld volunteers being gone to Stuck in the Middle this weekend, it is vital that the remaining of our volunteers in KidzWorld be there on time. (When I say “on time” I mean 20 minutes before service time.) We are going to have a blast with the kids and we don’t want you to miss out!
NewSpring Church
Great Time in Salina, Kansas
Debbie and I had a great time with the folks from Salina, Kansas as we shared some thoughts about kids’ ministry. They are just a super nice group of people and it was fun to talk with people who are excited about ministry. Marsha is the children’s director there and has been doing that for over 15 years. She is a pretty cool lady and has a passion for kids. Also, it was good to get to talk to our friend Lance Albin. He is the student director and is doing such an amazing job.
We had quite a shock to come out of the church last night and see a blizzard going on! A couple of people told us that it was snowing but I wasn’t expecting such hard, wet, blowing snow. In fact it was blowing so hard that I had to get out and clean off my headlights so I could see. As we headed toward home we saw several cars and trucks off in the ditch but by the time we got to McPherson the moisture had turned back into rain. We made it home safely and Nate (my son) and Dale Poore had made Baby Back Ribs and saved me a rack! I’m here to tell you they could go into business. They were tender and tasty just the way I like them. Not only did I indulge myself in that, they also had several pies from Spears! Needless to say my diet got sent to the back seat for a day.
Thanks to all who prayed for us as we drove to Salina and back. We really do appreciate it very much.
Working Outside
Today was just a nice day to be outside doing something. So what better way to get the family together than to haul some dirt around! We needed to fill in dirt in a couple of places around our foundation that have settled over the past year. So with the help of my wife, Philip, Danny & Grace we went into high gear and pulled back some of the landscaping and took care of the problem. That got me thinking about how we always need to be checking our spiritual foundations on a regular basis. Do we have a time of prayer and Bible reading each day? Do we regularly attend a worship service where we can get spiritually recharged? I know in my life I can get so busy with things and plans that I forget to keep my spiritual life where it needs to be. One thing I remember my dad always saying from the pulpit, “Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.” The older I get, the more I understand that statement.
I am excited about the opportunity to speak at a church in Salina, KS this Sunday evening. I will be speaking to a large group of volunteers who work with children and I will share some ideas that we have been using and try to encourage them in their ministry. Please pray for Debbie and me as we travel up there Sunday afternoon and also that I share what God wants me to share.
Saturday, March 22, 2008-Don’t Miss It!
Debbie & I attend the Saturday service since we are pretty busy on Sundays with KidzWorld. After the service this past Saturday a couple of people asked me, “When is the Adventure Ave Theater going to be open on Saturday?” The answer is Saturday, March 22. We are planning a fun night for the kids and adults as well. The extra fun and games will only take place on Saturday. If you have kids infant through Kdg make sure you have them there on Saturday. We are trying to make as much room as possible for our guests on Easter Sunday. Also, starting on March 22, the Adventure Ave Theater will be open every Saturday night. So if you want to avoid the crowds and let your preschooler sleep in on Sunday, make plans to start attending Saturday night.
Grand Opening this Sunday!!!
Another piece of the set has been put in place in Adventure Avenue Theater and boy does it look fantastic! The shop crew is working overtime trying to meet the deadline for the Grand Opening. Our special guest is arriving Tuesday or Wednesday of this week to make preparations for the big day. You don’t want to miss this Sunday it is going to be explosive with fun. Invite every preschooler within a 50 mile radius of your house to come to NewSpring this weekend.
Please pray for the safety of the crew and staff as we work long hours to prepare this outstanding environment for our preschool children. For all of you who have been giving to the NewSpace at NewSpring fund let me say a “Big Thank You”. This is just phase one of a multi-phase project to give more space for our children and teens. Also on the project list is the updating of our restrooms in the grand foyer as well as a bookstore and coffee shop area. So continue to give and we will continue to mark the projects off the list!
This past weekend we had 2410 people at NewSpring! How awesome is that? That makes these projects so much more important. As a church family let’s pull together and get these projects done! If you have any words of encouragement for our shop crew post them here and we will make sure they see them.
More Construction Photos of Adventure Avenue Theater
Things are going well in the new Adventure Avenue Theater. The extra electric power we need is being put in today. Then the room will be painted and the sets and audio & video will be installed. The grand opening is still set for Feburary 17th and we are getting pretty excited about having this engaging environment for our preschool dept. Don’t let your preschooler miss that Grand Opening Sunday. It is going to be awesome! There is a rumor going around that a very special guest will join us on that Sunday!
This project is just 1 out of 4 projects we would like to complete. The second project is the balcony in the KidzWorld Theater. Currently we are just flat out of space for our 1st-5th graders. We actually had to put away some of our engaging activities to have enough space for our small groups. The third & fourth projects involve updating the bathroom facilities in the main concourse and the construction of a bookstore and coffee area. So please continue to give to the NewSpace @ NewSpring project. Completing these projects will take us to the next level and allow more people to experience the life-changing message at NewSpring Church.
GodIsSilent.com
If you haven’t checked out the web site GodIsSilent.com you need to visit and read what people have been struggling with in their lives. Everyone has a story to tell and we never know when we minister to people what events they are experiencing at that time. I am very excited about this series and how God will use it in the lives of people who attend NewSpring or watching NewSpringTV. There are so many cool things going on right now at NewSpring. I hope you take the opportunity to invite someone to experience them.
Photos from Sunday at NewSpring
Pizza, anyone? What does pizza have to do with learning about God? Well, today our bottom line was: When you put God first, everything else falls in place. So the kids got to make these “pizzas” to help them realize that just like a pizza needs a crust to hold it all together, so we need to put God first in our lives to help everything else fall into place. It was a blast!!
Here I am presenting a KidzWorld check to Pastor Mark. All during the month of December our kids have been bringing their offering to help with the cost of the new Adventure Avenue Theater puppet stage. These kids have been excited about having a part in this great project. Many of them have younger siblings or friends who will be able to enjoy the theater. After our offerings this morning, the total the kids have given for this project is just over $600!! Thanks, kids, for sacrificing for others.
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Grand Opening of Adventure Ave Theater
Last Wednesday Debbie and I had a meeting with the Preschool Dept lead teachers to discuss many things but the main reason was to discuss the opening of a second theater for our children at NewSpring. I am so excited about this theater and the potential to engage our younger ones on a whole new level. Darrel and Karla Stinson have stepped up to the plate to be in charge of the theater and it is going to be over-the-top fantastic! They have such a passion for kids and they have some awesome workers that are going to make it “the best hour of your child’s week”! The work has already started; the carpet has been pulled off the floor and the underlying concrete has been sanded and stained. The next step is painting the walls and ceiling. Dale and his crew are already working on the puppet stage that is going to be in there. With that all in mind, our Grand Opening will be Feburary 17th and we are pulling out all the stops to make this Grand Opening something to remember.
I am always amazed by the high quality of volunteers we have in KidzWorld and their dedication to connecting with children here at NewSpring.
One last thing… let me encourage you to give to this special project. We have a chance here to have a big impact on children of Wichita and we are going to need your help to do it. Pray about a special gift to the remodel projects at NewSpring. Your dollar will go a long ways in reaching boys and girls and men and women to Jesus!
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lifeinakidzworld.com 
