CHBaptist Connection June 2011

VBS June 27-July 1

June 2011Volume 5Number 5

CH Baptist | 17201 Jeff Davis Hwy, Col Hgts, VA 23834 | (804) 526-0424 | chbaptist.com

Jesus said, “Go!” And go we do and go we will. We have a tremendous summer of missions

in front of us. We just had a team return from Nicaragua. We have teams going to Italy, Boston, and Ukraine in the weeks ahead. It is our vision to have an impact on our community and our world, and there will be great opportunities to do both all summer.

The verse above is called The Great Commission. It is the great charge on our lives. We are to be a people going to the nations. What is interesting though is that word, “go.” It might best be translated, “As you are going,” or “while you are going.” We are always going! We are going to work. We are going to church. We are going to school. We are going on vacation. The great charge Jesus has placed on our lives is that as we go, wherever we go, we go with the intent to make disciples, that is, to make people followers of Jesus. Yes, these teams we have leaving our church and going overseas are faithfully carrying out the call to go. We join them through our prayers and giving. But the idea of going does not have to have a plane ticket attached to it. I think it is good to go at least once with a passport in hand, but Jesus’ command is not fulfilled only with a passport in hand. You are going to be going all summer long. When you go to the pool – go to make disciples. When you go on vacation – go to make disciples. When

you go to the grocery store – go to make disciples.

Lord, everywhere I go, may my eyes and ears be open to those around me that you would have to me to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

We are all going somewhere this month. We have over 3,000 people who regularly attend our church. That is a lot of going. Imagine with me if in just one of our goings this summer, it resulted in someone being baptized. That is 3,000 baptisms. That would make a difference in our world and community. Sound crazy? Jesus didn’t think so. It is the charge He has put on our lives. So let’s all pray, “Hey, Lord, would you use one of my goings this summer to reach someone for you. Could one of my goings result in someone being baptized? My going is available to you.”

As we go,

Randall T. Hahn

Dr. Randall T. HahnSenior Pastor

Rev. Mike OsborneAdministrative Pastor

Rev. Dale WilburWorship Pastor

Rev. Edwin ParkerInstrumental Music Pastor

Rev. Mike ConnorMedia Pastor

Rev. Ronnie WestEducation Pastor

Rev. Jim ReevesOutreach Pastor

Rev. Wes RoseMissions, College, & Singles Pastor

Rev. Jerry WitteHigh School Pastor

Rev. Buddy HammChildren’s Pastor

Rev. Andy HuffMiddle School Pastor

Rev. Steve FreemanStaff Evangelist

Contact Us17201 Jefferson Davis HwyColonial Heights, VA 23834

804.526.0424www.chbaptist.com

2 Connection June 2011

CH Baptist Impacting Our World for Christ

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

– Matthew 28:18-20

The Pastor’s Page

The Pastor’s Page ...........................2The Great Commission

Interview: ......................................3Bible Fellowship for Special Needs

Interview .......................................4Continued

PandaMania....................................... 5Vacation Bible School

The Edge: .....................................6College Student Initiative

Embracing Danger ..........................7Volunteer Spotlight

Youth ............................................8Upcoming Events

Our Schedule .................................8Upcoming Events

Ronnie West: Donna, I hear you have a new ministry you’re excited about? Tell us a little about your background and how this project got started.

Donna Hicks: You’re right, Ronnie, I am excited about a new ministry for special needs members. The term “special needs” covers a wide spectrum of disabilities. When I graduated, I had a BS degree in Mental Retardation. That degree has led me to work with learning disabled, mildly handicapped, autistic, and severely handicapped children.

In December, Andy Huff, our Middle School Pastor approached me and asked if I’d be willing to coordinate a special needs program for those attending CH Baptist. For 6 months, I had been waiting for God to show me where He was leading me next in ministry. From there God guided me to many in our church with special needs connections. In January, Jenny, Charlotte, Kelly

and I teamed up together with the staff. Months of prayer have led us to organize and coordinate plans to provide a much-needed Bible Fellowship class for children with extra special needs. Throughout the process, God has answered our prayers beyond our most hoped for expectations.

RW: We, as a staff, have seen a growing need for this type of ministry. Jenny, describe how this ministry will help you and your family.

Jenny Ogburn: Our family, as well as other families, are very excited about this classroom as an answer to our particular prayers. This ministry will provide us the opportunity to join in worship with the rest of the congregation or attend our Bible Fellowship class and know our son is cared for and is receiving God’s Word in a way he may comprehend it.

RW: Kelly, I know the team has been working on this class for some time. What’s been done to get the class ready?

Kelly Heffernan: As a special education teacher, I explored some of the special needs curriculum choices. We’re going with one from Lifeway. We visited and communicated with several large churches with established programs. These programs include Bible Fellowship classes, AwAnA, signing, music, and even summer camp.

Our Education Pastor, Ronnie West, spoke with a team coordinating a new class for special needs children about how the idea came about and what exactly this means for families at CH Baptist. The team consists of Donna Hicks, Jenny Ogburn, Charlotte Swearingen, and Kelly Heffernan.

June 2011 Connection 3

Contents

NEWSpecial Needs Class for Children

Interview by Ronnie West, Education Pastor

Continued on Page 4

Continued from Page 3

Our goal is to provide families with severe special needs children a Bible Fellowship class at the 9:55 hour. These children learn better in small group setting. A modified curriculum teaches in a way that provides understanding at their level. We’ll see where God takes it from there.

RW: What has God been showing you during this process?

DH: I’d say, His sense of humor and –

All: His powerful provision.

RW: Why do you say that?

Charlotte Swearingen: Initially, we realized a need for a downstairs classroom. As the team visited other programs, we saw the necessity for a separate bathroom. As time went on, we realized that the equipment in the room would be too inviting to other classes using the same room at different hours. So we would need a room used only by this class.

JO: The only available room was an upstairs room, shared with other classes, located down the hall from the big bathroom. I was praying for windows to make the room cheery and bright. The team prayed some more and decided that God would just have to make what was available work.

KH: And…one day Buddy Hamm came to us and said, “We have a classroom we think you’ll like.”

• It’s on the bottom floor! • Oh, it’s the only one in the building

with an attached bathroom! • Did I mention no one else was

scheduled to use it?!• It even has windows!

We laughed and said God had that room planned before any committee was appointed and before the first brick was laid in the new section.

DH: He was just waiting for us to catch up and figure out what we needed. Then He showed us the room He had already provided – above and beyond all we asked or even thought to ask.

RW: Who will teach this class?

CS: We’re starting with parents, volunteers, and teachers. One church that we visited started their program with just one parent, her daughter, and a friend. They now have 50 attending on Wednesday nights.

Our church family has been blessed with a number of committed individuals that have training and experience working with children with special needs. We will be including that experience in our classroom training for leaders and volunteers.

RW: That sounds like a great ministry, Charlotte. Do you need volunteers?

CS: You bet we do! God has blessed us with a solid core of church members who are already on board with us, but we will need additional help as the program grows. If you are someone who enjoys working with children and who has an extra dose of patience, WE NEED YOU. These special children love music and art. Consequently, there’s a strong need for people with those skills

to help us fill in those portions of the curriculum. Naturally, all of our volunteers will need to undergo a background check, just as all our other children’s ministry workers do.

KH: Even if you feel you have the desire but not the skills, we have loving parents, experienced teachers and volunteers who have worked with special needs groups to guide you. The love received back from these special children often exceeds anything we can give.

RW: How does one enroll their child in this special class?

JO: If you are a church member with a special needs child, please contact the church for an appointment by leaving your name and phone number. You will be contacted by one of the special needs team and they will help you fill out an enrollment form. Because of the need for safety and well being of the children and volunteers, we’re trying to keep the student to teacher ratio as low as possible. Initially, we will limit enrollment to church members. As time goes by, we hope to do more and increase the scope of services.

RW: When can we look for this class to start?

KH: We hope to provide a safe, loving program for these children and open the class [by the time you read this magazine].

RW: Donna, do you see this ministry expanding?

DH: Only the Lord knows! But God has shown His strong hand by providing a unified and skilled special needs team, the perfect classroom space and even donated equipment. What a thrilling experience it’s been and I think our Father is just beginning this ministry. We would love others to be a part of this work.



“. . . God had that room planned before any committee was appointed and before the first brick was laid in the new section.”

— Kelly Heffernan

NEW Special Needs Class for Children

Fez

Amanda

Boomer

Pogo

Lulu

Day 1Bible Point: God made you.Bible Story: God creates the world.

(Genesis 1) NLTBible Verse: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!”

(Psalm 139:14) NLT

Day 2Bible Point: God listens to you.Bible Story: Elijah confronts the prophets of Baal.

(1 Kings 18:16-39) NLTBible Verse: “You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.”

(Psalm 139:4) NLT

Day 3Bible Point: God watches over you.Bible Story: Jonah tries to escape from God.

(Jonah 1-3) NLTBible Verse: “Even in darkness I cannot hide from you.”

(Psalm 139:12) NLT

Day 4Bible Point: God loves you, no matter what.Bible Story: Jesus dies and comes back to life.

(Luke 23:1–24:12) NLTBible Verse: “Lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

(Psalm 139:24) NLT

Day 5Bible Point: God gives good gifts.Bible Story: God gives Hannah a baby.

(1 Samuel 1:1–2:11) NLTBible Verse: “You place your hand of blessing on my head.”

(Psalm 139:5) NLT

VBS: PandaMania!VBS (Vacation Bible School) is designed to connect kids to God, create change in their hearts, and provide them with actionable ways to share God’s love with others. No matter what station or activity they’re exploring, kids will hear a daily Bible Point–and experience it in a new way! At PandaMania, the daily Bible Point is carefully integrated into each station’s activities to reinforce Bible learning. Each activity is an important part of kids’ overall learning experience—kind of like the pieces of a puzzle! We hope your kids can be a part of this wonderful week (June 27-July 1). Register in the Concourse or chbaptist.com!




People who are willing to embrace danger get to experience the divine in

a way that people who cling to safety do not! Danger could be the unknown or it could be moving outside your safety zone to a place that you are comfortable. Have you stepped outside your box and said yes to the Lord by doing something that you think is scary but that the Lord keeps putting in your path? Well now is the time to step out and try something new.

Volunteering can be scary for some people, but you don’t have to do it alone. Here at CH Baptist, there are team leaders on each of the volunteer teams that will train and stand by you as you serve.

It is important to note that you are never “stuck” or “locked into” a position. If, after trying the position for a few months, you don’t think it is a fit for you; you

always can bring me chocolate and try to get another volunteer position. (Okay, just kidding!) You really need only to let me know that the Lord is leading you in another direction.

If you just need help getting started, we are beginning a new program called PLACE. This program is designed to help you find your gifts and talents and use them to do what God has for you to do.

There are so many different opportunities that you can try and more coming up daily.There actually is a place for everyone to serve, you just have to be willing to step outside your familiar box and venture out. Contact me by phone: 804.526.0424 or email: [email protected] or, better yet, come and see me!

VolunteerSpotlight:Media Department

During each issue of the Connection we like to highlight one of our many dedicated volunteers. Our volunteer for the June issue is Kent Dias, who volunteers in the media department.

Kent Dias is originally from Charleston, SC, and has attended CH Baptist for more than three years. He and his wife, Paula, have two daughters: Morgan and Mackenzie. Kent works in Information Technology and chose to work in the media department to utilize his skills in a previous career in Theatrical Lighting. Kent got involved as a volunteer simply by filling in at the light board one Sunday.

The facts about Kent:Favorite Verse: John 3:16Favorite Color: Royal BlueFavorite Candy: ChocolateFavorite Food: Steak or OystersFavorite Hobbies: Reading and CampingFavorite Author: J.R.R. Tolkein

The next time you see Kent or other media volunteers, please remember to thank them.

Embracing Dangerby Debbie Heuermann, Director of Volunteer Ministries


J U N EE V E N T S

2 Senior Summit(6:30 PM)

5 Graduation Sunday

9 Stitches of Hope(Women’s Quilting Group 6 PM)

10 Children’s Musical Dress Rehearsal (6:30 PM)

11 Men’s Breakfast(8 AM)

11 Children’s Musical Dress Rehearsal (10 AM)

12 Children’s Musical

15 AwAnA Closing Ceremony (6 PM)

16 VIP Luncheon(Seniors 11:30 AM)

16 Songwriter’s Forum(6 PM)

16 Third Thursdays(Singles 7 PM, @Starbucks

by mall)

18 Go Fish (9:45 AM)

19 5th Grade Graduation

26 Promotion Sunday

27 VBS Begins (9 AM)

Find all our events online at chbaptist.com or call

804.526.0424 for information.

17201 Jefferson Davis Highway, Colonial Heights, VA 23834804.526.0424 | www.chbaptist.com

Office Hours: Monday -Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM; Friday Closed

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CHBaptist Connection June 2011