CLOSE WITH GOD
FEBRUARY KIDS SERIES


Summary
This series is all about having an intimacy with God like never before. Having a close relationship with Him is imperative and recognizing His presence in our lives is more valuable than anything else. Please be praying that God would move in a mighty way through this series!


Week 1: Get Close & Get Real
Is God real to you? How do you know for sure? Do you just say you believe in Him because other people say they believe in Him? Do you pretend that He is real or do you truly believe with all of your heart that He is for real? That is a serious question and if you can’t answer it with confidence you might have doubts about God in your life as you grow older. It is so important to seek God for yourself, otherwise you will be lost and confused about what is true. You see, when you take time to develop a close relationship with God, He will be more real to you than anything else.


Week 2: The Value of His Presence
God is all around us at all times. His presence fills the earth and we can find Him at any given moment. He hears us when we call and draws near to us when we seek Him. Today’s question is, do you value His presence? Sometimes we forget that God is all around us. He waits patiently for us to recognize that He is there. Wow, to have access to the God of the Universe is a pretty amazing thing if you ask me. In the Bible, David says to God “Blessed are those who dwell in Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long!” You see, His presence is more valuable than you could even know.


Week 3: It Never Gets Old
Having a close relationship with God never gets old! God knows everything about us yet we have so much to learn about Him! He has an infinite amount of wisdom and understands more than we could ever imagine. God says in the Bible that His ways are so much higher than our ways. Words could not express how great He is. Here’s the amazing part - when we get close with Him, He loves to teach us His ways and share His wisdom with us! Let’s just say that God is greater than Google. He knows all things and we can ask Him for His wisdom at any time!


Week 4: Your Relationship is Under Attack
Even in the moments that we are close with God, there is one thing we must know. Our relationship is constantly under attack. Our enemy, the devil, wants to separate you from the love of God and He will do everything in His power to lie to you, discourage you and confuse you. He is the master of doubt and his goal is to try and convince you that God is not real. This is where your faith will be tested and this is where you need to have confidence. When you know without a doubt that God is for real and that Jesus is the savior of your life, the enemy won’t stand a chance at bringing you down.

 

 

 

Are you a high school graduate and looking for your next step in the right direction? Elevate may be the place for you! Elevate is a 9-month internship program through Life Change Church designed to help strengthen your relationship with God, and prepare you for your future career through spiritual, emotional and character development.

Elevate also offers courses by John Bevere every Tuesday from 6:30-8:00 pm. One course will be chosen. Once that course is completed in a given amount of weeks, a new course will begin. Each course will be $30. Call the church office or contact Stephanie Cavalier at Elevate@mylifechangechurch.tv to sign-up!


What to Expect
To grow in God, grow in the church, and grow in the community. To be challenged in ways you never have been before. To grow more than you ever have. To learn to lead in ways you never thought you could. To grow in your knowledge of the Word of God.

What You Earn
Practical Ministry Degree from Victory Bible Institute. Purpose and Direction in life. Strengthen your understanding of the Scriptures, biblical truths, and the ways of God. Learn practical skills that will lead you to success in life no matter what field or ministry you go into. (Note: This is only if you complete two years of the internship and pay for the accreditation.)

VBI
Classes from Victory Bible Institute teach students the fundamentals of the Word of God and deepen their knowledge of Scripture. These classes are accredited to Victory Bible Institute and give students a Practical Ministry Degree upon completion of the second year.

Leadership Training
Leadership training teaches students to unlock the leader within them.  It empowers them to take charge of their direction so they end at the destination they were intending on reaching.

Ministry Projects
Ministry project time allows students to get an inside look at how the ministry works and provides hands-on experience which cannot be found anywhere else.  The student's understanding of what goes into ministry, project planning, and teamwork will be strongly developed and challenged during this time.

Here are our 2011-2012 Elevate Interns!

MEMBERSHIP CLASS
Are you looking for a place to belong? We believe that everyone should have a church that they love and call home! Membership Class is intended as an introduction to Life Change Church. Our vision to Grow in God, Grow in Church and Grow in the Community is the driving force behind everything that we do. In one session, we will present a clear picture of what Life Change church is all about. If you like what you hear, you will have the opportunity (if you have not already) to become a member.

 

DATES FOR CLASS:
January 15, 2012
March 4, 2012
May 6, 2012
July 1, 2012
September 2, 2012
November 4, 2012

If you would like to sign up for a membership class, contact Renee Kirksey at 231.766.5599 x305 or at Renee@mylifechangechurch.tv, or just fill out the form below!

Age group: 18yrs–30yrs
The 412 young adults are implementing a change that we are excited about! Since our Encounter Groups are becoming a fantastic foundation, we are discontinuing our Saturday nights. Encounter Groups meet on Wednesday nights in various locations and our monthly events are a blast! To find out more about how to get closer to God with others that are 18-30 or when our next event is, contact Nate Rands and he’ll get you connected! Nate Rands | naterands@gmail.com | 231.736.3671

Encounter Groups
It's never too late to be a part of an Encounter Group, which are a great way to grow closer to God and get to know others in a small group setting. Encounter Groups meet every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 PM. If you would like to be a part of an group, contact the church office at 231.766.5599, visit the guest center on a weekend service, or click here to fill out a sign-up form online.

White Out Bowling
The 412 Young Adults are hosting a White Out bowling event! Come dressed in white and join us at the AMF bowling alley in North Muskegon for some cosmic bowling Saturday January 28th, 2012 at 9:00 p.m. Bowl all you can in 2 hours (included shoes) for only $10.00! It will be a fantastic way to get to know other young adults between the ages of 18 and 30. Grab a friend and we’ll see you there!

Revolution Student Community
exists to see students have a relationship with God that is real, personal, and active. If you're in 6th-12th grade, come on out on Sunday nights to hang out with us! Service is from 6:30 PM–7:30 PM every Sunday night. For more information, contact Jonathan Scouten at (231) 766-5599 ext. 311 or at jonathan@mylifechangechurch.tv.

Every Sunday Night:
Pre-Service 6:00-6:30 PM  /  Service 6:30-7:30 PM

Encounter Groups:
Encounter Groups meet every Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 PM. Check out the Encounter Groups page for more details and to sign up for a group online. If you have any questions, contact Stephanie Cavalier at 231.766.5599 or at stephanie@mylifechangechurch.tv

2012 Youth Mission Trip
Planning for the 2012 Youth Mission Trip to Guatemala is now under way. The trip is being planned for July 11 through July 25. If you are in High School or have a student who is in High school and are interested in this trip there will be an informational meeting for students and parents on Sunday February 19th at 1 PM. For more information you can visit Jonathan Scouten or pick up an application from the Guest & Info Center. Also, if you are an adult and are interested in being a part of this trip as a chaperone you can also talk to Jonathan.

 
Check out our facebook page here!

 

Growing Pains & Exciting Changes
Over the next few months, the kids ministry is going to experience some growing pains during the building project. Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! People young and old need the love and hope of Jesus Christ in a hurting and broken world. We're making room for those who desperately need Him! As for the kids, during this time we will be doing our very best to provide creative environments where they can continue to have fun, learn and grow in their relationship with God. Introducing the next generation to God’s life-changing power is what we’re all about and we will always make it a point to do just that! Below, you’ll see some of the new changes in store for the kids ministry when the building project is all said and done. You’ll also see some frequently asked questions. We hope they will give you the answers you are looking for.


Introducing 2 NEW classrooms for 2-3 year olds and 4-5 year olds
You may have heard some rumors that we will have 2 brand new pre-school classrooms once the building expansion is complete. Well, these rumors are true! One of the classrooms will be designed specifically for 2-3 year olds and the other will be designed specifically for 4-5 year olds. We are very excited about these changes coming up soon and we wanted to let you know ahead of time what to be planning for. What does this mean for my 2-year old? Once this transition happens, nursery will be designed specifically for infants and 1-year olds. All 2-year olds will need to make the transition to their new preschool classroom of 2-3 year olds. Don’t worry, if your child is not yet potty trained, we will have a diaper changing station in their new preschool classroom as well. What if my 5-year old is already part of the elementary room? We understand that kids who have experienced the “big kids class” probably don’t want to turn back, so we are leaving the decision up to parents in this situation. If you would like to keep your 5-year old in the elementary room then that’s fine with us! If you would rather send them to their new preschool classroom then that’s fine too.


Bigger Classrooms, No More Names
One thing we’re definitely excited about is the amount of growth that will take place after this project. The Nursery and the Elementary rooms will be considerably larger and provide much more room for kids. The classrooms will no longer have their own names such as “Lil K” or “Ignite.” We found this to be quite confusing for many of our new guests so one thing you’ll notice is that all the new classrooms will go by a generic name such as nursery, preschool 2-3, preschool 4-5, elementary 6yrs-5th grade.


------- Frequently Asked Questions -------


When exactly does all this go into effect?
These changes and transitions will officially go into effect as soon as the new classrooms are completely finished and the construction team has approved the area for safe use. The estimated time of completion is March 2012, however we are hoping that it will be done even faster. We will continue to give updates as changes are being made to the building.


Is the environment going to be safe during construction?
Yes, there is definitely a lot of uncertainty right now with construction messes and demolition, but rest assured, we will provide a safe environment for the kids every weekend. We will do our absolute best to keep parents informed with upcoming changes and transitions during this time. We know you care a lot about your kids and so do we!


How do I check my kids in if the check-in booth is gone?
This may be different from week to week depending on construction. If you do not see a check in booth to sign in your kids, then that means we will be checking kids in right at the classroom doors. Don’t worry, our system will remain safe and secure with identification numbers for the parents.


If my child’s classroom is gone, where do I send them?
Be sure to look for one of our team members wearing a Life Change Kids volunteer lanyard and they will be able to assist you! We will be keeping our team updated and informed with what’s going on from week to week so they will be able to help point you and your child in the right direction. We will always provide a safe environment for the kids as each week goes by.


Is there still going to be a Wednesday night program for my kids?
In January, when Encounter Groups start up again, we are still planning on offering kids ministry on Wednesday nights at the church. We’re not exactly sure how far construction will have progressed, but we promise to create a safe environment for your children to grow, learn and have fun while you are in your e-group.



Please be praying that construction goes well over these next few months and that everything runs smoothly. We’re excited about what God is doing here and we’re looking forward to seeing more families come to Life Change Church! Let’s make room for those who desperately need Him! If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us! Thank you for your support during this time.



Jordan Gunn
Children's Director
Life Change Church
w 231.766.5599
c 231.286.7570

Hello to all of our parents out there! We’re so excited to introduce to you our Parent Network! You may be wondering, “What is the Parent Network?” That’s a good question; I’ll try and explain it as best as I can for you. The Parent Network is an opportunity for parents to get more connected with what is going on in the children’s ministry of Life Change Church. Through the Parent Network, you will have the opportunity to:

- Receive weekly updates from Life Change Kids via email.
- Hear about the testimonies and cool things God is doing within Life Change Kids.
- Receive valuable resources for parenting from Life Change Kids. We want to equip families with the best tools to raise their kids in Christ!
- Respond to emails and share valuable input for the kids’ ministry. We always love hearing all kinds of suggestions and ideas whether it’d be for message series topics, events, improvements, etc.


Here is how you can get involved:

- Simply email jordan@mylifechangechurch.tv with the message "I want to join the parent network!"  You will then be added to our weekly email list! We’ll keep you in the loop as far as what’s going on in the kids’ ministry. God is doing great things through this ministry and we want you to be a part of it!

CLUBHOUSE KIDS
Wednesday nights from 7:00-8:30pm during Encounter Groups
(for kids in K-3rd grade)

In Clubhouse Kids, our goal is to ignite a passion in kid’s heart to live a God-sized life. We do this in a way that is active and fun. Each week kids meet with their small group to take part in learning and reciting memory verses, games, hands on crafts, and building relationships. The kids participate in large group lessons as well. Our desire for Clubhouse Kids is to see kids learn and apply biblical truths in their everyday lives and to build Christ-like character.

For more information, contact shannon@mylifechangechurch.tv

 

Nursery (6 weeks - 2 years old)
Our goal is to provide a loving, caring, safe environment for your child while helping them develop spiritual habits at a young age! Our trained volunteers will care for your child's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, through tender interaction and simple truths from God's Word!

Preschool (3 - 4 years old)
  As for our preschool classroom, we've created a fun, loving, and energetic environment that gets kids excited to come back to church! This classroom is filled with tons of activities, praise and worship, interactive games, crafts, creative Bible stories and much more! We also strive to create an environment where kids will feel loved, and leave knowing how much God loves them!

Elementary (K-5th grade)
Elementary kids get to hang out in our large classroom! We've developed a fun, welcoming and energetic service designed specifically for kids from Kindergarten to 5th grade! Our services are packed with crowd breaker games, interactive praise and worship, Bible memorization, creative object lessons, and much more! It's an environment that's so much fun, your kids won't want to miss it!


Check out these other great links!

Top Testimonies from 2011
Check out our Wednesday night program - Clubhouse Kids!

Our core values help set the tone and trajectory for how we get things done. If the mission is the compass, these core values provide the map that gives us direction.