Christian Education Ministries: Making contact

David Wiebe

Life Steps Plan

Our major children's ministry initiative is gaining momentum on several fronts:
* The Canadian Conference Executive Board has approved financing for a video to train and guide children's workers in evaluating their ministry effectiveness. Production has begun, with expected release in January, 1998.

* A Resource Binder of ideas for improving weak areas in children's ministry is now released and available.

* Seminar Tour '98 is being "assembled" and promoted. Dave Wiebe will be bringing the Life Steps training seminar into most areas of the conference. Alumni are being alerted that Wiebe will be available for consulting. Dates will be announced in the MB Herald "Coming Soon" column.

NYC '99

Our triennial youth convention is now on the launch pad, and countdown is starting!

* The event will take place December 30, 1998 to January 2, 1999 at The Banff Centre in Alberta.

* "Make Contact" is our theme. Think space, sports or relationships. Think Christmas . . . First Contact! Think Second Coming . . . Final Contact! Think Holy Spirit. Postmodern youth have deep spiritual yearnings. We hope to aim their search toward the true God.

* Prayer warriors are already standing by in support of this event.

Y Net

The network of support for local church youth workers is developing.

* Our ultimate aim is for one network point person for every 8-10 churches (20-25 point people altogether). We are about one-third of the way there.

* A second annual Point Person's Clinic is slated for late April, 1998. Training and accountability for goals will take up much of our time. Building these point people is critical to making the network support system function well.

Research and Development

We continue to work ahead strategically:
* We are developing a strategy for adult discipleship suitable for the local church. How do we help adults reach maturity systematically, over a lifetime? We have tentative plans for a symposium on this in late spring.

* How do we do Christian education in a visual/media-dominated culture? Dave Wiebe is chairing a convention to be held in Colorado Springs with other denominational Christian education directors in December. Resourcer Neil MacQueen of Sunday Soft Ministries will lead with presentations on multi-modal learning and computer-based Bible learning for kids.

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