Our Heartbeat – July and August - Part Two of Three
Part Two of this Newsletter will focus on the ministry to our preschool children that is integral to Women of Heart. We also invite your response and ideas to help us improve and adapt in this area of our mission.
What was...
In the past, we have experienced gifted leaders (Jayme, Jen and others) who recruited and encouraged our consistent, weekly caregivers. We then achieved our adult/child safety ratios by serving together as classes which also meant we didn’t have to miss a class to take our turn. Last year we committed to receive every child who came, and had to conscript last minute “volunteers” when the “serving class” didn’t have enough “qualified” people that week. The qualification process was also challenging.
Adapting to the needs of our Children’s Ministry has been much on our heart this summer. We need 25 CSC qualified adults each week to create the right learning and safe environment for our 90 to 100+ preschoolers in five age groups.
We are pleased to announce a renewed partnering with CSC Children’s Ministry Staff (formerly known as Promiseland Staff). They will manage the requirements and training to serve while we will continue to recruit and supply the caregivers for our children. An orientation Tour will simplify the process for becoming qualified.
The Big Dream and Our Children’s Ministry Team:
The big Dream for this Team would be to have 25-50 individuals who commit to serving consistently for our 14-week term. These individuals would receive their qualifying Orientation Tour at CSC prior to the our Registration Brunch. They would be so enthused that new members would be recruited and trained prior to the next term. The Training Tour includes obtaining or updating the paperwork requirements as well as guidance and inspiration from Pastor Pam Wolfe. These are the documents required:
- Getting Involved Form,
- Police Check,
- Child Intervention Check, and
- 3 personal references
The Big Questions?
How and Where will we find this team of amazing people?
How can we best adapt and comply with the rules set out in the Child Protection Policy that governs ministry to children?
How will we use the extra class time if we don't have to serve one week as a class?
How will we appreciate and honor these individuals who would give us time to share each other's experience and wisdom?
Possible Solutions:
Doing The Math : we could find a team 25 people to love and be with our little ones every week OR a team of 50 people where 15 serve weekly and 35 serve 4 times during the term. More math - more options, however, a key component includes receiving the Tour in time for our registration day. (We could ask Pastor Pam to schedule a tour on one Thursday morning).
Research of other daytime women’s groups meeting in various churches with onsite childcare revealed that they are often staffed by paid individuals who fulfill the security requirements set out by their associated church. Paying these individuals is frequently the main expense of the group and there are a variety of ways that funds are collected to meet this obligation. Sadly, many groups offered no childcare options giving participants with children the responsibility to make their own arrangements or be excluded from the group.
Should we choose to offer some money in appreciation, we may be giving a blessing as well as receiving one. Having a little extra money may make a difference in a family budget, or fund a school project, or something else of interest to the ones who might like to join our Dream Team.
Women of Heart is characterized by a high family value which makes ministry to moms and their children integral and essential in our community. This is an appeal to adapt to changing times and find a way to live this out in our group.
If you know someone who would love to be on this team... we anticipate hearing from you.
