|
Evangel Chinese
Baptist Church in Edmonton Receives Support For
Their Student Ministry
By Mel
Cruikshank
EDMONTON-In April 2004 Salt Jones the national
student ministry consultant for the CCSB was preaching
at an anniversary service for Evangel Chinese
Baptist Church in Edmonton. During that time he
mentioned that the CCSB would support their ministry
to students with leadership training.
The
ministry team that leads the English language
ministry of Evangel quickly took Salt up on his
offer, and arranged an initial workshop where
the current ministry could evaluated, and in a
collaborative effort, areas of need could be discovered.
Patou Zeleke (CCSB Youth Ministry Strategy Coordinator)
and Mel Cruikshank (CCSB Student Ministry Strategist)
met with this leadership team in a day long workshop,
spending the morning doing the needs assessment.
In the afternoon Patou and Mel led a workshop
on counseling students.
|
Members of
the Student Ministry Leadership Team at Evangel
Chinese Baptist Church in Edmonton participate
in "student ministry" workshop.
Photo by Mel Cruikshank |
|
Here
is what Evangel Chinese Baptist Church leaders
say about this training:
On
Monday, May 3, the English/youth ministry leadership
team of Evangel Chinese Baptist Church was blessed
with the opportunity to meet with Mel and Patou.
The meeting had two main objectives:
(1) establish dialogue and understanding about
the ministry
(2) identify needs and from these, formulate a
schedule that would incorporate these needs into
training sessions
The needs assessment was extremely valuable, for
as the leaders shared about vision, activities
and challenges, Mel and Patou not only asked questions
to clarify, but also offered insight into how
to keep the ministry focused, purposeful and "current".
A training schedule for the coming year was also
drawn up, with frequency of sessions being approximately
once per quarter. Topics include counseling, how
to reach out to and welcome the unchurched, effective
leadership, evangelism, how to lead Bible study
for different age groups (i.e.. junior high, senior
high, college and career) and decision time counseling.
It is anticipated that many of these training
sessions will be attended not only by the existing
leadership team, but also members of the congregation
who desire to share their faith more effectively
and increase their service in church.
The second part of the meeting focused on the
first training topic - counseling. Mel and Patou
provided general principles, as well as specific,
practical guidelines for how to carry out counseling
as church leaders. There was a basic introduction
to local counseling services and resources, and
the need to recognize when to refer individuals
to professionals was emphasized. In addition,
suggestions for how to generate conversation with
youth and young adults on topics such as faith,
transitions, time management and relationships
were given.
Meeting with Mel and Patou provided the Evangel
English/youth ministry leadership team with tremendous
inspiration. It is certainly exciting how children
of God can support one another in ministry, especially
through prayer and the sharing of similar experiences.
Thanks again, and God bless!
Mattana
Chan
Thanks again for the training. It allows us as
leaders to continue in our own spiritual growth,
as well as growth as leaders. The training I believe
has and will better equip us to lead the youth
and college students.
I'm hoping that the training will guide us in
being able to make the English ministry more efficient,
attractive, and powerful. Learning from Mel and
Patou has inspired me in trying to better myself
as a leader and my own life.
Thank
you once again for the time you have spent with
us in teaching and helping us grow. May God continue
to use and inspire you. Thank you God bless
Thaddeus
Siu |
