Published February 14, 2017
Grace Baptist Church, Batavia, New York
Corey
Ministry Highlights
Back to Youth Group: It was great to get back to into the swing of things with youth group. Time off for the holidays and Trevin’s birth was great, but it was a joy to be back in our normal week to week routine of youth group. We really missed seeing our students and leaders.
Youth Group Events: The second week back of youth group we had a high school event after the night of youth group. We had a large group of students attend for the first time. I was blown away with how well our students had invited their friends to this event. It was encouraging to see so many new faces in youth group that night!
Teacher Training Conference: Our church hosted a conference with multiple speakers to help invest in our teachers (Children, Student, and Adult ministry teachers) here at Grace. I was so excited to see how many people had signed up to attend this conference, we had over 60 people in attendance. I especially benefited from the youth workshops, taught by Word of Life Missionary, Rod Whitney.
Annual Business Meeting: While some people/churches may not view a business meeting as a “highlight”, it certainly was for me. It was incredible to see how God is blessing Grace. We are growing spiritually, financially, and ultimately in our ability to reach lost people for Christ both in the city of Batavia and around the world. Both the voting and the atmosphere of the night pointed the fact that our church is committed to the mission of making more and better disciples.
Key Prayer Requests
Trevin: It is amazing how much one little life can change things. Overall, Jaycee and I have had a smooth transition into parenthood. However, no doubt, we still need prayer. I especially need prayer for strength and wisdom as a navigate all of my different responsibilities as a parent, coach, and pastor.
Hockey: Pray for continued opportunities with the hockey team and coaches. I had really some really good conversations about church with one of the coaches. He said he is “intrigued” and “might just have to come one of these Sundays.” Jaycee and I plan to have the coaches over for dinner in early February.
Student Ministry: There are many key events coming up for our teens. Individually, we want to see each one of them be challenged with where they are at spiritually. Collectively, we want to see our group’s passion and desire to live for the Lord have a substantial growth.
Preaching/Projects: As I approach the last few months of internship, there is still so much to get done! Incorporating what I do on a weekly basis into “internship credit” is not always the easiest thing. Therefore, a greater focus and ability to accomplish multiple tasks is essential.
Prominent Lessons
Being a father is one of the most amazing (yet challenging) opportunities that a man is given, there is nothing like it!
Some of the greatest hurdles I will have in coaching young men is their parents. Therefore, I must focus on forming relationships with the parents just as much as the kids.
What I do is what I love and what I love is what I do. Being able to be in ministry is one of the greatest blessings in my life.
I am part of a church that is doing great things because of our great God, the great leaders He has put in place and the great things worth doing/living for.
Key Goals for the Next Month
All Applied Bible Analyses complete.
Project 3 50% complete
Project 4 proposal complete.
Have coaches over for dinner.
Jaycee
Ministry Highlights
Trevin was born and we attended church for the first time as a family of three!
Senior High “grog” night: A fancy tag game in the dark but also a good time to connect with students and build relationships with them.
Deacon’s and wives organizational meeting: a time to meet together with everyone and have dinner together and then break off after for the men to meet and the women to connect and go over details about our responsibilities to the people in our groups. It was great to spend time with the women and I was able to help update the informational sheet that was handed out with all the information about the areas in which we serve.
Being back to church and youth group: the holiday’s and Trevin’s birth and extended stay in the NICU created a long hiatus from normal youth group and Sunday School. This month has been nice to get back to seeing our students regularly again and getting back into a new normal schedule with our son included!
Key Prayer Requests
Continued adjustment with now having a baby and how that changes the way my time looks during youth group with meeting Trevin’s needs. He’s done great so far but I know it will always be a process of fulfilling all my roles to the best of my abilities and God’s glory. I’m grateful to know He never calls us to things that He also does not provide a way for us to uniquely fulfill each responsibility for His purposes.
Continued relationships with our leaders and students.
Prominent Lessons
Having a baby is an incredible experience!
God can be trusted in all things. I’m so grateful that He remains faithful even when we are faithless and that His mercies are new every morning.
God needs to always be the first thing I turn to in all issues big and small, from Trevin going to the NICU when he was first born, to him having a fussy morning.
I am selfish! Babies have their own schedule and I have learned how easy it is for me to plan my own day out only to realize that I need to let go of my grip on things to serve others before my own desires.
Key Goals for the Next Month
Start back up meeting with the Senior High girls at my house.
A successful weekend at Snow Camp.
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