The Point Monthly (February/March 2016) by The Woodlands Methodist Church

ISSUE 8 | FEBRUARY & MARCH 2016 EDITION

THE WOODLANDS UMC

MONTHLY THIS MONTH’S

NEWS:

SUMMER SPLASH

MR. CONFIRMATION

HEAD OF THE CLASS

PARENT IMPACT

Dive into fun activities this summer. Registration is open now!

FOCUS ON CHILDREN INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE TODAY This month’s issue of The Point Monthly focuses on one of the most precious resources i n o u r c h u rc h — a re s o u rce th a t n e e d s constant stewardship and investment. No, I am not talking about finances (although that’s important too). I am talking about children of all ages and the important role they and their parents play in the everyday life of our church. Without them we have no future as a church or a community. Families with children have made up our core membership since our inception as a small start-up church in 1978. It truly warms my heart to know so many youngsters who have come up through our Sunday school program, Children of The Woodlands and The Woodlands Methodist School, and through Confirmation and gone on to be successful people living Christ-centered lives. They’re

people who now have families of their own and are bringing their children to church to learn about Jesus.

Meet the man that brings the Bible to life for 6th graders and their parents.

I can’t think of a greater opportunity — indeed, a responsibility — to shape and impact our world today and in the future than to nurture our children in a loving, Christ-centered environment. It’s the very means of passing on our values to future generations. In these pages, you’ll get a glimpse into a few of the efforts we are making to honor Jesus’ admonition, “Let the children come to Me” (Matthew 19:14). I hope you’ll be encouraged and inspired not only to get your children more involved in the opportunities we have for them, but to also get involved yourself as a volunteer. Great things are happening in the lives of our children at The Woodlands UMC, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Your Pastor,

Ed Robb

Get to know The Woodlands Methodist School’s 11-year old student council president, Dieter Kingwergs.

Small investments bring big rewards for parent volunteers.

CHURCH NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR

Births, Deaths, New Members, Foundation Gifts

SETTING OUT FOR SUMMER ADVENTURE By Jennifer Sims

When you’re a kid, there is no better season in life than summertime. While we all love summer around The Woodlands United Methodist Church, it’s an especially exciting time in Children’s Ministry. We call it Summer Splash! During Summer Splash, there is no shortage of opportunities to make new friends, experience new challenges and learn about God’s unconditional love in exciting and creative ways. We offer a little bit of everything for kids of all ages. Here are some highlights of what’s coming this summer. 2016 VBS Olympics The Heart of a Champion What better way is there to celebrate an Olympic summer than to dive into learning about a few really important champions in the Bible whose hearts were on fire for God? Along with more than a thousand of our 4-year-old to 4th-grade friends and hundreds of volunteers, we’ll spend the week focused on Hebrews 12:1, which teaches us to run with endurance the race God has set before us.

T Bar M Day Camp We’re so excited to host our friends from T Bar M here at The Woodlands UMC. Offered for incoming 1st through 4th graders, this day camp is five days of high energy, high freedom and high fun, all under the care of some legendary T Bar M coaches. By the end of the week, campers will know how much God loves them! Camp 247 — #SELFIE We know that these days it can be tough to be a 4th, 5th or 6th grader. Social and peer pressures can feel overwhelming sometimes. At camp every kid gets to be exactly who God made them to be. And for four days we’ll be reminded over and over again that we are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). Zip lines, rock walls, water sports, incredible worship, powerful messages and new friendships guarantee this to be the best week of your life! 56 Day Camp — BE BOLD! Designed to help new 5th and 6th graders build community with each other, our 56 Day Camp is packed with fun adventures, surprise visitors, wacky challenges and a full day at Splashtown! Centered on Proverbs 28:1, we promise

a week of big, bold fun while learning to love Jesus in a big, bold way! These are just some of our amazing Summer Splash experiences. Sports camps, WOW Science Camp, MAD Camp, hangout days and so much more are in store. Summer is a time to make great memories. While your children are having crazy fun, our Children’s Ministry team and hundreds of volunteers will do an incredible job of loving them unconditionally through all our great activities. When we do this, we give your children a glimpse of what it means to be loved by God and, in turn, show them how to love Him back with all of their hearts. Get ready for a summer of making new friends, having tons of fun and experiencing the joy that comes from Jesus’ love for all of us. •

Check out Summer Splash offerings and register at thewoodlandsumc.org/children

EQUIPPING THE CHURCH OF TODAY

PREPARING KIDS TO MAKE BIG DECISIONS

By Nathan Nix

When Rev. Chris McLain, the church’s new Director of Confirmation and 56 Ministry, first decided it was time to move on from his position as a youth minister in Kilgore, Texas, he contacted two people. One of those was our own Harvest Pastor, Mark Sorensen. After listing out his résumé, Chris, an ordained deacon, made a peculiar statement that resonated with Mark. “I told him that when I vest, I feel like a Gospel Jedi,” Chris says in reference to the fact that, as a deacon, he wears a flax-colored alb, which somewhat resembles a Jedi’s robe, as well as a sash across his body instead of a stole around his neck. For anyone who knows Mark’s love of Star Wars, it should come as no surprise that he took a liking to Chris and proceeded to fill him in on the church’s search for a new Director of Confirmation. Two months later, Chris came on staff. In his new role, Chris oversees 5th grade in addition to 6th grade Confirmation. He describes himself as “both playful and serious,” a fact evidenced by the John Wesley bobblehead on his desk. He believes this combination is perfect for leading kids on the verge of adolescence. “Sixth graders are amazing because they are playful in that they’re children, but their minds are starting to move towards grown-up things,” he says. In fact, it was only one year past that age, when Chris was in 7th grade, that he first heard God calling him to ministry. At his Baptist high school, someone would always pray over the food before lunch. No one ever seemed eager to step up and accept the responsibility though. “God very simply said, ‘Chris, I want you to pray,’” Chris says. “‘Any time there’s an opportunity to pray, I want you to pray. Any time someone’s having a problem, I want you to listen.’” Chris accepted that call and was obedient as God led him to Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana and eventually to the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist

University in Dallas. It was during his time at the latter that he met his wife, Skye, with whom he would welcome a son, Jett, in 2013. For the past 14 years, Chris has been involved in children’s or youth ministry in one shape or another. At his most recent church, Chris was given the opportunity to teach Confirmation. He expanded it to a 16-week program from 12 weeks and eventually developed a curriculum to be taught over nine months, all of which perfectly illustrates the importance he places on the rite. “Because I believe that there is so much depth in what we’re teaching, I don’t think it does justice to the material at hand to do that in any less than nine months,” he says. “To pack God into 20 minutes on one weekend? It’s just not enough.” Chris describes Confirmation as the telling of two stories: who we are as Christians and who we are as United Methodists. To him, it’s a time to lay out the basic facts of the Christian tradition and to walk students through the journey of making the decision to follow Jesus in a “non-invasive, nonguilt-laden way.” “In nine months, we want to lovingly tell the story of Jesus to your student,” Chris says. “We want to create a safe place for them to be able to ask questions, raise their insecurities, for them to struggle and cry and worry and pray next to other people their age that are struggling and crying and praying about some of the same things.” While many reference this age group as the “church of tomorrow,” Chris is of a different opinion. “We want to let our students know that they are the church of today, that the decisions they make matter, that Jesus Christ comes and does a salvific work so that you and I can know eternal life,” he says. “And that we want them to own that. We want them to know that they can say yes to Jesus, and that that is separate from their parents.”

in their lives and their role within the church. He says he wants to teach them that they can always come to church, no matter how much or how many times they mess up. For him, Confirmation is also about helping parents work through their child’s adolescence. He believes the best place to do that is to start in a church. “Let’s come here and ask some questions,” he says. “You as a parent probably feel a little ill-equipped to deal with some of the questions your student’s going to ask. So come to the parent session. Figure out what you really believe about salvation, what you really believe about Baptism, what you really believe about the United Methodist Church, what you really believe about Lent. It’s about parents and students getting on the same page…about what you believe specifically.” The involvement of parents is integral to the success of the program, and they are invited to participate as color group leaders that walk with the confirmands throughout the year, teaching, encouraging, and guiding them along the path. “This is an invaluable opportunity for your child to learn, for you to engage other parents and start some relationships with other parents (if you don’t have those already), for you to learn some of the answers that you may not know, and for your child to grow closer to Jesus Christ through a well-rounded, holistic understanding of what the Church is, who Jesus is, who the Holy Spirit is, and who God our creator is,” Chris says. “At the end of the day, you get out of it what you put into it.” •

Find out more about Confirmation at thewoodlandsumc.org/confirmation

Chris also emphasizes the importance of the kids learning the role of church

GROWING TOGETHER DEVELOPING A LOVE OF LEARNING By Nathan Nix

Since it launched in September 2011, The Woodlands Methodist School (TWMS) — the church’s accredited elementary school, currently serving Kindergarten through 5th grade — has grown at an exceptional rate, exemplified by moving into its own custom-designed space within the church’s Family Life Center in 2015. Student council president Dieter Kingwergs, a bubbly, precocious 11-year-old in 5th grade, has been with the school from the beginning, having started his education on our campus at Children of The Woodlands (COTW), the church’s licensed and accredited preschool located in the north end of the Main Building. According to him, he’s loved every minute of his education here and considers it his “second home.” “It’s just perfect,” he says. “I wouldn’t want to go to another school.” Dieter’s parents, Carlos and Betty Kingwergs, first learned of Children of The Woodlands years ago when they started attending The Woodlands UMC. “I just loved the school and decided to enroll him,” Betty says. “We’re very happy with the way they teach, the way they nurture the kids, and the way they learn.” Dieter’s 1st grade class was TWMS’ inaugural group of students. Each year since launching, the school has expanded a grade as that initial group has advanced. One of the hallmarks of the school is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio by putting both a lead teacher and an assistant teacher in each classroom, a move Dieter says greatly benefits the pupils. “I love having two teachers because you get personalized attention for each student,” he says. “I’ve had some friends go to public school and say it’s too much of a change for them because they’re used to the teachers coming to help them at their desk and not just (helping) from the white board.”

“ IT’S JUST PERFECT. I WOULDN’T WANT TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.” –Dieter Kingwergs new people, and it only takes them three days to adjust and make friends with everybody.” The school, which used to meet in the church’s Main Building, has taken full advantage of its new facility in the Family Life Center since its move. Not only do the students have bigger classrooms and a dedicated library and gymnasium, but each space has also been outfitted with state-of-the-art technology to facilitate learning. In addition, students in 4th grade and below are supplied with Apple iPads, while students in 5th grade use MacBook Airs to help complete coursework. Dieter says that each student gets an Apple ID so iCloud can store all of their work and settings. Many of the students use Pages to type up reports or Keynote to create class presentations. Each room also features an Apple TV that a teacher can use to project presentations of his or her own or simply to remind students of their daily coursework.

Another benefit he sees of keeping the classes small is that it fosters a family atmosphere among the students.

Despite being a relatively new school, TWMS is able to offer its students a wealth of extracurricular activities. For an advanced, ambitious student like Dieter — who is fluent in English and Spanish while also studying Chinese and Sign Language (with German in the plans) outside of TWMS — being able to try so many different activities is a dream come true.

“One of the things I do like is that since a lot of the kids in the school have stayed throughout the years, we see the same people every single year,” Dieter says. “I noticed that this year we got a few

“We have robotics; we also have karate, science, and so many afterschool things,” he says, his excitement growing as he recounts all the offerings. Not that he gets to try every single

one as his activities away from school include diving, violin, and even acting in commercials and a PBS children’s TV show. There is one specific TWMS offering that he loves more than all the others though. “We also have musical theatre, and they set up a little play. I actually have done a lot of those. They’re so much fun. We have great musical theatre teachers.” The school also offers sports programs through the church’s Recreation Ministry. They are currently playing basketball while past offerings have included lacrosse and soccer. More than anything, though, it’s the school’s spiritual component that has convinced Betty and Carlos to keep Dieter enrolled at TWMS. “We want to raise a boy who will be a good man when he grows up,” Betty says. “We want to raise him in (an environment with) Christian values. We’re very pleased and happy with the results so far.” In speaking with Dieter for any amount of time, it’s obvious that those values have taken root. He speaks enthusiastically about how his favorite parts of the school include Bible study and chapel. And in his spare time, Dieter is putting those lessons into practice by volunteering as a “shadow” on Sunday mornings in Special Blessings, the church’s ministry for children and youth with special needs. His experience working as a shadow for a child who is deaf is what actually inspired him to want to learn Sign Language. Dieter is one of 200 students already enrolled in TWMS for next fall, where he will help usher in the school’s first 6th grade class. If it were up to him, he would love to go all the way through high school at TWMS. As expanding that high is not in the school’s current plans, he and his family are simply enjoying taking each year as it comes. “We’re very blessed to have the opportunity to have Dieter in this school,” Betty says. •

Find out more about The Woodlands Methodist School and schedule a tour at twmschool.org 7

LAURA SULLIVAN 4-year-olds Volunteer

INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN

THE REWARDS OF VOLUNTEERING

By Nathan Nix

Every weekend, over 1,000 children, ages 3 through 6th grade, flood the hallways next to and above Fireside Cafe and Harvest in the Main Building and in the children’s area in The Loft as parents bring their kids to learn about Jesus and play with friends in Sunday school. That a program this size is able to run like a well-oiled machine owes much to the involvement of volunteers willing to invest one to three hours of their week into the lives of children a few times a month. Laura Sullivan — who has volunteered in Children’s Ministry with her husband, Anthony, for about 12 or 13 years — says the experience is not only important, it’s just plain fun. “Those kids are hysterical,” she says. “They’ll make you laugh. They keep it real too. It’s neat to be able to help them and mentor them through their relationships.” The Sullivans started off volunteering at The Woodlands UMC in Special Blessings, the church’s ministry to children and youth with special needs. Once their oldest child, Will, was able to attend Sunday school, they left Special Blessings to volunteer in his preschool class. Since then, Will’s sisters, Emma and Kate, have come along, and Anthony has moved upstairs to continue helping with Will’s age group while Laura stays downstairs to work with the younger children. “We basically follow our children, grade by grade, and just move up,” Anthony says. “You get to choose what grade you’re going to teach.” Volunteer Corey Fields, a single dad who only has his son, Quinn, every other weekend, enjoys being able to spend quality time each Sunday with him in his Kindergarten class. “I think we both really feel that we get a lot out of coming to Sunday school,” Corey says. Before they started coming to church together, Sunday mornings typically consisted of breakfast and cartoons. Now they still get to spend time together, but it helps Quinn grow spiritually as well.

Corey first got involved with Children’s Ministry when Jennifer Sims, the department’s director, encouraged him to bring Quinn to Vacation Bible School and stick around to help out. He caught the volunteering bug and was on the lookout for opportunities to serve at the church when Children’s Ministry sent out an email requesting help. “I wanted to help out however I could, and that just called to me because it involved kids,” Corey says. Though he didn’t specifically request to volunteer in Quinn’s class, he was pleasantly surprised when they put him in there, especially since it gave him some insight into his son’s world — how kids his age interact with one another, what they’re interested in, what they respond to and more. Quinn seems to enjoy having his dad in there as well. “I think my son really likes it because I’m the teacher,” Corey says. “I think he’s real proud.” For Laura and Anthony, another reason they like to serve in their own children’s classes is they believe it’s important their kids see them volunteering and giving back out of what they’ve been given, especially when it comes to children with special needs. When their children were smaller and the Sullivans were volunteering with special needs children, they would often take the kids along on Special Blessings trips to the Christmas tree farm and to Incredible Pizza. “I want my kids to feel comfortable around people who are different than them and to have compassion for other people,” Laura says. “We live in a very judgmental society, and I just think that compassion is hard to teach. You kind of have to witness it. How do you teach an attitude of gratitude? I think through service, it helps show that example.” Liz Rookstool, Children’s Ministry’s Volunteer Coordinator, is excited to provide opportunities like these for volunteers to have an influence. “Whether serving as a volunteer in Sunday school, VBS, Confirmation or a special event, you are impacting the future,” she says. “These very same

COREY FIELDS Kindergarten Volunteer

11 7

children will someday be leaders in our church themselves. Serving children in these formative years is so important.” Both the Sullivans and Corey rave about how easy Children’s Ministry staff members like Liz make it to volunteer. “There is a whole team upstairs that prepares everything for you,” Laura says. “You walk in that room and the lesson is ready, the craft is ready, and everything is done and on the counter. (The staff and interns) are really vital to how efficiently the program runs. It’s an important job that I think people take for granted. I don’t think everyone fully appreciates how hard they work to make it go really well.” Anthony agrees that the amount of prep work involved is minimal. “They make it as easy as possible,” he says. “If I can do it, anybody can do it. That’s the way I look at it.” While Corey was nervous his first couple of weeks and focused mainly on keeping the kids safe, including recounting heads every five minutes so he didn’t lose anyone, he eventually became more comfortable with his role. “We have a curriculum, and it’s set for us,” he says. “It’s the same thing every day. There’s an activity that introduces the topic of the day. And then we have small group, which is the hardest part of class because the kids don’t want to do small group. But it’s also important, because that’s where you do prayer requests and have a chance to teach them the Bible lesson.” Following that, the class will join other classes for “large group” before returning to their rooms for craft and playtime. An effort is made to keep the classes a manageable size of around 15 children and two teachers who typically take turns leading lessons. Though he initially felt spiritually underqualified to teach a Sunday school class, Corey soon realized a volunteer doesn’t need to have a seminary degree to tell Bible stories. “I’m learning their lessons and getting those reinforced,” Corey says of teaching from the preset curriculum. “They say the best way to learn something is to teach it. The way they

“ THOSE KIDS ARE HYSTERICAL, THEY’LL MAKE YOU LAUGH.” –Laura Sullivan teach it to kids is a really high-level overview — which, sometimes it’s good to not focus on the details.” Anthony agrees it doesn’t matter how much Bible knowledge you possess. “We’ve been doing this for what, 12 years, here, and I’m still ‘spiritually under-qualified’,” he says. The Sullivans and Corey agree that the main goal is to connect with the kids and create an environment that they enjoy and to which they want to return each weekend. “At the end of the day, I just want church to be fun for them,” Laura says. “They may not pick up every single lesson we cover, despite our best efforts, but I at least want them to want to come here, because I think, especially when they’re little, that’s like half the battle.” Anthony adds that creating a caring place kids enjoy is also a way to reach the rest of their family. “If the kids want to be here,” he says, “that then incentivizes some of the parents to come who might not come otherwise.” Both the Sullivans and Corey agree that being a successful volunteer boils down to being there for the kids and letting them know you care. Right after Corey started, while he was still getting used to the class, he noticed a new boy named Connor who also seemed apprehensive about his new Sunday environment.

“He and I kind of bonded, because he was nervous and it was my second week,” Corey says. “He reminded me of my son. I was like, ‘Stick with me.’ Connor and I stick together all the time now.” Once Corey introduced Connor to his own son, Quinn, those two hit it off as well. Similarly, the Sullivans say that some of the most satisfying moments as a volunteer have been watching the kids they teach grow and hit milestones along the way. Laura recalls almost crying when Will and his friends, whom they had taught for years in Sunday school, received their third-grade Bibles. “Because you’ve been a part of the relationship, it’s really sweet,” she says. “I think that’s something special.” According to Liz, Children’s Ministry has an ongoing need for more volunteers like the Sullivans and Corey. “In terms of numbers, we need upwards of 250 volunteers each Sunday to greet, lead and love our children,” she says. “In reality, we have about 175 volunteers each week, so there is a large gap to fill. We have a place for anyone wishing to serve, from giving high-fives at the door to singing songs to being on stage teaching large groups of children.” •

If you are interested in volunteering for Children’s Ministry, contact Liz Rookstool at lrookstool@twumc.org

FOUNDATION GIFTS

DECEMBER 18, 2015 – FEBRUARY 18, 2016 In memory of Leo William Amelunke, Jr., father of Mark Amelunke Randy and Amy Jones Don and Kay Meador In honor of Sally Bacon’s retirement Jay Frank and Family Steve and Becky Hamrick George and Sally Holtin Ken and Joyce Nesmith Evelyn Schilling In memory of Nettie Blackwell Jonathan and Jennifer Breazeale In memory of Marilyn Cochran, mother of Brad Cochran B.J. Dunlap In memory of Charlie Corbit White Fox Travel In memory of Chris Locke Christopher, Lynn Bryne Lisa and Laura Pretorius In memory of Darrell Daniels, husband of Darlene Daniels Linda Fraser Hollico, Inc. Lien-Houng Pham Bill and Betty Schellpeper Ounheuane Thevahn Gloria Zvolanek

In memory of Milo Haselton The Perspectives Sunday School Class In memory of Gerri Hawley Jeff and Denise Seldenrust

The Lynda Whitley Frank Endowment Fund Nancy Elliott Larry and Nancy Gunter

In memory of Cassidy Jade Hess, daughter of Jud and Kim Hess Greg and Jane Jordan

The Patricia Ann and Jack B. Powell Endowment Fund Jack Powell

In honor of George and Sally Holtin Ken and Joyce Nesmith

The Woodlands Methodist School Scholarship Endowment Fund Justin and Laurie Shults

In memory of Joe Hurley, husband of Linda Hurley Stephen and Pam Bertone Bill and Mickey Nelson The Perspectives Sunday School Class Richard and Judy Purgason Tuesday Morning Disciple Bible Study group In honor of Jane Jordan, for her love of mission work Anonymous

FOUNDATION UNRESTRICTED Marcus and Joyce Allen Jim and Robyn Austin Steven and Julie Bedingfield Dennis and Michele Brown Russ and Shirley Dorr Gregg and Missy Jacobson Vern and Judy Vincent Anonymous

In honor of Lesa and Bart McDonald Lesley Child In memory of Jack and Katherine Morton, parents of Dave Morton Ed and Glenna Wandling In honor of Bill and Lois Ramey Pam Herron

In memory of Luc DeVeau, son of David and Melissa DeVeau Deborah DeVeau Jeff and Jenny Lee

In Memory of Betty Rutter, Mother of Brenda Peterson Resolve GeoSciences

In honor of Barbara Dunlap Pam Herron

In memory of Mary Ellen Scaff Jim and Betty Patton

In memory of Travis Dafft, son of Gary Dafft Tom and Carol Sloan

In memory of William Specht, husband of Janet Specht Margery Hedges

In memory of Merrill Galloway, husband of Cathy Galloway Greg and Jane Jordan Bill and Mickey Nelson The Perspectives Sunday School Class Anonymous

In memory of Bill Stanford, husband of Debbie Stanford Anonymous

In memory of Ray Green, father of Kathy Wilson Jerry and Nedra Brandt

FOUNDATION RESTRICTED

In memory of Kathleen Street, wife of Jim Street Jim Street In honor of Wednesday Night Ladies’ Bible Study Tony Benedetto and Gayle Storey

This information removed for online viewing.

THE POINT MONTHLY

Is published once a month by The Woodlands UMC. Dr. Ed Robb Senior Pastor Mike Sims Editor/Creative Director Scott Brinkmeyer Publication Design/Art Director Michelle “Micki” Mensio Project Manager Photographers Ryan Perkins Scott Brinkmeyer Contributing Writers Dr. Ed Robb, Nathan Nix Jennifer Sims Copy Editors Nathan Nix, Sally Bacon

This information removed for online viewing.

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

N. HOUSTON, TX PERMIT #280

2200 Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands, TX 77380

SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS

For details and event registrations, visit thewoodlandsumc.org/register

MARCH

APRIL 1 4 4 5 6 7 – 10 8 – 10 9 16 16 16 21 21 22 – 24 23 29 29

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Mother-Son March Madness Watch Party Upward Soccer (Outdoor) Begins Beginner Baseball (T-Ball) Begins United Golf League Begins Prime Timers Walk to Emmaus Women’s Walk # 88 Rebelbase FORGE Weekend TWMS 2nd Annual Family 5k Staycation with Mary Jo Sharp Foundations for Marriage Upward Soccer (Indoor) Begins Men’s Wilderness Retreat Making Peace with Your Past for Women Begins Rebelbase Breakthru Weekend Special Needs Ministry Prom Senior Adults Afternoon at the Movies Single Life Ministry Mom’s Night Out

*Visit thewoodlandsumc.org/easter for Holy Week event and service details.

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