Michael Leapley

CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Family Ministry Final

1-Year Family Ministry Discipleship Plan
Michael Leapley
Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Part 1
Rationale

1. Situation Description
Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Second Lutheran Church is located in Seward, Nebraska. The church is 50 years old.

The ministry staff at Second Lutheran Church is rather new after the previous staff; Pastor and

DCE both worked at Second Lutheran Church for 37 and 27 years. Second Lutheran Church

says that they want change as nothing had really changed or been added in the past 8-10

years, so they are looking forward to some new ideas for children, youth, and families to pass

on the faith. Families are looking for more ways to make an impact in their community. It is a

small town with families that do like the small town life.

This condition of this church provides many strengths and opportunities. It is excellent

that the church wants change. It will then be more easy to change programs so they can

achieve the goals that they desire. There is a good distributions of ages in the demographics of

the church. This will help with developing a holistic family ministry. The church also wants to

make an impact on the community, so it will be my pleasure to plan outreach and servant

events. Lastly, the church is growing, albeit at a small rate, and I will endeavor to help keep that

rate going.

At this church, I find that we have the opportunity to have an intergenerational Bible

study on Sundays at 10:00am. There is also the opportunity to build family ministry off of the

already well-established youth ministry. I believe that this church would also benefit from the

Faith Legacy Series. And there are many opportunities for the church to serve.

2. Mission/Vision

Second Lutheran’s Mission Statement: “Connecting people to Life in Jesus.”

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CEL 486-01
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Second Lutheran’s Vision Statement: “We are an imperfect family actively sharing the love,

truth, and hope of Jesus with our community.”

Family Ministry Purpose Statement:

“Our purpose is to connect people to Life in Jesus through Life in Mission, Life in Worship, Life

in the Resurrection, Life in the Word, and Life in Service.”

At Second Lutheran Church, we are blessed by the work that the Holy Spirit does with

our families. Through the five pillars of Mission, Worship, Resurrection, Word, and Service we

connect our families to Life in Jesus.

Life in Mission is our response to God’s command in the Great Commission (Matthew

28:16-20). Our outreach and fellowship events are open to all. And we encourage our families to

invite friends so that they may be connected to the Good News.

Life in Worship is our response to God’s awesome goodness. Through song, voice, and

prayer we connect our families to God in praise at our weekly worship services.

Life in the Resurrection is our response to the kingdom of Heaven here on earth. As all

believers have been raised to life through Jesus, we recognize that we are all brothers and

sisters in Christ--a family of believers. We gather together with our fellow believers and connect

to each other’s lives in joy and fun.

Life in the Word is our response to God’s yearning for us to become mature Christians.

This is called sanctification. Every Sunday morning at our intergenerational Bible class, we

study the Bible and discuss how we can apply it to our lives--living out our faith in action.

Life in Service is our response to the need for Jesus in this sinful, broken world. Our

families serve others in the community through thought, word, and deed in a number of mission

opportunities throughout the year.

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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

3. Implications

The effects of this plan on the entire congregation is that some structural components of

the church will need to change. Though, I am hoping that since the church claims to be open to

change some things will go over more smoothly. For example, the intergenerational Bible study

will include 7th graders to adults. Age-segregated classes from preschool to 6th grade will be

retained. Also, the Faith Legacy Series will be an added commitment for families. It will also

affect the whole congregation when milestone events are added to a number of worship

services across the year. The biggest impact will be on the families in the church. They will need

to be committed and buy into the new programs for it to be successful.

There are also some concerns that need to be addressed. First of all, Second Lutheran

Church currently provides a small budget of $1,500 for family ministry. The children’s ministry

budget is over twice that amount. If Second Lutheran Church wants to grow their family ministry,

the budget will need to be increased in order to achieve that goal. Another concern is the

longevity of the previous staff. The previous Pastor and DCE was there for a combined 64

years! Though the congregation claims to be open to change, there have definitely been some

traditions that have been deeply ingrained in the church. I expect to experience some pushback

on the structural changes, but it will test the real goals of the church. In order to overcome this

obstacle, I will get advice from Office Manager who has been there for 39 years. The Office

Manager’s insight into the true desires of the church will be invaluable. My final concern is that

the education hour is after the only service on Sunday mornings. I can imagine that leads many

members to leave after the church service and not go to Sunday school. I would prefer it if

Sunday school and the intergenerational Bible study were at 9:00am and the worship service at

10:00am, but I will do the best with what I have if the congregation refuses to change this.
Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19
Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Part 2
Program Design

1. Overview of Plan

Family Ministry at Second Lutheran Church will take many forms. In my plan, I have

purposefully picked programs and topics that fit with our purpose statement: “Our purpose is to

connect people to Life in Jesus through Life in Mission, Life in Worship, Life in the Resurrection,

Life in the Word, and Life in Service.” It is my goal to give parents the tools and resources they

need so that they are equipped to disciple their children.

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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Word vs. World will be our intergenerational Bible class that will take place on Sundays

at 10:00am. It will be open for 7th graders to adults. Preschoolers to 6th graders will remain in

age-segregated Sunday school classes. The purpose of the World vs. World class is to study

Scripture and apply it to our lives with a Christian worldview, while combating secular

worldviews. This year, we will go through Acts and James in expository teaching. These two

books will help us to imitate the positives of early church and live out our faith. I am very excited

for its intergenerational aspect because I think it is very important for children to have positive

relationships with adults.

During class, youth will sit with their parents and each family will be put into a Family

Group. A Family Group will include two families with their children and two couples that are

Seniors. The goal is that an example of a lifetime of faith is given to the children. From within

one of the families, a volunteer will be needed to lead each Family Group. Family Groups will

also be encouraged to meet outside of class and do service events. For example, they can go

volunteer at the recycling center or volunteer for Feed My Starving Children.

The Faith Legacy Series will used at Second Lutheran Church because I believe in the

benefit of using milestones to celebrate faith maturation. This year, we will celebrate newborns,

1st graders, 3rd graders, and 6th graders at a number of Milestone Sundays. The parents of

newborns and elementary age children will meet for three sessions without their children

present. At each session, the parents will be equipped with something to do at home with their

children. The 6th graders will have a weekend retreat with their parents. Their will be two

retreats, split by gender. So there will be a Father-Son retreat and a Mother-Daughter retreat.

Each Milestone event will be incorporated into a worship service. Parents and their

children will stand in front of the congregation, and the children will be presented with various

blessing objects. They will also be blessed by the Pastor and prayed over by the congregation.

Newborns will receive a faith chest. 1st graders will receive a towel and basin. 3rd graders will
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receive a Bible. 6th grade boys will receive a “Be a Man of God” runners engraved baton. And

6th grade girls will receive a “From Me to You” journal and bracelet.

VBS will be a great opportunity for all families to get involved, as well as a way to reach

out to the community. We will use the Roar! theme published by Group. Though they have done

VBS in the past, I want to make it more family oriented and more outreach oriented. Also, the

annual mission trip to Alaska has been a longstanding tradition at Second Lutheran Church. I

will be able to make this a family ministry opportunity by adding family mindset through Taking

Faith Home sheets and devotions. I will encourage families with older children to sign up for the

mission trip together.

The year plan also includes fellowship and outreach events such as Trunk or Treat and

Birthday Party for Jesus. Families will have the opportunity to serve at events like Feed My

Starving Children and a number of times at the recycling center. Feelin’ Like Fall will incorporate

both service and outreach. Our sermon series, All of God’s Children, will also be incorporate

family devotionals.

2. Five Overall Goals of the Plan

1. Invite at least 100 guests to fellowship events throughout the year.

2. Give families the opportunity to worship God with their gifts.

3. Grow closer with one another in fellowship.

4. Become better disciples through studying the Word.

5. Serve the world and community through service and fellowship/outreach events. In doing

so, families will learn how to live out their faith.

3A. Schedule on Spreadsheet

See provided Excel document.

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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

3A. Lesson Plan for Intergenerational Bible Class

See provided Lesson Plan sheet.

3A. “Take Faith Home” Sheet

See provided “Taking Faith Home” sheet.

3A. Family Devotional

See provided family devotion sheet.

3B. Service Project

Our service project will be both a service and an outreach event. It is will be called

Feelin’ Like Fall because the season will play a central role in the event. At the Sunday prior to

the event, Word vs. World will be going through Acts 6. We will highlight Acts 6:1-7 which

explains how seven men were chosen by the apostles to serve the widows in the daily

distribution of food. This topic will be theme of the event--called to serve. In the passage, the

men were Called by the church for a specific task. Similarly, all of us in the Church are also

called to serve others (John 13:1-17). Word vs. World and take home sheets will prepare us to

serve at Feelin’ Like Fall.

At the event, we will fulfill our calling to serve by going out into the surrounding

community and raking the yards of our neighbors at 1:00pm. Raking leaves will fit with the Fall

theme and also give us an opportunity to serve. Church members will organized in their Family
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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Groups so they go out into the neighborhood in an orderly fashion. The leader of each Family

Group will ask permission to rake the yard of each household, and they will also invite the

community to attend an outreach/fellowship event later that afternoon. Feelin’ Like Fall will also

be advertised ahead of time through flyers and yard signs.

Family Groups will head back to Second Lutheran Church at 2:00pm. They will put away

rakes and other supplies, getting ready for the fellowship event that will start at 2:30pm.

Fellowship will be open to the whole community. A quick devotion related to the changes of Fall

will start the event. In the fellowship hall, there will be cornhole and other games and activities.

Apple cider, cookies, and other refreshments will be served. And a family friendly movie will be

shown. People will be able to leave as they please, probably wrapping up around 4:00pm.

3C. Outreach/Fellowship Event

In December, Second Lutheran Church will host a Birthday Party for Jesus. All families

in the church, school, and community will be invited. We will make party invitations ahead of

time to get the word out. The invitation will consist of a note inserted in a Christmas card. At the

event, we will play pin the candle on the cake. I will place a large picture of a birthday cake on

the wall and write “Happy Birthday Jesus” on the cake. I will pass out pre-cut candles to the

children and have them write their names on the candles. Children will be blindfolded one at a

time, and they will try to pin the candle on the cake. The child with the candle closest to the

cake’s center will be the winner.

Then we will act out the Christmas story. I will have props ready for them, and children

will be picked to act out different roles. They will act out the story, as I read it from a Christmas

storybook (that is biblically accurate). Following that, Pastor will give a devotion on the

Christmas story. We will then eat birthday cake and enjoy refreshments. Each child will receive
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CEL 486-01
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a goody bag along with a “Taking Faith Home” sheet. The sheet will tell families the meaning of

the candy cane. We will then close in prayer.

Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19
Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Part 3
Resource Analysis

1. Volunteers
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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Word vs. World (Intergenerational Bible Class)

● Presenter (cycle through a group of leaders)

● Family Group Leader

Faith Legacy Series

● Faith Step Facilitator

● Leader for Mother/Daughter Retreat

Feelin’ Like Fall

● Volunteers needed to decorate and prepare refreshments

Trunk or Treat

● Volunteers needed to decorate

● Security

Birthday Party for Jesus

● Volunteers needed to decorate and prepare refreshments

Job Descriptions

Faith Step Facilitator:

Objective: Host a group of parents for three sessions, creating a warm and spiritual

environment.

Specifics: Hosting and facilitating a step requires leading three sessions with parents over a

three-week period.

Instructions for Faith Step: Towel and Basin (1st Grade)

Before each session begins…

1. You may preview the video content in advance, although your role is not to “teach.”

Stories and examples from your life or the lives of others are encouraged.

2. Be sure all needed materials are laid out for participants.

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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

3. Pull up online video ahead of class, making sure you have a signal and volume is set.

4. Greet people as they arrive and have them pick up their materials & create name tags.

During the Sessions:

1. Begin with prayer.

2. Show the online video for the session, stopping for each discussion as directed in the

video.

3. After each discussion, invite the groups to share any nuggets of wisdom or good ideas

they heard in their group. Then show the next online video segment.

4. Show the Wrap-Up section, review the assignment, and have groups close in prayer.

5. At the end of session two, distribute the two devotions, towels, basins, paint bottles and

iron-ons, so parents and kids can start working on them.

6. As you conclude each session, remind participants of specific details regarding the

blessing event.

7. At the conclusion of the third session, have participants fill out the evaluation form for

this Faith Step.

After the Sessions:

1. Gather up leftover materials.

2. Exit out of online video.

3. Pray during the week for God’s blessing on the next session.

4. At the conclusion of all sessions, return materials and evaluations to the DCE.

5. Please give your input about the effectiveness of this Faith Step to the DCE – especially

suggestions for improvement.

Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Family Group Leader:

A Family Group Leader is a father who will lead a Family Group in discussion at Word

vs. World. The leader could be a father or grandfather; it depends on who feels called to the

task. But the leader has to be male, as he will teach and have authority over the other group

members. This position will require a commitment from the volunteer to attend the

intergenerational Bible class every Sunday from September 8th to May 3rd. They will also need

to meet with the DCE once a month to give feedback and evaluation.

The Family Group Leader’s primary task will be to cultivate discussion in Bible class,

keeping the group on task. The leader will also be encouraged to lead the group outside of the

church. The leader can lead the group in the community to do service projects together.

The Family Group Leader will provide valuable evaluation and feedback to the DCE. He

will give the DCE and presenters assessments on how well the groups are understanding the

lessons. Adjustments can then be made accordingly. The Family Group Leader will be a vital

role in Family Ministry.

2. Budget

See provided Excel document.

Michael Leapley
CEL 486-01
4/30/19

Part 4
Evaluation of the Plan

Target Group

My target group will be the families that take part in Family Ministry at Second Lutheran

Church. It will be very important for me to get feedback from my families so I can improve

programs and events. For Word vs. World, it will be very helpful to meet with the Family Group

Leaders and Presenters. I want to know how well the Family Groups are understanding the
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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

lessons so adjustments can be made accordingly. There may be some things that we will need

to readdress, or there will be topics that we can move through quickly.

For the Faith Legacy Series, I want to evaluate its effectiveness and efficiency. I want

direct feedback from the parents who are engaging in the program. I want the parents to feel

equipped to teach their children, so I want to make sure that Faith Legacy is achieving this goal.

Verbal feedback from the Faith Step Facilitator will be helpful as well.

For Feelin’ Like Fall, I want direct feedback from the volunteers and I also want feedback

from our guests through an online survey. I want to know from our church members if they

believe that the event achieved its goal of service and outreach. I also want to hear from our

guests in the community if they appreciated the service and if seeds were planted through

evangelism.

For fellowship events like Trunk or Treat and Birthday Party for Jesus, I will utilize verbal

feedback. I will get the opinions of families that attended in the following days after the event

through one-on-one interaction and word of mouth. I will also use an online survey for

evaluation on the All of God’s Children sermon series. And I will use an online survey for VBS.

The online surveys will allow a greater number of people to respond at their ease and

convenience. It will be the best way to get responses from a large group of the church and

community.

Schedule

September 25, 2019- Written evaluation for Faith Legacy Series (Birth)

September 29, 2019- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs.

World)

October 19, 2019- Written evaluation for Feelin’ Like Fall (Volunteers)

October 19, 2019- Online survey for Feelin’ Like Fall (Guests)
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CEL 486-01
4/30/19

October 27, 2019- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs. World)

November 2, 2019- Verbal feedback for Trunk or Treat

November 24, 2019- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs.

World)

December 14, 2019- Verbal feedback for Birthday Party for Jesus

December 15, 2019- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs.

World)

January 26, 2020- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs. World)

January 26, 2020- Online survey for Sermon Series (All of God’s Children)

February 19, 2020- Written evaluation for Faith Legacy Series (1st Grade)

February 23, 2020- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs. World)

March 22, 2020- Written evaluation for Faith Legacy Retreat

March 29, 2020- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs. World)

April 22, 2020- Written evaluation for Faith Legacy Series (3rd Grade)

April 26, 2020- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs. World)

May 3, 2020- Meeting with Family Group Leaders, Presenters, and DCE (Word vs. World)

June 27, 2020- Online survey for VBS

July 27, 2020- Written evaluation for the mission trip to Alaska

Evaluation Form

See provided evaluation sheet for Feelin’ Like Fall.