Category Archives: Family and Children Ministry

Annual Report, Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Journey, News

Journey Annual Report

2019 was a year of transition for Journey Student Ministry.

Jeremy Van Genderen wrapped up Spring Ministry at Cedar Hills in May, and headed off to Allison, IA to
assume the lead pastor role at Trinity Reformed Church. Jeremy set a great foundation for volunteers
to continue Youth Ministry over the summer, including Lead the Cause evangelism and discipleship training in Chicago. The search for a new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry culminated in August with the hiring of Steve Poole!

Mission Statement:
Students transformed by a growing relationship with Jesus.

Key Elements:
1. Gospel-minded
2. Discipleship-based
3. Intergenerational relationships 5:1

What can you do?
Teenagers today need to know they belong to a community that is passionate about loving people.
Join the leadership team, mentor a teenager in their faith, attend some of their events to cheer them on,
or invite youth to work beside you in your ministry.

Steve Poole
Director of Youth & Young Adults

Family Adventure, Family and Children Ministry, Holiday, Marriage and Family, News, Noah's Ark

Bloomsbury Farms

Come on out to Bloomsbury Farms out in Atkins, on October 19th at 9am, for just $5 per person! They’ve got a bouncy bubble (you’ll get it when you see it), a massive farm inspired playground, fun little rides and a GIANT corn maze! Hope you can make it out. Starts at 9am, but feel free to stay as long as you’d like! Can’t make it till later, no problem! Let Kyle French know and we can arrange to meet up front to get you your tickets! Please RSVP by Thursday October 17th! Hope you can make it out!”

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Missional Communities, News

Doing Missional Community With Kids

There are numerous ways to meet with your missional community, no matter what the age of your
kids. The following schedule is just one way to make it work for couples with kids. This particular group meets every Thursday. The first Thursday all the wives gather at one of the homes or at a coffee shop, while the husbands watch the kids in their own homes. The next week all the husbands meet, while the wives watch the kids at home.

The third Thursday, all the families get together, with all their kids in tow. This is a free-for-all, with kids eating popsicles in the backyard or watching a movie in the basement while the adults talk.

The last Thursday of the month, families get baby sitters and the couples go out for a date night, all together.

This schedule flexes as needed. There are occasional sick kids, late work meetings, and other variables that might change a specific Thursday.

However, the parents and kids so look forward to being with each other that they often see each other more than once a week. Often, there are group text messages, inside jokes, and weekend getaways together. There are many ways to make a missional community work with your family.

Lindsey Ungs
Connection and Communication Architect

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, News, Noah's Ark

Noah’s Ark October 2019 Update

October is a busy month for us! We learn about fall with the changing leaves, pumpkins, and get to wear some fun clothes at the end of the month!

We are pleased to announce that Matt Houghkirk will be our Lead Teacher in our MWF 3-year-old class. We are sorry that Miss Mary has left our school to pursue another job. We are excited to get our school pictures taken on Oct 10 and 11. Bring your best smile!

In honor of our 50th Anniversary, we will be giving away 50 books this school year. Each student
will receive a book; we will draw five names each month, starting this month!

I’d like to offer a big shout out to the Noah’s Ark School Board that volunteers their time to keep the school running smoothly. The board is led by Kaci Maire. Board members include: Melissa Oberembt, Carrie Campbell, Allison Johnson, Sarah Lewis, Mellany Davis, Jan Fick, and myself. We meet monthly and are dedicated to continuing the fine tradition that has been established at Noah’s Ark.

Blessings to you!
Kris Crowther
Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Marriage and Family, Missional Communities, News

Discipleship through Missional Communities

We started a missional community (MC) four years ago with friends. We got the idea from our pastor that we should consider meeting regularly with others for the purpose of being discipled.

We were friends with the other couple, but not best friends. We had been getting together infrequently, prior to starting the MC. The following is what our evening looks like, when we meet every other Thursday.

We take turns coming to each other’s homes. The host cooks a meal for all of us and we join up around 5:30 pm to eat dinner together. After dinner, the gals sit and talk or go for a walk. The guys do the same around the pool table or in the backyard. The kids roam and play. After a while, we put the kids to bed. Sometimes we put a kid
in the basement bed or the laundry room (in a pack-n-play). We make the space as needed.

Then the four of us head to the living room to have some dessert and coffee. We take time to go over the chapter we are reading or the video we are watching. We share prayer requests, which is an essential way to share in each other’s lives. We’ve been through many ups and downs together including starting new businesses, miscarriages, work promotions, and deaths of family and friends.

This MC has been a core reason that I have moved forward in spiritual maturity. Becoming more Christ-like (than we once were) is the goal for our MC and the MC has been one of the best ways to see this come to fruition.

Lindsey Ungs
Connection and Communication Architect

Cedar Chips, Fall Kick-Off, Family and Children Ministry, Journey, Life Is, Marriage and Family

Fall Cross Training Courses

Fall Kick-Off 2019

Join us Sunday, August 18 at 9:45am for the Fall Kick-Off Open House (preschool—adults) to meet your teacher, visit your classroom, and have brunch.

Sunday, August 25 all classes begin at 9:45am.

Children, Ages 0 to 5th Grade

Nursery: Staffed by loving volunteers at the 11am service. (Open for use by parents at the 8:30am service)
3&4 year olds: Robin Joens, Deb DeHaan, and Mary Landhuis (Register)

Kindergarten: Paula Stevens and Diane Potter (Register)

1st Grade: Jana Houghkirk and Tracy Spicer-Ehrman (Register)

2nd & 3rd Grade: Melissa Oberembt and Jill Henry (Register)

4th & 5th Grade: Matt Johnson and Matt Houghkirk (Register)

Youth (6th-12th Grade)

Middle School (6th-8th): Coming soon! (Register)

FaithQuest (for youth desiring Cedar Hills membership): Lois Deerberg (Register)

Senior High (9th-12th): Coming soon! (Register)

Adult Classes (18+)

Class #1 – Exchange

Teachers: Alan & Jan Crandall; Sue & Gary Sager; and Deb Steinbaker.

Exchange your brokenness for Christ‘s wholeness. Everyone has access to the abundant life Christ offers. We will look at the process of how to restore our lives to the image of God through Christ‘s love. (REGISTER)

Class #2 – These are the days of Elijah

Teacher: Joanne Lodge

The time of Israel during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel was a very immoral, treacherous time. How do we stand in such times? We will open the scriptures to study ordinary  people who not only survived the times, but became extraordinary witnesses for God. We will receive hope, encouragement and direction for our own journey. (REGISTER)

Class #3 – Indelible Faith

Teachers: Bruce Boldt and Kyle French.

This is the ultimate definition for how we hope and pray that the Bible will work within us. Wouldn’t you adore a faith that could never be forgotten or removed, even against all evil? (REGISTER)

Class #4 – Parenting Together

Teachers: Matthew & Shannon Constant; Stephen & Amanda Colbert; Karl & Lindsey Ungs.

Parenting is a big job and parents can use a lot of help along the way. The goal for our group is to build relationships by learning from and with each other in how we can raise our kids and grow as parents in a Godly way. (REGISTER)

Bright Spot, Family and Children Ministry, Journey, News, Youth

New Director of Youth & Young Adults

Congrats to Steve Poole, who was selected as the best fit for our ministry! Steve will began at Cedar Hills on August 11.  Please pray for Steve, his wife Cathy and their children Abigail and Christopher as they make plans to relocate to Cedar Rapids.

Our vision as a congregation is to make disciples who make disciples in the everyday stuff of life so that every man, woman and child in our community has a daily encounter with Jesus in word and deed. Our goal as consistory is to work toward alignment of all our staff and programs with this vision.

When Jeremy shared his calling to move to Allison to become the pastor at Trinity Reformed Church, we started our discernment process for seeking a new Director of Youth and Young Adults.

The Search team processed dozens of candidates, interviewed four, and recommended two candidates to meet with our congregation, youth, parents and youth sponsors. After processing feedback from the candidate visits as well as references from the candidates we concluded that we had two excellent candidates.

Both candidates loved the Lord, had a passion for student ministry, had successful experience leading and growing student ministries, have built and led ministry teams, communicated well publicly, and have developed solid biblical/theological foundations for ministry. Both candidates were well qualified!

When we discussed vision alignment, discipleship strategy, and chemistry we agreed – unanimously – that Steve Poole was the best fit for our ministry at this time. Consistory unanimously agreed with this recommendation and offered Steve the position!

We are very excited for the gifts that Steve brings to ministry. Here are a few of the qualities that led to our decision:

  • Steve has a highly relational approach to ministry.
  • Steve’s focus on disciple-making, mentoring, and small groups fits closely with our vision.
  • Steve has a humble, curious, and teachable spirit.
  • Steve is youth culture savvy and also in touch with the latest youth ministry trends.
  • Steve has current and past connections with RCA people, events, and culture. (Rocky, Power Connection, Central College, Adventure Life Reformed Church, Lakeview Camp, etc.)
  • Steve’s camp experience offers unique opportunities and also represents experience working with younger children.

Welcome Steve and Cathy!

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, Marriage, Marriage and Family, News, Youth

Not Too Young

Parenting is really hard. You don’t really know that until you’re in it, and suddenly discover how much a child changes everything. You literally go from living for your own needs to living for another’s needs (and maybe another and another!)

I want to be a better parent and thought maybe gaining some new skills or perspectives would help.

Mid-June, my husband and I had the privilege of attending a Parent and Family Ministry Summit in Kansas City. The summit ran alongside a camp we also plugged our six-year-old into. At certain points throughout the week, the camp and summit converged for joint services. This is where it got super fascinating.

At the camp, the kids were specifically trained in how to walk out their faith in power and the full ministry of the Holy Spirit. One night, after some time in worship and praise, they called the parents to the front while the kids came around us in small groups and prayed a simple but effective healing prayer over us. We became their practice field to try out the new tools they had been learning all week. As parents, we are always pouring out lives into these little ones but here they were, ministering to us.

“Holy Spirit,
make Jesus known in this body.
Heal them in Jesus’ name.”

The next day, the camp held a special healing service for the entire community. Many flocked to the service, as they desired healing from many infirmities, some obvious, some not so obvious! Those ministering? The kids. And you know what? GOD SHOWED UP. I believe now more than ever that our children can and will walk in faith if we equip them with the tools and the simple confidence that they can walk in the power of the Holy
Spirit.

Leah
Director of Worship & Media

Cedar Chips, Family and Children Ministry, News, Noah's Ark

50th Anniversary Year

Noah’s Ark Preschool

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad!” ~ Psalm 126:3

We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary this school year. It is amazing! This is a celebration of love between us and our community. Our community has trusted us with their precious children and made a partnership with us to protect, guide, and love their children with God’s love and patience. Spread the Good News!

We’ve enjoyed having 18 students during our June Summer School session. We’ve talked about everything from unicorns and super heros to having a Luau and Western Day.

We are expecting a nice-sized class for our July session also that begins on July 9. We do have a couple of spots open, so call today to take advantage of this great programs.

Kris Crowther
Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool