Ministry Updates, page 1

Adult Christian Education

Transformation and growth continued to characterize developments this year in Central's Adult Christian Education Ministry; and as a result of increasing interest, Sunday morning offerings have tripled from an average of 2 to 6 classes, per term, over the past year.

The Spring 2003 term began in January with three Sunday morning classes on the Bible by Charles Bailey, Gordon Bonham, and Norm Burkey. A fourth class, led by David and Julie Morgan, discussed readings culled from two thousand years of classic writings on Christian spirituality. The end of the term found the entire congregation engaged in a 6-week walk through Rick Warren's Forty Days of Purpose program for church renewal. Mark Vaselkiv led a Sunday morning class during this period

This year's theme for our summer potpourri of classes, Christian Alternatives to Contemporary Culture, provided exciting opportunities for a variety of people to teach and lead classes on eleven different contemporary issues that challenged us to be informed and to think like disciples of Christ.

During the Fall 2003 term, Rob and Kathy Smith organized and lead a class, featuring guest speakers, that focused on how contemporary seekers might find faith in authentic Christian communities in the midst of the continuing post-modern cultural transformation of our society. Charles Bailey and Gordon Bonham continued their classes examining and applying the Bible, and Marty Hansell followed up the Forty Days program with a further exploration of Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life.

Last, but not least, the Adult Christian Education Ministry (ACEM) Team reorganized in October under a detailed new covenant. The ACEM Team covenant gets back to basics, refocuses on the Christian education component of adult discipleship, and provides a variety of opportunities for you to become involved in this growing and increasingly important ministry to the Central Church community. Specifically, you may be called to this ministry as Supporting Members, Class Teachers/Facilitators, or Team Leaders. ACEM Team leadership has moved from the solitary Team Leader model to five distinctive Team leadership roles (Administrator, Secretary, Special Projects Planner, Term Planner, and Term Manager).

Our Team is also exploring new ways to recruit, equip, work alongside of, and support a pool of individuals who share a passion for adult Christian education and are available to assist with developing, teaching, or facilitating a Sunday morning class. In addition to offering new adult Christian education classes, we also envision beginning to develop the rudiments of seven core curriculum areas that attract seekers and build up disciples.

These are exciting times. Please pray with us that God will be glorified as lay ministers, teachers, and leaders are raised up to partner with the Adult Christian Education Ministry Team in service to the Central Church community during the coming year.