Nurture Cafe serves up practical training

Called the Nurture Café, it is designed to “feed” the local church by offering a “menu” of “entrees” (workshops) from which local churches can “place orders.”

Churches can order “a la carte” (a single workshop) or a “combo” (two or more workshops).  Once an order is placed, a “server,” or presenter, will tailor the training to the specific ministry needs of the local church.

“The Nurture Team really encompasses a wide variety of ministry areas, and we were trying to figure out the best way to get in the local churches and help,” said Allison Eastin, chair of the Nurture Team.  “We talked about it and realized that all the churches are different shapes, different sizes, have different personalities and very individual needs.  By taking these kinds of workshops into the local churches we can really tailor them more to their individual needs.”

 

Serving the local church in the areas of Christian formation, education, small group ministries, worship and stewardship, membership care, age-level ministries, children and youth camps, older adult ministries, family ministries and outdoor ministries, the ways the Nurture Team can serve congregations through the Nurture Café are endless, say Eastin.  With the Young Adult Missional Priority Team now under the umbrella of the Nurture Team, the Nurture Café will be adding young adult ministry workshops and new Christian education workshops to the 2010 Café menu.

--By Kara Witherow, South Georgia Advocate editor

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“The possibilities for how churches can use these different workshops are endless,” she said.  “That’s what’s exciting to me; there’s so much potential.  When a church calls, we are very interested in what their individual needs are. We really want to tailor the way we present the different workshops to their needs.”

 

Workshops can be used as a Wednesday Night Program, a day-long or multi-day training event, a Bible study, for a volunteer training or appreciation, or a special emphasis event.

 

The Nurture Café’s first “order” was from Speedwell United Methodist Church in Savannah.  The Nurture Café’s SHAPE workshop was Speedwell UMC’s kick-off event and Friday night program for their August leadership retreat.

 

In October, Putney United Methodist Church and Palmyra United Methodist Church, both in Albany, joined together to host two workshops. 

 

All three churches have placed follow-up orders with the Nurture Café.

 

“Making an impact Conference-wide can seem like a monumental task at times,” Eastin said.  “But the Nurture Café is able to tailor to the individual needs of the church and then the ripple effect can grow within the Conference!”

With much buzz about contemporary worship today, this workshop offers insight into helping very traditional services embrace variety within their traditional forms.

 

With every generation music changes. This workshop explores the changes in church music over the centuries from a musical and cultural point of view to help churches gain a better appreciation for offering something for everyone.

ABIDE

This interactive presentation based on Adam Hamilton’s book, Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic, will explore 7 keys to success in what your church has to offer in outreach and ministry for growth.

 

Get your congregation “in shape” – in shape for ministry that is!  Based on Eric Rees’ book, S.H.A.P.E., this interactive workshop will help to unveil how God has given us a unique shape for ministry and service.

Build connections, build partners, build success and build balance. In this workshop learn ways to construct and build a strong team of faithful, committed volunteers.

 

Ages 10-12 – are they children or youth? That is a good question for kids that often feel caught “in-between.” This workshop explores the unique needs of this group to create a jam-up ‘tween

ministry.

 

The dynamics of families are ever-changing. In this workshop, discover ways to encourage families of all shapes and sizes to worship, serve, fellowship and grow together in their faith and within their church “family.”

 

Be on the lookout for a new 2010 menu, coming soon!