The New Life Worship Center was started by Pastor Larry D. Thompson, Sr. and his wife, Sandra Thompson, four years ago. It focuses on issues facing families, offering support, and building communication skills. When the Thompsons founded the church, their adult daughter asked them to define what they were going to do for the children of the congregation. They had always been involved with churches that had children’s activities, but the discussion led Sandra to think intentionally about children and family programming. The children at New Life Worship Center begin the service with their parents, and for the sermon, the youth move into one or two groups of young people, to learn about the sermon in ways that are relevant to them. By bringing the church to their level, children are engaged, and not simply losing interest in a sermon they may not fully understand.
Wednesday bible study makes use of a similar structure in that the adults and young people participate in discussions and activities around the same topic. The parallel nature of the study allows for a common understanding, and encourages the family to communicate about the topics and discuss them further in the car and at home. The bible study also includes homework assistance for the students. The young people have an opportunity to finish their school work and receive help if necessary, because school and academic success are important to the New Life Worship Center community. Thompson spoke of the importance of the balance between home, school, and church, and how the church continually tries support these three things working together.
The church leadership felt it was important that the church have a commonly known, clear set of rules, expectations, and consequences, and as a result of their establishment, increasing numbers of people have taken responsibility for activities around the church, including some that had not previously stepped up to take on new responsibilities. Through this common set of rules and expectations, the members have developed a great sense of ownership of the space and the community
Building upon its foundation in caring for children and families, the church created the FAMILY (Families Assisting and Mentoring In the Lives of Youth) Program. The idea for the program came out of a discussion about the Developmental Assets and how many of the things the church was already doing aligned closely with the assets. Looking at the national results of the A & B Survey, it was decided that the FAMILY Program would focus on three of the asset categories: Support, Boundaries & Expectations, and Social Competencies. Within those categories, they looked for assets they could focus on as a church, and proceeded to implement them into FAMILY Program activities, and the general culture and environment of the church.
The FAMILY Program group meets monthly, with each meeting having a different theme that is expressed in a variety of ways, including speakers, performances, projects, and creative activities. This past January, the theme was family game night. Sandra invited a local man who she had read invented a game to come and speak to the families in the group. He came with his family, and spoke about the process and challenges of creating the game, and how his family came together to help him. There was a lively discussion and the families were all taught to play that game and had opportunities to play several others. The importance of doing fun things together as a family was a focus of the discussion, and many families left wanting to establish a regular family game night at home. In February, celebrating African-American History month, church youth acted in a dramatization put together by a church member, and a panel of successful young members answered questions from younger youth and parents about their experiences, dreams, and goals, and the work it has taken to achieve what they have.
Young people have blossomed and grown through leadership opportunities at the church. Around the holidays, Sandra chose the two oldest youth to lead a service project collecting toys for children in need. These young people were not necessarily the stand-out leaders, but they took their charge seriously. They organized the details, marketed it to the church, made announcements, and worked hard to make the project a success.
Another young lady came to the church very shy, but her involvement in church activities has positively impacted her confidence and leadership at school. Sandra asked her for input on what the church’s upcoming family conference should offer its younger attendees. She did not say anything in response, but soon gathered a group of her friends on her own and held a meeting to discuss their ideas, which they then presented to Sandra.
For more information on the New Life Worship Center and the FAMILY Program, contact Sandra Thompson at sandralout@aol.com or visit the church’s website at www.ministryofnewlife.org.
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