BIG TOWN KIDS WILL HEADLINE SUNDAY WORSHIP WITH YOUR FIRST KIDZ MINISTRIES!!!!!
Greetings! 
Our BIG Town/Praiseland Kids (preschoolers) will perform in worship this Sunday, July 25th with your First Kidz Ministries at First Family Church! This is always one of our favorite times watching our preschoolers sing in both services. They will  perform near the beginning of the service, so make sure you arrive early and don't forget your camera! Parents, please have your child at Praiseland (in the "C" Hallway) by 8:30 for singing! We would like to have your child sing for both services, however if you're only available for one please follow below:
9:00 service - Drop off 8:30 in Praiseland, pick up 10:30 in Praiseland
10:45 service - Drop off 10:30 in Praiseland, pick up 12:00 in classroom.
Parents you must check your child in at a kiosk prior to drop off. Bring the grandparents, aunts, and uncles and catch your child in action!
First Kidz Family weekend is coming August 6-7th and you need to be a part of it! This will be a perfect time for you to spend quality time together as a family, allow your kids grow closer to God, and you can learn how to parent more effectively. See the Ministry Spotlight section below for more information!
 Your First Kidz Ministries at First Family Church will be partnering with the Kansas City Chiefs for theKANSAS CITY CHIEFS FAITH AND FAMILY DAY!Faith and Family Day is Friday, August 27th at 7 p.m. against the Philadelphia Eagles! Faith and Family Day festivities will be held during pregame in the Chiefs Fan Zone and include testimony by community leaders, bands, giveaways and more. Now here is the best part! Tickets are $25 each and for every ticket we sell, the Chiefs will give $10 back to our First Kidz Ministries as a fund raiser! You can't pass this up! Plan to see the New Arrowhead stadium and help your First Kidz Ministries raise money for future ministry! You need to notify Dr. Hunsley with how many tickets you want and pay for them by August 8th to be able to sit together as a group. It will be a wonderful evening to spend with your family, PLUS, not be concerned about what is being yelled around you by fans for your kids to hear! Plan now to attend!
LUNCH BUNCH!!! Bring a sack lunch and join the BIG Town (Preschool) Ministry team each Tuesday now through August 19th for a fun time for the kids and great fellowship for the parents! Andrea, Dawn, or Amy would love to have lunch with you and your kids and then fellowship with you while the kids enjoy our awesome playland. No need to RSVP, just show up! Contact Andrea at andreaa@ffc.org with any questions.
 The last two weeks have been wonderful with Pastor Jerry doing his illustrated sermons as Paul. This Sunday will be a special treat as Pastor Jerry will portray Jesus' "GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED," as he will quote from memory Matthew 5-7. You will also get to meet the 12 Apostles and the service will close by the Apostles' serving you communion. Make sure your kids are in service with you, it will be a great experience watching the Scriptures come to life!
Come enjoy Wednesday night dinners at 5pm. $5 donation per person helps send students to Youth Camp. Next Wednesday's dinner is spaghetti! Great Dinner, Great Cause!
Make sure you don't miss anything! Join me on TWITTER! Go to www.twitter.com/DocHunsley, create an account and start following me and see what is happening in First Kidz! You will also want to follow Pastor Roger, Rookie_Rog, for all the latest with Awana, FFC Athletics and our grade school ministries! I have now joined the FACEBOOK world! Make sure to join me as special announcements will start coming through Facebook! Make sure to become a fan of our Group and our Page: First Kidz Ministries at First Family Church, CLICK HERE!
I am continuing in my reading in Jeremiah and I would like to share something that spoke to me earlier in the week. Jeremiah 29:11-14a says "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord." God has plans for each and every one of us; plans that are filled with hope and a future. Why do we fret about today instead of spending our time seeking God's will and plans for our life? We again are given the comfort and reassurance that God is always there for us. But again we are told that when we spend time in prayer calling upon God for help, He is there for us and will listen. In today's uncertain times, we need to be on our knees in prayer with God on a regular daily basis at a MINIMUM asking for guidance and God's hand on our lives, church, and nation. God reminds us though that when we seek Him, we must seek with our WHOLE heart and not half-heartedly. We can't fool God; He always knows our true heart. But if we do seek God with all our heart, we will always find Him. What a comforting thought that is. May we all seek God in all we do! I pray that God has His hand on me, on my family, on you, on our pastors, on First Family Church, and on First Kidz Ministries. Have a fabulous week and keep God first in all you do!
LITTLE SAINTS MINISTRY- Infant to 2 years old
Andrea Abrams, Little Saints Director writes: Parents, we need your help, get involved today and help us share Jesus with your children. We are looking for volunteers to help not just on Sunday mornings, but also Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Amy Kyle, amyk@ffc.org, or Andrea at andreaa@ffc.org.
Little Saints needs YOU! We have had to pay nannies in the past to help watch our children and feel that it is no longer financially responsible to do so. We need all moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas to volunteer once a quarter, so that we can continue to give your children the quality care they deserve. Contact Andrea at andreaa@ffc.org to get involved!
BIG TOWN MINISTRY- Preschool/Kindergarten
Andrea Abrams, BIG Town Director writes: This week we will learn that God says don't worry! We will memorize Philippians 4:6-7 "Tell God your worries." We will learn about Saul making a big mistake and we will learn to remember to trust God when we are worried! In an effort to go green, we are now asking our families to download the BIG Town Family Devotional Pages; CLICK HERE for this week! This is a great opportunity to spend quality time together learning about God and help preparing your child for Sunday's lesson! Read the story and memorize the Bible verse. Now is the time to start laying a strong foundation for you children. Have devotions together and pray together as a family; they will thank you! If you have a child in the preschool you are required to serve at least once a month, join our team today. We need help during all services on Sundays and Wednesdays; help make a difference in a child's life! If you are interested in getting involved, contact Dawn Beggs, dawnb@ffc.org, or Andrea at andreaa@ffc.org.
AVALANCHE RANCH IS UNDERWAY!!!!
Our BIG Town Students (Preschool and Kindergarteners) will go on a wild ride through God's Word at Avalanche Ranch! Wednesday nights this summer will be a stampede of excitement as we visit Avalanche Ranch! Our Avalanche Ranch Program will provide fun, memorable Bible-learning activities, along with singing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, nibble Chuck Wagon Chow, take on a Weekly Challenge to let God's love grow into their homes, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible Memory Buddies to remind them of God's Word, and create Bible Point Crafts they'll take home and play with all summer long. We are looking for some volunteers to help us on the Ranch this summer! If you can assist on Wednesday evenings, contact Andrea at andreaa@ffc.org.
 Roger Stuart, Kids Pastor/Take TWO Director writes: For 33 years, the world was able to see Jesus talking to people, doing everyday ordinary things, preaching, teaching, and training His disciples. His bodily presence could be seen and felt. Then He was gone; died a painful death on the Cross; He was raised up three days later, and then walked amongst His people for a short time, only to return to His rightful place in heaven with His Father. At Pentecost, the disciples realized what their mission was; they need to carry on what Jesus had taught them and spread the Gospel throughout ALL nations. It was during this time that the Church was born. The Church is God's plan for equipping believers to spread the Gospel. And this Sunday, our 1st through 4th graders will learn the IMPORTANCE of church, and what they are called to do. Should a FUN AND FANTASTIC Sunday! Join us!
Calling on all parents!
Our ministry has experienced amazing growth the last few months, and we need to be ready for more! I am asking ALL parents with children grades 1st through 4th grade to commit to serving as room helpers ONCE A MONTH. Please help meet the needs of our ministry and help give YOUR CHILDREN the best experience possible on Sundays by serving! Email Pastor Roger at rogers@ffc.org to get involved!!
 SOAR (Special Opportunities, Abilities, and Relationships) - Special Needs Ministry
Emily Dahmer, SOAR Director writes: This week we will study the great story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and preach to the people there. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh, and he didn't want to obey God. Instead, he got on a ship and tried to run from God. God sent such a terrible storm, that Jonah told the captain of the ship to throw him overboard, so the waters would calm. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish for three days, and he recognized that he needed to ask for forgiveness. Then the fish spit him out. Jonah obeyed God and preached to the people of Nineveh. The life application this week is that we all need to obey Him and tell others about God's love.
Our SOAR ministry will now be meeting the needs of all children and adults from 6th grade and above! Individuals may join this class by application only. People with a wide range of disabilities may participate in SOAR, including Down syndrome, autism, visual impairments, physical handicaps, learning disabilities, and more. We will strive to continue to expand this ministry to all children in the future. If you have a child 6th grade or above and want to enroll them into this great ministry, contact Emily at SOAR@ffc.org and CLICK HERE to download the application for entry into the class. The class meets every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. in C104.
God is blessing the SOAR ministry every week with great fellowship and learning time for the students. Each of the students has a heart to learn about the Lord in their own unique way, and it is such an awesome thing to see the Lord work in their lives! Please pray for new members to join the class. Join us in praying for families who have been out of church and are considering this ministry for their son or daughter.
We are actively recruiting "para's" who could assist in our children's ministry with special need children and with our adult students. Let us know if you can help by contacting
SOAR@ffc.org or doch@ffc.org.
Also, consider what a great opportunity it would be to serve as a volunteer in the SOAR ministry. CLICK HERE for a volunteer application. You do not need any previous experience and we will train you in preparing you to serve in the wonderful ministry. This is one of the most rewarding ministries you could ever be involved in. Pray about joining the effort with this special facet of the SOAR ministry! Contact Emily, SOAR@ffc.org, to get involved.
 AWANA - 3 year old through 6th grade
Roger Stuart, Kids Pastor/Awana Commander writes: AWANA IS BACK AND AWANA AGAIN IS FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to invite you and your clubbers back for what promises to be a year of NEW BEGINNINGS for us in Awana here at First Family Church! But like I said before, we praise God for the opportunity to provide your children ages 3 through 9th grade Awana for FREE! CLICK HERE to register your child online for free! Our Awana 2010-2011 year starts Wednesday night, September 1st. It will be a year of new beginnings for ALL of our clubs. Some great things coming this year are NEW handbooks, badges, and awards for both our Sparks and our T&T clubs! Also beginning this year our 6th graders will join our Trek program, which will make our Trek club one of the biggest in Kansas City! Also new this year we introduce JOURNEY to our 9th and 10th graders who are interested in continuing in Awana. So many new and exciting things coming! I hope you REGISTER NOW to have your kids be part of it!!
 ROCK YOUTH - Middle School and Senior High
Ryan Holt, ROCK Youth Ministry Director and Middle School Pastor writes: This Sunday we will begin a challenging new teaching curriculum called "Value of Life". Our lessons will include topics and discussions like the value that God places on human life as well as how addictive behavior can be destructive to our lives. We will set in stone a set of values and beliefs that will help guide your student through life. Parents are encouraged to come visit the ROCK Middle School with their student at any time. Parents and church members, please don't miss the opportunity to send your student, a neighbor or a family member to Youth camp. It can be the greatest spiritual event of their life. August 8-11th at Sky Ranch Cave Springs Camp in Oklahoma. www.skyranch.org/cavesprings The next Youth Camp Parent Meeting is Wednesday night July 28th after service in the ROCK. Feel free to contact me at any time with questions. If you would like to sponsor a student to youth camp please let me know as we never keep a student from going to camp for financial reasons. ryanh@ffc.org or 913-681-3341 *1108.
MY GENERATION - ROCK YOUTH CAMP: AUGUST 8-11, 2010
This summer our ROCK Youth Ministry will be heading out to Oklahoma for our summer youth camp! This year's camp, "My Generation" is going to be packed with fun and excitement for every teenager at First Family Church. With passionate worship, challenging messages, and real Christian connection, we are so excited for every student to experience the trip of a lifetime. We will be staying at Cave Springs in Oklahoma. Cave Springs has incredible facilities, tons of fun activities including: water sports, blob, crystal clear springs, paintball, clay pigeon shooting, soccer, basketball, horseback riding, and much more! The cost is only $225 dollars and you can sign-up online right now by CLICKING HERE!
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
We desperately need some more leaders who are willing to attend Wednesday night services and be our eyes & ears and hands! Service starts at 7 pm and lasts for about an hour and a half. We need parents who can greet kids, take the offering, watch the back door, counsel kids, meet visitors, & keep the kids quiet! If you are able to start coming, please call Jen ASAP at 913-231-3334!! We can provide CD of the main service.
MARK IT DOWN: The Rock Youth Ministry SERVICE TIMES: Sundays @ 9 a.m., Wednesdays @6:30 p.m
Stay posted for new events coming to the Rock! getrocked.org.
FIRST KIDZ DRAMA TEAM  has successfully kicked off their performances! This is a NEW ministry opportunity for children AND adults! Our First Kidz Drama Team will help deliver the Word of God to our children grades 1st through 4th grade on Sunday mornings! This is an opportunity for ALL children and adults to participate! For kids, the only requirement is that you make a COMMITMENT to coming to practices every week. THERE ARE NO TRY-OUTS!! You become faithful to practice and work hard on your lines, and we will work on making you part of this team! We need LOTS of help aside from just acting! We need help with moving props onstage, holding note cards, video, etc. Adults - we need you too!! Kids AND Parents - if you are interested in being part of this fun and cool new ministry opportunity please email Pastor Roger at rogers@ffc.org or call 913-681-3341 to get signed up! 'BREAK A LEG'!
LUNCH BUNCH!!! Bring a sack lunch and join the BIG Town (Preschool) Ministry team each Tuesday, 11:30-1 p.m. from June 22nd through August 19th for a fun time for the kids and great fellowship for the parents! Andrea, Dawn, or Amy would love to have lunch with you and your kids and then fellowship with you while the kids enjoy our awesome playland. No need to RSVP, just show up! Contact Andrea at andreaa@ffc.org with any questions.
Plan ahead, PROMOTION SUNDAY is August 22nd!
Our next PARENT/CHILD DEDICATION will be on Sunday, September 19th during the 9 and 10:45 a.m. services. If you are interested in being a part of the next baby dedication, contact Andrea at andreaa@ffc.org or Amy Kyle at amyk@ffc.org. You can also stop by Little Saints and complete the registration. Plan now for this special day! We must hear from you by Wednesday September 15th.
KidzZo ne is every Sunday evening! KidzZone is a time of fun and games during the evening service on Sunday nights only during the summer months. It is a fun and relaxed atmosphere for Kindergarten through 4th graders which encourages good sportsmanship and friendship.
HELP!!!!! Our ministry continues to grow, and we are in the middle of a baby boom. With this increase number of children, we have times that we are in need of IMMEDIATE help in our nursery. If you see 5555 placed on the screen in the worship service, this means HELP!!! If you are able to help, please come immediately to the Little Saints Nursery and we will welcome you with open arms! We are thankful for the many first time visitors we see each week and we will NEVER turn away a child from our ministry, however, we need you to help us meet this goal. Even helping out once a month would be a huge blessing. Please review all of our needs for volunteers in the column to the left. Contact me, doch@ffc.org, to get involved today!
CHIEFS FOOTBALL AND FIRST KIDZ! The Kansas City Chiefs Faith and Family Day is Friday, August 27th at 7 p.m. against the Philadelpia Eagles! Faith and Family Day festivities will be held during pregame in the Chiefs Fan Zone and include testimony by community leaders, bands, giveaways and more. Now here is the best part! Tickets are $25 each and for every ticket we sell, the Chiefs will give $10 back to our First Kidz Ministries as a fund raiser! You can't pass this up! Plan to see the New Arrowhead stadium and help your First Kidz Ministries raise money for future ministry! You need to notify Dr. Hunsley how many tickets you want and pay for them by August 8th to be able to sit together as a group!
SPECIAL NEEDS FOR PRESCHOOL!  Due to an increasing number of special needs children in our BIG Town (Pre-school) Ministry, we are actively recruiting leaders and helpers to extend our SOAR ministry into the children's ministry officially. We need help Sunday mornings and evenings and on Wednesday evenings. If you would like to get involved in this contact Dr. Hunsley, doch@ffc.org.
 Raising Xceptional Kids (Rx Kids) parenting class will take a break for the rest of the summer and will restart after school starts in September. This week, Sharon writes, "I have an 11 year old daughter who is having difficulty with self esteem. What can my husband and I do to help raise her self esteem?"
Self esteem is always a big issue, especially with preteens. A strong foundation can be laid at home, and in fact, one of my parenting commandments is "Thou Shalt Build an Atmosphere of Encouragement for Thy Child."
Colossians 3:21 "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Webster defines "encouragement" as: to give courage or confidence to, to raise the hopes of, to help one by sympathetic advice and interest, to promote or stimulate. The primary way we encourage others is by the words we speak.
Good parents build an atmosphere of encouragement. They communicate that they believe in their children. Regardless of their age, children need parents who are encouragers.
Encouragement is vital in building up a child's self-esteem.
According to a recent study, young men with high self-esteem shared some common childhood influences. There were three major characteristics of their families. (1) The high-esteem group was clearly more loved and appreciated at home than the low-esteem group. (2) The high-esteem group came from homes where parents had been significantly stricter in their approach to discipline. By contrast, the parents of the low-esteem group had created insecurity and dependence through their permissiveness. Their children were more likely to feel that the rules were not enforced because no one cared enough to get involved. (3) The homes of the high-esteem group were also characterized by democracy and openness. Once the boundaries were established, there was freedom for individual personalities to grow and develop. Thus, the overall atmosphere was marked by acceptance and emotional safety. Dr. James Dobson's Focus of the Family bulletin, July, 1994
Are the words our children hear from us primarily condemning and corrective or positive and uplifting? Do our words give them life and make them glad? While correction is necessary at times, our children should constantly receive our encouragement.
This encouragement can come in many forms and for many reasons. We can write a note, encourage them in front of someone else, or simply tell them of our love. We can point out their personality traits and unique talents that we appreciate. We can draw attention to ways they have grown in their passion for God, or we can remind them of God's help in the midst of difficult situations. We must not let a day go by without encouraging them.
You should be a cheerleader for your child. Some suggested cheers: Good job; I'm glad you're my son/daughter; I love the way you (blank); thanks for doing (blank); I can always count on you; I trust you; you are God's special gift to me; I am praying for you; I'm proud of you! Thank you, and most importantly, I LOVE YOU!
Help your children recognize and receive true unconditional love from their parents. This also is a key ingredient to healthy positive self-esteem. It includes acceptance of your child as an individual. Do not try to make your child the way you want them to be.
A good parent also creates an atmosphere of joy and laughter. Our children live in a tough world. Our children may feel tremendous social pressure at school, hear many put-downs, and have to deal with the pressure of grades, and life. Home should be a place where we look forward to being at the end of the day, a place to recharge our batteries. We must work to create a home that is a place of warmth, acceptance, and laughter. Nothing can heal or restore like laughter.
If you have a parenting question that you would like to ask, please email me at, doch@ffc.org and I will answer it in next weeks email. Now go tell your child that you are proud of them and tell them something they are good at, followed by an "I love you" and a hug!
Stephen J. Hunsley, M.D.
Children's Pastor Family Ministries Director First Kidz Ministries Director First Family Church doch@ffc.org
First Family Church Jerry Johnston, Senior Pastor Overland Park, Kansas |
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Roger Stuart writes: UPWARD BASKETBALL & CHEERLEADING
r in promo code EARLYBIRD to receive your discount! The regular cost for participating in Upward Basketball & Cheerleading this year will be $80.00; $75.00 with the early bird discount! Take advantage and REGISTER NOW for another exciting year of Upward Basketball & Cheerleading here at First Family Church!
