Kids Plugged In

On Sunday mornings, all ages join the congregation in corporate worship before being dismissed to class. At this time you may check-in your child in the hall with one of our volunteers. We strive for a healthy environment. Children showing any signs of illness are not permitted in class. Please help us by keeping your child out of class until he is free of any symptoms for 24 hours. Younger children will receive healthy snacks, so please note any allergies during Check-In. Contact Pastor Karrianne Hall for more information.

PowerZone (ages 7-11) focuses on empowering the future by equipping children with the Armor of God needed to impact the world. “Finally, my brethern, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…” (Ephesians 6:10-18) Our goal is to partner with parents to develop children who put on the Armor of God, actively particpate in the things of God, and have a positive influence on those around them. PowerZone combines traditional teaching curriculums with an interactive, action-packed experience to keep children interested while they learn of God’s truth. In PowerZone, kids will have a fun and safe place to find God and experience His mercy and loving kindness.

In the OnTrack classes (ages 3-4 and 5-6), we train up a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6). Each lesson is a chance for youngsters to connect with God and each other. Our train decorations add to the fun of the kids participating in a figurative journey of being a train that moves from station to station where they are divided into groups for an age-appropriate lesson. To reiterate the central truth for the day, we use puppet shows, object lessons, crafts, games, and songs. The videos for our Memory Verse ScriptureSongs can be found here. Come join us; the next journey starts this Sunday!

In our Seedlings nursery (ages 0-3), we view our little ones as spiritual seedlings to be nurtured with loving hands. Seedlings need constant care, attention, and the right environment to grow properly. We use snacks, toys, videos, stories and music as needed during class in order to meet the fleeting attention span of this age. We ask that you bring your own diapers, wipes, and burp cloths because we want to use the same products you use to make sure it’s good for your baby’s skin.

To keep up with the latest happenings in our children's ministries, please visit the special website we've created: kidspluggedin.com. On it you can view the OnTrack monthly ScriptureSongs, other updates, and the new ParentsCorner! We’re also working on more content for the future. Don’t wait…check it out today: kidspluggedin.com

Strong Men

The first Thursday of each month, men of all ages are taught Biblical principles on integrity and manhood using the Bible and the Majoring in Men™ curriculum teaching that "manhood and Christlikeness are synonymous."

For more information, please contact Pastor TJ Hall.

Wonderful You (women’s ministry)

We believe that God desires to increase the greatness of every woman (Psalm 71:21; 18:35-36); therefore, Wonderful You assists in fulfilling God’s purpose and plan for her life. Whether it’s instruction from Titus 2, I Peter 2:9, Psalm 16:5-6, or another Scripture, it’s always a good season for women to arise, become equipped, and shine as vessels of honor.

Coffee, Tea, You & Me meets quarterly on Saturday mornings, 9:15 am, at Pastor Brenda’s house. We enjoy a delicious breakfast, great Bible study, and friendly camaraderie. Please check our calendar and news pages for when the next meeting will be.

Join any of the monthly women's small groups, Friend to Friend Lunch, Chick Flicks, or Cookology. For times and locations, see our Small Groups page.

Retreats and other one day events are usually held in the Spring and Autumn of each year.

For more information, please contact Pastor Brenda Hall. We also encourage you to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep up the latest information.

Outreach

1hope, the outreach ministry of The Connection, is a Christian humanitarian effort, serving people locally and internationally.

When a church becomes more outward in her focus, fulfilling the Great Commission, she is propelled forward into the purposes and plans God destined to impact generations to come. Our many projects include ongoing ministry at a local battered women's shelter, assisting with local community events, Native American reservations in South Dakota, and short-term trips to Peru.

We do it because it’s the right thing to do. We do it because there is nothing like the smile of a child that has finally found home. We do it because if the church does not pioneer justice in the developing world, who will?

To keep up with all of our outreach projects, please go to the 1hope blog.

Music Ministry

Our music ministry's purpose is to reveal the majesty and power of our God, and draw people into intimate fellowship with the Lord. We want to help people experience God and develop a life of worship. Worship is so much more than the songs we sing before a sermon. Paul said in Romans chapter 12 that we are to offer our lives as living sacrifices to God. This is worship: not just a song sung to the Lord, but a life lived for His glory!

Although the most visible people on our team are vocalists and instrumentalists, there are other ways to be involved even if you don't sing or play. Our Music and Technical Ministries work hand in hand. We need people to help set up and tear down, run sound, and work with multimedia.

For more information or if you are interested in the working with the Music or Technical Teams, please email Pastor Justin.

Technical Ministries

Our Audio Technicians run the mixing console during the services making the preachers and Worship Teams sound great! We are currently looking for someone with audio production experience to train future Audio Techs.

Our Stage Teams assist the Worship Teams and Audio Technicians in setting up and tearing down the audio equipment. Each team is rotated monthly. No experience required; we will train you!

Our Multimedia Technicians run the computer presentation program that we use to display the lyrics to our songs and scriptures and notes during the Pastors' messages. The only experience needed is a basic understanding of computer operation. We will train you in the use of the program that we currently use: Media Shout 3.5.

Our Media Production Team is responsible for editing, copying and distributing the recorded sermons for those who have ordered CDs and DVDs.

The Technical Ministry also includes Website Development and IT Administration.

To see how you can help in these backbone ministries, please email Pastor Justin.

InTouch

We provide meals to families in our church who have recently had, or are going through a life event (i.e. birth of a child, death of a family member, hospitalization of a household family member, or a move). We utilize volunteers within our church family to provide a home cooked meal, purchase a meal, donate money to allow someone else to purchase or prepare a meal, or transport a meal to families in need.

For more information, please contact Pastor Brenda Hall.

Visitation Ministry

The first Sunday of each month visit the members of our church who have been unable to attend our services. Join us as we share the love of God with one another. See Carolyn Spence, our Visitation Ministry Coordinator.

For more information, please email us.

River Run Bible Study

Every other Wednesday evening, Pete and Alice Williams study the Bible, pray and spend time with the residents of the River Run Senior Community in Woodbridge.

What About the Teenagers?

From our Lead Pastor, TJ Hall:

“After serving as a youth pastor for 14 years, I came to realize that the typical youth group model hinders more than helps the transition from childhood to adulthood. It’s not that good things didn’t happen during the youth group meetings that I was leading; it’s that it wasn’t the best. I started noticing that many teenagers left the church after high school, and they weren’t coming back. They just couldn’t seem to make the transition into the ‘adult church.’ And after careful research, I began to realize that we weren’t the only church with this problem. In fact, I found that in one denomination over 70% of their teenagers quit church after high school!

“I also discovered that the Bible never mentions teenagers. Biblically speaking, we are all to grow from childhood to adulthood, not childhood to teenager to adulthood. For example: 1 Corinthians 13:11 says,‘When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.’

“What teenagers really need is to be treated as adults. I believe that the best way for teenagers to grow in their faith is to step into adult roles in the church. This can be accomplished through ministry, outreaches, missions, and service. There is no reason a teen cannot be an usher, greeter, participate in community outreaches, or run the sound board. We need to understand that the youth are part of the church of today, not just the church of tomorrow. Parents and church leaders who encourage their teens to step into ministry now, will prepare them for leadership by firmly establishing them in their faith.”