The Membership Growth & Development Committee has projects each month between January and May 2010 on the calendar. Other events are planned but dates are not definite yet.

Projects

• New visitor welcome
  • Clear sports water bottle
  • new pew inserts
  • new church brochure
• Kindness Task Force
  • Suder Elementary School Teacher Breakfast --March 15^th
  • We will ask for food starting in mid-February
• Community Engagement
  • Official ARC CPR & Standard first aid class -- February 20^th
  • Charge $30 (including all materials)
  • Other classes will be arranged as interest develops
  • MG&D is working with Congregational Care on a Family Night Supper with health topics
• Community Discussions
  • Open forums with speakers on community interests
  • Topics can include
    • State of the county
    • State of the school
    • Home security
    • Financial stability
• Community Yard Sale - April 24^th
  • Tables available for $10
  • Sell refreshments
• Mother’s Day -May 9^th
  • Free 8"x10" with kids
  • Pick up May 16^th
  • Can also take pictures at Mother/Daughter Luncheon
• Testimony Project
  • Survey members on why they like FPCJ
  • Use information on website - “We are FPCJ” to personalize site
    • Picture
    • Name
    • Quote
• Ads & fliers
  • Invite the community to all events
    • Family Night Suppers
    • First Aid classes
    • Community Yard Sale
    • Mother's Day pictures
  • Free submissions in News-Daily “Faith Notes”
  • Fliers in Chick-fil-A

Letting Our Light Shine

FPCJ is a wonderful church community. When someone visits FPCJ, they are surrounded by the love of God expressed by friendly people, a meaningful worship experience and a caring outreach in the community. Many visitors become regular attendees and some 20 have joined the church in the last 18 months.

It is this committee’s joy to encourage and expand the flow of visitors. God and the welcoming care expressed by our members will do the rest. This mission is so important that in 2010, we will have co-chairpersons. Melissa Ham and Bob Stevens will divide the responsibility at this critical time in the life of our church.

Early projects

• Melissa and her Visitor Welcoming project team have already refreshed the Visitor Welcome kit. This new kit will be modified with items and brochures as we move in to 2010.
• Have you noticed that we have new signs on the street? As they say, “Watch this space!” as new signs appear throughout the year.
• There will be new ads in new media to let the world know that FPCJ is a great place to worship God and to fellowship with others.
• The church website will continue to improve as we extend our reach out to the world. Did you know that our website has readers from over 21 countries and that we have gotten prayer requests from as far away as Africa and Hong Kong?
• Brian Turner is heading up the Fall Festival project for autumn 2010. Expect to see a great festival welcoming our community.
• We will ask you to complete a short questionnaire in January. It will ask you what you like about FPCJ and what suggestions you have for the future as we grow.

How you can help

• Tell us when you have an idea.
• Join us when you hear about a project that excites you.
• Share us with friends and people with whom you are comfortable. Carry An Invitation to Visit brochures to give to them when appropriate.

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

This command is not just for this committee but all of us. There are hundreds of people in our greater community that are looking for exactly what we have here at FPCJ. Our job is to let these good people know that we are here ready to welcome them and to walk with them along their journey.

Amen