February 19, 2006

Pastoral Board President Marlin Priest convened the quarterly Faith Family Ministry Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2006. Associate Pastor Donnie Arrant opened the meeting in prayer.

Marlin recognized Vocational and Lay Pastors, and reviewed officers elected for 2006, including Marlin Priest, President, John Adams, Vice-President, and Pat Herron, Secretary. Also, an Executive Team of Lay Pastors replaces the Lay Pastor Advisory Team in advising Larry Herndon and other staff leaders. This Executive Team for 2006 is Marlin Priest, John Adams and Alonza Jones.

Paul Rogers, Chairman of the Long Range Planning Team, reported that the Team completed and presented short-term recommendations to the Pastors following last year’s church survey and focus groups. The Team is now working on vision and direction for the next 5-10 years, based on discussion, feedback from the Faith Family, and prayer. He also relayed that the Long Range Planning Team will seek additional lay representatives to fill open positions.

Executive Pastor Larry Herndon gave a brief overview of our staff hierarchy and praised the teamwork of our staff leaders. He then asked staff representatives to give reports on various happenings in their ministry areas. Reporting staff members included Debby Bowers, Brian Hill, Kevin Carroll, Evan Akins, Sam Sternberg, Jim Watkins, Jim Houston, Josh Caldwell, Donnie Arrant, and Gene Mason. Highlights include:

• New Bible teaching curriculum and a brief worship time has been implemented in our younger preschool area.
• Over 20 new preschool teachers have been enlisted. There are 37 open volunteer positions in preschool, but only two preschool classes do not yet have permanent teachers.
• Over 60 adults serve in our Children’s Ministry each weekend.
• Preparations are underway for Vacation Bible School, requiring nearly 140 volunteer leaders. More than 500 children are expected for VBS, June 5-9.
• Our Early Learning Center is reaching many area families; about 75% of all ELC children do not go to church at Brook Hills, but are exposed to the gospel through the ELC.
• 75 middle and high school students are involved in weekly LifeGroup small-group discipleship.
• More than 250 students participated in January’s Disciple Now event. Groups did mission projects on this weekend. One group of sixth grade boys led an elderly woman to Christ.
• 14 new student RBFs will begin in August.
• Students will be conducting VBS for an inner-city church over spring break as a mission project.
• College students will have their annual Pause retreat March 10-11.
• Five new college/career discipleship groups will be available this spring.
• Singles leaders recently met with one another to pray, brainstorm, look to future activities, and emphasize unity.
• Nearly 250 area singles gathered at Brook Hills for a New Year’s Eve party.
• A singles beach retreat is being planned for Memorial Day weekend.
• Two additional RBFs for single adults will begin this year.
• Three men’s Bible studies are currently meeting. Technology Director Ben DeLoach has volunteered to serve as a lay leader for the Men’s Ministry area.
• 39 RBFs are currently meeting on Sundays and 21 groups meet on Wednesdays, for a total of 60 active adult Bible study groups.
• Interim Worship Minister Jim Watkins praised the Worship Staff and lay worship team for their integrity, commitment and heart for serving the Lord through worship. He also asked for prayer for this team and the worship ministry.
• Plans are being considered to add an audio recording capability on the church campus to produce and share professionally-recorded worship music by CD or iTunes download outside the Worship Room.
• The sound booth has been moved to the floor of the Worship Room on a trial basis to increase the quality of the sound mix throughout the Worship Room.
• A mission of 20 Brook Hills members to Guatemala in February ministered to over 40 orphans, worked on a new church plant and taught seminary students.
• A mission is being planned for later this year to the Gulf Coast for the continued recovery effort related to Hurricane Katrina.
• A mission team will go to Ukraine in May.
• Over $17,000 was given toward our World Touch Missions Offering in January. Each month $10,700 is required to support our various missions commitments.
• 198 children participated in our inaugural Upward Basketball and Cheerleading season. Already two children have committed their lives to Christ; additional opportunities for sharing the gospel are a part of this program.
• Our giving is keeping pace with our Budget goal and the staff is carefully watching spending, as our overall budget is $1 million less than last year.
• The Financial Office is in the process of closing out the books for 2005 and various 2005 renovation projects.
• The church database software is being updated to provide better follow-up and contact with members, guests and absentees.
• The Worship Center video upgrade is proceeding, with installation now in progress. The system will be completely installed by the end of April.

Larry Herndon briefly shared the process for evaluating staff performance and the setting of goals for the year. Three goals have been set for 2006 for the staff to work on throughout the year, including reaching the lost, connecting the Faith Family as a true community of faith, and empowering volunteers to serve throughout the church. These simple goals will be reflected in all areas of ministry throughout the year.

A call for any questions or comments from the meeting attendees was made but none were voiced. Marlin Priest closed the Ministry Meeting in prayer.

To hear the audio recording of this ministry meeting in MP3 format click here.