As the true Church, we are a gathering of individual believers from all walks of life, those who have personally put their faith in Christ. Some are parents. Some are members of a family who attend. Some are single adults who never married. Some are married couples without families. Some are widows and widowers well past the child-rearing time of their lives.
Family ministry walks with all believers to develop disciple-making disciples.
What we teach:
- Fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) The confidence in knowing who God is allows His wisdom to be applied in all life situations.
- Value and application of God’s Word. All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Understanding the authority and power of God’s Word directs the way we live each day.
- Love God with all you are, and love your neighbor. Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-19) Learning to love provides motivation to be selfless and honoring among others.
Family Life ministry aims to grow everyone, regardless of age or family status, to become more like Jesus in a way that they become more faithful disciples who are doing the same for others.
There’s a Place for YOU
As a community of believers, it is important that we gather regularly in fellowship to encourage and support one another as we walk through life together. Regardless of what season of life you are currently in, there are many opportunities to find the place that is just right for you. Below are just of few of the options. For more information about these or any of our Family Life ministries, contact Lori Sansoucie or Penny VanDellen.
ALL PRO DADS
3K – 8th Grade
This national program provides an opportunity once a month for dads to spend quality time with kids, aimed to strengthen their relationship with each other and allow them to engage in meaningful conversations. Group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30AM.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Age 4 – 5th Grade
A week-long summer activity where kids participate in memorable Bible-learning activities and experience one-of-a-kind Bible adventures, Students will also learn to look for evidence of God around them. VBS takes place each summer in mid-June.
D.I.G. SUNDAY SCHOOL
Age 3 – 4th Grade
Provides an opportunity for students to enjoy worship songs, Bible stories, crafts and games as they explore God’s character throughout the Bible. Kids discover what it means to reflect the heart of God in everyday life. Group meets Sundays at 9:30AM.
1 TIMOTHY 4:12
5th – 6th Grades
Through Bible study, activities and discussion, students take a deeper look at topics including The Lord’s Prayer, Fruits of the Spirit, God’s blessings and more. Group meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30PM.
MICAH 6:8 JUNIOR YOUTH
7th – 8th Grades
Students spend time in Bible study and discussion to grow their relationship with Christ and learn about sacrificial living and serving others. Gatherings also include time for fun, group games and activities. Group meets on the first and third Friday of each month at 7PM.
THE FORGE SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP
Focusing on peer relationships, leadership skills, and building one another up, the group encourages long-term, positive relationships among students while looking at Scripture to identify their role in the world as well as serve others in love. Group meets on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at 6:30PM.
BRIDGE BUILDERS
Surround and support foster families within the Our Redeemer congregation and the local community by establishing Christian Care Communities to help with childcare, child mentoring, meals and prayer.
ALASKA MISSION TRIP
Opportunity for adults and high school students to serve those in need and share the love of Jesus in and around the Anchorage community. Service projects include working at a local food pantry, helping out at a local homeless shelter, and leading chapel and providing VBS and sports camp to children. Group travels to Anchorage each year at the end of June.
KAZAKHSTAN MISSION TRIP
Adults and high school students travel to Almaty Kazakhstan in mid-July for a two week mission serving youth at a local youth camp.
DivorceCare
A friendly, caring group of people who walk alongside those going through one of life’s most difficult experiences. There is no need to go through a separation or divorce alone. Group meets Wednesdays at 5:30PM.
GriefShare
The grieving process is made just a bit easier when a caring group of people walk alongside those who are experiencing one of life’s most difficult journeys. Group meets Saturdays at 9:30AM.
Worship at Home
Prepare Your Heart for Time with God
Worship is a very special time for us to be in God’s presence and share with him our joys, our sorrows, our wants and our needs. In order to make our time with God more meaningful and an intentional practice, there are things we can do to ensure our focus in on the Author and Creator of everything:
- Meditate on a verse or two of Scripture or pray through a Psalm
- Listen to music that stirs and orients our hearts
- Spend 10 minutes in quiet time
Part of our preparation for worship should be to remind ourselves of who God is — the holy, sovereign Lord.
“And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:21-23
The act of worship begins with authenticity in heart and mind. In order to enter into that framework, we should begin our preparation with prayer to help us focus and calm ourselves. Before worship, take some time to turn your thoughts with full sincerity to God. Pray that you might maintain your sights on the act of worship, and to maintain a state of spiritual intentionality throughout the experience. One of the primary functions of prayer is to help guide us into a mindset more closely in tune with God’s desire for us.
Centering ourselves with prayer is the foundation of preparing for worship. Without it, we will most certainly struggle to find a worshipful attitude, but with it we will truly be prepared for time with our Heavenly Father.
The Church is not a building, but a community gathered in worship and prayer. And our homes are significant places of prayer. Creating a prayer space at home is an excellent way to create order and peace, free of distractions of the world around us.
Find a surface in a low traffic area such as a window sill, small table, portable tray table, or book shelf. It is helpful to have it in a quiet area.
Suggested items to gather
- Cloth: a placemat, tablecloth, scarf, or any piece of fabric. Try to match the color of the church season, if possible. Right now it is dark purple for Lent, and during Holy Week it would be red.
- Candle: to remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World. The candle also symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit and helps us quiet our mind and center our thoughts.
- Cross: any shape, type or media.
- Bible: Scripture helps us focus our hearts and minds on God. Reading and meditating on a verse or two helps us to block out things of this world and focus on our Heavenly Father.
- Object from nature: a stone, flower, shell, acorn, etc., to remind us of God’s creation that always surrounds us.
- Flowers: a reminder of God’s creation and abundance.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to spend time with Him in worship. Intentionally quieting our hearts and minds before worship enables us to set distractions aside and place our focus on God.