The melting pot

So we all know that America is the melting pot right? Well at CCC yesterday, we got to be the melting pot of religions! We had representatives from Islam, Judism, Hindu and Christianity. I think I got those out of order, but oh well. lol, read Kelley's blog to get it in order. anyway, It was the coolest thing on earth to watch the panel yesterday. I was born a Christian, and always have been, but my dad being from Iran, and them practicing the Muslim ways over there, it was cool to see the panel and hear them talk, and my dad (who now regrets not going!) is going to hear the service as I order for him next week. So maybe I can kick him into a service, who knows. Anyways, on to the kiddy world of things:

1. While the parents where doing there thing, the kids where down the hall rocking out with the awesome band as usual. It seems to always amaze me how a 5 minute long song can grab there attention....until that 30 second cliff hanger where the singing stops and there is just music playing and the singers have to figure out something to say or do until the singing come back.

2. The band has learned not to say the words "scream the words to the song" because the kids only hear the word "scream" and the girls literally start screaming at the top of there lungs...and don't stop! lol.

3. The drama for the kids today was so cool. I love how it tied in and was so interactive with the kids. I think they liked it and it grabbed there attention really well. They enjoy getting to yell what ever comes up on the TV, and that is what we asked them to do. It was a lot of fun.

4. It seems like every week when we are packing and unpacking (I think I did that in the wrong order) it just keeps getting easier and easier. Before you know it, we will be done in no time flat. I am wondering how fast we can keep getting, because there is only so fast you can go before you can't get any faster lol....or maybe I am thinking wrong.

Well, its been a great week, but my computers scheduler is going a wall and telling me to do something else, so I better listen before it grows a hand and slaps me. I hope you all have a great week, and remember, if anyone is reading this and is looking for a spot to serve, we have many spots available, you can email me for Children's tech at sohadi@bellsouth.net or Bill to find you a good spot at bcoffman@community-christian.net There are lots of places still looking for help, you don't have to commit your self to a certain spot, try it out one week, see if you like it, if not, try another. Its worth it, other wise CCC wouldn't be running the way it is and there wouldn't be 100's of volunteers ;) think about it.

Weekly scoop

Ok, I think I will stick with that name. I have a lot to talks about today, or actually, to share. Your gonna love some of it :) I promise. *cough Bill in a whole new way. So, here we go:

1. Over all, great service this week. I loved the fact that we had the fathers come in to the service and join there kids and be tested mentally and physically. Lots of fun!

2. I heard the YMCA was a success. AWESOME! I wish I could have been there, school has been kicking me though. Next time I promise! INVITE INVITE INVITE. Thats all I can say.

3. my props go to Caren today! Even during are little.....mishap during 2nd service, she made sure things where ok, then quickly snapped the kids back into focus in about 10 seconds! it was so amazing. I was caught off guard by everything around me by that. I stopped everything when she did it, it was just amazing. GO CAREN! That is the spirit.

4. Speaking of spirit, Bill Coffman had some today, don't believe me? Well I have a pictures to prove it!

Sorry if the pictures get blurry, I took the picture last minute with my cellphone because Andrew (our photographer who was at the campus today) wasn't there. If this picture of our campus pastor isn't good enough reason for you, or your friends to come to our church, I have no flipping clue what is. Bill, what a willing heart you have. Jeff, god bless you for programing this!

5. As I said earlier, fathers where here today. I snapped lots of pics. Here are some.



It was an over all great and fun day. Both services where good, and saw a good attendance. A big thanks to Courtney for being a step in dad. I hope you enjoyed the fish pictures. If anything that you looked at on this blog, at least those. lol. :) Sorry Bill ;) Speaking of Bill, be sure to be reading his blog! He posts on it frequently and his posts aren't babbles......wait, thats the name of his sunday night posts, I LIED! Some of his posts aren't babbles. Lol. Have a great week guys, I was going to post something last week, but I didn't have a chance, this week I will shoot for posting it. It is quite interesting, or to me.

4 weeks down

wow, its already been 4 weeks. How awesome is that. This has definitely been one fun and crazy adventure. I am loving every minute of being at Madras. Getting to serve and lead a part of it is just one cool thing, and having all the volunteers that I have, and the ones that god is soon to send, is just awesome. We had another high attendance at 2nd service this week for those who weren't there. I love how even on spring break, kids still show up. Talk about true dedication. I suggest that everyone invite someone to the YMCA this Friday for a little swimming time. I am going to invite a few people that I know. The even is from 7 to 9 P.M. Its a little late in the evening, but it is beyond worth it. Don't show up with out inviting someone though. You will be turned away. Anyways. I will have a few new pictures on here either in the middle of this week, or after the YMCA event (depends on how my school work goes) Hope you all have a great week. Great job to the tech team this week, you where all on your game.

Madras Kids scoop

Ya, Bill didn't use the name I sent him, which is good, cause I couldn't think of one for my little things. For now, thats it. I am sure Ill get an idea, but your welcome to share yours for what I should call this thing. I didn't have time to upload all the pictures on to my pc yesterday, so I couldn't do this post when I like to. But here it is, lets see if I can do it in the style like every one else:

• We had a lot of kids at both services this week. WOW! 2nd service saw a good increase from last week.
• Anyone get a chance to see our worship time this week? Jeff did it and man did he rock it out. The kids where really into the song. He was jumping and really getting them involved. I even wanted to jump in.
• The see-saw was such an amazing thing to watch the kids to do. When the kids got it balanced, they had to sing the song. It was so much fun to watch. They would get it balanced, then when they started singing, it became unbalanced and they had to restart. Made them think. I believe 2nd service got threw the whole song on the last time.
• Even when short handed this week, the tech team was able to pull through and set-up, run, and break down. Great job team.

here are some pictures of the kids on the see-saw. Like I said, they really had fun on it.

CCC warning Label

Ok, so Community Christian Church Officially needs a warning label at every entrance door and it should read something like:

Warning:CCC may cause serious friendships and never endless encounters with people you know at church when you go out to places. DO NOT ENTER if you don't want to go somewhere and see someone from church every stinking time! This may cause: you losing any sense of what to say in a conversation, you to be coming up with something in a small group for why you beat your child in public, why you where picking your nose at lunch, etc. Be sure to understand these risks before going to CCC

Lol, My gosh. I was at blockbuster, getting a movie, and I ran into someone I have never ran into before until they started coming to CCC. I was like "wow....this is beyond real...." Our church is really becoming big. The lady is new to our church, I saw her 2 weeks ago, and this is the first time I have seen her in public. I have been to blockbuster 2 million times. Oh, I have seen Jason at TFIG (good meal till he came along, then I felt god watching me). I have seen so many people from eating out, that I am trying to find a place where our church people don't go....obviously that ins't "steak and shake" Anyways, I had to share this warning lol, only fare.

first impression is everything

So, my sister called me and asked me for a favor. Not a small one to start out with though. She told me about a conference that her church is doing for the teenage girls (note that they are in South Africa). Anyways. So she asked, I need two things if possible:

1. One of those old countdowns the church used to play at church to get people to come in.

2. A video of flowers blossoming, night turning to day, the sun rising, etc. You get the point.

The reason for the video is because the name of the conference was transformation. Now my idea for the video was of course as the kick butt transformers movie with robots kicking butt, but I had to keep in mind this is a girl conference...they don't want to see that. So I agreed to get #1 for sure, and attempt #2. I was given 2 weeks. Wow, i was cut in for my work. I started searching. Nope, this site costs money, nope, same with this one. Did you know when you type in the keyword "flowers growing" you get...something else thats not flowers. Ya, not cool at all. Nope, still have to pay at this site. Nope, google sucks, cant get it here....dang, I couldn't find anything for free. I was working with not little budget, but no budget. I couldn't find one single video. Stock videos cost a fortune! Ya, I wont even mention the pirated sites. So I couldn't get the video done...I felt like a failure, ahh..but wait, maybe I can do something cool at the end of the countdown. So I ripped the countdown off the children's Ministry laptop, scroll to the end, and add a few words with cool effects and stuff like that. Add music and stuff like that. Few hours later, its done. Now to some how send it to South Africa, in 5 days, without paying $22 mailing. Hmmmm, upload it to my site for download. Done. Bam, call my sis, tell her its done, and tell her how to download it. So she does. Wow she was impressed...its amazing what our church here in America can do over there in South Africa. This Saturday our countdown that we used to use and my words are going to be played in front of 42+ girls. I know this blog is long already, but I want to share part of the email my sister sent me. Here it is.

I'm well. Been busy with this conference, but it's really coming together nicely. We are so blessed! We've gotten so many donations, now have 42+ girls attending, everything looks nice and the budget balances, and we only charged a R60 registration fee, which is $8 USD. So with a $8 registration fee and sponsored items, we were able to cover a cool delegate pack with a printed agenda, sponsor sheet, notepad, bookmark, pen, highlighters and candies for each girl; a rose for each girl; lunch for 50 people including a sandwich, juice, fruit and chocolate; decorations; lots of giveaways for prize-drawing - including 2 gift certificates to a coffee place, 4 free facials, and 2 books; gifts for speakers (a bouquet of flowers and a free facial); and gifts for all our team! It is amazing what God can do with a little bit of money and a lot of faith! I'm blown away and looking forward to Saturday! I hope all the girls feel really special and walk away from the conference changed. Please pray that everything runs smoothly (all the technology and everything) and that each girl gets a personal touch from God on Saturday.

I don't want to take to much more of your time. But its cool to be able to help out in another church, in another country. Now, thanks to our church, 42+ kids will have something cool to listen to and see when they enter the conference. First impressions are everything. That is what we have to remember at our church when someone walks through the doors for the first time. If we let them walk by without being greeted, we have given them there first impression...and it is this "this church is to big, even though they are at a school, and they can't handle one more person. I don't think this is the right place for me" We don't want that to happen. Not because we want the our church only, but because this may be there only time they try to come to a church, and we just blew it for them. I am releasing all my teenagers at least 15 minutes before service starts, long enough for people to still be flowing in. I ask that they all go and greet 1 other teen and invite them to student ministry's. If your and adult, make another adult feel at home. If your a teen, make another teen feel at home and take him/her to student ministry's. Lets make our new church grow.

Speaking of all this growing and out reach stuff. Read Jason's latest post. It is amazing!