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New MBC Website September 25, 2009

Posted by rshort in : 6-Operations , comments closed

Previously we had announced MBC was launching a new website.  The new website is now here!  But it came with a few unexpected twists along the way.

First, our staff member who managed the Kid’s Quest website left our team very suddenly to take advantage of an amazing missions opportunity.  We certainly could not stand in the way of God’s calling!  However this meant not being able to make major changes to our web pages right away.  Thank you to all of you who participated in our survey.  We will be working on design changes in the future to best meet your online needs.  For the launch we decided to focus on simply transferring all critical content.

Second, on the eve of the launch we learned that the web address we had announced earlier was changing to a shorter web address - less for you to type!  Since many bulletin blurbs and fliers were submitted for printing in advance, you may experience some trouble getting certain links you see advertised to work.  Bookmark the Kid’s Quest at the Tysons Campus home page at mbctysons.org/kidsquest.  If you’re having trouble getting to one of the pages you’re used to accessing using one of our direct links, you should be able to still find it by going to out main Kid’s Quest homepage at mbctysons.org/kidsquest.  Click on the child’s picture for all event info.  Click on the family picture for all weekend programming info, including Awana enrollment.  And click on the individual’s picture for all volunteer information.

Please pardon the mess as we get everything back online and fix glitches.  If there’s something you can’t locate, you see an editing mistake, or experience a link error, please let me know at romney.short@mcleanbible.org.

Below is a message from our Tysons Campus Pastor, Dr. Joe Henriques, sharing with you more details about this website change:

Tysons Campus now has its very own website - mbctysons.org!  This is a big change for our MBC Tysons Campus community so I wanted to provide you with a quick list of FAQ’s to help you through this transition. The information below is provided by the MBC Communications Department.

Q. Why did you make this change? Was this change necessary? 

A. The decision to improve our web presence was made to better serve our multi-campus strategy. Because McLean Bible Church is “one church in multiple locations” we needed to make some changes to our web presence to reflect our multi-campus presence in the Washington, DC Metro area.

We created mbctysons.org to be the home page and web site for EVERYTHING that happens within the context of the Tysons Campus.  That includes adult and family ministries, community groups, small groups, Access, Kid’s Quest, The Rock, Cross Cultural Ministries, Weekend Hosts Teams, McLean University and any other ministry that happens directly under the purview of the Tysons Campus.  You will also find information on mbctysons.org about City Impact and Caring Ministries under the link for MBC Cares.  The Resources link has information about small group resources, sermons, the CD ministry, the Bookstore, the Cafe, the Coffee Shop and other resources.

Q. What is happening to mcleanbible.org?

A. The mcleanbible.org site is now functioning as MBC’s central web site, housing all the centralized functions of our church that are not campus specific.  This information is replicated on each campus page so campus pages have ALL the information on mcleanbible.org and campus specific information.  Each campus web site has ALL THE SAME INFORMATION as the mcleanbible.org site, so don’t worry that you are missing out on anything by not visiting mcleanbible.org.  However, the mcleanbible.org site does not have *campus specific* information, so if Tysons campus is your home, please immediately think of mbctysons.org as your new home page.

The MBC Central site remains mcleanbible.org. Think of that site as the “30,000 foot view” of information about our church, campuses and ministries.  There you will find information about sermons, our radio ministries “So WHAT?”® and “Not a Sermon, Just a Thought”®, our senior pastor Lon Solomon, our core ministries, elders, executive leadership, and other information that is central to who we are as a church. Also, on the central site you will find information about central MBC ministries that care for the individual, the local community and the world.   

Q. Where do I find the most recent sermons?

A. The best place to find the audio and video of the most recent sermons is at mbctysons.org, in the center of the page.  You may also click on resources to access sermon archives.  Please note we are still working on making the sermons searchable and more accessible, so, bear with us as we continue improving the sermon archive functionality. 

Q. What is happening to City Impact?

A. City Impact now has their own web site cityimpactdc.org and is linked to each campus web site, primarily under MBC Cares.  You may access City Impact information by going directly to cityimpactdc.org or by clicking on MBC Cares. 

Q. How do I access the Caring Ministry or the Counseling Center? 

A. Link to those specific ministries under MBC Cares

Our new web presence is still a “work in progress,” and we know that there are bugs and bad links that still need to be worked out.  Please grant us grace as we work to perfect our sites over the next several weeks.  If you cannot find the information you are looking for please call our main switchboard at 703-639-2000 and a person can assist you.

Dr. Joe Henriques, Tysons Campus Pastor

Phone 703.770.2978  | joseph.henriques@mcleanbible.org

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Understanding Elementary Small Groups September 21, 2009

Posted by rshort in : 6-Operations , comments closed

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

Why do you have small groups for children?

We believe that kids need another voice saying the same thing as their parents.  We also believe that kids need someone in their lives who believe what they believe.  The friends kids spend time with will influence the decisions they make in life.  This “someone” may start out as just their Kid’s Quest leader but as kids grow, this need to connect with friends has even greater significance.  Kids, just like adults, need an Acts 2 church, a place of fellowship and prayer.  They need a place for open and honest dialogue so that they may be encouraged in their faith.  No production can match the power or influence of a Christ-centered, Biblically-based community in which God intends to grow a child’s faith stronger and stronger.  Outside the influence of family, we feel there is very little that can match the impact of a leader’s consistent prayers and presence, particularly in a small group setting.

Why is it important to come to the same service consistently?

Kids who consistently attend the same service time every weekend are placed in a permanent small group, meaning they meet with the same Kid’s Quest leaders and same group of peers each week.  We strongly encourage families to commit to a consistent service time so their kids can build significant and trusting relationships with their leaders and peers.  While this is still possible in a less consistent group, relationships have the best chance of deepening with more regular time spent together.

What is On Deck?

On Deck is a term we use in our Elementary classes for kids who are unable to commit to a consistent service time or are visiting.  An On Deck small group is formed for the day-of only.  On Deck groups still consist of a purposeful community of kids and the On Deck leaders teach from the same curriculum and are committed to sharing and modeling Christ’s love.  The only difference between a permanent small group and an On Deck small group is that the On Deck group of kids will vary from week to week and your child may or may not recognize their peers.

How can I move from On Deck to a permanent Small Group?

Should your schedule change and your family is able to consistently attend a service time, contact the appropriate Small Group Coordinator (see list below) and we will assign your child to a permanent small group if and when space allows.  Please be aware that this could take up to 6-8 weeks if a new permanent small group needs to be formed. 

How can I become a Small Group Leader or sub for my child’s Small Group Leader?

If you are interested in becoming a Small Group Leader or a sub , contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Alessandra Torres at 703-770-2902 or alessandra.torres@mcleanbible.org or click here to go to our volunteer opportunities webpage.

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Prince William Kid’s Quest Update September 18, 2009

Posted by rshort in : 6-Operations , comments closed

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Kid’s Quest at Prince William launched this past weekend, Sunday, September 13!  Below is a message from Mary Scott, the Prince William Kid’s Quest Director:

What a blessed morning it was and substantial answers to prayer were seen today!  God’s provision and faithfulness were completely evident in every detail and it is a privilege to be a part of this new campus as we serve the Lord together at McLean Bible Church.  Here’s a very brief report of our launch day from a Kid’s Quest perspective -

We were thrilled to see children coming in to learn that God is always watching over me (Preschool) and that Wisdom is worth searching for (Elementary).  We had several opportunities to pray with parents and children today and share His love in some very tangible ways of caring for the Body.  Although we didn’t have fully enough volunteers we didn’t have to close any classes and have already met with and plugged in a few new volunteers.  Specifically, two dads stepped forward today after realizing that God would equip them to care for a group of boys.  What an amazing morning!  “Give thanks to the LORD for He is good; His love endures forever!”

We did have several criers today as this was new to so many little ones but our staff and volunteers hung in there!  Each week should get better as the children become accustomed to the new environment and their leaders.

We definitely have some really open spaces for volunteers in each area.  However, God knows our needs and always supplies.  A really big Thank You to the Tysons KQ staff who prepared such a great volunteer recruiting video and accompanying materials that we pray will result in much “volunteer fruit” for us, too.

Finally, I am so blessed and honored to have such an amazing team of women on our Prince William KQ staff - they always say when you hire people to select people smarter than yourself.  That is definitely what God has done for me.  I praise Him for Teresa, Stella, Angela and Stephanie!  I also thank Him for the excitement of continuing to serve Him as one church in different locations.

Warmly, 

Mary Scott, Prince William Kid’s Quest Director

Click here for more information about Kid’s Quest at Prince William.

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Kid’s Quest Website Survey August 17, 2009

Posted by rshort in : 6-Operations , comments closed

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This fall MBC will be launching a new website to better reflect our multi-campus nature.  For us, that means transferring all our Kid’s Quest pages over to a new site.  We figured this was the perfect time to ask for your opinion about the Kid’s Quest website so we can best serve your future online informational needs.  Can you help us out by filling out our survey here?  It only takes a few minutes!  We appreciate your feedback.

P.S.

The Kid’s Quest at the Tysons Campus website will be moving to http://mcleanbibletysons.org/kidsquest once the new MBC site launches.   This blog, however, will not change addresses.

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Missions Project Update July 6, 2009

Posted by rshort in : 3-Missions Projects, 6-Operations , comments closed

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:6-14 (NIV)

Below are the results of our first quarter of Missions Projects.  We encourage you to share with your children the results of their prayers and gifts.  We also reccommend emphasizing that while a great many children in need will be served by their monetary gifts, giving to God is a form of worship and not about giving to a cause.  Our objective in providing your children with these missions project opportunities to give is not for the purpose of raising money for these causes but rather to teach our children the Biblical principle of giving to God via the church and to provide tangible ways for them to learn how to be givers in accordance with God’s Word.

January: Our children gave $1564.71 to God to be added in with the $55,000 raised at The Rock Student Ministries’ New Year’s Eve event for a total of $56,564.71.  This gift was given to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic to be used to purchase Bibles, school supplies, food, housing, and a van.  Please pray for the high school students who will be traveling to the orphangae this summer to serve on a missions trip.

Feburary: Our children gave $1030.38 to God to be used to purchase school supplies for children in Daybreak, an MBC ministry that serves children in the Lincoln Heights area of D.C.

March: Our children gave $4092.87 to God to be used to support a Bible and Sports camp at an orphanage in Demidov, Russia this summer.  Not only did God provide enough to cover the camp supplies but also support for the Global Impact missions team that will be serving at the orphanage this summer.

April: Our children gave $928.95 to God to be used to purchase food for the Daily Bread Food Pantry, an MBC ministry that provides food for people in our local community.  Our children also contributed many food donations.

May: Our children gave $1631.25 to God to be used to help kids in financial need go to our summer Sports Camp.  We specifically prayed for provision for 30 half scholarships.  This collection enables us to extend financial aid to 34 children!

How do we select our Missions Projects each year?  We have several criteria we review in choosing our projects.  Our non-negotiable requirements include:

We also have flexible criteria where we look to meet at least one of the following:

 Sometimes our projects include collecting items.  We have guidelines for that, too:

Do you sponsor individuals going on missions trips?

Generally, no.  The reason for this is we have so many staff, volunteers, and families connected to Kid’s Quest going on missions trips every year that it would not be fair to single out a few to raise their support for them, even for an MBC-sponosored trip.  Supporting individuals also typically doesn’t meet most of our flexible criteria.  We do on occassion allow our volunteers to pass out support letters only to those they personally know.  So you may see a letter from your child’s leader from time to time but it is not going out to any other class and it is not connected to our monthly missions projects.

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