Our desire is that people enjoy healthy relationships, which are full of honor, safety, understanding, and respect, and we believe that this is what Jesus desires for us as well. Following His teachings about love and how to treat others is foundational to healthy relationships.
Unfortunately though, many of us know people who are struggling in unhealthy and sometimes dangerous relationships. And so, we’ve brought in Laura S. Williams, a survivor of domestic violence and our resident expert, to share with us how to help in dangerous situations. She has graciously provided us with the resource link below. It’s a PDF packet with important information about the warning signs of domestic violence. Click the link to learn more.
If you need help getting relief from a dangerous relationship, there are organizations that can help. Below we’ve linked to two local safe houses. When you’re able to safely visit their websites, feel free to do so.
SafeHouse of Seminole County: http://safehouseofseminole.org
24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 407-330-3933
Harbor House of Orange County: http://www.harborhousefl.com
24 Hour Crisis Hotline: (407) 886-2856 or (800) 500-1119
Though not specifically related to dating or domestic violence, here is a supplemental resource related to teen texting. Give it a look when you have a chance.
At our church, we want to make sure that our guests feel welcomed and wanted. So, we’ve recently changed some things up at our 11:00am service. Did you notice?
At our church, we want to make sure that our guests feel welcomed and wanted. So, we’ve recently changed some things up at our 11:00am service. Did you notice?
Here are a few changes that we’ve made to enhance the guest experience at our service.
The announcement videos were great! They were a helpful resource. They helped convey important information to our regulars… and therein lies the need for a change. The very first piece of programming that guests experienced at the outset of the service wasn’t really for them. The announcement videos were for us, the people who already read the bulletin, see the pre-service slides in the lobby, see the pre-service slides in the auditorium, visit the church Facebook page, get calls and text reminders about events from our friends, and basically know what’s going on. So, it’s time to retire the announcement videos for now. I’m not saying that they didn’t serve a purpose or that they weren’t good. Honestly, I enjoyed making them. I enjoy being the “voice behind the curtain” so-to-speak. Doing voiceovers is awesome. But, we want to prioritize making our guests feel welcomed and wanted. Thus, the change.
So now, we’re opening up our 11:00am service with a welcome video. We think it will helpfully welcome our guests and engage them early. It should be a good set up for the opening song and handshaking time, which is already a hallmark of our welcoming experience. So, enjoy that welcome video, and get ready to welcome our guests with a friendly smile and a firm handshake.
And then, we’ve also upgraded our guest gift. Many of you have read with us The Purpose Driven Life, and you’ve been greatly inspired by it. Well, we now offer a taste of the book in a booklet entitled What on Earth Am I Here for?. It’s a great introduction to God’s plan for us all. And of course, we sweeten the gift bag with a handful of quality chocolate nuggets from Hershey. Our guests can even enjoy them during the service if they get a little hungry.
On top of the church service experience, we also touch base with our new friends during the week. We send a welcome postcard their way as well as a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies. Everyone enjoys the cookies!
So there you have it, we’re enhancing our guest experience. The video announcements were fun, but we don’t really need them, and this transition frees up our staff to focus on other areas of ministry. Now, let’s get out there and make our guests feel welcomed and wanted!
Sunday: 10:00 am
Sunday: 10:00 am
Sunday: 11:00 am
