On Tuesday, August 13 the children of James Whitcomb Riley Elementary School 43 enjoyed their annual Back to School Ice Cream Social. Joining the party this year was Common Ground and 144 backpacks to distribute to our new friends in the neighborhood.

 

As you can see from the pictures below, our backpack distribution at School 43 was a huge success and provided much-need school supplies for the children in our area. We appreciate all those involved in this ministry -from those who sponsored or delivered backpacks, to those who worked the sponsorship tables and everyone in between, we thank you!

 

Providing the backpacks would not have been possible without our partnership with Jireh Sports and their Back to School Blast. To learn more about Jireh, please visit their website. You can also learn more about School 43 by visiting their website.

 

 

 

On August 30, we will host our first Children’s Ministry Open House in conjunction with graduation Sunday. If you have a child who participates in the children’s ministry, please plan to arrive in their classroom 15 minutes before service on August 30. You and your child will have the chance to meet all the class teachers, view their classroom, and receive additional information about the class and the spiritual formation of children.

 

As you know, in May we hosted a Spiritual Formation Conference that focused on the spiritual formation of children. One of the main points that we took away was the need to create a positive faith community in which our children can thrive. There are several aspects of a positive faith community - two of them being trust and belonging.

 

In order to build trust and develop a sense of belonging, we are working to provide more consistency in the children’s ministry through this Open House and other initiatives that will be implemented this school year. We believe that this Open House will be a step in the direction of building a positive faith community for our children as well as a time of celebration for those who are moving to a new children's ministry classroom. We hope that you can join us on August 30. Questions about the Open House or graduation Sunday? Please contact our Director of Children’s Ministry, Martina Gaughan.

Come and Experience God with other Common Ground women who are seeking Christ to be their All in All September 25-26 at Camp Allendale in Trafalgar, Indiana. The cost is $50 which includes overnight lodging and 2 meals on Saturday. Due to the nature of the retreat and the sleeping arrangements, we are unable to accommodate infants or children. 

 

For full details and registration, please visit our website. Please note that space is limited and while the registration deadline is September 20, registration will close once the retreat is full.

 

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Marty Read.

 

Brad and Christy Nelson serve with Crescent Project, a ministry dedicated to reaching the seven million Muslims who live, work and study here in North America. Did you know that Islam is now the fastest growing religion in America? This semester alone there are nearly 450 students right here in Indianapolis from Saudi Arabia, one of the least reached nations on earth. While many would view this as a threat, Crescent Project believes that God has presented us with an incredible opportunity to reach the nations from right here in our own backyard.

 

Brad currently serves as Crescent Project’s Director of Mobilization, overseeing training, short-term trips and internship opportunities. The Nelsons also run an international student house here in Indianapolis where they have hosted numerous students from Turkey, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Whether sharing meals, practicing English, or sitting around the campfire, they’ve had incredible opportunities to share Christ with those who have never heard. When Brad and Christy first sensed a call into Muslim ministry they assumed that they would be heading overseas. After nearly six years of reaching out to Muslims here in Indianapolis, they’ve discovered that you no longer have to cross an ocean to impact the ends of the earth.

 

To learn more about Crescent Project and how you can get involved in reaching Muslims in our community log on to the Crescent Project website or email Brad for more information.

The next baby dedication is Sunday, September 6. If your child is between the ages of 0 and 18 months and you would like to participate, please visit our website for details and registration. Registration deadline is August 28.

 

Intro to Common Ground is an opportunity for those who are new to CG to learn about the vision, values and story of our community. The next gathering is Tuesday, September 1 at 6 pm. Attendance is limited and a light dinner and childcare are provided. Follow this link to register.

 

Leader's Conference - Save the Date

Please mark your calendars for our next Leader's Conference on Saturday, September 12. Full details and registration are coming soon!