Please sure to join us June 3 @ 5pm-6:30pm for our next ignite event! Please sure to ‘like’ the Facebook page for ignite!
Employment
May 7, 2012 by
Youth Director/Minister
Purpose: To feed and lead young people to become disciples of Jesus Christ.
Vision: To lead and sustain a thriving youth group that actively engages in study, service, ministry, and fun.
Description:
- Time: 5-8 hours a week of commitment
- Lead youth group – weekly or twice a month gathering of youth group of teenagers for bible study
- Lead one “large group” event a month
- Coordinate volunteers and parents to aid with trips and events
- Integrate youth into worshiping life of the church
- Lead youth to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and one another
- Work with church leadership under the direction of the senior pastor
- Create new ideas for youth ministry and outreach
- Keep weekly contact with youth via social media, phone, and face to face contact
- Help lead in worship
- Lead retreats, trips, fundraisers and other youth events
Requirements:
- Background check on applicant
- Highest moral integrity
- Mature relationship with Jesus Christ
- Able to keep ministry boundaries with youth
- Experience with youth ministry, college education preferred
- Positive attitude
Please email resume to psrc (at) bspbaptist.org
Youth event ‘ignite’ makes news
April 5, 2012 by
The Ballston Journal featured our ecumenical youth event:
The pastors in Ballston Spa are trying to start fires. No, they haven’t become pyromaniacs; they’re hoping to ignite spiritual fires in village teenagers.
Ignite, a youth movement that is not affiliated with one specific church, kicked off April 1 with a gathering that featured free food, a live band and an “epic” game of Twister. About 50 teens attended the event at Christ Episcopal Church, according to First Presbyterian pastor David Bennett.
Alan Rudnick leads a rousing game of Epic Twister during the first gathering of Ignite-a movement designed to unite Ballston area youth. Photo provided
So far six churches are participating in the movement: First Presbyterian, Christ Church, First Baptist, United Methodist, Alliance Church and St. Mary’s.
A Theology of Vision
April 5, 2012 by
by Rev. Alan Rudnick
A plan for the future is always a challenge, especially when it deals with resources. The former CEO, Alan Schwartz of defunct investment bank Bear Stearns was apparently delusional in March 2008 when he stated that things were going fine with the faltering investment bank:“Bear Stearns’ balance sheet, liquidity and capital remain strong… Our liquidity position has not changed at all, our balance sheet has not changed at all…”
Less than two days after Schwartz spoke these words, Bear Stearns filed for bankruptcy.
How can someone be so delusional and dense? No wonder no one wants to trust governmental or business leaders these days. With stuff like this going on, who wants to? When things are going well or when things are going bad there has to be a plan for the future.
Many of us like to think we have a plan, but do we really have a sound plan for our futures?
On May 20 and June 10, our congregation will be meeting to consider crafting a vision statement. Our church has learned the critical aspects of vision, planning, and leadership:
Leaders do not need to have all the right answers. Leaders need to ask the right questions. On the surface, this seems like a very unnerving statement, but asking the right questions produces the right direction. Leaders can still have some ideas about planning and vision, but first must ask questions. Jesus asked all sorts of questions: Who do you say I am? What is truth? Who are you looking for? Why are you afraid? These questions led to reflection, clarity, and understanding.
Vision comes from God. Most think pastors are responsible for vision. However, from scripture we see that God always provides the vision. Leaders and prophets make sure it happens and the people catch on to the vision.
Planning includes everyone. Sure the pastor has ideas about planning for vision, but the congregation does as well. The congregation, pastors, and the community can all be flows of information from God. Everyone must be included in the planning process.
Moving from fear to faith. We become anxious about a lot things in our life. Jeremiah was presented with a financial deal in Jeremiah chapter 32. God wanted him to buy property at high prices. The future looked grim for that property’s value because it was going to fall quickly with the instability of Israel’s future. Jeremiah looked past the economic forecast and trusted God. Moving from fear to faith.
A vision statement must be compelling and challenging. You might come to one of our congregation vision meetings and look at our vision statement and say, “Wow! This statement means we’ll have to change a few things.” If you made that statement, you know we are headed in the right direction. God has always renewed his people for the next chapter in the story. It’s time we begin writing the next chapter. Paul in his pastoral epistles challenged his readers to live into a new reality in Jesus Christ.
I hope you will join us after church on May 20 and June 10 for lunch and reflection. May God walk with us on this journey of vision.
With all Love and Grace,
Rev. Alan Rudnick
March Mission: Shelters of Saratoga
March 14, 2012 by
On March 3rd, a mission team of six prepared and served dinner to the residents at Shelters of Saratoga. Several members of the congregation assisted by preparing a portion of the meal, contributing beverages, or simply praying. The meal was extremely well-received and the experience was positive.
