Volunteers

The Building Stones of Our Church!

Living Word Church has been built on a rich heritage of volunteerism. God has blessed the faithfulness and commitment of our volunteers. Out of this foundational heritage of a volunteer culture, leaders of various departments are developed. If you want to lead, begin by serving. This ministry is dependent on the continued faithfulness and commitment. It is the desire of this church that all members and regular attendees volunteer to serve regularly in at least two areas of ministry. Following is a non-exhaustive list of departments and ministries provided by Living Word Church. To request further information, or to volunteer, please contact Valerie Cox, Church Secretary, at the Church Office (217) 395-2231 during regular business hours Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Accounting: Please use an offering envelope for all tithes, offerings and donations. Include your account number on the envelope. This number is available from Jennifer Otto, through the Church Office.

Altar Ministry: People offering prayer support and intercession during altar ministry. For more information contact and Lucinda.

Appointments: To schedule an appointment with Pastoral staff, please arrange through Valerie Cox at the Church Office at (217) 395-2231 during regular business hours of 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.

Baby Dedications: If you desire to have your child dedicated, as unto the Lord, please contact the . Baby Dedications are done periodically throughout the year as the need arises. Gregg and Michele Honegger coordinate this special event at Living Word.

Baptism: Baptism is administered by total immersion. For more information please contact the .

Care Coordinators: This ministry provides assistance with meals and/or other needs after hospitalization, during illness or after an immediate family member's death. Please notify the in the event of any of the above or contact Ron Gustafson for more information.

Children's Ministry: Our children, ages 1st grade through 5th grade attend Sunday SUPER Church and Wednesday night INFUSION concurrent with adult worship services. After joining the adults for initial praise, they are dismissed to their age-appropriate service. Ages 4 & 5 Kindergarten also have their own worship program during this time. and Michele Honegger are Sunday SUPER Church Assistant Directors. Cecil and Angie Bellephant are Wednesday INFUSION Assistant Directors. are our Children's Ministry Directors.

Background checks are required on anyone who regularly works as a volunteer in our nursery, children's or youth departments.

Children's Special Programs: Beyond our weekly programs, we provide exciting special events for the children of our church and our community. Annual Vacation Bible School takes place every June, and our Children's Christmas Pageant is presented during the Christmas season. We also have special programming the weeks before Easter, during SUPER Church and INFUSION. Please contact who is the volunteer coordinator for Children's Special Events.

Church Board of Advisers: , Chuck Bargmann, Ed Kendrick, Rick Kirby and Bud Otto.

Coffee and Donuts: Our Sunday morning fellowship time is provided by rotating volunteers. Pastries and coffee are served. This is a wonderful way to become acquainted with many people! Dawn Williams leads this area.

Communion: Our communion is open to anyone who has received Jesus Christ into their hearts as Lord and Savior. Communion is observed during Sunday Worship Service, and is usually announced two weeks prior to the observance. Communion is prepared by Arvie and Dale Beard.

Decorating for Special Events: Please contact the to volunteer to help with decorating the building for Christmas and for special events such as Vacation Bible School. Dee Kroner leads this area.

Directory: Phone Directories are available, to attendees, upon request by contacting the . Please see Arvie Beard to be added to the Church Directory.

Discipleship: If you desire to have someone meet with you for spiritual guidance, contact the . If you are willing to serve as a mentor to help others in their spiritual walk, please notify Pastor Doug.

Duplication: Service CD's are available for sale in the foyer. Connie Wlos is there to serve in this ministry.

Family Food & Fellowship: We have regular Family Food and Fellowship following some Sunday Church Services. coordinates this special event. Keith and Lora Lage are the leaders in this area.

Family Nights: Periodic family activities are planned throughout the year. Timely announcements are made during Sunday Services, as well as being posted in the Bulletin and on the web site. The Church Office coordinates these events.

Flowers: For help with, or to provide plants and flower arrangements, please contact the Church Office. Carol Benoit leads in this area.

Food Pantry: The Food Pantry located in our Church serves the surrounding communities. We receive regular donations from other Churches and organizations. To make donations or to receive food, please contact Valerie Cox, Church Secretary.

Greeters: If you have invited friends or family and wish to have them seated with you during the service, please let the greeters know. We are a friendly Church! We ask that you be alert to new faces and make a special point to greet visitors and make them feel welcomed. Don and Donna Gray lead in this area.

History: The charter of Living Word Church was formed October 3rd, 1982. The charter membership counted 17 persons who met in the basement of a farmhouse that was the residence of Pastor Doug Lee. The Church grew through several phases and buildings to eventually be housed in the present facility. Pastor Robert Hoover and his wife Darlene served as Senior Pastor from June 1st, 1984 until February 11th, 2002. Pastor Doug and his wife Lucinda Lee returned in 2002 to serve again as Senior Pastor.

Home Fellowship: A time of fellowship and ministry is offered in various locations and times throughout our area. Please see the the web site.

Hospitality & Newcomers: We are a friendly Church! We make a special point to recognize and welcome newcomers and visitors and to provide any assistance needed. Bud and Cindy Otto lead in this area.

Maintenance - Buildings and Grounds: To request any special use of the facilities please contact the . Randy Berger leads in this area of ministry.

Membership: Membership is offered periodically and is coordinated by Pastor Doug. If you want more information, please contact the .

Men's Ministry: Marv Hamilton leads the weekly men's meeting. They meet every Tuesday morning at 9:30am. Scheduled special men's events are coordinated  by Alan Hopkins.

Missions: Living Word Church regularly supports specified missionaries around the world. Short-term mission trips will be scheduled periodically.  coordinates this ministry.

Music Department: is our Music Director. He oversees all music for services, including specials and special events.

Nexus Outreach: We provide worship and teaching services on a monthly basis to the Nexus program in Onarga. Nexus is a live-in program helping troubled adolescent boys. coordinates this outreach ministry.

Nursery: We provide an Infant Nursery (ages birth to 2 1/2) and a Toddler Nursery (ages 2 1/2 through 3 years) every Sunday and Wednesday. Upon a child's first visit, parents are given a general information form that must be completed prior to enrolling a child. We ask that parents be courteous by not leaving any child in the nursery who has had a fever or has been ill in the last 48 hours. Children need to be picked up by their own parents immediately following the Service. To volunteer, please see .

Background checks are required on anyone who regularly works as a volunteer in our nursery, children's or youth departments.

Nursing Home: Once a month we provide a Church Service for the residents of the Greenbrier Health Care Center in Piper City. Tony and Judy LaVine lead this ministry.

Peace Meals: Living Word Church rotates in the serving of our shut-ins with other Roberts Churches. To volunteer to help with meals, please contact .

Prayer Chain: Please only call the Prayer Chain if you have an urgent, immediate need that touches you, your family or Church family. This is a volunteer ministry. As such, contact through the "chain" is on an "as available at home" basis. We are developing a method of communicating urgent prayer needs through our web site. Currently you may optionally  communicate your Prayer Requests online.

Prison Ministry: We offer regular outreach and spiritual counseling and encouragement to prisoners in Iroquois County. coordinates this ministry.

Publications: Provision of weekly advertising, notifications and special event articles is coordinated by Tammy Kendrick.

Radio: Pastor Doug's Sunday message is aired each Sunday over WGCY 106.3 FM and on WPXN 104.9 FM. These radio broadcasts reach a potential audience of thousands. To support or to volunteer to help in this area of ministry, please contact .

Sound & Projection: directs the sound department.

Special Events: For special events such as large meetings and funerals, please contact the .

Summer Outreach Ministry: Special Summer outreaches, such as park outreaches are coordinated by .

Sunday School: Sunday School is provided for ages 4-5 (pre-K) through adult each Sunday morning from 9:00 to 9:45, Nursery for birth through 3 years is provided during this time. Curt and Dee Shoaf are the Sunday School Superintendents.

Teens: Our Youth Group is called IMPACT. The Jr. High Youth Group (ages 6th through 8th grades) meets every Wednesday night at 7:00pm in the Youth Center located across the highway from the Church. coordinate this ministry.

     Our High School Youth Group meets every Sunday evening at 6:00pm in the Youth Center. lead the High School Group. Within this ministry, opportunities for the youth include music, drama, outreaches, conferences and special outings. Our teens also serve in the Nursery and Children's Church Services as volunteers.

Background checks are required on anyone who regularly works as a volunteer in our nursery, children's or youth departments.

Ushers: Our ushers assist at all regularly scheduled services, as well as special events and funerals as needed. Please contact the Church for more information. leads in this area.

Wedding & Funeral Coordinator: For these life events, the use of the facility is arranged through the . Sharon Bargmann coordinates and assists in planning these Services.

Weekly Intercessory Prayer: This prayer session is for staff, but is open to everyone. It meets every Monday at 4:00pm at the Church. The Church Office closes at 4:00pm on Mondays.

Women's Ministry: Our women's meeting, called "Women of Purpose" meets the second Tuesday evening of every month. We also have an annual area-wide Women's Celebration during the Christmas season, and a Single Mom's outreach that provides free oil changes and car inspection, as well as outreach fellowship and a meal for these women and their children. For more information on this ministry contact the  or Sharon Bargmann, who coordinates women's ministry.