Posts Tagged ‘John Riggio’
BY JOHN RIGGIO
The Bible sends a strong message that Christians are at their best when sharing burdens in the name of serving our Lord Jesus Christ. A men’s Bible study group at Northview Church has been serving a specific group of US veterans for almost 10 years. Several times a year, members of this men’s Bible study group serve hot, home-cooked meals to a group of veterans housed in a building across the street from the VA Medical Center in downtown Indianapolis.
“This is a program sponsored by the Volunteers of America,” said Ron Chambers, co-chair of the men’s Bible study. Nearly half of the 25 men in this group and their families help prepare hot meals several times a year to serve to the 25-30 veterans.
“These men are being housed in this building while undergoing treatment at the VA hospital for such things as substance abuse, addiction, alcoholism and other conditions,” Chambers said.
Northview men’s Bible study group serves a meal to US veterans. (photo submitted by Win Clark)
Chambers said the veterans come from all over the country. They do not have any family in town to help them out. He said that they do not get hot meals during the day – only box lunches for their meals.
“We make mashed potatoes, hams, turkey, beans, rolls, pies. We bring candy and door prizes. We play games with them and even box up the extra food so they can bring it back to their rooms,” Chambers said, his enthusiasm getting caught up like a spoon in his own buffet. He said these veterans served their country unselfishly and that we truly owe them a debt that cannot be fully paid.
Chambers pointed out that no church money goes into this program. All the donations come from members of this men’s Bible study. “It’s as if we bring Jesus in to join them for dinner. We play with them, talk with them, pray with them. We want to make this a relationship as well as a dinner,” Chambers said. “I’m a man of passion when I talk about this.”
Chambers noted a 50 percent turnover of men from dinner to dinner. That’s because the veterans are typically undergoing a six-month period of treatment. He said they served a dinner during the Christmas season and will do another one again on April 15, during the Easter season.
The veterans very much appreciate the acts of service. “One of the veterans told us a story about how he would fish the Mississippi River barehanded for catfish. He pointed to his plate during our dinner and said, ‘I’ve had warm catfish and cold snake, but this meal here is the best I’ve had in years,’” said Chris Wolf, co-chair of the men’s Bible study.
“These men served our country and put their lives out there,” Wolf said with conviction. “These guys are down and out but trying their best to make a comeback,” he added, his voice adding resonance to his joy in serving these men who have served us all so well.
Any man is welcome to join the men’s Bible study group at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays at Northview’s Carmel campus. No sign-up is necessary. For more information, contact Ron Chambers at ronchambers75@hotmail.com.
BY JOHN RIGGIO
It is amazing that there is always a new way to celebrate one of the oldest institutions in the world—the family. A new program is starting at Northview Church called Family Experience (FX). This will be a monthly family worship night for parents and their children.
Northview’s goal for FX is to bridge the gap between “adult church” and “children’s church.” Northview Kids currently teaches a Bible lesson during Weekend Services, but moms and dads do not know what is being taught or how it is being taught to their children. Then when their kids get picked up after the lesson, it is like an interrogation: “What were your Bible verses? What will you memorize? What did you learn?” Kurt Brodbeck, Northview’s Carmel campus Family Pastor, said it leaves the children feeling like “deer in the headlights.” Brodbeck wants there to be more of a spiritual conversation between parents and kids, not an unintended interrogation.
With FX, the parents and their school-age kids receive the lesson together, then follow up with at-home activities to not only reinforce the lesson but to act out the point of the lesson. “If the lesson is about who to honor, the family activity will be to designate a place of honor at the dining room table. Each person in the family will then occupy that place of honor in their turn. Families can look up Bible verses about the topic, share these verses and have a discussion right there at the table,” Brodbeck said.
![[photo by Kurt Hostetler]](https://thenorthviewblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/adventureweek2011bn.jpg)
[photo by Kurt Hostetler]
He said each month FX will be led by a couple different hosts, have segments made up of teaching time, live worship, short skits from a drama team and conversation time with family members. The entire session will last about 90 minutes. The teaching time is for parents and their children ages K-4. However, older children up through junior high are encouraged to attend the worship time and activities/games.
“God makes it very clear that our role as parents is to train kids and to be spiritual leaders in our kids’ lives,” Brodbeck said. “It can be scary and intimidating for parents to know how to raise kids in the right way. We want to provide tools to help parents engage their children in important spiritual conversations in their own home.”
Brodbeck said he draws incredible strength and inspiration from the Bible. “I often refer to Deuteronomy 6:4-9 as a mandate for parents to have these spiritual conversations with their children. These verses are a demand from God to constantly talk of the commands of God that will provide a spiritual foundation for the rest of their children’s lives.”
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk bout them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)
![[photo by Kurt Hostetler]](https://thenorthviewblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/img_1285.jpg)
[photo by Kurt Hostetler]
Northview’s Carmel campus will host their first FX at 6 p.m. on Feb. 23. Northview’s Greater Lafayette campus will offer FX at 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 as well. Northview’s Fishers campus will have their first FX the following Wednesday, March 5.
BY JOHN RIGGIO
It’s a late summer evening and the cicadas’ shrill calls resonate. The sun sets like a father’s hand upon the tassled tops of the trees as parents are filing into Northview Church, children in tow, hand-in-hand for the GraceWorks Friday Fun Night. This is a free night once a month that parents and children look forward to.
“This event is a totally free, no-cost fun evening for the kids where they get individual attention and love. We want them to feel God’s love and know that they are perfectly made by God in His image,” says Amanda Arroyo, Northview’s First Impressions Coordinator and GraceWorks Coordinator.
Arroyo continues, “Kids arrive, meet the volunteer assigned to them, sit down together and have a pizza dinner. They get about one hour to do activities and then they lay down with pillows and blankets, watch a movie and eat snacks.”
The dining room has the warm, rolling smell of pizza and a hubbub of voices that rise and fall like a playground jungle gym. Cliff is an adult volunteer sharing a table and eating with 3-4 boys. He sits across from Andrew, who is there with his brother Michael. Andrew stands and beats his chest like Tarzan. “I love it here, and it’s only my first time,” he announces.
Michael nods and agrees. “I like the movies,” he says thoughtfully, as he pulls at his slice of pizza.
“GraceWorks is a ministry at Northview Church that serves families and children with special needs. A GraceGiver is just the name we give volunteers who are paired with a child to give that child extra attention and grace,” explains Arroyo.
“Having a child with special needs is a special blessing but it can also be very time consuming and exhausting at times. This event was developed to show the love of Christ to these parents by giving them a regular night out away from their children to go on a date, do errands or just rest,” confirms Arroyo.
Having fun at Friday Fun Night! (photo by Ben Yoder)
Little Mackenzie is sitting with adult volunteer, Diana, and with teenage volunteer, Sarah. Mackenzie’s eyes dance warm as toasted almonds. “This is where my friends are,” she smiles. “I know Sarah, Julia, Allison…” she trails off, looking around the room. She sees adults and teens with the younger children—some eating, some standing, some in wheelchairs and everyone engaged and enlightened.
Arroyo notes that at this program, “We work with children of varied abilities and disabilities. We have children who are medically fragile, children with ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and other developmental delays.” She wishes every family could take part in this program. However, “At this point we have a large number of families within our church who take advantage of this opportunity, so we are only offering it to families that attend Northview.”
Sarah is a tall teenage volunteer who keeps her hands lightly on Sean’s shoulders, as her young charge finishes his juice drink. “We are all blessed with this chance to be together. And I love seeing the parents come in dressed up for a date when they drop off their kids, then coming back after a nice long night out,” she sighs.
A volunteer helps a child put his train together at Friday Fun Night (photo by Ben Yoder)
The activities after dinner include make believe, arts and crafts, indoor playground activities and laughter.
“We are in need of volunteers who would be willing to join this team to serve once a month at this event. We need 30-40 volunteers to run this event. Experience with special needs children is not mandatory but is helpful. The only requirement is to be able to show the love of Christ to kids,” concludes Arroyo.
Arroyo outlined the upcoming schedule for Friday Fun Nights: “October’s event is set for October 25. We will take a break in November and December due to holidays. Starting in the new year, we plan to have the events on the fourth Friday of the month from January through May.”
If interested in serving, go to northviewchurch.us and fill out a volunteer application under Northview Kids and indicate GraceWorks on the application. To find out more about becoming a volunteer contact Amanda Arroyo at 846-2884 or amanda.arroyo@northviewchurch.us.
BY JOHN RIGGIO
Northview Church attendees responded with arms raised in praise when Brandon Collins took to the stage with guitar in hand and light in his hair. His voice rang out strong, textured and bright as the polished wood of a church pew. Collins is the new worship pastor at the Northview’s Greater Lafayette campus, but on this particular Sunday, he was leading praise and worship at the Carmel campus. The congregation followed Brandon as he led them on a musical journey up—higher up to that point when God’s toes are almost within reach.
“I love to lead worship when people make a real connection with God,” Collins said. “We sing the song and feel the energy…” he trails off like the final note on his guitar.
“My role is to work hard,” he continues with conviction, “to develop a unified worship team who is excited, passionate and professional in every way. We are so blessed with the worship team we have; however, I want us to be known throughout the entire community for what we do.”
Collins and his wife, Meghan, came from the tree-clad rolling hills of Bethany, W.Va. That area has a musical heritage that is as deep and strong as the springs flowing beneath the green.
![Worship pastor Brandon Collins leads worship during Weekend Service. [photo by Andrea Scheffee]](https://thenorthviewblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/a24.jpg)
Worship Pastor Brandon Collins leads worship during Weekend Service. [photo by Andrea Scheffee]
Collins gets his inspiration from one of the greatest musicians and songwriters of all time, King David. “David was a wonderful servant and musician to King Saul. He wrote amazing songs, and he celebrated his love for God through amazing dances.” Collins smiled. “David danced so freely that he even embarrassed his own wife, because his clothes would fall off during his jubilation.”
“I love his transparency, his love for real life,” Collins concluded.
Even though it is obvious that Collins loves his job—a word only one letter away from joy—he knows that his vision will take hard work.
“I would love to see our worship team take it to the next level, to be known for the passionate and talented group they are: a group who serves God with excellence, leading people to make real connections with God while sharing a professional sound”—a sound to soar up past raised-hand fingertips to almost touch the toes of God.
A NEW FAMILY PASTOR
Patrick Ringler is the new family pastor at Northview’s Greater Lafayette Campus. Ringler hails from northern Indiana and southern Michigan, but was actually born in Lafayette, Ind. He previously spent 10 years as a student ministries pastor and came to Northview with a passion in his heart and a moment on his mind.
“Teaching the Word of God to everyone is a passion of mine. I love that ‘aha!’ moment when teaching becomes real; it makes you want to get up in the morning,” Ringler said, his voice rising like a red morning sun.
“Teaching what is right can come through service to others.” Ringler recalled one particular student who learned that God is bigger than anything she could think of. This lesson came home to her on a mission trip to Nicaragua as she served and showed God’s love to others.
Ringler has a love for God that extends throughout his entire family. With Kim, his wife of 13 years, they are raising their three daughters: Sadey, 4, Haley, 7, and Avery, 9. They are teaching them God’s life lessons through daily prayer and service to each other.
“Children should serve alongside their parents, as they do during the Good Neighbor Weekend,” Ringler pointed out.
He uses Ephesians 6:4 as inspiration for his teaching (with just a wee bit of paraphrasing): “And you, parents, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
Ringler points out, “The parents’ role is to love, teach and instruct their children. We at Northview can use that hour of activity in Family Ministries to do that; however, it needs to continue at the home. We love to celebrate when parents are modeling faith for their children in their own home.”
“We believe that God wants to see stronger families – to see parents and children connecting.” He paused while reflecting, and then the wheels began turning again.
![Family Ministry Pastor Patrick Ringler leads a Northview Kids classroom during Weekend Services. [photo by Andrea Scheffee]](https://thenorthviewblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/c8.jpg)
Family Pastor Patrick Ringler leads a Northview Kids classroom during Weekend Services. [photo by Andrea Scheffee]
Ringler will continue to encourage families into a closer relationship with God and with each other until we each feel that “aha!” moment in our own hearts and minds.
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