Special Music for Sunday, December 20

Have plans for this Sunday morning? At the 10:45 service at Crooked Creek Baptist a community of refugees from Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda will be sharing special music. The first will be a children's choir singing in their debut performance in Indy! The second will be a choir of adults from Grace Tabernacle.

If you need a little extra in your Christmas spirit then come and gain some joy from experiencing the Presence in the music of these 2 choirs!

Reconditioned Sanctuary is Ready!

As you can see, the carpeting is installed in the sanctuary and the re-designed pew placement is set and anchored.  The pews from the back have been removed and work has already begun on a new visitor center.  The pews in the sanctuary, which were set at random distances from one another, have been re-set with a 14" spacing between each row, making access to them much easier.  Additionally, several spaces designed specifically for wheelchair/electric vehicles have also been created to make the sanctuary more friendly to people with physical challenges.

Upon completion of the Visitor/Welcome Center we will re-dedicate the sanctuary to God's glory!

Just a reminder that Crooked Creek Baptist worships regularly on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in this beautifully renovated building.  Christian Education is available before worship for people of all ages beginning at 9:30.  We hope you will make an effort to come worship with us very soon!

Licensing Service June 13

Crooked Creek Baptist will be presenting a license for Christian ministry to Pastor Emmanuel Musinga this Saturday, June 13 in a service at the church (5540 Michigan Rd) from 4-6 p.m.  Pastor Musinga is in our country as a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo and is leading a community of other refugees who have settled in Indianapolis.  Pastor Emmanuel and the church, Grace Tabernacle, have been worshiping at Crooked Creek Baptist for almost 2 years now.

The service will feature a combined choir of African music, as several communities of refugees from all over the U.S and Canada will be participating.  We will also hear words from the ABC IN/KY Executive Minister, Rev. Soozi Ford and Area Resource Minister, Jim Walters.  The charge to our candidate will come from Dr. Paul Gitwaza who is the President of the Alliance of Evangelical Churches in Rwanda, and a close and personal friend to Emmanuel.

Immediately following the service an authentic African meal will be served in Fellowship Hall.  We hope you will be able to join us to both be a blessing and be blessed in this celebration!

English New Language Classes

Beginning on Monday, April 6 2015 Crooked Creek Baptist Church will be offering English as a New Language classes to the public.  Classes will run on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m. and also on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m.  There is no cost to attend these classes.  For more information, a full schedule of classes for April-May, or to register for classes you may contact the church at 317-251-7804 or at crookedcreekchurch@att.net

ESL Tutor Training

I wanted to let you know of a Tutor training event for possible ESL (English as Second Language) tutors that is coming up in the month of February.  Indy Reads is sponsoring training on the evenings of February 17,19,24, and 26 from 6-9 p.m.  All 4 of these sessions must be attended.  There is a cost associated with the training of $25.  Crooked Creek Baptist has received a grant to cover the costs for the ESL tutor training.  To receive this benefit you must contact Tom Bartley to coordinate registrations.

The tutor training is the next step for us to offer ESL classes at Crooked Creek Baptist.  Although we plan to target the communities that worship in our building we will be opening these classes for anyone who would like to attend.  Crooked Creek Elementary is also interested in promoting this ministry for us at their school to assist some of the parents of their students.

I know that a few of you have expressed an interest in helping with this next step in our ministry.  I personally view this as an extension of what takes place with our Manna ministry.  Instead of just feeding hungry people, we will be helping them to take care of their own selves.  Improved English opens the door to better and more diverse employment.  It will improve their chance for furthering their own education and that of their children.  It offers a different kind of hope that lasts beyond the temporary feeling of a full stomach provided at Manna.  I believe it is taking the command to "give them something to eat" further along the plan Jesus had when he first issued this command to his disciples.

So if you feel called to help with this ministry, please check your calendars to see if you can make this time work for you.  If not, please let me know and we will look at other ways to get this training made available.  Thanks for your service and for your willingness to be used by God the ministry of Crooked Creek Baptist.