Growing:: Marriage Conference
Apex, we are very blessed as a church to have Paul Tripp, well-known author and national speaker, coming to Apex on March 23-24 for the Apex Marriage Conference. Paul will be speaking both Friday evening and Saturday morning. He will be teaching from God’s Word and also using his latest book on marriage, What Did You Expect?? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage.
While this conference is called a “marriage conference”, we are encouraging everyone from teenagers to adults to attend. God created the marriage relationship, and understanding it biblically is essential in understanding God’s commitment to His church. Teenagers, singles, dating couples, engaged couples, marrieds, divorced and widowed are all welcome to register for this conference.
Mark your calendars and register early for this conference in the Apex Missions Cafe. There are only 1,250 registrations available, and we expect a large crowd. Registration is available for Apex until February 3rd. Starting February 4th, Apexers and people who do not attend Apex can register. We have already heard from other churches who are interested in registering for the conference. We are excited to see how God will use this conference in the life of Apex and we hope that you will join us!
For more information:
Stop by the table in the Apex Missions Cafe, contact the Apex office at 937.432.9022 or contact me directly.
Phil Depp
937.432.9022 x204
phil.depp@apexcommunity.org
This blog post was written by Phil Depp, Team Lead for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship.
Year in Review
As we come to the end of another year, we want to take a few days here on the blog to look back at all God has done and the blessings He has so graciously poured out on Apex.
Monday through Friday of this week, you will hear from leaders of the various areas of ministry here at Apex. We hope that these summaries of the past year are not only an encouragement as we move into 2012, but they are a continual reminder of our desperate need for God as we seek to do the things He has called us all to.
We are excited to see what His plan is for us as part of His church, His bride in 2012. We hope you are as well.
orphan care resources 2011
…we care for orphans because God cares for orphans…
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-orphan care resources-
10 Ways That You Can Support the Orphan, Fatherless, and Lonely
1. Pray for them!
- Make them a regular part of your prayer life and the prayer times of your House Church family.
- Fast and ask God to deepen your understanding of His call to seek out the lost, lonely, & needy.
2. Speak up for them.
- Use your various social media outlets to raise awareness for their needs.
- Become a court appointed special advocate for a child in foster care – www.nationalcasa.org
3. Provide for their needs.
- Sponsor a child. (see info below)
- Send supplies or financial gifts to a reputable orphanage, especially those internationally in highly impoverished areas.
- Organize a food/supply drive.
4. Support those who support them.
- Pray for the families around you that are adopting or providing foster care.
- Contribute financially to a family in an expensive adoption process.
- Offer to babysit, mow lawns, provide meals, etc. for adoptive/foster families.
5. Protect them from harm.
- Become a foster parent or emergency foster parent for children in transition. (see info below)
- Start or join an effort to build orphanages, children’s homes, etc to keep them off the streets.
6. Visit them where they are.
- Find a local orphanage or children’s home and spend time getting to know the people there.
- Go on a mission trip to serve orphans nationally & internationally. (see info below)
- Take a meal, Christmas gifts, etc to a local foster group-home.
- Become a mentor. (see info below)
7. Give sacrificially to them.
- Support reputable orphan care organizations on a regular basis.
- Contribute generously to an adoptive family to help them off-set their costs.
8. Encourage them.
- Sponsor a child, support them financially, & encourage them through your letters.
(see info below) - Join in efforts like Operation Christmas Child or Shoes for the Shoeless.
- Become a mentor or tutor for those needing help. (see info below)
9. Mobilize your church for them.
- Help your house church figure out ways you can regularly be involved with the lost, lonely, and needy.
- Help them stick with it and continue!
10. Adopt them.
- Give a child a home through international, domestic, or foster care adoption. (see info below)
- Adopt a young adult who has aged out of the system.
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Apex’s Local & International Orphan Care Partners:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters – www.bbbsgmv.org
- Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth “SAFY” – www.safy.org
- Shoes 4 the Shoeless – http://shoes4theshoeless.org/
- Back 2 Back Ministries (Mexico) – http://www.back2backministries.org
- Heart to Honduras – http://hth.org
- Christ’s Hope International (Zambia) – http://www.christshope.org/
- Compassion’s Child Survival Program – http://www.compassion.com/thompsoncsp
- Passion Center for Children (Malawi) – http://passioncenterforchildren.org/
- Lifeline Christian Mission (Haiti) / Haiti Bagging Day – http://www.lifeline.org/
A Few Local Foster Care & Adoption Agencies:
- Montgomery County Children Services – www.mcohio.org/services/childrens_services
- Greene County Children Services – www.greenecsb.org
- Agape For Youth – www.agapeforyouth.com
- Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) – www.safy.org
A Few International Adoption Agencies:
- America World Adoption – www.awaa.org
- Gladney Center for Adoption – www.adoptionsbygladney.com
- Christian World Adoption – www.cwa.org
- All God’s Children International – www.allgodschildren.org
Local Child Mentoring Programs:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters – www.bbbsgmv.org
- Agape for Youth – www.agapeforyouth.com/get_involved.php#mentoring
International Child Sponsorship:
- Compassion International – www.compassion.com
- Children’s Hopechest – www.hopechest.org
- World Vision – www.worldvision.org
- Amazima Ministries – http://www.amazima.org/sponsor.html
General Orphan Care Resources:
- Help for Orphans – www.helpfororphans.org
- The Christian Alliance for Orphans – www.christian-alliance-for-orphans.org
- Visiting Orphans – http://www.visitingorphans.org/
If you have further questions or would like to talk to someone regarding orphan care, email us at gathering@apexcommunity.org
Apex Band Auditions for Kettering & Xenia Gatherings
The next round of auditions for the Apex Band are Oct 30th & 31st. We will be auditioning for both the Kettering Campus and the Xenia Campus bands.
If you have a decent musical ability and a strong desire to communicate the Gospel, please consider auditioning!
Download an Audition Info Packet here or pick one up at an Apex gathering. This packet contains all necessary info as well as a band application.
Applications are due by Oct. 23rd.
We are currently auditioning for:
Kettering
- vocals
- electric guitar
- bass
- keyboard
- stringed instruments
Xenia
- vocals
- drums
- bass
- electric guitar
- keyboard
- stringed instruments
Masculine Soul 2011 Registration
Men of Apex, mark your calendars for April 15-16 (Friday 7-9pm and Saturday 9am-2:45pm). We will be hosting a two day men
Fall Focus 2010: Our Network Administrative Team
They are more than “behind the scenes” players, our Network Administrative Team are worship leaders attempting to do their best to love the Lord and His church with their gifts. Meet the team, including elders, staffers, volunteers, and at least one Jerry Garcia look-alike.
Fall Focus 2010: Biblical Counseling and Discipleship
Apex staffer Phil Depp continues Fall Focus by highlighting the ministry of Biblical counseling and discipleship. He outlines the ministry, how it is meant to come alongside our house church network, and invites counselors and counselees to give testimony of this ministry in their lives.
Fall Focus 2010: The 3500 Worship Leaders of Apex
In this two-part video from the October 2nd/3rd gatherings, Apex staffer Phil Wing continues Fall Focus by highlighting the ministry that happens during our regular weekend gatherings. He interviews various volunteers serving in dozens of areas of ministry and challenges us to remember that “worship” and “sacrifice” go hand-in-hand. When we gather together, do you have an attitude of giving back to the Lord… or receiving?
Fall Focus 2010: Connecting You To Apex
In this video from the September 25th/26th gatherings, Apex staffer Drew Clemens continues Fall Focus by highlighting the ministry of connecting people to the community. He introduces several members of the connecting team, emphasizes Apex Orientation, and reviews our new online tool, “The City.”
Apex Fall Focus Kickoff Videos: Discipleship Bonus Material!
The weekend of September 18th/19th, we kicked off Fall Focus 2010. Fall Focus is a time of reflecting on what God has done within Apex and what He is doing… including both challenges and victories.
Apex elder Chris Cardiff put on his Tressel vest to give a humorous introduction to our very serious mission: being and making disciples of Christ. The first video below is that video shown in the 18th/19th Apex weekend gatherings. The following three videos include extremely valuable additional teaching from our elders about what it means to be a fully devoted disciple of Jesus… knowing, loving, and obeying Him through the power of the Holy Spirit.
For more expanded teaching on knowing, loving, and obeying Jesus, check out this resource in our online library.
