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
2011 Passion Weekend (Easter) at Apex
Here are the plans for this year’s Passion Weekend! Our house churches are encouraged to get together and pray on Thursday the 21st focusing on “Jesus as the Servant.” (Staff hopes to provide some suggested prayer plans for this). We’ll then be having a 6:30-8:00pm Good Friday gathering at Apex focusing on “Jesus as the Sacrifice” (see Apex Kids note below). Lastly, our normal weekend gatherings (at their normal times) will be the culmination and celebration of “Jesus as our Savior!”
Apex Kids & Students
Apex Kids will have normal classes on Easter Saturday and Sunday; however, there will only be limited kids ministry for Good Friday. If you want your child to participate in Apex Kids during the Good Friday service, limited spots are available… please register online ASAP by clicking the link below:
Click Here for Good Friday Kids Classes Registration
Apex Students will have no activities all day on Saturday or Sunday. This includes 56 Crew, 78 Ignition, and High School.
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
Baptism Testimonies: From Jan. 30th – Feb. 27th Weekend Gatherings
Following are baptism testimonies from our January 30th through February 27th weekend gatherings. Meet Chrystal, Heather, Katie, and Constance!
2011 Women & Men’s Conferences
In 2011, Apex will be hosting two fantastic conferences focused on our identity in Christ. Please check out the information below, and feel free to pass this information along to others!
FOR THE LADIES:
Immeasurably More…
Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Apex will be hosting the 2nd Annual Women
songs from the weekend of Feb. 26/27
- Cannons written by Phil Wickham
- In Christ Alone written by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty – our arrangement of this song was inspired by the version done by Veritas Church.
songs from the weekend of Feb. 19/20, 2011
- Come Thou Fount written by Robert Robinson – one of our team leaders, Matt, gave this a musical overhaul.
songs from the weekend of Feb. 12/13, 2011
- You’ll Come written by Brooke Fraser
- I Still Am written by our own Phil Wing
- We Will Run written by Lisa Gungor
- Rescue written by Jared Anderson
- If You Say Go written by Diane Thiel
- Come Thou Fount written by Robert Robinson – one of our team leaders, Matt, gave this a musical overhaul.