There's something about back-to-school that makes everyone feel the possibility of a fresh start. For students leaving behind the grades of prior semesters, becoming an A student feels like a possibility once again. Getting new school supplies is fun (at least for kids) and that new pencil box, markers, and notebooks gives the feeling of starting with a clean slate. A new window to the world is open and anything seems possible. Back-to-school can ignite these feelings in adults as well - it's almost like a mini-new year!
Back-to-school season is also a time of refocus for the church, bringing people together to start new spiritual disciplines. Christian educators create sign-up lists for classes that meet congregational context, and create hospitable environments for the Holy Spirit to flourish. Teachers prepare in study and prayer for the work that lies ahead.

"A Fresh Start," the latest multimedia bundle from United Methodist Communications, encourages congregations to look at the back-to-school season as a chance for all persons to begin anew, as a time of refocus for the church, and a way to create that hospitable environment for the faith community.

This four-week series addresses the following topics:

Week 1: Backpack Blessings: taking God with you to face fear, uncertainty and dreams
Week 2: Fitting In, or Becoming Fit: self-acceptance, peer pressure and self-worth in God
Week 3: When the Lead Breaks: dealing with disappointment
Week 4: Each Day a New Beginning: learning how to begin again

Outbound challenges are included to help the congregation take faith to the streets and show the love of Christ.

This "Fresh Start" multimedia bundle includes:

-5 Worship Videos
- Worship Slide and Bulletin Cover Graphics
-Direct Mail, Door Hangers, Newspaper and Invitation Card artwork to invite others

Craig Groeschel, founding and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, takes you on a nine-session video journey to discover the powerful presence from God that he calls IT at work in many churches. Each video session is approximately ten-minutes long and focuses on the many facets of 'what is IT and where did IT come from.' Craig will explore the necessary contributions to IT such as vision, divine focus, unmistakable camaraderie, innovative minds, willingness to fall short, hearts focused outward and kingdom-mindedness. He concludes the video experience with a session on 'do you have IT and how to keep IT once you have IT.' This video is designed for leadership groups and church groups and includes discussion questions on the DVD at the end of each session.

Sessions include:

1. What is IT?
2. Vision
3. Divine Focus
4. Unmistakable Camaraderie
5. Innovative Minds
6. Willingness to Fail
7. Outward Hearts
8. Kingdom Mindedness
9. Getting It Back

10 minutes/session

This handbook describes the basic financial records and procedures you need to receive, record, disburse, report, and manage the funds received by your church. It also provides instructions for good financial control and for using forms developed especially to assist United Methodist congregations. It is divided into three major sections: The Work of the Counting Committee, The Work of the Financial Secretary, and The Work of the Treasurer. Each section includes step-by-step directions to accomplish tasks that most churches tackle regularly including counting the offering, preparing and mailing reports of giving to donors, and preparing the periodic Treasurer's Report and other financial reports. Prepared and edited by the General Council on Finance and Administration of the UMC.
Appendix: The General Ledger Approach - The Bridge to Financial Record Keeping on Computer
CD-Rom consists of templates for the Quarterly Report of Giving, for useful reports including a monthly Treasurer's Report and charge conference report; for helpful tools shuch as the Counter's Tally Sheet, Remittance Advice Form, and Cash Receipts Voucher ... etc.
(Book with 1CD-Rom; Includes Appendix)

This resource is a mission of global proportions that invites Christians around the world to unite around the central message of our faith, embodied in the words of John 3:16. This DVD companion production to Lucado's new book, 3:16 The Numbers of Hope , features 12 teaching segments by Max that unpack this timeless message - phrase by enduing phrase.
This is for both individual and small group studies. Stories of Hope takes us deeper into what Lucado calls, "the hope diamond" of the Bible; John 3:16.
The DVD also features an exclusive short-film written by Max Lucado that tells the ‘prodigal’ story in an inspiring and challenging new way. Wherever You Are tells the story of Katherine, who finds herself far from home in a dance club remembering a more innocent time in her life dancing with her father. Katherine's rebellion and its consequences lead to an inspiring story of forgiveness, grace, and unconditional love.

Highly regarded pastor Floyd Flake, his wife co-pastor author Elaine Flake, and church chief financial officer Edwin Reed offer a design based on key needs in the black church, and their experience at one of the nation's most respected and largest black churches, Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in New York. This unique, detailed, and thorough resource for black churches of any denomination covers virtually all aspects of church management from the theoretical and theological to the practical "nuts and bolts"of church administration.
Appendices includes: Sample Mission Statement, Sample Constitution and Bylaws, Strategic Plan Checklist, Excerpts from the Greater Allen Emplyee Manual, Sample Event Budget, Sample Church Budget, Recommended Resources.

This video examines the growth of the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia. In 1982 the Marxist government closed all of their congregations and put their leaders in prison. The church went underground and continued meeting in homes. After the overthrow of the Marxist government in 1991, the church resurfaced to discover that they had grown tenfold, from 5,000 to 50,000 members. The film uncovers the secret of this amazing survival and growth under oppression. This is a great program on church growth, small groups and faithfulness in times of trial.

Based on Leonard Sweet's best-selling book, AquaChurch : Essential Leadership Arts for Piloting Your Church in Today's Fluid Culture, this training kit will let you explore the leadership arts that are essential in navigating today's ever-changing culture and discover ways to transform your church into a relevant and vital ministry force in your community. (12 Session: each session is about 45 to 60 minutes. Video showing per each session is about 5 minutes.)

This video training course is designed with youth leaders and students in mind. Revised and expanded by Bo Boshers, this highly interactive approach addresses the specific needs and challenges of students - in language they can relate to. Students will learn how to:
-be intentional in developing relationships
-transition an ordinary conversation to a spiritual conversation
-tell in plain language their personal story of meeting Christ
-share the gospel message using two different illustrations
-answer ten common objections to Christianity
-pray with a friend to receive Christ.
Includes Evangelistic Styles Assessment; Activities for individuals, partners, and small groups; One 60-min video; Leader's guide; Student's guide; PowerPoint CD-ROM.
Eight 60min-sessions.

How do we really welcome others into our lives and our congregation? What helps does the Bible offer to help us understand hospitality? How can we help our congregation view welcoming, not as a program, but as a way of living within the body of Christ. This seven-session video based curriculum invites us to look beyond the 30-second television commercials produced by the United Methodist Church. Each session is comprised of a biblical study, discussion question, video segments, and practice lessons.
Seven Sessions are:
1. What is Welcoming?;
2. Classifieds: "Trying To Fill the Hole in the Soul";
3. Good Works: "Putting Faith Into Action";
4. Diversity: "Understanding What Unites Us";
5. Breaking News: "Coping With the Unexpected";
6. Rain: "Seeing God in the Everyday";
7. Love Letters: "Mending a Lost Relationship"
Recommended companion for this study: Igniting Ministry Planning Kit.

This seven-session small-group video series is for all local congregations wanting to go beyond the 30-second length of the national television commercials to explore what may block our ability to welcome others. This group resource is designed for any congregation wanting to sharpen its welcoming skills. The seven study sessions are built on the themes of the United Methodist national television advertising campaign, which explores a basic principle. Each session explores how individuals or a small group can assist a congregation to view welcoming, not as a program, but as a way of living within the body of Christ.
Session 1. What Is Welcoming?
Session 2. Classifieds: Trying To Fill the Hole in the Soul; Session 3. Good Works: Putting Faith Into Action;
Session 4. Diversity: Understanding What Unites Us;
Session 5. Breaking News: Coping with the Unexpected;
Session 6. Rain: Seeing God in the Everyday;
Session 7. Love Letters: Mending a Lost Relationship
(7-10min/ session)
Recommended companion for this study: Igniting Ministry Planning Kit.