The purpose of the Women’s Ministries of the SEFC is to glorify God by promoting a growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ and a holy zeal in making him known to others through participation in global ministries, service to our church and community, and edification of believers.

Our ministries include:

Sister’s Prayer Team

We have a team of ladies who seek to love every woman who attends this fellowship by lifting up in prayer each one by name to the Father. Everyone is on a list under the prayer cover of a mature believer who has committed to petition Heaven on their behalf.

Circles

The ladies in our church are divided into 3 circles that are called on to serve meals on behalf of the church family.   Whether it is a lunch for the family and guests following funerals, an all church special occasion like our Harvest Banquet, or a special ministry like a Mission Banquet, these circles provide excellent service to many people through their kind hospitality.

Women’s Bible studies

Women’s Bible studies allow our women to explore the Lord’s teaching on various subjects of interest while sharing life together.  During these times of prayer and mutual encouragement relationships are deepened with Christ and each other.  They meet at various times including Wednesday nights during AWANA through the school year.  Call the church office for more information.

Missions support

Joining together to support missions has been a high value for many years at SEFC. Each year at the Harvest Banquet our women organize a collection for the missionaries that have come from our church.  This encouragement is especially appreciated by those serving away from home.  Also the White Cross Ministry has for many decades prepared supplies for Tandala Hospital in the Dem. Rep. of the Congo.

Prayer groups

The prayer ministry of women in our church is a vital source of strength that unleashes God’s hand to work.   Our women often gather in informal times of prayer.

MOPS

Mother’s Of PreSchoolers is a national ministry that we have sponsored locally as part of our church’s ministry to young mothers in our area.  Special teaching, mentoring and fun biweekly gatherings are a genuine encouragement for mother’s looking for a connection with others going through this special season of life.  See MOPS under the ministry tab on this site for more details.

Weekly Gatherings

The following are some specific opportunities for men to sharpen one another and to develop as faithful men of God:

• Jr. High Youth Group (7th-8th grades) Sunday evenings from 4:00pm – 6:00pm.

• Sr. High Youth Group (9th– 12th grades) Sunday evenings from 4:00pm – 6:00 pm.

• Sunday School  classes every Sunday at 9:00 am.

• For Jr. High students, every other year we have a Bible Instruction Class to give them a foundation of key doctrines and a survey of both the Old and New Testaments.

• For our Sr. High students, we also offer both guys and girls bible studies where our students can go deeper and be discipled in a more personal way.

Our Ministry

We believe that the teenage years are an exceedingly important time for establishing the next generation in the Christian faith. For this reason we put a lot of prayer and energy into our ministry to Jr. and Sr. High students. Our primary goal for this age group is to ground them in the Word of God and to disciple and equip them to live out their faith in our contemporary culture.  We do not believe it is enough to just tell kids what they should not be doing. They also need to be drawing strength from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Without a solid footing in the Bible and in Christ, there is no way for teenagers to stand strong.  As a result of this conviction, the Bible and the Gospel are always at the center of everything we do.

We also seek to create an engaging and fun atmosphere that is welcoming to all teenagers.  This helps maintain excitement in our ministry and to be a place where newcomers can feel comfortable.   We also have several activities planned throughout the year for all of our youth.

In addition to our weekly gatherings, we also give our students unique opportunities to grow in their faith through bigger events. Every other summer we attend the national EFCA youth conference called “Challenge.”  This week-long conference is geared especially towards Jr. and Sr. High youth.  It has always been life-changing for many of our students.  On the off years our High School students take a mission trip to New Orleans to join Urban Impact Ministries to do a day camp and outreach for inner city children.  This is a unique way for our youth to be exposed to cross-cultural missions without the expenses and difficulties of leaving the country.

Our mission is to see more and more teens come to Christ and begin living a life of pursuing him!

If you have any questions about our youth ministries please contact Pastor Jim Kappers.

We call our small groups “Life Groups” and we consider these to be an important part of our life together as a church.  The small group setting allows for deeper and more consistent interactions that can be difficult to achieve on Sunday morning.  For this reason we encourage everyone to consider joining a Life Group for the sake of building relationships, studying the Bible, praying for one another, and caring for each other.  Our groups typically meet on Sunday evenings during the school year.  We have several different groups that meet  in various geographical locations and anyone who is involved in our church is welcome to get connected to a group!

“God loves the world, and so do we.”  Easy to say, but what does that mean?

For God that meant sending His Son Jesus to be our Savior (Jn 3:16; Lk 19:10; Mt 11:28-30). For us as Jesus’ followers it means joining our Lord in His purpose.  We are His disciples chosen to take the good news of salvation and eternal life to the world around us (Mt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).  This involves us taking on His Message and His Ministry.  We share His gospel and show His compassion for His honor and glory.

How Do We Do This?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 is our pattern for missions. Where we live is our Jerusalem. It is our local sphere to witness of Jesus Christ.  Everywhere outside the home area of our church family is our mission field.  Therefore we have defined our “Acts 1:8 Spheres Of Outreach” to be:

Judea = Outreach to people of our culture near us.

As part of the Midwest District of the EFCA this means Nebraska, Kansas, and the Kansas City Metro Area.  Our ministry involves helping with new church plants, Timberlake Ranch Camp ministry, jail outreaches, and participation in Rescue Missions in Columbus and York, NE.

Samaria = Outreach to people of a different culture nearby.

Our ministry has participated in helping with Hispanic church plants, Sudanese church plants, and urban ministries.  Since 1993 we have helped with an inner city ministry in New Orleans that is transforming the city through a community center and church plant.  See urbanimpact.org to hear their story and see their ministry needs.

Ends of the Earth = Outreach outside our nation in cultures different than our own.

We focus on 2 areas of the world where we send teams.  Through cultural training and thoughtful planning we are able to assist and encourage the workers on each of these fields in their gospel ministry and church planting efforts.  We get to show compassion and share Christ for God’s glory.

What Is Our Commitment?

• We are privileged to send mission teams every year to select sites overseas and regionally for the purpose of making Jesus known.

• We are supporting the launching of Church Planting Movements in 4 countries of the world, including our own.

• We presently budget nearly 18% of our budget to support 22 missionaries and ministries. Yet, most of our giving to missions is not part of our budget.

• We have 13 missionary units (families or individuals) that have come from our church family. Our desire is to follow them with significant prayer and financial support.

How is it possible for us to do this?

God loves the world and supplies all we need to do what He has called us to do (2 Corinthians 9:8).  Our dependence is on Him.  All glory and honor and credit goes to Him.

Jesus loves children and so do we.  AWANA is a ministry specifically designed for children ages K-6th Grade held on Wednesday night through the school year from 6:30-8:10.  Children will have the opportunity to know Jesus as their personal Savior, and to be rooted in the teachings of the Bible in a fun environment.   Parents can help their children learn Bible verses from their handbook, and watch their children grow spiritually as the Bible comes alive for them.  Come join us.

For more information about AWANA visit the AWANA website to read about their International Ministry.

MOPS OF STROMSBURG meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month, September through May. Meetings begin at 9am, and end promptly at 11am. Come hungry, because we serve brunch! Each table group takes turns providing yummy breakfast items! (It’s a great opportunity to share recipes or to finally make something you’ve pinned on Pinterest!) Childcare is free. Your older kiddos will enjoy our MOPPETS program which includes fun crafts, snacks, games and lessons.

If it’s your first time, don’t worry about a thing, just come join us and see what we’re all about!!

For more information check us out on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/mopsofstromsburg

You can also learn more about MOPS at www.mops.org