Nate Champneys

November 15, 2012November 16, 2012

Take It for Granite

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

So on Sunday, we as a body extended a call to Nate to come and be an associate pastor at Elim. It would be nice to pause and take a deep breath and relax, but there’s too much to do. Maybe one of the most important things for me is to put my time into relationships.

Nate is going to help us out in some time-intensive and skill-required areas, namely children’s ministry and worship. But people don’t stay connected by either one of those things. They may leave if those things are absent, but what draws people in and keeps them connected is that “renewal with God and one another.”

Honestly, I haven’t done really well at the “one anothers” lately. I’ve been busy. I needed to do such and such. Blah, blah, blah. What I really need to do is connect. No one can connect with everyone, but everyone has to connect with someone. It’s a lonely world out there and we were not created to be alone.

And connection — relationship — doesn’t happen by accident. It’s an intentional act that says you are important to me and I care. We often take our relationships for granted. I need to take them for granite: like granite in a foundation, relationships need to be foundational in my life. It starts with God and flows out through other people.

I’m looking forward to the Champneys family moving here, potentially before the first of the year. When they get here I want to welcome them in to a healthy body full of vibrant, caring relationships.

Views – 107

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

November 8, 2012November 13, 2012

Nate Champneys Answers Important Questions!

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

By Senior Pastor Martin Schlomer and Nate Champneys

This Sunday is a very important day in the life of Elim EFC. By now, everyone has heard that we are candidating Nate Champneys for the position of Associate Pastor. This full-time position will specialize in leading the Worship Arts and Children’s Ministries. While we have been discussing this position for more than three months, people continue to ask great questions. On Tuesday, a member asked some general questions regarding Nate’s background and training. In an effort to do our best at getting information out to the congregation, this edition of the Last Word is dedicated to allowing Nate to answer these specific questions. In addition, Nate’s resume will be posted on the Elim’s website.

1) Are you in complete agreement with Elim’s doctrinal statement? If not, are there any areas of reservation? I am in complete agreement. I started attending Elim when I was 16 years old. I learned a lot of my basic doctrine from Elim’s youth ministry program. I then attended New Tribes Bible Institute (NTBI), and their doctrinal statement is very similar to the Evangelical Free Church doctrinal statement.

2) How did you come to faith in Christ and why do you want to serve in full-time ministry? God captured my heart at a very young age. I was just 6 when I understood my need for Him and made the decision to trust Jesus to forgive my sin. My dad prayed with me every night when I was young and on a particular night he and I had a very important conversation. He explained to me the problem of sin, who Jesus was, and how He died to pay for my sin. The Gospel is simple, and at 6, I fully understood it. Since that moment I always wanted to be in ministry.

If you look at my drawings as a child, it was of airplanes, but on the side of every airplane was the name “Mission Aviation Fellowship.” I always dreamed about being a missionary pilot. As I grew into a teen I thought I might pursue youth ministry. Since I wasn’t sure, Brian Sharpe recommended I go to NTBI.

I graduated NTBI in 2006, returned home to Washington and started serving at Elim. At NTBI I was surrounded by people who were passionate about the Gospel, yet this was in stark contrast to much of the American church. Because of this, I graduated NTBI with a very negative view of the Church. However, over the next five years at Elim, God moved in my heart and gave me a desire to serve His Church. He developed my gifts with worship and youth ministry and my heart for His Church, but as a family we were not yet ready to be in full-time ministry. God used circumstances with my career in insurance to work in the hearts of both my wife and I to bring us into full-time ministry. It has been a long road, but both Beck and I can see how God prepared us for ministry. We both have a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the Church and the un-churched.

3) In your walk with God, what do you do to maintain spiritual vitality and health? As far as an official “quiet time,” I probably average four to five times a week of focused time with God. In addition there are other times during the week when, as I plan my sets, I have some of my most meaningful times with God. Worship is a safe and rejuvenating place for me.

During my quiet times I usually go to the park or just park my car somewhere. Because of my ADD, I have a hard time staying focused if I am anywhere near distractions. I have found my car to be the best place to focus. I also spend time with God after everyone is in bed so the distractions are minimal. Lastly, I listen to a lot of sermons. I have never been a big reader and learn a lot more from the spoken word. I listen to Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan, and Greg Kockl, to name a few.

4) Where did you receive your formal ministry training? Did your education provide specific training in the ministry areas of worship and children? Do you have any additional experience that would qualify you for the potential ministry responsibilities at Elim? I have an Associate of Arts degree from Pierce College and an Associate of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from New Tribes Bible Institute. These degrees are not specific to worship and children. However, my biblical training gave me a good foundation in theology and hermeneutical study of the Scripture.

Regarding preparations for leading children’s ministry, most of my “education and training” has been hands-on. I was in AWANA from kindergarten to sixth grade. AWANA taught me the discipline of memorizing Scripture. Starting when I was 11, every summer my dad took me on a mission trip to Utah to do street evangelism to Mormons. This pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped establish an understanding of my own faith. When I was in junior high I attended Child Evangelism Fellowship’s “Christian Youth in Action” camp and learned how to teach 5-Day Clubs, which I continued to do throughout high school.

While serving in Munster I was the primary creator/ instigator of our new children’s church ministry that is just about to kick off. I saw the need for children’s ministry during the sermon and started meeting with other churches’ children’s leaders to come up with the foundation for this ministry. I then handed off my “brainchild” to the ministry leaders who are now running with it.

Regarding preparations for leading worship ministry, I started leading worship in high school with the youth band at Elim. Brian Sharpe fostered that gift throughout high school and had me lead worship for youth group. As I grew into an adult I continued to grow this gift. I started leading more often for church services and started leading the junior high program. When “The Gathering” service started at Elim, I was a primary leader.

My point in all of this is not to brag about myself but to help you understand that although I have only held a position in full-time ministry for one and a half years, I have been in ministry my whole life. Proverbs 16:9 says, “a man plans his course but Lord establishes his steps.” I look back at my life and I see that as I have sought Him, he has been preparing me to lead His Church.

5) Can you organize and lead choirs, bands, and small music groups? My primary experience is in developing and leading worship teams and developing musicians.

6) What experience do you have in training worship ministry staff and children’s ministry staff? As a worship leader, there are a lot of opportunities to train volunteers in music and worship. My first such experience was at Elim. I started working with some junior high students and teaching them how to play worship music. Those students are still leading today.

In the children’s area of ministry, my experience has focused on recruiting and training junior high leadership.

7) After you returned from New Tribes Bible Institute, in what ministry areas did you serve at Elim? I served as a worship leader and as a junior high youth leader. When the planning team was put together for “The Gathering” service, I served on this team and was also in charge of planning and leading worship. I have also preached and been involved with community group and men’s ministry.

8) In your current ministry position, what are your responsibilities? When I was hired at Munster Church, they had never had a full-time worship leader before. They had no idea what my position would turn into. My primary job is to plan and lead services, but because I am gifted technologically I have also been in charge of all video projection, sound, and technology. I replaced the entire sound system, the phone system, and church network.

My secondary role is to lead the junior high program and raise up and train junior high leaders. When I got to Munster, we had about five students total and usually three would show up. After seven months, I started making some strategic changes. We went from five total students to 25 total students.

9) Why are you interested in leaving after one year? I wouldn’t say that I am “interested in leaving” as that implies that I sought out leaving. When Becky and I left Washington three years ago, we imagined that we would come back after three years or so. We never planned on staying in Chicago. However, when God called us to leave American Income Life Insurance Company and pursue ministry we realized that our original timetable might not be realistic, and I came to the realization that we might never return to Washington.

When Elim decided to create this position, I never imagined being considered. I don’t think that my wife and I would consider leaving Munster Church under any other circumstance than this. We have always considered Elim to be our “home church.” Even in conversations with people in Indiana, we referred to Elim as our “home church.” I am absolutely blessed to have served at Munster and harbor no ill will against them. They too are happy to have served with me and wish me the best in my ministry.

Views – 111

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

October 25, 2012November 13, 2012

Ministry Description

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

By Senior Pastor Martin Schlomer

November 6 marks the beginning of a very important week in the life and history of Elim! We will candidate Nate Champneys for Elim’s second full-time associate pastor position. As the Champneys are here for the week of November 6-11, we’ll fill their time with opportunities for you to meet Nate and Becky and hear Nate’s heart and vision for Worship and Children’s ministries. The schedule of events is in the e-newsletter, but you can also find it posted on Elim’s website as well as on the information board in the fellowship room.

A very important part of this process will be to understand the responsibilities of this new position. I, along with the Elders, have spent a lot of time prayerfully thinking through what is needed in the areas of Worship Arts and Children’s ministries, and we have created a ministry description that answers the question, “What will Nate do if we call him to this position?”

Please review this description. It will be very helpful as we walk this path together.

God’s blessings,
Martin

MINISTRY DESCRIPTION:
Associate Pastor to Lead Worship Arts

JOB SUMMARY: With heart and passion, oversee the Worship Arts and Children’s ministries by providing vision, leadership, creativity, and volunteer development so that these ministries fulfill the mission, vision, and discipleship process of Elim EFC.

HOURS: 45 hours per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Managerial Responsibilities – With heart and passion, oversee the Worship Arts and Children’s ministries and volunteers by providing vision, leadership, creativity, volunteer recruitment, and development so that these ministries fulfill the mission, vision, and discipleship process of Elim EFC. The specific areas of managerial oversight include:

Worship leaders, instrumentalists, and vocalists
Sound ministry technicians
Presentation ministry volunteers
Children’s ministries from nursery through 5^th grade
Administrators for Children’s and Worship Arts ministries

Task Responsibilities – Take direct responsibility for the fulfillment of the following ministry tasks:

Worship Arts ministry

Develop and implement a mission, vision, and process (MVP) for Elim’s Worship Arts ministry that accomplishes Elim’s MVP.
Establish ministry goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely) at the beginning of each year that will accomplish MVP.
Review each worship service to make sure it accomplishes our vision and purpose for the Worship Arts ministry.
Work closely with the Senior Pastor to ensure our vision for the service is being accomplished.
Lead worship services (potentially multiple weekly services) 2-3 times a month.
Recruit and train developing worship leaders, musicians, and vocalists.
Attend rehearsals as required to coach volunteers and troubleshoot problems.
Train, evaluate, and encourage all personnel on a quarterly basis in the ministry so that encouraging, praiseworthy ministry results.
Work with the worship administrator to develop a quarterly schedule for musicians, vocalists, sound personnel, and presentation personnel for all worship and special services. Finalize and disseminate this schedule one month prior to the start of the quarter.
Lead and work closely with the sound and presentation ministries’ leaders to ensure cohesive communication and unity among all participants.
Be competent in all aspects of the sound system and presentation software.
Order necessary slides and other materials for worship services.
Incorporate new music into worship on a monthly basis.
Oversee the setup of Communion.
Creatively incorporate appropriate worship elements for the theme of the service, in addition to music (video, prayer, special music, readings, ensembles).
Attend weekly staff meetings, monthly Ministry Leadership Team meetings and all Elder Board meetings.
Incorporate an average of at least one hymn per service in accordance with our worship style.
Network with other worship pastors/leaders in the Puyallup area for encouragement and development.
Other duties as directed by the Elder Board and Senior Pastor.

Children’s ministries

Develop and implement a mission, vision, and process (MVP) for Elim’s Children’s ministries that accomplishes Elim’s MVP.
Establish ministry goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely) at the beginning of each year that will accomplish MVP.
Recruit teachers and helpers for Discipleland.
Train and evaluate Discipleland volunteers twice a year.
Work with the church administrator to develop a quarterly schedule for Discipleland teachers and helpers. Finalize and disseminate this schedule one month prior to the start of the quarter.
Work with the church administrator to order curriculum for all Discipleland classes.
Ensure adequate supplies in children’s rooms.
Work with custodians to make sure the rooms are set up and organized.
Oversee the AWANA ministry by working closely with the commander(s) to make sure the ministry accomplishes its mission, vision, and purpose.
Develop and oversee a creative strategy to reach out to children through a summer ministry outreach like soccer camp, sports camp, etc.
Work with church administrator and communications team to reach out and communicate with parents regarding Children’s ministries.
Network with other children’s pastors/leaders in the Puyallup area for encouragement and development.
Develop and administer a process for securely accepting and releasing children to designated guardians.
Other duties as directed by the Elder Board and Senior Pastor.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
This position comes with a part-time worship administrator as well as administrative support for Children’s ministries from the part-time church administrator.

Views – 115

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

January 15, 2010February 26, 2015

Younger elders

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

By Larry Short

God has blessed us here at Elim with a group of leaders, both men and women, who have a heart for God and are eager to serve others. In particular I am really thrilled right now that there are five men who are seeking congregational approval to begin two-year terms on the Elder Board.

Our church constitution allows for three consecutive two-year terms, and two of those men are completing their first consecutive term. Those two are yours truly, and also Steve Kearns, the vice chairman of the elder board. However, you may be aware that prior to a brief hiatus, both Steve and I served previously. In my case, I have served three previous two-year terms, and I’m sure Steve has done more at least that much.

We are also excited to be bringing back Dan Amos, who was elder board chairman when I came onto the board two years ago. I’m pretty sure that Dan, too, has served at least three prior terms.

What’s new this year is the remaining two candidates, Chris Pace and Nate Champneys. Both are younger men (in their late 20s … so, younger than me, anyway!). So I wanted to take this opportunity as elder board chairman to express my enthusiastic appreciation for Chris’ and Nate’s willingness to serve, and also give you some insight into our thinking about the benefits of bringing “younger elders” onto the Elder Board as a strategic move to ensure the health of our Body in the years to come.

Chris and Nate will be joining an elder board where the average age (right now) is probably 50. But, as we all know, physical age does not necessarily equate to emotional, mental, and spiritual maturity. Paul told Timothy, “Let no man look down upon you because of your youth.” Jesus Himself was a young man of 30 when he began his public ministry.

The real issues, of course, are: Does a person meet the biblical qualifications for servant leadership as elder? Has he demonstrated leadership in serving others in ministry? Does his life show a commitment to personal integrity and holiness as described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1? Does he invest himself in growing closer to Christ and managing his family well? I believe that if you know Nate and Chris as I do, you will agree that these men fulfill these requirements and that their aspiration to leadership is a worthy one.

I have asked each of these men to share a little bit of his testimony and involvement so you can get to know them better. And, in the coming weeks, we will also be encouraging them to share more of their heart with you through this column and other venues of communication here at Elim.

CHRIS PACE

I’m 27 years old now, but I gave my life to my Savior at the age of 8. I was raised in a Baptist church and attended Awana from the 4th grade until my final year of high school. I worked as an Awana leader until last year, when I felt God telling me: “Now I want you to work with the Youth.”

I’ve taught 3rd and 6th grade Sunday School for years and have co-led college and career groups. For the past 9 years I’ve served as a camp counselor for one week each summer. Since I’ve started coming to Elim, about 3 years ago, I’ve not only served in Awana and with the youth, but I have also served as your sound tech, been involved in community groups and a men’s group.

I look forward to seeing how God intends to continue using me here in the body at Elim.

As I have gone through life and heard many testimonies of those in the church, I have been envious. In the past I have felt that God really didn’t save me “from” much. I was a kid who grew up in a “good Christian home,” received Christ at age 6, and never really got into trouble. I always wished I had had a testimony like a Paul of Tarsus, or like my dad, whom God saved out of Mormonism.

But I have come to realize that every testimony is a good one! Every person whose life has been touched by God is an amazing story. I remember my dad talking with me about Jesus before bed one night and explaining Jesus and why he came and asking me if I wanted him to forgive my sins. It was that day that I began to fall in love with Jesus, and because God grabbed my heart at such a young age, he was able to use me despite my age.

I look back and I just can’t believe the work God has done in my own life and how He used me in the lives of others (which is not to my own credit!). One of the main things I think that had a big influence on me was my mission trips to Utah. I started going with my dad to Utah to witness to Mormons, every summer starting at age 11. Sharing my faith with others formed my faith because I had to put it into words to others.

This is true in any kind of ministry. As you minister to others, God is working in your own heart. With the one sermon I have preached in my life, I think I learned more than the people I preached it to! As I lead worship at Elim God grows me and ministers to me as I minister to others.

I am excited to be able to serve as an elder because I know that God is going to use the wise, godly men that are on the board to grow me in a way that I can then use to minister to the body of Christ at Elim. My heart is for the families at Elim to be able to draw near to the King of Kings and shake up the world for Him and His glory!
I am also excited to see such a diverse group of godly men on the board. Men from all walks of life, from those who are just starting families like Chris, to those who have finished raising their kids like Larry, Bill, Gordy or Steve. A group of men with the one desire to come together to seek God’s will for Elim. I can see God moving through this body; God has done amazing things at Elim in the last few years, but it is awesome to think that He has only just begun and the best is yet to come!

The final thing I want to share with you is something Nate touched on, when he mentioned the diversity of those on the Elder Board. I know that “diversity” (in the way the world uses it, to mean “To each his or her own”) can be a loaded word. Yet diversity (in terms of life experience) is one of the things I appreciate about Elim, and one of the things I think we should value in ministry. Yes, with younger elders, we will have the opportunity to help form them in ministry. But they will also have an impact on us! I have seen what having vital youth and young adults ministries has done for the Body of Christ at Elim. To me personally, it has brought new perspective, has helped me to see how important to the Lord it is that we remain vital, passionate, and culturally relevant in order to reach others with the Gospel.

I am excited about bringing these potential elders for a congregational vote. Young and old together, we look forward to what God is going to do in the months and years to come.

Views – 116

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.