Bong Baylon’s Post

It can be a struggle to figure out just where to stand regarding giving the gospel at work. I'm hoping this short article will help. https://lnkd.in/gZjhDyxz

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth – a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the promise of our nation, even when change is slow to come, and the pace of progress is frustrating.   As a mother first as well as CDO for Save the Children US, Juneteenth is also a reminder that, although we’ve come far as a country, it still remains up to all of us to build the world we want to leave for children everywhere. If you are interested in talking to the children in your life about the holiday, here is a list of incredible books to consider: https://bit.ly/4eg7IAr

The people in our lives who pass down wisdom to us are invaluable. All we need is the capacity to enjoy our time with them-- and to listen! Check out my 3rd published article in JEWDICIOUS https://lnkd.in/ec-M9C5Z

It's never been easier to reach Catholics in your area with the Sunday Gospel message. Over the past 12 months, we've seen parishes embracing short-form video to reach parishioners outside of the pews. And it's having a profound impact on the way we share the Gospel. Here's the blueprint: 1. Clip up Father's Sunday homily into the 30-60 seconds that are most impactful or summarize that week's message. 2. Make it vertical, add captions, write some copy, and post to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. 3. Let your parishioners do the work. You'll find some of your most engaged parishioners will reshare this content on their Stories, thus reaching other Catholics in the community who may not have been at Mass. Parishes that are doing this are seeing higher reach and engagement than they previously thought possible. And it's only taking them an extra ten minutes a week. We noticed this trend and want to make it easier for more parishes to do this. That's why we're hosting a webinar with Corey Alderin at Sermon Shots. He's going to cover how you can easily create engaging, short-form videos to empower your parishioners to share the Gospel each week. Join hundreds of other parishes by RSVPing here: https://lnkd.in/eBJ2DRQb

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Have you ever wished more people knew that a church like yours existed? It’s time to get the word out. The Southern New England Conference has launched the Find Hope Now initiative, with the purpose of promoting a gospel of radical inclusion that lets people know that no matter who they are, or where they are on life's journey, there is a place of hope that will welcome them. The initiative has two stages: Stage 1 launched just before Annual Meeting in 2024 with the FindHopeNow.org website and accompanying social media ads. The objective of the ads to bring people to FindHopeNow.org, where they can hear and read stories of hope from our churches, read about our welcoming theology, and find a church near them.   In Stage 2, we will provide churches with templates that they can use to create their own Find Hope Now branded graphics and ads, along with training in how to use the materials AND how to welcome people who may reach out to them as a result. This initiative will only work with your participation. We NEED stories of hope from your congregation. We need video testimonials, we need clear pictures and stories of ministries happening in your midst. Check out FindHopeNow.org for examples, and then send your stories to Tiffany Vail at vailt(at)sneucc.org.

Discover how your church is meant to be a sign, an instrument, and a foretaste of God’s Kingdom in your community. Learn how embracing both the gathered and scattered ministries of your church can help birth gospel renewal movements.

A new Church Administration cohort starts January 15, 2024! This certification has been designed for clergy and lay. Check out the resources we will be using in the courses. What does compassion have to do with Church Administration? It is just about giving and people in the pews, correct? There is so much more to church administration than the numbers and filling the offering plates. Yes, there are the budgets to deal with. Yes, we need to keep the lights on. Yes, trustees need to manage the building and grounds. There is more, there is always more. Let us think about - the people and doing ministry, and what it means to be inclusive for all. What about having compassion for each other so we can do the ministry that God has called each of our congregations to do in the communities that we serve? Clergy are you looking for sermon illustrations, ideas for sermons, Bible Study ideas? Check out these courses. Interested in learning more about these courses or do you know a clergy person or layperson who might be interested, please click on the link below.

Here is your "QuoteAction" of the day: "Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." Poet Khalil Gibran Your action for today is to focus on giving as much as you can to the people around you. To learn more about “QuoteActions” please follow this link: https://lnkd.in/g_X8aJc

https://lnkd.in/gZXFZip6 I write often about how essential it is for our churches to equip, empower, and encourage grandparents so they are able to hand down confident faith. Clearly I believe this is a vital part of our Children's Ministry and ministry of the church, yet in far too many churches they do little, if anything, to connect with the grandparents in an intentional and focused way beyond just a Senior Saints Ministry.