Fall Ushers in a New Season of Ministry
The Refresh work at Central Community Church is so much more than updating the building
As fall approaches, the leadership of Central Community Church is introducing several “refreshes” to some of the church’s most influential ministries. The goal is to invigorate our discipleship opportunities as we lean into our mission of becoming like Jesus in our homes, our church, and our community.
This publication gives an overview of the many changes, big and small, coming to Central Community beginning the week of September 9.
The idea of a “refresh” was first introduced in Pastor Bob Beckler’s sermon series in January 2023 about the seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation. Our desire, Pastor Bob said, is not to just do “Christian” things, but to fan the flame of our faith so that our devotion to Jesus is burning true and bright.
Therefore, the Refresh at Central Community is not just about physical renovations, but a refreshment of our souls for spiritual renewal.
“Over the last months, we’ve spent a great deal of time talking about Refresh in regard to the building,” Executive Pastor Justin Mohr said. “But the point of refreshing the building is to support a refresh of ministry.”
He said that some of these changes are subtle, while others may appear more drastic.
“Every change is meant to further the Kingdom,” he said. “We’ve spent a great deal of time in prayer and discussion to come to these decisions. I’m excited for how God will use these new opportunities at Central Community for His purposes and glory.”
Pastor Justin added that volunteering for key ministry roles—especially in the kids,’ middle school, and high school ministries—is critical to making these new and refreshed initiatives a success: “We trust that God has led us to this place,” he said, “and we’re trusting that He’s also going to call the people we need to serve.”
Those interested in volunteering can contact Connections Pastor Bryce Bishop at bryce.bishop@centralcommunity.church or 316-943-1800, x123.
As we embark into this new season, the overarching goal remains clear: to refresh not just the church building but also the hearts and spirits of those within the church community.
“You,” Pastor Justin said, “are invited to be a part of this journey as we strive to continually become more like Jesus in our homes, our church, and our community.”
Kids Programming Comes to Wednesday Nights
Children birth through 5th grade will have opportunities just for them starting September 11.
Kid Central is excited to introduce new Wednesday night opportunities for kids. The age-specific programming is designed to deepen biblical engagement and support whole-family involvement.
“We love our Sunday morning programming,” Kids Pastor Elizabeth Russell said, “but we also wanted to dive deeper into the Bible in a more intentional, small group setting. That is what our Wednesday night program will do.”
Executive Pastor Justin Mohr said the beginning of this new ministry was also strategically added so that families, as a whole unit, can plug in on Wednesday nights.
“We want to continue furthering discipleship for both kids and adults,” Pastor Justin said. “We see Wednesday night kids programming as an incredible opportunity to go deeper with children all while creating a culture that encourages the whole family to get involved since we will have opportunities for adults at the same time.”
To be clear: this is so much more than just childcare. Continuing the “Route 252” road trip theme from Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights are being dubbed a “Pit Stop”—an intentional midweek pause to rest in God’s Word and refuel each child’s spirit through worship and friendship.
Pastor Elizabeth said the new program welcomes children from birth through 5th grade. (Middle school will also meet in its own space during this time.) Check-in will begin at 6:00pm at the same check-in desks as Sunday morning. From there, nursery and preschool children can be taken to their usual classrooms. Elementary students will be dropped off in the education wing upstairs. Programming begins at 6:15. And that’s where the adventure begins.
“The kids will rotate through the teaching, a game, and time with their small group,” Pastor Elizabeth explained. “The majority of the time will be spent in small groups, focusing on Bible study and activities that reinforce the teaching.”
Pick-up is at 7:30: nursery and preschool children can be picked up from their classrooms, and elementary students can be picked up in Route 252 downstairs.
Pastor Elizabeth said she’s excited about how this new program will emphasize discipleship and intentional Bible teaching, which is designed to engage each child at their unique age. The goal is for this focused time to have a lasting spiritual impact, Pastor Justin added.
“Our desire is that more kids will fall in love with Jesus and choose to follow Him,” he said. “Through Wednesday night programming, we hope our children will begin to look more like Jesus! Wednesday nights are meant to lay a strong foundation for these kids to build their faith on as they dive deeper into theology, taught at their level.”
Free registration at my.centralcommunity.church is required so that Pastor Elizabeth and her team are prepared to welcome the children. Those interested in volunteering in Route 252 on Wednesday evenings can contact Connections Pastor Bryce Bishop at bryce.bishop@centralcommunity.church or 316-943-1800, x123. Central Community’s new Wednesday night children’s program is more than just another church activity; it’s a strategic effort to build stronger faith foundations for the youngest members of the church while supporting the spiritual growth of the entire family.
Opportunities for All on Wednesdays
With the addition of children’s programming, each member of the family will have something for them.
One significant aspect of the ministry Refresh this fall is the holistic emphasis on Wednesday night programming. The addition of children’s programming might be seen as the headline, but it’s just a piece of a reimagined Wednesday night that is meant to become a vital tool for discipleship across all ages.
“Discipleship is simply defined as becoming like Jesus. That is our mission,” Pastor Justin said. “We grow as disciples in many different ways—sometimes through teaching, sometimes through worship, prayer, or serving. Wednesday nights allow all ages to come, form community, receive teaching, and give back through serving.”
Pastor Justin encourages each person in the congregation to find their place to plug in on these Wednesday evenings.
The evening starts with a family-friendly dinner that will be available from 5:00-6:00pm.
Central’s Director of Community Cori Broddle explained that, because of Refresh construction planned for the Atrium, Wednesday dinners will look a little different from the past.
“We knew we wanted to continue this community opportunity, so we had to reevaluate where to host our dinners this semester,” she explained.
The menu will be new each week, and a kid-friendly option will always be available. The cost is just $5 per adult and $3 for the kid’s option.
“We want to encourage everyone to attend a class or serve on Wednesday nights,” Cori said. “The meal is important, and fellowship is the reason for the meal, but then everyone is encouraged to find a place to go after.”
Several opportunities are being offered for adults of all ages this fall: starting at 6:15pm are a women’s study, men’s study, The Gathering for marrieds and singles in their 30s and 40s, soul care class, and choir rehearsal. (Click here to download the entire fall schedule.)
“We hope everyone will find community in one of the studies or opportunities that are being offered to be in God’s Word together,” he said.
There are also plenty of opportunities for those who feel called to serve, he added.
“Maybe it’s time for you to join the choir or serve in one of the many much-needed roles in kids ministry,” he suggested. “I hope that all families will consider making Wednesday night a part of their week.”
High School Introduces Major Changes
Students will be able to find their place within the church through a Refresh in the High School ministry.
Central Community Church is ushering in significant changes to its high school ministry this fall, with a focus on giving young people ownership of their faith and bridging generational gaps within the church.
“Our culture has shifted over the last 40 years, but our approach to youth ministry has not,” High School Pastor Jordan Rousselle said. “Studies show that the church loses 40-50 percent of high school graduates when they leave home. We are also seeing a growing gap between generations in the church. These updates are going to address both of those things.”
To accomplish the desired refresh, one major change needed to be made to the schedule: Central High School will now meet on Thursday nights from 6:00-8:30pm instead of the traditional Wednesdays. Pastor Jordan said the new Thursday night gatherings will closely resemble the current Wednesday format, but with the addition of small group time following worship.
“This will encourage kids to dive deeper into relationships with one another, as well as provide another opportunity for the sponsor volunteers to pour into the kids,” noted Pastor Jordan.
Executive Pastor Justin Mohr explained that, though this change may appear contradictory to the all-family emphases for Wednesday evenings, the schedule shift is actually very strategic: “The midweek move opens Wednesdays for the students to plug in at the church in other ways, a move that is being mirrored on Sunday mornings as well,” he said.
“We are shifting away from a traditional Sunday School model and moving to a service model,” Pastor Jordan said. “We are encouraging students to serve and find their place in the church body.”
He said that Central High School began implementing this change over the summer; about 60 students already found a place to serve in six ministries throughout the church on Sunday mornings, such as on the hospitality team, tech, and in the worship ministries.
Of these service opportunities, two of the most significant for high school students exist in the middle school and children’s ministries. Middle School Pastor Morgan Holick is enthusiastic about the impact this will have on both the senior and junior high students.
“Middle school youth group currently has about five high school students who serve as leaders each week,” she said. “One of my favorite memories this past year involved one of our high school leaders, McKayla Stacey. I listened as she led four 6th-grade girls through a prayer of salvation at the fall retreat.”
Pastor Morgan said that she is excited that more high schoolers will be able to lead in Central Middle School this fall and still participate in their own age-specific ministry on a different night. She also emphasized that serving is a vital aspect of being part of the church community.
“Being the Church, which necessarily involves serving, doesn’t just begin once a young person turns 18. It starts at the beginning,” Pastor Morgan said. “I remember being so excited to volunteer in the nursery when I hit middle-school age. Leading the next generation is the Christian rite of passage. It’s been a part of God’s design from the beginning, and it’s important we carry it forward.”
Kids Pastor Elizabeth Russell echoed that sentiment: “This gives energy and provides mentoring opportunities for high schoolers to share their faith with others. Kids at the elementary age get a chance to connect with older kids and hear about how they are living out their faith even when they get older.”
Ultimately, the shift to meeting Thursdays and creating opportunities to serve Sundays and Wednesdays are part of a broad strategy to address the challenges facing youth ministry today. Pastor Jordan emphasized that the cultural landscape has evolved significantly. The church, he said, must adapt to meet contemporary challenges.
“The Church in the United States is shrinking by 1.2 million people per year. A large portion of the loss is students who go off to college and don’t return to the Church,” he said.
Pastor Jordan explained that studies show today’s students who remain in the church have a 5:1 ratio of people pouring into their lives: five adults investing into every youth. That type of discipleship happens in small groups with their sponsors and in the relationships students build as they volunteer, serve, and worship with other generations.
“When we see this multigenerational discipleship happening, each student is far more likely to stay,” he said. “However, we don’t just want them to stay. We want to raise them up to take our place. Students are not the Church of tomorrow; they are the Church of today!”
On Sundays, high school students will invest their time and energy into being a part of the vital efforts of the church with others from all walks and stages of life. On Wednesdays, they can use their musical gifts at choir rehearsal or learn how to disciple younger kids in the middle school and children’s ministry. And on Thursdays, they will come together with their peers to learn, worship, and spur one another on.
“It’s all about connecting and uniting generations,” Pastor Jordan said.
Those interested in volunteering in the Central High School and Middle School ministries can contact Connections Pastor Bryce Bishop at bryce.bishop@centralcommunity.church or 316-943-1800, x123.
Pastor Justin said that he and the church leadership are excited to already see fruit from some of these changes. This is more than updating the schedule; it’s intentionally nurturing and equipping the younger generation of believers.
“If you see a high school student, make sure you stop and give them a high five to thank them,” he said. “By encouraging high schoolers to serve and take active roles in our church, Central High School is fostering a culture of discipleship that will span across all ages. We are preparing today’s youth to lead the Church of today and tomorrow.”
Family Worship Services Set for Fifth Sundays
Beginning September 29, all fifth Sunday worship services will be focused on combined worship for the whole family.
Beginning this fall, worship services on the fifth Sunday of the month will become Family Sunday, a special experience designed to unite all generations in a family-friendly service. The first Family Sunday will be September 29, and the 9:00 and 11:00am Family Sunday services will be identical.
Executive Pastor Justin Mohr said Family Sundays will offer a unique opportunity for the entire church to worship together. There will be no Sunday school classes or programming for children or youth.
“We will worship as the one body we are, regardless of age,” Pastor Justin said. “Some of the elements of the service will be different as we incorporate all generations. The service will be family-friendly, so please join us with your kids!”
Cori Broddle, Central Community’s Director of Community, emphasized the significance of this unity: “Fifth Sunday will be an opportunity for the church to be one body; all generations united for worship, teaching, prayer, and fellowship.”
She said that we see this model for the Church described in Jesus’s prayer in John 17:22-23: “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (NIV).
Pastor Justin added that the church truly becomes the Church Jesus intended when all ages worship together.
“Opportunities like this will send strong messages to our kids that they belong in our church and that they are very much a part of it right now,” Pastor Justin said. “As parents, grandparents, and church members, we get to lead our children by example as they not only watch, but participate, in what we are doing.”
The ministry leaders of Central High School, Central Middle School, and Kid Central all echoed the values that can be instilled through Family Sundays.
Middle School Pastor Morgan Holick said, “I am excited to implement this rhythm into the life of our church because I think it will positively influence the long-term faith development of our young people.”
She explained that these moments are foundational: “Young people need to witness the most influential people in their life loving God and others with their whole hearts because they are likely to follow that lead.”
That value is mirrored for older generations too, Pastor Jordan said: “It’s extremely important for our older generations to see the energy and passion for Christ in the younger generations.”
Inter-generational worship is mutually encouraging.
Pastor Jordan continued, “The best discipleship available is young people seeing their families—especially parents and grandparents—encountering God through worship and the Word of God.”
For Kids Pastor Elizabeth Russell, the blessing for younger children will be the feeling of inclusion and acceptance into “big church.”
“This is so important,” she said. “When we come together and give children a chance to see their parents and the family of believers learning about Christ, they see what it means to be united in holy worship. Together, we the Church get to demonstrate what heaven might look like someday!”
The ultimate goal of Family Sunday is to strengthen relationships within families and the broader church community.
“We believe this is important because—whether it be worshiping with the family we live with or our wider church family—God has created us to be in community,” Pastor Justin said. “These family worship services will connect generations and unite families. By being in the same service, the conversation in the car ride home or at the dinner table can be something that everyone participates in.”
Fifth Sunday Family Worship promises to be a meaningful experience for the entire congregation to worship and grow together, reflecting the unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17. Be sure to mark your calendar for September 29, and join in this special time of worship, as one church family, for the whole church family.