Dreaming Big to help the Children

OK, here's the article about Leah Shadd.
(And check out who wrote it!)

“Do you want to know my dream?” asks
Leah Shadd on her Snuggly Creatures site
(snugglycreatures.blogspot.com). “My dream
is to make stuffed animals and to give them to
children in poor countries around the world.”
Leah has a dream in her heart, a passion to
serve, and compassion for special needs children.
So despite her own physical challenges
with scoliosis and deafness, her creativity
knows no bounds. Two years ago she bought
her first sewing machine and since then she has
made over 124 stuffed animals.

Her dream is big: to connect with missionaries,
service workers, travelers and non-profit
organizations to send stuffed animals to all 195
countries in the world. Recently, Leah sent a
large package of her Snuggly Creatures to
Brittany’s Hope Foundation, an organization
that provides cribs for special needs children in
orphanages in Vietnam and Ethiopia. This past
summer she designed a beautiful butterfly toy
for her support child in Mexico. And the dream
continues: in March another 22 Snuggly Creatures
will be sent to a small village in
Nicaragua.

She is a remarkable woman.
Leah does not know if she will fulfill her
dream. What she does know is that there are
many children in the world who have nothing,
and her heart compells her to help. Her dream
is big, but with your prayers and suggestions
for partnerships in this mission she will keep
moving closer to making this dream come true.

by Robin Saylor is a founding
member of Connections
Community Church
(connectionschurch.ca).

CHRISTIAN LIFE IN LONDON
Visit us online at http://www.clilondon.com/
December 2008 -January 2009 Presented by the Christian Churches Network of London

Connection Group Facilitator Tips

We've had a great launch of our Connection Group ministry.
We have more than 100 people registered.
And I am blessed to have partners who are passionate about this in Mark and Julie- I love you guys.

There is a myth out there in church land- community happens.
I've talked to too many folks who have had the opposite experience-
isolation happens.
Community and connection take work and intentionality.
You have to want it, and you have to make it happen.

Now let me be clear- you can't force friendship, community and connection.
But you work to make the space and opportunity for it to happen. You create the culture and environment. That's all we've done with Connection Groups.

But it still takes work and intentionality to make it flourish.

One thing I'm doing to help keep us on track is encouraging and educating our facilitators.
So I'll just copy and paste my first "Connection Group Facilitator Tips" newsletter...


So here's my first bit of unsolicited advice:
Assume nothing- love everyone.

Don't assume that folks have bought into this whole "Connection Group" thing. They still have their questions, and their doubts. They may still be a little awkward and uncomfortable with all this.

Hey, they may still be a little uncomfortable with the whole "Christian" thing. We have the blessing of many new Christians in our groups. So go out of your way to make the meeting a comfortable place. How do you do that?

Love them. Yeah, that's vague, but it's still the best advice I can give.
Love them. Greet them at the door. Give them snacks. As them how their week's going. Pray for them. Serve them.

Now here's my second bit of advice for you:
Lead your group. Your level of preparation and leadership will directly transfer to the comfort level of the group.
Your group won't feel like a gathering of old friends. You're not a group of old friends- you're two weeks old. Expect a bit of silence when you ask a question. But lead your group through this, and a few weeks you'll feel like a group of old friends.

Finally, here's a great site to book mark. It's full of articles and advice on leading small groups.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/smallgroups/

Fall 2008 Connection Groups Catalog

Here's how the catalog works
• email gsaylor@connectionschurch.ca with your name and the group you're interested in;
• A leader will contact you!

All groups start the week of September 28,
and end the second week in December, unless otherwise noted.

Central (Black Friars)
Tuesdays 7-8:30pm, 122 Paul St.

Central Lunch
Wednesdays 12-1pm, 531 Talbot St.

East Central
Wednesdays 7-8:30pm, 689 Ecclestone St.

Northwest London (Hyde Park)
Sundays 6:30-8pm, 106 Barrydale Cres.

Northwest (Sherwood)
Mondays 8-9:30pm, 23 Blanchard Cres.

North Central (Masonville)
Wednesdays 7-8:30pm, 1326 Hastings Dr.

Southwest (Byron)
Sundays 6:30-8pm, 736 Griffith St.

West (Strathroy)
Every other Friday 7:30pm, 304 Helen Dr.
________________
Connection Group- ALPHA
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm, 1072 Quinton Road