Welcome HOME and intentional equipping

Part of our Welcome HOME focus is on the importance for effective equipping for every member of God’s family. The Father is growing us (2 Peter 3.18; Ephesians 4.15-16)! We are in training. We are apprentices or followers of Jesus (Matthew 4.18-22). We will be a family that intentionally equips every member (catechesis for every age) for ministry (Ephesians 4.11-13). Here is the shape that intentional equipping is taking at Trinity.

FOR ALL AGES: Weekly worship is the core gathering for God’s work of equipping his family.

For Trinity Kids (0-3rd Grade): 
+Weekly WordTime
+Monthly Outreach to Los Palos during the 10:30am Worship
+Yearly Vacation Bible School
+Stepping Stone: rite of growing passage
Preschool: Jesus Loves Me
Kinder: The Lord's Prayer
1st Grade: Books of the NT
2nd Grade: 10 Commandments
3rd Grade: Books of the OT and First Communion

For Trinity Tweens (4-6th Grade):
+Yearly Catechism Retreat
+Yearly helpers at VBS
+Catechism is a 3 year rotating curriculum that covers in a narrative style, the OT in 2 years and the NT in 1 year.
+Students are able to confirm their faith in the fall of their 7th grade year

For Trinity Teens (7-12th Grade):
+Weekly Youth Group (around 7 checkpoints)

Authentic Faith
Spiritual Disciplines
Moral Boundaries
Healthy Friendships
Wise Choices
Ultimate Authority
Others First

+Regular Outreach at His Nesting Place, Long Beach
+Alternating Mission trips to Skid Row LA or International trip.

For Trinity Adults (18-118 year olds):
+Regular "Welcome HOME" course to welcome inquirers.
+Trinity Model of Growth for Adults. Paul wrote to the Colossian congregation, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” We have been asking, “What does maturity in Christ entail?” It is possible to know a lot of the Bible and still be immature. It is also possible to be relationally and emotionally mature, but to be unformed in God’s word. It is also possible to be a “course” Christian, but to never put it into practice in your home, neighborhood, or world. We think wholistic maturity as a disciple includes at least the following elements:

Story: Knowing the Bible (and the Author!)
Spirituality: Discovering gifts, stewardship, practices
Shalom: Growing in emotional wholeness

For instance, starting this next week, the weekly HOME group questions will have this symbol :

That is an indicator of a few questions that get at story, spirituality, and shalom. Next week the HOME Group study will be from 2 Timothy 3.14-17, and the questions will be:

-Story: Is there a section of the Bible that you feel like you are living in right now?
-Shalom: If the Bible is really “useful…for correcting” could it be like a doctor who prescribes some different way of living? What is that new way of living?
-Spirituality: Psalm 1 speaks of the person who is consistently in the word of God as being well rooted and fruit bearing. How is God calling you to be well rooted in his word?