JANUARY‐MARCH


2009
VOL
1,
ISSUE
1

legacy
the

The
Battle
is
On!
BY
JENNIFER
CONLEY,
DIRECTOR
OF
CHILDREN’S
MINISTRIES

It
was
another
very
hectic
Sunday,
 and
don’ts,
but
rather,
a
lifestyle
of
 long.
When
I
think
back
on
my


made
even
more
so
by
the
fact
that
 faith
she
could
model
for
her
children
 childhood
and
what
my
family
gave

we
had
just
begun
practice
for
our
 in
the
hope
that
her
faith
would
 to
me,
I
can
say
without
a
shadow
of

annual
children’s
Christmas
musical.
I
 become
their
own. doubt
that
every
step
I
have
made
in

was
attempting
to
grab
a
bite
of
 
 As
I
often
do
when
I
have
no
idea
 following
Jesus
was
made
possible
by

lunch
before
launching
into
 what
the
answers
are,
I
went
to
the
 the
persistent
and
dedicated
prayers

rehearsing
lines
with
the
kids
when
I
 one
person
I
know
who
has
them,
my
 of
my
family
and
friends.
This
may

was
stopped
by
a
 Heavenly
Father.
I
began
asking
 seem
elementary,
but
it
is
the
most

question
that
has
plagued
 Him
the
same
question
she
had
 powerful
weapon
that
we
have

me
for
weeks.
“Jen,
what
 asked
me,
“God,
what
is
the
best
 against
all
the
forces
of
evil
that
pull

is
the
best
advice
you
can
 advice
you
can
give
me
on
how
 at
our
children
day
in
and
day
out.

give
me
on
how
to
raise
 to
raise
our
children
to
serve
 Sadly,
it
is
the
weapon
that
many
of

my
kids
for
Christ?”
 you?”
His
answer
came
in
a
 us
neglect
to
use.
(cont’d
p.
4)

 I
must
confess,
I
had
 number
of
different
instances

no
idea
how
to
answer.
It
is
not
so
 in
the
weeks
ahead
and
was
two‐
much
that
I
didn’t
know
the
basic
 fold.
His
first
answer
was
so
simple,
 The
Battle
is
On!

pp.
1,4
elements
of
training
and
teaching
 yet
profound
and
is
what
I
wish
to

inside

Autism
and
Your
Church

p.
2
kids,
I
have
been
doing
that
for
years.
 focus
on
in
this
edition.
His
answer

But
somehow
all
of
the
pat
answers
 was
simply
prayer. Profile:
Susan
Jennings

p.
2
just
didn’t
seem
to
fit.
As
our
 
 I
have
had
the
unbelievable
 Upcoming
Events
at
GAC

p.
3
conversation
continued,
I
knew
this
 privilege
of
inheriting
a
legacy
of
 Mustard
Seeds

p.
3
parent
wasn’t
asking
for
a
list
of
do’s
 faith
that
is
at
least
five
generations

Autism
and
Your
Church
BY
SUSAN
JENNINGS,
DIRECTOR
FOR
SPECIAL
NEEDS

What
you
will
read
in
this
article
 • Repetitive
use
of
language
and
/ a
niece,
or
a
nephew
who
will
be


may
surprise
you.
It
may
shock
you.
 or
motor
mannerisms
(i.e.
hand‐ diagnosed
with
autism
in
the

But
hopefully
you
will
be
inspired
to
 flapping,
twirling,
etc.) future.
get
involved
in
the
Special
Needs
 • 
Little
or
no
eye
contact
Ministry
at
Greensburg
Alliance! • Lack
of
interest
in
peer
 Why
don’t
we
see
more
special

relationships needs
families
in
church?
What
is
autism? • Lack
of
spontaneous
or
make‐ • It
is
difficult
enough
for
a
typical

Autism
is
a
complex
developmental
 believe
play family
to
get
ready
for
church,
but

disability
that
typically
appears
 •
Persistent
fixation
on
parts
of
 add
in
a
couple
of
meltdowns,

during
the
first
three
years
of
life
 objects and
it
can
just
be
too
difficult.
It

and
is
the
result
of
a
neurological
 can
be
very
draining
to
the
family

disorder
that
affects
the
normal
 Autism
Quick
Stats: and
easier
to
stay
at
home.
functioning
of
the
brain,
impacting
 • 1
in
150
children
are
diagnosed
 • Churches
either
don’t
have

development
in
the
areas
of
social
 with
autism programs
for
these
children
or

interaction
and
communication
 • 1
in
94
boys
is
on
the
autism
 the
programs
are
inadequate.

skills.
Both
children
and
adults
with
 spectrum Sometimes
there
just
aren’t

autism
typically
show
difficulties
in
 • Boys
are
4
times
more
likely
than
 enough
volunteers.
verbal
and
nonverbal
 girls
to
have
autism • Even
though
the
church
should

communication,
social
interactions,
 • Autism
is
the
fastest
growing
 be
a
place
of
refuge
and
support,

and
leisure
or
play
activities.
Autism
 serious
developmental
disease
in
 often
times
it
is
a
place
of

knows
no
racial,
ethnic,
or
social
 the
US judgment.
boundaries;
family
income
levels;

lifestyle
choices;
or
educational
 Chances
are... Want
to
know
more
or
want
to

levels,
and
can
affect
any
family
and
 Whether
you
know
it
or
not,
your
 volunteer?
any
child. lives
have
been
touched
by
some
of
 If
you
have
any
questions
or
want

these
special
children
right
here
at
 to
know
more
about
autism
or

Signs
of
autism? Greensburg
Alliance.
And,
with
the
 want
to
volunteer,
please
speak

• Lack
of
or
delay
in
spoken
 statistics
at
1:150
of
getting
 with
Susan
Jennings,
Director
for

communication diagnosed
with
autism,
chances
are
 Special
Needs
and
mother
of
a
teen

you
may
have
a
child,
a
grandchild,
 with
autism.

Profile:
Susan
Jennings While
in
Jamaica,
I
met
Hans
el,
a
young
man
with
autis
m
and
I


spend

ining
moments
in
my
 
him
with
a
shoe
 box 
an d
a lso
There
have
been
many
def was
so
honored
to
present
s
up
the
reason
for

life,
but
one
Bible
verse
sum time
with
him. ids

orin thia ns
1:3‐4
states,
 
group,
Parents
of
Autistic
K
my
existence.
Second
C 




I
co‐facilitated
a
support ilies

d
and
Father
of
our
 e
years.
We
helped
a
lo t
of 
fam
“Let
us
give
thanks
to
the
Go (PAK),
in
Uniontown
for
fiv rou p
o f

iful
Father,
the
God
 ,
fundraising,
etc .
Th is
g
Lord
jesus
Christ,
the
merc through
support,
information e
sa me 

e
helps
us
in
all
 eant
to
he lp
o the rs
i n
th
from
whom
all
help
comes!
H parents
truly
knew
what
it
m 
gro up


able
to
help 
oth ers 
who
have
all
 s
of
getting
a
local
support
our
troubles,
so
that
we
are e
o urselves
have
 situation.
I
am
in
the
proces
elp 
tha t
w e.
kinds
of
troubles,
using
the

same
h

age
25,
 together
called
Glory
&
Grac 
four


been
diagnosed
with
MS
at 
a
p art 
of
Greensburg
Alliance
for
received
from
God.”
Having the se
v ers es.
I
am
 




Our
family
has
been rve 
as
 the 
Dir ect or
f or

se
early
to
me
in
 on
and
I
se
the
Lord
revealed
my
purpo uat ion . years.
I
am
currently
a
Deac are nes s
to 
the 
mi nistry

help
others
in 
my 
sit 
bri ng
 aw
definitely
here
on
Earth
to
 ave
one
 Special
Needs
in
which
I
help ns
for

bee n
m arried 
to
 Mike
for
15
years
and
we
h ut
the
 nee ds
 of
t hes e
c hildren
and
provide
suggestio





I
have
 Mc Ken zie
was
 abo ade r
fo r
M om s


14.
At
five
years
old,
 
a
Care
Group
Le
son,
McKenzie,
who
is
now em ind ed
 of
t he
 effective
ministry.
I
am
also
ce
again,
I
was
r
diagnosed
with
autism.
On 24/7. 
aware

ial
needs
child,
I
am
acutely
verses
in
2
Corinthians. ation
 




Being
a
mother
of
a
spec has 
giv en
me

ave
been
involved
with
Oper of
my
mail
purpose
in
life.
I
a
m
thankful
that
God






Over
the
past
12
years
I
h ons .
M y
m ost
 nd, 
tha t
H e

ious
volunteer
positi the
opportunity
to
serve
H
im
in
this
way,
a
Christmas
Child
(OCC)
in
var 
do.
rience
was
when 
I
trave led 
to

e
H is
g rac e
to
do
what
He
needs
me
to
memorable
volunteer
expe CC.
 continually
giv es
m
am aritan’ s
Pu rse
to
deliver
shoe
boxes
for
O
Jamaica
with
S
 upcoming
 march april may june july
children’s

ministry
 11 18 6 20 11
events
at
 AWANA
Parent
 AWANA
Grand
 AWANA
Grand
 FFS
Bike
Hike
 FFS
Fossil
Hunt

Appreciation
 Prix
Race
Day Carnival and
Ice
Cream
 and
Family

GAC Night 8:00
am 6:30
pm Party Picnic
6:00
pm
Events
are
subject

to
change.
25 16 26 15
*FFS
(Family
Fun
 AWANA
Awards
 FFS
Bowling
 FFS
covered
 FFS
Covered

in
the
Son) Night Party dish
&
game
 Dish
&
Game

6:30
pm night Night

Mustard
Seeds
BY
MELISSA
BARTELS Dreamy
Chocolate
Cake
Balls Follow
melting
directions
on
the

Courtesy
of
FamilyCorner.com back
of
the
package.
Matthew
17:20,
Matthew
13:31‐32
1
box
cake
mix Stir
the
chocolate
until
smooth.

Jesus
uses
the
example
that
if
you
have
 1
container
frosting Using
a
spoon
add
a
cake
ball
to

faith
as
big
as
a
mustard
seed,
nothing
 1‐
24
oz
package
of
chocolate
 the
melted
chocolate
and
turn
to

will
be
impossible
for
you.
Our
children
 almond
bark
(found
at
Walmart
by
 coat.

are
gifts
from
the
Lord
and
they
are
our
 chocolate
chips)
little
mustard
seeds.
God
can
make
a
big
 Wax
paper Remove
with
spoon
and
replace
on

plant
grow
from
the
smallest
seed.
He
 chilled
wax
paper
on
cookie
sheet.

uses
each
family
to
help
in
growing
these
 What
you
do:
seeds.
We
as
parents
need
to
be
there
 Repeat
for
all
cake
balls,
adding

for
our
children
and
we
need
to
be
a
 Bake
cake
according
to
package
 and
melting
more
chocolate
when

witness
in
their
lives.
That
means
 directions
in
any
size
cake
pan.
 level
gets
low.
creating
good
times
and
being
an
active

participant
in
your
child’s
days.
Spending
 Remove
cake
from
oven
and
 **Some
food
books
you
can
read

time
doesn’t
mean
you
have
to
do
 immediately
dump
into
a
large
 together
while
waiting
for
the

anything
special.
All
it
means
is
that
you
 bowl.
 timer
to
ring:
give
your
interest
and
attention.
More

importantly,
spending
time
with
your
 Use
a
fork
to
break
up
the
cake
into
 Pancakes
for
Breakfast

child
gives
you
a
chance
to
shape
their
 crumbs.
Add
the
entire
container
 by
Tomie
Depaola
values
and
create
memories. of
frosting
to
the
bowl
and


 Parents,
grandparents,
and
 combine
it
with
the
cake.
Stir
until
 Cloudy
With
a
Chance
of
Meatballs

youngsters
cooking
together
in
the
 completely
combined. by
Judi
Barrett
kitchen,
sharing
family
recipes,
and

secrets
passed
from
one
generation
to
 Roll
cake
mixture
into
balls
and
 For
even
more
fun,
challenge
your

the
next,
is
quickly
becoming
a
lost
art.
 place
on
cookie
sheet
lined
with
 child’s
comprehension
with
a
quick

Spend
some
good
quality
time
with
your
 wax
paper.
Chill
in
the
fridge
for

2
 review
of
the
5
W’s
after
each

little
“Mustard
Seed”
in
the
kitchen!
 hrs. book!
Learning
to
cook
is
a
skill
your
children

can
use
for
the
rest
of
their
lives.
The
 In
a
medium
bowl,
melt
half
of
the
 To
view
the
recipe
online,
please

following
recipe
will
be
fun
for
you
and
 package
of
almond
bark
chocolate.
 click
here.
your
little
mustard
seed
to
prepare

together!
The
Battle...(cont’d
from
p.
1) the
world’s
standards?
In
a
society


 that
preaches
no
absolute
truth
and
 A
newsletter
published


legacy

 Within
the
last
few
years,
I
have
 tolerance
at
all
costs,
is
it
any
wonder
 in
the
interests
of

become
increasingly
more
convinced
 why
raising
our
children
for
Christ
 Greensburg
Alliance

that
the
enemy
likes
to
start
on
our
 feels
more
like
a
battle
then
an
 Church
and
the

children
young.
As
I
have
looked
back
 uninterrupted
journey?

 missionary,
educational

on
my
own
childhood,
I
can
 
 The
fact
of
the
matter
is
that
we
 work
of
the
Children’s

remember
instances
as
early
as
age
 are
in
a
battle,
a
battle
for
our
 Ministries
of
Greensburg


the
two,
where
if
not
for
the
prayers
and
 children’s
very
lives,
and
it
is
my
firm
 Alliance
Church
EDITOR:

covering
of
my
family,
I
could
have
 conviction
that
the
greatest
way
to
 Jennifer
Conley;

fallen
prey
to
the
enemy’s
schemes.
 win
this
battle
is
on
our
knees.
I
am
 MANAGING
EDITOR:

This
should
not
be
shocking
when
 in
no
way
saying
that
prayer
is
the
 Christine
Johns
you
consider
that
Peter
writes
that
 only
thing
we
can
do,
nor
am
I
saying

Satan
prowls
around
like
a
roaring
 that
we
all
must
spend
four
hours
in
 WEBSITE:

lion,
seeking
someone
to
devour.
(I
 prayer
a
day
to
accomplish
it.
What
I
 www.greensburgalliance
Peter
5:8)

When
a
lioness
attacks
her
 am
saying
is
that
interceding
for
our
 church.com.

prey,
she
often
looks
for
the
 children
daily
can
go
a
long
way

youngest,
weakest,
and
most
 toward
enabling
them
to
become
 The
Legacy
is
published

unprotected
member
of
a
pack
and
 fully
devoted
followers
of
Jesus
who
 online
at
least
four
times

sets
out
for
the
kill. consistently
heed
His
voice.

So,
if
my
 a
year.
Subscription
is


 In
the
church,
our
children
are
 friend
were
to
ask
me
today
“What
is 
 free
and
available
to
all

some
of
the
youngest,
weakest
 the
best
advice
you
can
give
me
on
 members
of
Greensburg

members
and
Satan
is
on
the
prowl.
 how
to
raise
my
children
for
Christ?”
 Alliance
Church.

If
we
as
their
parents,
teachers,
 I
would
tell
her
to
pray.
Pray
as

pastors,
and
friends
fail
to
cover
 though
your
children’s
lives
depend
 To
subscribe,
contact

them
in
the
most
powerful
weapon
 on
it,
because
they
do! Christine
Johns
at


God
has
given
us,
why
should
it
 gaclegacy@gmail.com.
surprise
us
when
they
fall
victim
to


legacy
the
is
looking
for
your
ideas...

Have
a
flair
for
writing?
A
passion
for
children’s
ministry
and

families?
Submit
your
story
ideas
to
Jen
Conley
or
Christine

Johns
at
gaclegacy@gmail.com!