Chapter One –        The Church, Leisure and Recreation

Chapter Two –        Social Recreation

Chapter Three –      Sports and Games

Chapter Four -        Drama

Chapter Five -         Camping

Chapter Six -          Retreats

Chapter Seven -      Arts-Crafts-Hobbies,

Chapter Eight –      Senior Adults

Chapter One – The Church, Leisure and Recreation

Church Recreation provides the church with unique avenues of reaching people and ministering to its members.  This article will consider: the need for, and the use of, recreation in the life of a church; the unique potential, place, and purpose of recreation in a church; and the many avenues of service and support recreation provides as a church goes about implementing its functions and accomplishing its mission in the world. To be better able to relate and apply all that follows in the succeeding chapters of this book, spend a few moments reviewing briefly our conceptual understanding of the following subject areas: the church, leisure, and recreation.

Go to: Chapter One – The Church, Leisure and Recreation

Chapter Two – Social Recreation

Social recreation is people with people in a social setting. Social recreation is people talking, people laughing, people drinking coffee, people playing-together. Together is a big word in social recreation. It is one of the essentials in the whole concept of social. One can talk, one can laugh, one can drink coffee, one can play, but it is not social if the talking, laughing, drinking coffee, or playing is done alone.   Social recreation includes parties, fellowships, banquets, receptions, teas, picnics, social outings of all kinds.   Let’s consider why social recreation in the church and then look at what and how to provide effective social interaction in the church.

Go to: Chapter Two – Social Recreation

Chapter Three – Sports and Games

 One recreation activity is common to persons of all ages, races, nationalities, and times. The love of play as expressed through sports and games is universal. To the young child play is not just play; it is serious business, dominating much of his/her time and energy, shaping personality and social behavior, and contributing to the development of overall personal growth. It is much the same today as it was in the earliest civilizations. To play is to experience freedom, to step out of the realm of reality into a world that has its own direction and meaning. Play is limited, always having a beginning and an ending. Play grows out of our customs and beliefs, and out of our very natural urge for physical activity.  Play needs to be a part of every person’s life and should always be considered when planning any fun activity.  How to provide effective play in your program is a real challenge and this article will provide new insight and helps to use as you plan your activities.

Go to: Chapter Three – Sports and Games

Chapter Four - Drama

Today, varied dramatic forms are being used in many churches.  Increasingly, church leaders are seeking methods to involve members physically in celebration of the Christian life.  The emotional, intellectual, and spiritual impetus of drama makes it a natural medium for such experience.  The Christian's body, when imaginatively projected into character, dialogue, and action, becomes a vibrant, powerful force for witnessing. Discovery of a new character in a unique situation allows the Christian another avenue to probe inner needs and desires. Those who have had such an experience eagerly seek new opportunities to express their Christian experience through drama.  The opportunities for use of drama in the church are unlimited. Through imagination all areas of the dramatic arts can be applied to a church setting.

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Chapter Five - Camping

Church camping is "camping that utilizes the resources of the natural environment for Christian education, fellowship, evangelism, ministry, and personal growth experiences. It also uses the creation to teach about the Creator.  Camping has been used by Christians through the centuries as a necessary but ancillary technique for the spreading of the gospel in primitive or unsettled areas. Church camping as a tool helps fulfill the spiritual and physical needs of individuals, both Christian and non-Christian, and in so doing it helps. the church reach its objectives. These objectives are to win the lost to Christ and to guide persons in a progressive development toward Christian maturity. A Church Camp is a place where campers become aware of the presence of the Creator as they see Him behind the beauties of nature and an experience whereby old lives are made new by the power of the Lord Himself, manifested in the lives of the campers.

Go to: Chapter Five - Camping

Chapter Six - Retreats

A retreat is a planned group experience designed to provide the participants a temporary withdrawal from the routine of daily living in order that they may study, meditate, and take spiritual inventory of their lives and renew relationships with themselves, with God, and with others.  The idea of a retreat is nothing new in the history of man. The impulse to retire from the confusion of cities, to break away from well-worn habit, to escape from the reality of ordinary life and in a place of seclusion seek a renewal of life has always been at the heart of man's journey after God and Truth.  The Church Retreat provides just such an experience.

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Chapter Seven - Arts-Crafts-Hobbies

Arts, crafts and hobbies are programs that have many values to the church and to the person who participates.  It has been found that working with the hands can bring healing to people who are experiencing mental, emotional, or physical illnesses. It relieves tension, soothes, and restores. Creating an original design or producing a well-done craft object brings satisfaction in accomplishment.  It gives to one a feeling of personal worth and respect, extremely valuable in the process of personality development.

No matter what size a church membership is, an arts, craft, and hobbies program is possible and needed. Craft activities sponsored by a church have been proven to be a positive force in that church's outreach and ministry to the community.  It provides a place for Christian fellowship among kindred spirits involved in a common endeavor and is constructive use of one's leisure. It will develop within the individual an understanding of and an appreciation for his craftsmanship skills. Beginning is becoming familiar with the program and determining the need within the church.

Go to: Chapter Seven - Arts-Crafts-Hobbies

Chapter Eight – Senior Adults

Senior Adults are people 60 years of age and older and/or persons of any age who are retired and interested in fellowshipping with adults in their senior years.  This group of adults will be growing at exponential rates by the year 2010 due to the “Baby Boomers” turning age 65.  They are adults who have special needs and offer the church the opportunity of offering specialized programs of ministry Today, one of the largest unreached segments of the population is the? boomer generation.  What Is Your Church Doing to minister to this generation of adults?  Do you have plans and programs in place to effectively reach the senior adults in your community?  The opportunities for ministry are endless.  Does your church have an active committee or ministry group responsible for planning for senior adults?  Do you have an ongoing senior adult ministry that provides weekly meetings and activities for them?  Do you need ideas on developing an effective Senior Adult Ministry?

Go to: Chapter Eight – Senior Adults

Bibliography

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