introduction to open arms

Touching Families with God’s Word of Love

Through Christian Early Childhood Ministry

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Copyright ©2006, 2011 by the Open Arms Institute, Inc.

Loveland, Colorado All rights reserved.

The Open Arms Concept...

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The Beginning

The Leaders

Rev. Dr. Robert ScudieriRev. Dr. Philip Kuehnert

Ascension Lutheran Church, Atlanta, GA

The English District of theLCMS

The Lutheran ChurchExtension Fund

The Partners

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Rev. Kevin Elseroad, founding pastor of Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, GA, and his wife Bonnie, long time director of their Open Arms ministry

The Beginning

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The first building of the first new mission with

an Open Arms child development ministry

The Beginning

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The present facilities of that first new mission,

Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church

God has blessed the work.

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• Our LCMS Department of Missions• The Lutheran Church Extension Fund • LCMS Department of Parish Services• Our Districts and Congregations• The Lutheran Women’s

Missionary League


The Open Arms Institute has been blessed by the help and support of…

More people are enjoying life with God, by His grace, through the work of His Holy Spirit

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• Childcare - a growing practice in our culture and time. We may debate its merits, but the practice is growing. Many, many children are being cared for outside of the home.

• Who is caring for all of these children?

• Why not God’s family, the Church? What an opportunity to heed Christ's beckoning, "Let the little children come to Me.”

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Childcare?? Really???

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Christian Child Care Ministry… What does this mean?

Ages - 6 wks to 5 yrs, plus extended care for school age children Hours - All day, as needed Part time and full time care Breakfast, lunch, and snacks Age-appropriate curriculum for

all aspects of child growth anddevelopment.

Fully licensed, and meeting allstate requirements

National accreditation

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Joining with parents to help families grow in their life with God Standing in for Jesus to take children in

our arms and bless them Living out God’s Word and God’s mission

in and for the families of our community Helping children learn about God’s love

and His marvelous creation Helping children discover their gifts and

abilities, and how to use them to serve their Creator and their world

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A separate congregational board, or at least a sub-committee, to provide proper governance and guidance

A large staff in ministry together Gifted and experienced manage-

ment skills needed A budget that doubles or triples

in size New opportunities for members

to become involved in ministry New faces in worship

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Another new congregation begun with a Christian early childhood center.

These children are learning to know their Savior, and

to enjoy life with Him.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Open Arms Child Development Center – Clayton, NC

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Ministry at a second site, in a new neighborhood, begun by Ascension Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas.


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To reach the families in Ashburn, VA with his new congrega-tion, Rev. Bill Mann and his people began an Open Arms Christ-ian early childhood program in 1999.

God has blessed their efforts.


Today… Licensed to serve more than 500 children, ages 6 weeks to 10 years, with a variety of full time and part time care. All those families are being touched by the warmth of God’s love, day by day.

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Children are meeting Jesus, learning to know Him, and to enjoy life under His loving care. Teachers are growing in faith also.

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Pastor Mann and his growing congregation are privileged to worship in the new sanctuary they’ve added.

Not every new mission congregation with an Open Arms center has enjoyed this level of success. But more than 25 are now bringing God’s Word to theircommunities.

In addition, many more existing congregationshave added a Christian early childhood ministry to enhance their Gospel outreach.

Our Savior’s Way – Ashburn, VA

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Zion Lutheran Church - Fairbanks, AlaskaBegan an Open Arms center on this second site in 2000. Later built

the new sanctuary here (left), and relocated the congregation.

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It hasn’t been ALL success.

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• Failed to do Market Research.• Leased an existing facility. Could not overcome the

horrible image remaining from previous users.• Probably in the wrong location.• Radon problems.

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Attended an Open Arms conference in 2007. Beganoperating April 1, 2010. Now over 100 enrolled.

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Resurrection Lutheran Church and Open Arms Center Sioux Falls, SD

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Immanuel Lutheran Church, Glenview, IL

Closed their school in 2001, due to the changing community and declining cong.

Attended an Open Arms conference in 2004. Did some remodeling, and began their Open Arms center in January 2007.

Today they serve more than 100 children. The congregation is growing again, and the members have found joy and purpose in their service to the community.

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God’s Word... - …is both the POWER and the

PROCESS • for winning souls • for nurturing the family

of faithThe Open Arms concept offers a

congregation the means to touch a community more effectively with

the power of that Word. 20

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An Open Arms Conference… A great way to begin.

Check the web for information. www.openarmsinstitute.com

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Rev. Dr. Philip Kuehnert Ph.: 757-603-2247127 Shoal CreekWilliamsburg, VA 23188

Dr. Martin Barlau Ph.: 970-667-3249 2229 Scotch Pine Ct.,Loveland, CO 80538

Web: www.openarmsinstitute.com22

God is using us to grant life and hope.

Please call on us if we can be of service. We are eager to work with you to reach more families in your community with the Word of God’s love for us?

introduction to open arms

Education

open arms concept

open arms institute

open arms conference

children inour arms

immanuel lutheran church

ministry new faces

holy cross lutheran

shepherdlutheran church