Leaders' goal to make early impact on children

After seven years of attending Lincoln Berean, one couple in particular has been especially busy with children, and not necessarily their own.

With three daughters of their own, this couple has walked with them in ministry from infancy and toddler years through elementary school. With an obvious love for their own children, they also have a heart for all children, that they would be made complete in Christ, especially beginning at a young age.

That is why Rick and Kelly Geiler believe they have been called to establish the children's ministry at North Pointe Community Church, the North Lincoln church plant. The church will be planted in North Lincoln in an effort to present every person complete in Christ, especially as travel across the city becomes increasingly difficult.

"It's interesting how we decided on North Pointe," Rick explained. Their initial interest in the north church plant piqued three years ago when it was first presented to the congregation but came to a halt for lack of a leader.

"We were pretty excited at the time," Rick said. But when the idea seemed to die, "we mentally went away" from the idea.

Since then, other ministry options have come up: a church plant in Ashland with another organization, an opportunity at their church in their community, as well as a deeper involvement in LBC's children's ministry.

"One by one, these doors closed, except North Pointe," Rick said. "It was not our elimination, but we were praying about it, and all these other things didn't come in line." That was combined with about five months thinking and praying, starting with the announcement of the church in January to a decision by early summer.

Kelly recalled a time when Rick called from work and said: "My whole life, I have had to make decisions. I have to choose to walk through one at a time." Kelly followed that up with a prayer that "he would be able to make that decision as the head of the house. I had to be still and let him decide," she said.

Rick spoke of times in which he did not take advantage of opportunities. He has since learned that "life's too short to not walk through the door," he said. "God speaks and wants us to listen, follow and obey." Almost three months later, he shared his decision and they began to move forward.

"We were challenged by what it means to step out in faith," Kelly said. "We don't know all the answers, but [God will] be faithful." She also said their step of faith is actually the essence of the Loop. "We have been taught, trained and sent out." The Loop is the symbolic representation of the mission of LBC to create a place for new people to come to church where they can be nurtured, trained and sent out to continue serving Christ in another capacity.

Rick explained the history of Lincoln Berean and the leaders who "stepped out at some point. We have benefited from that and feel obligated to do the same," he said.

The Geilers came to Lincoln Berean about eight years ago when they moved from Omaha to a small community north of Waverly. As parents for a couple years, their choice to stick with LBC came as a result of what they perceived in the children's ministry.

"It was visible and important to the church," Rick said. "We recognized that from Day One." It wasn't long until they themselves got involved in the children's ministry. "It was a natural step for us; we believe in serving." They also believed it was important to their family to be involved in spiritual growth together, at all ages.

That involvement began by going through the nursery with their girls, then also serving in Hassidim. They have been in some leadership roles, which have included overseeing the Saturday night program, Junior Camp at Maranatha Bible Camp, and leading an inter-generational class that bridges the gap from elementary students to the elderly. They are currently leading the generational class and may discontinue in January so they can put more focus on developing for North Pointe.

Through their involvement, Rick said they "got a taste of the leadership as well as the worker side of the ministry in order to realize "God has put this thing together.

“It's comforting to realize the support is there, and the church is behind us," he continued.

Rick said that in the children's ministry, the Loop is demonstrated continually through the relationships built among the children, as well as the involvement of adults who volunteer to teach and contribute to those relationships. "Hassidim [means] a faithful, loyal follower of Christ," he said. "We teach kids to do that and listen to what God says."

The payoff, both of them explained, was visible in their daughters: Madisen (10), Malorie (8) and Maggie (7). "We do our best to teach them God's Word, His love" and the importance of service and good relationships with their peers, Kelly said, hoping to give them opportunities to invite their friends to church. "They do life with them Monday through Friday, why not Sunday?" she asked.

As she held their oldest daughter, Madisen, by her side, Kelly shared a discussion they had recently. Madisen lay awake one night voicing her concern for her friends at school who don't know Jesus. Kelly wants to help her find a way to share with her friends and hopes the church could also meet that need.

Also, the girls are anxious about leaving their home church, where they have spent pretty much all their life. But Kelly said they have been teaching their girls what it means to "step out in faith."

When North Pointe was first discussed with the family, they were unsure where they'd end up but understood "God would want us to be involved somewhere," Kelly said. "But, if Mom and Dad are secure, they are secure."

Now as they look ahead, they understand the ministry will not look the same as Lincoln Berean's. "That's one of the hard things," Rick said. "Going from somewhere big, you want to do the same things, but flexibility and adaptability are important." The numbers, facilities, format and other physical aspects may look different, Rick said, but their goal is to carry out the same mission.

"Our challenge is not programming, for programming's sake," Rick explained about his concern that the emphasis never gets removed from relationships to programs. He told his wife, "If I ever say I'm going to start another program, grab me and shake me.

"We want to be a personal and relational church where people are living their faith."

Rick has a way of thinking both relationally and analytically. As an architect for Hearthstone Homes in Omaha, he loves the aspect of the job that allows him to plan specifically and mathematically, yet it also gives him opportunities to meet with and relate to people. He holds degrees in architecture and construction engineering from Iowa State University and is a registered architect in Nebraska.

Kelly, likewise, was a career woman who holds a degree in management from Bellevue University. She said it was difficult to make the transition from career woman to mom but loves every part of her new job.

In regard to management and how it can apply to ministry, "I think the biggest thing is how you treat people, whether you are serving with them or serving them," Kelly said. "What I have learned about management is doing it well, in how you treat others. Details will follow out of that."

Rick said that because they were both in the workplace, they recognize "cultural warfare," but it starts much earlier in the tender years, which is their biggest reason for getting involved with children's ministry. "It's an easy thing for them to go one way or another," he said. Culture used to be "community led. Now kids are free floating." He said he would like to give the children some "grounding , before culture grabs a hold of them. It is a crucial and critical thing to provide kids with these opportunities."