2. The Open Arms Concept...
The Beginning
The Leaders
Rev. Dr. Robert Scudieri
Rev. Dr. Philip Kuehnert
The Partners
Ascension Lutheran
Church, Atlanta, GA
The English District of the
LCMS
The Lutheran Church
Extension Fund
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3. The Open Arms Concept...
The Beginning
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
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4. The Open Arms Concept...
The Beginning
The first building of the first new mission with
an Open Arms child development ministry 4
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5. The Open Arms Concept...
God has blessed the work.
The present facilities of that first new mission,
Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church
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6. The Open Arms Concept...
The Open Arms Institute has been blessed
by the help and support of…
• 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
More people are enjoying life with
God, by His grace, through the
work of His Holy Spirit
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7. The Open Arms Concept...
Childcare?? Really???
• 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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8. The Open Arms Concept...
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 and
development.
Fully licensed, and meeting all
state requirements
National accreditation
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9. The Open Arms Concept...
Christian Child Care Ministry…
What does this mean?
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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10. The Open Arms Concept...
Christian Child Care Ministry…
What does this mean?
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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11. The Open Arms Concept...
Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Open
Arms Child Development Center –
Clayton, NC
Another new congregation
begun with a Christian early
childhood center.
These children are learning
to know their Savior, and
to enjoy life with Him.
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12. The Open Arms Concept...
Ministry at a second site,
in a new neighborhood,
begun by Ascension
Lutheran Church, Wichita,
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Kansas.
13. The Open Arms Concept...
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.
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14. The Open Arms Concept...
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.
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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15. The Open Arms Concept...
Our Savior’s Way – Ashburn, VA
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 their
communities.
In addition, many more
existing congregations
have added a Christian early
childhood ministry to enhance their Gospel outreach.
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16. The Open Arms Concept...
Zion Lutheran Church - Fairbanks, Alaska
Began 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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17. The Open Arms Concept...
It hasn’t been ALL success.
T
• 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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18. The Open Arms Concept...
Resurrection Lutheran Church and
Open Arms Center Sioux Falls, SD
Attended an Open Arms conference in 2007. Began
operating April 1, 2010. Now over 100 enrolled.
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19. The Open Arms Concept...
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 Today they serve more than 100 children. The
began their Open congregation is growing again, and the members
Arms center in have found joy and purpose in their service to the
January 2007. community.
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20. The Open Arms Concept...
God’s Word... -
…is both the POWER and the PROCESS
• for winning souls
• for nurturing the family of
faith
The Open Arms concept offers a congregation
the means to touch a community more
effectively with the power of that Word.
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21. The Open Arms Concept...
An Open Arms Conference… A great way to begin.
Check the web for information.
www.openarmsinstitute.com 21
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22. The Open Arms Concept...
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?
Rev. Dr. Philip Kuehnert Ph.: 757-603-2247
127 Shoal Creek
Williamsburg, VA 23188
Dr. Martin Barlau Ph.: 970-667-3249
2229 Scotch Pine Ct.,
Loveland, CO 80538
Web: www.openarmsinstitute.com 22
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