Worship Ministry
Worship is the means by which God's people join together to glorify God through adoration and praise. Our worship is centered on the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God that serves as the final written authority for living out the Christian faith. We believe that as individual Christians, we can and should approach God directly, and that individual gifts of ministry should be shared. This ministry includes the planning and design of the worship services and special services, music planning and practice, drama planning, pianist oversight, hospitality, Usher oversight, greeters oversight, and all audio/visual aspects of worship.
Discipleship Ministry
Discipleship is an important characteristic of what it means to be a Christian. The Discipleship Ministry wants to provide the opportunities to pursue biblical knowledge, spiritual discipline and develop ministry skills. It is the hope of the Discipleship Ministry team that we can provide for you the opportunities to move deeper in your relationship to Christ through being in attendance in Sunday School and Bible Studies, through becoming involved in the church beyond the four walls of the church building, and to mentor and encourage new Christians and members of Sunset Hills Baptist Church. This ministry also includes camp activities and promotion, mentoring, sponsoring, and lay leadership training.
Prayer Ministry
The prayer ministry is designed around the model of the early church, as given to us throughout the book of Acts, providing a monthly God-centered prayer gathering focusing on God's Word, His workings in our daily lives, and His desire to be in relationship with each of us as we converse with God regarding our needs in our daily lives. It is the prayer ministry's goal to strengthen our Biblical understanding of the purpose of prayer and through corporate prayer move everyone into a deeper, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Immediate prayer concerns may be addressed through the ABW prayer chain. Other opportunities for church wide prayer needs are noted in the weekly worship bulletin, and private concerns for the prayer ministry team and/or the pastor may be listed on the pew inserts and given to the ushers.
Shepherding Ministry
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be eager to serve." I Peter 5:2. We seek to respond to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our church family and community. We are committed to creating a climate of nurturing, supporting and loving just as He has loved us. This ministry includes managing the benevolent fund, providing physical assistance and transportation, in-home communion, scheduling the nursery attendants, recognition of special dates (anniversary, birthday, etc.), and a widow/widower ministry.
Fellowship/Mission Ministry
We are to gather together and to reach out as a community of believers. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20) This ministry helps in coordinating as necessary the youth program, ABW, ABM, small groups, website development and maintenance, mission trips, and mission-related offerings.
Stewardship Ministry
The Stewardship Ministry is responsible for oversight of all church property. Through three ministry teams - Financial, Property and Historical - the focus remains on the daily fundamental tasks of accounting for and directing our financial resources, recording our historical events and photographs, and the daily operations of the church property and building, in addition to forecasting and planning. The financial and property ministry teams work with every other ministry at some level to coordinate use, care and function of the facilities. The third ministry will record and care for records and photos of historical reference and preserve who we are as a church family.
Pastor and Staff Relations Ministry
The Pastoral/Staff Relations Ministry is a ministry formed to encourage, provide feedback, and help develop open communication between the staff, the pastor and the congregation. They are responsible for pastor and secretarial staff compensation, pastoral development/continuing education, conflict resolution and encouraging gifted individuals into ministerial leadership and vocation. They also assist in pastoral transitions: installing new pastor and staff, pastor appreciation, resignations, termination, retirement and pulpit supply. As a ministry team we have a genuine concern for the life of the church and meet in prayer and discussion of how God is at work in our midst in both accomplishments and concerns, "considering how we may spur one another on in love. ..." Hebrews 10:24
OTHER MINISTRIES AND ACTIVITIES:
The E.D.G.E. (Every Day God Experience), for youth in middle and high schools, meets year-round on Wednesday evenings for fun and faith lessons. The group also has planned activities in the community and goes on an annual mission trip.
Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center, a 568-acre wooded site high above the Platte River valley between Linwood and North Bend, Neb., is owned and operated by American Baptist Churches of Nebraska. It provides spiritual experiences with camps for all ages during the summer and retreats throughout the year.
Sunday School classes are available for all ages, from toddlers through adults. The classes meet from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., prior to the 10:30 a.m. worship service.
Vacation Bible School is held for one week in the evenings each summer, for ages 2 through adults.
Children's Church is held during worship services for 3-year-olds through second grade.
The nursery is staffed by adults during Sunday School, worship services and some special events.
American Baptist Women have two circles. Lightbearers Circle meets on the first Monday evening September through June. Fellowship Circle meets the second Tuesday for lunch. They also combine for quarterly meetings, in September, December, March, June at the church. The Baked Steak Dinner, Craft and Bake sale is held in October. Each November, Sunset Hills is host for Baptist Women's Day of Prayer.
American Baptist Men meet monthly on the second Saturday for breakfast and a program in the Fellowship Hall. Their missions include food pantry and clothing drives and they serve as hosts for the annual Omahaland American Baptist Men's prayer breakfast. They also participate in the annual ABMen's Conference at Moses Merrill Camp and Conference Center.
The church holds Bible studies on Mondays at 7 p.m. at a member's home and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the church.
Fellowship meals are served in the Fellowship Hall several times a year. Look to the calendar for the next meal.
Music has long been showcased at Sunset Hills, with a history of world-class pianists and talented vocalists and instrumentalists. The Worship Team, the Praise Band and the men's group Forgiven share in leading the congregational music during worship services.
The Worship Team also provides special music. It rehearses Wednesday evenings from September through May. During the summer months special music is provided by a variety of vocal and instrumental soloists and groups.
The Praise Band consists of Sunset Hills youth, with guitar players, violinists, drummers and vocalists.
Forgiven, with four singers and a sound technician, has provided special music during worship services and programs at special events throughout eastern Nebraska since 1998. Members are Bill Kline, Terry Anderson, Mark Caughey, Bob Slechta and Todd Ray.
