We live, however, as more than recipients. We are called to be involved in God's activity of love and care for humankind and all of God's creation. We are dignified by being asked by God to participate in God's purpose of love and care. When we do participate, we receive a new dimension of grace, for we actually meet our living Lord in the needs of others.

Your time and commitment to this outreach is vital to the strength of our congregation. The central goal of Mentoring New Members is to help them become active in and committed to the ministry and mission of Calvary. This goal can be reached through the following activities:

We have what we call our "Shepherding Program." When a person/family joins, they are assigned to one of the "shepherding groups." This immediately involves them with fellow members in helping with the ministry at Lakeside. Because of the variety of tasks, everyone is able to find something to do in their comfort zone.

We continue to work on our new member integration, but at present we do six weeks of classes, spiritual gifts inventory and interviews, new member Sundays with a sponsor who agrees to contact the new members once a month for three months and also to pray for them.

The first session of each new member classes (there were nine sessions) began with the sharing of four questions: Where did you live before the age of 12? What kind of fuel did you use in heating your (childhood) home? Which room in your house was the social center for your family? When did Jesus become more than a word to you?