Kindness in Progress Event History

take me to the KIP calendar of events

Doorknob Hangers - October 8-20, 2006

Great Pumpkin Giveaway - October 21, 2006

Trunk or Treat - October 31, 2006

Veterans' Day Celebration and Luncheon - November 12, 2006

DVDs Collected for Hamilton North Public Library - December, 2006

Entertainment Month - March, 2007

Focus on New Life Month - April, 2007

ServeFest '07 - June 23, 2007

Pork Tent at Indiana State Fair - August 9 - 20, 2006

Business Blast - September 2007

Trunk or Treat - October 31, 2007

Gas Giveaway - July 16, 2008

Cicero Triathlon

Pork Tent at Indiana State Fair - August 6 - 17, 2008

ServeFest08 - September 3, 2008

Bottled Water Giveaway at Atlanta Earth Festival - September 27, 2008

Trunk or Treat - October 31, 2008

Event 1: Pump Gas

August 5, 2006 - Village Pantry: pump gas, gift cards, wash windows

Response has been very encouraging for our first Kindness in Progress project!

Nearly 40 people have volunteered, so we will be able to reduce the time for volunteers. We'll have a signup at the noon info meeting at the House of Prayer for one hour or longer time frames at the pumps.

Don't forget to make some signs to hold up - this is a great job for the kids!

See the instructions to be discussed at the house of prayer here:

 Who: You! We need a minimum of 8 adults/teens and would prefer 16 minimum people to pull this off successfully. Younger children can help by holding up signs to passersby. Goal is to have two people per each of the 8 pumps. If we have more than 16, we can rotate and take short breaks.

 What: Pump gas, clean windshields, and pass out gift cards. We'll clean windshields, pump gas, and hand out "you've been served" cards for three hours. In addition, we'll give out free Village Pantry gift cards while supplies last.

 When: Saturday, August 5, 1pm to 4pm; noon at House of Prayer for instructions

 Where: Village Pantry in Cicero.

 Why: To practice kindness as a simple, non-confrontational way of sharing the love of God.

 How to prepare:

• Sign up: contact the church office by phone or email beth[at]reachteachserve.org, or sign up in the foyer if you want to be part of this servant evangelism project.
• We need to know your T-shirt size. You will get your t-shirts at the House of Prayer at noon, or if you can't come until after 1pm, get your shirt from Pastor Tim at Village Pantry.
• Kids and adults can make signs in advance that say "kindness in progress," "free windshield and pumping service," "free gift cards today only," "experience a simple example of God's love" and bring them to display.
• Dress in tennis shoes and shorts or pants that will allow you to be cool. You'll be given a T-shirt that reads "Kindness in Progress" on the front and "enjoy your free gift...I'm enjoying mine!" with a bible and a cross on the back.
• Bring a squeege and any washer fluid that you may have setting around.
• For some instructions, show up at the House of Prayer at noon to get your t-shirt, gift cards, and "you've been served!" cards (shown above, they have a map to the church on the back), and you'll also receive simple training on what and how to greet the customers and you'll get a chance to practice a few times.
• Bring some paper towels and window cleaner if you have it - we will also offer to clean interior windows.

If you can't participate, we can use your prayer support!

You are welcome to come and experience the kindness in progress, but if you are a member of CCC, please don't accept the gift cards--leave them for non-CCC guests.

Event 2: Pork Tent

August 9 - 20, 2006: Volunteer to serve at the Indiana State Fair Pork Tent

click here to see photos from the 2006 fair

Fourth Annual State Fair Fund Raiser

CCC has committed to supply workers to serve in the Indiana Pork Producers Tents at the Indiana State Fair. We must man 17 positions from 9am to 9pm for 12 days, August 9-20, 2006. In return, CCC receives tickets for the workers, T-shirts and hats for the workers, and $10,000!

You may work a full day with breaks, or a morning (9am-3pm) or evening (3p-9pm) shift. We only receive 17 tickets per day, so if you only work a 1/2 shift, the church will be responsible to purchase entrance tickets for any more than 17 that volunteer for the day.

You may work more than one shift and on more than one day.

Invite your friends and family to join you!

Event 3: $20 Blast Challenge

August 20 - September 10

click here to see photos from the $20 Blast Challenge

Use up to $20 to evangelize - you can use the tools in the 5x5 focus kit to help you - and report back what you did for Pastor Tim to present to the congregation on Sunday, September 10. There will be prizes for:

• most creative - Betty Cunningham - placing quarters in the washing machines at a local laundry
• most daring - Community Gathering table - preparing jars or bags of candy and passing out at restaurants and a youth league football game
• most people touched - Community Gathering table - baked over one hundred loaves of banana bread and gave to all local firefighters

Event 4: Doorknob Hangers

October 8-20, 2006

THANK YOU! A couple dozen people assisted and we passed out more than 2200 advertisments for our upcoming Kip events to our community! The door hangers tell about the Great Pumpkin Giveaway on October 21, Trunk or Treat on October 31, the Veterans' Remembrance & Recognition Service and Luncheon on November 12 and the all-church thanksgiving meal and entertainment on November 19.

Event 5: Great Pumpkin Giveaway

October 21, 2006

click here to see photos from the Great Pumpkin Giveaway

		The Great Pumpkin Giveaway took place on Saturday, October 21 from 10:00am to noon at the church, where we attempted to give away 500 pumpkins to our community. We gave away free pumpkins with "you've been served!" cards and let them know about the Trunk or Treat event on Halloween. We also provided cookies and cider. As Christians, why would we celebrate Halloween? Review this article from Answers in Genesis for a bit of history about Holidays for some insight.

Event 6: Trunk or Treat

October 31, 2006

		Trunk-or-Treat took place on Tuesday, October 31 from 6:00-8:30pm in the church parking lot. This was a great way to draw in a lot of families and let them know we are thinking about them. About 30 families filled their trunks or trucks with candy and goodies. We had fun and great weather (although a little cool)! Many dressed up and nearly everyone decorated their vehicle. "The Way" Cooking Class is prepared a Chili Supper for those attending Friends Unlimited Worship on Tuesday night at 5:30pm. Trunk or Treaters were welcome to come early and have a bowl of Chili.

Event 7: Veterans' Remembrance and Recognition Service and Luncheon

November 12 , 2006

Sunday, November 12 During both sessions of corporate worship, we had a special Veterans' Remembrance & Recognition Service. We also honored our veterans by providing a special free luncheon for them directly after the second service. The veterans in attendance for the meal were given Bibles just like what the service men currently receive. Thanks so much to the many people who helped plan the service and prepared and served the meal.

Event 8: DVD Drive for Library

December 1-31, 2006

The Hamilton North Public Library requested movie donations on DVD (not VHS) to add to their shelves. As a KIP project, our congregation is challenged to look in your DVD library, or purchase if you can, the DVDs on this list, or a favorite family-friendly movie. Drop your offerings in the box by the office. The DVDs will be labeled on the inside with Kindness in Progress labels and presented to the library in January.

The movies don't have to be new, but they should work! You don't have to limit your gift to the list provided. (Some of the library's requests were removed from our list based on content). Help improve the family-friendly offerings the library has with your favorites, especially children's movies.

The following websites are good places to find some movies where you can review content from a Christian perspective. You may also find some great movies that you've never seen and select them for your family to view before you donate them to the library:

   christiananswers.net/spotlight

     (christiananswers.net lets you look at reviewed movies sorted by morality ratings)

   moviereporter.com

   familystyle.com

Event 9: Entertainment Month

March 2007 was Entertainment Month

Reach out to your neighbors through the medium of entertainment

Find out how your neighbors spend their leisure time and then give the gift of entertainment. Don't forget the children in your neighborhood. You can participate in the entertainment with your neighbors or you can give it as a gift of kindness.

Be sure to let them know there are no strings attached and you are not asking anything of them. Get some tools at the Kindness in Progress table, or print them off yourself with the linked files: Leave a "You've Been Served" card or label, and take a photo of you with a cutout of KIP (remember "flat Stanley?" - Kip the Purple Polar Bear is our version) and submit it to show where Kip has been.

	DVDs			Entertainment Basket (plastic popcorn bowl, popcorn, DVD, soft drinks)
	Magazines			Babysitting Coupons
	Newspapers			Gift Card / Certificate from a movie rental store
	Movie Tickets			Worship or Christian Music CD, or download giftcard for digital files
	Popcorn or Candy			Ballgame tickets (high school, college, professional)
	Play or Musical			Participate in an indoor sporting event: bowling, paint ball, laser tag, Lunar Miniature Golf (Markland Mall, Kokomo)...

Event 10: Focusing on New Life

April, 2007: Focusing on NEW LIFE

New life evokes an image of a newborn baby. How do we meet the practical needs of a newborn and their mother?  By supporting organizations that meet the needs of a mother and child in a crisis pregnancy situation, we are reaching out in a practical way to help those in our community.  

Crisis Pregnancy Center is an organization that reaches out to mothers in a crisis pregnancy situation through free pregnancy testing, counseling, ultra sounds, practical information and ongoing support and encouragement. To learn more about Crisis Pregnancy Center, go to their web site www.cicpc.org or pick up information at the KIP table in the foyer. 

You are invited to participate in a Baby Shower for Central Indiana Crisis Pregnancy Center!  Below is a list of items you may donate for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. They will then distribute these items to women who visit their center seeking assistance. When you have purchased these items, place them in the crib by the KIP table.

	Newborn spring and summer clothes			Diapers – sizes 3, 4 & 5
	Diapers – sizes 3, 4 & 5			Diaper Wipes
	Baby shampoo			Diaper rash cream
	Baby powder			Baby bath wash
	Formula (all varieties)			New Baby bottles
	Gently used – strollers, cribs, pack & plays and bouncy seats
	Cash Donations – place in the box in the crib (make check payable to Central Indiana Crisis Pregnancy Center.)

Volunteer counselors - Compassionately listen to the client’s needs and present Biblical answers; share the risks of abortion and the Gospel. These counselors have the benefit of going through a nationally-recognized, 21-hour training class

Crisis Line - Answer calls from abortion-vulnerable women. These calls are forwarded to your home while the centers are closed. Requires completion of the counselor training. 

Event 11: ServeFest '07

June 23, 2007

ServeFest was a concentrated single day event to saturate the community with simple acts and gifts of kindness

more than 50 people joined us for this special one day service event!

we gave away in and around our community a choice of

bottled water

at the intersection of highway 19 and Jackson streets

you donated over 700 bottles of water - which is more than we could giveaway in two hours!

visor or sunglasses

at the Cicero pool and the baseball park

the kids especially loved these - who knows how much more popular they would have been
if the weather would not have been overcast

first aid kits

at the intersection of Brinton and Stringtown Pike

you helped supply enough for 500 kits - we even received a phone message on Monday
how someone had used theirs that weekend!

bag of non-perishable groceries

into the community at God-specied homes - relying on God to send
them to those individuals who need a bag of groceries!

at least a dozen homes were touched by gifts of food

Event 12: Pork Tent

August 8 - 19, 2007: Volunteer to serve at the Indiana State Fair Pork Tent

click here to see photos from the 2007 fair

Fifth Annual State Fair Fund Raiser

CCC has committed to supply workers to serve in the Indiana Pork Producers Tents at the Indiana State Fair. We manned 14 positions from 10am to 9pm for 12 days, August 8-19, 2007. In return, CCC receives tickets for the workers, T-shirts and hats for the workers, and $10,000!

What will we do with the money? Ten percent of our receipts will go to the missions team for their use in the field of missions ($1,000). The remaining $9,000 will be escrowed for the annual principal payment due in March of 2008. The money will be presented by a representative of Achieva, the group that managed the pork tent for the Indiana Pork Producers.

Event 13: Business Blast

September, 2007: Business Blast

There are well over 75 businesses in Cicero. These are individuals and companies are available to serve us every day. Business Blast 2007 is our opportunity to show these individuals and companies how much we value them and appreciate them. 

The idea of Business Blast is for individuals, families, classes or home fellowships to “adopt” a company. During the entire month of September, this adopted company will receive “showers of blessings.” These showers of blessings can be (but not limited to):

• Morning donuts or goodies
• Cleaning their office (with permission)
• Cleaning their restrooms
• Morning newspapers
• Boxed lunches or afternoon treats
• Any other ways you can serve them

There is an “Adopt-a-Business” board at the KIP table beginning the last week of August.  Simple look over the businesses, choose one, and begin serving them!

Event 14: Trunk or Treat

Trunk or Treat - October 31 - 6-8pm, parking lot

Trunk or Treat

October 31 - 6-8pm, parking lot

This is an October Kindness in Progress Servant Evangelism event. Our community will be invited to visit us for goodies, and you don't have to cart the kids around town looking for loot! Spread the word to your communities that the action will be at CCC!

• Decorate your vehicle
• Dress up your family in some fun costumes (nothing too scary or inappropriate, please)
• Fill some containers with candy (as much as you can!) or Christ-centered trinkets or handouts
• Meet at the church parking lot from 6-8p
• Eat at the church - church will provide paper goods, cups and drinks, Our kitchen crew will provide Chili, you just show up! ($2 donation please)
• Contest with fabulous non-sugar prize best decorated "candy distribution center" and costumes.
• If you can't join us and want to help, drop some candy or Christ-centered trinkets or handouts by the church office and we'll make sure they get distributed.
• PARKING: park nose-to-nose in the first median nearest the House of Prayer. We want our guests to circle around us in a U shape rather than try to visit both sides of a straight line.

Event 15: Gas Giveaway

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Gas Giveaway at the Marathon station in Cicero

We gave away $500 in gift cards and the owner of the Marathon chipped in an additional $50 plus 20 free car washes. Ten of us wore our Kindness in Progress T-Shirts and took 1 hour and 15 minutes to distribute the cards.

Details:

SIGN UP in the FOYER or contact Beth Roberts (beth [at] reachteachserve.org) in the church office to participate. We are limiting the number of servants in this event to about a dozen.

• Meet in the Senior Minister's office at 6pm for instructions. We will post the signs on highway 19 and be at the Marathon station by 6:30pm to start the event.
• The number of participants has been limited so as not to scare off the customers. Last time we had the giveway, our overwhelming response of volunteers turned some people away from instead of in to the station. If you cannot attend for some reason, contact Beth Roberts or Tim Lueking as soon as possible!
• Participants will give away $5 Marathon gift cards at the gas pump. The customer may then take the card into the convenience store and can use it toward a gas (or another purchase on another day).
• Along with the gift card, the recipient will be given a “you’ve been served” card. You may simply state “God loves you” or something similar when you hand them the cards. The “you’ve been served” card has a map to the church on the back side and the logo and church address on the front.
• We will post two large signs on the north and south of the station. When the signs go up, we’ll start (6:30pm). When cards run out, the signs come down.
• We will purchase at least $500 in gift cards and Romie, the owner of the station, has donated an additional $50 (110 cards). Romie is also providing 20 free car wash codes to give away at the discretion of the volunteers. Thank the staff and owner of the Marathon station for their generosity!

• Please wear your “Kindness in Progress” T-Shirt. If you don’t have one, contact Beth.
• Childcare/class is available as part of the Wednesday service from 6:30-7:45pm. If you have a child that needs care, let Beth Roberts know and we’ll arrange for them to be watched starting at 6pm until the official start time.

Event 16: Cicero Triathlon

Saturday, August 9, 2008

We are supporting the Cicero Triathlon as a 25th Anniversary Sponsor.

Volunteer opportunities: / sign up in the foyer or call the church office. We'll need your name, phone number, email address if you have one, and t-shirt size for an event t-shirt.

Lake Clean Up ~Saturday, July 26, 9am. Headed up by the Morse Waterways Association to cleaning up the area of the lake that the swimmers use to enter and exit. It will probably take 2-3 hours that morning.

Course Setup ~ Friday, August 8, late afternoon/early evening

Race Day ~ Saturday, August 9, early morning:

Registration, Bike Security, Course Tear-Down

Event 17: State Fair Pork Tent

Wednesday, August 6 - Sunday, August 17

A tremendous thanks goes out to our 143 individual volunteers who filled 225 shifts for the twelve days of the 2008 Indiana State Fair (August 6-17, 2008) working for the Indiana Pork Producers. For the sixth year, we manned two lines of serving food at the Indiana Pork Producers tent. Click here for details.

Event 18: ServeFest08

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

After carbo-loading with chicken fettuccini alfredo, our gang of about 75 started decorating the book bags for Damou.

Making Book Bags for Damou Christian Mission

Over 700 students attend school (preschool-high) at Damou, located near Jacmel, Haiti. Click here for the Damou website.

We completed our task of decorating and supplying bags for 66 specific children from Damou Christian Mission in less than an hour! Plus, we decorated an additional 45 bags!

Special Thanks from our organizer, Beth Roberts, to :

Our sewing crew, who sewed nearly 100 bags prior to the event, many of them donating the fabric: Trudy Pursell, Judy Jenkins, Judy Settles, Susan Hoch, Judy Baird, Jessica Hendricks, Sharon Bailey

Our setup crew, who came in advance and prepared and organized all the materials: Bev McGill, Judy Jenkins, Susan Hoch, Darrell Zaneski, and Jennifer Huss. Also thanks to Jen, Paul, Liam and Charlie Huss and Mike and Teresa House who helped clean up after the event!

Our shopping crew, who located the bargains or brought in items for the event: Trudy Pursell, Judy Jenkins, Judy Settles, Marcia House, Mike & Teresa House

I couldn't have done it without you all! And a special thanks to JoAnn Fabrics in Castleton, who donated all the paint and many of the stencils and paintbrushes.

The supplied bags, as well as 180 completed plain bags donated by a local boy scout troop, will be mailed next week to the forwarding agent in Florida, then on to Haiti.

On Thursday, our Crosslight Christian School Daycare completed decorating another 40 bags! Thanks, schoolagers!

Click here for details on the 2007 ServeFest.

click on the photos for larger images

We didn't get a good shot of our ladies in the corner, who quickly applied trim to the bags		What a crowd! Good thing we had lots of help getting organized		Braden Roosa proudly shows off his completed bag

How did Alex get a simple name like "Billy" while...		Mike gets a name like Shyneider?		Jean tries to keep Jeff in line as they assemble the school supplies

Donna Heinold (left), sister of missionary Tina Isenhower, and forwarding agent for Damou with her husband Chuck, was at the event and helped Teresa get the right size underwear and socks		Joanne Fabrics was going to throw away all this paint and paintbrushes - sometimes when you ask for a discount, you get a big blessing instead!		Mr. Lueking Jr. in front on his bag for "William"

click on the photos for larger images

My favorite - name and bag - "Opsken"		Lexi, Alaina and Brenda make it a familyaffair, concentrating on the pink paint		some of the nearly 100 decorated bags drying

Crosslight Christian Daycare Schoolagers got in on the action on Thursday - they sewed trim on and painted another 40 bags on their early release day from school

Event 19: Bottled Water Giveaway

September 27, 2008 from 11am to 4pm

at the Atlanta New Earth Festival

We will give away free water labeled with "you've been served," and challenge people to "KIP" someone - hand them a small card that will invite them to do a simple act of kindness with the goal of showing God's love. Our location is close to the yummy cinnamon roll guy, on the northwest side of the railroad tracks off Main Street, right where people board for the caboose rides. Thanks to the Zaneski family for the booth space!

Over 1200 bottles of water donated, labeled, transported to Atlanta, chilled, and distributed!

We even got a thank you card at the church the following week!

Event 20: Third Annual Trunk or Treat

October 31, 2008

6-8pm, parking lot

This event is to serve the community with a safe alternative for trick-n-treating with lots of free candy!

Our congregation is invited to join KIP and have fun and fellowship. We invite the entire church family to come, bring your own candy and Christian tracts or trinkets to distribute, come in costume and decorate your vehicle.

Chili will be served for participants in the cafe for free.

click here for previous Trunk or Treat information and pictures!

Cicero Christian Church 1715 Stringtown Pike  Cicero, IN 46034  317.984.4653