TFT: 5 Minutes in Church History
January 25, 2026
WinterCON
Students in grades 6-12, you’re invited to join us March 13-15 at WinterCON, a conference that will encourage you to go deeper in your walk with God and grow 
your ability to live out your faith in your everyday life. Taking place at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, one of the largest indoor water parks in the country, you’re sure to have a meaningful and fun weekend with us! Abe and Jordyn Skacel are planning to lead the group from LEFC. For more information, visit the website and see the FAQ sheet that you may have received in your church mailbox. If interested in attending, please let Jordyn know by the end of January. For more information, email [email protected].
Family Ministries Book Fair
For the first three Sundays in February (1st, 8th, 15th), Family Ministries will be operating a book fair after church in the former MOPS room across from the fellowship hall. Come leaf through an array of trusted resources from parenting and marriage books to kids board books, and submit an order form of picks to equip you for disciple-making in your home. We will then order the items for you and distribute them when they arrive. The most exciting part is that you’ll get them at a discount, as Family Ministries will cover a percentage of the price for you so that our families can get solid material in their hands. We’ll even have fun little items for kids to purchase, so be sure they bring their quarters! Check it out after church one Sunday!
Homeschool Support
Attention homeschooling families! Would you be interested in a homeschool group right here in the West Branch area? With several homeschooling families in our church and others who are considering it for the future, we want to support and provide opportunities for you. If you have any interest in homeschool support, whether navigating the “how-to’s”, attending events and field trips, or opportunities for your child to learn from professionals, please respond to this email to indicate your interest and let us know what would be helpful for you. Talk to Vicky Albert or Jordyn Skacel if you have questions!
Egg Hunt at the Ark Park 2026
Save the date for this year’s Egg Hunt at the Ark Park on Saturday, April 4th at 10:00am!
This Week’s Challenge: Worship at Home!
Winter Storm Fern is upon us, bringing the inability to meet in person together. Don’t let that stop your family from worshipping together in your home! This week’s challenge is to meet together for worship, just as you would have if you had come out to the church campus. Use our worship at home guide, which has been created for you to use to lead your family, or put your own spin on it and create something yourself. Whatever you choose, the important thing is that you do something! We hope your family has a meaningful time together worshipping our Lord.
“Esther Saved Her People” Kids Bible Class Devotional
You have free access to a family devotional based on the curriculum our kids are studying each week in KBC! It’s called “The Gospel Project at Home.” Today’s Bible Study is “Esther Saved Her People” (Volume 6: Unit 17: Session 4), and the devotional can be found at this link.
Visit the Family Ministries page on our website for information about how to access The Gospel Project at Home for the first time.
And for Dessert…
This week’s recommendation for family discipleship is a five-minute podcast about church history.
How much do you know about church history? The history of the God’s people from the New Testament to today is a big subject that is hard to wrap your mind around. It’s even harder to teach to our kids. Where do you start? What do you include?
Maybe start small? Every week on my morning walk, I (Pastor Matt) listen to 5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols, a seminary president and church history professor. [He is also the author of The Church History ABC’s which we hare recommended before.]
Yes, it’s only 5 minutes long[!], but Nichols packs a lot of information into that short period of time, and it’s always interesting if you like stories of people, theology, and the history of ideas.
Nichols jumps around. It’s not in chronological order. So you can jump in at any time, too. Recent episodes have been about revival, new year’s resolutions, Christmas, early church crises, the Antichrist, the Hallelujah Chorus, archeology and much more. He’s been making these for over twelve years, so there is plenty of content to devour.
5 Minutes in Church History is available on many podcast platforms and is suitable for all ages. Teens could easily listen to it on their own. It’s always edifying.
May the Lord bless your families as you seek to follow Him.
Jordyn Skacel, Director of Family Ministry
Matt Mitchell, Pastor