H7 Story: Serving as a Family
by Wendi Kitsteiner
First Christian Church has many families whose children have recently been serving together with their Dad and/or Mom. While there are many families that serve in this fashion, we wanted to take a moment to highlight just one of these Greeneville-campus families.
Carl and Crista Larsen came to Greeneville four years ago after 18 years living in Denver, Colorado. In search of a slower life, they are now, in Crista’s words “living the dream” in Tennessee. They are a perfect example of a family working together to serve the Lord. Crista is now serving as the Financial Director at FCC as well.
The Larsens are a homeschooling family with three (teenage!) children: Audrey (17), Amelia (15), and Charlie (13). Audrey and Amelia serve with Crista in Kids Min on the Greeneville campus during the first service. Amelia assists in preschool while Audrey and Crista serve together in K-2.
Crista expressed, “It is just a joy to watch them, not only to interact with the kids but to teach them the love of Jesus. It makes me realize that my kids have got it too. They know, in their heart, that Jesus loves them, so they can pass this along to the kids they work with.”
Carl and Crista Larsen came to Greeneville four years ago after 18 years living in Denver, Colorado. In search of a slower life, they are now, in Crista’s words “living the dream” in Tennessee. They are a perfect example of a family working together to serve the Lord. Crista is now serving as the Financial Director at FCC as well.
The Larsens are a homeschooling family with three (teenage!) children: Audrey (17), Amelia (15), and Charlie (13). Audrey and Amelia serve with Crista in Kids Min on the Greeneville campus during the first service. Amelia assists in preschool while Audrey and Crista serve together in K-2.
Crista expressed, “It is just a joy to watch them, not only to interact with the kids but to teach them the love of Jesus. It makes me realize that my kids have got it too. They know, in their heart, that Jesus loves them, so they can pass this along to the kids they work with.”
Carl agreed. “Before we came here, we never thought of church as a place to be a producer – only a consumer. That was one of the first things we learned coming here – especially in the Next Steps class,” he told Pastor Scott in a recent episode of Coffee Convos. Crista expanded on that when she explained, “I think one cool thing is that it becomes natural for them to become servants in church but also in the rest of their lives. It is part of them becoming responsible, producing adults.”
While the girls are over in the Kids Min area, Carl and Charlie serve together in the Tech ministry for both services. They go in early and stay until they get everything shut down after the services are over. While only 13, Charlie is incredibly diligent and focused on his role in helping run the services.
While the girls are over in the Kids Min area, Carl and Charlie serve together in the Tech ministry for both services. They go in early and stay until they get everything shut down after the services are over. While only 13, Charlie is incredibly diligent and focused on his role in helping run the services.
Pastor Scott remarked that he has observed Charlie’s work-ethic serving in Tech and expanded on that by saying, “Building leaders from within beginning at an early age is easy to do because kids are eager to do a good job. They are thinking: Hey, these older people are asking me to serve in this significant way.”
In addition to working in these two ministries with their children, Carl and Crista also serve together in the marriage ministry. They facilitated a small group for the Spring 2022 Re|engage session and were presenters at the Marriage Enrichment Night over the summer.
“Serving together teaches our kids that faithfully serving is just what we do,” Crista remarked. “It's a normal part of life, and that we want to cultivate a desire to be producers for God's kingdom, not just consumers.”
Side Box:
While it’s often common for the dads to work with their sons and moms with their daughters, another FCC family has an incredible father-daughter duo in Andy and Isabella (10) who serve on the guest services team together. Andy serves as the service leader while Isabel serves coffee, helps carry/clean communion trays, washes dishes, etc. When asked why she likes helping to serve, her response was: " I serve coffee on Sundays because I like spending time with my dad and my friends, and I love seeing people smile." Her Dad agreed. "Guest services volunteers weekly encourage and enrich my life. Serving with my daughter gives us a beautiful shared experience and me a front-row view of these trusted friends pouring into Isabel's life too."
In addition to working in these two ministries with their children, Carl and Crista also serve together in the marriage ministry. They facilitated a small group for the Spring 2022 Re|engage session and were presenters at the Marriage Enrichment Night over the summer.
“Serving together teaches our kids that faithfully serving is just what we do,” Crista remarked. “It's a normal part of life, and that we want to cultivate a desire to be producers for God's kingdom, not just consumers.”
Side Box:
While it’s often common for the dads to work with their sons and moms with their daughters, another FCC family has an incredible father-daughter duo in Andy and Isabella (10) who serve on the guest services team together. Andy serves as the service leader while Isabel serves coffee, helps carry/clean communion trays, washes dishes, etc. When asked why she likes helping to serve, her response was: " I serve coffee on Sundays because I like spending time with my dad and my friends, and I love seeing people smile." Her Dad agreed. "Guest services volunteers weekly encourage and enrich my life. Serving with my daughter gives us a beautiful shared experience and me a front-row view of these trusted friends pouring into Isabel's life too."
Posted in Tell the Story