We're Planning

Yesterday and today, we have begun the process of planning. Planning out the semester, at least, for our ministries and the things that would lead to effective ministry.

It's funny because, theologically, God already has a plan for exactly how he wants to see this year go. So, we don't really need to plan, right? Just let it happen; allow the Holy Spirit to guide! (insert slight chuckle)

Come now! I think it is foolish to think that we shouldn't plan. If not to at least give direction and allow God to guide us in these moments, then to make clear some of the paths that He wants to use to interrupt our lives. Planning is necessary, not because if we don't God won't move, but because we have, so incredibly, jam-packed our lives that unless things are planned out a bit, we could go about our lives and totally miss out on opportunities to meet with Him.

So, we will plan. But in our planning, we are desperate to see His vision and His Will and His plan for this ministry and everything that He wants to do in and through it. And most of all, we want to be diligent and finding ways to make sure that He can work in and through us. That might be the more important task.

I'm not a Parent, but this is Golden.

I opened my email up this morning and found a link to a very interesting video. I thought that I might share it with you because I think that it has become much less of the exception and more of the rule. Don't get me wrong, I love parents and realize that I have no idea how I would parent in every situation. But, I would be foolish to not bring to light the reality that is overparenting in today's society. Check it out.

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Link love to Mark Lantz!

This is my Desire.

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherdst and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,t to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Don't think that I have desired this more than now.

Nobody Likes a Sinking Ship

Been doing some reading lately, talking with youth development folks, and discussing the idea of recruiting with a few folks and have come to the conclusion that "Nobody likes a Sinking Ship." A thought I was first introduced to by Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens in Simply Strategic Volunteers, I'm exploring ways that we can create vernacular and environments that portray a thriving and positive environment for both students and volunteers.

There are many ways to do this, but primary to creating positive environments, built for both excellence in experience and programming, is the way in which we communicate. The words that we use, the way we portray a certain event or process, speaks volumes to the way that people interpret the organization or ministry. It is truly your front door for both recruiting of students and volunteers. We can't expect someone to think that we have a fun and safe place to be if they constantly hear something contrary to that idea.

The reality is that this begins well before the creation of the materials designed to help recruit people. It begins at the development of each promotional piece. It begins at the creation of each email that goes to all our leaders. It becomes obvious at the launch of each night of programming. And each of these pieces sets a tone for the way in which people interpret the goal of the ministry or program.

So, how do people interpret your organization?

I know that over the last month this has become a primary discussion in my thoughts as we begin to enter a time of activating our fellowship and inviting them to be a part of the story that God is writing in Nappanee. And we can help someone feel welcome to join that story or that battle if we continue to consider how to provide positive reinforcement and intrinsic desire to help produce an excellent environment for students and all ministries, in general. It is not the end game, but this thought process certainly helps me think through how to best communicate to those who need to be plugged into a given ministry.

So, how are you doing?

Who do you think you are?

(This post could come off as very prideful and arrogant. Do yourself a favor and give me some grace so that you can understand my point.)

I am passionate about High Schoolers.
I am passionate about College Students.
I am passionate about Worship.
I am passionate about Sports.
I am passionate about the Church.

I am gifted as a Preacher.
I am gifted as an Administrator.
I am gifted as a Developer.
I am gifted as an Announcer.
I am gifted as a Youth Worker.

I wanted to be a big name Preacher.
I wanted to start a huge Church.
I wanted to be a Professional Announcer.
I wanted to lead a Symphony.
I wanted to be a Writer.

But who do I think I am?

Who am I to think that everything that I thought I was supposed to do is exactly what I should be doing?
Who am I to think that my thoughts about my life are His thoughts?
Who am I to think that His ways of utilizing those gifts and abilities are exactly like my ways?

Sure, I could try and pursue all of those things and feel like I'm doing everything that I am supposed to be. Or, I could do what He has intended for me to do and do all of that much better.

If you have multiple passions, multiple gifts and have a pulse, you probably have thought that you could do it all, at the same time and do it all well. But who do you think you are?

Sometimes, we need to come to the recognition that by trying to do everything with excellence, we end up doing nothing with excellence. And most likely that frustrates us or those that we are leading and ends up doing exactly what we don't want it to do.

So, who do you think you are?

The Black Hole in the Ministry of the Church pt. 3

Image courtesy: www.penn-olson.com

In a world where anybody can post whatever they want, regarding whatever or whomever they want, using whatever basis of truth they want, it seems that everyone has an opinion. And in most cases, as you read their opinion, their opinion is Right; it is True. Many times that's the case with this blog. My thoughts are the modus operandi for truth.

So, in every effort to try and do "College Transition" or "Young Adult" ministry, a very severe recognition of this notion is realized. Every person that sits in any service or ministry has their opinion on how it should be done; how it should look. And this is what makes both of these groups very difficult to do relevant ministry with and "hold water" for extended periods of time.

The reality is that everyone has an opinion on everything that is a performance-based, audience-centered, rallying of people that does not have a clear and distinct purpose that is greater than putting on a good show. And yet, this, at the root of many of our programs, is the form that our worship services take, especially in reference to college and young adult ministry. "Let's create an experience" have been uttered many times from my very own lips. We've seen what Louie Giglio and his team have pulled off for 4 days a year and we continually try and recreate, retrofit and relocate to our own ministries and it consistently comes up short of what college students and young adults desire, need or have created expectations with which to measure up to.

So, what if our efforts to reach this part of the Church that sees more spiritual atrophy and more personal decisions to turn away from Christ for the pursuit of their own "destiny," looked completely different and sounded completely different and were created completely different? What if it was something that was so organic and centered around a focus that no one could truly describe yet every person involved could identify whole-heartedly and met every participant at the place that they found themselves. What if this thing had no resemblance to a "program" at all, rather took the role of simply being a constant in their lives that they can turn to in any time of their life.

What if Acts 2:42-47 became a reality in the lives of all church member, but specifically in college and young adult ministry?

Just some questions I'm asking lately.

What I'm Reading

Been reading Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens book, Simply Strategic Volunteers. I must say, I have been very much encouraged by their thoughts on recruitment and empowering the Church to get out of their seats and into the game. It has refined a lot of my thoughts on our volunteers and better ways to facilitate care and resourcing.

I've also been very intrigued at the importance that these two place on expressing vision effectively and precisely. If there is one thing that I could do without, it is constant and consistent surprises. You are probably saying, how does that work? I'm referring to constantly finding surprises as a leader; unspoken expectations, deeper time commitments, more guilt for not being available at the last second. This is a stereotype that gets applied to most Youth Pastors because of the amount of times that things slip through the cracks (I have much more to say sometime on this one.).

Regardless of where you are on that topic, there are many things that I am learning we could do better with as a ministry and as a church. I'm wondering, what do you value?

As a volunteer, what are some things that you value to know?
What are some surprises that you would much rather have gone without?
As a student, what helps you understand the "why" behind the madness?

Leave a Comment!

My Man: Michael Yoder

There are certain things that make me cringe when I think about them. Thinking about Michael Yoder and how he used to kill me in Halo is one of those things. I recently wrote about my experience at GO MAD here and here. I only would have had the opportunity if Mike convinced his coworkers that I could handle running the programming for this conference. I was blessed by the opportunity to play a small part in the conference and you can read Mike's recent blog post about how he saw the fruit of God's move at this conference. I love hearing about how students begin to "get it." Here's an excerpt from Mike's post:

After the session we went and had team time with our school. It was a thing of beauty to see the raw passion and honesty of our students. Each student shared where they where in their walk with God. Some of the students gave themselves a letter grade, others explained how they were walking hand and hand with God, while others explained they really didn’t have a relationship at all. There was a lot of hurt in the room, as students got really honest and open with everyone.

You can learn more about what's happening with the South Adams Campus Life Crew by checking out their Facebook Page or reading Mike's Blog every once in a while!

GC

My Man: Kory & Alison Lantz

I have a number of friends from college that are in ministry now. Someday, I will finally have a Summit of Ministry people in my circle of friends. Until that time, I will just have to keep up with them via blogs and e-newsletters. Today, I was reading the blog for The Transformation and my friends Kory and Alison Lantz. They took a huge step of faith by entering into a place of South Bend that has been neglected for far too long and have been doing some intense incarnational ministry in partnership with the Keller Park Church. As I was reading I came across an awesome post that Kory wrote up about their recent vacation to Phoenix, Arizona (one of my favorite places in the US). I won't post the whole thing so you can go and enjoy for yourself, but I found this portion to be pretty critical to my own journey:

I could sit here and make a good argument either way on why I should or should not have helped this man in downtown Phoenix, but for me it was clear what I needed to do. Yes, I still believe it is good to process through the questions of helping others in a beneficial way, but I also know I need to think less and help more. I need to put to rest the “maybes” and questions for a little while and learn to help again. I am choosing to help in the times when I am don’t know what to do. I have to believe that God would rather me do something than just simply “think” about the pros and cons involved in helping. I may get burnt, but I would rather that happen than miss another opportunity.

Check it out and learn more about the Keller Park Transformation by clicking here.

GC