Home Blog Page 81

Beyond Atlanta | Simple, Focused, Sustainable

Jeremy
-
1

keeping things simple and focused and sustainable

Colleen Derr (Children’s Ministry Leader via Spiritual Formation Department @ The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters) shared along with Shannon Whaples about this concept of church ministry called: “Simple Church”. The idea is to do a few things and do a few things well, rather than try to accomplish many things and do many things poorly. I’m intrigued by the concept and the examples of what we saw in Atlanta (i.e. Mountain Lake Church and 12Stone Church). I wonder what the consequences of this area for the church overall. What if all churches bought into this model? What would that mean for lots of different ministries a church typically does? It seems that these “simple” churches know what they can do (and they do it well) and it seems they know what they can’t do well (so therefore, they don’t do ‘em). I heard this remark a couple of times: If people want that, then they can go to other churches that do those (i.e. Christmas Eve service, VBS, Kids Camp, MOPS, etc). Interesting concept… I don’t know what I think about that yet.

There is a book called “Simple Church” by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger. In this book they highlight, Andy Stanley (from North Point Community Church). It might be worth a read.

Beyond Atlanta | Thanking Volunteers

Jeremy
-
0

celebrating and thanking volunteers regularly

Shannon Whaples (Next Generation Pastor @ 12Stone Church) had a volunteer appreciation event called “Ovations” on the second night we were in Atlanta (Friday: 7-7:3o coffee and cupcakes, 7:3o-8:15 celebrate spotlighted volunteers at each campus [with awards and gift certificates], 8:15-9:oo comedian). It was a simple way to celebrate and thank their many volunteers that serve in the areas of nursery, preschool, children and youth.

Chad and Autumn Ward (Next Generation Pastor @ Watermarke Church and writer of reThink curriculum, respectively), commented on doing 3 rhythmic volunteer things (they probably have a better reference to it than: things!):

  1. a vision casting event/connection with your volunteers in the fall (i.e. August)
  2. a refresher in January (middle of the winter) to keep them going (encouragement and endurance)
  3. a celebration in May (to thank and celebrate and share stories of what was accomplished)

I think that is something we need to build into our calendar/rhythm. Perhaps it would be fruitful to combine some of these (not all) across the board with youth and children’s ministries. Maybe the celebration at the end should be together. Maybe the refresher in January could be together but broken out into separate “breakouts” at the end or beginning. Maybe the beginning vision-casting should be done as individual ministries.

Beyond Atlanta | Family Ministry

Jeremy
-
0
Beyond Atlanta | Family Ministry

Capturing and capitalizing moments when you have a captive, parental audience

Chad and Autumn Ward told me this @ reThink. After our meeting and question/answer time, I asked Chad about reThink’s family ministry strategy. I wondered if it was just informing parents about what their children learned during the children’s ministry hour on Sunday morning. Was that as far as it went? In a word, yes. Amidst a strategy and an ethos, no.

Yes, 252 Basics and First Look curriculum consists of parental connection resources. It has things such as “Drive Home” cards, which give parents a chance to ask more pointed and informed questions other than the basic: What did you learn? And did you have fun? Additionally, the reThink curriculum adds in podcasts, devotionals, and others (that I don’t know about), all that go hand-in-hand with the “virtue” and stories the weekend teaching/worship experience touches on for the kids.

I’ve started doing things like this with Main Street and Followers. After every ministry program time, the parents (who have email) get an email “campaign” sent out via “MailChimp” that contains the lesson, some of its content, most likely a link to the videos and printed resources, and other important connection/information. I currently have no idea how this is being used by parents, or whether it is worth the work or not. But at least there is an attempt at doing the basic: informing parents what the church is teaching their children when they are here at Hayward Wesleyan Church. There definitely needs to be more… but what?

reThink’s ethos and strategy bleeds family. What I’m discovering is ministering to families is difficult to “program.” Events like Trunk or Treat or the Easter Eggstravaganza are great, but they are a program. What Chad and Autumn shared with me was to take those moments when there is a captive audience and communicate, in 10 minutes or so, personally what I’m learning as a parents. Chad was cautious and said he doesn’t share beyond what he himself has experienced. This is the inherent obstacles I have run into, more mentally and preemptive, than anything anyone has said. I’m careful as well not to tell parents of middle school students (or even elementary students) how to parent. I HAVE NO IDEA! Well, I might have an idea, but my kids are only 3½ and 2; they are preschoolers. I feel like I have gained enough wisdom to communicate and share with first-time parents as well as preschool parents, not as an expert, but as a fellow sojourner on the path of parenting little ones. For children and youth beyond what my parenting skills have been honed for, my only area of expertise is in surviving a couple of hours of programming time where I need them not to kill each other during that time. Strategies of control and discipline are entirely different when you live with an elementary student and an early adolescent 24/7.

What I learned from that 10 minute conversation with Chad and Autumn was this: family ministry is bigger than a program, waded into with experience and report, grabbing moments when the audience is listening, and very fluid. Another thing Autumn said as I was leaving was this: parents of first-time children as well as preschoolers are very much interested in learning all they can to better their child (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually). Not until parents’ children get into elementary do they “settle” down from all the seeking for the “perfect” tools to better their children. I found that to be profound. It seems, based on that simple advice, that another extremely captive audience are parents of children in the first 4 years of procreating. It might be more likely, additionally, that that “captive” audience might include the father!

Beyond Atlanta | Milestones

Jeremy
-
0

milestones (faith, social, physical, etc.) in a child & youth’s life and connecting with families (family ministry) at those natural, stages of life

This is cool. Milestones: kind of like rocks, or significant moments in the life of a person. First time parents, baby dedication/infant baptism (depending on faith tradition), believer’s baptism, confirmation/catechism (depending of faith tradition), rite of passage (from child to teenager), graduation (from teenager to adult), are some examples of “milestones” in the lives of children and youth. Some of these can be natural, some can be contrived. I wonder what this would look like in the overall development of spiritual formation @ our church? I wonder what it would look like to call parents to engage (spiritually/holisitically) in the lives of their children at each of these milestones.

It’d be interesting to see if it is worthwhile to think about crafting “classes” ahead and in the middle of these “milestones”. I wonder if people would care or be interested… you know, first time parents (having veteran parents sharing along with grandparents), people already have families and are (hopefully) connected with them for wisdom and direction and help. However, are they? Do families depend on each other for wisdom? Are families intentionally passing along parenting wisdom and strategies to first time parents? I don’t know. In my case, with my family support system between 1500 and 2000 miles away, it’s difficult for us (we have to “adopt” local grandparents, which has been fun!). I would have loved an interaction time with veterans in parenting. I wonder how many others feel the same way.

Is it worth crafting these “classes” as a sort of spiritual formation framework to start on with families. Even if only a small percentage of learned behavior and concepts stick, is it still worth it?

This is the thing that I picked up during this tour that I think might have the most promise, mainly because I’m a teacher and I think in categories and frameworks. If I’ve got a room to play in, or a house to live in, for me, having boundaries (i.e. walls) are important because it communicates limits and freedom within those limits. Again, for me, when there are no limits, I’m scattered, so a loose “spiritual framework for faith formation” would be extremely helpful. This concept of “milestones” so intrigues me…

Beyond Atlanta | Leaders Leading Leaders

Jeremy
-
0

creating a continual layer of leading leaders leading leaders

As I said earlier, I have “evolved” into leading leaders rather than just doing the ministry myself. The thing that really gets me in trouble is my lack of understanding administration and organizational flow charts. I don’t mind the details and planning side of administration, but asking someone to coordinate volunteers, sounds like something the children’s pastor is supposed to do because I’m paid. I know I need to get over it and get on with doing it more and more.

What’s interesting as one begins to lead leaders and not just hang out with kids is this: the deeper you get, the wider you need to get. This goes back to organizational flow charts and my lack of understanding them. I try to manage all these various teams of leaders. And what I need to figure out is how to train and inspire a few leaders to lead those leaders. I will never be good at caring adequately for volunteers, myself. However, with a few others leading those teams, I can be, because I’m not solely responsible for the continual depth of volunteers I hope to get in the coming future. I can connect and care for those leaders who then lead others.

Again, I don’t necessarily know how to actively implement this, but it will be an ongoing conversation/discussion piece with the people I serve with.

Beyond Atlanta | Creating Space for Volunteers

Jeremy
-
0

having enough (programming enough) spaces for people to serve

I love what we do on Sunday morning. I love the simplicity of it. I love the intentionality of storying through the Bible. I love that we are simple blend of large group exciting programming and old-fashioned, Sunday School-type “classes” after the large group time. I love that I have great teachers in those areas. However, in that simplicity of having around 7 staff people @ Main Street (mostly because of the difficulty of getting more helpers and my hesitancy in managing and caring for more helpers/volunteers), I think it crimps the potential of having more people engaged and helping with Main Street.

A couple of years ago I asked our Main Street staff if we should do different programming; if our current model and elements were still accomplishing what we were intending. It was a resounding: CONTINUE!

However, I wonder if what I was asking was foreign to my staff. They thought I was asking them if we should still teach through the Bible chronologically and in an interactive and story-filled way. However, what I meant was less about curriculum scope and sequence and more about flow and elements of that communicate the content and restructuring those elements to allow more people to be involved and serving.

It would be neat to create more opportunities to serve so we can allow and encourage more people to serve. Maybe Hayward Wesleyan Church needs to “campaign” or emphasize serving in and out of the church and celebrate those who are and encourage and place those who are not.

Beyond Atlanta | Building a Culture of Volunteerism

Jeremy
-
1

building a culture of volunteerism

Eric Echols (Executive Pastor @ Mountain Lake Church) lives and breathes this idea. At his church they are always asked 2 questions: 1) where are you in community? (small group) and 2) where are you serving? Echols said that 60% of the 2500 people that attend Mountain Lake are involved in serving. Those who are not serving definitely feel uncomfortable for a while until they understand what the culture of the church is about. Echols said that this “culture of volunteerism” has spawned the volunteer movement even outside the doors of the church. 60% of 2500 people is a lot and there are not enough places for these people to serve under the roof of the church, so they partnered with a local community organization and they give hundreds of thousands of man hours. This culture has radically affected the community.

They use the slogan: “Go 1, give 1” which means: go to one worship service yourself and then serve one service.

I wonder what that would look like @ Hayward Wesleyan Church. Now I don’t have the audience with the entire church to simplify our church into these 2 questions Eric talks about above. But I do have influence over the children, youth and their families. I can live and breathe this ideal culture with my volunteers and families. Echols talked about starting small and working larger with time. I can do that. I just wonder how to even start small. Well actually we do have small/lean ministry staff, maybe…

The Georgia Aquarium (video)

Jeremy
-
0

On Saturday, during the Beyond Atlanta Tour, we did a couple of touristy things, one of which was visiting one of the largest aquarium’s in the world: The Georgia Aquarium. I had fun taking pictures because I knew my girls would love seeing the colorful fish and sharks!

source YouTube

Beyond Atlanta | Reflections

Jeremy
-
0

Over the next several days I plan to post some reflections on my trip this past weekend to Atlanta, GA on the Beyond Atlanta tour of church’s children’s ministry areas and strategies.

About 5 years ago I went on a trip/tour similar to this one. We went to Southern California and visited sites like: Saddleback Church, Mariner’s Church, Skyline Wesleyan Church, The Crystal Cathedral, and a couple of others I cannot recall off the top of my head. I think I had been on staff @ Hayward Wesleyan Church about 2 years at that point, so I had much to learn. What I saw on that tour really influenced the last 5 years (and beyond) of ministry @ Hayward Wesleyan Church. Things like: facilities, decorations, secure check-in systems, curriculum, format of programming, ministry name (Main Street), and staffing. It was so overwhelming to me that it took 5 years or so to implement the things I picked up on that excursion into the culture of ministry in Hayward. I think in the years since the SoCal tour I have forgotten (or understated) the impact that 4 days had on me as well as Hayward Wesleyan Church.

This trip was different. Whereas in California I came home with hundreds of pictures of facilities, revolutionary ideas of programming and curriculum, wild ideas of decorations, etc., this trip was not that. Although I did take some pictures, the impact was different that 5 years ago. The things that stick out in my mind from this trip are:

  1. building a culture of volunteerism
  2. having enough (programming enough) spaces for people to serve
  3. creating a continual layer of leading leaders leading leaders
  4. milestones (faith, social, physical, etc.) in a child and youth’s life and connecting with families (family ministry) at those natural, stages of life
  5. capturing and capitalizing moments when you have a captive, parental audience
  6. celebrating and thanking volunteers regularly
  7. keeping things simple and focused and sustainable
  8. realizing and engaging a rhythm to ministry and life

Each of these things have more to them, but initially they spark a sense of “woah” I can’t add more to my plate. As things go in life, I’m evolving (I like to say), or maturing in my role as a children’s pastor. Over the years I’ve taken a lot of things on myself instead of releasing and trusting to others. It’s difficult for me, maybe because I’m a male. However, over the last 2 years, I have intentionally let some things go that has unleashed, not in a grand, noticeable way, but a tidal wave of broken levees that I used to hold things back. I can almost say that in my mind, I don’t own Followers anymore (although I do LEAD it). I don’t own Main Street anymore. I used to think, in my mind (erroneously) that it was all my responsibility to do and own. And while I am the leader and things/ministry do rise and fall on leadership, the more I have released that “ownership” to others, remarkably, the deeper things have gotten, simpler, focused, and just plain good!

Followers is a terrific, current example for this. The last 2 years (this one included), I have not been able to remember or account for all the names of the students from Kindergarten through grade 5. In contrast to my first 6 years where I could tell you every name of each Follower and Main Street attender and middle school student in the ministry. I prided on being able to do that and sustain that every year. Only in the last, little over a year, I can’t do it anymore. Part of it is my age and the sheer number of kids to remember (I never “lose” kids, they just get older and graduate and still pursue relationship, and there are more and more kids that come into our ministries every year). And although I cannot remember all their names, the Followers STAFF does. That to me is an incredible statement! We have 12 Followers small group leaders (one for each grade and gender) and they interact with each child and know their names! But even more than that, they get to talk and share and spend time, etc with these kids where I am engrossed in management and support for the program and staff. I could know names for 6 years, but not lives. Letting those things go personally has been challenging (old forms of behavior that are entrenched are difficult to break/change). However, I continually want others to change and grow, and I realized that I had to as well! Shocking, I know! Anyway, this sort of evolution (upon reflection) puts me in a place where I am anticipating other things, deeper things, r-evolutionary things, in my current role in my life, that doesn’t overwhelm me, rather, gives me hope and vigor that there are more things to do in my role as a children’s pastor at Hayward Wesleyan Church.

A Day in the Life of Followers (video)

Jeremy
-
0

Followers is an after school program held every other Monday @ Hayward Wesleyan Church. On October 25, 2010, I took the camera around during the program and snapped shots of the students while they were in their various stations. The video above is a snapshot of “a day in the life of Followers”.

source YouTube

Judge Samson // Main Street

Jeremy
-
0
Judge Samson // Main Street

Judge Samson [y2_w08-09]

Cycle-of-Sin-in-Judges

The cycle of sin continues. The Israelites have been around the cycle 11 times up to this point. Samson (the next Judge) is the 12th. I don’t think the Israelites are quite getting what the LORD wants them to get:

“To be the special representatives of God in the world is to show the world what He is like.”

Samson is tasked with a lifelong charter: To make war against the Philistines. And he did. Samson was a continual thorn in the eye of the Philistines. They eventually got to him, and he eventually got to them.

Note: it’s a long video (30 minutes) because originally we broke Samson’s story into 2 parts (beginning and early parts of his life and exploits, and his interaction and demise at the hand of Delilah and the Philistines). However, because of the combined church service @ LCO we did not have Main Street that week, so we just combined the 2 parts this past Sunday.

source Vimeo

Technology and Us (and our kids)

Jeremy
-
0

The television. Also known as: the TV. Love it or hate it, the TV has been an influential force in the last hundred years. From its early, crude transmitted silhouette images, to black and white with no sound, and then eventually sound, and later into color and recently high definition sets that hang on the wall, the TV has radically impacted the transmission of information and entertainment. Only since the Internet has a technology had a remarkable impact on the advancement and development of technology.

But how to use such a technology wisely? With all the negative and disturbing images coming across the screen of a television, how do we as people (and parents) protect ourselves (and our kids) from “seeing” and “hearing” things that help or hurt us. This same question of wisdom can also be applied to the use of the Internet (or anything for that matter).

How do we use technology wisely? And particularly as a person who follows Jesus and wants to live out the kingdom of God in this world… what does it practically look like to use such resources wisely?

A recent post @ Engadget revealed that kids watch too much TV (shocker, I know!). What is it about TV and technology that seems to enable parents to use it to “babysit” their children. I know for me, it is “easier” to parent when my kids are watching a movie in the other room. Even with other “screens” available (i.e. iPod Touches, iPads, iPhones, Blackberrys, tablets, laptops, advertisement screens at Walmart next to displays, etc.), we (and my kids) are bombarded with technology and information.

I’m not saying technology is bad or inherently evil. It isn’t. It’s how we use them, how we implicitly regulate them, that makes its use good or bad.

So, how do we wisely use technology?

I wonder if the answer to that question lies in what each person thinks about the use of free time or the attention (or inattention) to human interaction (going out with friends, spending face-to-face time with your kids, etc.). And maybe moderation. I’m reminded that with anything, be it food, sports, drinks, video games, or gardening, one can go to the extreme of spending all of their time (free or borrowed) on things that throw every other thing in their life off balance. The opposite of moderation would be excessiveness.

So, what is excessive when it comes to technology (or anything else for that matter)?

1...808182...91Page 81 of 91
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv