Looking for a new Minister or Church, ask this group to help
Through my experience with Orange and the rethink Group, I have met and befriended lots of great people. One of those people is David Lynos, founder of MinisterSearch. I met David and his wife 3 years ago at Orange ’10.
What impressed me so much about David was his willingness to be open and honest about his life and what God was doing there while also expressing his desire for Christ to work in ministries all over. Then, he shared about MinisterSearch and what he was doing with churches to make sure ministries found the RIGHT person for the important work they were trying to find.
When I asked David why he started MinisterSearch he said, "While working at one of the top technology search firms, I was in leadership at my local church and knew lots of folks in ministry - it became evident that churches and pastors struggled finding the "right" long-term fit... I realized that the process needed to be tweaked to help." Have you ever been on a search team before? Have you ever "struggled" to find the right fit? I have and it stinks! In some ways you feel so helpless. You know the right person is out there but you need some help!
He went on to say that he felt that in order for the church and the candidate to rightly discern what God was doing, they had the put the right process in place and attain the right amount of information from both parties to make a great match.
And making great matches is what MinisterSearch has been doing. It has grown a lot over the past 3 years and more and more people and churches are looking towards MinisterSearch for their next hire or position. In fact, MinisterSearch is now the official Search Firm of Orange!
Being one who had to look for the right job on my own before, I always wished there was someone or some group to help me find that right fit for me. With MinisterSearch, both churches and ministers have a person who is working hard to make that happen.
Churches, are you looking for that perfect match for your kingdom work? Ministers, looking for your next position to continue God’s work? Look no further than David Lyons and his team at MinisterSearch. You won’t regret it. Check them out here!
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
the Monday Morning Debrief: Team Mentality
Being apart of any church or ministry automatically puts you on a team. You are a team member working together with other team members to obtain a goal. At New Life and the nZone, our goal is to help people discover God. All of us are striving to reach that goal. Sometimes it works in perfect symmetry where everything falls right into place and everyone is happy as the stars align just right.
But sometimes, there are challenges. Sometimes there are conflicting interests and although both team members are striving for the same goal, conflict on how to do that best and with what resources. That is where sacrifice comes in; sacrifice for the greater good. For example, that means that sometimes, you might have to move out of your "youth group room" so that another team member could use it for a special event they are doing. That might mean that you have to change your schedule to accommodate another team member and their schedule. That could mean countless other things. But what I'm trying to get to is that when you chose to work on a team working in a unified vision, conflict and challenges will arise. It is how you address those challenges and adapt that will keep your vision and goals lined up just right.
Just last week, our student ministry had to adapt for the greater good of our church mission. It was a challenge and honestly a little frustrating at times. But, our church's mission is to help people discover God and the other event happening had a unique opportunity to help people discover God so the student ministry adapted. Our volunteer leaders were great as they rallied around our ultimate mission and pulled off a great night for our students. We made a lot of changes that night, but NO student knew any different. And, truthfully, we discovered something that night that I think will be very beneficial to the health and growth of our youth program. All in all, it was a huge win for the other team member on Staff and for our student ministry.
So what about you? What kind of mentality do you have in your ministry? Are you a team member working towards the unified goal that everyone else is striving for or are you Han Solo working for your own benefit only? I believe when we have the team mentality and work together in unison for the ultimate good of our church or ministry's mission, great things will happen and a unity will develop that will bond you all together for Kingdom work.
Thoughts? Experiences? Post a comment so that we can all benefit and learn from each other.
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
38 Years worth of lessons
So yesterday was my birthday...the big 3-8. I don't know what that gets me other than a few years closer to 40 which means I'm even closer to 50 and ultimate death. I'm not one to freak out about my age, but I had a real good time thinking about that (note sarcasm).
Anyways, in no particular order, here are some lessons learn in my 38 years...
- No matter who other people tell you are, you are Loved by God (John 3:16) and made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27)...that does mean something
- Read books...to get smarter but also to dream about life
- Go see a counselor to talk about things...we're all a little psycho and it does help
- Go after what you are passionate about
- Don't throw away what is good for a pipe dream, but if you never pursued your dreams just a little bit you will never know how excited you can be about life
- Cherish your friendships, especially those who stand beside you in tough times
- Families are a strong support...words can not describe how thankful I am of mine
- Churches really do want to help...unfortunately, sometimes people get in the way
- I hope we all have people that won't give up on us...we need those people in our lives
- Jesus Christ died for you...maybe you should check out why (1 Peter 3:18 is a great start)
- Do what you are good at and really excel at it...don't settle for average
- Take ownership of your stuff...don't blame others
- Be responsible...don't blame others
- "We are a collection of our choices" - Thanks Coach Herm
- Don't be afraid of failing...that is how we learn
- Every decision has rewards or consequences...maybe not immediately but definitely down the road
- Husbands, love your wife as Christ loved the Church...it's a different kind of love but when we think of love in that way, loving your wife will never look the same again
- Love your kids and make sure you spend undistracted time with them...they need your full attention, even if it means hearing the same exact story over and over and over again
- Let people minister to you...it's a blessing for you AND them
- Take care of your hurts, hang-ups, resentment or hardships in healthy ways...running has been a great outlet for me
I'm sure there are more things I've learned over the 38 years but these are the ones that stand out. Some of these things I would have preferred not to learn but as C.S. Lewis points out in his book Mere Christianity, "God is forcing him on, or up, to a higher level: putting him into situations where he will have to be very much braver, or more patient, or more loving, than he ever dreamed of being before. It seems to us all unnecessary: but that is because we have not yet had the slightest notion of the tremendous thing He means to make of us."
God has used and is currently using my lessons learned and I know that He will use yours in a mighty way if you let him. Although it may hurt now and be painful (for that I am sorry, I know how that feels), God is probably using it to make you into the person you never dreamed you could be. And that, is ultimately what we want to be...better, stronger, braver, more loving, patient and more effective than we could ever be.
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Looking for a new Minister or Church, ask this group to help
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Processing OC ’13
- Orange ’13: 2nd Friday Morning General Session Notes
- Orange ’13: 1st Friday Morning General Session Notes
Chowtime – 1/11
Just in case you are still recovering from the beat down Alabama gave Notre Dame and haven't been able to keep up with some student ministry posts in the blogosphere, here are a few noteworthy posts from the past week. So grab some chow and enjoy...
- Chris Wesley over at More than Dodgeball posts about what it takes to be a "Professional" Youth Minister...great quick read
- Jeremy Zach brings it with 10 things Healthy Youth Ministers do
- Youth Leaders Academy talks about Eating Healthy
3 Quick Reads, but definitely well worth it.
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
the BLACKBOARD: the task of creating a volunteer culture
At New Life, we have been growing as a community. We are up between 100-300 each week in attendance, year over year. As we are growing in attendance, the needs and opportunities of the community have risen to minister to such growth.
I recently sat down with my Executive Pastor (recently meaning yesterday) and I shared with him where I would like to take the Family Ministry in the next few years. It was a real good discussion as he gave me a lot to think about in regards to my structure and desires for the Family Ministry.
But, as we talked through the potential plan, there was one thing that he said to me made me think a lot...more than any other thing he said. As we talked, we discussed how to get more volunteers he said we needed to change the culture of volunteerism in our church. In essence, he said more people aren't serving now because we aren't communicating the vision to them so they aren't following it.
Again, this made me think a lot. What could we do to communicate better? What is the vision of the youth, children and family ministries that people are following? What volunteer "teams" do we need to organize? How could we get more buy in?
As I process this from a Family Minister viewpoint, I began to wonder how others are doing it. After all, why re-create the wheel if there is something effective happening elsewhere.
So my question for the BLACKBOARD is: How do you create a volunteer ministry culture in your church? What needs to be done?
The BLACKBOARD is open. Grab some chalk and share your thoughts below as I think it would be a great discussion to have for all of us.
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
Morning Highlights of DC Orange Tour Stop
Theme is lead change, lead small
Reggie Joyner opened up...
- Church and families combined can make a lasting impact...two combined influences make a greater impact.
At least 30% of the audience is Volunteers at the event
Reggie picks back up again...
- "Change is not an option, but how you respond to it is."
- 3 responses to change: 1. Ignore it, 2. Hold on and let it drive you to where you don't want to go, 3. Make an adjustment & use it to where you want to go
- leadership is leveraging change to get to where you want to go
- when you lead change you decide to make adjustments to present methods for the sake of a sacred mission
- adjust the method for the sake of the mission
- we need to figure out for each individual ministry what is the methods we need to use and change for the sake of the mission
- 25% of Americans treat Sunday like a holy day...everyone else treats it like a holiday
- our problem is that we won't leave the 25% to go after everyone else
- something radical has to happen in the church for the community to realize that we care about them
- families are changing, the culture is changing...we need to make every family (regardless of what they look like) to understand the restoration story of Christ
- your response to their family will determine how they feel about the church...regardless of what their version of family looks like
- there is a lot at stake
- if we don't adjust, you risk of becoming irrelevant and ignored
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
Chowtime – 8/25
In case you were too busy this week catching up on all the student going to their first day of school, here are 4 student ministry blog posts that you may have missed that are definitely noteworthy. So grab some chow, pull up a seat and read away:
- Andy Blanks tells us to Stop telling students to invite their friends to youth group!
- Ben Read talks about 3 simple ways to love your spouse (as you love the church)
- Joshua Becker guest posted on Small Church Youth Ministry about "Less is More"
- Brad Griffin writes about the effects of a Sexier Little Mermaid has on our students and daughters
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
Living in the Community
The other day I left work and I took my 4 girls to our community pool. The intent was to go there and enjoy some time with the girls on a late afternoon. However, what it turned into was a great ministry opportunity as I saw a number of the teens in my youth program and their parents. What I thought was going to be a low key afternoon turned out to be a great connect for me. And I believe that I would never have had that experience had we not live in a community about 7 minutes from my workplace (church).
Living in a community close to the church you minister at is invaluable.
For me that means I have a great opportunity to interact with lots of teens and parents that has either heard about New Life or seen a mailing we have done or even been to New Life a time or two. Every time I step out the door and go grocery shopping, out to dinner, to the pool or even to Starbucks I have a tremendous opportunity to engage my community and hopefully help plug them into our church. The closeness my community is to New Life has turned out to be an awesome ministry opportunity for me.
Now I know I can do ministry in any neighborhood that I live in, but I believe that the closer you live to your church, the better chance you have at families you meet being able to start attending your church (if they aren't currently going to one). It just eliminates the "I wish your church was closer" excuse.
So what do you think? Do you live in a community close to your church or are you further away? What are the pros and cons of living in that community? TAKE A MINUTE and share your thoughts or experiences.
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
POLL: What day do you do “youth group”?
So my fall planning is in the beginning stages (I think I'm early, but who knows) and I'm debating whether or not to move my youth night off of Sunday night. So, as I process what is best for my program, I'm curious to see what you all do and why.
So, TAKE A MINUTE and take the poll...THEN, write down a simple (if it is simple) why you all do it on that specific day of the week. I'd love to see the dialogue that comes from this.
Possibly Related Posts:
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Overcoming Dark Times
- Chowtime – 5/18
- Real Dinner + Conversations = Win
- the Monday Morning Debrief: Changes gone array
- Chowtime – 5/11
Connect:
Tom’s Twitter Updates
- Star Trek, Darkness and #ministry what does this all mean? http://t.co/5EbIGjgMLm #thinkorange #stumin #kidmin #fammin59 minutes ago
- @Shellyvintage @CayennePaper I'm actually surprised the video hasn't made it on Facebook yet :)3 hours ago
- @Jmo135 glad u r ok13 hours ago
Recent Comments
- Matt Norman on the Monday Morning Debrief: Prepping for Orange ’13
- Introducing your Student Ministry Minor League Team | Ministry Blackboard on The benefits of volunteering in the schools
- Rachel Blom on Chowtime – 3/16
- tapounder on the Monday Morning Debrief: Closing Shop
- Todd Bryant on the Monday Morning Debrief: Closing Shop