Transitions can sometimes be good. Like a couple of months ago when I transitioned into a new vehicle because the previous one was costing way too much in gas each month. They can sometimes be difficult as well. Like when I transitioned back into another semester of balancing a full time seminary course load with my full time ministry back in in August. And then there are those transitions that are right in the middle. The kind of changes that you know are good but at the same time are difficult to handle. This post is about one of those transitions.
Our pastor has sensed God's call to lead another church and will be moving into that position in the coming month. So, here I find myself in the midst of a transition. And it's one of those transitions that are bittersweet. My wife and I will miss his family. I will always treasure the months and years I had to serve alongside of him as well as all of the wisdom that he has given to me. I've learned a lot over these past 2 1/2 years and I am grateful each and every day that I have been able to serve the wonderful people at Springhill with him. And at the same time, I am still excited about ministry. I'm looking forward to what God has in store for our church in the coming days. I know God is at work in this and that He has awesome plans for Springhill baptist as we deal with this. This transition is bittersweet.
We've been here before. Emilee and I served as the only staff members at our previous church while they were also in transition. We learned some things during that time and hopefully we will learn some things through this process as well. Maybe you're in this same spot. Maybe you are part of a church that is in transition. Well I haven't been in ministry for a super long time but I do know the emotions and fears that come along with this. This next list are just a few things that we have figured out to be helpful during times like these. Please pray for us as we navigate these waters.
1. Pray for your church
Some of your people are hurting, some are confused, but all are worried. There will be fears that the next leader won't be as good. Pray that God might reveal Himself to your church in a big way. Pray that they will be more committed to His plan than anything else.
2.Pray for your future pastor
Pray that he is aware that God is arranging things for him to come serve. Pray that he is excited about what God is doing in his life and that he is committed to serve God with all he has once he is on the ground.
3. Let your people know that you Love them
Take every opportunity you have to tell your church how much you care for them. Don't overkill yourself, but let them know that you are committed to doing whatever has to be done in order for things to keep running smoothly. Stay committed to where God has called you.
The coming months are likely to be difficult for us. Pray that Emilee and I will be able to do all of the things above with ease. And if you have any suggestion, please, comment and encourage us. God is sovereign, God is good, and we are His people. I am confident that He will work anything that happens in this situation for our good and for His glory.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Friday is for Blogging
To answer your first question: Yes, I do know that I'm posting this on a Thursday. I try to post at least once a week and it usually gets pushed back to Friday though because my weeks get so busy.
I've been thinking about why my weeks are so busy. Yes, I do have a full time job and am a full time student at the same time. But really, what fills my time in the office? This post is more of a confession. I, like many of you, love to read blogs. I love to find out the next best tip for making your ministry more kingdom focused. Specifically this week I've been researching blog posts about the pros and cons of Super Bowl parties in student ministry. Blogs are helpful, insightful, and a lot of the time a great way to spend my time.
But I've been wandering this week if it's the BEST use of my time. For the past 2 years we have taken our students to a winter retreat in the East TN mountains over New Years. This year one of the speakers made a point that not only spoke to our students but also resonated with me. This is what he said: "There is no substitute for spending time with Jesus." Read that again: "There is no substitute for spending time with Jesus." This phrase really convicted me. I spend time reading the word of God and in prayer everyday. I make it a point to. And then as soon as I say "amen" I'm scouring the web to read all of the important blogs. I check them several times throughout the day to make sure I don't miss a new post.
If I were honest, I would have to say that more days than not I spend more time with blogs than with Jesus. This breaks my heart. While blogs are good they are certainly no substitute for time spent with my Savior. This post isn't trying to deter you from ever reading a blog again. If that were so then it would have to be my last post. But it I hope it will challenge you. Do you, like me, have days where you spend more time reading the hottest ministry blogs than you do spending time with Christ? If so, I encourage you to make that phrase a theme in your life this year. Paul knew what he was talking about in Philippians 4 when he said "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything." Dedicate your life to following Christ completely and He will make sure everything else falls in to place. Even your ministry.
I've been thinking about why my weeks are so busy. Yes, I do have a full time job and am a full time student at the same time. But really, what fills my time in the office? This post is more of a confession. I, like many of you, love to read blogs. I love to find out the next best tip for making your ministry more kingdom focused. Specifically this week I've been researching blog posts about the pros and cons of Super Bowl parties in student ministry. Blogs are helpful, insightful, and a lot of the time a great way to spend my time.
But I've been wandering this week if it's the BEST use of my time. For the past 2 years we have taken our students to a winter retreat in the East TN mountains over New Years. This year one of the speakers made a point that not only spoke to our students but also resonated with me. This is what he said: "There is no substitute for spending time with Jesus." Read that again: "There is no substitute for spending time with Jesus." This phrase really convicted me. I spend time reading the word of God and in prayer everyday. I make it a point to. And then as soon as I say "amen" I'm scouring the web to read all of the important blogs. I check them several times throughout the day to make sure I don't miss a new post.
If I were honest, I would have to say that more days than not I spend more time with blogs than with Jesus. This breaks my heart. While blogs are good they are certainly no substitute for time spent with my Savior. This post isn't trying to deter you from ever reading a blog again. If that were so then it would have to be my last post. But it I hope it will challenge you. Do you, like me, have days where you spend more time reading the hottest ministry blogs than you do spending time with Christ? If so, I encourage you to make that phrase a theme in your life this year. Paul knew what he was talking about in Philippians 4 when he said "Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything." Dedicate your life to following Christ completely and He will make sure everything else falls in to place. Even your ministry.
Friday, January 25, 2013
3 Things
If you are a youth worker and you do not make it a point to watch the Simply Youth Ministry Show then you are missing out. The 10-15 minute show is hosted by Jason Carson and Kurt Johnston and it always proves to be at least entertaining and very often helpful.
In this week's episode Kurt and Jason take some time to give practical teaching tips. In doing this they stress the importance of scripture and also the fact that teaching is a high calling. One of the questions they asked each other was: "If you could only teach on 3 subjects for the rest of your ministry what would they be?" I posted the link below and I hope you will take some time to hear their responses.
That question is a tough one. After thinking about it for a few minutes here is my answer.
1. The Promises of God from the Old Testament
2. The Life of Christ
3. The Purpose of the Church
Maybe you completely disagree with me. That's okay! What about you? What 3 subjects would you teach on for the rest of your ministry?
http://show.simplyyouthministry.com/2013/01/sym-show-happy-birthday-to-kurt/
In this week's episode Kurt and Jason take some time to give practical teaching tips. In doing this they stress the importance of scripture and also the fact that teaching is a high calling. One of the questions they asked each other was: "If you could only teach on 3 subjects for the rest of your ministry what would they be?" I posted the link below and I hope you will take some time to hear their responses.
That question is a tough one. After thinking about it for a few minutes here is my answer.
1. The Promises of God from the Old Testament
2. The Life of Christ
3. The Purpose of the Church
Maybe you completely disagree with me. That's okay! What about you? What 3 subjects would you teach on for the rest of your ministry?
http://show.simplyyouthministry.com/2013/01/sym-show-happy-birthday-to-kurt/
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Office Hours
It's been a while since we've posted a blog here. Ok, you're right, it's been much longer than a while. It seems like it's been forever. Today I wanted to to focus on one of the aspects of student ministry that differs in nearly every church setting: Office Hours. Some churches require their staff members to put in a full 40 hours each week, other churches just want to make sure that you are there most of the week and putting in good work time, and then there are churches who really don't care about office hours as long as you show up on Wednesday and Sunday.
I have no idea what your office hour situation is. But, I do know that nearly all of us have those slower office days. Days where no one else is around and things are quiet. They are often frustrating and can drive you stir crazy. I want to point out a few tips for using our time effectively during office down time.
1. PRAY
I can't stress enough how important it is to pray for our ministries. I often overlook this during the busy seasons of student ministry and I often regret it as well. When you have a a few minutes of down time in the office try praying for your students, volunteers, and their families instead of scrolling through your Facebook news feed again. If it's a week day, pray for students while they're st school. They need it; they are all on the front lines facing temptation and trying to live for Jesus in this crazy world. Pray for your volunteers. They are just like you, trying their best to minister to students in today's culture. You know how hard that is and how you covet the prayers of others yourself. Don't forget to pray for your own family as well. Ministry is demanding and they need to know you are first and foremost concerned with ministering to them. Anyway you look at it, prayer always trumps wasting time.
2.PREPARE
So you've already got the mid-week worship service planned? Your volunteers are ready to teach on Sunday morning? This month's large group activity is nailed down? Don't stop there. Don't be afraid to look at your calendar and sketch out what you're plans are for then next 3 months or even for the entire year. Just because you have everything at hand prepared doesn't mean you can't continue. Not only will it keep you from wasting your time away but it will also provide you with a framework for executing your ministry goals over a long period of time. You might find doing this will reap more benefits than you could ever imagine because honestly, you can never be too prepared.
3.PURSUE
This last point is the most tangible of the 3. If you've got the time, get outside of the church walls and pursue those you minister to. When students are in school, drive around the campus and pray for then. If your school system allows, eat lunch with them a few times a month. If you can't get to your students then don't give up. Meet a volunteer or a student's parents for coffee. Go eat lunch with a deacon or elder and ask them for advice. Basically, let your people know you care by pursuing them. Also, it's great to get out of the office with other staff members. Strengthen your relationship with the rest of your church staff so that you can minister to your people better.
These are just a few ideas to keep us from wasting time. What about you? How do you effectively use any down time you might have in the office?
I have no idea what your office hour situation is. But, I do know that nearly all of us have those slower office days. Days where no one else is around and things are quiet. They are often frustrating and can drive you stir crazy. I want to point out a few tips for using our time effectively during office down time.
1. PRAY
I can't stress enough how important it is to pray for our ministries. I often overlook this during the busy seasons of student ministry and I often regret it as well. When you have a a few minutes of down time in the office try praying for your students, volunteers, and their families instead of scrolling through your Facebook news feed again. If it's a week day, pray for students while they're st school. They need it; they are all on the front lines facing temptation and trying to live for Jesus in this crazy world. Pray for your volunteers. They are just like you, trying their best to minister to students in today's culture. You know how hard that is and how you covet the prayers of others yourself. Don't forget to pray for your own family as well. Ministry is demanding and they need to know you are first and foremost concerned with ministering to them. Anyway you look at it, prayer always trumps wasting time.
2.PREPARE
So you've already got the mid-week worship service planned? Your volunteers are ready to teach on Sunday morning? This month's large group activity is nailed down? Don't stop there. Don't be afraid to look at your calendar and sketch out what you're plans are for then next 3 months or even for the entire year. Just because you have everything at hand prepared doesn't mean you can't continue. Not only will it keep you from wasting your time away but it will also provide you with a framework for executing your ministry goals over a long period of time. You might find doing this will reap more benefits than you could ever imagine because honestly, you can never be too prepared.
3.PURSUE
This last point is the most tangible of the 3. If you've got the time, get outside of the church walls and pursue those you minister to. When students are in school, drive around the campus and pray for then. If your school system allows, eat lunch with them a few times a month. If you can't get to your students then don't give up. Meet a volunteer or a student's parents for coffee. Go eat lunch with a deacon or elder and ask them for advice. Basically, let your people know you care by pursuing them. Also, it's great to get out of the office with other staff members. Strengthen your relationship with the rest of your church staff so that you can minister to your people better.
These are just a few ideas to keep us from wasting time. What about you? How do you effectively use any down time you might have in the office?
Friday, November 9, 2012
What I Often Forget
There are tons of things that I often forget in my life. Just ask my wife. I forget my keys, I forget to swap out the laundry on lunch, I forget to throw trash in my vehicle away and so much more. I could probably write at least 3 blogs about things that I forget. But in this blog, I want to focus on something I often forget in ministry. Prayer.
This week one of the deacons and most beloved members of our congregation passed away. His grandson is in our student ministry; this is going to be a tough time in his life. He was super close to his grandfather and he will miss him like crazy. So this week I took time out of our normal Wednesday night schedule to pray for him. We must teach our students to pray for one another. It's biblical. James 5: 16 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
All too often I forget to remind our students how powerful prayer is. God works through the prayers of his people and when a group of students truly grasp this and begin to pray for one another a beautiful thing happens. A community is born. Students need to know that the guy or girl sitting next to them every week truly cares for them and will be there for them in their time of need. Yes, asking students to have a dedicated time of prayer is awkward. They don't like to pray out loud and many of them won't. But, we need them to see how important it is to the life of the church.
How do you teach them this? You lead by example. Take time everyday to pray for your students. Pray for them by name if you have the time to. Lift up the ones you know need it the most. Ask God to foster a spirit of prayer within them as well. Don't be afraid to ask students to pray with you. Find the key leaders in your group and teach them how to pray for others by example. Prayer is not just important, it is vital.
This week I encourage all of you small town youth pastors to set aside time to specifically and purposefully pray for your students. Yes, there are other things that have to get done. Yes, it might be difficult to carve out this time. But make the time. Pray for your kids and teach them how to pray for one another!
This week one of the deacons and most beloved members of our congregation passed away. His grandson is in our student ministry; this is going to be a tough time in his life. He was super close to his grandfather and he will miss him like crazy. So this week I took time out of our normal Wednesday night schedule to pray for him. We must teach our students to pray for one another. It's biblical. James 5: 16 says "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
All too often I forget to remind our students how powerful prayer is. God works through the prayers of his people and when a group of students truly grasp this and begin to pray for one another a beautiful thing happens. A community is born. Students need to know that the guy or girl sitting next to them every week truly cares for them and will be there for them in their time of need. Yes, asking students to have a dedicated time of prayer is awkward. They don't like to pray out loud and many of them won't. But, we need them to see how important it is to the life of the church.
How do you teach them this? You lead by example. Take time everyday to pray for your students. Pray for them by name if you have the time to. Lift up the ones you know need it the most. Ask God to foster a spirit of prayer within them as well. Don't be afraid to ask students to pray with you. Find the key leaders in your group and teach them how to pray for others by example. Prayer is not just important, it is vital.
This week I encourage all of you small town youth pastors to set aside time to specifically and purposefully pray for your students. Yes, there are other things that have to get done. Yes, it might be difficult to carve out this time. But make the time. Pray for your kids and teach them how to pray for one another!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Advice
This post is for all of our young and emerging pastors out there. This link is to an article by Mark Driscoll and gives a little advice for new pastors. There is some great information and advice here. What do you guys think? Was this article helpful for you? Here'e the link!
Suggestions for Young Pastors
Suggestions for Young Pastors
Friday, November 2, 2012
Movement and Growth
When Emilee and I moved to serve where we are a little over a year go, we really had no idea what to expect. With this being my first full time ministry position we had little to go on. Plus, we were moving from a decent sized city to a smaller town. And on top of that our church is in a very rural location, super rural. Not only was this not where we expected to be, it was the last setting we had even considered being in.
But, God's calling was so obvious that there was nothing we could do but surrender to it. So we got married (my favorite part of the story!), packed up, and moved. You spend your whole college career expecting to get the dream job as soon as you graduate and you even think you know what it will look like. But for many of us in ministry, we have no idea what it looks like. I definitely didn't expect it to be an average size rural church just 2 hours from my hometown. Honestly though, serving here with Emilee is my dream job.
There is a beauty about serving average/small local churches. It's much easier to see movement and growth. I know when our students are growing spiritually because I have a close relationship with most all of them. And I know when we are growing numerically because I can look out from behind the podium and see it. We have had an unusual amount of first time visitors to our church this past month and it's been obvious. I know who they are and I have the opportunity to connect with them.
It's also much easier to see movement. In our small town context, our congregation is able to serve the church so easily. When things are getting done you can see it. You can see forward motion when committees get together and work, when Sunday School classes are serving together in the community, and when business meetings are full of conversation about ways to improve our worship.
So, if you are a small town church leader today. Thank God for your calling! Thank Him that you get to personally interact with and see your people move and grow. It's an exciting thing to watch and an important thing to be a part of. God's people are at work all over the world. They are moving and growing in awesome ways. And they are doing it to bring Him glory and honor. Small churches, big churches, churches that are ancient and churches that are new are filled with the growth and movement of the Kingdom of God. Wherever He has placed you, be there! Get in and get your hands dirty serving with your church family!
But, God's calling was so obvious that there was nothing we could do but surrender to it. So we got married (my favorite part of the story!), packed up, and moved. You spend your whole college career expecting to get the dream job as soon as you graduate and you even think you know what it will look like. But for many of us in ministry, we have no idea what it looks like. I definitely didn't expect it to be an average size rural church just 2 hours from my hometown. Honestly though, serving here with Emilee is my dream job.
There is a beauty about serving average/small local churches. It's much easier to see movement and growth. I know when our students are growing spiritually because I have a close relationship with most all of them. And I know when we are growing numerically because I can look out from behind the podium and see it. We have had an unusual amount of first time visitors to our church this past month and it's been obvious. I know who they are and I have the opportunity to connect with them.
It's also much easier to see movement. In our small town context, our congregation is able to serve the church so easily. When things are getting done you can see it. You can see forward motion when committees get together and work, when Sunday School classes are serving together in the community, and when business meetings are full of conversation about ways to improve our worship.
So, if you are a small town church leader today. Thank God for your calling! Thank Him that you get to personally interact with and see your people move and grow. It's an exciting thing to watch and an important thing to be a part of. God's people are at work all over the world. They are moving and growing in awesome ways. And they are doing it to bring Him glory and honor. Small churches, big churches, churches that are ancient and churches that are new are filled with the growth and movement of the Kingdom of God. Wherever He has placed you, be there! Get in and get your hands dirty serving with your church family!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)