Hey Leaders!

Introducing a new thing for our kids ministry at South Haven! Originally, I was going to hang this on a wall; but with future changes coming in the future, I resorted to keeping it on an easel making it mobile. The purpose behind this leadership board is two-fold:

First, we want to encourage each other with win stories in our area! It might be a substitute teacher filling a need, a visitor parent giving us a good report or most important, a kid giving their life to Jesus! These "share a win story" cards are designed to be hung on the wire and will encourage those who read.

Second, there are "fan postcards." These are designed to encourage leaders to write to a kid from time to time. Write your message on the left, the child's first and last name on the address side and hang it on the wire. I will collect them, add addresses and will mail them out. Please space them out and try to write all your kids in your class at least once in a year. If there is a visitor, feel free to write them a card.

My day has been interesting, but one of my highlights of today was this cup of coffee! As I was reviewing possible ministry things, I came across this coffee ministry. Loved the graphics and the mission of the organization instantly. Ordered the tumbler and some samples. Nothing like great coffee and helping people on the mission field share Jesus. To learn more check out: hopecoffee.com

Turf or Grass? Leaders lead for needed change

I was visiting the University of Arkansas the other week and came across some great leadership observations. My friend is in charge of the baseball field and took me on a tour of many of the impressive sports facilities. During our tour, he introduced me to his boss and I learned so much about the history of the school and some of the major changes that took place over the years. One thing that stuck out to me was when he talked about the football field and how the head coach led major change. He recalled that one coach said that they would win ball games if they had turf, so they changed the field. Then another head coach would come along and would say "what do you think about grass?" we could win games if we had grass. These decisions happened and they went with the vision of the head coach. As he went on to explain this, I caught that when they switched from grass to turf; they kept the drainage and major parts in case they would ever go back. Admitting that he didn't think he would see it changed back, but planned in case it did. It was a good thing because they are going back to grass. Let me break down the leadership thoughts:

1. Leaders lead!

Each head coach made major changes based on how they believed they would win and created the best environment to accomplish it.

2. Followers play a huge role in success!

Not only did the grounds people make these changes happen, they made sure to prepare for the future as they created change. In this they saved money and time in the future by preparing and leading in their own roles.

3. Turf or Grass?

To the normal person, we would not see this as a major factor of winning. I still have not grasped this, but then I don't play football. I think that winning ball games comes from a variety of things done excellent and putting the right people in place. If the leader says we will win games and I trust them; I will believe that this is the significant and we will win ball games.

4. Don't go through too many coaches!

Can you imagine major change year after year? Turf, grass, turf, grass and so on? If this happens, those followers will have a hard time following leaders that had different visions and handled things differently. I think this is why many churches have issues when they jump from pastor to pastor. They never have time to build trust and look forward to their shepherd leading them into change for the church's mission. Now this illustration is sort of different because I am talking about paid grounds keepers, churches are mostly made up of volunteers. Imagine the amount of change we put our church people through if every pastor came in and did things his way? Then we wonder why church people have problems with change.

5. Pastors, your followers have been there faithfully following!

This grounds crew guy has almost two decades invested into the Arkansas field. Arkansas' new head coach, Chad Morris; just came in. He is the seventh head coach in this time span. Jeff's boss has loved and taken care of that field; seeing it through major and minor changes. If I were to make a major change to that football field, guess who I would want in that discussion and who I would want to cast vision to? You can't lead change by yourself, you need your followers. Understanding their faithfulness, understanding that they don't need to hear "you've been losing games because you have grass," understanding that they are attached and experience loss when we ask them to give up something and understanding that we can't fulfill God's mission for His church without His people; puts us one step closer to building trust and helping us to cast vision for needed change.

6. Reasoning for change is accomplishing the mission!

Why spend the money for grass or turf? To win football games! Head coaches want the W! The players want the W! The W brings money into the school! The W gives students and alumni pride in their school! Schools also spend money for the W's! They recruit for the W's! This is practical for any  football program, business, school or church. In church, we are looking towards accomplishing God's mission and reaching people for him. If our churches are not reaching people, then we are not accomplishing what churches were created to do. When we realize that we are not accomplishing what we are supposed to be doing then we realize that there is a need for change.


 

Nathaniel has decided to take a longer nap this afternoon and I figured I could write a little. What to write on?

Let me share a little about my wife's passion for Operation Christmas Child. After all, she is at a big Connect Conference which is about to come to an end within the next hour. Before we met, Amber packed shoeboxes and encouraged her church to join many other churches in the packing process. She then took a next step of faith when she decided to join a volunteer year around team in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It wasn't too long and our small Southern Baptist church would become a drop off location! Everything was going great in the area and then we moved. What now?

Amber continued to save items throughout the year and pack shoeboxes, but now without a her team that is now 650 miles away. Then another opportunity came up to be a volunteer year around area coordinator. Now she is building her own team and working with those that were already serving to reach the counties around us. Working with local churches, business and getting the word out. Now she is getting energized with leadership training, OCC stories of impact and making new friends in sunny Arizona.

I am proud of her as she takes on newer and bigger things within Operation Christmas Child. Amber loves what she does and this has helped grow her and develop many leadership skills. She personally sets big goals and packs many boxes. Nathaniel knows OCC and talks about it when he sees the logo. All of us are always deal shopping for creative gifts to pack in a future box. One box, one impact, one mission; tell kids about Jesus!

Creative way get to know your kids

I was able to partner with Blue River Baptist Association in their training of VBS leaders. My breakout session was investing in the 5th and 6th grade leaders. In this, there was training over the VBS materials; but then also general leadership training, creative ideas, conversation on the target group and other helpful add ons. We started the breakout session with one of my favorite activities as I encouraged the leaders to first get to know the kids on night one. Here is what this activity looks like:

Buy a bag of original skittles. Then at the beginning of your class hand out small handfuls to your kids. Give them one rule as you talk and hand out the skittles; "you may eat all but one, put that one off to the side." (If a kid does not like skittles encourage them to pick one and keep it off to the side.) Then take them through the PowerPoint of the images below. Two questions to get to know names and something about each kid. You learn, but also the other kids get to learn about each other. For future years, switch it up, use m&ms or starburst. Remember the best way for you to invest is to get into their lives first, then let them get into your life and always encourage them that Jesus wants to be part theirs and your life.

Developmental Stages: 2 yr old vs. 5th grader

I have come to the conclusion that while working with 5th-6th graders that they are very similar to my two year old son. The other week I was reading that these two developmental stages are two of the biggest of a human life. Both groups are experiencing growth and body changes, they question everything and are processing how you will react when they go opposite, they go through volunteers and seem to be the hardest to recruit for; but yet they are in their own way in dire need of adults impacting their lives!

I have made several mistakes as a dad while trying to get my son to do something only to watch him process what I am saying and do the opposite. Within my reaction, I lose an opportunity to come alongside him and work through his processing. One of the biggest mistakes I have ever had with a young man should have taught me better. I had a tough group of inter-city guys in my cabin at summer camp. These kids wouldn't listen to anyone or anything! They pushed boundaries, they got in verbal and physical fights, and tested my twenty year old personality. At one point, I lost it and yelled at the top of my lungs at the boys. In that moment, I lost credibility and severed my opportunity to love and invest in them. In fact, I still have a negative report card that I have kept with me that says; "What did you dislike about camp?" the response: "My counselor yelled at us." Never recovered a relationship with at least one of the boys. I did work hard to earn back respect and even made a promise that if they could get along that we would camp out at a special cabin and I would make pizza on the fire for them. This got their interest, especially seeing they were from the city and didn't have campfires. The night came and sure enough it poured down raining. Not wanting to break my promise, I got permission to use the fireplace in the gym and left the campers with my junior counselor as I went to retrieve the pizza supplies. When I came back, I was shocked at what I saw. Kids were crying, hugging each other and asking for forgiveness. What had happened! One kid had started the conversation saying that he had a lot of anger because his dad had left him, which snowballed and I would soon find out that three quarter of my campers had lost their dad. To some their dad walked out on them and to others their dads were in jail. Wow, heavy. These kids needed love and the last thing they needed was an older male yelling at them...Only through the Holy Spirit working and breaking these hearts and finding a common ground; made this the best week of camp for me and one I will remember for ever. It not only taught me to watch my words; it taught me that ever kid has a story and they need to be invested and loved on.

Sure their bodies are changing, man, do they smell at times, especially after lots of fun in the gym and you go into a small room...yes, they question things. My best questions about the Bible have come from this age group. "Were there dinosaurs on the ark?" "Jesus sinned, what about the tables at the temple?" They do tend to do the opposite thing that you ask of them; and they will test your limits. Granted, all they really desire is for you to get to know them and let them get to know you. They want someone to care. They are not a kid but yet they are not a teen. They are stuck in this awkward stage and could use you to invest in them. No worries on your age, I am getting old, 34 to be exact, and I don't have a clue to some of these games they are playing, but I ask them about it and have them explain it to me. I believe they get so much enjoyment at explaining it to me and in the back of my mind, I am thinking "I have no clue what they are talking about!" But I go on listening and they go on telling me the in and outs of their world. Take some time to think about this time in your life...we need people investing in the lives of a two year old or a 5th grader; do not let this awkward stage scare you from impacting them for Jesus.

Jesus darkest moment

Coming out of Easter, many thoughts tend to flow as we reflect on what Jesus did on and through the cross, how he conquered death and the final results of restoring the relationship of God and man. As I have thought over the years, I have encouraged people that Jesus knows what it is like to be a human. His birth put him at the lowest of the low. Jesus was royalty but he was not born into it from a human perspective. He knows what it was like to be hungry. How do I know? The Bible tells us (Mark 11:12)! He got tired and needed sleep (Mark 4:38). He experienced the loss of a friend (John 11:35). It is not in the Bible, but I imagine that when Jesus was growing up, he fell and skinned a knee from time to time. He knows what it is like to be human.

Jesus' humanity leading up to his death is magnified in the Gospels. The focus of the last meal and his last time of hanging with his friends. Think about a prisoner who is on death rows and their last meal. They are not sharing with the closest of friends and I don't think a last meal is a time to be excited for. Jesus valued his disciples and saw the importance of spending a meal with them. In the garden, the sweat, the tears, the blood, the pain of talking with Father about his will. The kiss of betrayal. Many of us know how it feels to be betrayed by a friend or family member. It's tough, it hurts! The whips that pulled flesh from his body, the pulling of his beard, the insults, people gambling for his clothes, the nails in his hand and feet, a crown of thorns on his brow and being put on display.

Leading up to this point, I am sure that we as humans can relate with at least one thing if not many of the things that Jesus lived through. Granted, we are still not at Jesus' darkest moment! The pain, the loneliness and the rejection of man; but then came the darkest moment, the rejection of the Father. God being a holy God, cannot be part of sin and Jesus took the sins of the world on him separating him from the Father. Flesh being pulled off his body was minor compared to the relationship of the Father being separated from the Son. Jesus did this for me! He experienced a dark, lonely place that was without God; how in the world would I ever choose to reject God and want to ever experience hell! Jesus went through his darkest moment to give me an opportunity to have a relationship with the Father that I could have never obtained.