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.