Ga Ga Ball

My second attempt at a Ga Ga Pit! This one turned out way better than the previous... 

I recruited Jeff and he brought along his father. 

Inviting South Haven Kids for the opportunity to be the first to use it!

Importance of a church in it's community?

Yesterday, I was out shopping at Home Depot planning the next big children ministry exciting moment (details coming soon), when I recognized one of the employees. I had that moment where I was trying to remember where I knew the individual from and couldn’t recall. She knew me! Come to find out she was one of our winners from our Trunk or Treat event. She would go on to actually invite my cashier to church; to which I would find out that she knew the Klein’s which led to talking about how Alan played an amazing part of our Upward Sports program. As these conversations continue; we have to think, how important is it for a church to be out in the community? Certainty, this conversation would have not happened if it were not for South Haven’s decision to be active in the community.

Each person has a total of 168 hours a week. No more and no less. What we do with that time matters! Each kid that is in my ministry has 168 hours a week and I have come to realize I only have about two hours to impact their lives. So it has been my ministry goal to make the most of these two hours and invest in the lives of kids within my reach.

As a parent, this way of thinking has changed. As I read the Bible, I find that the main people that should be impacting kids for Jesus and equipping them in the faith are the parents. Yes, I am still called to reach kids within my two hours with my specific ministry calling, but I am also called as a parent to raise Nathaniel in Jesus. I won't be satisfied with the two blue dots for Nathaniel, I need to use many of those green dots as a parent to reflect Jesus!

Parents, it is so important to pray with your children, to read devotions with your children, to model a Christ-like picture for your children and to look for times to point your kids to Jesus. You, over the church, will always have more of an impact in showing Jesus to them. The church is just your partner in helping you raise your children in Jesus. Look for ways this week to model, to teach and to show God to your children!

Tebow and thoughts on A Night to Shine

Tebow...The Gator quarterback, not a fan. And the Denver Broncos draft Tim Tebow, oh man, I guess I will have to start liking him? As I watched, heard his testimony, seeing his on and off the field character, the td pass to Thomas in OT against the Steelers! I cheered for him, I was disappointed when he left Denver, where will he play? I respected that he gave glory to God, but if he could not play in the NFL will he still give God the glory? I Google him often just to see what he is up to. Oh, he is sportscasting, playing for the Mets, teaming up with Chip and Joanna Gaines, and putting on a variety of charities. On a night like tonight where he will impact almost 100,000 people!

Tonight, he has partnered with churches across the country as they invest in friends. The event is called "A Night to Shine" and is in its fourth year. A Night to Shine is a special prom night event for those who have special needs. This is what Tebow has to say about this special night:

“It’s my favorite night of the year and we get to change so many lives,” Tebow said in a video promoting the event. “Honestly, it’s not just the night of their life where they get to dance, and they get to have fun. They get to ride in limos, they get to walk down red carpets." He added: "It’s so much more than life, because maybe for the first time, they realize that they’re worth it. They realize that they’re special. They realize that they’re loved. There’s not much more important than that.”

The event is now shared by 540 churches in 16 countries with 175,000 volunteers. When the guests arrive, there are tuxedos and shoe shine stations for the guys and hair, makeup and dresses or the ladies. They then get to walk the red carpet, and participate in dancing and karaoke. Tebow will make special appearances at a variety of locations tonight. He continues to show great character, invest in people that many might not take time to get to know, and continues to give God glory. With all the athletes that are out there; Tebow has never made me regret pointing young people towards him. His character and integrity are to be admired; his love for Jesus is encouraging that no matter how hard sports are to you, you can still give God the glory. Thanks Tebow and to the 175,000 volunteers that invested and impacted lives tonight.

God prepares you for the direction he is going to take you. 

As I sit back and reflect launching our first Upward sports season at South Haven, I remember key points in my life that have set me up for success. 

How do I handle a game day? Going back to the days of college, I spent four great years working with the Liberty University baseball team. Game day preparation was a masterpiece that most people never saw how much time went into making a baseball field ready. The mowing of artwork in the infield and outfield, the art of a perfect slope of a pitching mound, a smooth infield playing surface, clean jerseys hanging in each locker, game balls rubbed up, umpire room set up towels and postgame sandwiches and drinks, and so on. 

How about handling concessions? I think of working for the Green Bay YMCA and how much I learned about concessions and healthy snacks. The preparation to be organized and set up people for success when the line starts. 

How do we create a well-balanced coach and team experience? Over ten years ago, I did a summer internship in the Washington DC area where I was part of my first Upward Sports experience. Summer camps were some of my fondest memories of that internship. Getting in my team’s circle and doing a team huddle. Playing basketball with the kids and building relationships with them.

How do we have an interactive website? Through multiple website designs in Green Bay, I crafted basic skills of working through how to build a foundational piece of the website. 

These are just four events that I saw as being beneficial in setting me up for preparation of our first season. God prepares you for the direction he is going to take you.