Well, I thought today I might have gotten more accomplished for my message tomorrow but it seemed like we spent the day in graphic design mode. Most of the staff and I have been designing banners for our ministry. It is not something that just kind of pops out in a minute or two. or three...
I was quite invious today...our children's pastor did a excellent job on hers. I had minimum imput...just little tweaks throughout the day...makes me want to remake mine...lol...
Tomorrow is the last of our Rescued From An Ordinary Life...ala Doug Fields...with some personal tweaks...it has been a great message and I have enjoyed teaching it...today I put the finishing touches on an email postcard for our next series and have been brainstorming a video teaser for the kickoff...I was thinking about shooting video of people worshiping stuff...
I have been trying to think of some ways to make this blog not just informative about my life but helpful to those in ministry and in their walk with God so be on the lookout for some stuff.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
Book of the Week
I've been reading a great book this week.
This book is so relevant and has me thinking about synergy. If all the people in the church would utilize their gifts in what they are passionate about calling on their attributes, personality, and experiences, we would create a synergy unlike any other. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I am using it as the main inspiration for our S.H.A.P.E. conference which we will be holding at our church Nov. 11th.
Great Reading! 
Principles of our Youth Ministry
It has been so fun to do youth ministry over the years. I have assimilated lots of things from lots of other ministries that I believe form the Ministry DNA of Elevate. I am in deep thinking about putting them in book form...probably will be like an internet book...I would like to know if it would be something others would get and possibly read...
Anyway here they are:
1. Do ministry on PURPOSE.
2. PLAN for success
3. Create USER-FRIENDLY environments
4. Foster a spirit of EXCELLENCE
5. TEACH for change
6. Add the WOW FACTOR
7. Develop highly productive TEAMS
These are what I believe we do a great job at...some better than others. They are principals that we have put in effect to see our youth ministry double in 6 months since we have been here at Church of Hope.
Anyway here they are:
1. Do ministry on PURPOSE.
2. PLAN for success
3. Create USER-FRIENDLY environments
4. Foster a spirit of EXCELLENCE
5. TEACH for change
6. Add the WOW FACTOR
7. Develop highly productive TEAMS
These are what I believe we do a great job at...some better than others. They are principals that we have put in effect to see our youth ministry double in 6 months since we have been here at Church of Hope.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
GET IN THE GAME (update)
Well…usually I start out with something like “a long awaited update.” This time I won’t do that….it is more like “a very long awaited update.”…LOL…I have been so, so, so, so busy…along with the youth ministry which is doing great…this past week 54 teens with over 60 people in attendance (still slowly growing, which is how I want it) my life has been busy with so many other things.
We started a new series in our main service called “Get in the Game” which was my idea. It is about people getting off the bench and getting involved. We decorated our sanctuary like a football stadium with our stage being a football field. We had a tailgate party on our launch date. I also did all the graphic design for our mailouts…that took me about 3 weeks. It was the first time I have done anything like that and I feel they were great except for one detail…but if I ever do another I will fix that. We are also going to have a ministry expo and have a booth…so I tried my hand at editing a DVD that will run at our booth…It came out great. Then I designed a banner for our youth room…All this graphic work is time intensive…We are also going to do a small conference at the end of our series called S.H.A.P.E. It is designed to help people find their gifts for service.
Below are some pictures from our first service on our launch to show you our stage. Our second service was packed due to the tailgate party.
Through all of this I have tried to keep myself from not being overwhelmed with work. It is easy for me to do that in ministry because I have such a passion for service and for excellence. And the reality is that excellence takes more time. But it is time that is well worth it in the long run. Make sure that all of you are finding your spot in ministry at your churches and doing what you can to make your dreams happen. I told our youth ministry this week that everyday I think about eternity…A life that has been rescued lives for eternity. My perspective is that I want to do everything that I can so that one day I can look into Jesus eyes and hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
That is only made possible through service. And I believe that a person who uses their gifts in the area of their passion relying on their personal attributes, personality and experiences will experience a true joy that goes beyond description. Jesus said He wants to fill our cups to overflowing. Experience that today…GET IN THE GAME…
We started a new series in our main service called “Get in the Game” which was my idea. It is about people getting off the bench and getting involved. We decorated our sanctuary like a football stadium with our stage being a football field. We had a tailgate party on our launch date. I also did all the graphic design for our mailouts…that took me about 3 weeks. It was the first time I have done anything like that and I feel they were great except for one detail…but if I ever do another I will fix that. We are also going to have a ministry expo and have a booth…so I tried my hand at editing a DVD that will run at our booth…It came out great. Then I designed a banner for our youth room…All this graphic work is time intensive…We are also going to do a small conference at the end of our series called S.H.A.P.E. It is designed to help people find their gifts for service.
Below are some pictures from our first service on our launch to show you our stage. Our second service was packed due to the tailgate party.
Through all of this I have tried to keep myself from not being overwhelmed with work. It is easy for me to do that in ministry because I have such a passion for service and for excellence. And the reality is that excellence takes more time. But it is time that is well worth it in the long run. Make sure that all of you are finding your spot in ministry at your churches and doing what you can to make your dreams happen. I told our youth ministry this week that everyday I think about eternity…A life that has been rescued lives for eternity. My perspective is that I want to do everything that I can so that one day I can look into Jesus eyes and hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
That is only made possible through service. And I believe that a person who uses their gifts in the area of their passion relying on their personal attributes, personality and experiences will experience a true joy that goes beyond description. Jesus said He wants to fill our cups to overflowing. Experience that today…GET IN THE GAME…
Thursday, September 28, 2006
New Series Kick-Off
Last night we started a new series called Rescued From An Ordinary Life...based on John 10:10 - The theif comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come to give you eternal life. A better life than you have ever dreamed. It was a great sermon and we had a great response at the altar with about 15-20 coming forward to respond to being Rescued.
Things here are so great cause I have a great team. Juno, my service director, plans every aspect of our services except the message. Crystal is our follow-up director, who oversees registration, follow up, and some other administrative things. Gilbert & Cody oversee events and facilities. And Carolina is my Fine Arts and Discipleship Director. They are a great team of people who make Elevate the great youth ministry that it is.
Last night we had 51 teens in attendance with a total of 61 people there...it was our best service outside of the Bash...Great things are continuing to happen here and I am so excited to be a part of it.
Things here are so great cause I have a great team. Juno, my service director, plans every aspect of our services except the message. Crystal is our follow-up director, who oversees registration, follow up, and some other administrative things. Gilbert & Cody oversee events and facilities. And Carolina is my Fine Arts and Discipleship Director. They are a great team of people who make Elevate the great youth ministry that it is.
Last night we had 51 teens in attendance with a total of 61 people there...it was our best service outside of the Bash...Great things are continuing to happen here and I am so excited to be a part of it.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Start of a new Series
Man was tonight a great night or what....Tonight we launced a new series called Rescued From An Ordinary Life based on John 10:10 The theif comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come to give you eternal life. A life better than you have ever dreamed of. It was a great sermon...really powerful...many teens came to the altar and we had many rededications.
I have a fantastic team of adults and teens that help and man do they do a great job...my main guy is Juno...he's the bomb (my whole team is the bomb)..."a" number one...he is my service director who plans the whole service and over see's every aspect of it...Crystal is my follow-up director who takes care of registration, numbers, and follow up...Cody is my event director along with Gilbert...they take care of the room/video games and then handle our special events...Carolina is our Fine Arts and Discipleship Director...They along with many teens are the reason for Elevates success...
Tonight we had 51 teens...61 overall at our service...most in a normal service so far...our junior high kids are really pressing in...they are awesome and are bringing some great energy to the group...Another successful night and I look forward only to many, many more...
I have a fantastic team of adults and teens that help and man do they do a great job...my main guy is Juno...he's the bomb (my whole team is the bomb)..."a" number one...he is my service director who plans the whole service and over see's every aspect of it...Crystal is my follow-up director who takes care of registration, numbers, and follow up...Cody is my event director along with Gilbert...they take care of the room/video games and then handle our special events...Carolina is our Fine Arts and Discipleship Director...They along with many teens are the reason for Elevates success...
Tonight we had 51 teens...61 overall at our service...most in a normal service so far...our junior high kids are really pressing in...they are awesome and are bringing some great energy to the group...Another successful night and I look forward only to many, many more...
Sunday, September 24, 2006
A Plain Ole Update...Well Maybe
Hey everyone out there...this is just a plain Jane no holds barred update of what is going on....
Last week, Juno got his preach on at Elevate with a message on servanthood...We had 58 in attendance (best so far outside of our Bash) and he had an altar full of people committing to the challenge of the message...
This week we launch a new four week series called Rescued From An Ordinary Life...based on John 10:10 "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy but I (Jesus) have come to give you life and life in abundance"...oh yeah...it is going to be a great series....
See You at the Pole is this Wednesday and I'm gonna be running around crazy....we are also doing a See You After The Pole Rally...
Friday we will be hosting our first 5th Quarter Celebration after the Calallen football game...our main target is the Calallen High and Middle School...I am believing for 100 plus at this event...we will be having some free food, a free concert with Jabez Entertainment...and some all out fun that night...lots of things planned for this one....
All that and a couple of bags of chips this week here in Corpus...We are really focusing on two things right now...1) Getting Elevate's name out in the schools...we want everyone to hear and know about Elevate... 2) Developing our ministry team to be the champions God has made them to be.
I have been talking to my wife a lot about our destiny...I really feel that here at Church of Hope we are refining the ministry God desires for our life...we have learned so much and had so much placed in us over the past 7 years it is now time for God to refine it to the style He desires and develop the Spiritual/Ministry DNA He will have us do....
PeAcE 2 U ALL.....
Last week, Juno got his preach on at Elevate with a message on servanthood...We had 58 in attendance (best so far outside of our Bash) and he had an altar full of people committing to the challenge of the message...
This week we launch a new four week series called Rescued From An Ordinary Life...based on John 10:10 "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy but I (Jesus) have come to give you life and life in abundance"...oh yeah...it is going to be a great series....
See You at the Pole is this Wednesday and I'm gonna be running around crazy....we are also doing a See You After The Pole Rally...
Friday we will be hosting our first 5th Quarter Celebration after the Calallen football game...our main target is the Calallen High and Middle School...I am believing for 100 plus at this event...we will be having some free food, a free concert with Jabez Entertainment...and some all out fun that night...lots of things planned for this one....
All that and a couple of bags of chips this week here in Corpus...We are really focusing on two things right now...1) Getting Elevate's name out in the schools...we want everyone to hear and know about Elevate... 2) Developing our ministry team to be the champions God has made them to be.
I have been talking to my wife a lot about our destiny...I really feel that here at Church of Hope we are refining the ministry God desires for our life...we have learned so much and had so much placed in us over the past 7 years it is now time for God to refine it to the style He desires and develop the Spiritual/Ministry DNA He will have us do....
PeAcE 2 U ALL.....
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Long time no....READ???
You know how life gets busy and time just flys by...well that is how I have felt lately...Our youth ministry is doing great...I was expecting a small growth spurt after the Bash that I haven't seen yet...but probably the main thing is continuing to build my team...I have done a lot of recruiting and have added...now I have been placing my directors...I am trying to have 10 total working in various positions...and teaching them to recruit and build thier teams...it is cool...just the finer points of ministry that take you from good to great...
I always push for excellence and try not to do things that we can't do...I have found that here I have this urgency like either the hour is short or that there is so much work to do out there so we need to go at a faster pace this time...I am pushing my volunteer staff at a high pace but know they are one of the best teams I have ever had...without them we couldn't have done what we have done to now. Anyway gotta go...PeAcE and blessing to you all...
I always push for excellence and try not to do things that we can't do...I have found that here I have this urgency like either the hour is short or that there is so much work to do out there so we need to go at a faster pace this time...I am pushing my volunteer staff at a high pace but know they are one of the best teams I have ever had...without them we couldn't have done what we have done to now. Anyway gotta go...PeAcE and blessing to you all...
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Coming Events
I think I am finally recovered from all the work over the past two weeks. It pretty much took me the whole weekend. Late Sunday night we decided to head out of town since we had Monday off. We went to visit my parents. It was a good day spent with them.
Now the focus is on for our September events. With the success of our Back to School Bash we are going forward with the momentum to See You At The Pole. It is on September 27th. That same weekend we are going to have a 5th Quarter after the football game that week. We are trying to position our youth ministry out in the schools. We know we bring the answer they need so it is now getting it out to them. We are doing a variety of different events that will draw in teens. Our students are really reaching out to their friends and I am so glad they have accepted the challenge. I want their schools to be changed, to be different. We will also be doing another 5th Quarter in October and then in November we will be taking them to a conference in Houston.
This month will mark the 6th month we have been here at Church of Hope. We have worked hard to build relationships and a team that will reach this area. The time now is to continue recruiting people to the team and developing them to be effective. It is also time to take our students who we know will be leaders in our ministry and develop them as well. I have noticed that there is a unique challenge to ministry in a larger town. We have people that come from all areas with drives of over 30 minutes so you have to be more conscience of time commitments. It is a good dynamic problem to have to solve. We want to have a totally effective ministry but at the same time be very sensitive to family times with the teens and adults we minister too. I relish the challenge.
Now the focus is on for our September events. With the success of our Back to School Bash we are going forward with the momentum to See You At The Pole. It is on September 27th. That same weekend we are going to have a 5th Quarter after the football game that week. We are trying to position our youth ministry out in the schools. We know we bring the answer they need so it is now getting it out to them. We are doing a variety of different events that will draw in teens. Our students are really reaching out to their friends and I am so glad they have accepted the challenge. I want their schools to be changed, to be different. We will also be doing another 5th Quarter in October and then in November we will be taking them to a conference in Houston.
This month will mark the 6th month we have been here at Church of Hope. We have worked hard to build relationships and a team that will reach this area. The time now is to continue recruiting people to the team and developing them to be effective. It is also time to take our students who we know will be leaders in our ministry and develop them as well. I have noticed that there is a unique challenge to ministry in a larger town. We have people that come from all areas with drives of over 30 minutes so you have to be more conscience of time commitments. It is a good dynamic problem to have to solve. We want to have a totally effective ministry but at the same time be very sensitive to family times with the teens and adults we minister too. I relish the challenge.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Our Bash
Well, its been awhile since I last wrote a blog. I have had probably the busiest two weeks. We had our missions conference, my car broke down, finished our coffee shop/youth room, & had our Back To School Bash. I was so tired that I am staying home today. I usually go in on Fridays for a little while but today and tomorrow I am resting.
Our Back to School Bash went awesome. I was believing for 100 teens to come. We had 105 teens in attendance, 11 first time salvations & 4 recommitments. It was a totally awesome night. It was the first night back in our youth room which got totally overhauled over the past 3 months. I launched a new series called "Back To The Battle". We will be talking about "The Battle", "The Victory" & "The Celebration" over this three week series.
The dream is starting to come true. We are going to change this area and all that the devil pulled over the past two weeks or so is for naught. He knew that we were going to do something significant here and has been working hard to dissway my wife and I. He has been working hard to distract us from what God's plan is for here. But his plans are for naught because the Corpus area will be changed. Be praying for us.
Our Back to School Bash went awesome. I was believing for 100 teens to come. We had 105 teens in attendance, 11 first time salvations & 4 recommitments. It was a totally awesome night. It was the first night back in our youth room which got totally overhauled over the past 3 months. I launched a new series called "Back To The Battle". We will be talking about "The Battle", "The Victory" & "The Celebration" over this three week series.
The dream is starting to come true. We are going to change this area and all that the devil pulled over the past two weeks or so is for naught. He knew that we were going to do something significant here and has been working hard to dissway my wife and I. He has been working hard to distract us from what God's plan is for here. But his plans are for naught because the Corpus area will be changed. Be praying for us.
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