Family Ministry at the Pointe

We are a long way off from being what I believe God wants us to be as a “Family Ministry”  here at Pointe North but I feel like we are heading towards some exciting things.  Yesterday, Bobby Webster (our Campus Pastor) and I went to the Rethink Youth Ministry network in Columbia South Carolina.  Steve Wright, author of “reThink” was the speaker and posed some startling insight into the future of Youth Ministry and its transition into a family ministry model.  Now with most conference speakers I don’t buy totally into everything they say but he did give me some baseline to start with as we adapt our version of a family ministry.  Here are some thoughts that I took away from yesterday that will be helpful to you parents from every background.

  • As a youth pastor rather than mentor I/we need to do a better job of teaching parents to mentor
  • The best way to get kids involved in their faith is to get their parents involved in their faith
  • We need to establish an intentional plan of discipleship for families
  • We need to pray for our families…HARD
  • When this thing is fleshed out we will 1) Resource = we will provide whatever you need to assist you in being the primary discipler of your kid 2) Train = we will train you in multiple venues, in multiple ways 3) Involve = we want you involved primarily in discipling your kids then, we want you involved in the ministries that are supporting the spiritual development…staffing Alive, KidsPointe and TotsLanding.

I am excited about what God is doing in this ministry and I beg you to pray for me that God grants me wisdom and knowledge and patience.  This is a process that will take years to flesh out and I am not usually a man of patience.

My Friend Marissa

I am so proud of her.  She has known that God has a call on her life for years and is finally surrendering to that call to go be a missionary to Mexico for at least 1 year.  God has done a lot in her to prepare her and I know that Mexico will never be the same with a Spirit Filled Marissa Barr.  She has been a key volunteer for my ministry for 2 years now and I have seen her shine.  However, she leaves in 3 months and is currently $3000 short of her financial needs.  I know God is going to take care of her and she believes that as well.  I just wonder if maybe God wants to use you to help her to her goal.  If you feel an urging to help her financially or want to partner with her in prayer email her at marissabarr@ymail.com

Thanks so much guys, I know she will appreciate it.

EVERYTHING

I find myself at a very frustrating time in my life as a Youth Pastor.  I thank God that he doesn’t have a panic button, because I do.  Our teenagers are plagued with so much pain and sin, I am finding myself wanting to teach it all NOW…we need a series on SEX, MONEY, FAMILY…but we need it all now!  Families are falling apart.  Kids are crossing every line imaginable sexually and the average teen will spend $50 for a PS game but won’t drop a dime in an offering.  God is in control…and he doesn’t panic and so today I lean on his peace.  However, deep inside…

Do you ever feel this way?

Twitter return

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I was going to take several months off of twitter/facebook.  The reason was 1) I was becoming too addicted to it and 2) I needed to simplify and think through some things and didn’t want to be distracted.

The reason I am back earlier than normal is that as I was processing some things I realized how much I used/needed the networking side of these formats.  I have missed some stuff that is fairly major because for many twitter/facebook is the main medium for communication.  I mean I realized that Marko got canned from YS for crying out loud…a week late!

One thing I am still going to try to do is not worry so much about what others are doing…I am trimming my following list.  I don’t plan on tweeting my dinner plans or random factoids about my life, rather use the format to network, share ideas, inspirations and from time to time witty observations.

Some will think me weak…(like my best friend David).  I can handle that….because…well…I am.

Baby Rheaume

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It occurs to me that I haven’t blogged about the biggest news to hit the Rheaume family in 4 years and that is the coming addition of a new child.  This is a surprise blessing from God.  I am both excited and anxious about a new baby in our lives…I never saw myself as a father with more than 2 children.  I am praying for wisdom and strength.  My wife is a working mom by calling and choice.  I am a pastor of a growing ministry and making time is hard enough.  I am in the process of simplifying every other thing in my life in order to increase my margins.  That being said the prayer of the season is BOY.  I would love to have a son.  I would love another daughter…but hey, I’ve done that twice already.  So, let’s all join together each and every night and pray, “Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord will give Sean a boy. – Amen”

On a side note another positive is that my wife is amazing when pregnant.  She glows and is more beautiful than ever.  So, this summer a blockbuster of a different kind is coming Baby Rheaume III.

 

Repent

Wigglesworth says “I believe we are on the wrong side of the cross.  We say Love, Love, Love when we should be saying Repent, Repent, Repent!”

The work of your ministry begins with the willingness to repent.  All great moves of God begin with that action and yet it is something that we treat so flippantly.  Repentance isn’t crying or feeling bad…repentance is turning away from sin and toward righteousness.   If you are feeling powerless in your work repent.  If you are feeling confused in a direction you need to go.  Repent.  If you are finding yourself overwhelmed.  Repent.

Only when we get this discipline down in our lives will we ever truly understand what Power the Holy Spirit wants to impart upon us.  Operate on this side of the cross and on your knees repent, then get up and work in righteousness the work of the Lord.

I am praying for you all now.

Lord, I pray for all of my fellow workers out there slugging it out for the cause of your name.  I pray for a spirit of repentance to pour out onto our leadership.  You are the author of our work, Lord.  We recognize that we try too often to do ministry in our own strength.  We recognize that we allow pride, ego, and temptation of every stripe enter our spirits.  We ask Lord for your forgiveness, we beg Lord for your forgiveness.  We plead the cross for the strength to work in your strength.  To work in your Spirit, in your ways, in your righteousness.  Give us your eyes, your heart, allow us to be your hands.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Anatomy of a Leader part 2

Well I have heard some good responses from anatomy of a leader.  So hear you go.

HEART – We cannot lead people if we don’t care about them.  Sure you can for a while by using your talent, gravitas and charisma.  However, after a while people begin to figure out what you really care about.  Leaders need to love who they lead and the organization they lead.  Do you love the ministry/organization that you are leading.  I pray that if you don’t one of two things will take place.  1) You will recognize it and move on so that the person that does love it can lead it or 2) God would change your heart to allow you to fall back in love with it.

BRAIN – Think people!  Wow, it amazes me how some leaders go through their existence without thinking.  You should spend a god part of your time developing your mind in leadership and in the area of your organization.  READ, READ, READ!  I have been in Youth Ministry for over 16 years and I still read books on Youth Ministry.  Why?  Because I want to know as much about the subject as possible.  Knowledge is Power.

GUTS – Have the courage to make a bonehead call.  Have the courage to do something nobody has ever done before or even dared to think before.  Those are the leaders that inspire, engage and change the world.

What else you got?

Leadership in Hazzard County

The_Dukes_of_Hazzard_5

When I was a kid me and my brother looked forward to The Dukes of Hazzard every week. We would sit on the floor and laugh as the Duke boys pulled another one over on ol’ Boss Hogg and Roscoe P Coultrain. After spending a week with my brother some of those memories came flooding back when I saw a rerun over the weekend. (why is it shows that were so cool when you were a kid are so CHEESY now?) Anyway, watching the show I saw something that reminded me of some things I am going through right now in ministry.
Roadblocks are just an opportunity to show off.
An iconic scene in television is when the General Lee is being chased by the sherif and they come up to what would seem to be the end of the road…but no. You hear that confederate car horn and the car jumps whatever roadblock seems to be there. The Duke boys…and the car always in tact.

In ministry, if you are growing you are going to hit some roadblocks. That is part of leadership…reaching a ceiling and adapting so that you raise the ceiling. When a roadblock comes my way I handle them pretty much the same way the Duke boys did…

1) I freak out…cmon you saw their eyes…they got big as saucers. When roadblocks come my first reaction is to freak a bit and pace.
2) I pray…as I am sure those boys did as they approached the 15 foot pile of dirt (that aways seemed to be in the form of a ramp).
3) I press the gas…the worst thing you can do is stop. Come up with a direction and GO FOR IT! If you have sought God he is always looking for a way to show off. Just make sure when you are on the other side that you give the Glory to Jesus.

What roadblocks are you dealing with and do these steps help you at all? Let me know.

Anatomy of a Leader

davinci

A creative way to break down some leadership principles I have learned over the years…

EYES – Always look ahead.  Prepare your ministry/organization for what is coming next.  The only way to do that is to be aware of coming trends, models, environments etc…  Keep focused on the task at hand.  Don’t glance to the right or left or you will take your organization off the path.

EARS – Listen to those who work for you, those who work with you and those you work for.  A good leader is a good listener.  Too often we masters of our universes love to spout off our vast knowledge rather than listen to those around you which will give you greater tools to make decisions…not to mention make your working environment a lot easier.

HANDS – A myth of leadership is that a high capacity leader shouldn’t waste their time “doing”.  A good leader isn’t afraid of rolling up their sleeves and doing some work as well.  Modeled leadership is always better than spoken or positional leadership.

FEET – Keep moving.  Stagnation always leads to Stench…don’t let your organization become stagnant.  Always ask what can be better?  What can we add?  What can we take away?  Better is always better.

MOUTH – Speak words of wisdom, speak words of encouragement, speak words of discipline or don’t speak words at all.  Stop speaking to hear your own voice.

KNEES – You have heard the expression “lift with your knees”, the same applies in leadership.  Lift your organization up in prayer always and often.  Pray for it’s growth, your leadership, your people and the ability to hear His voice as he guides you in leadership.

That is just some of my thoughts on leadership.  What are yours?