Alive in Review

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Teaching Series: Mind Games

Theme: looking at some absurd statements from Jesus and why he said them

Bible: Mt 15:21-28

Attendance: 265

First timers: 7

Volunteers: 30

Length of service: 55 x 2

Breakdown: The night was pretty awesome considering my brain is fried getting ready for Breakaway.  We had a 2 song set list in the beginning that was very up (King of Majesty and Take it all).  recognized students going to Breakaway and went straight into message.  The title tonight is “why’d he call her a dog?”.  The way the sermon took shape it really became a message on racial reconciliation (which was cool because we had 21 african-american teens in the program last night, 4 first-timers).  The mood was good in both services, kudos to KidsPointe the 6th graders came in ready to worship, however there is an obvious leadership vacuum now in the MS service without the 8th graders.  We ended the evening with a video worship piece from Hillsong playing the song Hosanna.  The HS one at a time stood up raising their hands in worship…it was quite a sight.  Numbers were down a bit, I hope due to vacation.  Overall a good night.

Intoducing…Bobby Webster

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In the world of Alive Youth Ministry Bobby really needs no introduction but now he is part of the team in an official capacity.  Bobby is coming on to the youth ministry staff as a part time associate in youth ministry.  He will be assisting me in more of  an official role in preaching/teaching and campus ministries.  I am glad to have a close friend serving with me.  He has a sincere heart for seeing teenagers come closer to Jesus.  Bobby has 2 sons in the program and a daughter in the children’s ministry.  His wife Nancy also is on the youth ministry staff as my personal assistant.  Bobby is a salesman for Coastal Air Solutions.  Please pray for Bobby as he juggles family, ministry and work and pray for Alive Youth Ministries continues to grow and flourish.

Alive in review – June 3

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Teaching Series: Collide – Our monthly combined MS/HS worship experience

Theme: Graduation

Attendance: 300

First Time Guests: 12

Volunteers: 30

Length of service: 90 minutes

Breakdown: We definately learned our lesson from the last Collide.  We kept it simple and focused on worship and experiencing God.  The band was on point last night with breakout performances from Kristin and Shayla.  Brooke Overholt made a guest appearance and they team did a Barlow Girl number that was quite impressive.  A highlight was the time of communion, seeing 300 come up for communion is a sight that never gets old.  We had 2 graduates share from their heart, Andrew wrote a rap for the group that was incredible and Katie shared a sobering poem to encourage the younger kids to learn from their mistakes and lean on God.  It was a special night and a good night.

Frustration: after the service we had a couple of guys get in a fight.  I lost my cool after one of them threatened to go get a gun.  Had to expel 3 kids from the program.  That is necessary but hurts deeply.

Spiritual Check Up

I just finished recording our volunteer training CD for June.  I thought it would be cool to share some of it on my blog.  I know that health is important.  I know that guys that aren’t chunky work better than guys that are.  I know that it is in my best interest to stay healthy not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually.  However, that said…I stink at staying healthy.  I go to the gym religiously and then take months off.  I eat well and then basically keep BK in business.  I maintain a healthy study time and then get “busy” with Church stuff.  I protect my sabbath and then choose to stress instead.  I am the definition of inconsistency.  So from time to time I have to give myself a check up.  It usually comes when my wife yells at me and tells me to snap out of it, but hey whatever works!

When you go to the doctor, there are a few things that he always does…before he robs you and prescribes things you don’t need.

1) They weigh you = What is weighing you down right now?  What unconfessed sin are you carrying around with you?  What relationship issues are unresolved and it is eating you up inside?  Stop carrying that burden.  Deal with it and give it to the Lord.  He will lighten your load.

2) They take your blood pressure = What are you stressing over?  i am reading a book right now about David and goliath and the author pointed out that while the Israelites were focused on the size of Goliath, David was focused on the size of God.  What are you focussing on?  Your Goliath (large as he may be) or the strength and providence of God?

3) They check your pulse = How fast are you running?  I am not talking literally here.  I mean how many of you are burning your candles at both ends?  How many things are you doing and at what pace?  I took a day of media silence yesterday and embarrassingly it was HARD!  I am used to doing, doing, doing…to sit still in silence was almost akin to water boarding for me.  We need to learn to rest.  We need to learn to sit and listen.

4) They check your temperature = In Revelation Jesus asks if we are Hot or Cold, because lukewarmness makes him sick.  How is your zeal for Christ?  How often does your passion for Jesus shine through whatever you do?  When is the last time you shared the Gospel with someone?  When is the last time you dug into his word with excitement not routine?  Ouch, that hurt me.

5) Say ahhhh = They always stick that popsicle stick in your mouth and make you say ahhhh.  What would they hear coming from your mouth?  Would they hear words of encouragement?  Would they hear words of love and peace?  Would they hear bitterness?  Would they hear cynicism coming out in the name of humor but actually a form of anger?

5 things a doctor always looks at, why?  Because, in the simple things a lot can be determined.  Every now and then we need to do a simply check up to make sure we are healthy…and put the doughnut down too!

Alive in Review

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Teaching Series: The Face of Love

Theme: Love gives

Bible: Luke 10:25-32

Attendance: 295

First Time Guests: 4

Volunteers: 30

Length of Service: 50 minutes x 2

Breakdown:  Middle School Service went well.  Played a little role playing game on stage with some students and they had a blast.  Worship was good in the MS service and GREAT in the HS service.  We said goodbye to a great volunteer Sam Caddell who is moving to Texas this week.  We will miss him dearly.

5 unspiritual things I do in youth ministry part

Plan…I love to plan.  Now there are scriptural foundations for planning so it is not UNspiritual but there are many circles out there in the Church world that believes everything should be led by the Spirit…planning “squeezes” out the freedom of God.  I don’t subscribe to that theology.  I believe that you should plan.  I believe God’s ministry deserves a plan.  I believe the planning process should be bathed in prayer.  The plan should be prayed over afterwards and then you pray during your ministry to allow for interruptions of the plan.

Joshua was seeking God and God gave him a Plan for the Battle of Jericho.  God gave Gideon a plan.  God gave Paul a plan to reach the gentiles.  God gave Martin Luther King a plan.  He gave Mother Theresa a plan.  Planning is good.  I like to plan.

5 unspiritual things I do in youth ministry part 3

I Twitter.  Now I don’t pretend to understand why?  I don’t know why people care to know what I have for lunch.  I don’t understand it…but I love it!  It is totally narcissistic.  I get to have everyone who cares get to join me in this thing called life.  I have gotten advice on what to do for lunch and have had people instantly connected with me in prayer.  It can be idiotic and it can be an instrument of ministry.  I leverage twitter and facebook in ministry so that I can network, have fun and stay connected with people who care about me and I about them.  It is easy to get STUCK in your office planning, reading and writing…sometimes you need to remember that there are other people out there…especially if you are a youth pastor remember there are people older than 18 out there.  So, it isn’t all that spiritual but I am addicted to twitter.

5 unspiritual things I do in youth ministry part 2

I watch awards shows.  Some I actually like some it is like watching knowing a wreck is about to happen.  Why do I watch them even though rarely is there anything that edifies Jesus…in fact sometimes just the opposite.  I love the creativity of it.  I love how they weave in multiple senses to create an environment.  I love the way they create excitement…you can feel the buzz through the TV screen!  I love that and I try to steal as much as I can from it.  Kids ministries and even Middle School ministries would do well to be inspired by the fun of the NICK TV awards.  It is an incredible show!  Our ministry has done a few things to create mood and anticipation…everyone of those ideas I jacked from an awards show.

There are some elements to every awards show that we can transfer to our Wednesday night experience.

1) The Red Carpet – We don’t actually have a red carpet but we do try to create a first impression that makes students feel excited and accepted.  We want them to know as soon as they enter the parking lot that tonight is a special night.  The music, the lights, the attention!

2) The Cold Open – This is what they call in the biz the BIG number that is almost set apart from the rest of the program…a BIG intro.  When students walk in there is a bold countdown in a dark room and lots of smoke and our first number is always a crowd pleaser.  An infusion of energy.

3) The Takeaway – we don’t give out awards but at the end of every service is a communicator that sums up what is most important in the evening.  This takeaway moment hopefully crystalizes what they have heard and allows the Holy Spirit to work it in their hearts.

BONUS) The interview – no award show would be complete without the interview…it makes the stars feel important and gives the reporters meaning…same applies at Alive.  We interview every student…it makes them feel special and gives the youth team meaning.

So, that is what I have learned from Awards shows.  Nothing hugely spiritual and many pastors will scold me for exposing myself to the evils of pride, greed, lust and vanity but it has helped me a lot.

5 unspiritual things I do in youth ministry

There are some things that I do in youth ministry that you won’t find in the Bible anywhere…no not even in The Message.  There are things that I believe are important to youth ministry though I cannot find a single spiritual component in it.  This next series of blogs will highlight some of my favorite things I do in youth ministry that have nothing to do with Jesus but help me in ministry.  It sounds a little heretical I know but it’s my blog so nah.

Number 1 – Logo design

Design is a hobby of mine.  It feeds my creativity and I just like doing it.  I am not saying I am any good at it but i like doing it.  When I got to Pointe North I inherited the name Alive Youth Ministries.  I wasn’t a huge fan but not wanting to change too much I stuck with the name.  Actually it was @live Youth Ministries…that was TOO much so we went to Alive.  One of the things I went straight to was developing a logo for the youth ministry.  The first draft was cool but not very iconic or transferable. glowboy

Eventually we went with what we have now that I think is pretty cool and works with the name and is easily identifiable and transferable.

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So what is the BIG deal…well everyone who sees the Alive logo, knows what it is.  They know what it represents.  They know who we are.  It is a crucial marketing tool.  When you see the red Target you know what it is.  When you see the Apple, you know what it represents.  When you see the EKG/Circle, you know that is ALIVE.

Nothing spiritual but really helpful in getting a small town to know who you are.

Decisions decisions

I have never been good at making choices between 2 good options.  Some people have that knowledge of “God’s Will”.  I don’t have that.  I know what God wants me to do day by day but rarely does scripture point out details from day to day.  What about you?  How do you approach Big Decisions.  Are you a pro/cons list kind of person?  Are you a pray and fast until you force God to TELL you what to do?  Are you a go till you hear a no or a don’t go anywhere because if it ain’t broke don’t fix it?  Let me know…I am intrigued.