seattle. mars hill. mark driscoll. so excited.
In 21 minutes Stacie and I will head to the airport with CE's 3 directors to catch a plane to
SEATTLE.
CE's board meetings are out there this weekend, and Ed graciously invited us along. So, while we do have some responsibilities with the board, we also have the opportunity to see some of Seattle (seriously one of my favorite cities), and visit
Mars Hill this weekend!
We're also meeting with Dave Kraft, author of
Leaders Who Last. I just read this book this month, and highly recommend it to anyone who leads. Seriously. If you lead a church, a small group, a youth group, a discussion group, a family, a worship team, a sports team, a ministry team ... this book is great. Kraft, at 70 years old, writes about what leaders need to do to sustain themselves for the long haul of leadership. I have so many questions for Kraft, and I beyond thrilled that I'll have the chance to ask some of them.
I'll give a more detailed review of the book (as well as let you know about our time with him!) in a few days.
Mm. Seattle. Here we come.
Labels: leaders who last, mars hill, seattle
GOOD and FAITHFUL
Last October I told you how
burdened I was for one of our 2009 Barnabas alumni who was not doing well. This student got home and, because of a variety of reasons, chose not to walk with the Lord.
Last week I heard from this student -- let me just give you a quote:
I made a lot of mistakes but I have learned so much from it. God never let go of his grip on my life and I am slowly getting back to him now.
Every time I think about this, I can't stop smiling.
Seriously. God. Answers. Prayer. He answered here so clearly and so miraculously.
If you've been praying with me for this student,
thank you thank you thank you.
Spend some time thanking the Lord for what he's done!
Labels: 2009 alumni
haiti haiti haiti
I am helping to lead 3 one-week teams to Haiti this August.
July 30-Aug 5
Aug 6-12
Aug 13-19
Each team can hold 20 people, and the cost (based on 20 people) is $750+airfare
We want to change the lives of people in Haiti, and change the way that you love the overlooked. Join us. You won't regret it.
You can find the application
here.
Contact me with any questions.
Labels: haiti, mission 18/72
mission 18/72
I'm going to
Haiti.
In August.
For 3 weeks.
We're running 3 one-week trips, called
Mission 18/72.
Who wants to come with me?
(comment, email, text, or call. space is limited)
This is not a joke.
Labels: haiti
power of prayer
Last weekend I was hanging out with my friends Karly & Erin here in Winona. My heart was burdened over a situation, and they listened, encouraged, and gave some good advice.
This week I prayed over the advice they gave me and acted on it. I got in touch with Karly and Erin that same day to let them know, and Karly said,
'I'm so glad! I was praying last night about that.'
Such a simple statement. But those words took the wind right out of me. To know that my friend was thinking about me, praying for me and my situation -- what a blessing.
Prayer is so powerful. It can move the heart and hand of God. That's big.
But it also can encourage and strengthen the hearts of people. To know that friends are petitioning the God of the universe on my behalf--now that's friendship.
Who are you praying for today?
You should let them know.
That encouragement may be just what they need to act boldly today.
(Thanks Karly & Erin. Love you both.)
Labels: intercessory prayer, prayer
in the works
Talked to a few people recently who are looking to train adults (or student leaders) in the process of discipleship. You all know by now that we are big fans of
Organic Disciplemaking (It's like discipleship for dummies. Seriously.) I'm working on putting together a short study -- about 6 weeks/lessons -- based on that book. You can take it, use it, use parts of it, write something totally new stuff based off it-I really don't care. Sometimes I just appreciate having something premade to use as a springboard.
I plan to make that available online before summer hits. Just want to continue to provide anything we can to assist you in training people in discipleship. Keep checking the blog. It'll be linked through here.
Labels: curriculum, discipleship, Organic Disciplemaking
who wants a new resource?
Last week I finished up a book (that I got for free at
CELS) called
Simple Student Ministry. It's by Eric Geiger (one of the guys who co-authored
Simple Church) and Jeff Borton (Geiger's youth pastor).
If you are in ministry, particularly student ministry,
I think this is a must read.
The premise is this:
...without a clear understanding of discipleship as a process, student ministry leaders have the tendency to offer programs and events with no understanding of how all they offer fits into a comprehensive plan or process for discipleship.
These guys are not trying to promote a new program. Not in the least. They are simply asking us to evaluate what we're doing, and to simplify. To not have programs for the sake of programs, but to only put time and energy into those programs that move students along the path of discipleship.
I think this is a great exercise to walk through. You may not agree with everything they say, you may not land with a ministry that is as 'stripped down' as they recommend -- but isn't it healthy to take a step back and ask 'What is the purpose behind these programs?' If you can't answer that for one (or more) of your programs, it's time to trim the fat.
The book walks you through the process of making the transition to simple:
1. Clarity design a simple process
(Draw the blueprint. Don't start demolition or building yet.)
2. Movement place key program along the process
(How does the programming you already have in place fit into your new process?)
3. Alignment unite all ministries around the process
(Everyone, in each aspect of your ministry, needs to be on the same page.)
4. Focus begin to eliminate
(Now it's time. Kill the unnecessary programs.)
I think
Simple Student Ministry is well written and, well, simple (pun-y, huh). There are some good case studies and examples, and the process presented leaves plenty of room for creativity and freedom.
If you're a ministry leader who knows your ministry needs an overhaul, or, maybe even more importantly, a ministry leader who thinks your ministry is perfectly assembled, you should check out this book. Super insightful.
Labels: discipleship, resource
