Friday, May 26, 2006

PART 2

In response to the question asked in the previous blog, our preteen ministry is going to take an approach of simplification. I like how Luke (the person who left a comment on the previous blog) used the word burden to describe the business that we strap to the backs of the people that we minister too. In a sense, a lot of our programs do become burdens to our people, because many times we make them feel guilty for choosing other functions over ours or they themselves feel guilty for not doing enough for God (There are many other reasons as well). Through all the business, people have a hard time of seeing a clear picture of the character of God and experiencing the glory of who He is and what he means to them! Can we bask in His glory, when we are busy doing?

I must state here, that I am not against programming, because programming helps us meet the felt needs of people (See Acts chapter 6). What I am saying, is that our programming needs to be more than just purposeful, it needs to be narrow focused and strategic. Simplification does not mean "dumbing down", it means to move away from doing a lot of things good or even really good, to doing a few things really well and with excellence.

What are you doing in your churches and other organizations to take the burdens of the backs of God's people, so they can bask in the Glory of God? (Part three, I will elaborate on what we are doing for our preteen ministry)

Joe

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

PART 1

Why are families so busy these days? Why is it that we, the church, feel the need to create more programming, more events, and more business for our families? Do we think we can compete with world for the thing that is most precious to our families, and that being their time? The world is ready and already has invested everything it has to keep our people occupied and distracted. The world does things very well and with excellence, and they can because they take a "sky's the limit" approach.

Does this mean that the world is better than the church? No way! It means that the world knows the stakes are high and they are willing to do whatever it takes, in order to keep people away from from what matters most! And that is to seek God and love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. And to love our neighbor as yourself!

What should we, the church do about this?

Joe

Monday, May 15, 2006

Let me tell you about the church I minister at and it's leadership - They are the best group of men that I have ever served under. Their foresight and insight is something to be admired. They are not afraid to take the jump when necesary, in order bring about change, but at the same time, they are men of prayer and caution! They are not satified with the "status quo," they want no stagnation; instead they want to honor God in all that they do and sometimes that means we stop doing what we are well, in order to do something new with excellence.

I say all this, because it was two years ago that they decided to invest time, energy, and resources to start a ministry to preteens (Actually, they started this a little before this time, but I came on two years ago as paid staff). They saw the need to ministry to preteens outside the traditional realm of Children's Ministry and they took the jump. If you haven't taken the jump to minister to preteens outside the traditional realm of Children's Ministry, then you need too! Contact me if you don't know where to start.

Keep it real in Christ,
Joe

Monday, May 08, 2006

You ever go to a ministry training conference in another city and fall in love with that city - well I did. The city was Atlanta, Georgia (Alpharetta to be exact). Alpharette reminded me of home (San Fransico Bay Area, CA) . Not because the cities were exactly alike, Alpharetta isn't even near the ocean. No! It was the similarities that I felt in the atmosphere, the buzz, Starbucks being real close and the malls had a Gap store and more importantly, an Apple store. Similarities bring us comfort when we are in a new city, new house, new school, and new areas of ministry. For many preteens, leaving the Children's ministry that they have known for over four years or even for some, since they were a baby, can be exciting, but also very overwhelming. That is why those of us who minister to preteens, need to provide an atmosphere that is not only new and exciting, but also with some similarities from the old area of ministry they just came out of. We need to do this, so that we can help them make the transition from kiddieland to the world of preteens, and close the gap that so many of them fall into and never return!

Joe