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Monthly Archives: April 2011

my favorite things: #7 Cargo of Dreams

29 Apr

(stay up to date on this project HERE)

It’s no surprise – I love my church.

But, bigger than that, I love the Church-at-Large when it has a mission.  Recently, our Senior Pastor (http://pastorjamesmiller.com/) reminded our church that it’s our mission to storm the gates of Hell to seek and save the lost.

(link to one of the best Palm Sunday sermons I’ve EVER heard)

I’m a real believer in the Gospel having real life implications now and that eternity isn’t a train that’s coming… it’s already upon us.  With that in mind, I get chills thinking about the work that can be done when God’s people rally in creative ways to give people hope in a lost and broken world.

An organization doing amazing things, that you may have never heard of, is called Cargo of Dreams.

(http://www.cargoofdreams.org/)

When our pastor heard about Cargo of Dreams, he came running to our team and told us that we needed to find a way to get involved in the work they’re doing to bring the Gospel to lost and hurting people around the globe.

The basic premise is this:

  • Your church buys a giant cargo shipping container (pictured above).
  • Your church transforms that container into a ministry environment.
  • CofD then ships that building on a boat to the other side of the world to impact lives in the name of Jesus.

The project our church is a part of is a multi-phase initiative to build a preschool for kids in South Africa who currently gather under a large tree.  I know, I know… what kind of a preschool can meet in a container?!

A church in Salem, OR is building phase one… and it looks a little something like this:

Once we’ve finished phase 2, our container will be shipped to South Africa and placed across from the container that will already in place.  We’ll then send a team of families who will construct a roof to connect the two containers to create a fully operational preschool in a community that is aching to care for the little ones in their township.

Having a hard time seeing that picture in your mind?  Here’s a rough draft of what that might look like…

The church, when it cares about lost and hurting people, is an amazing testament to the love and hope that we have in our Savior.

Want to get involved or have questions about this AMAZING project?
Send me a message via the comments section and I’ll connect with you.

 
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Posted by on April 29, 2011 in Resources, Thoughts

 

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Aligning #kidmin + #stumin | Jim Wideman

29 Apr

Jim Wideman brings it.

Brother can give a message.

Can I get an amen?!

Brother Jim led a great breakout at the Orange Conference called Aligning Children & Student Ministries. In the midst of giving us a vision for aligning out kids and student ministries, he gave us 5 things we should work on together to make it happen. The headings are his, the commentary is mine.

Start with the end in mind to build a plan

If there’s no unified vision, you’re toast.  Your teams need to sit down and define the goal they’re aiming for.  If you are flying blind, you’ll never be able to teach kids how to see Jesus.

Create in all groups a hunger for the word of God

At the core of what we do, we should be passing on a love for the Bible.  Jim’s a good ‘ol boy when it comes to Scripture, and I dig it.

Help all understand the importance of spiritual service

We need to come up with a unified passion for kids and students serving in the church.  If we want faith to stick, it needs to be something that kids are living out and practicing regularly.

Watch out for sibling rivalry

If we’re a family ministry team, we need to learn to share and to stay away from jealousy.  If one area is winning, we need to celebrate as a team.  Sharing needs to be a value on your team if you want to work together.  Ministries that can’t share (space, supplied, volunteers, etc.) will be ripped apart.

Work Together to Connect with Parents

We need to decide, early on, that we’re going to work together to equip parents.  Kids need models of what it means to follow Christ at home.  They need consistent and intentionality to leave a mark.  We need to teach parents to take back the time God said they have with their kids – Morning, Bedtime, travel, and when they sit at home.

 
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Posted by on April 29, 2011 in Orange

 

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Book Give-Away: Heaven is for Real

28 Apr

Yesterday, I received a FREE copy of Heaven is For Real to give away to a reader of my blog.

Today – it could be yours.  If you’re at the Orange Conference, all you have to do is find me and tell me about the closest to death you’ve ever come.

I’ll pick the two best stories to have a rock, paper, scissors competition for the book tomorrow in the blogger’s lounge at Orange.

So… post away!

 
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Posted by on April 28, 2011 in Resources

 

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Cheering for Each Other (The Land Between)

28 Apr

How many churches do you cheer for?

As I sit at the Orange Conference, listening to Jeff Manion from Ada Bible Church (Grand Rapids, MI), I feel like I’m listening to an older brother sharing his wisdom with me.  The crazy thing – I’ve never met Jeff.  However, I cheer for his ministry and his church every chance I get.

A few years ago, I met a dear friend of mine, Dan Scott (www.danscottblog.com), at the Orange Conference.  As I spoke with Dan and shared hopes and dreams together, I began to understand that the Church is bigger than my church’s building.  I began regularly praying for and cheering for Ada Bible Church – though I’ve never been there and probably never will.

So, now, years later I find myself listening to Dan’s senior pastor and feeling like we’re family.  And, as Jeff speaks about The Land Between, I’m listening differently than when I hear other conference speakers.  It’s because I cheer for, and pray regularly for, his church and the lost people his ministry is reaching.

So, I’ll ask again – how many churches do you cheer for?

There’s someone out there in a Land Between – the land between where they’ve been and where God is calling them to move to.  What if God was calling you to reach out to and pray for someone who’s in that season?  Would your ministry look different if you began seeking out and cheering for others in ministry?  I’d like to think it would.

Praying for and connecting with other church leaders doesn’t require anything but a willing heart.  You could be a small town kidmin, you could be an amazing volunteer, a mom who doesn’t feel like she has it all figured out… God just wants you to be willing.

God is calling you to move.  It will change the way you do ministry.

Now, go – meet someone and start cheering them on.

 
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Posted by on April 28, 2011 in Kidmin, Orange

 

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Dare You To Move

27 Apr

I’ve been struck, in my first 36 hours in Atlanta, by the way that God lines things up before he calls us to move.

I have to start by telling you that I shouldn’t be surprised by this.  I totally get that.

Well over a decade ago, my youth pastor asked me to run part of our church’s Sunday school program.  Then God called me to pursue a degree in elementary education and then led me to move away from my family – to a part of the country where I’d meet my future wife.  That move lined me up for the chance to become a ministry assistant at one of the largest churches in Southern California.  From there, God called me move in order to grow a little kids’ ministry at a church in NorCal. And, finally, God called my pregnant wife and I to move away from our families and brought us to the church and the ministry I’m a part of today.

In my story, I can point to a million ways that God used people and experiences to prepare me for His next move.  I rarely saw them coming, but He knew what was going on the whole way.

I don’t think I’m unique in the way God has been with me in the midst of my moves.

And, here’s the crazy thing: did you know he’s doing the same for you today?

If you’re reading this post, you might not know a move is in your future.  Let me tell you about the move that God might be calling you to take.

In the last week, I’ve met over a dozen leaders looking to hire a person that God will use to reach their community in ways they can’t even dream of yet.  In the same amount of time, I’ve met around the same amount of kid and student pastors who feel as though God may be calling them to the next thing He has for them – they just don’t know what that is yet.

I’ve met ministry leaders who are getting dreams of seminary, dreams of new community programs, dreams about partnering with other churches in their community.

Today, I met a dad who thinks God wants him to become a stay at home dad so that his wife could restart her career in journalism.

Those are just a handful of moves that God has placed in front of people.

God knows what’s next for them… and for you (!) and he’s using your history and your current context to move you there. You’re going to have to take a step of faith, though.

I have friends who feel like they get a “word” from God on occasion.  If you’re one of those friends, could you pray over the people who read this blog and use the comments section to pass on what moves God might be calling us to.  And, if God is moving you, and you’re gutsy enough to share, use the comments section to tell us where you’re leaning.

We want to cheer you on along the way.

 
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Posted by on April 27, 2011 in Thoughts

 

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How to: Plan a Ministry Calendar (#orange11 precon)

27 Apr

Here’s the thing I love about the way Kenny Conley teaches – he remembers what it’s like to be in your chair. He balances tangible take-aways with big picture ideas.  He also writes about this stuff on his blog… so I know I can take a look at it later – which is awesome!

(in fact you can check stuff from today out over at www.childrensministryonline.com/calendar)

I’m not going to totally steal his whole talk and write it up here… instead, I’m going to write about the moments that stood out to me.  So, these are notes for me that I’ll be chewing on as I fly back to Los Angeles this weekend… feel free to listen in.

Before your first Date

Before you calendar, you need to name your vision, mission and values.

There are days when I’m afraid to ask my team what our vision, mission and values are… because I’m not sure they’re always aligned (though, right now, we’re moving in great directions).  And, when we can’t name that, there’s no way our calendar will allign.  Duh.

2 Brilliant Ideas

Aside from calendar “theory” – Kenny talked through a couple HUGE tips and tricks to calendar stuff that I’m using from here on out.  Have you ever thought about color coding your calendar?  Me too!  However, I never thought of using color coded post-it notes during our team’s rough draft phase of our calendar.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to cross out or erase things on a calendar as we draft our year… post-its will change my life once again!

One more brilliant idea Kenny shared struck me a little more personally.  When Kenny suggested that we let our spouses and family see our ministry calendar while it’s still in the draft phase… my heart broke a little bit.  I’m not sure why I’ve never thought of this… but, five years into being married in ministry, I’ve never shown my wife our ministry calendar until it’s set.  I’m a jerk.  And, if I’ve been one, I’m willing to bet someone else out there could have done the same thing.  So, let’s make a deal… let’s get our family in the loop when it comes to planning our ministry calendar, ok?  If you’re married, your spouse is a big deal – you should treat them like their year matters.

Thanks, Kenny.  This was an awesome breakout.

 
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Posted by on April 27, 2011 in Kidmin, Orange

 

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Exploring Georgia: A Pre- #Orange11 Adventure

26 Apr

Today, I arrived in Atlanta before the sun made it here.  After smiling a ton at the lady working the Avis counter and saying yes’m about a thousand times, I drove away with an upgraded mid-size car that looks a little something like this:

As I drove away from the airport, I realized that I had over 9 hours to kill before I could check into my hotel.

So, I decided to explore everything that Georgia had to offer.

Which, of course, began with an expedition into the middle of nowhere to visit the Georgia Guidestones, led to a tireless search for wild alligators, brought me to a church cemetery/playground hybrid, turned into a journey to South Carolina and ended up next to a GIANT bulldog (only in Georgia)!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I’m looking forward to connecting with other ministry leaders at Orange tomorrow.  If you’re going to be around, I’d love to connect.

You can check out what break outs I’ll be attending during the pre-conference here:

http://westcoastcm.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/my-orange-line-up-2011/

 
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Posted by on April 26, 2011 in Kidmin, Orange, Thoughts

 

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My Orange Line-Up: 2011

25 Apr

I’ll be spending the next week in Atlanta, GA at The Orange Conference.

The team over at Orange has asked me to attend and blog from the event – it should be an amazing week!

While at the conference, I’ll be checking out the following breakout sessions:

Pre-Conference (Wednesday)

HOW TO: PLAN A MINISTRY CALENDAR

Kenny Conley

Isn’t it funny how certain seasons tend to sneak up on us? Ever been guilty of blowing the budget on having particular print materials rushed or important supplies shipped overnight? We don’t have to let ministry happen to us. Planning a ministry calendar is one of the most strategic steps a ministry can take to set the stage for a rewarding year. Develop some healthy habits and pick up some tips and tricks to ensure you accomplish everything you set out to do.

HOW TO: LEAD A FAMILY MINISTRY MEETING

Mike Clear

After months, maybe even years, of making efforts toward Orange at your church you finally got all the key ministry leaders to sit down together, in the same room, to talk about what it means to Think Orange. But, now what? What exactly do you do in this meeting? What do you talk about? In this breakout the family ministry team from Discovery Church will pinpoint practical exercises to help you conduct family ministry staff and volunteer meetings that cast the Orange vision to everyone in your ministry.

HOW TO: GET MORE DONE IN A DAY

Jim Wideman

Having a hard time getting it all done? Learn time management and multi-tasking basics that will help you get it done with time left over!

HOW TO: CREATE A BABY DEDICATION CELEBRATION

Mike Clear

Warning: This is not your traditional baby dedication! Instead, it’s a NEW way to approach parents with purpose. As their church, you are one of their greatest supporters, cheerleaders and guides. In this breakout, we’ll show you how to create a lasting memory for the new parents in your church. It will be challenging. Intentional. Heartfelt. Memorable. But most of all, it will be a partnership!

HOW TO: INCORPORATE 252 BASICS INTO MID-WEEK PROGRAMMING

Adam Duckworth

Want to make your mid-week activities a step and not just another program? This breakout will offer just that. Come here a plan and strategy for implementing 252Basics into another day of the week at church, while still executing it properly on Sunday.

Orange Conference: Day 1 (Thursday)

THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF: WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING WITH FAMILIES

Chap Clark

As the culture has changed, so has the family. For nearly two decades the church has been talking “Family Ministry,” and for longer than that many have been trying to serve the needs of families and children. However, what if our understanding of what is going on behind the closed doors of most of our families does not match up to the reality? Research shows that perhaps much of what we think, teach, and program is, in practice, weak or even irrelevant to what most families actually experience and need. This seminar will present an overview of family life in today’s changing world, and what the church must do to come alongside and serve the families, both of our congregations and our communities.

ALIGNING YOUR CHILDREN’S AND STUDENT DEPARTMENTS

Jim Wideman

It’s time that the Children’s and Youth Ministries realize they are on the same team and work together. This workshop will give you practical steps to build a bridge and work together to reach the family.

Orange Conference: Day 2 (Friday)

UPRISING: MAKING SERVING A BIG DEAL

Bubba Thurman and Greg Bradford

The discipleship of this generation is at stake. This breakout will discuss how to unleash students to lead in their community and church. Join Bubba Thurman and Greg Bradford from Lake Pointe Church for this engaging discussion.

STICKY FAITH

Kara Powell

What happens to your teenagers after they graduate from your youth ministry? If you’re like most churches, about 40 percent of your graduating seniors pick up their diplomas and ditch their faith. Why is that? For those graduates who remain connected to Jesus, what makes the difference? And what can we do in youth ministry and in the entire church to help kids develop faith that lasts? You’ll leave this breakout with all sorts of super practical ideas you and your entire church can use immediately to help students stick with their faith for the long haul.

—-

I’ll try to gather my thoughts post-conference and share notes and other learnings here.

If you’re at Orange, feel free to connect with me on Twitter (anthony_prince) or Facebook (facebook.com/anthonyprince).  I’d love to catch up over coffee.

 
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Posted by on April 25, 2011 in Kidmin, Orange

 

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Drinking “Orange” from a Distance

23 Apr

It’s probably a little late in the game to say this, but you should be attending the Orange conference this year.

As a parent, I’ve learned a ton from attending Orange.

As someone who ministers to kids, students and their families, the way I view ministry has been shaped from the voices at Orange (speakers and attenders alike).

Yet, I know a TON of people who can’t make it to Orange in Atlanta, GA next week.  I totally get it.  It’s the week after Easter and it’s a stretch for me to even get out there!  However, in this flat world we live in, you can follow along at home – and many people are planning on it.

So, here’s my question to those of you who will be following the bloggers that Orange is bringing in… what are you interested in hearing from us?  What’s helpful and what kind of stuff will you just gloss over?  And, all of you guys and gals on twitter following the #Orange11or ##thinkorange hashtags, what do you want to hear?

Sarcastic commentary?  Amazing quotes?  Session recaps/notes?  Which sessions to download?  Links to free stuff?

Basically, I want to know what I can do to be most helpful to you.  There will be some giant orange spotlights aimed at Atlanta this next week… where are you hoping we shine the light?

—-

Sidenote: The Orange Conference is live webcasting their opening session… for free!
(details here:  http://bit.ly/hnCy6r)

If you can’t be there LIVE, check it out – it’s going to rock!

 
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Posted by on April 23, 2011 in Kidmin, Orange

 

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The Anti-Energizer Easter Bunny

22 Apr

This might not be a popular post.
I apologize in advance.

It’s the Friday before Easter and most families in your community have decided what this weekend will look like for them… and many of them made their decision without asking you what they should do. In fact, I’m willing to bet that the fliers you sent out and the facebook ads we all created have a ridiculously small amount of impact on the decisions families are making this weekend.

Easter is a season that I think the church-at-large works against itself more than it does during any other time of the year. Maybe it’s because we love the story of Easter so much. Maybe it’s because the story matters so much. Maybe it’s because we need something to do to compete with the community events going on at this time of the year. Whatever the reason is, I think we tend to program more than we need to and over promote ourselves during a time of the year that we might not have to.

Why do I think this? Let’s look at the two types of families in our communities for the answer.

Churched Families

The majority of our programs during the Easter season are aimed at churched families… or, at least, families that are familiar with church traditions surrounding Easter. Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise and even amped-up Easter Services appeal to a very Christian crowd. We know the story – when we celebrate the moments along the way, it gives us a chance to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us. But, if you don’t know the story, you might not be compelled to take time out of your already busy schedule to attend any of these services.

(here’s a bold question: what percent of your visiting families this weekend already have a church home? and… how much does that percentage matter to you?)

Unchurched Families

Unchurched families have no reason to care about Easter.  They should.  They don’t.  I know that statment is blunt and you might not like it – but, it doesn’t make it less true.  And, here’s the even more offensive thing I want you to think about – you can’t trick an unchurched family into loving Easter.  If they don’t know the story, they don’t know how much they should care about the story.  They might like chocolate and easter eggs and bunny rabbits… but, your community’s rec center is more likely to draw an unchurched crowd to an Easter egg hunt than any Easter egg hunt your church might run.

A Story Worth Telling

The Easter story matters.  Nearly 2000 years ago, the Son of God died on a cross for our sins.  Then, in one of the most amazing true stories ever told, He came back to life.  Jesus defeated death.  When our heart stops and our lungs fail, our story isn’t over.  Because of Easter, we know that the life we live now isn’t all there is – the hope in the resurrection is a powerful thing for lost and hurting people in our world.  There is no better story.

I believe that our energy could be better spent if we taught churched families how to tell that story well.  Unless your church is offering free 3D TVs this Easter (this church is… and people are freaking out because of it), unchurched families probably aren’t going to just “show up” this weekend because they got a postcard or saw an ad online.  Statistics show that an unchurched family will come to church this weekend because someone invited them.

I’m not convinced that the shows that are about to be put on this weekend at churches across the country are worth their expense.  So, I have a proposal – we should stop “just keep going and going and going” and reconsider our Easter strategy.  What if, next year, we take the money we were going to spend on guest musicians, Easter flowers, advertisements, Easter egg hunts and other Easter expenses and invest it in teaching our churched families to tell the Easter story well.  Easter is a story of hope.  A story of bringing Heaven to Earth.  We can be more creative than Easter egg hunts.  Right?

 
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Posted by on April 22, 2011 in Kidmin, Thoughts

 

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