10 Ways to Improve Your Relational Ministry
from [TerraceCrawford.com]

One of the best investments you will ever make in youth ministry is the time spent on developing relationships with your students. I speak with youth workers all the time who get caught up in programming or administrative duties and have a hard time connecting with teens. My hope is that this post will help provide you with some practical ideas that will enable you to fight the paperwork and will empower you to lengthen your relational stride.

I want to share with you 10 ways you can improve your relational ministry:

1. Personal invite - We send out our fair share of mass mailings and texts but there is nothing like a personal invite. Take a moment before your next event and personally text your students. You might be surprised at the response you get.

2. Worship together - If you are not leading on-stage during your next worship service take the opportunity to sit with your students. You'll never know how much worshiping with your teens will mean to them.

3. Meet the parents - There doesn't seem to be as many youth workers making home visits these days as there use to be, but arranging a visit to the home of your student will go a long way in building a relationship with both the parent & the student! You'll learn a lot about the family dynamics too by showing up on their turf. (Note: give the parents a heads up that you plan to stop by. Most people don't like surprise guests)

4. Host a group - I frequently have groups of teens in my home. I love to host bible studies or impromptu fellowship opportunities. Why not host a small group or invite a group of teens to your home (with appropriate adult-to-student ratio) and share life together.

5. Visit them at work - You can show your support for teens on the job! Find out where students work (whether that be a fast food restaurant, clothing retailer, or coffee shop) and when they work, and drop by for a quick visit.

6. Waiting period - Arrive early or plan to stay late after your next event to spend some time to chit-chat with teens on-site. Making the most of this time to have intentional conversations with students will go a long way in growing your relationship with them.

7. Prayer - I love praying for my students and I take the opportunity very seriously. Offer to pray for your students and then make sure to follow-up later to see how God worked through prayer. The prayer investment will prove very meaningful to your relationship.

8. Social media - Comment or reply on your student's facebook page, twitter, or whatever social medium they use. You can learn a lot about a teen by what you read on their facebook, but take a few extra moments to make some comments on their wall (whenever appropriate).

9. Hobbies - Attend a sporting event, concert or do some other activity together with your teen. This opportunity will not only help you do something fun with the teens in your ministry but it will help improve your relationship with them.

10. Sharing - Take some time to share with your students. Give some focused attention to a teen and get to know them. Be willing to share your story with them too. When you hear them out you might find that you have a captive audience to be able to share more about your life. Most teens want to get to know you as much as you want to get to know them.

What might you add to this list? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

from TerraceCrawford.com

Beth Moore: Seek God's Direction

Beth Moore encourages leaders to seek God's direction and not their own plans for the future.
Practical Idea: Watch this video and spend time in prayer asking God to guide you to His plan and not your own.

Catalyst East 2010: Beth Moore from Catalyst on Vimeo.

from SermonCentral.com

Who is Jesus?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col.1:15-20)

You do not want to miss this HUGE Outdoor Outreach Event featuring Dj Promote and Talain Rayne in the South Honey Creek Mall Parking Lot (In front of Honey Baked Ham).

This amazing day is hosted by Agape’ Christian Church, YFC of Wabash Valley, ISU BCM, Christian Student Fellowship of ISU, Xposed2Jesus.

Invite Friends and Neighbors to this one-day FREE Back-to-School Celebration-- to ECHOLOUD!

There will be Activities, Back-to-School Back Pack Give-Aways, Free Hot Dogs and Refreshments, and much more!

Oh yeah, did we say it’s FREE!

Louie Giglio on Acts 2

We Have the Same Power of the Acts 2 Church.
What are you doing with the Power you possess?

Catalyst East 2010: Francis Chan

Francis Chan says that his life is not radical, but weird compared to the lives in the Book of Acts. How do others define your life?

Sunday

Angels and Demons on the Feud!

This clip is extremely funny; however, it exemplifies the failure of society and the
financial priorities of today's culture.

Proving Our Love to Him

“You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God." (Deut. 14:22-23)

I know there are many thoughts and views about tithing, but based on Scripture, its hard for me to believe that someone is obedient and in love with God, if they neglect to tithe. Today, my reading from the Life Application Study Bible reveals the purpose and proof of tithing.

Scripture teaches us to fear the Lord or revere the Lord and put him first in our lives. We are to give God the first and best of what we earn. For example, what we do first with our money shows what we value most. Giving the first part of our paycheck to God immediately focuses our attention on him. It also reminds us that all we have belongs to him. A habit of regular tithing can keep God at the top of our priority list and give us a proper perspective on everything else we have. Tithing is one spiritual act of worship or "worth-ship."

If you, as a redeemed child of God, are not tithing, you are short-changing God, and you are missing out on an opportunity to express your love to God. He doesn't need your money, but He desires your heart. We need to tithe to express our heart.

The New Testament documents it this way: They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. (2 Corinthians 8:5; 7-8)

How genuine is your love? Are you a cheerful giver?

May we never neglect the opportunity to prove our love for the One who willingly proved His love for us by giving Himself!

A Call to Respect, Love, and Service

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. (Deut. 10:12-13)

My YouVersion reading today sparked my attention to share with you the simplicity of our call as believers. Often we ask, "What does God expect from me?" Here Moses gives a summary that is simple in form and easy to remember. He stressed that the law was not merely an outward ritual of sacrifice and festivals; but a heart attitude and a lifestyle of respect, love, and service for God.

Here are the essentials: (1) Fear God; (2) Live in a way that pleases him; (3) Love him; (4) Serve him with all your heart and soul; and (5) Obey his commands.

Too often we complicate faith with man-made rules, regulations, and requirements. We begin to attach the world's definition of "successful faith" to God's plan. Are you frustrated and burned out from trying hard to please God? Do you feel guilty because you cannot seem to keep up with the "religious" requirements that others deem necessary for you to be in right standing with God?

In Deuteronomy 11, God directed this call to the essentials most forcefully at the older Israelites who had witnessed first-hand His mighty acts along the way from Egypt to Canaan. Even the Children were held accountable. Failure to love, obey, and serve God would bring God's curse on both the people and their land. (Deut. 11:16-17)

Are you concentrating on His real requirements? Real peace is found "only" by the way of... Respect, Follow, Love, Serve, and Obey.

11 Questions Church Leaders Should be Asking
by Tony Morgan
JANUARY 23, 2011

A friend in ministry recently asked me what questions church leaders should be asking. I thought about the types of questions I try to help answer when I’m working with them in the church consulting or coaching relationships. Here are the first questions and some bonus thoughts that came to mind:

1. When was the last time I heard from God?

2. Am I doing what he called me to do? This is the “Acts 6″ question. Acts 6 is a great reminder that it’s possible to be doing the ministry of God without doing the ministry God has called us to do.

3. What should our church be known for in this community? For a moment, ignore anyone who attends your church. What does the rest of the community know about your church? That’s a better reflection of whether or not you’re really accomplishing your vision.

4. Are we really focusing our time, money, leadership, prayer behind the things that will produce life change and community impact? If not, there’s a good chance that “fairness” is driving these decisions. Fairness never produces revolution.

5. Is our church growing both spiritually and in numbers? Churches that are stuck and not bearing fruit hate this question. As I’ve shared before, I don’t believe healthy churches are necessarily big churches, but healthy churches are growing churches.

6. Is there a clear path to help people take steps in their faith with the ultimate goal of them becoming fully-devoted followers of Christ? Having a vibrant Sunday worship experience is only one component of that. I’m amazed at how many churches haven’t really established a discipleship strategy beyond Sunday morning.

7. Have you taken the time to identify what a fully-devoted follower of Christ looks like? Most churches haven’t done this, so they end up just “doing church” without any intentionality of purpose or process.

8. Are you empowering the people of God to do God’s work? This is the “Ephesians 4:12-13″ question. Declining churches pay people to do all the ministry. Growing churches challenge people to use their gifts.

9. Are you developing leaders? This includes both spiritual discipleship and leadership mentoring, and I think it’s what’s going to distinguish the churches that last longer than one generation.
Is my community any different because of my ministry? We may need a whole new set of measures to confirm whether or not our churches are really making an impact.

10. Do believers see their ministry happening only at the church or have they become missionaries to their families, their neighborhoods, their workplaces, their schools, etc.? Honestly, I’m really tired of Christians thinking God saved them to go church on Sunday and then eventually experience Heaven. Our purpose is much bigger than that.

11. Do I have the right leaders around me to accomplish the vision? Read Exodus 18:18-23. This isn’t some new business leadership principle. This is biblical advice that’s been around for thousands of years and still applies today.

Those are the first questions that popped to my mind. What are the questions you are asking as a leader in the church?

Santa Went Down To Georgia

The Real Christmas Story-John MacArthur

Talain Rayne on NBC (Philly)

Excited for Talain Rayne who's debut CD, Attic Lights, is getting much air time. Check out his recent interview on NBC.

Simply Gecko on the Simply Youth Ministry Conference
by Phil Bell

If you haven't signed up for the 2011 Simply Youth Ministry Conference yet, head on over to http://www.simplyyouthministry.com and register today. The most authentic youth conference you'll ever attend!

Youth Pastor... Be who You Were Created To Be

As much as I desire to be like the "Giants" in ministry, God created me to be me! How about you? Be all you can be... Like Him, like He created you to be!

Back-to-School Daze

Following is a discussion starter that I created for a Senior Adult luncheon to help them remember their back-to-school experiences, to see how much times have changed, and to remind them that much prayer is needed for students as they return to their campuses.

Where did you attend grade school?

What is your fondest grade school memory?

Who was your favorite teacher? Why?

What was your favorite subject?

What did you want to do/be when you grew up?

What advice do you have for children attending grade school?

Where did you attend Middle/High School?

What year did you graduate?

What is your fondest Middle/High School memory?

What was your biggest struggle?

Who was your favorite teacher? Why?

What was your favorite subject?

What was your school mascot?

Who was your best friend? Did you stay connected after graduation?

Did you date a special someone?

What advice do you have for graduates?

What are the biggest changes you see between your high school and the schools of today?

My Amazement of Joseph
Gen 45:4-8
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

I am amazed each time I read this passage of scripture where Joseph reassures his brothers (still in semi-shock) that he has no hard feelings, but feels God has overruled their evil plot so as to guarantee Israel that they will indeed be a great nation. Joseph's ability to forgive is but one part, but to have developed the spiritual maturity to understand that all the horrific circumstances in which he faced was only in the bigger plan of God to save the nation of Israel through the suffering of this one man.

However, God's love and plan spread much deeper and wider than even Joseph would have imagined in that through one man, God's Son Jesus, the whole world could be spared due justice by such suffering.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (Jn 3:16-18)

The sacrifice has been made and the forgiveness issued. Do you believe? Have you been saved from eternal torment by the forgiveness of your sins by God's sacrifice, Jesus Christ? Do you understand the depth of His sacrifice, pain, and love? Trust today in the One who came to seek and save that which was lost... you and I!

Virtual Public Schools Soon a Reality

Wow... With all the cutbacks and energy saving plans issued by federal, state, and local governments, I saw this coming. Checkout Jim Liebelt's Youth Culture Watch on Virtual Public Schools.

"The schools would have no desks or lockers, not even a cafeteria to trade gossip over a plate of chicken nuggets. Instead, students could take classes from the comfort of their homes or a neighborhood coffeehouse, as teachers convey lessons via the Internet. This is a snapshot of virtual public schools in Massachusetts, which could open as soon as this fall, enabling hundreds of students to take all their classes online. The schools are being developed under a little-known provision of the state’s sweeping education law enacted in January. The law, which urges districts to pursue innovations, gave local school committees authority to create public schools that operate almost entirely in cyberspace. Across the nation, virtual public schools have been growing in popularity in such states as Texas, Colorado, and Arizona, online education specialists say." Source: Boston Globe


Items for this culture brief are compiled from Jim Liebelt's Youth Culture Watch blog.

Are You In A Cave?

Recently, Robin Dugall posted the following devotion on the Homeword site. I was reminded that "God molds and shapes us in The Cave like nowhere else" and that "He is able to bring new life out of the most desperate of circumstances." What is God teaching you and how are you being encouraged by Jesus in moments when you are in the Cave?

By Robin Dugall
David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. (1 Samuel 22:1)

Discouragement is a common emotion to us and is one of the great enemies of the Christ-following experience. It is an enemy of personal drive and vision. It is a cancer that will pull enthusiasm and joy right out of you. But it is also a test, because how you respond to discouragement when things are not going well is one of the most important challenges that you will ever face as a person who loves and follows Jesus.

During the reign of King Saul, a prophet of God, Samuel, anointed young David as the future king of Israel. Even before he became king, the people of the kingdom fell in love with David. Everything he touched turned to gold. He was victorious over one of Israel’s most feared enemies, Goliath. When King Saul struggled with emotional issues, David was there to comfort him. If there was ever a guy who was on a roll, it was David. It appeared that nothing could go wrong for him. Then, one by one, the tables turned. Look over this litany of loss in David’s life:

• He lost his job. He went from shepherd boy to acclaimed warrior to fugitive.
• He lost his popularity, status and income.
• He lost his wife when King Saul gave her to another man.
• He lost his mentor when Samuel died.
• He lost his best friend Jonathan.
• He lost his home. The Bible tells us that he eventually ran to Gath, the land of Israel’s enemies.

After all that David went through, he ended up in the cave of Adullam. He expected a palace but got a cave! Devastating!

Does a cave sound like a place you’ve visited before? The Cave is where you go when all the props, crutches, and all that hold you up gives way; when suddenly, things don’t work out as you’ve envisioned. Maybe you’ve lost a job, financial security, spouse, dream of family life, mentor, friend or health. We’ve all been there. The truth is, sooner or later, everybody logs some serious time in The Cave.

The Cave is where God does some of His best work. God molds and shapes us in The Cave like nowhere else. When you end up in The Cave, I encourage you to embrace it. Why? Because when all you’ve got is God, you quickly come to the realization, that He is enough. Mother Teresa once said, “You’ll never know Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you’ve got.” He is able to transform discouragement into encouragement. He transforms fear into confidence. He is able to bring new life out of the most desperate of circumstances. Are you in The Cave? Look for Jesus.

Devo Posted by Homeword