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Archives For June 2011

What I Believe about College Ministry

June 23, 2011 — 2 Comments

When I was back in college I was very involved in College Ministry.  As a 19-23 year old, I cut my teeth in ministry by working with college aged students; and to this day students in this life stage hold a dear place in my heart.  I feel like those between the ages of 18-25 are in such a unique place, and we’re missing it as a church if we don’t reach out to them in a real way.  In Lubbock, we are home to Texas Tech University and therefore have always had College Ministry at Trinity.

I’d like to share the core values and truths that I truly believe about College and Young Adults Ministry as it relates to Trinity Church.

  • I Believe that College Ministry should step outsides the walls of the church to find students where they are living.
  • I Believe that introducing college students to World Missions is imperative to their spiritual development.
  • I Believe that College Ministry should be flexible enough to find ministry to students in the most unlikely of places.
  • I Believe that success in College Ministry is not counted in attendance numbers to our events, but in the long-term passion students learn to fulfill in their own lives.
  • I Believe that it is our duty to college students to encourage them to invest in the local church they attend by serving.
  • I Believe that it is NOT a waste of resources to invest in a student that will graduate and move away from the local church.
  • I Believe that what college students really need to grow are mentor relationships with mature Christians, and I Believe that they need this more than another weekly College Ministry worship service.
  • I Believe that adults willing to invest time and offer thoughtful advice to college students within a trusting relationship are making the most important investment in that college students life.
  • I Believe that it’s allright to criticize our methods, programming, and systems in order to improve and upgrade what we do to reach college students in a more relevant way.
  • I Believe that College Ministry can work within the Family Ministry team dynamic in the local church, and is most effective when they are supported by both Children’s Ministry and Student Ministry.
  • I Believe that parents carry the primary spiritual burden to disciple their own children, and that we help parents with out-of-town children by investing in their college student while they live in our town.
  • I Believe that every College Ministry experience holds within it the opportunity for life change in the heart of a college student.

 

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What I Believe about Student Ministry

June 22, 2011 — 1 Comment

Since January, I’ve been leading the team that leads our Student Ministry at Trinity.  It’s been a time of discovery for myself, and I’m sure the team that leads them would say the same thing about me.  I’m a guy that has worked in Children’s Ministry for a while, but I have done my share of Youth Ministry over the years.  I believe my Youth Ministry experience has definitely colored the way I’ve led our Kidmin areas over the years, and it’s because I have a passion for reaching students in such a pivotal time of their lives.

I’d like to share the core values and truths that I truly believe about Student Ministry as it relates to Trinity Church.

  • I Believe that Student Ministry should strategically teach teenagers towards their life stage.
  • I Believe that launching teenagers into adulthood without helping them discover their life passion is a disservice to them as individuals in the Body of Christ.
  • I Believe that what happens at an altar, at a coffee shop, in a living room, or in a school cafeteria can change the spiritual direction of a teenagers life.
  • I Believe that teenagers are as relevant a part of our local church as anyone in their 20′s, 30′s, or older.
  • I Believe that  those that serve and lead and invest in our students each week are in a better place to be blessed by God than those that do not.
  • I Believe that teenagers willing to serve are developing a compassionate heart, and I’m willing to provide any opportunity for them to serve in our local church.
  • I Believe that it’s allright to criticize our methods, programming, and systems in order to improve and upgrade what we do to reach teenagers in a more relevant way.
  • I Believe that adults should be intimately involved in the life of our teenagers, and that relationship matters.
  • I Believe that Student Ministry can be structured, organized, and maintianed in a way that brings Glory to God and empowers teenagers at the same time.
  • I Believe that teenagers should be given the opportunity to accept Christ at church, but that parents should be involved in the process and supported to continue the spiritual conversation.
  • I Believe that parents carry the primary spiritual burden to disciple their own teenagers, and that it’s our job as a church to encourage the necessary steps to lead their families at home.
  • I Believe that Student Ministry brings about change in the world in the here and now, and not only in the future.  Teenagers are not the “church of the future”, but are the “church of the right now.”
  • I Believe that every student ministry experience holds within it the opportunity for life change in the heart of a teenager.
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What I Believe About Kidmin Ministry

June 21, 2011 — 3 Comments

This week I’m going to share some personal thoughts on the three areas of the church I manage.  Starting with the youngest of ages first, let’s cover what I believe about Children’s Ministry at Trinity Church.

  • I Believe that what happens in a preschool classroom is as relevant to the spiritual growth of our church as what my Senior Pastor teaches from the pulpit each morning.
  • I Believe that the overall health of our entire church is dependent on how we reach out to and disciple the youngest of children in Lubbock, TX.
  • I Believe that  those that serve and lead and invest in our children each week are in a better place to be blessed by God than those that do not.
  • I Believe that teenagers willing to serve in Children’s Ministry are developing a heart of compassion that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
  • I Believe that it’s allright to criticize our methods, programming, and systems in order to improve and upgrade what we do to reach children and families.
  • I Believe that events are judged as successful by not how many attend, but by how many come back on the weekend.
  • I Believe that kids should be given the opportunity to accept Christ at church, but that parents should be involved in the process and supported to continue the spiritual conversation.
  • I Believe that parents carry the primary spiritual burden to disciple their own children, and that it’s our job as a church to encourage the necessary steps to lead their families at home.
  • I Believe that Children’s Ministry brings about changes in the world in the here and now, and not only in the future.
  • I Believe that every weekend holds within it the opportunity for life change in the heart of a child.

So there I went, and shared many of the core truths I believe at it pertains to Children’s Ministry.  I’d love to hear what you would add, and what you think about my own list.  I’m sure I forgot some things, and maybe I’ll come back and add a few here and there to keep the list current.

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13 Years on the 13th

June 13, 2011 — 2 Comments

Today we celebrate 13 years together. There is so much that I’ve learned in the past 13 years as it relates to living with and loving this woman that is my wife. Here are 13 Things I’ve learned over the past 13 years with my wife.

  1. Wouldn’t want to share a bathroom with anyone else. Even if I only get 10% of the counter space for myself.
  2. Laundry will just not ever be caught up with. Ain’t gonna happen, but I don’t mind at all.
  3. Being right is overrated. Being civil isn’t.
  4. It’s always more fun with her there, and always more lonely when she’s gone.
  5. A surprise Diet Coke in a big cup will always make her day better.
  6. Sitting quietly through girl movies is always better than making fun of them loudly.
  7. A small gesture means a lot with 3 (and sometimes 4) kids in the house.
  8. Funny things are more funny when she’s laughing with me.
  9. She will always laugh first when I’ve hurt myself in an accident. I’m learning to accept this unique way of dealing with bodily harm.
  10. Asking forgiveness is the greatest marital tool in the marriage toolbox.
  11. Holding hands is always worth the inconvenience of a sweaty palm.
  12. Having her to talk with me through life’s changes and ups and downs; is one of my favorite things about her.
  13. The ability to count years and years that we’ve been together is something I’ll always treasure!
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Whippersnappers, Listen Up!

June 9, 2011 — 4 Comments

Let me say that I’m not a person that is tormented by regrets.  I live virtually a regret-free life, but that isn’t to say there aren’t things I wish I knew when I was 20.  As the mid-30′s guy in a group of many friends in their 20′s these are the things I want to sit down and say as nicely as possible as I watch them set the course for their own lives:

  • Stop trying to make yourself important by making others feel less so.  You don’t make your candle shine brighter by blowing someone else out!  It just doesn’t work, eventually you just end up looking stupid and judgmental.  I say that as a perpetrator, promise.
  • Influence isn’t gained by only listening to those with status.  It’s gained by listening to people from all different areas of life.  The big-business guy making millions can definitely speak life into areas of your life, but so can the guy scraping by on pennies in order to live life at the pace he chooses.
  • Take a vacation!  I do regret not getting away more when I was younger.  Start the tradition of making time for yourself and your family a priority NOW!
  • Save more money.  Of all the stupid decisions I made in my 20′s the ones that still haunt me darkly are the ones involving dumb money decisions.  Save money, save money, save money; and what you spend you should spend wisely.
  • Get comfortable with change.  There is something in our 20′s that desires stability, and this is a good thing; but be willing to always adapt, upgrade, and change life goals as needed.
  • Be bold.  Yes, you are in your 20′s and your not as far along as others.  Yes, you need to be patient and move slowly at times to help those older than you adjust to your pace.  Yes, you don’t have the experience that others have.  BUT, you have passion, ideas, creativity, heart, and energy that your environment needs.  Be BOLD!
  • Ask questions and then take the time to listen for the answer. I wish that I had talked less and asked more questions.  If you have young kids, then ask questions of the guy with older kids.  If you aren’t married, ask questions of the married guy.  You get the point?  Ask and listen, ask and listen, ask and listen?

So here’s what I’d like to hear.  Anybody out there share my age and perspective?  What would you add?

And any mid 40, 50, and 60 year old’s out there that would like to teach this young whippersnapper a thing or two?  Have at it, I’m all ears!

 

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