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D6 Days Online Experience

April 17, 2012 in Links, Ministry with 1 Comment

I’m a big fan of all things NextGen and Family Ministry related. I love hearing voices that can speak some creative things into my life as a leader, and I love the idea behind the D6 Days experience. The first D6 day was back in February, but it’s coming again TODAY!

Have you ever wanted to get a taste of the D6 Conference, but haven’t had the chance to actually attend in person? We’re excited to introduce you to D6 Days—a way for you to experience D6 from your computer, iPad, or tablet for FREE at D6Conference.com/D6Days.

They’ve invited Brian Haynes, Michelle Anthony, Kurt Bruner, and a few other family ministry enthusiasts to give live, fresh content just for this event. We’ll also be streaming full length past D6 Conference sessions from Doug Fields, Darren Whitehead, Rob Rienow, Fred Stoeker, Richard Ross, Jay Strother, and others! On top of that, they are also giving away 15 mp3s from some of our most talked about previous conference labs. All free!

There are two different D6 Days coming up in 2012: April 17, and July 24. D6 Days content will be available for up to two weeks after the listed dates. For a more detailed schedule, visit D6Conference.com/D6Days.

You don’t have to do anything to receive this content. No sign up, no registration fee, nothing. Just go to D6Conference.com/D6Days TODAY and learn from some incredible leaders.

Free Stuff Monday

April 16, 2012 in Links with 0 Comments

Today’s Giveaway is the “Radio the World MediaPak” which contains both the Radio the World CD as well as a DVD that contains videos, lyrics and chord sheets for use in your ministry!

What happens when ROCKHARBOR church, David C. Cook Publishing and Kingsway Music come together to re-imagine the kids’ worship experience? The result is TruWorship’s first release aimed at elementary students entitled “Radio the World.”

Radio the World is a collection of 11 songs created specifically to help parents and churches create environments for kids to experience and respond to God. A mixture of current and original worship songs, Radio the World features production by Grammy and Dove award nominated producer/engineer, Paul Dexter, and guest appearances by Tim Hughes, Crystal Lewis, and Jody McBrayer (formerly of Avalon). With an energetic and current sound, Radio the World stands ready to transform the elementary-aged worship experience.

Current-music styled, high-energy worship with well-known personalities and singers
Features 11 foundation-building songs for elementary aged kids and videos with lyrics and motions for each song
Features a combination of well-known worship songs and original songs written specifically for this series
Part of the new TRU curriculum series created by David C. Cook in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church

The Eric Trap is a Trap

April 10, 2012 in Links, Ministry with 20 Comments

“The “Eric Trap” takes Children’s Pastors on a dark, serious, and scary journey into the world of working in a church and balancing your priorities. It was eerie how much the story mirrored my own story in so many ways. I believe the “Eric Trap” can be a game changer for those willing to shine the light into the dark places of their own pastoral lives. It’s on the other side of change that the insights gained from this book pay off in a rich way!”

-Jonathan Cliff || Next Generations Ministry Pastor, Trinity Church, Lubbock, TX

I first read the rough draft of The Eric Trap in January, and immediately my suspicions were peaked. How did they find out these things about my life? Have these guys been looking through my mail and talking to my church staff? I know Sam Luce and Kenny Conley have somehow managed to follow me around secretly and record many of my own struggles as the inspiration for this book. In fact, I think I should take some of the credit for its success. Until I have proof that all of their content isn’t blatantly stolen from my real life, I will continue to take credit.

Seriously, this book has that effect on you. You read and then think, “That’s me!”, then you read another section and want to yell at Eric, “Stop! I’ve been down this road, it won’t work!” It mimics my own struggles with balance, family, ministry, and trying to look good doing it. If you don’t know, “The Eric Trap” is a leadership fable. It includes chapters of the fictional Eric, followed up with some great leaders offering insight into the spiritual and practical implications of Eric’s decisions.

I’d love to give away some copies of this book, so do you want to win some? I’ve got 3 books total to throw out there in the blogosphere, but do enter you need to follow all the options offered below! There are so many ways to win!

Free Stuff Monday

April 9, 2012 in Links with 0 Comments

Close to 60 percent of young people who went to church as teens drop out after high school. Now the bestselling author of unChristian trains his researcher’s eye on these young believers. Where Kinnaman’s first book unChristian showed the world what outsiders aged 16-29 think of Christianity, You Lost Me shows why younger Christians aged 16-29 are leaving the church and rethinking their faith.

Based on new research, You Lost Me shows pastors, church leaders, and parents how we have failed to equip young people to live “in but not of” the world and how this has serious long-term consequences. More importantly, Kinnaman offers ideas on how to help young people develop and maintain a vibrant faith that they embrace over a lifetime.

I Like Change

April 4, 2012 in Personal with 0 Comments

I like change. It’s really a bizarre thing to like, but I like it when staffing changes happen (even though I hate to see strong leaders leave my team.) I like it when our environments are switched up and changed. Whether that’s the bedroom furniture being moved, the garage rearranged, or throwing away an old pair of shoes.

I also like life change. I like that thrill of knowing that everything is about to change, and in that exact moment you are unsure of what the outcome will be. Yet at the same time believing by faith that God will intercede to make this change a good one. I like that adventurous fear I have before stepping out and doing something everyone says I’m crazy to try. I don’t just like it. I love it.

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. -Alan Cohen

Don’t miss that last part of the quote above, “for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.” That’s a powerful thought for my family and I. I want to be guilty of movement. I want my change to empower others. I want the security that adventurous and exciting change will bring for me and my family. Bring It On!

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