Tag Archive - pastor

Catch Up with Jonathan

May 18, 2010 in Ministry, Personal with 6 Comments

Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle
Everything I do is stitched with its color.
~W.S. Merwin, “Separation”

Have you noticed, I’ve been missing from this blog in the past two weeks?  The combination of Orange Conference over-posting, and a busy personal life has created a vacant blog schedule.  Sure I knocked out something on Mother’s Day, and you saw an already scheduled update of our newest Kidsplace Promo video…but really nothing about me.  That’s why I have this blog, right?  Because there are people out there that want to know about me!

If you’re still reading, then let’s hope that you know my tounge is planted firmly in my cheek.  It’s not all about me, and being at the Orange Conference reminded me of that.  I met so many of you guys that read this lame website, that I feel obligated to fill you in on much of what has been occupying my world lately.  Can I share what’s up in my Ministry life?

  • I’ve hired a new Early Childhood Coordinator at Trinity!  About three months ago I made a staffing change, and my entire team and I have been scrambling ever since.  I’m real excited to have Deborah Winkler on our team in this role, but hiring her has created a new opening.  Now I’m hiring an Administrative Assistant!
  • When I get my Admin Assistant hired, it will finally complete my 6 person team for the first time since early this year.  It’s stinks to be operating at full throttle, with less than a complete staffing team!  Whew!
  • I smell a curriculum change coming!  In our Elementary areas we have used Elevate! for almost 3 years.  It’s been an overall good experience, but some recent changes in the creation of Elevate! have rendered it unusable for us.  (Send me an email, and I’ll explain in private.)  In August of 2010 we will transition to 252 Basics in Elementary, and are looking closely at starting First Look in our Early Childhood environments.
  • Since we are moving to 252 Basics in August, we were in search of something to get us through the summer months of programming and have settled on BIG by Hillsong Kids.  We’re one week into the BIG experience, and so far so good.  I love it’s flexibility, and long 13 week (with 3 segments) schedule.  We’re using the Follow You package through BIG, and the kids are loving it right now.
  • The Summer events are starting at the end of this month.  We will be continuing are Family Fun Day events from last year, along with a couple of “drop the kids” events squeezed in between.  We will also run a special 4 night event that will run in conjunction with our Holy Spirit Inspire church conference (we like to think of this as our VBS-alternative.)  We have also created a special over-night bonding event for our 4th and 5th graders that will happen in late July.  We’ve designed it so that the Jr. High leaders can be involved in getting to know the kids that will be in their areas in August, and the year after.  This is a first-time event for us, so fingers are crossed!

That covers most of the ministry things happening in my life.  Now, admit it.  You feel like you know me better, right?

Sunday Prayers: Seeing With God’s Eyes

March 25, 2010 in Bible, Ministry, Personal with 0 Comments

    1 Samuel 16:7 For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart

    There are so many more things happening on Sunday Morning then I can see with my physical eyes.  It’s important that I put myself in a place to see things the way God sees them.  I know that my reaction to things is burdened by my flesh, and it is my prayer that I let God use me each weekend to see the spiritual side of things.  This is super hard for me, promise!

    I pray that I will see God’s children as he sees his children, that I will react to others the way God would react to them, and that I will forgive others the way God forgives them.  Please Lord, give me the eyes of you.  Help me to be the instrument and vessel that you need this morning!

    This is part of the discussion started HERE, and HERE, and HERE, and HERE and HERE and concludes the Sunday Morning Prayer Series.

    Sunday Prayers: Not Getting Lost

    March 24, 2010 in Bible, Ministry, Personal with 2 Comments

    James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness

    This is the one prayer that always hits the closest to home.  My job is working with people in the church.  It’s my calling, my passion, and part of my life purpose, yet…it’s also my job.  I have to guard myself against having a business-like attitude towards God’s work and His people.

    I pray that God helps me to not get lost in the hustle and bustle of staffing rooms, organizing environments, and teaching large groups of children.  I pray that God will give me wisdom about how to effectively pastor the children, parents, and volunteers that I will interact with each morning.  There is the potential for life-change in every conversation I have with somebody each weekend, and I do not want to miss the opportunities that I’m given.

    Thank you Jesus, that you’ve given me this unique position to influence families each and every week, and I pray that I never lose sight of the privilege afforded to me to partake in God’s redeeming plan for mankind!

    This is part of the discussion started HERE, and HERE, and HERE, and HERE continues the Sunday Morning Prayer Series.

    Sunday Prayers: Sensitive Hearts

    March 23, 2010 in Bible, Ministry, Personal with 1 Comment

    Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

    On a any given Sunday morning there are dozens and dozens of volunteers and servants working with children in three different buildings at Trinity Church.  It is my prayer for those working that God would use the children they work with and lead to soften their hearts to God.  Along with that softening of their own hearts, I pray that they will be sensitive to each and every child’s need.  Everyone would say that they want to be sensitive to the children they work with, but with the chaos of drop-off, dismissal, discipline problems, equipment malfunctions, teacher shortages it can be easy to harden one selves to just “getting through it.”

    I pray that the Holy Spirit will make each leader working with children able to easily discern the hearts and situations of the children they work with.  It is my prayer that they will not miss a unique opportunity to sow a word of encouragement into the heart of a young child.  It is my prayer that they will be able to clearly hear when a child is calling for help, and they will be equiped to answer that call with love, patience, and kindness.

    I know that those willing to be kind to a child, will reap a wonderful blessing!  May all those that take the time to work with children, take the time to listen to children!

    This is part of the discussion started HERE, and HERE, and continues the Sunday Morning Prayer Series.

    Sunday Prayers: Hurt People Being Healed

    March 23, 2010 in Bible, Ministry, Personal with 0 Comments

    Jeremiah 19:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

    For many just coming to church on a Sunday Morning is a great act of faith.  I realize this, and I pray that somebody hurting comes seeking God on Sunday Morning.  Every week there are hundreds of hurting people that enter our doors and I know that in some way each of them is looking for an answer to their problem.

    I pray that somebody searching for answers will find themselves waking up, getting dressed, and heading to church for the first time in an long time.  I pray for the strength of somebody to be brave enough to seek God for an answer to their problem.  I pray that the prayers of somebody’s mother is answered with the arrival of a son or daughter in church this morning.  With confidence I know that the answer to all of life’s problems are found within the bounds of God’s Word, and there is no better place to hear God’s Word than within the walls of our church on a Sunday morning.

    Jeremiah 29:13 is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible, because it gives us the great assurance that God is discoverable.  It’s my prayer that somebody new figure this out each week, so their life can be irrevocably changed for the better.

    This is part of the discussion started HERE, and HERE, and HERE, and continues the Sunday Morning Prayer Series.

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