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Healthy Years

May 1, 2009 in Ministry, Personal with 1 Comment

I started at Trinity Church in Lubbock, TX exactly two years ago today. What a change that was for my family and I! We’ve adjusted moderately well to not having trees in our yard, and the dust storms are beginning to grown on us. The growth we’ve seen in the Children’s ministry here at Trinity has been phenomenal over the past two years, and the future is sure to be exciting. As I was reflecting over my 2 year anniversary, I pulled out my answers to some questions that Trinity asked me to answer during the arduous interview process. One of the questions was, “In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a healthy children’s ministry?”

What a great question, and one that I struggle with often. Health is such an evolving word, with health meaning different things to different kids at different stages of life. Here is how I answered it back then, and with maybe a few minor variations it’s still true for me today.

The characteristics of a healthy children’s ministry include (in no particular order):

Children that have learned the responsibility to serve those around them. Helping children see themselves as a one very important part in a much larger story than they can see with their own eyes. This is a challenge, because it’ challenges the Adam within all of us. Thinking of others first isn’t a natural thing, and must be reinforced.
An environment that is accepting of everyone, and makes everyone feel welcome. Much easier to accept kids than to accept their entire families. True acceptance of children can only happen when entire families are welcomed and involved in the process of Spiritual growth.
Leaders who are inspired to teach and lead. Leaders that know they are God’s vessels of service. Ministry to children will inevitably become ministry to leaders. It is my desire to see growth in everyone involved in Children’s Ministry, and this growth will be deliberately pursued.
Children who have an understanding of their important place in God’s kingdom. Children looking for ways to actively demonstrate their place in God’s Kingdome before everyone. (Parents, teachers, friends, etc…)
Changed lives and families in the overall church population. Change lives are the currency that we measure success by! If lives aren’t being changed, then changes must be made. More specifically I desire to see children be the catalyst to change for entire families to come to Christ.

My Big Bag of Nothing –Special Easter Edition

April 14, 2009 in Personal with 3 Comments

Isn’t Easter weekend fun? Here at Trinity Church, Easter was indeed a great success. I hate posting numbers, but I’m proud of our team so I’m going to throw them out there. For 4 services this weekend we ministered to 743 kids and saw 53 kids attend for the very first time. Praise God!
Easter also saw the launching of our new Saturday Night services. Having church on Saturday nights is going to kick my butt. Don’t get me wrong it was a great time, but my body just isn’t used to ramping up on Saturday nights. I was with Elementary kids and had a great time with a smaller group, about 60. I really need to find some volunteers to take that night for me, and I’m sure the job posting will be heading out there from HR any minute now.
Every time I hear something about Saturday night church I think of this song…Is there something wrong with me?
One of my favorite things about Easter services, is seeing new kids that I have no relationship with. It is so fun to meet new people, and make first impressions again. I know we have new kids every week, but Easter is unique in the shear amount of first-timers.
I used “The Girly Dress Method” of reaching out to new kids all Easter morning. It’s classic, and gets a laugh 100% of the time. I even heard that it works in Austin, TX.
I got my new Macbook on Good Friday. I got to hand it to the boys at Apple, cause they know how to package a product. I almost wanted to wrap it up and take it out of the box again and again. I’m learning how to work this Macbook, but it’s going to take some time. I feel like I’m driving a really fast car in a school zone…
The more I lead people, the more I learn how dumb I am. How did I get put in charge of so many great volunteers and staff?
I had a weird dream about a guy whose blog I read. It was really strange and related to one of his blog posts, so I decided he’d get a kick out of it and emailed it to him. About 6 hours later I wished I had kept it to myself. I’m embarrassed. He said it made him laugh, but I’m thinking he’s lining up the restraining order as I type.
I need some new music to listen to, any recommendations?
I am so excited about heading out to The Orange Conference in two weeks, but I’m bummed that I have to miss my 1st graders field trip to the Science Museum, and a Friday night baseball game with both the boys.

Spiritual Life Coaching

February 11, 2009 in Ministry with 2 Comments

This Wednesday I started what is the beginning of an exciting adventure. I’m already one day of training into a 3 day training on the Spiritual Life Coaching Model. I’m giving up two days of office work, and 1/2 of my only day off to make it happen. I’ll get to do this once a month for the next 6 months, and I’m doing it along with all the pastors on staff at Trinity. It’s definitely a breaking of old “pastoral counseling” habits, and a relearning of relationships.

Coaching is defined as a powerful partnership designed to promote and forward the lifelong process of growth, effectiveness and achievement around a God-given purpose. Life Coaches are committed to helping all those who are around them perform at their best, while reaching their full potential in Christ. Life Coaching is about serving others while expanding your own personal horizon in a grand space of creativity.

Over the past two years, our Senior Pastor has become certified as a Life Coach through the Coaches Training Institute (CTI.) CTI is the first ICF-accredited and the largest coach training organization in the world. It is however, NOT a Christian coaching network. Since our pastors recent completion of his 2-year certification process, he began to develop (based on the CTI model of coaching) a Spiritual Life Coaching model. So I’m working through a manual that he has designed, along with the book Co-Active Coaching. I’m the coaching guinea pig! I’ve got lots of reading homework, and I’ll be actively pursing a coaching client willing to let me practice on them. I really do love learning, and it’s been way too long since I’ve had an expectation of learning put on me.

I’m excited for what this can do for me both personally and what it will allow me to pour into those I’m called to serve. It’s been a frustration of mine for years that I’m expected to biblically counsel those in and around our church, when in all seriousness I’m severely unqualified to do so; in the counseling sense. It is my prayer that being able to have a posture of coaching when working with others will allow me to discover new opportunities for releasing the potential in those around me.

Stay tuned for more as I journey down this road…

Questions You Need Answers To

January 19, 2009 in Ministry with 3 Comments

Last week I sent out a survey to all the wonderful people that volunteer to work in our Early Childhood areas at the church. More specifically it was sent to those people that are lead teachers. I worded it a little playful, but not too much. I wanted people to feel they could be honest, without hurting someone’s feelings. It is also my goal, whether they fill out the survey or not; for them to know that their opinion has some weight. The entire thing shouldn’t have taken more than 5 or 10 minutes, so it wasn’t a terrible chore.

So far I’ve gotten some great feedback. By great I mean it made me cry it was so freaking honest.

Those responding to the survey were not required to provide their name, but were given the option if they wanted to. All questions were required to be answered to advance through the survey, except where an optional response is noted. I used Pollograph for the survey, and I can NOT say enough great things about the service. It is a super A+ online survey service.

The following are the questions given and responses offered:

1. Do the Children in your classroom seem to enjoy your classroom?

Always

Sometimes

Never

2. Do you feel that the Children in your class are learning Biblical principals?

Always. The kids can recite the main point at the door when they leave.

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.

Never. We just play and eat snacks.

3. Are you adequately provided with everything you need to teach your class effectively?

Yes, I have everything I could ask for.

Sometimes, but I would like more.

Never, I feel unprepared every week and it’s NOT my fault!

4. Do you feel prepared each week to teach the children?

Yes, I always prepare well in advance.

Some weeks I’m ready, and some weeks I’m just here.

Prepared, am I supposed to be prepared?

5. Are you taking your teacher’s guide home each week to look over the material and prepare for the lesson?

Always have it by my side

Sometimes I have to search for it on Sunday Mornings.

Never. Am I supposed to have a Teacher Guide?

6. Do you feel valued by the Children’s Ministry leadership at Trinity?

Always. I am Loved.

Sometimes

Never. I don’t think they know my name.

7. Are you actively attending services during the services you don’t work with Children?

Yes

8. Are you involved in a Life Group?

Yes

9. How involved do you feel parents are in your classroom?

Highly Involved

Some Parents help, but I would love more.

These kids have Parents? I never see them.

10. Which of these options would you employ to connect with families if given the choice?

Allow ‘Others’, May select more than one

Pre-postaged postcards for you to mail out at your convenience.

A phone number for someone who has missed your class for a few weeks.

Stocked supply of volunteer applications at your door to pass out when needed.

11. Are you currently teaching in an area that is comfortable for you and is compatible with your teaching style?

Yes, I’m in my comfort zone.

Maybe, I haven’t thought about that.

No, I’m only where I am because I was put there.

12. How would you rate yourself in the following classroom settings:

Storytelling

Song Time

Craft Time

I’m Good at this
I’m trying, but need help
I’m terrible, and sometimes skip it altogether

13. What brings you the most joy in teaching your class?

Optional Written Response…

14. What seems to be the biggest obstacle for you in teaching your class?

Optional Written Response…

15. What are your thoughts on the current Curriculum

Content of Bible Lesson

Storytelling Options

Craft Projects

Overall Age Appropriateness

Special Activities in Lesson

Perfect
Good, Not Great
Needs Work

16. Any Additional thoughts on our current curriculum?

Optional Written Response…

17. What is your opinion of the past training sessions that have been offered?

Highly Valuable, wouldn’t miss it!

It’s a good meal, but could be better…

We have training sessions?

18. Is there a specific topic you would like addressed in a training session?

Optional Written Response…

19. Here’s your big chance: Is there one area of Children’s Ministry you would like to see changed and how do you feel this could best come about?

Optional Written Response…

It’s December Baby!

December 2, 2008 in Personal with 2 Comments

Last night we decorated the tree, and now the living room is aglow with the Christmas lights. As we countdown our Advent Calendar this year, I thought I’d share some of what we are doing as a family to fully worship Christ this Christmas.

As a family we are participating in the Advent Conspiracy. Our church is going through it as well, but as a family we are making it very intentional this year. Have you seen the video?
We’ve usually bought our kids 3 gifts each for Christmas. (We’ve use the 3 gift & 3 wise men angle.) However this year we told our kids that we are letting them give away one of their gifts. We’re having each of our kids make a donation to Living Water International. We spent time at dinner talking about those that don’t have water, and how this Christmas we are going to be a part of helping them get clean water. So it’s two gifts a piece for them, and one gift a piece that will be given to someone who really needs it. …and don’t shed a tear for my mistreated children, the gifts from grandparents and extended family will more than leave them with fun things on Christmas!
We are making a very intentional effort to make things for those family members that live outside of Lubbock. Yes, make things. With our own hands. Using our brains. Watch those mailboxes, because we’re filling them up!
Our church and outreach center does a yearly “Christmas Blessing Day” and we’re going to serve as an entire family. At the Blessing Day we distribute food, presents, and many other goodies to those in need of something a little extra this Christmas. All 5 of us, from me to my 3 year old daughter will be serving drinks and cookies to those in attendance. I real-life family service project!
We did Advent for the first time last year, and it seems more and more are reintroducing themselves to a sacred tradition. We’ll light the Advent candles, read scripture together, and most importantly try and create deserved anticipation towards the birth of our saviour.
Finally we will be celebrating Christmas in the ever fun way of watching Christmas movies. Don’t know what to watch? Check THIS out! We’re even planning a Polar Express Family Night in a few weeks.

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