Lead Well

Many believe that we must get bigger in order to compete with the world, but is bigger going to serve our people effectively?  Maybe instead we should focus on getting better and then become bigger out of necessity.  Let's put the systems and people in place first.  Let's build a foundation, a good solid foundation on which we can build.  We may have limited resources, but are we doing the best we can with what God has given us?

Not the television show with Joel McHale, real community.  A place for all of us to belong.  What keeps a person from church hopping?  Community. Being a part of something bigger than themselves.  We need to create a community of believers that works, plays, and serves together.  The most successful sitcoms are based on families or a community of friends. We desire community.  The actual church building does not offer solutions to the hurt, sick, or guilty.  It is the body of believers. In other words, the community of believers.  Ask yourself, what is my community?  Can I create or be a part of community that not only plays together, but serves God and his people as well?  Can I?

In my last post, I talked about the loss of connection to my friend.  I started thinking about this connection and its spiritual application and this is what I came up with.  It is said that when people go to hell they experience the absence of God.  Because of their sin God can not bear to be near them.  They have lost connection.  At the final judgement, the unrighteous will be thrown into the fiery pit known as the second death.  Maybe this is a total loss of connection with God. My point is, if it hurts so much to lose someone you love how much more must it hurt to lose connection with an all powerful, all knowing, all present God.  How much does it hurt Him?

Yesterday while on Facebook, I discovered horrible news.  One of my friends from church and high school was murdered in his own home.  I am struggling to determine my feelings about this event.  Heath was not a close friend, but a friend nonetheless.  I rooted for him, when I heard that he was a DJ on a local radio station, and was even more pleased when I heard he moved to the local Christian station. One of my fondest memories of Heath is we were in the youth room after a young adults meeting, and he was writing a song.  I gave him some advice on the concept of the song and he appreciated the help.  I don't know if he used the advice, and to be honest, I'm pretty sure I never heard the song.  I just remember the connection. Connection.  Maybe that's what hurts so much.  Even though I have not seen or spoke to him in 5 years, the possibility of connection was always there.  Now the connection is lost until I go to heaven.  Comforting and yet frustrating at the same tim

Thinking outside the box.  Just because of who I am, I frequently don't think outside the box, and when new things are mentioned I have to make them fit into my box.  If you are like me thinking creatively does not come naturally.  It is a daily practice.  One thing I have learned through this process is to bring people into your organization and life that can think outside the box for you.  Someone with fresh eyes and fresh ideas.  They may be able to suggest things that you never considered.  This VBS go around try to do something outside of the norm.  Something that will wow your participants and your volunteers.  It is sure to go a long way towards bringing them back.

I know it has been a long time since my last post, but I was planning and executing the topic of this post.  A new addition to my VBS planning is a seemingly unrelated preliminary event.  This year I held an Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn of my church the day before Easter.  I used this event to not only invite people to our church, but also to advertise for VBS.  In addition, every child who came to the event had to fill out a registration form with current address, phone number, and email address.  This provides me with a list to outside of my regular attenders to communicate with about upcoming events, specifically VBS!  I have not seen the effects of this event on my VBS, but I will keep blog about them as I start to see the results. My suggestion is to use any and every event leading up to your VBS to advertise.  This is a captive audience and if they like what they see at the event, they are in they are much more likely to check out the VBS.  Happy planning!

Why do you want to do a VBS?  Is it because it is what the children's ministry has always done?  or you really like having the VBS? or it makes you feel important? or maybe it is just one more thing the pastor has asked you to do?  There are many reasons to put on a VBS, but the most important reason must be to minister and plant the seeds in the hearts of children in your church and community. Studies show that if a child does not have a Biblical worldview by the age of 8 then the odds of them living a life for Christ gets dismally smaller every year after that.  It is a burden placed upon us as each kid walks through our doors.  It is not our job specifically to disciple or even see the children saved, but God has seen fit to give us the opportunity to plant the seed, water it, or even harvest it.  It is all in His hands.  If your focus is off, I implore you to spend some time in prayer and ask yourself this one question and answer truthfully.  Why am I doing this?  If it is