DYD Blog

March 2008

I want to talk to you over the next few weeks about “organization.”  Being organized is the ability to harness all resources (time, personal and financial) and move them in a coordinated manner toward accomplishing our God given vision. 

 We are all familiar with story of Jesus and the fishes and loaves.  This is a great passage.  We see a great miracle about to take place in the feeding of about 15,000-20,000 people.  The success of the miracle was contingent upon the organization on the ground.  People were put in groups of 50, a plan for distribution was established, and even a clean up plan was implemented.  Can you imagine piles of loaves and fish just sitting there while this mass of people struggle to serve themselves.  It would have been a disaster if there had been no plan. 

 On another occasion the disciples lost fish because wrong nets were used.  How many times have we missed or lost what God was doing because of a lack of planning.  Being organized does not take away from the spontaneity and sovereignty of God.  When God moves it will be in an awesome way and we need to be prepared on the ground for what God is doing.   Organization can give great confidence to our people that we know what we are doing. (Even if we aren’t really sure ourselves!!!)  It can be your greatest friend and work for you,  or it can ultimately hurt you and the ministry. 

 In the next few weeks we will talk about calendars, meetings and other organizational things as we grow together in this area.  God Bless

 WBN

October 15, 2007

Credentials (Preparing for Ministry!!)

There is no higher honor than to have the call of God upon your life to preach the gospel. I guess everyone can remember the time that you knew that God called you to the ministry. I was 17 years old in a Friday night revival service when the evangelist called me from the back row. I thought I was in trouble for talking and thought this was a rather severe way to handle it!!! He began to give a prophesy over me concerning God’s call over my life. God flooded my heart with his presence and power and I will never ever forget that night.

After I graduated from high school and took my first position as a youth Pastor my grandfather (who was my presbyter) talked to me about preparing myself for the ministry through the credentialing process. He pointed out that credentials are not a card or a piece of paper, but are a sign of prepared life for ministry.

There are many of you whom God has called to the preaching ministry. You need the preparation for the ministry that the credentialing process will provide.

That process involves:

· Biblical and Practical Church ministries study,

· Active involvement in a local church

· Occasional meetings with church elders who can monitor your progress and develop mentoring relationships.

Credentials are not a hindrance to accomplish to the ministry. They will help you be more balanced, prepared, theologically sound, and with a network of ministry partners. There are many ways you can obtain credentials. The first step is to contact our District Secretary Stan Holder seh@kyag.org Stan can give you all the details about the different paths to credentials. (Global University, Kentucky School of Ministry, AG Colleges or Universities)

I want to encourage you that this needs to be a priority in your life!!! Many think because we are involved in the ministry then the study for credentials are not necessary. It is the combination of intensive study and active participation in the ministry that make the credentialing process work.

I was 19 when I completed my studies for certified minister’s level and 20 when I received my licenses to preach. (I will talk about ordination next week). I completed my credential studies while I was a full time college student and a fulltime youth Pastor .

The investment of time and study back into your ministry will pay great dividends through out your ministry. Now is the time to begin that preparation!!!

WBN

You and the Senior Pastor Part 2

(You can catch Part 1 on the DYD blog on the website.)

I arrived at my office and saw a note on my door to go immediately to my Pastors office. Of course being in youth ministry this was not an unusual occurrence. As I walked to the office I was just trying to figure out what I had done wrong. (I assumed it was because I bought purple Gatorade for communion instead of grape juice. Well, I was on a youth Pastors budget!!!) My Pastor welcomed me into his office and said “I am resigning Sunday”. My heart sank. His health was not good and he just thought it was time for a change in his ministry. I went to my office and sat in silence for hours. My mind kept playing back to the great times we had had personally and as a ministry team. I was not only losing a Pastor but a friend. Later that night it occurred to me that I was not just a member of the church but I was part of the staff. My position at the church an future here was not guaranteed.

For the next few months the board and the church leaned upon me heavily. I led worship and preached most Sundays, did all the follow-up and hospital visitation. This was a very good experience for me. It was during that time that I had a life revelation. I never want to be a Senior Pastor!!!

The church tried out 2 guys and voted both of them down. The third candidate was a person I knew casually from camp. He became my next Pastor.

Even though the board told me that they would guarantee my job, I knew that was not the proper thing to do. I did the right thing and wrote a formal resignation letter to the new Pastor. I do believe that every new Pastor has the right to choose their team. The resignation of the present staff I think is an appropriate step during transition. If you are retained great! If not walk away with Godly character and integrity and know that God has another place for you. I did indicate on my letter that I would be interested in staying if he felt that was the Lord’s will, and he did. My creditors rejoiced!!!

Things quickly changed. He and I were not as close personally as the previous Pastor nor was I involved in all the meetings like before. He and I never really ate lunch together nor was I invited over to his house. I never really got invitations to eat Sunday lunch with the visiting missionary or guest speaker like I had before.

On the other hand he was very nice to me and supportive of my ministry. He was a godly person and a good hearted Pastor.

There were something’s that I learned during this time:

· Different leaders have different personalities and management styles. I must learn to serve my Pastor and my church within this context.

· Because the present does not seem as comfortable to me as the past, it is not necessarily time for me to transition.

· If the lead Pastor chooses a more professional relationship than personal, it is ok. The larger your church gets the more you will see this happen.

If I can ever help you during times of transition please let me know. You and the Senior Pastor

I want to take the next few weeks to talk to you about your relationship with your Senior Pastor . In 13 years of youth ministry I had six different Senior Pastor s. I want to talk to you about some of the things that I learned during those times and transitions.

I was 18 when I took my first job as youth Pastor . I was 18 and my senior Pastor was about 64. He was a wonderful man who loved the Lord and his church. He was very kind and supportive of the youth ministry and to me personally. I was frequently invited to his home and we spent a lot of time together. I was his first full time staff. In spite of the age difference (46 years) we had a very close relationship.

Over the next few years a dynamic begin to occur that I have seen in other places. The youth ministry began to grow and do well while the church began to plateau. Everything I did was the “greatest” because they had never had a youth Pastor . It was not long that I began to hear criticism of the Pastor and the direction of the church. They used the excitement, and growth of the youth ministry to prove how dire things were in the church. I was heart broken. I did not want any blessings upon my ministry to cause any issues with a person that had been so good to me.

Here are the things that I learned.

· God calls 1 Senior Pastor . As a staff Pastor I am there in a supporting and subordinate role. I am not a co Pastor I am a staff Pastor . Even when God blesses my ministry I am never above my Pastor . I am there to support my Pastor !!!

· Do not ever receive verbal or subliminal criticism of your Pastor , his vision or performance. This can plant seeds of doubt in your own heart and can encourage others to continue to speak out against the Pastor . You need to let them know that you do not appreciate their words and you need to go immediately and inform the Pastor . Do not keep any secrets from your Pastor . Keep a humble and appreciative heart toward God. Make sure there are times that you publicly affirm the Pastor s ministry. Take every opportunity to let people know how you appreciate being a part of the Pastor s team.

· Keep your mouth shut and your eyes focused on the task. Do not be involved with the political power plays in the local church. God has called you to win this generation of students so you don’t have time to be involved in petty church games. Even if influential people want to know your opinion on things, don’t bite. Support your Pastor and keep your focus on what God has called you to do.

Please remember that most of you one day will be a Senior Pastor . The seeds you plant today as a staff person will bear fruit one day when you are the Senior Pastor .

August 2007

I took a few days off this week to recoup from 7 weeks of camp. Of course I am now back in dress clothes as opposed to shorts, sandals and a T-shirt that was my camp attire for the summer. I took a slow drive through the camp this morning which is strangely quiet. No bell ringing every few hours and no late night chili cheese dog. I was just being thankful for a tremendous summer. We had so many campers saved, baptized in the Holy Spirit and called to the ministry. I am in awe at what God did. Please know that we cannot do camp without you. Thank you for your service, promotion and involvement in camp. I am making notes and evaluating everything we did over the next few days. We want to improve every year.

I am thankful for a safe summer. They had a camper drowned in the pool at North Dakota Camp. They had a camper that was paralyzed from the neck down in Arizona . They had a youth Pastor die on the ball field in front of his children and youth group in Arizona . We had few medical problems to which I am most thankful.

My mind goes back to the worship center night after night seeing God transform and touch lives. Seeing campers weep, worship and filled with his presence.

My prayer is that our partnership through our camps will produce much fruit in the local church.

May 2007

Pentecost and Youth Ministry

I was reading USA Today last week when I came across an article about the growing Pentecostal movement across the world. I was so impressed and proud of the secular recognition of our movement or should I say “his movement.” Of course there was the corresponding article from a psychiatrist about the lack of blood flow to the brain in a Pentecostal believer. (In some cases in think it is true!!)

My concern is that the Pentecostal trends within the church are not looking very good. We (A/G) stand a great chance of being less than 50% of our attendance being Pentecostal. In some places they have to think back years to the last time someone was baptized in the Holy Spirit or even prayed for. This is alarming. I am afraid that we have lost our Pentecostal identity with a well meaning seeker sensitive model.

Youth Pastor s we must stop this trend! There is a student generation that will receive energy from crystals, smoke anything they can wrap between a rolling paper, experiment with scientology and Karbala and not think anything about it. We are afraid to mention the baptism of the Holy Spirit because someone might be offended. They will never receive the fruit if the leadership does not plant the seed.

We need solid emphasis on the Holy Spirit baptism. They need to know where God’s word stands.

We need constant reinforcement . Please check your Sunday school, discipleship group, and small group material. Make sure our Pentecostal doctrine is taught. Even check your sermon topics to make sure they are getting a regular diet of messages on the Holy Spirit.

We need creative prayer times. How about a small group for those seeking the baptism, a weekend retreat, one on one coaching, and a general altar call in our youth group asking everyone to come and be touched by the Holy Spirit.

I have spoken personally with all of our camp speakers for this summer and asked them to have one night where the baptism of the Holy is preached, and believers are prayed for. Begin to promote this in your groups. Go to certain ones that are seeking the baptism and begin to pray with them to be filled at camp.

I don’t say these things because of my blind allegiance to a doctrine. I just know how God moved in my life when I received the Holy Spirit as a high school Junior. I want all the students to be equipped with that same power. They need it, especially today!! May 2007.

May 2007

Jamaica 08

I just returned with Pastor Joe from Content Bay and Christiana , Jamaica . We were scouting locations for our AIM 2008 trip. We met missionaries Steve and Kim Puffpaff who are the directors of City of Refuge Orphanage in Content Bay , and Stuart and Wendy Brown who are the directors of New Vision Children’s Home in Christiana. (jesuslovesjamaica.blogspot.com )

Visiting these homes and seeing the work of these missionaries was a very moving experience. I really feel in my heart this is the place we are to be next spring. My goal is to take a group large enough that we can split and do ministry in both places. We will do VBS type ministry in each home, sports outreach, ministry in the local schools (which is not illegal in Jamaica) work in some of the local churches, teach at the Jamaican Assemblies of God Bible College, and do work projects at each location.

On our free day each team will join together at Ocho Rios for swimming, sightseeing and shopping.

Our dates are tentatively set for April 5-12. I know this information is coming earlier than usual, but I want to have all the details, dates, promo info, and applications ready for camp.

This will give the students 9-10 months to raise their money for the trip. The maximum is 47 students and leaders. It is going to be a tremendous mission’s trip and we want you to be a part.

May 2007

Note and Thoughts about District Council

We just concluded our annual District Council. I have always enjoyed being a part of it. It is a reminder that I am a part of something larger than myself and my ministry. It is a great time to see ministry friends, and meet new ones. It is a time that we let others worry about the temperature, lights and sound. I enjoy just sitting and being allowed to worship, receive the pulpit ministry of others and spend time at the altar.

The council is moving forward with plans to build a much needed camp dorm. Work should start sometime in June.

We had a great time at our Youth Pastors lunch on Tuesday. There was no business just fellowship and a lot of laughter.

We had about 10 churches represented at the 7 Project orientation. Pastor Rodney did an excellent job casting vision to bring the “7 Project” to the local communities. God is going to do something special through this effort.

Pastor Murray Kelley delivered a great word at our Speed-the-Light luncheon. It was a great challenge to all about giving, missions and faith. At the conclusion of the banquet God sovereignly moved and Rodney Goodlett’s Youth Alive budget was raised.

I love the ordination service. It is a powerful time for the candidates, but it is also a special time for all who are in the ministry. It always takes me back to the beginnings of my call and the early years of my ministry. I had two former staff members who were ordained and I was privileged to lay hands on one of them to ordain them into the ministry.

I was driving home about 1:00 a.m. Thursday morning very tired but very thankful.

I am thankful for my fellowship. (The Assemblies of God) I am thankful to be a part of the Kentucky district. I am thankful for all the friends and co laborers that I have. I am thankful for this unusual platform that God has given me for ministry. All of that could not have happened with out God’s grace given to me, which I am most thankful for.

April 2007

We just returned from Hilversum , Holland with a group of 27 students and leaders. We were honored to partner with Missionary Robby Bradford and Hilversum International Christian Church in many outreaches to the greater Hilversum area. Hilversum is the media, music and movie capital of Holland . Our AIM team was involved in promotional outreaches for the church Easter Egg Hunt, played a major role in the community Easter Egg Hunt with over 400 in attendance, did a worship song and human video for Easter Sunday service with over 480 in attendance, cooked and served a meal in a homeless shelter in Utrect, conducted a Sports Clinic outreach at a local school and completed over 25 repair projects at the church plus much more.

On our free day we went to Zaanse Schans. It is a working Dutch village complete with windmills, wooden shoes and lots of shopping. We also shopped and took and evening boat ride through the city of Amsterdam . It was an incredible trip!!!

AIM trips for students are life changing trips. They teach evangelism, discipleship, servant hood, teamwork, cultural sensitivity, appreciation for missionaries and missions work, appreciation for Speed the Light, and hard work. Please make sure that your students are aware of any upcoming AIM trips.

April 2007

What do we learn from Virginia Tech?

I was getting ready for a meeting last week when I walked past a television in our office. Some one said “there has been another school shooting”. “Oh really” I responded as I looked through my papers to make sure I had necessary documents for the meeting. At the lunch break someone mentioned that over 30 students were killed. “That’s horrible” I said. I guess a school shooting has just become commonplace in America . There have been 40 school shootings since 2000.

It wasn’t until a few days later that I watched for several hours the rantings of Cho Seung-Hui that this tragedy hit home with me again. We must make campus ministry a priority. An aggressive campus strategy must be implemented. Maybe a refocus or realignment of vision and resources is necessary. We simply cannot ignore the campus.

We need as youth leaders need a personal presence on the campus: lunch rooms, sporting events, extracurricular activities, service project for the campus. We cannot impact a place when they have no idea who we are. As a youth Pastor I received and “off the record” call from the school principal. He was concerned about a student in the school. He had seen me every week on campus. We need to raise our profile to our students and administrators.

We need a spiritual presence also: Existing Bible clubs, Youth Alive Clubs, 7 Project, encouraging and recruiting Campus Missionaries etc. In the midst of many acknowledged obstacles we must make an effort to shine a light on campus.

We need a prayerful presence. See you at the Pole is great, but it is an annual prayer event. Much more intercessory prayer is needed to see a breakthrough on the campus. Yes we need more Prayer Zone Partners, but really it is the spiritual leader that must take the lead in prayer. Jesus wept when he saw Jerusalem !!!

Students have often been the keys to spiritual revival. i.e. in the 1806 Haystack Revival and in the Jesus movement of the 1970s. I believe that can happen again.

Thanks to all who have active and vibrant ministries already on the campus.

April 2007

I am at the office wrapping up a few details for our AIM trip. We are leaving tomorrow (Wednesday) with 27 student/leaders for Hilversum , Holland . We have students from about 15 different churches. We are taking a STL sound system purchase by the students of Kentucky to present to the new church plant in Almere’, Holland .

The advantage that I see for taking students on mission trips is that their heart for missions will never be the same. I never had to beg AIMers to help raise STL money. AIMers always listened more intently and interacted better when missionaries came.

That’s not even to mention the numbers of AIMers who have felt God’s call upon their lives during these trips. There are a lot of details to get together for these trips, but they are worth it.

Indy 07 is coming up in August and I think Jamaica is the destination for next years spring break trip and Ecuador or El Salvador for next summer. Of course I have had plenty of adult sponsors volunteer to “help” me on the Jamaica trip. Pray for us as we represent you on the mission field

August 2007