I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was going to discuss "4 Important Growth Areas in the Life of the Leader".

February 2009

I am afraid we are coming close to preaching a "Christless Christianity". How is that for an opening sentence!  In our compassionate efforts to meet the needs of people, we often leave our Lord out of the picture. 

February 2009

• Affect missions/STL giving now.
• It will also affect the number of students that feel a missionary call in the future.
• It will affect their giving in our churches when they are adults.  

• Have a STL goal setting service.  Challenge them personally to give to missions. (You can order the STL Goal setting cards from GPH for free)
• Order the monthly Worldbeat DVD ($48 per year) and show the STL clip before taking the STL offering. You can also download STL clips from the STL website
• http://stl.ag.org/ 
• Take a STL offering on the first Wednesday of the month.
• Send them regular reminders and congratulations on their giving.
• Get a STL Digisource.  The digisource has missions sermons with powerpoint slides, testimonies from missionaries and students, STL pictures,  videos and graphics and fundraising ideas.  (You can purchase one from GPH or I give one free to each church for attending STL tour.) 
• Pray for a missionary or a country each week. 
• Encourage attendance any time there is a missionary speaker at the church.
• Have a missionary come to speak at your youth group. 
• Take them on a missions (AIM) trip. (I never had trouble with STL offerings from students who had been on the mission field. There are also AIM resources in the STL digisource)

Let's make sure we impact them not entertain them!!!

January 2009 

January 2009

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years holiday.  We are busy this week working on AIM Belgium, PK Retreat, STL Tour and Youth Workers Training Conference.  We have even fielded an email about camp.  It never ends. 

October 2008

I am taking a “Persuasive Preaching” class for my Masters studies at Southwestern University . You may be thinking “Oh no are we going to have to hear about this class every week”? And of course the answer is yes!!!

In the very first class lecture there were 3 Latin words given that we had to study. Being from Alabama Latin was not spoken a great deal in and around the Birmingham area, but these words were very helpful in defining what it takes to make a great preacher.

The words were “Ethos” (character) “Logos” (knowledge) and “Pathos” (passion) I want to deal with these over the next few weeks.

Let’s start with “Ethos”. Of course this where we get our word “ethics”. If you read the ministry qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 they all deal with the character of the preacher. Preaching skills are only mentioned once. There is a clear message in this passage.

Let me put it this way!!! Who we are and what we are out of the pulpit is more important than we do in the pulpit!!!

Character deficiencies will always catch up and overtake pulpit proficiencies.

So let’s be very clear about “ethos” in relation to 1 Timothy 3

· If you are unfaithful to your spouse you are not biblically qualified to fill the pulpit.

· If you have serious marital or family issues, you are not biblically qualified to fill the pulpit.

· If you have self control issues, you are not biblically qualified to fill the pulpit.

· If you have anger issues, you are not biblically qualified to fill the pulpit.

We may slide through KSOM/Berean/Bible College, our interviews and tests, and be a proud card carrying A/G credential holder, but God knows our hearts.

Of course no one in the pulpit is perfect. Everyone has things they need to work on.

So if there are character issues in our lives let’s confess them before God and clean these areas up. In some cases confession to God and man will only prove helpful. And in some cases stepping down out of ministry for a time of prayer, reflection and healing is the appropriate thing to do.

This is a simple reminder that the foundation of the preacher is character and a godly life not pulpit skill!!!

Class adjourned!

WBN “Logos”

I am taking a few weeks to define what makes a good preacher/leader. Last week I discussed Ethos or ethics/character.

This week I will talk about “logos” or knowledge. In Pentecostal circles we use the term “anointed”. Of course who knows what than means!!! We basically judge “anointing” by volume, perspiration of the preacher and frantic walking behind the pulpit. Right!!

While passion in the pulpit is needed, if we do not have anything to deliver but passion we are as Ecclesiastes says “clouds with no rain”.

I am afraid to many times we have not heard from God. We have become experts at gathering resources (graphics, videos, sermon resources) but have we heard from God.

For instance if we find a great video at sermonspice.com we make that video the centerpiece of our sermon and put a few scriptures around it. Have you every done that? That is not a proper foundation for a message.

Paul’s defense and explanation of the gospel at Mars Hill was well thought out, well reasoned and well delivered. To this crowd proclamation was not enough, explanation was needed also. Please remember that there are many intellectually driven students today that process information by wanting to know the why’s and how’s of the mysteries of God. They want to look under the hood, kick the tires and take for a test drive. That is perfectly fine.

We need to have a well thought out and well prepared message for our students.

Things to remember:

· We need to be lead by the Holy Spirit in the initial passage and direction of each message we deliver.

· We need to let our study and resources support the initial direction of the Holy Sprit. Not the other way around.

· We need not only the proclamation of truth but the explanation of truth also.

Let me know what you think!!!

WBN

Report from Charlotte

What an incredible week in Charlotte !!! Well over 13,000 students, leaders and parents gathered in Charlotte for the National Youth Convention and National Fine Arts Festival. It was amazing to see the Great American Arena (Bobcat Arena) almost filled to capacity every night. God made himself known in a powerful way in the evening service. On the last night about 300 students were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

7,500 students participated in this years national Fine Arts Festival. I was very proud of our Kentucky students and how they represented themselves, their church and their home state.

· We had one national winner Lorie Powell from First Assembly in Lexington won in the Book Chapter division.

· Thomas Ard from Calvary in E’town won 3^rd place in American Sign Language Solo.

· Ignite Worship Band from Lakeside Worship Center in E’town received a callback as did Trevor Schexneider Calvary E’town for Short Sermon.

Again I was very proud of all of our students and their willingness to go the next level in developing and deploying their gifts for God to use.

WBN

Camp

Wow, what a summer!! We were honored to host over 725 students, counselors workers and staff for our 2008 teen camps. All of our speakers Mike Holt, Jacob Jestor and Tim Bach did an awesome job. I want to say thanks to all of you that came and were a part of our summer camps. We could not do it without you. We saw God move powerfully. Many students made new commitments, were baptized in the Holy Spirit for the very first time, and felt a call to full time Christian service.

We also introduced the Zorbs, Paintball and for the health conscious at the Manna Hut the “Fritio BanCheeseburger”. So enjoy the rest of your summer, spend time with your family and gear up for a great last half of 2008.

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 March 2007

Combined Camp or High School and Middle School Camp???

It is the question of every youth leader asks each summer, one week of camp or two. Can I share some thoughts on this as we prepare for summer camp? As a youth Pastor I always did two weeks of camp; Middle School and High School. Yes it was a long, hot second week. I did it because I saw great benefits for my students being at an age appropriate camp, especially my middle school kids.

· Sports activities were a lot more fun for the younger guys. They did not have to compete with juniors and seniors.

· The speaker had an easier time speaking to either a middle school or high school audience. We all know the difficulty speaking to wide age range 7^th to 12^th grade.

· It also allowed some of my junior high kids to step into roles spiritually that normally went to the senior high kids. I was always amazed the growth and boldness at camp that I never saw in my youth ministry. They never had the opportunity to be spiritual leaders because that role was always taken by the senior high.

· It also gave me opportunity to strengthen relationships with my kids because they were in 2 smaller groups. I had more time at meals, concession stand, and at the altar to develop and deepen my relationship with them.

I know this is not possible in every situation. Church calendars, limited vacation time, a very small number of middle school or high school students, transportation issues are all reasons why it is not possible.

If combined camp is your only option that if fine and we will have a great week at camp. If you do have options maybe consider it, or just try it for this summer. Just a though!!!

February 2007

Obstacle or Opportunity ???

One person’s opportunity is another person’s obstacle. Opportunity to do something great for God comes wrapped in different ways. Twelve spies were sent out. They all looked at exactly the same thing, a land filled with giants. Ten said no way it is impossible. Two said yes there are giants but we can do it. To me it is all in a person’s perspective. Most cave in and take the easy way out. Quit!!! To others it is time to put their faith on the line see God do something great!

The Red Sea , or a giant named Goliath, can be intimidating and fearful to some. But to others it revs their engine to do something great for God. Many a Christian leader has fled in the shadow of a mountain and of fear of failure. You did not get into Hebrews 11 by being tentative or unsure. The term “By faith” was mentioned 20 times in Hebrews 11.

Youth Pastor Youth Leader, God did not send you to a place that was easy. He knows the financial constraints, cultural trends, personality differences you will face. He sent you to work the soil and produce fruit for him. There will be all kinds of reasons why you can’t do it. Give your greatest effort, pray hard and love people and God will bless your ministry beyond your dreams.

October 2006

I was stunned as I heard Josh McDowell say that he accepted Christ in a library in London , England . How did that happen??? No sad stories, slow music, or relentless appeals from the pulpit. Isn’t our conversion experience based on the tissue index? You know number of tissues used at the altar. A one tissue experience-you probably did not mean it, to a 5 tissue experience means you were probably saved and filled with the Holy Spirit!!!.

I reminded of something. Some students decision making process is based on intellect not emotion. They want all the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed in their minds before they commit their lives to Christ. They are not being difficult; this is just the way they think. As leaders let’s remember that different students will respond to the gospel in different ways.

I watched across the crowd at Fall Fling when Josh was giving the information about manuscripts. Of course there was boredom for some but for many of the students they were taking notes and listening very intently. When he gave the number of 24,000 New Testament manuscripts there was a gasp in the audience and applause. At the end of the service we had about 20 first time conversions, in which many came from the friend scholarships (seekers). There are students in our ministries who will not be moved by the “Passion of the Christ”, human videos, or even powerful services. What will move them will be solid information on the deity of Christ, legitimacy of scripture, and the search for truth. Acts 17 show us

1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

This passage shows us:

• Paul taught in a Jewish synagogue in and area of Greek influence.
• For weeks he “reasoned” with them “explaining and proving” that Christ had to suffer.
• Because of his explanation and defense of the gospel he won “Jews”, God fearing Greeks, and prominent women.

Let’s be sensitive to the needs of these “millennials” when presenting the gospel. They want to know not just that 2+2=4 but why it does and what does it mean for me?

October 2006

In Alabama we had our “Fall Fling” in the spring, so we called it “Youth Convention”. (Which is an extraordinarily creative name!) I have “mostly” fond memories of Youth Convention. Sure every year we had kids with no money, and shortages of youth sponsors. The 60 passenger bus we chartered was having problems so they sent us the 45 passenger bus as a substitute. The Hotel we had our reservations with changed ownership and did not transfer our reservation information. Some of my students changed a non smoking room into a smoking room. Taking a group was hard work. Getting everyone’s money, trying to making a rooming list where everyone was happy. (Which is mathematically impossible!!) With all the logistical and personnel issues, it was still worth it.

I saw my kids worshiping with like believers from all over the state. I saw my kids making new friends and seeing old friends that they had met at camp, and Fine Arts. They got a picture of the body of Christ that they could not get at my church. They saw how large and diverse it was. They saw others clapping for missionaries. Their fire for God was rekindled and many were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

So as I sat at the church at 7:30 p.m. with a student whose mother thought the pick up time was 9:00 p.m. I thought, it was still worth it.

If you haven’t made plans to come to Fall Fling it is not too late. Let me encourage you to bring your kids. I know they will enjoy it. If I can help you please call or email me.

This year at Fall Fling, the unsaved will be won, disciples will be encouraged, missions’ money will be raised, friendships renewed, campus missionaries will be called and commissioned, and Jesus will be lifted up. It is a win win for everyone. Will your kids be a part??

October 2006

When do you dream? When do you shut the door, pull out a blank piece of paper and prayerfully allow God to speak to you about the ministry you are leading. Genesis records the creator with a specific, detailed plan about the order of the universe. Not only did he have this plan, but he also had a chronological order in which the plan would be released. Sometimes we as leaders:

· Implement a plan and hope and pray that God will bless it.

· “Creatively adopt” a plan that has been successful somewhere else

· We put in a ministry plan without understanding God’s order and or timing.

These errors can lead to frustration and confusion.

Please know that God has a plan for your ministry. It will be unique to you in size, scope and to your community. It will be something far beyond what you can do with your present skills and resources. Allow yourself the time to stop and listen to the creator. Allow God to birth in you what Bill Hybels calls “big hairy audacious” dreams.

Take and afternoon, drive to a park or a place that is quiet. Listen intently; the dream giver has something in store for you.

October 2006

Sept. 13, 2006 Montreal, Canada , Kimveer Gill, 25, opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon at Dawson College . Anastasia De Sousa, 18, died and more than a dozen students and faculty were wounded before Gill killed himself.

Sept. 26, 2006 Bailey, Colo Adult male held six students hostage at Platte Canyon High School and then shot and killed Emily Keyes, 16, and himself.

Sept. 29, 2006 Cazenovia , Wis. A 15-year-old student shot and killed Weston School principal John Klang.

Oct. 3, 2006 Nickel Mines, Pa . 32-year-old Carl Charles Roberts IV entered the one-room West Nickel Mines Amish School and shot 10 schoolgirls, ranging in age from 6 to 13 years old, and then himself. Five of the girls and Roberts died.

We are all aware of the recent school shootings we have seen on the news. I think we are reaping in our schools i.e. our society the fruit of godlessness that we have been sowing for decades. My concern is that the behavior of a few will cause schools to close their doors to Youth Pastors, Campus Clubs, Youth Alive Missionaries, and things like “The 7 Project”. Rapidly the door may be closing for outside ministry to our schools.

It is imperative that we raise up and train young people on our campuses. I think the day of the local church youth Pastor in a prominent position of influence on the campus will soon be over. We need to prepare young people to fill the vacuum this creates. The strength of the “Youth Alive” concept is that the youth Pastor has never been the focus it has always been the student.

The book of Acts tells us the victorious results that can occur when doors are shut.

Acts8: 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

I love this passage. Regardless of adversity God will always raise up someone up at the right time to share their faith. Now is the time for our students to live and share as they never have.

• Let’s pray for our local schools
• Let’s pray for teachers and administrators.
• Let’s pray for bold students to live out their faith in difficult circumstances

September 2006

In l938, 10,000 German Jewish families received orders from the Nazi’s that their children were being forcibly moved to England for the duration of the war. They were to take them to the local train station in two weeks. “Two Weeks!!!” Can you imagine having only two weeks to plant in the heart of your child things that would guide them the rest of their lives? “Two Weeks!!”

With the uncertainness of eternity, the soon return of our Lord, and the rising tide of godlessness in our culture, we must make sure the impact we make upon our teens is done quickly.

I don’t care if you have a great delivery, excellent powerpoint and show a clip from a recent movie. We cannot afford to face our teens with a word that has not been birthed in prayer and a powerless delivery. Time is important. The older a teenager gets, the more their values and spiritual formation that will guide the rest of their lives, have been established.

It is like drying cement. The longer you wait the more difficult it is to form.

Paul said

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

My prayer for you is that God will birth a word in your hearts as you wait before him. Sermon helps and tools are wonderful but only God can a life changing word. Our students need it!!!August 2007