Archive for pmconnect
Win FREE Tickets to the D6 Conference!
From now, until September 1, you could win one of two sets of tickets to the upcoming D6 conference in Dallas, Texas.
To enter, simply use our INVITE tool to help us spread the word about this community.
Every invitation sent equals one more chance of being randomly selected to receive the FREE tickets.
On September 2nd, if your name is drawn, you will be contacted to accept or reject the tickets. Upon acceptance, the winner’s name will be given to Randall House Publishing, creators of the D6 Conference, for receipt of prizes.
How to spot a #ministry guru
1). they are using a Mac
2). they are sippiing Starbucks
2) … ummm… 2) part two, they probably have their pinky up
3). they are sporting a go-tee
4). people are sitting at their feet to gain wisdom
Ok, so forget the first 3, err… 4, a real guru is spotted, not by stereotypes, but by who is sitting at their feet to learn.
And here enters my thoughts on social networking… a study was done, you may have heard of it, called 6-degrees of separation. Yes, that annoying facebook thing is grounded in real sociological science. It has to do with a “small-world experiment” performed by Stanley Milgram. Just in case you slept through sociology in college, here’s a link to the wiki-pedia article: click here.
Milgram, boiled down, said we are six people separated from anyone in the country. His experiments proved this to be true… however, now it is all different. With social networking, brought to you by Al Gore’s internet, we are virtually one or two degrees of separation from everyone on the planet. Now, I haven’t done the science to prove it; but, I think it stands to reason that if you can google someone’s contact info, track them via twitter, read their blog, friend them on facebook, and get a G.P.S. address to their back door… then we’ve broken down some barriers.
We are freakishly connected. Seriously, just ask your grandma or your mom, they’ll probably tell you it’s a little bit weird that you have all of your personal information online.
This is a scary thought: In our super-connected, high speed world, we can all claim to be gurus.
However, and this is my point, the true test of a guru is going to be right there at their feet. Because you can fake the funk, self-promote, and sale goods as ministry all day… but, people are smart and they will see through it… in ministry, the gurus are the ones to whom God has given a voice and an audience. They are time weathered and ministry tested.
Here are some people I have found to be trust worthy sources of wisdom and guidance within their specially gifted areas:
Urban Ministry/Inner City: Denny Dillman, James Kennison, Jared Kennedy
Small Groups: Bill Search (my boss)
Leadership: Reggie Joiner, Jim Wideman, Dave Stone, Bill Search, Brett Deyoung, Brad Devries
Children’s Ministry on a large scale: Jim Wideman, Sue Miller, Craig Jutilla, Steve Young
Children’s Ministry worship: Yancy, Sara Semenick, Jason Hauser
Children’s Ministry at a smaller to medium sized church: Ryan Frank, Rick Chromey
Children’s Ministry at a church plant: Stephanie Porter
Children’s Ministry at a satelitte campus: Pudge Huckaby
Children’s Ministry related events: Roger Fields
Children’s Ministry in a desperate place: Justyn Smith
Children’s Ministry videos: Eric Peterson, Matt Melton, Todd Hampson, Phil Vischer
Junior High Ministry: Jon McCallon
Senior High Ministry: Matt Reagan
College Ministry: Ben Hardman
Conferences: Nevan Hooker, Judy Comstock, Roger Fields
Crazy faces and creativity: Johnny Rogers
Being a constant student: Spencer Click
Blogging and Twitter: Sam Luce, Kenny Conley, Jonathan Cliff, Matt Guevara, Gina McClain
Portable Church: Dave Dummit, Brad Tate
Canada: Henry Zonio
Australia: David Wakerly, Rob Bradbury
Graphic Art: Brandon Milburn
Preteen Ministry: Rob Tuma, Nick Diliberto, Patrick Snow
Fitness: Michelle Romaine
Scholars: Rick Chromey, Diane Garland
Free Resources: Andy Johnson
Looking really pretty: Rose Chanley (my wife… yes, I know… it’s shameless)
Family Ministry: Reggie Joiner, Brian Vanderark
These servants of the church may not qualify as gurus in your book. They are people that I know I can go to for help in specific areas of ministry. Each of them are humble enough to be approachable and to share their thoughts, counsel, and encouragement.
I hope you have your own list… if not, well, maybe YOU are the guru we’ve all been looking for!
Why now is the perfect time to plan for 2010.
August is upon us… summer is over… vbs is done, so is camp… and, don’t forget, your budget will probably be due in the next couple of months.
For most Student and Children’s Ministers your schedule is lightening up, except for those of us who have a fall promotion. egads!
So, now is the time to plan for 2010.
Here are some things to think about:
- What will you do differently next summer?
- What lessons did you learn this summer?
- Can you plan for a better spring/fall transition in 2010?
- What programs or events will need special budget consideration in 2010?
- In five years where do you feel God is leading your ministry?
- What step in 2010 can you take to advance that purpose?
- What conference would you like to attend?
- Who will travel with you to the conference?
- Do you need to add to your training budget?
- Will you invite a speaker to train your volunteers?
- What will you need to budget for their honorarium?
- Do you need to improve your environments?
Take a day and pray over these decisions. Make a strategic plan for 2010 and then begin to build the necessary partnership, identify the needed resources, and, most importantly, pray for God’s leading.
Your 2010 can be so much better than your 2009 has been… just don’t wait until January to make a plan. You need to plan now for a succesful start to the new year.
Looking for a new calling?
Ever wonder if there is something else out there?
Your church having trouble finding the right candidate for an open position?
Now, we can help!
Check out our new career center under the “Callings” tab.
It is free for the next 30 days… just enter code: PURECALLING.
Supporting Orphan Impact
Travel to a third world country will change your life. It convicts and challenges us to evaluate our blessed station in life. Some individuals are moved from conviction to action. Craig Jutila is one such person.
When I first heard Craig’s vision to help other families adopt children from over seas I was on board. I saw the need first hand during my travels as a Marine. I knew it was the right thing to do. However, I didn’t know how I could help until I met Jessica Jenkins the Director of Operations for Orphan Impact.
Please take a moment to read Jessica’s guest blog and prayerfully consider supporting Orphan Impact. Your church could play a key role in helping to connect families to orphans who desperately need hope.
We are excited about the things God is doing at Orphan Impact and would love to tell you more, you contact us at info@orphanimpact.com“
Do you know what is more encouraging than God’s Word?
Is it a kind word from a friend? No…
Is it a brand new car? Nooo….
Is it a chocolate milkshake? Nope…
Give up? Let me give you a hint…
It has rhythm.
It will make you smile.
It’s great for the whole family.
Ok, ok… I’ll tell you….
it’s GOD’S WORD set to great music!
If you have a hard time getting your kids to memorize God’s Word?
Have you ever wanted to fill your home, car, or office with the sound of scriptures set to great music?
What if you could be encouraged through worship that is safe and fun for the whole family?
By setting scripture to cool music with a great beat, Seeds Family Worship makes all of this possible!
Seeds has been a real blessing to me. On days when I am feeling a little discouraged and very hurried, I pop one of their albums in my cd player and it helps me to get my focus back. There really is nothing more encouraging than God’s Word. The great thing about having His Word set to music is that you can listen to it on the go. I even find myself singing the songs all day; because, they are so catchy and fun.
“So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater.”
I Corinthians 3:7
A little more about Seeds Family Worship:
Seeds Family Worship was planted when worship leader Jason Houser recognized a need for quality music for the families of his church. He began writing songs and singing them with the kids and families he knew. The songs were well-crafted, catchy, and taken straight from scripture. Now, five albums later, the seeds of God’s Word have been planted in the hearts of thousands of families all over the world.
Seeds Family Worship is about planting God’s Word in the hearts of families.
Why do they do it?
The crew at Seeds Family Worship believes getting families worshiping God and learning scripture together is more important than anything else. Period. So, whether it’s an album of music, a live event, a conference, or a new product, everything they do grows out of that motivation and encouragement. That’s what I like about them.
God’s Word + Good Music + Family Time + Lots of Fun = Seeds Family Worship
To book Seeds Family Worship Live at your church, contact them at 615-463-7398.
As much fun as the albums are, the live events must be a great time.
Book a LIVE EVENT today… for a preview, watch this short video!
Find more videos like this on cmconnect.org
We are Twittered
Join twitter today.
If you are a member of twitter, you can now direct message anyone who follows our communities there.
First, follow us by clicking on one of these links:
Second, to connect to all of our tweets through a direct message, type:
d + communinty name + your text
For example, if I wanted to let everyone know I posted a new forum at smconnect, I would tweet this:
d smconnect Check out my new forum at www.smconnect.org.
It’s that simple.
Please don’t abuse this new tool. It is meant to help you connect with and about our community. Thanks for all you do.
Click here to find me on twitter: Michael Chanley
Video Forums
You have a voice and we want to hear it!
Starting today our members will be able to embed videos into our forum discussions. Okay, actually, you’ve been able to do this all along. However, no one has chosen too. Why? Well, I’ve been wondering that very thing. Maybe it’s because no one has asked or we all feel like we don’t have anything important to say. Rubbish.
I would like to encourage you to help us in developing this resource. God has invested talents in you. He has given you unique strengths and insight… experience. Our communities will benefit from what you have to say. As our community grows and more voices are shared we will begin to develop a more dynamic resource of free training material from people who are in the trenches doing ministry.
So, consider yourself invited. The door is open for you to share in this new innovative training. Here are some easy first steps:
1. Create a short video (keep it under 5 minutes).
2. Then follow the steps in the FAQ section to upload your video to one of our sites.
3. Embed it in your blog, forum, profile page, group, or event. You can even post it at other sites.
Don’t bury your talents in the sand… get your experience embedded into our community so God can use you to help others become better ministers.
Here is a link to a video posted at parentunity: You have a voice… we want to hear it.
Children are to be seen and not heard?
One of the hurdles to Group Life is figuring out what to do with our children. Should they stay or should they go? Do we include or exclude them? How do we handle discipline issues as a group? Is it any wonder why some say, “Better seen and not heard” then send the kids to the basement and plug in VeggieTales?
There are many ways we can engage our entire family in the Group Experience. Here are some practical ways to make it happen for your group:
Set realistic goals. Don’t expect preschoolers to be able to sit perfectly still. Allow some space for them to move around. Give them something to do that relates to the lesson. It is okay if your teens don’t talk… that’s normal.
Involve kids in service. Preteens are looking for a purpose in life. Give them a job. Have them assist the host or ask them to help with service projects or even reading the bible aloud.
Get feedback. Take time to listen to the perspectives of the children in your family group. Allow them to answer or relate the answer to something they are familiar with. For example, something they heard on TV or a favorite game.
Have a flexible plan. Include everyone in the group experience. Plan your lesson/discussion around the ages, if possible. If you have teens in the room, ask them to participate. Again, don’t force it. The idea is to create opportunities to connect.
Take a time out. Allow the kids to move to another room if they become distracted. If behavior becomes an issue, allow families some private space to talk things out. Discussing this in advance can head off lots of tension for young families.
Start small. It is okay to plan the group experience around the attention span of the kids. Spend the first 15 minutes with the children in the room, allow them to go play, and then close the group time with everyone back together. Keep it simple!
When we involve the whole family in our study and prayer time everyone wins. This is where we model community life and cultivate deeper family connections.
brandonmilburn
cmconnect
parentunity
pmconnect
purecalling
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