As I left I started thinking about “family trees.” I started thinking about what makes trees grow and grow healthy. Water, soil, sun. Those things aren’t the tree. They affect the tree. They influence so many things about the tree. But they aren’t the tree. Without these things in appropriate amounts the tree is fruitless, dead, and weak. But they aren’t the tree. They are connected. They are important. They are even vital to life. But they aren’t the tree.

Thinking of trees, my mind took me to Psalm 1. There we see a man who is happy because he does not follow poor advice, he is on the right path and doesn’t associate with a negative group of people. This man is then compared to a tree that has been planted (which gives the idea that it is where it is intentionally, strategically, and with purpose) by “rivers of water.” Most of us don’t need a degree in horticulture to understand that a tree would be placed there because of the healthy, nutrient rich soil, plentiful water supply and direct access to sunlight. All of the things it needs to grow but aren’t the tree itself.

So, what’s my point? Right!?! It’s simple… Are you, as a parent, strategically, intentionally and purposefully placing your family tree in an environment to grow spiritually healthy? Do you have a plan to provide the secondary influences in your children’s life so that they will have the “water,soil,sun” that they need? One of the values that we teach families at New Church is the importance of a “second voice.” While we as a church may provide leaders in our Next-Gen Ministries that are trained, background checked, and passionate about working with children, it is not our responsibility to determine a child’s spiritual growth. That responsibility falls on the shoulders of the parent. Do you know personally the people who work with your children on Sunday? Do you know your child’s small group leader? Have you talked with other adults about your plan regarding their influence with your child?

I had the privilege of hearing a pastor from Canada talk about this very subject. Carey Neiuwhof wrote a great book for parents with Reggie Joiner called Parent Beyond Your Capacity. As he talked about the book he started in on a story that really grabbed me. He explained that as his oldest son reached middle school he prepared a strategy to place alternate adult influences in his life. He asked 5 different men of godly character to spend one day with his son within the next year. He explained that he wanted them to share truth, advice, and character with his son. They could do whatever they wanted to that day and he would pay for it. He gave his son a journal. He asked his son to record each day with these men. At the end of the year he threw a “men only” bar-b-que with his son and these men. This was designed to share stories of those days of influence and for each man to once again speak into the life of his son.

Now that’s intentional. That’s strategic. That is parenting. Are you willing to do what it takes to see your family grow spiritually healthy? Evaluate your family’s water, soil, and sun. Who’s influencing your child? Did you have a hand in that influence? Get involved. Get strategic. Get a purpose. Your family is worth it!

1.) What is the end? When we move children through ministries within our local church we must think about “the end.” If we aren’t looking that far ahead we will short-change the next generation. Depending on who you ask, I bet you would get several different answers about the definition of “the end.” The nursery worker may see it as the time that child moves to elementary. The elementary small group leader may see it as the closing of another school year and the end of that current small group. The youth pastor, parent, and the rest of the church may see it as graduation. Adolescent Development experts and Sociologists would definitely disagree with all of those. When talking about next-gen/youth/children’s/family ministry the end must be defined in terms adolescence (11-23) and adulthood (24). Therefore, my definition of “the end” is this; “The complete development of a productive and reproductive adult believer who is living out the strategic mission and core values of their local church.”

2.) How are going to get to the end? This question is almost as important as the first. Every local church must strategically plan the intentional development of their children and families. Since the Bible clearly lays out the parental responsibility of the spiritual growth of children we must think outside of our programs and focus on “the end” with the entire family in mind. Thinking this way may involve starting new, ending old, redeveloping systems, and possibly even destroying personal “kingdoms” within your ministry. The church has to include the family dynamic as a whole to clearly see “the end” happen. The church leadership must view children’s ministry, youth ministry, and college and career ministry as mutually inclusive. One cannot survive without the other. The end cannot be reached unless all of the leadership within each of those ministries is clear on the definition of “the end” and the strategic plan to get there.

3.) The last thing I want to talk about regarding “the end” is the current success rate of churches if we consider the definition laid out earlier. I can throw statistics at you all day long but I’m going to keep it simple. I got these from the talk by Reggie Joiner that I mentioned earlier. First, 95% of evangelicals (churched and unchurched) surveyed claimed to have been involved in church during their elementary and middle school years. Second, only 55% say they were still involved during their high school years. Last, that number dropped off to 11% still involved after their high school years. But of that 11%, only 6% were not currently involved in church. Meaning, the greatest chance of achieving “the end” is continuing the relationship between adolescents and the church all the way to adulthood. The simple fact is… we aren’t doing that. Something has to change. There are generations behind us that need us to constantly focus on “the end” and reach “the end” successfully.

New Church has been going awesome and I know there are people out there wondering how everything is going. I can tell you that it’s been over and above anything I could have imagined to this point. We have been pleasantly surprised time after time. I’m looking forward to the launch on Jan. 9th.

I’m also looking forward to getting back into blogging. It’s a discipline that really helps me in my writing, thinking, and overall communication. So, just as the Terminator said, “I’ll be back.”

Why not? I like to think big. Mostly, I like to think big because when you get started you only have one way to go… down. Maybe your ideas seem unreasonable. Maybe your project seems unattainable. Good. It’s kind of like the quote, “Shoot for the moon and maybe you will hit a star.”

Some of the coolest things we see in marketing, promotions, and events probably started out as completely ridiculous in the idea stage. Then they ended up awesome but not as big as planned.

Take your ideas and run… when you come across a hurdle you may have to ditch something. But if you start big you will end big.

This takes leadership. You may not be the person to take this responsibility, but you sit in creative meetings and know that person has to exist. The best thing that can happen in brainstorming meetings is a “full stop” of the ideas. I’ve been there… you know what I mean. The first meeting your team throws out ideas. You brainstorm. You create. You get outside the box. Things are written down and everyone leaves excited about the project. Then you meet the next week. Things start off the same way. But in the week between meetings everyone seems to have new ideas. So, the creative flow begins. The meeting ends with the project no further along than before. Meeting three comes and the same thing occurs.

The best thing for a creative mind is a hardworking hand. If ideas flow and only make it to paper you’ve done nothing. This is where a leader must step up and be the Start/Stop button for the creative machine. Organizations that seem to always be on the cutting edge exist that way because they have one person that guides the group to a landing point.

Feeling creative? Good… now make something happen. Don’t be content living in the clouds. Make something happen!

1.) DON’T BE CREATIVE JUST TO BE CREATIVE

So many times the temptation is to just be creative. This is a tendency that anyone working with marketing, event planning, or designing struggles with. I’ve learned that being creative for creativity’s sake is dangerous. You run the risk of being confusing, deceptive, and irrelevant when you try too hard.

There are some intangibles that have to be in place with areas like marketing or event planning. Keep those intact. “Thinking outside of the box” is fine as long as the box still exists. Your consumer, guest, or volunteers need the box. They need to know what to expect to an extent. Be creative. Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been to events and churches that were frustratingly creative. In an attempt to be funny, cutting-edge, and relevant the exact opposite occurred.

Be careful… be purposeful… be creative… be intentional. Don’t be creative for creativity’s sake. Make sense. Make an impact.

First, I want to praise God for His provision during the actual move in faith. Things happened by way of finances, job placement, and even new New Church possibilities after we actually left. Things we couldn’t see. Things we would’ve done differently. Things that were out of our control, just happened. But they didn’t happen until we moved like God was in control.

Next, I want to praise God for Grace Point Church. They allowed me to communicate in the adult environment on the Sunday we left and it was an awesome experience. I am thankful for a church that chose to LAUNCH my wife and I instead of LOSE us. They weren’t happy for us to leave but they saw a greater purpose and they support that. Thank you Devin, Ty, Ashley, Heidi, Derek, Michael, and those of you who I don’t have room to write specifically.

Lastly, I praise God for family and friends. People matter. Experiences with those people are better than expenses. It is so cool to me that God allowed me to marry a woman with such a great family. I don’t have time to detail it out but man I love her family. My family is so supportive as well. Things in our life happen because of our support system and God is getting the glory. That’s a big deal. Also, we have friends that matter a great deal. I can’t name them all but you know who you are, and thank you!

God is awesome. Maybe you’re waiting on God. Maybe He’s waiting on you. Get active in your faith. Do the hard thing. Give him room to work miracles.

I had the privilege of being ordained into the ministry by Grace Point Church last Sunday. It was a humbling moment. Having great men of God lay hands on me and Martha and pray for us in our ministry meant the world to me. Grace Point has had an irreversible impact our lives and I am so happy to forever linked to them. I don’t take it lightly that they are our sending church. I have a responsibility to God in ministry but also to the people of GP.

It was also great having my parents fly in  (through many delays and such) to see me ordained. My parents are unusual people. They are unusually giving. They have unusual hearts for God and their children. Most of all they are unusually faithful. Also, my good friend and partner in ministry with New Church, TJ Ward, was able to fly out to Vegas for the ordination. He was invited by Devin Hudson (lead pastor of GP) to pray over me during the ordination which was an unexpected surprise. My sister and her husband came up from San Diego for the weekend as well. I couldn’t help but sit with these people and think of the blessing it is to have people. Stuff doesn’t compare to meaningful relationships. And that’s a good thing because I don’t have much stuff.

I’m officially a pastor… but more importantly I am a son, brother, friend, and servant of Jesus. I am called and blessed!

It’s official… Martha and I will be leaving Las Vegas and Grace Point Church at the end of July. This is a bitter sweet exodus for us. We have loved our time in Vegas and have fallen in love with the people of Grace Point. But we also understand the importance of following God wherever, whenever. I am so happy that GP has chosen to launch us and really take ownership of our ministry as well. GP has also decided to ordain me as a pastor and for that I am truly humbled.

I was able to spend some time last month in our future home of Winston-Salem, NC with my good friend TJ Ward (lead pastor of New Church).  New Church is a church plant that is set to launch in 2011. We will be a vital part of the launch team and prayerfully we will move forward with New Church as it grows. This will be a new and unfamiliar adventure for us and we are very excited.  We have already seen God answer prayers regarding an apartment and job situations.

We will be sending out support letters soon, and we are praying for God to use our friends and family as financial partners with our ministry. So, be on the lookout… if ya know what I mean!

Last week we went to camp with the high school students of GP and it was awesome. We were able to see tangible results and answers to prayer. Several students made decisions to follow Christ for the first time and others repented of sin and are taking big steps in their journey. Thank you to those who have given for our students to make it to camp. The middle school students go next week and I am very optimistic about more changed lives.

Well that’s what’s been happening! Be on the lookout for more blogging… new blog series coming soon.

This may sound trite but it’s incredibly important. As human beings we feel connected to things to which we are included. Ownership is one of the best ways to create whole-hearted devotion to something. If a salesman doesn’t believe in the product he’s selling, he won’t be inclined to commit himself to his task. If a professional athlete feels he could be traded at any moment he will be less inclined to give 100%. The same goes with church. If people feel left out and take zero ownership of the local church, they will flake or fall out. Most churches don’t consider the college aged students in the grand scope of their church. For this reason they feel unnecessary, unwanted, and ostracized. They will find importance and acceptance somewhere. They will jump in and commit to something. If the church drives them away through ignorance and nonacceptance it has done a huge disservice to the gospel of Christ.

What can your church do to include college aged students? First, you can consider them important by strategically providing meaningful service opportunities. No church member feels more “in” than when they are serving with the body of believers for a worthwhile cause. Use the freedom and resources of 18-25 year olds to include them in service opportunities. Secondly, your church could intentionally begin to weave relevance into your adult environment. This may happen through music, video, creativity, or even broader application of God’s Word. Lastly, I suggest you give them something to invite their friends, coworkers, and classmates to. If they cannot be proud of the main Sunday service then you need to create something they can be proud of. I grew up in a place I felt hesitant to invite people to. If I was there now I know I couldn’t in great conscience invite lost, unchurched, searching people. Don’t do that to the next generation. Include them by taking their world into consideration.

Keep ‘em by including them. If you create a sense of ownership, acceptance, and family within your church for all age groups, I believe we can keep the next gen around long enough to watch them change the world!