I read “Organic Community” by Joseph Myers again for the 3rd time and it has triggered hundreds of thoughts once again.
Who has read this book and what are your learnings?
Monthly Archive for May, 2008
Let’s begin a daily chat. You can “follow” me on Twitter and “add as friend” on Facebook. These are my two favorite social media connections.
Anyone and everyone can follow my twitters. This is where you can see what I am doing and who I am meeting with throughout the day. I will also be providing ministry tips throughout the day as well.
When hooking up with me on Facebook please put in the comment section which church you are from and that you are hooking up via Street to the Seat (STTS). Facebook provides a “chat” feature that will allow me to dialog with you while I am online from anywhere in the world.
Join me!
Wanted to share the joy with you. We have over 100 daily subscribers to Street to the Seat with several thousand hits each month.
Continue to get the word out.
Thanks for being a part of our learning community.
Leave a post in the “comment” section so that we can share our learnings together.
Finishing up our “Wired” series. This weekend we have”Wired to Desire“. This might be an idea for you as you consider getting persons engaged in serving others in your church and community.
Rolling into our 3rd week of “WIRED” we are launching our Volunteer Central on all campuses as a way to continue assisting persons in finding their sweet spot in ministry.
Our communications team has put together a great theme which helps tremendously in helping persons take next steps.
What are some ways you are using to help persons take next steps in serving the church?
As an update… after last weeks numbers came in we had 1,026 persons step up. That is up from the 850 number I gave you early on. With this past weekends “Wired to Inspire” sermon by Todd and Shaun I am sure we’ll have hundreds more coming forward.
The million dollar question,
“What do I do with this list of names you gave me from the Ministry Fair?”
If you are asking this question it tells me that you might not have been as prepared as you thought you were. But since you have found yourself at this point, here are a couple of suggestions.
This is NOT an exhaustive list, just a few things that came to mind as I was thinking through some things our team are working on.
Tips for follow-up:
1. Email thank you - within 24 hours of the time they sign up you should have an email sent to them just saying thanks for their availability. Make it short and sweet. Give them basic information and let them know you’ll be following up with them in the next couple of days.
2. Phone call with 48 hours - have you and your “ministry partner” leaders on the phone within 48 hours saying thank you to ever persons for taking a step of faith and trying a ministry. Let them know of the upcoming training dates and times as well as reminding them they are only agreeing to try the ministry out. This isn’t a permanent position, but a “test drive”.
3. Letter in the mail ASAP - give them basis ministry description, roles availability, training dates, and contact information for their questions.
4. Training Manuals - have a training manual ready for every ministry position. Make it simple. Someone needs to be able to pick up the manual and have a basic understand of what it is you are asking them to do, how it fits the vision, and how often you are asking them to serve.
5. Next Steps - provide a next step strategy for those who are new to the church. I recommend at simple process like 101-501. We call it “Get In The Game” at Christ Fellowship. This is a great opportunity to get persons on board with the mission and vision of the church. It is imperative that persons get involved in your basic steps to assimilation as they are beginning to serve.
I’m sure we could think of another 5 - 7 things that would be great next steps as well.
What are some things that you are thinking of that might be helpful tips to our learning community?
Todd giving props to his dad, “COACH”. Coach is our Senior Pastor Tom Mullins. He is a servant to the core.
Today is the day to step up to the plate and TEST DRIVE a ministry. If you’d like to join the Christ Fellowship online team. DO IT. www.gochristfellowship.com
“Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.”James 1:22 (NIV)
Todd is talking about things we can do to inspire.
4.We Inspire Others When We:
* GIVE
“Give as freely as you have received!”Matt 10:8 (NLT)
Pastors Todd Mullins and Shaun Blakeney
Todd is referencing Mother Theresa. Todd is now telling the story of some of our ladies who ministered to Shelia in Fort Pierce, Florida. Todd is ready the email that Shelia sent to the ladies. COOL Story.
* SACRIFICE
What are you sacrificing that you value. Todd is talking about our special needs ministry. We host special needs children every Saturday morning for horseback riding on our campus. That’s right… we have horse stables on our campus for children in the community who have special needs.
“Be imitators of God,therefore,as dearly loved children and
live a life of love,just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up
for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Eph 5:1-2 (NIV)
“…Do not forget to do good and to share with others,for with
such sacrifices God is pleased.”Heb 13:16 (NIV)
* SERVE
We are an inspiration when we pick up a basin and a towel. Have you ever been around a person who is humble in nature. Todd is giving honor to Brian Benjamin (adult team member) who is on the Royal Palm Campus. Brian is a steller dude… a humble servant. Brian, YOU ROCK
“For we are God’s workmanship,created in Christ Jesus to do
good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Eph 2:10 (NIV)
“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere;but they all originate in
God’s Spirit.God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere;but
they all originate in God’s Spirit.God’s various expressions of power are
in action everywhere;but God Himself is behind it all.Each person is
given something to do that shows who God is:Everyone gets in on it,
everyone benefits.”1 Cor 12:5-7 (Msg)
1.What Inspiration Is Not: (Shaun Blakeney)
* EMOTIONAL
* SELF-SERVING
Shaun telling stories about inspiration. Doing the right thing is inspiring.
Shaun just called his wife Teresa “Jesus Jr.”. He was reference her desire to shoot another parent at laser tag.
Shaun has been a Youth Pastor for 16 years. Shaun is giving credit to his old youth pastor, “Richard”. Richard was inspirational in Shaun’s life in being a youth pastor
2.What Inspiration Is: (Shaun Blakeney)
* INFLUENCE
* POWER - a respect thing.
Shaun talking about Paul from the New Testament. He inspired everyone he was around.
I want to be an influencer.
3.Authentic inspiration requires ACTION.
“Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has
it? For instance,you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and
half-starved and say,”Good morning,friend! Be clothed in Christ!
Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so
much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it
obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?”
James 2:15-17 (Msg)“…You are a chosen people.You are a kingdom of priests,God’s holy
nation,His very own possession.This is so you can show others the
goodness of God,for He called you out of the darkness into His
wonderful light.”1 Pet 2:9 (NLT)
“…You are a chosen people.You are a kingdom of priests,God’s holy
nation,His very own possession.This is so you can show others the
goodness of God,for He called you out of the darkness into His
“Give as freely as you have received!”Matt 10:8 (NLT)
Wired to Inspire - Part 2 is being taught by Pastors Todd Mullins and Shaun Blakeney. This weekend, Pastor Todd Mullins will continue to teach on the joys of service, and on how your servant’s heart will motivate and change the people around you. have you been waiting for the inspiration to do God’s work? Stop Waiting.
Joining Pastor Todd to deliver the message is Shaun Blakeney, Gardens Campus Pastor of Student Ministries. Pastor Shaun, who has been in Student Ministry since 1991, graduate from Florida Christian College and Indiana Wesleyan University. His passion? “Seeing students be radically changed forever.”
A spiritual gift is given to each of us as means of helping the entire church. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NLT)
We have just opened the service led by James Duvall (Worship Pastor)… Good stuff.
Watching a video on “One Life” our campaign to launch our Online campus, Stuart Campus, and build our new Life Center on the Gardens Campus.
Stay tuned for the message…