So if you could pitch to your senior pastor to talk about the concept of "Next Gen" to the entire body, what points exactly would you want him to make? I just started reading Compassion International President Wess Stafford's book Too Small to Ignore and already in the first chapter it is rocking my face off. I was reading it out loud to my 7th grade son and I got choked up approximately 4 times. One time was just plain ridiculous actually. I couldn't get through a story about D.L. Moody I've heard a dozen times. I am so passionate about the mission of leading the next generation into a relationship with Christ that I honestly have a hard time even getting my head to comprehend how it's not just a no-brainer that children and youth aren't the number one priority of the church.
Anyway, enough about what I think. What are the driving points about this topic that don't single out parents but apply to the entire body of Christ that you think must be a part of such a series?
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
compassion and children's ministry
I'm going with my long-time friend Scott Werner from Compassion International to the Children's Pastors' Conference in San Diego in March to talk about how to incorporate compassion efforts as a strategy for better children's ministry. I already wrote a little about my thoughts on this during Orange Week but I'd really like to hear from you. How can making compassion for the poor a priority increase the effectiveness of your ministry to kids and families?
Share your experiences and/or thoughts. I'll shamelessly steal them, but then you'll get to influence leaders you've never met and that's always nice. :)
Share your experiences and/or thoughts. I'll shamelessly steal them, but then you'll get to influence leaders you've never met and that's always nice. :)
my favorite video on the internet
Although I do love a good Tripp and Tyler video and my long-time favorite was the Barats and Bereta Mother's Day video, I have decided to officially name this video by Compassion International as my favorite video on the internet. Enjoy.
Leverage Influence
My team spends a lot of time talking about exactly what pieces to put in each one-hour experience. What's going to be the most effective? What will make it sticky? What will really grab their attention? But in the last several months I think we've finally started to shift our discussion to the better Orange questions.
What can we incorporate into this hour that will draw them into action during the week? How can we make their stories from home a part of what we share with others? Is this message immediately actionable? What outcomes will we see in kids and students who are jumping into this and putting it into practice in their lives?
With all the effort I've put into curriculum development and other aspects of creating the church experience over the years, I can truly say that when we hear amazing stories of life transformation from kids and students, it has always been things they've actually done outside of the church walls that made the difference. Sure, something in a message or discussion question or illustration may have been a catalyst to get that rolling, but the change in their hearts took place while they were serving.
My very favorite quote from this chapter in Think Orange is, "You don't begin to serve when you feel compassion, you feel compassion as you start to serve." Our role then is (this is probably an awful example!) is the drug dealer who passes out free samples to kids on the neighborhood playground. We do whatever it takes to get them hooked. :) I have found it to be true in my life, and it gets confirmed again every time a friend gets back from a mission trip, that little opportunities to serve and give are just a gateway drug to the really hard stuff. You get them to sponsor a needy child in Africa, and next thing you know, they're writing letters to them and pretty soon they're all strung out on spending their weekends ministering to the kids in shelters.
Today, at the Orange One Day in Dallas, I know the Compassion International people will be there too talking to us about how we can make a difference in Haiti. Don't think of stuff like that as an intermission the real show. This past weekend, my son gave more in our Haiti offering than I did. And that's cool with me. The outcome of a church full of compassion junkies is about the best you could hope for. :)
What can we incorporate into this hour that will draw them into action during the week? How can we make their stories from home a part of what we share with others? Is this message immediately actionable? What outcomes will we see in kids and students who are jumping into this and putting it into practice in their lives?
With all the effort I've put into curriculum development and other aspects of creating the church experience over the years, I can truly say that when we hear amazing stories of life transformation from kids and students, it has always been things they've actually done outside of the church walls that made the difference. Sure, something in a message or discussion question or illustration may have been a catalyst to get that rolling, but the change in their hearts took place while they were serving.
My very favorite quote from this chapter in Think Orange is, "You don't begin to serve when you feel compassion, you feel compassion as you start to serve." Our role then is (this is probably an awful example!) is the drug dealer who passes out free samples to kids on the neighborhood playground. We do whatever it takes to get them hooked. :) I have found it to be true in my life, and it gets confirmed again every time a friend gets back from a mission trip, that little opportunities to serve and give are just a gateway drug to the really hard stuff. You get them to sponsor a needy child in Africa, and next thing you know, they're writing letters to them and pretty soon they're all strung out on spending their weekends ministering to the kids in shelters.
Today, at the Orange One Day in Dallas, I know the Compassion International people will be there too talking to us about how we can make a difference in Haiti. Don't think of stuff like that as an intermission the real show. This past weekend, my son gave more in our Haiti offering than I did. And that's cool with me. The outcome of a church full of compassion junkies is about the best you could hope for. :)
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