About a month and a half ago, we had a big leadership meeting at our church. We gathered all of our leadership (deacons, teachers, ministry leaders) together for most of the day on a Saturday (yes, coffee and donuts and lunch were provided) and, as a staff, each took turns sharing with them a little about what we do, how we do it, and where we'd like to go in 2013.
Our pastor (@EGCoakley) shared first and, what he shared was pretty powerful. And do you know why? Because he used a prop. Who knew we could learn something about preaching from Carrot Top?
3/05/2013
3/02/2013
#OldSchoolCaseyJones
Confession: I love taking pictures.
It's something that I've enjoyed since I started college (way back when I was using Kodak Advantix). My junior year, I was able to buy a nice Canon Rebel that I used to cling to 35mm film photography until I began graphic design and had to make the switch to digital. I bought my first digital camera in 2006 (6 megapixels for, like, $300). Then, when I got my first iPhone in 2011, I went mobile. I began taking all of my pictures using my cell phone (which was a 5 megapixel camera). With my recent (December) upgrade to the iPhone 5, I've now got an 8 megapixel camera in my pocket at all times. (Booyah.)
So, needless to say, I'm on Instagram.
I could write pages about how much I love Instagram. But, for the purposes of this post, I'll limit my love to one thing.
During the month of February, I decided that i wanted to participate in one of those "photo a day" things. The one that I chose was created by FatMumSlim. But, here's the thing. I didn't want to do it in any normal way. I wanted something that would make it different and creative. Not to mention fun.
While hanging out with my brother one Sunday, I found one of my old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures in his room. It was Casey Jones. It was then that an idea (not to mention a #hashtag) was born.
Each day in February, I had a word or phrase to theme my picture with. Each day in February, Old School Casey Jones had an adventure. And I documented it on Instagram.
Click the jump to see the photos...
It's something that I've enjoyed since I started college (way back when I was using Kodak Advantix). My junior year, I was able to buy a nice Canon Rebel that I used to cling to 35mm film photography until I began graphic design and had to make the switch to digital. I bought my first digital camera in 2006 (6 megapixels for, like, $300). Then, when I got my first iPhone in 2011, I went mobile. I began taking all of my pictures using my cell phone (which was a 5 megapixel camera). With my recent (December) upgrade to the iPhone 5, I've now got an 8 megapixel camera in my pocket at all times. (Booyah.)
So, needless to say, I'm on Instagram.
I could write pages about how much I love Instagram. But, for the purposes of this post, I'll limit my love to one thing.
During the month of February, I decided that i wanted to participate in one of those "photo a day" things. The one that I chose was created by FatMumSlim. But, here's the thing. I didn't want to do it in any normal way. I wanted something that would make it different and creative. Not to mention fun.
While hanging out with my brother one Sunday, I found one of my old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures in his room. It was Casey Jones. It was then that an idea (not to mention a #hashtag) was born.
Each day in February, I had a word or phrase to theme my picture with. Each day in February, Old School Casey Jones had an adventure. And I documented it on Instagram.
Click the jump to see the photos...
10/16/2012
Advice To a Former Student
One of the joys of student ministry is that, sometimes, we get to see the results of our labor. This isn't always immediate. In fact, most of the time, it takes years.
One former student of mine is now a youth pastor himself! (This makes me feel both immensely proud and incredibly old.) Of course, every student chooses their own path.
I got a message from one of my former students a few weeks ago saying that, in recent years, he had "fallen out of faith" and asking for some advice on how to begin the spiritual growth process again.
What I wrote him isn't revolutionary, but I thought I'd share it here just in case you had a similiar situation.
One former student of mine is now a youth pastor himself! (This makes me feel both immensely proud and incredibly old.) Of course, every student chooses their own path.
I got a message from one of my former students a few weeks ago saying that, in recent years, he had "fallen out of faith" and asking for some advice on how to begin the spiritual growth process again.
What I wrote him isn't revolutionary, but I thought I'd share it here just in case you had a similiar situation.
9/24/2012
Student Discipleship Resources
In our student ministry at Trinity, we have three main programs.
First, is our MidWeek worship service. This is our "front door" program that we encourage students to bring their non-believing friends to so that they can get a taste of what church and God are all about.
Second, is Sunday School. Sunday School is where our students are divided into grade groups (6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12) and delve deeper into God's Word.
Finally, on Sunday evenings, we have our discipleship groups. Discipleship groups are divided up by gender and by high school and middle school. This is where we hope to train our students to tell others about their faith.
A good way to look at these three programs is through the lens of the SBC's "KNOWN" strategy: Our ministry exists to help students know Christ (MidWeek), own their faith (Sunday School), and make their faith known (discipleship groups).
This semester, we've begun using two resources that I wanted to pass along to you. One is the curriculum that we're using in our groups. The other, a series of youtube videos that could be used by anyone at any time!
First, is our MidWeek worship service. This is our "front door" program that we encourage students to bring their non-believing friends to so that they can get a taste of what church and God are all about.
Second, is Sunday School. Sunday School is where our students are divided into grade groups (6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12) and delve deeper into God's Word.
Finally, on Sunday evenings, we have our discipleship groups. Discipleship groups are divided up by gender and by high school and middle school. This is where we hope to train our students to tell others about their faith.
A good way to look at these three programs is through the lens of the SBC's "KNOWN" strategy: Our ministry exists to help students know Christ (MidWeek), own their faith (Sunday School), and make their faith known (discipleship groups).
This semester, we've begun using two resources that I wanted to pass along to you. One is the curriculum that we're using in our groups. The other, a series of youtube videos that could be used by anyone at any time!
9/10/2012
Resources For Worship Leaders
I love leading worship!
To be able to express my love for God though music and song, and help others do the same, is a beautiful thing!
Since taking on leadership of our student worship ministry, I've been introduced to some great resources for worship leaders that I wanted to let you know about. Check them out!
To be able to express my love for God though music and song, and help others do the same, is a beautiful thing!
Since taking on leadership of our student worship ministry, I've been introduced to some great resources for worship leaders that I wanted to let you know about. Check them out!
9/06/2012
Things I Love: Series 4
For some time now on my twitter, I've been posting a series of tweets about things I love. I figured I'd collect them all in one place (along with making some of them into links). You can check out the entire series by clicking here. I mean, this way, if you ever want to buy me a gift, you can. After all, my birthday is next month.
Question: What are some things that you love?
9/05/2012
ManCans
I love stories.
I'm especially moved and inspired by stories of teenagers using their passions or resources to change the world by helping others. Austin Gutwein is a great example of this. But I wanted to let you know of another story that I just found out about two days ago.
Two years ago, Hart Main was just 13 years old when his sister started selling candles for a school fundraiser. Thinking that the candles she was selling were "really girly scents", he wondered, "Why don't people sell candles with scents that men like?" Out of that idea, ManCans was born.
I'm especially moved and inspired by stories of teenagers using their passions or resources to change the world by helping others. Austin Gutwein is a great example of this. But I wanted to let you know of another story that I just found out about two days ago.
Two years ago, Hart Main was just 13 years old when his sister started selling candles for a school fundraiser. Thinking that the candles she was selling were "really girly scents", he wondered, "Why don't people sell candles with scents that men like?" Out of that idea, ManCans was born.
9/04/2012
STUDENT ministers
My boss, Bryant, has a great story of how, when he was in high school, he started attending our church. Half of it involves a cute girl talking to him. But the other half (the half this post has the most to do with) involves two other high school guys talking to him, and visiting him at his home.
Because of those two guys (that were his age) and the way they showed care for him, he knew that our church was a place he wanted to be. They also created in him a value that we are now trying to create in our ministry.
Because of those two guys (that were his age) and the way they showed care for him, he knew that our church was a place he wanted to be. They also created in him a value that we are now trying to create in our ministry.
8/21/2012
The Music Guy
I've been absolutely blessed to work with some amazing people in my career. And I've done my best to learn from every one of them.
Since moving back to South Carolina and starting my job at my home church, I've, once again, been given more than I deserve in coworkers. (Two guys I'm on staff with were members of the youth group with me in middle school and high school. I've known one of them since I was 2!)
A little under two months after I started, our church hired a new Music Pastor. His name is Jeremy Hansard and he's become one of my absolute favorite people to work with.
He's also started his own blog! I was originally going to point you there so that you can download a song he wrote for a children's music camp, but I see that he's been writing a little more since then. Check him out at jeremyhansard.com and, if you're in children's ministry, download and use his song!
Since moving back to South Carolina and starting my job at my home church, I've, once again, been given more than I deserve in coworkers. (Two guys I'm on staff with were members of the youth group with me in middle school and high school. I've known one of them since I was 2!)
A little under two months after I started, our church hired a new Music Pastor. His name is Jeremy Hansard and he's become one of my absolute favorite people to work with.
He's also started his own blog! I was originally going to point you there so that you can download a song he wrote for a children's music camp, but I see that he's been writing a little more since then. Check him out at jeremyhansard.com and, if you're in children's ministry, download and use his song!
8/20/2012
Psalm 112
I turned my life over to God almost 22 years ago.
I felt called to serve Him vocationally about 17 years ago.
I began my education to serve him 14 years ago.
I began my training almost 9 years ago.
And I started my first pastoral job a little over 7 years ago.
In all that time, I've been told of the importance of spending time in God's Word. I wish I could say that, for the whole 22 years, doing that has been a priority to me. But, to be honest, it hasn't. But I can say that, as an adult (and as a vocational minister), it has.
One thing that's always amazed me about the Bible is how God speaks to me so specifically through it. Now, I don't mean specific as in "to me only". I mean specific as in He speaks to events or relationships or troubles in my life. He doesn't speak to me in the form of general "fortune cookie" advice. He goes straight for my heart.
I felt called to serve Him vocationally about 17 years ago.
I began my education to serve him 14 years ago.
I began my training almost 9 years ago.
And I started my first pastoral job a little over 7 years ago.
In all that time, I've been told of the importance of spending time in God's Word. I wish I could say that, for the whole 22 years, doing that has been a priority to me. But, to be honest, it hasn't. But I can say that, as an adult (and as a vocational minister), it has.
One thing that's always amazed me about the Bible is how God speaks to me so specifically through it. Now, I don't mean specific as in "to me only". I mean specific as in He speaks to events or relationships or troubles in my life. He doesn't speak to me in the form of general "fortune cookie" advice. He goes straight for my heart.
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