How to Develop a Strategic Plan for Your Ministry
0 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 10/7/11 at 11:07 AM.
My good friend, Nate Hogan, has been in youth ministry for years. I just love learning from him. His expertise is in organizational leadership (the guy has a degree in it!) and helping shape the culture of youth ministry. He and I have lots of talks about the future of youth ministry and what our part is in that.
I recently asked Nate write an article for ChurchLeaders explaining how to develop a strategy plan for your youth ministry. If you missed it you can catch an exerpt here on my blog and [go here] for the rest:
When I first became a student ministry pastor I had very little training. I had to build a ministry almost completely from scratch. What was already in place needed rebuilding. Over the past 12 years I have learned some ministry tools to systematically make a strategic plan for ministry. There are a few models for creating a strategic plan. I offer this short version: Prepare, develop guiding statements, look at the landscape, develop a plan, and set a date for review and reform.
Prepare
Assemble a team. There is no substitute for collaboration. In preparing to plan, assemble a team in ministry you trust and can depend on. The trust factor is important because you want people who can tell you what they perceive to be happening in the ministry. What are the current realities? If you develop a plan, how can commitment be generated? How is success going to be determined when your plan goes into action? A team of trusted co-laborers can offer feedback, help assess the environment, and offer suggestions that you alone could not possibly think of on your own. Finally, life in ministry goes far smoother when consensus is built before action is taken.
[Go here] for the rest of the article.
Labels: Culture, Hot Topics, Issues, Leadership, Resources, Youth Pastors, Youth workers
John Piper Interviews Rick Warren [Video]
0 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 5/30/11 at 9:33 AM.
Just watched this fascinating interview between John Piper and Rick Warren about the doctrinal depth of The Purpose Driven Life.
Catch the full interview [here]
Rick Warren is brilliant. I'll never forget hearing him say that he took an extra 7 months to take the manuscript of The Purpose Driven Life to make it more simple, more clear. What a great communicator. He mentioned in the video that he once did a 12-week series on "Sanctification" without ever using the word. Darn you Saddleback... for only allowing your church members to view sermons online. Darn you.
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
Catch the full interview [here]
Rick Warren is brilliant. I'll never forget hearing him say that he took an extra 7 months to take the manuscript of The Purpose Driven Life to make it more simple, more clear. What a great communicator. He mentioned in the video that he once did a 12-week series on "Sanctification" without ever using the word. Darn you Saddleback... for only allowing your church members to view sermons online. Darn you.
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
Labels: Church, Culture, Issues, Videos, Youth Pastors
#Rapture: Harold Camping's False Alarm
1 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 5/25/11 at 7:50 AM.
Harold Camping is an idiot. Actually, the people who follow him may be classified as "idiots."
Then I decided to listen to the last recorded broadcast of Camping's radio show (prior to the "rapture"). You can catch the audio [here]. Around the 2.30 mark he starts to discuss the events that will unfold on May 21 in a rather monotone voice (might I add, after he cuts a lady off who was seeking salvation). That should have been the 2nd clue. I mean, if you KNOW the world is coming to an end wouldn't you display more emotion?
This man, whom most people had not heard of, predicted that the "Rapture" would take place this past Saturday (May 21) at 6:00PM. Over 100 MILLION dollars was donated to his organization (Family Radio) to promote this "Judgement Day" campaign. People sold their homes, cars, pets... all because they were "foolish or senseless" (that's the definition of an idiot by the way) and were led astray. I feel sorry for them. If they would have only read the scriptures for themselves instead of believing this guy.
One gentleman not only sold his home but emptied his entire life savings (a whopping $140,000!) to help promote the campaign. I am disturbed by this... and really feel a burden for someone so deceived. Yet Camping states that he has no plans to reinburse people who donated towards the campaign. This is injustice.
First of all, if you're taking in over $100 Million dollars can't you get a better website? I clicked over to Family Radio the other day and thought I was in the wrong place...
Then I decided to listen to the last recorded broadcast of Camping's radio show (prior to the "rapture"). You can catch the audio [here]. Around the 2.30 mark he starts to discuss the events that will unfold on May 21 in a rather monotone voice (might I add, after he cuts a lady off who was seeking salvation). That should have been the 2nd clue. I mean, if you KNOW the world is coming to an end wouldn't you display more emotion?I also read a number of articles and posts regarding this thing. A couple of them stood out to me... 1) a post by Phil Cooke on what Harold Camping got right (which talks about what we can learn from Camping).... and 2) a post by Ed Stetzer where he flat out calls Harold Camping a false teacher (I agree Ed!).
Now this guy plans to swindle more people out of their money because he claims he was "a little off in his prediction" and has set a new date of Oct 21. Don't believe this for a second. Read the scriptures...
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." (Mark 13:32)
As I reflect on the last few days, the unfortunate thing is that I think I missed opportunities to speak the truth to teenagers about such false teaching. This past weekend I spent more time joking about "the world coming to an end" that I believe I missed many opportunities to clarify what the bible says about Jesus' return and a chance to pray for folks whose world did come to an end (those who lost their lives and possessions in the violent storms around the USA).
Let's seize every moment we have to speak the truth to people. Sure, we had some fun on twitter... and facebook... but I truly believe we might have missed (I know I missed) some opportunities to point people to Christ.
I'm praying for those who are truly seeking the truth... and for those who are now hurting because of this false teaching. I hope you'll join me.
Let's help prepare folks for the real judgement days and be ready to meet Christ. If we don't do this we might as well classify ourselves as "idiots" too.
Labels: Culture, Issues, Youth Pastors
Today you'll probably see Francis Chan's latest video all over the internet. In this video Chan talks about the subject of Hell and why we can't afford to get it wrong. His highly anticipated book, Erasing Hell, will release on July 5th... but you can download the introduction to the book [here], courtesy of ChurchLeaders.com.
Labels: Church, Culture, Hot Topics, Issues, Video
6 Crucial Tips To Help You Be a Better Parent [Video]
2 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 5/18/11 at 12:01 PM.
Labels: Culture, Hot Topics, Issues, Resources, Video, Youth Pastors
Awesome video... and so true!
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
(ht to Brad Cooper)
Labels: Culture, Issues, Leadership, Videos, Youth Pastors
Saw this on Josh Griffin's blog. Funny church sign. Wonder if the sign changer person has signed Oprah's No Phone Zone pledge?
Labels: Culture, Straight Up Funny
Facebook Will Crush You Like a Little Grape.
2 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 5/6/10 at 2:49 PM.
Facebook trumps all other social networking platforms according to a research
study from Business Insider. The platform still crushes Twitter and MySpace, with over 350 million users saying they visit the page at least once a month.
Perhaps the success could be pinned on the Farmville community as we learned this week that the creator is now worth 4 billion dollars? Or maybe its chaulked up to all the ministries that now rely on it for their communication. I recently conducted a poll among youth workers across the US and 90% of them said that Facebook was their primary means of communication with their students.
So what's your preferred platform?
study from Business Insider. The platform still crushes Twitter and MySpace, with over 350 million users saying they visit the page at least once a month.
Perhaps the success could be pinned on the Farmville community as we learned this week that the creator is now worth 4 billion dollars? Or maybe its chaulked up to all the ministries that now rely on it for their communication. I recently conducted a poll among youth workers across the US and 90% of them said that Facebook was their primary means of communication with their students.So what's your preferred platform?
Labels: communication, Culture, Media, social media, Technology, Youth Pastors
A friend of mine pastors a church in Hampton, VA and he has been doing a teaching series called "Desperate Sex Lives." A gentleman in that community was ticked off because the church sign flashes the word SEX right across the street from a school. This guy called the news media and, of course, it got attention. Here's a quick vid of the news:
Do you think the church should be tackling topics like Sex? Do you think this church should be sensitive to the fact there is a school across the street and not post controversial messages?
Go Freddy. I'm proud of you. I cannot agree more that the church has been silent too long on such a hot topic. Thanks to the news team who gave him the free publicity for his church. =)
Side note: I recently booked Freddy to speak to our students at an upcoming weekend conference I'm putting together. Can't wait!Do you think the church should be tackling topics like Sex? Do you think this church should be sensitive to the fact there is a school across the street and not post controversial messages?
Labels: Church, Culture, Hot Topics, Issues, News, Youth Pastors
Simon Cowell has organized a charity single to help Haiti. The single is REM's "Everybody Hurts" but with new voices. You can listen to it here, but you should buy it when it goes on sale tomorrow.
Here are the celebs in the song and what they sing:
Leona Lewis
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
Rod Stewart
When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on
Mariah Carey
Don’t let yourself go, ’cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Cheryl Cole
Sometimes everything is wrong.
Mika
Now it’s time to sing along
Michael Buble
When your day is night alone,
Joe McElderry
(hold on, hold on)
Miley Cyrus
If you feel like letting go
James Blunt
If you think you’ve had too much of this, well hang on..
Gary Barlow
‘Cause everybody hurts..
Mark Owen
Take Comfort in your friends
Jon Bon Jovi
Don’t throw your hand
James Morrison
Don’t throw your hand
Alexandra Burke and James Morrison
If you feel like you’re alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
Susan Boyle
If you’re on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
Aston Merrygold
When you think you’ve had too much of this life to
Marvin Humes
hang on
Shane Filan (westlife)
Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Mark Feehily (westlife)
Everybody cries
Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams
And everybody hurts sometimes.
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
Here are the celebs in the song and what they sing:
Leona Lewis
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
Rod Stewart
When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on
Mariah Carey
Don’t let yourself go, ’cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
Cheryl Cole
Sometimes everything is wrong.
Mika
Now it’s time to sing along
Michael Buble
When your day is night alone,
Joe McElderry
(hold on, hold on)
Miley Cyrus
If you feel like letting go
James Blunt
If you think you’ve had too much of this, well hang on..
Gary Barlow
‘Cause everybody hurts..
Mark Owen
Take Comfort in your friends
Jon Bon Jovi
Don’t throw your hand
James Morrison
Don’t throw your hand
Alexandra Burke and James Morrison
If you feel like you’re alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
Susan Boyle
If you’re on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
Aston Merrygold
When you think you’ve had too much of this life to
Marvin Humes
hang on
Shane Filan (westlife)
Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Mark Feehily (westlife)
Everybody cries
Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams
And everybody hurts sometimes.
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
Labels: Celebrities, Culture, Hot Topics, Music, Social Justice, Videos
Red Skelton on The Pledge of Allegiance
9 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 2/3/10 at 10:18 PM.
I watched this video recently of Red Skelton reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. This great communicator speaks to the meaning behind the words in the pledge. Even though this piece was filmed in the 60's, its timely for our nation today. How often have you heard the pledge or even recited it and blown right past the very meaning behind the words?
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
(It's Theme Thursday. Visit my friends [here])
Labels: Communicators, Culture, Hot Topics, Videos
Yesterday I saw people tweeting this:
4 8 15 16 23 42
I thought... "Hmm, I don't know. If I played the lottery I don't think I'd use number 15. Not that there's anything wrong with number 15... I just wouldn't play that number."
I didn't know until today what these numbers stood for. Do you?
I could have found out last night, but I couldn't seem to get anyone on the phone.
... and dare I touch this craze?
When I sign-on to Facebook I see people swapping cows, chickens & sheep. It's funny to me. Perhaps one day I'll buy the farm. I have to get a car first though.
Labels: Culture, Random, Students Only, Youth Pastors
Charlie beat me to the punch. Before I could get anything on my site about Haiti this young boy has already raised a fortune! Charlie Simpson, a 7-year-old kid from London, saw the graphic images from Haiti on his television and told his mom he had to do something about it. So he did. He told his mom he could ride his bike & raise money. She soon launched a giving page online for him and he wrote this little message to donors:"My name is Charlie Simpson. I want to do a sponsored bike ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives. I want to make money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti. I'm going to cycle around South Park as many times as possible (at least 10 laps I hope!) Please can you sponsor me and all your money will go to UNICEF who are collecting for Haiti."
Just last night I was speaking to a group of students. Part of my message was that they have been fed a lie that they are too young to make a difference. This story is proof that they are not.Charlie's site has raised over $160,000 so far! You can add to that by giving on Charlie's site [here] or feel free to give through World Vision or the Red Cross, two great organizations doing incredible work on the ground right now in Haiti.
Labels: Culture, News, Social Justice, World Watch
Spent some time on the phone recently with Eric McFarland, founder of MinistryClick.com. MinistryClick is a newly developed Christian job posting site. There is something that sets this site apart from the rest - clean drinking water. - Each time you visit MinistryClick.com they will donate one DAY of clean drinking water to someone in Africa.
- When someone uploads their resume for FREE on the site, they will donate one MONTH of clean drinking water for someone in Africa.
- Each time a church registers on MinistryClick.com they will donate one YEAR of clean drinking water.
- When a church lists a ministry job on the site, the organization will donate TEN YEARS of clean drinking water for someone in Africa.
Ministry Jobs + MinistryClick = Water for Africa. It's just that simple.
Check them out today [here] ... and tell them I sent you.
Labels: Church, Culture, Resources, Site Shout, Youth Pastors
What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church?
2 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 1/14/10 at 3:17 PM.
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
Labels: Church, Culture, Hot Topics, Leadership, Videos, Youth Pastors
I've been following the blog of TK McKamy for a while. He was recently in Nashville and stumbled upon a street performer doing some freestyle and drawing a crowd - not to mention the tips. TK, being the stand-up guy that he is, decided to use collaborate with the rapper and help produce a video to promote their music. This is a great example of using your life to enrich someone else's.
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
Labels: Creative, Culture, Leadership, Marketing, Students Only, Video, Youth Pastors
This summer I experienced something I never had before. I was speaking at a conference and in between sessions someone pulled me aside and asked if it was common for me to have "hecklers" show up at my events. Wha? I was floored by the question. The gentleman continued by telling me how a few people in a car literally drove by the venue shouting my name and was using profanity. Are you kidding me? These "hecklers" happened to drive by while the conference was on lunch break so the front lawn covered by a number of people. I begin to ask further questions - Are you sure you didn't just 'think' you heard my name? What did the car look like? Why ME? etc. Within minutes security was notified and the police literally began to patrol the neighborhood around the venue. Woah.
[PS] I may start accepting applications for a "personal assistant."
I realize that there are a few of you who may read this and you say, "uh... yea, that's why I have a personal assistant (bodyguard)," while others of you are like me going "what the heck?!? that's never happened to me before!" I began to learn the lesson real quick that everyone is not a fan of me. There are speakers, pastors, bloggers who have hecklers and critics. It's very real. And this was my first exposure to this world.
Recently I appreciated hearing something Perry Noble (who has a personal assistant travel with him) say about this whole subject. I particularly liked a quote he mentions from Rick Warren. Listen for it... WAIT FOR IT. It's a solid word for dealing with your hecklers and critics.[PS] I may start accepting applications for a "personal assistant."
RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]
Labels: Church, Communicating, Culture, Hot Topics, Issues, Leadership, Personal, Youth Pastors
On January 22 a new indie movie "To Save a Life" written by seasoned youth worker, Jim Britts, hits select theatres. This movie is about real life challenges that teens face and the response from students who have seen the film has been incredible. There is a grassroots effort underway in my area to have the film shown in multiple theatres, although its only scheduled for one. I'd encourage you to check out the trailer, log on to the movie site and get some resources to help support this work.
Have you seen the movie? What are your thoughts?
Labels: Culture, Hot Topics, Media, Movies, Youth Pastors
New Interactive Web Series for Teens
0 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 12/7/09 at 12:44 PM.
A friend of a friend (twice removed - JK) sent me an email to tell me that his son (Trent) is starring in a new interactive web series called, "Sweety High." This new series' is targeted for 11-17 year old girls (mostly) & boys. Sweety High is a 'G' rated series similar to 90210.
I'm told this series will be pushing more positive content to teens - which is good news to my ears. What currently sets this series a part is that its interactive. Viewers can visit the website and comment on what they like or dislike and their ideas may translate into changes to the characters or even the storylines.
The cast and crew have shot 9 episodes so far and if the response from the online community is good a network may pick up the show! Check out the trailer, feel free to leave feedback... and see Trent's ("Charlie" - the taller brodude in the series) work.
I'm told this series will be pushing more positive content to teens - which is good news to my ears. What currently sets this series a part is that its interactive. Viewers can visit the website and comment on what they like or dislike and their ideas may translate into changes to the characters or even the storylines.
The cast and crew have shot 9 episodes so far and if the response from the online community is good a network may pick up the show! Check out the trailer, feel free to leave feedback... and see Trent's ("Charlie" - the taller brodude in the series) work.Labels: Celebrities, Culture, Media, Television, Youth Pastors
Why Mormons Do Better Youth Ministry
0 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 11/30/09 at 12:57 PM.
Love Greg Stier's article over at Youth Ministry.com about Mormons doing better Youth Ministry than us. I can't help but agree with him. I'm including an exerpt here but [go there] for the rest.
We think to ourselves how "behind the times" these young people are forced to be when they are required to do door-to-door evangelism for their religion. We reflect on how grateful we are that we have the truth once and for all delivered to the saints. We may even think about how much more superior our youth ministry strategies are compared to theirs.[read the rest here]
Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date. Although they are kind and well spoken young men, when they knock on our doors we either don't answer or tell them we are already Christians who reject Mormonism and bid them good day
Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date.
We think to ourselves how "behind the times" these young people are forced to be when they are required to do door-to-door evangelism for their religion. We reflect on how grateful we are that we have the truth once and for all delivered to the saints. We may even think about how much more superior our youth ministry strategies are compared to theirs.[read the rest here]
Labels: Church, Culture, Issues, Youth Pastors
