Me: For those who might not know you, tell us a little bit of your story.DC: Wow where to start. I great up in Houston, TX, went to high school in Sealy, TX. My parents divorced when I was about 9, I have one older brother who is two years older than me. I went to college at Notre Dame on a football and baseball scholarship but only ended up playing football. During that time I was attending Granger Community Church (where i'm currently employed). After Notre Dame I went to the NFL where I was with the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals before leaving the NFL to go pursue Student Ministry. On December 1st of 2006 I came on staff at Granger as the Director of Student Ministry and as of December 1st 2009 I accepted the additional position of also being on the Senior Management Team for our church...still sounds weird to say that.
Me: What book(s) have most shaped you?
DC: I have a hard time reading ALL the way through books but even still here's my short list of books that have "SHAPED" me. Channels of Spiritual Power by Frank Laubach, Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard, the Spirit of Disciplines by Dallas Willard, and Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley.
DC: Through blogging, I've learned that everybody has something to say and an agenda to push. For me, that's frustrating and awesome at the same time. Frustrating because I HATE that it usually includes self-promotion (I believe we can be profound without having to try to take credit for EVERYTHING we say...to me that's a sign of insecurity...there I go with my agenda again...) AND i think it's awesome because lots of people have some amazing things to say and are never given the platform to do it. So, I love that blogging levels the playing field for some unlikely people to be able to say unlikely things and make an impact on those of us who are too self-consumed to give them our physical ear or platform. I could care less about ratings, followers, etc. but I LOVE the content on some blogs.
Me: Where do you turn for inspiration (besides Christ Jesus of course)?DC: For Life: My wife Brooke and my family (my parents and brother). For Ministry: I usually look to our main weekend services here at Granger to get inspiration as they throw away better ideas than I can ever come up with. From there I just scour the blog world and see what's crackin in other student ministries!
Me: Considering you are a youth pastor, what is the most notable advice you would provide other youth pastors with?
DC: I would definitely say, forget what everyone else is doing and start with "WHY DID I FIRST WANT TO DO YOUTH MINISTRY?" and from there build a ministry that honors God through that passion...THEN surround yourself with people who can help you build the rest of what needs to happen so the ministry thrives. Here's why I believe that is important: People are drawn to passion. If we could all focus on doing what we are most passionate about than doing things we feel obligated to do because the ministry down the street or on the web is doing it, we might actually be more productive.
Me: Catch us up to speed. What exciting things are going on at Granger?
DC: Right now Christmas Season around Granger is in full swing. In Student Ministry we're doing a series called "Christ's Passion for his Bride" talking about how as Christ's Bride we're intended to be the Salt of the Earth and Light of the world. We got some sick object lessons we're doing with those weeks and also some sick videos and song specials planned ("Pure Bride" by Leeland and "I Receive" by Israel Houghton). 'Big Church' (weekend services) are doing a series called Christmas Carol this off the chain. You can check the gccwired.com to check those out. We have our annual "Food Drop" around the corner in early January where we pack, load, and deliver 75 tons of food to the Michiana area (our student ministry jumps in with the rest of the church and serve in this effort). Some of our Christmas offering is going toward breaking ground on our Commons area at our Granger Campus (our student ministry participate in this as well). Not to mention our Christmas Eve services that are sure to be powerful.
Me: Give us three of the best (yet maybe underrated) resources available to youth pastors today...
DC: Best resources for me are our students and parents. Sounds odd and underrated but nobody knows what we need to be doing for our students growth better than our students and their parents so we use them as resources all the time and build the ministry around that. Resources people could buy, I think the usual suspects Simply Youth Ministry, Youth Specialities, and Student Life are good.
Me: What are you currently dreaming about?
DC: I'm currently dreaming about how I can best contribute to our Senior Management Team after accepting that role Tuesday December 1st. As far as my dreams for Student Ministry: I'm dreaming about how to build a hybrid ministry. A ministry that does all forms of Shepherding well. Right now i'm focused on these three areas: 1. Corporate Shepherding (Big Group gathering style) 2. Personal Shepherding (Where everyone feels they are PERSONALLY being shepherded by someone.) 3. Reproductive Shepherding (Still working on what I want to call this one, but this is really about 'giving away the shepherding that you're receiving.)
Me: What is something that most people don't know about you?
DC: I played saxophone most of my life and was a soloist in my high school concert band...and I'm not ashamed of it (hahaha!)
Labels: Leadership, Life on Life, Youth Pastors
Try to normalize these people, and you'll never be able to sustain their positive impact. There are few environments that can handle them. It's the leaders around me to who I, quite literally, owe my life. They grow what's best in me, channel my energy and give me hope in the things that would be easy to quit. The pull me out of status quo and a life of mediocrity. I know this isn’t a short answer to that question, but you knew there had to be something deep and profound there to keep me in Granger, Indiana. Am I right?
Me: Greatest lesson learned?
Kem: A + B does not guarantee a result of C. But, in spite of the result, I’m still responsible for my input.
Allow me to elaborate. A and B might be my part of the equation (my influence & input) but there’s more to the equation than me. My actions can’t be dependent on a guaranteed result—they need to exist in spite of the result. There are other influences/input (C+D+E, etc.) that might yield a result of ‘F’. My greatest lesson learned? Live in the tension—it’s not “all or nothing.” When act like it’s “all or nothing” I assume full credit for the wins and full blame for the losses. Both are dead wrong. I’m a stakeholder. I’m not God.
Me: You are all about Less Clutter & Less Noise. What has been the biggest help in creating less clutter and less noise in your life?
Kem: Caller ID.
Me: Congrats on your new book! Who is this book written for and why should people read Less Clutter & Less Noise? Kem: While I believe the local church is the hope of the world, I don’t believe in huddling inside the church walls. This book is for businesses, schools, not-for-profits or any organization struggling to find ways to get the word out and, simply, do better.
Me: What is something that most people don't know about you?
Kem: That I'm not a people person. I really have to work at it.
Me: You are a blogger...What have you learned through blogging? What do you enjoy most about it?
Kem: Let me count the ways: Adds value to others. Develops sense of community in spite of pace, location and different schedules. Bonding. Helps give a voice to introverts. Information is posted once, used over and over. Records what’s happening. Puts a face & personality on the ministry. Removes the sterile, corporate voice. Forces me (and others) to organize thoughts and follow-through. Public reminder that people are watching--I’m accountable. Facilitates connectedness and expressiveness. Provides direct access leaders & ministry experts. Immediate access to training, tutorials, experts, best practices. Micro-leads to macro information. Instant focus groups. Contributions to community development with peers. It’s a way to give back & share insights. Reduces “corporate” time creating content. Increases “individual” connectedness to the content that already exists.
Me: As the communication guru for Granger could you offer a few of the greatest resource finds\tips for churches?
Kem: Visit me here or here. Read this, this, this, this and this. Go here, here or here.
Me: Hobbies?
Kem: Food, gadgets, movies.
Me: Is there any help for me Kem? Click here.
Kem: Get me a paper bag. I’m hyper-ventilating.
Follow Kem's blog at www.kemmeyer.com
Check out the book at www.lessclutterlessnoise.com
Labels: Church, Leadership, Life on Life, Resources
Clayton Bell currently serves on staff at Every Nation, Tallahassee as Family Pastor. He won't be there much longer because he is stepping out to plant a church. This is part of his story.
Me: Tell us about where you are currently serving and what you are currently doing? Clayton: Well, right now I'm in Chantilly, Virginia for the North American conference of Every Nation Churches, the denomination I'm a part of, and will be planting our church through.
Next week I'm back in Tallahassee, Florida for my last two weeks as the Family Pastor of Every Nation, Tallahassee. I've spent the last year here overseeing the children's ministry and the middle and high school ministries.
Me: Can you describe your intial call to plant a church? How did God speak to you?
Clayton: Hmm...My call to plant a church was a long and winding one. In the summer of 2005 my wife and I attended a pastoral school for our denomination, with my intent to be a better executive pastor (my role at the time). Many of the other pastors there suggested we consider being lead pastors one day, which we'd never really aspired to. At the end of the school we recieved a prophetic word that God was calling us to lead a church, which strongly confirmed what we felt in our own spirit.
And then...nothing.
I spent the next year trying to figure out where and when with several possibilites never really leading anywhere. As soon as we decided to start moving in a direction of planting I lost my job and we went through a tremenously difficult family situation, all within the same 30 days. How we went from there to here is better answered in the next question. a church planter must learn before he sets out: I can do nothing else but this.
Me: Church planting is what some would call "risky business." What was the 'tipping point' for you to take the plunge into starting a new church?
Clayton: After losing my job in 2006, I explored several other options at churches around Florida, but we felt God calling us to stay in Tallahassee to be around friends. I found a job at a local marketing and PR firm, and I had NO idea what I was doing!
Thankfully, God blessed me with an incredible boss and coworkers, and I learned so much during that time. In fact, I learned the one thing a church planter must learn before he sets out: I can do nothing else but this.
I had opportunities for advancement at the PR firm, but didn't want them. I would be praised for a project and almost suffer a breakdown in same day because I knew I wasn't called to this. Minstry wasn't something I did as a job; it was a holy and humbling calling that God had placed upon my life, and it wretched my soul to not be walking in it.
Me: What do you think you'll miss most about your current role\ministry?
Clayton: The people. The comfort. The security. The knowing what was next, what next Sunday would be like. The friendships we've formed. This is the only church I've ever been a part of, and I've been serving in one capacity or another for 10 years. That's not going to be easy to leave.
Me: Tell us about the new church you are creating? What will it be like? Will it be unique? Clayton: OK, I love you, Terrace, but I hate that question. And maybe I'm stupid because of that. But I don't care if my church is uniqe or different, I just want it to be honoring Jesus. I don't care if someone drives past another church to get to mine. I just want them in a Christ-centered church, no matter who's it is! (Editor's comment: AMEN!)
Now that we're past my rant (Editor's note: This is why I love Clayton Bell - he keeps it real & brings the heat!), I'll answer you in one line - Trinity New Life Church exists to see people love Jesus, love people and serve the city. Everyone loves God, but loving Jesus means being in a relationship with him and obeying His commands. Not many are willing to do that, but it's the only thing that matters! Additionally, any life truely transformed by Jesus will not be lived in isolation or selfishly. So we will love our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we will love our neighbors as ourselves. While our faith will always be personal, it will never be private.
Me: So when do you launch?
Clayton: Trinity New Life Church is planning on launching on a weekly basis March 14, 2010.
Me: What does the road look like prior to your launch?
Clayton: We're currently building a team of 40 adults to help us launch TNLC, as well as raising funds to launch the church. In November we're planning on hosting our first monthly preview service, which will continue until February of 2010. In between we're planning on facilitating multiple service projects, community outreaches, and neighborhood parties. We're not expecting everyone to come to us when we open our doors, so we're going to them to show and tell all about Jesus.
Me: What's the most valuable thing you've learned so far in this particular leg of your journey?
Clayton: Faith, brother. Faith and confidence in Jesus, not in self or circumstances, is more crucial than I can convey. The importance of prayer, both corporatly and personally, has increased in my life. And perhaps the greatest leson so far has been the clarification of my motivations. Church planting's a popular thing to do right now; is that why I'm doing it? Why am I doing this? There can only be one real reason- to lift up the name of Jesus Christ among those who are lost and hurting. No church planter should step outside of his door any morning if that is not his primary motivation.
Me: How can we support you in this new endeavor?
Clayton: So glad you asked! Checks can be made out to... :-)
Actually, the biggest thing everyone can do it PRAY! And not just say they'll pray, but actually pray! You can sign up to join our prayer team by clicking here
Additionally, if you live in the Tampa area and you're interested in helping with a church plant, come on down! If you know anyone in the Tampa area and want to hear more about the church, please let us know that as well.And if you do feel led to support us financially, in any capacity, we'll be more than happy to help you store up treasures in heaven! (Editor's note: Yet another reason I like Clayton. He is hilarious!)
Me: Anything else you'd like to say?
Clayton: Thanks for the opportunity to share about Trinity New Life Church! You can follow us on the web at @trinitynewlife.com, trinitynewlife.com, and become a fan on Facebook.
Labels: Church, Leadership, Life on Life
Zak: I currently serve on staff at The Connection Church as Executive Pastor. I'll be on staff for one more week and then we are officially on the field. Right now I am training our creative teams at TCC to continue our creative work when I leave.
Zak: After months of wrestling through this decision I was about ready to throw in the towel. Then I heard Bil Cornelius speak at a small church planters retreat about prayer and the absence of it in the lives of pastors. At the time, my prayer life was pathetic at best and i felt extremely convicted. When I returned home I woke up an hour early everyday for three weeks and prayed asking God to clearly tell me what to do. Long story short, God answered my prayers in an amazing way. My prayer life now consists of several hours per week, so God also used the process to change my life.
Zak: Our lead pastor, Cole Phillips, family pastor, Nic Burleson, and the Austin area.
Zak: We are all about loving God, loving people and starting a spiritual revolution in one life at a time. That is what defines us. If it doesn't make Jesus famous then we aren't doing it. We might look a little like The Connection Church in terms of some of our strategy because that's where I learned all I know about church planting.
Before even choosing a name I felt God saying that I needed to gather a HUGE prayer team first. Within a week we launched The Prayer Team. Then, to choose a church name, we are utilizing our second website, Name This Church.com. (Editor's note: I cannot believe both of these domains were available. Amazing.) I think those sites and the strategies behind them make us unique. Check them out and share with us please!
Zak: Feb 14th 2010. I know...its Valentines Day. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Zak: Our strategy on paper is about 20 pages, so I will give it to you SHORT: Lots of block parties (we have a huge custom BBQ pit being built on a trailer which I call "Grill-Zilla") lots of ministry and lots of meeting people in any way we possibly can.
Zak: I have learned that as a planter you need a seriously committed prayer team, a slamming group of partner churches and a Kingdom mindset. I also believe that you need to know your strengths and work to them.
Zak: Sign up for our prayer team. Updates are sent out on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of each month.
Zak: Terrace Crawford shall be on staff with me one day. ;)
Labels: Church, Leadership, Life on Life
Me: What book(s) have most shaped you?Josh: The Heart of a Great Pastor by HB London and Neil Wiseman, God Came Near by Max Lucado, and The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll.
Me: You are a blogger. What have you learned through blogging? What do you enjoy about it?
Josh: I love sharing thoughts and learning in real-time with a community of other youth workers. I love the outlet for what I’m learning. It is always a great reminder than I’m not alone and God is using youth ministry in His church and lives are being changed.
Me: What have been your top 3 best resource finds that every youth minister should have at their disposal or should tap into?
Josh: Simply Text – revolutionized our communication system this year. Cheap. Vixy.net – download Youtube videos to play at youth group. Free. Wing Clips – clips from new movies to use in your talk. Free.
Me: Where do you turn for inspiration (besides Christ Jesus of course)?
Josh: Because I have a business background, I love reading business books and leadership stuff. I also really enjoy watching movies, award shows and pop culture in general to try learning from them as well. Inspiration is everywhere, and I love learning from the leaders inside and outside of my field.
Me: Considering you are a youth pastor, what notable advice would you give the rookies?
Josh: Sticking in youth ministry is one of the most rewarding experiences someone could have. Your relationship with your supervisor\senior pastor cannot be more important. You will never arrive, keep learning.
Me: What do you dislike most about ministry?
Josh: I love it - I struggle with balance because I love it so much. But, I do dislike the stereotypes of youth ministry (me too!) and youth pastors. I reinforce some, I know, but I hope to shatter the ones that are the most important.
Me: What do you like most about working on staff at Saddleback (besides working with Doug & Rick, of course)? Josh: Serving at Pastor Rick's church and working with Doug are HUGE. Doug is a great friend and an amazing youth worker. I love the unified vision we have operating under the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry model. While we have incredible flexibility and room to innovate within the framework, but it still provides us with a template to work within.
Me: In your opinion, what should we be doing differently in youth ministry today or are we right on track where we should be?
Josh: I think texting, web and social media are some of the most important mediums we can do youth ministry in right now. While nothing compares to face-to-face interaction and life-on-life discussions, students are online and on their phones so much we need to go there too. I'm also concerned about the jump from high school ministry into "big church." That is always a challenge for youth ministry, and it is one we have to continually focus on.
Me: What is something that most people don't know about you?
Josh: I was in a movie with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. I was an extra in Far and Away. Pretty exciting life, eh?
For more on Josh Griffin, click here to visit his blog.
Labels: Leadership, Life on Life, Youth Pastors
Me: What book(s) have most shaped you?Tim: The Bible, Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie, So Great Salvation by Charles Ryrie
Me: You are a blogger. What have you learned through blogging? What do you enjoy about it?
Tim: I've learned that they Lord can use even someone as naive as me to help others in the Kingdom. What I like best is that it challenges me to be continually thinking, evaluating and learning ministry so that I don't fall into a rut in my own church.
Me: Most embarassing moment from the platform?
Tim: I don't think I've ever been embarrassed, but I've definitely had my fair share of youth ministry bloopers. Once I was giving a talk about how we need to prepare spiritually before the temptations come so we can stand strong when they hit. I used an illustration of the Alaskan Moose and how they work hard in the spring to grow a big strong rack of antlers so they can win the battles later in the fall. The kids were snickering the whole time, but I thought nothing of it until I said, "And the one with the biggest rack wins." Then they all bused up laughing. Turns out they were all thinking of a womans' chest.
Me: Where do you turn for inspiration (besides Christ Jesus of course)?
Tim: Blogs, podcasts (mostly LifeChurch.tv and NewSpring), conflict that arises in my own life and ministry.
Me: Considering you are a youth pastor, what is the most notable advice you would provide other youth pastors with?
Tim: If you really believed in the power of prayer, you'd spend a lot more time praying and a lot less time "doing" ministry. Prayer is the most effective and powerful tool in ministry. (James 5:16) Pray!
Me: What is the biggest lesson you've learned through your family?
Tim: That you can be the biggest bonehead and they'll still love you, an example of Christ.
Me: What do you dislike most about ministry?
Tim: All the hype over different philosophies, the waves of different fads and band wagons everyone jumps on, and the big meat market it's turning into for selling products.
Me: What do you like most about ministry?
Tim: Seeing that light-bulb turn on for a teen when they've heard a spiritual truth a hundred times, but that 101th time it just clicks, they get it and it changes their lives.
Me: Give us three of the best (yet maybe underrated) resources available to youth pastors today...
Tim:
1. The Holy Spirit (Seriously, people completely under-rate the
Holy Spirit! He's the ONLY one who can create life change, not a curriculum or small group leader. That's part of why prayer is so important.)
2. Your Senior Pastor (I'm assuming they've been in ministry much longer than you and share your passion to see people grow spiritually. Learn from them. Talk with them. Ask them questions. Share your struggles. Invite them over for dinner. Pray with them.)
3. Senior citizens in your church (They have so much to offer, they've raised teenagers already, they have the life experience and wisdom most of us could only dream of, they have time to invest into ministry, and they have huge hearts for people. Use them in youth ministry!)
Me: Hobbies?
Tim: Blogging, playing Guild Wars (video game), hanging out with my wife.
Me: What is something that most people don't know about you?
Tim: I've never had gum, soda or most candies. Growing up I couldn't have any food that was artificially colored, flavored or preserved due to a reoccuring tumor in my left ear. Several surgeries later, the tumor is finally gone (along with half of a normal person's hearing ability in that ear), but I still choose to eat and drink only all-natural foods just because it's healthier for me. Besides, since I can't miss something I've never had, I have no desire to even try gum or soda in the first place. The only candy I've ever had is chocolate. Never chewed a stick of gum in my life. Never had a coke.
For more on Tim Schmoyer, click here.
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Tim Schmoyer will join yours truly for the broadcast (via UStream) tomorrow evening (Tuesday) @ 10PM EST | 9PM CST for a LIVE chat. The channel is accessible through LifeonLife.tv. If you have questions you'd like to ask Tim or myself regarding youth ministry, please send them in by Tuesday at 12noon (est) via email.
Labels: Leadership, Life on Life, Youth Pastors
I've had more hits in the last two weeks to this blog than I have since I began it. With that in mind, I want to share with you new readers a little something I have done that you might not know about.
Since I've started this blog I've had the opportunity to interview a few innovative leaders around the country and in the last few weeks I've had the chance to do a few more, which I will be sharing with you over the next few weeks.
Coming up on Monday I'll share with you an interview I did recently with Tim Schmoyer, youth ministry guru in MN. Tim has a great how-to blog and shared some interesting things with me that I will share with you... and you don't want to miss who follows him!
Life on Life.tv: Tim Schmoyer will coHost (with yours truly) during our LIVE chat @ Life on Life.tv this Tuesday evening, September 09 @ 10PM EST|9PM CST (note: special start time). *If you have questions you'd like for Tim and I to answer during the LIVE chat regarding all things youth ministry, please drop me an email by Monday with your question. Even though our discussion will be very interactive on Tuesday we'll be glad to share advice, counsel or whatever insight we can offer.
Labels: Life on Life, Resources, Youth Pastors
Tuesday night we had an incredible time during my very first broadcast. Approximately 20 people showed up... which was pretty good considering it was a night-chat and the Democratic Convention was going on. The reviews were pretty good... and people who stopped by said they "had fun." I don't have a regular broadcast schedule set-up... but you can plan for Tuesdays and Thursdays, as those are my best days to do a LIVE chat. Right now I'm planning to do regular Tuesday evening broadcasts (around 9.30pm, EST) and Thursday afternoons (around 3.30pm, EST). I'd encourage you to follow my twitter for the latest notifications, as I post tweet notifications before posting anywhere else.So I'll be chatting LIVE this afternoon UStream.tv, via my broadcast channel. You don't have to be a registered user (although other viewers like to be able to identify whose in the chat room -- as well as myself) to participate. Stop by at 3.30pm, EST this afternoon for a LIVE chat with yours truly. We'll be chatting about everything I'm sure - so stop by and hang with us. . . and as promised I'll be giving away some resource (for free) to a lucky person in the room.
follow me on Twitter for updates and pre-show notifications.
Labels: Life on Life, Media, Students Only, Technology, Youth Pastors
First LIVE Show Tonight on UStream.TV
1 Comments Published by Terrace Crawford on 8/26/08 at 1:36 PM.
I'll be chatting LIVE tonight for the very first time on UStream.tv, via my broadcast channel. You don't have to be a registered user (although other viewers like to be able to identify whose in the chat room -- as well as myself) to participate. Stop by at 9:30pm, EST tonight for a LIVE chat with yours truly. We'll be chatting about everything tonight I'm sure - so stop by and hang with us.Someone suggested I dress up for the occasion... (like in a "tutu"). Yea, I don't see that happening.
follow me on Twitter for updates and pre-show notifications.
Labels: Life on Life, Life on Life.tv
