Childrens Ministry, a Moment of Reflection

I'm sure you've seen one of these recently. Pretty much if you've connected to Facebook, Twitter, or the Internet in general, or haven't been living under a rock, you've come across one. Normally, they are quite humorous, often irreverent, sometimes irrelevent, and occasionally a bit naughty. They almost always have a specific point: Do not judge. Do not buy the stereotypes. Look past where I live or what I do.

In Children's Ministry, we often feel somewhat stereotyped. We know that parents value what we do; personally, I enjoy a kid-free service as much (or maybe more) than anyone. We know that everyone who doesn't have a child is thankful for kid-free services. Yet still, in this modern time of the Church, Children's Ministry sometimes feels sidelined. We sometimes feel that we are Glory-fied babysitters.

But this isn't a post to complain, beg for respect, or demand attention. It's simply:

THANK YOU

to those who wield Goldfish with relish, know all the lines to the "Arky Arky" song, aren't freaked out by the sight of blood, snot, or poop, have a sixth sense as to when a meltdown is coming, and who brave the minefields of Legos to calm a crying child.

When it seems like no one (including you) remembers why you keep showing up on Sundays and Wednesdays, remember that Jesus emphasized how important it was to teach the children. He told His disciples to let the children come to Him (Matthew 19:14), warned that leading children into sin or disbelief was worse than drowning (Mark 9:24), and told Peter that teaching children is an act of love to Him (John 21:15). Over and over in the Bible children are used as examples of fatihfullness, innocence, and purity.

We shape lives. As children's volunteers, leaders, or pastors, you've heard it (or said it) before: We may be the only Jesus the children in our classes see each week. That is not a responsibility to take lightly. Nor should your gifts, your willingness, and your sacrifice be treated lightly.

So again, THANK YOU for what you do. ~~ Melissa McGinnis

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF.

Just Between You, Me, & God 2/27/2012

Have you ever tried to be someone that you’re not? We used to do that a lot as kids, remember. We would call it pretend. Well if your memory is not that good then just sit down for a little while with some young kids and ask them if they want to play. Before you know it you’ll hear an excited voice say “Let’s pretend! I’ll be the Mommy and you can be my little child.” Now that takes a lot of imagination to be able to picture this old bald headed man with glasses as a little child but a child’s mind is not yet clouded with the negatives of this world. So a stick becomes a gun, a broom is a horse, and a beach towel clipped to the back of your shirt can make anyone a super hero. It all becomes a bit of an identity crises if you’re not careful. Jesus had a similar problem during His ministry here on Earth. His own hand- picked disciples didn’t always know who He was. You know the ones, they walked with Him, and ate with Him, and slept with Him, and one even walked on the water with Him for a few steps. And yet they weren’t always sure who He was. They had a good idea that He was the Messiah but not the one they had imagined. In their minds the Messiah would be a great warrior who would defeat their earthly enemies, but Jesus talked of love, and acted in kindness, and forgave with grace. Despite the number of miracles they witnessed and His sinless life lived right before their eyes, Philip still ask in John 14: 8, “… Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus wasn’t pretending, it wasn’t make-believe, it was just the pure truth. It should be easier for us because we have the advantage of hind sight, we know how the story ends. How about you, are you still asking for proof? Was the crucifixion and resurrection not enough for you or are you like the two disciples that Jesus joined after His resurrection as they walked toward Emmaus? They were so wrapped up in their own problems that they could not see the solution walking and talking with them until He revealed Himself to them. If you are still in doubt, if there is still a question about your faith, then start walking through the scriptures, stop and rest by the seashore as Jesus speaks, see the new believers as their eyes are opened to the truth, put your hand in His side and see the nail holes for yourself and believe the truth. Stop pretending. The Savior lived and lives, He gave and forgave, and He watches and waits for you to accept Him as the only way out of the game of life and into the reality of eternity with Him. God bless, Pastor Dean.

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Outreach & Ministries Pastor for LHF

Film Review: Angels Love Donuts

Released in 2010, Angels Love Donuts is a CrossWise Creative Production, and stars J. Howard King and Leon McWhorter. It carries the Dove Foundation Family-Approved Seal.

A lesser-known faith-based film, the story of John Money (J. Howard King) unfolds as he starts what seems to be a typical, albeit stressful, day. He snaps at the housekeeper, ignores his wife and daughter’s pleas for attention and interaction, tries to shoot down his oldest daughter’s dream of mission work, and blows through the office with the subtlety and svelte of a public bus. He runs over everyone around him, especially young Ricky Jankins (played by Duane Deering), an assistant at his firm. He is in the middle of a meeting when he is shocked to discover Lucky, a donut-munching Angel of Death (Leon McWhorter), who informs him he has 24 hours to live.

John spends the rest of his no-longer-normal day trying to figure out if he is “ready” for death. He first tries to reason that he is “good enough,” by listing the good deeds he’s done, and even doing a few new extra acts (donating money and giving his car to assistant Ricky). He talks to many people at work and wanders from place-to-place trying to figure out where he’s headed and what he needs to do to get to Heaven. Ultimately, it is his teenage daughter who shows him the only way to Heaven through salvation. On the path, John realizes he is not terribly well-liked and wants to change. He also finds out that though he thinks he walks alone in this world, he has been watched over all the way.

Set in the Dallas area, this movie has a definite “amateur” feel, which is mot surprising considering the CrossWise Players are a play-performance ministry group. The cinematography is fair, sound quality decent, and acting passable, though not great. Despite the lack of big-budget touches, the film is still one to watch. The story is very amusing and though the characters are somewhat stereotypical (such as the smoozy office “kiss-up” and the earthy, mystical New Age chick), they bring humor to the somewhat somber story of a man struggling with fear of death. There are many funny moments, such as when the desperate John Money unknowingly helps a thief make off with stolen CDs. Parents will relate to John’s realization that he doesn’t know his children as well as he thought he did, and with Ricky Jankins’s worries about security for his young, struggling family. This is not the most well-made film, but still provides an entertaining look at whether we are ready for death or not, and offers Biblical truth about salvation. Viewers will enjoy the wise-cracking, slightly bumbling Angel of Death and the Chris Rice soundtrack music, and will be able to take a look at themselves and their own readiness for Heaven.

I personally have this film on the family DVD shelf, and think it is definitely worth checking out. My daughter would agree that every family should see it, particularly if you also love donuts. -- Melissa McGinnis

Bridgestone Media Group, the distributor of this film: www.gobmg.com

CrossWise Players: www.crosswiseplayers.com

Facebook page for Angels Love Donuts: www.facebook.com/AngelsLoveDonuts

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF

Just Between You, Me & God" 2/19/2012

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35. This is the shortest verse in the Bible and yet it conjures up a very real picture of our Savior. The occasion was just days after the death of his close friend Lazarus. The family and mourners were still grieving the loss of their Father and friend and questioning why Jesus had not come earlier in order to save his life. Jesus wept but not for the same reason as the others. He already knew what was going to happen with Lazarus, he was going to be raised from the dead. Jesus was not late, He never has been, nor will He ever be late. His timing is perfect. What He was going to do would glorify God and would help solidify His claim as the Messiah, the Son of God. The tears were more likely for those who were His closest followers and friends who still did not understand or fully believe His true identity. Jesus was a wanted man and He was there despite the fact that He could have been arrested at any moment. Once again, He was operating on His time, for He knew that it was not yet time for His arrest and trial. Through my life I have felt the very real presence of Jesus in my life and I have had those times when I felt as if I were all alone, not realizing that He had always been there, it was me who was distant, not Him. When I read this account in John 11, I often wonder, how many times has Jesus wept for me? The sin nature that I can’t control, the words I’ve said, the things I’ve done, His commandments that I have broken or just simply ignored. The weakness of my faith, my unbelief, my demanding request, and my bargaining prayers have all brought tears to the eyes of my Lord. I like to think that I’ve also caused a grin or two and possibly even a belly laugh from time to time. We are created in His image and therefore we share the same emotions. Luke 19: 41 tells of another occasion when Jesus wept as He approached Jerusalem. He was brought to tears because His own people, the Jews, had failed to recognize Him as their Messiah and would not have peace because of it. His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins is beyond our comprehension and yet we must embrace it or face an eternity of isolation from Him. As you think about the tears that Jesus has wept for you, why not bring Him joy and accept today the grace and forgiveness that is offered to a sinner like me who is really not worth crying for, but Jesus thought was worth dying for. God bless, Pastor Dean.

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Outreach & Ministries Pastor for LHF

Live from Fuller Seminary with Brother Ben, Day 10 (Last Day)

Last Day of Master of Arts in Global Leadership, Cohort Sequence
Worship: Anointing with oil and Sending Forth

When is the right time to develop leaders?
Recommend a Book: Leadership Jazz---book
What do I think leadership is in my context?
What is my definition of leadership?
“Leadership is the process of aligning abilities of all areas to produce a common desired result of influence.” Influence!
Ephesians 4:11-13
New International Version (NIV)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Leadership is embedded in my community.
Equip, prepare, order, confirm are all descriptions of the action involved with leadership
Book recommendation: The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson
[4] “Jesus as the truth gets far more attention than Jesus as the way.”
[:1]
In what ways do you experience our culture as impersonal as opposed to personal?
[:22] to follow Jesus means that we can’t separate what Jesus is saying from what Jesus is doing and the way he is doing it.
[:30] the devil is content to leave the matter of ends…uncontested. His tempting is devoted exclusively to ways…
What are the implications to my ministry?
Book recommendation: Deep Mentoring by Randy Reese

So what? What does this program mean to me?
I believe that God has spoken to me through this week in a way of better understanding the need I have in adapting to various changes that constantly pass through my ministry and helped me to focus my leadership skills in ways to clarity and resolve. A theology of exploration is a way of viewing the BIGNESS of God with no limitations and to inspire new leadership to think through visional eyes and be strong enough to overcome diversity and recognize fruitfulness.
H healing by the Holy Spirit
O obedience to Jesus, living in the midst of God
P presence
E equals hope in the mission of God, Missio Dei
Class Book Review: Exiles by Michael Frost
Hold fast to most dangerous hope filled stories and memories
Exodus: God sets the Israelites free from Egypt, a seditious story
-Gospel stories of Jesus…..dangerous memories
Church: smallboatbigsea in Manly, Australia
Thesis is that in post-Christendom, the biblical metaphor most applicable is that of the exile:
Chapters: dangerous memories, dangerous promises, dangerous criticisms, dangerous songs
Memories:
[:10] recollections of the promises made by Jesus and his daring agenda for human society.
Promises:
We will: Be authentic, serve a cause greater than ourselves, create missional community, be generous and practice hospitality, will work righteously.
Criticisms:
Exiles must practice critical distance from their context. [:18]
Religious critique
Political critique
You have been an unjust empire!
You have not cared for God’s creation!
You have not protected God’s children!
Songs: What does corporate worship look like?
Communal: everyone is involved
Contextual: it has been a style that naturally reflects the lifestyles, rhythms and interest of the surrounding culture.
Ambient: multi-sensory, uses visual art, music that sets the mood
Ritualized: ancient, rituals, labyrinths
Spirit-filled singing: songs that are God, not self, directed
Worship is bigger than corporate singing; it is a life that pleases God.
The whole of our lives can be God-glorifying

Learning Task
What is one area of your ministry where you are functioning under the Christendom paradigm?
What is one thing that you could change about your current ministry context to make it more in line with the exile paradigm?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Whenever there are 16 people from throughout the world gathered together within the same framework and context of ministry, you know that God is involved in what you are doing.
Most likely, I will never see these same Christian brothers and sisters again on this side of heaven; but rest assured we will have a grand reunion on that side of heaven. As we individually drifted away from our time together, many tears of joy and sadness streamed from my face and heart. They have been on the journey with me for over 18 months and we have bonded and contemplated the same mysteries of the Gospel. In life, we all have our assignment in one way or another from God. Most of us recognize it, some ignore and others are stranded in self-denial. I blessed each brother and sister in Christ to go their separate way to do their separate calling from God. My heart is sad, but my spirit is rejoicing that I have been called to be a part of something eternal. I am blessed by being with them.
Those that have followed me along my path these two weeks, I hope that you will make contact with me and share some of your contexts of ministry and devotion to God. I look forward to hearing from you. ben@livinghope4etexas.com
See you on the journey,
Brother Ben

Rev. Ben Bright is the Logistics & Administration Pastor for LHF.

Live from Fuller Seminary with Brother Ben, Day 9

Exegeting the City: Debriefing
-we all had our viewpoints of what was our surroundings in urban Los Angeles.

The New Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah
-immigrant, multi-ethnic church planter, professor

Thesis of the book:
The American church needs to face the inevitable and prepare for the next stage of her history—a non-white majority multiethnic American Christianity in the immediate future.

3 parts:
•Western white captivity
non-white majority that will take over Christianity [13]
White captivity as a reminder that Western culture has been dominated by whites throughout history even though now they are becoming the minority
Earliest stages of American history, individualism
Danger [33]
materialistic consumer bent [47]
Race [65]
White privilege [72]
Racism elevates the physical image above the spiritual image [80]
•The pervasiveness of the white captivity
practioners replaced academics
church growth values are held captive to Western, white culture
stating that one culture and the individuals in that culture are made more in the image of God than others.
•Freedom from captivity
listen to the stories of minorities and submitting to their authority
learn holistic evangelism from the immigrant church
recognize and empower 2nd generation ethnic minority leaders.

The majority of the day was spent unpacking an urban context. While Gladewater is not a unique urban area of East Texas, our lens should be community-focused in allowing our senses to see where God is in the whole of our community.

We must have missional eyes and zeal to bring others to Christ at all costs. It is the church that must be brought into the context of neighborhood. Too often we expect the lost to come to the Church. What if we went to the lost in their space of the community? What would that look like in Gladewater? Let me know your thoughts.

See you on the journey,
Ben

Rev. Ben Bright is the Logistics & Administration Pastor for LHF.

Live from Fuller Seminary with Brother Ben, Day 8

Worship: Prophetic Graffiti
Song of Silence, by Simon and Garfunkel

Scripture: Daniel 5

Brueggemann: Prophets are to offer symbols that are adequate to confront the horror and massiveness of the experience that evokes numbness and requires denial.

The prophet has only the hope that the ache of God can penetrate the numbness of history.

Group Prayer before entering the urban space of Los Angeles

Exegeting the City: Signs of Hope
Why this trip:
-to understand the urban context
-recognize hope in the city
-how we see our own context
-separated families
-homelessness, economic challenges

Church structures don’t adapt easily from suburbia to metropolises. Theological challenge [Bakke]

Testimony of a prostitute: “people like me don’t come to church; you have to bring the church to me so I can find it.”

Mama’s Hot Tamales

MacArthur Park

Look at structure, signage, space, sounds and smells, SIGNS OF HOPE
Escobar [2003:156]
“Missionaries too must be on guard against practices that 'depersonalize' others, turning them into 'unreached' for evangelism. In this way 'the unreached' become faceless objects we use to fulfill our plans and prove the effectiveness of our strategies."

Spend part of the day in silence…..

The main purpose of taking a field trip downtown LA is to learn to look for and recognize God’s activities and impact (both present and potential) in the midst of spiritual, social, physical, educational, political and economic challenges and injustices that exist in any community. The experience is meant to inform and inspire all of us to seek ways in which God can use His people to be missional and incarnational presence in their communities and to bring His Good News of salvation, peace, reconciliation, justice and liberty to a needy world.

My trip to the central part of Los Angeles included seeing MacArthur Park, a once dicey drug and alcohol haven for much of the homeless in Los Angeles. It was interesting to hear the song "Song of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel that stems from the 1960’s. Have you ever read the lyrics to the song? The song is completely about the 1960 existing national problem in lieu of the park. The neighborhood was deteriorating and this once prestigious part of LA was vanishing. The City Council and area churches and immigrants got together and revitalized the neighborhood into what is flourishing today. Mama’s Tamales serves as a training enterprise for those re-entering the work force and a site training kitchen for immigrants that want to test their product. It was a delicious meal of tamales from around the world. This is the experience of God at work through systems to help His people.
Later in the afternoon, we arrived at CLUE LA, a social justice advocate agency that helps all populations in unfair practices of any manner. The last stop took us to a visit with the pastor of New City Church, an urban missional church serving people from the inner city yuppies to the skid row junkies. It is a multi-cultural, transitional church. LHF is similarly fashioned after the same service/grow vision that they extol, too.

Now the challenge that lies before us at Living Hope Fellowship is to open our senses to the presence of God and find where He is at work in Gladewater. It’s a challenge that we will do together in fellowship. Keep attuned to God’s activities and impact and let me know what you think.

See you on the journey,
Ben

Rev. Ben Bright is the Logistics & Administration Pastor for LHF.