On Thursday October 16, Dr. David Jeremiah will be at the Air Canada Centre for a special evening of worship and inspiration. Known to Canadians through Turning Point radio and television broadcasts, Dr. Jeremiah will host this rally to bring a God Loves You message.
Doors open at 5:30 pm and the event begins at 7:00 pm. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis and seats may be saved up to 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to bring friends, family, and neighbours. Get your free tickets today at www.davidjeremiah.org.
The evening will feature a time of dynamic music led by singer-songwriter Marshall Hall with special guests The Martins. Come experience the power of worship with thousands of other believers. Encounter God’s perspective on your life as David Jeremiah teaches from the Word of God.
In addition to various resources that will be available at the rally, Dr. Jeremiah is launching his new book, “Agents of the Apocalypse" this fall. Browse for items that will inspire you and your friends, long after the rally.
Turning Point, Dr. David Jeremiah’s broadcast ministry, is coming to Ontario as part of their North American tour. A multimedia network featuring radio, television, and online programming — Turning Point reaches tens of millions of people with their Bible Strong teaching program and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I'm wrapping up a wonderful week of youth training in Fort Worth, Texas as I facilitated a program called YouthLeader. YouthLeader trains youth to be leaders of ministry and forms youth in
the vision and values of Jesus; helping them make the connection between
their faith and their actions in leadership.
As part of our closing session today, we had the students create mission statements. It was a very fruitful process as the youth were able to articulate their strengths, weaknesses and hopes.
I was
inspired by the ones that were shared aloud and I encouraged each of them to post
it somewhere so they could reflect on it regularly and go back to it when
necessary.As well, I suggested that their
mission statements are dynamic – they can change them any time.
I would
suggest this process for any ministry (or anyone for that matter) looking to
set goals, inspire one another, or keep themselves on track.
Here is mine:
I am husband
to Gail.
I am father
to Sean Isaiah, Jacob Isaac, and Kayla Marie.
I am a Catholic and a
believer in God, follower of Jesus, dweller in the Holy Spirit.
I am a youth
minister, director, writer, speaker, musician and Canucks fan.
I live by my
favourite scripture from Philippians:I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Although I
have a lot of serious responsibilities, I don’t take myself too seriously.
I strive to
be Christ to everyone I encounter.
I am a
connector, an advocate, a motivator, and a servant leader.
May I never
forget my priorities: my faith and my family.
Because when
it’s my turn to go upstairs, He’s not going to ask me:
-How many people did you
speak to?
-How good of a boss were you?
-How many kids came to Youth Day and Spirit
Day?
-How many friends do you have on
Facebook or followers do you have on Twitter?
Instead, I
will be asked:“The 4 people that I gave you at home
to love:do they know who I am?"
May my
answer be a resounding YES!
Clayton
Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons
Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter
Kayla Marie. He has served as the Director of
the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the
past ten years, helping parishes develop their
own youth and young adult ministries. When not
doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time with
his family, playing music, playing sports,
playing naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as
family, faith, and the Vancouver Canucks. Learn
more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo
Let me be honest, parent ministry was not on my radar as a youth worker. It might be on a whiteboard in my office or a notebook as a dream or something that would be a good idea if I had time but I never have time or energy for it. I have good intentions for a parent ministry. Until I make parent ministry an intentional priority, I will always have good intentions about it.
Here is why parent ministry is such a struggle for me:
it's holistic
i move from focusing on a student to an adult(s) and their family dynamics.
the adult me
i need to be an adult when i speak to other adults. i need to face real world adult problems if i get involved in their lives.
extra help
i would potentially get extra help in resources for youth ministry. (parent drivers, event volunteers, material resources, extra help...) why would I ever want that!
communication
i need to build relationships with parents, not just inform them about upcoming youth events by updated Facebook or sending out tweets or an email.
what ideas, tips or resources have worked for you in your parent ministry?
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
~Thomas Edison
Each summer, I'll spent an afternoon down on the beach with my son watching a local Skim Boarding competition (think a cross between skateboarding and surfing in one or two inches of water). It's always incredible to see the athleticism in those taking part, and the tricks that they are able to pull off!
The other bit that makes this competition great are some of the spills these guys take ... check out a couple of pictures I've taken:
Ouch! These guys failed at the tricks they were attempting to pull off and the result was painful. Yet, despite the failure, the next moment they are "walking it off" and heading back to the line-up of competitors waiting for their next attempt at nailing it. Incredible!
I've been reading and thinking a bunch on the topic of failure. It's something that we all do from time to time (and some of us are better at it than others), but I've discovered that there is a proper way to fail ... it's actually something that you can get good at!! But don't tell anyone you are training to be a "good" failure, because people don't want to talk about it.
Here's what Mike Foster (founder of People of the Second Chance) said in a recent article he wrote on the subject:
We are not OK with failure. I’ve never seen a CEO’s bio proclaiming the projects that went belly up. I won’t log onto your website today and hear about your underperforming men’s ministries or how last weekend’s services were completely average. I often tease a pastor friend of mine that I’ve never seen a Tweet that doesn’t describe every event at his church as “AMAZING!!!”
It's true, failure may not be something we're proud of (unless there is a book-deal in it) but it is something that can provide a doorway to success.
When I say that we can learn to fail well, I simply mean that we can see every failure as a chance to learn and come back stronger than before.
Here are a few truths about failure you'll need to know to turn it into a success (eventually):
If you are going to fail (or succeed), RISK is a necessary ingredient ... if you don't attempt it, you'll not achieve either of them
When you fail you learn WHAT NOT TO DO next time ... that type of information is invaluable
Failure can lead to time out from a task (due to injury, penalty, or opportunity) ... use this priceless time to REFLECT and PLAN for the next attempt
Failure is generally due to either a single event done incorrectly, or a series of events that caused problems ... if you can ISOLATE AND CHANGE you'll be a step closer to nailing it
Someone else has always failed bigger and better than you, so find them a LEARN FROM THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE
So go fail ... it could be the biggest step toward success you've ever made ... look what happened for this guy!
I was having coffee with a good friend recently, and sharing about the frequent complexities that come with a life in ministry. We closed our time with prayer, and as he prayed for me, he spoke words of vision and imagination, picturing a shepherd wading through deep and murky waters ahead of the flock behind him. It stirred something in my soul that evening, and the image has stuck with me.
The longer I am a pastor, the more I appreciate the position's origins. Pastor means "shepherd." God gave some to be pastors for the church, to equip the people for service and ministry so the body of Christ would be built up and have unity (Ephesians 4:11-13). Shepherds take care of the sheep, the people God has entrusted to their spiritual care. While the metaphor of people being "sheep" isn't particularly kind, the image is nonetheless fitting. Sheep are slow to move, skittish, easily given to wandering into danger and going along with the crowd. We all act like sheep at times. It's why we need a Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd calls others to be fellow pastors over the flock of His church, little shepherds who walk in the ways of the best Shepherd.
Here are four ways being a pastor in ministry is akin to the role of a shepherd:
Shepherds guide. Shepherds lead the way into good pastures. When the flock doesn't seem to want to move from their comfortable position into more fertile ground--"We've always been here! We don't want to change! What's wrong with the way things are?"--the shepherd patiently and loving guides the flock to where they don't want to go, but where they need to go. They have good intuition, and are willing to make the tough decisions that others won't. Good shepherds--and leaders--guide people into pastures and postures where they wouldn't otherwise go.
Shepherds protect. A good shepherd goes ahead of the flock, wading through deep and dark waters, through overgrown brush, and checks open fields to make sure it's safe enough to cross without attack. If conflict or danger approaches, most sheep are skittish and react impulsively, often causing more harm. The shepherd is the one who courageously confronts the conflict and protects the sheep, both from the danger and from themselves.
Shepherds are present. Good shepherds are with the sheep. They aren't running far ahead or avoiding the flock, though they are leading and guiding the flock where they need to go. Shepherds are present; they know the sheep, and are known by the sheep.
Shepherds sacrifice. In their protecting and guiding, shepherds are prone to injury. Being a shepherd is a fairly thankless and tiring vocation. The sheep need care and love and guidance and protection, regardless of how the shepherd may feel in a given moment. The good shepherd leaves the ninety-nine other sheep to crawl down craggy cliff walls to bring back the stray sheep who has fallen.
Being a shepherd is a tough vocation. It is often exhausting and heartbreaking and uncomfortable and frustrating. It's also a beautiful and worthy calling, partnering in the gospel with the Good Shepherd as He guides the flock into life-giving pastures and quiet waters, restoring our collective souls.
Who are the shepherds in your own life? Send them a word of thanks and encouragement today!
Joel Mayward is a pastor, writer, husband, and father living in Langley, British Columbia. He’s been serving in youth ministry since 2003, and is currently the Pastor of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at North Langley Community Church. A writer for numerous youth ministry publications and author of Leading Up: Finding Influence in the Church Beyond Role and Experience, Joel writes about youth ministry, film, theology, and leadership at his blog, joelmayward.blogspot.ca.
I firmly believe that the biggest source of conflict in ministry is unclear expectations. When expectations aren't clarified, it leads to confusion, hurt, miscommunication, and distrust.
There are countless stories of youth minsters doing their best, but not necessarily doing with their pastors or church leadership want them to. All because the expectations were never articulated.
Here's a quick story of how my wife Gail and I didn't have clear expectations of each other with respect to household chores and general disposition. Gail's "list" for me ultimately strengthened our marriage!
Clayton
Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and
Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie. He has served as the
Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years,
helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult
ministries. When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time
with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing
naptime, and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and
the Vancouver Canucks. Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo
This past weekend was a wonderful opportunity to both look back and look ahead as I attended two amazing events (and missed a third).
On Saturday we held a 10th anniversary celebration for World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto at Good Shepherd Church in Surrey. The event was highlighted by Mass celebrated by Archbishop Michael, a barbecue and social, and informal program featuring music, videos, prayer and testimonies. It was a reunion of sorts, as I got to reconnect with old friends – some I hadn’t seen since 2002. It was great to hear numerous stories of how WYD 2002 (and the Days in the Diocese preceding it) had changed so many lives and how the event served as a catalyst for the growth of youth and young adult ministry in our archdiocese. Thus, WYD 2002 will always hold a special place in my heart, as I obtained my full-time job with the Archdiocese of Vancouver immediately after returning home from Toronto. That means it will be my 10 year anniversary as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry this December.
I wasn’t able to attend the 20 year reunion of my high school, Richmond Senior Secondary, also Saturday night. It was tough not to be there as I was looking forward to catching up with many people in person rather than on Facebook. Not to mention that it was held a fancy Japanese restaurant downtown Vancouver. Alas, I’ve already seen some of the pictures from the evening and everyone looks great: less some hair up top and a bit of extra poundage down below. I would have fit right in!
Then, Sunday was our long-awaited Parish Picnic at St. Paul in Richmond. Months of planning culminated in an amazing day under the hot sun with over 1,000 attendees and 100 plus volunteers. There was a little something for everyone: good food, talent show, field games, pie-eating contest, cotton candy, inflatables, a basketball tourney, and my personal favourite the dunk tank. It was a beautiful sight to see so many people involved, with the majority of the volunteers being youth, young adults, and young at heart. Under some very strong and faithful leadership, the event was extremely successful and surely achieved its primary goal of building community and making people proud to be part of the growing parish.
I dare say that it’s more than a parish community; rather it’s a parish family. And at the head of our parish family is our pastor Monsignor Luterbach. Although we weren’t able to convince him to take a turn in the dunk tank, he was 100% behind the entire event. As he made his way throughout the parish grounds and observed the parish family in action, he truly was a proud Father. His smile went from ear to ear and he even chucked a couple buckets of ice into the dunk tank immediately prior to my shift. Thanks Father Luterbach…I love you too.
Sure…with any family, there’s bound to be disagreements. Family members (and ministries) don’t always agree. We sometimes stereotype based on age, background or skill set. We fight for space in the parish centre or in the weekly bulletin. And we may be resistant to change.
But this parish picnic in particular has me so hopeful for the future of our parish. We welcomed visitors to our home as we showed off our best qualities. We are hospitable. We are compassionate. We are talented. And we are willing to serve.
People are already taking about next year and for good reason. I can’t wait to see what future parish picnics will bring as we continue to attract new blood, new volunteers, and new members to our parish family.
I just hope I don’t lose my wedding ring in the dunk tank again.
Clayton
Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and
Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie. He has served as the
Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years,
helping parishes develop their own youth and young adult
ministries. When not doing ministry, Clay enjoys spending time
with his family, playing music, playing sports, playing naptime,
and writing blogs on topics such as family, faith, and the
Vancouver Canucks. Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo
When I read Blue Like Jazz years ago, it was an eye-opening experience. It felt like, in many ways, Don Miller had been able to see into my head and was writing about the same things I thought about. This recently-released curriculum looks like a great opportunity to engage the content of Blue Like Jazz. While I’ve not done this study myself, it looks like an affordable option for older teen & young adult study groups!
About the resource...
Exploring Blue Like Jazz Resource Guide and DVD-Based Study
Paperback • Thomas Nelson • 9781418549534 • 9781418549510
Explore the themes and questions raised in the major motion picture based on the best-selling book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller.
Youth workers, parents, and mentors need guidance in order to break through to youth during the critical transition to adulthood. Using the topics, themes, and questions addressed in Blue Like Jazz: The Movie as a means of starting the conversation, Donald Miller and Dixon Kinser offer an extremely frank look at sex, drugs, alternative lifestyles, and other situations youth face when moving from high school to the freedom of college or a work environment.
This very candid resource guide is the first of its kind, providing practical help for youth directors, mentors, and parents, though it is written in the language of today's youth with real world situations and interactions.
User guide features include:
Complete index of subjects addressed in the video, with useful statistics, conversation starters, and critical questions for youth to consider
A user-guide for youth workers
A plan for students and twenty-somethings to manage their new-found freedom
5-week study for youth leaders to help groups work through these issues
The accompanying DVD-Based study features interviews with Donald Miller and clips from the movie along with a practical resource guide written in the language of today's youth, this interactive resource helps youth explore the consequences of their decisions without predetermined outcomes.
DVD features include:
15 (3-4-minute) video pieces/topical discussion starters featuring interviews with Donald Miller, clips from Blue Like Jazz: The Movie, and behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film
5 (10-12-minute) extended video pieces for optional 5-week group curriculum
Resource Guide with complete index of subjects addressed in the video and beyond, practical help for youth directors, mentors, and parents, a 5-week curriculum option, and more
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Ellen Graf-Martin now lives in the heart of Ontario’s Mennonite country with her husband Dan, where she continues to work in publishing and ministry.Learn more about her work at www.grafmartin.com
Is the North American church overprotective, repressive, and shallow? "UnChristian" looked at outsiders and their perceptions of the church, and what we could do to respond to these very real concerns. With "You Lost Me", Kinnaman examines young insiders who have left disconnected from the church, giving them a voice and an opportunity for the church to respond in love.
Millions of young Christians are disconnecting from church as they transition into adulthood. They're real people, not just statistics. And each one has a story to tell. The faith journeys of the next generation are a challenge to the established church, but they can also be a source of hope for the community of faith. Bestselling author of "UnChristian", David Kinnaman, with the help of contributors from across the Christian spectrum, offers ideas for pastors, youth leaders, parents, and educators to pass on a vibrant, lasting faith, and ideas for young adults to find themselves in wholehearted pursuit of Christ.
An excerpt...
A generation of young Christians believes that the churches in which they were raised are not safe and hospitable places to express doubts. Many feel that they have been offered slick or half-baked answers to their thorny, honest questions, and they are rejecting the “talking heads” and “talking points” they see among the older generations. You Lost Me signals their judgment that the institutional church has failed them.
The story—the great struggle—of this emerging generation is learning how to live faithfully in a new context, to be in the world but not of the world. This phrase, “in but not of the world,” comes from Jesus’s prayer for his followers, recorded in John 17. For the next generation, the lines between right and wrong, between truth and error, between Christian influence and cultural accommodation are increasingly blurred. While these are certainly challenges for every generation, this cultural moment is at once a singular opportunity and a unique threat to the spiritual formation of tomorrow’s church. Many young adults are living out the tension of in-but-not-of in ways that ought to be corrected or applauded, yet instead are often criticized or rejected.
In the vibrant and volatile story of the next generation, a new spiritual narrative is bubbling up. Through the lens of this project, I have come to understand and agree with some, though not all, of their grievances. Yes, we should be concerned about some of the attitudes and behaviors we encounter in the next generation of Christians, yet I also find reasons to hope in the best of what they have to offer. Apparently they are a generation prepared to be not merely hearers of doctrine but doers of faith; they want to put their faith into action, not just to talk. Yes, many young dropouts are stalled in their spiritual pursuits, yet a significant number of them are reinvigorating their faith with new ideas and new energy.
From this generation, so intent on reimagining faith and practice, I believe the established church can learn new patterns of faithfulness. You Lost Me seeks to explain the next generation’s cultural context and examine the question:
How can we follow Jesus—and help young people faithfully follow Jesus—in a dramatically changing culture?
Excerpt from You Lost Me by David Kinnaman. Copyright 2011, Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Used by permission.
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Ellen Graf-Martin now lives in the heart of Ontario’s Mennonite country with her husband Dan, where she continues to work in publishing and ministry.Learn more about her work at www.grafmartin.com
