My friend Bill is a great guy, we’ve worked together for the last five years. He has some of the oddest (in a good way) comedic timing and dry wit. He has a lovely wife and two young boys a little younger … Continue reading →

It’s essential to excellence. How to get it? It may take some searching, but you’ll know it when you find it, motivation is easy to come by when you’re working on something you love. FIND something that keeps you up … Continue reading →

I was recently invited to spend a day talking with church planters and here are the highlights of that discussion–  There are lots of opportunities for failure in a church plant, but there is one that I see way too … Continue reading →

I spent a few days last week at the Worship Facilities Conference and Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a great event with lots of practical hands on educational training, as well as the latest cutting edge design ideas for … Continue reading →

A name is something huge!! Whether it’s a child or an event, when you put a label/name on it, it begins to live up (or down) to its name. That’s the power of naming.

In my opinion, everything that is born of God deserves a good name. In giving a name to your youth ministry or event, it is important to think about what it says about who your are and how it will appeal to both churched and unchurched teenagers. Here are ten names* that have significant spiritual meaning, yet are not religious sounding, that I have come across over the years.

1) Revolution – God has called his church to revolt from sin and rally people to His cause.

2) Flood – Isaiah 44:3 says, God will pour water on him that is thirsty and floods on dry ground.

3) Ten-Ten (10/10) – John 10:10, hence “ten-ten” promises abundant life to those who serve Jesus.

4) Flo – An acronym for “Forever Live On” based on the John 11:26 promise of everlasting life.

5) Young World – Isn’t this what every youth group ought to be?

6) Everfree – whom the son sets free is free indeed.

7) Fish – Jesus said, “Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.”

8) Last Rain – Joel prophesied about the day of the latter rain, which we now are in.

9) Slam – “Students Living A Mission.”

10) Awake – The scripture tells us to awake from our slumber.

For example, our high school ministry name is “Force”. Our middle school ministry name is “Impact.” Our college ministry name is “explosion.” They all center under Matthew 11:12: “the kingdom of heavens suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” These are aggressive, action words to describe how we are going from our local church to reach the unreached.

*You may want to check out trademark and copyright protection on these names before using them.
Hope I helped,
pg

If you are going to successfully pass on a new area of vision to your student ministry, you must walk through each of the stages one at a time and in this order:
1) The Personal Stage. This is the stage where the Lord puts the vision firmly in your heart through careful prayer, study and practical research. Long before you ever get it out of your mouth, it should marinate for a long time in your heart. “out of the “abundance” of the heart, the mouth speaks.” In other words, your heart, head, and hands should spend many many hours, days, weeks, and months allowing this new shift to get “in you” before it comes out of you.
2) The Pastoral Stage. This is where you submit your new area of vision to your Senior Pastor, seeking his support, input and refinement. Staying under authority is critical with vision casting from a secondary leadership position. “di”vision is not a God-thing. The word “di” actually means “2.” Your vision should always fit in your pastor’s vision. If it doesn’t, it’s probably not God’s vision for that House of Worship. If it does fit, then make sure you can show direct lines of connection between what your pastor is trying to get done, and your new vision approach. Rebellion is not an option.
3) The Leadership Stage. This is when you meet with your key staff and volunteer leaders, giving them the inside scoop on what you’re about to introduce. Everyone like to be “in the know.” There is nothing more demoralizing to key leaders then to hear a “new” shift with the “commoners.” It’s much harder to come off the mountain alone, then to have a entire leadership buy-in. Take the time to get it to your key influencers. They can be the “Paul Revere’s” of your student ministry.
4) The Student Stage. This is when you present your idea to your students in your weekly meeting. Approach your students with a “I believe this is where God is leading us” approach verses a “thus saith the Lord.” Trust me. After years of demanding change and nothing happening, the softer public approach is much more of a morale boost.
5) The Community Stage. This is where you create city-wide awareness for your vision by promoting it effectively with the schools, the media, and the business community. This is where most people blow it. How do you market this new vision in a way that people outside of your church can buy-in. Walking billboards are HUGE in advertising. Find a way to get it on a shirt, on stickers, on cars, on tattoos, whatever it takes to get this new vision out.

Hope I helped,
pg

Charles Tremendous Jones said, “You are the same as you are today five years from now, except for two things: The people with whom you associate and the books you read.” We should grow every day of our life by learning something new. Here are 8 books that will help you achieve your maximum potential. Don’t be alarmed that they are secular. If the principles they teach are working, it’s because they are based upon Biblical principles.

1)7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey will help prioritize your life around what is truly important.

2)“5” Where will you be five years from now by Dan Zadra will help you create a purpose that starts your mission that helps you get aligned for the next 5 years all based upon your personal values.

3)The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard will help you motivate your leaders in less time.

4)Lincoln on Leadership by Donald Phillips will give insight on the characteristics and principles of what it takes to become a great leader.

5)Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki will help you develop a plan for financial independence. It’s easier to focus on your leadership faith when you don’t have to focus continually on your finances.

6)All Business is Show Business by Scott McKain will help you understand that presentation and promotion is HUGE in every single thing you attach your leadership energy too.

7)The Purple Cow by Seth Godin will help you to become “remarkable” and distinctive in what you are doing verses very other student ministry around you is doing.

8)The Disney Way by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson takes you into the creative giant of Disney and empowers you to unlock your creative genius.

hope i helped,
pg