If you haven’t heard it yet, Brother Jim (contributor to this blog) is moving from Oklahoma to Tennessee! He is taking a staff position at the World Outreach Church. Pray for the family as they pack their bags and take this new venture!
As many of you know, Uncle Charlie was in a serious car accident two weeks ago. (Click here to read the first post about this.) I called his mother to check on him today and was surprised when she told me “someone wants to talk to you” and took the phone to Charlie!
He was released from the hospital Saturday night. He ended up with 14 broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken ankle, multiple compound fractures in his guitar-strummin’ hand, and some internal injuries. He is still on pain medication and was talking kind of funny on the phone.
Everyone who saw the accident and the condition of the vehicles knows that it’s nothing short of a miracle that Charlie is alive today. I told Charlie on the phone that the greatest days are just ahead. He is very positive and has his chin up. Please continue to pray for Charlie and his wife Tammy during this time. I’ll keep you posted as I learn more.
Last night we had my wife’s family over for our annual showing of White Christmas. It’s my wife’s favorite Christmas movie of all time. Here’s the plot in a few sentences:
After leaving the Army after WWII, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) team up to become a star act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters who also have a song-and-dance act. When the girls travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, is the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the four try to help the General.
Bob Wallace was concerned because the old General felt forgotten. He works hard to give the General a wonderful Christmas surprise. The General was reminded that his work was not forgotten, but appreciated.
Think about all the Generals of the Christian faith. Those faithful servants who are no longer in their prime. How well do your kids know them? I use to do a Hero Series every year in kids church where the kids learned about different heroes of the faith - people like Corrie Ten Boom, Eric Liddle, Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, George Muller, Fanny Crosby, etc. Maybe it’s time I bring that series out again. Let’s not forget the Generals!
If you look close at the Google home page, you’ll notice something new that happened this week. Google replaced the “Video” link (that use to be next to “Images”) with “Products”. The “Video” link is still there, it’s just buried under the “more” tab.
I know what you’re thinking - what’s the point? Ryan’s a geek. True, but not the point. Google is changing it’s strategy. Maybe, but not the point.
Here’s the point. Google video isn’t all that interesting anymore. Consequently, they replaced it with something that is. This sounds like something we should be doing on a regular basis. If you’re doing something that isn’t interesting to kids, change it. Don’t get rid of it for good - remember the “Video” link is still there - it’s just not in a prime spot.
I hate to move! I have been in the same home for 15 years. It has been a wonderful being able to stay put. In my adult life I have moved every 2 to 4 years up until we built 15 years ago. I always thought it was great to stay put until I started packing. I have been throwing stuff away for 2 days. I’m excited about relocating back to the land of cotton, to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. As I move I don’t want to take junk with me to the new house or in my spiritual life. I hate to move but I’ve realized that it’s important to de-clutter our lives and hearts of stuff we just don’t need. What do you need to get rid of in your ministry and your life, to go to a new level and place in ministry? It’s good to de-junk. It’s better to search your heart and make needed changes within!
Here are three things to do when you say/write/show thanks to your workers:
1. Be specific in your thanks. Thank them for something specific they did for you, for the kids, etc. For example, “Becky, I saw you sitting on the floor Sunday morning reading to the two-year-olds. What a blessing you are to our ministry.”
2. Acknowledge the effort it took for them to do it. For example, “I know you didn’t have to…” or “You sure went the extra mile when you…”
3. Let them know they are making a difference.
4. Remind them that their work and labor of love is noticed by the Lord.
It is always the right thing to do to give thanks and be thankful. It’s not just a seasonal thing. It should be a way of life for the Christian leader. Not only should we practice thanks living but we should also practice thanks giving. All of us like to hear thank you that includes your volunteers. Here are some practical ideas to motivate your workers with thanks:
1. Begin to say it. Get in the habit of saying thanks. If the Apostle Paul can tell people he thanks God for them every time he thinks about them we can too! Walk around before service & thank workers personally. When you are in front of a group of workers- say thanks. Be on the lookout by catching people doing things right.
2. Begin to write it. The best purchase any leader could make is a box of thank you notes. Write a heartfelt note to your leaders when they’ve done something thanks-worthy. A couple of times a year as well as after every major event send a letter to say thanks. Even a form letter is better than no thank-you at all. Always sign each letter personally and write a short note to personalize it. Don’t forget Christmas cards, Valentine cards, Birthday cards and Anniversary cards. I’ve found that when I write a personal note on all reports, forms and checklist workers complete so they know you read them and know what they are accomplishing.
3. Begin to show it. Candy treats and little sayings are cute but nothing says thanks better than letting your actions speak louder than words. Things like special worker parking places, breakfast for your volunteers and their families before your earliest service, Worker Appreciation Day as well as a free CD of the service they work shows volunteers you really appreciate them.
4. Invest in them. Plan a retreat or special training event for your workforce that includes training, inspiration, and fun. Bring them as a group to a conference or seminar. Give them training products as gifts. I’m always purchasing tape sets and teaching CD’s for my workers. Books are best. If a book has blessed you bless someone else with it. I gave every key leader and coordinator in my ministry a copy of my book “Children’s Ministry Leadership-the you-can-do-it guide” sure they enjoyed the book but the fact that I invested in them spoke volumes to them. But the greatest investment is when you give them your time. I take key workers with me all the time; I look for ways to invest myself in them constantly.
It’s never the wrong time to begin to show thanks! Make thanks giving and thanks living a part of your yearly calendar planning. Look for every opportunity to say thanks, write thanks, show thanks, and invest in your ministry team!
I love this time of year. The leaves turning, the cool breeze, the pumpkins, and especially Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is so special to me because I get to spend quality time with my family and we aren’t bombarded with gifts and wrapping paper. I guess the food is a plus too!
Speaking of Thanksgiving, how are you doing saying thanks? I’m not talking about emailing or texting someone a quick thanks. While these are better thank nothing, they are electronic. I am thinking about a good old thank you card. I have always preached that people in ministry should be the biggest cheerleaders and one of the best ways to cheer is with a thank you card.
Isn’t it refreshing to go to the mailbox and find something other than a bill? An envelope that is hand-written gets attention (unless it’s a #10 legal-size envelope).
“But what about the cost of postage?” Yes, the cost of postage changes, but people’s needs do not. Why not commit to sending more thank you cards? For $.41 you’ll find that it’s the biggest bang for your buck. Choose to lead with a thank you.
So, you may have heard about MySpace. Or Facebook. Or Bebo. Or Friendster. Or Spaces. Or Blogger. And on, and on, and on the list could go. All of these sites fall under the title “social networking”.
We’re interested in seeing who among you uses these services. So let’s take a little poll (if you use more than one, let us know in the comments):
What, if any, social networking sites do you use (personally or for ministry)?
Many within the church today have chosen to totally shun social networking all together because it is “unsafe”. While that is a real possiblity (see this recent story), the truth is that culture is adopting these sites and bringing a new level of openness to the world. And while we as the church are sitting back, the world is moving on and the kids in our ministries don’t know how to use these sites safely.
Continue reading ‘MySpace, Facebook, and Bebo- Oh My!’
