amazing worship experiences FOR KIDS

At Grace Community we are working hard to create incredible worship experiences for kids week and and week out. In four years we have had a ton of time to practice! Kids learn theology through the songs they sing so it is so important to help kids latch on to songs that share rich truth. In 2009 we introduced large group worship times for preschool also and it has taken our preschool ministry to the next level. What we know for sure is WORSHIP MATTERS when it comes to kid's ministry! Here are some of the practices/principles we have embraced as we lead kids each week...

• Environment matters >> Setting the stage to help kids prepare for worship is a big deal. We have made sure our worship space is the right SIZE by using movable walls in both the k-5 and preschool areas. We have also created easy to set up backdrops and used lighting to make sure we pull the kids attention to the worship leader.
• SOUND is a big deal for kids >> we have found out that quality sound at the right level is just a important for kids as it is for teens and adults. Making sure the sound levels are targeted right for both age groups helps kids engage with the music being played.
• USE THE TRACKS >> even if you have an amazing singer use the lead vocal track to take the experience to the next level. (we only use live vocals in our family experience) Since we use live tracks we can bring incredible worship leaders right to our kids and YES the leader van focus on leading worship not hitting all the right notes! Check our Amber Sky Records for some amazing resources for worship. We also use ton's of music from Hillsong United for our K-5 environment!
  
• Motions Matter >> kids love to dance, adults love to dance, people in the Bible danced...get your dance on! We make simple, fun motions for every song. Check out some we have made for our kids ministry here!
• Keep it FRESH but Keep it CONSISTENT >> introduce new songs each month but make sure you don't go to fast. Kids love singing songs they KNOW so make sure you give each age group time to learn new songs. Remember that significant truth must be reinforced over and over...music helps us do that!
• Keep it UPBEAT >> boys will never connect with slow and reflective songs...save that jank for teens and adults. KEEP IT UPBEAT. Kids need to celebrate and powerful truth can packed into upbeat songs.
  

the power of what's possible...

I have basketball on the brain. I have watched way too many hours of basketball this month and this past Friday I got to go to St. Louis with my wife and watch Tennessee beat Ohio State...for sure the biggest win in UT basketball history. Today I had to watch the Vols lose to Michigan State and exit the tournament one win away from the Final Four. Yep...it was hard. Yep...I was sad. After the game it got me thinking about why people love to watch the NCAA tournament. Seriously, why do people watch teams play they never watch the rest of the year? I think it boils down to the power of possibility. 64 teams enter this thing and one comes out on top. This year for sure has proven that any team can advance and any of the 64 teams can win the championship. Today my team went down and I immediately started pulling for another team and the possibility of what could be next week in the Final Four. What does that have to do with everyday life? We serve a God who is a God of unlimited possibility. Yes I know many of our churches have tried to control God with our small minded theology's and empty traditions but God is not containable. Scripture says...

“What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 (NLT)

This is the God we serve. This is the God of our salvation. What is impossible for us is possible for God. What if our churches became places where God does the impossible? What if our student ministries reached the impossible kid, helped teens navigate impossible problems? What if we actually began to pray for God to do what seems impossible in our own families? We all desire to be a part of the kind of spiritual community where we see God do impossible things. I personally am tired of just reading the scripture and gazing at what impossible things God did in the past. I want to contiue to look for what impossible things God is doing right here and right now. That is what God is still doing...that is what's possible!

overwhelmed

Today is the day...I turned 34 today. Spend yesterday with my wife and 2 kids at the zoo, and got to hang out that night with some of our family. Since I was out of the office and away from my normal routine I could not help but be overwhelmed by all of God's blessings. God has allowed me to be husband to Chelsea, dad to my 2 little girls, friend to so many incredible people, and pastor to some amazing teens and families at Grace Community Church in Clarksville TN. I am overwhelmed. The process of celebrating a birthday always pushes me to reflect on where I am at right now and where I need to be in the next year. I am not sure about what your goals are for your life but one of mine is really simple. I want to MAKE it through this journey with as little regret as possible. I already know I am going to make mistakes...poor choices...fail...that is all what happens in life, but I want as little regret as possible in when I am 64 as possible. I just don't want to miss God's BEST in pursuit of AVERAGE. So here is what I am asking myself this year on my birthday...

Am I HIDING from God or RUNNING toward God? // my personal pursuit of Christ matters more than anything else. Jesus I need you...I have the option to hide from you of run to you every day. I must reject spiritual apathy!

Am I SHOWING UP consistently for my family? // my wife and girls need me to lead and love them...am I showing up for them on a regular basis or am I giving them leftovers after others have taken my best

Am I still LEARNING? // am I listening to others, am I humble enough to learn from my peers, what am I reading that inspires me to think forward, am I willing to take leadership risks to learn what will be best for tomorrow

Are my DREAMS for the future better than my MEMORIES of the past? // that is from Andy Stanley and I am so grateful for the idea. When my memories are bigger than my dreams for tomorrow my time of leadership is at the end.

What do you love about Clarksville?

Just wondering for those of you who live here in Clarksville...what do you like about our city? I know there are things you don't like but I have lived in enough places to tell ya...there are things about every city you won't love. Chelsea and I are in love with this city. We have found our place, our pace, and love serving at Grace Community. SOOOOOO I want to hear ya! What do you love about Clarskville? Chelsea and I love downtown, the River District, Johnny's Big Burger, Blackhorse, Austin Peay State University, Fort Campbell and the 101st, Grace Community Church, the school system (we have one of the best), our neighborhood...POPLAR HILL is a great place to live, and the fact we are 35 minutes from Nashville. I want to hear from you all here on the blog and on Facebook. What do you love about Clarksville?

get the book LINCHPIN by Seth Godin

Stop what you are doing and go order this one from Amazon! Our team here at GCC just spend the morning processing the book and one thing we all agreed with was that Seth Godin hit this one out of the park. This is a book that will challenge, inspire, frustrated, question, and teach all at the same time. The title Linchpin refers to the changing role of work and leadership. What our organizations need to push forward and grow are not cogs or drones who follow orders but rather linchpins / artists who create great art through their work and continually challenge the status quo. I know as soon as some of you who lead organizations read that you may squirm because the last thing you want on your team are people questioning and thinking outside the box. You may not want these kind of leaders but in 2010 you need this kind of person sitting at the table. Sure you can't control them but if you trust and empower a linchpin they may take your team to the next level...if no one cares who gets the credit this should be great for you. Looking around our staff it is so encouraging to see a room full of linchpin leaders who are leading teams of volunteers full of linchpin volunteers! This did not happen by accident...assembling this kind of team took risk and trust on our part but now on the other side of the process it is so worth it. Here are some elements of the book that really stood out to me...

• Becoming a linchpin in my organization is a choice. // Anyone at any level of the organization can live out what is in this book...they can become indispensable...not irreplaceable but indispensable. Indispensable as in a needed, valued part of the team. Hard to replace! A leader who gives beyond what is expected, goes where they are needed, and does more than just complete their task list every day. A linchpin is an artist who takes work to another level...those are the people we want to keep on the team!
• Run from the "lizard brain". // Seth uses the term lizard brain as that part of us that tells us to run when we encounter fear. There is that part of our brain that continually fights to survive and fit in. Fear will try to squash my passion and try to convince me to play the game everyone else is playing. We have to fight the fear...fight the lizard brain!!!
• Art invites criticism, that's what all art does, it challenges the status quo. // What my organization needs from me it more than just work, it is my offering of art...what I do...what I create...how I inspire, and my team needs that week after week. Just know that linchpins will be criticized because we create art with the hours we spend at work.
• Become a GIVER. // Look for every opportunity to give to others. Every interaction with another person is a chance to GIVE...time, money, information, encouragement, direction, hope, evaluation...just give. Giving gifts is not about what we can get in return, it is an act of compassion and care for the individuals in our tribe, our circle. Giving helps us raise the respect level of all our staff and volunteers.
  

blogging for THE ORANGE CONFERENCE

One of my favorite conferences to be a part now is The Orange Conference. If you are a student, children, or preschool leader out there then this conference is for you. I know we are used to have conference experiences where we separate teen and children leaders into their own little worlds. That is not the goal at Orange. The goal for this conference is to ask leaders who work with teens and kids to process how together they can best engage and partner with the family. Our team here at Grace Community had been processing how to work as a team to serve the family since day one of our existence. When the Rethink team finally launched the Orange Conference we had an experience that would help unite every area of our family ministry team. There is something powerful about seeing thousands of preschool, children, and student pastors gathered to worship, learn, and dream together. There is still time to sign up and go. I know these days it is hard to find budget money for a conference but these are three days you don't want to miss. You will come back with a clear picture of what partnering with the family looks like...you will be inspired...you will be challenged...you will be recharged in your effort to influence this generation.

This year I get to be on the blogger team for the conference. What is the blogger team? Really I have no idea except that about 14 bloggers from around the country will be sharing our insight from the conference all week. I am stoked about being able to process my experience online with all of you as we THINK family ministry for a few days. Looking forward to connecting with Orange leaders in April...going to be an amazing week!

March Madness and LEADERSHIP

Northern Iowa just upset #1 seed Kansas to advance to the sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas has the history, the reputation, the players, the coach, but they are going home and Northern Iowa is moving on. I'm not sure where the school is, who the coach is, or if there are any famous players I should know about from Northern Iowa but that really doesn't matter. These guys play as a team have executed their game plan without fear against some great teams. Northern Iowa is why we love March Madness. It reminds us that we have a shot to win. That no matter who we are or where we are from we can work hard and come out on top. We love the story and in our hearts we want to live out that story. With that said, here are some leadership principles I am reminded of every year when the tournament starts...

• Past success is not a guarantee of future success.
• Teamwork and execution can win over talent and tradition.
• You have to believe you can win even when everyone counts you out.
• Take that shot (RISK)...it might just pay off but be willing to take responsibility if you miss.
• Don't allow your opposition to dictate your game plan (strategy). Play your game and play it with excellence.
  

Now I'm done...I love this weekend and love the stories that come up every year! My Tennessee Vols made it to the sweet 16 so I am excited about next weekend also. If your bracket is already trash...who cares...next year will be here soon. Throw it away and start pulling for St. Mary and Northern Iowa!

SHARED space, partnering with another church to have ministry space

When we launched Relevant Student Ministry three years ago we had a major problem...we did not have a place to meet. That is kind of a big issue when you are dreaming about how to reach teens in a city. We needed a quality environment to pull off what we were dreaming about. Through several relationships God connected us with the elders at a local church (St. B Christian Church) who were open to allowing us to have our student gathering in their building. We worked through the agreement, invested in the facility with new video and sound equipment, and kicked off a weekly gathering called REMIX. Three years later we are packing the facility out with teens engaging God is worship, rethinking what it means to follow Christ, and plugging into community through small groups. What made it possible? Two churches willing to partner. The kingdom of God has advanced in Clarksville because 2 churches worked together to make a dream possible.

What could happen across our country if churches that owned facilities began to work to maximize that space by partnering with other churches in the city to advance God's Kingdom? What could happen if no one cared who got the credit? What can happen if reaching people matters more than what name is on the outside of a building? Do you need space for a new ministry or new growth...why not look to partner?

leaving our mark...

What difference am I making? That is a question all of us ask no matter what organization we work for. Is what I do every day for 50 hours a week really making a difference? Josh Griffin, the high school pastor at Saddleback Community Church posted this graphic on twitter from a talk Doug Fields gave and I can't get it out of my head. (Doug has been a distant mentor of mine for years, if you are in student ministry go buy every book he has written and just soak in the vision and wisdom) Our legacy is not determined by our title, what church / organization we lead, or how much money we make. Our legacy is shaped by how we lead others and love others. Living a life of significance that leaves a mark on those around us is created moment by moment in everyday life. The kind of life that leaves a mark starts right now with the way I lead and the way I love. Leaving a mark starts and ends with relationships...not a title or position. Do you want to leave a mark? Start today...

quick CHANGE

This past weekend our team here at GCC made a QUICK CHANGE decision! We changed the time of our family experience to 1:30...I know it doesn't seem like a big deal but it really was. Cross Street Live has been a Sunday night production for us since we started the hosting a family production at GCC over a year ago. After last month one of our staff had the idea to move CSL to the afternoon after our last service. We looked at the idea, liked the idea, prayed about the idea, and in one month made the idea reality. We were not sure if it would work but it was worth trying if our goal is to engage as many families as possible! The morning after our experiment it looks like the QUICK CHANGE paid off. The ability to implement QUICK CHANGE is so important for any organization. What does it take to implement quick change or innovation...

• Be open to new ideas >> Can we do that? The answer is always yes! Should we do that is a totally different question, but the ability to bring new ideas to the table without fear has to be allowed if an organization will be able to implement positive change.
• Test the idea >> get advice from other people on your team...how does one change help or hurt other parts of the team. If a change idea can't be embraced by your current team just save it for later. It may just not be the right time. Feedback is critical if change will be able to happen at a rapid pace.
• Plan >> before you make a quick change in your organization you better have a plan. Do the pieces fit? Can your key leaders buy in? Does the change have the possibility to help push the organization forward? Can you pull it off? All of these questions flow out of proper planning.
• Communicate the change >> use every means possible to let people know about the change. Social media, newsletters, websites, blogs, texts, emails, and whatever else works for your organization. If we are implementing quick change it is our job to go crazy with clear communication. As soon as you think you have said it too many times say it ten more times.
• JUMP >> take the risk and make the change. You will never know if it works unless you try. Have courage and make the jump.
• Evaluate >> this is big...did the change work? Take the time needed to really see if the change helps or hurts. Get feedback, process it, and see what needs to be adjusted. More change may be needed!
  

The moment we quit changing, innovating, evaluating is the moment we start declining. When we have it all figured out we open ourselves to be blindsided by stagnation. Don't wait to mix things up...start making QUICK CHANGES now!