Orange 11...what I love about the Orange Conference

What an amazing 3 days it has been here at the Orange Conference. I have been seriously blessed to be able to set aside several days to process ministry to kids, teens, college students, and parents. This is one of my favorite weeks of the year and by far my favorite conference experiences of every year. Here are a few reasons I love Orange and maybe a few reasons you might consider bringing your team to Orange 2012...

1. Unity // there is no other event in the country where leaders who work with every age group unite for a week to process ministry to the next generation. There is nothing like watching 5,000 next generation leaders unite behind the cause of Christ an a strategy that is making a difference.
2. Team // this is a place where any staff member at my church can be inspired and also get a better grasp of our strategy at Grace Community. Our entire family staff was here this week and we are headed home inspired.
3. Connection // I love connecting with other churches and leaders at Orange to dream together. Great networking environment every year.
4. Inspiration and Information // great conferences do both...they inspire and inform. Every year we hear from leaders who are passionate about helping others reach the next generation.
5. Fun // I have laughed way to much this week in sessions, at breaks, at meals with my team, and traveling back and forth from the hotel. Orange gives our team a chance to to rest, process, and most of all have fun!

Great job to the Orange team...excited about Orange12 and hope to see a ton of you there. Praying many of us make some bold moves this year.

ORANGE 11...essentials of youth ministry discipleship

Yea this blog title sounds like a title of a course at seminary but how we pull this off in our student ministries is a critical concern for every youth pastor out there. Helping teens grow in their faith in a way that impacts their everyday life is difficult and none of us have it figured out. Doug Fields is a leader that has served teens for over 20 years and today at Orange and today he helped us process what youth discipleship looks like. Check these ideas about how to lead our student ministries to become places where spiritual growth is happening...

What we believe...discipleship philosophy
Spiritual growth must be about “on their own” // we get kids connected to a program and a person not to an everlasting savior where they grow on their own. We have to connect teens to something other than personality. Teens showing up does not mean teens are being discipled.

Reproducible discipleship is relational based // not content, not classroom

One person can’t disciple everyone // you need a team who has a huge, Jesus had 12 and one was a failure. Give your small group leaders your title.

Failure, doubt, and pain paves the way to spiritual growth. // these are moments to help teens find faith // as youth leaders your heart will also be broken because many you invest in will fail.

Students can reproduce themselves // we need to use juniors and seniors to invest in younger generations

Who we are...discipler qualities

Visionaries of teenage spiritual growth.
Examples of spiritual growth // they don’t remember your talks, they remember your example. Never allow the work of God to destroy the work of God in us.

Transparent with our journey // if kids feel like you are perfect they simply can’t relate

Relational in our approach

Tender in our response // if we know the hurt people face we treat them differently

What we do...program initiatives
Provide a “beyond youth group” relational/support // put mentors in the lives if teens that will encourage for the long haul

Motivate and maintain a climate of spiritual growth // we have to be the culture setter!

Go small // small groups, mission trips, events, fun!

Create and distribute spiritual growth resources // take home tools that teach and show them. If kids are not asking Bible questions then they are not reading the Bible.

Help teens SERVE

ORANGE 11...getting messy

Everyday we pass schools on the way to work (just happens to be the GCC church office for me) packed with kids who have never heard about this Jesus we talk about in our churches every week. Those schools are packed with kids who go home to hell everyday. Those schools are packed with kids who feel like there is no hope. Those schools are packed with kids who are waiting for someone to tell them they matter. The question that Jud Wilhite asked us yesterday at the Orange Conference was this...who will be willing to get messy and go reach those kids, those families? In Mark 2 we see a group of friends desperate to get their friend who was cripple to Jesus. They were willing to get messy, break some rules, and get their friend to Jesus. What are we willing to do to see the kids in the schools we pass everyday get to Jesus? If you are willing to get messy then here are a few ideas Jud asked us to process when it comes to the ministries we lead...

When is the last time our ministries got messy. >> The church is not just an organization created to get people to come to our building, we are a organism that goes to people. We are naturally pulled away from messiness. When we reach the next generation we have to be willing to reach them in the middle of their messiness.

Do we see obstacles or opportunity >> In mark 2 people lowered a man through a roof to get to Jesus. The crowd did not stop them, the roof was an opportunity. Our excuses are never big enough to stop what God wants to do IF we look for the opportunities.

Believe the impossible for our friends. >> It’s amazing what can happen when we believe in somebody. People are looking for someone to believe in them...to not give up on them!

ORANGE 11...building intentional small groups

One of the greatest gifts we can give parents in a healthy and intentional small group ministry. When talking to kids that grow up to serve Christ in the church they can often look back and recognize 5 or more adults that intentionally invested in their life. Small groups set up your ministry to help kids discover mentors that can make help them navigate faith, life, and relationships. This afternoon Joy Bowen helped talk us through how to build intentional small groups in our ministries. Here are five ideas that can help take your small groups to the next level.


Small group relationships are consistent. >> kids need consistent relationships, they are in the middle of being unknown at school and someone needs to know them.

Small groups have invested leaders. >> We have to empower leaders, cast vision, and get the right leaders on the bus and in the right seats.

Small group leaders are coached >> when leaders are coached, they are cared for, encouraged, and equipped. No leader wants to do ministry alone, we all want to be on a great team.

Small group time is calculated >> What happens in or hour is just as important as having the time. We have 60 minutes, we have to maximize the time to connect, interact, worship, learn, and have fun!

Small groups find time to celebrate together. >> Fun leads to connection. Shared experiences matter!

ORANGE 11...who do I trust when everything falls apart?

This morning Jeff Manion of Ada Bible Church helped us process what life looks like in the middle. You know the middle, you have experienced the middle...Jeff calls it the "in between". The middle is the gap between where you are and where God wants you to be in the future. We see the middle in Scripture when we read about how God moved his people from slavery in Egypt to the promise land He promised. God loved his people, delivered His people, and still allowed His people to move through the dessert. Why...because he was transforming His people from slaves trapped in a pagan society to people who followed the living God. In the desert, God's people where in trust school...faith school...hope school...call it what you want, they were learning to choose God over their circumstances. Many next generation leaders are in the middle. We are following God's call but we are experiencing the middle, the land between. In the middle we get confronted with one central question. Who do I trust when everything falls apart? I love what Jeff reminded me today. In the middle my faith can be transformed or my faith can die...it's our move.

ORANGE 11..."freeing" your volunteers

"Freeing your volunteers." That statement can mean a million things and it really sounds good when you say it. This afternoon Tom Shefchunas helped us wrap our minds around creating ministries full of volunteers who are pumped to be there, using their talents, and seeing progress. Many of our ministries simply just have volunteers serving out of obligation. Freeing volunteers means we are actively create a culture where leaders thrive. Freeing your volunteer team is not about changing people it is about changing the culture. Here are some steps to creating that kind of culture...

Resolve yourself that this will take time. >> You don’t see a culture change your realize it has changed, change takes time. Changing a culture takes intentional long term attention and focus!

Get great people in the room. >> organizations have to get the right people on the team, the right people off the team, and the right people in the right seats. Nothing defines your team like the people on your team. A healthy culture can push people to be more! Look for people with time (willing to give their time), mature faith, and character.

Decide this is not your ministry >> Leadership is a stewardship and I am just leading once small part of it. We often build our ministry around our personality with no other foundation of a volunteer team. Not a good idea. Will my ministry outlast my time leading it? We have to empower team to the point when we leave it moves forward with strength!

Simplify your strategy and define the volunteer’s job and role. >> If you want your leaders to feel like they are important give them something important to do.

ORANGE 11...motivating volunteers

Motivating volunteers is a constant challenge for every ministry team. How do we keep our leaders tuned into our mission? How do we keep volunteers energized? This morning Kendra Flemming reminded us that what motivates volunteers connects back to what attracted volunteers to our ministry in the first place. Of course none of us are motivated by the same things but these are 7 principles that attract volunteers to our ministry and can keep our teams motivated.

We are initially attracted to things that are visually appealing >> Some volunteer connections are bound in relationship but many times we are drawn in simply the look and feel of an environment. Branding, clear communication, and environment matter.

We are naturally attracted to excellence >> No one wants to feed time, energy, and talent into something that is mediocre. Be committed to progressive excellence.

We are increasingly attracted to things that are celebrated >> What we celebrate becomes attractive to our volunteer teams. Celebrate what matters most.

We are relationally connected to dynamic communities >> Excellent leaders attract other great leaders. Dynamic attracts dynamic.

We are selfishly attracted to things that are personally beneficial >> leaders stay when they are serving and growing at the same time. Make sure your volunteers are growing and being rewarded!

We are attracted to fun! >> Environments that are fun, where we laugh, attract people! We have to create margin for fun.

We are ultimately attracted to leaders and organizations with integrity. >>  Know what we value and live what we value

These attraction factors help to motivate our volunteers. The end goal is to empower volunteers for the long haul. Motivated volunteers are going to thrive and serve longer. What are you doing to motivate your team? In this list of 7 is there one that stands out?

ORANGE 11...preconference plan

Awake this morning and headed to pre-conference at Orange 11. A few of the things I love about pre-conference is the small crowd, the laid back feel, and the practical side of the breakouts. Here is where I am headed today. The theme for my pre-con is VOLUNTEERS. Can't wait to share some ideas about empowering volunteers to become the leaders God has created them to be! Hope to post a few notes from each session.

HOW TO: MOTIVATE VOLUNTEERS >> Kendra Flemming
Volunteering with children is not easy. Babies cry, parents are grumpy, and 5th grade boys wrestle. It's our job to make sure our volunteers walk away from their time with us knowing that they made a difference. Let's talk about how we can inspire a workforce of leaders to serve with enthusiasm and commit for the long haul.

HOW TO: LEAD A FAMILY MINISTRY MEETING >> Mike Clear
After months, maybe even years, of making efforts toward Orange at your church you finally got all the key ministry leaders to sit down together, in the same room, to talk about what it means to Think Orange. But, now what? What exactly do you do in this meeting? What do you talk about? In this breakout the family ministry team from Discovery Church will pinpoint practical exercises to help you conduct family ministry staff and volunteer meetings that cast the Orange vision to everyone in your ministry.

HOW TO: RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS >> Sue Miller
Every single leader is looking for the next volunteer - we all struggle with how to get it done. Learn how you can take on this huge challenge and turn it into a win for both you and your future recruits.

HOW TO: STRUCTURE YOUR CHILDREN'S AND PRESCHOOL VOLUNTEERS >> Joy Bowen
Would you like your ministry to flourish? Of course you would! Contrary to what you might be praying for, it won't just happen with a mass influx of volunteers. Ministry will thrive when you have volunteers serving in the right roles that ignite their gifting and keep ministry running smoothly. Stop buying into the myth that you have to do it all alone and start believing that there is a better way to create and structure a gifted team.

HOW TO: "FREE" A VOLUNTEER >> Tom Shefchunas
Do you need help? Or, do you need better help? Have you ever wished you had better and/or more volunteers? Join Tom Shefchunas, Director of Middle School for North Point Ministries, as we talk about those challenges. Become a leader of a program that attracts high-powered volunteers who get the job done well!

Experience ORANGE 11 even if you can't make it this week!

I am about to leave for the Orange Conference but I wanted to share some great news for those of you who can't make it down this week...YOU CAN STILL EXPERIENCE ORANGE 11. There are 3 ways...

1. follow the twitter feed at the hash tag #orange11
2. Add these blogs to your Google Reader and read about every session
3. follow along from backstage at www.orangeleaders.com for a live video feed >> you even get the first session for free!

Even if you can't make it we want you to join over 5,000 next generation leaders as we unite for a week. We hope you will join the discussion, tweet questions, comment on blogs, and learn from some amazing backstage interviews. Check out this schedule and get ready for an amazing week of thinking orange...

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2011 (all times are Eastern Daylight Savings):
7:15 p.m.	Welcome to The Orange Conference 2011 & Opening Session

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011 (all times are Eastern Daylight Savings):
11:00 a.m.	Jeff Manion
11:15 a.m.	To Be Announced
11:35 a.m.	Taylor Royle
11:25 a.m.	Yancy
12:00 p.m.	Dan Webster
12:15 p.m.	Jim Wideman
12:35 p.m.	Joel Manby
12:45 p.m.	Mark Matlock
1:00 p.m.	Jeanne Stevens
1:15 p.m.	Craig Jutila
1:35 p.m.	Chuck Bomar
1:50 p.m.	Ted Lowe
2:05 p.m.	Adam Duckworth
2:20 p.m.	Sue Miller
2:35 p.m.	Greg Bradford
2:50 p.m.	Gordon MacDonald
3:05 p.m.	Jud Wilhite
3:20 p.m.	Carey Nieuwhof
3:35 p.m.	Christine Kreisher
3:50 p.m.	Brian White
4:05 p.m.	Nina Schmidgall

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011 (all times are Eastern Daylight Savings):
11:00 a.m.	Kara Powell
11:15 a.m.	Eric Draper
11:30 a.m.	TBA
11:45 a.m.	Tom Shefchunas
12:00 p.m.	TBA
12:15 p.m.	David Kinnaman
12:35 p.m.	Julio Gonzolez
12:45 p.m.	Amy Fenton Lee
1:00 p.m.	Jeff Shinabarger
1:15 p.m.	Bubba Thurman
1:35 p.m.	Ronda Malin & Sarah Lee
1:50 p.m.	Caz McCaslin
2:05 p.m.	Doug Fields
2:20 p.m.	Don Jacobson
2:35 p.m.	Brad Lomenick
2:50 p.m.	Scott Williams

There is a TON that happens backstage, but you’ll only be seeing the good stuff. Go ahead….you should bookmark OrangeLeaders.com now.

ORANGE 11...check out these blogs

I am so excited about the coming week at the Orange Conference. The idea of Orange is pretty simple. 2 combined influences make a greater impact than either on their own. When we talk about ORANGE ministry inside the church we are talking about the combined influence of the church (yellow) and home (red). I hope this week you will join me as about 4000 leaders unite to think orange. A team of us will be blogging and I hope you will check out these blogs. You can also get the latest scoop from the conference by using the Orange Conference app for your iPhone or Android phone.

Ready...Set...Go // check out these blogs and get ready for an entire week of thinking ORANGE.

www.NickBlevins.com

www.CMConnect.org

www.ChildrensMinistryOnline.com

www.GinaMcClain.com

http://samluce.com

www.jonathancliff.com

www.michaelbayne.net

www.danscottblog.com

http://jcisonline.com/

http://waynestocks.com

http://stevecullum.com

www.chadswanzy.com

http://ministryblackboard.com

www.averageyouthministry.com

http://smalltownstudentministry.com

www.lemonlimekids.com

http://westcoastcm.wordpress.com/

www.smalltownkidmin.com/

http://www.terracecrawford.com

www.cassbrannan.wordpress.com

www.theinclusivechurch.com

www.insidenorthpoint.org/kids

http://reyouthpastor.com

www.rickwsmith.com

www.impressyourkids.org

www.givinguponperfect.com

www.mattmckee.me