vision…i have spent the last 18+ years writing out the vision for what we want to see in ministry. i love to see areas when we blow the doors off of what we set goals to do, then there’s areas where i felt real strong about but set some pretty lofty goals in, and did not get near the goal. not hitting a goal in ministry is frustrating…i have to take an honest look at it, not make excuses, determine where there could have been done more and make the necessary changes so that next year the goal is reached. now setting too high of goals can be frustrating, but setting easily reachable goals can give a false sense of success. we are not called to just simply reach goals…we are called to change lives. if you set a goal too low, then you wont work as hard to attain the goal and in turn fall short of your own capabilities (sad). what are you truly capable of if you simply had a bigger vision. i always pray God open my eyes and help me see what you see…give me eyes that can see where you are leading us…i want clear vision!

so where do you set goals in ministry…i look at it this way, if you don’t have a vision for every area in ministry, then you will simply accept whatever comes your way and usually what comes your way is what you already have. ya…so get started set some goals. write it down, type it up and print it out so that you have to be accountable to it. we go over our vision with our leaders in order for them to understand where we are headed.

2012 Vision…just a few areas…

1. Speed the light Giving…$550K..we are so capable of doing way more than this, but it takes time for the dream to take root in the local church. We have some areas we are blowing up in and others we have yet to scratch!

2. Youth Leaders…better trained, better connected, better equipped means more mentoring! I can see a mentoring program taking off for youth pastors real soon in order to better equip and train leaders for the harvest!

3. Summer Camp – the theme for 2012 is 3D and we are excited about what we are going to do with this. Speakers are set, we are breaking ground on a new outdoor recreation center, shack, and remodeling dorms…the new pool is soon to follow. Summer Camp is the best week of summer, so we envision mixing it up the schedule some in order for more discipleship and connection to take place for the local church. So many hurdles to overcome…but we know God has a great plan for summer!

4. Fusion2012.. November 9-10. Location is the same, budget is set for worship, equipment etc. The marketing plan will come together in January…so looking forward to have Robert Madu, Planetshakers and Ricardo Sanchez with us. Yep if you read this blog this is the first place to read this. We have 2 more speakers we are working on. We even added a music session for worship leaders and Ricardo Sanchez.

So many more areas I would like to write about and expound more on…so stay tuned!

2012 I believe is the year to see the UNEXPLAINED!

AL FORCE

Our 2012 PFYouth leaders Conference is February 23-25 at Church in the Son in Orlando, Florida. Main session Speakers are Josh Mayo and Kevin Moore. We have 14 breakout sessions that deal with missions, vision, creativity, women in ministry, volunteers and so much more. This is a great place to connect and grow as a leader.

Bring your whole team…we have a discount for 10 or more registered.

You can register online…the price is so right! here!

Lunch on Friday will be provided by Speed the Light.

November 11-12 this year Fusion was the largest event in the history of our district…we have come a long way in a short time. So, today I am sitting in my favorite lunch spot and it’s here with my iPad and a good mix of music I will attempt to process the magnitude of what took place. I am driven, passionate, excited and expecting greater things in the future. But in order to go where I believe we are destined to be, it is paramount to walk out the process where we have been in order to take greater steps the next time around.

Fusion…a few stats…over 4300 registered for the event, 971 hotel rooms, 100 volunteers, 3 amazing speakers, and one worship team. I am literally blown away by the favor and blessing of God n this event. We have grown nearly 100% two years in a row. To God be all the glory! Thanks to every Youth Pastor and student that attended this year…

Here’ s where I process my part…

This year I made a decision to hire a graphics person to do all the promo for everything we do, I have been the designer with a few people behind the scenes and it was a bit overwhelming at times. God gave me visual word media and they hit it out of the park with videos, graphics and so much more. Best thing I did this year and it has been a major step in the right direction.

This year we used a company to print wrist bands for each person that attended and it was a big fail. The wristbands were amazing, but I failed to follow-up sooner on the wristbands. We got half the wristbands the first day and the rest came in about a half an hour after everyone left. We need a strict timeline on product, a 3 week window was not enough when dropped shipped from China. Needless to say we are getting a full refund on the wristbands.

On site event management is something I am not comfortable with but necessary. We have so many issues going on, and it appears that all the people with my cell phone feel its necessary to text me during the event and tell me whatever was on their mind. It usually starts with I know you can’t fix this, but….just want to let you know. Our adjustment next year will be to have someone assist me with the details of the event on site, so that I can focus on the main thing.

One thing I kept telling myself this year, I heard from a friend in a meeting. “with so many events going on, let’s pray that we don’t lose focus on the reason for the event and get caught up in the details of pulling of the event.”. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the details…I did not sleep for days before the event, pouring over details, dreaming about the details and thinking about the budget, the plan and every little thing in between. The best wisdom I can give for events is surround yourself with people better than you and empower them to pull the trigger. I have learned that letting go is hard to do, but in order to go where I know we are destined to be, my hand can’t be on everything. We put together a great team of volunteers from 2 masters commissions and they worked it out! Make the main thing the main thing…it’s easy to get caught up in how everything looks and works, but why are you doing the event! It’s not for you it’s for the souls you are reaching so focus on them and focus on the 1-2 hours that they will be impacted and make the most of those moments. Details will fail at times, but the presence of God and the power of God in the event changing a life is what it’s all about!

Just a few things I processed over a turkey sandwich today…

The daily activities and teams compete for the prize of being camp champ. It’s a big deal to be the winning team at camp. This year they go home with a camp champ shirt…who knows if you come you might be on the winning team…if not simply coming to camp this summer is awin!

God is up to something in PenFlorida and we are simply privileged to be apart of shaping a generation of revivalists. Pray with us as we shape a generation that makes an impact on this world! Together we can make a difference!

In Verse 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijahs response is that he has worked hard and labored for the Lord. Sound familiar? The ministry is WORK! Many times no accolades no acknowledgments…especially if you are on staff and not the lead pastor. Let me encourage you today!
What are you doing here? You have the mantle of God on your life and opportunity to minister in your grasp what more do you want? You are where you are because God in His divine purpose has planted you in the place you are. If I can’t say it any clearer in the words of one of my mentors…work it out! Elijah calls down fire in 1kings 18 then prays down rain and chooses to pout and have a pity party and run, after God showed up in a significant way! This is the aftermath of huge events where God shows up and shows out and you feel on top of the world! Then the feeling fades and you feel all alone in this thing called ministry. Especially if you are the last one standing cleaning and resetting rooms you have used. Elijah “I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me too.” Hello…you are never the only one left, that would mean God has left too. Food for thought he never leaves, Understand the simple truth…God has a plan and God is working His plan. We may not see it or the effects of it, but He is moving!

So…what are you doing here? Big events come and go where God shows up and shows out…but it’s the still small voice that keeps you on the path he has destined for you! Listen for that voice today!

What are you doing here? I choose to listen to the still small voice and be led by God to do even greater things!

Takeaway…nothing compares to spending time with my son throwing a baseball and camping on a baseball field. Moments like these don’t happen every week…they take time and effort.

Take time for those you love!

Make an effort to make a memory!

today I went to the dry-cleaner to pick up some shirts and I could not help but remember what happened in this place….déjà vu…this is a true story! pastor jon and i were eating at quiznos subs and went to the dry cleaners to pick up some clothes. we walked in and the smell was so vicious, that you felt like you were assaulted the second you walked in the door. trying to be nice i asked jon what was that smell? this lady was dumping her dirty clothes out onto the counter and something fell out. pastor jon said that’s it! I’m out and bounced. I was left all alone trying to pick up my clothes. I didn’t know if i should stay or go…I felt like I had already committed but the smell was getting worse. Just then the lady that dropped off her clothes reached over and picked it up! it bounced off the counter and hit the floor. she laughed and said. “I guess the cat couldn’t find the litter box” you got it! the cat dropped a turd in her laundry! and she laughed! its amazing what people will laugh off that will totally embarrass the world!

its ok to laugh at life!

When God speaks…listen and look for opportunities for God to move!

When God speaks…for me its not when I am in the thick of it all working it out…its usually when I stop everything and clarity turns into a God kinda focus! So…slow down and meditate on him and on His Word…

When God speaks…what will you do?

al force

Now is the moment to seize every opportunity afforded to you and make the most of it! THIS is my season! So much inside of me that needs to come out of me, and its seasons like this that change the shape of who I am and what I do!

A word for youth pastors…you cannot do ministry the same way you have always done it and expect to continue to see bigger results. Season…it’s one of shifting and changing. You have to shift your mindset from what you have done and done well, to what you can do and do better. Look for opportunities to squeeze every ounce of experience out of! If you are determined to reach a generation, then you have to constantly change the way you do things in order to reach the next generation. Are you willing and ready for the challenge to reach a tough generation. The unchurched, the hurting, the lost, the broken, the over entertained, the heartless, the weak, the proud…Students from all walks of life and from every school in your area. This is why you do what you do! God has not positioned you in a place to lead a dodgeball team, he has positioned you to lead a generation to experience the power of His presence!

What season are you in? Recognize it and walk in it! Make the most of it! Understand it and embrace the fight!