BIG BEARD for small groups ... Week 2
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Small Groups Vision Becomes a Reality!
8 years ago when I began working as a youth pastor full-time, I never would have guessed that I would be so passionate about small groups. In fact, I was almost passionately against small groups. Not that I thought they were bad, I was just more into the big program. Well, God takes Sauls and turns them into Pauls, and that's what he did with me in terms of small groups. My first senior pastor will remember almost literally having to beg me to put my time and energy into small groups. I didn't grow up in small groups - although looking back I do remember a few months at one point when I was in junior high that I did go to a couple of youth leaders' houses which I now know were small groups. I never really participated in a small group as an adult, although we did go to a couple of homes on a couple of occasions for ministry time. I was simply not very interested. I didn't understand the power of what can happen when people truly go life-on-life. All that has changed. Today, small groups are a mountain I am willing to die on.
Four years ago when I was interviewing for my current position, I told those interviewing me that small groups were the direction I was planning on going, and that within two years we would launch them. And we did. It was exciting. We went through that initial surge, the dip, and then leveled off with around 45-55% of our regular kids connected in a small group. This spring I decided to try something new. I wanted to do a sex series, but I wanted to use our small group infrastructure to do it. So, I took a risk. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I knew that I had to put my money where my mouth was and prove in my actions that I believe that small groups are the way to go. I actually asked kids to register and pay to be in a small group to talk about the most taboo subject in our culture. The first Sunday we had a fairly decent response, and I was mildly optimistic. The next two weeks, however, I was blindsided, and so many kids signed up. Yesterday I registered even more, using up the last workbooks we had, to the point that I even had to turn several students away, because we simply did not have room or workbooks for them. Unfortunate, but wow! What an incredible win for us! During this series, we have almost 80% of our students in a small group! We have 8 groups, but one group is too large, so next week I am planning on multiplying it and starting another group, so we'll have 9. Glory to God! Last night I traveled to five of them, quickly saying hi, dropping off a bag of chips, and taking a group pic. Next week I'll hit the others and post the pics.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Planet Impact Worship Team Members Part of Mass Choir At Battle Cry!
This past Friday night and Saturday the Planet Impact worship team members had the tremendous privilege and opportunity to participate in the mass choir for Battle Cry at the Izod Center in New Jersey in front of over 14,000 people! It was a great experience, and we are so proud of them for their hard work! Way to go guys!
Live Pure Small Groups Launching Tonight!
Tonight 8 small groups will be meeting in homes across Long Island, and it looks like we're going to have to make a 9th group because one is just too big! It's the highest attended small group series we have ever had, and today we even had to turn some people away because we are so full. How exciting! It's happening! Students are getting connected life on life with other students and caring adults. That is what Planet Impact is all about! In honor of such a big win for our youth ministry, I am growing a BIG BEARD for small groups for the next seven weeks. Why? I don't really know. But every time I see my BIG BEARD I will think about and pray for our small groups.
Didn't get into a group this time around? Be sure to get into a group next time they're offered!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Journey to the Cross
Tonight @ Planet Impact we had an interactive experience called Journey to the Cross. We would love it if you would share what God did in your life by leaving a comment to this post. If you wouldn't mind signing your name, that would be great; but you don't have to.
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