Igniter Media Group is offering a free motion loop download. I do not know how long it will be free so - go now and download the loop for free while it lasts.
Motion loops can be used as creative moving backgrounds for your announcements, song lyrics, or message points. Enjoy the free stuff!
Outreach magazine has released their 2008 list of the Top 100 Largest Churches in America. To see the full list, you can (1) buy a downloadable PDF or (2) buy a copy of the magazine’s special issue.
For a sneak peak at this year’s rankings, here are the top 15 largest churches in America for 2008 as well as how they ranked in 2007 and 2006.
Top 15 (of 100) Largest Churches in America for 2008
These “largest churches” are great sources of ministry ideas and examples. This does not mean you should copy what they do. Your ministry has a unique calling that requires unique actions.
Learn from the mistakes and successes of these “largest churches.” Learn how to do what they do better and within the context of your calling.
Scott Hodge of The Orchard (Aurora, IL) opened up day 2 of MinistryCOM with a keynote on change. Scott is not only the lead pastor but the communications director as well. Here are some “tweaked” highlights from his talk:
How do you change a church that has been doing things the same way for too long?
The biggest challenge is changing the way that people think about church. People want to reach people for God, but they like to reach them on their terms.
God can birth a new culture for your church.
A communication director’s job is not to decide or dictate the vision of the church. A communication director’s job to to translate and clrify the vision so that people can get it.
Sometimes whole visions live or die on the basis of the words the leader chooses for articulating the vision.
-Bill Hybels :: Axiom
When you have a clear and compelling mission, you have the opportunity to create alignment.
Vision is not sticky. you have to recast it and recast it and recast it.
-Andy Stanley
Ask Yourself Three Questions
You have the opportunity to create culture. That culture is created by everything, including what you choose to celebrate as well as who and what you allow to have influence in your church.
Communicate the why behind the what. Do not just tell people what is happening. Explain why you are doing it.
Mike Foster of Ethur and Plain Joe Studios opened up MinistryCOM with the first keynote. Here are some highlights from his talk:
Are we like Shamu, or are we killer whales?
Are we living the life of a tamed creature that is put in a box, or are we fulfilling our God designed purpose?
If we want to be more like killer whales,
Our calling as artists, as designers, as creatives is to be killer whales and not Shamu’s. We must risk, dreaming, possibilities, and faith.
Do you need a giant Noah’s Ark?
If so, you are in luck because Southgate Church (South Bend, IN) happens to be giving one away. To get a hands-on perspective about Noah’s Ark, their children’s ministry built a 72′ x 24′ x 18′ ark (1/7 scale) this summer while studying about Noah.
When it was finished, the entire church experienced a special Sunday morning service outside by the ark. They even got some press coverage for their efforts.
If your church would like to be the next owner of this incredible ark, email jerrellj [AT] southgate.cc for more information. You would need to arrange the transportation of the ark from South Bend, IN to its new home.
On Friday, September 5th, 2008, Harold Davis passed away at 52 years of age. He spent his life (27 years) doing innovative children’s ministry and training church leaders. His ministry touched hundreds of thousands of people.
To me, Harold was a close friend and a mentor. He taught me valuable ministry lessons. And he was an extraordinary communicator with creative object lessons. He will be missed. A few years ago, we were discussing life philosophies, and he shared this life motto:
I’m not going to wait until I’m retired to start having fun. I’m going to live life now and have fun.
And he did. He always spent extra effort, time, and money to make life fun, particularly for his family. He spent extra effort to make sure that each day counted in his ministry and his personal life.
It is a good reminder that life is fragile, and we must all purpose to make each day count - at home and in ministry. We must all purpose to be the best stewards we can be of our lives by learning to spend some extra effort in everything we do.
A memorial fund has been set up to help his family through this difficult time. A donation link is on the homepage of www.HaroldDavisMinistries.com.
You can also support his family by purchasing one of his many leadership resources or object lessons, including electronic fire Bibles, flash paper, dissolvo paper, no tear paper, slush powder, instant snow, vanishing CD, and change bags.
Yesterday, the Catalyst Vanagon drove through Tulsa, OK to spread goodwill and cheer with its tricked out rideness. I had the privilege to meet up with the Vanagon Vagabonds, LV Hanson of the Catalyst Conference and Ethan Fisher of Roov.com, and talk ministry ideas.
Last week, they met with Dino Rizzo of Healing Place Church (Baton Rouge, LA) who is working diligently with his congregation to provide relief for hurricane victims. Healing Place Church’s website lists numerous ways that you and your church can help.
The Catalyst Team has a goal of getting 50 tarps to Healing Place Church by Friday September, 12th. To join their efforts:
If you have any questions about Healing Place Church’s hurricane relief, please call (225) 753-2273.
The University of Texas at Austin spent four years studying the drinking habits of 2,200 college students. Using a smaller sample of students, they focused part of their study on how students celebrate their 21st birthday. Astonishingly, 98.7% of college students drank alcohol to celebrate their 21st birthday.
Side Effects of a 21st Birthday
And it is not just binge drinking (defined as 4-5 drinks). Many students are pushing their physical limits to over 20 drinks, an excess that researchers feel is too gluttonous to be only labeled as binging.
Binge drinking sets a lower threshold than what we’re talking about. We’re saying this is more than four or five drinks. Here it’s people having 10 or 20 drinks. Obviously, binge is a bad thing, but it’s not capturing the high end of drinking we’re interested in characterizing here.
One of the things that really struck us is not only that they’re drinking a hell of a lot but about half of participants were drinking not only more on that night, but they’re drinking more than ever in their lifetime. They’re putting in their lifetime maximum number of drinks in that 24-hour period of their birthday celebration.
- Kenneth Sher :: Professor of Psychology :: University of Missouri
Studies show that between 12% to 34% of students consume 21+ drinks on their 21st birthday. If you minister to college students, realize that their drinking problems may be worse than you thought.
For Discussion:
I understand that some theology condemns all drinking and some says that drinking without getting drunk is fine. Clearly, in this situation, the students are getting drunk.
- What are some effective ministry methods to help students overcome the temptation to drink too much or even drink at all?
(please keep the discussion on methods and not dogma)
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