Adventure Quest

I am getting so excited about camp!  Right now we are taking about 94 kids to camp and that number is rising daily.  We leave in a little over a week and we are doing our own kids camp for the first time.  It is going to be fun. We are partnering the church of a good friend of mine, he is also bringing about 100 kids.  It is going to be so much fun.

I already have a great team going with us, all that is left is getting all the paperwork together.  

I can't wait.

The Forum

I wanted to make everyone who may be interested aware of a great new ministry resource: The CMA Forum It is a great way for kids pastors to connect with others from around the country.  Great job CMA team.  

Yes, it has been a while

It has been a while since I have posted, but things have been crazy busy.  In kids ministry, I think summer time can be the most productive/least productive time of the year.  It can provide some great relational times: Camp, Day Camp, and other great events.  But at the same time, there is an overwhelming amount of preparation time that goes into these events, and the best part of it all is that the normal "ministry stuff" does not stop just because you are preparing for summer activities.  

I am excited though, we are about to hire an Administrative assistant to help us move forward in ministry.  I think this new position will help me find ways to be more productive and be even more relational with the team I lead and the kids of Hope.  

Building a Team

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I feel like the greatest way to lead is through teams.  I have been blessed with a great team, and it is becoming even greater.  I think it is my job as the leader of the team to make sure that every member of the team is moving in the right direction.

There are people on the team that are on all different levels.  Some are brand new to the team, it is my job to make sure they are finding their place, and feeling like they are a part.  That is why we are working our way through interview after interview. Other members, ones who have been on the team longer, need me to challenge them and stretch them.  Team members like Julie and Eric need new leadership challenges.  I have to make sure that they are learning to lead leaders.

This leadership challenge is the greatest one of my life, but it is also the most fun I have ever had!

St. Paul Assembly of God

I Have spent the week in St. Paul, Va with a good friend, Jimi Watson.  Besides not having any cell phone coverage, or even a Walmart for about 15 miles in either direction, we have had a great week. Wednesday we got to visit the world's fastest half mile!  Bristol Motor Speedway was really cool. I got to climb up the embankment and touch the wall, visit the track owners "SWEET" (yes I know it is suite, but you should have seen it), and stand in victory lane (which at Bristol is on top of a building).  I even got to take a few laps on the track, we were in a tour bus, so the experience was more frightening than it was exciting.  

I have had a great time here though.  Jimi has taught me some great leadership lessons and really taken time to pour into my life about what it means to truly pastor people.  He has a love for this city and these people that is obvious.  I know he will do great things here. I want the love in my heart for the kids of Frisco, McKinney, and the surrounding areas to be as real and as visible as Jimi's love for these people is.  I know that God has called me to Hope and I believe great things will begin to happen as we continue to move forward with that call!

Feeling Prepared

Have you ever felt unprepared for something?  I hate the feeling of walking into a room full of kids and not being completely ready.  It really seems like more things go wrong when I am unprepared than when I am set and ready to go. I can have my service prepped and all the things completely ready to go, and nothing will go wrong.  Or I can come into the room and not be quite ready to go, and everything will fall apart.  I had a coach in College who would always use a popular saying, "Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance". I want to do my part to be prepared so that God can use me to great things.

What a Weekend

We made an emergency trip to SC this weekend.  I learned a few things along the way:

1.  I have a great right hand man, and an incredible team here at Hope.  You all are awesome, I had no doubts that you all could handle things flawlessly!

2.  I want to leave a Legacy.  We went for the funeral of a former Pastor's wife.  Hearing stories and watching people, she obviously left her mark on her Family, her church, and the world.

3.  My Butt falls asleep after multiple hours in the front seat of our truck (that one was just for fun, but it did fall asleep multiple times).

4.  I love Hope Fellowship.  Much like the last time Sarah and I went back to SC (for Jonathon and Kim's Wedding) we realized how awesome God is and how much we enjoy serving Hope Fellowship now.  

5.  My wife is awesome!  She is an amazing Mother and wife, and I love spending Quality Time with her (Like 37 hours in the truck over 4 1/2 days!).   I love you Sarah.

6.  God has a magnificent plan for my Life.  I could see once again how God has orchestrated things in my life and really moved me to a new level as a leader.

7.  Tell the ones you love how you feel every chance you get!  Mrs.  Tania Burgbacher was killed in a tragic car accident 50 feet from her driveway traveling at only 25 mph.  You truly never know when your time might come to an end.  YOU MUST be ready Spiritually and you must take every opportunity to tell the ones you love how you really feel.

This was a worldwind trip, I am glad we made it, but I am even more happy to be home.

I am looking for great things the next few weeks at Hope!