Well…here we are…My 100th Post.
I thought we’d celebrate by giving some stuff away as I get something off my chest. Over the past few years I have heard one clear and consistent phrase from children and student pastors.
That phrase is:
“…but my head pastor…”
As in
I would do this but my head pastor….
won’t get on board with the idea.
won’t help me get volunteers.
won’t quit scheduling stuff for adults and taking my vols away.
hasn’t seen a student (or kids) program in years.
So…here’s what I’m thinking.
I’m thinking I want to hear about head pastors who are on board.
I want to hear about pastors who are doing what it takes to ensure their church is reaching the next generation.
I want to hear about pastors who “Think Orange.”
And then…I want to help you and your pastor get into the Orange Conference for some quality time together to discuss your program.
What do you say? You in?
Here’s the official prize.
- 2 Registrations to the Orange Conference (one must be for your head pastor)
- a 2 hour consulting lunch during Orange to talk systems and volunteer recruitment with me. (I’m buying)
- a copy of Standard Theme to work over your ministry blog.
Here’s how you get it.
- Must be a follower of @coachshef on Twitter.
- Retweet this post and/or share it on Facebook.
- Comment on this post “I’m in!”…include your name and church….And whatever else you want to say.
- Get you head pastor to email me telling me why they want to come to Orange with you. (the winning email will be part of the post announcing the winner). You can send your emails to info@coachshef.com. Make sure the pastor mentions your church and your name.
All entries are due by September 23rd The winner will be announced on September 28th.
Shef…this is a great idea and a great post. As a lead pastor, I promise you that we are often late to the game on great ideas. I’m thankful that through the persistence of a few friends a few years ago I saw the potential of family ministry.
Senior pastors…do yourself a favour (and your staff a favour) and take the lead…show them this post and say “Hey, let me be that guy for you”. So few senior pastors do this it will first amaze your staff and secondly create a new level of trust and teamwork in your organization.
Wow! What a great offer! I know tons of pastors who could benefit from this! Great idea!
I’m in!
Dan McSwain
Center Pointe Christian Church
I can’t wait for “Orange”
Ah man dude. I think this is an awesome idea! Sadly I do college ministry with a student group on campus. I looked at Orange the other day and thought it would be cool to go for the visual experience….as well as the learning part too. Like Ron, I know of some pastors that would benefit from this big time. Awesome stuff Coach!
i’m in!
i’m in
flaviu pop
hebron baptist church
dacula, ga
I’m in!
We’re in the midst of going orange ourselves. Would love to learn from the insights of fellow orange thinkers.
Jeremy Woody
Ridgeview Baptist Church
Stuarts Draft, Va
I’m IN!!!
Jacob Henry
Fairview Heights Church of Christ
I’m in! Thanks for the opportunity.
Well, I was almost in. Here is my church stuff:
Western Hills Church of Christ
Temple, TX
I’m in!
The Ridge
Buford, GA
Hey, Marcus. I work for Orange, and we do have some breakouts for those in college ministry that are led by Chuck Bomar and Abbie Smith. Also you we are in the process of putting together some resources that help people implement mentoring as talked about in the book The Slow Fade, written by Regge Joiner, Chuck and Abbie. The materials will be available in January 2011. But in the meantime, you can find out more info at http://www.xp3college.org. Hope to see you there.
So, Tim/Coach, does that mean I can be “In” or would it be wise to see about the xp3? Thanks for what you both do for real!
I’d love to see a letter form your head pastor…I say we add college people to the mix for sure!
Just talked to my director (head pastor)
I’m In!
http://gamecockbcm.com/
Columbia, SC
Thanks for the opp! Happy 100!
Awesome contest. I know I’m going to make sure my boss is at Orange. Some ideas for ways to present this one to head pastors (not necessarily yours):
- “Hey, remember that conference you were telling me about?”
- “I’ve been thinking about how much you value families around here, and then I heard they were having a huge conference for leaders like you.”
- “I’d give you tickets to Orange for your birthday, but if we win this contest it’s free and that’s right in my price range.”
- “Three words; Lunch with CoachShef”
- “Remember how we had to take staff development out of the budget this year? Well…”
I’m in!
Josh Britt
The Brook
I would love to win and take my pastor to Orange. He is a great guy and would benefit a ton from going to Orange.
WE ARE IN!!!
Melissa Moran
inSpirit Church
Why my boss deserves to go to Orange 11 for FREE. I use the term “boss” lightly because I am not actually a paid youth director at my church. Because we are a new smaller church, it is completely a volunteer position. Last year I wanted to go to Orange, I’m kind of new at this whole thing and so is our church for that matter we just had our first “birthday/anniversary” anyways I saw the ad for Orange last year and thought there is no way my church will send me it was a lot of money since we are from Michigan. However not only did they send me but another volunteer from the children’s ministry. Our Pastor/Boss took money from his conference fund to pay for it. We had a great time it was actually one of the most amazing times in my life. The other girl and I would sit and talk until all hours of the night thinking about how amazing it would be if our church went “Orange” but again we thought there is no way they are going to understand what an amazing conference this was and how important it was to go “Orange” So we got back and did what they told us not to which is throw up orange on them, but they were listening and liking it. This past summer our church set the wheel in motion and headed towards an orange kick off in the fall. Not only were we ecstatic they were too. We have spent the summer reading the orange leaders book forming a family ministry team and spending hours brainstorming how we were going to get the entire church on board. My pastor/boss started the fall off with a three series on orange. You guessed it Red, yellow and orange Sunday. The months leading to this have been an amazing journey. Now that I have all that out of the way this is my reasoning. Most youth director/pastor thinks that there boss isn’t on board. During the summer I can’t tell you how many times he has told me “whatever it takes…I’m behind you.” “You need a wii or pizzas every week whatever it takes to bring the kids in I will find the money for you myself” He has also felt that when something is so important as the next generation it needs to be revisited again and again. So not only will we be having red yellow and orange Sunday this month but we will keep coming back to it. He is committed to making sure that the church as a family understands how important it is too. I can think of no better or more deserving pastor/boss than Pastor Randy…and hey I’m not even getting paid to say that! I am doing what I love because I have someone that believes in the same thing I do.
I’m in…assuming my pastor can get you the email soon enough.
Jared Massey
Associate Pastor
Warsaw Assembly of God
I’m in.
Chris Barker, Children’s Pastor
Faith Evangelical Free Church
Manhattan, KS
http://www.faithmanhattan.org
Thanks for the resources and coaching. The children’s ministries at Faith adopted the Orange Strategy towards the end of 2009. We still feel new to this, but have fully committed. From wearing Orange Shirts every Sunday to redesigning the Children’s Ministry web pages, we’re trying to keep the vision of partnership in front of our parents. More recently, our staff team has committed to a collaborative model where we each share our influence/giftedness within each-other’s areas of ministry, instead of simply worrying about what goes on in our piece of the building. Orange ’11 would be an awesome experience to share with Steve in our new collaborative model.
I’m In
Rob McKinney
Faircreek Church
Fairborn OH,
Hi, Shef!
I am proud to tell you that my head pastor is completely on board with us in children’s ministry! We have searched high and low for great Sunday school curriculum and we LOVE everything about Think Orange. Please send us to your conference so we can dialogue with your team and grow into a dynamic children’s ministry!
Stephanie Recine
Ventura Vineyard Church
Ventura, CA
P.S. It’s still the 23rd for us California people.
got it…you’re legal! Thanks