Small Group Training Video #1 from Long Hollow Student Ministry on Vimeo.
YouTube Series from Orange Thread Media on Vimeo.
THANKS
Thank you to all of you who brought blankets last weekend! We had a great response - 1712 blankets given. The blankets were delivered to Brent Gambrell Ministries on Monday.
Thanks also for your gifts to the Haiti relief offering. So far we’ve had close to $80,000 given! 100% of the funds for the Haiti relief operation go directly to The Global Orphan Project. You will have another opportunity to give to the Haiti relief fund this weekend, or you can give online here.
NEW Opportunity This Weekend
We have another opportunity to give items to the relief effort. The Global Orphan Project is setting up a “Transitional Village” to help house and care for newly orphaned and displaced children. Some estimates have been as high as 200,000 new orphans in Haiti. The children are lost, scared, sick, and famished. Our response is urgently needed. Our truck leaves early Monday morning for Miami, and the items will leave for Haiti on Wednesday.
Please bring the following items on Sunday:
SHELTER MATERIALS
Family-style camping tents
Tarps
Robe
CHILDREN’S CLOTHES
Summer-weight clothing - all sizes; used are fine
Including underwear
Shoes, croc-style is good
Diapers
OTHER SUPPLIES
Tylenol
Children’s Tylenol
Antibacterial soap
Antibacterial ointments
Easy-to-prepare canned goods
Tuna packets
Pasta
Granola bars
Info on Adoption
Have you and your family considered the adoption of a Haitian child? Click here for more info.
Thanks again for your outpouring of love for the people of Haiti. Let’s continue to pray and make ourselves available to help in this tragic situation.
As you know Tim Tebow put under his eyes a different scripture each game. What were they? What game had what scripture? Here are the answers to that question
Mark 8:36 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
SEPT 26 FLORIDA 41, KENTUCKY 7
Isaiah 40:3131 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
OCT 10 FLORIDA 13, LSU 3
I Thessalonians 5:18 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
OCT 17 FLORIDA 23, ARKANSAS 20 (Go Hogs)
Psalm 23:1 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
OCT 24 FLORIDA 29, MISSISSIPPI STATE 19
Ephesians 4:32 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
OCT 31: FLORIDA 41 GEORGIA 17
Phillippians 4:6-7 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
NOV 7: FLORIDA 27, VANDERBILT 3
Colossians 3:23 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
NOV 14: FLORIDA 24, SOUTH CAROLINA 14
Joshua 1:8-9 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
NOV 21: FLORIDA 62, FIU 3
Romans 1:16 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
NOV 28: FLORIDA 37, FLORIDA STATE 10
Hebrews 12:1-2 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
DEC 5: ALABAMA 32, FLORIDA 13
John 16:33 33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
SOURCE: Sun Sentinel - www.sunsentinel.com Friday January 1, 2010
When a user enters a website that might contain questionable material, the application records the site along with the date and time it was visited. A detailed report is then sent out to your designated accountability partners every one to three weeks, depending on your preference. So, for those of you iPhone users who are looking for a tool to help filter questionable materials and safeguard your surfing, download the application here .
Many of you have already called or e-mailed with questions and offers to help. Continue to check longhollow.com for updates and real time information, but here’s what we can say at this time:
Right now, there are three ways you can respond:
It’s no accident that God directed the heart of our church toward Haiti several months ago. He has called us for “such a time as this.” We have a tremendous opportunity to be the “hands and feet of Jesus.” Please pray for the suffering people of this poor country and pray about how God may want to use you to help. Above all, let’s pray that out of this tragedy thousands will be born into the kingdom through the life changing power of the Gospel!
Teacher(s): Jeff & Rachel Lovingood
Time: Wednesday Night - 6:15-7:30 p.m.
For Who?: All Ages
Where?: Main Building RM 240
Cost: Free
It’s not easy being the parent of a middle schooler or high schooler. In this fun and entertaining course, you will get some valuable advice from Jeff and Rachel Lovingood about how to raise students in today’s world. Six sessions.
One of the wisest things a pastor can do is learn from other churches. Ministry is a busy vocation, so it is important use your limited time wisely when looking for churches to study.
There are roughly 320,000 churches in the United States, and obviously no one has time to study them all. In fact, few people have time to study all 421 churches from the 16 big “top churches” lists since 2004. If you are looking for some top churches to watch in America, I have created mashups of the top churches to study in the areas of growth, innovation, church planting, size, influence, and overall.
See the complete churches to watch list.
Keep in mind these lists aren’t perfect. Many are subjective. Some have misinformation. But I find these mashups to be a step in the right direction of creating better lists.
Also, keep in mind that these aren’t the only churches worth watching. You should also be learning from local churches, church plants, and more.
My methods for ranking the churches are simple. Churches are ranked (1) by how many lists they have been included on and (2) by the average ranking they have had on the lists. See the end of the article for a list of all lists referenced.
TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH GROWTH
These are the top churches to learn from about how to consistently experience high level growth.
TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH INNOVATION
These are the top churches to learn from about innovative methods.
TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH PLANTING
These are the top churches to learn from about planting multiple churches.
TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH SIZE
These are the top churches to learn from about running a large church.
TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from that are INFLUENCING OTHER CHURCHES
These are the top churches that are influencing how other churches do ministry.
TOP 26 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from in ALL AREAS
These are the top churches that excel in all the measured areas from lists.
I appreciate that these lists prove that success in ministry can be achieved with a variety of models. They represent a wide spectrum of denominations and ministry philosophies that reach an equally diverse spectrum of cultures and communities. Something valuable can be learned from each church.
Referenced Lists
Special thanks to Outreach magazine, Ed Stetzer, and Church Growth Today for their work in compiling the data for the original lists.
God has poured out his blessing on my life over the past 10 years. Here is a glimpse of 2000 – 2010.
May, 2001 – Graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a BS degree in Biblical Studies with a minor in Speech Communications.
2001 – Took my first full time ministry job at First Baptist Church Springdale, AR under the leadership of Alex Himaya (Pastor of Students) and Dr. Ronnie Floyd (Senior Pastor). We had around 700 students a week in that ministry. I had previously been an intern for FBC Springdale since 1999.
September 21, 2002 – Married the most amazing girl ever – Jennifer McInturff – now Mills!!!
February 2003 – Moved to Tulsa, OK to help Dr. Alex Himaya start a church. August 2003 we launched “The Church at BattleCreek.” We started with 7 teenagers in that ministry and watched it grow like wild fire along with seeing a lot of students saved and baptized weekly.
December 22, 2004 – Our daughter, McKenna Grace Mills, was born. She is “Daddy’s lil’ girl!”
2006– We took our next ministry job under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Crawford in Fort Smith, Arkansas at The Grand Family Church – Grand Avenue Baptist Church. Steve Farris had called us about this job to see if we might be interested then we had the privilege to go spend time with Dr. Crawford and hear his vision. This really led us to jump onboard with the opportunity to serve under him and his vision for Grand. There we watch the ministry grow like crazy even seeing over 600 students attend some events we held, putting on a community wide camp @ Camp WOW in Ada, OK and weekly we saw many students saved, baptized & lives changed.
August 8, 2006 – Our son, Parker Lee Mills, was born. He is tha man!!!
2007– Eric Hystad, from Second Baptist Church, Houston, TX called to ask us to pray about an opportunity to come and lead the student ministry at their West Campus in Katy, TX. We accepted the position & moved to Texas in September, 2007. What a journey this was. The job was a God size job to me as I was moving from a ministry of 200 students to about 450 at the time along with going from two staff members to 14 staff members counting interns, 11 full time employees. We, again, watched God do AMAZING things through this ministry. I met some of the most amazing people along with watching hundreds of students baptized and 1000’s saved.
Spring 2009 – Jeff Lovingood came to me and asked us to start praying about being a part of the Student Ministry at Long Hollow Baptist Church. This was crazy because we had just taken 1300 students to camp and watched over 500 students be baptized in that summer, why would God call us away from that? We were serving at the largest Baptist church in the country, Second Baptist Church, Houston; when God began to call us to the Fastest Growing Baptist church in the country, Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN.
Through a lot of prayer and consideration we took the job at Long Hollow and I truly believe God took us through the past 10 years to bring us to today, to take this job at Long Hollow. Following a man, who most would consider to be one of the most successful youth pastor in the country, Jeff Lovingood, would be a great challenge and a God-sized opportunity for us. Again, just like with Second Houston, we had no idea if we could do it, but we did know that God was CALLING us, so we would once again step out on Faith and go forward on the journey that the Lord laid out before us!!!
Now we have the real pleasure of living in Hendersonville TN leading a Student Ministry currently running around 900 students a week under the leadership of David Landrith (Pastor) and Jeff Lovingood (Next Generations Pastor). We are seeing students saved and baptized weekly and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for this ministry in this upcoming year. I truly believe God can use LHSM to make a great impact all over Middle Tennessee, as well as throughout the whole country!
WOW!! What a humbling journey the past decade has been.
CONCLUSION TO MY 10 YEARS:
So in 10 years I have gotten married, had 2 great children, lived in 4 states, been a part of 5 churches, had a youth ministry as small as 7 and as large as 900 a week, met amazing students, leaders, volunteers and friends, experienced more than I would have ever dreamed of for my whole lifetime!!
I know through my life that we serve a BIG GOD and I’m humbled how he has chose to use just a little old small town boy from Hot Springs, Arkansas to reach people for His Kingdom!
I pray that over the next 10 years, that God continues to entrust my family and I with more and more as we stay faithful in all that He calls us to. We are so blessed to be at Long Hollow Baptist Church. It is a church we want our children to grow up in as they are spiritually challenged day-in and day-out under the leadership of our Pastor David Landrith. I truly pray God does something through LHSM that we have never seen or heard of!!! Pray that with me!!!
On August 24, 2009, the world was shocked to learn Jaycee Lee Dugard's story. Police said Dugard, kidnapped at age 11, spent 18 years as a captive in a sex offender's yard. Officials say Phillip Garrido and his wife Nancy abducted and raped Dugard and kept her imprisoned in the backyard compound, shielded from the world by trees, tarps, tents and tool sheds
Five days before her wedding, Yale graduate student Annie Le vanished. On Sept. 13, 2009, the 24-year-old's mangled body was found behind the wall of the Yale laboratory where she worked. It was her wedding day. Raymond Clark III, a 24-year-old lab technician who worked in the same building, was charged with her murder. Police still have no motive.
3. asmine Fiore
The body of swimsuit model Jasmine Fiore was found stuffed in a suitcase in a California trash bin on Aug. 15, 2009. The tips of her fingers and teeth were removed. The 28-year-old's remains were identified by the serial numbers on her breast implants. Her husband, reality TV contestant Ryan Jenkins, was charged with her murder but went on the run and later committed suicide in a Canadian motel.
4. Anthony Sowell
On Oct. 29, 2009, police entered convicted sex offender Anthony Sowell's Cleveland home to arrest him for an alleged rape. They were hit with a horrid stench that had permeated the neighborhood for years. What they found was worse - 11 women's rotting bodies, one was only a skull. Some of the victims had been missing more than a year. He pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, rape and corpse abuse.
5. Shaniya Davis
Shaniya Davis, 5, was reported missing by her mother, Antoinette Davis, Nov. 10, 2009. A horrifying surveillance video showed a man carrying the girl in a North Carolina hotel. Searchers soon found her body amongst deer carcasses and trash. Police say Antoinette Davis sold her daughter for sex. They charged her with human trafficking. Mario Andrette McNeill, the man in the video, was charged with her rape and murder.
6. Alyssa Bustamante
In an online profile, Missouri teen Alyssa Bustamante listed "killing people" as a hobby. Police say on Oct. 21, 2009, the 15-year-old strangled, stabbed and cut the throat of her 9-year-old next-door neighbor Elizabeth Olten because she wanted to know what it felt like. Disturbing Facebook photos showed the previously suicidal teen appearing deranged. Bustamante was charged as an adult with first-degree murder.
7. Philip Markoff
By all accounts, Philip Markoff was a promising 23-year-old medical student at Boston University who was about to be married. But police say he had a dark alter ego, who used Craigslist to lure women to hotel rooms and rob them by gunpoint. Aspiring model Julissa Brisman, 25, never made it out of the Boston Marriot hotel where police say the "Craigslist Killer" shot and killed her on April 14, 2009.
8. David Letterman
On Oct 1, 2009, David Letterman shocked his audience when he admitted past sexual affairs with women who had worked on the "Late Show," and that he was being extorted by a man threatening to out him. CBS News producer Robert Halderman was charged with blackmailing the comedian for $2 million. Halderman — who discovered his girlfriend's affair with Letterman — said he was simply shopping him a screenplay.
George Sodini walked into a Pennsylvania health club on Aug. 4, 2009, shut off the lights, pulled out two guns, calmly fired into a crowd of women, and then killed himself, according to police. Three women died and nine others were injured during his rampage. Sodini left behind a twisted website and two YouTube videos that show he was embittered by his decades-long inability to attract the opposite sex.
10. Byrd and Melanie Billings
Byrd and Melanie Billings, a Florida couple who raised 16 children, 12 of them adopted with special needs, were murdered in their bedroom on July 9, 2009. Police say seven men raided the house in a military-style attack, dressed in ninja garb. The alleged motive was robbery, but they missed a safe with $164,000. None of the children were hurt, but authorities believe at least one of them had to witness the murders.
TIME MAGAZINE TOP LIST OF EVERYTHING FOUND HERE
TOP 10 ENTERTAINMENT STORIES:
NEW YORK: Here are 2009's top entertainment stories as voted by U.S. newspaper and broadcast editors surveyed by The Associated Press.
1. MICHAEL JACKSON DIES: On June 25, Jackson was pronounced dead at the age of 50.
One of the most momentous and shocking deaths in pop culture history, the event reverberated in many ways.
There was the ongoing investigation: Jackson's death was ruled a homicide, and his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who says he's innocent of wrongdoing, is being investigated for manslaughter.
There was the gigantic Los Angeles funeral.
There was the documentary, "This Is It," of Jackson's preparations for a comeback concert series.
But, perhaps most of all, there was the celebration of his music, on stages and sidewalks the world over.
2. SUSAN BOYLE BECOMES OVERNIGHT SENSATION:
Two 21st-century powers - reality TV and the Web - combined to turn the humble, unknown Boyle into an international star.
After Boyle sang "I Dreamed a Dream" on "Britain's Got Talent" on April 11, the clip spread like wildfire online, totaling more than 120 million views on YouTube.
Her album, released in November, had the best opening week sales of a female debut in decades.
3. LATE-NIGHT SWAP:
On NBC, Conan O'Brien took over the "Tonight" show, and Jay Leno moved to 10 p.m. All the fanfare may have been overdone, though: At year's end, neither was receiving good ratings.
4. WALTER CRONKITE DIES:
The passing on July 17 of Cronkite, a paragon of journalism and a father figure to a nation, was not only the sad loss of a universally acknowledged great man but was a reminder of a bygone era in broadcasting.
5. DAVID LETTERMAN AFFAIR:
Letterman's Oct. 1 announcement on his "Late Show" carried two bombshells: He alleged that he had been the victim of an extortion attempt, and he confessed to having affairs with women on his staff.
Letterman, who hasn't shied from the subject on air, saw some of his best ratings in years.
The man accused of trying to blackmail Letterman, Robert J. "Joe" Halderman, says he was just shopping a screenplay.
6. CHRIS BROWN ASSAULTS RIHANNA:
The big story on Grammy night in 2009 didn't take place on stage but outside the ceremony.
Chris Brown assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna, an altercation that led to Brown pleading guilty to felony assault in June.
Both R&B stars were in comeback mode before the year was out, releasing new albums just weeks apart.
7. KANYE WEST ROBS TAYLOR SWIFT:
Bad behavior, not awards, also ruled the story line at the MTV Video Music Awards. When a stage-crashing West interrupted Swift's acceptance speech for best female video, the rapper clearly underestimated the negative reaction he would inspire.
8. LIVE VIDEO EXPLODES ON THE WEB:
One of the biggest trends in online video was the emergence of demand - and supply - for live video.
Live online video particularly suited daytime news events (when people are at work in front of computers).
Millions online watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama and the funeral of Michael Jackson.
9. KATE AND JON GOSSELIN BROADCAST SPLIT:
One of reality TV's latest sensations fell apart just as it was reaching fruition.
TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" was winning its best ratings in its fifth season when the Gosselins - parents of eight children - announced their separation.
With more than 10 million viewers, that episode earned the show its best ratings.
Arguments in the divorce, which became final in December, have thus far prevented the show from continuing.
TLC hopes to debut a show for Kate Gosselin in the spring.
10. HEATH LEDGER WINS POSTHUMOUS OSCAR:
Ledger, whose death topped the poll of 2008's top entertainment stories, remained a presence in 2009, when he won an Oscar for best-supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight. - AP
Here are some quotes from the 1st part of chapter 1. Really worth the read. very challenging. Pick the book up and read it!!! then you see what all of Chapter one is talking about.
“People who are 100% leaders achieve greatness by pushing past the comfort zone and inspiring their followers to do the same.”
“Yes, companies with challenging goals do fail. But it’s rarely the goal itself that causes the failure. Rather, the failure occurs in communicating, executing, and resourcing the goal.”
“The first critical lesson on being a 100% leader is that if the status quo felt bad, people would have changed already.”
“by the way, I’ve never met a CEO who didn’t want his or her managers to be more innovative and proactive.”
“You’ll recognize some of the better-known 100% leaders by their reputations for inspiring others to become Hundred Percenters.”
“Every sales presentation, every customer interaction, every budget request, and every financial approval is a chance for us to push ourselves and our employees toward untold greatness.”
“companies that tend to make the most money over time do so by delivering the most value to somebody bigger than themselves, not by sacrificing the customer to immediately increase shareholder value.”
“wow, I am going to sacrifice whatever is asked of me in order to achieve that! I will drip blood, sweat, and tears until I have given every ounce of strength this cause.”
“Hard goals are aspirational”
“The key to creating an animated and inspirational HARD goal is to describe it so graphically that people can actually experience it (albeit in their minds) long before they actually achieve it.”
There is so much more in this chapter… GREAT STUFF!!! BUY THE BOOK!!!
Here are a few quotes from 100 percenters. Let me add this. As i read this book i think of me as a follower of Christ, husband, dad, employee and leader. Apply this principal to all in your life and see what happens. Here are some quotes.
Introduction:
“Right now, are they (employees) dripping blood, sweat, and tears to achieve greatness?”
Do you see more “okness than greatness” in your organization, family, ministry?
“You probably see a lot more getting by and pretty satisfied than you see “I want to taste victory at the top of the mountain no matter how steep the climb.””
“Let’s push the envelope, let’s be great, let’s do what nobody though could be done, let’s not have satisfied customers-instead let’s have evangelists-and let’s feel that deep fulfillment and pride that only come from hard-won victory”
“If you don’t challenge people and you don’t’ build an emotional bond with them, you’re an AVOIDER”
“If you challenge people to exceed their limits but you don’t’ have much of a connection with them, you’re an INTIMIDATOR.”
“If you connect with your folks but you don’t’ challenge them all that much, you’re an APPEASER.”
And if you issue great challenges while still building intense connections with people, you’re the unltradesirable 100% LEADER”
“The results seem pretty clear. If you push people but you don’t seem to care about them your not going to be very successful.”
EXCERCIS TO DO WITH YOUR STAFF “Remember a time from any period in your life when a leader (boss, teacher, mentor, friend, etc.) inspired you to achieve something that was significant and deeply meaningful. Vividly describe what, specifically, the leader did that inspired you.”
“Once you’ve realized that limitations are more fluid than field, that the deepest fulfillment comes from climbing the highest mountains, it’s hard to go back to satisfying
n my book collection is The Class Leader. His Work and How to Do It. by John Atkinson. You canread it online or download a PDF. Originally written in 1874, it explains the methodology and importance of Methodist small group leaders. The ministry model it describes sets a challenging benchmark for effective small groups. Here are a few highlights:
The Structure
The pastor is the bishop or overseer of the entire membership of the charge to which he is appointed. It is his business to watch over their souls; to exercise discipline; to teach, reprove, rebuke, with all authority; to statedly preach the Gospel; to visit from house to house; and administer the sacraments.
The pastor, however, cannot exercise all the requisite personal oversight. The membership in many Churches is numerous, the demands made upon the pulpit are more and more stern, requiring a large amount of time to be given by the preacher to the studies and thinking necessary to the preparation of the Sabbath sermons; and with the numerous calls and interruptions inseparable from his office, it is impossible for him to give that thorough attention to all details of spiritual superintendance which the care of souls demand. The Church has made most wise and adequate provision for enabling the pastor to make his supervision complete by means of the services of Class Leaders.
All the members in full connection, and all on probation, are placed in classes, and each class is put in charge of a Leader. It is his office to see each person under his care once a week, that he may know the state of their souls. His office, therefore, is spiritual supervision.
Class Leaders in John Wesley’s Words
I called together all the Leaders of the classes, and desired that each would make a particular inquiry into the behavior of those whom he saw weekly. They did so. Many disorderly walkers were detected. Some turned from the evil of their ways. Some were put away from us. Many saw it with fear, and rejoiced unto God with reverence.
- John Wesley
Over time, the home-to-home Class Leader visits evolved into big group meetings of accountability.
How to Truly Lead a Small Group
Every Leader is in some degree a Gospel minister… The Leader, then, is to care not simply for his class collectively, but for all members separately.
If he simply hold class-meeting once a week, and look no further after his members, his knowledge of them will be very imperfect. He should know them, not simply in the class room, but in their daily life, their company, diversions, business; in their besetments, perplexities, discouragements; their temptations, falls, and uprisings. He should know their peculiarities of character, temperament, and condition, and so be able to rightly admonish, advise, and encourage them, and communicate to the pastor what it is needful for him to know concerning each.
Training Produces Results
The urgent need of the world is Christian workers who can accomplish results.
To ensure the largest success of Christian workers there must commonly be training.
These are just a fraction of the insights from The Class Leader. For more insights, read it online.
I am learning that every church staff or team must possess these four qualities…actually every organization needs these attributes in increasing measure…(it just happens to be so Rick Warrenish with my T.E.A.M. acrostic)
Teachability –
The instant I decide I know it all is the moment I am finished as a leader. Teachability is being a learner and a leader. Using what others pour into your life and pouring it in others lives. Willingness, openness, listener, and meek are just a few of the characteristics of a teachable leader. The moment we stop learning, we stop leading.(Thank you John Maxwell)
Effectiveness –
You are either an ANCHOR or an ENGINE on the ship of your organization. Effect leaders don’t hold others back, but pushing forward with the cylinders of passion, power and pursuit. Anchors have an affect as well. They stymy vision, growth and futures.
Action –
Churches and organizations need men and women, ready for, and creating momentum. Not motion, but progress, and activity. Action is something that is purposed, and must have a clearly defined goal. Many leaders substitute strategy and systems for action. The action gets lost in the planning. A plan made is only effective when it is in action.
Maturity –
Spiritual, emotional, and relational maturity is a must for any church leader. You better be ready for war if you are going to serve on a church staff and you better have staff that are ready for war. Church work is not fun and games…it is “brutiful” (Ed Young Jr colloquialism).
It’s beautiful and brutal. We need to be spiritually mature, ready to handle to potential on-slot of issues, stories, needs, mentoring and creative wisdom necessary to lead the most important institution on earth…THE LOCAL CHURCH!
On or off target? Let’s dialogue and discuss these four…agree or disagree?
Go HERE for Ed Stetzer's Blog!!!
A new study done by Patrick F. Fagan examines the effects of pornography on individuals, marriage, family and community. Fagan is Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Research on Marriage and Religion at the Family Research Council. He specializes in examining the relationships among family, marriage, religion, community, and America's social problems. This study is important for everyone to read as it demonstrates that it has damaging effects on individuals and families. In the summary Fagan explains,
Pornography is a visual representation of sexuality which distorts an individual's concept of the nature of conjugal relations. This, in turn, alters both sexual attitudes and behavior. It is a major threat to marriage, to family, to children and to individual happiness. In undermining marriage it is one of the factors in undermining social stability.
Social scientists, clinical psychologists, and biologists have begun to clarify some of the social and psychological effects, and neurologists are beginning to delineate the biological mechanisms through which pornography produces its powerful negative effects.
Some of the findings inside the study include:
You can (and should) download the study here, and then jump into the comments to talk. Is your church addressing the issue of pornography? Should it? How?
Dear Parents,
We are seeing more and more students being a part of LHSM along with weekly seeing students saved and Baptized on all of our campuses. I pray your student is connected on Sunday morning in one of our small groups along with attending Wednesday Night (if you are in White House we do Sunday Night with the students).
I want to encourage all of you to attend our Parent Meeting December 16 at 6:00 pm in the worship center of the Hendersonville Campus with Jeff Lovingood.
Let me break down for you what is planned for the future:
JANUARY:
We are taking a 9 week focus around our small groups by doing a
Campaign called YOUTUBE CHALLENGE. Each small group will
make a video that promotes Sunday morning Small Groups and submit them to my staff (Hville Campus submits to John Steen or Shane Sisk. White House Campus submits to Travis Kaiser. Gallatin Campus submits to Michael Jenkins). We will then upload them to Youtube and the group that gets the most hits and comments will win this challenge. We will announce the campus winners March 3rd.
FEBUARY:
We will be continuing the Youtube challenge this month along with having a great event called QUEST. Quest is when we gather together for a weekend to be challenge, encouraged and developed in our Christian walk. This weekend NO STUDENT NEEDS TO MISS!!! The cost will be around $40 per person. If money is an issue, please contact my office to see how we can help. If you can serve, be a host home, help drive or provide food during quest weekend please contact juanitrice.kirby@longhollow.com.
MARCH
March 3rd we are going to have a “Big Wednesday” on each campus. We have invited the group Southern Movement to go to each campus and perform that night. We will also have a great night of worship and a challenge from the campus youth pastor. Gallatin will start at 6 pm while Hendersonville and White House campuses will not start until 7 pm. We are praying for over 2000 students to come to hear the message of Jesus Christ this night. No student will want to miss this night at any of our campuses!!!
APRIL:
As we know April is Spring Break month and how excited are you to have your students out for 2 weeks!!! We will be taking a few mission trips this spring break with our student ministry:
Hendersonville Camps: The Middle School is going to Memphis (Estimated Cost = $120). High School is going to Atlanta (Estimated Cost $275).
Gallatin Campus: Will be heading to Cumberland, KY (Estimated Cost = $100).
White House Campus will join with our Hendersonville campus trips during the Sumner County break. We will also have opportunities during the Robertson County break.
MAY:
May 5th we are going to have an all-new Dodge Ball Tournament from 6-9 pm. This will happen on each of our campuses unless announced of a different location. We want students to get a dodge ball team, come dress up and ready to win. The winning team will get a great prize and we will have a lot of fun. We will also have a small time of programming this night with worship and teaching.
I cannot wait for the summer! We are going to have an amazing camp with LIMITED spots so you will need to sign up quick. We will start sign ups March 3rd at our “Big Wednesday.”
Middle School Camp – June 18 - 23rd. Josh Price Band will be leading in worship. (Estimated Cost $290)
High School Camp – June 23rd – 28th. Josh Price Band will be leading in worship. (Estimated Cost $290)
DO NOT LET YOUR STUDENT MISS CAMP THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!
SLU –
101 – July 26th – 30th lead by Brian and Jennifer Mills (Estimated Cost – 600 + Travel Cost)
201 – July 14th – 18th lead by Shane Sisk (Estimated Cost – 900 + Travel)
301 – July 4th – 11th lead by Jeff Lovingood (Estimated Cost - 2500 + Travel)
You must have attended 101 to attend 201,301 or 401.
Middle School Mission Trip – We will be heading back to help the church we planted last spring in Marysville, Ohio. It will be an estimated cost of $110. This is a great trip because the average church in Ohio runs around 30 people. Last year with the service of Long Hollow Students we watch them grow to an attendance of 200!
Gallatin Student Ministry Mission Trip – July 10-17 with approximate cost of $200, we will be going to O’Fallon, MO (a suburb of St. Louis). We will partner with Cross Haven Church and conduct soccer camps, canvass neighborhoods passing out information about the church, pray for and present the Gospel to the people we meet.
HOW TO KEEP IN TOUCH:
www.facebook.com/longhollowstudents
www.facebook.com/lhgallatinstudents
Reaching this Generation,
Brian Mills
Pastor of Students
Long Hollow Baptist Church
“Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories … but two things made me take it down.
“First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.
“Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.”
This was taken off of www.crazylovecampaign.com
Offering #2 in our Crazy Love Campaign is December 13th. How important is this offering? It’s huge! The gifts given in Offering #2, along withOffering #1, will fund the completion of the orphan village. What does completing the village mean? Let me break it down.
This Christmas, the average family will spend a lot of money on presents. Some sources estimate 2009 Christmas spending will be as high as $935 spent per person. Would you consider giving less so you can give more to help others? Jesus said in Matthew 25…
“‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
We are talking about helping children in desperate need. Please pray about your families participation. We’re asking each family to consider a gift of $500 over and above what you normally give.
As you pray, consider the Haitian child above in a picture taken by my daughter on her recent trip to Haiti. Could your family give up something for the sake of this poor child and others like him?
My prayer is that we will follow the example of the Mecedonian Church found in 2 Corinthians 8…
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
What an amazing opportunity Long Hollow has to be a blessing to the world through our Crazy Love Campaign! Let’s allow God to stir our hearts to give as never before and excel in the grace of giving!
This was previously published on David’s blog, Doing Life Together.
It's well-documented that Shaquille O'Neal has high standards for coaches. Typically, it takes one of iconic status such as Pat Riley or Phil Jackson to impress him.
That makes his praise of LeBron James that much more notable.
"His basketball IQ is phenomenal," O'Neal said of James. "He could coach in the NBA right now."
The 24-year-old James has impressed O'Neal with his thorough knowledge of the game -- his understanding of angles, of defensive principles, of how to set up teammates, of how opponents defend various plays and players, and of not only his own responsibilities on the court but those of all his teammates as well.
