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New ebook for teens

radiantfirst — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 20:52:45 +0000

I recently published my first ebook on amazon for teenagers. More and more students are purchasing itouch/iphones and soon more of them will be reading books on these devices using the kindle app.

This book I have been working on is designed to challenge students to tap into the serious part of their lives and to follow the example Christ set when he was 12. In Luke 2, there are 12 verses that give us a picture of who Jesus was and how he lived through his teenage years. After creating material for many years while discipling teenagers I began to look more closely at this story and really began to ask some questions. Here is the book.

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the Hole in our Gospel

radiantfirst — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:14:32 +0000

I started reading the “Hole in our Gospel” several weeks ago and it quickly became one of those books I couldn’t put down. Author Richard Stearns also President of World Vision tells a very personal and gripping story of a modern rich young ruler that when heard the call to sell everything and follow Christ did just that. Richard’s personal story of leaving the life of a successful CEO and journeying with World Vision for many years is a story of calling and ruthless trust just as much as it is a story of understanding the entire Gospel. Throughout the book Richard, like Dallas Willard author of “the Great Omission,” makes claims that Christians and the church are often guilty of portraying a gospel that is incomplete. While this may not be a new idea or viewpoint with the resurgence of countless books (oftentimes too liberal to be taken seriously) in this camp in the last five year, a book like this one is needed in a time where the left can’t be trusted and the right is often missing the point. Stearns seems to have a way to somehow bring these two sides together and call us to action without throwing our theology out the window.

As I was reading this book I began to think about poverty and the poor and an upcoming trip I will take to Africa in a few weeks. I can’t help but to feel a burden and desire to stop thinking about poverty and do something. My hope is to tell stories while I am in Africa with my camera and like Richard help Christians in America who are incredibly blessed begin to see the verses in our bibles that have holes in them and to be obedient to this call.

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two movies you should take your youth group to this Fall

radiantfirst — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:12:15 +0000

When it comes to the spiritual development of teenagers often times we think about certain doctrines and spiritual disciplines. We ask ourself what do they need to know? Like schools, churches often have a curriculum set in place for students to learn that is often broken down into oral teaching subjects. The problem with some of this is that a large part of this curriculum if not most of it is often designed for oral learners. The truth is students learn and grow spiritually when they go on mission/service trips. Students learn and grow spiritually when they attend a Christian concert or in our case a Christian movie. When you think about watching movies you rarely think about learning, however watching movies enables the viewer to gain a certain type of intelligence called “emotional intelligence” where the viewer is actually learning emotionally. I’m not suggesting that youth leaders replace sermons with movies, however creating occasional movie watching experiences that emphasize positive Christian values can really help students process and learn spiritually something they may have never learned sitting in a lecture type enviornment. One of the best ways you can increase the EQ (emotional intelligence) in your students is to expose them to certain types of “Christian” movies on a periodic basis that they might not attend without your prompting or promoting. Students already see hundreds of movies a year, most of which are not worth their time, and so if as a youth group you encourage your students to see a certain movie every quarter you are not just suggesting a movie you are helping those students grow spiritually that learn better visually and through their EQ.
I had the priveledge to see screenings of both “the secrets of Jonathan Sperry“and “To save a life” both opening sometime this fall. Both films in my opinion are great options as you plan your curriculum and think about what movies will help students to grow spiritually. I personally would recommend the secrets of Jonathan Sperry to a younger crowd (middle school age) and To save a life to an older crowd (high school age).

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Thoughts on the Shift Conference

radiantfirst — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:14:29 +0000

This past week I attend the Shift Conference up in Chicago at Willow Creek. The conference for me was a highlight on a number of levels. Getting the chance to bond with our team as well as being inspired and educated about new “shifts” in student ministry not to mention the chance to network with others and time away to reflect all combined to make for an incredible week of learning and growing. I came away with pages of notes and many ideas hopefully to implement over this next year.

As I attended sessions, spoke with others and participated in breakouts I noticed a common thread in several “shifts” in student ministry.

1. the Role of the Family in Discipleship
The subject of the family was talked about on more than one occasion. Student Ministries are slowly realizing that while they are important they can only do so much in regards to the spiritual maturity of teenagers. Mark Holman mentioned that after conducting a thorough study, Mom and Dad are two to three times more important than any church program when it comes to one’s faith as a teenager. The study also showed that the Mother first and Father second where the two most important persons in regards to the spiritual development of their teens…not thier youth group leader or pastor. Ultimately Holman argued for both building strong families and utilizing youth ministries. Bubba Thurman youth pastor at Lake Pointe spoke about the importance of the family and shared his story of once being defensive when first hearing the stats Holman shared. Thurman has since then been leading the way in adopting a practical approach to integrating the family in Discipleship. One of the resources Thurman’s church has developed was a center called home pointe which focuses on building strong healthy Christ-centered families and giving families a plan to do that. Thurman argued for a holistic approach to incorporating the family in the church instead of creating another ministry or program just for the family. He encouraged youth pastors to think of how they could inform parents of what students are already learning by sending home material and involving them in things like camp by doing a live-stream or podcast. Holman also suggested creating opportunities to inspire and equip parents to disciple thier kids from a very early age.

2. Spiritual Formation as a Process
Richy Fisher my friend and boss and Dr. Kara Powell of the Fuller Youth Institute spoke in great detail about a shift to approaching student ministry of growing souls and not so much about growing programs and numbers. Fisher spoke about the importance of looking at God’s scorecard when leading a ministry and seeing the results through His eyes. Fisher also pointed out that spiritual formation is not assimiliation but a move to focus on maturity levels and being Christ-centered. A Lot of what Fisher talked about was introduced from the reveal study done several years ago. Fisher has since then been developing processes for students in his youth group to move in this direction and using a language that can relate with parents and students. You can download Richy’s presentation here.

Powell focused on some research the fuller youth institute had done and looked at four components needed to developing what she called “sticky faith.” The “sticky faith” powell described is very similar to what Fisher presented as being Christ-centered in the reveal study. Below are the 4 components she developed that lead to spiritual maturity.

1. Leaders focused on Jesus
Powel, a long time fan of relational student ministry urged youth pastors to look at this model and examine itself to make sure they were asking leaders to simply follow them but to follow them because they follow Christ… Powell wished she would have talked to students alot more about God than she did. In a relational ministry students will move on to college or something else after high school and youth leaders will no longer be there for students to follow them.
2. Kingdom Centered Justice
Powell talked about the importance of preparation and debriefing when doing service trips or mission trips. Creating opportunities for students to serve and to be the hands and feet of Christ allow students the chance to really use their faith and they want this. Service Trips were the number one things seniors waned more of when surveyed, not programs.
3. Intergenerational Youth Ministry
Powell spoke about allowing/encouraging students to be involved in the overall church instead of always segregating by themselves. The health benefits of working alongside adults and seniors has a tremendous impact of students’ view of the overall church.
4. Early Preparation
Preparing students for college as early as a year before instead of weeks is something Powell also recommended. She spoke about how many students wished their youth ministries would have helped them find churches and ministries to plug into after they left high school…. liveabove is one website she recommended.

Both Fisher and Powell spoke about processes and thinking with the end in mind and encouraged youth pastors to really look at what is truly important in regards to helping students develop in their faith.

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the Message Factor – a guide to understanding Christian films

radiantfirst — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:15:56 +0000

I have long been conflicted in what I believe about Christian Films. As a Christian and as a filmmaker and as a someone who works in the church I have long been conflicted on this subject. Now I won’t get into the sacred-secular debate for time sake, so for this instance we will label “Christian Films” as those film that have a clear message and might be sold in a Christian bookstore. For the sake of argument I am not going to suggest that these “Christian films” are more powerful than say “subtle Christian films” like X-Men which is a film that has very powerful Christian underpinnings…..however I am going to talk specifically about “Christian Films” in this post.

Most “Christian Films” are often looked at as second-rate films. We compare them to “The Dark Knight” or a movie up for the Oscars and so we think of them as inferior. Over the last 5-7 years there has been a surge in the increase of “Christian Films” that have drastically improved in their quality. Still these films are going to fall short when they are compared with movies that have multi-million dollar budgets. Recently the movie Fireproof came out and I had the chance to see it at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. To be honest I enjoyed the movie but as a filmmaker I did not think it was incredible. The acting was not that great and parts of the movie seemed very second-rate compared to big blockbusters out there. While at the SAICFF I got the chance to hear Stephen Kendrick talk about how many marriages had been saved through this film and the movement they have started. Hearing stories like these I think it is time we stop criticizing films for not being “Oscar worthy” and start seeing them as “God worthy.” I mean if a film can inspire a couple to save their marriage…that is a film worth praising and so in instances like this the message gets through the bad acting and the broken script. I am not arguing that we cease to pursue excellence I am arguing that we start praising what God might be praising and start looking through the lens of what is God honoring not so much as what is film worthy. Yes I believe excellence matters but I also believe that God can work and move through movies that might not ever reach “excellence.”

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5 movies every youth ministry leader should watch

radiantfirst — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:18:26 +0000

Being a film grad and working in a youth ministry I tend to use my film analysis knowledge when it comes to working with teenagers. The premise behind this is that if you want to be really good at something you study it and learn as much as you can about that subject. I wanted to make films and so off I went to film school to learn as much as I could about film-making. A lot of people want to work in a youth ministry so they get a degree in theology or biblical studies.

But lets just say for a minute that I want to disciple teenagers. There is really no degree in discipleship or the knowing of teenagers, however we can study methods of discipleship and we can study teenagers. One of the ways we can study teenagers is to be around them. Another way we can really learn how teenagers think, feel and experience life is to read articles or in this case watch movies about them. Below I am going to list five movies every youth ministry leader should watch that is truly serious about discipling teenagers and is therefore serious about understanding teenagers.

1. Thirteen

This film is edgy and holds nothing back. It is probably one of the most real-to-life films that showcases rebellious teen girls at their worst. (A thirteen-year-old girl’s relationship with her mother is put to the test as she discovers drugs, sex, and petty crime in the company of her cool but troubled best friend. imdb)

2. 12 and Holding

This film explores issues such as peer pressure, dis-joined parents, obesity, sexuality, true friendship, siblings and death. These issues and more all collide to show the many facets teens face today. (After his twin brother is accidentally killed by vengeful bullies, a disfigured 12-year old boy and his friends face the harsh realities of death, hormones, and family dysfunction imdb)

3. Home Room

This film explores the aftermath of a school shooting and attempts to ask questions through the eyes of the students affected. (A high school shooting has repercussions on the town and students imdb)

4. Rocket Science

This film explores issues such as fear and overcoming obstacles by telling the story of one 15 year old boy who has a severe stuttering problem and despite is problem attempts to be apart of the debate team at his school. (Looking for answers to life’s big questions, a stuttering boy joins his high school debate team. imdb)

5. American Teen

This fresh documentary looks closely into the lives of 5 high school students as they live thier last year out in high school. (A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques. imdb)

Movie and Discussion
While I’ve never done this with fellow youth leaders, I think picking one of these movies and having a serious discussion could greatly benefit your youth ministry leaders as they attempt to disciple teenagers. Equiping leaders to get a better picture of what kinds of situations they may face or what kinds of lifestyles teens may lead will help them to better contextualize and apply the Word of God to students lives. Plus it will be fun….

****disclaimer****
some of these films may not be approporiate for young audiences

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My new years resolution

radiantfirst — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:08:40 +0000

I actually don’t believe in resolutions, however I do like to set goals for all areas of my life. I counted more than 30 goals that I want to achieve this year. The more goals I’ve added the more time they will take to complete. One thing I always wrestle with is time and trying to fit all these good things into my schedule while still maintaining balance and margin. This year in 2009 the biggest goal I want to achieve is to become an early riser and to really develop my inner life. To have more time to write, read, meditate and walk with God on a consistent basis is a goal in my opinion worth only getting x number of hours of sleep. Getting up two hours earlier a day would essentially give me 14 hours a week where I can really take advantage of essential things that often I put off or don’t ever get to. I am writing this publicly in hopes that some of you may hold me accountable and encourage me in this endeavour to become an early riser even though this concept seems foreign to me.

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The ingredients to helping your ministry stick

Brandon — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:33:05 +0000

Glue (Noun) a hard, impure, protein gelatin, obtained by boiling skins, hoofs, and other animal substances in water, that when melted or diluted is a strong adhesive.

More than 50 years ago Elmers figured out the perfect ingredients to making glue in the commercial industry. Nothing has radically changed over these 50 years with the exception of their marketing strategy. The ingredients worked and the glue did what it needed to do ….stick to things. These wierd yet odd substances for some reason make an extremely powerful combination that left by themselves would simply remain water and animal parts.

In today’s world, youth and college ministries need just that. They need substances that work together to form a powerful substance, that in the end we might refer to as mature followers of Christ. Never before has a civilization had the potential to use technology to enhance relationships through (twitter, facebook, webcams, blogs, texting, email etc….). These ingredients when mixed with raw genuine relationships have the potential to sustain viable relationships that are the foundational piece to disciplemaking.

As we start a new year in 2009 and as we begin to cultivate long lasting disciplemaking relationships, what ingredients will we use?

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