"Sweet 13!" -- Thirteen "Oliveters" left Freddy 7:30 this morning and spent the day at "The Huddle", a children's ministry training day. The event was sponsored by HQ of the Wesleyan Church and hosted by King's Valley Wesleyan, Quispamsis. There were around 100 children's ministry people from around the Maritimes and Maine.
The day was crammed with energy, helpful breakouts, new resources, and idea-sharing. I kept asking our gang, "how was your day?" and the answers were ultra-positive! Way to go Pastor Amy for blow-torching the vision, rallying the troops, and getting us there!
My brother in law, Randy Brownlee, brought a team from Grand Manan. I think he earns extra points for spending 3 hours on a ferry and 2-3 hours in a car to gain some new insights for children's ministry in his church! Randy, I owe you a coffee ;-)
It's Saturday night and I am looking forward to our services tomorrow morning. Wayne Derr is going to challenge us on being good stewards with God's stuff in every area of our lives. Also, Jason and Christine Blakie are going to share with us on their vision of being Missionaries to Thailand. Should be a great day!
Saturday, April 19
Thursday, April 17
Down with the old, Up with the new!
"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John...as soon as Jesus was baptized he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." -Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism is a way to publicly declare that you are following the example of Jesus. If you have crossed the line of Faith and made the decision to be a Christ-follower, then you are invited to step into Baptism. There probably won't be doves or voices from heaven, but your friends will all cheer and you will know that you have taken a great step forward in your faith.
Though the actual process is really quite simple, the spiritual symbolism is deep, rich, and full of meaning. Baptism demonstrates that the 'old you' is dead, gone, buried, toast, etc. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17 Going under the water tells the world that you are now 'washed' in Christ. He has forgiven everything and made you a new person. It's grace. It's a fresh start! When you arise out of the water you are celebrating the power of the Risen Christ who rose victoriously over sin and death so that you could experience eternal life with him! Other words such as 'regeneration' and 'justification' are also symbolized in baptism.
What do I have to do to be baptized? The first step is to know that you are a Christian. If you are clear on that, you are probably ready to be baptized.
Do I need to say something in front of everyone? It's always a bonus when people hear you verbalize what God has done for you. However, we understand that not everyone is comfortable with talking in front of a crowd. At a minimum we will share a bit of your story and ask you a couple of questions of confirmation.
What's my next step? Call the church @ 452-7110 and let us know you are ready. Or email us @ mail@olivetwesleyan.ca
We're hoping to have some people ready for baptism for April 27 in either the 9:00 or 10:45 services!
Baptism is a way to publicly declare that you are following the example of Jesus. If you have crossed the line of Faith and made the decision to be a Christ-follower, then you are invited to step into Baptism. There probably won't be doves or voices from heaven, but your friends will all cheer and you will know that you have taken a great step forward in your faith.
Though the actual process is really quite simple, the spiritual symbolism is deep, rich, and full of meaning. Baptism demonstrates that the 'old you' is dead, gone, buried, toast, etc. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17 Going under the water tells the world that you are now 'washed' in Christ. He has forgiven everything and made you a new person. It's grace. It's a fresh start! When you arise out of the water you are celebrating the power of the Risen Christ who rose victoriously over sin and death so that you could experience eternal life with him! Other words such as 'regeneration' and 'justification' are also symbolized in baptism.
What do I have to do to be baptized? The first step is to know that you are a Christian. If you are clear on that, you are probably ready to be baptized.
Do I need to say something in front of everyone? It's always a bonus when people hear you verbalize what God has done for you. However, we understand that not everyone is comfortable with talking in front of a crowd. At a minimum we will share a bit of your story and ask you a couple of questions of confirmation.
What's my next step? Call the church @ 452-7110 and let us know you are ready. Or email us @ mail@olivetwesleyan.ca
We're hoping to have some people ready for baptism for April 27 in either the 9:00 or 10:45 services!
Wednesday, April 16
Future Planning
One of the things that we have been intentional on is 'future planning'. We're trying to plan ahead of growth so that when it happens, we'll be ready. This approach seems a little capricious to some because you are 'acting bigger than you are'. However, trends and stats show pretty plainly that when we aren't prepared for growth, and growth happens, we will fade back to where we were.
Our two-service campaign "Olivet Double Double" was a good example of that. It pretty much shattered my expectations and we are running 8 months ahead of where I thought we would be.
We're heading out to Staff Meeting in a few minutes for more future planning. We'll discuss our summer segue, keeping some momentum over the summer without killing everyone, and ramping up for the Fall. Events will be evenly spread out and strategically planned. I love it! We already have our kick-off theme for September and I think it is going to be a ton of fun and spiritually challenging.
The packets and handouts for Friday eve's "Estate Planning" seminar with Wayne Derr arrived today. They look great and I'm sure that this is going to be a very helpful event. It's not too late to register if you would like to attend. Call or email.
For those of you reading this from outside of NB... There is still some old snow lying around. It's supposed to be quite warm (60's) the next few days and we are hoping that the snow will be gone for good!
Our two-service campaign "Olivet Double Double" was a good example of that. It pretty much shattered my expectations and we are running 8 months ahead of where I thought we would be.
We're heading out to Staff Meeting in a few minutes for more future planning. We'll discuss our summer segue, keeping some momentum over the summer without killing everyone, and ramping up for the Fall. Events will be evenly spread out and strategically planned. I love it! We already have our kick-off theme for September and I think it is going to be a ton of fun and spiritually challenging.
The packets and handouts for Friday eve's "Estate Planning" seminar with Wayne Derr arrived today. They look great and I'm sure that this is going to be a very helpful event. It's not too late to register if you would like to attend. Call or email.
For those of you reading this from outside of NB... There is still some old snow lying around. It's supposed to be quite warm (60's) the next few days and we are hoping that the snow will be gone for good!
Monday, April 14
Wrapping up "Comfortable"
Man, Pastor Mark really brought the Truth yesterday morning! If you weren't challenged or uncomfortable, you should check your pulse. Here are a few quotes from Mark's message. (Yes, I was taking notes, Don't you always take notes??)
- We cannot compromise the cost of discipleship to get a crowd
- God is after your heart, not your stuff
- We follow Jesus, he transforms our lives, and then he uses us to transform the world
- When you get comfortable you care less and less about other's discomfort (ouch)
- Don't let your eyes adjust to the darkness around you, don't get comfortable with the dark
Jordon Leblanc led us in worship yesterday. "How Great Is Our God" was my favorite tune of the day.
Kelly singer opened with an 'uncomfortable' welcome. You had to walk around and greet someone on the other side of the church. Some were probably surprised to find out that there is another side of the church!
Yesterday was our last day to enjoy the big comfy chair on the stage. Thanks again to the good folks @ Valley Ridge for loaning us a chair that you really don't want to get out of!
Pastor Conard and Debbie had us over for lunch yesterday. The roast beef was amazing! The butterscotch pie was too good! Kicking back and chillaxing while watching "Planet Earth" on Conard's 47" Bravia was pretty sweet too! I was battling TV envy big time. Actually, I wasn't really battling, I was giving in. ;-)
Conard and Debbie, Nora-Lynn and Glendon did a full blown turkey dinner for Alpha last night. It was equally superb! And of course, there was more pie. I now weigh over 500 lbs! Haha. Needless to say, I hit the treadmill 6:30 this morning.
Coming Up:
-"Estate Planning" workshop with Wayne Derr, General Director of Stewardship Ministries for the Wesleyan Church, this Friday, 6 PM. If you haven't signed up yet, drop me a line.
-"The Huddle" - children's ministry training day @ King's Valley Wesleyan, this Saturday. We're taking a crew down! Contact Pastor Amy if you would like to attend.
- We cannot compromise the cost of discipleship to get a crowd
- God is after your heart, not your stuff
- We follow Jesus, he transforms our lives, and then he uses us to transform the world
- When you get comfortable you care less and less about other's discomfort (ouch)
- Don't let your eyes adjust to the darkness around you, don't get comfortable with the dark
Jordon Leblanc led us in worship yesterday. "How Great Is Our God" was my favorite tune of the day.
Kelly singer opened with an 'uncomfortable' welcome. You had to walk around and greet someone on the other side of the church. Some were probably surprised to find out that there is another side of the church!
Yesterday was our last day to enjoy the big comfy chair on the stage. Thanks again to the good folks @ Valley Ridge for loaning us a chair that you really don't want to get out of!
Pastor Conard and Debbie had us over for lunch yesterday. The roast beef was amazing! The butterscotch pie was too good! Kicking back and chillaxing while watching "Planet Earth" on Conard's 47" Bravia was pretty sweet too! I was battling TV envy big time. Actually, I wasn't really battling, I was giving in. ;-)
Conard and Debbie, Nora-Lynn and Glendon did a full blown turkey dinner for Alpha last night. It was equally superb! And of course, there was more pie. I now weigh over 500 lbs! Haha. Needless to say, I hit the treadmill 6:30 this morning.
Coming Up:
-"Estate Planning" workshop with Wayne Derr, General Director of Stewardship Ministries for the Wesleyan Church, this Friday, 6 PM. If you haven't signed up yet, drop me a line.
-"The Huddle" - children's ministry training day @ King's Valley Wesleyan, this Saturday. We're taking a crew down! Contact Pastor Amy if you would like to attend.
Thursday, April 10
Ministry Budgeting
For those of you in ministry, or for those of you who wonder how we make budget decisions, here is a document that we recently introduced to our staff. It is a general overview of how a ministry budget should be approached.
Budget Prep
2008-2009
OWC
A budget is a guideline. It’s a way of staying on track without being so rigid that there is no room for flexibility, change, or creativity.
Your budget should reflect your vision. Don’t start with numbers, start with prayer. What is God wanting to accomplish through you and your ministry in the coming year? What would be a ‘win’? What are you envisioning that, unless God helps you, can’t be done?
What will your vision cost? Vision always exceeds budget. There is always going to be a challenge between what we would like to accomplish and what we can afford. However, God is not limited by our budget. This tension simply forces us back to prayer and creativity. If God wants it done, it will get done, and that is the real bottom line.
Budget/Vision Questions:
• Am I clear on the vision of the church and the Lead Pastor?
• Is my ministry currently in line with this vision?
• Are there obvious adjustments I need to make to come in line?
• How much have I prayed for my ministry, this church, and it’s leaders in the past month?
• Have I taken the time and isolation necessary to hear from God?
• What are the strengths of my ministry that I should build on? (riding the momentum of where God has already blessed)
• What are the weaknesses in my areas that need to be focused on? *there are some weaknesses that won’t necessarily cripple your ministry (you can’t be an expert on everything) and then there are issues that you know are holding you and/or your ministry back. These are the ones to focus on.
• What opportunities has God placed before you?
• What threats do I need to be aware of? *The last 4 points is a ‘SWOT’ analysis.
• Have you clearly distinguished things that are needs and things that are wants? What do you ‘have to have’ versus your wish list.
Budget/Vision Process:
• Start with monthly recurring items that you know you absolutely have to have.
• Schedule large expenses like curriculum, special events, equipment, software, etc and when you will be making that purchase. Remember that you are usually purchasing the item a few weeks before you actually need it.
• Create room in your budget for larger outreach events. You don’t need the details at this point you just need to keep it in focus so that the budget is there when you want it.
• Add up where you are at right now for May 01, 2008 – April 30, 2009.
• Go back to your vision/goals/strategies. Will this help you to achieve your goals? How much fundraising will you have to do?
Vision creates goals. Goals must have detailed strategies for execution, delegation, and completion. Strategies require budget. Budget is given to vision. That’s the circular process of ministry budgeting.
Remember, people give to vision not need.
Your budget should be kept on a monthly template where you can evaluate your spending with ministry effectiveness. A monthly budget update needs to be submitted to the Lead Pastor before each monthly board meeting. Our goal is to ensure that you are sufficiently funded to see your vision accomplished for God’s glory!
Budget Prep
2008-2009
OWC
A budget is a guideline. It’s a way of staying on track without being so rigid that there is no room for flexibility, change, or creativity.
Your budget should reflect your vision. Don’t start with numbers, start with prayer. What is God wanting to accomplish through you and your ministry in the coming year? What would be a ‘win’? What are you envisioning that, unless God helps you, can’t be done?
What will your vision cost? Vision always exceeds budget. There is always going to be a challenge between what we would like to accomplish and what we can afford. However, God is not limited by our budget. This tension simply forces us back to prayer and creativity. If God wants it done, it will get done, and that is the real bottom line.
Budget/Vision Questions:
• Am I clear on the vision of the church and the Lead Pastor?
• Is my ministry currently in line with this vision?
• Are there obvious adjustments I need to make to come in line?
• How much have I prayed for my ministry, this church, and it’s leaders in the past month?
• Have I taken the time and isolation necessary to hear from God?
• What are the strengths of my ministry that I should build on? (riding the momentum of where God has already blessed)
• What are the weaknesses in my areas that need to be focused on? *there are some weaknesses that won’t necessarily cripple your ministry (you can’t be an expert on everything) and then there are issues that you know are holding you and/or your ministry back. These are the ones to focus on.
• What opportunities has God placed before you?
• What threats do I need to be aware of? *The last 4 points is a ‘SWOT’ analysis.
• Have you clearly distinguished things that are needs and things that are wants? What do you ‘have to have’ versus your wish list.
Budget/Vision Process:
• Start with monthly recurring items that you know you absolutely have to have.
• Schedule large expenses like curriculum, special events, equipment, software, etc and when you will be making that purchase. Remember that you are usually purchasing the item a few weeks before you actually need it.
• Create room in your budget for larger outreach events. You don’t need the details at this point you just need to keep it in focus so that the budget is there when you want it.
• Add up where you are at right now for May 01, 2008 – April 30, 2009.
• Go back to your vision/goals/strategies. Will this help you to achieve your goals? How much fundraising will you have to do?
Vision creates goals. Goals must have detailed strategies for execution, delegation, and completion. Strategies require budget. Budget is given to vision. That’s the circular process of ministry budgeting.
Remember, people give to vision not need.
Your budget should be kept on a monthly template where you can evaluate your spending with ministry effectiveness. A monthly budget update needs to be submitted to the Lead Pastor before each monthly board meeting. Our goal is to ensure that you are sufficiently funded to see your vision accomplished for God’s glory!
Wednesday, April 9
'Juicy Fruit' the series...it's gonna move ya!
You can expect to be singing and humming the corny theme song to the "Juicy Fruit" commercials. (Get your skis shined up, grab a stick of juicy fruit...the taste is gonna move ya...) Our next series is going to be on the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22,23 and we are hoping that it will 'move ya'. We've already had some pretty hilarious creative planning. "Comfortable" wraps up this Sunday. We have a special guest, Wayne Derr, on the 20th, and we are going to spend the 27th taking a look back at all the ways God has blessed us in this past church-year.
Wayne Derr is the General Director of Stewardship Ministries for the Wesleyan Church. His wife Colleen is the Director of Children's Ministry for the Wesleyan Church. Wayne is going to be doing a seminar with us on Friday April 18, 6 PM, on Estate Planning. He's also going to be sharing with us in the morning services on the 20th on "The Blessing of Biblical Stewardship". Colleen is in NB for "The Huddle" a Children's Ministry Training Day @ King's Valley Wesleyan Church, Quispamsis, April 19th. Email Pastor Amy @ amy@olivetwesleyan.ca if you would like to go to the training day. There will be a 'crew' of Oliveters there!
"Juicy Fruit" starts May 4th. Spread the word!
Wayne Derr is the General Director of Stewardship Ministries for the Wesleyan Church. His wife Colleen is the Director of Children's Ministry for the Wesleyan Church. Wayne is going to be doing a seminar with us on Friday April 18, 6 PM, on Estate Planning. He's also going to be sharing with us in the morning services on the 20th on "The Blessing of Biblical Stewardship". Colleen is in NB for "The Huddle" a Children's Ministry Training Day @ King's Valley Wesleyan Church, Quispamsis, April 19th. Email Pastor Amy @ amy@olivetwesleyan.ca if you would like to go to the training day. There will be a 'crew' of Oliveters there!
"Juicy Fruit" starts May 4th. Spread the word!
Monday, April 7
Comfortable 2
Yesterday was an amazing day for Olivet! We were on week 2 of a 3-week series titled "Comfortable". We took a look at God's principle of tithing and how money can make us uncomfortable. Tithing is living on God's terms, not mine. There were many of you who stepped up and said, "Count me in, sign me up, I want to be a part of what God is doing, I'm committing to tithe!" This is awesome. Somewhere in eternity we will realize the full impact of our faithfulness and trust in God.
The worship was very powerful yesterday. Shea did an excellent job! 'Hosanna' was pretty much amazing and God's presence was in the house. There were a lot of new faces yesterday! Woo Hoo! If you know someone who brought someone or if you have any connection to someone who is quite new to Olivet, forward them this Blog.
Double Double Update: Yesterday was week 4 of our 2-service format. We looked at attendance trends, momentum we had last fall, and better weather and then decided to launch 2 services on Palm Sunday. When we announced the 2 services we weren't full to the point of obviously needing more space. However, we believed that God was going to continue to bless us and we knew that we had to take some risk in order to see barriers broken. Well, the barriers have been smashed! After only 4 weeks, there is no way that all of us could meet in one service without some serious chair-cramming. When you subtract the doubles (people in both services) we had 290 here yesterday. (Run around your computer 3 times with your hands in the air!!) That's 100 more than we averaged a year ago. I'm not sure what to say other than, "To God be the glory".
Comfortable 3 is on its way. Pastor Mark is an excellent communicator and I am really looking forward to hearing him share with us this week. He's looking forward to crawling into that big comfy chair. Which by the way, will likely be sold by the end of the series and never make it back to Valley Ridge Furniture.
Hope you have a fantastic Monday!
The worship was very powerful yesterday. Shea did an excellent job! 'Hosanna' was pretty much amazing and God's presence was in the house. There were a lot of new faces yesterday! Woo Hoo! If you know someone who brought someone or if you have any connection to someone who is quite new to Olivet, forward them this Blog.
Double Double Update: Yesterday was week 4 of our 2-service format. We looked at attendance trends, momentum we had last fall, and better weather and then decided to launch 2 services on Palm Sunday. When we announced the 2 services we weren't full to the point of obviously needing more space. However, we believed that God was going to continue to bless us and we knew that we had to take some risk in order to see barriers broken. Well, the barriers have been smashed! After only 4 weeks, there is no way that all of us could meet in one service without some serious chair-cramming. When you subtract the doubles (people in both services) we had 290 here yesterday. (Run around your computer 3 times with your hands in the air!!) That's 100 more than we averaged a year ago. I'm not sure what to say other than, "To God be the glory".
Comfortable 3 is on its way. Pastor Mark is an excellent communicator and I am really looking forward to hearing him share with us this week. He's looking forward to crawling into that big comfy chair. Which by the way, will likely be sold by the end of the series and never make it back to Valley Ridge Furniture.
Hope you have a fantastic Monday!
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