michaelbayne.net

Leading Young Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:29:00 +0000

I used to be a young leader but now at 35 (one month away from 36) I look around and find myself surrounded by leaders who are younger than me. It's an odd feeling but it's also encouraging to see how God is raising up the next generation and using them in huge ways. Next week one of my former students will be our speaker at an event we do every year in our student ministry. This was a kid I was investing in when he was a middle school student. There's no greater joy than watching God use young leaders. At our church we have made an intentional effort to empower young leaders and along the way we have learned a few things about how to and how not to lead them. Here are a few reminders when leading young leaders who are in high school, college, or are young professionals...

Young leaders are in process // We have to remember that young leaders are on the journey and are still figuring out who they are. Who a young leader is today is not who they will be a year for now. We have to be patient and keep investing because they are in process.
Young leaders will make mistakes // Empowering young leaders can get messy. They will make bad choices. Sometimes they say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Sometimes they really make some bad mistakes. It's our job to walk them through the consequences and push them forward as they heal. A young leaders current mistake has the potential to teach a lesson for a lifetime.
Young leaders need the freedom to question and dream // We have to give young leaders room to question and tear apart our organizations (respectfully of course). Jesus is the only thing that is unchanging! Sometimes young leaders need a break to get away and think. Sometimes they will not agree with the direction we choose to go with the ministry and that is fine ad they are fine as long as they have a voice.
Young leaders need real opportunity and responsibility // At some point you have to choose to give young leaders opportunity but with that you also have to give real responsibility. Leadership is hard work and it comes with real responsibility. We help young leaders grow when we give them both and see what happens.
Young leaders need mentors // Every young leader need someone to hear them and someone to push them. They have questions that they need to process with you. They have ideas that need careful shaping. They have dreams and need direction. Mentors walk with young leaders and simply remind them they have someone in life that believes in them.

4 ways I'm using my iPad

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:44:00 +0000

In 2011 decided to add an iPad to my list of tech toys with one condition...I was going to find way to actually use it on a day to day basis. If I did not have a plan to use it I was not going to waste my money. I waited, planned, researched, saved up, and finally made the jump in December or 2011 with an iPad 2. Sure I debated if I should wait till the 3rd version came out but I decided to make the jump and move forward. Honestly I think it is one of the best purchases I have ever made and I use it every day. As I talk about how I use my iPad please understand that the iPad will is not ready to replace your MacBook or iMac but it will allow you to be more flexible. Flexibility is the great advantage that comes with the iPad. Here are 4 ways I'm using my iPad every day...

Meetings >> Evernote and Wunderlist are 2 apps that have dramatically helped me be more efficient in meetings and in follow up after meetings. I use my iPad in every meeting I'm in because I always want to be able to write notes down and mark dates down in my calendar that will then automatically sync with my MacBook.
Speaking >> Yep, I use my iPad every week when I speak. I can make changes right up till the point of going on stage and then delete things for my next talk.
Thinking and Dreaming >> The iPad has some amazing apps for brainstorming and drawing and I don't lose what I have created because I can send the documents to Evernote.
Slowing down >> When I go home I leave my MacBook at the office. For some reason it feels great to leave work at work. There are things I can only do at the office and it allows me to be very intentional about when I bring my work laptop with me. My iPad allows me to feel a separation from the office but still have many tools with me to be very productive at home.

STRETCH your ministry for growth

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:24:00 +0000

What would happen in the ministries we lead if we began to stretch our leadership, our volunteers, our structure, and ourselves in order to make our ministry dreams a reality? Incredible is what would happen because we serve a God who desires for us to live in faith and rely on him. When it comes to making change happen instead of allowing change to happen to us we often become fearful of taking the steps needed to take. Many times we just need a little push, a dose of encouragement, and a ton of prayer in order to move. Jim Wideman just released a book that I think will help many student and children's leaders understand the next step to take. STRETCH is all about helping you understand what it takes to structure your ministry for growth and forward progress. When it comes to volunteers, structure, and vision casting Jim knows what he is talking about and the entire book reads like you are sitting down for coffee and talking real life ministry. This is a book I hope you will check out. Here are a few notes I highlighted on my Kindle...

The right structure can keep you from being afraid of growth. The wrong structure can keep growth from happening. Improving your structure can allow growth to continue. What you do now really is going to matter later.
As you establish your organizational structure, you can create a growth structure by asking, “What can we do now that we would be forced to do when we are double or triple our size?”
The moment you get comfortable and let your people get comfortable is the moment you turn back into a maintenance structure.
I’m not married to anything but my wife. If there’s a better way to do it, then let’s do it the better way.
People follow people with a plan. Planning always needs to go before action.
The devil attacks busy people by getting them to do stuff they have no business doing. You are the only person who can control your priorities.
Responsibility without authority only brings frustration and never leaves fruit that remains. You must dare to trust people to represent you well.

10 incredible youth ministry blogs

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:41:00 +0000

I'm a blogger and I follow many of other blogs written by some amazing leaders. I write because I love pushing myself to share ideas and get them onto my blog and out of my head. When I see that same passion on another blog I just want to follow along and learn. I can't even begin to say thanks to all the people who have invested in our ministry here at Grace Community through their writing so I thought I would share ten blogs that you will want to follow if you work with teens. All of these are places where it is safe to learn, ask questions, and find encouragement from leaders moving in the same direction. Here it is, ten amazing youth ministry blogs you should check out...

Motivating Volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:41:00 +0000

In 2011 I went to the first pre-conference day I have ever been to at any conference. I never thought I would be a "pre-conference" kind of guy but it ended up being my favorite part of the Orange Conference last year. Session after session I was able to slow down, meet other leaders, have meaningful conversations, and learn about some issues that I might miss when the conference starts. Kendra Fleming is an amazing leader and these are the notes from one of her conference sessions which focused on motivating volunteers. This session is ministry GOLD so check it out...

Motivating volunteers is a constant challenge for every ministry team. How do we keep our leaders tuned into our mission? How do we keep volunteers energized? This morning Kendra Flemming reminded us that what motivates volunteers connects back to what attracted volunteers to our ministry in the first place. Of course none of us are motivated by the same things but these are 7 principles that attract volunteers to our ministry and can keep our teams motivated.

We are initially attracted to things that are visually appealing // Some volunteer connections are bound in relationship but many times we are drawn in simply the look and feel of an environment. Branding, clear communication, and environment matter.

We are naturally attracted to excellence // No one wants to feed time, energy, and talent into something that is mediocre. Be committed to progressive excellence.

We are increasingly attracted to things that are celebrated // What we celebrate becomes attractive to our volunteer teams. Celebrate what matters most.

We are relationally connected to dynamic communities // Excellent leaders attract other great leaders. Dynamic attracts dynamic.

We are selfishly attracted to things that are personally beneficial // leaders stay when they are serving and growing at the same time. Make sure your volunteers are growing and being rewarded!

We are attracted to fun! // Environments that are fun, where we laugh, attract people! We have to create margin for fun.

We are ultimately attracted to leaders and organizations with integrity. // Know what we value and live what we value

These attraction factors help to motivate our volunteers. The end goal is to empower volunteers for the long haul. Motivated volunteers are going to thrive and serve longer. What are you doing to motivate your team? In this list of 7 is there one that stands out?

learn, listen, worship, laugh, dream...TOGETHER

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:46:00 +0000

This is a picture my friend Sam Luce took last year at the Orange Conference. This may look like any other conference you have been to but it's not. What you are looking at is an army of children's, preschool, student, and college leaders TOGETHER. I have been thinking about how to unite family ministry teams. How do we come together in order to reach this generation. I may work with teens but I need my college pastor creating ways to help them integrate faith into life on the college campus. I may work with teens but I need my kids pastor figuring out how help preschoolers know God loves an them and made them. You may work with children but you need my to help pointing middle school students to Jesus as they navigate the storms of life they face. At some point we have to break down the walls and come together. Five years ago the Orange Conference helped our family ministry team learn, listen, worship, dream, and laugh together and our church has never been the same. We are different because we are working every week to reach the next generation together. Our student ministry team is helping our preschool environment capture the attention of kids. Our children's ministry team is helping our college ministry staff be more structured and organized. We are fighting for each other.

If you are processing how to get your team together and on the same page them this conference might be a great place to start. Sure, you will still have questions. No, there is no magic ministry bullet. Yes, ministry is hard work. The Orange Conference will simply help you find ways to accomplish more together.

Our big move in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

2011 was a year that pushed our family ministry team to make some big moves. God used the Orange Conference to help us see the direction we needed to go, and God used a specific breakout, led by my friend Tom Shefchunas, to help me see we had to get better are empowering volunteers to lead ministry and not just fill roles on Sunday. Here are my notes from that session. They still inspire me months later so check out these ideas from Tom about freeing volunteers...

"Freeing your volunteers." That statement can mean a million things and it really sounds good when you say it. This afternoon Tom Shefchunas helped us wrap our minds around creating ministries full of volunteers who are pumped to be there, using their talents, and seeing progress. Many of our ministries simply just have volunteers serving out of obligation. Freeing volunteers means we are actively create a culture where leaders thrive. Freeing your volunteer team is not about changing people it is about changing the culture. Here are some steps to creating that kind of culture...

Resolve yourself that this will take time. // You don’t see a culture change your realize it has changed, change takes time. Changing a culture takes intentional long term attention and focus!

Get great people in the room. // organizations have to get the right people on the team, the right people off the team, and the right people in the right seats. Nothing defines your team like the people on your team. A healthy culture can push people to be more! Look for people with time (willing to give their time), mature faith, and character.

Decide this is not your ministry // Leadership is a stewardship and I am just leading once small part of it. We often build our ministry around our personality with no other foundation of a volunteer team. Not a good idea. Will my ministry outlast my time leading it? We have to empower team to the point when we leave it moves forward with strength!

Simplify your strategy and define the volunteer’s job and role. // If you want your leaders to feel like they are important give them something important to do.

Don't go to your next conference ALONE!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

There is nothing like a conference with your team to inspire, refuel, and provoke change! With the Orange conference coming up in a few months and time to register, this is the perfect time to plan a conference for your team. We have done this several ways here with our family ministry team but every time we have had a mix of staff and volunteers with us. Every time it's paid off in big ways. When we go as a team we make sure and create time to connect with each other, space for each other to have alone time, and time to network with other leaders. When that combination happens we all gain more from a week together. There is a kind of synergy that can happen when a team of leaders (preschool, children, students, and college) get away to a conference to dream together. Here is what we see happen every year when we get away together...

Our team is inspired >> Taking time to learn from other leaders is inspiring. There is something inspiring about discovering we are not alone as we strive to reach this generation. When we get away as a team we have a better shot of getting the inpsiration we need to keep fighting.
Our team is refueled >> Something powerul happens when our team slows down to hear God's Word taught, pray together, laugh together, and worship together. Conferences are great places for teams to slow down enought to allow God to refuel our souls.
Our team is usually pushed to make changes >> Sometimes you just need a different perspective in order to see needed change. So many times God has used time away at a conference to help our team embrace needed change. Conferences are safe places to think through ideas that might lead to changes that could lead to ministry momentum.

When do you need a curriculum partner?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:04:00 +0000

When do you need a curriculum partner? Right now! Don't get me wrong, I love that so many kids and student pastors are creating amazing curriculum for the ministries they lead. We create some great stuff with our team here at Grace Community but one idea we embrace is that the right curriculum partner can make sure we have time to do ministry and not just write great resources and material. I know many of you love to create, write, and develop resources but you still need to partner with an organization you believe in. We partner with several great organizations that create some amazing products that help us be better are sharing the gospel with this generation of kids and teens. This is not a post for any specific organization. You need to find an organization that you believe in and an organization that will listen to you when you have ideas. You need a curriculum partner. Here are a few reasons why...

You need a strategy not just curriculum. // You need a plan not just another Bible study. Partnering with an organization that makes great curriculum helps you find a plan you believe in.
Great curriculum takes hard work to create. // Great curriculum takes intense work from many people. Make sure as you are creating resources that you are balancing your need to focus on other needs in the ministry.
You need to avoid tunnel vision. // We all then to write and teach about what we are most passionate about. Having a curriculum partner ensures that we are pushed to teach with a wider perspective.
You are in the people business not the resource business. // Your volunteers need you to lead, not just create resources. Volunteers are never cool with us not returning emails or calls just so we can perfect the wording on that teaching script! They need you. Your church needs you. A curriculum partner can help you to have more people time.

Hello Orange Week...

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:43:00 +0000

We're about 80 days away from the Orange Conference and I can't wait to see how God works during those days that we set aside to process how we can reach this generation and partner with families. For the next week I am going to "think orange" on my blog with a bunch of other amazing children's and student ministry leaders from across the country. Many of these guys are my friends and they have some great insight into where family ministry is headed over the next 10 years. Check these blogs out this week and I hope you will join us in Atlanta for the Orange Conference...

Orange Bloggers:
Amy Fenton Lee: www.TheInclusiveChurch.com
Wayne Stocks: http://WayneStocks.com and http://Kidmin1124.com
Cass Brannan: www.CassBrannan.wordpress.com
Michael Bayne: http://www.MichaelBayne.net/
Jenny Funderburke: http://JennyFunderburke.com
Tom Pounder: http://www.MinistryBlackboard.com
Henry Zonio: http://KidminAndCulture.com
Nick Blevins: www.NickBlevins.com
Amy Dolan: www.LemonLimeKids.com
Steve Cullum: www.SteveCullum.com
Ben Read: www.IntentionalStudentMinistry.com
Kenny Conley: www.ChildrensMinistryOnline.com
RyanMillard: www.RyanMillard.com
Dustin Valencia: www.AbrahamChronicles.com
Paul Mannino: www.OrangeDad.com
Jeremy Lee: www.WonderfullyAwkward.com
Jason Chenoweth: http://jasonchenoweth.com
Benjamin Kerns: http://www.averageyouthministry.com
Jonathan Cliff: http://www.jonathancliff.com

8 kids ministry innovators I'm learning from

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:50:00 +0000

It's been an incredible experience the past few years to meet so many amazing kids ministry leaders across the country and begin to learn from them. Yes I said it...this old student ministry guy is learning from kids ministry leaders. I know those lines never used to cross but those days need to be over. Now more than ever, children's an student pastors need to work together to reach this generation. Here are a few family and children's ministry innovators who you need to be following!

Jim Wideman / www.jimwideman.com
Kenny Conley / www.childrensministry.com
Sam Luce / www.samluce.com/
Adam Bayne / www.adambayne.wordpress.com/
Dan Scott / www.danscottblog.com/
Jonathan Cliff / www.jonathancliff.com/
Joy Bowen / www.impulsivejoy.com/
Kendra Flemming / www.insidenorthpoint.org/kids/

Experience or Education...you need both!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Many people find themselves graduating college and asking if the need to gain needed experience or move further in their education with a graduate degree. In reality you need both. One of the most dangerous things people in ministry can do is wait to serve. Your call as a pastor, leader, missionary, servant is not to get a degree, it's to make a difference in the Kingdom of God. Yes, you need education but you also need to get your hands dirty and filter your knowledge through serving. Here at Grace Community Church we are launching a program to help young leaders serve and learn at the same time. Yes we know it sounds odd but we’re calling it, for now, our Residency in Ministry program. Similar to a medical residency, we view this as a post-college “residency” where those in the program will be doing real ministry alongside pastors who are a little further down the road. They’ll be entrusted not with making copies (though, as we all know, that is a small slice of ministry, too) but with life-changing ministry. They’ll be viewed as full-on staff members, held to the expectations of the rest of our staff team. They’ll also receive a small stipend and have their housing covered.

In addition to doing the work of ministry, one major benefit of the program is that seminary tuition will be included. Clarksville is 45 minutes from the new Nashville campus of Southern Seminary. We’ve already had staff members (myself included) who have worked full-time at Grace and attended classes concurrently. And as I said above, I believe that this is a great way to learn and do ministry: in the classroom and in the “lab.”

We’re receiving applications now, looking to have residents in place by August, 2012.
If you’re interested, just head right HERE and start the application process. If you know someone who would fit the bill, send this info along. If you have any questions, we’ve tried to answer the most frequently asked HERE.

We’re stoked about this program, and are convinced it will be a great benefit to a great number of young leaders.

6 ways to be a BETTER staff member

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Every leader on every church staff looks around and can see problems at the church they serve because they have an behind the scene view that not many others have. If you have problems where you serve now you are normal just like everyone else in the church world. I know we spend a ton of energy trying to help our churches improve but what if we took time to help ourselves get better at what we do. If every staff member at our church worked to be better I can guaruntee our church would begin to sense the difference. Many times when it comes to change we simply need to start by looking in the mirror. If you want to be a better staff member, add value.

solve problems / Last week one of our staff took a problem that was not her problem, sat down at her computer, took time to think, and found our team a solution. When a staff member solves a problem in their ministry or another they help everything improve. See a problem, then stop complaining and work on a solution.
encourage / The people around you need to be encouraged. It doesn't matter if you lead worship or not, when you see someone excell on stage tell them. If your pastor makes a great leadership move, thank them. If your volunteers excell on a Sunday, write thank you cards or send emails! Even when things are not going well be an encourager!
take responsibility / When things go wrong or do not work and it's in your ministry then own it. Don't hide and don't blame. Taking resposnibility helps establish a culture where it's OK to try and fail but never OK to not get better.
pastor your team / When you see people around you hurting or needing direction then be brave and help out...that is pastoring. You are called to care for God's people so never be afraid to take the time to care. Don't wait to be asked just step in and love on people.
be a prayer warrior / Why do we expect God to bring hope and healing to our city when we are not praying for it. As a staff leader you should be praying for God to advance His Kingdom through your church every day. Don't complain when you have spent no time in prayer about a situation. PRAY!
cast vision / Every chance you get cast the vision of your church and the ministry you lead to others. People will never catch the vision if we don't help them catch it.

getting a fresh perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:11:00 +0000

This past Sunday our team at Grace Community partnered with Cross Point in Nashville and sent each other staff (with families) to be secret shoppers for the day. Of course we all kept it quiet and we showed up at each others campus to experience the environment as a guest. We have hired secret shoppers to come and visit our church before and give us feedback but this is the first time we partnered with another church to give feedback. We are working up our reports for each other but I think this idea is a great way for churches and ministries to get honest feedback on programing and really it cost us nothing but the time of each staff member (or volunteer if you choose that route). After going through the process here are a few things that make it work if you want to give it a try...

Partner with a church you believe in. // This is a big deal...if you want feedback that is helpful partner with a church who has a shared mission and shared vales. It does no good to get feedback from people who already don't believe in the mission, strategy, and structure of your church. Our churches can learn from each other because we respect and believe in each other.
Partner with a church outside your city if possible. // You will get better feedback when you have people come from outside your city or ministry target. People in the same city might feel bad for comparing environments as they worship with your church. This process is not personal, it's just simple evaluation and feedback.
Make sure you bring a family. // It's just as important to know how kids are experiencing worship as it is to know how your gathering for adults comes across. Most families will choose a church based on how their kids do in the kids programing. Make sure you are able to get feedback from that area as well as "big" church.
Get there early so you can see every part of the environment and not be rushed. // Make sure you get there in time to not rush, to walk slowly, to ask questions.
Participate, watch people, and take notes. // Make sure that you think critically and try to participate and worship at the same time. You are a guest for a few hours and not a staff member. Think like a guest!

Our family enjoyed the experience and my kids got dessert at lunch out of the deal at Noshville! Maybe partnering with another church to get feedback on your environment might be what you need. Give it a shot.

Empower volunteers to make your ministry BETTER!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Chances are you have a ton of volunteers or potential volunteers in your church who can help you take your ministry to the next level. We have learned we get better when we allow people to bring their expertise into our environments and help us improve. I'm betting you have volunteers who do incredible things at work every day who need to be empowered to speak into the direction of your ministry on Sunday. Tim Cribbs is an incredible teacher but on Sundays he has totally revamped and inspired our set up team in our preschool ministry. David Blevins owns and runs a local Chick-fil-A during the week but on Sunday he helps us make our check in process for families work better. What I love about serving with volunteers who are great leaders is that they are willing to help us get better. Start giving your volunteers a voice. Start allowing them to make suggestions and changes. Empower them to use the gifts God allows them to use at work each day with us in the church. Empower more volunteers to lead and the synergy will help your ministry get better.

Can Student and Children's leaders unite?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Why don't student and children's pastors get along? I think most of it stems from the fact that we are not in the same room enough, sitting at the same table, and dreaming about the same things. I think now more than ever it's time for children's leaders and student leaders to unite in our effort to make disciples. I serve with one of the best children's pastors in the country and one of the reasons why we work well together is because we understand each other and the direction of the ministries we lead. When children's ministry is flourishing then I see more teens enter our middle school ministry ready to take the next step. When the student ministry is thriving then our kids team has more amazing teen volunteers to mentor children. What our churches need are more staff and volunteers fighting together to reach the next generation...working together through preschool, children, middle school, high school, and college. If that's going to happen we better get in the same room, get to know each other, share our resources, and pray hard. What our enemy wants is more division and more turf battles. Family Ministry is about coming together and doing more as we partner with each other and with families. Set a date, get in the same room, and dream together. It's time to unite!

5 books every student pastor should read.

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:10:00 +0000

A good friend emailed me and asked what were a few must read books for student pastors. I made the list for him and emailed him back and then realized I have never put that list up here on the blog. I limited this list to 5 must read books but there are hundreds of great books out there that have helped me be a better pastor to teens and families. If you lead a student ministry these five books are going to help to lay a foundation for a great ministry. Hope you will check these out...

1. Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, Doug Fields
2. Think Orange, Reggie Joiner
3. Sustainable Youth Ministry, Mark DeVries
4. Messy Spirituality, Mike Yaconeli
5. Next Generation Leader, Andy Stanley

There are my top 5 reads for student pastors. What would you add to the list? What are your top 5? Make sure and share them here or on your blog. Ready, set, read.

What most leaders need more of...

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:23:00 +0000

Most leaders I know need more friends. I am amazed how many student and children's pastors are out there serving in isolation. Why? Maybe we feel like because we are in ministry we feel we have to be guarded. Maybe we feel like we are too busy for people who are just "friends." Maybe we are so immersed in our responsibilities that we can't see there is an entire world outside our own church bubble. This week at Grace Community we talked about our need for community and my pastor (and one of my true friends) Chad Rowland shared this verse from I Kings when the prophet Elijah isolated himself from everyone...

And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." (1 Kings 19:7 ESV)

Just like Elijah, the journey you are on is too great for you also to do alone. Chad reminded me Sunday that when we are alone we choose to make choices that we would not make if we were connected to healthy friendships. You don't have to do ministry in isolation. You need real friends around you who are going to be there no matter what. I know many of you have served in isolation for so long you don't even know where to start. Here are a few places to begin...

Plug into or lead a small group. // This is a big one. You need to be in a small group with people who have nothing to do with your ministry. Some of my best friends are in community group with me and they help me stay connected with others who are outside my ministry bubble.
Connect with a key volunteer or staff member. // I serve with several guys on our staff that are great friends. I also have friends who are volunteers here at church. When we hang out we do lots of stuff that have nothing to do with church. That is why we are friends. We play golf, watch sports, and talk support each other through life. That's what friends do.
Connect with an organization outside your church. // Coach your kid's basketball or soccer team. Volunteer for another organization in town. Do something that helps you connect with normal people outside your church world. It's good to have friends who have nothing to do with your church. I promise.
Connect with leaders in your town in other churches. // There are leaders serving in other churches in your town who are looking for healthy relationships also. Your needed friendship might come from the church down the street.
Connect with leaders from across the country. // You never know the friendships you might make as you network. Leverage social media to connect with others and get to know people across the country. Conferences get way better when you are connecting with friends.

Don't serve in isolation. Make sure you are striving to stay connected to people you call friend!

INNOVATION demands RISK

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:02:00 +0000

If you want to lead a church, non-profit, or ministry that is innovative you have to learn to embrace the risk that comes with it. I would say we have a very innovative environment here where I serve and it's because we have learned to endure the risk that comes with innovation. Being innovative demands experimentation. Experimenting will lead to both success and failure. Innovation always leads to change and I'm not sure if you have learned this yet but people don't always enjoy change. I could list off tons of things our team has tried in our desire to innovate. Some things went well and others we will never do again. We tried...innovation happens when we are willing to try. There is no safe place to hide when we innovate. Our hope to find a better way to accomplish our goals, communicate our message, to solve a problem means we are going to have to take risks. Sometimes things are going to work and that is what makes the risk worth it.

You don't get to "choose" your calling

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:32:00 +0000

Sorry to tell you this and frustrate your plans but you don't get to choose your calling in life. By calling I mean that deep rooted passion that makes us sing when we do the work we do. Some of us are called to be bankers, teachers, painters, writers, missionaries, social workers, builders, consultants, soldiers, fire fighters, accountants, pastors, and architects. You name it, our God places a calling on the lives of people to make it, create it, and shape it for His Glory. God made us and gave us a passion deep inside that will guide us as we try to make a difference in this world of His. Recently I have heard people say they chose to pursue ministry...to somehow become through education or hard work a minister working in the local church. When I look around at our staff I see a group of people who tried to do other things with their life but God would not let us go. Many of us wanted to be coaches, teachers, counselors, business owners, politicians, veterinarians, and dentists but God had a calling on our life that would not let us go. All of us can tell you when God gave us that call. We did not pursue this as a choice, God came after us. Maybe the problem with the church world is that we have too many leaders who chose ministry as a career? How do you know if you are called to do something with your life? Here are a few things to consider...

Our calling flows from God : No prophet, king, disciple, or apostle in Scripture chose their calling...it was given by God. Just go read the Bible and see how God called people to use their life. It's pretty clear that God takes care of this process. I can look back and tell you the moment God called me to serve the local church. I also know when God made it more clear and gave me my next step. It's all about God not me. I did not want to work in the church, God called me to it. I know Christians in other fields who will tell you the same thing. Our calling flows from God.

God will use people to confirm our calling : When God gives someone a calling, a mission He uses other people of God to come around and confirm that call. (sometimes it comes from people who are in authority and sometimes it comes of people on the fringe) When we are called by God then He will open up the doors for us to fulfill that calling. Do you get the idea here? A calling is about God and not about us. It's about His glory and not our own. If you are called by God He will bring others into your life to confirm and encourage that calling.

God will refine your calling : Over time God will refine you and your understanding of the calling He has placed on your life. God will give us what we need to move forward in His calling and then he will refine us as we go. We are never done growing or learning and God is never done shaping and molding us so we can fulfill our calling. We have to be faithful with the small things God gives us so He can give us more. Be fully present where you are right now because God knows what is next.

Win 2 tickets to Orange 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0000

My friends at Worlds of Wow are giving away 2 tickets to the Orange conference. I love the team at Worlds of Wow because they help churches maximize their next generation space with great decorating that will help grab attention! If you have a budget for your space and you need a design partner then this is an organization you want to check out. We have details below so you know how to WIN! Give it a shot and go win some free tickets to an amazing conference. Our team will be there and we hope you will too!

WIN 2 TICKETS

TO THE ORANGE CONFERENCE

Worlds of Wow is all about fun, so we're hosting a Facebook contest and giving away two tickets (a $638 value!) to The Orange Conference! This year's conference theme is "GAME CHANGERS", so our contest is for your children's ministry to show or tell us about the GAME CHANGER that will rock their ministry in 2012.

2 WAYS 2 PLAY

This contest is only on our Facebook Fan Page, so here's how it works:

1) Tell us on our Worlds of Wow Facebook page what GAME CHANGER your children's ministry team will be doing in 2012!

2) Share a photo on our Worlds of Wow Facebook page showing you/your team wearing or holding something orange!

BONUS!! If you do BOTH, you DOUBLE your chances to win!!

our ideas can't compare to God's plan

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:05:00 +0000

Daniel and Emily Doss are my friends. I am posting this because I watched Daniel and Emily go through the experience of wanting kids, not being able to have kids, and choosing to work through the process of adoption. I had the joy of watching Manny become their son and it was and still is amazing. I will not say a ton about that process but I can promise you that our ideas can't compare to God's plan. Daniel and I did many camps together, we served at 2 churches together, and we spent tons of time dreaming about the future. Looking back we know God's plan is better. Hope this video inspires you to rely on God a little more today. Not sure what you are facing but trust me, God is not giving up on you. Check out Daniel's music on iTunes and if you need a worship leader for an event you need to book the Daniel Doss Band.

Courage

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Joshua 1:6-9 (NLT)
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Needed to read this today, maybe you need it too. This week I have been processing courage, what it means, why we need it, where it comes from. I have been reminded that courage is not the absence of fear but rather being willing to do what is right in the middle of fear. In the Bible Joshua knew what he had to do and still God reminded him to be strong, to be courageous, to trust Him, and stay focused. Joshua would face many challenges and at the same time God promised to be with him.

When you know what God has called you to do have courage and do what you need to do even when faced with fear. That is the place God will show up.

You Lost Me...a must read for next generation leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:17:00 +0000

After reading You Lost Me by Dave Kinnaman and spending a week with college students at Passion 2012 I find myself more determined to help churches understand that college students and young adults are not leaving their faith but instead leaving churches all across America who exist to protect traditions. Is there anything wrong with traditions...No. Is having a mission to make the next generation conform to the ways of the past generation working...No. Churches that are reaching young adults and young families are willing to shape their strategy (not theology) in a way that connects with young adults and young families. These churches are asking the older generation to unite in a mission to pass on faith to the generations to come, sounds like this familiar scripture...

4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NLT

With all that said, this is a must read book for every leader working with the next generation. The tide is shifting and will continue to morph and change with every generation. Will churches be willing to listen and adapt? Will kids, student and college ministries rise up to meet the needs of this generation? Here are a few quotes from the book...

But disciples cannot be mass-produced. Disciples are handmade, one relationship at a time.
The dropout problem is, at its core, a faith-development problem; to use religious language, it’s a disciple-making problem. The church is not adequately preparing the next generation to follow Christ faithfully in a rapidly changing culture.
The faith journeys of the next generation are not monochromatic or one-size-fits-all. Every story matters. And every type of story matters.
The next generation is caught between two possible destinies—one moored by the power and depth of the Jesus-centered gospel and one anchored to a cheap, Americanized version of the historic faith that will snap at the slightest puff of wind. Without a clear path to pursue the true gospel, millions of young Christians will look back on their twentysomething years as a series of lost opportunities for Christ.
Is it possible that our cultural fixation on safety and protectiveness has also had a profound effect on the church’s ability to disciple the next generation of Christians? Are we preparing them for a life of risk, adventure, and service to God—a God who asks that they lay down their lives for his kingdom? Or are we churning out safe, compliant Christian kids who are either chomping at the bit to get free or huddling in the basement playing World of Warcraft for hours on end, terrified to step out of doors?

I made more notes from this book than any other book I have read on my Kindle. Our staff is getting ready to process this together at Grace Community Church. I hope you will take time and check out You Lost Me. This book has the potential to shape how we engage this generation of kids, teens, college students, and young adults.

Lessons from 16 years of marriage!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Bayne) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Chelsea and I just celebrated 16 years of marriage. I know it's crazy. We got married in college and were both 20 and it was the best thing that ever happened to this dude. The past 16 years have been an amazing journey as we have grown up together. We spent 7 years without kids and enjoyed every minute of that time. We also have 2 amazing daughters now that amaze us every day. We have survived college and grad school and at least one of us hopes to never go back (me of course). We have experienced amazing highs and unbearable lows as we have tried to honor Christ with our lives. On top of all of that we have had the privilege of serving 5 churches filled with incredible people. I am so blessed to have been given 16 years with Chelsea Bayne! After 16 years even a man can learn a few things so here are a few lessons I have learned...

Communication is the secret sauce in marriage. / Communication leads to intimacy and trust. Guys you better learn to communicate if you want a marriage that works for the long haul.
Marriage is better when I do my part around the house. / This took a few years but our marriage is better when we partner with work around the house. This is our home, we need to make it the best it can be together.
Enjoy every moment, there are no guarantees. / I have watched too many of my friends watch their spouse face sickness, military deployments, and crazy accidents that turned everything upside down. Every day is a gift.
Have fun. / dates matter, vacations matter, laughing matters, accomplishing goals matters...have fun being married. Life is too short.
Pursue Christ together. / Jesus....chasing after Jesus solves so many issues that come up in marriage. Serving together, praying for each other, studying the Bible, living out the teachings of Jesus...that makes a difference in marriage.
Parent as a team. / Working together to parent makes sure your kids get the best of both of you. Parents who unite have a better shot of raising healthy kids.
Dream big dreams. / Goals put some adventure into the ordinary. Goals also helps us maximize our time and resources. We want to make sure we accomplish great things together.
Drop the American dream. / New cars, bigger houses, and more stuff don't lead to a better marriage. We are trying to work hard to not fall into that normal trap...it's happening all around us so it's hard to avoid.