Brad Hampton

Revived

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:07:00 +0000

Psalm 119: 156
Lord, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations.

I can't type enough to explain what God is pushing 20+ young adults to do in Siloam Springs Arkansas. I have been a part of hype, I have been a part of name it and claim it, I have been a part of people talking for the sake of talking about Gods so called will... BUT... I have never seen anything like what God desires for New Life Tabernacle in Siloam Springs Arkansas.

These young adults I am talking about are the foundation of something amazing. The challenge is keeping a firm foundation. When one part of the foundation is weak, the others pick up the weight till it's fixed. See the problem with most "ministries" is exactly that. When 2 or 3 parts of the foundation get weak nobody picks them up. In fact more and more of the foundation weakens till the whole thing collapses. Then all the weight, favor, responsibility, hard work, growth, potential, future completely scatter into a million pieces.

I look at these huge ministries around the world and I realize the foundation got stronger by the day. Even when one part was weak, because the foundation grew so much that that one little section was so minute it didn't phase the rest of it. These amazing ministries didn't just say "well we have a great starting point, and great leadership so lets stop here", instead they kept growing it, kept building it, kept adding on to it and because of that God continued to give more.

So here we are in this small town of Siloam Springs but with this abnormal number of talented, loving, able, willing young adults. This my friends is the start of a firm foundation. With this I am honestly scared to think about what could happen if they can keep the finish line in mind. Let this post be a memory of the day I saw it so clearly. Let it be a memory of the beginning of greatness.

Scatter brained? Yes thanks for noticing... more to come!

Brad

Dream Big

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:29:00 +0000

Lastnight I challenged our young adult group to dream big for the kingdom. I explained how often we dream for selfish reasons like cars, homes, career, relationships. Many times we dream about things that we may very well never achieve or posses. There are some cars I dream about driving that I may never own. Why do we limit our dreams to what we can do on our own. If I want that car then I am going to have to this, and I am going to have to do that. Dreaming for the kingdom should be easy. Its not longer a case of "I" but a case of "GOD". The dreams we have, the visions we have, the passion we have comes from God. If we dream of reaching the lost in South Africa then its a case of dreaming for God and working with God to achieve it. If we dream of a church packed full of people all we have to do is include God in the equation and its suddenly achievable. See, thats the beauty of living for God - No matter what the skeptic, the world, your friends say... with God it IS possible.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that if you can make a group of people in a church understand this concept... there is NO limit. If I can get 35 or 40 young adults to understand that we are the body of Christ and each of us have a huge role that we must fulfill... you better watch out! God is just looking for some people to say "here I am God, use me". When we say these simple words we must be ready for the second part. For God to use you. He doesn't want to use you to do one little thing, he wants to blow your mind! So if your telling God to use you, don't be surprised if he gives you a dream that seems to big for "I".

What are some of your dreams for the Kingdom?

Brad

By Invitation Only

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:18:00 +0000

I was watching a concert on TV the other day with a very famous artist. The concert was in a really small venue and was titled "By Invitation Only". It got me thinking about the church and about what I have the privilege of being a part of week after week. I wonder how often we sit through a church service where God restores us, forgives us, inspires us, etc... or when have a family experience with our fellow church body, when we work together to help somebody in need. So we do all these amazing things to help each other and to help those in need and we experience the family atmosphere in a church service where God does all those awesome things for us... BUT!

How many times do I unintentional go through my week and completely forget to share what God means to me. It is amazing the opportunities I pass up on unintentionally, but sometimes intentionally. I know a lot of people in our church alone who would have never came to Christ if it was not for the invitation. Somebody got to know these people, showed them the love of Christ, and invited them to a new way of life. Not everybody hits rock bottom and just decides to try out God. Think of the people you pass every single day just looking for a way out.

In short: Don't forget the people who will only find Christ by Invitation Only...

Brad

Kent Morris

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:25:00 +0000

The title of this blog is simply a shout out to Mr. Kent Morris! He has been giving me a hard time about my lack of blogging, so this one goes out to you KM.

The Ordinary 12:
This week I was reading through Matthew and took a closer look at the 12 Disciples. I am always amazed at how they would drop everything they were doing to follow him. It reminds me of how even the most ordinary person in this day and age can be used by God. I look over the awesome group of people in my church and wonder how many of them are really seeking the will or calling of God. I see some who come fairly faithfully to church but they have little involvement in the church. I wonder what God might really want to be doing with each of them. Check out 1 Corinthians 26-29. I love this passage, it defines me, it defines most of us. God is not looking for the best looking, smartest, tallest, most athletic, most popular person... He is looking for the willing. So how many excuses can you come up with about why you can't? Check this out!
So I hope wherever you are, whatever ministry you are or are not a part of... allow God to turn your ordinary to extraordinary!

BH

Brother Barry Would Be Proud?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000

My pastor gave me the opportunity to preach at Church last Sunday. I was really nervous for some reason. Typically I can speak to 100 young people every wed night without a drop of sweat. If you have ever had to speak to youth then you know how hard it is. The adults were much more into what I said, but it was still difficult. I didn't screw up too much but I really learned a lot for my future opportunities. If your interested in listening go here. The title is "The New Perception". Nothing that will change your life. It was just some findings and statistics from a few books I read. Till next time...

Oh if your wondering about the title... just go here

Brad

Post Election

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:52:00 +0000

So the election is over and I just don't feel like I got my moneys worth. It ended sooo fast! Ok I'm joking... I am SOOOO glad it is over. I have not been on here in a while due to the time factor. I had some disappointments when the nominations were selected by both parties, and had some disappointments as the President Elect was announced. I, like Kenny Liles noticed a lot of negative criticism from all my friends who were not supporting Obama. I would like to remind you that just because a man is named President does not mean he can change everything that we stand for as Christians. The constitution says "We The People..." and we still have a voice. There is a reason for our State Representatives. How many of you have every actually emailed your State Representative to let him/her know how you feel about a topic on Capitol Hill? We as a Christian nation need to remember that the outcome of this election is a wake up call. The vote was won by the young voters. That tells me that we need to do a better job of raising a young nation with morals and understanding. So Youth Pastors like myself have to take that to heart and understand the importance. I do not want to dictate a society that may not be Christian, I want to reach a society that isn't Christian. I am tired of the Christian community trying to tell Americans how to live. Jesus was a friend to everybody, no matter what they believed. He didn't go after them, they came after him. So don't decide the world is going to end now, instead be a voice like never before. Stand up for your beliefs, and reach a lost nation. Not Religion... Relationship.

B-Rad

Vince Lichlyter

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:41:00 +0000

If you have never heard of Vince Lichlyter you need to check him out. He was the lead singer of the Christian rock band "Jonah33". They recently ended an 8 year journey and he is now working on some acoustic stuff. We invited him to come lead worship last Wed and I had no idea what to expect. WOW! That is all I can say. He is blunt, funny, talented, genuine, and just overall awesome. He has been there with the best of them. I think what impressed me the most is he kept the attention of 80 young people ages 12 to 19 from all walks of life. From throwing out gum that he hated to the Jr high kids to singing a random song that he labeled the worst song of all time... he did great! He was very to the point and challenged the crowd to get real with God. Stop acting like everything is ok and that you have everything under control. So to sum it up... You need to get this guy at your Church or event. You WILL NOT be dissapointed! Check out some of his stuff here.

Brad

Keith Urban!

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Well I just had to take a moment to share a crazy story with everybody. Lastnight I was debating on going to the Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban concert. My friends decided to go so we were off. Once we got there the lines were so long that we were afraid we wouldn't get in. We did get in and my friend Adam found a friend of his who escorted us down to the second row! Carrie did her thing and then out came Keith Urban. He was playing a while then came into the crowd, down my row, towards me! He got right in front of me, stopped, played a few solo licks, took off the guitar, signed it, gave it to me, and i began to go CRAZY. Don't believe it? Check out this video and pictures! (the bottom picture is me on the big screen after he gave it to me)

Pray for your Pastor

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:23:00 +0000

You know what I love? I love going to birthday parties, backyard get togethers, and anything that is a group of people getting together to just spend time together.

Do you know what I don't love? When the party, or get together is at my house. Then I have to organize it, setup for it, spend money on it, entertain, plant it out, and clean up after it.

When I show up to Church its easy to just walk through the door and enjoy the fact that everything is already setup, planned out, organized and put together just for me. Then afterwards I can walk out without a worry in the world.

So how does a Pastor do it? I gained an even higher respect for my Pastor (Tim Estes) lastnight when I had "one of those nights". My worship leader was planning to do an acoustic service then he was scheduled to speak. Around 2pm I got a call from him that his heart was giving him trouble. My first concern obviously was his health, but then I realized I have 90+ people to take care of and to make sure they have a good experience. So I show up to Church at 6:25 and now have 20 minutes to put together the service, and a sermon for these students. When it was all said and done it was a horrible flop and it didn't go the way I wanted at all. I put a lot of time, prayer and energy into Wed nights. I realize some of those students may never be in an environment to experience God the rest of their lives so I take it very serious. After service it hit me how much harder it must be on somebody who is Pastoring a Church. How often I just expect him to show up with a big time sermon and it to go perfect, and more importantly I realized how rarely I spend time praying for him and that he will stay encouraged.

From now on when you organize a get together just let that be a little taste of what it is like to pastor a Church... but keep in mind the Pastor gets to do 2 and 3 times a week.

Pray for your Pastor... and Youth Pastor :)

PB

Jesus Cooties

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:13:00 +0000

Yes my title last night was really "Jesus Cooties"... God gave me that title when I was praying... ok not really but it is a title students will at least remember. We talked about the need for us as Christians to be contagious with our "Christ Like" behavior. When everybody around you is happy and loving God, you will be happy and love God. We talked about the symptoms of somebody who might have "Jesus Cooties". Things like Daily bible reading, daily prayer time, faithfulness to the Church. I am thankful for the changes that are taking place in the lives of element students, but now its a time where we must become contagious of what God has blessed us with. Have you ever been in a church where the same 50 people you started with are still there? Somebody needs to infect that kind of Church with the "Jesus Cooties" :)
We need to show the world what we have, and not by forcing it on them but by being a walking testimony of what God had done in your life. I would like to share a video with you of some students who were recently infected with the "Jesus Cooties" (You know you love saying Jesus Cooties)

God Bless,
Pastor Brad

Why it matters...

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:11:00 +0000

Do you think about Church a lot? I sure do. I am one of those guys who "over thinks" or "over analyzes" things. I am always thinking things through and how to better them. In student ministry I change things ALL the time. So why is it that I focus so much time on being a "youth specialist"? I think the best answer is that I want to be my very best. What if I don't think it over and give it my best? What if I don't think long and hard about my message for that week? What if I don't pray enough about the service? What if I don't get the service organized very well and I don't have help in the proper positions? What if I don't spend time training leaders? What if I don't take the time to connect with students and staff?

Let me answer my own question with a question... confusing I know... bare with me...

I have at least one first time visitor each week. What if that is the only opportunity that student will have to hear about what God can do in his/her life? What if they are looking for answers to God's existence and I fail to give it my all or to listen to the direction of God? What if a current student came in with a broken life but a fake smile and I fail to connect with them to open myself up to council them?

What im saying is many times we have just one shot. I want to make sure everything is at it's best and as perfect as it can humanly be. Then I want to make sure things are spiritually correct as well. You just never know who might show up to Church.

Now I am going to wrap it all up with this - We must give God our very very Best and in return he will give us more than we can imagine.

Don't Limit God!

PB

Why I love student ministry...

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:54:00 +0000

When I hear 2 students last week tell me they are having some issues with faith...this week one said the sign he asked God for was given... the other said God is making changes in his life and increasing his faith.

When a student will come to me and trusts me with situations they are facing and ask for advice and prayer.

When students call me when they are in a compromising situation and ask for help.

When students come to church for fun, but then experience God and start coming for other reasons.

When students tell me my sermon was exactly what they needed.

When students just keep showing up week after week and bringing new friends.

All of the above went on tonight or this week! There is no place I would rather be than loving, and working with New Life Tabernacle...

My prayer "God thank you for the opportunity to lead and work with so many awesome students, I love them so much and I look forward to every opportunity I have with them. I thank you for finding favor in this ministry. I thank you for what your doing and I just ask you continue to work in my life and keep opening the door for more students to be reached"

Thank you for reading and please pray for New Life Tabernacle and Element Student Ministry.

Pastor B

90+!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:22:00 +0000

What a service! We had 93 or 94 people in the house last night and what a great service it was. Brad Redding is one of the best worship leaders out there. He had those kids tuned in from the start. The anointing on his life is so real and so powerful. Once he got going it was just like always... AWESOME! We had a lot of first time visitors in the house...I love visitors.

Towards the end I invited the students to come of to one of our 6 staff members if they wanted to get out of situations they are in. We have been talking about "A Season of Change" based on James 5:16. I offered them the chance to step out and come to the front to find a leader they trust. At that point I asked them to confess the sin to the leader so they could pray from them for healing! Once this started they just lined up 4 and 5 deep per leader. I was so encouraged that these students want a real change from the world they live in. Some of the face things that seem so unfair and others face the same temptations all teenagers and young adults do. Now each leader has a hand full of students they can keep accountable and check up on throughout the week. In order for us to reach others and help others we first have to help ourselves. We have to get out of the filth of sin and addiction so our hearts can be focused on God. When we do that we give it our all. Brad mad a great point last night. He said Good is the enemy of Great! That we say "that was a good service" when God is just waiting for you to receive what he has that will change a good service to a great service.

I'm ready to give and receive God's best so from now on I'm looking for Greatness!

PB

Season of Change

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:05:00 +0000

So another Wed. Night and another great showing of students. This week we had a staff meeting to discuss everything from events to individual student progress. We started talking about how we are tired of seeing students battle and struggle with the same old sin. So I decided to take some time to really look in the word about change. I am not talking about the change you get from week to week... I'm talking about a change that is... well a CHANGE! I discovered many students look for a clean conscious from week to week but not a true change. I found in Numbers where God told Moses tell the Israelites to confess sin to those sinned against then to pay it back as well as an additional 20%. Then of course in James it says to "Confess your sins one to another that you might be HEALED!" See I never really thought about the healing part. If you are healed of something then it is GONE! To be healed of drug addiction means you don't come back a week later asking God for a change again... and again... and again!

So it hit me... students confess sin, but they only confess it to God. So God is hanging out and all the sudden Student "X" says "God I have a confession to make.... I went out and got drunk over the weekend" and God is saying "I KNOW!" So the student goes home feeling good because they have a clean conscious... but no true change or healing has taken place. So lastnight we talked about "Season of Change" This doesn't mean a season in your life where you change, but a season where God is truly going to help you make a change of healing. We discussed confession to God but also confession to one another. Finding a friend that will love you, that will pray with you, that you trust, and that will kick you if you do the same sin again and again... ok maybe not kick you but at least make you think twice before you partake of the same junk again.

So this next Wednesday night we are going to have a time of worship, a time of praise, and a time of change. I know God is going to show mercy and grace in that little room upstairs and I know there will be HEALING not just a clean conscious. So if your reading this please pray for our service. I am hoping my good buddy Brad Redding will be able to do a acoustic worship night. They love when he comes and every time he does its AWESOME!

Till next time,

Brad

Old

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:13:00 +0000

So I just played in a basketball tournament I have played in for the last 10 years. Out of those 10 years I have been on a team that won the whole thing 3 times, second place twice, and third place a few times. This year we didn't do so well. My shin splints are about to kill me from playing so much in a short amount of time... old age? My brother told me its about time to give the game up... NO WAY! I wont be doing that for a very long time. It was good to see old friends but it won't be so good when I try to get up in the morning and get to Church.

Titles

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:01:00 +0000

So what comes with a title? If you are titled "Janitor" you don't do hiring and firing of employees. If you are titled "Human Resources" you don't clean the bathrooms. What about when your titled "Student Pastor"? There is no way to narrow down the responsibilities. Is it my job to lock up, clean up, make sure every kid gets home, councils, speaks confidence into lives, corrects, leads, mentors, teach, organizes, come up with ideas, plans, schedule events, build relationships, straiten the chairs, turn on the sound system, turn off the lights? The list can go on and on and on. So how is it possible for me to do all of that? Well it really isn't but i sure try!

Moses couldn't build/govern a nation alone, Noah couldn't build a great boat alone, Jesus didn't try to reach everybody alone. So why should I try to build a great student program alone? So lets say your titled "Student" or "Student Leader" or even "Student Band". Where does your responsibilities end?

When there is trash on the floor do you pick it up?

When there is a kid nobody has talked to who is visiting for the first time do you go welcome them?

Do you walk in to the Church thinking about how you can make it the best experience for you or how you can make this the best experience for others?

Do you look around at students and find one you can connect with this week or maybe invite them to the prayer room or to sit with you in service?

My challenge to you is this. When you are on your way to Church make it all about Him. And in order to do that you have to make it less about you. Make it more about those you can reach and mentor. I see the lives of Chris Cravens, Jena, Salena, Cherokee and other younger students who are needing more influences in their lives. Do you know all of the students I listed? Could you point them all out? Lets broaden our titles. Lets not just be the "student" lets REACH! Lets do whatever we can to help out. When something is needing done just do it. When a student is sitting by his or her self go sit with them. Have a REAL conversation with them. Man I love this group! I just wish I had time to visit with you all every day of my life. I am so blessed to have you all in my life.

Lastly... Please do not take this as negativity. Take this as constructive criticism. We have been successful so you have all been doing things right. Now its time to REACH further. I would love to hear your positive feedback!

PB

80!

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:35:00 +0000

The service was nearly over when Samster brought up a sheet of paper that said "80!" on it. I was so pumped and still am. I know its not about the numbers, but then again... Yes it is! Why is the bible so descriptive with the numbers? Its encouraging is why! If he fed 10 people fish and bread it wouldn't be such a big deal... if we ministered to 5 lastnight it would have been great... but 80! WOW! We are cramped in a little room but they keep coming, they keep inviting friends. The old 80% rule is not applicable in our case.

Service is winding down and I decided to make it open mic night... here comes 1, then 2, then 3, then about 7 kids to say something. Wait! Its not the older, church raised, popular kids... its the 14, to 16 year olds who come from broken homes, poverty stricken, pasts nobody should ever have to be apart of. They came one by one to explain what Wed. nights mean to them. How if it wasn't for somebody inviting them they have no clue where they would be. I'm talking NEW CHRISTIANS! I kid with them and tell them they have that "New Christian Smell". The best part... I didn't have to say or do anything. All I did was show up and let the kids lead and worship. Not once did I have to "cheerlead" them into anything. Chris Cravens wrote a poem that I read to everybody that broke me down... broke everybody down. We were so touched by the words of this young man (15 and brand new in the church). My prayer? Simple... "Thank you Jesus" That is all I could say... what more can I say? Time for "85!".

PB

Anybody Out There?

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:57:00 +0000

This is my 3rd post! Kind of weak so far. I guess it's a little difficult to make myself blog when im not sure anybody is even reading it. I have done a poor job of marketing my blog at this point.

On another note... I was looking over several youth pastor forums today and found a really cool post. It was a bunch of youth pastors sharing the size of the church body compared to the student body. After looking at about 40 or so of them I am happy to say not one of them had a group close to ours. A Church body of 175 on Sundays, yet we run 75 on Wed nights! How awesome is that? I think space is a big problem at this point. Once we have a larger youth facility I believe we will grow much more... till then... im happy with trying to pastor 75 students and worn out at the same time! Ok... ramble session over! Leave a comment if you read this... would love to know at least one person has found it :)

Brad

Sunday!

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:43:00 +0000

What a great sermon from Pastor Tim Estes Sunday. I think it had a lot of people examining the life they are living. I know it made me stop and think. The rapture is a real thing and I want to be ready for that day. I was blessed to see so many young people who came to the front to spend some time with God. I had one young person tell me they aren't the same person anymore. I had the opportunity to talk with several young people after service about problems. What a awesome responsibility student pastors have. Are you ready?

First Post

noreply@blogger.com (Brad Hampton) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:02:00 +0000

So i just traveled 12 hours to get home from the ministers conference in Phoenix. I am dead tired and a little sick... so I thought... what a great time to setup a blog! Woohoo!

PB