BEN REDMOND

New Hub Magazine Is HERE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 07:44:00 -0500

Hot off the presses, it's the new Hub Magazine! Filled with information and inspiration, this is the place to go if you want to know what is happening at the Hub. Big thanks to Nate and Mel Evans for all of their hard work on this project. The best way to view the magazine is by clicking on this link.

Meet Bill Burch: Hub super volunteer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:28:00 -0500

We're so thankful for Bill, and the 100+ volunteers who make the Hub great!

He doesn't need you...He wants you.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 07:33:00 -0500

I've been pondering an idea lately, and it came out in some of our teaching this past weekend at SJ (student journey). It goes something like this:

God doesn't need me to accomplish His purposes, rather, He wants me to be a part of His story.

God is completely self-sufficient. He is God all by himself, and his purposes can be accomplished in any way He sees fit. His great love for us and His desire for us to bring him glory motivate Him to invite us into his story.

Think of it this way: If I invite my 11 year old son to help me assemble the new end tables we bought. Am I including Him because I can't accomplish it without him? Probably not! I'm inviting him because I want a relationship with him. I want to include him in a process that with help him grow into a the person he is becoming.

God is not after our begrudging submission...and he isn't asking for our help out of weakness. He is inviting us into his story so that we can know him, and that relationship with change us.

Thoughts?

Father's Day Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 12:47:00 -0400

This father's day weekend is significant to me on four levels:

First - as a son. I'm so grateful for my father, and the role he plays in my life. He has been an empowering dad in every way. His love was never doubted, his discipline built character, his presence confirmed my worth, and his spoken belief made me believe that I could do anything. One of the last times that I spoke to my father he said, "From the day you were born your mother and I knew you would change the world." That type of spoken belief is so rare, and such a contributor to my story. I would not be who I am today without him, I'm proud to be his son.

Second - as a dad. I'm so incredibly grateful for my two kids. Kayla is beautiful, smart, and determined. Her red hair reminds me of her unstoppable spirit...much like her "mammaw". Ethan is kind, hilariously funny, and so comfortable being himself. His goofy humor and wild imagination reminds me of me as a kid. I have so much confidence in what God is going to do in their lives. These two are my greatest joy...and I'm so proud to be their father.

Third - as a spiritual father. Over the years I have had the opportunity to minister to thousands of teens and families and to help hundreds of teens acknowledge their faith in Jesus. Out of this large group there has emerged a handful of people over with whom God has given me a greater influence. I think of these students/former students as my "kids", and watching them grow and change the world is a constant reminder of why I do youth ministry. I'm so proud to play a small role in these young lives.

Finally - this weekend always carries a bit of pain for my family as well. Seven years ago this weekend my mom passed away very suddenly. My mom was the best person that I've ever known. Her grace, strength, and love have saturated my life. There is not an important moment in my life that goes by without me wishing she was here and hoping that she's proud. I'm so proud to have the privilege of being her son.

As another Father's day comes and goes this weekend, I really can't feel anything other than gratitude for my heritage, my children, and the lives I get to touch.

Happy Birthday Hub!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 08:36:00 -0400

One year ago today, we unlocked the doors at 1825 Spring Arbor Road and invited the teenagers of Jackson to come in for the first time. During the last 365 days my team and I have seen things that we never imagined, and we have all been changed in the process of shadowing God. I am not much of a celebrator, but God has done so much on our behalf this year that I feel careless not sharing it with you. So here are some things I've learned during year one at the Hub.

God is faithful: In every way, at every turn, in every moment (good and bad), God has proven himself to be everything that He claims to be. We prayerfully expect nothing less moving forward.

The need is real: I will be the first to admit that I was not prepared for the kids that we would meet as part of the Hub ministry. My heart (and that collective heart of my team) has literally been broken again and again by the pain we see in the lives of the kids we are meeting. We are more convinced than ever that the Hub is needed here.

People change the world: Patti an my kids have been incredible. They have bought in and served behind the scenes since day one. I wouldn't be involved in the Hub without their buy-in. The staff that I work with at the Hub has been such a blessing. These young people are absolutely fearless. I have watched each of them get knocked around and refuse to quit. I'm inspired by them. The volunteers that work at the Hub are my heroes. I watch them sacrifice consistently and patiently as we continue to tweak the Hub. The people who give financially and prayerfully. David and John for believing in this project enough to support it. Thank you is the best I have...but it isn't enough!

God works in us before He works through us: The biggest surprise for me has been how much work my heart has needed in this process. In the year before the Hub opened, I ran my mouth...a lot! I talked about how we wanted to reach every kid in Jackson, but I had no idea what that meant. Through the process of meeting the teens of Jackson (scary ones...mean ones...armed ones...) God has challenged my biases and my motives. I really thought this project was about changing the world...but I didn't realize that God would have to change me first.

Dreams aren't dreams anymore when they become reality: Once a dream becomes reality, it has the potential to be pretty scary. I had never faced any real fear in ministry until we launched the Hub, but fear has been a real presence in my life during the past year. I am worried about the ministry, the people, the kids, and many other things. I have realized more than ever the importance of putting my faith in God.

God's heart is for people: I could write a lot here, but I'll save it for later. God only raises up people and ministries that are committed to living and sharing the good news of His Kingdom with the world. Everything else we do in ministry has to find itself within this mission of shadowing and healing.

Longevity and faithfulness count: God is changing me in some pretty massive ways right now, and that always leads to uncertainty. The one thing I feel certain about is this: I'm going to stay here and invest my life in this ministry. The dreams that I (and my friends) have for the Hub will not be measured in minutes, but in years of faithfulness.

This has been an amazing year...a year marked by God's goodness and faithfulness. Honestly - the best part is this: We're just getting started!

Over the next 9 years we are asking God to give us influence within the youth of this city. The kind of influence that turns a generation towards the story of hope found in Jesus. The kind of influence that changes our city. The kind of influence that brings wholeness to families. The kind of influence that lifts Jesus high above our city. We're just getting started, and what comes next is going to be pretty cool.

So thanks for reading this...thanks for being a part of the journey...thanks for loving God, Westwinds, and our kids. More than anything - thanks to the God of the world for inviting me into this story. It is changing my life.

Ben
(6.10.12)

Tom Rundel: Isaac's story

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 6 Jun 2012 20:55:00 -0400

This is a sermon preached by my friend Tom. The sermon deals with what Jesus is doing in us through suffering. Tom knows a bit about this. His son Elijah was taken from them after 2 1/2 hours of life due to a condition that affects one in one million children. His wonderful son Isaac is disabled with a condition that affects one in one billion people. I watched this sermon in tears this afternoon. I was convicted by Tom's words about a relationship in my life that needs to change. Tom's message is great...but the way he (and Kara) lives it out is even greater. Take the hour to watch this...you won't regret it.

Facebook: I love my job

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:59:00 -0400

Patrick McGoldrick

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:32:00 -0400

We all have people in our lives who have changed us without even realizing that they did it. Patrick McGoldrick was one of those people for me.

Twelve years ago I was a young youth pastor with 3 years experience, struggling to live up to expectations in my home church. In an effort to help me develop, my boss connected me with Patrick. The plan was for me to spend two days with Patrick, attend one of his programs, and learn some basics from a youth ministry professional. The whole setup felt like a blind date. As I made the drive from South Bend to Detroit I remember thinking, "This dude has to be dreading this!" After all, what busy pastor has time to talk to a young guy who doesn't know anything?

The answer to that question was Patrick. For two days he poured into me...challenged me...questioned me...and encouraged me. I watched him interact with students...with leaders...with his family...and with other staff. I saw a picture of the kind of ministry that I wanted, but didn't know existed. I saw a picture of the kind of ministry that I am a part of now. I didn't last at my home church...but those two days with Patrick stuck with me. I reflected back on them often during the building phase of my next ministry in Minnesota.

Fast-forward a decade, and I am honored to play the role for other "young pups" that Patrick played in my life. When I wonder if I have time to invest in people, I quickly reflect back to what Patrick's investment meant for me. His graciousness and care for someone who had nothing to offer him has changed my life...and countless young people have benefited from that change.

I share this story with you because six months ago Patrick was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). This past Sunday he preached what will be his last message at the church where he has been youth pastor for the past twelve years. ALS is not a curable disease, and Patrick's health is declining quickly. Please pray for Patrick, Dena, and their kids as they walk this road.

This is the video from Patrick's last message. It is an hour long, but definitely worth the time. (If you have to skip, watch the last 10-15 minutes). As I cried my way through this video, I was reminded of a couple of truths:

1. We're all on borrowed time. What we do with our life, our family, and our faith matters immensely.

2. People are what matter...they should be the focus of everything we do. Your investment in them will outlive and outlast anything else you do.

Patrick probably will not read this - but he is a hero to me. In part because he encouraged me when no one else would...and in part because he showed me a different way of doing ministry. But above all, Patrick McGoldrick is a hero because, in his darkest hour, he chose to lift his faith in Jesus high.

Anchorman 2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:03:00 -0400

10 months ago...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:55:00 -0400

The Artist of Imperfection

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Apr 2012 20:32:00 -0400

This poem was written by my friend Kyle Rabold. He shared it a couple of weeks ago in the Cue. It's based on Zechariah 8:6: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: "It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?" declares the LORD Almighty.

I constantly draw a picture

Myself being the model.

In the shape of a human I define perfection,

Aiming toward God but always falling way short.

My idea is humbled accordingly

As I see Him painted in the Word--

An accurate image of my target.

My model is quickly fallen

Face buried deep within the mud.

My eyes can no longer look

Within the mirror in which I stood.

Now no longer am I the focus,

But He who is able fills the lens.

His endless beauty always satisfies

And I am ever in awe of His Being.

His mouth speaks in imagery

Upon which my eyes will ever lay.

I will stare and not grow weary

When He alone is in my focus.

As leaders, our responsibility is to empower and encourage all people to use their gifts for ministry. How are you creating opportunities for others?

Those Kids Today

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:10:00 -0400

From: BestEducationDegrees.com

Chad Cecil

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:06:00 -0400

Chad is my friend, and my teammate at the HUB. I'm super proud to be part of his life, and I'm continually blown away by his talent, humility, and spirituality!

Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 6 Mar 2012 08:22:00 -0500

Leadership and bearing pain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:31:00 -0500

My "leader" -The Dr. David McDonald - showed me this a while back, and it has stuck with me. The quote comes from the book: Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Survey

"You can exercise and sustain personal leadership only to the extent of your capacity to bear pain. If you can bear only your own pain, then you can’t really lead. If you can respond to and bear only the pain of your family, then your family represents the full scope of your leadership potential. If, however, by God’s grace you can recognize and bear the pain of those around you, the the breadth of your leadership potential is limited only by the scope of your burden and capacity. All this talk about bearing pain may seem off-putting to some. You may be thinking, ‘Isn’t leadership more about vision and the ability to inspire than about pain?’ Not really. To be sure, there is a kind of leadership that can rouse people to action for a short time, but enduring leadership invariably will be built upon a confidence that those who you call ‘leader’ would sacrifice themselves not only for the cause they share with you, but even for you yourself."

Thoughts?

Great article from Seth Godin

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:28:00 -0500

Time doesn't scale...

But bravery does.

The challenge of work-life balance is a relatively new one, and it is an artifact of a world where you get paid for showing up, paid for hours spent, paid for working.

In that world, it's clearly an advantage to have a team that spends more time than the competition. One way to get ahead as a freelancer or a factory worker of any kind (even a consultant at Deloitte) was simply to put in more hours. After all, that made you more productive, if we define productivity as output per dollar spent.

But people have discovered that after hour 24, there are no more hours left.

Go here to read the rest of the article.

Bill Hybels on equipping

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:06:00 -0500

"I watched how pastors never reached out to my dad, who was a businessman. He would have helped in any way if a pastor had invited him into the church. He went to his grave without ever experiencing involvement. I look around Willow and see people who are running good businesses and are really smart people. I invite them into the adventure of the church...I treat them as unpaid staff. I give them offices, even if they make their money somewhere else. I want business people deployed for the sake of the church, and so they can bring the Christian influence into their environment. My Dad got neither equipping or deployment. There is something in me that wants that for every business person I can get my hands on at Willow."

Bill Hybels on equipping people.

Jeremy Lin

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:18:00 -0500

Pretty cool video from a guy who is following Jesus AND taking the NBA by storm this season. You can read more here.

Discipleship

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:24:00 -0500

Thoughts?

In the last 72 hours the Hub has

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 04:48:00 -0500

...been open for the students in our community to know that they matter

...seen it's first baptisms (yeah Brie and Brenna!)

...hosted a celebration for all of our Westwinds kids workers

...hosted a fantastic superbowl party

...hosted the launch of Jacksonopolis - and exciting new business in Jackson.

Big thanks to the Hub team for all of their hard work and dedication. I'm lucky to be a part!

Student Leadership @ Student Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 22:04:00 -0500

Last week we launched our 2nd student leadership team (Ele^ate) at Student Journey. I have gone back and forth on the importance of student leadership over the years, but I always eventually land on the side of, "It's important." Here are my top three pros and cons: (cons first, because I believe they are answered by the pros).

CONS:

*Ranking - student leadership teams have the potential of setting up a ranking system within your ministry. When certain students are viewed as better, the gospel is weakened.

*Poor leadership - The biblical basis for generational ministry is founded in the adult mentoring the student. When student leaders are allowed to run the student ministry without guidance, the lack of experience and maturity is often problematic.

*Inward focus - A student leadership team can subtly create the framework for a ministry that focuses only on discipleship and not on evangelism.

PROS:

*Ownership - student leadership is the single best way to create a ministry that is based on ownership, and not spectatorship. When students who desire to grow are challenged and given opportunity - the whole ministry benefits.

*Leadership development - When students with a desire to grow are challenged and developed, they will become valuable leaders. In a large ministry, the youth pastor doesn't have the ability to disciple or mentor everyone. A leadership team gives the point person an opportunity to develop a few students.

*Life-long impact - the students who are part of leadership team stick with ministry in the church at an incredibly high rate. The investment during high school translates into a life time of service and ministry.

If you're in youth ministry, a student leadership team is a must. There are certainly challenges and cautions, but the positive benefit to the individual students and the ministry as a whole is undeniable.

The Gospel

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:03:00 -0500

I thought this was a well-done spoken word on the gospel. What do you think?

Stuff nobody says

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 09:22:00 -0500

For all who work at the Hub

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:42:00 -0500

Here's a pretty cool reminder that no one walks through our doors or into our lives without a story.

the micro kingdom of youth ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:30:00 -0500

Here's the truth for most of us in youth ministry - we really like calling the shots.

We love making decisions, assigning roles to volunteers, planning services, organizing events, and setting mission and vision. For the most part, these are our responsibilities.

Just not the last one...the mission and vision one. This is hard for us to swallow sometimes.

If you are really young, it's hard to swallow because you don't know any better.
If you are really experienced, it's hard to swallow because you do know better.

All of this can lead youth pastors to attempt to quietly cast their own vision, rather than following the vision laid out by the leadership at their church. I get why it happens, and I'm tempted to do it in my context. I LOVE the vision of our church - but I also love creating and casting unique vision. Here's the deal though:

This is wrong.

If you want to have your own unique mission and vision...if God is doing something powerful in you..then start a church or become a senior pastor (although you probably aren't ready for that...that's some grass that looks greener than it is.)

BUT...

If you're on staff at a church, then recognize your position as a servant to the mission and vision of your pastor. Work hard within that vision to express it creatively and faithfully for your students and leaders. Be humble enough to recognize your role within your church and mature enough to play your part in the organization.