journey through

new series begins Wed night-"Drug Induced"

2009-09-28T11:26:00.002-05:00

Kick off a new series designed to guide students through the temptations of drugs and alcohol. Live testimonies from young adults and what we can learn from their mistakes, and live dramas by the rez drama team. Check out the messages via video each week at www.rezlifekc.blip.tv

catch up on my life and ministry

2009-09-22T12:13:00.008-05:00

been a while since I blogged, somehow fell out of my weekly schedule. Below you will find some updates, in development, and upcoming in my life and ministry

Looking back....

We had an amazing summer in ministry through missions and camps! Hundreds of students served all over including Dallas, Gulfcoast, and KC. We were forced to cancel the Honduras mission due to the unrest in the country. Hope to resume next summer.

I felt very excited and inspired by the start to fall with all of our gatherings; youth groups, confirmation, MAC track, Sunday School, small groups, rezlife 101, and more. We have so many new and enthusiastic volunteers.

I launched a 4-wk small group video study for our high school small groups on God's desire for our lives in regards to romantic relationships. Got lots of great feedback from students and groups. We filmed in the woods, a movie theatre, on top of the Western Auto building downtown, and finally in the Wesley Chapel here at the Central Campus.

Finally I'll share we had a great family vaca to St. Louis. We did six flags, the Zoo, City Museum, and the famous Arch. Scharme had never been and it was a great time with the girls. Hailey especially liked the ride up into the arch-FREAKY!!

In Development...

Kicked off rezlife 101 courses for the school year. The purpose is to engage our long term volunteer leaders in an annual DNA (design -n- align) gathering, as well as new volunteers and new families to the church. This class serves mostly as an orientation to rezlife ministry as a whole. We had over 15 in our first gathering and received great response. I am excited to see this come together as we have over 350 annual volunteer leaders!

First student/college life mission to Africa next summer partnering with our ministry connection their-SHADE

We have exhausted the numbers we can presently serve in our summer mission strategy. We are looking at a city strategy wherein rez staff leaders plant themselves in that city for local support. We then mobilize and empower many of our adult lay leaders in mission team leadership, up to one van of students, to lead in service throughout a week. We would support the many teams as staff in this area management model as they engage local churches and mission partnerships in that particular city area.

Just this week spent time with Missouri Conference Youth Pastors and Bishop Robert Schnaese in planning strategies and directions to reach the next generation for Jesus. Excited to see where this connection leads, including helping their conference develop a youth pastor training module.

Re-shaping and re-building my wife and I's own personal small group after suffering some struggles over the summer, including two of our own members engaging in an affair with each other. God's grace and renewing spirit are overcoming this tragedy!

Upcoming....

Holy Land trip over spring break week and already have many families interested. I hope this will become a great graduation trip for students and parents, but even beyond that! This trip is designed for, but not limited to, high school students.

Many speaking engagements upcoming including my weekly rezlife messages through youth group, confirmation, some guest speaking here in the church with "Building Better Moms" group (over 100 involved), keynote alongside Mike Slaughter at an event in South Dakota, our rezlife fall retreats (3 weekends), and our first young adult/college life retreat weekend.

Supporting my wife in the Sacred Steps race this weekend. Sign up now!

Finally, considering starting Hailey in gymnastics lessons, and I bought her a putter this past week so we can begin putting together at a course close to our house!

Blogging again soon...

Tonight Health Care Forum live online at Resurrection central campus

2009-08-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

gettin' in the mud

2009-06-26T08:20:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow my good friend Dave Pullin and I will be 'gettin in the mud", literally. We are running in the dirty duo adventure race at the Kansas City Speed way. Our team name is "shake and bake". I shared my hopes to complete this race beside my good friend, with no injuries, to over 200 students this past week at the first week of summer camp. I want to thank the many students who are praying for my friends. Thanks for all the facebook messages and texts.

This all came about due to my good friend going through a really tough time. As a friend I have feared I wouldn't know what to say, what to do, or even worse, allow my own emotions to become the center of the conversations during this time. Dave is one of the strongest dudes I know. He is the Director of Technical Ministries at Church of the Resurrection and his leadership through his life and with his staff team is something I have always looked up to!

I look forward to the race. It will be exhausting and thrilling! This race reminds me that God works in unique and even humorous ways. One of the cool elements in this race is the very last element-a 40 ft mud pit. Each team must go through it side by side, and that means one of us will be waiting for the other at the end as we alternate biking and running for 6 miles. The challenge to wait and crawl side by side through the mud seems a great metaphor to what church can be for any of us who are going through a tough time. I love that, and I love the mud, so I'll call it good!

Confabulation conference comes to a close

2009-05-20T10:48:00.003-05:00

This past week we held our first formal youth ministry training conference at Resurrection. We had a great cross-section of participants from large church staff teams to small rural settings. Some had been in youth ministry 5 years and others for just four months. One had just had their first experience of a late night crisis call from a student. The passion in the group was contagious and reminded me of my first years serving students for God!

Some of the competencies that were covered were;
Strategic Planning
Leadership
Transformational models
Healthy relational boundaries
Programmatic ideas and tactics

It was an awesome week and I can't wait until next May. I think it will be a great annual event that equips new youth pastors as well as sharpening our team here at Resurrection!

40 of my closest friends got on a plane

2009-04-30T08:50:00.003-05:00

So we wrapped up our conference of youth pastor's from the largest United Methodist Churches in America. These churches all average over 1200 in worship over a weekend. We had 40 of the 100 invited who came to Church of the Resurrection for the gathering.

We began with a challenging message from my Senior Pastor, Adam Hamilton, of who we are as United Methodists and what role we can play as Youth pastor's of the largest churches in raising up the next generation of ministry leaders.

After sharing in some desserts and conversation we began moving into "business" discussing such topics as; staff structure, team building, org charts and leadership by gifting, discipleship, mentorship, recruiting and equipping of both adult and student leaders. The discussions were insightful, positive, and inspiring for each of us involved.

Some new connections began and this event will continue next year with another church hosting. I am excited to have been a part of "birthing" this idea. it is really great to sit down with other leaders with similar settings in ministry.

Two cool moments....The first would be that one of the participants, Steve Cragg, long time Youth Pastor at Memorial Drive UMC in Houston, TX was celebrated for raising up Dave MaGee, our own High School minister here at Resurrection. The second was Kirk Dana from First UMC in Lakeland, Fl. He has been in full-time youth ministry for 36 years!

Check out UMYouthPastor.com, Jeremy Steele from Christ UMC in Mobile, AL has begun this resource sharing web-site!

God is Good!

large church connection youth pastor's gathering

2009-04-27T11:57:00.005-05:00

Tonight I will welcome 40 youth pastors from some of the largest United Methodist Churches in America to a conference here at Resurrection. This is in direct relation to our Senior pastor Adam Hamilton's work with the same gathering that began last year for Senior Pastors.

We will hope to accomplish a few things in this gathering...

1) to connect, support, and encourage one another.

2) to discuss, in round table fashion, what seems to be the greatest obstacles in youth ministry in these settings (as submitted by the participants).
-Staff Structure and Team Building
-Recruiting and Equipping Leaders
-Discipleship
-Connection to the Church Whole

3) Launch this as an annual gathering to be hosted by different churches. I will offer to host it again to be sure it happens. My true hope is that someone is inspired to do so, and I would come beside them as co-leader expecting that to happen with the 2010 host person and the next year's host.

I am excited to connect and conference together starting tonight!

Easter partnership between Resurrection and Grand Ave Temple

2009-04-15T14:11:00.001-05:00

Here is a recent news report about our downtown partnership with Grand Ave Temple. We launch the Resurrection downtown campus this fall, along with also launching an internet campus (more to come about that).

Vibe Easter Services at Resurrection

2009-04-08T12:39:00.004-05:00

I hope you will join me in worship this Easter weekend in the Vibe worship services. Each service is identical with a moving message of hope from Senior Pastor Adam Hamilton via the video screens, powerful music from the Vibe band, and community praise through the flowering cross.

Service times are 9:15am and 11:15am, with children and teens welcome in the Student Center (East Building).

All central, west, downtown, and internet campus services listed on cor.org. Click here to link to all the worship service opportunities for you to be inspired and challenged through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Holy Land 2009-#1

2009-03-23T07:34:00.004-05:00

I traveled into the following areas throughout Israel and the West bank...

Tel Aviv, Megiddo, Tiberias, Ceaserea, Nazareth, Cana, Capernum, Ceaserea Phillipi, Magdala, Bet Shean, Jericho, Massada, Qumran, Bethlehem, Jerusalem.

Most Difficult---new protection wall between predominately Christian-Palestinian city of Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Most Impactful---walking barefoot down the steps Jesus walked from the High Priest's house toward the Cross!
Most Celebrative---the majority of our 120 member group renewing their baptism, plus many for the first time in the Jordan.
Most Joyous---worship service in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Most Weird---floating in the dead sea.
Most Human---political discussion one evening with Deputy Director of tourism for Israel and a Palestinian-Christian leader
Most Reflective---standing on the site of Jesus' boyhood Synagogue. The very place in which Jesus read Isaiah's prophecy, followed by the words-"today this prophecy is fulfilled".

Most Immediate-Developing next spring break's trip to the Holy Land for student's and their parents!

These were just a few of the overwhelming experiences in the last ten days of my life. I will share more after I sleep!

fruitful practices

2009-02-16T16:10:00.006-06:00

I had the opportunity to be a reviewer for Bishop Schnase's new book "Five Practices of Fruitful Youth Ministry". It is a spin-off of his book "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations". The book will be published soon and is written in a workbook format. It is designed for youth workers to take a team of students, volunteers, or staff through. He gives great insight to these five practices and then offers challenges to increase your ministry's capacity to live them out.

Radical Hospitality
Passionate Worship
Intentional Faith Development
Risk Taking Mission & Service
Extravagant Generosity

I can't wait for it to be in print. I plan to use this throughout our leadership teams from staff to students. These practices are well-defined and inspiring insight into becoming a ministry that impacts the lives of students and families. Check it out soon.

Youth workers make great mentors

2009-02-03T23:17:00.004-06:00

Here's a pic of me and Chris Folmsbee team teaching at the Youthfront youth worker training day this past week. We focused on the principles of mentoring students.

I was pumped to see 20 of our own volunteers come, including; small group leaders, staff, youth group leaders, and Rez West youth workers with Joey Wilson-Youth Pastor at our West Campus in Olathe.

Here is a quote from one of our Rez small group leaders about their experience at the training..."Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend the Youth Worker training. I gained valuable insight, ideas and encouragement from the sessions today. It is a real privilege to work with teens".

Little pic of a big crowd

2009-02-03T23:14:00.001-06:00

This is a pic someone took of me teaching at the WOW conference a few weeks ago. The energy in the room was intense and exciting!

"strange exchange" family reality show

2009-01-30T14:42:00.004-06:00

I am looking for students who would be wiling to film a reality-type documentary piece with their family for the upcoming rezlife teaching series; "How to raise your parent?" My hope is for students and parents to reverse roles in everyday life, and that this may bring light to one another's perspective.

Wouldn't it be fun to watch your parent navigate the halls of school, conversations with other teens about today's music, social network life, etc? How about a student navigating their way around the workplace, home repair, or other tasks that keep the family running?

If interested hit me on facebook. I am looking for three families who want in for this fun adventure film! Call my assistant Tami if you are not a facebook user at 913-544-0718.

3 speaking gigs this month; Bama, Missouri, and KC

2009-01-15T17:16:00.017-06:00

Mobile, Alabama ( I keep getting speaking gigs in Alabama, where's the love from Hawaii-that's all I'm saying!). Heading "down south" to be the guest speaker for a weekend youth retreat. The theme is "non-comformist". I will teach at four worship sessions an adapted version of my "Jesus isn't like that" series. It will certainly be warmer there. Ever wondered what -27 degrees feels like? I felt it last night. It's like someone's slapping you all over your body! By the way, Alabama rocks, southern comfort food, authentic hospitality, and great accents!

Then off to Springfield, Missouri for the WOW Youth Rally. There are over 100 youth groups participating with an expected attendance of 2000 kids. It is very much a YS style event for students. The theme is "One-ness", based on Ephesians 4:4-6

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I am teaching two 35-minute sessions and sharing leadership with the likes of Stellar Kart, Bob Stromberg, Marquis Laughlin , Pictable, and more. I will also be leading a workshop on Youth Ministry for the adult leaders focusing around the content of my book.

Youthfront youthworker training day here in KC. I am sharing the two general sessions with my new buddy Chris Folmsbee. Chris' new book is out soon, and he has been volunteering at Resurrection since his family has made our church their home! I will be taking Chris' philosophy of youth ministry and translating it into a practical church setting.

REZ VOLUNTEER LEADERS GO FREE-ON US!! Register by calling Amy at 913-544-0262.

Justice Jam-Waterdeep, John Shirley, this weekend!

2009-01-13T11:28:00.006-06:00

Justice Jam....January 17,2009

This week I’m blogging to spread the word about Justice Jam, a benefit concert featuring Waterdeep. John Shirley from The Gathering will lead worship, and Rob Morris, co-founder of Love146, will explain how the organization works to fight child sex slavery and exploitation. A suggested donation of $10 will be accepted at the door.

Vibe worship on Christmas Eve

2008-12-27T22:06:00.000-06:00

Here are some pics from the Vibe Christmas Eve Services. We held three services; 3:00pm, 5:00pm, and 7:00pm. These three were part of the sixteen over both campuses. We started each of them at 10 minutes after to adjust if the Sanctuary filled.

It only filled complete at the 5:00pm, and best we can tell around 150-200 people came over who may not have expected to go the the Vibe worship.

That means that of the 850 in attendance over the three services, 600-700 chose the Vibe worship. That is pretty cool, since I was expecting around 500 of the some 20,000 in worship over the sixteen services to choose Vibe.

New Cross in time for Christmas Eve

2008-12-26T21:40:00.005-06:00

The new Cross for the student center arrived in time for the Candlelight Christmas Eve Vibe Services. The inspiration from this cross began when a member of Resurrection, who happens to be one of my favorite guys around, offered to purchase a cross if we would decide what might be best.

We had been debating style and size for the past year, and then inspiration hit me. I was on a Senior staff retreat a few weeks back and we worshiped at an outdoor chapel.

That is when inspiration hit me (the chapel cross at the camp we were at). It made quite an impression on everyone, very simple, yet present. I began to think this design would be great for the student center space.

I started sketching and Tami, my assistant, went to work finding a metal-work artist. It so happened that one of our student's Uncle happened to do this kind of work out in Colorado. I sent the plans, picked the finish, and it arrived in time to be the Christ candle on Christmas Eve.

quick update

2008-12-24T06:32:00.002-06:00

-welcomed my second daughter into the world, Kaia Reese Gant, 7lbs. 14 oounces, 19 3/4 in long on Dec. 21st at 6:56am
-finished Prophecy series, online now at rezlifekc.blip.tv
-New Cross is complete and installed in the Student Center. (pics soon)
-Halfway through 16 Christmas Eve Services, with a few simulcast live at live.cor.org last night and tonight
-Running 3 Vibe Eve services today at 3, 5, 7 pm
-Scharme's parents in town, which begins the massive pilgrimage of family to visit the newest member of the family.
-Preparing for life with two girls, 3 outside speaking gigs in January, a new series on Hot Topics chosen by the students, and my first trip to the Holy Land!

Advent begins-take the time

2008-12-01T22:03:00.002-06:00

I started (with a jump start from our Education Division meeting this morning) the Advent Devotional prepared by our pastoral staff. I am excited about this new tool for daily devotional and scripture study. The Advent devotional includes insights, questions, and even family activities. My wife and I plan on doing the family activities beginning tomorrow. Check it out at www.cor.org/gps

Confabulation gathering-registration open

2008-11-18T11:59:00.004-06:00

"Confabulation: the so what and what now of youth ministry" gathering is May 11-14, 2009. Registration is limited and now open-register early and get a sweet discount. Here are the details and links...

Register here

Blog here

The So What...

A casual chat; a confabulation if you will, with some of the greatest theological minds on some of the deepest mysteries of reality ever conceived by humankind.

Actually, we’re going to explore the mysteries of youth ministry through directed conversation, strategic workshops and a little taste of BBQ from Kansas City.

Designed for youth ministers in their 1st-5th year in ministry.

Take away practical ideas to use the very next week in your ministry and be a part of the new resurrection youth minister network launching May of 09.
Register - $150

Register by February 1- cost is only $129

Information on hotels, transportation can be found at www.cor.org/catalyst

The What Now...

+ making disciples

+ living into relational evangelism

+ creating missional lifestyles

+ developing meaningful worship

+ strategic planning

+ recruiting, equipping and empowering volunteers

+ building a ministry beyond yourself

+ ministering to the whole family

+ avoiding burn out

best youth staff in all the proverbial local church ministry world

2008-11-15T07:54:00.017-06:00

I mean it! When I look back over the past 10 weeks and see what my team has accomplished in ministry, I am stunned. I know it was all God, but they certainly played a big part in it. Here is a snapshot

-Fall youth group kick-offs

-held a ministry fair for 7th-12th graders to explore ways to serve in ministries like puppets, childrens, youth music, tech, etc.

-invited wild, exotic animals in for the "wild life" teaching series-props Tami

-created a potato reality video series for metamorphosis, plus naked truth series and wild life series videos, college life logo and print work, postcard looks, t-shirt graphics, and more-props to Jason Watson

-Over 19 High School small groups started, plus body-building skill training for missions, and a weekly morning breakfast study on Thursdays.-props Dave and Amy

-7 weeks of 7th/8th grade small group time, following youth group, called "Group Life" with over 70 participating, plus weekly time with Taylor discussion after school Thursdays-props Taylor and Amy

-launched fall Sunday School with up to 225 students in groups-props to Dave, Amy, Micah, and Cory

-Launched MAC track (ministry as a career) with over 20 students already signed up, coming monthly, assigned a mentor, with plans to fulfill their call from God into full-time ministry-props Julie and Melyssa

-176 confirmands this semester joining the church this Sunday, and 42 adult leaders who guided them. They also brought, and sorted some 2,188 pounds of food for their fall service project at Harvesters!-props Teri

-Over 500 participating over three weekends of Metamorphosis (fall retreat), with full bands, full production. One of the weekend bands ran itself without our worship leader, Cory Ryan, due to the birth of his newborn twins-Julian and Asher. Congrats to Amelia and Cory!!-props Deborah, Cory, and Micah.

-Over 50 adult cabin leaders recruited, trained, and certified for Metamorphosis-props to Dave, Taylor, Amy, and Deborah

-Leadership Institute with over 1600 ministry leaders from around the world coming-props everyone

-Launched a brand new Youth Ministry Conference called "Confabulation", which will be May 11-14-props Tami

-Three weeks of live dramas performed at youth group during the naked truth series that were very fun and meaningful-props Brandon

-making plans for a networking gathering of the largest 100 in worship attendance Methodist Youth Pastors-props Tami

-Completed 2009 budget after many detailed drafts-props to everyone, especially Tami and Deborah

-finalized summer 09 calendar with camps, missions, and large scale events-props to Deborah, Melyssa, and Amy

-began meeting across departments on a family ministry task force-props to Julie

-kept the phones answered, e-mails, responded to, web updated, rooms booked, print work made, and calendars current-props to Amy and Melyssa

-Hired staff person, developed beginning plans, got print work and web links up and officially launched College Life ministry. Check out the college life blog here-Go Michelle!-props to Dave for hiring well!!

-Offered care, working closely with our congregational care Pastors, to many students who experienced loss in the past few weeks-props to Julie and Melyssa

-Held important meeting with the conference youth director to move closer into the Methodist system-props Dave

Oh yeah, and we launched a weekly venue worship service in the student center called Vibe, offering an edgy, casual, and contemporary opportunity to worship on Sunday mornings at 10:45am-averaging 250 in attendance weekly-props to Micah, Cory, and Tami

With thanksgiving coming, I was thinking I have much to be thankful for. Without these people on my team, there is no way any of this Kingdom-building ministry could have happened. I need to thanks them more!!

Here comes another 10 weeks!

280 college care packages sent..

2008-11-11T21:36:00.011-06:00

Michelle Watts (college life director) and Nathan Webb (minister to young adults) boxed up 280 college care packages to send off to Resurrection college students today-Awesome!!

Here they are pictured with the boxes in the student center.

college life ministry begins

2008-11-11T21:25:00.007-06:00

College Life has officially launched as a new ministry of rezlife. Check out some upcoming opportunities for post high school to mid-20's who identify with "college life" ministry. Michelle Watts is our staff leader for this ministry and already has some great things coming up to connect college-age students into group life, missions, fellowship, and connection to ultimately help them to become deeply committed Christians.

Check out the college life blog, or the facebook group for more detailed info. You can connect with Michelle through these sites.

Who says Executive Staff aren't any fun?

2008-11-11T20:59:00.007-06:00

At a recent senior staff retreat we shared in powerful worship, contemplative study of sciptures, nature walks, community prayer, and a thought provoking keynote speaker on managing in a world of paradox, Jim Lucas. We also played some crazy games. You may know the games I speak of, the ones we force students to play to "team build". The type of games that are just humiliating enough to help you become vulnerable, yet not lose respect of each other.

What you see here are some wonderful pics of 3 of our Executive staff team playing a game only our Community Life Director Carol Cartmill could deliver! Pictured above are Randy Meyer, Brent Messick, and Dan Entwistle giving their all at a game that requires a potato to move across a floor by the swinging of another potato hanging around your waist.

I have discovered a great truth in great leadership. Authentic leaders are not afraid to become vulnerable in front of their subordinates! (if only I hadn't been competing during Pastor Adam's turn, I might have caught it on film-I know others did!)