I have had a lot of people ask me what is going on this Wed at kyc since we have finished up the text series. There are plenty of juicy rumors spinning around but let me give you some hints.
1. I am more pumped about this night than any so far this year. (I don't know if that's a hint, but whatever)
2. A song by the band oasis.
3. Permanent markers
4. The movie Finding Neverland
5. The book titled "Epic" by John Eldridge
If these things all sinned and rolled around in the sack together, nine months later tomorrow's KYC would be delivered. Those are your hint's, Feel free to dream.
So I recently was labeled "Seeker Friendly" for the first time in my life.
If you don't know, that is a "religious" way to point the finger at another ministry and tell them that they "water down" G0d's word, they will do or say anything to get a crowd, they have no depth, and they don't preach the whole counsel of God.
These people say these things not because of what I say, but because of who is listening.
I really don't know of another person/pastor who preaches what or how I preach. I am very straightforward, to say it mildly, and I never back away from tough issues.
That said, I will say this again, These people say these things not because of what I say, but because of who is listening.
The culture is listening. Teenagers are listening. Leaders are listening. "Sinners" are listening. Believers are listening. Outsiders and Insiders are listening. People are listening and lives are being changed and that makes religious people jealous and angry.
Religious people assume that just because outsiders and teenagers want to come and listen to a dude speak, in a church, we must be selling out.
I got news for you! The message of the Gospel is more attractive to the outsider than the insider! It was the outsiders who ran to Jesus, the insiders kept him at a distance and just "kept their eyes on him to see if he would make a mistake."
In the history of this ministry I have never asked this question, "How can we get more people to come to our church?"
People just come. They invite their friends and keep coming back.
I have never said, "Let's be cool, or relevant." We just are.
This is who we are. This is not a gimmick or a program. Programs are dead!
With all of that said, watch this video its real short but so true.
So the Coffee Shop opens up at 6 am. I have been showing up about 6:30 to spend some time with God in the mornings. I wanted to mix up my morning routine a little. So an early morning coffee and $.50 doughnut does the trick for me.
Areopagus is pretty quiet that early so I really enjoy it for my studies and the atmosphere is killer!
I was sitting here watching people come and go, and a huge sense of gratitude starting flooding my soul. We are starting to develop a clientele and that is really cool, actually it is more than cool. I was talking to my wife last night, and we were thanking God because there were so many times in the last few months that we just wanted to give up on the coffee shop. The money wasn't coming in when we wanted it to. I couldn't find the right people to staff it. I was already so busy with all of my other endeavors that I just couldn't put enough time into it, and it was a headache.
And now, we have our funding, we have a great staff, we have great coffee, and this place is awesome! Praise God!
Yesterday I ran into a guy down here who has just started coming to the church. He was just checking out the place but came over and sat down at my table and started sharing his heart. I was able to spend about a half hour with him and it was one of those "God encounters" or "divine appointments." That never would have happened if we didn't have this place.
We are changing lives, one cup of coffee at a time!
We have just started a video podcast of our Wed. night service, minus the music, and you can find it here. It is our first attempt, so the quality is good for the ipod video, but a little lacking for a larger screen.
Kingdom Youth Church is on fire thanks to Jesus Christ!
-4 out of the last 5 weeks we have had continuous record breaking attendance.
-We have over 110 students involved in weekly small groups.
-Our first Fair Trade Coffee Shop is now open in Rock Island. All of the profits go to defeat poverty and hunger throughout the world!
-New people are coming to Christ every single week and the Quad Cities are buzzing with stories of KYC's passion, excitement, and love for Jesus Christ and other people.
Things we need to keep at the front of our mind.
-Success reveals what is in your heart. If we get proud and think that we are responsible for what God is doing, we will fall, and it will be ugly! If we give Him all the glory, and stay humble, then this is just the first step in a long flight of stairs. God is going to do something in this ministry that this area has never seen or thought possible.
-Our 30 minutes of prayer before the service is the best part of the whole service! This is the furnace of our Youth Ministry, it makes the worship hot, and the preaching smokin'.
-If you are not in leadership, you need to join up! Watching God do cool stuff is awesome, but being a part of it is even better. Students and Adults, find a leadership packet on Wed. at the stuff table.
-Don't forget about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Spend time with him daily. Today, go on a walk, and talk to him. Go to areopagus, and read your bible. Hit up starbucks, with a christian friend and get real with each other about your faith. Connect with your creator today!
I love all you Kingdom peeps! Let's keep following God like a fat kid, on a hot summer day, running after the Ice Cream Man!
I went to bed Friday night at about 10 pm and I woke up at about 8:30 am. It was nice to get caught up on some sleep.
Then I got the bikes all aired up, and Amanda and I took Javen for his first bike ride of the season. We rode a couple of miles to a park and Javen had a blast!
Then I went to the St. Patty's day scavenger hunt. I was posted at the skybridge in downtown d-port. I got some sweet pics.
Then the kids had to go back to the church and eat this. It was absolutely disgusting, but hilarious.
I got a call today from the concert promoter at the iwireless center. They need 12, 18-25 year old volunteers to work the merch tables at the Toby Mac/ Jeremy Camp show on Sat. the 23rd.
They would get in free and get a chance to personally meet the artists.
They would be working the tables during the show but it would be a cool opportunity, let me know if you are interested.
It really sucks not having service. It snowed like a foot last Wed. but I really feel terrible about not having church. I feel like I haven't seen everyone in forever and that I am really disconnected from our students.
It is crazy what a week can do. This week is going to be just as hard. I am leaving for Des Moines on wed. afternoon. I am excited about coaching my five guys who qualified for state but not excited about missing another Wed. night.
Kyc is like a gas station. Every single week adults, students, and those in between gather together in one place to get filled up by God. I am so thankful for my leadership team. I thank God that I can miss a couple of weeks and they can keep on serving God and leading teenagers into a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ.
So I will be gone this week, but Service Must Go On!
I started reading Deadly Viper Character Assassins last night and It's tight!
It is very easy reading, and the layout is killer.
The best thing about it though is that is looks freakin sweet while backhanding you in the throat. This is no soft, watered down, book on character. It attacks straight on, but doesn't leave you feeling like a failure for past mistakes.
This is definitely on my Must Reads for 2008! This video is a preview of one of the character assassin's. The Assassin of Zi Qi Qi Ren. We must not let our sin, stay in the dark. We must confess it to God, and a fellow warrior!
Refuse to stay in the dark any longer. These guys have a great blog as well, if your interested you can find it here.
I read quite a few blogs per day in my RSS reader in mail. It helps me stay current, keep my mind creative, and helps me pick the brain of other leaders. I came across a great post today from Lifechurch.tv.
It really relates to where we are as a church because If I hear one thing over and over from my leadership team it is this, "We need more volunteers," "I need an apprentice,"" we need more people in the Cafe, sound ministry, video ministry, cleaning teams, small group leaders, swat team, on and on and on."
Raising up and training leaders is by far the toughest thing about ministry. It is difficult getting people to commit their life, money, and time to a volunteer organization. Lifechurch does a great job at raising up leaders and we can learn a lot from them.
There are actually four different posts to check out, here is the first link, Second, Third and Fourth part. Craig Groeschel is the founding pastor of Lifechurch.tv a multi campus next generation church in Oklahoma.
I am a Husband, Father, and Creative Pastor at Rock Church of the Quad Cities. I lead the Youth and Young adult ministries as well. I am a full contact fighter and also a wrestling coach at North Scott High School but most of all, I am the one that Jesus loves!
