Communication and Student Ministry

As Youth Pastors, how we communicate to students is obviously very important. We want to communicate the Truth of God's Word in such a way that our students will understand how to take that next step in their relationship with God and be motivated to do so. It can be very easy for us to become focused on one audience of people we communicate to- the students in our youth groups.

The fact of the matter is that the students are just one audience of people to whom we communicate. God has commissioned the parent to be the most important and effective person in the spiritual lives of their children. God has put us under the authority of the Pastor that we work with. In many cases, we find ourselves ministering alongside other people on a church staff. There are people that work with us in our youth ministries- youth workers/counselors, musicians and interns. In many instances we work along side other youth pastors and youth ministries for effective annual events like camps and conferences.

We have heard it said that communication is the key to a marriage relationship. I would like to say that the way we communicate to all of these different audiences does have an impact on the final outcome of making disciples of the next generation. As ministers of the gospel, we are most effective when we clearly communicate to all of these audiences. Our words must match our behavior, but we still need to use words! To effectively reach and disciple the next generation, we must have all of these different audiences in our lives on board with the direction we are going. This is impossible without regular, clear, God-honoring communication.

Last month at the FBBF youth pastors meeting, Justin Brownlee, student pastor at Palm Springs Drive Baptist Church, explored some great principles, ideas and incites as to how to communicate effectively to all of these audiences. It was an encouragement and a help to all of us that were there. We are so blessed to have an opportunity each month to spend time with other student pastors who are in the trenches of youth ministry with us. If you missed it, you were missed. Don't miss out on the opportunity next month at Liberty Baptist Church in Tavares.

July 13th Meeting - Palm Springs Drive Baptist Church

A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. The following conversation ensued: "Is anyone up there?" "I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?" "Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer." "That’s all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch." There was a long silence, then… "Is anyone else up there?"

I’m not sure if there is a pastor who hasn’t used that story as an illustration in one of his sermons. I know I’ve used it many times. One of our favorite things to do as pastors is to encourage people to have faith. And one of our least favorite things to do is to have to exercise it ourselves.  Spurgeon said,  “Brethren, be great believers. Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls.”

The theme of our meeting is “Great Faith.”  Come be encouraged and enjoy the fellowship. Dress is Casual. 

Speakers
David Janney – Orlando Baptist Church
Jason Henderson -  Grace Pointe Church

Schedule
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. - Officer’s Meeting

11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. – First Session
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Business Mt., Ladies Mt., Youth Pastors Mt.
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - Second Session

Address
Palm Springs Drive Baptist Church
601 Palm Springs Drive

Altamonte Springs, Fl 32701

407-831-0950

www.psdbc.net

Directions

June 8th - Eastpointe Church - Jacksonville

Pastor Hale, Connie, and the great church family of East Pointe are inviting you to spend the day with them on June 8, as we enjoy our FBBF meeting.
Jesus established His church on the backs of strong leadership.  He had the ability to enlist, engage, entrench MEN into the work of the Gospel.  If there were ever a time to address the needs of the church today, it is in the area of winning the hearts and minds of strong men to continue the work of Christ.  on June 8, we look forward to being challenged and encouraged in the ministry of Building men for the Kingdom of God.  To do so necessitates a fresh look into the Word of God.  We hope you will make plans to come to Jacksonville, FL and experience the hospitality of Kevin and the church family of Eastpointe.

Guest Speakers
Ron Sears - First Baptist Church, New Castle, Delaware
Mark McGaughey, Executive Pastor of Eastepointe Church

Schedule
11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. - First Session
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch Break
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Business Meeting
1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - Second Session
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Break
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Third Session

Directions
Eastepointe is located 1/2 mile north of Atlantic Blvd. on Kernan Blvd. East of Arlington

207 N. Kernan Blvd
Jacksonville FL 32225
(904) 220-2377

Website: www.epcjax.com
Email: info@epcjax.com

Believe in Miracles

On the second Sunday of January, the body of IBB Church in Miami was challenged with three words:  Faith, Obedience and Generosity.  At the end of the message it was announced that on the last Sunday of March they would be receiving a Miracle Offering  (a one time sacrificial gift) and one year commitments they called Beyond.

To put it all in perspective, the monthly general budget for IBB is $60,000 – however, it has been almost 2 years since the monthly budget had been met.  This reality, coupled with lingering construction debt had severely limited their ability to carry on the ministry as they desired.

In the two months leading up to the offering there was a palpable excitement in the air.  As the pastors visited each of the 25+ small groups that meet weekly around the community, they encountered a very positive atmosphere with good questions and testimonies of God’s faithfulness in difficult times – both past and present.

On March 29^th IBB had a combined, bilingual service to allow the entire church body to be present at the same time worshipping the Lord with their presence, their hearts and their offerings.  Early in the service the Miracle Offering was received with special participation from everyone from the Tots through the adults.

After the message the totals were given which surprised even the most optimistic among us:  Miracle Offering – over $ 93,000; Beyond Commitments – over
$ 117,000.  What a miracle!!!  In these days, in this economic climate, with so many losing working hours and even jobs.

Two side notes:  In a marriage counseling session the next day, the husband admitted that during the invitation prayer on Sunday, he had expressed his doubts to God as to whether his marriage could even be saved.  But then he added:  “When I heard the totals for the Miracle Offering it was as if God were saying to me – ‘If I can handle this offering in these times, I can certainly handle your marriage!’”

And by the way, the General Offering for the day was double the budget amount and even without this extraordinary Sunday, giving is up from this time last year.  That alone is a miracle!

Resurrection Monday Meeting - Lake Mary FL - April 13th

Program Schedule

10:30am Officer’s Meeting

11:30am Tom Wallace Jr.

12:30pm Florida BBQ Lunch

Business meeting, Ladies and Youth Pastors Meeting

1:30pm Bill Bales

2:30 Tom Messer

The theme for the meeting is resurrecting churches. Tom Wallace Jr. will be speaking on the trends he is observing from the prospective of a missionary to England. Pastor Bales will give us a perspective from someone who has spent most of his ministry either starting or resurrecting churches, and Pastor Messer will give input on resurrecting large ministries. As I have been here at Lighthouse for a little over a year and have sought counsel on building a ministry, I have come to find out that we must always strive to keep life in our churches, no matter what size of ministry you pastor. As a former Youth Pastor one of the greatest challenges was to keep your kids on fire for the Lord. I pray that through this meeting you will be encouraged and challenged. We will be serving Florida style BBQ dinner and I encourage you to dress more causal as we will be eating outside under our pavilion.


Directions:

From the South: I4 west to exit 101A, turn left on to H.E. Thomas Pky. Go 1 mile to Orange Blvd. turn right, go .5 miles to Markham Rd. turn left, the church is 1 mile on the left.

From the North: I4 east to exit 101, SR46. Go west on SR46 to Orange Blvd. turn left, go 2.5 miles to Markham Rd. turn right, the church is one mile on the left.

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A message from our Chairman...

Thanks to everyone who gave us their email address.  Let me encourage you to participate in the March meeting at Faith Baptist Church in Sarasota.  Pastor David has put together an exciting meeting.  Please don't forget to email him your responses to the questionnaire he gave to us at the last meeting.

Also, I'd like to encourage you to email any suggestions on how we could improve our monthly meetings to me at pastor@sonshinebaptist.com.

See you in March,
Bill Bales