INNOVATIONewsletter * INNOVATIONewsletter * INNOVATIONewsletter
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A network e-newsletter for progressive people planning ministry for tomorrow
Center for Creative Ministry * http://www.creativeministry.org * 1.800.272.4664
What we do..........research * training * resources * consultations * networking
May 22, 2008 * Volume 14, Number 10
_______________________
POINT TO PONDER
"We need to be honest with ourselves. The typical Adventist church is not changing its community, much less the world through its activities. We aren't significantly affecting the heart of Western culture." ---Jon Paulien
ONE-MINUTE WITNESS
"With so many natural disasters happening right on top of each other like the earthquakes in China and the cyclone in Myanmar and the tornados here in the United States," a pastor asked me this past Sabbath, "what do I tell my members about what these things mean?" My short answer was, "Well, they are strong evidence that we're not in heaven yet!" Our conversation eventually turned to the opportunities these events give us to dialogue with work colleagues, neighbors, family and friends about our trust in God whose love reduces our fears. The pastor then asked what resource I would recommend to his members to prepare them for such conversations. My immediate response was One-Minute Witness. When the moment is right, what you say and do and better yet what you don't say and do is so important. This 39-page booklet is something every believer would benefit by reading it. I'd encourage you to order one for every member of your church; we've made quantity discount pricing available so you can do that quite inexpensively. To order go to: http://www.adventsource.org/book.aspx?ID=30233
THE EARLY YEARS: MOBILIZING MEMBERS RESOURCE
In the mid-1990s we were asked by the North American Division to develop a resource package for local churches that provided new ways to mobilize members for volunteer opportunities. We couldn't think of any better way to do that then to help people discover their spiritual gifts and implement them in the church. Instead of re-inventing what was being so well received in the wider Christian community, we went directly to Zondervan Publishing in Grand Rapids MI, and requested permission to re-purpose their Networking materials for the Adventist community. http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310257936&QueryStringSite=Zondervan
We received that permission and then set about to make all the necessary revisions. The Adventist version of that resource is Connectionns and we have been able to place it in the majority of 6,000 Adventist church in North America over the past 12 years. What we learned some years after interfacing with the Zondervan team was that initially they had real misgivings about working with us to revise their resource. They had tried to work with denominations in the past with other materials and the experiences had not gone well to say the least. We praise God that their experience with us went so well that it prompted them to once again engage other denominations in personalizing Zondervan resources. http://www.adventsource.org/dvdvideo_2.aspx?ID=30299
CREATING SAFE PLACES
As you plan ahead, designate November 22 as a Welcome Home Sabbath. Make it a special event; do something unique to capture the attention of the ones who have become disconnected from your church. Put out personalized invitations. Prepare your congregation beforehand so that they clearly understand how critical this ministry is to the health of your congregation.
After my sermon in Massachusetts Sabbath and worship talk at the General Conference headquarters Tuesday, I was struck again with the stories people told me about family and friends for whom they pray to reconnect one day. What we have been advocating for the past 14 years is a culture change that pays attention to the wide-open back door. While Adventism pours millions of dollars into inviting new people in the front door, limited resources are being allocated toward retention initiatives. One day this will have to change if the Adventist Church in North America wants to thrive in the decades to come.
I WANT TO SEE YOU IN OHIO IN OCTOBER
If you feel like you're all alone doing the creative ministry God has placed on your heart, then make sure to be with us at this year's Innovation Conference, October 5-7, in Columbus OH. You should sign up right new before the rush of registrations start. This year's highlights are at: www.sdapartnersininnovation.org To download a registration form go to: http://www.sdapartnersininnovation.org/register/
Paul Richardson, Director
Center for Creative Ministry
PO Box 683
Milton-Freewater OR 97862
800-272-4664 (toll-free phone)
775-587-5345 (facsimile)
=================================================
A network e-newsletter for progressive people planning ministry for tomorrow
Center for Creative Ministry * http://www.creativeministry.org * 1.800.272.4664
What we do..........research * training * resources * consultations * networking
May 22, 2008 * Volume 14, Number 10
_______________________
POINT TO PONDER
"We need to be honest with ourselves. The typical Adventist church is not changing its community, much less the world through its activities. We aren't significantly affecting the heart of Western culture." ---Jon Paulien
ONE-MINUTE WITNESS
"With so many natural disasters happening right on top of each other like the earthquakes in China and the cyclone in Myanmar and the tornados here in the United States," a pastor asked me this past Sabbath, "what do I tell my members about what these things mean?" My short answer was, "Well, they are strong evidence that we're not in heaven yet!" Our conversation eventually turned to the opportunities these events give us to dialogue with work colleagues, neighbors, family and friends about our trust in God whose love reduces our fears. The pastor then asked what resource I would recommend to his members to prepare them for such conversations. My immediate response was One-Minute Witness. When the moment is right, what you say and do and better yet what you don't say and do is so important. This 39-page booklet is something every believer would benefit by reading it. I'd encourage you to order one for every member of your church; we've made quantity discount pricing available so you can do that quite inexpensively. To order go to: http://www.adventsource.org/book.aspx?ID=30233
THE EARLY YEARS: MOBILIZING MEMBERS RESOURCE
In the mid-1990s we were asked by the North American Division to develop a resource package for local churches that provided new ways to mobilize members for volunteer opportunities. We couldn't think of any better way to do that then to help people discover their spiritual gifts and implement them in the church. Instead of re-inventing what was being so well received in the wider Christian community, we went directly to Zondervan Publishing in Grand Rapids MI, and requested permission to re-purpose their Networking materials for the Adventist community. http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/ProductDetail.htm?ProdID=com.zondervan.9780310257936&QueryStringSite=Zondervan
We received that permission and then set about to make all the necessary revisions. The Adventist version of that resource is Connectionns and we have been able to place it in the majority of 6,000 Adventist church in North America over the past 12 years. What we learned some years after interfacing with the Zondervan team was that initially they had real misgivings about working with us to revise their resource. They had tried to work with denominations in the past with other materials and the experiences had not gone well to say the least. We praise God that their experience with us went so well that it prompted them to once again engage other denominations in personalizing Zondervan resources. http://www.adventsource.org/dvdvideo_2.aspx?ID=30299
CREATING SAFE PLACES
As you plan ahead, designate November 22 as a Welcome Home Sabbath. Make it a special event; do something unique to capture the attention of the ones who have become disconnected from your church. Put out personalized invitations. Prepare your congregation beforehand so that they clearly understand how critical this ministry is to the health of your congregation.
After my sermon in Massachusetts Sabbath and worship talk at the General Conference headquarters Tuesday, I was struck again with the stories people told me about family and friends for whom they pray to reconnect one day. What we have been advocating for the past 14 years is a culture change that pays attention to the wide-open back door. While Adventism pours millions of dollars into inviting new people in the front door, limited resources are being allocated toward retention initiatives. One day this will have to change if the Adventist Church in North America wants to thrive in the decades to come.
I WANT TO SEE YOU IN OHIO IN OCTOBER
If you feel like you're all alone doing the creative ministry God has placed on your heart, then make sure to be with us at this year's Innovation Conference, October 5-7, in Columbus OH. You should sign up right new before the rush of registrations start. This year's highlights are at: www.sdapartnersininnovation.org To download a registration form go to: http://www.sdapartnersininnovation.org/register/
Paul Richardson, Director
Center for Creative Ministry
PO Box 683
Milton-Freewater OR 97862
800-272-4664 (toll-free phone)
775-587-5345 (facsimile)
