Ryan Frank

Archive for March, 2010

Posted on March 31, 2010 - by rfrank

How to make VBS the biggest thing all summer – part 4

Fourth, build a team.

As you pray and plan for VBS, ask God to give you others who will own the vision.

God normally gives the vision for His work to a leader. It is the leader’s job to transfer that vision to others. Don’t get mad if no one in your church has a vision for Vacation Bible School. God hasn’t given them the vision—He has given it to you. Your job is to share that vision with them and pray that they will catch it.

Pray that God will give you the leadership team and volunteers needed to make VBS the biggest thing of the summer. As God brings that team together, pray as a team that God will bless your efforts.

Posted on March 29, 2010 - by rfrank

10 great reminders from a friend

My Twitter friend Vincent Hart (from Round Rock, Texas) shared a great 10 list with me a few days ago after reading the top 10 “famous last words” of well meaning children’s pastors.

MY TOP 10 LIST
by Vincent Hart

1. Devotional time builds thick skin. Doing God’s work is hard. Doing it alone never works. Telling kids about God’s love without loving God and receiving God’s love in a daily way leaves you vulnerable.

2. All adults are little kids in big people’s bodies. Think about what the motivation is behind something and you’ll be able to respond with grace that’ll restore instead of reacting to someone in unhealthy conflict. Allowing people to be people, and handling occasional childishness with grace will build bridges.

3. Champion the kids. Be their cheerleader. At staff meeting, it isn’t reasonable to expect everyone else to stick up for what’s in the kids’ best interests. That’s your job. Learn to lead up, sideways, and down in order to build a healthy and balanced church that has reasonable expectations and plenty of resources for children’s ministry.

4. Build your team. Never do ministry alone. Jesus didn’t, and neither should you. Replicate yourself in others and you’ll more than double your ministry potential to the community. Every adult you personally recruit to minister to kids doubles the number of kids you can reach.

5. Beware of the change trap. Don’t make changes. Let your team make changes that you cast the vision for. If you’re working toward a common vision, and if the team believes in it to the point that they’ll sell it to others, you won’t fall into the pit of oops-I-changed-it-without-bringing-anyone-else-along. It’s a bummer of a place to dig out of.

6. Do what you say and say what you do. When you lead, be verbose in the communication department. If you tell folks you’re going to paint the parking lot purple at 2 a.m., then you better be at the parking lot at 1:50 a.m. with a bucket of purple paint. If not, then you won’t have as many on the next painting trip and when you try to tell them what’s next, not as many will listen.

7. Cast vision constantly. This isn’t baby-sitting; it’s life change! And God rewards those who get it. If people are constantly reconnected to the purpose of ministry, then they won’t get lost in the details. Tell them over and over and over and over.

8. Invest in cards, calls, and sweat equity. Ministry is all about relationships. People need to feel God’s love. It can’t be faked or ignored. If you love on them, they come and serve.

9. Make time for people. The people are the ministry, not the things, plans, or programs. Don’t ever let the task be more important than people. If you start to hear “I’m sorry to bother you, but…” or “If you aren’t too busy…” from your folks, you’re in a trap.

10. Keep perspective. If you find yourself getting stressed, heading toward burnout, or losing your head because of “all the things you have to do,” then stop. Building the church of Jesus Christ is more about being than doing. Be only what God called you to be and then let God do the rest. It’s Christ’s church; let him build it through you as you enjoy his company.

Thanks for these great reminders Vincent!

Posted on March 29, 2010 - by rfrank

How to make VBS the biggest thing all summer – part 3

Third, develop objectives and a strategy.

What are your objectives for VBS? I hope that two of your objectives are to reach lost children with the Gospel and to disciple children that are already Christians. You will probably have some other objectives thrown in the mix.

Your objectives become a reality when you have a strategy. Another way of saying it is this: your strategy drives your objectives. You should develop a strategy that begins many months (maybe even a year) before VBS and leads right up to the week of VBS. Most VBS kits include a plan to help you with this process. Be committed to the plan.

Posted on March 27, 2010 - by rfrank

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-28

• A breaded tenderloin and fries is coming my way! #fb #
• Running errands with the fam. #
• I traded in my mower for a new, bigger, better one at the John Deere store this AM. Can you see the smile on my face? #johndeere #fb #
• Reviewing Luci's memory verse for Cubbies tonight. "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1 #waytogoLuci #awana #kidmin #fb #
• Writing some blog posts. #
• Had a great day of ministry with 120 children's ministry leaders in Mishawaka, Indiana! I love kids ministry! #kidmin #kmag #fb #

Posted on March 26, 2010 - by rfrank

Everyone does better with a coach

Infuse is a 6 month mentoring experiences available to 20 selected children’s leaders. This program is offered September through February and March through August of each year. The Fall & Winter Session is about “Expanding Your Personal Leadership” and the Spring & Summer Session centers around “Leading Others Effectively” You can enroll in either and don’t have to have completed one before enrolling in the other. Those who want to do both with get discounted rate after they have completed 1 session. Infuse is open to any leader with a desire to learn and a willingness to commit themselves to whatever it takes to go to your desired level. Candidates will be chosen from the application process regardless of size of your present church or years of experience. Infuse is more than a program or curriculum. It’s a 6-month mentoring experience with Jim that includes the following:

1. Personality testing and comparisons for you, your spouse and your pastor or supervisor. Once we start you will be sent a link for you, your spouse and your supervisor to take the Path Element Profile (PEP®) personality assessment by Laurie Beth Jones. Jim will go over the results and comparisons to help you excel in your relationships. This will also help Jim understand your giftings and your uniqueness so he can more effectively coach you during your time in Infuse. (This alone is a $300 value)

2. Powerful interactive conference calls. Once every month Jim hosts a conference call with the members of Infuse. This is a special time where you can hear and receive from Jim’s heart and experience. Because these calls are interactive you’ll be able to ask questions and learn from Jim and the other members of infuse. From time to time Jim will ask some of his children’s ministry friends to join these calls and you’ll be able to learn from other trusted children’s ministry experts and veterans.

3. An intense “get-a-way” retreat at Jim’s house in Murfreesboro, (Nashville) Tennessee. During your session you’ll be invited to Jim’s home for two very full days of intense mentoring and coaching with Jim and the other leaders chosen to take part in Infuse. The dates of this event will be determined by the availability of all those taking place in Infuse and will be announced before the experience begins.

4. Unlimited mentoring by Jim and access via his personal infuse group on cmconnect.org. Each member of infuse will have access to a special online forum and discussions where they can ask questions about children’s ministry and leadership directly to Jim throughout the session. This is like having your own personal children’s ministry veteran on your team. You’ll also be able to post questions and your assignments right on the page.

5. Small group one-on-one support and encouragement. Each person taking part in infuse will be teamed with several other children’s pastors assigned by Jim for the sake of developing a close “friend and care group.” These groups are for the purpose of accountability, prayer support and creating ongoing “iron sharpening iron” relationships and growth.

6. Extra time with Jim at ministry events. While in Infuse you’ll be able to meet up with Jim at any regional seminar or ACMA event where Jim is speaking. You’ll also be able to share a meal with him for the purpose of mentoring and personal coaching. (Registration is your responcibility but Jim will make time to spend with you at the event.) Check Jim’s schedule page for a list of events

7. An optional second year will be made available for those who want to continue. Jim believes that the benefits of this type of experience will be so dynamic that the members of Infuse will not want to stop having this type of Elijah-Elisha resource at their disposal.

Five of the twenty spaces have already been filled for September. Click here for more details and to download an application.

Posted on March 25, 2010 - by rfrank

Top 10 “Famous Last Words” of Well-Meaning Children’s Pastors

10. We don’t have to preview this video; one of the deacons told me it was clean.

9. Just go ahead. It’s easier to beg forgiveness than to obtain permission.

8. The board won’t care.

7. We’ll set a record for this!

6. What does this switch on the soundboard do?

5. I’ve seen this done on TV.

4. I’m sure it’s strong enough to hold both of us.

3. Let’s go ahead and order it, the church will pay for it.

2. I decided we’re not having VBS this year.

1. I don’t care if he is the pastor’s kid…

Check out other great articles and just plain fun stuff at the Cold Water Cafe.

Posted on March 24, 2010 - by rfrank

How to make VBS the biggest thing all summer – part 2

Second, clarify your vision.

Ask God to make His vision clear for reaching children and families through Vacation Bible School. Once God has given you a vision, write it down as a starting place. Your vision gives energy to your objectives and strategy.

God said in Habakkuk 2:2, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Notice what the prophet Habakkuk was told to do.

First, he was told to write the vision. You might have a vision for VBS, but have you written it down? It’s important that you write your vision on paper and keep it in front of you.

Second, Habakkuk was told to make it plain upon tables. In other words, make your vision simple enough that everyone can understand it. Any volunteer should be able to read your vision for VBS and get it.

Third, Habakkuk was told to write it down so that people could run with it. The last thing you want to do when God gives you a vision is to sit on it. He wants you to run with your vision and make it happen.

Posted on March 23, 2010 - by rfrank

How to make VBS the biggest thing all summer – part 1

God has given me the privilege of connecting with thousands of children’s pastors and ministry workers. Through the ministry of KidzMatter and K! Magazine, I connect with new people in children’s ministry almost every day. One thing I’ve learned is this: everyone in children’s ministry has a desire to reach children for the Lord Jesus Christ. Is there anything greater one can do than to reach boys and girls for our Savior?

One of the greatest ways you can reach children in your church and community each summer is with Vacation Bible School. It’s the biggest thing we do at my church and it’s the highlight of my summer.

I learned early in ministry that it’s not enough to say, “I want to reach kids.” It’s not enough for a church to say, “We want to reach kids.” Those are simply words unless there is action. In order to take action, you have to have a plan.

Here are six tips to help you make VBS the biggest thing all summer.

First, choose to take the lead.

As a vocational children’s pastor, part of what I do is assess our current ministries. If they aren’t fulfilling the intended purpose, they get scrapped. If there is something new that we can do to better facilitate our purpose, it’s time for change.

Recently I was evaluating our summer ministries, specifically, Vacation Bible School. We do VBS each summer to fulfill the Great Commission (reach kids with the Gospel and make disciples) and to engage our community. I looked at other summer programming options—there are lots of new programs we could start to help us reach these goals. When I stopped to ask which new program would be best, it dawned on me: I already have a program that does what I’m after. Why should we start several new programs to do the work Vacation Bible School was designed to do? I left that evaluation session with a renewed passion to make Vacation Bible School the biggest thing of the summer.

If you have decided to use VBS in your church, purpose to step up to the plate and take it from good to great. Decide that you are going to take seriously this business of reaching children for the Lord Jesus Christ. Be the leader.

Posted on March 20, 2010 - by rfrank

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-21

• Childrens Pastors Conference day 1 is underway. Excitement is in the air! #cpc10 #fb #
• I want to see if my tweet will show up on the big screen. #cpc10 #
• Great worship happening at #cpc10! #
• Tim Hawkins takes the stage at #cpc10!! #
• Eating In-n-Out with KidzMatter staff, Yancy, and friends from Lifeway and Standard. #cpc10 #fb #
• @r_frank – thanks for lunch! @mkhunt and I enjoyed it!!! (via @lifewayvbsgirl) // I enjoyed it too! Looking forward to meeting tomorrow! #
• Kicking my feet up for a few minutes after a full afternoon of consulting, encouraging and equipping #cpc10 attendees. What a great day! #
• @r_frank rlly appreciate the ministry of KidzMatter using some of your stuff for our Good Friday outreach… (via @jffhawk) // thanks Jeff! #
• Getting ready for lunch venue at #cpc10! #
• Just wrapped up a great meeting with two friends from Lifeway Kids. They are doing some great stuff! #fb #
• Sitting in general session at CPC having a great time with a ballroom full of childrens pastors. I love CPC!! #cpc10 #fb #
• My K! Mag just arrived!! STOKED!! Thanks @kidzmatter & @r_frank !! http://twitpic.com/18yzr0 (via @pudgehuckaby) // Thanks Pudge!! #
• Just landed in IND after a great week at CPC! #fb #
• Feeling some serious jet lag this morning! #fb #
• Just opened the window in my office. Beautiful day! #
• I'm so thankful for my wife! God has blessed me!! #fb #
• Beth and I are whipping up enough Haroseth (a Passover dish) to feed 200 kids tomorrow. It's good stuff! #fb #

Posted on March 18, 2010 - by rfrank

How to gain loyal customers

Today is the first day back in the office after being gone for a week. We enjoyed a few days together as a family at Laguna Beach and then had some productive days of ministry at Children’s Pastors’ Conference in San Diego.

We love flying Frontier. We are loyal customers. It isn’t the rates that hooked us – it’s the customer service. Yesterday we experienced this again on the way home. Below is the email that I just sent customer relations at Frontier.

Yesterday my wife and I were served above and beyond the call of duty by one of your captains, Arvin Deherrera. We accidentally left our daughter’s eye glasses on her stroller. We realized it after the stroller had been stowed under the plane. When arriving in Denver, we asked for the crew to look for the glasses. We were told that they were nowhere to be found. Captain Deherrera took initiative and volunteered to go outside under the plane and check for himself. He found them on the ground under a wheel and brought the glasses to us. We extended our thanks to him but wanted to let you know as well. This was above and beyond.

We have been very happy with the customer service on Frontier and plan to continue giving you first preference when looking for flights.

Be committed to going above and beyond in your leadership – even when it’s not convenient. You’ll find yourself leaving a trail of satisfied and loyal followers behind you.