Allen Kleine Deters
I am the church planter for the Niagara Falls, ON church plant yet to be named. I am married to an amazing woman full of compassion for the marginalized hence she is a special ed teacher of severe needs children. We have three boys (men) and one daughter-in-law. I am committed to Kingdom Theology and deeply believe in a biblical community that develops disciples for Christ. I am a small group geek and believe they are the best avenue in this endeavor. When managed with vision and mission small groups can cover most areas needed in developing as disciples of Jesus Christ and guiding people to live in missional communities.
Oh yeah, I'm also "The Reverend" formerly of the blues band, Reverend and the Blues Pushers, but now playing solo in my new parish community.
"Agape love alive and breathing, the Word and the power of Holy Spirit = reached people and changed lives"
Posted in: Time-Regulated Worship
Thanks for the article. I agree that it is important that we help our people get into a rhythm of celebration throughout the church year for the very reasons Allen Ross suggests. We live in a world that loves to celebrate all kinds of things; holidays (even from other countries), political markers, national achievements, etc... The church can easily falter and miss opportunities to celebrate together the wonderful gifts of God or make them somehow less important.
Allen
Posted in: OK to Use Tithe for Christian School Tuition?
I agree completely. I have always felt that way and it disturbed me greatly when church members would say they tithing currently goes to Christian school but will change when their kids are out. I'm not sure why people think that Christian school is the extension of the church's ministry, because it is not. As a church we may support the school as important for a healthy world and life view in our child's education, but it is not meant to replace the teaching ministry of the church or the home.
Along with this, I think Christian schools should stop using curriculum meant for the church as part of their teaching curriculum, especially in religion and Bible classes. This was a thorn in my flesh when I was a youth pastor. It is not the schools responsibility to do the church's job.
Posted in: How to Start a Movement
Great video lesson. Now how do we start a movement in the church like that? Slowly but surely. I won't take my shirt off, but I may dance like that dude. Good stuff.
Posted in: A New Hymnal - Lift Up Your Hearts
I agree Zach.
As some of our discussion has gone on this site, I'm not so sure putting all the time and money into a new hymnbook is stewardly or fully in-touch with the continually changing face of contemporary music. Perhaps our best efforts would best be served by showing churches how to use the great online resources. My concern is that guitar-led songs will be turned into keyboard led songs, which will do a great disservice to the musical intent of the song.
I'm also going out on a limb here, but I have often sensed an apprehension from the CICW to encourage use of the CCLI site.
Posted in: A New Hymnal - Lift Up Your Hearts
I'm not sure about this new hymnal. I understand that there are many established churches out there who will dole out the cash for them because that's what you do. But I'm not sure our church will go for it -- I'd be surprised if they did. We have a ton of music available through the old hymnal, supplements and lots of CCLI stuff. I can hear people saying they'd rather put their $$ toward local mission.
Posted in: How Is It?
I love the "Glocal" idea.
I believe that God called us to our current church in Alamosa CO to lead in the direction of missional as a life style whether local or global. We sense a strong heart for mission at both levels. They already do a local Serve and another ministry called Christian Community Service Projects, but this is all program oriented. I think that as we start to revision and redisign to make disciples in a simpler way, the missional will become a more natural thing.
Perhaps it starts with a vision more along the Simple Church line in building disciples so people don't feel like church life is so busy there is no time to develop relationships locally or participate in a global mission effort. Financial resources can be freed up from unnecessary programs to be used toward more missional projects whether global or local.
Just thinking out loud.
Posted in: How Is It?
whammond,
if you're talking about Serve, that's under Youth Unlimited. The CCSP is now its own 501(c)3 organization with its own board of directors. It has become a more cross denominational organization here in the valley with our church taking the lead. I'm not sure what resources you are asking about.
Posted in: Suggestions for Topics / Content
We are working on putting our bulletin on our website, but it will only be visible to registered members as well as anything else "in house" only. We also respect people's wishes to keep their names out of the bulletin or online.
I'd like to know the laws regarding all this stuff. I've heard so many conflicting things I just don't know what is kosher anymore.
Posted in: Don't Invite Them to Church
I hear you on that Mark regarding the place of small groups. Unfortunately that is a foreign concept to many churches, "What, give small groups such a big position in the church?" We're working toward the same concept in a church over 100 years old. Yet many churches don't do very well with the front door, especially older established churches, and especially ones that are extremely interrelated.
Posted in: Small Group Ministries and Coordinating With the Library Ministry
Jo, Great topic for discussion.
When I was a small group pastor at a previous church, I made it a point of knowing what was in the library to let our groups know. I stumbled upon it by accident when I went to check out the church library and discovered a host of resources. I created a list of valuable resources for our groups that could be found in the library and my office. Then we would talk about them at our leaders meetings as we discussed what groups were studying or wanted to study.
I think it's important for churches to have some place to pool resources and get a list to people. Personally I think a well-run small group ministry knows what each small group is studying at any given time and may even preview material to make sure it is soundly within our Reformed world view.
I preview material regularly -- espec DVD study material -- regularly so I have good suggestions for our groups.
BTW, we don't currently keep small group material in the library since it's too small. I've reserved a big section in my study for those materials which is always accessible. Most of our groups are doing sermon based study at this time.
Posted in: Church Wide Bible Study Topics?
Nicole, so sorry for getting back to you on this so late.
Are you a small group leader or director for your church? You're right about the disconnect between the lives we live and the one's we should be living. There are many church-wide campaigns for what you are asking, but they are only as effective as your church's discipleship plan and system allow them to be. If you've been reading some of my latest blogs you'll know what I'm talking about: Are Small Groups Just Another Program? Thinking of a Discipled Person in particular.
Probably the single most effective thing that changes people's lives in small groups is when they learn to serve and do mission together. Combining that with a solid discussion and study as well as sharing testimonies of how God impacted their lives is key to move people toward spiritual growth. Oh yeah, the pastor and leadership have to be in small groups as well as the small group ministry champions in order for it all to work well. Follow up is also essential after a church-wide campaign.
Have you spoken to your pastor and leadership about your concerns?
Allen
Posted in: The Organ and the Praise Team
Some good thoughts and ideas for transitioning and the use of organ. I have a wonderful organist in my church who is 83 and is commited to the transition. She is innovative and willing to stay in the back by padding and playing bass notes with the organ then piping in with some accents during other verses. Other times she sits at the keyboard.
The truth is that most contemporary music is not organ friendly, especially guitar led pieces.