How To Handle Criticism

I know I blew Ps. Rick Fourie's horn in the last post but let me say again how heroic his departure from the 'normal youth ministry' is as he follows his churches identity and mandate. With this bold move... you've guessed it... our old friend criticism is a sure partner for the trip.

So how do we cope with the flack? I am going to share 4 points that I recently read in Ps Craig Groeschel's book, 'Confessions of a Pastor'. (Its a fantastic read that I highly recomend by the way!)

When some criticises you the very first thing is to consider is the 'source'. Is it someone who loves you and is involved in 'the game' or is it someone who is just looking for a place to gripe? Is this person seeking your best? If the source is good then we would be wise to listen to what they say (no matter how humbling it may be).

Proverbs 15:31 - 32 (NLT) says:

31 If you listen to constructive criticism,
you will be at home among the wise.

32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

Secondly, if the person is voicing something because of a dislike for you (or the idea)... sometimnes its good to answer the criticism and set the facts straight.

If you believe that giving a response can help the critic understasnd your position... then go for it and share your side of the story.

However, some people will just always be negative no matter what. This criticism needs to be dismissed. (remember that hurt people hurt people - that their criticisms probably reveal what their internal struggles are). These people usually dislike themselves and critize others in a misguided attempt to validate themselves.

Lastly, if your critics are just in your face... and you've tried listening and dismissing what they have to say but they're just all in your face... then its time to endure! Endurance is critical if you want to succeed spectaularly at anything that God sets before you.

So we need to: Listen, Answer, Dismiss and hardest of all... Endure.

Above all else, never forget: You can't please all people, but you can please God.

I trust that this has been useful.

I'd love to read your comments on this subject.

Godspeed & Kaizan

Clive

STOP...Who Are You?

Anyone who has ever been involved in design will relate to this video big time. Give it a whirl and then read the thought below...



I must admit that Rick Fourie's (of Life Church in Hamilton) message at the last Vision Youth Network meeting still has me pondering. I'm sure that I am going to be thinking about the stuff for the next few months.
Rick spoke to us about knowing our identities... knowing our churches mandate, and having what we do flow from that.

The danger is that if we don't know who we are... well our ministries will end up looking like the STOP sign in the above video... and we'll be about as effective to.

Till next time...

Godspeed & Kaizan
Clive

Interns and Evaluations - How To Take Over The World

Hey gang... I've been on leave so I'm really relaxed. Last Tuesday evening I got season 5 of Alias ... and by 9:30pm on Saturday we had finished all 17 episodes - that's what I'm talking about!

I actually have hardly been on the web this past 2 weeks but I found 2 great posts for us to think on. The first is a post by Seth Godin. Seth had a summer internship program and he had a really interesting way of sifting out applicants. Check it out HERE.
In my experience having an intern can either be the greatest blessing or the greatest drag to your ministry. Too often we are so keen to get help we'll just take anyone. If you haven't made this mistake yet... please take heed. Luckily I haven't had nightmarish interns in quiet some time.

In fact if you are interested in utilizing this great win-win situation I strongly recommend Vision College's internship program. The Interns have 5 block courses they attend, get some study to do in their correspondence study days, serve in their local church a minimum of 15 hours a week, and because this course is considered full time study the government can give the usual benefits to full time students. Why wouldn't you?! Vision's web site again - just click HERE.

Anyways, on to the next very interesting post by Pastor Craig Groeschel. Craig is in the process of writting 3 intreresting posts on questions that we should constantly be asking ourselves in ministy. Thus far he has only written the first of 3. To see it just click HERE.

It is so easy getting stuck in the week to week grind of ministry. I find myself in the hamster wheel all too often. Perhaps we should have at least one day a month to reflect and evaluate. I wonder what difference this will make to our city if we put this one thing into practice over the next 18 months?!

Lastly, don't forget that this friday we have our Vision Youth Network meeting at the Elim Church on Te Rapa road from 2-4pm. We'd love to have you there!

Godspeed & Kaizan
Clive

IT... How Church Leaders Can Get It And Keep It

I came across an incredible post from Strategy Central. It simply is a must read... so to wet your appetite I have the 4 main points laid out for you:

• Laser focus: The question he asked was: "What are you doing that you need to stop doing?"
• See opportunities where others see obstacles. "God guides by what he doesn't
  provide."
• Willing to fail. "Failure is not an option...it's a necessity."
  
• Led by people who have it. The question? "What will you do to get it?"

Click HERE to read the whole article.

This would be a really great post to get some conversation going on... so comment and lets get those conversations started!

PS: Our next Vision Youth Network meeting is on the 5th September from 2 - 4pm at the Elim Church on TeRapa in Hamilton. We'd love to see you there!!!
You can e-mail my PA for more details... elise@apo.org.nz

How To Dazzel Your Hearers

Part of being a communicator is engaging with people. If we become predictable... our connection with the audience is lost. So to stay on the up and up, click HERE and have a heap of fun giving it a go.
While we're on the subject let me ask you what some of your strategies are for keeping the connection strong with your audience. Leave a comment and share your platinum!
By the way if you're on a hunting expedition for some creative people... click HERE.

Where Do You Start?

One of the things I've been thinking about this week is beginning with the end in mind. I think it is very easy to get stuck in the weekly routine... youth service to youth service, life group to life group, leaders meetings to leaders meetings. We all have a to-do list that instead of get smaller it actually gets longer as we progress through the week. With all of this spinning of the hamster wheel we can loose sight of the end... what we want to see achieved. The big picture. The character we want to see in our kids a few years down the line.

But we will never see this if we don't pick our heads out of the now to see the bigger picture and how we are going to get there.
The truth is most of us have a pretty good idea of what we want to see... but how we get there is another story all together.

What systems / funnels do you have in place to see the 'crowd' that comes along to your youth ministry funneled into those strategic ministries that will see them become the passionate God pursuers that you would have them be.

Take time out this week to figure out what systems / funnels you are putting in place to see your youth become who God wants them to be.

I'd love you to leave a comment about your thoughts.
Here is to Kaizan in our youth ministries.

Clive

What Are You Missing Out On?

I always enjoy having people over at my house... I think it is a really awesome way to connect with people and let them feel like they know you a bit better.

This Monday I had Owen and Linda round... and they were telling me all about their HDD recorder... I have one too... but the difference between them and myself was that I hadn't bothered to find out how to use it properly. I didn't even know how to put the timer on for recording! In less that 1 minute Owen showed me what I needed to know to record programs at any time of day. Now a whole new world of opportunity is available to me.

This got me thinking... I wonder what resources are before me and in arms reach but I'm not using. I wonder what gifted and talented people resources are wasting away... I wonder what financial resources and opportunities are just sitting there waiting for me to take note off. I wonder what God has provided for me but I just haven't noticed?

What about you and your ministry? Which potential leaders are there who if you just asked... just believed... just spoke a few words of encouragement... would rise up and do mighty things for God's kingdom?

I want to encourage you to ask God to open your eyes so that you may clearly see the resources that God has provided for us.

Check out 2 Kings 6:11-17 

Let me know your thoughts and discoveries

Godspeed & Kaizan

Clive