I LOVE our children’s team here at NewSpring Church…their passion for teaching kids about Jesus on a level that they can understand is SO appreciated by me as a pastor AND as a dad!

I see a monumental problem in churches today…when we consider that unchurched people are not being reached AND we combine that with the fact that MANY students that were raised in church walk away when they graduate high school…well, that’s a problem.

I think one way to combat that issue is striving as a church to have a healthy youth and children’s ministry.  (I won’t say that much about youth ministry in this post…I did cover some things a few months ago here if you are interested.)

Here are three convictions I have about children’s ministry…

#1 – If you want to reach kids…then you’ve got to spend money on them.  It BLOWS me away that church world always seems to be scratching our heads and wondering why kids FLOCK to Disney (even the Baptist ones) but they don’t flock to church.  MAYBE it’s because Disney spends “squillions” of dollars on them…and many churches have more money in their graveyard fund than they do their children’s budget.  We will spend money on what is important…and I think children’s (and student) ministry is THE most important mission field in the church.

#2 – If you want to reach kids…they’ve got to have fun.  When I was growing up “fun” and “church” were never used in the same sentence; therefore, as soon as my mother died and I didn’t have to go to church anymore…I didn’t.  Kids are not growing closer to Jesus by being forced to sit and listen…or by coloring (with crayons provided by their parents).  They should want to come to church, should look forward to coming to church…and so we unapologetically go all out every week to make sure these kids have a GREAT time.

#3 – If you want to reach kids…they’ve got to learn something. I’ve told our children’s ministry that when parents come pick up their kids that they will ask two questions – the first will be “did you have fun,” and the second will be, “what did you learn?”  I told our children’s team…make sure kids can answer both in a positive way…and THAT’S a win.  (BTW…a “WIN” is when the parents and the kids actually talk about what the child learned!  When parents and the church work together…its an awesome team!

Does it work?  Well…Charisse (my three year old) quoted her memory verse to me the other day.  (AND…she asked me the other day when we were riding around the other morning could we go to the church because she loves it so much!)  Kids LEARN about Jesus on THEIR LEVEL…thus the Great Commission is being fulfilled, disciples are being made because a biblical foundation is being laid in an environment that they LOVE!

To ALL of our staff and volunteers at NewSpring that work with our kids…YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!  THANK YOU for the COUNTLESS hours of prayed and preparation you guys gave in order to make today happen!  The Gospel was preached…and according to Isaiah 55:8-11 there WILL be a harvest.  Thank you for fulfilling I Peter 4:10 and simply doing what the Bible says to do, because of the way YOU ALL served today…God’s Kingdom was both honored and enlarged!

Keep up the GREAT work!

We’ve made NO APOLOGIES about the fact that we really do invest heavily in our children’s ministry program here at NewSpring Church.  At every campus we always strive to do our best to communicate to our kids that they matter to Jesus TODAY…and not just when they get older and can tithe!

AND…that mindset has proven to be fruitful as HUNDREDS of kids show up to NewSpring Church every weekend to hear about Jesus in a way they can understand…on their level.

From time to time people will ask, “SO…what does the children’s program look like at NewSpring?”

Great question…and it will be answered THIS SUNDAY (July 4th!)

This Sunday KidSpring (our children’s ministry program) will be taking over the main service.  AND…on every campus we’re asking the parents to bring their kids into the auditorium so that they can sing and hear the message as a family.

(BTW…if you are single, OR you don’t have kids I promise you that you will absolutely LOVE Sunday…it is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen!)

We will have a nursery available at every campus for babies 23 months and younger…but pre school and grade school will be in the main service for a Sunday that will NOT be forgotten.

CLICK HERE for more info from our incredible children’s team!!!

AND…for the Anderson campus (because it is our only permanent facility) we will have a fireworks show for the entire community around 9:15pm.  Everyone is encouraged to come hang out in the church parking lot…to “tail-gate” and have a blast as we celebrate the 4th of July together.)

Our KidSpring team has worked SO hard for MONTHS to make this Sunday come together…we’re working hard and praying hard that as a result of this particular Sunday that lives will be changed.

SO…show up, plan to bring your kids to the service with you…AND INVITE SOMEONE – trust me, you won’t regret doing so!

See you Sunday!

I’ve heard preachers say before, “Give ‘em hell on Sunday!”  I know what is meant by it…but its sort of sad really that some people actually delight in the fact that there is a place called hell and people really do go there.

Reality is this…people get enough “hell” during the week…their marriages are on the rocks, jobs are uncertain, kids are freaking out, dating life is falling apart…I could go on…

And the last thing people need is to walk into an environment where someone “gives ‘em hell!”  (MAYBE that’s one of the reasons people are dropping out of church like crazy!)

I would say don’t “give ‘em hell” this Sunday–but GIVE THEM HOPE!  (I heard Pete Hise say last week that Hope is on the endangered species list…that people NEED hope, but they aren’t turning to the church for it!)

The life of Jesus gives us HOPE that God actually wants us in a relationship with Him.

The cross gives us HOPE that there is no condemnation for those in Christ.

The empty tomb gives us HOPE that He can conquer anything that we face.

People need HOPE!

Don’t misunderstand…I’m not saying, “go easy and don’t call out sin!”  The problem is that many pastors want to call out the sin but not point to the Savior who paid for that sin and in whom is COMPLETE forgivness and RESTORATION to a God that is desperate to reach people!

The message should be a message of HOPE…and with the world being as dark as it is the church should be shining brighter than EVER before!

We don’t shatter darkness by condemning people…but by pointing them to Christ, the One who shatters condemnation!

Give ‘em hope Sunday!

If you are a parent reading this…I cannot begin to emphasize all that God does in and through our students during this particular week of incredible fun, great games, awesome worship and intense study of God’s Word!

We opened sign ups a few weeks ago and spots are filling up FAST!  We’ve NEVER had this many people sign up for our summer trip THIS EARLY!

Here are the details…it will be held the week of July 26th through July 30th in Daytona Beach, FL and cost $250 per student.  (That cost includes transportation, room and all but two meals!)  I could go on and on about this event…but you can just go here to read more about it.

I get pumped up every year because I get to spend a lot of time with the students who attend this event…and our beach baptism that we do every year is one of my favorite things that our church does–period!

So..parents, just wanted to get the word out so you can get your kid signed up ASAP.  Seating for this trip is NOT unlimited…and once we’ve reached capacity we will have to put students on a waiting list.  SO…my advice would be to get on this early…trust me, you do NOT want your kids to miss out!

I can’t wait!

So…the other day in our children’s area this happened…

A first time visitor (probably around 9 or 10 years old) walked into our 4th-5th grade room in KidSpring at our Anderson campus and was BLOWN away!

He looked at the children’s worker who met him at the door, and, after looking around the room he said, “you guys have a wii?”

“Yep,” she said.

“And you guys have a PSIII?” he said!

“Yes sir, we sure do,” she replied.

“And we can play these for free?”  He asked.

“Yep,” she answered.

Then he turned to his friend and said out loud, “This Sh_t is awesome!”

Now I am quite sure that makes some of you very uncomfortable; after all, you don’t want the cussing kids coming into church and messing up your perfect child.

However…after hearing this story from one of our children’s staff I was INCREDIBLY pumped up because I thought, “THAT is why we do church!”  I know many churches would not want a kid like that…but we do because HE MATTERS TO JESUS…even though his behavior is not perfect!

Here is what I know about that kid…

• He was greeted by children’s workers that made it a point to learn his name.
• He was treated like he was special, not like an outcast.
• He was NOT taken to the bathroom where his mouth was washed out with soap; in fact, he wasn’t even rebuked.  (Why in the world does the church expect those who do not know Christ to act as if they do?  It is the most ridiculous/stupid idea!!!)
• He was placed into an environment where he was taught the Scriptures.
• He was placed into an environment where he was taught about Jesus.
• He was placed into an environment where people went the extra mile to make sure the presentation was on his level.
• He matters to God; therefore, he matters to us…and we are going to continually do all that we can to reach him.

Church is not a place for “perfect people.”  (And BEWARE of the church where you go and EVERYONE seems perfect!!!)  It’s a place where the broken, the lonely, the addicted, and the struggling can go.

I love the fact that this kid came to our church…didn’t pretend to be someone he was not…and was STILL accepted and heard about Jesus.

The church has GOT to STOP placing expectations on people as soon as they walk in the door…

We are NOT a country club…we are a church!!!

And for those who look down on those who are “not as good as you,” remember that you were once like them (see I Corinthians 6:9-11 and Ephesians 2:1-5)…and were it not for God’s AMAZING grace…you would STILL be lost.

• People who cuss should be welcome at church…
• So should those who smell like smoke…
• So should those who smell like alcohol…
• So should those who do whatever sin you do not do…

When we get into the business of placing stipulations as to who can and cannot come to a service based on a morality code (OR a dress code) we have COMPLETELY lost sight of why Jesus came and died on a cross.

Like I said, hearing the story of that kid made my day!!!  It’s why we do what we do…and it is my prayer that he eventually receives Christ, fixes his eyes on Jesus…and grows up to do AMAZING things in HIS name…all because there was a church that allowed him to come in as he was…and then begged God to not let him stay that way but rather to bring about the change HE desired in HIS time.

#1 – Do My Best To Fund Their Movement & Not Fight It.

They WILL do ministry in ways that haven’t been thought of yet.  They will do things that make me uncomfortable.  They will take the things we are doing now and calling innovative and refer to them as traditional…and I can either face the truth or get buried by it.  My job as a leader is to fund them and set them up for success…not fight them.  (Phrase borrowed from Andy Stanley)

#2 – Do My Best To Learn From Them.

I SOOOO hope I am not “Yoda-like” and pretend that I have all of the answers and need no input from them.  I want to pour into the generation that is coming behind me…but there is a LOT I am going to be able to learn and apply from them.  Only arrogance and pride will make me think that I need to have all of the answers and can’t ask any of the questions!

#3 – Do My Best To Encourage Them.

I don’t want to be the old guy who tells them they can’t do what God has clearly told them they can AND SHOULD do!  I want to be the guy who tells them to pursue what Jesus has placed in their hearts!

I am SO positive that God has amazing things in store for this next generation…I am seeing things in them that I’ve never seen…the way they respond to Jesus pursuing them is amazing…and I really do believe that God is going to use them to bring about a Reformation in America and across the world that is going to be the greatest in the history of the world.  God is preparing them…and is going to use them to make a difference!

BTW–that is why I BELIEVE SOOOOO much in youth and children’s ministry!  It is NOT a glorified baby sitting service…these children and youth matter NOW!  One of the reasons 18 year olds move off to college and leave the church is because the church treats them like second class citizens for years…and then expects them to jump in to the political free for all that dominates most churches…you know, pick a side and just shut up!  This generation will not stand for that–they are desperate for Jesus and not church politics!

There is no greater mission field than the youth and children who attend our churches every week…and yet I know for a fact that there are churches all across America that have more money in their graveyard fund than in their youth budget!  THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE if we want to see a difference made!

God has called us to empower and release this next generation…not hold them back!  I pray that I will one day get to see just a glimpse of all I believe He is going to do through them!!!  Like I said…a Reformation…and the world will NEVER be the same!

I walked into the living room after being at the gym for an hour or so and Charisse was playing in the floor & was unaware that I had came back home.

I called her name and she immediately looked up at me…AND…smiled.  Nothing, I mean NOTHING can warm up the heart of a father any faster than seeing his child smile at him.

She didn’t fear me bringing up her past…and her past HAS been nasty if you think about all of the crap and snot and vomit that she’s blown all over the place!

She was not fearful that I was going to yell at her and begin asking her to do things that would eventually hurt her and make her hate life.

She didn’t think that I was going to take something away from her, that I was actually out to get her and make her as miserable as possible.

NONE of that took place.  She looked at me with her HUGE blue eyes and smiled because she KNEW that I was about to run to her, scoop her up in my arms and hug her as tightly as possible.

She looked at me with anticipation that something great was about to take place.

She looked at me with joy because of how good I’ve been to her in her seven months so far on this planet.

She looked at me with complete trust, knowing that I’ve never done anything to hurt her…only to bless her and teach her.

She looked at me like any child should look at a father…and how I should look to God!

He’s not out to get me…OR I’d have already been gotten!

He’s not out to take something from me–what could I possibly have that He wants.  (By the way–it’s already His!)

He’s not out to hurt me, only to bless and teach me.

He’s been so good to me, seriously, He owes me NOTHING!

He’s not out to remind me of myr past–He’s already paid for that and made me brand new.

He wants to see me SMILE at Him, to see true joy in my life and complete trust that He is who Scripture says He is…my PERFECT heavenly father.

I am praying that God will continue to teach me to view Him through the eyes of a child…and it is blowing my mind!!!!

At the end of the evening they all come into the auditorium for a full production with videos, songs and drama.  (Alden has a picture here.)

Anyway…one of the scenes that took place this past Wednesday was…let’s just say…unexpected.  Keep in mind before checking out this video that the scene was originally supposed to be about two lines long–and the bed was NOT supposed to break…but sometimes the unexpected happens!  The funniest thing is watching Pudge and Sandy get cracked up.

Here is the link!  You can hear the hundreds of adults laughing!!!  AND–it made me laugh as well!

• Why did God make mosquitoes? I just want outside to arrange the sprinklers and got TORE UP! I hate them…all of them!
• A staff member at our church today who shall remain nameless was late to our services this evening because her cat got into a fight and another cat bit it on the butt. SO…she had to take it to them vet. Uh…yeah…that caused me to laugh.
• Today was my birthday…I am 36 years old…and today the entire church sang to me all four services. Uh, yeah…it was embarrassing.
• For the record…I HATE it when you go to a restaurant and they come out clapping their hands and sing that stupid birthday song…AHHHHH!!!
• Tuesday night at NewSpring is going to be awesome–my friend Joe will be teaching what is called the Financial learning experience…HERE is the information!!! Folks…this is free–and it WELL worth the time. BUT…you should ONLY come IF you want to get out of debt and have plenty of money for the future so that you can be generous and provide for your family!!!
• We received two awesome baby gifts this weekend…the first was butt paste. Yes, it is called that–and I will be doing an entire post on butt paste later this week. :-) The second was M&M’s with Charisse’s name on them! WOW–that’s awesome!!!
• The concert on Friday is going to be incredible! BE THERE…remember, this event is a way that our church can seriously IMPACT some awesome organizations in our community. EVERY DIME given will be going to support either Anderson Interfaith Ministries and the Crisis Pregnancy Center. I said EVERY DIME. NewSpring is TOTALLY underwriting the cost of EVERYTHING. SO…come prepared to give generously at the door!
• I ran about 4.5 miles this morning before speaking and it felt great–all except for right knee and left foot–they hurt…pray for them!!! :-)
• I am thinking about attempting another marathon in December! Anyone wanna train?
• Next Sunday we will be dealing with the concept of spiritual warfare at NewSpring! I think it is going to be a great weekend.
• Summer Blockbuster is going to be off the charts…if you are a parent with a child K-5 through 5th grade–check out this information and get your kid signed up ASAP! I can’t wait to be there.
• Holy crap…I am about to be a dad!!!
• Lucretia MADE me an ice cream cake for my birthday…yet MORE evidence that she is a godly woman who loves Jesus!!!
• I preached on greed today–tense message…more on that later.
• Daryl and I got to hang out today for a little while–he and his wife drove all the way from Wilmington to be at NewSpring today.
• I LOVE THE LOCAL CHURCH–there’s nothing like it!
• We saw people receive Christ today. Folks…I preached on money and greed and several people met Jesus–that’s God!!!

That’s about it for now…I love you NewSpring! I am REALLY looking forward to Sunday!

Here was my answer…I love adults, especially the senior citizens. One of the most fun trips I have ever taken was at my last church–the pastor asked me to take the senior adults to Myrtle Beach for a conference–and it was more wild than any youth trip I had ever been on! I actually had to tell them we were NOT going to Hooters!

The senior adults…and the not so senior adults…should not be ignored and/or neglected; however, I do not believe they need to be the focus of the church, which, unfortunately has happened in many churches in our country.

Come on now, don’t tell me it doesn’t happen. If the youth and children want to do something, go on a mission trip or summer camp then what does the church do? Stick them out in the sun and make them wash cars and sell doughnuts. BUT…in that same church…if the senior adults want to go pick apples then the church completely pays for the trip.

Maybe it’s just me…but I see something SERIOUS that is wrong with that.

I know, I know–I’ve heard it all before. “Perry, the adults give all the money!” So…because they give money the church should finance their recreational activities? My question is “WHY” do they give the money? Is it so the church can do what they want to be done…or because they love Jesus?

Adults in the church DO have rights…and it is NOT wrong for us to have personal preferences; however, I think a part of being a mature adult is getting past yourself enough to understand that everyone does not like things “my way,” and in order to really impact the next generation then I need to be willing to give up my desires.

For example…I am about to be a dad. What if I took this approach, “My child is going to have to adjust to ME when she gets here. I will not inconvenience myself in any way for her. If she pees herself and I don’t feel like changing her…she will just have to get over it. If we only have a certain amount of money and I have to decide whether or not to buy her some food or me a nice steak dinner…I guess she’ll know what its like to be hungry.”

If the above were how I operated as a parent then there is only one word to describe me–SORRY!

How is the above attitude different from most churches today? If we want to SERIOUSLY impact the world we live in–I believe it MUST be done through dynamic youth and children’s ministry…and in order to do that we MUST spend money on them…and if we are spending money of them then that means that some of the things we would love to see as adults in the church…well…we go without them! We inconvenience ourselves. We go without! All in an effort to reach a generation that needs Jesus more than any generation that has ever existed.

Why do I say that? Because church attendance among teenagers and twenty something’s is the lowest of any generation in existence. Statistics show that 1 out of 8 churched kids DROP OUT of church before the age of 25. The church needs to wake up and smell the flippin’ coffee!!!!

The ONLY way to seriously impact the world that teenagers and children live in is to spend money. Disney spends money! MTV spends money! The cartoon network spends money! The church has GOT to spend money.
As an adult I understand that there are times I must prove my maturity and give up any “rights” and “privileges” that I think are somehow owed to me (as if God owes us anything but hell) in order for the greater good.

At NewSpring we want to see people come to Christ! Young and old–BUT we also understand that 85% of the decisions that people make to follow Christ are done so before the age of 18.

If you are an adult in this church…OR a senior adult…let me be the first to say thank you for all that you do! The way you pray, serve and give mean so much to God’s kingdom. However, if we want to see this church last past our lifetime–we have GOT to invest heavily in the next generation. I believe one of the reasons so many kids have dropped out of church, or haven’t gone at all, is because the church has been giving them leftovers and telling them they ought to appreciate it…while the world has been spending BILLIONS of dollars telling them, “We’ll take you–come over here!”

So what about us adults? What are we willing to give up? (If you are a parent you should understand this!) Our activities? Our music style? (It amazes me the number of parents and grandparents that say they would give their own life to save their child or grandchild, yet that same parent or grandparent won’t give up their personal preference when it comes to music in church to reach that same child/grandchild!)

I believe in our children! I believe in our youth group! I believe in strong families! I want to see our community changed because moms and dads and kids are all falling in love with Jesus. AND adults–we can do this a lot easier than they can, at least we SHOULD be able to…that is why it is God’s call on our life to continue to do all we can to allow the generation after us stand on our shoulders!

I will be sharing more about the specifics of this vision in the days to come.  Our youth and kids are going to be a MAJOR focus of our next campaign…as well as local and foreign missions AND starting new satellite campuses.  I won’t say much more than that right now…but I do know this–God is REALLY stretching me right now…and great things are about to happen!