For this interview, I spoke with Phil, from Freedom House. Our time together was brief but I learned a lot about where he came from, how he came to know the Lord and some future goals that he would like to achieve. He told me that he used to be involved in using drugs, drinking, had been in and out of jail, and even struggled with anger issues towards his kids. He explained how his father used to abuse him when he was a young boy so, it had grown to be a part of his temperment as he grew up. But, the awesome thing about that is, since he has come to know Christ, he has been able to recognize this as a severe problem that the Lord is setting him free from!
One of his motivaters, if not his biggest motivater, is in fact his fiance and three little boys. They mean the world to Phil and are a integral part of him "getting his life together". He said that he doesn't need to worry about what will happen tomorrow because he knows there is hope in Christ. Freedom House has helped him a lot with the process of healing. Building relationships with the guys in the house has allowed him to talk, meet good men of God and get out of the bad environment.
Phil has made many positive changes since he has come to the Lord. Of course, there is always room for growth and maturation in oiur walks with Christ so, my prayer for him is that he continues growing and doesn't fall into discouragement when things become difficult.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Dave Ramsey
I have a lot of respect for Dave Ramsey. It is so easy to see that he is a passionate man. One who loves the Lord and his family and who is dedicated to the call of God on his life to help people financially. I, myself, have even benefited from his teachings that Wendy Kadish was kind enough to extend to the Master's Commission students.
There is one thing, however, that I get a little bit concerned about when it comes to his methods of teaching. Yes, he does a wonderful job of giving advice to people who are in debt. I'm sure he has aided many people and families in making a better life for themselves. But here's the thing: out of all the teachings he has done that I have heard, he only mentioned the name of Jesus a few times. From what I've seen, he doesn't give many references to making the Lord your first priority instead of money or getting out of debt. I thought about this for a while...even enough to debate with Paul about it. And there is something in me the is uncomfortable with the level of importance Dave is putting on money and wealth.
Maybe I'm wrong. After all, he is a wonderful speaker who, somtimes, mentions the name of God and gives a Biblical reference here or there so, I guess there are opportunities for people to recieve knowledge and wisdom from Christ. I just think it would be more beneficial for the kingdom of God if Dave considered putting more of an emphasis on the Lord as top priority rather than money.
There is one thing, however, that I get a little bit concerned about when it comes to his methods of teaching. Yes, he does a wonderful job of giving advice to people who are in debt. I'm sure he has aided many people and families in making a better life for themselves. But here's the thing: out of all the teachings he has done that I have heard, he only mentioned the name of Jesus a few times. From what I've seen, he doesn't give many references to making the Lord your first priority instead of money or getting out of debt. I thought about this for a while...even enough to debate with Paul about it. And there is something in me the is uncomfortable with the level of importance Dave is putting on money and wealth.
Maybe I'm wrong. After all, he is a wonderful speaker who, somtimes, mentions the name of God and gives a Biblical reference here or there so, I guess there are opportunities for people to recieve knowledge and wisdom from Christ. I just think it would be more beneficial for the kingdom of God if Dave considered putting more of an emphasis on the Lord as top priority rather than money.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
David Kennard
www.lkjennings.blogspot.com
David Kennard had such a positive, calm, and humble spirit about him. He was probably my favorite speaker so far this semester because I was able to relate to him in a lot of ways. You see, I never thought I had the gift of public speaking. It as been something that I have always wanted to excel in and have been praying for the Lord to help me improve in but, I haven’t gotten comfortable with it yet. David gave me a new perspective though!
He explained very simply that not every leader is gifted in Pastoring or teaching a huge congregation. Being a site Pastor provides him with the opportunity to lead in the way he saw himself leading from the time he was a young man.
I love when we get new perspectives on ways to lead because it reminds me that I don’t have to do things the way everyone else is doing them. We need to make sure we don’t put God “in a box” by assuming He wants us to stick to the fine lines. Sometimes we need to get out of the box and take a chance by leading in new ways. This is a huge learning experience for my growth in leadership. Good Stuff.
David Kennard had such a positive, calm, and humble spirit about him. He was probably my favorite speaker so far this semester because I was able to relate to him in a lot of ways. You see, I never thought I had the gift of public speaking. It as been something that I have always wanted to excel in and have been praying for the Lord to help me improve in but, I haven’t gotten comfortable with it yet. David gave me a new perspective though!
He explained very simply that not every leader is gifted in Pastoring or teaching a huge congregation. Being a site Pastor provides him with the opportunity to lead in the way he saw himself leading from the time he was a young man.
I love when we get new perspectives on ways to lead because it reminds me that I don’t have to do things the way everyone else is doing them. We need to make sure we don’t put God “in a box” by assuming He wants us to stick to the fine lines. Sometimes we need to get out of the box and take a chance by leading in new ways. This is a huge learning experience for my growth in leadership. Good Stuff.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Church Rater #3
www.lkjennings.blogspot.com
The Church
What Church did you visit?-Rabbi Ed’s church
What city or town is this Church located?
-East Berlin
What date and service did you attend?
-Saturday night 2/28/09EvaluatingHow would you rate this church?-I would rate this church as an 8 on a scale from 1-10.
Please provide ratings based on your own experience. Yes, I realize this is subjective and your '1′ might be someone else's '5′. That's ok. It's your rating and I really want your opinion.Rate the following from 1 to 5. 1 is not effective, 5 is very effective!
Overall: 4.
Friendliness: 5
Singing: 4 (I love the Hebrew/style music) Rachel Ralston and I went and we learned the dancing so quickly! It was a lot of fun!
Preaching: 3-As far as his preaching, it is interesting to learn different religious cultures but at times, he doesn’t hold my attention too well.
First ImpressionsOutside:
Was the building easy to find?-Well, sort of. It was down all of these back roads and I get lost very easy haha!!
Was it difficult to find parking?-No. The parking lot was small but accessible.
How about the interior or exterior signage- what would you do differently?-I understand that they don’t have a lot of money so, the building was very small. Also, the bathroom was an experience!!! The toilet was a porta-potty inside of the building with directions on how to use it. It was a good time.
What did the appearance, style, or construction of the building communicate to you?-It had a very homey feel to it. There were strings of white lights to help make it look nice inside as well as Judaic pictures and artifacts placed around the room.
Before the service:
Did anyone approach you and speak to you before the service got underway?
-YES! That was the most friendly congregation of people I had ever experienced. Of course, there were about 20 people all together so, a family-type congregation is not surprising. If someone did speak to you, how did you feel about that? I felt great about it! They weren’t awkward or anything.
Can you share their names? Marcia, Brittani, Willi, Nick, Sophia, Ken, etc…
Did you know them before the visit? I knew a few of them from Rabbi Ed’s bible study but, I got to meet a lot of people as well.
General observations:
As you observed the people "doing their church thing", what went through your mind?-I thought, “This is an interesting and pleasurable experience to see this cultural change.”
Were you able to understand why they do what they do?-Not exactly…I asked some questions about different things such as the dancing, the pictures, the singing etc…and was able to learn some pretty cool things.Do they seem sincere?-YES they do!! I sort of fell in love with them.
What do you think about the overall presentation of the service? (the liturgy, program or flow of the service)-Well, the flow was very relaxed…almost to the point where I could’ve fell asleep. Which, on one hand was good because there was incredible peace.
Bulletin and communications:
Is there anything in the church bulletin that you find confusing or offensive?-I don’t remember receiving a bulletin.
If this were your "business", how would you improve the communication part of it- the bulletin especially?-Getting a bulletin might not be a bad idea…
Were announcements clear, and interesting (did you want to sign up for anything)?- I don’t remember any announcements. It didn’t seem to fit the culture of the church actually.
Children's Ministry
Does this church appear kid-friendly?-Absolutely. There were toys in the back for them to play with. Some kids were even allowed to play quietly during the service! I thought that was sweet.
Did you bring any children with you to the service?-NO
If so, ask them about their experience. What did they tell you? N/A
Music and Prayer:
How would you describe the music?- Its Hebrew. Absolutely beautiful. There is a calming, alluring presence that fills the room when the music is played.Did you enjoy any of it?- I enjoyed all of the music. Rabbi’s son Nick sang a few songs and he has a beautiful voice!
Did you feel like you connected with God during any part of it?-Yes I did.
How was it different from what you are used to?-The question should read, what isn’t different? I can’t think of too many similarities between our church and theirs.
Would you enjoy worshiping like that often?-Yes I would but not as my daily form of worship. The nicest thing about their worship is that it’s peaceful. I can’t remember feeling so feminine than I did while I was dancing with the other ladies in the church. It was lovely.
What did you think of the prayers that were offered in the service?-They almost have a repetitive feel to them. Before and after each prayer, Rabbi says a few names of God in Hebrew (cultural I’m sure). But each prayer was straight from his heart and I believe are very effective.
As you listened to the prayers, what did you learn about how that church might think of people, or of God?-They have such reverence for God. The impression that they give off towards the Lord is that He is incredibly Holy and needs to be taken a little bit more seriously. Towards people-they really love people. Rabbi Ed has a wonderful heart for everyone he’s around.
The Speaker's Presentation:
Did the Pastor or speaker seem likable?-Yes he is.
Is he/she a person you might enjoy having coffee with? Why?-I have had coffee with Rabbi Ed…during his bible studies. I would imagine f we went out for coffee it would be like a bible study. It’s so fun and exciting to pick his brain and be challenged in my thinking.
Did he/she seem engaged/sincere/condescending?-He seems very sincere above all else. It is so obvious that he loves the Lord so deeply.
Were you motivated to do or think anything differently because of the talk?-Not too much. I was motivated to find out more about their culture.
What could they have done to make it more enjoyable or useful?- I think he should make the messages more challenging to us…we need to be challenged in our faith and in our presentation of the Gospel.
Please erase any of the following descriptors that did not apply to the talk: Enjoyable, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Slow, Credible, Useful, Life-changing
The Message
What was the main idea of the message?- I can’t remember if there has ever been a main point to the message when listening to Rabbi Ed. He reads from their three sections of the Bible. Two from the OT and one from the NT. But the three of them don’t really tie all together.
What action did the speaker want you to take or consider taking?-There was no challenge/action presented.
Did the talk itself (the subject matter) hold your attention?-Parts of it did, parts of it didn’t, other parts of it didn’t make any sense to me (such as his theory that the world was created out of water droplets and such).
Did any part of the talk stand out to you in a positive or negative way?-Positive…his knowledge from the Jewish culture thousands of years ago can be so astounding and insightful to listen to.
What is the one thing the speaker could do that would improve his/her presentation?-Nothing I don’t think.
Do you think that you particularly will remember anything that was taught?-I remember some things, yes. Weather I understand or agree with them is another story. It’s all good though-I love the challenge!
Do you understand God or people better because of it?-In a way, yes.Did it make you feel like you wanted to preach someday yourself ?-Not really.
The Church
What Church did you visit?-Rabbi Ed’s church
What city or town is this Church located?
-East Berlin
What date and service did you attend?
-Saturday night 2/28/09EvaluatingHow would you rate this church?-I would rate this church as an 8 on a scale from 1-10.
Please provide ratings based on your own experience. Yes, I realize this is subjective and your '1′ might be someone else's '5′. That's ok. It's your rating and I really want your opinion.Rate the following from 1 to 5. 1 is not effective, 5 is very effective!
Overall: 4.
Friendliness: 5
Singing: 4 (I love the Hebrew/style music) Rachel Ralston and I went and we learned the dancing so quickly! It was a lot of fun!
Preaching: 3-As far as his preaching, it is interesting to learn different religious cultures but at times, he doesn’t hold my attention too well.
First ImpressionsOutside:
Was the building easy to find?-Well, sort of. It was down all of these back roads and I get lost very easy haha!!
Was it difficult to find parking?-No. The parking lot was small but accessible.
How about the interior or exterior signage- what would you do differently?-I understand that they don’t have a lot of money so, the building was very small. Also, the bathroom was an experience!!! The toilet was a porta-potty inside of the building with directions on how to use it. It was a good time.
What did the appearance, style, or construction of the building communicate to you?-It had a very homey feel to it. There were strings of white lights to help make it look nice inside as well as Judaic pictures and artifacts placed around the room.
Before the service:
Did anyone approach you and speak to you before the service got underway?
-YES! That was the most friendly congregation of people I had ever experienced. Of course, there were about 20 people all together so, a family-type congregation is not surprising. If someone did speak to you, how did you feel about that? I felt great about it! They weren’t awkward or anything.
Can you share their names? Marcia, Brittani, Willi, Nick, Sophia, Ken, etc…
Did you know them before the visit? I knew a few of them from Rabbi Ed’s bible study but, I got to meet a lot of people as well.
General observations:
As you observed the people "doing their church thing", what went through your mind?-I thought, “This is an interesting and pleasurable experience to see this cultural change.”
Were you able to understand why they do what they do?-Not exactly…I asked some questions about different things such as the dancing, the pictures, the singing etc…and was able to learn some pretty cool things.Do they seem sincere?-YES they do!! I sort of fell in love with them.
What do you think about the overall presentation of the service? (the liturgy, program or flow of the service)-Well, the flow was very relaxed…almost to the point where I could’ve fell asleep. Which, on one hand was good because there was incredible peace.
Bulletin and communications:
Is there anything in the church bulletin that you find confusing or offensive?-I don’t remember receiving a bulletin.
If this were your "business", how would you improve the communication part of it- the bulletin especially?-Getting a bulletin might not be a bad idea…
Were announcements clear, and interesting (did you want to sign up for anything)?- I don’t remember any announcements. It didn’t seem to fit the culture of the church actually.
Children's Ministry
Does this church appear kid-friendly?-Absolutely. There were toys in the back for them to play with. Some kids were even allowed to play quietly during the service! I thought that was sweet.
Did you bring any children with you to the service?-NO
If so, ask them about their experience. What did they tell you? N/A
Music and Prayer:
How would you describe the music?- Its Hebrew. Absolutely beautiful. There is a calming, alluring presence that fills the room when the music is played.Did you enjoy any of it?- I enjoyed all of the music. Rabbi’s son Nick sang a few songs and he has a beautiful voice!
Did you feel like you connected with God during any part of it?-Yes I did.
How was it different from what you are used to?-The question should read, what isn’t different? I can’t think of too many similarities between our church and theirs.
Would you enjoy worshiping like that often?-Yes I would but not as my daily form of worship. The nicest thing about their worship is that it’s peaceful. I can’t remember feeling so feminine than I did while I was dancing with the other ladies in the church. It was lovely.
What did you think of the prayers that were offered in the service?-They almost have a repetitive feel to them. Before and after each prayer, Rabbi says a few names of God in Hebrew (cultural I’m sure). But each prayer was straight from his heart and I believe are very effective.
As you listened to the prayers, what did you learn about how that church might think of people, or of God?-They have such reverence for God. The impression that they give off towards the Lord is that He is incredibly Holy and needs to be taken a little bit more seriously. Towards people-they really love people. Rabbi Ed has a wonderful heart for everyone he’s around.
The Speaker's Presentation:
Did the Pastor or speaker seem likable?-Yes he is.
Is he/she a person you might enjoy having coffee with? Why?-I have had coffee with Rabbi Ed…during his bible studies. I would imagine f we went out for coffee it would be like a bible study. It’s so fun and exciting to pick his brain and be challenged in my thinking.
Did he/she seem engaged/sincere/condescending?-He seems very sincere above all else. It is so obvious that he loves the Lord so deeply.
Were you motivated to do or think anything differently because of the talk?-Not too much. I was motivated to find out more about their culture.
What could they have done to make it more enjoyable or useful?- I think he should make the messages more challenging to us…we need to be challenged in our faith and in our presentation of the Gospel.
Please erase any of the following descriptors that did not apply to the talk: Enjoyable, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Slow, Credible, Useful, Life-changing
The Message
What was the main idea of the message?- I can’t remember if there has ever been a main point to the message when listening to Rabbi Ed. He reads from their three sections of the Bible. Two from the OT and one from the NT. But the three of them don’t really tie all together.
What action did the speaker want you to take or consider taking?-There was no challenge/action presented.
Did the talk itself (the subject matter) hold your attention?-Parts of it did, parts of it didn’t, other parts of it didn’t make any sense to me (such as his theory that the world was created out of water droplets and such).
Did any part of the talk stand out to you in a positive or negative way?-Positive…his knowledge from the Jewish culture thousands of years ago can be so astounding and insightful to listen to.
What is the one thing the speaker could do that would improve his/her presentation?-Nothing I don’t think.
Do you think that you particularly will remember anything that was taught?-I remember some things, yes. Weather I understand or agree with them is another story. It’s all good though-I love the challenge!
Do you understand God or people better because of it?-In a way, yes.Did it make you feel like you wanted to preach someday yourself ?-Not really.
Jason Lamer
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
I remember seeing Jason and his wife years ago when I was in youth group. Then I had the privilege of working close with him during Master’s Commission. Every time I saw him, it was in a very fast-pace-professional environment so it was really awesome to hear him calmly share heart and God’s calling for his life.
Even though we work with him in the public schools, I had no idea how much actually goes into his work. It’s so wonderful to see his passion for kids who don’t know Christ because public schools are a very hard place to present the name of Jesus.
One of the things that I admire so much is the 777 follow-up plan that his team devised. It seems to me that for the speakers we’ve heard so far, there is an issue with following up with people who are new believers. One thing Jason mentioned that I liked a lot was that you can’t just get them saved and walk away. It’s not enough to call a new believer a week later and that’s all. Be consistent! Consistency grows comfort and when people are more comfortable, they are more likely to get involved and grow in their faith.
The most bitter-sweet comment he made all night was this: “The hardship of our country will be the harvest of the church!” Bitter because it’s a shame that our country will be enduring hardship but sweet because it’s in desperation that people are apt to look for faith.
I remember seeing Jason and his wife years ago when I was in youth group. Then I had the privilege of working close with him during Master’s Commission. Every time I saw him, it was in a very fast-pace-professional environment so it was really awesome to hear him calmly share heart and God’s calling for his life.
Even though we work with him in the public schools, I had no idea how much actually goes into his work. It’s so wonderful to see his passion for kids who don’t know Christ because public schools are a very hard place to present the name of Jesus.
One of the things that I admire so much is the 777 follow-up plan that his team devised. It seems to me that for the speakers we’ve heard so far, there is an issue with following up with people who are new believers. One thing Jason mentioned that I liked a lot was that you can’t just get them saved and walk away. It’s not enough to call a new believer a week later and that’s all. Be consistent! Consistency grows comfort and when people are more comfortable, they are more likely to get involved and grow in their faith.
The most bitter-sweet comment he made all night was this: “The hardship of our country will be the harvest of the church!” Bitter because it’s a shame that our country will be enduring hardship but sweet because it’s in desperation that people are apt to look for faith.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
New Believer #2
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
1. Tell me about your journey to faith in Christ:
a. I was raised in church for 19 years. Went for the social gathering (because all my friends were there. After high school I got out of church and lived an ungodly lifestyle. I got to the point where I realized nothing else can give satisfaction so I got back into church with my parents. I went to a youth revival conference and dedicated my life to the Lord.
2. What has been the best part of being a Christ-follower so far?
a. Being able to find satisfaction in Christ when I couldn’t find it elsewhere. There are still things that I want and still growth that needs to happen but I at least have a sense of peace.
3. What helped you step over from one life to another?
a. I felt like I needed to for years but I never understood what it was all about. I ignored it the promptings in my spirit and kept living a lifestyle of sin.
4. What has been the most challenging part so far?
a. Not following back into my old lifestyle. I still struggle with it all the time: rough language, drinking, smoking etc…
5. Do you think there will be a point where these things become less hard?
Yes. It has already gotten easier to resist these temptations.
6. What has been the biggest help so far to grow your faith?
a. Three days after I was saved I lost my job and I haven’t worked at all since then. Being in Master’s and constantly in the presence of God has helped in a huge way.
7. Have you thought about what it will be like when you’re not always in His presence?
It will be harder to deal with tings but, I’ve learned and felt the satisfaction that the presence of God brings. It brings so much joy so it will help a lot with keeping me away from things. Going home and jumping back into my home church will help a lot too.
8. What advice do you have to help others like you grow in their faith?
a. Don’t do anything just because you think you should…it will only bring confusion
b. When you listen to people don’t just take their word for it but search it out for yourself.
I interviewed twenty year old Evan, as a new believer. I have had the pleasure of hearing his whole testimony and I must say, he has been through quite a bit. I admire where he has come from and the work that God has done in his life. These interviews are so refreshingly powerful because they help strengthen my faith a lot. It reminds me that the hand of God still moves to change peoples' lives. Praise God for the redemptive work and saving grace of new life!!!
1. Tell me about your journey to faith in Christ:
a. I was raised in church for 19 years. Went for the social gathering (because all my friends were there. After high school I got out of church and lived an ungodly lifestyle. I got to the point where I realized nothing else can give satisfaction so I got back into church with my parents. I went to a youth revival conference and dedicated my life to the Lord.
2. What has been the best part of being a Christ-follower so far?
a. Being able to find satisfaction in Christ when I couldn’t find it elsewhere. There are still things that I want and still growth that needs to happen but I at least have a sense of peace.
3. What helped you step over from one life to another?
a. I felt like I needed to for years but I never understood what it was all about. I ignored it the promptings in my spirit and kept living a lifestyle of sin.
4. What has been the most challenging part so far?
a. Not following back into my old lifestyle. I still struggle with it all the time: rough language, drinking, smoking etc…
5. Do you think there will be a point where these things become less hard?
Yes. It has already gotten easier to resist these temptations.
6. What has been the biggest help so far to grow your faith?
a. Three days after I was saved I lost my job and I haven’t worked at all since then. Being in Master’s and constantly in the presence of God has helped in a huge way.
7. Have you thought about what it will be like when you’re not always in His presence?
It will be harder to deal with tings but, I’ve learned and felt the satisfaction that the presence of God brings. It brings so much joy so it will help a lot with keeping me away from things. Going home and jumping back into my home church will help a lot too.
8. What advice do you have to help others like you grow in their faith?
a. Don’t do anything just because you think you should…it will only bring confusion
b. When you listen to people don’t just take their word for it but search it out for yourself.
I interviewed twenty year old Evan, as a new believer. I have had the pleasure of hearing his whole testimony and I must say, he has been through quite a bit. I admire where he has come from and the work that God has done in his life. These interviews are so refreshingly powerful because they help strengthen my faith a lot. It reminds me that the hand of God still moves to change peoples' lives. Praise God for the redemptive work and saving grace of new life!!!
Unchurched interview #2
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
What are some things in your area that you would like to see change in?
I would like to see a change in how lower-class people are treated. People who live on social security have a hard time keeping jobs due to learning disabilities and such (which he can personally relate to) don’t have much hope to hold onto. I would like to see that change for them by way of better opportunities for jobs that would fit their disabilities.
What are some different topics/issues etc…that are of interest to you?
I have a lot of personal interests/hobbies. But nothing really globally that sticks out.
Are you actively attending a church?
No. That stuff isn’t really for me.
Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
It doesn’t seem real. If there was a God, there wouldn’t be so much suffering in the world.
If you did look for a church, what would you look for?
Good people who are honest and real. It’s nice when people actually want to have a relationship with you with no agenda of converting you.
What advice would you give a pastor who really wants to be helpful to people?
Again, just be honest and real.
For this interview, I spoke with my brother, Brian. He went to church with my mom a couple times growing up but since he is 10 years older than me, I can’t remember him attending with us at all. He was very hurt in his past: His real mother died from leukemia when he was only two years old, leaving my father and him to fend for themselves. So, understandably, he has a lot of bitterness toward the idea of “god”. Interviewing Brian was hard for me. I know where his deep-hearted wounds come from and I’ve been praying for him for a long time. He wants relationship…to know that people actually care for him and that they don’t have an “agenda” for getting to know him just to convert him. Presenting him with these questions was because I know he’ll be meditating on it throughout the week. I’m praying it was an open door for more opportunities in the future to talk to him about the Lord and about what He has done in my life.
What are some things in your area that you would like to see change in?
I would like to see a change in how lower-class people are treated. People who live on social security have a hard time keeping jobs due to learning disabilities and such (which he can personally relate to) don’t have much hope to hold onto. I would like to see that change for them by way of better opportunities for jobs that would fit their disabilities.
What are some different topics/issues etc…that are of interest to you?
I have a lot of personal interests/hobbies. But nothing really globally that sticks out.
Are you actively attending a church?
No. That stuff isn’t really for me.
Why do you think most people don’t attend church?
It doesn’t seem real. If there was a God, there wouldn’t be so much suffering in the world.
If you did look for a church, what would you look for?
Good people who are honest and real. It’s nice when people actually want to have a relationship with you with no agenda of converting you.
What advice would you give a pastor who really wants to be helpful to people?
Again, just be honest and real.
For this interview, I spoke with my brother, Brian. He went to church with my mom a couple times growing up but since he is 10 years older than me, I can’t remember him attending with us at all. He was very hurt in his past: His real mother died from leukemia when he was only two years old, leaving my father and him to fend for themselves. So, understandably, he has a lot of bitterness toward the idea of “god”. Interviewing Brian was hard for me. I know where his deep-hearted wounds come from and I’ve been praying for him for a long time. He wants relationship…to know that people actually care for him and that they don’t have an “agenda” for getting to know him just to convert him. Presenting him with these questions was because I know he’ll be meditating on it throughout the week. I’m praying it was an open door for more opportunities in the future to talk to him about the Lord and about what He has done in my life.
Nick Poole
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
With 8 church plants, coaching new leaders into church planting, and finding time to help grow his church, clearly Nick Poole is certainly a successful man of the ministry. At only twenty seven years old, his level of professionalism is very refreshing and inspiring. He knows what needs to happen to get the job done.
I like his take on working with other churches in the community. Again, as most speakers, Nick recognizes the deep importance of unity and involvement in the community. When asked about deciding where to plant a church, he said it’s important that you look for a community that best suits your style. Then, work as a team with the other churches and such to make the community stronger. “We are not a bunch of individual plants trying to make things work-it’s everyone working together as a body. It’s not a competition, it’s a partnership.” This is a great principal that we as a church need to embrace more readily. We are one body so we should work together as one.
I’m a little bit reluctant to touch on this but one thing I noticed that I wanted to question him about was his methods on finding people to work in the churches. He mentioned that he needed four or five children’s pastors. To me, that sounds like an open door to invite people within his church to get involved and “apply’ for the positions. However, I don’t think he said anything about finding people that way. It seemed as though he wanted to find a more qualified person for the job but, maybe God is putting it on the hearts of some average people to rise up into that leadership. That’s what happened with Jan Workman and we all know how exceptional that has turned out!
Overall, Nick Poole is a very inspiring, young leader. We (I) can learn a lot from the things that he is accomplishing with his church plants.
With 8 church plants, coaching new leaders into church planting, and finding time to help grow his church, clearly Nick Poole is certainly a successful man of the ministry. At only twenty seven years old, his level of professionalism is very refreshing and inspiring. He knows what needs to happen to get the job done.
I like his take on working with other churches in the community. Again, as most speakers, Nick recognizes the deep importance of unity and involvement in the community. When asked about deciding where to plant a church, he said it’s important that you look for a community that best suits your style. Then, work as a team with the other churches and such to make the community stronger. “We are not a bunch of individual plants trying to make things work-it’s everyone working together as a body. It’s not a competition, it’s a partnership.” This is a great principal that we as a church need to embrace more readily. We are one body so we should work together as one.
I’m a little bit reluctant to touch on this but one thing I noticed that I wanted to question him about was his methods on finding people to work in the churches. He mentioned that he needed four or five children’s pastors. To me, that sounds like an open door to invite people within his church to get involved and “apply’ for the positions. However, I don’t think he said anything about finding people that way. It seemed as though he wanted to find a more qualified person for the job but, maybe God is putting it on the hearts of some average people to rise up into that leadership. That’s what happened with Jan Workman and we all know how exceptional that has turned out!
Overall, Nick Poole is a very inspiring, young leader. We (I) can learn a lot from the things that he is accomplishing with his church plants.
Brian and Angie Bolt
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
Brian and Angie are incredible people. Their personalities are not only attractive but also inspiringly driven. The first thing that stood out to me was their passion to preach the Gospel of Jesus. Bringing the message of salvation to people who have never heard it before is extremely challenging for me. Both of their relational skills are astounding. The way they connect with people is so personal and it’s very evident that they actually care about the people they’re ministering to. A lot of people do ministry are so busy thinking about themselves: what they are doing and about what they’re going to say etc… The importance of relationships has become a pattern with each speaker we’ve heard in this class so far. The heart of Jesus’ ministry was to love people. I don’t think that point can be stressed enough.
Brian shared his testimony about his journey in becoming a Christian (which no matter how many times hearing it never gets old to listen to.) It really moved me this time, reminding me that God’s compassion, grace, and passion for us is unfathomable. If God can change around a life like Brian lived, He will certainly do it for mine and those around me.
God promises to give us the ability and strength to accomplish the things He calls us to do…His will is never out of reach, or impossible. The most important thing I got out of the interview was direction for how to “carry the weight of the ministry”. Unwarily standing on God’s word, and proclaiming the promises of God over each situation is the biggest tool we have to fight doubt and unbelief.
Brian and Angie are incredible people. Their personalities are not only attractive but also inspiringly driven. The first thing that stood out to me was their passion to preach the Gospel of Jesus. Bringing the message of salvation to people who have never heard it before is extremely challenging for me. Both of their relational skills are astounding. The way they connect with people is so personal and it’s very evident that they actually care about the people they’re ministering to. A lot of people do ministry are so busy thinking about themselves: what they are doing and about what they’re going to say etc… The importance of relationships has become a pattern with each speaker we’ve heard in this class so far. The heart of Jesus’ ministry was to love people. I don’t think that point can be stressed enough.
Brian shared his testimony about his journey in becoming a Christian (which no matter how many times hearing it never gets old to listen to.) It really moved me this time, reminding me that God’s compassion, grace, and passion for us is unfathomable. If God can change around a life like Brian lived, He will certainly do it for mine and those around me.
God promises to give us the ability and strength to accomplish the things He calls us to do…His will is never out of reach, or impossible. The most important thing I got out of the interview was direction for how to “carry the weight of the ministry”. Unwarily standing on God’s word, and proclaiming the promises of God over each situation is the biggest tool we have to fight doubt and unbelief.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Mike Hammar
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
Mike really displays a love for people and seems good at building honest, real relationships with them. The various outreach ministries: Bridges event, Skate Park church, took a lot of faith and work to launch. But, he did it anyway. As I listened to him, I couldn’t help but think, “This man is a dreamer, and he doesn’t stop until it happens.” That is a great nugget of character I’d love to have some day.
I love that he understands what it truly means to be vulnerable. As a leader, as a husband, as a father etc… He spoke about how people (outside of the church) would gain respect for us if we learned to be open about our weakness. It takes a great amount of humility to admit your faults- especially when you make them while in leadership. One point he made about this is, “secrets make you sick.” I couldn’t agree with this more. I have found that truth always comes out at one point or the other so, we might as well be honest from the get-go.
Even though I agree with most things he said, I noticed he didn’t talk much about how he reaches out to the community. The skate park and different events he puts on are based around believers. Isn’t the entire purpose of church to prepare the body to go out and “make disciples of all the nations?” If we keep the Gospel primarily inside the church walls, then (forgive me if this is off) church becomes something that God never intended it to be. Freedom Valley is doing a wonderful job of moving into the direction of evangelism with their vision of church planting. My God put it on the hearts of many others to do the same. After all, that’s what we’ve been called to do, isn’t it?
Mike really displays a love for people and seems good at building honest, real relationships with them. The various outreach ministries: Bridges event, Skate Park church, took a lot of faith and work to launch. But, he did it anyway. As I listened to him, I couldn’t help but think, “This man is a dreamer, and he doesn’t stop until it happens.” That is a great nugget of character I’d love to have some day.
I love that he understands what it truly means to be vulnerable. As a leader, as a husband, as a father etc… He spoke about how people (outside of the church) would gain respect for us if we learned to be open about our weakness. It takes a great amount of humility to admit your faults- especially when you make them while in leadership. One point he made about this is, “secrets make you sick.” I couldn’t agree with this more. I have found that truth always comes out at one point or the other so, we might as well be honest from the get-go.
Even though I agree with most things he said, I noticed he didn’t talk much about how he reaches out to the community. The skate park and different events he puts on are based around believers. Isn’t the entire purpose of church to prepare the body to go out and “make disciples of all the nations?” If we keep the Gospel primarily inside the church walls, then (forgive me if this is off) church becomes something that God never intended it to be. Freedom Valley is doing a wonderful job of moving into the direction of evangelism with their vision of church planting. My God put it on the hearts of many others to do the same. After all, that’s what we’ve been called to do, isn’t it?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sam Masteller Interview
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
The First thing I noticed about Sam is his enthusiastic personality. He isn’t afraid to be upfront even if it means people won’t agree with his way of doing things. One of the biggest lessons I’m exploring this year is how to grow in leadership so it was really good for me to see this type of aggressiveness in a leader. Sometimes I feel as though I need to walk on eggshells so I don’t offend anyone, but I’m learning that you can not please everybody when you’re in a position of leadership-and that is okay!
At one point during this interview, Sam said “I don’t have to be a pastor to do my calling. I could work a regular job and still carry it out in some way, shape, or form.” I love this! In some respects, being in full time ministry seems to be the only way to effectively carry out your “calling”. But, I’m noticing very quickly that it is just as effective to minister to your friends and family, people at work, or even strangers in the grocery store. Simply loving on people and being a good, positive, encouraging influence speaks wonders and stimulates curiosity about the love and compassion of Christ.
I wanted to ask him about his approach on being relevant. From what I could pull out of his interview, it seemed like he has a pretty good handle at doing this. However, it really sparked my interest on a personal level. Where is the line between being relevant to this world without being of this world? I wish he went into some detail about that. Maybe next time I see him, I’ll ask him.
The First thing I noticed about Sam is his enthusiastic personality. He isn’t afraid to be upfront even if it means people won’t agree with his way of doing things. One of the biggest lessons I’m exploring this year is how to grow in leadership so it was really good for me to see this type of aggressiveness in a leader. Sometimes I feel as though I need to walk on eggshells so I don’t offend anyone, but I’m learning that you can not please everybody when you’re in a position of leadership-and that is okay!
At one point during this interview, Sam said “I don’t have to be a pastor to do my calling. I could work a regular job and still carry it out in some way, shape, or form.” I love this! In some respects, being in full time ministry seems to be the only way to effectively carry out your “calling”. But, I’m noticing very quickly that it is just as effective to minister to your friends and family, people at work, or even strangers in the grocery store. Simply loving on people and being a good, positive, encouraging influence speaks wonders and stimulates curiosity about the love and compassion of Christ.
I wanted to ask him about his approach on being relevant. From what I could pull out of his interview, it seemed like he has a pretty good handle at doing this. However, it really sparked my interest on a personal level. Where is the line between being relevant to this world without being of this world? I wish he went into some detail about that. Maybe next time I see him, I’ll ask him.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Rev. F. Wes Shortridge
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
I have to be honest and say that I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. I am amazed at how true and real Wes presented himself. He is unhindered and unafraid of rebuke or distain for bringing a new approach to sharing the Gospel. It was so evident to see his passion for reaching the lost.
When the interview first started, it was difficult for me to take him seriously. I had to repent because I sort of “judged the book by the cover”. But that judgment was quickly overtaken as he began explaining his heart in his methods in serving the Lord. There were a lot of great points that he made such as, “we will never hire people to do ministry again: only hire them to equip other people to do ministry.” What a great perspective!
I absolutely love that Wes doesn’t pretend to be someone else but himself. He uses his hobby of motorcycles to reach “manly” men. One thing brought up in class was that there is a higher rate of women then men that attend church in our society today. This is not true, however, for Liberty Community Church. Wes said that his church usually draws in men because the service and message is simple and raw. This is fascinating to me because we rarely have the opportunity to witness new ways in “doing church”.
The lesson for me here is to: 1.) Never judge a book by it’s cover-you never know what the content will hold. 2.) There is more than one way to present the Gospel if it’s bringing people to know and love Jesus Christ.
I have to be honest and say that I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. I am amazed at how true and real Wes presented himself. He is unhindered and unafraid of rebuke or distain for bringing a new approach to sharing the Gospel. It was so evident to see his passion for reaching the lost.
When the interview first started, it was difficult for me to take him seriously. I had to repent because I sort of “judged the book by the cover”. But that judgment was quickly overtaken as he began explaining his heart in his methods in serving the Lord. There were a lot of great points that he made such as, “we will never hire people to do ministry again: only hire them to equip other people to do ministry.” What a great perspective!
I absolutely love that Wes doesn’t pretend to be someone else but himself. He uses his hobby of motorcycles to reach “manly” men. One thing brought up in class was that there is a higher rate of women then men that attend church in our society today. This is not true, however, for Liberty Community Church. Wes said that his church usually draws in men because the service and message is simple and raw. This is fascinating to me because we rarely have the opportunity to witness new ways in “doing church”.
The lesson for me here is to: 1.) Never judge a book by it’s cover-you never know what the content will hold. 2.) There is more than one way to present the Gospel if it’s bringing people to know and love Jesus Christ.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Jonatan and Anna
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
Learning about other cultures and what approach they take on sharing the Gospel has always been a big interest of mine. Jonatan and Anna helped challenge me in ways that grew my desire to spread the loving Word of salvation through Jesus Christ. It was very apparent that they both have one desire and that is to make the love of Jesus known wherever they are.
They make sharing the Gospel seem so simple to do. When talking about cultural differences, they said they do a lot of preparing before they embark on their missions trips. They learn about the history of the culture, and different norms that they have. They learn about challenges the cultures face and about different things they lack. For instance: when Anna went to Bulgaria, she knew that the religion there was predominantly Muslim. In that knowledge, she said, “The main key with them, is to preach about the love of God” since they are only taught judgment and discipline. I love how simple they made this look! It’s something that I (and probably most American Christians) struggle with. After I heard their approach to breaking cultural divisions, something in me was very inspired to explore new ways to practice doing it. The motivation behind their passion for this ministry though, is loving God and responding to His calling to love people.
I noticed that the way they love people and really desire them to know Christ is very uplifting and presented another new challenge for me personally. Loving people takes a lot of effort, patience, compassion and discipline. This is one of the many convictions that God has been putting on my heart since I became serious about pursuing His calling. How can we effectively serve God, and His children if we don’t actually love them? It isn’t hard to miss the fact that Anna and Jonatan do a wonderful job of this.
May we grasp the importance of understanding what compassion and love really is. May God give us the grace to practice it in our weakness and may we learn from the example of Jonatan and Anna to really think twice about loving those who are “unlovable’.
Learning about other cultures and what approach they take on sharing the Gospel has always been a big interest of mine. Jonatan and Anna helped challenge me in ways that grew my desire to spread the loving Word of salvation through Jesus Christ. It was very apparent that they both have one desire and that is to make the love of Jesus known wherever they are.
They make sharing the Gospel seem so simple to do. When talking about cultural differences, they said they do a lot of preparing before they embark on their missions trips. They learn about the history of the culture, and different norms that they have. They learn about challenges the cultures face and about different things they lack. For instance: when Anna went to Bulgaria, she knew that the religion there was predominantly Muslim. In that knowledge, she said, “The main key with them, is to preach about the love of God” since they are only taught judgment and discipline. I love how simple they made this look! It’s something that I (and probably most American Christians) struggle with. After I heard their approach to breaking cultural divisions, something in me was very inspired to explore new ways to practice doing it. The motivation behind their passion for this ministry though, is loving God and responding to His calling to love people.
I noticed that the way they love people and really desire them to know Christ is very uplifting and presented another new challenge for me personally. Loving people takes a lot of effort, patience, compassion and discipline. This is one of the many convictions that God has been putting on my heart since I became serious about pursuing His calling. How can we effectively serve God, and His children if we don’t actually love them? It isn’t hard to miss the fact that Anna and Jonatan do a wonderful job of this.
May we grasp the importance of understanding what compassion and love really is. May God give us the grace to practice it in our weakness and may we learn from the example of Jonatan and Anna to really think twice about loving those who are “unlovable’.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Church Rater Survey #1
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
The Church
What Church did you visit?
-Bethel Assembly of God
What city or town is this Church located?
-Littlestown
What date and service did you attend?
-Sunday night service (when Johannes spoke)
Evaluating
How would you rate this church?
-It is beautiful on the insde. The people are accepting and joyful. The Holy Spirit is definately evident.
Please provide ratings based on your own experience. Yes, I realize this is subjective and your '1′ might be someone else's '5′. That's ok. It's your rating and I really want your opinion.
Rate the following from 1 to 5. 1 is not effective, 5 is very effective!
Overall: 4. Friendliness: 4. Singing: 3 (not my style). Preaching: 5-Johannes is awesome. It was grea to experience his preaching outside of Freedom Valley. It seemed like he was a little bit more reserved considering the culture of that church was more "traditional".
First Impressions
Outside:
Was the building easy to find?
-Yes
Was it difficult to find parking?
-Not at all
How about the interior or exterior signage- what would you do differently?
-I enjoyed the way everything looked. The children's room was enormous and decorated very appropriately. The sanctuary was large enough to accomodate alot of people and had a warm feel to it.
What did the appearance, style, or construction of the building communicate to you?
-Warm, friendly, welcoming atomosphere.
Before the service: Did anyone approach you and speak to you before the service got underway?
-Only other people from Freedom Valley. I would like to attend again on my own-a lot of our church body was there so, I didn't have much of an opportunity to get to connect with the Bethel church body.
If someone did speak to you, how did you feel about that? n/a
Can you share their names? n/a
Did you know them before the visit? n/a
General observations:
As you observed the people "doing their church thing", what went through your mind?
-"This is pretty stinkin' awesome!" There were about 5 different denominations worshiping the Lord together, which was incredible to witness.
Were you able to understand why they do what they do?
-YES
Do they seem sincere?
-YES. Jim Ruddy seems so free in his worship. (That was nice to see)
What do you think about the overall presentation of the service? (the liturgy, program or flow of the service)
-It had a great flow.
Bulletin and communications:
Is there anything in the church bulletin that you find confusing or offensive?
-I did not recieve a bulliten (it was not a normal sunday service)
If this were your "business", how would you improve the communication part of it- the bulletin especially?
-I would challenge the church body to bring friends or other people who needed to hear the Gospel. I belive the church needs to head into that direction more.
Were announcements clear, and interesting (did you want to sign up for anything)?
-Announcments were clear. Our purpose of being there was made very clear. Jim Ruddy did a good job.
Children's Ministry
Does this church appear kid-friendly?
-Absolutely
Did you bring any children with you to the service?
-NO
If so, ask them about their experience. What did they tell you?
Music and Prayer
How would you describe the music?
-Lively, very organized in their worship. They sounded great. It was interesting that the worshipers on stage are the leaders, but they seemed to be bored and not so in-tune with the Holy Spirit.
Did you enjoy any of it?
-Yes I enjoyed it. I had to remind myself that worshiping Jesus is a matter of the heart and soul. What the music sounds like shouldn't have a negative effect on the way we worship our Creator.
Did you feel like you connected with God during any part of it?
-Yes!
How was it different from what you are used to?
-It was alot more clam and organized than Freedom Valley. This isn't a bad thing necessarily. Calmer worship will reach out to older people, which is great!
Would you enjoy worshiping like that often?
-Probably not. I love being able to jump and be undignified in worship before the Lord.
What did you think of the prayers that were offered in the service?
-They were very effective.
As you listened to the prayers, what did you learn about how that church might think of people, or of God?
-Jim Ruddy prayed a few times and it was easy to see that he is fired up about the direction that God is leading him and his church. I believe he really loves people and is not afraid of cultural differences.
The Speaker's Presentation
Did the Pastor or speaker seem likable?
-Yes.
Is he/she a person you might enjoy having coffee with? Why?
-Sure. I love coffee and i love getting to know people.
Did he/she seem engaged/sincere/condescending?
-Engaged and sincere, Yes.
Were you motivated to do or think anything differently because of the talk?
-The message reiterated and reminded me of a few things having to do with forgivness.
What could they have done to make it more enjoyable or useful?
-Nothing in my opinion. I think it was wonderful and effective.
Please erase any of the following descriptors that did not apply to the talk: Enjoyable, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Energetic, Credible, Upbeat, Humorous, Useful, Life-changing, funny.
The Message
What was the main idea of the message?
-Forgivness.
What action did the speaker want you to take or consider taking?
-To forgive people who have hurt us and to move forward in our relationship with the Lord by embracing the freedom He offers us.
Did the talk itself (the subject matter) hold your attention?
-Yes.
Did any part of the talk stand out to you in a positive or negative way?
-It was all equally effective for me that night.
What is the one thing the speaker could do that would improve his/her presentation?
-Nothing in my opinion. I learn from Johannes' gift every time he speaks.
Do you think that you particularly will remember anything that was taught?
-Yes.
Do you understand God or people better because of it?
-Sure.
Did it make you feel like you wanted to preach someday yourself ?
-It always does. I would love to preach one day-especially when I see a speaker who is confident and using his gift with authority.
The Church
What Church did you visit?
-Bethel Assembly of God
What city or town is this Church located?
-Littlestown
What date and service did you attend?
-Sunday night service (when Johannes spoke)
Evaluating
How would you rate this church?
-It is beautiful on the insde. The people are accepting and joyful. The Holy Spirit is definately evident.
Please provide ratings based on your own experience. Yes, I realize this is subjective and your '1′ might be someone else's '5′. That's ok. It's your rating and I really want your opinion.
Rate the following from 1 to 5. 1 is not effective, 5 is very effective!
Overall: 4. Friendliness: 4. Singing: 3 (not my style). Preaching: 5-Johannes is awesome. It was grea to experience his preaching outside of Freedom Valley. It seemed like he was a little bit more reserved considering the culture of that church was more "traditional".
First Impressions
Outside:
Was the building easy to find?
-Yes
Was it difficult to find parking?
-Not at all
How about the interior or exterior signage- what would you do differently?
-I enjoyed the way everything looked. The children's room was enormous and decorated very appropriately. The sanctuary was large enough to accomodate alot of people and had a warm feel to it.
What did the appearance, style, or construction of the building communicate to you?
-Warm, friendly, welcoming atomosphere.
Before the service: Did anyone approach you and speak to you before the service got underway?
-Only other people from Freedom Valley. I would like to attend again on my own-a lot of our church body was there so, I didn't have much of an opportunity to get to connect with the Bethel church body.
If someone did speak to you, how did you feel about that? n/a
Can you share their names? n/a
Did you know them before the visit? n/a
General observations:
As you observed the people "doing their church thing", what went through your mind?
-"This is pretty stinkin' awesome!" There were about 5 different denominations worshiping the Lord together, which was incredible to witness.
Were you able to understand why they do what they do?
-YES
Do they seem sincere?
-YES. Jim Ruddy seems so free in his worship. (That was nice to see)
What do you think about the overall presentation of the service? (the liturgy, program or flow of the service)
-It had a great flow.
Bulletin and communications:
Is there anything in the church bulletin that you find confusing or offensive?
-I did not recieve a bulliten (it was not a normal sunday service)
If this were your "business", how would you improve the communication part of it- the bulletin especially?
-I would challenge the church body to bring friends or other people who needed to hear the Gospel. I belive the church needs to head into that direction more.
Were announcements clear, and interesting (did you want to sign up for anything)?
-Announcments were clear. Our purpose of being there was made very clear. Jim Ruddy did a good job.
Children's Ministry
Does this church appear kid-friendly?
-Absolutely
Did you bring any children with you to the service?
-NO
If so, ask them about their experience. What did they tell you?
Music and Prayer
How would you describe the music?
-Lively, very organized in their worship. They sounded great. It was interesting that the worshipers on stage are the leaders, but they seemed to be bored and not so in-tune with the Holy Spirit.
Did you enjoy any of it?
-Yes I enjoyed it. I had to remind myself that worshiping Jesus is a matter of the heart and soul. What the music sounds like shouldn't have a negative effect on the way we worship our Creator.
Did you feel like you connected with God during any part of it?
-Yes!
How was it different from what you are used to?
-It was alot more clam and organized than Freedom Valley. This isn't a bad thing necessarily. Calmer worship will reach out to older people, which is great!
Would you enjoy worshiping like that often?
-Probably not. I love being able to jump and be undignified in worship before the Lord.
What did you think of the prayers that were offered in the service?
-They were very effective.
As you listened to the prayers, what did you learn about how that church might think of people, or of God?
-Jim Ruddy prayed a few times and it was easy to see that he is fired up about the direction that God is leading him and his church. I believe he really loves people and is not afraid of cultural differences.
The Speaker's Presentation
Did the Pastor or speaker seem likable?
-Yes.
Is he/she a person you might enjoy having coffee with? Why?
-Sure. I love coffee and i love getting to know people.
Did he/she seem engaged/sincere/condescending?
-Engaged and sincere, Yes.
Were you motivated to do or think anything differently because of the talk?
-The message reiterated and reminded me of a few things having to do with forgivness.
What could they have done to make it more enjoyable or useful?
-Nothing in my opinion. I think it was wonderful and effective.
Please erase any of the following descriptors that did not apply to the talk: Enjoyable, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Energetic, Credible, Upbeat, Humorous, Useful, Life-changing, funny.
The Message
What was the main idea of the message?
-Forgivness.
What action did the speaker want you to take or consider taking?
-To forgive people who have hurt us and to move forward in our relationship with the Lord by embracing the freedom He offers us.
Did the talk itself (the subject matter) hold your attention?
-Yes.
Did any part of the talk stand out to you in a positive or negative way?
-It was all equally effective for me that night.
What is the one thing the speaker could do that would improve his/her presentation?
-Nothing in my opinion. I learn from Johannes' gift every time he speaks.
Do you think that you particularly will remember anything that was taught?
-Yes.
Do you understand God or people better because of it?
-Sure.
Did it make you feel like you wanted to preach someday yourself ?
-It always does. I would love to preach one day-especially when I see a speaker who is confident and using his gift with authority.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
New Believer Interview #1
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
I had the pleasure of interviewing a young man who has lived most of his life trying to seek a deeper meaning to existence, and to the word faith. He told me that his mother, who was a new believer at the time, raised him in church from the time he was very young. Then as he got older, he (as many of us do) desired to find his own faith and separate from the one his mom had enforced. That’s when I asked him to explain his journey to Christ. He explained, “As I became a teenager, there came a time when I wanted to find out life for myself, so I turned to other things.” That’s when he stopped going to church. Eventually he found that those “things” (worldly pleasures) never seemed to fill the void he felt inside. He said, “I was tired of things not working out in my life: I felt very empty inside. But I knew that there was more for my life so about four months ago, I became serious about the Gospel and dedicated my life to Christ.” “The best part of becoming a Christ follower is “knowing that this is where I’m meant to be. I don’t have to try filling the emptiness anymore by way of worldly pleasure.”
I love seeing the tangible change that God has done in this young mans life. As we talked, I was able to relate to him in a lot of ways as far as our pre-Christ backgrounds go. He inspired and challenged me in a very big way: To build relationships and love people as Jesus does. He said, the thing that has helped him transition the most was being around good people and really building relationships with them. That is very essential to having a good, successful ministry.
May we be fervent as the body of Christ to learn from this powerful testimony and pursue relationships on a deeper level. Maybe then people would be more interested in exploring the freedom Jesus has to offer.
I had the pleasure of interviewing a young man who has lived most of his life trying to seek a deeper meaning to existence, and to the word faith. He told me that his mother, who was a new believer at the time, raised him in church from the time he was very young. Then as he got older, he (as many of us do) desired to find his own faith and separate from the one his mom had enforced. That’s when I asked him to explain his journey to Christ. He explained, “As I became a teenager, there came a time when I wanted to find out life for myself, so I turned to other things.” That’s when he stopped going to church. Eventually he found that those “things” (worldly pleasures) never seemed to fill the void he felt inside. He said, “I was tired of things not working out in my life: I felt very empty inside. But I knew that there was more for my life so about four months ago, I became serious about the Gospel and dedicated my life to Christ.” “The best part of becoming a Christ follower is “knowing that this is where I’m meant to be. I don’t have to try filling the emptiness anymore by way of worldly pleasure.”
I love seeing the tangible change that God has done in this young mans life. As we talked, I was able to relate to him in a lot of ways as far as our pre-Christ backgrounds go. He inspired and challenged me in a very big way: To build relationships and love people as Jesus does. He said, the thing that has helped him transition the most was being around good people and really building relationships with them. That is very essential to having a good, successful ministry.
May we be fervent as the body of Christ to learn from this powerful testimony and pursue relationships on a deeper level. Maybe then people would be more interested in exploring the freedom Jesus has to offer.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Unchurched Interview #1
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
I interviewed my best friend from back home. She is a person that I have always had a spiritual burden for. When I approached her with the request of an interview, I explained that it was for a class to help practice various social skills and such. (I’ve learned through different relationships with unbelievers that, alot of times, we need to approach “spiritual” topics in a very simple, gentle way.) As I began with the first question, I could sense reserve in her voice. First of all, she isn’t a very secure person, so, she tends to think her thoughts are not valid. But, I assured her that no answer was any better or worse than the next and that I just wanted her to be open and honest with her thoughts. Some of her answers surprised me: When asked about the greatest need in her area, she answered, “I believe we need less focus on materialism and working and focus more on family and relationships.” When asked the question, “Why do you think most people do not attend church today?” she became a little bit defensive. She feels as though Christians have a tendency to be pushy in their beliefs, and a bit too judgmental. I can see where she is coming from because I have seen her experience this several times as we were growing up. It breaks my heart, but I was able to share with her about how God created us for relationship above all other things. Living a sinless life and attending church faithfully are things that we strive for after we choose to walk according to His will. I could feel that she was very receptive to this, which was wonderful! She hasn’t yet made the decision to give her life to Him but, I’m praying and believing that someday she will.
This interview was a great open door to pick her brain and to initiate good conversation. Something I’m in the process of learning is that we need to be sensitive and discerning when talking to people who don’t understand the Christian faith.
I interviewed my best friend from back home. She is a person that I have always had a spiritual burden for. When I approached her with the request of an interview, I explained that it was for a class to help practice various social skills and such. (I’ve learned through different relationships with unbelievers that, alot of times, we need to approach “spiritual” topics in a very simple, gentle way.) As I began with the first question, I could sense reserve in her voice. First of all, she isn’t a very secure person, so, she tends to think her thoughts are not valid. But, I assured her that no answer was any better or worse than the next and that I just wanted her to be open and honest with her thoughts. Some of her answers surprised me: When asked about the greatest need in her area, she answered, “I believe we need less focus on materialism and working and focus more on family and relationships.” When asked the question, “Why do you think most people do not attend church today?” she became a little bit defensive. She feels as though Christians have a tendency to be pushy in their beliefs, and a bit too judgmental. I can see where she is coming from because I have seen her experience this several times as we were growing up. It breaks my heart, but I was able to share with her about how God created us for relationship above all other things. Living a sinless life and attending church faithfully are things that we strive for after we choose to walk according to His will. I could feel that she was very receptive to this, which was wonderful! She hasn’t yet made the decision to give her life to Him but, I’m praying and believing that someday she will.
This interview was a great open door to pick her brain and to initiate good conversation. Something I’m in the process of learning is that we need to be sensitive and discerning when talking to people who don’t understand the Christian faith.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Chaplain Will
http://lkjennings.blogspot.com/
It is easy to see that Chaplain Will has a deep burden to spread the Gospel and reach the lost. I love that he has responded to the calling of God on his life. Many people would have a difficult time going into the prison to teach severely broken people. But they need to hear it just as much as anyone so, I respect him very much for doing that.
I have to say that I was a little bit disappointed when he was asked about his long term goals. He said he would like there to be more halfway houses, discipleship opportunities, and community involvement. Those are all great but, it seemed as though he had no direct plan of how to make this happen. Maybe he isn’t as gifted in advertisement or doesn’t have the necessary tools but, he could find someone who is good at those things so that they can help accomplish these goals.
Finances seemed to be an issue as well. I know how hard it can be to seek out sponsors but, if the lack of funding is great enough, a person should do all that they can to get the help that they need.
Overall, I enjoyed having Chaplain Will share his ministry with us. His various testimonies were encouraging to listen to. He does a wonderful job at loving the lost as Jesus has called us all to do. We could definitely learn something valuable from what he has shared with us.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
John Wega
John Wega is the leader/starter of the US Christian Commission in Gettysburg. As he began to explain what this "job" entails, I could barely keep up! It is unbelievable to me how he is able to manage all of these different ministries at once. To recap a little bit, he does street outreaches, runs church services, puts on live history performances, manages a museum, etc... Those things are only a piece of all of the things that he and his family does. Which, by the way, is the thing that amazes me the most about this ministry. John and his family started this from scratch. They decided to take on this amazing outreach out of faith and the Lord has blessed it abundantly over the past seven years. They only problem is that there are not enough people to team up with him to help. As the scriptures say in Matthew 9, the harvest is plenty but the workers are few. I meditated on this for a while after class had ended and thought about how much of a burden that would be for a man to carry so much weight with just the help of a few other people. The bottom line is, God is always faithful in providing what we need exactly when we need it. It blessed me to see John's passion for advancing the Kingdom of God through his gifts as a history buff. It confirmed in me again that there are no limits to spreading the Gospel!
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