Visionary Parenting Conference

I cannot fully express how excited I am to announce (again) of an exciting opportunity for parents to attend a conference next February!  Dr. Rob Rienow is a gifted communicator and loving husband & father - you won't want to miss this!  Here is a brochure with all the information on it:

Visionary Parenting Seminar Brochure

Be on the lookout for more information as the time approaches!

Family + Church = Collaborate / The Book Review

The latest book to hit the virtual shelves of Amazon and other websites in the genre of Family Ministry is called Collaborate!  This book is a compilation of 35 different authors that focus on different aspects of the  intentional partnership between the church and the home.  I was given the opportunity to receive an advance copy (for the purposes of reviewing it on this Web-Log) from Ministers Label and Michael Chanley - the collaborator of Collaborate!

This type of book is, from what I know, a one-of-a-kind approach within the field of Family Ministry.  It was enjoyable to hear the different stories of how certain ministries and programs came into existence.  For instance, Carey Nieuwhof's chapter on his journey into understanding the centrality of the family for evangelism and discipleship was excellent!  Maybe it's just because I feel a slight connection with Carey (he lives in Canada and I live near Canada - goofy I know) - even though I'll likely never meet him - I enjoyed hearing his story.

Another chapter filled with Story is Fred Stoeker's chapter called "Doing Book."  Fred, one the authors of the "Every Man's Battle" series, put his heart into explaining how he was able to have difficult, yet meaningful conversations with his pre-teens and teens.  You should check it out!

Basically, I liked just about every chapter that put the family BEFORE the programs and ministries of the church:

• "The Missing Piece - Developing a Biblical Worldview in your Children" by Jim Wideman
• "Paramount Parenting" by Matt Markins
• "The Small Conquering the Big" by Steven Dilla (again one with a dramatic personal story)
• "Living the Shema as a Dad" by Timothy Smith

My favorite chapter, by far, was Dr. Rob Rienow's entitled "Building a Theology of Family Ministry."  Rob does simply an amazing job at laying a whole-Biblical approach to the importance of Family Ministry - far beyond the standard Deuteronomy 6 and Psalm 78 passages.  His linking of the First Commandment (Genesis 1:28) and the overarching Meta-Narrative of the Covenant of God, the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-36), and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is exactly what every church needs to read / hear to see just how central the family is to the Covenant Plan of God.  I love this quote:

"If we are passionate about seeing the advance of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ, let us begin by turning our hearts toward home.  Let us ask God to help us begin our ministry in this world by 'making disciples' of our family members, even if they are scattered around the country - our parents siblings, spouses and children.  Let us passionately and biblically defend God's plan, structure and purposed for the institution of the family, as well as the institution of the church."

If we accept on any level what Dr. Reinow lays out, then that calls for a serious evaluation of how we do ministry! Is the Church missing the mark?  Has the modern church moved too far away from the plan of using the family to be the first and central place of discipleship and evangelism?  If that's the case, then it is a move that is AT BEST, ineffective or AT WORST, un-Biblical!  To that end, there were some frustrations with some of the chapters within Collaborate.

One such chapter for me was Justyn Smith's chapter on "PJ's All Stars Leadership Team."  This chapter about PJ's (Pastor Justyn's) seems like a great way to develop kid leaders - even including components for the kids to do at home.  But underneath this program is the idea that what happens at church is more important than what happens at home.  It puts the onus of raising discipleship squarely on the church - PJ specifically - and not onto the parents.  There are others that do a little of this as well: 

• "Selling Out - Sold Out" by Rob Bradbury
• "Family Nourishment" by Joyce Oglesby
• "Parent Liaisons" by Anna J. Light
• Even the logo on the front of the book puts the "church" about twice as big as the "home"

The problem is not that our churches DO NOT or CANNOT do discipleship with kids effectively, nor do I believe that we should stop all Children's Ministry programming ('cause then I would be out of a job!☺). But, are our ways of doing ministry with kids, youth and adults minimizing or even violating scripture by taking the responsibility away from parents.  Common objections would be:  "Well, parents aren't doing it effectively" or "This is how we choose to partner with the home."  Well, if that's the issue, what about if the families in our churches are not tithing or giving financially?  Do we begin to give FOR them?  Or do you teach and instruct them on the importance and commandment to give financially back to God?

I realize this may make me unpopular with many Children and Youth workers, so feel free to disagree.  In fact, I encourage it as I believe we are all still works in progress - ME INCLUDED!!!  I too am trying to work this stuff through and bring honor to God in my family and service in ministry.  Thanks Mr. Chanley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this though-provoking book!

Questions??????

This is a  promo video for the D6 Conference.  Church leaders - I encourage you to check it out!!!



The line up of speakers there is INCREDIBLE:  Dr. Kevin Leman, Mark Holmen, Tim Hawkins, Rob Rienow, The Skit Guys, and so on....

Faith @ Home

Parents and Church Leaders, this is a GREAT SITE to check out if you are interested in getting for information about how to disciple children in the home.  Mark Holmen was the Senior Pastor at Ventura Missionary Church until he left to pursue full-time missionary work in the Faith @ Home movement.

Again, with details coming shortly, Mark will be coming May 1st and 2nd to present a Faith @ Home workshop.  Saturday the seminar will be for Church leaders (Pastors, Directors, Lay Leaders).  On Sunday evening, from 5-7 PM, Mark and a representative from Focus on the Family will be presenting a workshop for parents of ALL ages who desire to continue, start or ramp up their discipleship of their kids at home.  Children's Ministry and Childcare WILL be provided - they will even get to eat!!!!

Focus on the Family & Colonial Woods

It's too soon to give all the details, but coming very soon Colonial Woods will be hosting a Faith @ Home Church Seminar the weekend of May 1st & 2nd with the Missionary Church's own Mark Holmen.  This event is being sponsored by the Michigan District of the Missionary Church.

There will be several components to the weekend - some for church leaders from across the Blue Water and Thumb of Michigan AND for parents who wish to take the next step in discipleship of their kids.  You can find out about how FOTF and Faith @ Home are partnering by going to their WEBSITE.

So stay tuned to find out more details as they become available.

Graphic Design Thoughts

I'm going to be ordering a few table top displays to use for recruiting and promotional tables, and want to know what you think of these designs.  They need to be simple, but visionary.

Now, admittedly I am NOT a graphic artist, and I can only use Publisher to create these, so they certainly won't meet the standards of you MAC users - so be kind - but offer some input.  I am going to be ordering these designs through Momentum Media who is running a special as part of promoting this newer business to the folks who attend the Orange Conference.

OK, check them out:

I wrestled a while with the background color options, but still don't know if they work.  Thoughts??

Hot off the Presses - The Journey

As Family Journey in Faith has grown over the last 3 years at Colonial Woods, a desire to encourage, inspire and equip as many parents as possible has risen.  This desire does not just include families of pre-school and Elementary kids, but those with pre-teens and teenagers as well.  To that end, it is my joy to begin to offer a resource for parents of ALL aged kids who wish to continue to mentor and disciple their children in the home.

"The Journey" is a quarterly (for now) newsletter available for download that provides insights, encouragement, and resources for parents as we seek to carry out the Great Commission in our families.  I know what you may be thinking:  "Oh great!  One more thing to read to fill up "all this time" I have on my hands!?!?!?"  (Sarcasm intended.)  The FJIF team understands you are busy!  We understand there are thousands of messages speaking into your marriage and family every day!  You don't necessarily need one more thing to do....

But the FJIF team also understands that God has placed each parent into the primary role to teach their kids about God.  We are the ones they will learn about any and all spiritual matters from; and as Jesus followers I very much want my kids to follow Him as well.  Take a look through "The Journey" and let God encourage you through it.

Also, let us know your thoughts and insights for future editions.  There is also a Giveaway Contest if you would like to participate.

In Him,
Dean

Get Ready to Blast Off!!!

Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls of all ages:  I introduce to you, the next adventure of Vacation Bible School for Colonial Woods:

Cadets:  You can begin your training by clicking HERE!

Parents:  Save these dates - July 18th - 22nd from 6:00 to 8:30 PM!!!!

The Race is On for our Kids

I ran across this recording from a website - Visionary Parenting - and needed to share with all of you.  Dr. Rob Rienow is the Family Pastor at Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, IL.  It's a little long, but you could listen to it while checking out Facebook, your email or other work.

Here is the description from Dr. Rienow's website:

How effective is your Children's Ministry at supporting parents and helping children discover and grow in Christ?  This message from Rob Rienow was given to the 200 Children's Ministry leaders/volunteers at Wheaton Bible Church. Please consider sharing this message with the Children's team at your church. Listen by clicking below, or download via the podcast link. After listening to the message, view the powerpoint (warning: VERY graphic) that Rob refers to HERE!


Our kids are being sought after HIGHLY by Satan - will we win the fight for the next generation?  Are we being the parents God wants us to be in carrying out our MAIN purpose in our families?  


In Him, Dean

Children's Pastor's Conference

I had the privilege and enjoyment of attending and volunteering last week at the 2010 Children's Pastor's Conference in Nashville, TN.  This is a premier Children's Ministry conference for pastors, directors, teachers, leaders and volunteers of children's ministry.  The event is hosted by the International Network of Children's Ministry based in Castle Rock, Colorado.

For a 2nd year in a row I was able to volunteer as a Conference Assistant helping set-up and maintain Audio/Video equipment for several of the Breakout Sessions.  It is always a blast meeting new CM folks and re-connecting with people from around the country.  Below are some pics into the week of CPC.

The Beautiful Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN.

The AMAZING - but CRAZY - 2010 Conference Assistants!

The Lads from New Zealand had the best booth there - IMHO!

Worship with Michael Neale was incredible!

Green Team RULES!!!!  No, I'm not related to Shreck or he Hulk; and yes I feel fine!

I got nothing to say...

Throwing down with Karl Bastian - aka Kidologist!

Ryan Frank heads up Kidz Matter out of Sweester, IN.

Quite possibly the highlight of CPC this year was Tim Hawkins!

I hope you enjoyed this little trip into my week at CPC!

They're.....just.....kids!

I hear these 3 little words more than I want to admit!  And, like Mike Johnson from Fellowship Church, it IRKS me!  Kids deserve our best!  They deserve to be trained properly before sending them on the front lines of the battle field!  Watch this powerful video for a great illustration of what it means when we DON'T train our kids to follow Christ:



What I love about the volunteers of Anchor CM and Family Journey in Faith is that they care about giving kids the suit of armor they need to stand against the schemes and battles they will face.  WAY TO GO TEAM!!!!

Dean

"Have a Fancy Yancy Christmas" CD Review

Yancy Richmond is an up and coming (and nearly arrived) Christian artist.  What makes Yancy unique is that, so far, she has stuck with kid's music.  I have especially liked her Little Praise Party "My Best Friend" DVD for pre-school praise.  So, I jumped at the chance to review her new CD, Have a Fancy Yancy Christmas!  [Not to mention they sent me one for me - SWEETNESS!]

By checking out the track list, you can see this CD contains a nice blend of "traditional" Christmas carols, and 3 originals (2 by Yancy herself):

1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas
3. Wonderful Christmastime
4. Joy To The World
5. Christmastime
6. The First Noel
7. Medley: Jingle Bells, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, Feliz Navidad, We Wish You A Merry Christmas
8. Angels We Have Heard On High
9. O Come All Ye Faithful 
10. The Greatest Gift*

*Currently getting air play around the country.

This is not just music for kids, though!  As you listen to the "Fancy" album - and yes, I'm that old to know what albums are - you are taken on a journey from the rockin' tune of Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas down to the mellow Christmastime.  Her cover of Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime will allow a new generation continue to enjoy this Christmas classic.  Lastly, The Greatest Gift wraps up the CD with what is basically the the events of the night and morning of Christmas put to music, telling the purpose of why Jesus came to earth!

If you're in the market for some new and fresh Christmas music, yet still love the classics, I highly recommend Yancy's "Have a Fancy Yancy Christmas."  You can purchase the CD at Amazon, Yancy's own website, and certainly Itunes.  Enjoy!

Dean

Repost: To Santa or Not to Santa?

One topic of debate this time of year for Christan Families centers around the issue/person of Santa Clause. Do we tell our kids about Santa? Do they get gifts "From: Santa?" What's the harm in pretending that Santa does exist?

Here are some of the issues so that you can decide.

Cons
1) Santa Claus is often given the same qualities as God: Omniscience and Omnipotence, specifically.

2) Santa keeps a list of our rights and wrongs. God does not.

3) Telling kids that Santa exists, when in fact he doesn't, sets up your kids for disappointment (not to mention you are lying to them).

Pros
1) Saint Nick was a real person and we could teach about him and his ministry.

2) James Dobson says it's OK.

3) Kids pretend all the time - to be a Princess or a Jedi - this is no different.

So, what do you think? What stance has your family taken? Has the question of whether or not to "believe" in Santa ever come up?

Food for thought, Dean

Randam Thoughts....by Dean Butterfield

For those of us over the age of 30, you may remember a sketch on Saturday Night Live called "Deep Thoughts.....by Jack Handey."  They were quotes to either show the absurdity of a situation or intentionally be stupid.  Here is one of this quotes:

“If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone.” --Jack Handey

Or you can watch some by heading over to this site.

Well, this is:

Random Thoughts....by Dean Butterfield

• Why is it that when I start looking for volunteers, I think I hear crickets chirping in the background?
• How one spends their time and money communicates values to our kids.  What values are we communicating?
• As a Christian, I believe the Bible is the ultimate authority for all of life.  But do I really live and think that way?
• How do you communicate grace and truth in one sentence, with using the word "...but..."?
• Have you ever seen horse fly, a horse fly, a horse fly?
• I am amazed nearly everyday how God has gifted His people for the work of the Kingdom.  Now, only to use those gifts by answering the call......

Thanks for listening.

Good Looking Blog

Well, I got tired of the old coffee house look, and my wife told me I need to update my book, so I decided to change it up a little bit.  I found some great Blogger Templates sites in the process, if you are interested:

• www.allblogtools.com
• http://blogspottemplates.blogspot.com
• http://www.blogspottemplate.com
• http://mashable.com/2008/05/17/70-plus-new-and-beautiful-blogger-templates/

So, what do ya think???

Dean

Parents ONLY!!!

I have no idea if this will help any of you with where you are in life with your kiddos but I ran across this site today, and I'm just gonna pass it along.

The Porn Talk site is a comprehensive site for helping parents have difficult conversations with their kids about sexuality and pornography.

For His Glory, Dean

Stepping Up His Game

Last year NFL Quarterback Vince Young had a breakdown under the pressure of life. This year, he's stepping up his game - at least as far as real life is concerned. After the death of Steve McNair earlier this year, Vince decided to step into the lives of Steve's two boys: Trenton & Tyler.

"Those are my boys,'' Young told The Tennessean. "I wouldn't say it was to pay anyone back; it was just out of love. Steve would do it for me. He pretty much did it for me when I was growing up." Seems Vince and Steve knew each other long before becoming teammates.

Quite the dramatic turn-around in his life. Almost as maybe Someone is orchestrating it???

Clothing Giveaway - October 10th

Coming up next month is the annual Clothing Giveaway at Colonial Woods. On October 10th, from 9-11 AM, the church will be full of families looking through tons of clothes donated to give away. IT'S ALL FREE!!!!!!!!!

Again this year we will be providing some Children's Ministry opportunities to the families coming through to look for clothes. This is a time to speak into and love on kids and their parents in a tangible way. I am looking to line up several volunteers for the 2 rooms:

• 4 Volunteers in the Infant through 3's
• 5 Volunteers in the 4's through 5th Grade room

If you are interested in helping others in this one time opportunity, please get in contact with me by EMAIL.

Google Search: Why Did I Get Married

If you've come to this site from Google, read below!!!!!!!!! Oh year, everyone else too.

OK, so you see that little Site Meter Stats box down a little bit on the right? That is a little way I can track how many people have visited Anchor CM's blog. It also tells me:

• Where they live - Port Huron, Toledo, etc.
• What Internet service provider they are using - Comcast, Verizon, etc.
• What pages or blog entries they visited
• what web browser - Internet Explorer, FireFox, etc., and
• How they came across my website - Linked from another blog, etc.

So get this: the overwhelming reason people visit my site has NOTHING to do with Children's Ministry or Colonial Woods (the church I work in)!!! I get at least 5 visits per day people referred from the Google search: why did I get married. A while back I had a couple of posts talking about those popular films by Tyler Perry using them as a springboard to encourage us to be more vulnerable with our spouse.

Now, I find that interesting because I wonder why people are searching for the answer to that question. Is it because they are looking for information on the movie? Or are they searching for answers to that question for THEMSELVES??? Given our current culture and the rate of divorce in our nation, it wouldn't surprise me that people might just be turning to the Internet to give me a 1 good reason why they should stay married.

Perhaps I am reading more into this that what is necessary, but what if people do happen to stop by this site on their search for answers? What should we tell them? What would you tell them? If I had to give the one answer as to why they should stay married, it is for the reason that you got married to begin with!!!!!!!!!!

You're asking the right question - why did U get married - because the reason you got married should be the SAME reason you STAY married. What is that reason? Depends.....

• Because I couldn't imagine spending my life without her.
• Because I came alive when I met her (had to borrow that one, but it's TRUE).
• Because there is no one on earth like her.
• Because my Love for her is only bettered by God's Love for me.

What would you say to that person if you knew someone was reading this blog and asking "Why am I married?"

Dean

You & Your Child Making a Difference

A Facebook friend of mine is the Founder of Kids for Christ USA that helps parents HELP THEIR KIDS establish Bible clubs IN SCHOOLS. As the school year kicks off, and since we are called to be salt and light into a dark and broken world, perhaps this will be of interest to you.

First, your child MUST be attending the school in order for you to get one started there. The way it works is that your child is the "sponsor" of the weekly group and you act as a "host." Bob's vision for KFC-USA is simple:

• Reach children in the public schools with the good news of Jesus Christ.
• Encourage young believers in their faith; enabling them to live consistently in Christ.
• Train and equip young believers with what they need to win others to Christ.

If you are interested, and I know some of our own Colonial Woods kids would ROCK at this, get in contact with them HERE.