goals and challenges

As I write this, I know to whom I am writing for, but not sure who actually reads it.

I love a challenge, and 2009 is full of them. When I see a challenge, I want to make a goal. Not a futbol goal, but a personal goal and a goal for AMPED. In this I know that these will not be achieved by me alone, but they will need to be led by me. I hope each of you knows that we will need your help (personal involvement), ideas and insight, prayer, and support. The only way we can rise to the challenges we face and exceed our goals is if we do this together in a spirit of unity.

Now, on to the challenges and such:

The biggest thing is split into two parts; We need to increase our infuence in the 1) comuunity and 2) in our church. Currently, I don't feel that the students around us and the parents of the students in our church set us (AMPED) as a priority. There are many parents that do consider the Jr High Ministry as a priority for their students, but there are many who don't. Our numbers for Sunday evening services during 2008 fluctuated wildly. I know that Sunday night is not the best scenario for Jr High students, but it is not the worst by far. If and when we do become a priority in the lives of the students and the parents, I know we can be consistent and growing.

Okay, so now if we know the problem, how do we set about resolving it or even changing the direction of it?

1. Extend our borders and get outside of the church. We definitely need to do a better job of outreach. To think that our only potential is represented by the families that are currently in our church is to be closed minded. One of the immediate things we are doing about this is to have Jon Pritikin doing school assemblies with us the last week of January, followed by a Friday night rally in which all of the students from these school assemblies are invited. This is potentially thousands of Jr High students. Follow up from this is HUGE. We expect to see Students saved at this Friday night rally and at least open to dialog about God which would bring them back to AMPED.

2. Become a priority in the lives of the Jr High students whose families are currently attending Gateway Church. Okay, this has Huge potential as well. Part of me feels that if we can't do this well, we ultimately won't succeed in our mission of getting and retaining students from #1. How do we do this? It starts with great communication, followed with great discipleship. I've said it a million times; Jr High students do not drive themselves (or anyone for that matter). They are still extremely dependent on their parents to get them to wherever they are going. Parents are also (or at least they should be) the deciding factor on where the students are going and when. I kow that Sunday nights can be very difficult for families, what with being tired from all the weekend activities and getting ready for the school and work week, but we need them to see the importance of having their student actively and consistently involved in a thriving spiritual program. Did you catch that last part? If we are not making a difference and being good stewards with the gifts and talents and passion God has given us, then I don't want to do this anymore. If we are gonna have a ministry for Jr High students, then let's make it count and see some lives forever changed for the Kingdom of God!

3. Have consistent and creative follow up with Jr High students, both first time guests and current AMPED students. If they have given us the opportunity to speak into their lives by showing up at AMPED for the first time, we need to let them know that we noticed and invite them back. If a student has something that they are praying about in their life and feel it important enough to let us know, we need to show that it's important enough for us to follow up with them about and ask about it. If they have made a life changing decision at one of our services or events, we need to follow up and celebrate with them and offer to be a support for them. If one of our students begins to miss consistently, we need to stand up and take notice and then take initiative to hit them up and ask how they are doing and invite them back because we miss them. Please don't feel that you need to wait on a staff member to follow up with a student. Feel the freedom and liberty to reach out to them and let them know you care. You are also the eyes and ears for AMPED and many times things can happen in the student's life that we don't know about. Let us know what you know and see so that we can join you in caring for that student.

We need to minister to the whole family. Make sure they know what we are doing, why we are doing it (very important), and when we are doing it. Let's equip parents to be Godly parents and give them the tools and resources they need for their children. Let's equip students to live a Godly life and to have a relationship with Jesus. Let's be vibrant and purposeful in all we do. Let's have a blast doing it and create some memories.

Discipleship is a key to keeping these students coming back, and more importantly, making a difference in their life that will last. My goal for Jr High students is to help prepare them for life; a life and faith that will carry them into adulthood. How many of you adults want to see these students make the same hurtful mistakes we did? Granted, they will all make mistakes in their journey, but we can help ensure that they have a relationship and support structure that will help them survive the battles of life. For us, discipling Jr High students means relationship from the time they walk through the door at AMPED the very first time all the way through their journey in Jr High 'til we realease them into Sr High. Love on them. Talk to them. Get involved in their life and be a little pushy. Pray with them and follow up with them. Ask them the hard questions. They want and need relationship; a sense of belonging. They want and need someone that challenges them and helps them to grow. Be that man or woman that they can look back when they are an adult and see how you influenced them for the better. Be the person that they thank at the beginning of their first book. Know that everything you do is important and has the potential to reach thousands even through one life. You never know who they will grow up to be and touch, but you can be intentional about your goals and dreams for them.


Live and lead with passion!

There are many intricate parts to this, more than I have space for here, but I hope you get the main idea. I look forward to the challenge and invite you all to come along with us as we enter into the most promising and prosperous year we have ever seen!