At FOUR12 Canada, we're equipping the Church for greater influence through serving!
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
Welcome to Episode 0015 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast!
Subscribe: iTUNES | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE
We are excited to have Jeremy Norton join us from Whitehorse, Yukon. He has been Lead Pastor of Mountainview Church for the past 6 years and is also the creator of the Lead Biblically website. Hear about life in the Yukon and how Jeremy is reaching small communities that cannot afford a pastor. We also chatted about his web post about delaying rest and what happens when we stay on the zipper ride at the fair for too long!
Connect with Jeremy
Links from the Podcast
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Lead Biblically
- Be authentic and vulnerable
- Serve Christ by cultivating biblical leadership
"Write stuff down!"
How to Create Growth and Revitalize
- Be willing to lay down traditions
Delaying Rest
- Causes unhealthy habits
- Like riding the zipper ride at the fall fair
- Don't ignore the warning signs
- Don't put the mission above Jesus
Remember That God is Sovereign--Not Fear and Forgetfulness
- Debilitating sorrow and feeling totally undone
- In that moment, you realize only Jesus can handle this; that's when God's sovereignty steps in
- Do you believe God is strong enough to handle it?
Stop, Rest and Abide in Him
- Get into God's word
- Rest and spend time with God
Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV) "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."
Surround Yourself With Those Who Encourage
- See a counsellor (e.g., Andy Lundy from the Juniper Tree team)
- Elders and ministry team that want you to be healthy
- Regional director who cares, comforts and encourages
- We probably all have really great people around us; we just need to open up
Effects on Your Church and Community
- What we see on a global scale also affects the local church
- People taking positions is trickling down and causing division
To the People in the Middle
- Thank you for the encouragement
- Thank you for understanding that it's not perfect and that we are attempting to navigate this time well
- You are the apple pie and ice cream!
Use This Season to Get Refreshed
- Write stuff down to get it out, so you can see what you are thinking and feeling
- Refresh, renew, refocus
Navigating This Time
- Choose innovation over tradition
- Traditional methods...Jesus didn't create them
- Look at current methods and ask, "Do we love these more than the mission?"
Serving Now
- How to reach children and youth during this time
- Launching Mountainview Communities; small towns in the north that don't have a church and want northern content
- Culture sometimes speaks better than creativity
Equipping on Lead Biblically
- Revitalizing a small church
- Working through the long game
- Moving from mindset of just lead pastor to part-time staff or quarter-time staff
- How to preach and teach in post-Christian culture in a small town
How to Create a Healthy Atmosphere for Your Team
- Be aware of your influence on people
- Laugh together
- Know when it's time to focus and work
- We have the same purpose and work to stay on the same page
- Be gracious
One Thing to Remember!
- If the old way of serving is not working, instead of complaining as a "couch critic", find a new way to serve
- Be encouraging
- Be innovative
- Maybe now is the time to lead a new ministry
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode, so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review on the Apple podcast app and other podcast apps that you use. The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Subscribe: iTUNES | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE
Up Next Season 2 Episode 0016 : Cathie Ostapchuk on Gather Women,
A Seat at the Table and
Finding Your Gifts
Tuesday Oct 06, 2020
Tuesday Oct 06, 2020
Welcome to Episode 0014 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast! This is our Second Season and we are so excited to kick it off with this episode!
Subscribe: iTUNES | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE
We are excited to kick off Season 2 with Pastor Matt Kerr (above left) and Pastor Bill Anderson (above right) from Faith Baptist Church. We chatted about the effects of this season on our church and community, the response to reopening, and how everyone needs a squirrel costume to reach families!
Bill has served as the Kids Pastor at Faith for 9 years. Matt has been the Pastor of Worship and Communications for 14 years. He also oversees production and the voice of the church.
Connect with Bill
Connect with Matt
Links from the Podcast
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
How Did We Get Here?
- Faith closed in-person in March; moved to prerecorded livestream with a kids segment
- Volunteers recorded Bible stories for grades 1 to 5 and preschool craft videos
- Praise that we had a livestream for the past 5 years, so it wasn't a difficult transition
- Opened in-person in June and had a live band singing onstage as of August
- Staggered opening of kids min started in September
Connecting With Volunteers
- Drive-through appreciation instead of a big dinner or event
- Gave little gifts and encouraged each volunteer
4 Points About Reopening Kids Min
- See it as a big experiment
- Plan for fewer kids
- Don't get overwhelmed
- Make a big deal about every kid that comes in
The Effect on Our Community and Church
- We see evidence of the importance of gathering
- Now beginning to bridge connecting people
- Anxiety and stress of missing out on community aspect
- Kids and families have missed the personal touch that we get on Sundays
Ways to Connect With Families
- Try something fun and different to meet outdoors with families at their homes
- For example, use a squirrel costume to reach out to families
Biggest Hurdles for Reopening
- Incremental growth (1 step forward, 2 steps back)
- Challenges with guidelines and clarity
- Navigating diverse opinions, both in our church family and community
- Diversity in those serving and the conditions they are comfortable serving in, as well as frustration
"As leaders, we are called to lead the whole team: not choose and select who to lead..."
- Remember, we are people leading people; we need love and grace
- Working out the screening and tracking and all the guidelines
- Cleaning and reminding kids of physical distance
- Determining reporting policy and what will we do as a church
Response of Reopening
- Eager volunteers for grades 1 to 5; preschool volunteers are a little more nervous
- Families were so grateful
- Kids really needed this and missed it
Strengthening Families During COVID
- We continued with social media, making online announcements as much as possible
- Brett Ullman, author of Parenting: Navigating Everything, came to talk about parenting
- Kept shining the light of the gospel onto local families
- Aimed to be a voice for those in crisis
- Connected with families in every situation and provided help
- Helped meet community internet needs for online school
Moving Forward and Equipping Volunteers
- Sent a weekly email to volunteers
- Used TrainedUp program
- RightNow Media also has ways to upload training videos
- Phone calls, emails, praying before we start
- Added online tools for the worship band
- Added new volunteer role: lead vocalist who leads and guides our vocalists
- New production members stepped up
- Put new people alongside experienced team members to shadow
- Looking for social media volunteers (e.g., chat moderator is a new role in the online church world)
- Systems database management
Moving Forward Ideas for Kids Min
- Use social media to interact with families
- Personal letter to kids (snail mail or email)
- Birthday cards
- Squirrel costume!
Moving Forward Ideas for the Church
- Communication is key with individuals and groups
- Clearly communicate to the church as a whole
One Thing to Remember!
- Get a squirrel suit
- Start with love! It will clarify what you need to say, whether you are talking to a volunteer or leader
- This is only a season
- Guard your relationships with God and with your team members
- Make the most of every opportunity to inspire kids
- Make a short plan
Speaking to the Pause
Listen to the song "Living Hope" and remember why we need a Saviour. Keep pointing people to Jesus!
1 Peter 5:6-7: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Know that God is in full control of this situation!
"Do what you can do to allow God to do what he can do" - Dave Lane
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving and we don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. And you can help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast on the Apple podcast app and other podcast apps that you use. The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Subscribe: iTUNES | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE
Up Next Episode 0015 Season2: Jeremy Norton on Living in the Yukon and
What Happens When
we Delay Rest
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Welcome to Episode 13 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast.
Listen and access the show notes here or search for FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
We are excited to have Dave Lane as our last guest for season 1. Dave is the Pastor of Youth and Family at Temple Baptist Church in Sarnia. In this episode, we chat about grace-based parenting and how what you do at home equips you for ministry.
Connect with Dave
Links from the Podcast
Recommended Reading
Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World by Sean McDowell & J. Warner Wallace
Lead Your Family Like Jesus: Powerful Parenting Principles from the Creator of Families by Ken Blanchard, Tricia Goyer & Phil Hodges
Rethinking Sexuality: God's Design and Why It Matters by Juli Slattery
Messy Grace: How a Pastor with Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction by Caleb Kaltenback
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Grace-Based Parenting
- What you do at home is always reflected in how you minister
- Paul calls church leaders to look after their families
- Create Godly kids
- Focus on the heart instead of the behaviour
- Grace helps us maintain the balance between 2 extremes in parenting:
- Legalism rules without relationship, and leads to rebellion
- License relationship without rules leads to resentment
"Truth is a clear light that illuminates our children's way through the dark and shadowy corridors of youth."
"Grace is the heart commitment to keep that light shining brightly no matter what."
How to Create an Environment of Grace
- Freedom to be different: Define what different is; allow them to be different from your preferences; don't get caught up in the externals; focus on the heart; value what they do against scripture
- Freedom to be vulnerable: Help them find the balance between facts and feelings
- Freedom to be candid: Candour is honesty dipped in honour; let them be honest in an honourable way
- Freedom to make mistakes: We all make mistakes; we need to allow our kids to deal with the consequences and learn to make good choices
What Changes Your Life
- Books you read
- People you meet
- Places you go; experiences
"Reflect truth and be the light no matter what."
What Motivates You to Keep Going Right Now
- God's word: know it, declare it and walk it
- Know God is still in control
- Rely on God
Your Community Right Now
- Is your family and your kids
- Practise grace with them now
- Focus on your family
What Will Church Look Like
- Deal with the fear
- Rebuild
- Focus on love and grace
One Thing to Remember!
- Ministry looks so different right now; many of us don't know what to do or how to do it
- Do what you can; let God do what only He can do
- COVID-19 caught us off guard, but it did not take God off guard; planned events are on our calendars, whereas unseen events are on His
- Feeding of the 5000: We need to step out and be faithful; God will always show up
- Take that step! Don't miss out on what God is doing!
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving and we don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. And you can help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast on the Apple podcast app and other podcast apps that you use. The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 2
Tuesday Jul 28, 2020
Tuesday Jul 28, 2020
Welcome to Episode 12 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast
Listen to the podcast and access the show notes here or search for the FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
We are so excited to share this Volunteer Spotlight episode with you!
Meet Tanya Sprathoff
Tanya has been serving in the Production Ministry at Faith Baptist Church for the past 5 years as a service director. She also coordinates the Prayer Team and leads a small group. Tanya loves dark chocolate (at least 85%) and Lung Ching green tea. She loves travelling in general and thinks Canada is filled with amazing places to visit. She part-time homeschools and is a taxi service for two teenagers. During the growing season, her passion is her 30'x50' veggie garden!
Links from the Podcast
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Best Practices for Scheduling Volunteers
- Look ahead!
- Encourage everyone to block off times they are not available
- Make sure all volunteers have an opportunity to say no
- Let them know they are accountable and responsible to find a replacement should they not be able to make it
Tips for Planning Centre
- Provides a big picture view; shows who is serving where
- Look at previous plans
- Pair families together (youth with parents or spouses serving together)
- Send notifications easily and specifically for each week
- Use reminder emails and text notifications
What Equips
- Remember everything is for Jesus
- Knowing that online is a safe place for those who may not come into a church; creating an online environment is very important
- Look for ways to reach people who we normally wouldn't have access to on a Sunday-to-Sunday basis
Things to Appreciate
- Production team arrives very early to get things set up
- They are thinking of ways to reach people outside of the church and create an online environment
Encouragement for Listeners
- What a wonderful opportunity to draw closer to God and prioritize what is important in our lives
- Read His word
- Watch videos
- Get on fire for God!
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen" Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast! The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 1 Episode 13:
Dave Lane on What You Do at Home Equips You for
Ministry, Defining What Different is and
Grace And Rebuilding
Tuesday Jul 14, 2020
Tuesday Jul 14, 2020
Welcome to Episode 11 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast
Listen to the podcast and access the show notes here or search for the FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
We are so excited to share this conversation with Colin Ray. For the last 10 years, he has been the Production Manager at Muskoka Woods. We had the privilege of having Colin as our production guru at the FOUR12 Canada Conference in 2019.
Connect with Colin
Links from the Podcast
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
| "Find your passions!" |
Create an Environment to Let God Speak
- Connect with speakers and understand what they want
- Build relationships
- Partner with what they are doing
A Ministry of Why
- Train by building relationships
- Talk about the why and hold regular team meetings
- Do mock shows
- Practise
How to Move to Online
- Ask what should be live and what can be prerecorded
- Ask how we can engage and interact online and still get out important information
- This time has given people in production an opportunity to be creative
Create an Experience
- Gain inspiration from seeing people engage and come to God
- Create space for God to work
Break the Mold
- Try new things
- What can church be?
- What can worship be?
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Encouragement for Listeners
- Follow your passion and use it to drive the skills God gave you
- Don't be afraid to ask for help; reach out and network with people
- Use what you learn from your challenging moments
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast! The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 1 Episode 12:
Volunteer Spotlight on Serving in
Production with Tanya Sprathoff
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Welcome to Episode 10 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast
Listen to the podcast and access the show notes here or search for the FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
We are so excited to share this conversation with Dom Ruso about where we are as the Church and what moving forward may look like! Dom is the Lead Church Planter of the180. He is a gifted speaker and we were blessed to have him as our main speaker at the FOUR12 Canada Conference in 2019.
Connect with Dom
Links from the Podcast
Will We Let the Wrong People Re-Imagine Church?
Recommended Reading
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
| "Although we all get a microphone, not everybody's microphone is at the same level." |
How Do We Approach Culture? (Leadership and Culture)
- The Church needs to think about ways to intersect with culture
- How do we listen well again?
Not Moving Forward Yet
- Some days the best thing to do is not move forward
- Re-evaluate when the storm is over, not in the middle of it
- We have to rebuild but let's realize we don't know what that means yet
- Instead, work on your interior character so we can rebuild with wisdom
Unique Ways to Serve and Encourage
- Virtual prayer with others
- New ways to connect virtually
- Welcome videos
Jesus Has Gone Ahead of You
- Those who have said yes to Jesus are following a Saviour who is always ahead of us
- He already knows what's coming next
- The Person who is carrying us and drawing us forward is someone who loves us and is a good God
Try New Things
- Try one new discipline to help you stay healthy and grow in your relationship with God
- Trying new things keeps us creative
Things to Encourage Those Listening
- Trust God in the season of waiting
- Pray virtually with others
- Be intentional with family time
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast! The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 1 Episode 11:
Colin Ray on Following Your Passions to Drive the Skills God has Given You, A Ministry of Why, and Using This Time as an Opportunity to be Productive
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Tuesday May 19, 2020
Welcome to Episode 9 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast
NOTE: This episode was recorded earlier this year.
Listen to the podcast and access the show notes here or search for the FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
We are so excited to share this conversation with Joanna la Fleur! She is a creative communicator from Toronto, Canada. Kim had the privilege of meeting her at Faith Baptist Church at a training event for our hosting teams in February. Joanna has a podcast and she is on the Christian talk show "See Hear Love". She served at Sanctus Church, then stepped into her current role to help others. For 15 years, Joanna has helped churches become the best possible communicators sharing the most important message in the world.
Connect with Joanna
Links from the Podcast
Canadian Church Leaders Conference
Recommended Reading
Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World by
Better Together: How Women and Men Can Heal the Divide and Work Together to Transform the Future by Danielle Strickland
God Has a Name by John Mark Comer
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Things Have Changed in Church Communication
- We used to call people weekly on the phone
- Now we can learn on the go
- Communicate in the digital world because that's where people are now
Finding Yourself in Volunteering
- Volunteering is a place to find yourself and understand what you are good at and not good at, learning your strengths and weaknesses
- Balance volunteering and everything else in life
- Be committed
Effective Ways to Encourage Volunteers
- Use food as a way to bring people together and remind them why we are here
- Look people in the eye and thank them like you mean it!
- Show sincere gratitude
- Send thank-you cards
"Most people are serving because they want to, not for a gift card."
Developing a Social Media Team
- This is a primary way to communicate with people now
- Pick one platform and do it well before trying to do them all
- Make a realistic plan (e.g., start with Facebook and or Instagram, depending on the demographics of your church)
- To develop a team, ask, "Who already does this well? Who's active on the social media platforms we want to use? Are they trustworthy? Can they write interesting things...and put a proper sentence together?"
- Talk to people in person and let them know they do a great job, so this team might be a good fit for them
- This is a great way for the church to use people's different skills and interests
- Consider getting your name on all the platforms so that if you want to use it in the future you have the handle
"As a church, we want to talk to people where they are"
Practical Ways to Get Started
- Plan out posts in advance (e.g., use a spreadsheet)
- Write out what you want to say on each post and check to make sure it matches the voice of the church
- Build a Google photo drive to share pics that could be posted
- Get a leader to provide some direction on the church's values
- Keep a consistent voice regardless of who is posting
Practical Ways to Encourage Those Around You
- If you see something that was great, say something!
- Get in touch and encourage them right away
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast! The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 1 Episode 10: Dom Ruso on Leadership and Culture and How that Impacts the Church, Not Moving Forward Yet but Instead Cultivate Interior Character and Trust God in the Season of Waiting
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Welcome to Episode 8 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast
* NOTE: This episode was recorded earlier this year. *
Listen to the podcast and access the show notes here or search for FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
Jeff Austen is the Adult Ministries Pastor at Creekside Church in the Waterloo region. We had a great conversation about allowing God to build into you and how a church is only as healthy as the quality of its volunteers. Although this episode was recorded earlier this year, Jeff shared plenty of resources and ideas that you could use at such a time as this.
Connect with Jeff
Links from the Podcast
Clay Scroggins on Carey Nieuwhof's Leadership Podcast
Recommended Resources
LifeGroup Leader Job Description
Recommended Reading
Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World by Paul M. Gould
Planning Small Groups with Purpose: A Field-Tested Guide to Design and Grow Your Ministry by Steve Gladen
Leading Life-Changing Small Groups by Bill Donahue
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Adult Ministries and Small Groups
- Adult Ministries includes everything for adults outside of Sunday mornings
- Creekside's Life Groups (small groups) bring together around 10 people who are growing in their walk with God
Big on Volunteers
- A church is only as healthy as the quality of its volunteers
- Build into and support them so they can be successful in their roles
- An overall value for Creekside is to be in a group and on a team
- Share vision and show appreciation continually
A few times a year, look for people to step up and lead a group
Coaches Team
- Come alongside group leaders
- Pray with and listen to them
- Provide resources
- Remind leaders that they're not alone
- Provide ongoing encouragement
Why Join a Group?
- As a church, clearly communicate the value and expectation of joining a small group
- God created us for relationships; we flourish in community
Act of Worship
- What you do is so important and vital
- We are created by God to serve
Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)
Moving Forward
- Allow God to build into you by attending conferences, reading, listening to podcasts, etc.
- Take time to get refuelled, stay encouraged and get connected
- God loves you and accepts you as you are not because of what you do
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast! The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 1 Episode 9: Joanna La Fleur on Church Communications, Helpful Tips for a Volunteer Social Media Team, and Practical Ways to Encourage Each Other as We Serve
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Welcome to Episode 7 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast
Listen to and access the show notes here or search for FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
Brooke Nicholls is a Canadian worship leader and songwriter. She lives in Toronto and is married to her guitar player, Steve. She is nominated for a Juno and serves as a worship leader at Sanctus. We had a fantastic conversation about leading from a place of love and how small things can have a lasting impact on encouraging those you serve with. I hope you enjoy our chat as much as I did!
Connect with Brooke
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Links
Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
Recommended Reading
The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life by Louie Giglio
How to Worship a King: Prepare Your Heart. Prepare Your World. Prepare The Way by Zach Neese
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Know your team
- Get to know each member as a person
- Gather as a whole team
Better together
- Difficult seasons will happen; obedience and encouragement are important
- Someone walking alongside you helps
- Don't underestimate the power of encouragement!
- Small acts of encouragement can be significant
Input = output
- Check out conferences in your area
- Learn from new perspectives and refresh what you already know
- Put in the work to improve
- Remember why we're doing what we're doing
- Listen to podcasts
- Read books
Things Brooke has learned along the way
- Lead from a place of love
- Relationships always trump numbers
- Be gracious; remember we are all people
- It's all for the kingdom
- Empower people and be there for them
Showing love
- Big teams are not an excuse not to show love
- Send simple texts and direct messages to encourage volunteers
- Let them know you are praying for them
- Email to touch base and find out ways you can pray for them
Tell volunteers
- What you're doing matters so much!
- You are playing a part in the kingdom
- You are so valuable
- Your church needs you
- The Lord sees the work you are doing
Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV)
Remember
- Encourage your volunteers and acknowledge the time they have given up to serve
- Let them know you see them and you care
- Encouragement and positive affirmation can make a world of difference!
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast! The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 1 Episode 8: Jeff Austen on
Continually Allowing God to Build Into You
and as a Church You Are Only
as Healthy as the Quality of Your Volunteers
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Welcome to Episode 6 of the FOUR12 Canada Podcast
Listen to and access the show notes here or search for FOUR12 Canada Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.
Misty Phillips is an Orange Specialist serving churches in Canada, specifically working with kids. We had a fantastic conversation on Family Ministry and why strategy matters, how to partner with parents, and fun ways to surprise and delight volunteers. Misty uses her first-hand experience with the Orange curriculum to help churches unpack it in their ministry context.
Connect with Misty
Links
Recommended Reading
Think Orange: Imagine the Impact When Church and Family Collide by Reggie Joiner
A New Kind of Leader: What You Believe Can Open a Door for a Kid or Teenager's Future by Reggie Joiner
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Strategy vs. Mission
- Mission: Here's what we want to see happen
- Strategy: Here's how we're going to get there
- How to unpack faith is part of your strategy
- Make faith relatable and practical at each phase
Family Ministry and Where to Start
- Recognize the unique milestones and timelines that children go through
- Family Ministry should be crib to college
- How can we partner with parents and help them create a rhythm at home?
- What do we want children to become as they grow in the Lord?
3 Dials We Turn to Make Faith Relatable at Each Phase
- Preschool: Wonder at the God-filled world they live in
- Elementary: Discovery and making wise choices in relationships
- High School: Learning that they are the church and they are gifted
How to Partner with Parents
- It's much more than just a handout about what children learned
- Aim to partner with parents, because they will always trump the influence of the church
- Recognize that parents have 3,000 hours in a year at home vs. the church with about 40 hours
Think Strategically
- What's the best way to connect with families in your area?
- Provide tools on their devices (e.g., Parent Cue app)
- Look at the horizon so you don't get stuck as leaders
- Be willing to engage in culture (e.g., check out what kids are watching on YouTube)
- Make sure everyone plays well and prays together
Tell Volunteers
- What you do matters!
- We can't do it without you
- You add so much value with the amazing gifts and talents you have to offer
Leader Tips
- You can't over-value or over-appreciate a volunteer
- Find fun ways to encourage (e.g., randomly show up where they're serving and surprise them with something fun)
- Keep your volunteers guessing about how you are going to appreciate them
Thanks for listening! We hope this episode has equipped you for greater influence through serving. We don’t want you to miss a single episode so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us reach more people by writing a review for the podcast! The FOUR12 Canada podcast is a ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Ontario. Explore everything FOUR12 Canada at four12.ca. Thanks for spending some time with us. See you next time!
Up Next Season 1 Episode 7: Brooke Nicholls on
How to Lead From a Place of Love and How Small
Things Can Have a Lasting Impact in Encouraging
Those That You are Serving With