Tuesday, August 27, 2013

MIR: Save the Date!

A special invitation for PALCO...

Unleash God’s Power in Your Relationships!

Love God.  Love people. Indeed, life and ministry are all about relationships!  Developed by Cadre Ministries, this workshop takes you back to the heart of authentic ministry and life change— RELATIONSHIPS! More of a highly interactive learning experience than a passive workshop, you will encounter these sessions and learnings:

Session 1 No Relationships = No Ministry; 
                    Know Relationships = Know Ministry
An out-of-the-box learning experience will get us started and explain why relationships are the heart of ministry—and God’s mode of operation for impacting and changing the lives of those in our ministry!

Session 2 God-Powered Relationship Skills
Learn the biblical motivation for building relationships.  Learn the three key relationship skills for connecting with the heart of others.

Session 3 He That Hath Ears—Let Him Hear!
A listening experience you will never forget—and be able to use in your life and ministry to build relationships.

Session 4 CLEAN UP Messy Relationships
Learn to use God's relationship cleaning supplies.
In addition, each participant receives a training manual complete with practical application pages, follow-through ideas, an agenda for a large group action plan meeting, AND a twenty-five day devotional guide for individual and small group study on the “one another” verses!

Who should come?
* Anyone junior high through senior citizen.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The High Cost of NOT Training Volunteers: A True Story

Just in case you're wondering WHY you and a few from your ministry should join our PALC Ongoing day together on Thursday, August 22, 2013 (complete details here), read this...


I finish preaching at a church and I am invited to attend a Sunday School class.  Since one of the great passions of my life is to see Jesus-like transformational teaching happen in Sunday Schools and small groups, I say, “Are you kidding? I’d LOVE to.”

I’m escorted to a very nice classroom where about 20 energetic adults are milling around engaged in what seems like good conversation to me. I hear lots of laughter and see lots of smiles. Many of these folks seem to know and love each other. I’m able to meet the volunteer teacher and several other sharp, articulate, and fun-loving people before the class starts. I sense energy in the room. I grab my cup of coffee and donut and find a seat. The subject today: God’s Word on marriage. I think to myself: This is going to be good. I can’t wait to see how this group tackles this.

Ten minutes into the class, the energy, engagement, and enthusiasm that once was, is no more. It feels like someone pulled the plug in a bathtub full of fun, relationships, and learning. The longer the class continues, the stronger the vortex of disengagement becomes. I watch one very sincere and well-studied volunteer teacher stand at the front of the room... and continue to talk. He doesn’t seem to notice that the smiles, energy, and, worst of all, the learning—like Elvis—have left the building. Not once in 50 long minutes is anyone asked to respond or participate. I look around the room to study the glazed-over faces. Just minutes ago, these eyes were lit up as they conversed with each other about God and life.

Not now.

My heart deflates—for both the teacher and those being taught. I ponder the tragedy unfolding before me: an untapped gold mine of biblical understanding and life experience sitting in the room... wasting away... right under the teacher’s nose. I sit and wonder. (I know, I should have been listening to the teacher.) I wonder how any of them may have enriched the learning with a personal story of God at work in their marriage. I wonder if anyone might have a related passage of Scripture to share. I wonder what could have happened—what God might do in our lives—if we could stop the lecture long enough to break into groups of 4-6 people and study what the Bible has to say about marriage for ourselves first... before the teacher tells us. I suspect that a number of those in the class would have something biblical, fun, and pertinent to offer... something life-changing to share.... if only they had a chance.

But they never got a chance.

The class is over now. I walk out of the room and, at my next thought, I feel a slight chill run down my spine: I wonder who will come back next week... and, more importantly, who won’t?


Here’s a wake-up-and-smell-the-coffee moment for you:

The fate of your ministry is in the hands of volunteers. 

It's utterly foolish not to train them well.




Do you need some help training volunteer teachers and small group leaders? Then don't miss our next day long PALCO gathering on Thursday, August 22nd!

Complete details here.

Prayerfully consider about which volunteers you should bring with you!