Comments for Where's the Family?

Channel Description:

Latest Articles in this Channel:

04/17/09--13:46: Comment on Adventist Church Planting by vanoutlook (chan 2278635)

Brother Fuller: I'm truly in prayer asking God to show us what to do to be the people of His vision; who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Please join me this week in special heart felt pray for God's people all over the world, but especially the Adventist Church. It is time for us to rise and shine. Prayerfully, Van


04/18/09--22:05: Comment on Missional Church by Karen Lewis (chan 2278635)

Your blog was of interest to me. A missional church is a converted church! Not converted to a set of doctrines but to Jesus and His matchless charms. I believe that a church that is not intentionally discipling others (how many of you had someone personally mentor you in how to live the christian life?), will be a weak, unconverted church that will continue to get weaker. Many of our people do not understand discipleship! We need to mentor them in this! We need to model discipleship behavior in the local church. Only then will our young people truly understand what true christiantity is.


04/20/09--21:50: Comment on Senior Youth Ministry by Janel (chan 2278635)

We had a college student attend our church this week who was interested in being a part of what we are doing. He and his girlfriend spent time in our home that evening. He said he found no place to serve at the college church. We talked about the importance of having a "cause" to believe in and work towards. He discussed that he and other students have the energy needed to be valuable help. We could definitely use him. He also admitted he was a lot more involved in campus spiritual opportunities during his first year at Union and that it was so easy to get caught up in the "here and now" deadlines of college life. Yet he yearned for something more. He's older than senior youth, and so am I, but I am also energized when I'm a part of a cause that helps fulfill Christ's commission. I wonder if senior youth need to see themselves as a relevant part of these end times too. Hope this helps.


04/21/09--03:37: Comment on Senior Youth Ministry by vanoutlook (chan 2278635)

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I'll take them directly to the committee this morning and remind everyone that our senior youth need a "cause" to believe in and work for. You are right, without a "cause" we all loose interest and feel unneeded. Thank you for participating in the process of creating an emergency response to the potential loss of this generation to the Adventist Church. Prayerfull, Van


04/28/09--07:41: Comment on Adventist Church Planting by Darrel J Huenergardt (chan 2278635)

Thanks Van. I appreciate your insight. As a church we often look with disfavor at church splits. Could I suggest that when a church congregation misdirects its vision and purpose, a new church is necessary to open the way for outreach in a community? I remember a regional Sabbath School lesson study I lead several years ago where I said something about if your church does not provide for your using your gifts of the Spirit, you need a new church. At that time I suggested that the SDA church that was being attended needed to refocus. Sometimes that cannot happen, so can the Lord lead in a church split for a positive result. I do not believe that action must always be negative. ???


05/05/09--05:50: Comment on Adventist Church Planting by vanoutlook (chan 2278635)

You have a good point. Most people question why we should have two Adventist churches close together when neither one may be filled. While the Adventist message is the same, the core values of two congregations will seldom be identical. Historically Adventists have planted new churches and through this process remained relevant with the contemporary community. In the back of "PlAnting GRowing Churches for the 21st Century" by Aubrey Alphurs, page 393 has a "core values audit" a church can take. It is interesting to see a church's highest four values. This DNA makes a congregation what they are and defines how they are different/similar from the mother church. In mY opinion that's why it is good for new churches to be planted.


05/05/09--08:39: Comment on Coaching For Excellance by martinoutlook (chan 2278635)

Mentoring is a time-honored principle of learning, from Scriptural times to our own Colonial days with apprenticeships. I think it's been lost somewhat in our society and to our church--but maybe God is using people like you to bring it back. Martin


05/05/09--10:02: Comment on Coaching For Excellance by michaeloutlook (chan 2278635)

Coaching, or mentoring, has been and continues to be a very important part of my life. Now that I am getting older not only am I the one being coached but I find myself coaching others, intentionally. What I've discovered is that those who coach me change over the course of my life: but they are still there for me. For example, the two primary coaches in my life when I was a college student are still close friends but my life has transitioned in a new direction so I don't find myself utilizing their expertise and guidance at the moment, but every once in a while I find myself checking in with them. My wife's uncle is a very significant influence in my life right now so I do think that family, if they are able to be objective, can serve a useful coaching role in your life (at least it has proven true for me).


05/10/09--08:32: Comment on Coaching For Excellance by nancyoutlook (chan 2278635)

Interesting thought--I have never had a professional life coach--not because I couldn't use one, I am too cheap to pay for one. I would rather buy cute shoes. I do believe a life coach is worth while especially if a person just can't sort things out on their own. As this life on earth becomes more and more complicated I would love to just say Jesus is the best coach in the world and He is but there are times we just plain need to seek some face to face help.


05/23/09--15:49: Comment on Adventist Church Going Green by martinoutlook (chan 2278635)

Environmental sensitivity is a win-win-win situation. To connect with postmodern society, a church simply must be pro green or at least green sensitive--and that gives it a huge advantage over churches that don't care about the environment. God the Creator obviously hates pollution or waste. Being green even saves on utility bills. So being environmentally responsible wins on all those three levels. Martin