Best Times "In Route"

Some of us have been carpooling lately because of the gas shortage. However, every once in awhile it leaves you stranded. Jeanne had to meet up with her hubby and had no way to get there because she had rode in with Bethany. I volunteered to drive her. Since we both run at about Mach 2, sometimes our greatest times are "in route." Which is kind of funny given that Rey had said that a few weeks ago in middle school ministry ... that his best times and talks were picking up and dropping off kids. Not many people talk about "in route" ministry, probably because it doesn't sound very glamorous and there are no lights, bells and whistles involved. But often times, it is the very place where life change occurs.

Today we were talking about a recent message we had both heard and I got bold enough to say "I don't have buy in with all of that." Then we had a great discussion regarding it. I love having a boss safe enough to share heart, feelings and thoughts with. 98% of the time we totally agree and are so like-minded it's often scary, then there is that 2% where we are at totally different ends of the spectrum. The fact that we can respectfully share, often passionately, our different views and not feel threatened in any way is cool. It definitley makes the journey fun for sure.

Master's, the Cadre and NYLC 09 are in full swing now. Time is so scarce, but I love it. In all of my life, I've never met anyone like Jeanne when it comes to multiplication. She has raised up more leaders and placed them in full-time ministry (equally in the business world as well) ... and through mentoring, coaching and by sometimes just being a "mom" helped keep them there. They truly dot the globe.

Blizzard in the Atlanta

Ok, we aren't having a blizzard in Atlanta, but we might as well have with the gas crisis. Pray for our churches today. The gas crisis is REAL, hopefully it will be resolved sometime this week. If I had to guess, about 90% of the gas stations are out of gas. The ones that do have it, cars are 30-40 deep waiting in line for it.

Churches will take a hit today. Spiritually they can't afford it, that's a given and goes without saying, but financially as well. Anything considered discretionary driving is being drastically reduced. People will not come to church today, so they have gas to drive to work tomorrow. Many churches in the inner city are struggling to make budget as it is, that's after they've already trimmed it down to the essentials, the gas crisis will not help in that effort.

So, pray for ATL churches today and wherever else the gas crisis might be felt.

Gasoline in the ATL

Ok, this whole gas thing is starting to get weird. The two stations, both by the interstate, that have consistently had gas ... the QT by my house and the QT by the church ... were like ghost towns today ... No Gas!

Cadre 2008-2009

We had the first year calls last week and the second year call is today. Just the way the first year was interacting, I can already tell it's going to be a blast. This year's cadre are from 30 states and Canada. Since we busted into Canada, can we say we're international now? (j/k)

Texas
12
Florida
9
Georgia
9
Michigan
9
Oklahoma
9
Pennsylvania
9
Alabama
6
California
5
Arkansas
4
Colorado
4
Indiana
4
Wisconsin
4
Nebraska
3
Canada
2
Kansas
2
North Carolina
2
Ohio
2
South Carolina
2
Tennessee
2
West Virginia
2
Wyoming
2
Arizona
1
Illinois
1
Louisiana
1
Massachusetts
1
Maryland
1
Missouri
1
Montana
1
New Jersey
1
New York
1
Washington
1
Total
113

Knowing their story makes all the difference in the world

We've got a family of five kids in our youth ministry and they are pretty much stair steps ... four of them in middle school. I love them dearly, but they are a little on the wild, unfocused side which can be irritating on ocassion ... that is until I learned their story this week. I'm reminded, once again, how knowing someone's story makes all the difference in the world.

The mom was/is a drug addict. When the twins were born, the doctors said don't bond with them, they aren't going to live ... and if they do, they will probably be blind, bedridden, etc. Although the mom was a drug addict, she called in a woman she knew to pray for them ... and pray she did. The kids turned out fine, once again maybe a little wild and unfocued at times, but fine nonetheless. In the end, all the kids were adopted by the women who prayed for them. I can't even imagine what the oldest was exposed to. I do know they are walking miracles even to have survived. While I will still correct and redirect, I have a feeling both my patience and hugs will be on the rise.

While I get the wonderful opportunity to put my hands to a number of thing, I think my first love will always be middle school ministry. I casted vision for the middle school side of Oxygen to the new MC students today. I couldn't help but realize the passion for the ministry that comes so natural for me.

If you were wondering about gas in the ATL

If you were wondering whether the gas shortage from Ike was real in Atlanta, it so is! 6 of 8 gas stations I passed today were without gas. The other two looked liked a war zone with lines into the street. I think I will fill up about 3 a.m. We use special gas here in the ATL to reduce pollution. Fortunately, the governor just lifted the requirement in order to alleviate the run on gas.

722 and Traffic Jams

Went to the last 722 tonight and Jarrett Stevens did an outstanding job of leading, inspiring and encouraging them in change. The title of the message was Next Is Now! Given that he's probably been asked "What's Next?" a gazillion times, it was the perfect title. He challenged us to go out and be the church ... in the city, on the basketball court, etc. I had heard the saying a million times, you might be the only Jesus some will ever see. I like it, but like Jarrett's wording better tonight ... you might be the only "church" some will ever see. We're in ramp up season and things are extremely busy. It felt good to hit the pause button tonight. It's only Tuesday night and I'm ready for my Saturday off.

A funny sidenote. There was a serious traffic jam when I went home this morning. Here's some thoughts:

You know you are in a bad traffic jam when...
1. It takes 2 hours and 5 minutes to make your normal 15 minute drive.
2. You have time to clean out your overstuffed glove compartment.
3. Even the alternative route was wretched.
4. When the people on the radio say that the police said the accident should be cleared in .... another 3 hours, which was already 3 hours after it had happened.
5. You feel like you need to pray and ask Jesus into your heart again when it's all said and done. If it is possible to lose your salvation, I think I did it three times in those two hours.

We got back from Monday's Opening Chapel at 2 a.m. this morning ... guess what awaited us? A2 a.m. traffic jam ... they stopped traffic on 285 for an hour to hang an exit sign ... ugh!

This Week In Atlanta

I can honestly say I've never been so tired in all of my life as I was at the end of this week. Over the last seven days...

1. Finished up the end of the MC Second Year Retreat.
2. Finished gathering the paperwork to refinance the church. The fact that I did that just makes me giggle and tired. Then, met the finance guys processing it for us.
3. Met with the Cadre and NYLC teams corporately and individually ... that there was a lot of meetings and vision casting. I got tired of hearing myself talk. However, I am so stoked about this year's leads.
4. Helped to transition our super size small middle school group (there were just shy of 50 this week) into two. We let the kids know Wednesday night. It went really well.
5. Made sure the I's were dotted and T's crossed on the 100+ Cadre peeps this year. Got 75 all on the same page for their first conference call on Thursday. They are sooooo fun. It didn't feel like a launch at all. I've never heard two groups more excited about the journey before them. I was already energized, they just fueled it.
6. Ramped up my new assistant. I've been without one for three weeks and it's been killing me.
7. Answered an enormous amount of emails.
8 Got the tokens and MC video ready for Athens.
9. Met with the Children's Ministry Team to brainstorm this week and weeks ahead. Problem solved my analysis of the kids in the room last week ... the fact that 42% of them were junior highers in a ministry designed to only go through 5th grade. We have a problem Houston.
10.Cleaned my disaster of an office and car that directly reflected the 12 different focus' I had over the last three weeks. They were bad, really bad ... but now they're good, really good. Binders organize and save my life. It's funny how cleaning your office helps to put things in perspective and clear your mind.
11. Gently rebuked two of my leads ... one for missing deadlines and the other for lack of follow through. They took it like champs. I soooo love these guys, I want to do my part to make them better not only in the moment, but for a lifetime. I felt my fatigue though when I talked with them. In the moment, I wanted to bite their heads off and had to do a little self-talk to make sure I didn't wound them but inspired them to do better at setting realistic deadlines and doing whatever is necessary to meet them, along with having Integrity Finishes.
12. Was here for MC Orientation 2008-2009 with new students and their parents this morning. It is going to be one amazing year!

After orientation was over, I went home and took a six hour nap. I'm up now ... ready to go again.

Flush the Toilets

A bunch of us were back and Jeanne's house earlier this week for our annual YLC/Cadre/NYLC breakfast. About 20 of us ate breakfast in the living room while Jeanne casted vision for those who have YLC/Cadre/NYLC in their portfolios. About a dozen of them report directly to me, along with six staff members for the Tab and YLC. I'm challenged more and more each day on how to manage the YLC/Cadre/NYLC/Accounting/Media/Junior High/Children's Ministry/Master's Commission worlds. Some day I will probably have to "narrow the focus" but for now I juggle. The funny part is that I can honestly say that I love them all, pretty equally I might add.

After Jeanne spoke, she went to Alisha, Bethany and I to wrap it up. She wanted heart and one thing they could do that would make our lives easier over the next nine months. This is pretty much what I said to them.

"A couple of weeks ago someone wanted me to ask Jeanne a question becasue "I had her ear," meaning she listened to me. I didn't know whether I should be offended by the comment or grateful. I went with grateful. I started "earning Jeanne's ear" about 12 years ago when I started "Flushing Toilets" after our youth ministry on Wednesday nights in the "non-glamorous moments." It is there, vacumming floors, flushing and plunging toliets, emptying trash cans and picking up Skittles into the late night hour to make it look like "we were never there" that I heard Jesus loudest. But there was no accolades in those moments, honestly for the most part no one really noticed ... just me and Jesus. That, however, is where I "paid my own price" (Jeanne had referenced it early).

I think that is where the "Burden of the Lord" really started being developed. I want you to have that for the Cadre, but it didn't just happen and it wasn't just with people. I honestly think it starts by picking up trash when nobody else does, wipping down sinks that you didn't get wet, etc.

My heart for this year is that this not be Jeanne's gig, or Jeanne and Judy's gig, but "our" gig. At the retreat this weekend, after everyone went to bed there was this circle of dirt that everyone trampled in before they ended the night playing a round of Signs. I could have left it for Jordan, Nick, Ann or Jenna to clean up ... afterall the retreat was an MC gig ... not a YLC gig. But it's not, it's "our" gig so I quietly put the chairs away and once again began to sweep.

NYLC is our gig too. As with the Cadre, once again Jeanne and I couldn't and, more importantly, wouldn't want to do it without you. The heart that lies within you is what will set our conference apart from every other...that, along with the price. I am so grateful I work for someone that will give away everything including the kitchen sink. She wants to put everything on the bottom shelf so everyone can reach it. We don't just want youth pastors, we want teams ... so we put the price on the bottom shelf. So, those who are on the calling teams, you will have the toughest job ... it will be fun for all of 20 minutes, but know who and what you're representing.

So, as far as how you can help me this year, remember to 'Flush the Toilets" literally and figuratively in everything you put your hand and heart to.

Xcel 2008-2009 - Middle School 02 Group

Last year we went from 8 to 42 in Xcel, so we'll do our first 02 Small Group split next month. Breaking up really is hard to do, but in this case had to be done. We just left Jeanne's house after an amazing time of planning and prep for the launch/separation. Jeanne also did an incredible teaching on having the "Burden of the Lord" for your kids. She talked with me about it a couple of months ago on a car ride to Athens. It impacted me as much today as it did back then. I truly think the "burden" trumps charisma, leadership genes, lights, dazzle and great events (obviously within reason, burden alone will not help if you're a idiot when it comes to leadership).

It's going to be a great year with our middle school students, home team leaders and MC students. I can hardly wait for the new MC students to roll in next Saturday.

Second Year Master's Commission Atlanta Retreat

We left Thursday morning for MC ATL Second Year Retreat. We rolled into South Carolina about 2 1/2 hours later and are at a camp that is, no joke, very similar to the "rustic" Camp Adventure ... except the spiders are HUGE here. I think I'd take the deer flies of CA over the spiders of SC. There are 40 of us sitting in a square, much like we did at Camp Adventure, listening to Jeanne cast vision for the 2008-2009 year. She's a brilliant communicator, brilliant leader and, most importantly, brilliant when it comes to walk with Jesus! In oh so many ways, she is the real deal. I feel so honored to be able to sit at this table.

Last year I sat in the same square, with different second years, not knowing a single one. This year, I know them all. I get goose bumps thinking of who they were just one year ago and who they are now. In just over a week, these students will help lead and disciple 50 first year students. They have been put in their AC families and are excited beyond belief.

Earlier this evening we had our Creed Service outside where we were given the opportunity to pray for them individually by the moonlight and tiki torches. As I stood out and looked over them, there was both a sense of awe and fear that overwhelmed me. Awe when reflecting how far they've come and fear in regard to the opportunity before me and the rest of the team to speak life into them and lead them over the next nine months. The quote, "where goes the leaders, so go the people" came to mind. My next thought was, "what kind of residue will be left on them after having me around them over the next nine months?" Which of my good qualities and which of my negative ones will they pick up.

Earlier today Jeanne says, "Judy, they absolutely love you, why don't you take some time and speak into them at the beginning of the next session?" Hmmm, what do I say? The only things I could think of were from some of recent late night discussions with Jay. Jay is my Tristan of years ago. He is the guy that hangs out at the office until late in the evening just to chat. The only difference was that Tristan was a drummer and Jay is a sound guru. Here were the "Judy's thought shared with Jay" in recent days.

1. Team Unity. Over the summer the staff spent a week together and the outcome is that we are unified. In most teams, differences divide, but in ours they unite. We will celebrate each other. There is little chance you will negatively infiltrate this leadership team. I challenged them to do the same with their own team of second years. I went on to talk about what makes the Cadres so special. In all reality, both Jeanne and I realize, there would be no Cadre without the MC gang. They are what makes them special. Each time they bring their "A" game and there is this undeniable sense of unity. And that's what we need in MC ATL. MC Atlanta will "be the place to be" if they make it that way. More so than the staff, they will be the ones to create the tenor.

2. Authority and Gratitude. If they learn these two things, they will 99% ahead of their peers. 1 Samuel 16:21 says, "And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; adn he became his armorbearer." Armorbearers lift up. What would that look like if we did that for the staff?

3. Health. 3/4 the staff, including yours truly, is exercising and watching their weight. Health to the body is good and there are all sorts of Bowflex and Jenny Craig commercials that tell us so. But no one talks about the health to the soul that comes with integrity and character. Which, in turn, affects our physical health. If you choose to walk with integrity and character, you can alleviate so much of the worry, fear and stress that plagues so many people today.

4. Your walk with Jesus. The staff at MC Atlanta will watch out for them and, in many ways, protect them by carving out an hour of their day to spend in the sanctuary. But, it's up to them whether they are fully present while there. We'll try, but no one will watch out for you like you. I quoted the verse in John where it says in Him was the life and that life was the light of men. In Him is LIFE and that life is the LIGHT of man. Apart from Him there is no life and there is no light ... remember that!

Later on, we talked about leading people older than themselves (since some of the students coming in will actually be older than a few of them). Jeanne asked the staff to give advice. I referenced a Mayoism, "Don't let your charisma take you where your character can't keep you." I reversed it a little and said, "Your character will open doors that your charisma alone seldom will." The reality is that many of them are a little fearful, not because of their age, but because they don't have the charisma that some of the others have. I told them that if their character is in check, they need not worry, chances are it will earn them the right to be heard. I went on to say that I know of many employers who have hired a person based on their charisma and then regretted it. I know of no one that's hired on character and ever regretted it.

Random Days

Did you ever have one of those Ramdom Days. I don't think today could have been more scattered. Here's just a few of the things I did today (sis, this post is for you since you are my biggest blog fan and like to hear what's going on in my life)...

Proofed and recommend changes to an ad of ours that will appear in Group.

Worked on the Exhibitor Package for NYLC ‘09

Authorized the purchase of a projector and screen in the Kids Church Room.

Celebrated with our Children’s Director about curriculum we’ve selected that is AMAZING! Took a few minutes to be a coach.

Sat in on a mortgage refinancing meeting. Learned a lot, but now have a lot of work to do. Could save us thousands a month, so it will be worth it!

Talked with Jeanne about a monthly newsletter to launch in March. Selected a format that we both liked. I’m pretty stoked.

Saw that one of my favorite MC kids is back (ok, they are all my favorite). When I found out his mom was here, I decided to go downstairs just to tell her how AMAZING her son is.

Found out one of my junior high MC small group leaders needs to be moved to another group because they lost theirs, found out another one won’t be back in the game until December because of knee surgery. Ughhh! It’s all good … it’s all good.

Answered Cadre emails.

Worked on ramping up the next three Cadre groups totaling 100+ (including two from Canada). Going through the acceptance process, sending out the emails, answering the questions, processing the payments and getting everyone on the same page can make your head spin. Glad I had an administrative assistant all summer, so very sad she left … we laughed a lot together. Need the next one to get here asap.

Talked and dreamed with a friend on partnering on some pretty big stuff that I’m trying not to get too excited about, but it’s not working. In all honestly, it makes me want to do back flips. I believe the Cause, the King and the Kingdom will be advanced because of it.

Talked to a great friend about her new job. She’s helping girls get out of prostitution in downtown Phoenix. Did you know the average age for a girl to get into prostitution in AMERICA is 12? That’s nuts. God has taken everything she’s gone through, learned and loves and put her in a unique job opportunity few people are qualified for, much less want. I am so proud of her!

Talked with my sis about her new job. She loves it but feels like her head is about to explode. Told her it took me a year to get comfortable and not feel like I’m behind the eight ball in my new job. I told her it wouldn’t be any fun if we could master our job in a month.

Talked with Chris about Source and YLC edits. Can you say, I am sooooooooooo glad she’s on our team. Thank you Jesus! Pure gold.

Called a couple of youth pastors back.

Remembered where my sleeping bag is … good thing, Second Year MC Retreat this weekend … oh yeah!

Walked 3 miles.

Let Me Not Grow Deaf

We get thanks you's from Cadre members often ... I pray my ears never become deaf to their gratitude, not because of ego but because I always want to remember that what we do is important. We're fortunate we get to hear the "thank you's," most in the trenches of youth ministry don't. One of the guys wrote today...

I want to thank you so much for all that you have poured into my life and my student ministry this year. The cadre came at a perfect time in my life and gave me the extra passion and fuel that I needed to push forward strong on this incredible journey called Youth ministry ... What you are doing , no one else is doing. Please don’t ever stop.

That's my prayer for youth worker's across the nation tonight, "please don't ever stop ... it's important!"

We're a little behind the eight ball on promo, but the website and promotional pieces should be done this week. I'm sooo very excited about NYLC '09 Epicenter! It's March 30-April 1 in Dallas ... turn around twice and it will be here.

The NYLC ’09 Line-Up...

Jeanne Mayo – YLC and YP of Oxygen (my boss, friend and hero)
Ed Young – Senior Pastor of Fellowship Church
Greg Stier – Dare2Share
Judah Smith – Generation Church/YP of City Church (AMAZING!)
Craig Gross – XXXchurch.com
Chris Hill – Speaker and Author
Mark DeVries – Youth Ministry Architects and Family Based YM
Reggie Dabbs – Speaker / School Assemblies
Joel Stockstill – YP of Bethany World Prayer Center
Richard Crisco – Senior Pastor of Rochester AG (Top 5 Influencers in my YM world)
Dan Hunter – Seven Ministries / YP at The Oaks Fellowship
Jay Mooney – National Youth Director
Monty Hipp – C4 Group
Josh McDowell – Speaker and Author
Pat Shatzline – Mercy Seat Ministries

I love the diversity, at NYLC 09 we have…
2 senior pastors
4 youth pastors
1 who rips it up evangelistically
1 who knocks it out of the park when it comes to school assemblies
1 who specializes in family ministry
1 who is not afraid to talk out loud about what no one likes to talk about...pornography
1 who oversees the entire youth ministry of a denomination
1 guy who has been around forever and stood the test of time
…gifted leaders, speakers, authors,

Without even realizing it, we’ve got different…
Ages covered
Denominations covered
Ethnicities covered
Giftings covered

Some of these people are as different as night is to day. I love it! ALL OF THEM ARE AMAZING, but the thing I personally love most is that we have four youth pastors and two senior pastors speaking … people in the trenches everyday trying to figure out how to grow people (and themselves) spiritually in their walk with Jesus.

If all that weren't enough, we have about another 40 people doing breakout sessions including yours truly.

Post Marathon Brain Jello

Jeanne, my boss and friend, never wants anything for her birthday, except one thing ... help around the house right before the Cadre's start up. So, even though her birthday was in July, the gang went over there on Tuesday and we went on a 9 to 5 cleaning frenzy to try and clean up all the dust from the painters, tree limbs from storms that have rolled through this summer and whatnot. I was toast afterwards, so I went home and crashed around 8 and woke up bright-eyed around 2 a.m. I came into work at 2:30 a.m. and left the next morning at 2:30 a.m. ... it was a 24 hour marathon. Is it possible to stay focused that long? I think I gave it a pretty good shot. I got a ton accomplished; however, it's not without cost. Today my brain is jello. Maybe I'll try another Diet Dew for a kick start.