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07 December 2011
Debbie and I are getting ready for a huge change. Change is a part of life, but when the Holy Spirit brings change it causes us to grow.
I love the book, Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. It’s a book about change. The cheese represents whatever makes you happy. The metaphor is that many times throughout our lives our “cheese gets moved”. If you refuse to move when the cheese moves, you will eventually die.
Here are some quotes from the book:
“Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.”
“If you do not change you can become extinct.”
“What would you do if you were not afraid?”
Here are some of my favorite John Maxwell quotes:
“We cannot become what we need by remaining what we are.”
“If we are growing we are always going to be outside our
comfort zone.”
Change:
Every time I have made a change in ministry I grew in character and in leadership ability.
My first job was at a small church in Michigan. I was only 20 years old and I didn’t know anything about ministry. I spent four years ministering to 30 kids. The church didn’t really grow, but I grew a lot. Most of my time was spent in developing myself. I learned how to teach kids and create curriculum during these years. This was the beginning of the Super Church Curriculum Series.
After four years in Michigan, I became children’s pastor at Family Worship Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was a huge jump for me. I went from teaching 30 kids to 150 kids. At FWC I had to learn how to develop a team and recruit volunteers. I could have stayed at the church in Michigan, but I would have always been a “one man team”.
Several years later I moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to work for Pastor Mac Hammond. When I first arrived at Living Word I was ministering to 250 kids so I had to change again. As the church grew I had to grow. I currently oversee ministry to 1500 kids, however most of my time is spent ministering to volunteers and leaders who minister to the kids. It is one thing to lead followers, but another to lead leaders.
Change Is Happening:
Now the Lord is asking me to change again. Debbie and I have ministered at Living Word for almost 20 years, but it is time for us to move to the next phase of our ministry.
This is not an easy thing to do because I am on staff at a really good church. I love my church, and my pastor, but sometimes you have to stop doing what you are currently doing to do something new. Dec 31, will be my last Sunday at Living Word. On January 1, Debbie and I will be focusing full time on Mark Harper Ministries.
Here is a list of some of the things we will be doing:
- TRANSFORM - A conference for you and your volunteers. Deb and I will be conducting 25 TRANSFORM conferences around the country. Click here for more info.
- CHILDREN’S PASTORS ROUNDTABLES – This will be a more intimate conference for key leaders across the nation.
- HOME CURRICULUM - Most parents want to minister to their kids, but they don’t know how. In 2012 we will be creating curriculum kits to empower parents to minister to their own kids.
- CHURCH CONSULTING – Our vision at MHM is to help pastors grow strong churches. One way we will accomplish this is by consulting with senior pastors.
- FILMMAKING– In 2011 we produced our first movie: PRODIGAL. We have a vision to produce many more.
Debbie and I covet your prayers as we make this step of faith.
It’s not just my paycheck we are giving up but Deb’s too. This is the scripture I am praying over our ministry:
“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
