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16 February 2012
“…Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. …” Romans 12:2
Transformation is vital to our walk with God and our ministry. The word “transform” means “to change,” if we don’t change we can become extinct.
Transformation happens in three ways:
1) Transformation happens when you change the way you think. Be open minded and willing to listen. Get outside of your circle and learn something new. Make a commitment to be a life long learner.
Several years ago, I was attending a conference at an Evangelical Church where I had a transformation moment. The pastor was speaking about the importance of small groups. I have never been a big “small group” person.
The Pastor shared a story about his son’s Little League coach who was asking him about church. This dad wanted to find a church for his 11-year-old to attend, but he didn’t want his son to be embarrassed. His son had never attended church and didn’t know anything about God or the Bible.
The Pastor responded, “Our church is the perfect church for you. Your son can be part of my son’s small group. There are three kids from your team already in the group. He will have the same leader every week that will know your son’s name.”
This was a transformation moment for me. I realized that I could not say that with confidence. We did the large group really well. We had great drama and worship teams and good preaching, but I also knew there were hundreds of kids in my church that no one knew their name. From that point on I began to incorporate small group ministry into our Sunday morning program.
2) Transformation happens when we spend time in His presence. There is an anointing that comes when like-minded people gather together “united in thought and purpose.” (This is something you cannot get from watching a DVD.)
In 1983, I was attending a Willie George Ministries Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma with over 1,000 people in attendance. Pastor Willie called me upfront and prophesied over me. Part of the prophecy was “I’m going to change your ministry in 1983.”
At that time, I was a single guy at a small church in Michigan, ministering to 30 kids, and making $100.00 a week. By the end of the year, I was married, ministering to 100 kids per week at a church in Oklahoma, and my salary quadrupled. When the Lord said change I had no idea how much change He was talking about.
When you attend a conference, go expecting God to speak to you. It can be a life changing event.
3) Transformation happens when you change what you do. At the TRANSFORM conference we will equip you with new tools to reach this generation of kids.
After 25 years of working in the local church, Debbie and I are moving into the next phase of our ministry, mentoring the next generation of children’s ministers. One way we are doing this is at our TRANSFORM conferences that we are conducting across the country.
In short, TRANSFORM will be a life-changing weekend for you and your volunteers. I hope to see you there.
Click here for a link to our new TRANSFORM web site.
