Here's an interesting article I ran across this week about global warming... thought I'd share it with some of you... as this guy works for CNN... I bet he won't for much longer.
http://businessandmedia.or
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Global Warming???
Now I'm not an anti-environmentalist... nor am I a tree-hugger... I try to be somewhat rationale about all things environmental. After all, God put us in charge of this place... ha!
Here's an interesting article I ran across this week about global warming... thought I'd share it with some of you... as this guy works for CNN... I bet he won't for much longer.
http://businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20081218205953.aspx
Here's an interesting article I ran across this week about global warming... thought I'd share it with some of you... as this guy works for CNN... I bet he won't for much longer.
http://businessandmedia.or
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
A New Beginning....
As you might know, I'm making a move from the Littleton church to the West-Ark church in Fort Smith, AR at the end of 2008. I greatly value you as a friend and as someone I greatly respect in youth ministry.
Even though I am an "old dog", I know I don't have all knowledge of everything that "works" in youth ministry. I want to learn what you are doing... what you are thinking. What I'd like to ask of you is this... what unique thoughts do you have about your youth ministry? What are some creative things that you've done (or are thinking about doing) in your youth ministry? What advice would you give me, knowing that I've been doing this a long time (and hope to continue to) and am going from one place after 7 years to another that I hope is at least this long?
You have three choices in response to this/these requests... you can reply to this message with your replies, you can post it to my blog at http://rickmon.blogspot.com/ or, you can call me and talk in person on my cell phone at 303-618-9585 or we can talk at NCYM.
What do you say??
Even though I am an "old dog", I know I don't have all knowledge of everything that "works" in youth ministry. I want to learn what you are doing... what you are thinking. What I'd like to ask of you is this... what unique thoughts do you have about your youth ministry? What are some creative things that you've done (or are thinking about doing) in your youth ministry? What advice would you give me, knowing that I've been doing this a long time (and hope to continue to) and am going from one place after 7 years to another that I hope is at least this long?
You have three choices in response to this/these requests... you can reply to this message with your replies, you can post it to my blog at http://rickmon.blogspot.com/ or, you can call me and talk in person on my cell phone at 303-618-9585 or we can talk at NCYM.
What do you say??
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Next Chapter....
I thought I'd repost this note I recently posted on my Facebook page... just in case you aren't one of my Facebook friends....
Yes, it’s true. There has come a time in our lives and ministry where we have been offered an opportunity to again listen for God’s call. We have agonized, prayed, sought counsel and wisdom as we tried to discern what God wanted us to do. We have come to the decision that we must follow Him and as a result we must leave our church family at Littleton as of December 31, 2008. We begin officially on January 1, 2009 as the youth and family minister at the West-Ark Church of Christ in Fort Smith, AR. We physically will leave the Denver area on the morning of January 9 and our first Sunday at West-Ark will be January 12.
To the members at Littleton:
Kristi, Jake, Molly and I have served this congregation for nearly seven years in the role of Youth Minister. We came to this church family with a strong sense of calling from God that He had prepared us for this opportunity. We have been continually amazed at how much this church has taught us about life, ministry and our mutual pursuit of God. Our children have grown so much both physically and spiritually during our time here. Jake even decided to give his life to Christ at this place.
We have witnessed tremendous impact this church has made in the local community and seen phenomenal growth as a result, nearly doubling in size during our time here. We have also seen incredible growth numerically and spiritually among our Middle School and High School students. In fact, this year’s Senior class was only in 5th grade when we began ministry here.
The staff here is better than any I could have imagined working with. Collin, Mike, Gus and Bill have been friends, mentors, teammates and above all, Christian brothers. They have had an eternal influence on me and our family.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity you have provided us to try to make a difference for the Lord among the students and families here. We will miss all of you and hope and pray for you to continue to serve the Lord with all your strength. God bless you and God bless the entire Littleton Church of Christ.
To the students at Littleton:
Michael Strahan, the fantastic defensive player from the New York Giants, waited to retire from football until after his team won the Super Bowl last year. He, like many others, wanted to go out at the peak of his situation and not the valley. We feel the same about our situation here. Our youth group has had a tough couple of years, but honestly, you are in the best spiritual spot that I’ve seen in the 7 years I’ve been your Youth Minister. That is one reason we feel it is time to answer this call from God.
Please know that “it’s not your fault”, that we are making this change. You are an amazing group of students that have made me proud, over and over, to be your Youth Minister. There is NOTHING for you to regret or be ashamed about. Our memories and experiences here will always be good ones. We will never forget you.
Remember the things that I’ve tried to teach you… that this youth group is whatever YOU choose for it to be… that it’s time for each of you to recommit your lives to Christ and to step forward to the leadership roles that God has been waiting for you to take for a long time… that a Youth Group should NEVER be solely focused on WHO the Youth Minister is… to be open to changes that a new Youth Minister will bring… allow for God’s Holy Spirit to work through him… be praying for him to be the kind of person to bring this youth group to the next level of commitment, spirituality and passion.
Lastly, I want you to know that you will always be my youth group kids… and I hope and pray that I will always, at some level, be your Youth Minister. God bless you!
Yes, it’s true. There has come a time in our lives and ministry where we have been offered an opportunity to again listen for God’s call. We have agonized, prayed, sought counsel and wisdom as we tried to discern what God wanted us to do. We have come to the decision that we must follow Him and as a result we must leave our church family at Littleton as of December 31, 2008. We begin officially on January 1, 2009 as the youth and family minister at the West-Ark Church of Christ in Fort Smith, AR. We physically will leave the Denver area on the morning of January 9 and our first Sunday at West-Ark will be January 12.
To the members at Littleton:
Kristi, Jake, Molly and I have served this congregation for nearly seven years in the role of Youth Minister. We came to this church family with a strong sense of calling from God that He had prepared us for this opportunity. We have been continually amazed at how much this church has taught us about life, ministry and our mutual pursuit of God. Our children have grown so much both physically and spiritually during our time here. Jake even decided to give his life to Christ at this place.
We have witnessed tremendous impact this church has made in the local community and seen phenomenal growth as a result, nearly doubling in size during our time here. We have also seen incredible growth numerically and spiritually among our Middle School and High School students. In fact, this year’s Senior class was only in 5th grade when we began ministry here.
The staff here is better than any I could have imagined working with. Collin, Mike, Gus and Bill have been friends, mentors, teammates and above all, Christian brothers. They have had an eternal influence on me and our family.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity you have provided us to try to make a difference for the Lord among the students and families here. We will miss all of you and hope and pray for you to continue to serve the Lord with all your strength. God bless you and God bless the entire Littleton Church of Christ.
To the students at Littleton:
Michael Strahan, the fantastic defensive player from the New York Giants, waited to retire from football until after his team won the Super Bowl last year. He, like many others, wanted to go out at the peak of his situation and not the valley. We feel the same about our situation here. Our youth group has had a tough couple of years, but honestly, you are in the best spiritual spot that I’ve seen in the 7 years I’ve been your Youth Minister. That is one reason we feel it is time to answer this call from God.
Please know that “it’s not your fault”, that we are making this change. You are an amazing group of students that have made me proud, over and over, to be your Youth Minister. There is NOTHING for you to regret or be ashamed about. Our memories and experiences here will always be good ones. We will never forget you.
Remember the things that I’ve tried to teach you… that this youth group is whatever YOU choose for it to be… that it’s time for each of you to recommit your lives to Christ and to step forward to the leadership roles that God has been waiting for you to take for a long time… that a Youth Group should NEVER be solely focused on WHO the Youth Minister is… to be open to changes that a new Youth Minister will bring… allow for God’s Holy Spirit to work through him… be praying for him to be the kind of person to bring this youth group to the next level of commitment, spirituality and passion.
Lastly, I want you to know that you will always be my youth group kids… and I hope and pray that I will always, at some level, be your Youth Minister. God bless you!
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