Letter of Resignation

Thanks for all who prayed and were an encouragement to Jeanne and I today.  Your love and kinds words have made the morning bearable.

For those who were not at FBC Bolivar this morning.  I read a statement of resignation at the close of the service.  You will find the copy of my statement below.

I greatly appreciated God’s timing and Billy’s sermon from Matthew 5 on being “Peacemakers”.  I will be prayer for FBC Bolivar are things move forward and would ask the you do the same for my family.

————-

Statement of Resignation

On the afternoon of Monday, May 21, I meet with Martha Hicks and Mark Roberts the co-chairs of the Discipleship Pastor Search Committee and Gary Lynch, the chair of the Personnel Committee.  At that time I was informed by Martha and Mark that after much prayer and discussion the Search Committee felt lead by God to go in a different direction and that I would not be the final candidate for the position of Discipleship Pastor.

Gary, Mark and I began discussing the process of a decent and orderly transition. After an explanation of the options before me, I have chosen to submit a signedletter of resignation of employment from First Baptist Church as Minister of Young Adults.  In signing, I have accepted the stated terms and conditions.

For the past eleven months Jeanne, Jake, Luke and I have sought to follow God’s will in this matter.  It is now clear that God has released me from service to this great church.  This will open the way for what I believe will be even greater things for First Baptist and for the Stehr family as we follow our Savior and do the work of His Kingdom.

Know that I will always have a deep love for First Baptist Church and still believe that God has greater things in store.  Personally, I will always be grateful for the time I have been allowed to serve this church. Grateful for the those I have served along side of in ministry.  This church has helped raise my son’s to walk in the way of the Lord.  This church is full of many close and treasured friends.  I have been blessed.

With my resignation, it is now time to take my seat in the balcony of the faithful,who prayerfully support the mission and ministry of the this great church.

 

First Ministry Team Leadership Training Event

In an effort to make some of our training events more accessible, I have decided to blog about them. On May 1, we conducted our first Ministry Team Training Event at First Baptist. The goal was a general overview of the purpose, plan, process and tools needed for our ministry teams leadership to be successful.

We know there is room for improvement both in our content and technology. Those improvements will happen over time at FBC Bolivar as we grow accustom to talking about our new strategic plan, our annual ministry plans and our ministry team objectives.

If you missed the meeting or would just like to know more about ministry team process. Feel free to watch both videos. They are each about an hour in length. A link to the pdf version of the handout is provided below as well.

Larry

Ministry Team Leadership Training – Part 1

Ministry Team Leadership Training – Part 2

Ministry Team Leadership Training Handout Link

 

A Word of Thanks

It is again time to say “thank you” to everyone that takes a key part in leadership in our Children’s, Youth and Adult Core Discipleship Group ministry as well as the number of people who work in Extended Session during worship.

Kyle, Missy, Bill and I want to say thank you to all of our leaders who are so faithful to serve, who come prepared each week, and give over and above.  We wanted to do something big.  A thank you that was more than a card, bigger than a cheesy note, or would last longer than an ice cream cone.

Then we thought about movie passes.  A four pack of movie passes.  Good anytime.  Something you could share with your family or friends.  But there was catch, we could only give so many in a year.  Why not spread them out, give them away once a quarter.  It would be a great chance to say thanks to everyone when we announce who received the movie passes.  It would be a good time to celebrate together with those we work with that received the passes.  So that is what we are doing this year.

Each quarter we will draw from our leadership in preschool, children, youth, adults and extended session for a pack of four movie passes—use them how you want.  Take the family, invite your co-workers, take friends or have a date night.  But once you have received the blessing of tickets you will have to wait until everyone else in your division has received them before you are eligible again.  

So Missy, Kyle, Bill and I say thank you to everyone that is serving.  Even if you did not receive a movie pass, know that we deeply appreciate the hour that you put in each week to teach the Bible, build community and conduct ministry.  Please join us in rejoicing with the following leaders who have been randomly drawn this quarter:

Preschool— Judi Wall
Children—Nancy Johnson
Youth—Marty Harris
Adults—Tim DeClue
Extended Session—Sandy Foster

 

 

Enlisting Co-Leaders

I had an interesting question posed to me this week. The question centered on what I thought it would take to grow our Core Discipleship Groups.  Part of my answer centered on the need for leadership.  We cannot grow any of our Core Discipleship Groups with out first providing leadership.   Having a SURPLUS of trained leaders in our Preschool, Children, Youth and Adult Divisions of our Core Discipleship Groups is the first step in being prepared to grow.

Yes, this is a radical change of approach.  Rather than waiting till the room is full and then trying to find a leader, we want to place a focus on developing a surplus of gifted and trained leaders and being ready to add as the growth is coming to the unit.

That sounds like a big job.  Your right it is a very big and important job.  Enlistment and training of co-leaders is every leaders responsibility.  Before you say you cannot enlist a volunteer to work with you let me share with you an outline from an excellent blog article from Ken Bradley, the Sunday School Guy.  It is important to recruit the right people to work with you in the right way.

First, don’t recruit people in a hallway (or by e-mail or texting)!
Don’t recruit people through pulpit announcements or blurbs in the worship bulletin.
Give the person a job description.
Don’t recruit the person to an open-ended role.
Ask the person to pray, and set a date to get their response.
Do start the recruiting process early.

I would encourage you to read the entire blog article at http://bit.ly/HTBSnw .  Ken Bradley, The Sunday School Guy is champion for Sunday School at Lifeway.  Begin praying about who you can enlist for leadership, provide on the job training and empower to be ready to lead as we reach our community for Christ.

 

 

April 8th Study Leader News

The FBC Bolivar Study Leader News is a biweekly newsletter published by the Discipleship Ministry Team’s to train, inform, and communicate with our Core Discipleship Group Leaders.

Each edition is emailed to everyone that has a leadership roll in one of our many Core Discipleship Groups. We also take the time to attach a copy to the roll sheets that go out each Sunday.

While the lead article in this issue is about the traditional Easter Greeting, the big news is a link to an article about changes to the Explore The Bible literature line and a note about Promotion Sunday.

Here is a link to our church website where you can view and download this weeks edition and our past editions.

The Study Leader News

 

What is in the Change (final article in series)

This is the final article in a series of articles on the looking at “What Is In The Change” and if you want to go back and review past articles they are available on our church website at www.fbcbolivar.org/study-leader-news. The list of thirteen activities or benchmarks that we want all Core Discipleship Groups to be working toward achieving is also on our website as well. This list is part of a larger Small Group Ministry document. (Full document @ www.fbcbolivar.org/doc-and-forms/)

As we finish the process of fleshing out the changes we are making, it is important to remember they are directed by our over all mission statement: First Baptist Church, Bolivar, is a family of believers who are making disciples who influence the world by becoming daily followers of Christ. This is why the Connect, Grow, Serve, Share process for discipleship growth is so important, it directly impacts our mission.

The final items on the Core Discipleship Group list of the Small Group Ministry document are more administrative in nature. The final five items remind us that things should be done decently and in order.

[] Movement from one Core Discipleship Group to another Core Discipleship Group would be optional.
We are not about “forcing” anyone to move to a new class. For many years age graded Bible Study was the norm and it made sense in that day. We still age grade when it makes sense, like in the preschool and children’s area. In adult and youth we still do some age/gender grading, but only when it makes sense. We are using a more relational style of grading. With that said most units will settle in to a 10-15 year age range. Representative of the natural relationship we tend to form and keep.

[] In general, no membership caps will be enforced for Core Discipleship Groups, but a membership cap of 20 will be encouraged.

Core Discipleship Groups are about small groups. An average of 12 people in attendance and 20 people on the roll, with two leaders. Sure a group can be larger, but this gives us a point to start praying about making room for more people to connect, grow, serve and share.

[] Core Discipleship Group leadership must be engaged in semiannual leadership training.
Training is important. It is inherent in the discipleship process. It is something that we are seeking to be better at in the future. Providing relevant opportunities to learn and improve.

[] Core Discipleship Group leader’s will report to responsible Pastor for benchmark status.
Accountability. Jesus sent out the disciples, but He also received their report. Listened to their success and helped them with where they had struggled. Accountability is a natural part of making disciples. It is not just attendance, but prayer requests, opportunities for service and fellowship.

[] Core Discipleship Group curriculum must be approved by the Discipleship Pastor.
The buck stops here. Someone has to be responsible. The CLC has designated the Discipleship Pastor to make sure that our curriculum choices are moving us toward our church mission and in keeping with our doctrine. Will we always agree? Probably not. After all we are Baptists, yet working together is something that we cherish as well.

Remember effective Core Discipleship Groups use proven and effective action.

 

What is in the Change (part 4)

Let’s continue our look at “What Is In The Change” and if you want to go back and review past articles they are available on our church website at www.fbcbolivar.org/study-leader-news. There is also a list of thirteen activities or benchmarks that we want all Core Discipleship Groups to always be working toward on our website as well. This list is part of a larger Small Group Ministry document. (Full document @ http://www.fbcbolivar.org/doc-and-forms/)

As we continue the process of fleshing out the changes we are making, it is important to remember they are directed by our over all mission statement: First Baptist Church, Bolivar, is a family of believers who are making disciples who influence the world by becoming daily followers of Christ. This is why the Connect, Grow, Serve, Share process for discipleship growth is so important.

Let’s continue to develop actions that our Core Discipleship Group leaders can personally be involved in to help individuals meet and excel within our churches mission as they become healthy disciples of Christ.

[] Each Core Discipleship Group will promote attendance in the corporate worship service of the member’s choice.
Encourage group members to sit together in one of our three worship services.
Encourage group members to invite others to sit with the group in one of our worship services.
Encourage a group member who does not attend worship to sit with you in worship.
My idea _______________________________________________________________________
[] The Core Discipleship Group membership will seek to meet the benevolence needs of the group.
A member is sick, had a baby, be diagnosed with cancer. Arrange meals for a week or two.
Wash windows or paint a members house together (this would also be a great ministry project)
Be the first to volunteer if a member is moving or has a friend who is moving (also a good share idea)
My idea _______________________________________________________________________

[] Core Discipleship Groups will engage in ongoing fellowship, and will plan and implement at least one off campus fellowship a semester.
How about dinner out together on a group members birthday.
Once a month have your group meeting at golf course and then play a round of beginners welcome golf.
Go on a motorcycle ride together (I think I should start this group).
Board game and desert night or homemade ice cream fellowship (Traveler’s class favorite).
My idea _______________________________________________________________________

[] Core Discipleship Groups will engage in one service project a semester.
Volunteer to work together in the Loving Thy Neighbor garage sale.
Help a class members friend move and bring the meal (serve and share together)
Wow, the sky is the limit here, what about a class mission trip to El Salvador… Yes, it is possible.
My idea _______________________________________________________________________

We will continue this brainstorming in our next issue. If you have any ideas please let me know so I can share them as well—lstehr@fbcbolivar.org or 417-326-2431.

 

What is in the Change (part 3)

Let’s continue our look at “What Is In The Change” and if you want to go back and review past articles they are available on our church website at www.fbcbolivar.org/study-leader-news.  There is also a list of thirteen activities or benchmarks that we want all Core Discipleship Groups to always be working toward on our website as well.  This list is part of a larger Small Group Ministry document. (Full document @ http://www.fbcbolivar.org/doc-and-forms/)

As we continue the process of fleshing out the changes we are making, it is important to remember they are directed by our over all mission statement: First Baptist Church, Bolivar, is a family of believers who are making disciples who influence the world by becoming daily followers of Christ.  This is why the Connect, Grow, Serve, Share process for discipleship growth is so important.

Let’s take a moment to break down some things that our Core Discipleship Group leaders can personally be involved in to help individuals meet and excel within our churches mission.

[] Core Discipleship Groups will conduct class on an ongoing basis.
Possible Personal Actions:
Make preparing for your Core Discipleship Group a priority.
Make touching base with prospects and absentee members a priority.
Recruit and apprentice a co-leader who is ready to take your place so the group always has leadership.
Dream about growing your group.
My idea ____________________________________________________________________

[] Bible Study will be the key component of Core Discipleship Groups.
Possible Personal Actions:
Make preparing for  your Core Discipleship Group a priority.
Build strong relationships with your Core Discipleship Group members and pray for them routinely.
Allow your relationship with Core Discipleship Group members to direct your effective use of your  curriculum.
Start preparing early for Bible Study and involve group members in preparing early.
My idea_____________________________________________________________________

[] CDG’s will promote daily bible study.
Possible Personal Actions:
Talk about your daily Bible study and it’s benefits with your Core Discipleship Group members.
Involve your Core Discipleship Group members in your preparation for Bible study. (Group email on here  is what I  studied today, etc, text a verse or question,  call a missing member from last week and help them “catch up”)
Use the curriculum to prepare and supplement, use your notes and Bible to lead the group. (modeling)
My idea _____________________________________________________________________

We will continue this brainstorming in our next issue.  If you have any ideas please let me know so I can share them as well—lstehr@fbcbolivar.org or 417-326-2431.

 

What is in a Name Change

I have written about a few of the conversations that I have been having about the name change from Sunday School and Small Groups. Let me share a few lines that might just help begin to bring the change into focus.

Core Discipleship Groups (Sunday School and Weekday Small Groups) are a part of our larger small group ministry. The Church Leadership Council has adopted a document titled Small Group Ministry.

The Small Group Ministry document states the purpose of the small group ministry is the foundational tool for achieving our church’s mission. The Small Group Ministry documents continues to direct us to work for three outcomes from our small group ministry:
1) Facilitate the spiritual growth of the believer and the church
2) Achieve a greater portion of the church membership involved in every aspect of the discipleship process of Connect, Grow, Serve and Share.
3) Increase overall church membership

Our church has identified four types of groups that make up the small group ministry each with their own specific focus:
1) Specialty Discipleship Groups—choir program, mission programs, etc.
2) Interest Groups—Scrapbooking, Quilting, etc.
3) FBC University—Short Term Bible Study, Estate Planning, Money Management, etc.
4) Core Discipleship Groups—All members should be involved in this type of group and CDG’s will include all Sunday School classes and groups that meet at times other than 9:30 am on Sunday (Sunday School and Weekday Small Groups).

So we began with the end goal in mine with the purpose and outcomes. We see there are four types of groups responsible to help the believer and our church reach those outcomes regardless of age.

There are thirteen activities or benchmarks that we want all Core Discipleship Groups to always be working toward. Here are the first five items on the list and in future Study Leader News editions will continue and expand on the list. (Fully document @ http://www.fbcbolivar.org/doc-and-forms/)

* Bible Study will be the key component of CDG’s.
* CDG’s will engage in ongoing fellowship, and will plan and implement a least one off campus fellowship a semester.
* The CDG membership will seek to meet the
benevolence needs of the group.
* CDG’s will engage in one service project a semester.
* Each CDG will have a vision for starting ad- ditional classes and developing new leadership.

 

What is In the Change (Part 2)

In our last issue, which is available on the church website I began an overview explaining the rationale behind changing the name of Sunday School and Weekday Small groups to Core Discipleship Groups. There are thirteen activities or benchmarks that we want all Core Discipleship Groups to always be working toward. This list is part of a larger Small Group Ministry document. (Full document @ http:// www.fbcbolivar.org/doc-and-forms/)

The goal is that “all members should be involved” in a Core Discipleship Group. The strategy is that Core Discipleship Groups have a primary use of the building on Sunday mornings, but can meet anytime.

The “activities” that characterize good Core Discipleship Groups are as follows:
[] Core Discipleship Groups will conduct class on an ongoing basis.
[] Bible Study will be the key component of Core Discipleship Groups.
[] CDG’s will promote daily bible study.
[] Each Core Discipleship Group will promote attendance in the corporate worship service of the member’s choice.
[] The Core Discipleship Group membership will seek to meet the benevolence needs of the group.
[] Core Discipleship Groups will engage in ongoing fellowship, and will plan and implement at least one off campus fellowship a semester.
[] Core Discipleship Groups will engage in one service project a semester.
[] Each Core Discipleship Group will have a vision for starting additional classes and developing new leadership.
[] Movement from one Core Discipleship Group to another Core Discipleship Group would be optional.
[] In general, no membership caps will be enforced for Core Discipleship Groups, but a membership cap of 20 will be encouraged.
[] Core Discipleship Group leadership must be engaged in semiannual leadership training.
[] Core Discipleship Group leader’s will report to responsible Pastor for benchmark status.
[] Core Discipleship Group curriculum must be approved by the Discipleship Pastor.

The list sounds very official and to be honest it is “officially” what we agreed to work towards as a faith community. But my question is, who would not want to be involved in a good Core Discipleship Group regardless of age? Think about the group we are describing. A group that plans to meet weekly for Bible Study and encourage each other to be in God’s word daily. A group that enjoys worshiping and encourages each other to be involved in worship. A group that seeks to take care of and minister to its members. A group that fellowships and serves together. A group that has a vision to grow both members and leaders to help reach new friends in a small group setting. A group lead by leaders who want to know how to lead better and seek to train to do so. Sounds like a group I would like to be apart of, it sounds like my Thursday night Core Discipleship Group.

Effective Core Discipleship Groups use proven and effective action.