U-Turn Ministries

Plans for the conference (Feb 24 & 25) are moving along. We may be a bit late with promotional materials. But please mark your calender and save the date. You will not be disappointed. Bring a team from your church. It's the best way to leverage what you learn.

Our heart is not to turn churches into "Faith" Churches, but to help churches realize their full potential for the Kingdom, from their home 'cultural mission field'. Whether you're just realizing you need to implement some changes, or you've been earnestly pursuing a U-Turn, this conference is for you.

Call Bethany (219.864.0300) for more details. She can put you on the fast track for promo materials when they become available.

Can't wait to see you there!



Carol

A Visitor's View....

                                                                   

While I was decorating the Christmas Tree today, I took a step back to see what it would look like to someone walking in the door. When I was putting everything on the tree I was just too close to see the big picture.
We have to remember to do that in our ministries sometimes too. Take a step back and picture what it looks like to someone 'walking in the door'. Would a guest at your church feel welcome... safe.... uncomfortable.... anxious...? Take a step back and see for yourself.

Carol

Thankful...for Jeff Klein

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Hope you can enjoy your day tomorrow with family and friends in a time of thankfulness for all God has done and will done in His Kingdom through your churches.

I'm also thankful today that Jeff Klein will be again speaking at our U-Turn Conference.  Jeff has gone from being a teaching pastor here at Faith to planting Jericho Road Church in Wheaton, Illinois.  We're exited to have Jeff back to speak on "Who Made the Rules" looking at expectations and ways of doing things in our churches that have been added over time.

Have a great Thanksgiving and hopefully we will see you February 24 & 25, 2010.

Jason 

Conference Ideas

We are finalizing details for our 2010 U-Turn Church Conference and we're looking for input.  Since we want to tailor our conference to your needs, what are you looking for?  What topics, speakers, ideas, elements do you want to see at this year's conference?  Let us know and as soon as everything is finalized I'll post details here. 

What you need to know now is block out Wednesday, February 24 and Thursday, February 25.  Those are the conference days.

Thanks,

Jason

...Not So Urgent

I just wanted to apologize for dropping the ball on blogging Kotter's A Sense of Urgency .  I'll try to get something here on Chapter 2 by Friday.

One of the reasons for the delay, not to make excuses, is the preparation for this Saturday's one-day, U-Turn Turbo conference.  We are excited for the 5 churches and 75 people that will be with us to examine next steps in turning their church around.

If you still want to come....I think I can get you in :)

Jason

A Sense of Urgency

Thanks to the fact I am on hiatus from school for a month I decided to pick up a book that has been on my reading list for a while:  A Sense of Urgency by John Kotter.  (Kotter is one of the leading experts on Change and Leadership today.)  Since we believe having a sense of urgency is imperative in the U-Turn process I am excited to read what Kotter has to say.  Over the next stretch of time I'm going to blog about what I learn throughout the book.  If you want to read along, you can get your own copy by Clicking HERE.

Insights from the first chapter:  

1.  A sufficient number of people in the organization have to have the sense of urgency.

2.  Strong Teams that are committed to guide an ambitious change are quickly formed around critical issues.

3.  Those teams strive to find smart visions and strategies for dealing with key issues.

4.  Teams relentlessly communicate those visions to relevant people in order to continue to get buy-in.

5.  Remove barriers from teams so that they can make the vision a reality.

6.  Short-term wins achieved by the teams will silence critics and disarm cynics.

7.  Never let up until the vision is a reality.

8.  Make the changes stick by institutionalizing it into the structure, systems, and most of all, culture.

Can't wait to see what is in Chapter 2!

Jason

Getting off the treadmill

I spent the past three days somewhere in Nebraska.  I think it was Ashland, but I'm not sure because I was picked-up on the curb of the Omaha airport and taken to the retreat center.  I was there to train facilitators from around the country who will be leading leadership development small groups in their churches.  

Besides having the joy of being with these quality people and working with them, I was reminded of the blessing that getting off of the treadmill of life is.  I re-connected with God, had good alone time, could think more clearly, it was good.

If you can find time, even if it is just a morning, afternoon or evening, I encourage you to get off the treadmill for a little while.

Jason

Summit is HERE!!!

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, Summit week.  Tomorrow and Friday we will be one of the over 120 sites around North America broadcast this two-day world-class conference on Leadership.  The faculty is amazing, the community that gathers is a blessing, and hearing from God, that's the best part.  Whether it is individually or a word for the communities we lead God always has something to say during this time.  It's not too late.  You can join us or go to the site closest to your location.  Just visit the Summit Website to find out where that is:  http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/2009/

Come to U-Turn Turbo!

This year U-Turn Ministries is going to try something new.  We often have teams attend the U-Turn Church Conference wanting to go more in-depth into the nuts and bolts of what we do than we are able to cover in our time together.  That is why we are going to off U-Turn Turbo, a 1-day, noon-6 p.m. (central) opportunity for your team to delve into the inner workings of:  Children's Ministry, Technical Arts, Worship or Lay Leaders.

For more info click on the "Conferences" button @ faithchurchonline.org

Culture of Invitation

In meetings this morning we talked about the importance for creating a "Culture of Invitation" within our church.  (I think it is beneficial for all of us which is why I share it here.)  Going back to Willow Creek's Reveal Study I was reminded of how crucial this is.  Here are the findings:  Over 40% of people first went to their church because they were invited by a friend or relative, Almost 30% because it was recommended to them, and right behind that was because they knew someone who attended.  We need to provide opportunities for members of our communities to make inviting the disconnected that are easy and expected.