Tag Archives: North Point
Another creative way to use the iPad in ministry
Posted on 08. Dec, 2010 by Kenny.
So, here’s one more use I can add to my list of great way the iPad can be used in ministry. The iBand. North Point is so creative and fun, I wish I’d been there to see it. Obviously it was a fun piece, but I’d probably discourage any church from going to an exclusive, weekly iPad band.
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Making Vision Stick: Book Review
Posted on 09. Mar, 2010 by Kenny.
Last year just before the Orange Conference I spent some time at North Point hanging out at both the Alpharetta campus as well as at Buckhead. I spent a small fortune at the bookstore. While there, I picked up this little book, “Making Vision Stick” by Andy Stanley. It’s small, thin and something that can be wholly digested in one sitting. All I can say is this. Thank you Andy Stanley for writing this little book. Let me share with you a few reasons why I like this little 74 page book.
- I’m not the fastest of readers. My life is busy, so I’ll sit down for an hour, read part of a book and then several days later I’ll sit down and read for another hour and over the period of days or weeks, I’ll finish up a book. Each time I sit down though, I have to catch up on what I last read. Not so with this book. Because you can read it from start to finish in one sitting, the impact is more powerful and succinct.
- This book is so direct and to the point. I know, I’m being a hypocrite. I’m one of the wordiest guys I know. However, I wonder if most books could be condensed down to just 100 pages or so. This one is and I love it. Not much fluff, just straight and to the point.
- It’s short enough that I’ll take the time to read it again and again and again. I put this book on my must read list for 2010. After finishing the book though, I’ve officially put it on my “read it every year” list. I’m actually planning to read it 5-6 times this year alone. I need to lead this way more than anything else this year.
Is that enough of a review to make you want to buy the book already? I haven’t even told you what it’s about yet. No worries, you can read the book in a little more time than it will take for you to read this review, so click here and order your copy.
Oh, you’re still reading? What I liked most about this book was how practical it is as well as the simple examples Andy has included how he’s lived these principles out at North Point. The fact that North Point as eleventy-million people doesn’t negate the fact that I can use these principles in my church of 4,500, my volunteer team of 300 or my small staff of 6. It’s so applicable.
Other than this book, the best teaching I’ve heard on vision and purpose is Craig Jutila. Craig offers very practical teaching on shaping a vision and mission statement and has been highly influential in my life and ministry. Craig’s appraoch is heavily “purpose driven” which is the context from which Craig operated for so many years. I was really only at a purpose driven church for 2 years, so outside of that, I’ve had to adapt what I learned from him to a non “purpose driven” approach. In this book, Andy doesn’t get into the weeds of mission, values and goals, but focuses solely on that vision you have and how to make it stick for everyone in the organization.
After clearly defining vision, Andy shares five things about how to make it stick:
- State the vision simply
- Cast the vision convincingly
- Repeat the vision regularly
- Celebrate the vision systematically
- Embrace the vision personally
The books outlines how Andy has and continues to cast the North Point vision doing these very things over and over and over and over again.
No more details. Get the book and read it a couple of times. I’m convinced it will help you regardless of where you are.
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Personal investment equals great influence
Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by Kenny.
Several weeks ago I posted on my blog the books I wanted to read this year. One of them was Think Orange by Reggie Joiner. Don’t call me a hypocrite, it’s been on my stack of books to read. So, my friend Henry Zonio is leading a group blogging project around the book Think Orange, so I figured I’d join in. I actually didn’t get in early enough to participate, but I’ll be reading along and commenting (if I can keep up). BTW, Henry’s giving away a ticket to Orange, so if you really want to go to Orange, jump over to his blog and PARTICIPATE!
I opened this book and got no further than the first paragraph of the forward by Andy Stanley. Let me quote it for you:
When we started Norht Point Community Church in 1995, many of our staff and core volunteers leaders were parents with young children. The idea of partnering with the family seemed natural. We were church leaders and we were parents. In a way, what we were attempting to build was for our own families and the futures of our own kids. Reggie Joiner took on the responsibility of creating those environments for families.
There’s something here to learn and it doesn’t have anything to do with Reggie Joiner, Orange or family ministry. North Point built one of the strongest ministries to kids and families because that was what was very relevant to the leadership core at North Point. They had skin in the game and they were doing it for their own kids as much as they were doing it for others.
When it comes to the core leadership at your church, what are they most invested in? What ministry is most relevant to where they’re at? I’d be willing to bet that whatever that thing is, it’s got the most potential to flourish in your church. I’m sure there are exceptions to the rules, but that’s just the way it is. You’re not going to have to convince your senior leadership of something that’s already important to them.
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Spending the day at North Point and Buckhead
Posted on 25. Apr, 2009 by Kenny.
I’m very excited about tomorrow. Last year I took the opportunity to attend Buckhead Church and see ministry in action. This year I’m doubling the fun. I’ll be driving up to North Point for the morning. Josh and I will take the official North Point tour during the first service. Then we’re going to attend the second service. Later that evening I’ll be attending Buckhead Church. I really loved the environment, so I want to experience it again.
Last year I really wanted to experience a large video campus. However, Andy preached live from Buckhead. I’m not complaining, but I didn’t get to see what I wanted to see. Since I will be attending a service at two different campuses, I’ve got a feeling that I might just get to experience at least one service on video.
I’ll also be hanging with family today. We’re spending the night tonight with Sara’s family, so after North Point we’ll come back and I’ll get some time with my nephew, neice and brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Then my mom and dad are driving up to Atlanta and will be meeting us at Buckhead. I haven’t see my mom and dad since Christmas, so this will be a treat. Don’t worry, I’ll post and tweet my experiences from tomorrow!
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Stuff…
Posted on 26. Apr, 2008 by Kenny.
Just arrived to Atlanta. Staying with some family tonight.
Planning to visit Buckhead Chruch in the morning. It’s a venue of North Point. It’s a very large venue, so I’m anxious to see a large, multi-site venue as my only experience is with seeing small venues.
I hope to get in and see KidStuf. Only heard great things about this family production. Hopefully they’ll let me in without bringing a family. I really should have called ahead this week.
A teenager I’m good friends with from Texas is in Atlanta for a national school competition. I’m going to try to take him to lunch tomorrow if possible.
I check in for Orange tomorrow night and check in to my hotel room. A co-worker from a church I once worked with is splitting a hotel room with me… that helps a ton and I’m looking forward to hanging out.
Anyone else going to be at Orange? Shoot me an email and we’ll try to arrange a meet-up!
kenny@childrensministryonline[dot]com
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