New Day - Volunteer Schedules

This weekend rocked!  We had 110% cast member (volunteer) attendance at the 9:45 service of Sanctuary and 90% attendance at the 11:30 service.  Absolutely amazing...and the first of this kind of "show rate" since I began on staff a mere 75 days ago!  To what do I attribute this success?  First, a volunteer came into our offices last week and placed a personal call to every single cast member.  Second, a ton of time on my knees before God.  Now, onto next week...

I'm still of the firm belief that serving more than once a month is not only a "good idea," but is actually necessary to make the ministry what God intends it to be...both for the kids and, dare I say it, the cast members.  Kids and adults alike thrive in consistent, loving environments.  With cast members serving only once a month, does that create a consistent environment?

We have created a culture where no one wants to be inconvenienced, but yet they want to feel needed.  A culture where folks want to feel like they have a purpose, a stake in something bigger than themselves, but they don't want to feel "trapped" by commitment.  Reality is...we can't have it all without some level of sacrifice.  

As I review the schedule for October, I am asking God for the level of commitment that He desires...and the ability for me to push for that commitment from our cast members.

Here's a recent post you might find interesting about this particular subject.  http://jabberfrog.com/2008/09/29/maximizing-volunteers/

Detox for the Soul

Curious - what does Detox for the Soul mean?  It came up because it is a "tag line" that we have adopted at Sanctuary.  At first, the line confused me...but the more I think about it, the more it is becoming a "vision" that I can grasp.  Before I "vamp" on what it means to me, I want to hear from you. 

If you are a Christ follower, what does Detox for the Soul mean to you?  Chime in!

Exclamation Point

I love me a good Exclamation Point!!  In recent years, I feel like everything I have to say in writing deserves this high form of punctuation - placing emphasis on the preceding string of words as if to say "pay attention because I mean it."  But does each and every sentence really have to have that much impact?  I don't know...it's a hard question that I have to ask myself.

So here's my answer...My name is Robyn Brinkley and I am an Exclamation Point Addict!  I would submit myself to a 12 step program, but frankly, I love my Exclamation Point way too much to give it up!  And many times when I sit down to write, it's because I feel God is laying something on me to share, and He deserves such awesome emphasis!  (Is one of the signs of an addiction "rationalization?")

So expect to continue to see this weighty punctuation mark in most anything I write, from e-mails and thank you notes to blogs cuz I'm not givin' it up.  I'm not really sure why I'm even writing about punctuation right now...but it's kind of fun - and it takes my mind off of my other addiction - tea...I'm out of tea right now, so here come the exclamation points!!!!!

Children's Ministry Internships

We are looking to develop a children's ministry internship program and I am wondering who of you have implemented such a program.  I have a few questions:

• What kind of response do you get from colleges - local? out of state?
• What is the rate of return - are interns generally interested in future full-time employment with your organization?
• Do you feel this is a good avenue for finding future leaders for your church?

It seems to me that so many in children's ministry seem to be "seasoned" and for us to be innovative and prepared for the future, we need an influx of younger, hungrier people with new and edgier ideas.  What do you think?

Family Sunday

Went very well!  Kids actually enjoyed being in Big Church - especially getting to surf beach balls throughout the auditorium.  Looks like we'll do it again!  And...they all came back to Sanctuary Kids this past week, so no fallout!