CreativePastors Blog & Podcast

The Triathlon of Ministry

In his latest video blog, Ed gets transparent about the triathlon of ministry. Check it out here.

Falwell Mourned

A note from Ed...

Today we mourn the sudden loss of a fellow church leader, Rev. Jerry Falwell. Tireless in his roles as a pastor, communicator, author and educator, Dr. Falwell poured himself into a life of service. Our prayers go out to his family, church and Liberty University.

The Tragedy in Virginia

As we pray for all those touched by Monday's tragic events, Ed shares these thoughts...

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America is once again sadly united in grief as we learn more about the deaths of 33 students and faculty members on the campus of Virginia Tech this Monday. When tragedy strikes in such devastating proportions, it’s natural for us, even as church leaders, to look heavenward and ask, “Why?” And that’s exactly where we should be turning with our questions and doubts, because this fallen world will never be able to supply us the answers we need in times like these.

The shootings yesterday prompted me to revisit my journaling from the morning following September 11, 2001. During that time, God spoke these truths to me:

• Evil is rampant. Because we are created in the image of God, we have been given a free will. True love is not a forced love, and we have the opportunity to choose. We either choose to love God or we don’t. Those who have not come into a relationship with him have turned their backs on God. Some individuals have gone so far in their rebellion that they are way out there in never-never demonic land and evil is rampant.  So, God didn’t cause this. Evil did.
• God is in control. God was not surprised by what happened yesterday. The Psalmist said this in Psalm 103:19, “The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.” In his sovereignty, God is calling the shots and we don’t have to worry.  He is in control and wants us to trust Him with each and every aspect of our lives.   
• Life is fragile. When those students and faculty went about their usual morning routines yesterday, little did they realize that they would be stepping from this life to the next. We are not really prepared to live until we are prepared to die. The Bible says that one day we will stand before God and everything in our lives that is not built on people or the church, those two entities which will last forever, will crumble. This tragedy is a wake-up call for those of us who call ourselves believers to get serious about understanding the implications of walking with the Lord and to share that good news with the many people around us who are asking those deep questions of the soul. 
• God is trustworthy. One section of scripture has been the theme verse for the Young family for generations. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” God is trustworthy, and he is using this to draw people to him. It’s a good thing people are asking these questions, and we have an opportunity to further God’s kingdom. Don’t miss it. 

Monday’s events are a reminder of the mission field we’ve chosen as leaders of the local church. There are lost and hurting souls all around us. Let us seize this sense of urgency to reach out to those in our community who so desperately need our Savior.

And as we join together in this fight, we can’t forget to build strength for the battles ahead.

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Philippians 4:4-9
The Message

Draw close to Him. Celebrate what’s good. Savor each sweet day.

Easter Roundup

Here's a collection of Easter-related posts to help you prepare for the big weekend:

• Easter Strategies, including series planning, service times and more
• Creativity Time, an excerpt from The Creative Leader in which Ed talks about developing an Easter message
• Rallying Volunteers for Easter services
• A Children's Ministry Perspective on Easter
• Rubble Trouble, an Easter message podcast from the Trading Spaces series
• Raising of the Cross, an Easter message podcast from the Masterpieces series

Becoming a Incurable Learner

Here's the latest edition of Ed's Creative Leader Newsletter. Want it to come directly to your inbox next month? Sign up here for free.

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What an incredible time we had last week as we hosted more than 3,000 church leaders for our 10th annual Creative Church Conference! Attendees traveled from as far as India, Australia and Nigeria, from nine countries and 48 U.S. states, to join us in Texas for an intense time of learning and sharing ideas. Once again, I had a blast talking with pastors from churches of all different sizes and denominations.

One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to learn from these amazing leaders, especially those who shared their insights with us from the stage. From Craig Groeschel and Mark Driscoll to Bishop T.D. Jakes and my dad, Dr. Ed Young, we experienced a true diversity in teaching styles and subjects that gave us a glimpse of the limitless ways God can work in our churches and use our unique gifts.

Some of my favorite moments of the conference came during the Q&A sessions after each talk, featuring a panel discussion with the speaker. The panelists were pastors and leaders from churches of various sizes and approaches who helped flesh out and apply the lessons learned. In addition to these panelists, we incorporated text message and email questions directly from the attendees in the audience. This format produced great follow-up as many different people were able to share ideas and struggles from their own ministries.

• Following a talk explaining that God most often uses insecure, risk-taking, pain-enduring idiots, Craig Groeschel was asked about his biggest idiot moment. Time and time again, he said, he's insulted God by dreaming too small.
• When asked about negative people in the church, Mark Driscoll made a perfect analogy by comparing them to referees — they like to wear their striped shirt, blow their whistle, and call fouls, but they never really play in the game. He said that they care about things that nobody else does, not even God.
• It was a great thrill to share C3 with my dad, Dr. Ed Young, after learning so much from his leadership example throughout my life. He nailed it in a talk about making Children's Ministry a high priority in the church. In a follow-up question about raising children, he remarked, "How do kids spell love? T-I-M-E."
• Bishop Jakes had eloquent answers for any questions posed to him, including one about how to cultivate diversity within the church. In addition to embracing diverse friendships across traditional boundaries, he said that your stage must lead the way in reflecting diversity, even if it's not present yet in your membership.

These discussions, along with all of the general sessions from C3 2007, will be included on a DVD set of the conference, currently available for pre-order online.

As you might know, my preferred method of learning is by asking questions, so these sessions really struck a chord with me. This experience reminded me yet again of the importance of being an incurable learner. If you're not learning, you're not leading. As church leaders, we should have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. We must take advantage of every opportunity we have to learn: what motivates the individuals we meet, what the successful leaders around us know, how people get to where they are in life. It all counts. If you love people, you'll want to find out more about them and the world in which they live.

In my travels, I've interacted with many young church leaders and I can always tell which ones are going to go far - they are the ones asking question, after question, after question of anyone they can. Ask questions of everyone, everywhere you go. Don't save it all for the so-called experts. I've gained countless new insights and ideas from bright young pastors who are deep in the trenches of front-line ministry, leading small churches in tucked-away corners of the country. Of course we can learn from the experience of those who've blazed the trails in front of us, but we can't underestimate the great potential of those in every arena of ministry and leadership.

The opportunity to interact and connect with other leaders is a big reason why we're so passionate about offering conferences throughout the nation. We'll be hosting Regional Creative Church Conferences in eight different cities this year, including our next one in St. Louis on March 26. I'm also adding some other speaking engagements to my calendar, because I get so fired up by interacting with all of you. I'll be in the Seattle, Washington area on March 6 & 7 for the Vision 2007 Leadership Conference and in Lakeland, Florida on March 15 for the National Leadership Forum. We update the calendar frequently, so be sure to check the speaking schedule page often!

And remember, never stop learning. Make it your goal this year to be an incurable learner.

Easter Ideas

Plan early and dream big for the weekend of April 7-8! With Easter just eight weeks away, it's the perfect time to let God challenge us with what He wants to do through our churches this spring. Let's take those huge leaps to reach out to the individuals in our communities who are far away from Christ! To help out, we're featuring special savings on some of our most powerful Easter resources this month.

And be sure to share with us the exciting things you've got planned for your churches - we love to hear your great ideas!

10 Commandments of Purity

While Ed is speaking at the Nashville Regional Creative Church Conference, he is highlighting the importance of purity in a pastor's life. With the confusion and chaos surrounding sexuality and relationships in our culture, radical steps are required to lead a life beyond reproach. Ed has developed the following commandments to safeguard his marriage to Lisa:

1. I shall have no other human relationships before Lisa, including the kids.
2. Remember the date night and keep it holy.
3. Honor Lisa on anniversaries and special days so that you may live long in the land the Lord has given you.
4. I shall not take the covenant of marriage in vain by apathy.
5. I shall not ride in a car or eat in a restaurant alone with a member of the opposite sex.
6. I shall not travel alone.
7. I shall not counsel a woman with the doors closed.
8. I shall not share the details of our marriage with others.
9. I shall not watch, read, or expose myself to sexual explicit shows, books, DVDs, etc.
10. I shall remember the implications of breaking this covenant and commandment before God.

This list was originally shared in Ed's Love Affair teaching series within the Lessons from the Ledge message. And don't miss Ed and Lisa Young's book, The Creative Marriage, for more great ideas to build a strong marriage.

Perspective on Recent News

In the latest Relevant Magazine newsletter, Ed Young comments on the recent news involving Ted Haggard. Read the article here.

Development of the Sexual Revolution Series

If you missed Ed's October Creative Leader Newsletter, here's the content from the latest issue. And if you're not signed up to receive our newsletters, you can do it here - for free!

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Ed Young's Creative Leader Newsletter - October

With fall in full swing, I hope everything is going well for you and your ministry. Because this is an important season in the church calendar, I want to encourage you to continue the hard work it takes to reach your community in new and creative ways.

Heading into this fall at Fellowship Church, we wanted to tackle something that would have a lasting impact on everyone who walked through our doors. So we kicked off a series called Sexual Revolution to bring the bed back in the church and the church back in the bed.

It only takes a glance at a magazine stand or a few moments flipping channels on the television to see that our society has a lot to say about sex. The church, on the other hand, has been strangely silent or overwhelmingly negative about this powerful topic for far too long.

People are starved for answers to the conflict between a culture that says, "Do it--anytime, anywhere, with anyone!" and a church that whispers ashamedly, "Don't do it. In fact, don't even think about it."

Thankfully, God provides those answers. And we should discuss them in church--it's only second to the home as the best place to talk about sex. So as I sat down with our creative team to plan for this series, we took the following into consideration:

• It was time for a positive approach. Rather than starting with what society says about sex and teaching how wrong it is, we based this entire series on Genesis 1 and 2 to reveal the amazing freedom that comes when we use this life-uniting gift the way God designed it. Even our graphics reflected a more positive mood. We considered a darker, more edgy look (actually, it was a really intriguing ink blot that you may see in a future series), but in the end, we went with the artwork you see here to reinforce the upbeat tone we wanted to convey.
• Cutting material out is just as important as leaving material in. Because sex is such a huge subject, I could preach about it for an entire year. Any of us could. But in order to narrow and intensify the focus, we were extremely selective about what was included. In fact, we cut eight full pages of dictation out of one sermon in order to strengthen the delivery.
• Fresh perspectives are a must. Everyone thinks they know what they will hear in church when it comes to sex. Because of that, we wanted to treat this subject in a new, unexpected way. We avoided covering the same ground we have during past series about sex at Fellowship Church. We also included different people, such as our youth pastors, in our creative team meetings. We thought since they are on the front lines of ministering to students caught up in sexual turmoil, they should have some input. And when it was time for the message on how to talk to your children about sex, Lisa joined me on the stage to broaden our perspective.
• Be aggressive, not offensive. A series like this calls for an aggressive approach because people need to hear the truth and power behind what God says. Because of that, we intentionally used some statements like, "Sex is between the ears before it's between the legs." While saying that made me a little uncomfortable, it also woke a lot of people up. For visual impact, I taught the entire series next to a queen-sized bed placed in the middle of the stage. And we launched the series with a week-long campaign designed to get people talking, including invite cards, direct mail, online e-vites, and a 90-foot wide Sexual Revolution banner on the outside of our main building. The Bible isn't bland and boring when it comes to sex, so we shouldn't be either.

When we're dealing with a subject as culturally confused as sex, we have to step out of our comfort zone and teach God's bold truth with courage. Of course, we received some negative comments along the way—many from parents who were avoiding this important topic with their children. But we also received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from people who were excited and thankful that we were willing to talk about this subject in such an open and biblically based way.

Remember, ministry isn't for the weak of heart. As leaders, we should regularly find ourselves stretched to the limit as we follow God's lead. Sexual Revolution wasn't an easy series to develop or teach. But once God laid it on my heart, there was no turning back. If you'd like to tackle this challenging topic, we'd love to help. We've made the complete Sexual Revolution series available at a special price--you can check it out here.

I encourage you to pray high-risk prayers and engage in the relentless pursuit of God's amazing plans for what He wants to do through your ministry. And be sure to share your adventures with us along the way! You have a great opportunity this month with our Show Us What You're Made Of Contest – the grand prize wins you free tickets to our Creative Church Conference in February!

10/31 Update: The Sexual Revolution sale has ended - be sure to subscribe to our newsletters for updates on future CreativePastors offers and promotions!

Insight from New Campus

We've had some great feedback about this morning's Creative Leader Newsletter, so in case you missed out, here's the content from the latest issue. And if you're not signed up to receive our newsletters, you can do it here - for free!

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Ed Young's Creative Leader Newsletter - September

Over the weekend we celebrated an incredible movement of God during the Fall Kickoff at our Fellowship Church Miami Campus. After weeks of community outreach and preparation, we were excited to welcome over 600 people in our two Sunday services during the official grand opening weekend.

Opening this campus has really taken us back to our roots as a small church when we started in an Irving, Texas office complex with 150 people. We began with an even smaller base in Miami and have already experienced amazing growth. And though things are definitely different in a small church, the underlying approach we use for all five of our campuses remains the same. We're employing creativity and personal interaction to reach out and touch one life at a time. Here are a few highlights from our recent efforts in Florida:

• We're investing in marketing. We knew that direct mail in Miami would have greater potential impact than in other regions where the church advertising market is more saturated. To coordinate with our Miami campaign of Refuel, Refresh, Redefine, we sent out a direct mail piece that visitors could Redeem at the church for a $5 gas card. When it landed in homes, we experienced a significant increase in phone calls.
• Banners and signage outside the church are worth every penny. Many visitors have told us that they saw our signs and logged on to our Miami campus website for more information. We made sure the front page of that site is very easy to navigate with important information prominently displayed, and also included content that would give them a taste of the Fellowship Miami experience.
• We're also taking advantage of free marketing. Because of a press release we filed two weeks ago with national and local news agencies, the Miami Herald was on site covering our Kickoff Weekend. Read the full article (available for a limited time).
• Nothing beats one-on-one dialogue. Whether we are in local stores, restaurants or just waiting in line somewhere, we strike up conversations with the people around us. Building relationships within the community is the most successful form of outreach available. While stopping at a coffee shop, one of our staff members started chatting with an employee there and ended up handing her an invite card. That weekend, not only did she visit for the first time, but she brought her entire family along.
• We work the phones. This is something we've been doing since day one of Fellowship Church. Our staff personally calls each first time visitor. And we're making a special effort to call in the evenings so we can actually talk to the visitors, answer questions and invite them back.
• We've used the questions people ask us to guide our marketing. We noticed that many of the people we talked to in Miami asked us, "What kind of church is it?" So in our promotional materials and signage for this campus we've added the fact that we are a Christian church.
• We're making the best of the space we've got. We know that our overall vision for this environment will take time to achieve. But we are taking immediate, easy steps (and lots of volunteer elbow grease) to upgrade the campus by planting additional landscaping and applying fresh paint. Instead of traditional white-skirted tables, we've brought in some more modern wood tables for hospitality areas. We're adding music, Cuban coffee and local pastries to create a welcoming atmosphere. And we're fanatical about keeping the facility sparkling clean!
• Friendliness is irreplaceable. A positive attitude and huge smile are tremendous assets in attracting people to any church. We have a team of floaters (greeters) who circulate throughout the entrance and areas outside the worship center, so visitors usually are engaged in several conversations before they sit down. The parking lot entrance is flanked by greeters who wave at passing traffic and incoming cars. In fact, we just talked to some visitors recently who said they turned around and came back because we waved at them!

I'm so excited by what's going on at the Miami campus and the opportunities there to see lives changed. We'll continue to keep you updated on what God's doing through this effort, so stop back here regularly for upcoming articles. And check our Assmilation Kit or Leadership Uncensored resources for more information on assimilation and satellite campus growth. We know God is doing great things at your churches as well, so be sure to share your stories with us!