Tag Archives: conversation

Widening the Circle (Last Sunday Night)

April 20, 2012

Andrew, one of our fantastic small group leaders, and his 8th grade boys

Last Sunday night, we had our parents join us for an “Orange” series in the youth ministry– “orange” in practice, not necessarily as the focus of the content. In other words, we wanted to extend an invitation for parents to join in the faith conversation with their kids; and parents came. The series isn’t about parenting or family. It’s just an ordinary series about forgiveness, which I think is good because we’re trying to help parents understand that this “orange” thing is important for any series, any week, not just specific times.

The turnout was good. I’m hoping for more this week, but roughly a third of the kids who were there this past Sunday had a parent (or two) with them.

I got to kick off the “small group” time, not by previewing the message but by giving a pep talk of sorts. I leaned pretty heavily on Chap Clark’s “Parenting a New Generation” and talked about the need for parents to include other committed, non-parental adults in the lives of their kids. I made sure they knew who each kid’s small group leader was because that’s a pretty good start.

After that, we had a fun, “Newlywed Game” style game in which I think I may have intentionally created questions that would create for hilarious give and take between six pairs of parent and teen.

Then we worshipped together, and the night was capped off by Scott presenting a great message about how unforgiveness just doesn’t work.

I’m optimistic about this weekend. I can pretend that I’m something special because I have a blog and a business card and even an orange stroller– but, when the rubber meets the road, I’m really most concerned with a nuance of the assignment that God has given me here at New Harvest, “to make parent disciples of Jesus who make student disciples of Jesus.” Yeah, I just want more parents to show up, more “get it” factor, a better relationship between small group leader and parent and more people to join in on the faith conversation with their kids.

Here are a couple of comments from parents from last weekend:

“The Small group was good for me, and Scott’s message gave me and [my daughter] lots to talk about. Thanks for modeling the faith for my daughter!” – a dad with a middle school daughter

“Awesome sermon tonight. I’m looking forward to the next two weeks!” – another dad with a middle school and a high school daughter

Posted by Paul Mannino in orange leaders, orange parents, paul Tags: chap clark, conversation, discipleship, discipling teenagers, forgiveness, making disciples, new harvest, newlywed game, orange series, parenting a new generation, small group leader, spiritual, widen the circle

Orange Series: Students AND Parents Together

April 12, 2012

I’m really excited about this Sunday. We’re doing our second “Orange” student ministry series. In these series, we invite the parents to come along for the ride. Parents are in their own small group time while the kids are having their normal small groups; but, besides that, the rest of the night is done together.

It’s fun to shoot hoops with fathers and sons, and joke around moms and daughters. Then, when it’s time to play games, we see just how competitive those crazy parents can be! We’re kicking the series off this week, with a “Newlywed Game”-like game in which parents and their kids are tested to see how well they know each other. Then we worship together. Then we all hear the same message that will hopefully spark conversation in the home.

Anyway, leading up to the first small group time, I’ve been preparing some questions. There are ones that take guts to ask. I’m putting the church out there. I’m asking families to be vulnerable. And, yeah, it’s going to be interesting to see how it all goes down; but I figure if we can’t talk about this kind of stuff in church, we’re going to talk about it at Starbucks with our friends anyway. So, let the dialogue continue.

I was looking at Mark 10 to prepare for Sunday night, and it’s clear that Jesus VALUED children (and I look at teenagers as children with skinny mustaches and eyes made for rolling). In the Bible, when families brought their kids to be touched by Jesus, He welcomed them. It was the disciples who wigged out about the chaos that was probably happening with a bunch of children trying to tug on Jesus’ beard (imagine the scene at the mall when kids are trying to talk to Santa with no lines). What if Jesus got hurt? What if they got hurt? The disciples told everyone to back off. And this set Jesus off. He was indignant.

This Sunday night, we’re going to talk a little more about what that word, “indignant,” really means and why Jesus was so obviously passionate about what was being prevented.

So, yeah, I put on the hat of Orange Leader this week. Pray for a great turnout, and I’ll let you know how it went early next week.

Posted by Paul Mannino in orange leaders, paul Tags: children, conversation, dialogue, discussion, indignant, inviting parents, mark 10:13-16, orange series, partnering with the home, passion, small group, student ministry, vulnerable, widen the circle, worship, youth ministry, youth pastor

Who Does He Think He Is?

January 10, 2012

My wife and I were talking about this blog the other day, and she helped me to realize something that I hadn’t thought about. [She's good at that. Watching my blind spots.]

Does calling my blog “Orange Dad” maybe smack of arrogance, like I think that I’ve got it all figured out and that I need to share my supreme knowledge with the world?

Good question.

I guess it’s fair to talk about what I think of myself in all of this.

1. I am completely a rookie. If there was an Orange Dads team, I would be carrying other people’s luggage and getting them donuts. I have had a child for only three months; and, even then, I’m not even sure I’m doing that great of a job.

2. I am borrowing an idea. This is an interesting thought because orange’s not something that I came up with myself. I’ve got to give Reggie Joiner the tip of the hat for his amazing book, “Think Orange” for that. On a deeper level, I know that it’s really God’s idea to utilize the family and the church for His glory.

3. I am at a church that is learning how to be orange. I’m not even at the most super-orange church in the world. I know that. I lead the middle school, high school, and college ministry at my church– and, in all of those, we’re not even close to being truly orange. Children’s ministry here is great. But they’re growing. And the macro vision of our church for being orange is in development too.

So…let’s review.

I am a rookie parent.
This isn’t even my idea.
And I’m not even that great at the church side of things.

Why should you read my blog?

Well, if you just read it, I think that’s the problem right there! I don’t want people to just read it. My original vision was to create a community where people could talk about what they’re doing, what’s working, what’s not working, etc.

I’d love for all-star dads from all walks of life share their stories of how they’re doing what they’re doing. They don’t have to be perfect or work at a church. They just have to be willing to open up the conversation.

I’d love for church workers to talk about what they’re doing to bridge the gap between the church and the family. This part of the blog is super-underdeveloped. The most read posts on here are the ones in which I tell “cute Evie stories.” That’s cool. I’m glad. But I want to examine both sides of this equation because I’m on both sides of the equation. I’m a dad, and I’m a church leader.

So…hang in there.

And know that I don’t think I know everything (or much…or even anything!). I’m just trying to honor God and start a conversation. I’m so stoked about the Orange Conference because I know that more and more conversations are going to stem from that!

If you’ve heard amazing stories of orange dads and orange churches, I would love for a light to go off in your head where you think, “Ooh, I bet Paul would love to share that story.” Because you’d be right. I would.

Posted by Paul Mannino in paul Tags: all-star dads, blogging, bridging the gap, church, community, conversation, dialogue, family ministry, fatherhood, orange leaders, orange parents, orange philosophy, parenting, reggie joiner, rookie parent, stories, think orange, vanity

Tag Archives: conversation

Widening the Circle (Last Sunday Night)

Orange Series: Students AND Parents Together

Who Does He Think He Is?

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