TEAM UP!!!

I had the opportunity to hear a speaker at a conference a few years ago who spoke about his "5 Steps to Success."

The fifth and what I think was the most IMPORTANT was TEAM UP!

What I took away from this was to Team Up meant we were to:

1. COME for each other
2. CARE for each other
3. ENCOURAGE each other

I don't know about you, but that's EXACTLY what I felt at our Launch Team Meeting last Thursday!

Thanks for TEAMING UP!!!

Blessings....Pastor Bud

Moving in at A.U.

This past Saturday was Move-in day at Ashland University and we had an opportunity to bless the people on campus.

We had two tables set up at different locations and we passed out free water, coffee, and muffins to the students and parents.We also gave out free notebooks to the students.

We had a great TIME just sharing with people and I believe they were BLOWN AWAY that we were doing this FREE!

The BEST moment for me was when a young man asked what KIA was. I told him we were just showing God's love in a practical way. He gave me a BIG HIGH FIVE!!

We also had some new faces join our team, friends of Pastor Kevin's, to help us serve. Thanks for being there!

And what a BEAUTIFUL day it was.

How AWESOME is our GOD!!


Blessings....Pastor Bud

Our Job: Creative Arts

Hey Ashland Team!

It's Pastor Kevin and I'm so pumped to be apart of the A-town team to make a BIG IMPACT for the KINGDOM OF GOD!

I was reading an article by a worship ministry in Atlanta recently and it discussed the role of the worship and creative arts team. So I thought I would share a snip-it of the article with you...

Our job as the Leaders and facilitators of these times of worship are to:

Encourage - Encouraging people to connect with God means that sometimes the Worship Leader, and even band and musicians, fill the role of a motivator (or, the dreaded term: cheerleader).

Enable - We give them a vehicle to do so via a well thought-out song set

Enhance - we enhance the corporate worship experience by playing the music WELL, by stimulating their brain and spirit through the best musicianship we are able to offer. You CAN worship with a poorly rehearsed band of hacks and off-pitch screamers - but it ain’t easy!!

Exit - It’s obviously ultimately not about us - the people on stage or running lights or the Front of House mix. It’s our ultimate goal to not be the show, but rather a means through which people are attracted and drawn to Christ. When we receive the glory, whether purposeful or not, then we’ve failed - big time.

[read the full article here]

I pray that we keep these four ideas at the forefront of our minds as we move forward to worship our Lord and bring his Good News to Ashland!

Grace and Peace!

Catching the Vision!!

Every time I walk into this Theater at AHS I see it full of people WORSHIPING our LORD and SAVIOR.

Can you SEE what GOD is going to do in this place to HIS glory?

There is some BIG NEWS for tomorrow nights Launch Team Meeting! Don't miss it!

See you there!


Blessings...Pastor Bud

Children's Ministry???

What do you normally think of when you hear Children's Ministry? Probably the same things I do.

The program and curriculum that the church has put together for my children when we bring them to the weekend services. How will they learn about Jesus this weekend?

Well I learned a new definition this past weekend when I saw my oldest son CJ learning to SERVE in the cafe.

God has designed each of us to serve a purpose in His body. How old (or young) do you have to be to start listening to God to see where you fit in His plan?

Maybe I should get out of the way and let God show my son where He wants him to be in children's ministry.

Blessings....Pastor Bud

Xmas in August

This weekend we launched Xmas in August at NH Loudonville and Wooster. Xmas in August will nearly provide all of the Children Ministry materials and equipment that we need to launch the NH Ashland Campus on Sept 28th.

If you have a little extra money, stop by the Xmas Tree in the lobby and grab a tag and purchase what is needed for the Ashland Launch and join us on our mission to reach and teach the people of Ashland in the name of Christ!

Grace and peace!

It's Really Happening!

WOW!

It's HAPPENING!
It's REAL!

Check out the picture of Pastor Dan unloading and unpacking some of our new equipment for the Ashland Campus.

Can you believe we are only 6 WEEKS away?

Only God!

Hearing the voice of God!

The other day my 8 year old son Nick asked me how to hear God! He said he doesn't hear Him. WOW! What a question from an 8 YEAR OLD! Of course I dove right in.

I explained to him how sometimes God speaks to me when I'm praying or reading and studying His word. How I have to remember to be STILL and LISTEN. Which, if any of you are like me, isn't always easy. I told Nick he just needs to listen to the Holy Spirit inside him. He seemed to understand. I thought that was it! Dad explained everything. WELL......

We had the opportunity to take our three boys to a Toby Mac concert on Monday at the Ohio State Fair. Toby is their favorite artist! As you may imagine it was RAMPED UP!

During one of the songs (I can't remember which now), I looked over at Nick. He had his eyes closed and hands raised in WORSHIP. He was SINGING and PRAISING our Lord and Savior.

I believe he HEARD God that night! And I know for certain I LEARNED about LISTENING for God's voice wherever I am, from my 8 year old son.

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matt 18:3

Praise Him!