Orange
Ryan Reed
You Gotta Make It to OC17

One of the most important events on my annual professional calendar is the Orange Conference.

Why Orange? In sum, when it comes to a student ministry curriculum, I have not found one as powerful, versatile, comprehensive, and intentional as Orange. It cares for the middle school student just as much as the elderly aunt who takes care of him. Orange seeks to equip the entire family, not just the teenage kid, for both individual and familial faith. That simple.

As a user since 2011, I've continually been sold by how well it prepares me to share the Gospel with teenagers and build parent partnerships for faithful ministry in the home. 

You Gotta Make It to OC17
Leadership
Ryan Reed
The Important Role of Self Awareness in ...

This post originally appeared on the Orange Leaders Blog on June 22, 2016. 

What is the toughest question you’ve ever had to answer, and who asked it?

Given that somehow you made your way to this exceptional community called Orange Leaders, I automatically know a few things about you:

The Important Role of Self Awareness in Leadership
Leadership
Ryan Reed
Key Ingredients for a Thriving Ministry Recipe

Not long ago my wife introduced me to the best show on television... Chopped. I love it. Hands down noting beats it. A simple show in concept: four chefs compete against one another using a basket of mystery ingredients - yet so captivating!

Why? Because the ingredients equalize the playing field. Whether the chef be a novice out of culinary a school or a multi-restaurant owner veteran, each chef receives the ingredients at the same time and must respond to them. 

The ingredients are the star of the show. They call out the character of the chef. Not the other way around. It's the ingredients that define the path.

Key Ingredients for a Thriving Ministry Recipe
Church
Ryan Reed
May the Real Me Meet the Real You

Said C.S. Lewis, "The prayer that precedes all prayers is may the real me meet the real you." 

A great friend of mine from college once shared this quote with me. He and I served in Young Life together, leading high school students toward a growing relationship with Jesus. I can recall that he ended nearly every one of his ministry talks with this quote just prior to closing in prayer:

"May the real me meet the real you."

I probably listened to him share this quote with me dozens of times. I think I also used it. But quite honestly, I don't think I understood the meaning behind it until much later in life. Intellectually I understood it. It's simple in structure, but truly profound in its meaning. 

Perhaps I missed it time after time because inherent within this quote lays an assumption that you know the real you. 

May the Real Me Meet the Real You
Orange
Ryan Reed
Rethink Leadership Conference Day 2 #OC16 #RL16

CAREY NIEUWHOF INTERVIEW WITH JON ACUFF

Know your message enough to find the direction, but leave it open enough to let the Holy Spirit inspire new content. 

For humor, build the island, but then make sure that you make a sturdy bridge to and from the island. Satire is about an idea, but mockery is about an individual. We are not called to mockery.

Put handles on ideas so that we can carry them forward. We have enough ideas. Put a handle on them.  

Rethink Leadership Conference Day 2 #OC16 #RL16

#oc14

Helping High School Families Get Ready #OC14

Helping High School Families Get Ready #OC14

One of the more insightful and challenging breakout sessions on student ministry that I attended at the 2014 Orange Conference was on the topic of 'Parent Partnerships,' a topic that I've discussed numerous times on my blog and writings. I posted my notes below for you to read. 

Two esteemed and respected Pastors in the field - Doug Fields and Will Hutcherson - offered two different sides of the topic. Will started with the practical applications for why all student pastors should strive to build bridges toward parents. Then, Doug closed the session by discussing the importance of maintaining a healthy rhythm of life with your own family. Both of the presenters shared insightful, challenging - both personally and professionally, encouraging, and compelling information on the topic. 

As you work through my notes, feel free to comment at the bottom with your insights and questions on this topic. Think on this question: What kind of practical steps have you taken during this last year to make your student ministry accessible to parents and families of teenagers?

Starting a Church for Unchurched Families #OC14

Starting a Church for Unchurched Families #OC14

One of the most relevant and stimulating breakout sessions that I attended at the 2014 Orange Conference was Carey Nieuwhof's discussion on "Starting a Church for Unchurched Families."

I am not a church planter, nor do I want to become one. I doubt that I will ever start a church for unchurched people. I signed up for this session because I respect Nieuwhof and desired to hear him speak in general, regardless of the topic. I was not sure if he would be addressing church planting or culture shifting, but Nieuwhof is an expert on the topic of post-Christianity and post-modernity. I knew that he would deal with this issue well, no matter what lens through which he discussed it. In fact, I highly commend his blog to you: careynieuwhof.com, a great resource on leadership and pastorship in a post-modern, post-Christian context. 

It turned out that this session was pertinent for anyone who desires to create a culture within their community that welcomes unchurched families, not just for planters. That's my heart, and I hope it is yours, as well. 

Measuring What's Important in Family Ministry #OC14

Measuring What's Important in Family Ministry #OC14

"We all want to be better at what we do because we believe that what we do matters — because we believe that our families need an authentic faith to understand life and know their identity in Jesus."

These are the first words of the first session that I attended called “Measuring What’s Important in Family Ministry” by Terry Scalzitti. He serves at Ocean View Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. AMAZING first session, thought provoking, and challenging as I think about how to evaluate ministry with honesty and clarity. 

Take a read below of my notes and ask yourself: “What are my gauges, and how am I evaluating what I do in ministry as a leader, a volunteer, a Christ follower?"