http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/tags/family-experience Orange Leaders Forum en-US Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:34:05 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/search.php http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/family-production-for-student-ministry#post-189 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:55:24 +0000 MattyP 189@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Our Student Ministry recently transitioned to the XP3 strategy at the start of this school year and we are looking to better minister to the family unit as a whole. I am interested in engaging with our parents that will bring them together with their students in a large group Family XP perhaps once a month. I have seen the success of this with our Children's Ministry using the Family Production once a month, and would like to try something with our Student Ministry. My vision is to get parents on board in understanding what we are teaching the students so that we can make a greater impact together. </p> <p>Is anyone out there doing anything like this within Student Ministry that I can see a working model? Obviously there is the challenge of getting students to buy into this as to not feeling like it is lame having their parents around. Any thoughts or suggestions?</p> <p>Thanks! </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/family-xp-on-saturday-night#post-150 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:13:57 +0000 lancescarbrough 150@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Is anyone doing a FAMILY XP on a Saturday night?<br /> If so, what does your schedule look like?<br /> Is it working?</p> <p>____<br /> We are currently doing a family xp on Wednesday nights (weekly).<br /> We are in need of adding an additional service and we are thinking about doing a Saturday Family Weekend.<br /> (Family XP (before or after) a weekend service)<br /> We are thinking about only doing once a month.</p> <p>Any thoughts? </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/partnering-with-parents#post-112 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:24:12 +0000 lisamcc 112@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>In September we launched a new strategy to help our family's "Create Rhythm" in their daily lives. We call it "Live It, Learn It, Use It."<br /> Here's how it works.<br /> We have a family experience on the first Sunday of each month. At the family experience we launch the new month's virtue. In the launching of the virtue we ask families to accept a mission-which is to "LIve the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool."<br /> We encourage families to "Create Rhythm" in their day by highlighting one rhythm time of the day each month and then we create an application tool that ties to that time of day.<br /> For example in September, we highlighted "BedTime" and we created a pillowcase that had all the virtues (for the season) and memory verses printed on it. Lots of GREAT feedback and stories on how families have "accepted" the mission and are literally "Creating Rhythm" in their week (at bedtime) to talk about wisdom and how they have applied it during the day/week!<br /> In October we will be highlighting "MorningTime" and we'll give them a glass cling with the virtue they put on their bathroom mirror along with a marker that writes on glass-so they can "Create Rhythm" and talk about the virtue while they get ready for their day.<br /> In November we will highlight "MealTime" with a placemat. Again to "Create Rhythm" in their day as they accept the mission to "Live the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool" and talk about faith while they share a meal.<br /> In December, I'd like to highlight "DriveTime" with some type of CD, with Christmas music.<br /> Then we'll re-highlight each time of a families day through out the season.<br /> Our Small Group Leaders use this language to "Create Rhythm" within in their small group time and as they connect with families.<br /> We hope this idea is a blessing to all of you folks out their moving to His rhythm as we partner with families to raise a revolutionary generation who will Love God, Love People and Serve the World.<br /> We'd love to hear from you-Blessings! Lisa McCarthy </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-to-cast-vision-to-families#post-133 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:44:44 +0000 paulluna 133@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>I am looking at new ways to cast vision to our families so I read through every wall post I could find on the subject. I then took the ones I thought were helpful to me and combined them into this one post. I did not come up with these ideas, I simply compiled other people’s ideas. </p> <p>This one comes from lisamcc Lisa McCarthy<br /> <a href="http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=49" rel="nofollow">http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=49</a> </p> <p>In September we launched a new strategy to help our family's "Create Rhythm" in their daily lives. We call it "Live It, Learn It, Use It."<br /> Here's how it works.<br /> We have a family experience on the first Sunday of each month. At the family experience we launch the new month's virtue. In the launching of the virtue we ask families to accept a mission-which is to "LIve the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool."<br /> We encourage families to "Create Rhythm" in their day by highlighting one rhythm time of the day each month and then we create an application tool that ties to that time of day.<br /> For example in September, we highlighted "BedTime" and we created a pillowcase that had all the virtues (for the season) and memory verses printed on it. Lots of GREAT feedback and stories on how families have "accepted" the mission and are literally "Creating Rhythm" in their week (at bedtime) to talk about wisdom and how they have applied it during the day/week!<br /> In October we will be highlighting "MorningTime" and we'll give them a glass cling with the virtue they put on their bathroom mirror along with a marker that writes on glass-so they can "Create Rhythm" and talk about the virtue while they get ready for their day.<br /> In November we will highlight "MealTime" with a placemat. Again to "Create Rhythm" in their day as they accept the mission to "Live the Virtue, Learn the Verse and Use the Tool" and talk about faith while they share a meal.<br /> In December, I'd like to highlight "DriveTime" with some type of CD, with Christmas music.<br /> Then we'll re-highlight each time of a families day through out the season.<br /> Our Small Group Leaders use this language to "Create Rhythm" within in their small group time and as they connect with families.<br /> We hope this idea is a blessing to all of you folks out their moving to His rhythm as we partner with families to raise a revolutionary generation who will Love God, Love People and Serve the World.<br /> We'd love to hear from you-Blessings! Lisa McCarthy</p> <p>This one comes from Beth<br /> <a href="http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=14" rel="nofollow">http://orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=14</a> </p> <p>First, cast vision for what can happen at home. Fuel passion for their roles as parents, giving them reasons and practical ideas for the value of family time. Next, provide resources as tools and communicate the how and why of each resource (FamilyTimes Virtue Pack, God Time cards, Refrigerator Door cards, Small Talk, For Heaven’s Sake, HomeWork, etc. See the reThink Store for these resources.). You could package a month's worth of tools in a cool way (create a custom printed "toolbox" using a Happy Meal box, paper gift bag, folder, or plastic bag).</p> <p>Another way to encourage the dialogue is to set up a section of your web site where parents can share ideas on what’s been helpful to them. If your church website doesn't have space or bandwidth for this, you can set up a blog web site through Wordpress, Blogger, Typepad, or any other source.</p> <p>This one comes from Beth<br /> <a href="http://www2.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=12" rel="nofollow">http://www2.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic.php?id=12</a></p> <p>Vision leaks, so it must be done constantly, creatively, and in as many ways as can be done. Here are some ideas that might help:</p> <p>Launch a new ministry season with Orange Night. Cast vision for why you are doing what you do (the strategy behind Orange) as well as the content you might be covering, but make it fun. You might hand out Orange glow sticks and play some great music. If you want to make it a true family event, try showing the "Skeeples and Lomes" DVD to parents and kids together. Finish off the night with orange sherbert, vanilla ice cream, and orange toppings.<br /> If you do a monthly FX (Family Experience), it’s a great chance to cast vision. Give parents the monthly Parent Link Live parenting podcast to help them understand how they can win at home. Some churches even start the family experience a few minutes early, and while the kids warm up with some songs, parents gather for a few minutes with the senior pastor or another church leader who gives a short (5-7 minute) talk on parenting values or the church’s Orange strategy.<br /> At the end of the year, throw an Ovations event where you celebrate your volunteers. Many of your volunteers are parents, and while you are appreciating their hard work, you have yet another opportunity to remind why what they do is so important.<br /> Create a highlights video of what goes on "back there" so parents can see what it looks and feels like, and play these videos prior to the adult service when appropriate. Work with your church’s senior leadership, lead pastor, and eldership for their communication and support. Talk with your senior pastor about possibly doing an Orange series for adults.<br /> Encourage parents to tap into Amber Sky, where the vision gets reinforced once again through music and creative arts.</p> <p>This I read from "Learning to Lead : Bringing Out the Best in People" by Smith, Fred and I simplified it. p.34-36</p> <p>1. Define it specifically. In my view, nothing is properly defined until you write it down. </p> <p>2. Express it so other people understand it. A good statement of purpose is straightforward. It comes right to the point.</p> <p>3. Get both organizational and personal acceptance of the vision. Gather Others around the Vision. Organizational acceptance means the majority will vote for the motion.</p> <p>4. Repeat the purpose over and over. One very effective leader used this phrase in his vision setting: “Say it simply, boldly, and repeat it often.”</p> <p>I hope this can help someone else.</p> <p>Paul Luna </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/parachurch-programming#post-118 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:28:07 +0000 tlhyde 118@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Anyone have experience or knowledge re: doing the Family Experience in a parachurch organization? </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/most-used-family-experience-segments#post-40 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:04:42 +0000 jwilliams 40@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Hey everybody,</p> <p>Jon Williams here. I was wondering something. If you do Family Experience, what segments do you regularly use (Sketch, Word, Intro/Welcome, etc.) and which ones are you most likely to cut or not do? Also, tell me why you do or don't use these segments. Thanks. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-do-i-fit-a-family-experience-fx-into-our-schedule#post-13 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:06:46 +0000 Beth Nelson 13@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>First, decide as a team what you want the goal of your FX to be - do you want to strengthen your current families, or do you want to reach out to new families? Also, perform a realistic assessment of the culture in your community. For example, is Wednesday night still known as a "church night" in your city? If so, maybe Wednesday night is good. If not, and if families have sports, lessons, and other programs going on Wednesday night, maybe you need to stick with a time on Sunday. For example, if high school football is huge in your community, it is not likely that families would forego the football game to come to your FX, so take Friday night off the table as an option. You might also pick a time when there is no other competing activity in your church (in other words, don't try to do FX during your adult Sunday school hour; it will be almost impossible to get parents to attend, much less<br /> participate as actors, tech directors, etc.) If you have to move into what might be considered the lunch hour, bring in pizza or<br /> sandwiches and allow families to enjoy a time of fellowship along with the program. Just try to start somewhere, even if it's once a quarter or a couple of times a year (around Christmas or Easter, for example).</p> <p>In the first year: Use FX to launch the ministry season (it could take the place of an adult service or be held as a special event), then another at Christmas, and another at Easter.</p> <p>In the second year, or if you have more resources: Hold your FX the first week of the month as a Family Night on Wednesday or a weekend evening. </p> <p>As a final step: Hold a weekly FX at a regular time. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-do-we-cast-vision-for-parents-and-engage-into-the-strategy#post-12 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:54:18 +0000 Beth Nelson 12@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Vision leaks, so it must be done constantly, creatively, and in as many ways as can be done. Here are some ideas that might help:</p> <ul> <li>Launch a new ministry season with Orange Night. Cast vision for why you are doing what you do (the strategy behind Orange) as well as the content you might be covering, but make it fun. You might hand out Orange glow sticks and play some great music. If you want to make it a true family event, try showing the "Skeeples and Lomes" DVD to parents and kids together. Finish off the night with orange sherbert, vanilla ice cream, and orange toppings. </li> <li>If you do a monthly FX (Family Experience), it’s a great chance to cast vision. Give parents the monthly Parent Link Live parenting podcast to help them understand how they can win at home. Some churches even start the family experience a few minutes early, and while the kids warm up with some songs, parents gather for a few minutes with the senior pastor or another church leader who gives a short (5-7 minute) talk on parenting values or the church’s Orange strategy. </li> <li>At the end of the year, throw an Ovations event where you celebrate your volunteers. Many of your volunteers are parents, and while you are appreciating their hard work, you have yet another opportunity to remind why what they do is so important. </li> <li>Create a highlights video of what goes on "back there" so parents can see what it looks and feels like, and play these videos prior to the adult service when appropriate. Work with your church’s senior leadership, lead pastor, and eldership for their communication and support. Talk with your senior pastor about possibly doing an Orange series for adults. </li> <li>Encourage parents to tap into Amber Sky, where the vision gets reinforced once again through music and creative arts.</li> </ul> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/what-are-the-3-hardest-things-about-putting-on-a-family-experience#post-58 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:47:58 +0000 jwilliams 58@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Hey everybody. </p> <p>Thanks for all you responses to my previous post. If you do a Family Experience and haven't read it yet, please do. it would be very helpful. it is just a few entries below this one.</p> <p>Anyway, as the title of this one states, I want to know what are the three biggest problems that arise when producing or directing a Family Experience.</p> <p>Now, here's what I am not looking for. I'm not looking for answers that everyone deals with, such as actor scheduling, space issues, budget concerns, technical issues (i.e. sound, video, etc.)etc....</p> <p>What I am looking for, mainly, is the areas you, as a director/producer of your Family Experience, wish you had a little more training in regards to putting on a production. </p> <p>Does that make sense? These answers will require a little transparency. I'll go first. In my years at North Point Community Church, my biggest weakness was blocking a sketch. I had been an actor for years but had very little training as a director . Stuff like that. </p> <p>Let me know and thanks for reading. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-do-i-engage-unchurched-parents#post-15 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:32:06 +0000 Beth Nelson 15@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Vision casting is essential when engaging unchurched parents. Help them to see the need met by your ministry by keeping in mind that parents are silently asking you to do three things:</p> <p>1. Give me the plan.<br /> 2. Show me how it works.<br /> 3. Tell me what to do today.</p> <p>God Time cards, Refrigerator Door cards, and other resources included in reThink curriculums will help incorporate parents into the Orange strategy. Family Experience productions are another way to invite unchurched parents into your ministry in a relevant and non-threatening way.</p> <p>Additionally, at the appropriate time, enlist these parents on the team by explaining, "I partner with you and you partner with me to help develop your child's spiritual life."</p> <p>You can also incorporate quarterly "one phone call" family social events into your calendar. These are events which are easily set up with only one phone call - hayrides, renting an ice skating rink or bowling alley, etc. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/how-does-salvation-fit-into-this#post-11 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:40:17 +0000 Beth Nelson 11@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>We attempt to specifically cover the message of salvation every month or once in every series. It’s also presented through a specific presentation where families are invited to attend on a rotating basis, usually every two months. John 3:16 is the focus, and it is explained in a memorable way that God loved, God gave, we believe, we receive. Although there are some months where the message of salvation is talked about or referred to for several weeks (like Christmas and Easter), we want to encourage churches to create a unique environment where the message of salvation is presented in a clear, memorable way to both parents and their kids. This provides a family with the most important shared experience we could give them! A parent wouldn’t want to miss their kids’ first steps, so they certainly wouldn’t want to miss this huge spiritual step. Including un-believing parents in the process helps to communicate that we value and respect their leadership and often opens a door for them to make a decision to follow Christ as well. (We have a DVD that can help you create this unique environment called <em>For Heaven’s Sake</em>.)</p> <p>Because we honor parents, we will present the truth as it relates to the lesson, and tell them how they can talk to God about it with their parents. During the elementary ages our priority is to equip parents to pray with their own children to trust Christ. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/what-would-a-sample-schedule-look-like-if-we-were-more-family-friendly#post-10 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:36:59 +0000 Beth Nelson 10@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>There are a number of different kinds of schedules that could apply here. It really depends on what kind of programming or style of church you lead. Obviously, the more heavily programmed you are, the harder it is to create space for family shared experiences. Simpler is usually better. At North Point Community Church for almost a decade, Sundays consisted of worship for adults while children and middle school students had large group and small group time. Following that we would host a 30- to 45-minute production for parents and children to give them their challenge as a family for the week. Then we would duplicate that entire process a second time and finish around lunch. High school students served on Sunday mornings and Sunday afternoons there would be a two-hour large group/small group time that focused on discipleship for high school students. A number of churches do monthly family shared experiences, some on Wednesday nights. There are quite a few who do a few times each year, and some are doing multiple family experiences in homes monthly. As it relates to student ministry, creating several strategic gatherings for parents every year to link them to what is happening in student ministry is important. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/what-does-a-staff-organizational-chart-look-like-at-different-stages#post-5 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:20:39 +0000 Beth Nelson 5@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>While every church is different, there are some common structures that many Orange churches have moved to. Details vary, but here are the people you may need, now or down the road:</p> <p>For Sunday ministry in all environments (preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school and college):</p> <ul> <li>Large group communicators and small group leaders </li> <li>Host team/security check-in volunteers/crowd control for zone coordinators </li> <li>Tech team</li> </ul> <p>For Family Experience:</p> <ul> <li>Family production director, cast, tech teams, host team, prop/set managers</li> </ul> <p>Midweek:</p> <ul> <li>Resource assistance: a team to prepare small group materials, and another to gather and prep large group theme, props, visuals</li> </ul> <p>While all of this might seem overwhelming, the best approach is to begin where you are and build out from there. </p> <p>In a single-staff church, the pastor would simply design his or her volunteer structure around the environments he or she is able to run. Volunteers would implement Orange ministry with the staff member and leadership team as chief architects and encouragers. You might even designate a volunteer to be Family Ministry Director. </p> <p>As you expand the ministry, staff new positions with volunteers and plan to hire top-level leaders (directors or pastors) whose primary gifting is managing projects and managing volunteer teams. </p> <p>As you add to your staff, remember to provide good administrative support for your team (sometimes churches forget to hire admin help). Finally, never let staff replace your volunteers. You will always feel the pressure to hire, but often a slight reorganization or looking at a situation a second time will allow you to continue to keep volunteers engaged. Remember, for many of them, making a difference in families’ lives is the highlight of their week. </p>