Tim Price & Harvest Blog

At a recent seminar I attended, the speaker talked about three reasons why volunteers are connected in a ministry role: 

1)      Obligation

2)      Opportunity

3)      Ownership

The thought was intriguing to me.  Obligation isn’t bad.  In fact, the reason we are in ministry is because we are so grateful for Christ and what he has done in our lives.  Opportunity isn’t bad either.  Scripture says, “make the most of every opportunity…” (Eph 5:16 / Col 4:5).  Opportunities help us grow, sharpen skills and meet needs for people. 

But ownership is the place we want our team members and volunteers to be. When a person is an owner, he has a different outlook on the purpose and reason for his ministry.  Things happen more effectively and powerfully.  Once a person on your team takes ownership, the desire grows in others.  People get a taste of what it means to find fulfillment in being in the service of the living God in the ministry of the kingdom.  It’s really exhilarating.   

Now, I need to think about how to transfer the ownership.  That’s the tough one.   

-tim price, tim@harvestministryteams.com / 618-667-6241 ext 14

My brother Jedd recently told me about a conversation he had with a manager from Longhorn Steakhouse.  During their discussion, the manager said, “If you want to be America’s favorite steakhouse, you need to be your city’s favorite steakhouse”. 

When Jedd told me this story, I immediately thought of the church.  If we want to influence our culture and change lives all over the country and the world, we start with our cities and communities.  Does your church love and seek to serve the community around them? Does your church get involved in sharing Christ’s love in ordinary ways? Does your city love you and your church? Are you approachable?  Do they appreciate what you do to make life better in the community?  Do they see your commitment to serve simply because of your love for Christ?  Is there something that happens at your church that your community cannot function without?

I thought this statement was intriguing and have been thinking of ways to enhance our city and community and to share the love of Jesus with them. 

Tim Price

Director, Harvest Ministry Teams (www.harvestconferences.org)

Worship Design Pastor, Troy UMC (www.troyumc.org)

You only have so much time. With all the possibilities, directions and ideas that come to our attention in a variety of ways, let’s step back and sharpen the plan for the coming calendar year.  Use this downtime to focus on key areas that will make the most impact and bring about fruit. 

If you need a place to focus in your youth ministry, here are three ideas:  1) helpful holy teaching 2) long term loving adults 3) meaningful ministry opportunities. 

Helpful Holy Teaching

Teaching can come in lots of forms, but it must be something that will help students.  Chart your course for the next few months of the New Year.  Seek the Lord’s direction of what the students in your ministry need to learn, hear and experience.  Then, make some plans for ideas, themes and topics that you might want to cover (January: holy disciplines and habits, February: healthy relationships, friendships and the power in unconditional Christ like love, March:  missions and preparations for the summer ministry together, etc.). Once you have an idea for what you need to accomplish, you can begin to look for resource, books, ideas, articles and possible guest leaders to help in accomplishing your goal. 

Long Term Loving Adults

Developing adult leaders for your team isn’t something you do only once.  It’s a constant goal to invite, encourage and equip adults in your congregation for the work of “discipling the next generation”.  Find times and places for adults to participate in the life of the youth ministry.  Partner with other passionate leaders in your church for a greater impact on the life of the students.  Provide short term openings for people to get their feet wet in the ministry.  Share the mission and goal of youth ministry anytime you can. I hear over and over from veteran youth leaders that the number one they thing they would do if starting a new ministry would be to spend a large portion of their time recruiting an adult team, casting a vision to an adult team, equipping an adult team and encouraging an adult team for the work of the ministry. The investment in these adults will provide lots of fruit as they begin to communicate and care for kids and use their gifts for ministry (administrative, hospitality, media, etc).  January is a good time to begin. 

Meaningful Ministry Opportunities

Students will have a better chance of staying connected if they are growing in their gifts, faith, and ministries.  Have you identified some places that students can plug in the youth ministry leadership, service?  Are there places in your church life that allow students opportunities to use their gifts?  Have you been planning ways for the students to get involved in local missions?  Dream about ways that students can get connected and build a framework that allows for easy access for them to get started. 

What is your contentment level?  A group of us have been meeting after worship on Sundays at our church and yesterday was a great lesson. Somewhere in the conversation, Paula Polfliet (one of the leaders), mentioned that we need to “bring contentment into our home.”  I had never heard it phrased quite like that before.  I began thinking about all the things we do bring into our homes.  We bring furniture, food, clothes, nick-knacks, the morning paper, the afternoon mail, exercise equipment, entertainment, media, and thousands of other big and little things. 

But how can we tangibly bring “contentment” into our home?  I know that I need to.  I know that my beautiful wife and daughters will have better lives if I do.  I know that it will create in me a better sense of health and wellness – emotionally, physically, spiritually, and relationally.

So I have to ask myself – where does my contentment come from? How can I bring it into my home each day? I think I need to rejoice always - in every circumstance.  I have to make it a habit.  I also need to intentionally live in gratitude for all that God has blessed me with.  This week is a good week to start. 

There is a verse in Philippians that says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:11-13). 

My “content-ometer” is full today and I am planning to keep it that way. 

Harvest had a great weekend in Washington, IN (Tim Price, Bonnie Pocklington, Zak Stoldt, Daniel Styles and Kim Przybylski) and then a great time at St. Lukes UMC in St. Louis, MO.  As we pulled in the church parking lot on Sunday afternoon, there were students from the youth group playing frisbee and unloading luggage from a van.  As I walked into the church, one guy was playing drums and another guy was walking toward the sound board wearing a Kutless t-shirt.

I got a good feeling about seeing all the action at 2:45 on Sunday afternoon.  It reminded me of growing up in church and being a part of youth ministry events, practicing for music groups and in general being connected.  Those years shaped me. 

So, thanks Troy UMC youth for being faithful. Keep up the fun!

There are old friends, then there are brothers and sisters.  Brothers and sisters are family.  When coming back together there is instant connection because of shared heritage and memory. 

In the last month, I have had a chance to reconnect with some brothers and sisters in Christ. Even after not having been around each other for some time, we jumped in, connected, ministered together and shared a memory and heritage. 

Jeremiah Cox and I served together for two summers in a row.  We also did a number of other weekend ministry events over the years.  Two days before Ignition Middle School Conference in Champaign, his name popped in my head and I invited him to step in as the MC for the evening Ignition Blast.  He did an incredible job of connecting with kids, with the Harvest Team and it was fun ministering with him again.

Megan Tyler used to serve on the Harvest Staff.  She was on the summer team ministry for three summers and worked in the office with me for two years.  She currently is a school teacher, is married and has two kids.  I invited her to come and sing harmony for the worship conference and it was great to see her and her family. 

Adam Flack helped with The Well for youth workers in Neoga.  It was fun to run into him and have him help us serve the youth ministry leaders from the area.  Adam played bass with the team during the summer of 2003.  I still remember a flip he tried to do off a picnic table at Beulah Camp. 

Jackson Price and Dave Plemons have both been a part of Harvest over the years.  It was fun connecting with them and having them help lead Ignition in Champaign. 

Matt Henson was the preacher for a revival service we led music at in Kinmundy, IL this past weekend.  He had some great words to share with the congregation and helped do the Harvest sound check too.  Matt served at Troy Church for a few years. 

The kingdom connections are fun and rewarding.  Thanks for your part in the ministry back then and now.  The best is yet to come!

I found a little slip of paper as I was cleaning my desk.  It was a note I made from someplace and I didn’t even write down from where.  It’s called the “Home Blessing”.

Too good to just stick in another pile, I decided to type it out for you: 

HOME BLESSING

Crown of the Home – Godliness.

Beauty of the Home – Order.

Glory of the Home – Hospitality.

Blessing of the Home – Contentment.

Tuesday morning in the office and I want to report on an incredible weekend of ministry!

Saturday was the Element Worship Conference hosted in Troy, IL.  What an incredible day of ministry with people from all over the region.  We were excited to have JD Walt with us to share in the ministry and leadership.  I was also glad to have some of the Troy Praise Band to sing and open up the day.  And then, it was really fun to pull together all the people who were part of Harvest.  The day wouldn’t have happened without their leadership.  Thanks to Jeff Nail, Justin Aymer, Jackson Price, Theo Harden, Marc Sikma, Megan Tyler, Matt Renfro, Suzanne Price and Christine Fuesz.  The day was almost like a reunion in some ways!  I appreciate your part in the Harvest! 

Sunday morning, we enjoyed participating in the services at First UMC in Lebanon, IL.  It was a refreshing time to be with the church as they celebrated new members, consecration Sunday and baptismal renewal.  The team was Matt Renfro, Jenny Kremmel and Tim, Suzanne and Ruby Price.  It was a great morning! 

Sunday evening was spent in Vandalia, IL!  What a great crowd that night as we worshipped together and had fun in ministry.  The Harvest Team that night was Justin and Abbie Aymer, Jarrod Beasley, Theo Harden, Kale Uzzle and Tim, Suzanne and Ruby Price. 

What a fun weekend to be connected personally with so many churches, leaders and servants in the kingdom! 

Last weekend, we led music during the St. John’s Family Fun Fair.  The church did an amazing job of getting the community excited through games, music, food all on their grounds.  The weather was perfect and the event went smoothly.  Tim Price, Jeff Nail, Jon Hill and Josh Robinson played in the group that day. 

The next morning, the Harvest van rolled out at 7:00 AM.  Tim, Suzanne and Ruby Price, Jeff Nail, Brady Clifton all left from Troy, IL and met Brian Donelson at First UMC in DuQuoin, IL.  The breakfast was great, the morning worship was really neat and we enjoyed having lunch with the students there.

It’s been a week now since Harvest led worship on August 30 in two different places.  On Saturday night, we made the drive to Moline, IL.  Tim, Ryan Kennett and Josh Robinson met in Troy, IL.  It was fun connecting with Josh again.  He is Megan Tyler’s brother and the last time I saw him he was a kid.  We drove to Farmersville, IL and picked up Bonnie.  In Peoria, IL we met up with Tom Noble.  From there, we made the rest of the journey and had a great time spending the night in one of the church members’ homes. 

The next morning, we sang for the Riverside Church Rally Day - it was an amazingly beautiful morning and a really fun time.  Following that event, we led music for the kids during worship.  Following the Sunday morning, we headed to St. Elmo, IL.  On the way, we dropped off Tom and then Bonnie and met up with Blythe at St. Elmo for an evening church picnic and worship service.  It was a really fun and uplifting night of worship with the congregation there!