My Last Mid-Week Article to LBC

May 7, 2012 Leave a comment

Copied from LBC Mid-Week Informer May 7, 2012

 Dear Friends and Family of LBC,

With a heavy heart but a rejoicing spirit, I offer to you my last Mid-Week Informer article.  My final day as interim pastor of LBC will be Sunday, May 27, and since I will be out for two weeks on the study tour of Greece and Turkey, this will be my final weekly installment.

When I arrived back in August 2011, only 10 months ago, I found a church in need of love and care.  From all accounts, emotions were raw, tension was thick and conflict was brimming on all sides.  Walt Browning and Bill Oliver tried to prepare me for the difficult situation the church was facing.  I sensed I was coming into a battlefield. 

Yet when I arrived, I found something very different.  There was an immediate connection between us.  I didn’t find a church engaged in battle, I found a people wanting to love their leader.  I was told by Walt early on, “Our people want to love their pastor and want to be loved by their pastor.”  Those words became the hallmark for what I believed God was calling me to do at LBC – simply love the people. 

And you, my dear brothers and sisters, returned that love immediately back upon me and my family.  There wasn’t a Sunday or Wednesday that went by where I didn’t “feel the love” in our midst.  In our times of worship, in prayer, in Bible study, in meetings, when eating around the table, with the children, the teenagers, the senior adults, the various Sunday school classes, with the staff, the deacons, the ministry teams, everyone showed us amazing, abundant love. 

I’ve often been reminded of Paul’s words to the churches in Galatia when thinking about you, my LBC family.  He writes, “For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.” (Gal 4:15b)  I think you might have done the same for me if I asked.

Deep love and kindred spirits are hard to come by these days.  For that I am so grateful to have shared this time with you.  I will look back on our Wednesday night studies with sincere fondness and a smile on my face for every time I made you do something new.  I will cherish the times I spent with Pastor Nehemiah & Stephen on our Google+ video conference staff meetings.  I will remember with joy walking up and down the aisles on Sunday mornings talking with you, shaking hands, asking how your week has gone.  I will continue to celebrate the increase in giving and attendance, the number of children baptized, and the explosion of community awareness and outreach.

Pastor Harold & his family are going to be so blessed because I know you will extend to them the same love you’ve extended to our family. I love each of you and will be praying God’s best for you in the days to come.

Grace and peace,   Shane

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching

Saying Goodbye to LBC a Second Time

April 30, 2012 1 Comment

Lewisport BC - LBC 1

My home church was LBC – Lewisport Baptist Church.  I love my 1st faith family at LBC with all my heart.  They led me to Christ, grew me up in Jesus, and adopted me as one of their sons in the faith.  I am, and will always be, eternally grateful for the people and minister of LBC.

Lancaster BC - LBC 2

But over this past year, I got a chance to meet and love another LBC – Lancaster Baptist Church.  My new faith family at LBC 2 has become so precious to me. 

They allowed me to lead them in worship, teach them from God’s word, challenge them to lean on the power of God, and reach their community in new ways.  They opened their hearts to me and for a second time I was adopted as a LBC son.

I will officially be completing my fourth interim pastorate later this month.  Each has been a new experience for me.  Living Grace Church in 2008 was all about learning how pastoral transitions work.  Parkway Bapt Church in 2009 taught me what it means to teach on a larger scale to wider diversity of people.  Bethany Bapt Church in 2010-11 stretched me personally and spiritually.  I always thought ministry in a major city would be easy because of all the people and needs, but it was much harder than I expected.

And now Lancaster Bapt. Church.  LBC 2 taught me it is possible to deeply love a people in a short amount of time.  I learned that I really love ministry when people love to be loved by their pastor.  I have teared up more than once thinking about these fine brothers and sisters in Christ who I’ve only known for 9 months, but feels like we’ve been friends for a lifetime. 

Thank you LBC 2.  Your new pastor is going to be awesome.  Your ministry in the future is going to be bright.  You will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching

Dedication of the Garden Outdoor Classroom

April 23, 2012 Leave a comment

Jennifer and I were overjoyed to place a bench in the Garden Outdoor Classroom in honor of Dr. Ted & Sheri Taylor.  This photo is from the dedication – April 17, 2012.

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Portrait of Family Ministry

April 23, 2012 Leave a comment

One of my students wanted to take a picture supposedly showing a portrait of family ministry.  With the husband leading the wife and children.

Here is the Garrison version.  Play close attention to the superhero on one side and the stick-figure on the other.  Who’s leading who?

And in BW.

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry

The Way of the Dragon

April 8, 2012 1 Comment

Do you remember Bruce “the Dragon” Lee?  He was a expert martial artists and movie star some 30-40 years ago.  Today I am beginning the way of the Dragon.  For our 10th anniversary, I bought my wife the Dragon Nuance software.  I am writing this post completely hands-free.  No fingers typing away on the keyboard.  No picking and chomping away at ASDF JKL;.  No advanced carpal tunnel, aching fingers after a long Word Doc. 

I have entered the way of the Dragon and for that, I must become a Kung-Fu master.

Filed under Life

LanBaptist.org Invites You to Church

April 2, 2012 Leave a comment

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Bahamas Honeymoon 2.0 – Part 2

March 19, 2012 Leave a comment

Filed under Family

Honeymoon 2.0 – 10 Year Anniversary Trip to Bahamas

March 10, 2012 Leave a comment

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10 Year Anniversary Shirts

February 22, 2012 3 Comments

To commemorate 10 years of married life and 12 years together, Jennifer and I decided to go classy, smooth, and elegant.  Here is what we bought.  Nothing says love like Air-Brush!


Man, I look cut!

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Pro’s & Con’s of Itinerant Ministry

February 16, 2012 Leave a comment

Back in the 1800′s and early into the 1900′s, it was not unusual for a pastor/preacher to be itinerant.  Itinerant meant that they either lived in one city and did ministry in another or they were a circuit preacher preaching in numerous churches on a rotational cycle. 

With so many churches being extremely small and unable to afford a pastor all their own, sharing was a must.  So the itinerant pastor traveled between locations, most often by horse and much later by car. 

So far in my ministry life, I have been far more of an itinerant pastor/preacher than anything else.  I have been on 6 church staffs in KY & TX, in nearly every position except Senior Pastor (i.e., Youth Minister, Associate Pastor and Interim Pastor) and in only one of those positions did I live in the actual city of the church.

Here’s the list and the drive time, one-way, to church.

  • First Baptist Church, (part-time staff) Millsap, TX – 45 minutes away
  • Trinity Baptist Church, (part-time staff) Fort Worth, TX – 30 minutes away
  • Main Street Baptist Church, (full-time staff) Alexandria, KY – we lived in Alex.
  • Parkway Baptist Church (interim), Bardstown, KY – 50 minutes away
  • Bethany Baptist Church (interim), Louisville, KY – 90 minutes away
  • Lancaster Baptist Church (interim), Lancaster, KY – 75 minutes away

Itinerant ministry can provide some benefits and challenges. 

Benefits
- First, there can be a benefit to having some space between you and your people.  Especially in the smaller community, pastors can feel as if they are always “on” whether at a restaurant, the grocery store or even driving from place to place.  Over time, this amplifies the glass-house syndrome.
- Secondly, itinerant ministry demands the pastor/minister and the church select only the most important of ministry tasks.  When you don’t live in the city, you have to come and go, which demands everyone to be selective and prioritize what is going to happen and what is going to be dismissed.

Challenges
-  No question, relationships.  It is possible to build great relationships in itinerant ministry, but they will not be as strong as other types of connection.  It is hard for the people to ever view you as an insider and local, if you live 45 minutes away.
-  No coffee shops conversations.  No bump into’s in the Walmart parking lot.  No seeing each other at the Memorial Day parade.  Just as space can be a benefit in preventing the glass-house syndrome, space can also be a huge disadvantage in that you are too far away to be completely available for the non-calendared meetings

Filed under Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching

Interview with Rick Howerton

February 14, 2012 Leave a comment

Great interview with my friend and trusted colleague Mr. Rick Howerton, small group environmentalist with NavPress.  Short video with great insight and wisdom.

Filed under Leadership, Ministry

KBC Imagine Conference 2012 – ParaKlete Your Kids

February 11, 2012 Leave a comment

This is the message from the KY Bapt. Conv. Imagine Preschool & Children’s Ministry entitled “ParaKlete Your Kids.”

Filed under Family, Ministry, Preaching, Teaching

The Christian College & the Military School

January 29, 2012 4 Comments

A new dynamic is shaping the landscape of Christian higher education.  For the greater part of the 20th century, the Christian college was primarily meant for Christian students sent by Christian families seeking a Christian academic environment.  There was a united effort by believing parents to keep their students away from many social problems found in state, public universities making the private, Christian university option more desirable.

The Christian college was intentionally designed to be a setting where morals, values, biblical worship, prayer, and the Christian environment all met together.  Undoubtedly rigorous academic requirements would be present, but there was a desire for the soul to be equipped along with the mind.

That was then.  This is now.  It seems in the early part of the 21 century, things have begun to shift.  More and more non-believing, non-Christian parents are sending their non-believing children to Christian colleges not because they believe the Bible or want their students to participate in weekly chapel services.  Instead they desperately want their child’s character to be formed and/or reformed.

Much like a military schools of old, where discipline, character, integrity and personal responsibility are mandatory requirements to survive, the parents of today are sensing that without divine intervention their students are going to be menaces to society.  So they send them to private, expensive Christian colleges where both academics and character are co-mingled in the curriculum.

Smaller classes where accountability and attendance are essential.  Coaches and professors who demand respect and responsibility on the field and in the classroom.  There is the expectation of more Christian-like character in speech, interaction with others, especially members of the opposite gender, selection of appropriate clothing, and non-alcohol induced extra-curricular activities.

Unlike the major universities where is beer is plentiful and shaking up in co-ed dorms is par for the course, the Christian college attempts to instill in their students respect for others, diligence in priorities, servant-leadership, civic duty within the local community, and moral convictions like telling the truth, being responsible for your own actions, and making wise choices.

Call it militaristic if you like, but the outcome is starkly different.  Most, but certainly not all, graduates of Christian colleges are academically equipped and qualified for the job world, but they have other assets that many companies desire: character, honesty, moral bearings, and dependability.  

And those characteristics, my friends, are rare these days.

Filed under Leadership, Teaching

Winter Ministry Opportunities

January 14, 2012 Leave a comment

With the first winter snow still on the ground, I thought I would give everyone an update of some ministry opportunities for Jennifer and I over the next few months.  God keeps opening doors for us to serve Him in a variety ways throughout His kingdom.

@Campbellsville University.  Of course, I am teaching a full load this time including classes in Leading Small Groups, Children’s Ministry, and Gospel & Postmodernity.  My Small Groups class includes 17 students who will each be leading a small group of their own.  The potential is to see over 100 student discipled in a network of small groups based out of our class.

Jennifer is also teaching Women in Ministry this semester as an adjunct instructor.  She has 22 in her class which is the most this class has ever had.  She gets back to her Ph.D. course work in February.

@KyBaptist Imagine Conference.  February 10-11, I will be one of the key note speakers at the 2nd Imagine Preschool and Children’s Ministry Conference at Parkway Bapt Church in Bardstown.  Last year there was over 500 people in attendance from around the state.

@BCM Valentine’s Service.  Jennifer and I get to share with the Bapt. Campus Ministry students this semester on biblical manhood and womenhood during their V-day worship service.  This will be the first time I’ve been asked to speak to a BCM group since we’ve been back to CU.  Very excited.

@Lowell Avenue Baptist Church.  In March, I will be leading an one-day Bible Study Teacher training event at Lowell Ave. BC, a church here in Campbellsville.  A great church led by Pastor Dave Walters and Assoc. Pastor Trent Creason.

@Lancaster Baptist Church.  I continue serving as the interim pastor of LBC.  We have agreed as a church to walk together in the 90 Day Vision which attempts to make an impact on every generation in Lancaster and Garrard Co. in the next 90 days (Jan. 8 till April 8).  We are praying for over 600 in attendance on Easter weekend, which would be the largest attendance in more than 8 years.  God is able to do abundantly more than we could think or ask (Eph. 3:20).

Finally, in March Jennifer and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary with a special trip.  Our anniversary is actually on April 6, but that is on Good Friday.  Not the best day to travel.  So during spring break, we will take some time to thank God for 10 great years together and rekindle our relationship with a no-kids trip to a warm location.

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching, Travel

InGen Photo Shoot

January 4, 2012 Leave a comment

Thanks to CU Communications Office for taking this photo shoot of my Intergenerational Ministries course.  These are some of my best students in one of the best classes ever.

Caleb & Brad

Chelsi & Austin, Kristen & Chance, Me & Nathan

 

Darryn, Warren, Me & Chad

 
  

Caleb, Holly D, Brandon, Nathan, etal

 

Anna, Holly D, Michael, Caleb

   

Instructions for the Class

 

Austin, Warren, Darryn, Chad, Brandon T, Brad, Sarah, David, Brandon B, Brad N

  
 

Chad, Brad T, David, Brandon B, Brad N

  

Chelsi, Kristen, Anna, Mendi

 

InGen from the Backrow

Filed under Life, Ministry, Study, Teaching

Two Faces of Discipleship in the 21st Century

December 31, 2011 1 Comment

As most of you know, discipleship is very important to me.  How a person grows in their faith in Christ has been a passion of mine for quite some time.  In this postmodern, post-Christian digital age, I think we have two primary avenues to develop in our faith as followers of Christ: Person-to-Person and Person-to-Content. 

Person-to-Person Discipleship involves at least two people, possibly more, who have a general knowledge of each other.  It is more relational and communal.  There is a human touch and presence that can be felt. 

Person-to-Person discipleship might include:
- Listening to your pastor preach on Sunday mornings
- Attending a small group on Tuesday nights
- Being in an accountability group
- Having a one-on-One mentor
- Attending retreats, events, conferences, workshops, seminars
- Going through biblical and pastoral counseling sessions

Person-to-Content Discipleship is more individualistic and less communal.  It is when a Christ followers seeks out content for their own personal growth without any direct contact with another person.  For the longest time, this was done through reading Bibles, books and literature, but now it comes mostly in digital form.

Person-to-Content discipleship might include:
- Reading a study Bible
- Reading Christian literature on a Kindle or eReader
- Listening to a sermon podcast from any pastor in the country
- Perusing a Christian e-zine on an iPad or iPhone app
- Attending a worship service online
- Listening to the Bible read on CD or podcast
- Reading blog posts by Christian writers
- Receiving daily email devotionals
- Using online Bible study tools such as biblestudytools.com, blueletterbible.com, or mybiblestudy.com
- Taking a Bible course through an online university or seminary

As the digital age offers us more and more options for Person-to-Content discipleship, the danger to become less communal and more isolated grows.  We must remember that no matter how many virtual options there are, we must have people walk with us and us with them in this Christian journey.  Going solo was never part of Jesus’ plan.

Filed under Life, Ministry, Teaching

2012 Thru the Front View Mirror

December 27, 2011 1 Comment

All leaders want to look forward and see what’s coming on the horizon.  Every year I write 5 to 7 goals for myself in several categories: spiritual, financial, marriage & family, career, personal.  I like to think, envision and dream about the future.  If you don’t have a target, you’ll hit it everytime. 

For 2011, I met 5 of my 7 goals (71.4%).  Not too bad.  Those were:

  1. Spiritual:  Finish Bethany Bapt Church well.
  2. Financial:  Wipe out medical and credit card debt and pay for everyone’s (Jennifer, Isaac and Ethan) school tuition in cash.
  3. Parenting:  Build the boys a tree fort and have a camp out.
  4. Personal:  Get below 170 lbs for the first time since we were married.
  5. Marital:  Determine Jennifer’s career re-entry plan.

I didn’t complete two goals: 1) career – find a publisher for Theology 4 Kids (my book).  I was turned down 3x’s.  Stink!  Or 2) financial - buy a new car in cash.  Both vehicles are still running fine and didn’t need replacing, which I am very thankful for.

So what’s on the horizon for 2012.  Here’s the list. 

  1. Spiritual:  Finish Lancaster Bapt well.  Ending an interim pastorate is like landing a plane on an air craft carrier.  You have to do it perfectly or a lot of people get hurt.  This will be my 4th landing.
  2. Financial:  Knock out a huge chunk of Jennifer’s Ph.D. tuition, maybe the whole thing in one year.  That would means a lot of extra work.  Summer school here I come.
  3. Marital:  Celebrate our 10 year anniversary in a big way.  Can we say Honeymoon 2.0?
  4. Parenting:  Read all the Gospels to my boys.  We are halfway thru the 7 Chronicles of Narnia books and it is going really well.
  5. Career:  Find a publisher and get a contract on the book.  Gotta keep pushing and seeking the right fit for this project.
  6. Personal:  Travel on the Apostles & Epistles Tour to Turkey & Greece.  This will complete my biblical lands cycle (e.g., Israel, Egypt, Rome, Italy, and Jordan).
  7. Personal:  Select a charity and get involved at a higher level.  Preferably something the whole family can volunteer in and support from our community.

What’s your goals for 2012?

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Study, Teaching, Travel, Writing

2011 from the Rear View Mirror

December 27, 2011 Leave a comment

Usually I dislike reading The Year in Review.  Whether on TV or in magazines, I don’t find myself wanting to read what was hot and what was not.  I prefer setting goals for the upcoming year and moving forward.  But 2011 has been pretty cool for the Garrison family, so I would look back and look ahead.

In January, I spent time in Amman, Jordan teaching teachers which was a great honor.  Jordan has quite a few biblical locations which means plenty of sight-seeing.  It also meant spending some time with a dear friend and brother.

In the winter and early spring, Jennifer got to teach her first two college courses at CU and began the admission process for her Ph.D.  After years of being a full-time stay-at-home mom, we came to terms with her future career plan, once the boys are in school.  She loves teaching and loved the college environment, so doctoral work became her goal.  She got into the Ph.D. program in Family at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In July, I finished being the interim pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Louisville and in August became the interim pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in Garrard Co.  God keeps providing ministry opportunities in strategic churches where I can, hopefully, be a blessing in times of transition.

In August, Jennifer started school and everything changed at our house.  Her work demanded an intense regiment of reading, studying, and writing.  Our weekly schedule shifted to include multiple “Boy Conferences.”  This is where mom is in my office (which she calls the chamber of secrets) and we boys entertain ourselves.  I became Boy Conference president in October.  Ethan did a great job as president last year. 

Also in August, I received the Non-Tenured Faculty of the Year award from CU.  I couldn’t believe I won.  These first 3 years have been so amazing.  Additionally, I was placed on the SACS 10 Year Reaffirmation team, which means great job security for the next 4 years.

Finally in August, we also had both of our boys in part-time school.  Isaac as a half-a-day kindergartener and Ethan as a 2-day per week glowworm.  Both at the Campbellsville Christian Church Center for Christian Education.

In September & October, it was all soccer.  We learned Isaac is pretty good and is built for the game – good speed, good accuracy, leadership in competition.  Ethan continues to show great skill and ability in all things athletic.  He will be a force next year.

In December, we celebrate that Isaac has read 150 books so far this year.  He is seeking a new school record of 243.  And Ethan has been on the green light all semester long, which is a miracle in and of itself.  Jennifer has made it through her first full semester in flying colors and will be teaching “Women in Ministry” this Spring at CU.  My interim at Lancaster BC is going very well.  Work at CU could not be any better.

God is faithful.  Serving Him is a joy and honor.  10 years of marriage with hardly no disruption.  Two great kids.  We are blessed beyond measure.

Filed under Family, Leadership, Life, Ministry, Preaching, Teaching, Travel

i-Student Ministry: What iGen Student Ministry Must Become

December 22, 2011 Leave a comment

Generation Y is slowly being renamed ”iGens” or “iY’s.”  These students (primarily between the ages of 11-21) love everything i-driven:  the iPod, iPad, iPhone, the Nike iRun app, Apple’s iLife software, the iCarly TV show.  The generation is being identified with i-individualism hence the renaming of iY or iGens.

Public and private schools systems have long used “IEP’s” or Individual Education Plans.  This strategy progresses students at their own pace, either faster or slower.  The educator is tasked with knowing each student’s abilities and designing curriculum that is person-specific.

That approach is now shifting to student ministry in the local church.  But how will churches and youth ministry leaders adapt to this new generational trend?  I believe the future of youth and student ministry will also be individualized. 

Ministry for the masses is out.  Ministry directed toward the individual is in.  How will this take shape?  Here are some ideas*:

Individualized Discipleship.  The i-Student Ministry will create individual, one-on-one discipleship plans for each and every student by creating avenues to grow them up as followers of Christ.  Large group teaching and small groups will work for a while, but will eventually find less and less effectiveness, especially as the group grows more and more diverse spiritually.

Individualized Info-Sharing.  The i-Student Ministry will not rely on blanket announcements, mass mailing, or ministry newsletters full of dates and details.  Instead, they will use direct communication pieces through one-on-one social media and text messaging individualized to the particular student.  If they attempt mass mailings or large-scale advertising, it will be lost or ignored.  This kind of communication doesn’t cut through the haze of distractions.  Therefore, one-on-one communication will be essential.

Individualized Ministry Development.  The i-Student Ministry will evaluate each student’s spiritual gifting, talents, passions, and skills, and design ministry projects specificaly for them.  Entire youth group mission trips will be exchanged for smaller groups of 2 or 3 doing a particular ministry project together, which is based in their individual interests.  Youth pastors will struggle to get the whole group to do a sports camp or build a habitat house together because certain students don’t want to do sports or construction.  Therefore, the ministry projects must be shaped around individual interests and skill sets, otherwise they will choose not to participate.

Individualized Worship Avenues.  The i-Student Ministry will implement person-specific music forms, liturgical practices, prayer experiences, etc., that are based more in the discipleship level of the individual, not the level of the group as a whole.  Wednesday Night Worship with a praise band, media, preaching, discussion groups, game, etc., will be exchanged for smaller worship avenues where students can categorically select things they prefer, such as: reflective, loud, silence, journaling, social, virtual, experiential, artistic, or recreational. 

In the end the i-Student Ministry will be less programmatic and more organic to the group.  We leave ministry for the masses and move toward the que of one.  In many ways this feeds the me-centered nature of the iGen’s, but will in the long run will develop deeper, more committed followers of Christ.

* Additional research conducted by Ms. Holly Davidson and the iGen’s Presentation Group in the Intergenerational Ministries course.

Filed under Ministry Tagged with , , , ,

Merry Christmas from the Garrison’s

December 15, 2011 1 Comment

From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas.  And no, I am not the Grinch.

Filed under Family, Life

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