Psalm 118 is an incredible passage of scripture. It is probably best known for Psalm 118: 24 “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (NLT). But just stop and think about the implications of a life lived in the light of this verse. Seriously. Stop. Ponder the life orienting, life directing perspective the psalmist gives us. Each day is a gift from God and each day we can live our lives as a gift to God. We, The Vineyard Church Pearland, recently had a 5 week sermon series titled “Today”, utilizing Psalm 118 as the backdrop. I found this series to be dynamic, inspiring and...
Red Envelope
Written by Kris Sauter
Fundraisers. The very word has brought Kings, Dignitaries and Jr. High Youth Pastors to their knees for eons. Alas, take heart, for there is a new dawn coming. No, I didn’t win the powerball, but I did hit a jack pot! (come on, give me a break, that was a good set up) I, like many of you, have came to loathe fundraisers. At one point we were selling 225 dozen Christmas cookies to raise money for our winter retreat. But who made those 225 dozen cookies? Parents. Who bought those cookies? Mostly parents. Hours, and hours of work, and we made a profit of $1100. Which saved each kid something like $20 off their retreat. Parents were...
“It’s amazing what can happen if no one cares who ...
Written by Jenna Stepp
“It’s amazing what can happen if no one cares who gets the credit” This is a quote I have heard from Phil Strout my whole life but Google tells me President Truman made it famous. This powerful principle can be applied to any team: mission team, sports team, family or staff. However, if you’ve ever interacted with earthlings, you know that this does not come naturally. We are creatures that want to be noticed, highlighted, and given a handsome plaque to validate our coolness. Unfortunately, this want can also cause the team to forget the greater good or the big picture. At Pathway Vineyard we are constantly working as a staff...
When to Leave, and When to Stay
Written by Daniel Jergensen
December 31st, 2012 was my last day as an official youth pastor. 7 and a half years now done. Now I am a church planter. What in the world am I doing?! And one of the biggest questions that I have wrestled with is this, is it my time to leave? I think that most of us youth pastors (excluding those who have the perfect kids, loving parents, and a huge salary) often ask, when is it time to leave, and when is it time to just keep trucking. We live in a culture that loves change and is obsessed with finding the bigger and better. How many times have people asked us, when are you going to become a REAL pastor? HA. I love that...
Making Fundraising...
Written by Trish Stack
Growing up in a Christian home, I was always involved in church-related activities ranging from church camp to summer mission trips. Then came along a Youth For Christ (YFC) trip, along with two schools and outreaches through Youth With A Mission (YWAM). A common thread through each of...
Why Big Events Are...
Written by Christian Dunn
I know people like to emphasize often that its “not about events and programs.” I get it. We want it to be about people, and relationship, and the Spirit. Plus, events cost money, they are hard to organize (have you ever tried to get teens to commit to something?), and they are...
RELEASE: Empowerin...
Written by Rick Olmstead
There seems to be a re-occurring theme among many young people today that goes like this, “Don’t Underestimate Me.” That has always been a problem every young generation faces. They want to be taken seriously and so they should. “When you grow up” are words many hear but growing...