| Doug
Burrier, Pastor Northwest Church Acworth, Georgia |
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Visit his blog
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Simply D.I.R.T.
- Simply Coaching Love God. Love People. Share the Gospel. How much simpler can it get? For at least the last 5 years Northwest Student Ministries has had solid teens with a solid reputation of serving across the street and around the world. However, despite the students being pretty good kids, loving Jesus, liking Bible Study and having a great time - there was just something missing. It was like all of this talent with no place to go and no one was really excited. But those days are gone. In the last two months, the group has doubled in size to 27 kids. There are some 7 or 8 new kids going to camp. There's a buzz. Leaders are getting excited and getting proactive. Wednesday's worship is with intent, D-Groups have focus, Sunday School has been challenged to rise up with new fire, and the students are sharing their faith with friends and the community. What happened? Northwest went through a healthy implementation of D.I.R.T. Crew ideas under the coaching of Barry Dollar. D.I.R.T. Crew already had a reputation of being a great, simple, godly system for churches struggling to start a youth ministry. Now those core philosophies have been combined with experienced, challenging coaching to enhance, revive and clarify existing student programs. How do I know? I'm the Senior Pastor at Northwest and though I haven't been to a single youth meeting - I know the core philosophies: Love God. Love People. Share the Gospel. The kids are operating with a new, clear focus combining new D.I.R.T. ideas with the solid areas of the existing program. Getting D.I.R.T. up and running would have been less challenging if Northwest had no structure at all because a big piece of success in an existing program is about discovering new ideas, asking hard questions, facing difficult deficiencies, and standing up to do something about them. Here is my suggestion: if you have nothing, start with the basic D.I.R.T. program of discipleship, service and evangelism. Follow the coaching - they are good at it. If your ministry is established, infuse D.I.R.T. into it and support the new ideas from the top down. D.I.R.T. doesn't have to take over your identity but it will help you clarify it and provide a simple structure for the so often forgotten basics of student. Visibly champion and support the implementation. Your church may have to customize a few things but the coaches can help you have more than just another band or great event. Trust them. The proof is in the result for us. Northwest students not only continue with structured, daily devotion, prayer and monthly service projects but they are getting excited about evangelism. Heck, they're inviting their friends. And, the D.I.R.T. Crew Staff continues to provide mentoring, challenges, resources and coaching. Revival can happen in long term ministries with seasoned "churched" kids and D.I.R.T. Crew Student Ministries can help. |
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EXCITING
STUFF... Lock-ins, conferences, outings, events, you name it - we want to do it! We have more ideas than we know what to do with! |
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D.I.R.T.
CREW STUDENT MINISTRIES, INC.
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization Copyright © 2001-2008 All Rights Reserved CR |
