Where the clubs are

Here is a simple chart about where the clubs are:

• Pearland Junior High East has the Connection Club. It meets on Wednesday at 8:05 am in The Art Room (Room 501).
  
  
• Dawson High School has FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). They meet on Wednesday mornings at 6:45 am in Room 2106.
  
  
• Pearland Junior High South has FOCAS (Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Students) on Friday Mornings at 8:05 am in the Multi purpose Room.



• Pearland High School has FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). They meet on various Mondays at 6:30 pm in South Campus Gym. Listen to the announcements.

• Pearland High School also has another club: iPray that meets on Monday mornings at 6:45 am in Mr. Smith's Room.
• DeZavala Middle School (in Pasadena ISD) has DeZavala Christians that meets on the 2nd & 4th Thursday Mornings at 7:30 am in Ms. Henriques' room

I've decided that finding the clubs is like looking for underground Churches, so I am posting them so others don't have to work so hard!

Leaders stand alone

My former pastor was fond of say that if you are leading and no one is following you, you are just taking a walk.

There is some truth to that, however, sometimes, you are leading - even if no one is behind you. Always, there is someone watching you.

Perhaps it is the difference between positional and servant leadership. Positional leaders are given the job or voted into office. And perhaps, they need to have followers.

There is nothing wrong with analyzing or re-analyzing, refining, re-defining, sharping and refocusing. However, if you are expecting people to instantly follow you, perhaps you need to rethink that.

People are creatures of habit and they really don't embrace change well. Most of us don't need another task or calling.

Servant leadership is different. No one votes you in, but after you have done it long enough, well enough, they may try to vote you out! You become the expert by doing the job that no one else wants. By trying the reach the people group that don't have money or power or position. Just hearts that Jesus loves.

And sometimes, the things God calls us to are things that are so low on the church totem pole: Do we really need to be concerned with "those" kids? (Locked up, troubled, trailer park, dropouts - fill in the blank ___________) Do we really need to empty the trash? Do really need to get up and be at the school at 6:30 am? Can't they come to my Wednesday night youth service? There were only six teachers at the Christian Teacher Lunch. See they don't need a lunch.

I've been in ministry since 1981 and my experience is that, sometimes, you just do what you are suppose to. What God has called you to do - over and over again. Whether anyone follows or not. You just do it - because it is the right thing to do. Because it needs done. Because someone needs it. Because it helps. Because it reaches. Because God said to.

You do it until you are use to doing it alone and lonely. You celebrate what God is doing. Alone. You tell your stories to people who never saw it that way before. You wonder how they could have seen it any other way.

One day, someone is behind you and you assume they must be lost. "Can I help you?" And nope, they are dying to empty the trash with you. Wow. Novel, you think. A fellow servant.

And what is really novel is when they come back. To do it again. You love them. They share your heart and passion for trash. They are your kindred spirit. You share a bond - the kind that only comes from serving beside one another.

And they introduce you to their friends: This is Dottie, she empties the trash better then anyone I know. Yes, she taught me everything I know about emptying the trash.

Then, they invite you to their Sunday Class, where you do a devotional on "Trash - Reaching the ones that really matter."

And then they want you to teach a class. "Trash - getting the ones others throw away."

And then, there is a movement: "Trash - who knew it was a treasure."

And then you are an expert. Who knew? Who ever saw this coming?

It doesn't matter. I have to empty the trash.

I'm the Wrong person for the Job!

I'm the wrong person for the job. I can't even tell you how often I've told God this.

Here's the deal. I'm 50 ish, white, a woman and not a minister. I've never "out grown" working with students. But here is where I am all wrong. I work with really cool youth ministers. They are young. They are cool - so totally cool. They text each other in another language I can't even read. I still need vowels.

They shave their heads. They are really good speakers. And God called me to "connect them." I cried and begged and pleaded and told him I would follow Him, but this would take me 3 times as long, because I am all wrong for the job. First of all, I'm the wrong gender. For the most part, they are all male. I'm not.

Second of all, I'm the wrong age group. They are all 20 - 30 ish. I'm almost old enough to be their mother . . .

But we all love students. And we all love God. Those are the big things, right?

Yesterday (Acutally 1/14/10, but this has taken awhile to process!), I held a meeting. It was an amazing time. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. It was a stressful meeting. I was on the hot seat for much of it - answering for past actions that were misunderstood. Years ago, I realized without love, without relationships, there was no love to cover misunderstandings or miscommunications. So, I answered to the best of my ability, hoping that who I am and Who I serve would shine through. I just tried to relax and let God talk thru me. I prayed and then answered. And those guys needed those answers to clear up all the misunderstandings and miscommunications, that I didn't even know were there.

My misunderstanding: I thought they were so absorbed in their own churches, they didn't care about connecting with each other or serving the community. I was wrong.

I had tried to build relationships, but really who wants to hang out with their mom?

I remember what it was like to rebuild the Youth Ministry Alliance in 1997 or 1998. We were moving from a night time, part time youth pastor meeting to a day time full time youth pastors meeting. I had a wonderful youth pastor commit to being there with me. Thank God for Doug Brown! For several years, it would be me and Doug Brown and one other youth pastor - who would rotate. The classic meeting was 3 people, it's just that the third person rotated. Sometimes, it would just be me and Doug Brown.

It was a painful several years, but finally, it took off. Frankly, we did a skate night and the next meeting there were 8 or 10 youth pastors there. I was totally shocked.

My expectations for the Youth Ministry Alliance were about the same this time. I expected to move alone for a while, gradually, slowly, more would see the goal of unity and working together and over time, we would become a team.

This wonderful youth minister - Bryan - who I met with 2 years ago - decided to call these other youth pastor guys and ask them to come to the meeting. He told them "I need you to be there." People who told me no, told him yes. I'm use to showing up and being thankful for 3! There must have been 10 people there!

The out come of all this is: I am going to have 2 wonderful youth pastors join my Baccalaureate Committee. I'm going to move my struggling Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance meeting to Wednesday Lunch time and they are all going to come. And, get this - I don't have to recruit a presenter - they just want to "fellowship".

I'm the wrong person for this job, but God has called me. I'm sure to show His power, because anyone who looks at this will say: How did you do this?

Because God is God. Because God is good. Because Bryan made phone calls. Because I didn't give up! Pearland - in one lunch - now has a thriving youth ministry network!

Clueless about the Christmas Story

I had a really special experience this past December. There is a brand new Christian Club at DaZavala Middle school in Pasadena.

I sat down with the Teacher sponsors - Angie Sagner and Connie Henriques in late October or early November and helped them plan out the year. We talked about what they were going to need to do and how to get parental permission, parental support and local church support. I love doing this! It is visionary, but it also breaks things down into simple, manageable pieces.

Sometimes, the idea of running a Christian Club can be overwhelming to teachers who already have a full time job that can be very demanding and unending.

The organization that I work for - Cross in the City - is about 6 blocks from this school and they eagerly agreed to be this club's "back up snack support" - in other words, if a parent or a church doesn't agree to donate snacks for that week's meeting, Cross in the City will.

So, now you have all the back ground, let me get the real point of all this. The first meeting was organizational. I came on 12/10 with my nativity set to tell the Christmas story. This is the United States - everyone knows this story, right?

Oh, one more thing. Their first meeting was 4 students. This one was 8! They had doubled!

I unwrapped the figures and put them out. The students were all eyes, but very quiet. I asked if they knew why we started with a barn. All eyes, but no answers. I explained that this nativity set and others like it were to tell the story of Jesus' Birth. If they were tell the story of my birth, they would start with a hospital. But Jesus, was born in barn - so they start with a barn.

They knew who Mary was and they identified Baby Jesus, but they didn't seem to know who Joseph was or the shepherd or the wisemen.

So I told them how the shepherd were watching their sheep to make sure they didn't get eaten by wolves or bears and how an Angel appeared and then their was a whole bunch of Angel - a host with means Army. How many Angels in an Army? I asked.

The I talked about the Wisemen. I let them know that the wisemen and the shepherds were not there at the same time. I let them know that there were 3 gifts, but we don't know how many wisemen.

I reminded them that this was just a picture of events surrounding Jesus' birth.

One girl - so precious and cute - on my right in a pink jacket - answered all my questions when I reviewed the story with them, by holding up each piece of the set and asking the group - who is this?

But she answered the questions all using my words and thoughts. No regurgitated church or sunday school information, leaving me with the impression that this time, she had listened well, but this was the first time she had heard the story. This entire group of 8 was simply Clueless about the Christmas Story.

What a privilege to tell this story! What a blessing! What a great reminder that not everyone has heard this story!

The Blue Donut

(This is from an old newsletter, but it is still a goodie.)
I started trying to provide and/or deliver snacks for any on campus Christian Clubs in our area. Basically, this meant I had a huge plastic tub – bigger than my laundry basket big. Maybe 20 to 40 gallon tub. I take said huge tub to local donut shop at the sacred closing time that they tell me when I call and say I want to come get donuts.

They fill tub with donuts. Lots and Lots of Donuts. I take them home and then I follow the sacred bagging procedure. I put a scripture in the sandwich size zip lock bag and then I put a donut in and zip it closed with my sticky fingers.

Being a long time youth worker and lover of student ministry, this turns in to a prayer time. I pray for the student that will get this éclair. I pray for the student that will get this glazed donut. I pray for the student who will get this lemon filled donut. I realize that the students that will get the above donuts will be delighted.

I hit a wall when I pray for the student who will get these bright blue and fuchsia frosted donuts. Who would want these, I think. I should just throw them out for the dog and the birds! Bright Blue and fuchsia frosted donuts are for small children. No high school or junior high school student would be happy to receive a blue frosted donut.

I pray and bag the donuts anyways.

Wednesday morning, bright and early, I parade thru the halls carrying my pan of bagged and scriptured donuts. I check everywhere. There is no club. I get directions to the teacher’s room and a boy passes me and says “ you looking for FCA?” Yes. They meet in the gym. Not this morning. They aren’t there. He follows me. He offers to carry tray of donuts.

We now have a parade. Between 12 and 20 students are following boy and me. We get to the teacher’s classroom: the door is locked and it is dark. I say, “Welcome to FCA in the hall.” “Who is going to lead? Who has an encouraging word?” Leader boy says something about making good decisions. A girl says something. I say my encouraging word is hope. I don’t say it all, but my hope is that students everywhere will have a chance to hear about Jesus and make an informed decision about Jesus. I Hope . . . that is why I am here with this pan of donuts in the hall.

Closing prayer? I ask. Someone prays. Then she yells: A blue frosted donut! My favorite! She runs for my tray and grabs the treasured donut – Like someone else might want it! She is so happy with her two day old blue frosted donut. She dances around with it.

Oh, this is who I prayed for. No more will I look at those blue frosted donuts and want to feed them to the dog. Someone treasures those blue frosted donuts. Once again, God surprises me with what He will use to delight a student.

Would you like the privilege of bagging or delivering Blue frosted Donuts (or other wonderful goodies!) to an on Pearland Area Campus Christian Club? Contact Dottie Hinesley at dottiecoop@aol.com

We need you!

I'm a Pioneer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9VP32wdneU

I'm a Pioneer!

My dear friend, mentor and former boss, John Butler, sent me this song for my birthday. It's an old Honeytree song - Beautiful and I have thought about it over and over again over the past 3 days.

Here is what I do: I support on Campus Christian Club of any kind - Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Genetic Christian Clubs, prayer groups, praise groups - in whatever way they need. Snacks, materials, speakers, student leadership training and I try to connect them with the local church. And connect the local church to the clubs.

The question I asked myself was: If Pearland was a community that totally supported their students in their Christian Club and leadership endeavors, what would it look like? I thought - they would never lack for snacks or materials or speakers. What does it look like when we support the football team?

I don't know anyone else who does this.
* I know people who train student leaders and there are wonderful programs for that.
* I know people who have club models and try to reproduce them.
But I don't know anyone that says any on Campus Christian Club in this area - I'll support it.

I'm a pioneer! I'm going where no one has gone before. I'm reaching new areas and pioneering new methods of doing things.

Not only that, but I provide leadership for Baccalaureate in this Community. I don't know anyone that does that. If I can find a local Baccalaureate service to visit (Most of them are on the same day as ours!) - I visit and see what is happening. I ask questions. I try to find who is in charge.

Much like early pioneers, I make do. I invent new ways. I face challenges. I use what I got. I research and invent. I rewrite. Whatever it takes.

I'm a pioneer! Now when someone asks - I can tell them. I'm going where no one has gone before. I'm doing what no one has done before. Those who come after me will do it better than I ever will, but I have blazed a trail for them. No one will applaud me but my Heavenly Father, but it is His applause that I seek.

I like this so much better than my old answer:
Mmmmm, I just make it up as I go along. I don't know anyone who has done this before!

pling, pling

dch

Happy Birthday, Dottie

Today is my birthday. It is also the first day of my new blog.

I've decided I needed to blog. Based on several things - really. A need to express. A need to practice writing. And . . .

The recent death of David Gentiles. I didn't know him, but my first years in Pearland, people asked me: Did you know David Gentiles? What you are trying to do reminds me of him. It was comments that I simply shrugged off and I would simply think - Boy, this David Gentiles must have been really cool . . . wish he was still in Pearland.

Then I read Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller. He dedicates the book to David Gentiles. Donald Miller grew up in Pearland, TX.

Then I read 90 minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. He too refers to David Gentiles.

Now, I am really curious about this David Gentiles - my "kindred spirit". "Like minded" unknown friend.

Mostly, I thought about how cool it was that God apparently birthed something in Pearland thru David - that He choose to continue thru me. Me - who knows only God - not David Gentiles. David leaves Pearland and God continues this vision - thru Dottie. Does that not say something about God? How large and in charge He is? How nothing is lost with Him? How nothing is wasted?

David Gentiles lived in Austin. My parents lived in Austin, then Georgetown. I always thought some day, I would visit his church and say hi. I don't know what else I thought I would say.

When I had problems in Pearland, I wanted to call him and ask for advice!

David Gentiles joined Jesus in Heaven on 12/18/2009. I'll have to wait until I get there to meet him. So, I read his blog. He was a great father and a great example of love. I'm hoping to be all that. He blogged about his daughters and (lots about sports - which is losted on me) and other things. His blogs about his daughters is what stands out. He writes great things about them and their callings in life and how they were growing into great adults.

But, his daughter - Ariele is a writer and seems to always be encouraging her father to write. Her encourgement to her father, stuck on me. So, I will write. To practice. To express what is in me. To ask questions and believe me, I have lots of questions.

For this time, I will close like David Gentiles.

pling, pling.

dch