DreamBuilders Ministry in Motion (DBMIM) Ezine, May 15, 2008

-- Purpose-Filled Ministry: But, This Isn't How It's Supposed to Beeeeee, by Teena Stewart.

-- Book Review: "Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom," by Tricia Goyer, reviewed by Teena Stewart.

Looking for something, but not sure where to find it? DreamBuilders Ministry in Motion has produced a 50-page Resource Guide that just might have what you need. And it's FREE! You need adobe acrobat reader (also free) to read the document. Check it out at: http://www.ministryinmotion.net/christian_ministry_resource_guid.html

Have you ever been frustrated while trying to get what is in your head onto paper or canvas? Have you ever played a song on a musical instrument only to be disappointed by how lousy it sounded? Most of the time the beautiful vision we have inside us falls short when we try to make it a reality.

I have experienced this exasperating outcome frequently as an artist/writer. But I’ve also experienced it in ministry. We begin with an exciting idea for ministry then started to work to make it happen. After putting forth all the hard work to put it in place, we may only see a pale replica produced, which can zap our excitement and energy.

This is what my husband and I experienced after selling our home in California and moving to Hickory, North Carolina, to start a coffee shop ministry. The reason we undertook such a radical move was to give us the chance to reach more unchurched people for Christ. (See http://www.javajourney.org)

Several months later, we are still working part-time non-glamorous tent-making jobs in order to make ends meet. Trying to balance multiple jobs for income and work on the preliminaries for the coffee shop are exhausting. It is difficult to spin that many plates. The coffee shop remains on the horizon, but just out of reach.

It only took a few months for the wave of excitement we arrived on to become a monotonous lapping of what seems like ankle-deep waves. We have been wading through the mind-numbing task of writing a business plan, researching the cost of supplies and locations, and trying to start our small group community. We now understand how discouraging it is for missionaries who spend years laboring and sacrificing to see only one or two people come to Christ.

Being all too human, we cry out in our human way, “But this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” Our vision has gotten bogged down in the mundane details required to make it happen. To read more of Teena's article, click here...

Be sure to stop by DBMIM's blog this month. Guest blogger, Dr. Richard Mabry, author of The Tender Scar, shares insight on ministering to those who are grieving. http://www.ministryinmotionnet.blogspot.com/

Many writing assignments, especially for magazines (real and virtual) begin with, "Can you give us 800 words on...?" Word count is preeminent in an editor's mind, but the last thing we scribblers think about. I never think about word count until the very end. With one particular editor who was very particular about word count I wrote exactly the number requested, plus ONE word. Neener, neener, neener.
Today I wrote a piece for an online publication to promote my workshops at a conference next February. They requested 500 to 600 words. Since it is a writer’s conference (Writing for the Soul) and everyone there is a writer, I gave them 609 words – every word GOLD. They'll edit, or not.
Mark Twain, the source of many of my favorite wise and witty sayings, once ended a lengthy letter to a friend with a post scriptus saying he would have written a shorter letter, but he didn't have time.

    If you have ever written even a post card home from summer camp you know what old Sam Clemens (Mr. Twain) was wrestling with. Economy of words is an art, crafted over time. Less often is more.
      I was delighted last week when my mailbox, No. 144, had a puffy little envelope stuffed into it. Therein, a new book, simple little words. My very creative friends Michelle Cox and John Perrodin have crafted a book full of great short stories around the theme (and subtitle) what you say can change a life. On page 35 you'll find my story of meeting Walt Disney, and having a great one-on-one conversation with him I was just thirteen. (Actually three days before my fourteenth birthday.) To read the rest of Wilson's article, chick here...

Once you become a parent, your life changes drastically. But changes are even more radical for teen parents who have to adjust to multiple roles, which include the duties of a parent, student, and sometimes even employee. Life Interrupted targets single teen moms and the changes and responsibilities they face.

One day Trisha Goyer was merely a 17 year-old high school senior, cheerleader, honor student. The next day she was a pregnant, unwed mother to be. Goyer, now a Christian, understands the unique challenges young single moms have to face. Her book is meant to encourage and advise them on how to handle their new roles as moms while giving them hope for the future.

The book has the informal style of two friends simply chatting with each other. Young moms discuss how they can successfully raise a child, who they should listen to for advise, and what preparations to take for theirs and their child’s future. Goyer addresses the topics of self-worth, identity, growth, roles, intimacy, instruction, asking for and getting help, the future, and taking badly needed breaks from the responsibilities of motherhood and schoolwork.

Included in the book are notes and observations from teen moms reflecting on how they dealt with and how they felt about specific challenges. The end of each chapter also gives suggestions pertaining to the chapter theme, plus Trish’s own insights from personal experience. Counselors, parents, and youth workers would be wise to have extra copies of Life Interrupted on their shelves to hand them out to teens and parents preparing for or adjusting to teen parenting.

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Be sure to visit Ministry in Motion's Bookshop. Every resource is developed from hands-on church experience. Help members discover their spiritual gifts, how to connect them in ministry and more. Visit MIM's Bookshop.

Just $10 per classified listing. For more information on advertising visit our advertising page.

Ministry in Motion is looking for columnists & writers in the following areas: women's ministry, men's ministry, single's ministry, youth ministry, worship ministry, small group/bible study ministry, and general ministry. We are also open to general church ministry related freelance articles. If you have an idea for a column or would like to share ministry insight or even short ministry tips, we'd love to hear from you. Present payment is promotion only -- no pay but great exposure for you, your ministry, book, or website. Please read our writer's guidelines here.

One of the needs we have perceived at Ministry in Motion is a service to help connect qualified ministers and church workers to ministry related and church staff positions. If you are presently in job search mode, or if you have a ministry position you are looking to fill, be sure to check out this site by clicking here.

Magazines to help Christians grow spiritual and succeed in ministry. Discipleship Journal, Leadership Magazine, SpiritLed Woman, Christianity Today & Lots More! Click HERE for Magazines

DBMIM Ezine May 15, 2008