http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgTeacher’s Note: Enhance this lesson with Lesson Video 12 available as part of the Lifelines Media Pak (http://www.wolstore.org/p-1139-lifelines-media-pak-the-church-its-allies-and-enemies.aspx). After seeing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on television, Brooke and her family grabbed some people from church and an 18-wheeler full of supplies. This video demonstrates one aspect of the ministry of the church. (1:56)Yarosh LaurieFri, 09 Oct 2009 09:01:28 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgThere is also a PowerPoint presentation for this lesson available in the Lifelines Media Pak (http://www.wolstore.org/p-1139-lifelines-media-pak-the-church-its-allies-and-enemies.aspx).Yarosh LaurieFri, 09 Oct 2009 07:39:27 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgAnd our winners are Bethany B. and Heather Blewett!! You both have been randomly picked for a 10.00 gift card from Starbucks. If you will email me your address I will drop them in the mail. cfinchum@wol.org Chris FinchumThu, 24 Sep 2009 11:27:29 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgHow do you get 1st stringers involved... you have to have a ministry that appeals to 1st stringers. Sometimes I see 3rd string ministries that want 1st string players... not gonna happen, but if it does happen they wont stay long. When people outgrow your leadership they will go somewhere else (ie. The law of the lid - John Maxwell) Student Pastors we have to be hardcore dedicated to growing ourself if we want to attract 1st string leaders. You attract who you are...Kevin ConnellWed, 23 Sep 2009 14:42:11 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgA lot of the times in a small church there is no 1st, 2nd or 3rd string....you are it....but I agree we should not settle for only being mediocre leaders. Thank you for really making me think about what kind of leader I am, and whether I am doing all I can for our teens. Our Youth group recently lost a teen to a car accident and I feel so priviliged to have been part of his life and been a leader to him; I have a new outlook on serving and not taking any opportunity with our teens for granted. It's also part of the 1st stringer's responsibility to raise the bar for 2nd stringers...there's always room for more 1st string leaders. We should all strive for that. Jenna LashleySun, 20 Sep 2009 20:58:50 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgOne more thought: I think saftey can also become an issue with the second string. Not just physical and legal things, but as trust is built, the weight of that responsibility and the maturity needed for it. I thought of this with the life story of Wes Stafford, president of Compassion. You gotta hear it, it is amazing, and goes right along with this idea of second-string. He wrote about it in his book, "Too Small to Ignore."Kevin RadfordFri, 18 Sep 2009 20:45:35 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgMy "safety" prayer for my children has always been that God will be build a wall of protection around them and keep them safe from all evil, spiritual, physical, and emotional. This year I prayed that God would send the correct leader to do a small group. I felt like God probably knew a leader that would be perfect & would be in a place I never thought to look. We ended up having a really sweet lady in our church, who cares about youth, studies the Bible, and reads like CRAZY. I never would have dreamed that she would be intersted in helping. God knew what I didn't.Rachel Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:44:35 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgAnother thought as I think about this...isnt it the repsonsibility of church leaders to train people to be first string?? Not that that takes away personal responsibility but I think us as leaders can do better at training and equipping those around us.Kevin RadfordFri, 18 Sep 2009 12:30:18 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgGreat article - confirms the tough decision we just made in our Bible Fellowship classes. We have a handful of quality leaders, and rather than fill plugs, we combined classes. Sometimes the willing outnumber the competent, (and that's not saying the willing can't be used), but we don't want to settle. And keep the Starbucks card - Blech!!Kelly JThu, 17 Sep 2009 10:32:49 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.orghttp://chrisfinchum.wol.orgGreat challenge Chris. As for your latest question on finding first stringers, I believe you pray and watch. Beg God to show them to you and then keep your eyes open and look for them to stand out. That is not the easy appraoch and it often takes time for those leaders to show themselves, but the best comes to those who wait. Andy ArmstrongWed, 16 Sep 2009 22:18:51 -0700http://chrisfinchum.wol.org