Okay, okay. It’s not really that fresh.  But it’s a huge key to accomplishing a great feat–such as growing a church. Or preparing a luncheon for 1,500 pastor’s wives.

INVOLVING PEOPLE!

Why involve people? 3 reasons: 

1) when they’re involved, they take ownership

2) when they’re involved, they share in the blessing

3) when others are involved, the task becomes more of a joy than a burden

Here’s my great example:  The Ministers Wives Luncheon for the Southern Baptist Convention.  We’d approached the decorating task for the event with fear and trembling! Can you imagine a ballroom with 1,500 seats? Many tales of previous years’ all-night decorating exhaustion prompted me to invite eight really quality ministers’ wives in Indiana to help on a planning team. Each of those women recruited ten or twelve other ministers wives to help them decorate tables for 220 women.  A few other volunteers joined us, and with over 100 workers, we decorated that room in less than two hours!

The luncheon was a great encouragement for all those ministers wives from across the nation. Dr. Gary Chapman brought a great message of encouragement, and it was worth the effort.

Oh, it took lots of pre-planning and organizing, and this same share-the-work/share-the-blessing plan was used in many other areas of the event, and what a delightful accomplishment we all felt! As an added bonus, many made new friends and enjoyed great fellowship as we labored together.  Leaders– Don’t try to do it all yourself.  Share the blessing!  

 ”When the leaders lead…when the people volunteer, praise the Lord.” Judges 5:2

It was a wet Saturday in Indiana last week! After many months of planning, many of the CrossOver Evangelistic events planned in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention were either post-poned, drenched, or relocated inside.  As much of our state was enduring horrific flooding, God continued to work through the efforts of hundreds of Christians from across the country who came to help with Crossover.

Here’s one idea that I loved:

Hull’s Grove Baptist Church in Vale, N.C. brought anvils and hammers and horseshoes all the way to Indy.  Wearing ten-gallon cowboy hats, their crew hammered out personalized horseshoes for hundreds of children at Hope Community Church and Eastside Community Church’s block parties.

The horseshoes had “John 3:16″ printed on them, and each child’s name was chiseled across the top.  As the cowboys chatted with kids and parents, they shared about God’s love and plan of salvation. 

Here’s what I really like about their gift:

- it’s personal

- kids will never throw it away

- it opens a door for talking personally about God

How unique! 

I just got an e-mail from a long-lost friend from decades ago.  What a sweet note of encouragement!

Dear Diana, I’m sure you don’t remember me, but I was a member of First Baptist Church, Humble during the time you and Steve pastored. Steve conducted my wedding service in 1991.                                                                                                

I just wanted to congratulate you on your success as an author. The outreach task force at our small church in Tyler has been enthusiastically using your Fresh Ideas book to revitalize our congregation, and some of the suggestions are truly inspired. I was so delighted to see that you were the author.

Please give Steve my best. I have some fond memories of the time you were at First, Humble, and pray for you that God will bless your ministries and clearly light the path He has chosen for you to follow.

In Him,

Janet Mackey

I had an elderly friend with a life-long habit.  Every day of her life, she wrote an encouragement to one person.  Not four. Not two. One. Every day.

Sometimes it would be a friend or relative. It could be someone who was baptized last week at church or someone who just graduated or got married. If she was out of ideas of who to write one day, she’d just drop a note of encouragement to someone listed in the church directory or to a neighbor. She wrote notes to her hair stylist, her town council member, her bag boy at the grocery store. She would promise to pray for them, and God used her consistent ministry of encouragement.

And people were encouraged.  Looking for a simple way to minister in God’s name? Everyone needs a word of encouragement! It’s better than an apple…

“Encourage one another…” 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Whew! We just finished two long workdays, where we packed 1,800 huge gift bags for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ministers Wives Luncheon next month.  The bags each weighed over ten pounds, and they completely filled up the largest size budget u-haul truck–it’s hard to imagine the magnitude! 

I can hardly walk today, but I’m still smiling about all the fun fellowship that happened while we worked.  Dozens of pastor wives and friends from around the area came to help. Some came for an hour; others worked a whole day or two.  We put nametags on everyone to help with fellowship. We prayed together before we worked. We had nice snack food set up. We blew a whistle every hour for break-time. 

And you never heard such laughter and fun during such a hard job.  We all felt like we were accomplishing a large project to honor some of God’s finest servants from across the nation, and, in spite of the lifting and sweating, you’ve never heard such laughter and fun!  There’s nothing like Christian fellowship.

Some jobs at your church are overwhelming tasks, but when you include others in the task, it can become a great time of fellowship. 

(Still need ticket for the SBC Minister Wives Luncheon on June 10th? Go to www.olivebaptist.org. Pray for speaker, Gary Chapman!)

Here’s an idea for your church that is inexpensive and very personalized. 

Did you know that you can order a metal lapel pin with your church’s logo? Or maybe you’d like pins for the deacons or greeters or Sunday School leaders or….fill in the blank! 

I ordered these pins for our state’s pastor wives and ministers wives to wear at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ministers Wives Luncheon. We paid less than $1.50 each for the pins I simply submitted an idea for the pin and they designed it.  Even better: just submit your church’s logo or art and they can use that, too. There are many companies that do this, but the one I used this time is www.wholesalepins.com . 

By wearing the small pins at the SBC, I’m praying that God will open opportunities for Indiana ministers’ wives to share about how He is working in their churches, and that guests to our state will be notice the pins and feel free to ask directions or help.  What a privilege we have to host the Southern Baptist Convention in our state next month!

NOTE:  If you’re an Indiana ministers’ wife, be sure to pick up your pin at the Indiana booth or the hostess table before the luncheon.  And get your luncheon tickets before they sell out (www.olivebaptist.org).  Also, we have two workdays next week (Wednesday & Thursday, 21st and 22nd of May, 9-4pm) at the State Convention office, where we’ll prepare the huge gift bags for that event. Hope to see you there.

One thousand, seven hundred and fifty.  1,750.

It’s a big number. That’s how many ministers wives we expect at the Ministers Wives Luncheon during the Southern Baptist Convention on June 10th ! 

Our Indiana Baptist ministers wives have risen to the task - dozens and dozens of them are coming for two workdays in May, stuffing 1,750 gift bags for those important leaders who will attend.  Dozens more are serving as hostesses, or ticket-takers, or ticket-sellers, or just attending the event. 

“How to Love a Leader” is the theme, and the speaker is Gary Chapman, author of Five Love Languages and lots of other books.  We’re expecting a great blessing for each ministers wife.

If you know a ministers’ wife, why don’t you purchase her a ticket?  Details for tickets are at www.olivebaptist.net  or www.sbc.net

Please pray for each minister’s wife who will attend. And pray for these eight ministers wives who are coordinating decorating teams for the luncheon.

 Debbie Bryant - Southwood Baptist, Beech Grove IN

Debbie Davidson - First Baptist, Sellersburg IN

Michelle Eakes - Warren Baptist Indianapolis IN

Karen Lievers - First SBC, Clarksville IN

Amy Rardin - Calvary Baptist, Greenwood IN

Debbie Spurgeon - First Baptist, Rockville IN

Tammy Terry - Fall Creek Baptist, Indianapolis IN

Debbie Whidden - Barrington Ridge Baptist, Hobart IN

1,750.  That’s a big number.

I just returned from Nashville Indiana for the Indiana Baptist church planters/wives retreat on Thursday, and Indiana Pastors and Wives retreat Friday and Saturday.  What an amazing group of leaders!

Our keynote speaker became ill and had to cancel last minute, so we went to “Plan B.”  Actually, in God’s scheme of things, I’m sure this was actually His “Plan A!”  Steve asked me to quickly prep something for the pastor wives.

At first, I thought, “No problem!” I had my computer with PowerPoint for classes I’d taught for state pastor wives conferences in Michigan and Maryland/Delaware a few months ago, so I was ready to step in.  But after praying about it, I met with Jeannine McNeil (Steve McNeil is Indiana’s state leader in discipleship), and we decided to plan some small group, interactive, encouraging idea-sharing time for the pastors’ wives.  We stayed up half the night determining how to group the ladies and developing positive, useful discussion questions.

It was awesome! In small groups, pastors wives shared ideas for hospitality, ministry, parenting and joyful service. A second grouping put them with pastor wives in similar-sized churches, where they shared tips for evangelism and ministry.  You’ve never heard such laughter! Friendships were developing right before our eyes, and pastor wives encouraged one another to greater joy and Christian service. The pastor wives loved it, and many shared how God had used those new relationships and wisdom-sharing tips to revive their enthusiasm and effectiveness as pastor wives.

Here’s one idea shared by Amy Thorne, pastor’s wife at River’s Edge Fellowship Church in Bedford IN. It’s rather like the movie, “Pay It Forward,” except it has eternal consequences.

The church prints attractive business-card style notes. I believe theirs is on plastic see-thru type paper. It has a message that says something like “You have just been blessed by a member of Rivers Edge Fellowship Church! We’re praying for you” and it gives the church website and phone number.  Members are given a supply of the cards and challenged to do some random act of kindness, and leave the note as a witness. 

   For example, in the drive-thru at McDonalds, they might pay the bill for the car behind them, leaving the card with the cashier to give that person. Or they might leave a double tip at a restaurant, along with the card. The stories were amazing about how God had used that simple project to help their church have a great reputation in their town. 

Don’t you love it when God takes “Plan B” and turns it into “Plan A+” ?

 Photo from Indydt.org

I hope you’re planning to come to Indianapolis June 8-11 for the Southern Baptist Convention!

I’ve gathered a few links to help you enjoy your stay:

Why come to Indy? Diana’s Fresh Ideas article lists reasons

Downtown Indianapolis 

About Indy—videos and travel tips

 Crossover Indiana  - Arrive early and help with evangelistic events to plant 8 new Indy churches!

Youth Children Preschool Childcare

Convention Schedule 

 Ministers Wives Luncheon    come! 

Pastors Conference

 WMU Celebration (They’re having a booksigning for my new book at 4pm on June 8 + I get to lead a breakout class)

Find a Church for Sunday worship: Indiana Baptist Website

Guidestone Wellness Walk on the Canal Walk - gorgeous site! 

TIPS:

And here are a few more convention-going tips I sent in a letter to Indiana pastor wives:

• Register. When you register, say hello to our volunteers there. You’ll receive a  name tag, voting ballots and book of reports.
• Daily Schedule. Pick up the daily schedule as you enter.  It’s full of important announcements.
• Ministers Wives luncheon– Don’t miss this great event. Purchase tickets ahead at olivebaptist.org. It’s in the Sagamore ballroom in the convention center near the mall. You’ll be blessed. 
• Enjoy the whole convention.  You’ll enjoy all the program elements. I love the missions report for IMB because they always have a spectacular program. The reports from NAMB, LifeWay, seminaries, etc. are really eye-opening and inspiring. You’ll be proud to be a Southern Baptist!  It’s really amazing what we accomplish together. Even the business segments are interesting.  Music is fabulous. You’ll hear inspiring preaching. And you’ll still find time to loiter in the hallways and visit with new and old friends. 
• Pastor’s Conference June 8-9 – Usually has great conferences for women, too. Worth a trip.
• WMU Convention June 8-9 www.wmu.com(Hoosiers Traci Newland, Sharon Beck, Sharon Barrett and Diana Davis will be on program)
• Indiana Baptist Boothin main hallway. Look for it and say “Hi” to whoever’s volunteering there.-  Picketers. Don’t be alarmed when you see a few paid picketers outside. Be nice to them. -  As you walk around, say hello to Indiana volunteers at welcome center, childcare, youth area.
• Restaurants. Need help? Check ahead on indydt.org for a restaurant map. 200 are downtown! It might be wise to call ahead for reservations.
•  Crossover Events – Great evangelistic events all around the Indy area on the weekend before SBC. You are needed! These will help strengthen our churches and help plan eight new churches around Indy! Register ASAP at www.scbi.org 
•  To register for childcare or youth or children’s events  – www.sbcannualmeeting.com 
• Parking - http://www.indydt.com/dtmap.html  Click on map to see prices (i.e. White River State park garage, 650 W. Washington, says $10 per day.) Meters are free weekends and after 6pm.
• Represent your church!  Plan ahead so your church clerk can pre-register your church messengers online at www.sbc.net.

DON’T MISS THE EXHIBIT AREA! Some tips:

•  First, find the booth where they provide a bag. You’re going to have lots of stuff to carry.
•  Go by booths early to pick up lots of freebies. Your kids will love these.
•  Pick up information from every booth, and you’ll have wonderful reading for months. 
• Whatever ministry you enjoy at your church, you’ll find lots of helpful info here.
• Ask questions at all booths that interest you. The true experts are there and they’re anxious to chat.
• Take a free photo at the Olan Mills Booth.  They’ll mail it to you. 
• Be sure to do free medical testing at the Guidestone booth. It’s really free.
• If your teen will go to college or seminary soon, this is the time to visit booths and ask questions.
• Take your children by the IMB and NAMB booth to talk to real missionaries. 
• Bookstore – LifeWay has a mega-store here. I believe they’re planning a book-signing time for my new book, too! And before you leave Wednesday, check sales.

Our state convention plans a wonderful annual women’s retreat, and this year’s theme is “Celebrate!” Eight hundred women from across Indiana attended the event this weekend. The speaker, Kim Davis, was excellent, and dozens of breakout classes were offered. My topic was “Celebrations that Shine!” - a class challenging women to go the extra inch and shine for Christ during holiday and personal celebrations. Fun topic. Really fun group.

One of my favorite moments each year is the breakfast in honor of our state’s ministers’ wives. One hundred of Indiana’s pastors’ and church staff wives attended the breakfast this year. This photo is one of a dozen tables of those beautiful women–each a significant leader in our Christian community. We enjoyed fellowship and a wonderful challenge by Michelle Mullenix, an Indianapolis pastor’s wife, pictured above.

Please pray for our Indiana pastors’ wives as they minister in His name. Pray for the hundreds of Indiana women who attended the retreat, as they return to their homes with the exciting challenge to take the cross to the crossroads.

Take a look! Baptist Press used my article about ministering to senior adults today. Here’s a link:

Baptist Press article