My newest book, Deacon Wives, is officially online! Even though it won’t be released until next June, the book went online on Amazon.com and LifeWay.com for presale today.  Take a look and let me know what you think.

I’m very excited about this book.  Deacon wives can make such an enormous impact on their church’s ministry, its harmony and its joy. Pray with me that God will use Deacon Wives to challenge and encourage these great leaders.

Update of Recently published articles:

The Deacon Magazine - Winter issue

Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Witness - October issue

South Carolina’s The Courier - October issue

The Indiana Baptist - October issue

The Illinois Baptist - October issue

Let’s Worship magazine - Winter issue

I’m shaking my calendar and wondering if it’s really true that November is here! 

Are you looking for some fresh ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving at your church? I just noticed that the LifeWay website has an excerpt from my Fresh Ideas book, and thought you might enjoy these Thanksgiving ideas–from a pie squad party to a “seeking thanksgiving” mystery trip. It’s pasted below.

Yes, it’s November. And I’m thankful.
——————-

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR CHURCH THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS

Written by Diana Davis

It all began with some comments about turkey. Our church’s annual turkey dinner had grown stale. As one young couple stated, “There’s a limit to how many turkey dinners one can eat in a week!”  It was time to begin a new Thanksgiving tradition.

On Sunday evening before Thanksgiving, our church family gathered in the fellowship hall for a very special Lord’s Supper celebration and a simple meal. Everyone was seated at round tables with candle centerpieces. One deacon or church staff member sat at each table, and a scrumptious meal of homemade stew and cornbread was served.  At their table, each person informally shared about blessings from God during the previous year.   

After dinner, lights were dimmed and the pastor led a meaningful candlelight Lord’s Supper, and we celebrated God’s greatest blessing. He directed the deacons or staff members to administer the elements to those at their table. This simple, solemn ceremony became an anticipated, well-attended tradition. And it was turkey-free. 

Looking for more fresh ideas for Thanksgiving?

A “Pie Squad Party”is a Thanksgiving celebration/ministry event. Partygoers load into cars to joyfully deliver gorgeous homemade pies to every church member who is homebound or living in a nursing home. Each member of the group signs a greeting card to leave with the pie, and after spending a few minutes to encourage and pray for the homebound friends, team members gather back at the church to enjoy the town’s biggest homemade cobbler.

“A Wall of Thanks” is a visual expression of thanks. At the beginning of November, use white paper to cover a focal wall in the church foyer. Invite church members of all ages to use markers or paints to artfully express thanks to God all month long.

“Seeking Thanksgiving” is a mystery van trip where vehicles packed with church members follow a map to several prearranged locations to discover and celebrate God’s blessings. Recruit church members with large vehicles to drive, and ask them to enhance its exterior with Thanksgiving decor and a “Seeking Thanksgiving” sign.

Carefully select Christians in your church who have been uniquely blessed or protected by God this year, and ask them to host a mystery stop, where carloads of church members will make a brief visit to celebrate God’s blessings. Your pastor may have ideas of very thankful members. Some examples:

• a couple with a new baby
• a homebound senior adult rocking on her porch
• a brand new Christian at his home
• a college student in her dorm
• a hospitalized member who can receive guests
• a recent immigrant

Each thankful person awaits the visitors, holding a large picket-type sign that reads “I’m thankful!”  Groups take a photo with them, encourage and pray with them, then return to the church for refreshments and fellowship.

After all, there’s more than just turkey to a great Thanksgiving season.

More “Fresh Ideas” for your ministry are available in these practical books by Diana Davis:

• Fresh Ideas: 1,000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church 
• Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry: Creative Plans and Programs that Really Work 

Also, check out Diana’s official website at www.keeponshining.com

Diana Davis lives in Indianapolis, where her husband Steve serves as the Executive Director for the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana. A popular women’s conference speaker, Diana has ministered to women’s groups internationally. She especially loves  encouraging pastors’ wives and deacons’ wives.

Here’s this month’s article from the Indiana Baptist. This would be a great New Year project for a church!

——–

Fresh Ideas

The 52 Challenge

By Diana Davis

“…Compel them to come in so that My house will be filled.” Luke 14:23b

Amazingly, nine out of ten unchurched people say they would come to church if they were asked.* Will you be the asker? I double-dare you to take the “52 Challenge”:

Step#1: Think of one person you know who doesn’t attend church. Only one. Invite that person to your church this Sunday and arrange to meet at the front door. Write their name on Sunday’s date in your personal calendar.  

Step #2: Commit to God that you will repeat that process weekly for one year.  Don’t know 52 lost people? Don’t fret.  Just ask God’s direction and watch for one person to invite this week.  Suddenly, you’ll notice masses of lost people around you. Need ideas?

• As you walk the dog and observe a neighbor outside, remember the 52 Challenge.
• Ask that friend you’ve been intending to invite.
• Invite the Wal-Mart greeter. How about your hairstylist, doctor, tax advisor or landlord?
• In the post office or grocery line, or riding the bus, converse with someone who needs an invitation.
• Make a list of relatives, acquaintances or neighbors, and systematically invite them.
• During coffee break at work or chatting with the butcher or working out at the gym, think “52.”
• Who could you invite at the PTA meeting, reunion, company picnic or ball game? 
• Ask your new neighbor, car salesman, insurance agent or sister-in-law. Invite your mail carrier, restaurant waiter, fireman, repairman, or mayor.  

During the next 52 weeks, write the name of the person you invite to church on every Sunday’s box of your calendar.  52 weeks. 52 people. One week at a time.

The 52 Challenge is for individuals, but a church can encourage personal invitations by providing “invitation business cards” with church address, worship times and website.  Attendance more than doubles at Plymouth Baptist’s annual Friend Day. How? Each member simply invites one friend.

What would happen if every Christian in Illiniois committed to ask just one person to church every week this year? They’re waiting for an invitation, and eternity is at stake.  Will you take the 52 Challenge? 

(*Statistic from Thom Rainer’s book, The Unchurched Next Door, Zondervan).  

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

I was in my early twenties when I met Bess, and she quickly became a Christian mentor and dear friend.  She was 35 years older than me, and I was her new pastor’s wife. Over these many decades, we’ve done lots of enjoyable projects together–planted a church, planned events, took family vacations. We’ve shared long chats, heartaches, celebrations and prayers.  We talked about things like loving our husbands and kids, about household stuff and how to love unlovable people.  She reminded me to enjoy motherhood and to live with dignity and purity.  (Funny, all those things are found in Titus 2–”older women should teach the younger women…”. I wonder if she considered that?)

Her friendship was a great encouragement, and over the years, she became a trusted confidant and wise counsel. At the age of 92, Bess died this week. She’s joyfully in heaven today.  Steve and I will travel to Oklahoma City and back on Saturday, so he can help with the funeral. 

When my life is done, I hope that I’ve impacted someone’s life for Christ as much as Bess impacted mine.

God cares deeply when one of His loved ones dies.  ”Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

————

New “Fresh Ideas” articles published this week:

South Carolina Baptist Courier

The Illinois Baptist

Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry is featured in a two-page spread in B&H Publishing Group’s new Ministry Resource Catalog! 

—–

Ladies Retreat Idea:

The Whitewater Association’s women’s retreat today was such fun! I enjoyed facilitating a packed classroom of pastor wives, and encouraging them in their ministries.  I also had the privilege of leading a class about women’s ministry, and had a great group of women in that class, too. 

Their retreat theme was “Tree of Life” using these Scriptures:

First, the true wisdom “is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her” (Proverbs 3:18).

That true wisdom can be none other than Christ (I Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 2:3).

One lady created a beautiful wall-sized tree visual with the Scripture and theme, and breakout classes centered around wisdom from God. 

One thing I especially enjoyed was the relaxed schedule. Though they had plenty of group time and breakout classes and music and testimonies, the overall time felt calm and very relaxed.  Fun retreat!

Diana,

I would like to start back a secret sister program but change it more to a prayer partner.

Am I mixing polar ideas? or how can we get prayer partners going.

Keep on shining!

Diana

——-

NEW ARTICLE:   Check out our newest “He Said/She Said” article in this month’s Deacon Magazine (Winter 08 issue). Steve and I write this regular column of ideas for deacons and deacon wives. You’ll like this one!

Two articles published today! Check out Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox

and also Craig Webb (LifeWay Pastors Today editor).

—————

We’re loving the time away in Montana and Wyoming. We’ve just relaxed most days, and also spent a day in Yellowstone National Park. 

We’ve seen bald eagles, elk, moose, hundreds of buffalo and mule deer — and indescribable views of God’s creation. 

Celebration Time:

(Pardon me for this personal post. But you’re going to love the book recommendations!)

I’m celebrating the completion of two more seminary classes -  

(1) Systematic Theology 11 - I’m really celebrating this one. I’m afraid I’m way over my intellectual capabilities, but still enjoyed the class. I probably spent eight hours trying to understand Jonathon Edwards “In Freedom of the Will.”  My term paper was about God’s immediate forgiveness and it engulfed weeks of my life. I just turned it in today and feel like I accomplished a thesis!  Praising God it’s all turned in.

(2) Personal Evangelism 565 - one of the best classes I’ve ever taken. Dr. David Wheeler is excellent. The assignments were multitudinous, but well worth the effort. 

Here are some really great books from the class that I highly recommend: 

          Family to Family (Pipes) - If you have kids, you’ve got to read this book. It’s a great idea book and instruction book for creating a family mission statement so your family will intentionally honor God. Read it!  

The Unexpected Journey(Rainer) - I don’t know how I missed this Rainer book, but it is un-put-downable.  Each chapter holds a captivating interview with a Christian who was saved from a different faith view — everything from mormonism to satanism to buddhism. Each explains how they found the one true God, and gives tips for Christians about how to share Christ with them.

 Share Jesus Without Fear (Fay) - I’d read this previously, but if you’ve missed it, it’s a must-read-twice book.  Quite inspiring and practical.

Radically Unchurched (Reid) - This book will knock your socks off. It is a factual, in-your-face revelation of reasons our churches are unable to reach the majority of our nation’s younger adults and youth.  Well worth reading.

The Art of Personal Evangelism(McRaney) - Perhaps the best book on personal evangelism I’ve read.  Very practical, usable, inspirational. Read it.

Oh, there were lots of other books in this class, but these are some I thought you’d love.

  Just three more seminary classes to go now…

—–

One more article published this week:

Let’s Worship Magazine Fall ‘08 - (Missions celebration idea)

—–

Book Signing: One more note–I get to do a book signing during the state convention on Friday evening at 5:30. (for convention details, see www.scbi.org).

I walked downtown Indy last week to watch the deflating of the RCA Dome. The ceremony was tearful as dignitaries reminisced about its history and its impact on the city. The new Lucas Oil Stadium will house the Indianapolis Colts and other large concerts and gatherings, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

The big balloon-like roof of the RCA Dome was held up with enormous fans, and as they counted down, the crowd shouted the 10-9-8-7-…3-2-1, they shut off the fans. And nothing happened. Or so it seemed.  It took forty-five minutes for the roof to deflate, and looking at it from the ground angle, the view didn’t change all that much. (I have great photos, but still can’t attach them to the blog for some reason!)

I spotted people standing on a roof next to the dome, so I walked there and rode the elevator to the top. Wow! The view from the top told the real picture of that deflated roof.  Nine acres of white sprawled in the huge bowl. I believe I read that it weighed 250 tons, or something enormous like that. It was quite a site.

I imagine that God’s view of our lives is quite different from our view.  We usually see only the here-and-now. We concentrate on things in our world that affect our small portion of it. We rarely think much farther than tomorrow. But God, with His view “from the top” has the big picture. He sees eternity past, present and future. He sees much more than we could dream or imagine.  

With all the changes in our world, I’m trusting that God, with His big picture view-from-the-top, is in control of all the details of my life and yours.  

Comforting, isn’t it?

New articles written by Diana have been published this week in the following publications: 

**Watch for article in Rick Warren’s Pastor Toolbox next week!

The Hawaii Pacific Baptist - October 2008

The Iowa Baptist - October 2008

The Indiana Baptist - October 2008

Fresh Ideas-1000 Ways book (hardbound) was featured in Crossings Book Club catalogue

No matter your age, there is a younger woman in your church that God would have you mentor. 

I love encouraging women on this topic, and enjoyed leading a retreat on the subject.  Here’s one of the handouts.  Take a look at these simple tips to get started:

A Few Small Hints for a

Mentor

Do it.  Mentor. Be mentored. Set an example for others by mentoring.

Who will you mentor as a Christian woman? _______________________________________________________________________

Informal or informal. Make a plan.________________________________

First:

1      Be reverent in the way YOU live…

1      Not slanderers

1      Worthy of respect

      1    Teach what is good.

Then:   

Spend at least a few minutes together every week.

             Can only teach if you spend time. When? ___________________

             Listen carefully to her story.        

Use Titus 2:3-6 as a checklist guide after each meeting together: Encourage her…

1     To love her husband. Teach by example and encouragement

1     To love her children. Learn her children’s names. Be there when it counts.

1     To be self-controlled. Model self-control in difficult areas: Spending, eating, time management, priorities, temper, chocolate.

1     To be pure. Modesty. Motives. Priorities

1     To be busy at home. Not busybodies

1     To be kind

1     To be subject to her husband

Be approachable.

Speak well of her.

Introduce her to your friends.

Sit by her occasionally at church…

Remember the pig. (Proverbs 11:22)

Love her in spite of her imperfections.

Invite her to your home at least once.

Occasionally write a Scripture for her.

Help her discover and use her spiritual gifts.

Occasionally invite her out for coffee or lunch.

Recommend great Christian books you enjoy.

Include her in ministry with you when possible.

Set an example of joyful service in the church.

Put her birthday and anniversary on your calendar.

Pray for her daily. How can I pray for you? How has God been working in your life this week?

Always pray aloud for her. Bible study? Read same Christian book? Chats?

Set a great example for younger women in every area of life–body language, dress, attitude.