Hey Brad,

What is your volunteer to student ratio?

How do you determine which volunteers lead small groups?

When you visit local schools, are you just hanging out or is there some sort of planned study or conversation?

Thanks for your time
Mike

1.@ present we have 180ish volunteers and 700ish students....

2. Our 1month volunteer orientation/training/interviewing prior to them being given a hands-on role gives my team some intentional time to identify and place volunteers in their sweet-spot. No volunteer is entitled to any certain position. We never lock anyone in a role that cannot change... but a large majority of our vols land in their God-gifted spots...

3. Mostly just to hang out... but if an opportunity presents itself... i take advantage of Spirit prompted conversations.... by law i cant go in talking about "Jesus my Savior"... but if a kid who's sitting @ the table with one of our students asks me "Why are you here"... then i'm entitled to Freedom of Speech by the Bill of Rights.... so i will take advantage--

Presence alone emboldens Fuse students to invite... and they acquire a little bit of status b/c they have someone coming to visit them @ lunch... and students want to know "Who that guy was" and "Why did he come chill @ lunch with you... this is school cafeteria food... what makes you special?"

hey Coop,

how much of the arts do you use for illustration leverage? I'm just getting started, but check out what Vince A is doing...we're going to adapt for a series called "Jesus Justice". I love the message, involvement, and STICKABILITY this can/will have!

http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2009/03/live-art-piece.html

that's awesome... We had a volunteer that painted on stage 4 wks in a row while i was preaching a sermon series called "Focus"... it was on perspective....

It's the only formal 'arts illustration' that i can remember us using....

although we use a lot of mediums to communicate that could be considered a 'art'....

I love Vince's usage.

My only concern is that i've seen many people strive to be 'artistic' @ the expense of NOT COMMUNICATING the Gospel.... i think that Art brings a TON OF ILLUSTRATIVE VALUE TO THE TABLE.... as long as you dont get the cart in front of the horse...

tru dat. I like the idea of art, but not a fan of "open to interpretation" This kind of illustration would be used, but Scripture must be the focal point...Jesus came to bring this girl justice.

P.S. Thoughts on Jesus Justice (your thoughts would be cool)
Injustice: "When you find people who are victims of a conflict that is not theirs." (e.g. children of a dead-beat dad, darfur, etc.).

The cool thing about Jesus Justice is that He even brings justice to you even when you're a victim of a conflict that IS yours. (amazing grace baby!)

Receive Justice, Release Justice: Jesus Justice

B-Coop,

What's good fam, I got a question for ya...i been wrestling with this one for a while because I don't know what angle to approach it from because I haven't found anything biblical that acknowledges this directly so what's ur tolerance level/personal view on curse words and are you one that would point out that your tolerance level has been reached?

Luv u bro...hold it down,
B Nice

okay- let me start by saying that as a young guy... growing up.... i was always correcting cursing.... did it all the way through MS and HS... and i never ever got into the whole cursing habit...

I definitely believe that 'From the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks...' as Christ tells us in His Word....

Here's my latest perspective. To use profanity or to "Profane" a word by definition means to not use words in a sacred or holy manner. That is to say, there is a way that one can talk that is considered 'sacred' and there is a way that one can talk that is 'profane'.

This changed my view.... Profanity is no longer a list of words to not say... RATHER, there is a way to use your words that makes much of God in all you are saying or doing. Any other talk, BY DEFINITION, is PROFANITY.

on a secondary note- there is another definition of 'profane'... that is, 'common or base'.... so one uses profanity when you use a word so much it loses it's meaning... you have literally profaned the word. So again, by definition, profanity has much more to do with the speaker of the words rather than the words themselves...


Love you BNice-

What is your balance of spending time with students verse studying for messages? 40/60 or something along those lines.

How do you balance and if one is more important to you, which one is it?

How long do you spend studying and preping for Fuse?

Balance: Hmmm... i dont know that i generally think about it. Instead i work to prep messages when i dont have access to students- when they are in classes... or in bed... Late @ night or early morning is when most of my messages seem to come together.

2nd Question: I think it is essential to make sure you separate message prep time away from time in God's Word. I believe Time in God's word holds my greatest priority. It is what makes my time with students profitable. I have nothing to offer them if i have not been spending sufficient time w/ Christ. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS BASIC, BUT IM AMAZED @ HOW MANY PEOPLE DONT GRASP THIS TRUTH.

I would say the priority in my relationships with students isn't so much how many im having face time with... instead it's that i (or my staff) are having face time with THE RIGHT STUDENTS.... That's not elitism... it's reality... If i can i.d. leaders and lead them... they are much more influential when it comes to reaching the target (unchurched/dechurched students)


3rd Question: Personally.... each message begins 4 and 1/2 wks out in a long range meeting.... from that meeting til wk of the msg..... i have time built into my schedule to shape the talk.... each one varies.... sometimes it's like.... BLAM there's 3 talks and that took 9 minutes..... other times i feel like i'll work on 1 illustration for 1 talk for DAYS @ a time.

I'll say my secret weapon @ present is my jogging time... and a silent 25minute car drive to and from work..... I internalize a TON during these quiet minutes....

My leadership team and I are beginning to prepare for a Sex series next spring. Along with a strong Biblical foundation, where did you and your staff begin in your preparation for the SEXED series?

What are the 5 things that you never leave home without?

i lived in Gen 1,2, & 3..... watched TONS of podcast about sexual immorality from everyone that you would think of.... read lots of blogs.... talked to a lot of our students... got some feedback on our student blog....then swirled it all up into a packaged deal....

5 things: 1) Cell: BB Pearl. 2) Notebook: Im in this all day. 3) Bible: seriously ive got it. 4) iPod loaded w/ podcast/books/hillsong 5) digital camera: for photos and short vids.

Have you ever thought to begin your own coaching network?

hmmmm.... possibly... but the truth is... i really feel like i'm just out there in the deep in trying to keep my head above water...

Other than that... im not sure how much more i can offer.... so defining myself as a "Coach" seems like a stretch in my mind....

I'm a youth leader... how the heck do you guys take attendance... sounds like a simple thing... but we're pushing 60 and 70 kids how do you effectively keep up with who's there and who ain't ? Small groups?

Fellowship One.... aka F1.... every kid that comes into our facility has to sign in via a computer.... it assures us of accurate numbers... We see trends via different grades and schools... AND it allows us to take our security to another level.... You cannot get in unless you clear check-in... receive a hand stamp... and then pass through security....

It's not %100 fail proof... but it's pretty darn close-

what books are you currently reading?

want to do lunch during unleash?

what are some ways you ensure, demand & fight for purity in your relationship?

currently in 2 Corinthians (i cannot emphasize the Bible as preeminent with this question). Im also reading "The Supremacy of God in Preaching" by Piper.

wish i could do lunch on Thurs... but i'm booked all day long.... look forward to seeing you in a breakout tho!

Relational Purity: I think the 1st way a guy can win is VERBALIZE THE STRUGGLE. I know that seems simple but it's the curse of man to stand in silence (Gen 3)... and when you talk to your girl about it... or your accountability about it.... STOP USING VICTIM LANGUAGE--- (@mcdzl taught me that)... Stop saying things like: "When im weak" or "I slipped... stumbled... fell to temptation"... etc....

When Christ is in us... WE ARE NO LONGER VICTIMS.... If i decide to sin... it's exactly that... A CHOICE I HAVE MADE... I had the choice to choose God or myself... and i chose ME....

Those 2 things Truths have been crucial in my fight.