Ministry Highlight: Finish Line Ministries (Pastor Larry Bettencourt)

What They Do:

FINISHLINE MINISTRIES seeks to serve and strengthen the vision of the local church by providing practical insights through these methods:

1. by COACHING – Mentoring emerging Youth Pastors and leaders. IE. (Personal coaching on the “How to” of youth ministry)

2. by EQUIPPING – Enhancing church members and staffs how to “Align” to the Vision of their pastor. IE. (Teaching HELPS ministry messages and church “Master Planning”© concepts*) *independent consulting

3. by TRAINING – Teaching practical leadership principles and hosting youth ministry leadership workshops / conferences. IE. (ACHIEVE: monthly “the AM” leadership breakfast and 1 day STUDENT MINISTRY leadership events)

Personal Testimony: I’ve blogged about Pastor Larry a lot so I’ll keep this brief. I can name so many people and ministries that have never been the same because of having Pastor Larry’s investment in them, including my own. I wouldn’t be in ministry or anywhere in life if it weren’t for this man.

I’ll just say that if your a youth pastor, youth leader, senior pastor, etc. You need to bring Pastor Larry by your side and have him work with you and your team. He has the experience and the coaching skills necessary to take you and your team to another level. On top of consulting, he is an incredible communicator for your church, youth ministry, youth retreat, or youth camp. If you’re interested in having him consult with your team or speak at your church or event, e-mail him at larry@finishlineministry.com.

Pastor Larry’s Bio:

• Over 20 years Youth Pastor and Associate ministry experience
• 13 years as Associate Pastor of Victory Family Church- assisted Pst. John Nuzzo in establishing Victory as a one of the prominent churches in the Northeast, seeing growth from 70 to over 2,000
• Oversight of ministries include: Youth, Children, Helps, 20 something, and Pastoral care
  (Started 2 youth groups and managed completion of 10,000 sq. ft. Youth Center)
• 17 years of hosting and organizing youth camps and leadership seminars
• Master in Organizational Leadership
• Football assistant coach- at Geneva College (3yrs) and Seneca Valley High School (10yrs)
• Married to Kim for 17 years
• 4 awesome daughters

Check out and Buy Pastor Larry’s Latest Book: Put it Behind Ya

Check out Pastor Larry’s Blog: http://larrybettencourt.wordpress.com/

Check him out on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lbettencourt

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Larry-Bettencourt/1074867622

Here is an interview my good friend, Cory Vogan, had with Pastor Larry in March, 2009:

Pastor Larry Bettencourt Interview from Bubba Smith on Vimeo.

Top 10 Posts of June 2009

Here were the top visited posts in 2010 – Hope they add value to your life!

1. David Faulk Interview
2. Jumonville 2009 Recap
3. My Thoughts on Youth Ministry (Part 1) – Why I love Teenagers
4. My Thoughts on Youth Ministry (Part 2.1) – What is Success
5. Dealing with the Loss of Loved Ones (Part 4) – Life Lessons
6. Dealing with the Loss of Loved Ones (Part 1)
7. Dealing with the Loss of Loved Ones (Part 2) – Who do You Run To?
8. Spring Highlights 2009
9. Free from Sin, Addiction, and Bondage (Part 1) – The Argument For
10. Free from Sin, Addiction, and Bondage (Part 2) – Enough is Enough

1 Year of Blogging (Part 1): Why I Blog – And Why You Should

“Leadership is influence, Nothing more, Nothing Less.” -John Maxwell

I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for a year either! I want to take a few posts and talk to you about why I blog, what I’ve learned, how to start a blog, what blogs you should be reading,  etc.. I hope it helps you and by the end of it, I hope that you’ll start you’re own blog.

Why I blog:

I Blog for Me - It may sound odd, but blogging has really helped me learn a lot about myself. What I’m passionate about, what’s important and what’s not, etc.. Also, I would love to write several books one day and it’s really helping me write consistently and evaluate my writing. It also helps me gather my thoughts on a subject and get them out on writing, helping me to learn the subject quicker and easier. These are just a few of the benefits!

I Blog for You – I know that the best minute I can spend today is the one I spend investing in people. It’s said that the average person will unintentionally influence 10,000 people in their life. That’s unintentionally! I think a blog is just one way to intentionally influence people. And to be honest, I’ve had people that I haven’t talked to in years say that my blog posts have helped them. If only one person read my blog and was positively influenced by it, I’d do it! I blog because I want to add value to your life.

Answers to Arguments I’ve Heard on Why People Don’t Blog:

Nobody Cares what I have to Say: This bothers me big time! Your life has a ton of value and if you’d believe that and act on it, I think you’d realize you have a lot more influence than you think. Step out and believe God that what you have to say can make a difference in the lives of others.

I Don’t Have Time - People have time for what they want to have time for. If you believe in your blog enough and believe it’s making a difference – you’ll make time for it.

Why You Should Blog

You Should Blog for Others - You’ll be able to influence people that nobody else can influence through your blog. People are waiting desperately for the answers you may provide on your blog. You could change someones life forever! Just think, even if only one person reads your blog and is changed by it, isn’t it worth it?

You Should Blog for You - It’s almost like a journal on steroids – a place to record what you’re learning, what you’d like to teach, your thoughts, your concerns, your journey through life. It’s a wonderful experience.

Articles You Should Read about Why You Should Blog:

• What Michael Hyatt’s Learned from 4 Years of Blogging
• Is Blogging a good use of my time?
• How Can You Get Published if you don’t have a Platform?

Here is a video presentation by Michael Hyatt on why you should blog:

1 Year of Twitter…What You Need to Know, Who You Should Follow

I’ve been on Twitter for a year already… Hard to believe! However, I absolutely love it.

Included in this post are some articles that will help you understand Twitter and how to effectively use it as well as some people worth following on Twitter. I’m sure I’ll have some more posts on Twitter in the future… Hope this one helps! At the bottom of this post is a video that Twitter plays on it’s homepage… It is a brief explanation of Twitter…

Articles on Twitter – How to, Answers to Objections, Why, Etc.

• Why Twitter?
• Answers to Objections
• 12 Reasons to Start Twittering
• Beginners Guide to Twitter
• Update Your Facebook Status with Twitter
• How Much Time Does Twitter Really Take?

So Who Should You be Following… These People:

Victory Family Church Twitterers:

@lifeatvictory - Victory Family Church

@VictoryBible - Victory Bible Institute

@19North – Young Adult Ministry

@I_am_Revolution - Youth Ministry

@pcdebower – Associate Pastor

@stvmoore – Executive Pastor

@nathan_hurst - Youth Pastor

@zackblair - Young Adult Pastor (19 North)

@mdgates – Business Administrator

@chrismart_in – Website/Creative Director

@seweaver1 - VBI Assistant

@bubbasmith – Youth Assistant (me)

@smoore001526 – Youth Assistant

Leaders You Should Follow:

@michaelhyatt – CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing

@johncmaxwell - Leadership Guru

@joycemeyer - Ministry

@perrynoble – Senior Pastor at Newspring Church

@stevenfurtick - Senior Pastor at Elevation Church

@erwinmcmanus - Senior Pastor at Mosaic Church

@jeannemayo - Youth Pastors/Leader Coach

@johnpiper - Pastor/Author

@bcoop - Youth Pastor at Newspring Church

@tomziglar – Zig Ziglars Son

@andystanley – Senior Pastor North Point Church

Others I Enjoy Following:

@lbettencourt - Finishline Ministries . . . Great friend and personal mentor

@benrath – 19 North Coordinator, friend, mentor

There are a ton more people I follow that I’d love to mention… but I just recommend jumping on board and finding the people that you want to follow. If you have any other questions about twitter – let me know! I’m sure I’ll do more posts on Twitter in the future!

Spring Highlights 2009

I can’t believe 2009 is halfway over! Where is the time going?

The spring of 2009 was absolutely crazy! In the beginning of the year I really felt like my “theme” for this year would be “A year in the wilderness” – and it definitely has been. Some of the biggest ups and downs of my life so far! A lot happened in the spring… Here are some of the highlights…Enjoy:

I got to meet Erwin McManus!

And Craig Groeschel!

The Boys on our Trip to Orange County for Catalyst West Coast

We did it! We ran the Pittsburgh Marathon (26.2 Miles!)

I finally graduated college (Robert Morris University)

My good friend Mark Damico and his Bride Rachel!

Cadre Retreat in Atlanta with Jeanne Mayo and some Incredible Youth Pastors

While in Atlanta – I got to check out Stone Mountain – Pretty Sweet

In the Winter I Totaled my Saturn… I ended up Buying a 2009 Toyota Corolla

Chris Martin and I at Bible School Graduation – 3 years went so fast!

With some Boys at Jumonville Camp… Got to be the camp speaker – what a privilege

Impartation Conference at our Church was awesome!

Finally to end the Spring I was in the Hospital in Rushville, IL during our youth camp… Fun times

How was your spring?

Ask Anything Friday 6.26.09

Alright.. It’s definitely been a while… and since I’m resting and recovering today – I want to put the ball in your court.

If you haven’t participated before – here’s how it works:

Ask my any question you want in the comments section – about my personal life, ministry, leadership, God, etc. and I’ll do my best to answer it by the days end.

Ask away…..

Book Review: The Essential Wooden

I originally heard about John Wooden through John Maxwell. Wooden has mentored Maxwell for years! So I obviously had to pick his brain by reading his book. John Wooden is the Coach of the Century according to ESPN, his teams won 10 NCAA March Madness Championships, and 88 straight games at one point.

This book was incredible! It was the first book I’ve read written by a coach. It was very insightful as well as practical as he goes into the details of how he actually ran his teams, what he expected of them, his coaching philosophies, and much, much more.

Here were some of my key takeaways:

• We need to believe in a standard higher than victory

• Success may result in winning, but winning does not necessarily mean you are a success

• Live as thought you’ll die tomorrow. Learn as though you’ll live forever.

• For all the shortcomings I see in others, I keep in my that my own failings are many

• Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best you are capable of becoming.

• Work had; prepare properly; some day your chance may come. If opportunity comes and you are not prepared, it may not come again.

• The role of any leader is to make those “many” become “much”

• All that we accomplished each day in the gym could be quickly undone by poor decisions off the court.

• The more concerned we become over things we can’t control, the less we will do to improve those things we can control.

• The past is for reverence, the future is for dreamers; the present moment is where you create success.

• Passion is unsustainable over the long term…Success is a long-term process. Passion is temporary!

• Make each day your masterpiece!

I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking to live a better life, become a better leader or coach, or on how to live a successful life.

Final Grade: A+      Buy it here!

Why I came home from Camp…

Hey Everyone – I just wanted to update everybody on what happened when I went to camp and why I came home.

Saturday Night – I started getting chest pains throughout the night and could not sleep. (I stayed up and googled a bunch of things and that did nothing but put a lot of fear in me!)

Sunday – I “sucked  it up” during the day Sunday, but at night the pain got really bad and I ended up going to the ER. They took several tests including: urine, blood, chest x-rays, and a cat scan. They ruled out all of the big things (i.e. heart attack,  clot, etc.) They concluded that I tore some muscles that I don’t normally use in my chest, gave me some pain killers, and sent me home.

Monday - In the morning I felt good… late afternoon into the evening I felt horrible and ended up going to a different hospital to get a second opinion.  I also wanted to see if I could fly home.  They checked out the results of my tests and confirmed again that it looked like torn muscles. (The pain was so bad I could barely walk… they confirmed that it could feel comparable to getting shot – it did!) Then they gave me Morphine (that stuff is crazy! I won’t even say anything else about it). That enabled me to sleep through the night and fly home in the morning.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Today - I flew home and stayed  with the Steidel family. They took great care of me! I felt better those two days than I did any other  day. Right now, I feel pretty good – there is still minimal chest pain, but overall I feel like I’m recovering quickly. The challenge is resting and doing nothing as opposed to going to work, running, etc.

So it seems that I’m on the quick path to recovering… I’ll keep you all updated via Twitter.

Thanks for all your prayers and support! I love you guys!

Bubs

Off to Rushville, IL for Summer Scream Camp – While I’m Gone…

I’ve been traveling a lot over the past couple months… Hopefully in the future I’ll find some people to guest blog while I’m gone, but while I’m gone, I do want to take as much time to unplug from technology as I can and really focus on God.

Here are some blogs I’d highly recommend you read on a daily basis:

ZackBlair.net

The Rath Faction

Nathanhurst.net

Bradcooper.us

Michaelhyatt.com

Swerve

Seth Godin

Here are some links to past posts I’ve written that were popular and that I believe will add value to your life… So here you go:

• Free from Sin, Addiction, and Bondage

• Alcohol, Purity, and Our Culture

• Setting and Attaining Your Goals

• People that Have Changed my Life and People that I’d Love to Have Lunch With

• God’s Plans

• Kingdom Minded

• Ask Anything Fridays

• What Makes a Great Teacher

• Catalyst West Coast

• Overcoming Insecurity

• The Best of 2008

• All About Me

• Ministry Highlights

• Ministry Lessons

• Marathons

Impartation 2009 Recap

O man! Imparation was amazing! Every year our church has an Impartation conference. The guest speakers this year were Duane Sheriff, Doug Jones, and Keith Moore. All three speakers give away all of their messages for free on their website, and Duane and Keith give away free CD’s for all of their messages. I highly recommend you take advantage of those resources. To hear the messages from the Impartation Conference – Click here.

Usually I’d just go over the highlights of my notes with you, but I don’t have them on me right now, and I’d rather just share the things that stuck with me in my heart. So here you go:

• “If you never have abundance, how can God use you?” – Keith Moore

• “It’s not what you have, it’s how you got it.” -Keith Moore

• “Your prosperity will stop where your preparation ends.” – Keith Moore

• “Where knowledge stops, faith stops.” – Doug Jones

• “Once our beliefs are obtained, they must be maintained.” – Doug Jones

• “Faith comes by hearing and accepting what you hear as truth.” -Doug Jones

• “If a subject is difficult, you’re not close enough to the truth.” – Doug Jones

Those were some of the highlight statements… I guess if I had to say what I took away and that I’ll apply from the conference it’d be this:

I need to have scriptures for everything I’m believing God for and the more scriptures I have, the better. I need to make my own confessions based on the truths that God has established in MY heart.

God wants me to increase and have abundance so I can be a blessing to everyone around me. It’s God’s will that not one person in our church should lack! Dream big, believe big, sow big, reap big. I need to get used to having an abundance and give all the glory to God.

It was an amazing conference… It would take me all day to write everything that I learned and want to apply… You need to go and listen to the podcasts right now!