Revolution Christmas Videos
Here are videos we played at our Christmas Party . . . our Students did a great job with “A Very Mobby Christmas” – Great job guys!
And the most embarrassing video of all time:
Change is Coming to Revolution 1.9.10
Here is a video with our Senior Pastor explaining the upcoming change to Revolution.
Want to Win Steeler Tickets? We’re Giving them Away For Free!
This weekend at our Church we’ll be giving away free Steelers Tickets at every service. All you have to do to have a shot at winning them is simply show up! This is a great weekend to bring your friends to church, think about it, the more people you bring, the better your chances are of winning! Don’t forget to wear your Steelers gear – it’s a black a gold weekend at Victory!
Here is a video promo for Steelers Weekend staring our senior pastor! Hilarious!
See you Sunday!
How to Revolutionize Your School
7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly… -Acts 6:7
We’re just finishing up our Viva Revolution series here at Revolution and I am getting absolutely stoked for what God is going to do at Rev and in all of our students lives. We’re called to revolutionize the surrounding school districts with the message of God. I thought I’d share some thoughts and ideas on how you as a student, can revolutionize your school:
1.) Get on Fire For God Yourself- You can’t give what you don’t have. Fall in love with God, spend time with Him, get in His Word, come to Rev, find friends who will talk God with you, etc.
2.) Don’t Just Talk, Live It – Anyone can talk a good game, anyone can say they’re a Christian, but are you actually living it? When you say your a Christian, you represent Jesus everywhere you go. If you’re talking it, but not living it, you’ll be considered a hypocrite, and people will run from God.
3.) Be Bold – This is probably the hardest step for students. Being bold and standing up for what you believe, regardless of what comes against you. You’ll have to say no to things that you may want to say yes to, you may be made fun of for not doing what everyone else is doing, or you may not get to go to all the places everyone else does. BUT, I promise you that long term it’s worth it. You’ll establish yourself as a leader, you’ll earn people’s respect (regardless of what they say), and ultimately people will see you living a life that they wish they could. Then comes your opportunity to share your faith with them. BE BOLD! (Joshua 1:9)
4.) Invite Friends to Revolution - One of the best ways to Revolutionize your school is get friends to go to youth group with you. Talk about Rev as much as you can, talk about all the sweet events, act like it’s the best thing going on in Pittsburgh (Cause it is!), then grab your friends and say, “You gotta come!!!” Whatever it takes, get them here!
5.) Respect the School and it’s Policies – This is the most important. You can be doing all these things, but if you’re doing them by breaking school rules and policies, you’re going to Unrevolutionize your school. Remember, your life will speak louder than anything. Live the life, respect the school, and watch God revolutionize your school.
I recently heard of some testimonies from school districts in South Carolina being revolutionized by teenagers from a certain youth group. Teachers were giving testimonies of how their lives were changed as a result of what God was doing in students lives. Entire school districts were and are becoming on fire for God. I believe that is what God has called us to here at Revolution. We can’t do it without you. Your the ones who can and will Revolutionize your schools!
Are you up to the challenge?
What are you going to do with what God’s put in you?
Will your high school be different because you went there?
You are the Revolution
Silver Ring Thing, No Ding Before The Ring, Second Chances, and Your Friends
I am very excited about having Silver Ring Thing come to our Church this Sunday. Silver Ring Thing is a purity program allowing people to commit to sexual abstinence until they are married. I posted on purity and the program last year that you can read here.
When: This Sunday (August 30th) from 6-8 p.m. with an after concert with Third from First from 8-9 p.m.
Cost: $5 online, $8 at the door, and $20 for the Ring!
To Register for the Event Go Here: http://www.silverringthing.com/registrationdisplay.asp?regID=281
Directions to Victory: Click here
I can’t encourage you enough to invite as many people as you can to this event. This event has, can, and will change lives forever. If you’ve invited your friends to church and they didn’t want to come, try this out… tell them it’s all about sex! Do whatever you can to get them here!
If you’re a youth pastor – it’d be beyond beneficial to get your students here! Register Now!
Here is the promo video for the event:
iTour Promo from Jared Ott on Vimeo.
And some other videos to wet you’re appetite on sex and dating, compliments of LifeChurch.tv
See you on Sunday!
4:12 Summer of Service Tribute!
12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. – I Timothy 4:12
We just finished up our summer of service program. It’s a program where we have students come in twice a week during the summer for personal and spiritual growth along with working behind the scenes at our church in several ministries. This has been the 3rd year we’ve done it and every year I fall in love with the students we have come in! It’s so fun to watch the students grow personally, learn to work with one another, and pursue God with all of their hearts!
Here is a tribute to each one – Over our dinner celebration we gave each student an “Award” that we made up on the spot.
Ryan Nuzzo – “The Never Here Award” – Nuzz! You’re the man! Thank you for having a servants heart, for knowing and sharing the Word of God with everyone, and for making hilarious videos, or at least coming up with ideas for them!
Giant -”The Golden Toe Award” – Giant, you have a great heart and a ton of potential. Believe it!
Aaron Schmelzer – “Flirt of the Year Award” – Schmelz – we love you’re compassion. You love people and that is obvious to everyone. Thanks for making us laugh and most of all – thanks for the hugs!
Swanson – “The Most Super Powers Award” – Swanson! You’re the man! Thanks for your sarcasm, desire for personal growth, your heart for people, and willingness to be taught. You have a bright future ahead of you!
Brian Schmelzer – “The Most Plain Colored Shirts Award” – Tom Schmelzer!!! Haha… I love you brother! If you want to know what you’ll be like in 20 years – Look at your dad! Never stop being you bro!
Niki Wolbert – “Female Flirt of the Summer Award” – WOLLL – B! It’s been great having you for 2 years! You’re a leader and a great MC. I love your desire for the things of God… never lose that and watch the places where God will take you – you won’t be able to believe it!
Anjelica – “Blondest Award” – Anjelica, we are so glad you became a part of S.O.S. this year. I know you want to go into ministry and I could totally see that! You have such a heart for people! I can’t wait to see how God uses you!
Allison Hammerle - “Most Likely to Kill Someone Award” – Allison! You’re a born leader! We love having you come in – SOS would not be the same without you, neither would Rev! Thanks for everything you do!
Ellen Limback – “Shoe Fettish Award” - Ellen, it was great having you this summer! I loved your nugget! Never lose your servants heart!
Josiah Long – “Rat Pack Award”- Josiahhhhhhhhh!!! Where would we be without you! Thanks for always coming through and being faithful! It doesn’t go unnoticed and God will promote you and take you to great places!
Michael Hampson! – “The Strongest Virtual Intern” – Hampsonite!!! I’m going to take you at in UFC 2009! Get ready! Thanks for coming in this summer – you were a blessing! Can’t wait to see how God uses you at Rev over the next few years!
Nathan Hampson – “The Most Likely to Build a Cyborg from Spare Parts from Intelligent Lights Award” – I tell you this everyday, but you’re the man and we couldn’t do what we do without you. Thank you for being faithful and for dreaming big for Rev! We’re going to touch a generation together bro!
Emily Franco – “Flagger Award” – Emily! You’ve grown so much in the past 3 years! It’s been awesome watching that! You’re MCing opportunities will come! Keep being faithful and serving! You’re awesome!
Peter Reynolds – “Flirt of the Century Award” – Peter! You’ve grown so much in the past few years as well! We all love you at Rev! It would definitely not be the same without you! God has big things for you bro – believe that!
Michael Zilka – “The Best Kept Secret Award” - Zilk, your quiet, but amazing! Never quit being you – you have so much to offer and you were a huge blessing this summer! Thanks!
Thank you guys so much for the memories, growth, ideas, videos, and all of the hard work this summer. I hope it’s a summer you’ll look back on and realize it changed your life! Love you guys!
My Thoughts on Youth Ministry (Part 2.1) – What is Success?
12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. I Tim. 4:12
What is Success in Youth Ministry?
Over the past several years I’ve been to several conferences on youth ministry and met a lot of youth pastors. I often laugh because I hear the same things over and over and over again – “If only we had a bigger budget” “If we had your youth center we could do something big” “If, when, if, when, but . . . etc.” I like what John Maxwell says, “If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas.”
Personally, I think all of that stuff has VERY LITTLE to do with having a successful youth ministry. You may say, “Yea, Bubba, but you have a nice youth budget, a big staff, and your own youth center… it’s easy for you to say.” But I can tell you that just because we have that stuff does not mean we’re successful… it depends on how you measure success.
If you were to ask me what I think makes a successful youth ministry after 6 years of serving in a sweet one, I’d tell you this:
A Leader with a Vision – The youth pastor MUST believe in the youth ministry. He/She must believe in it where it is and must believe in what it could become. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Without a vision, people perish – it’s no different in youth ministry.
A Leader that Walks with God – Where your students are at spiritually will be a direct result of where your relationship is with God (I recognize it’s not the only factor, but it’s a huge one). Disappointed with your students spirituality? Look in the mirror…
Measuring Spirituality over Numbers: Numbers are VERY important, But Can’t be the Only Measuring Stick. Anyone can get a room filled with hundred of students if they really wanted to…. but are they giving their lives to God? Are they walking with Him? Growing spiritually? If not, I don’t care how many students fill your room, you’re missing it.
A Culture where Students can Encounter God – Buildings, Budgets, etc. are Nice, but mean very little when it comes to success – while these things might bring students in the door, it certainly won’t keep them there. What will? An experience with God, and they can do that without a youth center, a big budget, etc.. You must create an environment where students can encounter God.
Authentic Relationships – Show me a successful youth ministry and I’ll show you one where students and leaders all around have great relationships. Brad Cooper once told me that, “As we get bigger, we must become smaller.” As your youth group grows – you must find more and more ways (small groups work great) for students to find and build authentic relationships.
This is getting a little long… Tomorrow I’ll go over some more things that make up a successful youth ministry…
What do you think contributes to a successful ministry?
Opportunity: Fall Internship with Revolution Student Ministries
I interned with Revolution from 2003-2005 and it changed my life forever. If you’re 18-25 and looking for a great ministry internship – I’d highly recommend this internship. See below for details!
What: Revolution Student Ministries Internship
About: The Revolution Internship is a 5 month program designed to allow you to see and be involved in the behind the scenes of ministry, develop your leadership skills, and to develop you spiritually.
Who is Eligible: Young Adults/College Students 18-25 year
When: August – December 2009
For more information or to apply please go here: http://iamrevolution.tv/connect/internship/ or e-mail Bubba Smith at bsmith@lifeatvictory.com
Apply By July 1st, 2009
