Giving USA Report

Below is a report I found from GIVING USA about trends in contributions from different sources. The article was also in this quarter’s ECFA Newsletter.

Americans donated $306 billion in 2007 according to the Giving USA report released in July 2008. This was a one percent increase after inflation.

Among other key findings from the Giving USA report:

• Individuals donated an estimated $229-billion, a drop of 0.1 percent from 2006. Individuals who died donated $23.2-bilion through their wills, or 4 percent more than in 2006.All told, donations by individuals, including contributions to family foundations, made up 88 percent of donations last year.
• Corporate gifts declined by 0.9 percent, to $15.7-billion. Those contributions accounted for 5.1 percent of all donations.
• Giving by foundations increased by 7.3 percent to $38.5-billion, accounting for 12.6 percent of all donations. The growth was fueled in part by a nearly 12 percent rise in the value of foundation assets last year, according to the Foundation Center. But new money is not flowing into foundations at those kinds of rates: Gifts to family and other foundations declined by 11.9 percent to $27.7-billion. That could be the effect of the stock market’s ups and downs, researchers say, since many people donate stock to their foundations and are deterred from giving by market volatility.

Short Term Mission Trip Research

I found this great research from The Barna Group about involvement in short term mission trips. Hope you find this beneficial.

Despite Benefits, Few Americans Have Experienced Short-Term Mission Trips

Idleness: Mission Trip, Youth Camp, Now BAND CAMP?!?!?

This past week I served as a chaperone for the Franklin High School Band camp at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN.  Both boys (David and Matt) are now in band and I wanted to be a part of what they are experiencing outside of a church camp.  I can’t tell you what my expectations were because I really didn’t know what to expect.

I’ve been on some type of youth trip for most of my life. Even in the 4th grade I was going to youth camp since my Dad was usually the camp pastor. This was the first “student” camp I’ve been to that was not church related. I’ll go ahead and say it now so I can get to my point. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!

Now keep in mind there are some differences between a church youth camp or mission trip and a band camp besides the music aspect and the bible study, worship, and service aspect.  One difference is the down time.  There’s not any at band camp. They’re on the field at 7 stretching and drilling. Breakfast at 8. On the field from 9-12. Lunch. Either in sectional practice or on the field from 1-5. Dinner. On the field from 6 to usually 9 pm. One hour of free time and then in their rooms by no later than 10:30. For 5 days, they do this. There’s no shade and frequent water breaks better know as “gush and go.” They are constantly moving back and forth across the field. There was no idleness.

Another difference I noticed is the high expectation placed on the students. This is a school function so that means the mind set of the students is different. You’re graded on your level of hard work, commitment, and ability to learn what you’ve been taught.

I came right out of one of the greatest summers I’ve had with ReConstruct to being a chaperone at band camp. The students at band camp were no different from most of the students that come to ReConstruct. They have the same life experieces just like any other high school student. In alot of cases I experienced better behavior from students at band camp than I did at ReConstruct. I really have wondered why. It’s become clear. No idleness and high expectations.

Most times we had some type of negative incident at ReConstruct it was during free when the participants had nothing structured to do. We also did not communicate the level of expectation required by this organization. Why? Because we haven’t defined the expectation.

Now. What do I do with what I now know? Do we evaluate the ReConstruct schedule and create more activities in order to have less idle time?  Not sure. I do know that we need to evalutate our level of expectation of our groups to the group leaders. It’s a challenge for student ministers to create a high level of expectation and disciple at the same time. As Christians, however, we should first realize and then always be reminded that even though we are saved through God’s grace, we are called to a higher expectation. It’s not a requirement like a school activity but it should be a privaledge as a Christ follower.

ReConstruct’s New Toy – “Making missions a little easier.” :)

Thank you to the Nashville Predators Foundation for a grant to purchase ReConstruct’s first shingle lift.

Bill Parker

I’ve done this “reconstruct thing” for about 10 years now to the point I can almost do it in my sleep.  Working on logistical issues for projects is almost as easy as breathing. The best part about that though is it seems to have freed me up a little to really watch what God is doing during a project week. Take today, for example. I was having lunch with a group from Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Wilmington, NC when all the sudden the post lady came to the back of the house with 4 Domino’s pizzas. She just wanted to give the group something for what they were doing.

Bill Parker, their former youth minister and now my friend started talking to her and called us over to circle around her to pray for her and a member of her family with a terminal illness. After doing so, one of the ladies with the group said, “you know, there is so much more to this than roofing a house.”

Today I thank God for Bill Parker. He’s led groups to ReConstruct for 6 years and they come here to be used by God to change lives, not just repair a home.

Just Do It

We traveled to Dalton, GA last Tuesday to visit with this great group of student ministers. They’re all part of a group called Oasis that meets every Tuesday at a used bookstore in the downtown area. It was a great time meeting with them. We shared about ReConstruct and our plans for the project we have scheduled for June, 08.

I have many favorite verses in the Bible but also a few favorite slogans that we here every day. One of my favorite passages is James 2:14-18. The last part of that passage says” Show me your faith without deeds and I’ll show you my faith by what I do.” One of my favorite slogans is Nike’s “Just Do it.” This verse and that slogan go well together.

Good example. We went to Dalton to meet with this Oasis group just to share the vision and mission of ReConstruct, but also to explain how we do a mission project and ask for their involvement. By the time we left, we’d visited a local Christian school, which is a great potential lodging facility, and had a great conversation with headmaster. Not to mention the great conversations we had with the group.

Here’s my point. Our attitude, when it relates to our faith, should be to, “Just Do It.” All I know is that we were suppose to go to Dalton and meet with these guys and have faith that God would do something. Our faith requires that we do something and then God will take care of everything else.

From Nashville to Gulfport to Nashville to Frederick to Dalton

This weekend Phil and I were in Frederick, MD meeting with a group from Summit Trace Church. They came to Gulfport, MS in the summer of 2006 and at that time met Phil. At that time, Phil had been serving in the area for a 6-month period. From that relationship Summit Trace then came to a ReConstruct project in Nashville this past summer. They’re a small young church plant with a huge heart for God. We also had the opportunity to worship with them on Sunday. They meet in a movie theatre. Their spirit of authenticity was refreshing. It was a great time with them and hearing about their plans for missions in 2008. ReConstruct will be in that mission plan in Dalton, GA next year. They’ll be bringing about 25 or 30 people. Eden Westside Baptist Church from Pell City, AL, who has been to ReConstruct the past 4 summers, has also committed to serving there as well. God has provided these two churches to help ReConstruct carry out its vision.
Discerning the way in which ReConstruct served in the Gulf coast area after Katrina was a tough process. Phil Venable committing 6 months away from his family and doing some the hardest work he’s ever done was only accomplished by the power of God.  We always knew that going to Gulfport was what was “right.” It’s truly amazing how God used that process and work to connect us with the relationships we’re building with churches like these. His plan is never like ours, but it’s always a better plan.

Email to IM to Text Messaging

I’ve been intrigued lately by how technology is moving so fast and especially how it’s changing student’s lives. I teach 9th grade boys Sunday School. This past Sunday I decided to do an impromptu survey. I had about 20 boys in the class. Here are the results of the survey.
1. How many of you have a Facebook or My Space page? (About 3 or 4 raised their hand. They used My Space.)
2. How many of you have email? (About 4 raised their hand.)
3. Those of you that have email, how many check it daily? (All the hands went down.)
4. How many of you have a cell phone? (About 2/3’s had one.)
5. How many have text messaging? (About 10 of those did. Only 4 had unlimited text messaging.)
6. How many of you I M (Instant Messaging)? (None raised their hands. In fact I kind of think that a few had never heard of it.)
These 9th graders weren’t even born when CD’s were introduced. Now they don’t even buy them. They download the songs they want.
I predict that when they become adults almost all of them will not have a land-line at their residence.
They now can have three conversations at one time using text messaging on their phone.
I truly love the generation of these 9th graders. In a world where they’re searching for value and purpose, I believe they have so much potential because of what they can do with their “technological knowledge.”
Be patient with them. Give them a chance to express who they are. Accept them for who they are. Pray for them. They’re facing a world that’s not fast-paced. It’s light-speed.
Go to the Barna Group website for some great survey data. I’ve found it very helpful and even enlightening.

ReConstruct Sample Video 2007

Most church youth groups that go on any type summer trip, whether it’s a mission trip or camp, have a sharing time with their congregation when they return. This is what ReConstruct groups receive at the end of their project week. It gives them a great visual presentation to share with their church. Honesty, with as many of these as I’ve seen, I still love to see more because I’m always amazed at how God uses these guys. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. We have other videos available on YouTube as well.

Growth through Service

As Christians, we are here to worship, disciple and serve. All three are important in our spiritual growth. We don’t think much about how serving those in need impacts our spiritual growth, but it does. I’m convinced of it. It’s not just about getting out of our comfort zone. It’s about being and example by spreading the love of Christ. That can be done in so many ways. Even by paint and roofing a house for those how need it. Our Christian Spiritual growth is a process. It doesn’t end when we become a Christian. It begins. In a time when we measure the success of almost everything, it can’t be done with spiritual growth. The process changes with ever circumstance. We call them valleys and mountains or perseverance and victory.

www.reconstruct.org