Category: Church

NRC12

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Our church just got done going through a 12 week series on the book of proverbs.
It was pretty fantastic.
The theme was an “at the theater” feel.  it fit quite well.

Our Pastor (Brad Powell) picked a movie each week, with the help of our creative team, and took principles out that applied to our lives…all through the lens of what Proverbs had to say about the topic.

Each weekend was special, but probably my favorite weekend was when we talked about being a good parent.
During that weekend our creative team along with our student team brainstormed and executed a live-feed worship experience between the main adult service and the youth service (which happens in a totally different part of the building).  We could see each other on the screens and we were worshipping as one church!
It was pretty logistically involved…but it was super worth it.

Just in case your’e curious, here’s a list of the weeks we went through:

Bruce Almighty – Trust God
Dumb and Dumber – Get Wisdom
Liar Liar – Be Honst
Rudy – Be Diligent
Find Nemo – Choose good friends
Gone with the Wind – Choose the right mate
The Notebook – Choose to BE a good mate
Sound of Music – Choose to be a good parent
The Karate Kid – Get some discipline
Citizen Kane – Live for the right thing
Pursuit of Happyness – Live Free
It’s a wonderful life – Be Generous

You can view all of the talks HERE

We’re going into a series called “Chill” in December…than starting a series called “The Script” in 2012.
Absolutely love being a part of a church that isn’t afraid to be creative.

#lovemyjob

Glory of Christmas

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When I am writing this blog post we are 90 minutes away from the largest outreach initiative of the year at our church.
The Glory of Christmas.
Every year it’s an incredible performance.
Think of a 2 hour broadway production, and you’ll have “GOC” down.

What I love about it, however, is not the lights, the sound or the fact that we do 10 shows.
I love that the Gospel is clearly explained and an invitation is given for people to accept Jesus as their Savior.

That never gets old.

So tonight, and for the next 10 days, I am praying for life change to happen.
I encourage you to pray for the same.

back together…

Adam MashniLeave a comment

last night was a great time.
not only did we have 80+ student ministry leaders all in the same room celebrating what God is doing at NorthRidge
not only did we eat a HUGE thanksgiving feast together…
but Scott Cunningham graced us with his presence at the end of the night
and the only appropriate thing to do was to play CRUD

scott leaves for Nicaragua on Friday (serving as a missionary for Food for the Hungry)
check out his blog here
scott was a member of the student ministries team here for a number of years
and we are proud to see all the great things God is doing in his family
pray for him, pray for his family
and pray for his ego…he lost the game of CRUD.

Tricycle Races

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this past weekend in our middle school ministry we had what we like to call
“extended game time.”
it was a blast.
we set up cones
got some tricycles from the children’s ministry storage (we had permission…i’m not THAT dumb)
and we went to town.
there is something in the heart of every middle school aged student that just wants to have fun…
which makes me love my job even more

Velocity Visit

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i’ve been out of velocity for a couple of months now. so tonight was a special treat.
i got to hang out, have fun and cheer Kevin on as he spoke about God moving in students lives.
and the best part?
the most epic game of crud known to man.

it was a great end to the day.

Detroit Reverse

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last week I had the great privilege to attend Detroit Reverse.
it was held at Wayne State University.
it combined churches from the city with churches from the suburbs.
it was a week long immersion in diversity.
50% black students
50% white students
from over 50 different high schools.
all different backgrounds
all different stories
we sought to understand instead of judge
to break down barriers
and change our city one relationship at a time.
we worshipped together
prayed together
had fun together
it was overall an amazing experience.



Energizer Bunny & Mountain Dew

Adam Mashni1 Comment


there are definitely seasons in ministry where i feel like the energizer bunny
it’s go go go
i drink plenty of mountain dew and i, along with the student ministry guys, give it all we have for a certain period of time
that’s life.
that’s ministry.
no doubt Jesus experienced this during his time on earth
he would be in one city giving it all He had…and after a boat ride across a large lake he’d be expected to do it all again in a different city.
and often times He sucked it up and He ministered
He healed people
He spoke truth
He gave people hope.
but make no mistake…he took time to rest
he withdrew.
he stopped.
and so we do the same.
we take time to stop…to reflect…to refuel
i look forward to these times.
i usually head to a park, bring my Bible…
put my phone on “airplane” mode so no one bugs me
perhaps bring a pair of running shoes
all in all i make sure that there are no distractions
my goal? to reconnect with God
as a song so rightly puts it, to “flood this thirsty heart.”

we all need rest.
we all need to refuel.
no one can “go go go” and live to tell about it
there’s only so much mountain dew you can drink