Rejoicing with the Body at the Regional Ministry Festival

On February 19-20, we had the opportunity to co-host the San Francisco Regional Creative Ministry Festival with our friends at Central Assembly Church. We welcomed pastors, directors, worship leaders, youth and creative ministry enthusiasts from throughout California. What a wonderful time of teaching, learning, sharing and fellowship!

The conference theme, "the Family of Ministry" was first introduced at the 2015 International Festival of Creative Arts Ministry, with the theme verse of 1 Corinthians 12:25-26. 

"there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." 

Friday

The conference kicked off with the opening theme presentation, the Family of Ministry. As the host team, we were able to assist with this presentation.

The story follows DJ, a kid who everyone expects to be a great praise band singer like his Grandpa was. However, singing isn't exactly DJ's talent so he feels that has nothing to contribute. He ends up experiencing a blast from the past as his Grandpa and other relatives show him that a wide variety of talents make up "The Family of Ministry."

Following this, we were off to our first set of workshops in topics ranging from Beginning Puppetry, Sign Language, and Gospel Illusion. We then proceeded to the next highlight of the evening, the Competitions!

5 teams from far and wide presented pieces including puppetry, human video and dowel rods. We presented a blacklight human video set to Casting Crowns' "Set Me Free." This was only our second performance of the piece. We were thrilled to bring this story and message to the conference.

Saturday

Saturday morning began with worship and a devotional led by our director, Gabriel Galdamez. Gabriel shared his testimony and the challenges he has faced in ministry while encouraging the attendees to be like the woman in Matthew 26:6-13. Offer whatever is in your alabaster jar, your best, to the Lord and pour it at Jesus' feet, regardless of what those around you may say.

We were then off to 2 more sets of workshops covering topics such as "Ventriloquism, "Developing a Successful Ministry," and "Children in Ministry," to name a few. 

We ended the morning with a performance by Tim Cowles of Skadoodles! Using illusions and ventriloquism, Tim encouraged us to reach up to God and reach out to our world.

Following the lunch break, it was time for the infamous "Lip Synch Challenge!" A 16-person tournament where puppeteers lip synch to randomly selected songs, which they likely have never heard.

It's always great fun to watch while giving an opportunity to appreciate the talent and bravery of the participants. After 3 rounds, the judges narrowed it down to the top 3. Phew!

We were now off to a fourth and final set of workshops, including "Developing Character Voices," "Drama," and "Creating a Program." Then..it was time for the Closing session!

For our human video "Set Me Free," we were awarded a Silver Award, the People's Choice Award and valuable feedback from the panel of judges. During the Ending Raffle, one of our team members was the lucky attendee to win the final prize, a new puppet!

As we shared in our article "Top 5 Reasons to Attend Trainings", conferences are such a wonderful opportunity for your you and your ministry to not only get ideas... but be equipped and encouraged to continue to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. The road isn't easy, but we are not alone. There are others going down the same path as us... and God is always by our side.

We closed the conference, and we will close this article, with the verse Stacy Divine of San Jose left with us and I leave with you as a challenge:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

Ministering & Teaching in Nicaragua!

From January 25th through January 31st, Create, Minister, Teach! had the opportunity to travel to Terrabona, Nicaragua, a small rural town 2 hours outside of the capital. What was our mission? Several!

1. To spread the message of the Gospel to rural Nicaragua 
2. To provide support for FestiNiños, a children's outreach festival
3. To plant a creative ministry team
4. Anything else that was needed!

Rehearsals

I focused on directing the 9 youth from Iglesia Jesucristo Es El Señor Terrabona who had committed to working together for the week. Our first meeting and rehearsal was on Wednesday. The goal was for them to be ready to present a program for both FestiNiños... the first one on Saturday!!!

I immediately dived into prayer and rehearsal with them. I took time to explain the purpose of our ministry, the delicate task and privilege that we had been given, and a general overview of the program we'd be presenting, a Spanish adaptation of "the Original Love Story." The program featured video segments narrating Creation and the life of Jesus and I served as a bridge for the video and performance pieces with illusions and stories. Our songs included Spanish-language versions of:

1. "Indescribable" by Chris Tomlin (featuring Blacklight Hand Mime) 
2. "Superhero" by Hillsong Kids (featuring Blacklight Puppetry) 
3. "Alive" by Hillsong Young & Free (featuring Choreography) 

We began by tackling our most challenging song: the hand mime piece. If you're unfamiliar with hand mime, using white gloved hands, dark clothing and blacklight performers can combine their hands to create a variety of images and words. If you're having trouble understanding what I mean... try being those youth! 

By the end of that first hour of rehearsal though, I video'd the 30% of the song they had learned and was delighted by their excitement when they finally saw what they were twisting and forming their hands into. 

Fast forward through a Friday evening rehearsal, a bit of stress from feeling like I was too short on time, freaking out over the stage we built failing to stand up, a Saturday morning rehearsal where I felt much better... and our first FestiNiños was upon us!

FestiNiños 

FestiNiños is an annual children's ministry event that Iglesia Jesucristo Es El Señor Terrabona hosts as an outreach to the children of rural Terrabona. It is their way of offering these children an afternoon of play, treats and a message of God's Love through Jesus Christ. 

Imagine my joy when I learned that one of the members of our ministry team, Freddy, was a product from FestiNiños! And now he was serving in FestiNiños and reaching out to the next crop of little ones.

We had 125 children (many unchaperoned) join us for what proved to be an immensely rewarding but beautiful afternoon of kid mania. We kicked off with songs and a devotional and moved into tournaments and carnival-style games for prizes. They were each sent back home with a goody bag and an invitation to come back after supper with a friend and their parents for a creative ministry spectacular!

Presentation Time!

After only about 6 hours of rehearsal, and with no formal dress rehearsal... or tech rehearsal... and without being 100% sure if our stage would even stand... it was showtime! 

Our first presentation was in Terrabona on Saturday night and what a joy it was to see little ones raising their hand to accept Jesus as their savior! Our second presentation was in Chaguite Grande, the site where our church, Iglesia Jesucristo Es El Señor, has been building a church and community center.  This is a very rural mountain community about 5 hours outside the capital.

We left at 6 am to arrive in Chaguite Grande by 9 am... to find the center already packed with about 200 people waiting our arrival! We quickly divied up tasks so the adults could prepare and host a FestiNiños and we could set up for our presentation. 

After years of supporting the construction of this building, it was very gratifying to finally see the vision coming to reality and walk the grounds of the church. Our team worked to quickly assemble our stage and set up our show. Meanwhile, the adults worked with somewhere near 150 children to host FestiNiños Chaguite Grande. Each child received a goody bag and a t-shirt proclaiming "Jesucristo Es El Señor" (Jesus Christ Is Lord).

By showtime, nearly 300 people had packed into the center! After a few hiccups with the power (they had just installed electricity the week before our arrival), the second run went beautifully. More beautifully, many, many hands of both children and adults alike were raised to invite Jesus as their Savior.

Mission Nicaragua: "Indescribable" (ft. Hand Mime)

We only had about 3-4 hours to rehearse this song with 9 volunteers. This was performed in Chaguite Grande, a rural community about 5 hours from Managua, as part of FestiNiños. Our church has been building this community center and they just had electricity installed the week before our arrival! Want to support our mission? Visit https://www.gofundme.com/67bff3jq

Posted by Create, Minister, Teach on Monday, February 15, 2016

Home

Our drive back to Terrabona from Chaguite Grande was another experience. I forgot to mention that in order to transport our team of about 30 volunteers 2.5 hours up the unpaved, rocky hillsides, we rode in the back of a large cargo truck.

Riding back high on energy and encouragement, our group joyfully sang praise and worship songs back down the slope. Can you imagine what it must've been like for the communities we drove through to hear a mobile choir passing through their roads? I thought it was so fun to see adults and children poking their heads out of their homes as they heard us driving by and singing praises to our God.

I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had over the years to use my gifts for ministry and encouraging others. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my ordinary self being a part of such extraordinary things with our God. 

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." 1 Peter 4:10

Top 5 Reasons to Attend Trainings

Each year, one of my team's most anticipated traditions is attending the regional creative ministry festivals. For some, it motivates them to "step it up" as they prepare to compete. For others, it's the idea of spending the weekend with the team out of town. For maybe just one of them... they like the idea of getting out of school early.

What about for the leaders though? Sure, it's a lot of work to coordinate overnight travel, budget everything and rally the troops (and their parents) behind the idea of going. But (there's always a but) I strongly feel that it's a worthwhile investment. Here are my top 5 reasons for taking yourself and your team to a training conference this year and every year:

1. So many ideas to steal errr— use!

 The feature performances, competitions, workshops and resources can't help but leave your brain chock full of ideas and eager to take some home to use with your team or church. Some ideas you can put into practice as soon as you get back, some you can file away for future use. It's good to always have ideas handy to keep things fresh for your ministry.

2. Get (re-)equipped

Whether you're just starting out or have been at it for 20 years, the workshops, resources and workshop leaders at conferences provide many opportunities for you to continue to polish your technique, learn a new art form or just hear sage advice/confirmation from seasoned leaders. As leaders, we should be constantly learning and in the pursuit of excellence in ministry.

3. Give them some motivation!

Nothing like some good ole "competition" to kick your team's energy and drive into high-gear. The competitions at these festivals aren't pitting teams against each other but challenging each ministry to continue improving. I know my team is most driven with polishing a piece when they know people are going to be critiquing their performance.

Also, the feedback you get from competing is so much more valuable than any award. The comments the judges provide, mostly pointers for improvement and reinforcement of things well done, can help push your ministry and team closer to excellence.

4. Get connected!

Perhaps one of the things I treasure most about festivals is to find myself surrounded with people who "get it." They've been in my shoes, are wearing those same shoes or chucked them out and took it to the next level. 

Many times though, as we rally the team to go to lunch, or are nervously preparing for the next competition, we are missing our opportunity to connect with the leaders surrounding you that could be your next best friend. Even for your team, seeing other people their age also engaged in ministry can be so encouraging. I can't tell you how valuable it is to make and maintain

5. Be Challenged, Be Inspired! 

As directors or members of a ministry team, it can be easy to lose sight of the "ministry" part of "creative ministry" when we're so immersed in rehearsals, making props, or keeping our cool.

Conferences are a wonderful retreat from the "norm" and this, along with the devotionals and spiritual challenge, provide you an opportunity to reflect on your ministry and remind you of who you're serving and why. I am always most refreshed, energized and eager to serve when I return from these conferences because of the spiritual battery charge I get. Don't let yourself miss out on this opportunity to be refreshed in your ministry!

So there you have it!

I could keep going on and on but those are my top 5 reasons for hoping to challenge you to either continue or begin to participate in training conferences. If you participate in conferences, what are your reasons? Feel free to share in the comments section!

For more information on creative ministry conferences in your area, I recommend checking out www.creativemin.com

We’re going to Nicaragua!

We’re thrilled to announce that we will be participating in a mission trip to Nicaragua this January 2016! Our missions team will be traveling with members from our church in California and brothers and sisters from Ohio and Mexico. We will be partnering with Iglesia Jesucristo Es El Señor Terrabona to celebrate 10 years of ministry to the community. Praise God!

Our time in Nicaragua is set to include:

• Creative ministry and leadership training with the local leaders and youth
• Creative ministry performances by the missions team and Nicaraguan youth
• FestiNiños, an outreach event that provides much-needed school supplies to children of the community

Please keep this mission trip in your prayers. Here are our prayer requests:

• May God encourage the pastors through the leadership trainings and give them strength to continue ministering in these challenging areas
• May God bless the youth we will partner with as we train them to use their talents for God
• May God touch and restore the lives of the children, youth, individuals and families in the communities we will minister to
• May God bless those who are setting aside their personal finances and time to join this mission trip and minister to the least of these

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’" Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

End of Season Reflections: 5 tips for the director

The 2015-2016 season was one of the shortest I've directed in the last 4 years with my ministry team. Despite that, it has been a wonderfully productive season with it's own set of challenges and blessings.

Looking back on this season, I've come to realize that I've remembered some old lessons and learned new ones as a director...

Learn to work with what you have

Last season, we staged an adaptation of "Heavenly Street" by Carrie Murphy. We survived our first completely live production complete with microphones, large set pieces and a huge variety of props and creative arts. The message was beautiful and we rehearsed long and hard... yet by the end of each performance and the season the team was exhausted. Why? The production was originally done with 16 people... our team had 9 including myself and our tech girl.

This year, I opted for a more simple production, "the Original Love Story," which cleverly (if I do say so myself) wove in video segments and illusions with the songs into one sweeping narrative. The transitions advanced the story but also freed the team up to prepare for the next song. Really, it was a production better suited to a team of our size and capability.

Yet again, the message was beautiful... but we didn't have to work nearly as hard before/during/after. The team enjoyed the production much more.

It's easy, and in fact I encourage you, to dream BIG. Yet, learn to be realistic and see how you can accomplish your vision with your current resources.

Don't be afraid to recycle

Sadly, we were only able to present "Heavenly Street" twice last season and, as much as I loved the production, I was hesitant to stage it again with only a team of 8 this time. I'm also known for not wanting to "do the same thing twice." Still, we dedicated so much time to learning the songs and painting sets that I didn't want it to go to waste...

So I re-used some of the songs in a new context for "the Original Love Story." I didn't do "exactly" what we did last time and this kept the material fresh for our church and my team. 

Have fun

We work hard and, though I didn't always make as much time as I should have, we made time to just have fun as a team. We play Charades together and get pretty competitive. We take the scenic route home and stop to take pictures on long drives back from a performance. We even had a "pizza party" where I bought pizza dough and everyone brought toppings so we could make and eat our own custom pizzas.

Having fun with your team is a way to build your team and share some fun moments together. Let them know it's not all business, it's also friendship and fellowship.

Motivate your team

It's one thing to direct your team. It's an entirely different thing to believe in your team. 

I am my team's #1 encourager. I am always cheering them on, constructively giving feedback to encourage excellence and challenging them to try something new and step out of their comfort zone. 

Do your best and let God take care of the rest!

I often remind my team of this, especially before a performance. It's so easy to get caught up in being "perfect." I want them to remember that their honest best is matters but what God does matters most.

I like to think I've always done this for my team but sometimes believing in your team means accepting that this is their best, and it may not be the way you wanted it. Or they are so terrified of a particular part that you need to stop everything and just pray for them. 

Remember the big picture

My leaders and I are always reminding our team the why of our ministry. We do stage these productions because they are fun but, ultimately, we're hoping to present the life-changing message of God's love through Christ. 

Make time for devotionals, share testimonies with each other and prayer with and for your team. Ask them what is their takeaway from a song or what impacts them most about the program.

My biggest highlight this year was when I sent a group text to my team thanking them for their hard work and reminding them that they never know the impact they might have on someone's life.

One of my students, who doesn't always appear to be "on" during rehearsals, replied: "No need to thank me! I've come to realize that I'm doing this for God and to try and change someone's life. Thank you, good night, and God bless you."

In summary...

What a blessing the 2015-2016 season was! Although ministry is tiring... it is also encouraging and a privilege to serve. I hope to apply these lessons as I move forward and begin to plan a new year. Let's pray that my team enjoys their sabbatical and returns refreshed and eager to serve. 

Did you try something new this year? What have you learned in your recent experiences? 

I-Fest 2015 -the Family of Ministry

And just like that, my favorite week of the year has ended: the 2015 International Festival of Creative Arts Ministry (#IFest2015)... WOW! What an incredible week it was.

I will never forget my first I-Fest. I had attended a Regional Creative Ministry Festival and met an absolutely wonderful workshop leader that just raved about I-Fest, the 200+ workshops they offered and the experience you would have.

I was only 17 but I determined that I wanted to attend I-Fest. I flew out by myself and little did I know what expected me. I met wonderful creative people who have poured so much into me, I was spiritually challenged and I had never before witnessed such excellence in ministry. My life and ministry was forever changed.

A week of encouragement and inspiration 

I haven't missed an I-Fest/MAX conference since. Each summer I arrive tired, low on spiritual and motivational juices. Yet, each summer, I leave encouraged, challenged and beyond pumped to continue in ministry.

This year was no different. Each jam-packed day consisted of this dynamic formula (which really is dynamic, you have to GO to experience it for yourself)

Christy Watkins lead several
hands-on performance
 workshops

Morning

• Breakfast on-campus with attendees that share your passion and experiences in ministry
• Morning Chapel with Pastor Lenny Corliss (anointed pastor that will encourage and challenge you) and workshop presentations
• 2 Mid-Morning Workshops (variety of seminars ranging from puppetry, drama, painting, blacklight, sign language, and more!)

Afternoon

• Lunch on-campus with, yet again, those amazing people you can network with in the morning or maybe make some new friends
• 2 Afternoon Workshops (includes "hands-on" workshops where you can learn by doing: puppet building, prop construction, learn a human video or drama, stage a puppet song)

Virtuous Reality Blacklight
Theater debuted Langston
Hatch's "the Suprings"

Evening

• Dinner on-campus with more amazing people! Maybe even have lunch with that workshop leader who really struck you or who's brain you want to pick?
• Evening Programs that feature exceptional performances from the workshop leaders (who range in backgrounds from senior pastors, ventriloquists, jugglers and so on) and local ministry teams
• Night-time Competitions where ministry teams and individuals can receive feedback from an expert panel of judges to continue to polish their technique and ministry
• Bedtime... if you can manage to sleep from all the ideas buzzing in your head and your excitement for the next day!

Be challenged: creatively and spiritually

The 2015 Creative Ministry Dream Team

Now I know I cannot call everything a highlight... but a big highlight is always the "Dream Team" finale performance that closes I-Fest. The Dream Team is a special team formed of talented youth from across the world under the direction of highly creative and seasoned directors. Members submit an audition video and application for consideration. 

They come together on Monday as strangers... and  leave Friday as friends that have impacted all the attendees with a powerful message and exceptional program... that they learned in just 5 days!

This year's Dream Team was directed by Sheri Brubeck of Buffalo Grove, IL and Carrie Murphy of Rapid City, SD. Their production, "Finding Foreverland," told the story of Wendy's visit to Neverland to teach the Lost Boys about God's Heavenly Family in Foreverland. 

Remove "M-Y" Part From "F-A-M-I-L-Y" & We "F-A-I-L."

I could write a novel about the I-Fest experience but, really, I hope this gives you a glimpse of the special week it is and encourages you to consider attending yourself or recommending this conference to someone.

I'll close with words from Pastor Lenny Corliss, our Conference Chaplain. Each day, his message was centered around the theme of the "Family of Ministry." We are a "FAMILY" and should each do our part.

We are each given talents, skills or attributes that we can contribute to the Body of Christ for the benefit of the kingdom. For some, it's teaching. For some, it's preaching. For some, it's reaching. Maybe for you it's using a puppet, or being an usher, or writing a song. Whatever it is, let us work together to expand the Kingdom and give God Glory. 

I challenge you to not be a Christian spectator, or consumer, but one who contributes to the Body and teachers others to do the same. Remember 1 Corinthians 12:25-26:

"so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

You can learn more about I-Fest by visiting Creative Ministry Solutions

View more pictures from I-Fest 2015 on our Facebook page

The Original Love Story now booking Spring 2015!

Create, Minister, Teach! is now taking bookings for March and April 2015!  This year's Easter program is titled the Original Love Story.

The Original Love Story is an interactive musical that tells the compelling story of God's mercy and love for humanity. Weaving together storytelling, illusions, puppetry and drama, the musical delves into the Creation, the life of Jesus and Modern Time.

Partner with us as we remember the greatest expression of Love the world has ever seen and discover what it means for you and me. This 40-minute program can be adapted to fit different time constraints and is available
in English and Spanglish.

To book a presentation of the Original Love Story, please contact gabriel@CMTministries.org

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NIV)