IFT

Hey Element Church! What is IFT? Well, it's a new practice I hope to incorporate into office life and the life of our pastors. IFT stands for Impromptu Fun Time. Church life and office life has been CRAZY lately. I need to model for our team better the ability to just get away from work and have fun. THAT'S OK! We are not going to be a church staff or office that is ALWAYS just WORKING WORKING WORKING! There are seasons we go through that is CRAZY intense. For us, that season has been since October 7th, 2007. Seems like EVERY week is another major decision that could change Element forever. SO, yesterday I took Adam and Andy (new youth pastor) out for a movie. We went and saw Iron Man. By the way STINKIN' AWESOME movie! It was very cool just to get out of the regular grind of things and hang with the boys. Anyway, every so often we'll need an IFT. You need an IFT too! Don't be afraid in your family. Your life. Your day, just to get an IFT. It may not be a movie out but it can be 5 minutes of calling a friend. Calling your wife. Looking at pictures of your fam on the computer or in your wallet. Just a break from your day. It works! IFT, new vocabulary for Element Church.

Having Fun,

Jeff

Prayer Request

Hey Element Church! Just wanted to post this so you could join us in prayer. Andy, our new Fusion youth pastor, is applying for jobs around town. With needing certain church days and evenings off he is limited in what he can do and where he can apply. Also, finding a good paying job is key for the move of he and his wife to volunteer here at Element. Tomorrow morning he has an interview with the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, which has a certain shift that is perfect hours and pays a good wage too. Anyway, please pray that for Andy, that if it's the Lords will this would work out. Pray for provision for them in finding an apartment/home and jobs as well. You guys ROCK!

Praying,

Jeff

Andy is here!

Hey Element Church! Our new Fusion JV youth pastor rolled into town today. Andy Hazelet makes his way here from Oklahoma after just graduating from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Andy is an AWESOME guy, one of my closest friends and a VERY gifted pastor. He's been helping lead a youth ministry in OK while going to school. We're glad he arrived safely. Please be praying for him as he tries to nail down a good job and find an apartment for he and his wife Aubrey. Aubrey is finishing out her job in OK this month and will join Andy and Element Church in June. We'll introduce Andy on Sunday.

Introducing...

Hey Elementers! Just wanted to introduce you to the newest employee at Element Church. With the rapid growth God has blessed us with, the increased office work became too much for one person to handle. Therefore, we felt it was time to bring on someone to take over the receptionist duties in the office, as well as some office tasks that would free up Terri to continue doing a great job in her role as office manager. We felt God directed us to one of our own Elementers and she agreed to take the job. I'd like to introduce to you Pam Rapp. Pam serves at Element every Sunday on the e:team as our sound technician for the main worship service. She is doing a fantastic job already and we hope she enjoys us as much as we have enjoyed having her. Thanks Pam for joining the team. You're doing a GREAT job!

Following Christ,

Jeff

INTRODUCING!!

Hey Element Church! I am SO excited to announce a new addition to our Lead Staff at Element Church. First, let me say that our Lead Staff at Element Church are AWESOME! We are not replacing ANY of them but adding to them. Grant, Adam and Curtis (along with their wives who are ministers themselves) are INCREDIBLE. We had our first ever Lead Staff only meeting yesterday to make some MAJOR decisions for Element Church, and there is no one else on this planet that I trust more than those three men. The same can be said for our new addition. I want to introduce to you Andy and Aubrey Hazelet.

Andy is not only one of my former students in youth ministry, but one of my closest friends. Andy grew up in our church in Gillette, and in May will be graduating from Oklahoma Wesleyan University with a degree in Pastoral Ministry. Andy married his bride Aubrey in March of 2007 (I hope that's right Andy). Andy will be joining us on staff as part of the Fusion Student Ministry team. Curtis and Heather will be JUST as involved as they have been when Andy arrives. Andy will be joining the staff as a volunteer, getting employment outside of Element Church until we bring him on staff as a paid employee. (Both Curtis and Grant are working like this right now as well) Andy will eventually move into the role of our Fusion Director.

Andy and Aubrey were here two weeks ago and through careful prayer and consideration felt God calling them to Cheyenne and Element Church. I can't wait for all of you to meet them. Both Andy and Aubrey are passionate followers of Christ and have a HUGE heart for teenagers to love and follow Jesus completely. I look forward to more introductions like this as Element Church and it's staff grow.

Following Christ,

Jeff

Watching Staff

I love watching our staff interact with people. I love seeing them do what they do best. Wednesday night I had the opportunity to attend a Life Group that Grant leads at his home. There were 29 people there for his Life Groups chili and fellowship night. (Food and fellowship are 2 things that I think are biblical commands for churches). As I sat there and watched Grant interact I realized something about hiring staff. (Even though Grant isn't hired he's the first person I asked on my team) I didn't ask Grant to be a pastor on my staff because he was educated. Grant has had ZERO formal training to be a pastor. NONE! I didn't ask Grant to be a pastor on my staff because of experience. When Grant moved here in March his total number of pastoral hours totaled? ZERO! I didn't ask Grant to be a part of my team because he could wax eloquently. (Grant has preached for me before but I didn't need a preacher). I asked Grant to be a part of my team for the following reasons, and I think they should be some of the reasons anyone hires pastoral staff:

1. Loyalty. I truly believe that Grant would charge a hill with me to the death of needed! And I would do the same for him. When hiring someone loyalty has got to be one of the top qualities to consider in hiring staff. Besides the obvious of being loyal to Christ they also must be loyal to the vision of the church. Grant believes in what we do and invites people to join it.

2. Natural ability. Grant doesn't have to try to be a pastor, he just is one. (Just like Adam doesn't have to try to be a musician or be creative, it just flows from him) When I say pastor I don't mean the leader of the church, I mean loving, shepherding, caring and just being with people. We got in the car Wednesday and said to my wife "Grant is a MUCH better pastor than I am". Being a pastor just happens for Grant. I knew that before he was ever on our staff, that's why I asked him to be our connections pastor. You MUST look for what the person does naturally and give them that role. (Other gifts will accompany staff but typically one thing rises to the top)

3. Fill your weak spots. Don't put people around you that will want to do what you do for the church. Seems like common sense but a lot of people don't do that. They find people with similar strengths and skills and put them on their team. I can lead a song, but I am NOT a worship leader. I can talk to people but I am NOT a people person. I used to (key word USED TO) LOVE working with teens, now, not so much! LOL I asked Grant to be on my team cause he filled a hole in me. Grant, you complete me. Again, LOL!

4. Teachable. Don't hire people who can't submit or be taught. Grant is absolutely teachable under me. Here he is, 10 years my superior yet he always listens to me. He may not always like it, BUT, he always takes it and works on it. Being teachable doesn't mean spineless. Teachable is an attitude. Grant has and is allowed to call me on issues, but he has gained that permission through being teachable and humble.

5. Friend. You're going to spend a lot of time with these people in ministry. Make sure you can be friends. All of our staff I consider friends first, co-workers second, and Grant is the epitome of that. Grant and I were great friends LONG before we were teammates. That is going to be a huge hiring factor for me.

Anyway, most of you could probably care less about all that, but I've been thinking about those things since Wednesday night. I could have wrote the same things about Adam or Curtis as well, but watching Grant brought them to my mind. I love our team!!

Following Christ,

Jeff

Staff Christmas

Sunday night we had a blast hanging out as a staff. Curtis and Heather (youth ministry) had us over to their house and Curtis cooked a mean steak. (He cooked more than one) We were able to just relax for an evening together. We then had a white elephant gift exchange and played a game that had us all laughing nearly to tears. We also got Curtis and Heather started on watching Lost. One by one our goal of converting the planet to Lost is slowly unfolding.

Adam and I (as paid staff) wanted to be able and honor the other guys/gals who don't get compensation for their staff efforts. We gave both Grant and Curtis cash bonuses (small for what they deserve). Terri is a payed employee but she literally keeps the office going so we got her and heather a day spa treatment. Adam and I also purchased one for our wives as well to join the other ladies on a day out. (We have to watch the kids) Sabrina's birthday was on Sunday (big 30) so the day spa was part of her birthday/Christmas present. The day spa includes a one hour massage, facial, herbal wrap and lunch. Part of the deal for Terri was that she had to take a complete day off to do this and it couldn't be her normal day off. She works many extra hours for Element Church and this was just a small way we could say thank you.

The meal, the gifts, the games, the laughs were only great because of the great people I work with. To think that 6 months ago we didn't know Curtis and Heather existed, now I can't imagine doing this without them. Grant and Terri up and left pretty much all their family had known for YEARS. HUGE risk for them financially and with their family. (Morgan and Nate are amazing young men and should be proud of their parents) Adam and Amber left the only ministry they had known together. The church Adam served in was his home church where he grew up. And here we are, all together, doing our best to hang on to Christ as He leads us on this journey. My wife had to "redo" her nest and replant all her children into a new world. Started a business just to meet people and now helps direct e:kidz.

Grant, Curtis, Heather, Terri, Adam, Amber and Sabrina. You make this thing go round' Thank you so much for being a part of my team. You guys are amazing!