Robbie and I need to bring you up to date on fresh patterns of our ministry services in churches and other ministry events. Since we both took retirement at the peak of our vitality, we are being energized by the challenges of parents, ministers, and congregations today. In the last few years we have been amazed at the focus of great congregations in meeting needs of their communities. For example,

*I flew to Los Angeles repeatedly for Saturday morning men's seminars --three hours with breakfast--for Hope Chapel near LAX airport, then preached in five consecutive worship services, two on Saturday, and three on Sunday.

*In California, Georgia, Kentucky, and Florida, I have spoken at parent and teacher seminars in both private Christian schools and public schools, addressing ways of Empowering Teens to Be Adults in our morally toxic culture.

*At Door of Hope Church in Fairbanks, Alaska, we began on a Wednesday evening working with several hundred teens convened from their cells into the one monthly mid-week worship service. Then, Thursday and Friday were devoted to a "Ministry Couples Retreat" for sessions designed to feed those who serve. We wrapped up with three worship services on the weekend.

*At First Baptist Church, Kingsburg, California, we worked from a Thursday through a Wednesday—in special events designed to meet needs of special segments of the congregation, culminating in a great Wednesday night banquet and closing celebration of the families of the congregation.

*At Christian FellowshipWesleyan Church in suburban Virginia/Washington D. C., I flew in to preach on the Sunday before a full-service set of seminars for families and singles and teens on the following weekend. Dr. James Ahlemann, Pastor, wisely noted that these busy generations will not risk setting aside time for a special event unless they are guaranteed by personal knowledge that it will be worthwhile. He knew how to get the Sunday morning pre-registrations a week ahead of the event.

*Now, more recently, we were amazed to find a Saturday night--Sunday morning event booked by the pastoral staff at Fayette Community Church just south of Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, brought out parents eager to find strategies to meet the complicated challenges of parenting today. The "talk-show format" [described below] was magical in devoting most of a 2-hour Saturday evening seminar on urgent needs in their homes. The Sunday morning worship and celebration, with my sermon, closed out the first round of a special ministry that is likely to continue with FCC.

**Here are some of the features of our typical ministry events these days:
1. Parent consultations—following a 20 minute "presentation" with digital and video images, a local Emcee leads a "talk show" format. Responses flow spontaneously to the urgent personal and family challenges participants define. Occasional digital clips are quickly on screen to pursue these listener-identified agendas.

2. Specialty seminars--Individual seminar sessions in a package, or an entire retreat or other specialty event may focus on men's issues, women's issues, couple's issues, teen issues, and family issues.

3. Ministry with Teens—building around credible local church ministry with teens, the talk-show format is remarkable and effective in evoking responses to a brief presentation with digital and video images on ways to embrace freedom and responsibility in God’s good design.

4. Robbie always joins me in the "talk show" format sessions, and I gladly go with the flow of the preaching opportunities within the contract schedule. The Sunday morning sermon tends to complete the various seminar sessions that have preceded it. These sermon opportunities can either go with digital support or other local expectations for that setting.

5. Ministry with Ministers—using a block of time for ministers and spouses [and occasionally for designated "mentor couples" beyond clergy who can work to coach engaged and newly married couples] we lead a RE-FOCCUS inventory and couple conversation time, booking couple-reflection sessions beyond the orientation event. The RE-FOCCUS instrument then is easily used in enhancing marriages through mentoring and ministry services. A FOCCUS inventory is also available, and we will direct you to the resources to train "mentor couples" for pre-marital sessions on an on-going basis for your congregation.

Scheduling: Simply [1] work with your strategy base people to design an event in which I have been identified as your preferred resource person. [2] Sketch out schedule and your goals expressed as titles of the event and of each of the sessions. [3] Make it clear what part of the event you would want me to provide. [4] Negotiate and confirm your preferred date by e-mail. [5] Indicate your proposed budgeted compensation for the travel and the energy invested in your event.

Equipment: I use my laptop to generate Power Point presentations, requiring a digital projector that will accept PC computer input for use with a digital projector. 

Travel: I normally travel by Delta or United or USAirways Airlines or the new economy line via Chicago’s Midway Airport for other destinations, the ATA. You may think of other travel options which you wish to initiate. Van travel to destinations within 200 miles is common, as well, and I report mileage for reimbursement at $.35 per mile.

Alternative booking: If you prefer to negotiate on the package using a professional broker, I am well served by an agent in Los Angeles for more complicated contracts in which mutual guarantees and advance negotiation may be needed by the client.