One of my amazing pastors mentioned a book in a recent staff meeting. It’s become a habit of mine to read or listen to anything our pastors mention, so I downloaded Church Is a Team Sport: A Championship Strategy for Doing Ministry Together by Jim Putman on Audible. There’s some good stuff here.

Jim Putman, a preacher’s kid who once felt disillusioned with the local church, shares how God redirected his dreams from becoming an All-American wrestler and coach to pastoring a thriving church in northern Idaho. Drawing from his background as an elite athlete and coach, he uses the language of sports to explain discipleship and leadership in a way that is clear, practical, and motivating. I especially loved the second half of the book.

One concept that stood out was the importance of a Playbook. Every winning team has one. In the church, a playbook preserves unity and direction. It clarifies who we are, how we operate, and what we prioritize. In a world where people consume endless sermons, podcasts, and algorithm-driven content, a clear playbook grounds a church family in shared philosophy and mission. Our Leadership Council just finished the task of compiling a Playbook for the church I serve. The Family Ministry Team I lead also has a Playbook with a few more ministry level processes and systems specific to ministry with children, youth, young adults, women, men, and seniors.

He also talks about recruiting team members. Great teams are always improving. Every believer has a role essential to the mission. We call the missing. We visit the sick. We pray with the hurting. And we release new leaders while coaching them relationally—with grace and intentional investment.

Then comes coaching. When an NFL draft pick joins a team, they must learn the system and language of their new team before they can execute the plays. The same is true in the church. We meet regularly to stay aligned with what “winning” looks like according to the scriptures.

At the church I serve, one way we live this out is through L3 meetings focusing on relationship-based, strategic, and high-level tactical discussions, often acting as a regular team check-in for performance, roadblocks, and collaborative decision-making.

• L1 – Loving: Where have you seen the Lord at work in your world?
• L2 – Learning: Staying teachable in our leadership—through shared training, resources, appreciation, and growth.
• L3 – Leading: Addressing team tasks, vision, dreams, and commitments.

Putman also describes coaching principles for disciple-making. We start with where people are. In sports, you assess skill level in practice and in the game. In discipleship, you watch, listen, and give space for growth as we listen for phrases from the stages of discipleship.

He outlines four discipleship phases people move through and offers lots of phrases from the phases:

Share Level – Those exploring faith or are Christian, but lacking relationships. Questions and doubts surface. Coaches help build foundational salvation understanding and holy habits.

Connect Level – People find belonging, relationships, often in small groups. Phrases include lots of “I” and “me” statements, but they are growing roots.

Minister Level – Hearts and actions begin to turn outward. They notice when someone is missing. They apply Scripture to real life and want to serve in Jesus’ name. This is where the disciple begins to see a need and desire to be part of meeting that need.

Disciple Level – Leaders who think strategically with an eternal perspective. They notice potential in others. They “catch and release,” helping move ministries and disciples forward.

The beauty of this framework is its clarity. Church really is a team sport. And when everyone knows the playbook, embraces their role, and invests in one another through sacrifice and humility, the whole team grows stronger—together.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

Today is my birthday—a gentle reminder that time never stands still. With each passing year comes a renewed sense of urgency, a holy nudge, that God’s call on my life (just like every Christian’s) is still the same: go and make disciples.

That’s why I keep showing up to trainings and reading lots of books year after year—to keep the community fire burning, to know our Triune God more deeply and to make Him known. Because if I’m honest, it all leaks. Daily responsibilities pile up, passion can wane, the fire settles into a simmer, and these days I think a little more about napping than I did ten years ago. Turns out, building in recovery time isn’t just for Olympic athletes.

Just in the last month, I’ve seen beautiful new ways the Lord is making Himself known that I’ve gotten to be on the front lines to see His actions, hear His voice, and play in His sandbox.

Lifewise Academy Cherokee launched in mid January with 24 students, and only three weeks later the numbers continue to rise as we welcomed nearly 40 first through third graders. Each Thursday morning, during their “specials” time, we transport children in a big red bus from the largest elementary school in Cherokee County, where I live, to a nearby local church to learn the Bible. Only by the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit are doors continuing to open for Christian education to take place during the public school day. Oh the new Jesus friends I’ve met who come together each week to plan, pray, and present the Bible!

Lifewise Academy is a U.S. nonprofit organization that provides Bible education to public school students during the school day under “released time” laws. Founded in 2018 by former Ohio State football player Joel Penton, it operates as a Christian ministry offering off-campus classes with parental permission and private funding. In a neighboring county where I serve, we’ve partnered with another church to host a free community viewing of the documentary of Off School Property to keep sharing the LifeWise story on March 1st. If you love history and how we got where we are in culture and education, you’ll be fascinated. I’m the bus teacher! God is on the move.

Another joy-filled pivot came through one of our incredible teachers, Robin Glover, who was leading an art class at the county art station for adults with disabilities. When that season ended, she brought the vision to our local church. Now, once a month, we welcome adults (ages 12+) with disabilities for a student-inspired art class. Not only did her original students follow her, but new students from our side of the county joined in too. With the help of our high school interns, the Lord is opening doors to love others in the name of Jesus—just as He always intended.

Looking ahead, the R3 Gathering for Christian educators serving in second- and third-chair leadership is happening March 13–14 in Albany, Georgia, at Camp Kirksey. For those of us in the Methodist faith tradition the past decade has been a refining fire. Now it’s time to move forward—actively and fully—spreading scriptural holiness through our local churches. This Thursday evening-through-late afternoon Friday gathering will focus on relationships and refreshing the Wesleyan traditions in the ruts, roots, and rhythms of ministry with children and families across North and South Georgia. There won’t be a exhibit hall, but there will be Jesus folk who are serving in the trenches, in community, at this incredible time in Christian history. I’d love to meet you there. Allison Vandenbergh is setting an incredible table for our time together.

And this week? Mr. Bob and I and I were supposed to be somewhere else, but plans change; we pivoted to spend time with the fabulous family we prayed for. This morning I’m meeting our beautiful daughter-in-love and Grand G at Home Depot to invest in some living green goodness to get a jump on spring. Then I’m headed for an early lunch and an afternoon movie with the big grands followed by dinner out with my honey. All after time with the Lord, remembering He is good and I am His.

Where is the Lord of the universe making Himself known in your world today?

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:28

Lent is a season of remembering—of remembering the historically true story of our faith in Jesus. Adults are invited to practice the holy habit of intentionally remembering, while for our littles we lovingly introduce, teach, and practice these habits together. We begin the teaching at church, but the real, beautiful work of practicing faith happens at home. From Ash Wednesday through Resurrection Sunday and the days after we celebrate our good God’s faithfulness and His redemption.

This year, families will receive Lenten Take-Home Bags filled with meaningful tools to walk the season together, including:

• A copy of Wondering to Jerusalem by Vanessa Myers, a wonder-filled Lenten devotional for littles (3rd-4th grade reading level)
• A plush lamb (yes, we’ll talk about the Passover lamb, forgiveness, and how Jesus is truly the Lamb of God)
• Multiple copies of a Children’s Fasting Plan, designed for littles and their bigs to talk through together—what to give up, for how long, what to do instead, and the heartfelt “I’m doing this because…” This was a free resource when you subscribe to the amazing family ministry resources found at DeeperKidmin.com.
  Fasting is a holy habit that is being practiced more and more among our congregation. Fasting will take place among adults on Wednesdays and/or Fridays during Lent, and if a holy habit draws grown-ups closer to Jesus, we want our kids learning and practicing right alongside them.
• Family Devo Table Talkers for February by Corinne Noble—perfect for on-the-go moments and meaningful conversations around the table.

Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, falls during our Winter Break (school’s out!) this year. So we’ll celebrate Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) on the Sunday before with King Cake, masks, and beads. Family Lent Bags will go home on the first Sunday of Lent.

February’s Hallelujah Camp will include a shadow play that will be recorded and used in worship, and again to close out our Wondering to Jerusalem family event on Palm Sunday. We’re thrilled to co-host that celebration with a local senior living center and their families. We’re already painting rocks for writing He Is Risen!

Another wonderful resource we’ll use this season is Wonder Ink’s Around the Table: A Taste of Passover, which we’ll experience together on a Sunday morning with the littles—and even our youth! This hands-on, multi-sensory experience connects the Exodus story with the death and resurrection of Jesus. And the plagues are represented with candy. I almost never use candy in children’s ministry… but this one is worth the exception.

So, what does the upcoming Lenten season look like for you as you disciple your littles—and their bigs to remember?

“Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you.” Deuteronomy 15:15a 

Okay, I’ll admit it—I paid my kids to take a class (or two) at church when they were in high school. One of those classes was Financial Peace for Teens. Each could earn cold, hard cash if they arrived early, fully participated, kept a great attitude, and thanked the teacher afterward—with a smile. Cash for every class.

It was money well spent. Ask their spouses!

So when social media posts started popping up in my feed by students I love and adore asking for support for their summer mission trips, I had an idea.

One of our co-pastors leads fantastic, intentional teaching and practices of the holy habits in Abide Labs. Abide = teaching sacred practices outlined in the scriptures. Labs = practicing the teaching in a community setting. For all ages and stages. These incredible teachings are very practical and one of my favorite things she does to equip disciples to become disciple-makers. These same students I love and adore would get outstanding teaching if they would attend this opportunity, one hour, on a Sunday evening.

Here was the idea: I would personally contribute $20 toward a student’s mission fees for attending the upcoming Abide Lab—as long as they arrive early, fully participate, bring a paper Bible, keep their phones tucked away, stay for the entire session, and linger afterward to thank the teacher (our co-pastor).

When I shared the idea at last week’s staff meeting, our pastors jumped in and matched the $20. That made the first Abide Lab of 2026—How to Study the Bible—worth $40 toward each student’s mission fees.

Last Sunday, eight high schoolers and two ambassadors showed up. They even brought their families.

We enjoyed 50 minutes of solid teaching, sticky stories that made us love our co-pastors even more, and a beautiful moment centered around the many different Bibles stacked on the table. Then we spent 10 minutes in small groups, practicing one simple way to study the Bible—on our own and together in community.

I asked the students if they enjoyed the class.

They loved it.

Even better, sponsors are already lined up for the next Abide Labs happening each month before mission fees are due in full. March’s Abide Lab: How to Praise the Lord.

That’s a dog in the hunt. Skin in the game. And great learning.

An investment in kingdom-building to share Jesus with neighbors, nations, and the next generation.

“To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” Matthew 25:15