Because we are often asked what is involved in starting a similar ministry, our first Director, Dick Plaep, decided to compile relevant history, background and perspectives for such requests.
What follows is a rationale for and a brief summary of that material. Actually ordering the material will be a cost or investment depending on your point of view. It may be your introduction to the cost of developing a ministry.
Dick Plaep writes:
Your vision for ministry with troubled youth is likely very different than mine but the principles for your survival are similar. Can you succeed without any input from me? Certainly! But, because I've survived most of the mistakes that can be made, it’s possible I can save you valuable ministry energy coping with start-up headaches.
If you are a "make it happen" visionary, you are inclined to want little counsel but possibly could use a little more than you want. "Take charge" people tend to be resistant to seeking wise counsel. Believe me, I know.
Think about it. Since you may be a person who has already initiated other projects or ideas, you’ve likely run into negative people who shoot down your ideas or overly positive people whose input has little relevance to you.
To overcome "low value" advice, a "visionary" has to be somewhat headstrong with high reliance on their own ideas. I know I'm not smarter than you, but I've wandered widely in this "Jungle", just barely surviving many of the dangers myself.
No matter how small or big and complex your ministry vision is, you are entering a Jungle of unforeseen quagmires and hazards of legalities, business affairs, organization, relationships, personal pacing, finances and emotional devastation. I'm not being dramatic, just descriptive. In contrast, actual ministry with the kids is rewarding and fairly easily done.
I've observed the gloomy ruins of other ministries that didn't survive. Still others wander, discouraged, drained of spiritual vitality, purpose and desire. I believe many of them to have been more competent than I, more prayerful with greater energy yet, curiously, we have survived. The reasons that I have learned from this through the years are both surprising and deceptively simple.
That's why my start-up material titled, (for reasons apparent only to me), Goliath Had a Mother, Too is also designated a "Survival" Guide. I’ve kept it brief and general (every paragraph could be a chapter!). If you wish, follow-up conversation with me can deal with specifics that concern you.
Some brief background on us. From nothing but Desire (and soon Debt) in 1970 we’ve slowly grown from a small camp (Timber Bay) with a focus on year-round follow through to a Community outreach, utilizing our year-round retreat center. We share Christ with at risk youth from various small towns in Minnesota and suburbs of Minneapolis-St. Paul, as well as an urban ministry. 40+ full-time and part-time staff have a significant outreach with 800+/- kids annually.
GOLIATH HAD A MOTHER, TOO (A Summary)
THE BASICS
VIEW FROM THE DECK
What you see is deceptively attractive.
"Like a Swan" – A Balanced Camp and Community Outreach
ORIENTATION COMMENTS
The Malachi Principle – Value of One Good Idea – "So Far, So Good"
EASY TO START, TOUGH TO CONTINUE
"Crazy" Not a Necessity, But – Fast Forward of My First (why wasn’t it my last?) Year
YOU
Asking you a few tough questions.
"Group" Concerns – "If" – Questions to Pray Through – An Angel of the Lord
WILL YOU BE INDEPENDENT OR AFFILIATE WITH AN "UMBRELLA"?
A question with major long-term implications.
"Alligators" – Juggler But Not a Clown – Small vs Large Headaches – Small Charges vs Big Cost
RESOURCE PERSPECTIVES
"Leap of Faith?" – Spiritual Giants Can Trample You – Visionaries’ Major Problem – The Best Problem You Can Have!
FUNDRAISING COMMENTS
If you’re in the evaluation stage, I suggest you begin with the material to this point listed as "Basic" on the order form.
AS YOU BEGIN YOUR MINISTRY
BOARD MYTHS AND PERSPECTIVES
Ministry Entrepreneurs Need a Different Kind of Board? – Who Knows the Most About Your Ministry? – "Collegial Authority Crucial" – "Clay Tracks"
YOUR MOST UNRECOGNIZED RESOURCE
"Goliath Had a Mother, Too" – Solving My Early Embarrassment – Building With Low Cost Rookies
RESOURCE INSIGHTS
Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth – Your Best Dollar
BUSINESS
Mixing Business and Ministry – Beware Experts – Bargaining With Merchants – Your Time Value – A Safety Video
LEADERSHIP
First Round Draft Choices – Volunteer Expectations – Authority – Control – I Learned Slowly At A Great Price
MANAGING FOR SURVIVAL
Doing Right Things – The Pyramid – Future Vision – Ownership – A Little Known Management Cliche
MINISTRY WITH YOUTH AT RISK - AT LAST!
Relax – Volunteer Value – Purposeful Friendship – Staff Longevity – Avoid Murphy’s Law – Take The High Road – Ministry Scope – Realistic Growth and Service – Float or Facility? – Your Crucial Distinctive
DISCIPLINE
Getting Comfortable With Authority – Extensive Perspectives From 150 Years Experience Ministering To At-Risk Youth – Worth the price of the entire Survival Guide.
FOR A CHURCH-BASED OUTREACH
You have some exciting potential ministry in front of you. You're also entering a potential mine field, missing many headaches of an independent start-up but facing church specific issues that must be dealt with.
Here’s a brief summary
Preventing Trouble With These Seven Groups of People – Oil and Water – Behavior Boundaries – Riot Control – Accelerated Depreciation – Learn This Formula: NM - NM – Program/People – Drop-in Center? – Realistic Spiritual Goals – Professionalism – Dealing With Pain – Make It Easy To Say Yes – Overlooked Leadership
By now you’re wondering how much this "Jungle Guide Service" will cost you. In our own early years, I was frustrated with consultants who wanted to charge big money for small help.
Suppose an angel of the Lord appears to me, informing me of a book that for the next 10 years, would tell me how to avoid 70% of the ministry pain that I’ve experienced in the past. Cost to me $15,000.
I would immediately attempt to beg, borrow or raise the money. Such a deal! I’d have paid more. Whatever "value" the Survival Manual has for you, it should far exceed your cost (investment).
"Some People Know the Cost of Everything and the Value of Nothing"
God’s best for you as you pursue your vision,
Dick Plaep
Others say:
"I got a ton of useful information out of it." (Church Youth Center Founder)
"I read it about once a month." (Juvenile Detention Ministry)
"It had a lot of wisdom – looked like you were close to our issues." (Church Youth Worker)
"I pick it up again as I hit the situations – things stand out on a new level as we progress." (Youth Center Founder)
Dick, please send me:
| GOLIATH HAD A MOTHER TOO: | |
|---|---|
| Package 1: Basic Perspectives |
$72.50 +7.00 S&H |
|
$79.50 | |
| Package 2: As You Begin plus: "Our Distinctives" - a general summary of our ministry & rationale (at no additional charge) |
$187.50 +7.00 S&H |
|
$194.50 | |
| Package 3: Complete Manual plus: "Our Distinctives" and our "Working Together" manual (both at no additional charge) |
$247.00 +12.00 S&H |
|
$259.00 | |
|
Package 4: Complete Manual Plus: "For A Church-Based Outreach", includes "Our Distinctives" and our "Working Together" manual(both at no additional charge) |
$267.00 +12.00 S&H $279.00 |
Minnesota residents please add 6.5% sales tax to the total value of purchase including shipping and handling.
To order with credit card:
Click here to place your order via email and include:
Your name,
Your mailing address,
Your credit card number and expiration date,
and Item(s) you wish to order.
To place your order with a check:
Send us your name,
Your mailing address,
Item(s) you wish to order,
and Your check to:
Youth Investment/Timber Bay
ATTN: Survival Manual
P.O. Box 316
Medina, MN 55340-0316
Questions? Call Dick Plaep’s cell phone at 612-247-7029 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time).