The Low Down

Synergy '10

I'm currently working on my breakout session for Synergy Youth Worker's Conference and I am so excited to share what God is laying on my heart. I've been asked to share some thoughts from my book, but I'm not the guy who comes and shares word for word what I have already written. Yes, I'll share a few stories that are in the book, but I also have some others "up my sleeve". So come and hang with me. What God has lead me to speak about and identify are seven potential killers of your student ministry dreams. Please, don't become a casualty! Come check out the session. We're only a few days away! I can't wait.

Manuscript Work

Here's another update on the process of my book. Last night I received an email giving a list of items to look at concerning my manuscript and it's tweaking for the editors and page layout teams. It also encouraged me to begin finding people to write the foreword and others to endorse the book and today was a great day for finding some key people to commit to doing just that. Once the manuscript is complete and submitted, the process will seem to grow wings. We have a ways to go, but we anticipate a late summer/early fall release. I'll keep you posted! Back to work for me.

Book Update

As many of you now know, I have been working on a book project. It has been somewhat a secret (nothing personal friends). I just look at it this way - every kid in Indiana wants to grow up and play in the NBA, but realistically - how many actually get the shot. AND it's not that they aren't good players, they sometimes unfortunately just don't get the opportunity. This is my story. I knew that I had something worth reading, but one never knows if you'll ever get the book deal. Fortunately for me, the dream is now a reality and I'm still blown away.

A few years ago, I began to think back on many of the different moments that I have faced thus far in my 6+ years of youth ministry. Since I am a first generation pastor, some of the things that I battled right out of the gates were beyond me, and they literally blew me away. Ministry is an emotional beast and although there are some very high moments, the downers are tough to sometimes deal with some. So I wrote my story and added some insights from the lessons that I learned.

Today I spoke with a connection at Tate Publishing about the contract that I received via mail last night. It appears that in the next few days, I will probably travel down to Mustang and setup an author signing day. There they will take some pics of me as I sign the contract and I'll have the opportunity that most Tate Authors don't have because they are out of state - I'll get to meet the team that I'll be working with. 

It's extremely exciting, and I'll be sure to post the pictures and keep you updated throughout this process. Thanks for all of your kind words and support that you have already sent. 

- Rodney

Also, I will finish the blog series on dreams tomorrow so be sure to check back!