EMPOWERING THIS GENERATION

GRAVITY UPDATE

2010-09-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

A lot of amazing things are happening at GRAVITYyouthchurch. We have got off to a great start to the new school year. Our first back to school event had 600 students in attendance. There was over 150 teenager that flooded the Altar for salvation.

We have also kicked off Bus Ministry to all the major High Schools in the Omaha area. The first week buses where filled to capacity. God is doing great things and the church is growing. So pumped to see all that God is going to do.

We are about to go on our "PASSION" Fall Renewal retreat. Looking to take 175-200 students with us to Kansas City for a powerful time with God. Then it is off to "AMPLIFY: Youth Revival with Jayme Montera, Rich Wilkerson Jr., and Jurgen Matthesius. It is going to be a powerhouse event. I am so excited to see the growth in GRAVITY this school year. More details to come....

Pastor Jesse Norman

"5" COMPEL NIGHTS

2010-05-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a amazing night at GRAVITYyouthchurch. We had 490 students and 35 salvations. It has been so awesome to see the students of GRAVITY finish the school year strong. I am excited to see what God is doing.

As we are ramping up for the summer I am believing we are going to have the best summer yet. With our missions trip to Haiti in July, Summer Internship, and tons of Campus training I am very excited to get into the summer. I believe that are students are going to get bigger and stronger in God this summer.

Youth Pastor take advantage of all that you can accomplish in the summer. It is a awesome time to build students into Campus Missionaries.

Until next time,

Pastor Jesse

ACCELERATE 10k RUN

2010-05-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

This year's Accelerate 10k Run was a huge success. GRAVITY set out to raise 15,000 dollars to make a difference in the city of Omaha. The students at GRAVITY stepped up big and raised over 20,000 dollars. I am so proud of our students.

We will be buying buses to run at High Schools during the 2010-2011 school year. We are looking to add 200 students to GRAVITY with the addition of these buses. It is amazing to see what God can do when many people work together for a cause.

This has been the most exciting year of youth ministry, and I am so pumped to see what God is going to do next school year.

Can't say it enough how proud I am of everyone that worked so hard to make this event happen.

Thank you!

Making Vision Possible,

Pastor Jesse

LAST NIGHT!

2010-04-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Last Night at GRAVITY was incredible. Preached on Obedience and challenging people to follow the call of God on their lives. It was amazing to see over 100 students respond that felt a call on their life.

The cry of my heart is to raise up a generation that lives their lives called not just saved. One of the things that I think helps students live out what God has put in their heart is to tell someone about it. This is what we had students do last night.

1. Respond to the Altar Call and Cry out to God.

2. Share with a Leader what they felt God was calling them to.

3. Have the leader pray over them.

4. Write down on a Altar Card what their game plan was going to be to chase after what God had put in their heart.

To many time I think that we teach students to have a experience with God which is great. They also need to have a plan on how they are going to live after that experience. They need to write it down and share it with someone. This helps them to seal the message in their hearts and to have accountability to the vision God has given them.

It was such a powerful night. I am so looking forward to "5" week 3 next Wednesday. It is carnival night and it is going to be a blast. Hope to see you their at 5:30pm.

Click Here To Listen To Last Nights Message:

Rebuilding The Walls "Obedience"

Pastor Jesse

THE BLESSING OF HARD WORK

2010-04-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Many people want to see God do big things in their church and city. If our work ethic does not line up with our desire we will be held back. I believe that God has called His church to have a work ethic that astounds the world. Our dedication to the kingdom of God should be greater than any man working for a fortune 500 company. What if pastors and leaders turned our hopes and desires into hard work? I believe we spend many wasted hours and energy hope and thinking about how we want to see things change, but never put our hand to the plow. I believe if we became more about action and less about talking we would see much more happen in the kingdom of God.

God will move in your moving!!! So get moving on the things that God has put in your heart. You can do it! Get to work and watch what God will do when you give it all.

Pastor Jesse

ACCELERATE 10K RUN

2010-04-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

On May 2nd GRAVITYyouthchurch is putting on a 10k Run to raise money for our WE ARE GRAVITY campaign. This year we have set out to raise over 50, 000 dollars to go towards buses, campus car, and many other things. It has been so encouraging to see the students of GRAVITY get behind the vision for 2010.

This years run in going to be a big success. So far we have had about 9,000 dollars come in. I am excited to see what God is going to do in the next couple of weeks. We are believing that we are going to see 16,000 dollars come in before the race. This would help us to run buses to all of our major High Schools in the Omaha area. We are fully expecting to see the church explode in the 2010-2011 school year.

If you would like to get involved in the race or donate you can visit www.accelerate10krun.com.

Believing God For Greater Things in 2010,

Pastor Jesse

5 MILLARD NORTH

2010-04-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

Last night GRAVITY kick off "5" Compel Nights at Millard North. We have a great turn out and God moved powerfully. 30 Salvations and many lives touch. I am so proud of our students at Millard North and all that they did on their campus. I am pumped to see what God is going to do over the next 4 weeks.

When we started this event I wanted to challenge GRAVITY to end the school year better than they started. I have always wanted to be a pastor that challenged people to finish well. I believe that God blesses faithfulness and longevity. I am so proud of our students and how they are finishing the school year strong.

Until next week!!

Pastor Jesse

BUS MINISTRY

2010-04-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

This year we have set out to raise

40, 000 dollars to start many new things at GRAVITY. We are almost to the point where we have the money for our Campus Car and Buses for the 2010-2011 school year. This is so awesome. We will be running 4 buses every Wednesday Night and will be able to give transportation to over 200 students. It is a new season at GRAVITY and I am pumped to see all that God is doing through the students at GRAVITY. WE ARE GRAVITY and TOGETHER WE CAN!!!!

Pastor Jesse

5 COMPEL NIGHTS!

2010-04-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

At GRAVITYyouthchurch we have just begun 5 weeks of outreach events. One of my biggest trials as a pastor is not to raise up students that are just excited about the event, but are excited about living the life. 5 is probably my favorite event of the year because it teaches students faithfulness and lifestyle. We build fasting, prayer and outreach into every week of the event. This helps are students not to just have a one time experience, but to live a lifestyle.

This week we are having our Wednesday Night service at Millard North High School at 6:30pm. GRAVITY students have invited almost 4,000 students from the Omaha area. Students will continue to outreach like this for 5 weeks. In my heart this makes me more excited than any one time event, because students are seeing that living for Jesus out loud is a everyday thing. I am believing God for some big things these next 5 weeks.

If you live in the Omaha area I would love to see you over the next 5 weeks!

Pastor Jesse

Day 8 of the Fast - Day after Boom

2009-09-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

What a awesome victory we experience last night at GRAVITYyouthchurch. 320 students and 60 students received salvation. God's power was there and people's lives were changed. Jesus is awesome!

I just wanted to encourage you today that your fasting and praying is paying off. God is up to something much bigger than ourselves. Make sure that you are placing yourself right in the middle of it. God is only beginning something amazing at GRAVITY. Don't stop, don't let up, don't let your guard down for one moment. Understand that you will continue to have Victory in your life if you keep your eyes and your heart fixed on Jesus. We must be passionately in love with Jesus! Press in like never before. Tomorrow our Daniel fast starts!!!

So proud of you GRAVITYyouthchurch!

Pastor Jesse Norman

FASTING

2009-09-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Today is Day 6 of our 14 days of fasting and Day 2 of our food fast. I just wanted to encourage you to press in like never before. Pour yourself out so that God can fill you with His presence. We be the generation that is going to carry the presence of God into darkness. God is light and he wants us to have our lamps burning and shining brightly. Be light to someone today!

I will be praying for you all. May your fasting tear down the walls that are standing in front of you!

Pastor Jesse Norman

BOOM "Double In A Day"

2009-09-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

This Wed. is going to be a event to remember. BOOM is going to be packed full of students praising God and people getting saved. Students have been working their High Schools for weeks and are running with the vision that God has given us.

The 14 Day fast is going to bring such breakthrough to GRAVITY. You won't want to miss out on this event. Be here at 5:30 for the tailgate party!!!

GOD IS GOING TO GET THE GLORY THIS WEEK. LET'S LIFT UP THE NAME OF JESUS!

Pastor Jesse

14 Day Fast until 'VISION" Fall Renewal '09

2009-09-12T10:34:00.001-07:00

We are about to enter into a time of prayer and fasting for 14 Days starting this Wed. Night. I believe that God is going to release something awesome on GRAVITYyouthchurch over the next month. I am challenging everyone to join into this time of fighting for the Vision God has given us for the city of Omaha.

In the bible Daniel had to fight for his answer to pray. The answer to Daniel's prayers was being hindered by the enemy, so he decided to humble himself, fast, and pray. We are wanting God to breakthrough in the city of Omaha, High Schools, and at GRAVITYyouthchurch. So we are going to fast and pray for the purpose of releasing the Vision God has given us for this city.

The next month is going to be awesome. With BOOM, VISION, and then DO UNTO OTHERS coming up we need to be prepared for all that God is going to do. Get yourself ready and chase after the purposes of God like never before.

- Pastor Jesse

The CADRE has started

2009-09-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

THE CADRE

The CADRE started this week and I am so excited for all that God is doing. I believe that God is position the leadership and the students of GRAVITY for a time of growth like never before. God has brought us the finest groups of interns that I have ever been around or worked with. There is so much Destiny and Purpose in everyone of them. It is going to be amazing to watch over the next year and see each one of them begin to take ground and enter into their own promise land.

The CADRE has started in an awesome time in the history of GRAVITYyouthchurch. We are about to enter a season of CAMPUSconnect ministry like never before. With BOOM and "VISION" coming up it is going to be a amazing first couple of month. I am believing that GRAVITY is about to blow up like never before. See you all this week at 9.9.9 for our CAMPUSconnect launch.

- P. Jesse

"5" COMPEL NIGHT - God is doing something!

2009-04-28T07:33:00.001-07:00

Over the next three weeks some great things are going to be happening at GRAVITYyouthchurch. We are ending the school year full steam. Many times when we come to the end of a season we check out. The thing is the way you end one season is the way that you will enter the next. What I am saying is that the way we end this school year is the way that we will enter next year. I feel that God is wanting to do some amazing things at the end of this school year. Here is the schedule of events:

May 6th - Papio South High

May 13th - Papio North High

May 20th - Benson High School

I believe that God want hundreds of new students to come to "5" and encounter the power of God. I am challenging you all to believe and to pray that God does more than we could ever dream. Start working on those that you are trying to bring. Everyone have "5" people there, it is going to be a awesome month. I love what God is doing at GRAVITY.

- p. jesse

CONNECT with GOD - Dreams and Vision are given!

2009-04-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

CONNECT with GOD. It is the first step in the GRAVITYyouthchurch vision. without a connection with God nothing has purpose. God speaks to His people through dreams and visions. You will never receive a vision from God unless you are connected with Him. Lets look at two things that will help you as a leader and you CONNECTgroup stay connected with God.

1. Worship - The entertaining and welcoming of God's presence. Worship is always the first step in connecting with God is a real way. Worship is what you give you time, money, and attention to. If you did a time management sheet, you would find out what you really worship. You connection with God will be directly tied to you level of worship.

2. Prayer - In my personal opinion prayer is worship with the purpose of not just glorifying Jesus, but furthering His kingdom. Prayer is often times fuel by your point of complaint. Some people think that a point of complaint is a bad thing. I can tell you that it is not. In fact you point of complaint is the place of your prayer breakthrough and revolution.

Just want to challenge you today how is your prayer life, and what has your time or worship. God is calling everyone of us to a new level of commitment, but your commitment will become stronger when your priorities begin to change. We must be leaders that have the right priorities. We must ask ourselves today is my whole heart sold out to Jesus and His calling.

Love you all. It is going to be a rockin couple of weeks at GRAVITY. 3 high school and alot of Jesus. It is going to be a great time.

P. Jesse

GRAVITYvision

2009-04-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Today I was wanting to take sometime and talk more about the GRAVITYvision. We talked in leadership this Sunday about 3 things.

CONNECT with GOD

CONNECT with PEOPLE

CONNECT with PURPOSE

These three things have to be the cry of our hearts as leaders in the church. We must be connected with God in a really and powerful way. We must remember as leaders that we must continually grow our relationship with God. Remember that growth does not come unless you make a choice to stretch yourself and to do things that make you uncomfortable. Many of us as leaders know all the right things to say, but our level of commitment and dedication shows otherwise. Please don't just read over that last line. Think about your life and you commitment to connecting with God. You cannot say that you are committed to connecting with God and not share the same values as He does. God values faithfulness, trust, character, and servanthood. How is your faithfulness. When is the last time that you went the extra mile in your relationship with God.

Tomorrow, I will be writing about connecting with people. Connecting with people will happen naturally when you are connecting with God. When you connected with God you will begin to find love in your heart for others like never before. It is going to be a great season coming up, but we as leaders have to go to a new place. Love you all!

p. Jesse

IT HAS BEEN TO LONG!

2009-03-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! It has been along time since I have written a blog. It has been a couple of crazy weeks. The name change of the youth ministry was a lot of work, but so worth it. I am so excited to see what God is beginning to do in GRAVITYyouthchurch. Today I wanted to begin to talk about the vision of GRAVITYyouthchurch.

1. GRAVITY is more than a name, it is our Identity!

a. We are called to be the Gravity of God everywhere we go. People should be drawn to us!

b. God has given us a vision of one youth church in many locations. A once a month GRAVITATION night will be a big part of keeping the vision strong every month.

2. GRAVITYvision is going to be amazing!

a. At the beginning of this school year in August we will launch the full vision of GRAVITYyouthchurch.

b. We will be relaunching cell groups as CONNECTgroups and CAMPUSconnect ministries.

c. We will be unveiling the vision of CONNECTING with 3 things

CONNECT with GOD

CONNECT with PEOPLE

CONNECT with PURPOSE

d. We will also be launching 2 discipleship courses called

- GRAVITYgenetics

- GRAVITYvision

e. We will be looking to plant our first satellite campus in Papillion. We are working with Papio South on getting a weekly service on campus.

3. 2009 School Year is going to rock your socks off!

There is so much more to talk about. It is going to be a great summer of preparation. I am so excited to see God move in a powerful way in Omaha, NE. I challenge you to begin to take ownership of the vision. We are going to EMPOWER THIS GENERATION!

Chasing Him,

P. Jesse

GENERATION TO GENERATION

2009-01-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

Was sitting in my office thinking that it has been awhile since I wrote a blog. So here I am thinking about what to write???? Still thinking??? Ok! I figured something out. Can you guess what it is going to be about??? That is right -- LEADERSHIP!

Leadership is just one of those things that makes me tick. I love to read about it, learn about it, and teach it to other people. I believe that great leadership is what separates people from the pack. It is what makes the difference between someone who loves God, and someone who truly makes a difference even beyond his own life time. You see, the impact that you make today effects your tomorrow. Today lets look at the story of Elijah and Elisha and the passing on of leadership to the next generation.

Many people make some kind of difference in their lifetime. It is said that even the most introverted person on the earth will influence 10,000 people during their lifetime. So you are bound to have some kind of impact in someone's life. But few people take the time about being purposeful with the people that they will influence in their lifetime. Today I want to share with you a few key points that I have come across when looking for someone to pour into.

1. Mutual Vision

Followers do not naturally line up with a leader whose vision they don't respect. Both Elijah and Elisha possessed a vision to serve God for the sake of their generation. When Elisha had the opportunity to leave His old life of farming and follow Elijah's vision and leadership he did it.

2. Mutual Expectation

Mutual Expectation develops naturally from mutual vision. Both Elijah and Elisha expected to do great things for God. That is why Elisha was a great choice to pass the baton to. He want the same things that Elijah did.

3. Mutual Contribution

Individuals follow leaders because they believe those leaders can take them where they want to go. Leaders enlist followers because they understand that followers help them to realize their vision. Both people in the relationship need to learn to play their role and to grow off of each other.

4. Mutual Commitment

Without strong mutual commitment, leaders and followers cannot achieve their mutual goals. As Elijah neared the end of his leadership, Elisha renewed his commitment to his mentor. Three times when Elijah offered to release his protege, Elisha respond, "I will not leave you!". Elijah's commitment to Elisha had grown equally strong, culminating in his offer to do whatever he could for his servant-including the blessing of a double portion of his spirit.

All four of these things need to be present when looking for someone to pass the baton to. Remember if you are not developing someone to take your place you can never go up.

P. Jesse

Leadership Summit - WE is always better than ME

2009-01-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

Building a great team is the difference between people that are good and people that are great. A dream that can be accomplished by one person is a dream that is too small. In ministry, people are the most valuable asset that you have. So, that is where you as a leader need to spend your time. Many people choose not to grow a team because it is hard work. My prayer is that myself and the leaders that are around me are the kind of people that build a team and learn to multiply themselves through those that are around them.

That is my heart for this Leadership Summit. More than going to Mall of America to have fun, I want to go there to make a difference. We are going to work hard at learning how to dream, work, and function as a team. We are also going to be purposeful with growing ourselves in the area of mentoring and leading a team. I am excited to see what God is going to do over the next 4 days and I hope you are too. May we be the kind of people that rise to the challenge that God has laid before us for 2009.

P. Jesse

MENTORING PROCESS

2008-12-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

This week in leadership we talked about the mentoring process. Mentoring is one of a leaders primary jobs as he/she leads other people. Without mentoring there will be no one to pass the torch to when it is time for you to climb the ladder of influence to a new level. Remember there is no real success without a successor. If you never train people to take your place you will never have the opportunity to go to the next level in the calling that God has placed on your life. Mentoring, like anything worth doing, is a lot of hard work and rarely brings instant gratification. Mentoring is often a process that involves a great deal of committment, time, and hard work. I am going to take a few minutes to review the mentoring process and then go more in-depth in the first step in the process.

Mentoring Process:

1. Modeling - People are first influenced and make a choice to follow a leader by what they see.

2. Motivating - When you move from Modeling to Motivating you encourage and communicate with people on a emotional level. It is all about connecting with the person's personal story and speaking faith, hope, and love into that story whether it was a positive or negative story. We build people up in a powerful way when we believe in them.

3. Mentoring - Mentoring is the stage in the process where we take what has been placed in motion by motivation and give it direction. Mentoring is about helping people to gain and use wisdom on how to navigate the destiny God has for their life. It is a balance of truth and relationship.

4. Multiplying - This is the stage when you help your follower take what they have learned and pass it along to someone else. This should be the goal of every mentor relationship and will bring the most fruit in your ministry.

If you will learn to follow these steps you will be a successful mentor to the people around you. Lets look more in-depth at the first step in the process - Modeling.

MODELING

Modeling is all about a person's character. You can fake it only so long before your followers begin to see through you. People follow people that are real. The fact is that you cannot give away what you do not have. Below is some questions to ask yourself to see if you are really a person of character.

1. How well do I treat people from whom I can gain nothing?

2. Am I transparent with other people?

3. Do I role play based on the person(s) I'm with?

4. Do I quickly admit wrongdoing without being pressed to do so?

5. Do I put others ahead of my personal agenda?

6. Do my circumstance determine the choices that I make or do my values?

7. Do I make tough choices even when they have a personal cost attached to them?

8. When I have something to say to someone do I say it to them or talk about them?

9. Am I accountable to at least one person for what I say and what I do?

Remember this quote, "Many succeed momentarily by what they know; Some succeed temporarily by what they do; but few succeed permanently by what they are." Take some time and review those questions and ask yourself if you are a person of character. Don't give yourself the answer that you wish you were, but instead be real with yourself. If you are struggling in the area of character today is the day to make a decision to make some changes in your life. Character is the some total of your choices that you make everyday. That is why excellence is in the details of your life.

The next blog I will be writing will be about how to become a person of character that people want to follow. I hope some of these thoughts will help you grow as a leader as you grow other people. Leave me a comment. Thanks!

P. Jesse

Receiving a God Given Vision

2008-12-15T19:40:00.000-08:00

God has built every person with this desire to know that there life has purpose. One of the best selling books of all times is called "The Purpose Driven Life." This book was writing about this very topic. As I teach and mentor many people I have found a couple of things that are true when is comes to the topic of purpose and vision.

1. Everyone has this desire to find there place or identity in life.

2. Most people have no idea how to.

When Jesus looked at the crowds of people He said, "They are like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus was able to be the most impacting leader of all time because He first knew his purpose, and knew how to help other people find theirs. God has called us to be the kind of leader that carry life and hope with us. The best way to empower or provide hope in someone's life is to help them discover there purpose. Below I have laid out some steps from Matthew 9 &10 that will equip you to show your students and friends how to get a vision for their life. It may also be the key to taking your leadership to a new level. Take your time and think through each one of these steps and let the Holy Spirit give you revelation.

1. When you don't know what to do. Take initiative to obey and get active in serving in the Kingdom of God.

- "Jesus went about all the cities and villages..." (v.9:35)

2. Communicate the truth that you already have.

"... teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom" (v.9:35)

3. Observe the reality of the Human Condition

"But when he saw the multitudes..." (v.9:36)

4. Allow God to burden you with a specific need.

"He was moved with compassion for them, because they were... like sheep having no shepherd" (v. 9:36)

5. See a divine diagnosis. What is the issue to be resolved?

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (v. 9:37)

6. Pray to determine what action could meet the need.

"Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (9:38)

7. Choose a team and empower them for partnership.

"And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power..." (v. 10:1)

8. Take immediate action toward the fulfillment of the vision.

"These twelve Jesus sent out..." (v.10:5)

This passage of scripture is truly amazing. I think it is pivotal that we understand Jesus never thought about trying to fulfill the vision by Himself. See Jesus understood that anything worth doing was going to be bigger than himself. We have got to dream God sizes dreams that are going to stretch our leadership and cause us to put our faith in God to be the provision for the vision. Let us all enter into this new year asking the Holy Spirit to take us through this process of committing our lives to the call and God's vision. This is the life Jesus has called us to, it is a life lived by faith.

- P. Jesse

Empowering those that Follow you!

2008-12-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here think about what it will take to build a youth ministry that can impact a city, country, and the world. What kind of leader do I need to be to see this happen in my lifetime. I begin to think about what Jesus did when He was on this earth in ministry. Jesus had a heart for the masses but also understood that anything worth doing has to be bigger than one person. In John 20: 21,22 we find the key t0 Jesus' ministry, he was a leader that empowered others.

Many people talk about working themselves out of a job, but few really live their life that way. But that is exactly what Jesus did. In this passage we see Jesus put the final touch on His empowerment of his twelve, then turn them loose to make a difference. He gives them peace(vs.21) and breathes on them to receive the Holy Spirit(v.22). This peace and power would enable them to serve supernaturally. Those men He mentored were now ready to be change agents.

How can we do the same? What steps can we take to mentor and empower others? Here are some practical applications of the process Jesus modeled.

1. Pray for conviction and vision

2. Select a person or group from your sphere of influence to mentor.

3. Spend two initial meetings together to discuss expectations and goals.

4. Cast Vision to them for spiritual reproduction

5. Ask for commitment

6. Determine what tools or resources you will use together

7. Prepare yourself and set goals for each meeting

8. Meet regularly for a set time

9. Discuss and apply the truths you learn together

10. Invest yourself in the person, process, and the purpose

11. Help them find a potential person to mentor

12. Evaluate and launch them to try the process themselves.

If you will review these principals from the Word of God and apply them to your leadership people will be empowered. Go out there and find someone to pour into you and someone to pour into. Remember mentorship does not just happen it take hard work and time, but the reward is a eternal reward. Eternity is why God has called us to be Leaders!

- P. Jesse