Church Planting Series, Part four
How many Ash Wednesdays have you experienced? What has that accumulated repentance worked in you? How have the dust and ashes formed you?
A wise professor said to me, “You can have one year of experience forty times, or you can have forty years of experience.”
Is this a “repeat” Ash Wednesday or are you being led deeper into the presence of Christ and under the shadow of His cross?
I heard Frank Wess play a couple of weeks ago. He’s a jazz flautist and saxophone player. But that description doesn’t do him justice. This 86-year-old musician hobbled onto stage with the help of a cane and a young escort. Mr. Wess steadied himself against a stool. Then he picked up his flute and melted the hearts of everyone in the room with smooth and stirring melodies and improvisation. He moved to the sax and reached inside our souls with sounds smoother and sweeter than grandma’s cake batter. His music—-his presence—-brimmed with the sweet and painful accumulation of what life this side of heaven brings.
Mr. Wess talked about his “buddy” Duke Ellington. Frank Wess had been there. And when he raised his hand to command the Jazz ensemble, the other director floated toward the wings of the stage so the man who had jazz running through his veins could teach the “kids” a thing or two about the soul of music.
You may not be 86-years-old, but is the sweetness of the cross of Christ getting into your circulatory system as you march ahead in life—and not simply appearing on your calendar?
St. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Will the beginning of Lent for you be part of a soul-stirring score brimming with the sweet and painful gifts your Savior earned for you? And will your Gospel voice melt the economic downturned, hopeless feeling, life struggling hearts of everyone in the room?
I’m not talking about whipping up some feelings or manufacturing a load of emotions. I’m talking about the sweetness of the cross in your life. I’m talking about the real impact of Jesus in you over the long haul of years.
The most powerful factor in ministry, in church planting, and in personal witness is the sweetness of the cross of Jesus in you. If it’s all just a job, if you’re simply running through another program year, if you’re in it to build funding, forget about it.
But if no one can hold you back, if you’d hobble out there—pay or no pay, if nothing can stop your determination to bring the sweet melody of redemption to the people God has placed around you, then play on. And watch souls be changed.
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Knee Factor
Church Planting Series, Part three
A couple of weeks ago I watched and listened to President Obama’s talk at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. It was a good talk. But it wasn’t the main event at, or the main point of, the prayer breakfast.
Most of the focus of the prayer breakfast happens behind the scenes. I got a chance to attend the National Prayer Breakfast a few years ago. The great uncle of a friend of mine is one of the people who, with Doug Coe, helped form “the fellowship,” the organizing “non-organization” that makes the Presidential Prayer Breakfast happen. They insist it isn’t an organization because it’s all about personal relationships and small groups.
What they say is true. I got a chance to sit with Doug Coe and some of his colleagues as they spoke with the president of a Caribbean nation about Jesus Christ. I sat with congressmen and judges as they shared Jesus with invited guests from all over the United States and world. I witnessed citizens and leaders working to bring the blessing of the Savior to others—-including our nation’s President. I saw rooms full of prayer breakfast organizers from every state of the Union praying for the Holy Spirit’s work at this event.
Prayer FOR the president and others is the bedrock of the sound bites you hear on the evening news. There is so much more to the story.
The same should be true of every church plant.
In my ministry experience I’ve found that there is a lot of talk ABOUT prayer. Getting down to business and PRAYING is another story.
I’ll never forget the man who entered the small sanctuary of our mission church to attend a wedding rehearsal. He was early, so he asked me if he could kneel at the front of the church and pray. He said, “My pastor is a man of prayer; my church is a church of prayer; and I want to be a person of prayer, too.” I said yes—-and I learned something.
Starting that day, I contacted a couple of people who were prayer leaders. We talked about how we could make sure our church was a church of prayer. The main takeaway of the meeting was that we needed to stop simply talking around the issue. We needed to start praying.
Many types of prayer efforts followed, but the common thread was that in all prayer events and other gatherings as a church, we took time to pray. Let me emphasize that: we took TIME to pray. In addition to teaching about prayer—-which is very important, we actually prayed.
When there was silence for prayer in a worship service, I made sure there was enough time for people to really pray. I supplied “prayer starters” to people for daily prayer and for leaders at meetings. We grew a team of prayer leaders who kept prayer running through the veins of our life together. We had people on their knees in prayer. We invited people to pray. We modeled prayer. I read John Maxwell’s book “Partners in Prayer,” and I resolved to grow as a man of prayer.
The first New Testament church plant was immersed in the gift of prayer—-the gracious open door of communication with the Lord (Acts 1:14). What's happening behind the scenes as you venture into ministry?
A couple of weeks ago I watched and listened to President Obama’s talk at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. It was a good talk. But it wasn’t the main event at, or the main point of, the prayer breakfast.
Most of the focus of the prayer breakfast happens behind the scenes. I got a chance to attend the National Prayer Breakfast a few years ago. The great uncle of a friend of mine is one of the people who, with Doug Coe, helped form “the fellowship,” the organizing “non-organization” that makes the Presidential Prayer Breakfast happen. They insist it isn’t an organization because it’s all about personal relationships and small groups.
What they say is true. I got a chance to sit with Doug Coe and some of his colleagues as they spoke with the president of a Caribbean nation about Jesus Christ. I sat with congressmen and judges as they shared Jesus with invited guests from all over the United States and world. I witnessed citizens and leaders working to bring the blessing of the Savior to others—-including our nation’s President. I saw rooms full of prayer breakfast organizers from every state of the Union praying for the Holy Spirit’s work at this event.
Prayer FOR the president and others is the bedrock of the sound bites you hear on the evening news. There is so much more to the story.
The same should be true of every church plant.
In my ministry experience I’ve found that there is a lot of talk ABOUT prayer. Getting down to business and PRAYING is another story.
I’ll never forget the man who entered the small sanctuary of our mission church to attend a wedding rehearsal. He was early, so he asked me if he could kneel at the front of the church and pray. He said, “My pastor is a man of prayer; my church is a church of prayer; and I want to be a person of prayer, too.” I said yes—-and I learned something.
Starting that day, I contacted a couple of people who were prayer leaders. We talked about how we could make sure our church was a church of prayer. The main takeaway of the meeting was that we needed to stop simply talking around the issue. We needed to start praying.
Many types of prayer efforts followed, but the common thread was that in all prayer events and other gatherings as a church, we took time to pray. Let me emphasize that: we took TIME to pray. In addition to teaching about prayer—-which is very important, we actually prayed.
When there was silence for prayer in a worship service, I made sure there was enough time for people to really pray. I supplied “prayer starters” to people for daily prayer and for leaders at meetings. We grew a team of prayer leaders who kept prayer running through the veins of our life together. We had people on their knees in prayer. We invited people to pray. We modeled prayer. I read John Maxwell’s book “Partners in Prayer,” and I resolved to grow as a man of prayer.
The first New Testament church plant was immersed in the gift of prayer—-the gracious open door of communication with the Lord (Acts 1:14). What's happening behind the scenes as you venture into ministry?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Trust Factor
Church Planting Series, Part two
Several years ago I worked with a cluster of congregations to develop a plan for regional outreach to families. We found a perfect venue—centrally located to all the congregations. We settled on a theme: Marriage enrichment. We had teams in place from all the congregations. We then took the step to delegate responsibility. That’s when everything came to a screeching halt.
It turned out that some pastors could not release tasks to laypeople. The pastors couldn’t let go. They couldn’t trust others to carry out ministry tasks.
Church planting cannot travel that pathway.
I was visiting with a church planter recently and listened as he described all the “hats” he had to wear in his start-up venture. My advice: GIVE THE HATS AWAY. Share the hats! After all, you can only wear one at a time.
This takes trust. Of course, you have to train, disciple, mentor, organize, and maintain accountability. You can’t toss hats into the crowd and let anyone do what he or she pleases. But in a responsible, pastoral, God-pleasing way, you must give the hats to servants who are raised up by the Lord.
If Gospel outreach is to happen and if a church is to be formed, you need more than just you.
I remember thanking God for the people He raised up in our church plant setting. In addition to getting the job done, these Christ-filled servants ended up doing MORE than I could ever accomplish or imagine. At the beginning stages of our ministry two men led our little group into assisting another church plant. We had an immediate mission focus! Phyllis and Jan took the initiative to grow music ministry in wonderful ways. Kay made sure every event we had was warm and welcoming with her beautiful decorations. Pam decided that college student outreach needed some motherly touches—including FOOD! Paul decided to research and become well-versed in Biblical stewardship initiatives for our fledgling group. Al stepped forward to visit the sick. Richard gathered small groups. Maryann asked if she could expand care ministry.
I met with, dialogued, supported, trained, and assisted in these efforts as needed. But what if I said “no”? What if I didn’t trust God’s people to do His mission?
I would have been suppressing the spread of the Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I would have been hindering the work of God. I would have been selfishly hoarding the message of the cross. The church would be about me and about what I alone could accomplish. Simply because I would not trust the people of God with the work of God.
I like to compare the ministry to scenes in those old Western movies when the horse rider is knocked off his horse and is being dragged behind the steed. The cowboy is holding on for dear life, trying to keep his balance on the bouncy, dusty ride. That’s the ride you’re in for when you trust God and His people. You have a hard time keeping up with the thundering hooves of God’s Kingdom galloping into this world.
God entrusts His mission to us. Will you trust His people to have at it? If you will, you are ready to plant a church and see a ministry grow!
Several years ago I worked with a cluster of congregations to develop a plan for regional outreach to families. We found a perfect venue—centrally located to all the congregations. We settled on a theme: Marriage enrichment. We had teams in place from all the congregations. We then took the step to delegate responsibility. That’s when everything came to a screeching halt.
It turned out that some pastors could not release tasks to laypeople. The pastors couldn’t let go. They couldn’t trust others to carry out ministry tasks.
Church planting cannot travel that pathway.
I was visiting with a church planter recently and listened as he described all the “hats” he had to wear in his start-up venture. My advice: GIVE THE HATS AWAY. Share the hats! After all, you can only wear one at a time.
This takes trust. Of course, you have to train, disciple, mentor, organize, and maintain accountability. You can’t toss hats into the crowd and let anyone do what he or she pleases. But in a responsible, pastoral, God-pleasing way, you must give the hats to servants who are raised up by the Lord.
If Gospel outreach is to happen and if a church is to be formed, you need more than just you.
I remember thanking God for the people He raised up in our church plant setting. In addition to getting the job done, these Christ-filled servants ended up doing MORE than I could ever accomplish or imagine. At the beginning stages of our ministry two men led our little group into assisting another church plant. We had an immediate mission focus! Phyllis and Jan took the initiative to grow music ministry in wonderful ways. Kay made sure every event we had was warm and welcoming with her beautiful decorations. Pam decided that college student outreach needed some motherly touches—including FOOD! Paul decided to research and become well-versed in Biblical stewardship initiatives for our fledgling group. Al stepped forward to visit the sick. Richard gathered small groups. Maryann asked if she could expand care ministry.
I met with, dialogued, supported, trained, and assisted in these efforts as needed. But what if I said “no”? What if I didn’t trust God’s people to do His mission?
I would have been suppressing the spread of the Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I would have been hindering the work of God. I would have been selfishly hoarding the message of the cross. The church would be about me and about what I alone could accomplish. Simply because I would not trust the people of God with the work of God.
I like to compare the ministry to scenes in those old Western movies when the horse rider is knocked off his horse and is being dragged behind the steed. The cowboy is holding on for dear life, trying to keep his balance on the bouncy, dusty ride. That’s the ride you’re in for when you trust God and His people. You have a hard time keeping up with the thundering hooves of God’s Kingdom galloping into this world.
God entrusts His mission to us. Will you trust His people to have at it? If you will, you are ready to plant a church and see a ministry grow!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Miracle of You
Church planting series, Part One.
I was reading Acts 19:11-12 yesterday: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
This was during the establishment of “The Way” in Ephesus and all of Asia. God moved in mighty and miraculous ways to bring the grace and power of Jesus to a lost world.
It got me thinking: In this secular, post-modern, Christ-attacking, Jesus-denouncing, Bible-watering-down, afterthought-spirituality kind of world, how is the Kingdom of God being established?
One reaction to the troubles and barriers of today might be to hunker down and be afraid that God will be pushed out of the picture. You may feel like you need to circle the wagons and try to protect God who is on the edge of extinction.
Another reaction is to remember that “the One enthroned in heaven laughs” as the kings and rulers of the earth take their stand against the Lord (Psalm 2:4). God is still at work. In fact, Jesus told us that the gates of hell cannot prevail against His advancing march (Matthew 16:18).
What does this mean for church planting? It means that Jesus still makes His way into new territory in extraordinary ways—many times through THE MIRACLE OF YOU!
I was visiting with Pastor Mark Seeger recently. He serves the deaf community in Austin, Texas. God is working through him to bring the message of the crucified and risen Christ to children and adults, to people near and far, to people with a wide variety of religious backgrounds, and to many who have never had a chance to hear the Good News of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus. Pastor Seeger operates a mission outpost in a world that would otherwise be separated from the Gospel. With Holy Spirit creativity, he faces each challenge from the standpoint of being in mission for Jesus.
As I thought about his ministry and my reading from Acts, I realized that the deaf are truly hearing through the miracle of His humble service. He’s being the miracle of Jesus for many.
As a church planter, it is necessary to trust that you are helping to form a mission outpost in the community. It is essential that you realize the miracle God is working through you as you bear His gifts to the lost world. What does this truth do for a core group? It causes a body of believers to be ever reaching outward, ever infiltrating the community with a clear purpose, ever confident that they have something to offer that is not available anywhere else, ever convinced that their existence in Christ brings miraculous change for eternity in the lives of others.
A key component that fuels church planting is seeing clearly that God works through the MIRACLE OF YOU in a lost and dying world.
I was reading Acts 19:11-12 yesterday: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
This was during the establishment of “The Way” in Ephesus and all of Asia. God moved in mighty and miraculous ways to bring the grace and power of Jesus to a lost world.
It got me thinking: In this secular, post-modern, Christ-attacking, Jesus-denouncing, Bible-watering-down, afterthought-spirituality kind of world, how is the Kingdom of God being established?
One reaction to the troubles and barriers of today might be to hunker down and be afraid that God will be pushed out of the picture. You may feel like you need to circle the wagons and try to protect God who is on the edge of extinction.
Another reaction is to remember that “the One enthroned in heaven laughs” as the kings and rulers of the earth take their stand against the Lord (Psalm 2:4). God is still at work. In fact, Jesus told us that the gates of hell cannot prevail against His advancing march (Matthew 16:18).
What does this mean for church planting? It means that Jesus still makes His way into new territory in extraordinary ways—many times through THE MIRACLE OF YOU!
I was visiting with Pastor Mark Seeger recently. He serves the deaf community in Austin, Texas. God is working through him to bring the message of the crucified and risen Christ to children and adults, to people near and far, to people with a wide variety of religious backgrounds, and to many who have never had a chance to hear the Good News of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus. Pastor Seeger operates a mission outpost in a world that would otherwise be separated from the Gospel. With Holy Spirit creativity, he faces each challenge from the standpoint of being in mission for Jesus.
As I thought about his ministry and my reading from Acts, I realized that the deaf are truly hearing through the miracle of His humble service. He’s being the miracle of Jesus for many.
As a church planter, it is necessary to trust that you are helping to form a mission outpost in the community. It is essential that you realize the miracle God is working through you as you bear His gifts to the lost world. What does this truth do for a core group? It causes a body of believers to be ever reaching outward, ever infiltrating the community with a clear purpose, ever confident that they have something to offer that is not available anywhere else, ever convinced that their existence in Christ brings miraculous change for eternity in the lives of others.
A key component that fuels church planting is seeing clearly that God works through the MIRACLE OF YOU in a lost and dying world.
Monday, January 19, 2009
MLK Day – A Reminder of the Prophetic Voice
In his book “Soul Survivor,” Philip Yancey discusses how thirteen mentors impacted his faith life. The book is profound and moving—a worthwhile read.
Yancey begins with Martin Luther King, Jr., highlighting his “prophetic” role that called churches and the nation to awaken from the sinful slumber of racism.
Of course, the prophetic role is rooted in the actual prophets of God in the Old Testament. Yancey’s comments on these prophets remind me of the prophetic legacy we are all called to live. Our voice, as believers, is to be a prophetic voice in a slumbering sinful world. Yancey says:
“The word ‘prophet’ comes to mind because King, like those Old Testament figures, endeavored to change an entire nation through a straightforward moral appeal. The passion and intensity of the biblical prophets has long fascinated me, for most of them faced an audience every bit as stubborn, prejudiced, and cantankerous as I was during my teenage years. With what moral lever can one move a whole nation? Studying the prophets, I note that virtually all of them followed a two-prong approach.”
“First, they gave a short-range view of what God requires now. In the Old Testament, this usually consisted of an exhortation to simple acts of faithfulness. Rebuild the Temple. Purify your marriages. Help the poor. Destroy idols and put God first. The prophets never stopped there, however. They also gave a long-range view to respond to the people’s deepest questions. How can we believe that God loves us in the face of so much suffering? How can we believe in a just God when the world seems ruled by a conspiracy of evil? Prophets answered such questions by reminding the audience of who God is, and by painting a glowing picture of a future kingdom of righteousness” (pp.23-24).
But the clincher of the prophetic power, as King pointed out, was in the cross. In virtually every speech King repeated, “Christianity has always insisted that the cross we bear precedes the crown we wear. To be a Christian one must take up his cross, with all its difficulties and agonizing and tension-packed content, and carry it until that very cross leaves its mark upon us and redeems us to that more excellent way which comes only through suffering” (p.25).
Yancey sums up the prophetic voice: “A prophet calls us to daily acts of obedience, regardless of personal cost, regardless of whether we feel successful or rewarded. And a prophet also reminds us that no failure, no suffering, no discouragement, is final for the God who stands within the shadows, keeping watch above his own. A prophet who can convey both those messages with power may just change the world” (p.30).
During a time of economic downturn, political transition, war and violence; at a time when there are rampant attacks on everything Godly, we can grumble and withdraw, or we can voice, and actively live, the heart-changing Word of God.
You can check out or you can speak up. You can retreat into your own world or you can charge ahead with creative, constructive, and compelling service for the people of God.
On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, let us remember that we are called to be prophetic voices.
Yancey begins with Martin Luther King, Jr., highlighting his “prophetic” role that called churches and the nation to awaken from the sinful slumber of racism.
Of course, the prophetic role is rooted in the actual prophets of God in the Old Testament. Yancey’s comments on these prophets remind me of the prophetic legacy we are all called to live. Our voice, as believers, is to be a prophetic voice in a slumbering sinful world. Yancey says:
“The word ‘prophet’ comes to mind because King, like those Old Testament figures, endeavored to change an entire nation through a straightforward moral appeal. The passion and intensity of the biblical prophets has long fascinated me, for most of them faced an audience every bit as stubborn, prejudiced, and cantankerous as I was during my teenage years. With what moral lever can one move a whole nation? Studying the prophets, I note that virtually all of them followed a two-prong approach.”
“First, they gave a short-range view of what God requires now. In the Old Testament, this usually consisted of an exhortation to simple acts of faithfulness. Rebuild the Temple. Purify your marriages. Help the poor. Destroy idols and put God first. The prophets never stopped there, however. They also gave a long-range view to respond to the people’s deepest questions. How can we believe that God loves us in the face of so much suffering? How can we believe in a just God when the world seems ruled by a conspiracy of evil? Prophets answered such questions by reminding the audience of who God is, and by painting a glowing picture of a future kingdom of righteousness” (pp.23-24).
But the clincher of the prophetic power, as King pointed out, was in the cross. In virtually every speech King repeated, “Christianity has always insisted that the cross we bear precedes the crown we wear. To be a Christian one must take up his cross, with all its difficulties and agonizing and tension-packed content, and carry it until that very cross leaves its mark upon us and redeems us to that more excellent way which comes only through suffering” (p.25).
Yancey sums up the prophetic voice: “A prophet calls us to daily acts of obedience, regardless of personal cost, regardless of whether we feel successful or rewarded. And a prophet also reminds us that no failure, no suffering, no discouragement, is final for the God who stands within the shadows, keeping watch above his own. A prophet who can convey both those messages with power may just change the world” (p.30).
During a time of economic downturn, political transition, war and violence; at a time when there are rampant attacks on everything Godly, we can grumble and withdraw, or we can voice, and actively live, the heart-changing Word of God.
You can check out or you can speak up. You can retreat into your own world or you can charge ahead with creative, constructive, and compelling service for the people of God.
On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, let us remember that we are called to be prophetic voices.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Where Has All the DNA Gone?
After several like-minded families moved into a growing suburban area, they decided to start a church. It wasn’t long before the church started to overflow with activity. Families were coming from miles around to worship. Children were being brought to confirmation and youth programs from over 10 miles away. The church members knew they had to do something.
Is this the profile of a modern mega-church? Is this the description of the latest booming ministry attraction in a sprawling suburban neighborhood?
No. This story began in 1837. The church is Zion in Bensenville, Illinois. In the first two decades of existence, the church planted six new congregations. I attended one of those daughter churches (last century, not two centuries ago!). Over its first hundred years, Zion also gave birth to a grade school, a high school, and a university (we now know it as Concordia, Chicago).
Nineteen families, numbering 42 people in all, were sent to start one of the new church plants (where I got my start in the Lutheran church). These families reached out to the community-—many spoke German, but they weren’t all Lutheran-—and went on to plant seven—yes, SEVEN—congregations. Once the congregation grew to 125 people, the planting began. A community of Christ, for Christ, was formed.
This is the DNA of our church.
What has changed? I don’t want to idealize the past, but changes have taken place. Are the following assessments accurate about yesterday and today?
Yesterday: We were convinced about the utmost importance of the Gospel
Today: We shy away from pushing religion
Yesterday: We were locked onto a Biblical worldview
Today: We compartmentalize church life, social life, etc.
Yesterday: We were self-motivated and resourced
Today: We look for others to do the work and to provide
Yesterday: We had a tenacious work ethic
Today: We are distracted and fatigued
Yesterday: We viewed life as a frontier
Today: We look at life from the perspective of fear
Yesterday: We were content to meet needs in small ways
Today: We worrying about growth and “bigness”
Yesterday: The church was about community cohesiveness
Today: The church is a consumer stop-over
Yesterday: We were Word centered
Today: We are financial plan centered
Yesterday: We demonstrated extreme sacrifice
Today: We shy away from discomfort
Yesterday: We were unafraid of small numbers
Today: We would rather hide in a crowd
I understand that Holy Cross, Warda was another powerful mission planting community. Who can comment on how many churches this powerhouse congregation started? What can we learn?
Is this the profile of a modern mega-church? Is this the description of the latest booming ministry attraction in a sprawling suburban neighborhood?
No. This story began in 1837. The church is Zion in Bensenville, Illinois. In the first two decades of existence, the church planted six new congregations. I attended one of those daughter churches (last century, not two centuries ago!). Over its first hundred years, Zion also gave birth to a grade school, a high school, and a university (we now know it as Concordia, Chicago).
Nineteen families, numbering 42 people in all, were sent to start one of the new church plants (where I got my start in the Lutheran church). These families reached out to the community-—many spoke German, but they weren’t all Lutheran-—and went on to plant seven—yes, SEVEN—congregations. Once the congregation grew to 125 people, the planting began. A community of Christ, for Christ, was formed.
This is the DNA of our church.
What has changed? I don’t want to idealize the past, but changes have taken place. Are the following assessments accurate about yesterday and today?
Yesterday: We were convinced about the utmost importance of the Gospel
Today: We shy away from pushing religion
Yesterday: We were locked onto a Biblical worldview
Today: We compartmentalize church life, social life, etc.
Yesterday: We were self-motivated and resourced
Today: We look for others to do the work and to provide
Yesterday: We had a tenacious work ethic
Today: We are distracted and fatigued
Yesterday: We viewed life as a frontier
Today: We look at life from the perspective of fear
Yesterday: We were content to meet needs in small ways
Today: We worrying about growth and “bigness”
Yesterday: The church was about community cohesiveness
Today: The church is a consumer stop-over
Yesterday: We were Word centered
Today: We are financial plan centered
Yesterday: We demonstrated extreme sacrifice
Today: We shy away from discomfort
Yesterday: We were unafraid of small numbers
Today: We would rather hide in a crowd
I understand that Holy Cross, Warda was another powerful mission planting community. Who can comment on how many churches this powerhouse congregation started? What can we learn?
Sunday, January 4, 2009
2009: Keep Moving!
I never expected to be there. I never would have chosen to go there. If you see some footage of the wild New Year’s Eve bash in downtown San Antonio, you may be able to spot me in the boogying mosh pit in front of the main stage.
Why was I there? Because I’m a dad. My daughter’s boyfriend was playing in the band. It was a great gig and he’s a good guy. I just never anticipated standing in the midst of 250,000 people who were gyrating, drinking, and cussing on New Year’s Eve 2008.
I’m more of the stay-at-home-and-avoid-the-crowds-and-danger type of guy.
As I stood in the throng of screaming teens and swaying adults, decibels of sounds slamming into my torso and thumping my thorax, I began to wonder how many of these people go to church. Yes, I’m a pastor. Those are the things I wonder about.
The statistics tell me that less than 20% of the people there attend worship at least once each month. If worship attendance is an indicator of faith life, roughly 200,000 of those people around me did not know that Jesus walked the earth, went to the cross, and defeated death so they could have certain hope instead of simply a New Year’s wish.
As I stood there, I realized that this is where we need to be. Out here! Out there! Doing something!
A friend of mine, Alex, leads a vibrant ministry in the Chicago area. He was mentored by a go-getter pastor: Juan Martin. Alex was describing his ministry to me and mentioned his mentor’s advice: “Keep moving!” Get out there! Do something! See what the Holy Spirit will do.
It’s great advice. How can you reach the people who will party hardy on New Year’s Eve, but are not inclined to mosey into your church?
One idea may be exactly what you’re planning in these initial weeks of 2009: your summer schedule. You’ve probably already noticed that the community loves Vacation Bible School. Is it because of the Bible teaching, the great songs, and the cool crafts? Probably not. It’s most likely for the free babysitting for a week during the summer! But that’s okay! The people who might not ever darken the door of your church will gladly allow you to tell their kids about Jesus and may even come to an evening family program because you are giving them a break over the summer. Have you ever thought about building on this amazing outreach phenomenon?
As our little mission congregation grew, we added summer camps to our VBS outreach. A woman in our church loved art, so she organized an art camp. She had one-hour sessions for each age group throughout the morning. It was very manageable and didn’t demand too many volunteers. On Thursday evening she had a family art show so the kids could display their creations. Every session taught about Jesus, and the Thursday evening show was Christ-centered with an invitation to all to come back and join us.
We added a basketball camp for Kindergarten through 8th grade, too. We had several age groups rotate in throughout the day. Each session started with devotion and prayer. Friday was family day when parents could stop by, take pictures, and watch their kids compete for some trophies. Once again, it didn’t take too many volunteers, but attracted loads of people who never went to church.
There are many possibilities. The key is to get out there, to keep moving. It’s a matter of life and death!
Why was I there? Because I’m a dad. My daughter’s boyfriend was playing in the band. It was a great gig and he’s a good guy. I just never anticipated standing in the midst of 250,000 people who were gyrating, drinking, and cussing on New Year’s Eve 2008.
I’m more of the stay-at-home-and-avoid-the-crowds-and-danger type of guy.
As I stood in the throng of screaming teens and swaying adults, decibels of sounds slamming into my torso and thumping my thorax, I began to wonder how many of these people go to church. Yes, I’m a pastor. Those are the things I wonder about.
The statistics tell me that less than 20% of the people there attend worship at least once each month. If worship attendance is an indicator of faith life, roughly 200,000 of those people around me did not know that Jesus walked the earth, went to the cross, and defeated death so they could have certain hope instead of simply a New Year’s wish.
As I stood there, I realized that this is where we need to be. Out here! Out there! Doing something!
A friend of mine, Alex, leads a vibrant ministry in the Chicago area. He was mentored by a go-getter pastor: Juan Martin. Alex was describing his ministry to me and mentioned his mentor’s advice: “Keep moving!” Get out there! Do something! See what the Holy Spirit will do.
It’s great advice. How can you reach the people who will party hardy on New Year’s Eve, but are not inclined to mosey into your church?
One idea may be exactly what you’re planning in these initial weeks of 2009: your summer schedule. You’ve probably already noticed that the community loves Vacation Bible School. Is it because of the Bible teaching, the great songs, and the cool crafts? Probably not. It’s most likely for the free babysitting for a week during the summer! But that’s okay! The people who might not ever darken the door of your church will gladly allow you to tell their kids about Jesus and may even come to an evening family program because you are giving them a break over the summer. Have you ever thought about building on this amazing outreach phenomenon?
As our little mission congregation grew, we added summer camps to our VBS outreach. A woman in our church loved art, so she organized an art camp. She had one-hour sessions for each age group throughout the morning. It was very manageable and didn’t demand too many volunteers. On Thursday evening she had a family art show so the kids could display their creations. Every session taught about Jesus, and the Thursday evening show was Christ-centered with an invitation to all to come back and join us.
We added a basketball camp for Kindergarten through 8th grade, too. We had several age groups rotate in throughout the day. Each session started with devotion and prayer. Friday was family day when parents could stop by, take pictures, and watch their kids compete for some trophies. Once again, it didn’t take too many volunteers, but attracted loads of people who never went to church.
There are many possibilities. The key is to get out there, to keep moving. It’s a matter of life and death!
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