Back to the city

Well after really wrestling with where God was calling us to plant in and/or around Charlotte, NC, we really are feeling called into the city. This was something we prayed through a little over a year ago, but didn't feel released then to it. Over the last few weeks, some opportunities and many great conversations have happened leading my thoughts and prayers back to Uptown Charlotte and the surrounding neighborhoods. I brought those thoughts to Casey and we began to pray again, this time we believe God is leading us there. My heart is breaking for the people down there. Young professionals are moving into the area in droves, remodeling and new housing is exploding, completely revitalizing the area and creating a need for new churches on several levels. One, this is a new generation of people from all around the country and new style of church will be needed to reach them, second these are the people who impact the culture and flow of the entire Charlotte metro area. Imagine a move for Christ in these people and the impact that ultimately makes throughout the region, a region of over 2 million! I realized a year ago, my desire was to plant a cool, trendy, hip Uptown church, this time it's about the people, honestly and truly. Once again God had things to work in me to prepare for HIS plans to happen. Casey and I spent the last 2 days in and around Uptown. What a cool place. So many people, so many neat areas, what a place that needs Jesus.

This is going to be scary. I could fake my way through planting a church in the suburbs, but no such illusions here. It's God or nothing, cause I can't do this thing on my own. How obvious, isn't that what God wants? But how often do we do "God's work" solely on our own abilities. I could go on and on. I'm so excited about this, excited in a way I haven't felt before. I don't know how it's all going to happen, so many different things need to happen. We were at a church planter's training tonight and Dean, a church planter from Ft. Mill, sitting next to us, said he saw a picture of us working a puzzle and there were pieces coming together and the image was clear in those parts, but there were parts of the puzzle with pieces missing and we didn't know how it would fit together. But God was standing at the table holding the missing pieces in His hand, because He is working with us and knows how the pieces will fit. That so truly spoke to me, because there are many elements of this whole deal that I don't know how they will fit together, but I've felt God does. And it wasn't a throwaway thought like, "Oh well, God knows how it will all work out." I felt honestly that God knows, and Dean's word tonight was confirming that.

CRAZY STUFF!!! What an adventure ahead...

Elevation Church

Had lunch with Larry Brey from Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC today. Wow...that pretty well sums things up. Larry was great to spend time with me and share their lessons, vision and passion. God is certainly doing something phenomenal in that they launched early last year and this past weekend had nearly 2000 in attendance. Holy crap! Great eye-openers and some confirmation for some of what God has been doing in us. They're a church that loves Jesus and wants other folks to know. I also really appreciated their willingness to resource and be available.

Stirring

Before you ask, no I'm not going in a completely new direction. Still feel called to Charlotte and church planting, but God is wanting something different than I've always thought. Not sure what. Holy cow what's He doing?! You ever ask that question? So pray for His revelation to come...

I got called up

Found out yesterday, I'm speaking in all 3 services at our church on July 22nd. Come on out and watch the mayhem!

Thanks Brian

Do any of you have those friends that are there for life? There really aren't many of those running around. Our society moves and goes through so many life transitions that I think it is a rare thing that a friend stays really and truly close for the long haul. You may still talk and catch up, but a comradeship that may have been there during one season of your life perhaps is not quite the same as the years go by. Brian's one of those that keeps on sticking on. He and I went to high school and college together and then went of into the world, both of us moving around different parts of the country, then, strangely we both randomly (seemingly) end up in the Charlotte area. Well anyway, Brian knows me well, has known me a long time and it's good to have him around. I'm in this crazy new season of trying to plant a church, a somewhat megalomaniacal undertaking in itself, and I needed somewhere to go and talk struggles and frustrations and fears, and Brian was there. He doesn't go to my current church, lives on the other side of the city, but he's close enough to have been there for me this morning. Thanks Brian, and Go Gators!

I've made it to the platform

I'll be opening our 11am service this weekend, my first official duty from the platform! I'll be doing water baptisms at our 9 and 11 am services on May 20th and communion at all 3 services on June 3rd. So good times there!

God's a good God...in case you were wondering

You know how no matter how much God does you always come back to that place of wondering if He is still working? Why do we suck so bad at trusting? Anyway, God spoke to me through several folks over the last week. I'm plugged in to a men's class here at church and I was talking with one of the guys, and he was asking how things were. And I said pretty good, but it's overwhelming sometimes thinking about what's ahead. He pointed me to Ephesians 2.10, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in ADVANCE for us to do." That was the key, God already has it taken care of. That's powerful stuff really. I'm teaching in that class tonight on faith, and we talk about, we give it lip service, but do we really trust God that He has prepared everything in ADVANCE?
Then on Sunday I was in the Single Adult class, one of my duties during this year. I'll be honest and say I've really been leaning on God about that responsibility. The group is typically a bit older than I am, and I have not really experienced singleness like they have, so the question is there of my viability for the role. God has certainly been working in me and working in them throughout the process. I know I have so much I can learn and gain from all of it. Then on Sunday one of the leaders made a point that she felt God really wanted to make clear that they all come around me during this season to help me better understand single adults and also help me prepare for planting a church. It was powerful! Then another individual said let's pray now! So they came around me, laid hands on me and began to pray. Very cool stuff. God has prepared in advance...He knew where I was and where I am going. Afterward the two leaders came up and shared that they felt like God had told them "what a privilege" to be a part of my ministry now and my preparation for what is ahead. She compared it to Billy Graham's 3rd grade Sunday School teacher seeing what he would become later on. Oh man that's crazy stuff! Anyway, writing to share and also writing to help remind me of God doing His thing and being faithful.

Pick up this book

Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll. I've only read the first chapter, but it's worth the price of the book just for that. It's Chapter 0, which an administrative friend of mine has trouble with, but yes it's the first chapter of the book. I've been a fan of Mark Driscoll for a few years now. I first ran across him in a book from Relevant Media called the Relevant Church. I was at a point in my youth ministry where I saw things changing and couldn't put my finger on it. I began to explore the postmodern church movement and was intrigued. It seemed to answer some questions that I had, and gave me insight into some of the directions I saw young people, and ultimately the church, traveling in. But it was missing something. There was a check that I had, I was reading Brian McLaren and others of that ilk but I wasn't convinced they were totally on track. The more I searched the more I became uncomfortable with their theology. It seemed at the end of the day the full, unblemished truth of Jesus, our sin, His death, our complete need for Him, and the unquestioned validity of all the bible had to say was missing. It had become more of a philosophical movement rather than a bible-based faith movement. At this same time I began feeling the call to plant a church and was looking for a basis for this struggle I was experiencing and how it would relate to a future church. I knew culture and the views of people toward Jesus and faith were changing, but I was struggling to bring it all to a coherent whole as I explored my fundamental values of what church should be. Then I read Mark Driscoll's chapter in the Relevant Church. He nailed it. He was reaching the current generations and cultural expressions effectively, and Jesus was at the core of it all. I remember telling Casey, "he nailed it!" So, I began listening to his podcasts. Devoured his first book. And am finally diving into his latest. He's not for everyone. He's brash. Sometimes he says things that maybe he shouldn't, but you know people are getting saved at his church like crazy. He's impacting the ENTIRE culture of Seattle. An entire city is being affected by this church. How many other churches can truly claim that?

We have to get outside of our traditions. Not in a crazy, tattoo-everything-and-pierce-what's-left-over kind of way, but in a way that engages culture where it is now. Not where it was before, not where it was when we saw our greatest successes, not where we think it should be, not in a way that glosses over the "sticky" parts, but where it is NOW. People want real. Our culture is real. It's right there in your face. Jesus was right there in the faces of the cultural giants of the time He walked the earth. Revelation presents a Jesus who will return and get right in the face of the world, riding a giant horse, carrying a giant sword ready to kick some tail. Why shouldn't we follow that example?

You know I started this entry to be quick, just a short recommendation of the book, but it stirred something. I'm fired up, I'm ready to go preach!

Leaders...

As I jump into this church plant process with both feet all I can think about is leaders. I NEED THEM!!! If you've ever done church ministry without leaders around you and then done ministry with leaders on board you know where my need comes from. I'm not going to provide principles of leadership or write a new book, I just know how important leaders are. Quality, passionate, creative, visionary, loving leaders. I need 'em, the more the merrier. If you know where I can find them, please let me know. I want a team church. How much more excitement is there when you are moving forward as part of a team of motivated people. Pushing each other farther, building on each other's strengths. Doing things you never thought possible. It's a ride. The more I look at my planning and strategy, the more I realize I want to have happen and the more I realize I can't do this on my own. I need the folks who want to see the lost and hopeless find Jesus and aren't afraid to do whatever it takes to see that happen.

Here's my goals for the year

Successful Church Plants

There are ten common factors that successful church plants share, according to the results of a study released by the Center for Missional Research, a division of the North American Mission Board. The following factors proved to be the best predictors for higher worship attendance, as reported by christianpost.com:

Location. Church plants that start in school facilities show a distinct advantage in term of visibility, parking and low costs. In the longer term, churches that meet in movie theaters also exhibit higher attendance.

Reaching children. Special children's events along with outreaches around holidays, and at other times, attract crowds and help churches sustain attendance.

Promotion of the church. Church plants with high attendance mail invitations for services, programs and events and to keep community awareness high.

Training new members. Successful church plants provide training and clearly communicate that the new members participate and find a place to serve.

Mandatory church covenant for new members. New members are required to sign a church covenant as a sign that they take their commitment to the church seriously.

Intentional financial stewardship. The pastors receive financial compensation as well as health insurance, allowing them time to focus on the church's growth and not their own basic needs.

The staff factor. The most successful church plants do not start out under-staffed and their planters are full-time. They have also assessed staff for their suitability and have multiple staff members from the start.

Not just focusing on their own needs. Successful church plants start at least one church within three years of their own plant and those who are sent out to start a new church are replaced and even more are added.

Building leadership. Church plants with higher attendance conduct leadership training, build their leadership base and delegate leadership roles to church members on an ongoing basis.

The achievement factor. Church planters have a vision of what God wants to do and remain focused on accomplishing that.

That sure sums it up. Now I've got a year to get to it...come along for the ride!