Church Planting Today

Cafe Church.... getting out of the box

2012-01-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

Culture is relevant! Dont ignore or fight against culture. Use it the way the Apostle Paul did! He used the culture as a way of reaching that particular people group.

Cafe Church philosophy and planting churches

The cafe church can be viewed as an organically based philosophy for planting churches, centered around the idea of making the message of Christ's love relevant to the needs of the local community that the church seeks to serve.

The goal of cafe church endeavors is to impact their local community with a message of God's love and the transforming power of Christ's love.

Some churches have already incorporated a "coffee shop" atmosphere at the beginning or end of their worship services. Why was this done? Answer: Because of our culture.

What if we took this to another level? Instead of just having this atmosphere once or twice per week... we had it 6-7 days per week? What if we used this atmosphere to glorify God and show the love of Christ to those who might enter the front door?

Think about it... pray about it.... and when God gives you the green light...DO IT! Dont be afraid to get out of the box of status quo church.

Be blessed,
Jeff Hoglen
Pastor - Church at the Creek

Entrepreneurial Aptitude? Yes!

2012-01-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

Many people with a pastor's heart have tried planting churches and.... unfortunately failed. I have always felt that planting a church requires a different skill set. Some people are managers. They can take something that exists and make it better or at the very least manage it at the same level. I call this type of person a settler. I use this term in comparison to a pioneer. A pioneer has a very different skill set then a settler. A pioneer doesn't mind venturing into new areas and trying new things. So.... if you your hearts cry is to pastor an existing church, then you may fall into the manager/ settler mold.

If you, on the other hand have a desire to start from nothing and build from the ground up... and this excites you, maybe you fall into the other classification - visionary leader / pioneer. I have always felt that the church planter and the entrepreneurial gift parallel each other.

Check out this list I found on the Acts 29 blog:

Entrepreneurial Aptitude Micro-Skills:

1. Has demonstrated past successes in starting new ventures.

2. Is an innovative and strategic visionary.

3. Is highly energetic and enthused about starting a new work.

4. Shows ability to enlist others in new ventures.

5. Evidences being a self-starter.

6. Has a willingness to work intensely for an extended period of time.

Take a moment and ask yourself - what am I called to do - pioneer or settle / manage or lead? Note: One is not better than the other...they are just different. The sooner we realize which one we are, the better off we will be in the long run. It will save time, money and heartache.

Born Leaders...or taught to lead?

2012-01-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

Leadership is defined as "INFLUENCE" or “the ability to influence others” Leaders can lead people for the good.... or for evil.... in a positive direction or a negative one.

The question often comes up, “Are you born a leader or do you learn to be a leader?” The answer to the question is “yes” and “yes.” Some people are born with natural leadership abilities, but leadership can be learned as well.

Some of the best teaching on leadership that I have read, is by the author John Maxwell. I highly recommend the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

(The following excerpts are from the book “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”)

If a person doesn’t have influence, he’ll never be able to lead others, because no one will follow him.

“He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.”

How do people become “real leaders”? It is a process.

How To Make Sure Your Church Is Boring! by Perry Noble

2011-12-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a great blog post from Perry Noble. I can truly relate to this article! I hope you are blessed by it. For more posts from Perry - www.perrynoble.com

How To Make Sure Your Church Is Boring! January 13, 2010

I know some people do not agree with me…but I FIRMLY believe that church should not be a boring place…because…

The Bible is NOT boring–the teachings of God’s Word are more relevant and exciting that anything on the planet.
Jesus was NOT boring – to see His life lived out in the Scriptures AND to see WHO HE IS should inspire AWE, not apathy!
Our message is NOT boring – Jesus was DEAD, came BACK TO LIFE and offers us the same opportunity, to cross over from death to life and be reconciled to God–THAT’S FREAKIN AWESOME!!!
The Book of Acts is NOT boring – there is NOWHERE in the book of Acts that ritual replaced relationship!

If the tomb is empty, Jesus is alive and HOPE is possible then HIS church should reflect that.

BUT…if you want to make sure your church is boring, here are Eight Simple Steps…

#1 – There has GOT to be apathetic leadership – Seriously, the leaders in the church MUST be obsessed with not rocking the boat and pursuing personal comfort!

#2 – There CANNOT be a desire to reach people far from God! Seriously, new birth can bring excitement to a church, which is NOT what people in pursuit of boredom desire. SO…don’t focus on the Gospel…instead teach lots of history lessons and talk about things that very few people actually care about. This will keep people far from God away from your group of people, thus not messing up the chemistry in your holy huddle. WHATEVER you do…DO NOT talk about the Gospel…it changes people!!!

#3 – DO NOT call for ANY type of commitment from ANYONE–EVER! People MUST be allowed to come and go as they please…and must NEVER be made to feel uncomfortable under any type of circumstances. If people begin responding to God it will increase the excitement level, which cannot happen in a boring place.

#4 – Always be predictable. Do the same songs at the same times, pray the same prayers and make SURE that people can look at their watch at any point in the service and know exactly what’s coming next.

#5 – Make excuses when things are done poorly! WHATEVER you do…do NOT address the obvious issues that are right under your nose. In fact, if you will simply criticize any church or ministry that IS seeing success it will take the attention off of your dysfunction and allow you to maintain the current state of your church.

#6 – PLEASE make sure not to make ANY type of references to culture in your church services. If you want to have a boring church then you’ve GOT to make people believe that the lives they live Monday through Saturday and then the life they live on Sunday are two separate things. You cannot teach that Scripture speaks to culture…because if people begin making that connection then they will begin to experience what Jesus promised in John 10:10!

#7 – You’ve GOT to allow people to pretend that their lives are perfect! Seriously, if someone has a problem then you must either put them out of your church OR tell them to act as if they are perfect. If people begin to bring their junk to your church and Jesus begins to help them work through it and they get delivered from it…your church cannot maintain its boring status.

#8 – You MUST focus on the external and NOT the internal. Make the way people dress the MOST important issue…and the way they LIVE a non-issue!!!

Christmas worship Time....

2011-11-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

Here is an article from Tom Jackson's Expressive Worship blog. I highly recommend his seminars and DVD's. They are sure to take your praise team to another level with regards to their heart attitude as well as their gifting.

4 Ideas for a Grinch-less Christmas

1. Remember that the Father initiated the whole thing and wants us back.

I love the picture that God set in motion. The plan that sent Jesus on a stealth, covert mission into enemy territory to bring down the regime that had kidnapped and brainwashed His love: us. This is a different picture than a chubby, non-crying baby that has some Gerber induced grin on his face.

2. Reverence is great, but reverence with joy is better.

Church can get stuffy around Christmas. What am I saying… that can happen all year round! Let’s be worshippers who exhibit that we are ones who know their God, Jesus. And He’s good!

3. Strive to make it real.

Jesus lives. Sentiment can sometimes help us understand truth. But if that exchange doesn’t occur, truth is lost to pious religion. Jesus hates religion. Christmas and all that God did to send His Son, can become meaningless window dressing when we don’t see Him as a real person.

4. For some, this is the only time of the year they’ll experience worship, and therefore, something potentially truly life changing.

We all know that Christmas and Easter bring people out to church; in some, maybe many cases, because they’re trying to make their mom happy. Hey, any reason will do! Let’s look at the opportunity as one that could change someone’s life and take it seriously.

Take time to listen to the Holy Spirit; maybe you could do some unexpected song that would break down people’s defenses to the Gospel. I remember a little Hispanic church where my wife was doing a concert. The pastor there walked out into the congregation and started singing Jingle Bells. Everybody joined in and it brought such non-religious joy to the room!

Be teachable!

2011-11-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

Fellow Church Planters,
I pray you would remain humble.....and teachable. Never think you have "arrived". Look for opportunities to refresh and learn something new.

Here is a great resource.... and it's free! Thanks to Perry Noble and NewSpring Church in Anderson SC.

NEWSPRING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Your Worship.....

2011-10-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Have you found yourself frustrated that your congregation doesn't seem to enter into worship? Let me ask you this.... are you a worshiper? Remember as the "head" of the local church you set the atmosphere of worship. I'm not talking about going through the motions....2 fast songs... a medium song and then 2 slow ones! I'm talking about actually worshiping the One True Living God!!

Now.... what about your worship leader? Is he/ she really a worshiper? Have you ever seen them when they weren't on the platform and someone else was leading? Did they enter in? If not.... maybe ...just maybe they are playing songs...using their talent...but the anointing cant fall on them because they don't have the heart of a worshiper. As the primary vision carrier of the church plant, you need to teach on worship and better yet.... model worship.

Give Us Clean Hands
Charlie Hall
Verse
We bow our hearts we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols
Chorus
Give us clean hands give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
And oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob
And oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob

For the Glory of God....

2011-10-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

An outreach on Halloween? Isn't that wrong? Why? Everyday is a good day for the good news! Everyday is a good day to honor Jesus!

What other time of year are you going to find people are knocking on your door every few minutes...if not seconds? I say... that if we put on our thinking caps, we can hijack this "holiday" for the glory of God :)

See some of my ideas at www.authenticoutreach.com

"Back to Church" Sunday

2011-09-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

This year, we are a part of the Back to Church Sunday campaign.

What is it? Glad you asked.

This year, National Back to Church Sunday kicks off on September 18th, 2011. National Back to Church Sunday is a special day set aside each year on the third Sunday of September when thousands of people who do not regularly attend church are invited and welcomed to a church near them. On that day, thousands of churches will open their doors and welcome everyone who would like to rediscover church.

I wish I knew......

2011-06-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

Here is an article from churchleaders.com that you will find hlpful and even encouraging:

10 Ministry Principles I Wish I Knew When I Started

Get a Word.....

2011-06-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

Just read an article by Perry Noble and it was something so simple yet something I needed to hear. As church planters, this is something we should all keep in mind.

This is what he said, " the trap that I am seeing so many pastors fall into is they fall in love with the process of creativity and allow it to bypass the love they once had for their Creator."

Creativity is good.... actually great, but it is not intended to take the place of a Word in due season. Perry goes on to say that we should read the Bible until something in us is stirred up into a fire and out of that passion fire, we preach that Word and pass the fire on. (This is paraphrased by yours truly - but the jest of it is Perry Noble's)

Dont Quit!! Keep doing what you do for the glory of God!!

Jeff

Offense....

2011-02-16T06:19:00.000-08:00

If you have been a leader for over a month :) you will know the feeling. The feeling of being back-stabbed.... the feeling that someone is talking about you...gossiping about you or the way you handle things... Sad to say but this is part of the gig.

I found a short article to help with such times. I love the last 2 lines: "The greatest leaders I know are not easily offended. Instead, they practice the habit of overlooking offenses. They take the high road, give the offender the benefit of the doubt, and move on."

If you would like to read more check out Catalyst.

Discipleship Program?

2011-01-06T14:19:00.000-08:00

Words like Jumbo Shrimp..... or government efficiency (lol) dont seem like they go together. Well, in my opinion the words discipleship and program are the same way!

I know many churches who have such "programs" and I know their heart is well intentioned. But because they are "programs" they are destined to fail. Maybe not at first, but eventually they will fail. Why? Because they are programs! Programs have a way of being cyclical. They are full of excitement at first...then they get grow tired...and then end up with people wondering what's the real purpose.

Discipleship really should be a lifestyle. Isn't true discipleship:

1) Following Jesus?
2) Fellowship with other believers?
3) Telling others about Jesus?

The best discipleship manual is your life. Discipleship works if you understand what discipleship really is all about.

^{Matthew 28:19-20}

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Video on a shoestring budget!

2010-12-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

Ever wanted to show a video of the church picnic, outreach or special event but didnt have the "techy" person in house? Well check out ANIMOTO.COM !! fOR $30 per year, you can show videos that you will be proud of... all done with that "excellence" factor that we strive for!

I have been using this resource for our intro videos - at the beginning of service. Let your imagination loose and go for it!!

Lead Pastors set the tone!

2010-12-30T07:48:00.001-08:00

Here is a short snippet from www.buildingchurchleaders.com.

The leader of the church sets the tone. The pastor's modeling of friendliness is critical. Ultimately, however, it comes down to love. One of the characteristics of breakout church leaders is their unconditional love for the people in their church. The pastor expresses an intense love for the members of his congregation. The members then show love to non-Christians who are visiting their church. The visitors take note of the genuineness, friendliness, and love being exhibited. They feel comfortable and welcomed. The door is then open for them to hear about the One who loves them more than anyone else.

For the rest of the article please see: Building Church Leaders

Get Connected..... Stay encouraged!

2010-11-25T06:47:00.000-08:00

Some church planters belong to denomination. Some are part of a network of churches. Some however....for one reason or another are alone. If that's you, get connected to some life line. Rest assured, there will be times when you want to quit, when you question your calling, when you want to close the doors and nail a sign that says "closed". One way to be connected and encouraged is through social networking. Twitter for example can serve as great encouragement. Today is Thanksgiving.... Lets see some posts from Twitter:

gregsurratt Greg Surratt

Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged & give up, 4 we will reap a harvest of blessing @ the appropriate time Gal 6:9

dinorizzo Dino Rizzo

Happy thanksgiving , so much to be thankful for ( in-laws that cook, italy jet lag, "others", my tribe , 80's music, most imp. - Savior ! )

erwinmcmanus Erwin McManus

Making good memories is like storing a healing salve for difficult times. Take time today to reflect on all that God has done for you.

Those are just a few people that I follow. If I can be of any help to you, please feel free to email me or connect....via Twitter @jeffhoglen

Marketing Mistakes by Tony Morgan

2010-09-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

I just read a great article from Tony Morgan of West Ridge Church near Atlanta. For more of his writing you can visit his site: www.tonymorganlive.com

Making a promise you can't keep. The world already thinks churches are filled with hypocrites, so make sure you exceed expectations on everything you say you’ll do. The easiest place to begin is with the guest experience. Are you delivering a welcoming, friendly environment? When someone takes a step to connect to your ministry, make sure your team is ready to follow through.
Trying to be all things to all people. Yes, we want the world to know Jesus, but who has God put in your world? That’s who you need to reach. And, more specifically, what person within your world are you most likely to reach? Design your ministry to connect with him or her. That means some people may not like your church. That’s OK. God uses different ministries to reach different people.
Thinking other churches are your competition. We are competing with today’s culture. Other churches are on our team. It doesn’t help if you distinguish yourself from another church. You need to distinguish your message from the world people live in. Clearly communicate why someone should connect with your church instead of spending their time doing a million other things.
Publicizing programs that compete with one another. More choices create more confusion. You may have lots of great programs, but the more options you provide, the less likely people will be to take a step. I know, it’s counter-intuitive. But you don’t want a situation where your men’s ministry is competing with your discipleship classes that are competing with your home groups that are competing with volunteer opportunities. Figure out what you do well and what God is using to reach people for Jesus—and do that.
Promoting your church instead of generating a response. No one really cares that you are First Church Such-and-Such. And, no one really cares what your building looks like. Promote a message series over the church. Promote a conversation over the church. But don’t promote the church or a specific ministry. Others will do that for you if it’s worth promoting.

6 Mistakes Leaders Make

2010-09-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Here are the 1st 3 of 6 mistakes as written by Perry Noble.
To read the article in it's entirety, check out www.churchleaders.com

Not getting the entire story before confronting someone about an “issue” that had been brought to my attention! A leader who always believes the worst about the people he leads needs to do a serious gut-check!
Letting emotion get the best of me and shutting down a discussion when I should actively listen. A leader is way more likely to get buy-in if the people he leads actually feel like he listens to them…REALLY listens to them.
Choosing “the obvious” rather than listening to The Holy Spirit.

Missions - Local and Global

2010-06-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Remember missions isnt just for third world countries. Also dont forget... it's not necessarily an either/or situation. I like to say it's a yes/ and :) We are to serve locally and abroad...wherever an opportunity should arise...wherever the Lord shall lead.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

More Free Resources

2010-06-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

Need some sermon ideas? Listen to some Seacoast resources and get inspired. They do a great job and are kingdom enough to give it away freely.

SEACOAST SERMONS

Need some help with the admin side of church planting? Try this resource from Northpoint Church. Remember to "fish and bone"....take the stuff that you like and leave the rest.

NORTHPOINT ADMIN SITE

ChurchMetrics.com is a free web-based application that helps you keep tabs on attendance, giving, salvations, and baptisms at your church. Did I mention free???

CHURCH METRICS

Resources

2010-05-29T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of resources you may find helpful as you plant your church:

1) For signage / vinyl banners
http://www.bannersinvinyl.com/

2) Outreach Ideas
http://www.onmission.com/site/c.cnKHIPNuEoG/b.4749751/k.9261/Outreach_Ideas/apps/nl/newsletter3.asp

3) Church Marketing
http://www.detailsdirect.net/templates/cusdd2005/default.asp?id=32085

4) Giveaways to 1st time guests
http://booksbythebox.maninthemirror.org/

5) Websites
http://bridgeelement.com/index.html

Character...........

2010-04-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

When looking for a leader or potential leader within the church plant, one of the main things I look for is character.

Here are some of my favorite quotes on character:

"Character is what a man is in the dark." Dwight Moody

"No one can win a race with intermittent effort. Christlikeness cannot be reached with that kind of effort either—it is an ongoing pursuit. So Paul says, "Let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained" (Phil. 3:16). The Greek verb translated "keep living" refers to walking in line. Just as a runner must stay in his lane and keep up the same effort until he reaches the finish, you must stay in line spiritually and keep moving forward toward the goal of Christlikeness."
- John MacArthur

"No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character." John Morley

"God's call to be holy, as he is holy, is a general summons to live by his revealed precepts and prohibitions, as embodying the loves and hates which make up his character and which his ways with us will always express; Christ's call to follow his example is a specific summons to unlimited self-humbling, and giving of ourselves without restraint, in order to relieve others' needs and make them great, which is what true love is all about." J.I. Packer

"Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them." Winston Churchill

"The highest reward for man’s toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it." John Ruskin

"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece—by thought, choice, courage and determination." John Luther

Many would think the most important trait would be competence. I believe some things are taught and other traits like character have developed over a period of time.

What's the difference between capable and competence?
Answer: Competence is when a person can demonstrate with certainty, over time, that they will succeed in or perform Capably.

Leadership

2010-03-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a video from Larry Kreider, author and leader of Dove Christian Fellowship International. I had the opportunity to travel with Larry to the Philippines a few years back. This brother in Christ is the real deal.... walks the talk...and I'm glad to count him as a friend!

I highly recommend his books and the DCFI material. You can get more info at www.DCFI.org

Attention to Detail

2010-02-24T05:50:00.000-08:00

John Wooden, former coach of the UCLA Bruins, has more NCAA championships than any other basketball coach in history--10 national titles in 12 years. What did he teach his players to ensure top-level performance? He taught them how to put on their socks. Each season Coach Wooden showed his players how to prevent sock-wrinkles around the little toe and the heel, and how to lace up their shoes with a double-knot. This helped his players avoid blisters. In the closing minutes of a close game, the player without blisters on his feet will perform better. This simple, basic detail contributed to a series of National Championships. Attention to detail, Wooden says, creates success in basketball, in business and in life.
Hmmmmmm.... how can this apply to church planting? (Selah:)

Thoughts on Worship

2010-02-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

What do smoke machines, laser light shows, mechanical bulls and pizza all have in common? Not an easy one to answer, right?

Answer: They are all things that different churches have tried:
· in order to spice up their worship services,
· to make them more exciting,
· to make them more appealing to today’s worshipper.

What ever happened to relying on the anointing of God? I guess its easier to put on a show.... I good friend of mine had an opportunity to hang out with Dr Yongi Cho for a weekend. They attended a conference together. My friend drove Dr Cho to the airport so he could return to Korea and back to his church of over 1 million people. Along the route, my friend asked Dr Cho what he thought about the conference and the western church in general. The answer he gave really blew me away. He replied, "It's amazing how much can be accomplished without the Holy Spirit". He was referring to all the hype - the lasers, lighting, large sound systems, lcd projectors and multiple screens etc...

Let's take a step back and check our hearts....check our motives. Let us seek after God and then minister out of the overflow.

Those of us who have the honor of leading worship, lets seek God's anointing rather than on gimmicks.

Keep the main thing...the main thing

2009-12-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

I found a good definition of church - A group of born-again believers in Christ who come together for worship and are lead by shepards who preach the Word and lead the congregation to the purpose of glorifying God by fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission and Greatest Commandments.

As leaders - lets keep our calling and purpose in front of us. Dont get sidetracked into programs or people pleasing. Obey God's call to lead and not comromise and let your people lead you.... Afterall, have you ever seen sheep lead their shepard around? I hope not....

Have a Merry Christmas....and I pray you dont grow weary in doing good!!

Measuring Success

2009-12-22T19:36:00.000-08:00

I've often wondered about measuring success within the church plant paradigm. Is it wrong to measure or should we just believe we are on track and keep going?

I recently came to the conclusion that defining a "win" or measuring success with measureable results is healthy and can lead to good stewardship in both time and money.

For instance, if we are spending a good chunk of the budget on outreach, yet nobody is getting saved, nobody is visiting the church or there are no other hints of success...then maybe we are doing something wrong. This could be a matter of tweaking or it can involve a complete overhaul. Reminder: Dont fall in love with the methodology... fall in love with the goal - to reach the lost for Jesus in this case.

Within the church plant itself, how can we measure success? I think it will differ from church to church. It may help you to review your missions statement and see if you are doing what you claim is your mission : )

Here are some goals I have set for our recent church plant and how we can determine if we are on track:

Excitement & Passion for the Great Commision

> 75% involved in local outreach

>50% involved in world missions

Excited About Church

>50% Inviting friends on a regular basis

> 75% involved in service within the local church

>75% giving financially to the local church

Committment to Spiritual Growth

> 75% involved in small groups / "Life Groups"

Write the goals down and file them away. Revisit your file regularly (I recommend monthly) to see how you are measuring up.

Using Pop Culture.....

2009-11-30T21:19:00.000-08:00

Here is an excerpt from the website: www.Neverquitonmoday.com For more - check out the site and the blog article "How to Create a Buzz".

Churches need to be able to speak in the language of pop culture and communicate the Bible in and with this strange new culture. In a sense, we need to become cross-cultural missionaries. Like missionaries, we must dwell in the culture and use the language, the signs, and the symbols of that culture to reach people. Rather than embracing pop culture, this means we must leverage it.

At our church, we’ve found at least three different methods for using the language of pop culture to reach people.

Using pop culture to acquaint people with the stories of the Bible.
Looking for pop culture examples to illustrate biblical truths.
Employing secular images and songs to raise a deep life issue to the surface of people’s thinking.
This is important because speaking someone’s language is the first step toward gaining a hearing from them.

2009-10-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

Imagine if churches (new and existing) would think of real resource sharing (life, programs, teaching, money, gifts, volunteers, knowledge) beyond their own congregation. What if we (all churches) had a "same team" mentality?

I have seen this in large churches that share graphics, free sermons on MP3 and even video productions. Lifechurch.tv comes to mind. The leadrship is kingdom minded and freely shares resources with anyone regardless of denomination or affilliation.

This past week I saw this within our own community. Three kingdom minded churches gathering to do an outreach, for the sole purpose of sharing the love of Jesus. We went a bit further and gathered for worship the next day as 1 congregation. Each church did their part.

After the weekend events there was a buzz around the community. People actually witnessed 3 churches that not only got along and liked each other, but were encouraging each other to be all that God has in mind for them. The leadership at each of the churches met and prayed for one another...prayed for the churches...and prayed for the community. Going a step further, each pastor expressed their desire to help the others in any way possible.

I cant help but think that God was smiling as He looked down on His children getting along and doing His will - Loving Him...Loving one another....and making a difference.

Great Quote!

2009-09-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

"To reach people no one else is reaching....we must do things no one else is doing" Craig Groeschel via Andy Stanley.

Take some time and ponder that statement. We can continue doing things out of habit...or we can take a risk and do something different....and possibly make a difference for the Kingdom!

Replanting churches?

2009-08-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

Dictionary.com defines replanting: “To plant (something) again or in a new place…” In a church replant, a church avoids permanent death by recognizing it will no longer flourish unless conditions are drasticallychanged to facilitate growth.

Here are some facts about churches in the USA:

1) 3,500 churches in the USA close every year.

2) 80% of all churches are in decline.

Can anything be done to stop these closures or to reverse the decline? Of course there is!

I have heard that it is easier to birth a baby then raise the dead. So....why would anyone try to revive a dying church?

There are 2 good answers:

1) Because there are people in the church that God cares about. These people are probably the most faithful and have been praying for some type of renewal.

2) Because with God's help....it can be done. It's not easy...but it is possible. Just ask my brothers in Nigeria about people raising from the dead : )

The process begins with a primary vision carrier - much like a typical church planter. The replanter however must have some additional skill sets. You see, they must be able to reorganize and pastor without the help of a core team that are excited about the "new" church. Typically, a replant consists of a leader and some people but people who are somewhat burned out. The excitement of church...has gone.

The replanter must make tough decisions. I liken these decisions to that of a triage nurse - there are things that need immediate attention and there other items that can wait. Most people would try the "turn the ship slowly" rule. I would recommend making tough decisions quicker rather than slower. Dont worry about losing people. Do what you are lead to do as the leader! The smaller the group, the faster you can make changes! Small groups that have been around for a period of time usually need quick change so that life can take place once again.

Note on change: Dont make unneeded changes based solely on your personal preferences. There should be a reason for change. If you can't clearly articulate it and it's value, put it on the back burner.

People Will Leave.....

2009-08-07T18:53:00.001-07:00

People will leave your church. The majority of your core group (typically 80%) will not be with you in 2 years. This is just how it is! As leaders, we need to understand....even expect this to happen. Steve Sjogren calles these people "scaffolding" in one of his books - Community of Kindness. It seems as God sends people in for a season in order to help get things going. Then for some reason or another, they leave.

There are many reasons for a person to leave. Some are legitimate such as a calling to another area, or a return to a sending church. Some reasons are selfish in nature. Some people will stay as long as the church is small. Once they see growth, they bail. Some will go quietly and others will go crazy and try and bring others out. Some will talk to you about their leaving....some people will leave and then talk about you : )

If you are like me....you might take it personally and wonder what you may have done or said to make them want to leave. But I believe we should expect this to happen and when people leave, we should bless their departure and thank them for their contribution to the church plant. Dont beat yourself up with doubts and dont try and keep someone who is determined to leave. By all means, NEVER promote someone to leadership in order for them to stay. This will only lead to problems down the road. Take the high road and bless them and get on with the ministry that God has called you.

Signage....

2009-07-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

OAIM is currently helping one of our network churches re-launch. After years of being average...they wanted to step it up, make a difference in their community and bring excellence into everything they do.

One of the first things I did with the lead pastor was to drive to the church with him and look at everything from a fresh perspective. One of the 1st things I noted was the sign. The lettering was so small, nobody who was driving the speed limit of 45 mph could read. Church signs should communicate a clear, concise message that passers-by can read and understand while driving past it.

I make comments about signage all the time - so much in fact, my son Skyler points out good signage as we drive around town. It may do some of you good just to get in your car and drive around and see what signs are clear and noteworthy.

While on the subject of signs - I had a guy come to one of our churches and said the reason he came to the church was because we didnt have some cheesy saying on the church sign. I couldnt agree more... those signs turn me off. You know ...the ones that say stuff like,"Whats missing in Ch__ch? answer: UR". Or how about “Soul food served here!”

Let me add, good ole common sense will go a long way.

Top 10 Reasons Young Adults Drop out of Church

2009-07-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a survey which was put together by our friends at Lifeway. Very interesting results, but makes me wonder if being outward focused and making a difference in the community would put an end to some of these reasons (or excuses) why young people no longer attend church.

Church Planting Tips

2009-07-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

How do you start a church from scratch? By a faith that envisions what God's will is and then sees it come to pass.

Here are some great tips for a new church plant:

Have an excellent children's church. Children raised in an environment of "can-do" faith find it hard later to settle for "ho-hum" Christianity.

Welcome newcomers as guests....not just visitors. Reach out in friendship quickly, since we know what it's like to be new, too.

Be Flexible. If a change is needed, dont take a year to pass it through all the committees and sub-committees. Take a pragmatic approach, "If we have to, we can put it together in the next week or two". Younger churches are typically good at managing change

Enjoy Being Casual. Some folks enjoy dressing up on Sundays--and that's okay--but casual dress should be embraced and in my opinion...encouraged--slacks rather than suits or dresses. The outer appearance isn't so important here; it's the inner person who is important.

In Order to Lead......Leaders Must Read

2009-06-20T05:15:00.000-07:00

I once heard a man say, "A person who can read but chooses not to do so....is no better off than an illiterate." I believe that as leaders, we should be readers. If you drive much, consider getting books on CD or MP3.

Here are some books that I have read and highly recommend for church planters:

Launch - Starting a New Church by Scratch by Nelson Searcy

The Purpose-Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message & Mission by Rick Warren

Community of Kindness by Steve Sjogren and Rob Lewin

Purpose-Driven® Youth Ministry by Doug Fields

For House Churches / Simple Churches I highly recommend - Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens by Neil Cole

Get Out of that Funk!

2009-06-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Feel like you or your church is in a rut?

What do you do when you cant seem to get out of the "funk"?

Get around right people to get you out of the "funky rut"!

Jim Collins' Good to Great Principle: Get the right people on the bus, get the wrong people out of the bus and then DRIVE to your destination.

I have always said that everyone needs a Timothy (someone you mentor), a Barnabas (someone that encourages you) and a Paul (someone that mentors you). A leader of leaders so to speak. I have been blessed to have some people in my life that I respect and can receive from, knowing that they have my best interest in mind.

Lone Ranger ministers as well as "Lone Ranger" churches are typically not the healthiest. If you don't have a coach or mentor...I highly encourage you to find one. You will see that this one element can take you and your ministry to the next level.

So...surround yourself with people greater than you and chances are ... you will get back on track as well as have longevity.

Dare to Dream

2009-06-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

I dream of a church that.....

follows Jesus without question, reservation or fear.

values the things Jesus valued, is broken for the things that break Jesus’ heart and rejoices over the things Jesus rejoices over.

is always passionate for the outsider - spiritually , economically and culturally.

is made of people who are authentic, courageous, humble, honest, passionate and compassionate.
raises up and releases disciples who will in turn do the same.

experiences the undeniable presence of God in worship.

is of such impact and blessing to its community that the city would grieve its absence.

at the front of everyones lips is the recognition that we are part of something enor- mously larger than ourselves, the Kingdom of God.

are not just hearers of the Word but doers of the Word.

are a people who walk by faith, are messengers of hope and are known by love.

has a vision for the world and acts in a focused, intentional and strategic manner to change the world for the sake of Jesus Christ.

what occurs through their community can only be attributed to the hand of the Living God.

Signs of a Healthy Church

2009-06-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here’s some thoughts shared by Dino Rizzo regarding Healthy Church Growth Indicators:

■The DNA of the house is everywhere. The leadership carries the culture all the way. It is a personal thing to them.
■There is a high level of interactiveness - and in the interactivity, there is a life-giving atmosphere.
■There is a momentum - unity about the vision and mission that relentlessly pushes love for Jesus, love for Jesus, love for Jesus.
■There is a lot of buy-in. Everything moves at the speed of the leadership because people generally will buy into the leadership prior to buying into the vision.
■The pastor has the ability to engage, enlarge and build the team. There is a high priority on making room for people to flourish.
■There is the irreplaceable God-factor: HUMILITY
■There is an element of outreach in almost everything that happens.

Check out more from Dino, a great outreach oriented leaders @ www.dinorizzo.com

Missional Church Advice - Ed Stezer & Alan Hirsch

2009-05-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

Worship - Another Piece of the Puzzle

2009-05-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Praise and worship in the Start-up Church

Besides the lead pastor, the worship leader is probably the most important part of the staffing puzzle. This being said, don’t be too quick to jump on the 1st person who comes to you with a guitar.

Here are some tips in selecting a worship leader:

Beware of the big-head: Being a musician typically means having some ego. After all, it takes some self confidence to perform. What you don’t want is a worship leader who thinks he or she is the reason everyone is at the church. I call this a case of the big head.

Bible School Students: This can be a good source for finding a worship leader. The downside to this is the person may be temporary – staying only a few months. I wouldn’t worry too much. In most cases, God has someone on the way to you, in order to pick up where the other left off and take it too another level.

Online Classifieds: I’ve been involved in church planting for almost 10 years now and utilized this method….once. My experience wasn’t the best to say the least. It seems that many of the big-heads responded to my advertisement. I believe this can work however if the lead pastor uses discernment. I would even recommend getting a second opinion in the event the lead pastor is not musical. I know of one experience where a pastor who was tone-deaf hired a worship leader who was…tone-deaf. He didn’t know until people in the church started to talk.

Plan B

Use musical tracks / song tracks for the service. Tracks are music and background vocals and can be purchased from your local Christian bookstore as well as online sources. You will need someone to sing the melody line. I suggest you record the selected songs onto one CD. Don’t forget to use a combination of praise songs and worship songs. It may be helpful to think in terms of flow. It would flow better to have faster songs and then slower ones

Church Identity

2009-05-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

We've been working on some logos for the new church plant in Manila - Open Arms Revolution Church. Here are two of the proto-types:

5 Ways to Engage Non-Believers

2009-05-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

1) Eat with non-Christians. Doing lunch is always a great idea and it doesn’t take a lot of time! After all….we all have to eat!

2) Develop relationships with co-workers. Start viewing your job as the missions field….not just a 9-5 grind. Start praying for them today!

3) Walk or bike around your neighborhood. Start getting to know those around you by name.

4) Be a “regular” at your local coffee shop, convenience store, barber or beauty shop etc…

5) Talk more! Guys are probably the worst. I know that when I go shopping, I’m on a mission. I buy my items and get out. Instead of that routine, we should take some time and talk to those around us. Even a cordial greeting can make someone’s day

What if Starbucks Marketed Like A Church

2009-05-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how we can sometimes think we are doing something cutting edge without giving much thought to how it appears to others. Checkout this clip from http://www.beyondrelevance.com/

Let's Be The Solution

2009-05-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

Just read an article that said, “America is a less Christian nation than it was 20 years ago, and Christianity is not losing out to other religions, but primarily to a rejection of religion altogether.

Why is this? Why are we a generation or two away from being a pagan nation?

Has Christianity lost its relevance? The answer is a bold NO WAY!

Why? Because Jesus is relevant!!

Matthew 9:16-17
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Here is the point: God loves His bride - the Church. He cares about those older traditional churches (old wineskins) but He cares about the latter generations as well. I have friends in PA who were reaching a young group of kids. My friends didnt intend on starting a church. When they tried to bring the kids to the local church however, they didnt seem to fit. They felt uncomfortable and were quite honestly... bored and didnt see any significance in church attendance. This was the delemma at hand and they could 1) force the issue and continue bring the kids to a church they didnt like or 2) they could start something new - "a new wineskin".

When my friends thought this through, they realized that they were putting "new wine" into "old wineskins" which wasnt healthy for either. This has nothing to do with age per say...it has more to do with a mindset....a resistence to change.

Here is how Patrick J. Griffiths summarized one of his blog entries:
"New wine must be poured into new wineskins,’ not accommodated to those comfortable things in our lives with which it is basically incompatible. The message for disciples is to be uncompromising about our faith and the work of the Spirit in our lives. If our honored customs and habits, and the structures of our society must adjust to that, then so be it.”

To that I say Right On!!

Dont be afraid to try something new....something radical. Not the "oh no those people are fruitcakes" type radical ...but the "wow those people are making a difference" kind of radical : ) God has called you for such a time as this!!! When people see that you are real...when they see you want to make a difference....when they see that you are doing more than "playing church"....we can change their minds about Christians and Christianity.

Gotta go...I have plane to catch!

Leadership and Communication

2009-05-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

I heard John Maxwell once say that "everything rises and falls on leadership and leadership rises and falls on communication."

Communication with regards to church planting has many facets:

1) Leader to the Team - Leaders should be consistent, clear and courteous.

2) Team to the Leader - 2-way communication is a must. In the same way God has given you (the primary vision carrier) a calling to start the church.... your team also has a calling - to help the vision become a reality! Remember that you are not the only "anointed" one in the group.

3) Amongst Team Members - Team members should be able to communicate, encourage and help one another afterall this is a team. The one analogy I give when training up a team deals with a field.

Imagine 3 fields....actual fields or tracts of land. Field "A" belongs to you. You can do anything you want to do in this field. You can plant corn...build a house....ignore it....whatever you want! Field "B" is a field that you lease. A lease typically spells out the terms of the agreement. If you lease the field for the purpose of growing corn.....thats what you do. If you raise cattle in Field "B" or build a house on it, you are breaking the terms of the lease and will probably be asked to leave. Field "C" is not yours....and you dont lease it for a specific purpose. If you are on this land...You are trespassing since you have no business on it.

You see, its ok to help and encourage but we need to be mindful that we dont trespass into anothers "field". The team will function properly when we stay on mission : )

4) Team to the Public - I recommend we use every bit of technology that is at our disposal. Again - consistency, clarity and courtesy is a must!

In the weeks to come, we will go into more detail in these 4 areas, giving church planters some practical ideas in which they can implement right away.

Location...Location...Location

2009-05-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

I have a real estate broker's license. In obtaining the license, I was taught that real estate is local in nature...with every area a bit different then any other. I believe that churches are the same way. Each is different... each located in an area which will be different then any other, with different customs, education levels, employment rates etc... With this in mind, each church plant will have its very own "thumb print". It will be unique.

The reason I share this is because so many times as church planters, we will try and mimick a method that worked in other areas without first evaluating what our area is like and the needs of the community. I saw this first hand when people jumped onto the G12 bandwagon. This method works great in Bogata, Columbia. Will it work in your area? Before you look at the "numbers" in Columbia, pray and ask God what is His plan for your area.

God used the mega-church to reach Korea. God used the house church movement to grow in China. We need to hold our models loosely and hold onto our mission firmly! Remember....you and your church is unique and has its own thumb print. As the leader, it's your responsibility to discover it!

Base of Operations

2009-05-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

We have located a building that will serve as our base of operations in Antipolo - on the outskirts of Manila. The building will serve several purposes:

1) As our headquarters - the launch team will meet here to make plans and prepare for the upcoming launch as well as future outreaches.

2) As our church planting school - We believe in sowing into others therefore we will be teaching others to plant effective churches. The school is 100% free of charge. Interested? Send us an email to setup an informal interview.

3) As an outreach center - We will serving the community through servant evangelism.

4) As a gathering place - Prior to the official church launch in April 2010, we will hold informal Bible studies at our HQ.

5) As a guest house for short term missionaries. We have a group coming in August to help with the church plant. If you desire to help or are looking for short term mission opportunities....shoot us an email! jeff@oaim.net

A New Journey

2009-04-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here I am in NC....6 days away from going to the Philippines (PI) for the start of a new journey. You see, I have planted several churches in the USA ...and have assisted many churches in the PI. (In fact, we have a healthy network in the country.) But this is trip is different. This is the first time that I will be the lead pastor at a church plant overseas.

Church planting 101 says that the primary vision carrier has to have a God-given vision for the church. Here is what I am hearing....and sensing in my heart:

* A church that is edgy....many will look at the church and wonder if its a church

* A church that embraces technology....texting...blogging...email...twitter....facebook....Friendster

* A church that reaches a generation of unchurched people....people that are turned off by the thought of "church".

*A church that is focused outward.... making a differnce in the community from day 1

*A church that loves and welcomes everyone regardless of education level...background...dress etc...

* A church that is actually fun to attend!

* A church that people will want to invite friends

* A church that enables everyone to use their talents - teaching...art...music...poetry...acting

Hmmmm.... I'm getting excited!

So.. save this blog to your favorites and check back often to see what we are up to. If you're interested in joining us, shoot me an email - jeff@oaim.net