The Hand-Off

Last week, I was reading in Acts 6 when complaints began to arise among the believers in the early church in Jerusalem. The problem was that the Greek speaking widows were being overlooked in the daily food service. The Twelve called a meeting and said, "It isn't right for us to set aside proclamation of God's word in order to serve tables." So seven well-respected men were chosen from the early believers who were well respectd and who would foucs on the daily food distribution so that that no one was being left out. This left the Twelve the freedom to focus on prayer and the proclammation of the word.

This is the struggle of a small or maintenence church. Most of the ministries revolve around the pastor. This is usually a result of the pastor not being able to let go- or of a consumeristic mindset of the congregation rather than a service/ministry mindset. Often it is the combination of the two. Reading the passage, I'm struck by the Twelve being able to focus on what they were best equipped to do- pray and proclaim the word. The food service was a ministry that others could do.

I went to a Catalyst Oneday event in Baltimore a few years back. I remember Craig Groeschel's words about delegation. He encouraged the crowd of pastors/leaders/worship leaders/youth pastors/and hipsters who love Jesus that we should delegate everything that only we can do. Groeschel said that there are only four things that only I can do. They are...

1. Be the best husbad I can be to my wife: If not, someone else will fill that void
2. Be the best father I can be to my children: If not, someone or something will take my place
3. Takes care of my body. It's the only one I will get and only I can decide to treat it right.
4. Take care of my spiritual life. No one can get up and pray for me- or study my Bible.

If we are equipping and releasing people in ministry- then we afford ourselves the space to work on that which only we can control. By delegating, we grow the faith of the people around us while growing our own faith. As 2012 begins to move forward, I want to equip others to share in ministry with me, to call men and women to minister in their passion so that I might be able to do the same. I want to hand-off important parts of ministry so that I can serve out of my passions and strengths for a great impact for the kingdom.

What are some things that you can delegate in 2012? Re-read the list above, which of the four areas have you been neglecting? How will you grow those areas in 2012?

2012 Reading Plan

One of the great joys that I have in being in ministry in a larger town (at least larger than my previous location) is connecting with our pastors, leaders, and Christians who are pursuing a life with God.  I've been wanting to get back on the blogging horse for awhile, but haven't done it.  Thanks to a blog post and conversation with Paul Bowman- I have the inspiration for a post and hopefully the catalyst for more regular blogging.

So here are some of the books that I plan on reading in 2012 and a brief explanation of why.

American Saint: Francis Asbury and the Methodist:  It's a biography of one of the most important leaders of American Methodism.  It is said that he rode over 30,000 miles on horseback- and that more people recognized Francis Asbury than Thomas Jefferson in his day. Why do I want to read this?  Well, I did attend Asbury College (his namesake) and I am a Methodist Pastor.  But above all, Methodism was a dynamic movement during and after Asbury's time- which may come as a surprise for those accustomed to the institution called The United Methodist Church.  Here's praying that we can, through the Holy Spirit, regain the movement!

The Pastor: A Memoir, by Eugene Peterson:  I can remember when The Message came out in sections back in the 1990's as a teenager.  The advertisements made me want to read The Message- and I wasn't disappointed as it has brought fresh insight on my spiritual journey- as well as Peterson's many other books.

For Calvinism and Against Calvinism   This is certainly an era where New Calvinism is active in our culture.  From the Passion Movement, artist like Lecrae, and the influence of pastors such as John Piper, Calvinism has been making a resurgence.  The problem is- I'm not a Calvinist!  Growing up in the Methodist Church- I have a Wesleyan-Arminian background and find parts of Calvinism troubling.  But I want to read both books to have a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of Calvinism.

Arminian Theology:  Myths and Realities:  This piggy-backs off the previous books as I want to better understand my theological heritage.  I commented to a friend earlier about how muddied theologically we become as we begin to listen to podcast of various pastor's of a variety of theological strains.  Part of the challenge for us as pastors, leaders, and Christians will be to coherently know what we believe.

Last Supper and Lord's Supper, by I. Howard Marshall:  I am currently a Provisional Elder in The United Methodist Church.  Before now and next November, I have to write and teach a four week Bible study on communion/eucharist/Lord's supper.  Having already done some research, this is on my list and I have begun to read as I prepare a study for our congregation.

There are several other books on discipleship and church leadership that I want to read in the coming months, but I don't have the titles here.  Of course, there is the temptation that some book will come out in the meantime and work its way onto my list.

What are you planning on reading in 2012?

Catalyst Review: Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley opens and closes Catalyst.  And since we had to leave early to catch the plane on Friday, I only heard Andy's opening remarks (until I get the audio download of the main sessions).

Andy began by saying: "The more successful you are, the less accessible you'll become."  Now, when I first heard that, I wanted to recoil and fight with Andy because ministry is about people.  I would like to think that as my ministry grows, that I would continue to be accessible to people and be interested in what they are doing.

What Andy was talking about was quality over quantity.  In his words- "you can't shut it all out, but you can't take it all in."  There are limits to the boundaries we set for ourselves- and as pastors and leaders, we need to be aware of those boundaries which enable us to focus on the most important tasks-- and allow us to go deeper in our relationships by not spreading ourselves out too thin.


Stanley said these things which I think are worth repeating.

1.  First, "fairness ended in the Garden of Eden.  Don't be fair, be engaged."  We sometimes think that if we do something for one person, we have to do that for everyone else.  Stanley says we don't.  We can choose to do one persons wedding while turning down another opportunity.  We choose (through God's leading) who we are going to go deep in relationship with.

2.  Go deep rather than wide:  I kinda mentioned this already.  But choose a few deep relationships/ministry opportunities to develop rather than spreading yourself too thin.

3.  Go long term rather than short term:  Make it a point to invest in a few point in a sustained/long term relationship.  Mentor them, minister to them so that they might be able to do so for others.

4.  Go time, not just money.  Be personally invested in projects and missions.  Pick one spot around the world and develop a long term relationships with the people and your church.  Personally go and help others catch a vision for sustained ministry.

Finally- Stanley said "When you do for one, you end up doing far more than just one."  When we mentor and disciple- we multiply as the people we disciples disciple others.

My Take:  It was not an earth shattering message- but it was a message that fit the theme of being present.  Stanley encourages us to be engaged in ministry.  To be fully present.

First Thoughts From Catalyst

I had the opportunity to attend the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, GA last week.  Catalyst is a leadership conference that draws in 13,000 leaders from the church and the marketplace from around the world.  This was my first Catalyst experience and it's easy to say that it won't be my last.

The theme of the two days was Be Present.  This is such an important theme because many times I find myself thinking ahead or worrying about something that happened in the past rather than being completely present in the moment.  This was an important reminder for me.  More important than my ministry is how I am "being present" with my family.  I am a thinker and a dreamer- so that means that my brain is running long after (or before) I leave the church office.  Being present means that I need to engage my wife and my two daughters relationally.  I need to stop, pause, and breathe slow when it comes to my family.  I need to not rush my daughter through their childhood- but savor every moment.

So here is to lingering, to taking things slow, using crock pots instead of microwaves, listening twice as much as I speak, engaging and asking questions, more date nights to just sit and talk- or to just look each other in the eye.  Here is to nurturing these important relationships and pass on the presence of Jesus the Messiah to my girls and be the Godly father and husband that they need and that I am called and committed to be.

Lebron James and Wisdom

Shortly after losing the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James had some interesting words to say;

"All the people that was rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today, they have the same personal problems they had today. I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do with me and my family and be happy with that. They can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be on being happy about not only myself, but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal, but they have to get back to the real world at some point."

Naturally, all sorts of people got on LeBron about the comments and what they appear to communicate.  This post is about judging, but about considering the people in our lives who mentor and guide us.  I'm not sure who mentor's LeBron James- or if he has a mentor.  Likely, if he did, his mentor wouldn't be too thrilled with these comments. Too many times, in sports and Hollywood- celebrities are more in-tune with their entourage than an older and wiser mentor.

In 1 Kings 12, Rehoboam has ascended to the throne and is beginning his rule as King.  Some people come and speak to Rehoboam about lightening the work and tax load on the people.  Rehoboam took time to go to the old men who had been advisors and mentors to his father, Solomon.  They replied that Rehoboam should be a servant to the people, and that if he becomes a servant that the people will be loyal to him.  Verse 8 reads,

"But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him."

 Rehoboam went to his entourage for guidance.  They, in turn, told the newly crowned King to say "My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."  They counseled the King to be even harsher on the people.  Rehoboam disregarded the wisdom of the older generations.

I don't know who mentors Lebron, but you know who your mentors are.  It is very wise for each of us to seek out an individual(s) who are older, wiser, and more mature in their faith to regularly meet with for guidance in our life and faith.  We must embrace the older generations for the wisdom that they can pass down to each of us.

Likewise, we must ask- "Who are we mentoring?"  What teenager/college student/young adult are we pouring our life, our prayer, our time, and our wisdom into?  This is how we make disciples- one at a time.

What is the best piece of wisdom that a mentor has ever given you?  What's the best book your mentor ever recommend reading?

Laying It All Out

Seth Godin writes,

"The problem with putting it all on the line is that it might not work out.  The problem with not putting it all on the line is that it will never (ever) change for the better. Not much of a choice, I think. No risk, no art. No art, no reward." 

Does your church put it all on the line?  If not, why not?  Why do we allow fear to cripple us when we serve the Christ who has overcome the world? 

What would your church look like if you laid it all on the line?  What would your marriage look like if you laid it all on the line?  How would you parent your children if you laid it out on the line?

No risk, no art.  No art, no reward. 

High risk- high reward.

Church- let's go all out.  Let's lay it all out on the line for Jesus. Let's allow God to use us for something great!

Church Plant Boot Camp Pt. 2

What is the purpose of planting churches?

Generally speaking, churches are to make disciples.  Churches are to be the Body of Christ in the world.  Churches are to reflect God's love.

Curiously, in the curriculum for the Boot Camp was this statement,

"Church planting is about one thing- Putting People in Seats."

I posted this on my twitter feed and some comments came in regarding the above statement.  I wanted to spend a little time talking about this.

• I don't feel like the presenters have made the case that we plant churches to get people in seats.
• In fact, one of the presenters Top Ten Mistakes New Church Pastors Make states, "Pursuing the Great Commission to the Peril of Ignoring the Great Commandment."  We were told to be a lover of God trying to plant a church rather than a church planter trying to love God. 
• In a sense, it is more difficult to make disciples or share the Gospel if we do not get people in the seats.  Our worship services are not to be Holy Huddles, but we are to reach out and invite others in.  However- weekly worship services are not the only place where disciples can be made.  We must be willing to go outside the church walls and build relationship with those who do not know Christ.

While I don't think the presenters really mean putting butts in seats is the most important task of church planting, I wish the above statement did not appear in the material.  Much of what is wrong in the church growth movement is the importance that is placed on getting butts in the seats (and dollars in the offering plate).  The emphasis for the church planter is to develop and missionary heart and love for the lost and to live incarnationally among them- inviting them to encounter the transformational love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Church Plant Boot Camp Pt. 1

I drove into Richmond, Virginia on Monday night to attend the Virginia Conference Church Plant Boot Camp with Jim Griffith of Griffithcoaching.com.  There are people here from all over Virginia, Eastern Pa, Wisconsin, New England, Ohio, North Carolina, and Minnesota. While I came by myself (short notice), there are many teams here from church plants in the UMC.

The first day of workshops consisted of The 10 Most Common Mistakes a New Start Makes, Self-Care, Creating Mission Alignment, and some nuts and bolts stuff about creating a good first impression.  The first few session were pretty good-- with some good thoughts on them.  The 1st impressions sessions was decent, nothing groundbreaking, but it came out of order.  The coaches have talk repreatedly that a major reason a new start fails is because of a premature launch...which made it intersting when we discussed the nuts and bolts of how to do a full fledge worship gathering before discussion the when and how of developing a launch team and plan.

The second day focused a lot of how to determine your public launch timeline.  There were a couple of bombs today.  First, the presenters said that critical mass to reach before a public launch is 149.  They believed that this was an important number because it is big enough where the pastor will need other leaders to hand off responsibility to....and that it creates more momentum.  My guess for "critical mass" was 75-100.  When we began the H2O Gathering at Avenue UMC, our first Sunday was 91 and we rarely dipped below that in the first few weeks. 

I have one more day left of the boot camp and I will post some more thoughts in the following days.

How We Do Ministry

We had our first Church Council meeting last week at Hope UMC and I started the meeting off with a document of how I hope and desire to do ministry at Hope. You could say that these are my ministry values. There are likely a few ideas that I will add later, but I wanted to share them with you.

1. Prayerfully- We can do nothing without covering it in prayer. As a leader, I am challenging you and myself to be committed to praying for our church, our leaders, our community, and our world on a daily basis. “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"God does nothing except in response to believing prayer." John Wesley

"No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack." E.M. Bounds

2. Excellence- In everything that we do as a community, we must give our very best. We should not settle for a half baked plan, idea, event, or worship service. We need to strive for excellence in every facet of ministry. Excellence is an attractive quality!

3. Passionately- Our faith is caught as much as it is taught. In all we do, we will seek to do it with passion because we are passionately in love with God because of the salvation we’ve received through Jesus Christ. Why would anyone want to be part of something that we are not passionate about?

4. Innovation- The world around us is constantly changing through innovation. As a church, we will strive to be innovative in everything that we do. We have the life changing love of Jesus Christ to share and we should be looking for new ways to share it. We will not give into the temptation to say, “We’ve never done it that way before.” Money is not an issue when it comes to innovation as creativity is heightened when resources are few.

5. Evaluation- We will be constantly evaluating all our ministries, events, and outreaches to see if they are fulfilling their purpose. In order to achieve excellence, we must be willing to examine the effectiveness of what we are doing. This will require an open heart to receive evaluation and a gentle spirit in giving it.

6. Vision- We will be working on refining, defining, and discerning God’s vision for Hope Church. This vision will guide who we are as a Church and where we spent our energy and resources. Once a vision is established, we will remain focused on the vision.

7. Accountability- We are a community connected by our relationship with God. We are a community who is striving to walk in the light- to live as Jesus lived. We will create an atmosphere of encouragement and accountability in our personal walk with God- and in the ways our church communicates our faith. At all times, we will seek to choose words that build up rather than tear down. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

8. Freedom to Fail- certainly we don’t want to fail, and will not plan to fail, but we will be free to try new adventures without the fear of failure because we know that even if we fail, we will learn more about ourselves, our church, our faith, and our God. We will not allow a fear of failure to paralyze us from action.

Your comments and thoughts?  What would you add to the list for your ministry values?

Leadership Lessons From Shark Week- Pt. 2

In yesterday's post, I spoke a little about how a shark cannot swim backwards- they can only go forward- or where their eyes are looking.  This brings up the great question for your church, business, and personal life of, "Where are you looking?"  Where is your focus, because you may be moving forward- but if your not looking at the right object you could still be heading in the wrong direction.

It comes down to vision.

What is the vision of your church?  Vision helps the church (and the people of make up the church) know where we are looking.  If we are called to be a church that serves the poor, we may not be looking at starting a Christian school because it may conflict with our vision (But if you believe it works- go for it!).  Or you may be called as a church to reach out to the unchurched, unmarried young adults in your community.  Knowing your calling, or having vision, makes it easier to move forward as a church.  It makes it more unlikely that you'll be pull in multiple directions.

The question, "Where are you looking" should hopefully be answered with "Jesus."  That sounds rather simplistic, but there are plenty of times when churches and individuals do have their eyes focused on Jesus.  With Jesus in our sights, the body can become a movement as we seek to share the love and grace of God in our communities.

Keep moving forward with your eyes on Jesus!

What is your church's vision?  Who are you called to?  How does that vision keep your leadership focused?

Leadership Lessons From Shark Week- Pt. 1

Since it is Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and since there is nothing else compelling on TV right now, Andrea and I have been watching some of the shark programming at night.  We are both filled with a bit of awe because of the shark (amazing creatures) and the craziness of people who study them (like getting into a cage with a shark. 

During one of last night's shows, the scientist/shark observers were attempting to lure a shark into clear cylinder to see how the shark would respond...and most importantly whether or not the shark could swim backwards.  After the shark tried moving through the cylinder a few times with no success, the shark essentially folded itself in half to get out of the cylinder.  It was amazing to see. 

So I've learned two things about sharks this week.

• Sharks must always keep moving.  When they stop moving they begin to die.
• Sharks can only go forwards, not backwards.

That sounds like a great lesson for us as Christians and as the Church. 

As the Church, we are a living breathing organism.  The Church is to be on the move- filled with purpose.  We must know who we are and what God calls us to do in our congregations and in our communities.  The Church is not designed to take a break, stop growing, or stop making an impact on the community.  The Church is designed to be a dynamic presence in the world because of Jesus Christ.

The Shark teaches us about forward motion rather than moving backwards.  How many times in our church meetings have you heard "That's not the way we've done it before?" or "Why can't our music program be like we had back in the day?"  This is backwards motion talk.  The speaker wants to recreate the past without taking into consideration the changes that have taken place to get to the present.  There are better, more forward motion questions that we should be asking as a church, like...

• Who are we called to minister to?
• How are we going to best share the gospel in our community?
• How is God calling us to grow as a Church?
• What unique gifts and talents do we possess as a Church and how can they be used to share the Good News of Jesus Christ?
• Does our giving reflect the ways in which God is calling us today (and tomorrow)?

As the shark can only move forward, the Church of Jesus Christ has a mission to fulfill- that the kingdom of God would be revealed here on earth.  May you be blessed this shark week as you move forward for the kingdom.

Coming tomorrow...pt. 2

Power, Authority and Ministry

I'm taking the class Mission of Jesus in Mark in a couple of weeks at seminary, and I have been reading The Mission of God by Christopher J. H. Wright for the class.  The book is very interesting- while a little heavy.  Something the author said about God and authority made me think about leadership within the church.

When people start talking about power and authority- it can sometimes lead to a negative conversation.  In fact, Andy Stanley spoke about power- and called it a four letter word (yes, it's five letters)...Stanley asks the question- "what happens when you look around the room and realize that you have the more power?"  (Check out the video below to see a funny take on this from funnymen Tripp and Tyler)  There must be a balance for a pastor or leader when exercising power and authority- but we cannot deny that we likely have power and authority because of our position.  Sometimes- power and authority is granted to us because of our title.  Other times it is earnred.  Power and authority can also be lost.

When I was a 10th grader in high school, I was on the varsity basketball team.  We had a coach who believed in the cuss and yell at your team method of spurring us on to victory.  This coach believed that he had the power and authority to belittle and yell at his players.  When leaders are granted power and authority- it is not a free pass to become little Napoleon's or to become a tyrant. 

Wright, in his book writes, "Authority is not just a list of positive commands; authority includes legitimating permission.  Authority authorizes; it grants freedom to act within boundaries."  As Christians, as we pursue the missio dei, God authorizes us (even empowers us) to bring about the kingdom of God.  We have been given boundaries and are free to act within those boundaries.

As Christian leaders- we too must use authority in liberating ways.  Being granted power should not mean that we become micro-managers (or worse- tyrants), but means that we establish boundaries and empower other leaders to work vibrantly, creatively, and freely within those boundaries.  This is a real use of authority.

In what ways are you using authority to liberate and empower other leaders to use their gifts, talents and abilities to the fullest?  How do you go about establishing the boundaries in which ministry takes place?  What are some authority fails that you've experienced?

World Cup Vision

While I am not a soccer (futbol) fan, I have enjoyed watching some of the World Cup this year (a 42' HD TV certainly helps).  I tried to watch the USA games and now that they are out of the tournament, I have lost a little interest in the whole affair.  If I had to pick another team, I would choose between Brazil and Paraguay as those are two countries that I have spend some time in. (I was in Paraguay during the previous World Cup.)  I have flags for both nations- which makes me feel as if I could cheer for them better than I could cheer for Ghana or Spain.  I lean to cheering for Brazil because, in my limited soccer knowledge, I know that they are good.  Very good.  But I also know that cheering for Brazil is similar to cheering for the Yankees or the Red Sox. 

That aside, watch Brazil play soccer makes one realize why soccer get called the "beautiful game."  I was captivated watching them play one of their earlier rounds as the team played with unity, artistry, and excellence.  One thing that was evident in the game (and any team game involving passing a ball) was the importance of vision.  In soccer (hockey, basketball, football, etc.), a player must be able to see the whole field in front of them.  In order to do that, their head must be up- not looking at the ball.  (I can remember my Dad and other basketball coaches telling me to "keep your head up!")  Vision alone is not enough to be successful, but the player must have anticipation.  So often in soccer, a player passes to an empty spot because they anticipate that their teammate is running to that spot to receive the pass.  Vision and anticipation is a lot hard to defend than just reactionary movement.

Vision and anticipation are two important components to Church leadership as well.  As leaders, we must have vision of the entire landscape of our church.  We can't just rely on what we can see right in front of us, but must use our peripheral vision in order to see what others are unable to see.  A soccer player is always scanning the field looking for the next opportunity to strike.  Likewise, the church leader must be scanning trends, social dynamics, and other opportunities in order to lead effectively.

Likewise, a leader needs anticipation.  Vision will help the leader see what is coming before anyone else realizes it.  Anticipation helps the leader jump start change or a new direction in stride rather than reacting to the new circumstances.  Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Church uses the example of a surfer.  A surfer is scanning the horizon (vision) for the just the right wave to ride (anticipation).  A surfer will pass up inferior waves until just the right one comes along.  As leaders, if we are using our vision and anticipating changes, we may, in essence, be passing to an empty spot on the field- but if we have done the hard work of leadership we know that the empty spot won't be empty for long as someone fills that spot and advances for an opportunity to score.  Now vision and anticipation do not always lead to a goal- and they won't always lead to successful leadership- but the more we practice it, the better we get at advancing the ball towards to goal. 

How are you practicing vision and anticipation as a leader?  What are some places where you are looking for trends in anticipation for the next wave?  What kind of pushback do you get when you're passing to an "empty space" as a leader?

6 Improvements for the 2011 Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference

Before beginning, I need to give credit to Josh Hale as he made a similar post regarding the Texas Annual Conference (Read post here).  His thoughts have helped to formalize some of my own thoughts in thinking about the Pen-Del 2010 Conference. 

This is my third year attending annual conference- and I had the most fun this year out of any.  This is likely due to being a little better connected to other pastors and laity who were there.  There is a bit of a learning curve for navigating through the ins and outs of annual conference (like how to beat everyone to the cafeteria!)

1.  Think Through our Worship Experiences:  This was one of the biggest complainst I heard from other clergy.  During our Celebration of Ministry, it was an hour or so of standing and sitting.  There was no continuity.  Rather than interspersing songs throughout the service- an extended opening and closing set would have flowed better. 

Our Ordination Service is another matter.  There is no better place to sing the hymns of the faith than with a gathering of clergy.  They sing like they mean it (hopefully we do!)!  Ordination was upstaged by songs that the clergy did not know.  There was much murmering where I was sitting during the songs as we mumbled our way through the lines. Once the candidates were ordained, we were to sing a verse or two from a song- but because it was one that very few knew- we just started clapping again. 

2.  Laptop Bar:  I have to give credit to Josh Hale for this one!  I was thankful there was wifi in the Fitzgerald Center as it made it easier to check email and tweet during the conference.  I had hoped to do some more posting about conference, but my laptop battery is not great.  There was no where to charge or plug in your laptop in the Fitzgerald Center.  Having a place to use the laptops and charge them would have been great for those of us who want to get information out- and who take notes and process that informaton electronically.

3. Has Anyone Heard of Twitter?  I counted only 3 people regularly using the pdcon hashtag during conference. 2 clergy and one lay member(there were 2 others who used it once or twice, bringing the total up to 5).  Really? 5 people who use Twitter during conference?  Are we that far behind as a conference and in our churches in using social media to connect with our congregations and with each other?  At Conference, Bishop Peggy Johnson said that churches need to utilze all the technological tools of the 21st century to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It looks like we have a ways to go for that!  Maybe for 2011, we can double or triple the number of clergy/laity using Twitter and other means to connect.  (Thanks to Rick Vance for distributing the Pen-Del hastag...you can follow Rick at @pendelconferenc)

4. Young Clergy Gathering/Networking:  My wife, Andrea, had to stay home for conference this year.  So when it ended each night, I stood there wondering what I was going to do for the next three hours until I would fall asleep.  There are not too many of us "young clergy" under 40 in the conference...but we should be connecting more than we are.  I will personally take it upon myself to be more proactive in this area next year.  It would have been great to go get something to eat some place after evening worship.

5.  Modeling New Ministry Tools:  Ok, so this is just a different name for Josh Hale's "Social Media Training Session."  In light of the Bishop's pronouncment of how churches and leaders should use social media to spread the gospel, it would probably help many people to know what Twitter is and how to use it (especially in light of how few people use it in our conference).  But we also have to have leaders who use it.  I looked around twitter some and not one of our District Superintendents or Bishop uses Twitter from what I could research.  Our conference facebook page hasn't had a post in almost a year!  As for blogs...well, you probably get the picture. 

6.  Streaming Video:  We already have cameras putting video up on the screens...couldn't we screen Conference for those back home who are interested in what goes on..whether business or worship.  If we are concerned that no one will be interested...what does that say about what we do at Annual Conference?

I could probably bring up some other improvements for next year, but this is a good starting place.  It will be 2011 next year and our Annual Conference still looks too much like 1985 (at best).  As I hope to have a long ministry in the conference, I look forward to the changes that will take place in the future as we gather to worship, to support one another, and to do the business of the church.

Book Review: Church In The Making

I just finished reading Ben Arment's book, Church In The Making: What Makes or Breaks a New Church Before It Starts?  If you're a church leader, you should probably know who Ben Arment is.  He has been a church planter and most recently has been gathering innovative leaders to share their thoughts and insights at events like The Whiteboard Sessions, STORY, and Dream Year.  You can see Ben's heart for equipping leaders in these ministries and in his book.

The first section of Church In The Making is called "Good Ground" and Ben uses the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:3-9 as an illustration of how some church plants are planted in fertile soil and some in rocky (and oppressive) soil.  Ben writes that the spiritual receptivity of the area where the church will be planted has everything to do with the success of the church.  Churches can be planted in "rocky soil" but will face more resistance and difficulties. 

The second section of the book, called "Rolling Rocks" was especially insightful as Arment wrote on creating momentum in a new church.  What was interesting was that he said that people and communities rarely care about a new church, but they care about relationships.  It is strategic then for church leaders to consider the human network that they find themselves part of and see where momentum can be gained. 

The final section is called "Deep Roots" and focuses on creating a leadership team that can carry the vision further than the pastor alone.  One way that deep roots are established is by doing something that no one else is doing.  Churches should find a niche, a focus and strive to do that with excellence in communicating the gospel.  A church should create an identity and purpose that they are unapologetic about- and will not compromise on.  That might mean that some people leave the church, but everyone has to get on board with the vision.  Likewise, if an activity or ministry does not help promote the vision, it should be pruned so that time, energy and finances can be put elsewhere.

While this book is geared towards church planters- it has some application for churches that have an established history.  We must consider that spiritual receptivity of our communities.  When Avenue Church launched our 9:30 worship gathering 7 years ago, we had been cultivating the soil of our church and our community for almost 8 months leading up to the launch.  On our first Sunday, when we expected 40-50 people, we had 90 and the service is regularly attended by 200-250 people.  This service is also doing something that no one else was doing in Milford at the time- which contributed to it's success.

I think that Pastors in the United Methodist Church could take more time to think about our social networks and how to leverage them.  Yes, it is difficult to do so in the UMC when you itinerate, but our churches are filled with people who have connections and networks throughout our communities.  Leaders and Pastors must learn how to tap into these networks in order to share the gospel.  It also means that as UM Pastors move into a community, that building relationships should be a very high priority.

Ben Arment's Church In The Making really energized me about church leadership and the possibilities of what God wants to do through the Church.  This book will be very high on my reading list for our church leadership- as it asks a lot of really good questions that most (all?) churches need to wrestle with.

Have you read the bok? What do you think?  Does your church do a good job of using social networks to spread the gospel?  What is creating momentum in your church? Leave your thoughts below in the comments!

Top 15 Things Learned At Catalyst One Day

I traveled with some friends to the Catalyst Oneday event in Baltimore (actually, Fulton) Maryland this past Monday.  I had been hoping to get to a Catalyst event and had originally planned on going to the big one in Atlanta in October. That didn't work out- so the Oneday event filled my void.

Let me just say it was a great day.  Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel were funny, challenging, transparent, and encouraging throughout the day.  Not just a training event, there was a real sense that God was at work in our lives throughout the day.

So, I have gone back through my notes and pulled out some things that I continue to think about or that challenge me.  I tried to keep it to 10, but I'm just going to let it rip with 15.  Read the list after the jump.

Doing Church on Purpose

At Avenue, we're in the midst of our Stewardship Campaign with a series titled: "Living Under the Blessing Tree."  After two weeks, the feedback has been really positive as we stress generosity in all we do.  The messages for the last two weeks have been spot on.  I had the privilege of preaching during the first week which focused on Paul giving thanks for the church at Philippi at the beginning of the book of Philippians.  This week, the message came from Mark 2:1-12.  This is the passage of the four friends who dig through the roof of a home to lower their paralytic friend down to see Jesus.  Of course, when he gets lower, Jesus first forgives the paralytic of his sins, which causes a stir among the scribes.  So, Jesus continues to completely heal the man.  Everyone was amazed.

As I listened to the message, I considered some of the implications of the text for the Church.  Our pastor encouraged us that each committee, team, meeting, group within the church should regularly ask this questions: 

"How will what we do tonight in this meeting/group/study/worship service/etc. help someone get close to Jesus?"

That's really the million dollar question for us.  By asking this question, it helps us to refine our focus as we gather for council/leadership meetings.  It refines what we do in youth ministry or our music ministries.  This question holds us accountable to who and what God has called us to be.  Just as the four friends worked to get the paralytic man to Jesus, how will what we do in our churches help others get to Jesus?

Now, some might say that everything we do in the Church is intended to bring people to Jesus.  That might be the hope, but sometimes we do it without any intentionality or purpose.  If our meeting has a printed agenda- the purpose of that meeting should be typed at the top, taking into consideration about how the outcome of the meeting will help bring someone closer to Jesus. 

There is a warning to the church here in Mark 2:1-12 as well.  It is heart warming to see these four friends overcome obstacles to get the paralytic man to Jesus....but who were the obstacles?  They were the scribes, religious leaders, and others gathered to hear the message of Jesus.  In essence, they were the Church!  The gathering of people had become so focus on what was happening inside the house (Jesus teaching), that they were not aware of the needs right around them.

I read once from Erwin McManus that as a church, we have become content to look in the mirror when we should be looking out the window.  We (the church) can run into the trap of being so inwardly focused that we miss out on the needs of our community just outside our doors.  If the crowd that had gathered in Mark 2:1-12 had seen the four friends and the paralytic man, they could have made a path to Jesus and helped bring someone closer to Jesus. 

Are we, as a Church, so inwardly focused that we are keeping others from getting to Jesus?  Do we take time to stop and consider how our staff meeting, leadership team meeting, etc. are designed to bring people closer to Jesus?  Are we intentional about it? My prayer is that as Christians, church leaders, and teachers that we would do all we can to help people experience the love and grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Going Beyond Discipleship

In our weekly staff meeting this past Monday, one of our staff people raised an interesting question.  She asked why we are so caught up in Discipleship but not in making Apostles.  A disciple, according to the HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, is a learner, an apprentice, a pupil.  An apostle is someone "who has been sent out," a person commissioned to transmit a message.  I'm not writing to debate whether or not there should be an official office of the church called Apostle, but rather how do we get people from being learners to leaders?

When one examines the Gospels, we see the various accounts of the disciples.  They followed Jesus around for three years.  The disciples learned by watching, observing, sitting at Jesus' feet, and by doing.  The disciples were prone to mistakes and misunderstanding what Jesus was talking about.  But then something happened.  When we leave the Gospels and come to the book of Acts, the disciples are filled with the Spirit and begin carrying on the ministry of Jesus.  They have become Apostles.  They have graduated their internship and commissioned to move out from Jerusalem to Judea and the ends of the earth.  They face persecution where they previously fled (when Jesus was arrested).  They are now even willing to die for their faith.  These uneducated men have moved from disciples to apostles- from learners to leaders of a movement that is alive and well today.

I'm guessing that our church is like many churches around the country and world.  We value discipleship.  We value growing in our relationship with God.  We value learning.  We value learning so much that many who are in our pews have no desire to move out into leadership.  Our church, like many other churches, offers a large selection of Bible Studies and small groups to help our members grow in their faith. Yet I think there is sometimes still a struggle to put our faith into action...to move from the classroom and into the world. 

How can the church move members from being learners to leaders?  It takes an intentional effort to disciple in a systematic way.  Just as Jesus gathered 12 men around him, I believe that one of the roles of the pastor is that of a mentor who should gather people around them to encourage them in their faith and help them move from learners to leaders.  When the time is right, those the pastor mentor will disciple a new group of learners with the hope of developing a group of Christians who will get caught up in the movement of Jesus Christ.

Does your church wrestle with moving from learners to leaders?  How does your church approach discipleship?  What are you doing to intentionally move from learner to leader?  Talk it out below!

Just Sniffing Around

I was watching the Tampa Bay-Boston game last night before going to bed and found something really interesting during the game. No, not the fact that the Red Sox came back to win (should have never happened). It was about Rays manager Joe Maddon.

Early in the game, TBS showed a video clip of Maddon before the game going around the outfield speaking with his pitchers. The commentators said that Maddon does this before every game and rarely calls a player into his office because he is out "in their office" on a daily basis. The commentators went on to say that Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa also does this and calls this "sniffing around." Maddon has a great rapport with his team, I'm guessing in large part because of his willingness to meet them where they are.

The Church should do a better job of this. I know there are churches who do, but most churches that I know expect that people come to them. Pastors expect congregation members and leaders to come to his/her office. We have an "if you build it, they will come" mentality about our worship services. What if Pastors and Christian leaders did more "sniffing around?" Instead of locking ourselves in our offices, we spend the bulk of our time meeting with people in their homes, the local coffee shop, athletic fields, and other places where people are comfortable. How much more would we learn about people? About the needs of our communities? About life outside the church?

On a totally seperate note: I'm wondering if Joe Maddon is what Rob Bell will look like in 20 years. Maddon certainly doesn't look like a baseball guy when he's not on the field. (Sorry for the old pic...the off the field pic looked most like Bell.)