Every time I start coaching someone who is seeking God's direction on whether or not to start a new church, I ask them to first practice the following in faith:
1). meet and pray a blessing over every pastor in town, along with school principles, fire and police chiefs, the mayor and a variety of business people. Why? To get to know them and vice versa. To develop a working relationship, or at the very least--- trust. Ask them what problems they are facing that will require a miracle!
2). in doing so, also "pray walk" the city to release God's light over any areas of entrenched darkness. This, to change the spiritual climate and put the ball back into your favorable court as you look to start a new ministry.
Why?
Scripture is clear that God's heart is for the nations. A nation is built and sustained by its city's government, education and business spheres. Therefore, when the Christian lifestyle positively impacts those three elements of a city, God is glorified and the city is transformed in the likeness of Christ! We American churches aren't currently seeing this happen, mostly because we have been segregating church life to a particular church building and program, and away from the church life in the marketplace. Biblically, the church is the people who live, work and play by faith in the daily marketplace: government, education and business!
Never wanting to be accused of hypocrisy, I am in the process of practicing points 1 and 2 in my new city of Prior Lake, MN. I have already spent at least 8-hours introducing myself to the other pastors in town. Some were very welcoming, others seemed a bit suspicious. Hmmm. My biggest hope is that the local clergy come to realize that I live in their town and I am praying for them, whether I agree with their theology or even like their personality. My hope is that prayerful relationships will open a gateway to God's Spirit of reconciliation amongst the clergy. For example, I met one pastor that has been in town for 24-years and another pastor who has been serving just down the street for 18-years. Yet, they had only met once. Once!!!! That denominational pride amongst clergy must change for Prior Lake to operate in the fullness of all God wants for it.
Still to come for me, meeting local authorities in education, business and government.
Friends: whether you're a new planter or have led a congregation for years, I invite you to empower others to join you in praying for your city. For as you do, your congregation will start to turn out and have an even greater faith impact in your collective spheres of influence. God declares this to be true, so let's find out together!
NOTE: I send you this note from Orlando, Florida where I, along with 8 other LCMC planters, are enjoying the annual Exponential Conference. It features this nation's top missionaries through 125 workshops on planting and being missional for the sake of discipleship. From this gathering, I will most likely be sharing some new insights with you over the next couple weeks. If you wish, go to Exponential.com and you'll be able to take-in a live-stream of the main auditorium presentations.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Now What? What to do with the Resurrection...
One of the great breakthroughs I've personally experienced over the last year is the realization of how much I was trapped in Church Growth mentality, over the missional mentality of Kingdom Growth.
Obviously, we all want our churches to grow in numbers, but the key is to also grow healthy--- for the sake of impacting great numbers of transformational faith into the marketplace of every day life.
Some churches can grow in numbers and become big religious organizations, attractive to our culture's consumer-minded, what's-in-it for me, mentality. The numbers then become a show case, focused only on Sunday worship and inside programming attendance. I believe that when Jesus said "Go and make disciples", he wasn't referring to building bigger buildings, programs or worship seating, but rather to equip a big army for greater outside impartation. In other words: Church Growth mentality grows a congregation's membership, while a Kingdom mentality transforms a whole city! There's nothing wrong with growing a congregation, so long as its vision is to grow the city.
Now that I am getting out-of the Church Growth box that I thought marked success, I'm now noticing how many of my fellow pastors are trapped in the same dead end. While it is certainly great to want grand numbers at our Easter services, and I hope you all did, the greatest move we can do post-Easter Day is to take on the "Now What? What are we to do with the resurrection?
We could return to status quo of the church calendar and lament why worship attendance goes down in the summer after setting records on Easter Day. Or, we could lead our ministries towards the same vision Jesus had when he walked out of the grave and into the world. He was now light to break darkness. He was now a walking billboard for real hope. All his training of the disciples in the flesh was now to be compliment by the giving of his Holy Spirit.
Allow me to now suggest that you don't need another small group, big event, or task force to generate a now what mentality. What you might very well need, however, is a Kingdom Mentality that answers the question, now what? What can you and your church now do to bless your city in Jesus' name for the sake of the lost? What city need is currently not being met well by anyone or anything? How can your now church be like the resurrected Jesus--- as light, as hope and the giver of the life-transforming Spirit? Whether non-believers know it or not, they are dying, and they need Jesus like never before.
A well attended worship service/revival is great. It stirs and it awakens...but it's usually not sustainable. Often times it is self-serving, and therefore unbiblical. It's focus can be centered on filling-up seats and fueling-up finances so that ministry life will be more enjoyable. Easter's Kingdom revival also stirs and awakens, but it's geared to the day-by-day transformational qualities of the resurrected Jesus. The focus is on healing the broken and that is never easy...but it is always powerful! That, my friends, is what Easter worship is suppose to do--- to move the great worshipping numbers from one-day inside the building, to becoming great numbers of kingdom people worshipping God through their daily labors; and thus, changing the lives of others.
NOTE: I will be attending the annual Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida, April 28-May 1. Exponential is known as the best place for church planters and missional leaders to gather and be inspired by God's Easter work for their own sites. Going with me will be 8 of our LCMC planters. Several of them will be bringing their spouse, or staff members and/or launch team leaders. Please keep the following planters in your prayers as we gather with some 5,000 others for God's Kingdom direction:
Jonathan Haseley: "Barefoot Community" Niagara Falls, NY
Jonathan Kosec: "Waterside" Rockport, TX
Noah Ruppert: "LightHouse Ministries" Polk City, IA
Matt Anderson: "Surprise" Bismarck, ND
Bob Swearer: "Life Journey" Vancouver, WA
Terry Rebert: "Transformation in Christ" Lake Orion, MI
Brian Hughes: "St. John's", Columbia, MD
Myself!
Obviously, we all want our churches to grow in numbers, but the key is to also grow healthy--- for the sake of impacting great numbers of transformational faith into the marketplace of every day life.
Some churches can grow in numbers and become big religious organizations, attractive to our culture's consumer-minded, what's-in-it for me, mentality. The numbers then become a show case, focused only on Sunday worship and inside programming attendance. I believe that when Jesus said "Go and make disciples", he wasn't referring to building bigger buildings, programs or worship seating, but rather to equip a big army for greater outside impartation. In other words: Church Growth mentality grows a congregation's membership, while a Kingdom mentality transforms a whole city! There's nothing wrong with growing a congregation, so long as its vision is to grow the city.
Now that I am getting out-of the Church Growth box that I thought marked success, I'm now noticing how many of my fellow pastors are trapped in the same dead end. While it is certainly great to want grand numbers at our Easter services, and I hope you all did, the greatest move we can do post-Easter Day is to take on the "Now What? What are we to do with the resurrection?
We could return to status quo of the church calendar and lament why worship attendance goes down in the summer after setting records on Easter Day. Or, we could lead our ministries towards the same vision Jesus had when he walked out of the grave and into the world. He was now light to break darkness. He was now a walking billboard for real hope. All his training of the disciples in the flesh was now to be compliment by the giving of his Holy Spirit.
Allow me to now suggest that you don't need another small group, big event, or task force to generate a now what mentality. What you might very well need, however, is a Kingdom Mentality that answers the question, now what? What can you and your church now do to bless your city in Jesus' name for the sake of the lost? What city need is currently not being met well by anyone or anything? How can your now church be like the resurrected Jesus--- as light, as hope and the giver of the life-transforming Spirit? Whether non-believers know it or not, they are dying, and they need Jesus like never before.
A well attended worship service/revival is great. It stirs and it awakens...but it's usually not sustainable. Often times it is self-serving, and therefore unbiblical. It's focus can be centered on filling-up seats and fueling-up finances so that ministry life will be more enjoyable. Easter's Kingdom revival also stirs and awakens, but it's geared to the day-by-day transformational qualities of the resurrected Jesus. The focus is on healing the broken and that is never easy...but it is always powerful! That, my friends, is what Easter worship is suppose to do--- to move the great worshipping numbers from one-day inside the building, to becoming great numbers of kingdom people worshipping God through their daily labors; and thus, changing the lives of others.
NOTE: I will be attending the annual Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida, April 28-May 1. Exponential is known as the best place for church planters and missional leaders to gather and be inspired by God's Easter work for their own sites. Going with me will be 8 of our LCMC planters. Several of them will be bringing their spouse, or staff members and/or launch team leaders. Please keep the following planters in your prayers as we gather with some 5,000 others for God's Kingdom direction:
Jonathan Haseley: "Barefoot Community" Niagara Falls, NY
Jonathan Kosec: "Waterside" Rockport, TX
Noah Ruppert: "LightHouse Ministries" Polk City, IA
Matt Anderson: "Surprise" Bismarck, ND
Bob Swearer: "Life Journey" Vancouver, WA
Terry Rebert: "Transformation in Christ" Lake Orion, MI
Brian Hughes: "St. John's", Columbia, MD
Myself!
Monday, April 14, 2014
You can't have a Resurrection Day, without a Good Friday
I was reminded in Palm Sunday worship that we can't receive all that God wants us to receive this Holy Week, if we choose to simply make it another hurry week! So with that in mind, I ask: what if we were to walk and talk differently this week, in the pace and grace of God's holiness, instead of our own hurry-ness? What might be transformed in and through us if we were to walk and talk as if God really IS who He says He is...and that Jesus really IS doing what He said He would do?! Would not Holy Week impart into our souls a new pattern for living every day life? I do believe so!
ONE way to break the pattern of our hurry-ness in favor of receiving God's holiness, is to make sure we don't shy away from, but walk through, a Good Friday. Far to often we want to avoid that ugly cross, but then wonder why we are not experiencing a breakthrough on something. Or, we side step the cross then complain that God is missing, quiet, uncaring.
Friends: We can't have a Resurrection Day without first going through a Good Friday.
Without death to sin, there cannot be birth to new life. Without the cross and its spilled blood, there can be no Resurrection Day--- with its conquering glory, its over-the-top forgiveness, its eternal hope of new life.
Case in point: one week after Joanne, Aimee and I moved from Northfield to Prior Lake, MN (just two weeks ago), our next door neighbor, Chris, left his wedding ring and cell phone on his dresser, walked out the door of his home of 11-years, and left behind his wife and three children. No one has seen or heard from him since. Its crushing news.
I'm told that Chris had gotten himself into some deep trouble a few months ago. Obviously it had affected his sense of worth, his marriage and his relationship with the kids. I didn't know Chris was going through such hell. I do know, however, that Chris and his wife are non-believers. Its not my responsibility to eye-guard my neighbor and his behavior 24/7, but the Bible does say it is my responsibility to love him as God has first loved me, 24/7. So, I'm praying that through this very difficult "Good Friday" experience that Chris is experiencing, he will receive what God has for him on the other side of the cross--- a real and lasting resurrection hope that Jesus makes all things new again.
Would you please join me in praying that Chris turns to the Lord this week, comes home, goes through his punishment for breaking the law---- and ALL SO THAT HE, HIS FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS CAN RECEIVE God's gift of redeeming faith?! Let Chris represent the many neighbors we all have that currently do not know the holiness of this week, but will, when they see us modeling God's holiness instead of our hurry-ness.
INTERESTED IN PLANTING A NEW CHURCH? The LCMC currently has 5 hot bed cities where the interest and support is high. For more information, contact me: dan@lcmc.net.
Greenville, Ohio (just outside of Dayton)
Fairborn, Ohio (a 4-year old church outside of Dayton that has a pastor preparing to retire)
Oregon, Wisconsin (just outside of Madison. Eighty people are already set to go)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (just outside of where the Brewers play)
Casa Grande, Arizona (just outside and south of Phoenix)
ONE way to break the pattern of our hurry-ness in favor of receiving God's holiness, is to make sure we don't shy away from, but walk through, a Good Friday. Far to often we want to avoid that ugly cross, but then wonder why we are not experiencing a breakthrough on something. Or, we side step the cross then complain that God is missing, quiet, uncaring.
Friends: We can't have a Resurrection Day without first going through a Good Friday.
Without death to sin, there cannot be birth to new life. Without the cross and its spilled blood, there can be no Resurrection Day--- with its conquering glory, its over-the-top forgiveness, its eternal hope of new life.
Case in point: one week after Joanne, Aimee and I moved from Northfield to Prior Lake, MN (just two weeks ago), our next door neighbor, Chris, left his wedding ring and cell phone on his dresser, walked out the door of his home of 11-years, and left behind his wife and three children. No one has seen or heard from him since. Its crushing news.
I'm told that Chris had gotten himself into some deep trouble a few months ago. Obviously it had affected his sense of worth, his marriage and his relationship with the kids. I didn't know Chris was going through such hell. I do know, however, that Chris and his wife are non-believers. Its not my responsibility to eye-guard my neighbor and his behavior 24/7, but the Bible does say it is my responsibility to love him as God has first loved me, 24/7. So, I'm praying that through this very difficult "Good Friday" experience that Chris is experiencing, he will receive what God has for him on the other side of the cross--- a real and lasting resurrection hope that Jesus makes all things new again.
Would you please join me in praying that Chris turns to the Lord this week, comes home, goes through his punishment for breaking the law---- and ALL SO THAT HE, HIS FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS CAN RECEIVE God's gift of redeeming faith?! Let Chris represent the many neighbors we all have that currently do not know the holiness of this week, but will, when they see us modeling God's holiness instead of our hurry-ness.
INTERESTED IN PLANTING A NEW CHURCH? The LCMC currently has 5 hot bed cities where the interest and support is high. For more information, contact me: dan@lcmc.net.
Greenville, Ohio (just outside of Dayton)
Fairborn, Ohio (a 4-year old church outside of Dayton that has a pastor preparing to retire)
Oregon, Wisconsin (just outside of Madison. Eighty people are already set to go)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (just outside of where the Brewers play)
Casa Grande, Arizona (just outside and south of Phoenix)
Sunday, April 6, 2014
One way to start a new church: YOU be the love of Jesus!
I'm back in the blogging saddle again. My last few weeks have been busy with life stuff--- including moving to a new townhome in a new community! After 11 wonderful years of serving in Northfield, MN, Joanne, Aimee and I now claim residence in Prior Lake, a SW burb of Minneapolis.
New communities give new opportunities to develop new relationships. I've discovered over the years, however, there is a better way to start new relationships that help start new churches.
For instance, when I first moved to Northfield with the mission to plant Rejoice! Church, I was completely focused on church growth. Specifically, "my church's" growth! For me, it was all about growing more butts, getting better building space and working up a bigger budget. After all, weren't they the B's of success? Since then, however, I've come to realize that Jesus never asked me to build and grow Rejoice!, he asked me to receive his kingdom keys and open-up locked doors for the gospel to be heard. In return, Jesus says he will build and grow his church.
So even as I coach new church starts around the country, I'm also interested in starting a new faith community, in a new manner, in the new place I live--- Prior Lake! My biblical strategy is not to start by putting together a worship service or a Bible study, but to first model what l want others to be--- a follower of Jesus! In other words, this new community of faith will start with "me" seeking to live out my own transformed life in Christ. How? By taking the time to literally bless and speak peace over the whole city (see Luke 10:5). Wherever I go, then, I am planting a missional church. My mission won't just come through duties or planned events, but through me just being missional in all that I am.
The goal will not be focused on butts, building or budget--- but modeling what it means to follow Jesus. After all, the number of un-churched folks in Scott County is extremely high--- I've heard up to 70%! Example: on a walk with my wife on Sunday afternoon, we met one of our neighbors--- an unmarried, middle-aged couple living together. Both were in the emergency medical field. When he asked what I did, I could tell he was shutting down after I said, "I help others start new churches." If I had told him I was starting a new missional community in the neighborhood and they were already members, they probably would've faked getting an emergency phone call! Yet I believe in time they will see that my purpose is not to get their butts into a building to develop a budget, but to demonstrate the love of God that is there's in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, to plant this missional church atmosphere in Prior Lake, I'm starting by simply making trusting relationships. For example, in just the first few days of living in my new community, I've struck up a meaningful conversation with the guys who work at the recycling center (with all my moving boxes). I could tell that not many folks give them the time of day. I've talked baseball and school with two high school baseball players who came to my house to sell promotional coupons. (and yes, I bought from them too). I've connected with the Welcome Neighbor lady, a business owner and a nurse. I've even been to a town-home association meeting to purposefully meet my new neighbors. You see, I don't want to be known as the pastor living on the block (that might actually "block" some people!); instead, I want to be known as the guy on the block who is living in the joy of Jesus. My living joy will be the beginning of my new missional church and it will be its ending purpose as well. You see, whether they know it or not, 33 townhouse units in the Hickory Shores Association are now a part of my missional community. That's why I will pray walk the area for God to release his grace upon the families and for the families to be opened to receiving such grace.
Planters: If you want to see something you've never seen before in your community, then do something you've never done before! How about taking your initial focus away from worship equipment, office space, programming and staff; and instead; start with changing the spiritual climate of your area through the power of the Holy Spirit given to you by Jesus himself. Start simple, trusting that God IS doing his complex part. Pray walk your neighborhoods, business areas or government and school zones. There is zero financial cost to that kind of ministry start! Let God start your new church by first transforming your heart FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT JESUS DIED FOR, thus making you contagious for others to see God's joy on you! 'THAT' is when folks will want to start getting to know you and your message, coming to your worship services, participating in your Bible studies and giving financially to see the mission move forward.
New communities give new opportunities to develop new relationships. I've discovered over the years, however, there is a better way to start new relationships that help start new churches.
For instance, when I first moved to Northfield with the mission to plant Rejoice! Church, I was completely focused on church growth. Specifically, "my church's" growth! For me, it was all about growing more butts, getting better building space and working up a bigger budget. After all, weren't they the B's of success? Since then, however, I've come to realize that Jesus never asked me to build and grow Rejoice!, he asked me to receive his kingdom keys and open-up locked doors for the gospel to be heard. In return, Jesus says he will build and grow his church.
So even as I coach new church starts around the country, I'm also interested in starting a new faith community, in a new manner, in the new place I live--- Prior Lake! My biblical strategy is not to start by putting together a worship service or a Bible study, but to first model what l want others to be--- a follower of Jesus! In other words, this new community of faith will start with "me" seeking to live out my own transformed life in Christ. How? By taking the time to literally bless and speak peace over the whole city (see Luke 10:5). Wherever I go, then, I am planting a missional church. My mission won't just come through duties or planned events, but through me just being missional in all that I am.
The goal will not be focused on butts, building or budget--- but modeling what it means to follow Jesus. After all, the number of un-churched folks in Scott County is extremely high--- I've heard up to 70%! Example: on a walk with my wife on Sunday afternoon, we met one of our neighbors--- an unmarried, middle-aged couple living together. Both were in the emergency medical field. When he asked what I did, I could tell he was shutting down after I said, "I help others start new churches." If I had told him I was starting a new missional community in the neighborhood and they were already members, they probably would've faked getting an emergency phone call! Yet I believe in time they will see that my purpose is not to get their butts into a building to develop a budget, but to demonstrate the love of God that is there's in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, to plant this missional church atmosphere in Prior Lake, I'm starting by simply making trusting relationships. For example, in just the first few days of living in my new community, I've struck up a meaningful conversation with the guys who work at the recycling center (with all my moving boxes). I could tell that not many folks give them the time of day. I've talked baseball and school with two high school baseball players who came to my house to sell promotional coupons. (and yes, I bought from them too). I've connected with the Welcome Neighbor lady, a business owner and a nurse. I've even been to a town-home association meeting to purposefully meet my new neighbors. You see, I don't want to be known as the pastor living on the block (that might actually "block" some people!); instead, I want to be known as the guy on the block who is living in the joy of Jesus. My living joy will be the beginning of my new missional church and it will be its ending purpose as well. You see, whether they know it or not, 33 townhouse units in the Hickory Shores Association are now a part of my missional community. That's why I will pray walk the area for God to release his grace upon the families and for the families to be opened to receiving such grace.
Planters: If you want to see something you've never seen before in your community, then do something you've never done before! How about taking your initial focus away from worship equipment, office space, programming and staff; and instead; start with changing the spiritual climate of your area through the power of the Holy Spirit given to you by Jesus himself. Start simple, trusting that God IS doing his complex part. Pray walk your neighborhoods, business areas or government and school zones. There is zero financial cost to that kind of ministry start! Let God start your new church by first transforming your heart FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT JESUS DIED FOR, thus making you contagious for others to see God's joy on you! 'THAT' is when folks will want to start getting to know you and your message, coming to your worship services, participating in your Bible studies and giving financially to see the mission move forward.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Part 3: How to bust out 1,000 new churches without burn out!
Part-3 in a mini-series on our game plan for planting new churches...
There are several models, or "experiences" to planting churches well. Which one is "best" is simply determined by a particular planter's giftings and the cultural terrain of a particular mission field. Perhaps you've heard the old saying, "Success comes with the right planter at the right time in the right place with the right resources." In other words, you can be a talented pastor, but if you're trying to plant a ministry in the wrong setting at the wrong time, your efforts will falter. In many ways, that's why church plants fail more often than they succeed.
I planted Rejoice! in Northfield, Minnesota as a "storefront," or "conventional" church plant. My initial salary was covered for the first 3-years by my mother church. What a blessing that was! It allowed me to fund-raise 100% for the work of ministry. It led to Rejoice! being able to cover office and worship rental costs, some staff salaries and the purchase of lots of equipment.
All-in-all, planting a storefront church was wonderful. A lot of work, but very wonderful. Still, I don't think I would plant in the same manner today. Why?
Because I believe its a new day for the church. The Christian culture is no longer welcomed into the marketplace. Some lament that, but I say it's giving us new opportunities to break-out-of our religious buildings and begin flooding the streets with the ministry of every-day-disciples conscientiously discipling others. By not working inside the church building, we now have the opportunity to work outside the building--- demonstrating to nonbelievers what being Christian is really all about (read last week's blog for greater details on that statement).
I also believe the start-up costs for storefront or conventional plants have become so extreme that launching is very difficult. (Unless, of course, you have a mother church like I did that is strong enough to sponsor you with some dollar-power). Have you noticed a lot of 50 person congregations that got off to a fast start, then went flat? With that in mind, I have a strong suggestion for our 800 existing LCMC congregations around the world: start training and launching MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES. Or, as I would like to call them within the LCMC, "Transformational Communities."
Here are some bullet-point suggestions. I will deepen these suggestions in future blogs:
-If every existing LCMC congregation were to first study, then train and implement at least one transformational community out of its own congregation and into the marketplace, our goal to plant 1,000 new congregations in the next 10-years would be met in one year! Still, its not about reaching the goal of 1,000...but the goal of reaching new and more people.
-These Transformational Communities may, or may not be, led by an ordained pastor. This takes the pressure off our clergy shortage and strengthens our existing churches by training our already mature Christian leaders to be congregational pastors. In addition, these leaders often have better access to the city on a daily basis than clergy might.
-These Transformational Communities would be low in expense but high in impact. They would not require the tremendous financial cost of buildings or worship equipment. They may, or may not, include the expense of a paid lead pastor. Offerings could lead to some salaries, but could also be seed money for sowing directly into a cities felt need.
-These Transformational Communities would allow every one of our existing congregations to be a major part of the LCMC vision to plant churches that reach the unreached and disciple them to share the gospel with others. In other words, TC's are more directly focused on a cities felt need, a need that conventional churches just can't meet.
-These Transformational Communities would have their own respective names, reflecting their particular mission to the city. For example, let's say "First Lutheran Church" of 200 worshippers births a Transformational Community called, "Heart for the Hospital." This group of 20-30 people are dedicated to bringing the gospel to the local hospital--- working at blessing the medical and support staff, the board of directors and certainly the patients.
-When TC Christians rub elbows with non-Christians with no agenda to "make them" Christian, or "make them" join a particular church, it breaks the curse of non-Christians calling Christians "hypocrites" or "judgmental." Instead, non-Christians begin getting intrigued by the fact that Christians are simply wanting to bless a city service, like a hospital, with no strings attached. This new reputation in a city tears-down walls and opens people up to wanting to hear what Jesus has to say.
-While these Transformational Communities would have their own name, the members would stay as "members" of the mother church. "Heart for the Hospital" might share in its own kind of worship service and study while serving in the community, yet also participate in "First Lutheran's" Sunday worship service, or other congregational gatherings, etc.
-Depending upon the size of the church, or the size of the city, some Transformational Communities might even be deployed by the mother church to eventually live as their own missional body. Still, the two are forever bonded as "family"--- supporting each other for the sake of the big picture: bringing the gospel to the city they share.
-Remember, the point of TC's can be at least three-fold: 1). They strengthen our current congregations with a renewed mindset for mission in the city, 2). The ultimate goal is not just to serve others, but to win them to Christ, 3). It creates a new paradigm of what "is" church and how it can be fluid and flexible to reach the unreachable.
NEXT WEEK: I will share more about what our new LCMC Mission Team is being created to do.
There are several models, or "experiences" to planting churches well. Which one is "best" is simply determined by a particular planter's giftings and the cultural terrain of a particular mission field. Perhaps you've heard the old saying, "Success comes with the right planter at the right time in the right place with the right resources." In other words, you can be a talented pastor, but if you're trying to plant a ministry in the wrong setting at the wrong time, your efforts will falter. In many ways, that's why church plants fail more often than they succeed.
I planted Rejoice! in Northfield, Minnesota as a "storefront," or "conventional" church plant. My initial salary was covered for the first 3-years by my mother church. What a blessing that was! It allowed me to fund-raise 100% for the work of ministry. It led to Rejoice! being able to cover office and worship rental costs, some staff salaries and the purchase of lots of equipment.
All-in-all, planting a storefront church was wonderful. A lot of work, but very wonderful. Still, I don't think I would plant in the same manner today. Why?
Because I believe its a new day for the church. The Christian culture is no longer welcomed into the marketplace. Some lament that, but I say it's giving us new opportunities to break-out-of our religious buildings and begin flooding the streets with the ministry of every-day-disciples conscientiously discipling others. By not working inside the church building, we now have the opportunity to work outside the building--- demonstrating to nonbelievers what being Christian is really all about (read last week's blog for greater details on that statement).
I also believe the start-up costs for storefront or conventional plants have become so extreme that launching is very difficult. (Unless, of course, you have a mother church like I did that is strong enough to sponsor you with some dollar-power). Have you noticed a lot of 50 person congregations that got off to a fast start, then went flat? With that in mind, I have a strong suggestion for our 800 existing LCMC congregations around the world: start training and launching MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES. Or, as I would like to call them within the LCMC, "Transformational Communities."
Here are some bullet-point suggestions. I will deepen these suggestions in future blogs:
-If every existing LCMC congregation were to first study, then train and implement at least one transformational community out of its own congregation and into the marketplace, our goal to plant 1,000 new congregations in the next 10-years would be met in one year! Still, its not about reaching the goal of 1,000...but the goal of reaching new and more people.
-These Transformational Communities may, or may not be, led by an ordained pastor. This takes the pressure off our clergy shortage and strengthens our existing churches by training our already mature Christian leaders to be congregational pastors. In addition, these leaders often have better access to the city on a daily basis than clergy might.
-These Transformational Communities would be low in expense but high in impact. They would not require the tremendous financial cost of buildings or worship equipment. They may, or may not, include the expense of a paid lead pastor. Offerings could lead to some salaries, but could also be seed money for sowing directly into a cities felt need.
-These Transformational Communities would allow every one of our existing congregations to be a major part of the LCMC vision to plant churches that reach the unreached and disciple them to share the gospel with others. In other words, TC's are more directly focused on a cities felt need, a need that conventional churches just can't meet.
-These Transformational Communities would have their own respective names, reflecting their particular mission to the city. For example, let's say "First Lutheran Church" of 200 worshippers births a Transformational Community called, "Heart for the Hospital." This group of 20-30 people are dedicated to bringing the gospel to the local hospital--- working at blessing the medical and support staff, the board of directors and certainly the patients.
-When TC Christians rub elbows with non-Christians with no agenda to "make them" Christian, or "make them" join a particular church, it breaks the curse of non-Christians calling Christians "hypocrites" or "judgmental." Instead, non-Christians begin getting intrigued by the fact that Christians are simply wanting to bless a city service, like a hospital, with no strings attached. This new reputation in a city tears-down walls and opens people up to wanting to hear what Jesus has to say.
-While these Transformational Communities would have their own name, the members would stay as "members" of the mother church. "Heart for the Hospital" might share in its own kind of worship service and study while serving in the community, yet also participate in "First Lutheran's" Sunday worship service, or other congregational gatherings, etc.
-Depending upon the size of the church, or the size of the city, some Transformational Communities might even be deployed by the mother church to eventually live as their own missional body. Still, the two are forever bonded as "family"--- supporting each other for the sake of the big picture: bringing the gospel to the city they share.
-Remember, the point of TC's can be at least three-fold: 1). They strengthen our current congregations with a renewed mindset for mission in the city, 2). The ultimate goal is not just to serve others, but to win them to Christ, 3). It creates a new paradigm of what "is" church and how it can be fluid and flexible to reach the unreachable.
NEXT WEEK: I will share more about what our new LCMC Mission Team is being created to do.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Part-2: How to bust out 1,000 new churches without burn out!
Part-2 of a mini-series on how we will plant 1,000 new congregations...
While the LCMC vision is to plant 1,000 new congregations in the next 10-years, many of our 700-plus existing American churches are saying something like, "That's great and everything, but what about strengthening our current congregations before we start new ones!"
To that, I say, "I agree." After all, if a husband and wife aren't doing well in their marriage, they need to first strengthen their relationship before having a baby together. Otherwise, the baby is born without the love and provision of healthy parents. Likewise, a church that is struggling in its relationship with Jesus and each other, needs to first strengthen its faith values before it can birth a new church. Otherwise, the new church struggles and even dies with its parent church.
So, after last week's part-1 of this blog series, what are we to do as an association in order to strengthen our existing congregations, while also moving forwarding in our vision to multiply the influence of Christ? The answer is quite simple: Obedience. Easy answer, hard to do.
When we obey God's Great Commandment to love him, something in us changes. We become like...Him! We become like Jesus because to love God is to trust and follow the Savior so closely, he literally rubs off on us. When that happens, loving others is way easier to do. After all, its no longer me, but Jesus that is doing the loving through me!
When we obey God's Great Commandment, it then triggers us into His Great Commission to "Go and make disciples of the nations." In other words, when I'm following Jesus, I'm taking his qualities into my areas of influence. When that happens, others want what I have! Of course, when I'm not following Jesus, I am simply doing rituals or religion. They look nice, but have no lasting impact.
Friends: in order for the LCMC to really dig into the everyday marketplace of life to inspire an impact for Christ, we must simply practice something that comes hard to our flesh, but easy to our faith: obey the Great Commandment for the sake of the Great Commission.
So I have a winning idea--- a revelation from the Spirit. Instead of getting hung-up on the thought that a new church start is something only an ordained person does--- with a big budget, big building and a big band, what if we first focused on loving God and loving people and discipling them through our daily examples of obedience to our Savior? What if non-Christians began seeing you and I as something so counter-cultural they wanted to give it a try? What if they saw you and I with lives so full of peace and purpose, they dropped their notions that Christians are hypocrites and judgmental?
The best way for our association to birth healthy baby churches is to first be healthy parents. That means no more fighting WITH people about inside-the-church-building matters, instead; fight FOR people on matters outside-the-church-building. Indeed, practicing the Great Commandment and Great Commission will make us matter greatly in Christ--- inside and outside!
Next week: I will continue this mini-blog-series on our game-plan for planting a 1,000 in 10. What if our existing churches, no matter the size, were to honor the Great Commandment and Commission by training and equipping our congregational leaders to launch missional communities into our respective cities? I like calling them "Transformational Communities." This is not another evangelism program, or just another small group teaching series. TC's are new ministries coming to life from current, healthy, congregations--- able to do things for Christ the parent church can't do. Please stay tuned for what that might look like for you!
While the LCMC vision is to plant 1,000 new congregations in the next 10-years, many of our 700-plus existing American churches are saying something like, "That's great and everything, but what about strengthening our current congregations before we start new ones!"
To that, I say, "I agree." After all, if a husband and wife aren't doing well in their marriage, they need to first strengthen their relationship before having a baby together. Otherwise, the baby is born without the love and provision of healthy parents. Likewise, a church that is struggling in its relationship with Jesus and each other, needs to first strengthen its faith values before it can birth a new church. Otherwise, the new church struggles and even dies with its parent church.
So, after last week's part-1 of this blog series, what are we to do as an association in order to strengthen our existing congregations, while also moving forwarding in our vision to multiply the influence of Christ? The answer is quite simple: Obedience. Easy answer, hard to do.
When we obey God's Great Commandment to love him, something in us changes. We become like...Him! We become like Jesus because to love God is to trust and follow the Savior so closely, he literally rubs off on us. When that happens, loving others is way easier to do. After all, its no longer me, but Jesus that is doing the loving through me!
When we obey God's Great Commandment, it then triggers us into His Great Commission to "Go and make disciples of the nations." In other words, when I'm following Jesus, I'm taking his qualities into my areas of influence. When that happens, others want what I have! Of course, when I'm not following Jesus, I am simply doing rituals or religion. They look nice, but have no lasting impact.
Friends: in order for the LCMC to really dig into the everyday marketplace of life to inspire an impact for Christ, we must simply practice something that comes hard to our flesh, but easy to our faith: obey the Great Commandment for the sake of the Great Commission.
So I have a winning idea--- a revelation from the Spirit. Instead of getting hung-up on the thought that a new church start is something only an ordained person does--- with a big budget, big building and a big band, what if we first focused on loving God and loving people and discipling them through our daily examples of obedience to our Savior? What if non-Christians began seeing you and I as something so counter-cultural they wanted to give it a try? What if they saw you and I with lives so full of peace and purpose, they dropped their notions that Christians are hypocrites and judgmental?
The best way for our association to birth healthy baby churches is to first be healthy parents. That means no more fighting WITH people about inside-the-church-building matters, instead; fight FOR people on matters outside-the-church-building. Indeed, practicing the Great Commandment and Great Commission will make us matter greatly in Christ--- inside and outside!
Next week: I will continue this mini-blog-series on our game-plan for planting a 1,000 in 10. What if our existing churches, no matter the size, were to honor the Great Commandment and Commission by training and equipping our congregational leaders to launch missional communities into our respective cities? I like calling them "Transformational Communities." This is not another evangelism program, or just another small group teaching series. TC's are new ministries coming to life from current, healthy, congregations--- able to do things for Christ the parent church can't do. Please stay tuned for what that might look like for you!
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Part-1: How we can bust out '1,000 in 10' without burn out.
Part-1 of a mini-series on a church planting game-plan for the LCMC.
Prior to 1945, churches planted churches in America. Since then, however, too many churches have punted their reproductive rights to the responsibility of a denominational bureaucracy. Since allowing that to happen, Christians have seen more churches die than be born.
A core value of the LCMC is to turn that tide and birth 1,000 new congregations over the next 10-years. We are more than just a church with a great Mission (LCMission in Christ), but a great Mission looking for great LC churches! Such a bold number of developing 1,000 in 10, however, is not to be measured by a worldly (or even a typical church) scoreboard, but rather by a kingdom scorecard. For that to ignite, we must first receive and unite with the following vision:
1. To see our Lutheran-ness as a tool for missional transformation in Jesus Christ, and not vice versa. In other words, let's make sure the M of LCMC doesn't stand for "Maintain Lutherans."
2. To see that millions are going to hell if we believers aren't willing to model a daily, life-saving, faith in Jesus. In other words, let's learn to obey everything Jesus has commanded us to do in love.
3. To see the need for apostles and prophets be welcomed into the Lutheran leadership ranks, exercising all spiritual gifts so the whole church can gain greater momentum in the culture. In other words, let's recognize Ephesians 4:11-12 as needed in our Lutheran-ness.
4. To see that our current paradigm of what "is" church, is probably on the soft-side of biblical. In other words, church in the 21st century is going to look more like the 1st century church in order to be more effective.
Here are some ideas to see how all 4 of the above listed points might come to be:
A. Storefront, or conventional start-ups, will no longer be our main priority when we think of "new church plants." While this model has been the norm for hundreds of years, it may no longer be the most effective manner to change lives. Besides, this particular model comes with the mentality that only an ordained pastor can lead the charge. That would be wonderful except we have a clergy shortage and the harvest is plentiful!
Storefront models often start with the focus on money rather than mission. Money is certainly needed when the primary focus is the development of stuff (such as: office and worship spaces, band equipment, staff, etc), rather than what kind of resources are needed to develop disciples. I'm certainly not against the storefront start-up model; after all, I planted a storefront church myself that led to programming, hired staff and building a facility! To be honest, though, I wouldn't do it the same way if I were starting a church today. I wouldn't focus so much on the Sunday morning worship experience as my main front door to the community. Instead, I would move my energy and trained volunteers to bless and train other folks in the community to be fellow disciples. The amount of money I had, or didn't have, would no longer drive the mission, but the mission would drive the mission. Money would then follow (see last week's blog for more details on that). My laptop and phone would be my office, located wherever I sat in the community. In other words, the church goes from come-to the building for Christian consumer stuff, to going into the marketplace for public Christian relationship development. Hmmm...
B. Jesus started a worldwide revolution that has lasted over 2,000 years--- and he didn't have programs or a building. Instead, he had a plan and a purpose to disciple others who would then join him in the work of multiplication. In fact, when the church began to build its own facilities 300-some-years after Jesus' resurrection, that's when the church started its decline from its earlier straight up influential trajectory! Perhaps a more biblical, less expensive, more highly impactful new church start would be "missional communities"--- smaller, flexible and fluid groups of believers that simply serve, act, love, speak like Jesus within a city. Think on this: people use to flock to Jesus. Are people flocking to our churches today? If not, it might be because we don't look like Jesus!
When we look like him, that's when laboring in Christ becomes our worship inside our spheres of influence. That's when members turn into ministers and audiences transform into armies. We no longer have to keep reinventing the wheel, but innovating it (see my previous blogs). Here's a quick example: instead of always doing our own in-house programming to only bless insiders, let's join other so-called "secular" community services that are already in place--- serving as people of Jesus to the outsiders. (By the way, when believers do something in Christ's name, how can it be considered secular any more!?)
Would the gospel and a public worship gathering still be shared through this paradigm shift of what "is" church? Of course, but perhaps only after prayer has set the climate in the favor of the Spirit, after relationships and trust have been built, after people's felt needs have been attended too--- THEN we can proclaim the kingdom of God has drawn near! (see Luke 10:1-9 for Jesus' plan). The previously unreached will then be reached, discipled, and empowered to disciple other people--- ALL starting outside the context of an expensive church/office facility. Again with the hmmm...
I'm certainly not against nice buildings. In Minnesota, our facilities keep the snow off our feet and rain off our heads. But I ask, why build more facilities when there are so many already around us awaiting for us to reclaim them in Jesus' name? Why focus on building new facility structures when its clear that buildings aren't drawing more people to Christ? I know a church that meets Sundays in a YMCA because the facility is about as community-centered as they can get in that community. This church, called "The Why Church," has no intension of ever moving to its own private facility. After all, "why" pour millions of dollars into things, instead of mission? "Why" move to a building that communicates being separated from the marketplace, instead of gathering in a facility that communicates Christian unity in the marketplace? Please think on all that as we contemplate how we can have greater success in planting more life-impacting ministries.
NEXT WEEK: a more specific game-plan of how we will bust-out 1,000 in 10 without burn-out. Don't miss!
BIG NEWS! We now have a newly formed MISSION TEAM for the sake of developing our association's vision to birth more kingdom-reaching churches. I am excited to introduce to you the team of: Sean Kelly (California), Jonathan Haseley (New York), Jonathon Kosec (Texas), TJ Anderson (Ohio) and Nathan Anenson (Iowa). These five pastors join me in developing a national think tank for developing our missional movement. As decisions are made and opportunities are created, I will be sure to let you know via this blog and our LCMC website. Please keep this new team in your prayers!
Prior to 1945, churches planted churches in America. Since then, however, too many churches have punted their reproductive rights to the responsibility of a denominational bureaucracy. Since allowing that to happen, Christians have seen more churches die than be born.
A core value of the LCMC is to turn that tide and birth 1,000 new congregations over the next 10-years. We are more than just a church with a great Mission (LCMission in Christ), but a great Mission looking for great LC churches! Such a bold number of developing 1,000 in 10, however, is not to be measured by a worldly (or even a typical church) scoreboard, but rather by a kingdom scorecard. For that to ignite, we must first receive and unite with the following vision:
1. To see our Lutheran-ness as a tool for missional transformation in Jesus Christ, and not vice versa. In other words, let's make sure the M of LCMC doesn't stand for "Maintain Lutherans."
2. To see that millions are going to hell if we believers aren't willing to model a daily, life-saving, faith in Jesus. In other words, let's learn to obey everything Jesus has commanded us to do in love.
3. To see the need for apostles and prophets be welcomed into the Lutheran leadership ranks, exercising all spiritual gifts so the whole church can gain greater momentum in the culture. In other words, let's recognize Ephesians 4:11-12 as needed in our Lutheran-ness.
4. To see that our current paradigm of what "is" church, is probably on the soft-side of biblical. In other words, church in the 21st century is going to look more like the 1st century church in order to be more effective.
Here are some ideas to see how all 4 of the above listed points might come to be:
A. Storefront, or conventional start-ups, will no longer be our main priority when we think of "new church plants." While this model has been the norm for hundreds of years, it may no longer be the most effective manner to change lives. Besides, this particular model comes with the mentality that only an ordained pastor can lead the charge. That would be wonderful except we have a clergy shortage and the harvest is plentiful!
Storefront models often start with the focus on money rather than mission. Money is certainly needed when the primary focus is the development of stuff (such as: office and worship spaces, band equipment, staff, etc), rather than what kind of resources are needed to develop disciples. I'm certainly not against the storefront start-up model; after all, I planted a storefront church myself that led to programming, hired staff and building a facility! To be honest, though, I wouldn't do it the same way if I were starting a church today. I wouldn't focus so much on the Sunday morning worship experience as my main front door to the community. Instead, I would move my energy and trained volunteers to bless and train other folks in the community to be fellow disciples. The amount of money I had, or didn't have, would no longer drive the mission, but the mission would drive the mission. Money would then follow (see last week's blog for more details on that). My laptop and phone would be my office, located wherever I sat in the community. In other words, the church goes from come-to the building for Christian consumer stuff, to going into the marketplace for public Christian relationship development. Hmmm...
B. Jesus started a worldwide revolution that has lasted over 2,000 years--- and he didn't have programs or a building. Instead, he had a plan and a purpose to disciple others who would then join him in the work of multiplication. In fact, when the church began to build its own facilities 300-some-years after Jesus' resurrection, that's when the church started its decline from its earlier straight up influential trajectory! Perhaps a more biblical, less expensive, more highly impactful new church start would be "missional communities"--- smaller, flexible and fluid groups of believers that simply serve, act, love, speak like Jesus within a city. Think on this: people use to flock to Jesus. Are people flocking to our churches today? If not, it might be because we don't look like Jesus!
When we look like him, that's when laboring in Christ becomes our worship inside our spheres of influence. That's when members turn into ministers and audiences transform into armies. We no longer have to keep reinventing the wheel, but innovating it (see my previous blogs). Here's a quick example: instead of always doing our own in-house programming to only bless insiders, let's join other so-called "secular" community services that are already in place--- serving as people of Jesus to the outsiders. (By the way, when believers do something in Christ's name, how can it be considered secular any more!?)
Would the gospel and a public worship gathering still be shared through this paradigm shift of what "is" church? Of course, but perhaps only after prayer has set the climate in the favor of the Spirit, after relationships and trust have been built, after people's felt needs have been attended too--- THEN we can proclaim the kingdom of God has drawn near! (see Luke 10:1-9 for Jesus' plan). The previously unreached will then be reached, discipled, and empowered to disciple other people--- ALL starting outside the context of an expensive church/office facility. Again with the hmmm...
I'm certainly not against nice buildings. In Minnesota, our facilities keep the snow off our feet and rain off our heads. But I ask, why build more facilities when there are so many already around us awaiting for us to reclaim them in Jesus' name? Why focus on building new facility structures when its clear that buildings aren't drawing more people to Christ? I know a church that meets Sundays in a YMCA because the facility is about as community-centered as they can get in that community. This church, called "The Why Church," has no intension of ever moving to its own private facility. After all, "why" pour millions of dollars into things, instead of mission? "Why" move to a building that communicates being separated from the marketplace, instead of gathering in a facility that communicates Christian unity in the marketplace? Please think on all that as we contemplate how we can have greater success in planting more life-impacting ministries.
NEXT WEEK: a more specific game-plan of how we will bust-out 1,000 in 10 without burn-out. Don't miss!
BIG NEWS! We now have a newly formed MISSION TEAM for the sake of developing our association's vision to birth more kingdom-reaching churches. I am excited to introduce to you the team of: Sean Kelly (California), Jonathan Haseley (New York), Jonathon Kosec (Texas), TJ Anderson (Ohio) and Nathan Anenson (Iowa). These five pastors join me in developing a national think tank for developing our missional movement. As decisions are made and opportunities are created, I will be sure to let you know via this blog and our LCMC website. Please keep this new team in your prayers!
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