Church Planter's Blog
The first of a mini-series on being innovative in the church....
Ever watch the television show, Shark Tank? I do, and I love it because the show features ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I'll admit that greed can be involved in the show; but even more so, I see innovative people looking to take a product to the next level of cultural influence.
An invention is often the creation of a new idea or product, but an innovation is to create a better use of that invention. An innovation is an intentional commitment to designing solutions for real problems or needs. For instance, thousands of years ago, someone created the cup. Since then, the cup has gone through several innovations--- including a variety of ways to keep beverages cold or warm or transferable, etc. Likewise, a few years ago churches were becoming innovative in worship by going with high-tech equipment: lights, sound, video. All cool stuff, but the question remains: did the cool stuff win more people to Christ, then disciple them to follow him? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Being innovative in the church is when the kingdom is advanced.
Many times I've caught myself saying "I'm innovative." It sounds good and is probably true to some extent, but if I don't articulate myself well, many church people are simply hearing me say, "I like doing the latest thing."
Being an innovative church planter, however, is more than the latest trend, style or program. Way more.
Being an innovative church planter means being an agent of change, but not change for the sake of change. It means leading people into a position to be radically changed by the Holy Spirit. It means following Jesus as a daily life style that radically shifts a negative tide to the side. Being an innovative church planter means advancing the cause...but first you have to know what that cause is! A "kingdom cause" means coming up with a niche that your church becomes known for in your community. It is a means and a movement of having a heart and a implemented plan for reaching the unreached and then training them to make more disciples!
When I started Rejoice! Church in Northfield, Minnesota, our initial niche was to be a church that trained people to live the faith and disciple others in the community. It was for more than just growing our Sunday morning worship affluence, but growing our Monday morning influence. In other words, Sunday morning worship in the church facility was for the sake of Monday morning worship in the workplace! We certainly didn't invent the Great Commission, but every year we sought to be innovative in how we were going to advance the cause and impact the city. Bottom line: the goal of being an innovative church is more than just inventing a new program, but innovating energy to advance scripture's old values of making new disciples.
You may be saying, "But we don't have the money or the people right now to be innovative!" Wrong! Being innovative is not about the resources you don't have, but working with the resources you do have! As believers, we have the Word of God. We have the supernatural advocate of the Holy Spirit. We have the promises of the cross and the presence of Christ. Therefore, we have abundance in Christ! Scarcity of worldly resources can bring clarity as we ask, "What is it, Lord, that you want us to do and be for you?" Lacking human resources allows us to depend upon the resources of God--- and when we obey Him to go and "invent" more disciples, we are given exactly what we need for real innovation that reaches the unreached.
To remind you of innovative possibilities, please consider the following:
1. Go to LifeTree.com and check out an innovative way to reach the unreached.
2. Calendar time might be running out, but you can still use Valentine's Day (or weekend) as a visionary catapult for a future marriage seminar or retreat for people outside your congregation.
3. The movie, Son of God is about to hit theaters later this month. Can you rally people to invite others to watch the movie together, then discuss if afterwards over pie? Can you join another church in your town to buy out a theater and then give away the tickets to those not in your churches?
NOTES:
I'm still looking for a gifted person to lead a new church in Oregon, Wisconsin. There are already 80 some younger people there to serve as a launch team. ALSO...the Lord is stirring up movement for a church plant in the Milwaukee area. A local LCMC leader is looking to rally churches and finances to make that happen. Interested? Contact God about it...then contact me!
UP NEXT: More thoughts on being an innovative church leader.
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