Church Planting Day 8: Churches Around the World

That’s a wrap! Yes, I did eat a chicken wrap for lunch today, but that’s also a wrap on my two-week Church Planting block class. I believe that God used these last two weeks to do things that we may not see for years…but the ground is swelling and hearts are stirring!

On Wednesday before class, some of the students from my class organized a prayer meeting. 14 students took their lunch break to gather together to seek God’s will for church planting and ministry in general. What a joy to walk up and see that and get to listen in on their prayers.

And as if that wasn’t great enough, today gave even more proof that God is stirring their hearts. We spent the entire 4 hours today hearing from each student as they presented their Church Planting Project. The goal was to help them pray about, think through, and plan for a future potential church plant in the city of their choice.

I was blown away as one by one, they began to talk about cities around the world that God has been laying on their hearts over the last two weeks. From Acapulco to London and Haiti, from New York and Michigan to New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, 25 cities were prayed for, researched, and discussed as potential sites for new ministries! If there were doubts in any of their hearts as they were talking about it, you couldn’t tell – there was passion and genuine heartfelt desire to reach these cities for Jesus!

At the end of class, a couple of the guys asked me if they could treat me to dinner. Word got out and it turned out to be 9 of us that went out to eat. BJ’s Restaurant is always great (because of the pizzookie), but the best part was how the night ended. 8 of the students that I’ve spent the last 2 weeks pouring into gathered around me outside of the restaurant and poured back into me. They laid hands on me and prayed for me, Awaken, and the ministry that lies ahead.

These two weeks have been extremely exhausting – mentally and physically, but they’ve been amazing. I’m teaching on prayer this Sunday at Awaken, and I’ve been asking God to teach me about prayer while I’m here. He definitely has! I’ve heard from Him, seen Him answer prayers, and been stirred in ways that I haven’t experienced in quite some time.

To the army of people praying for me here and back home, THANK YOU! God has answered our prayers not only in me, but through me, and in the lives of 25 students you may never meet! He is building His Church. To GOD be the glory!

Church Planting Day 7: Teams, Structure, and the Future

Today wrapped up the teaching portion of my Church Planting class – tomorrow is class presentations. Each student will spend 3 to 5 minutes presenting to the class the vision and direction for a potential future church plant. This is something that some will use in just a few months, and for others, it may be a few years away, but either way, it should be useful information.

We’ve spent the last 6 days discussing the beginning stages of church planting, so as we wrapped it up today, we talked about the future: teams, structure, and thinking ahead.

We began class with a 12-minute video from my friend, Chris Norman, who dropped some science on us. I even took some notes from his video as he discussed how people play a huge part in the development and direction of the church. He talked about the importance of working hard to move people into positions where they thrive, not just filling ministries and staff positions with warm bodies. He also reminded us of the importance of planning ahead, but being more committed to the Lord than to your schedule. At the end, he gave a very wise warning about the importance of maintaining marriage and family life. Ministry is one of the few positions that if you neglect your home life, you disqualify yourself from the very thing you’re pursuing. Great stuff from Chris!

TEAMS

As we tackled the subject of teams, I discussed some practical ways to empower, encourage, and equip people for ministry. After all, according to Ephesians 4, one of the main jobs of a leader in the church is train people for the work of the ministry. It’s a joy to help people find the area(s) in ministry that they thrive in. That may take extra work with some people, but it’s worth it!

Empowering people involves providing an opportunity to serve and giving them a voice and a hand in the ministry.

Encouraging people involves reminding them of the value of what they’re doing as part of the church. We should all keep going even when it feels like nobody notices, but our goal at Awaken is to never give people that excuse!

Equipping people is similar to empowering them, but while empowering is more personal, equipping is more practical. This involves making sure they have the right tools and training to get the job done as effectively and efficiently as possible.

STRUCTURE

In the structure part of the class, we discussed 3 Biblical examples of how necessary teams are to the growth and support of an organization.

We talked about Exodus 18, how Moses had to raise other leaders up “to bear the burden with him,” and I encouraged the class to pray for those people and be those people!

We also looked at the New Testament church in Acts 6, when they got to the point where needs were being overlooked. Peter and the disciples could have arrogantly decided that they were the leaders and no one else, or they could admit they needed help. Thankfully, they chose the latter, appointed Godly, Spirit-filled men, and the church thrived!

The final example came in 1 Chronicles 35 during the reign of King Josiah. About halfway through the chapter, it says that the singers, gatekeepers, and Levites were all “in their places” doing what they were called to do. The result? The Passover hadn’t been celebrated like that in over 400 years! When we are in our places, doing what we’re called to do, God will do unprecedented things among us!

FUTURE

The goal of the final portion of the class was to lay the groundwork for whatever lies ahead. We discussed the importance of considering the context of your church plant because even though it worked for another church, doesn’t mean it will work for you, in your context, in your city. We talked about thinking outside the box and not just doing what’s always been done “because that’s how we’ve always done it.” We also discussed the need to plan ahead and constantly cast vision to the team and church.

It’s been an amazing journey, and I’m exhausted. I’m excited to hear the presentations tomorrow, and even more, the fruit that comes from this class. I believe great things are ahead!

Church Planting Day 6: Small Groups

“We were created for community.” –It’s a phrase I say all the time at Awaken, and that’s evident throughout Scripture. After all, according to Genesis 1:26, God created us in His image, and God Himself is a community. So, it would only make sense that the most accurate way that we can reflect His image would be from within community. Today we discussed the why, when, and how of launching, structuring, and growing small groups within a church.

If you know me, I’m passionate about this subject, so it was fun to talk about. We began class by discussing the reason behind small groups, which admittedly, was something I didn’t fully grasp until just a couple years ago. I didn’t grow up going to churches that had small groups or emphasized them, so I didn’t really feel the need to implement them. I knew the church needed them, but I didn’t personally feel the need…until I got involved! Now I love them!

We began our discussion on the why and how with a video from my good friend, Josh Bowers, the Small Groups Pastor at Fresh Life Church in Montana. I learned a lot from their structure and vision for groups as we were launching ours, and theirs have been very successful, so it was great to hear from Josh.

After the video, we discussed the sermon-based small group structure of Awaken Groups, how we train leaders and co-leaders, what a semester of groups looks like, and how we utilize the website and other technology to enhance groups. We also covered some key lessons I’ve learned and challenges we’ve faced along the way…

Start with your vision. Vision defines structure.

This is one principle that applies not only to small groups, but to many other things as well. The what determines the how. Beginning with the vision helps you to define how you’re going to get to the goal. One of the questions that was asked was about any of the negative sides of sermon-based small groups. I’m not aware of any negative aspects of it because they help us to fulfill the vision of the groups: the social aspect and the application aspect.

Cut the competition.

If you looked at an Awaken events calendar, you’d notice a clump of events over winter break and a clump over summer break, but not much during semesters of Awaken Groups. There’s a reason for that. Americans are naturally busy people, and don’t have time to commit to their families, jobs, church, and small group, while also attending other programs and events. Although the extracurricular programs and events can be good, often times the good things can compete against the best things. At Awaken, this realization led to a complete overhaul of our calendar of events, and even led to the end of our Wednesday night service (Shocking, I know. Get over it, and get in a group!).

Satan hates small groups.

Although Awaken Groups is the place where we see the deepest growth, it’s also a place where some of the greatest attack and division can stem from. We cover each semester of Awaken Groups in prayer, and recognize that especially in areas where God is moving deeply in people’s lives, Satan will kick back. My philosophy is this: if Satan hates it and is trying to stop it, I must be doing the right thing! In fact, if he hates it, it must glorify God, and I want to do it even more! I wanted to remind the students that small groups, along with many other aspects of ministry, is a spiritual battle that must be fought with spiritual means.

Church Planting Day 5: Q&A and Advertising

Today in class, I had 2 special guests: 1 in person and another via video. Nobody in their right mind wants to hear my voice for 4 hours each day, so I’ve been trying to mix things up with interviews, videos, and group projects. Today we had a little of all.

Since Jenn is in town with the girls till tomorrow, I decided to bring her in for the first hour of class for some Q&A. It was great. She shared from the viewpoint of a pastor’s wife as well as someone who is part of the supportive role in a church plant. The class is very diverse, from guys leading church plants to girls who aren’t sure what’s next, so Jenn’s perspective was so refreshing and insightful. She and I shared for over an hour about the ups and down of our last 5 years, and finally had to stop the questions. Now I know, if I want the class to really fill up, tell them I’m bringing my wife – I had about 10 or 12 new students for the first hour!

After Jenn took off, we switched gears and took a few minutes for a group project. We explored Biblical examples of ways that God has revealed Himself to us: general revelation, specific revelation, personal revelation, and future revelation. It was amazing to see all of the ways God has made Himself known, then to be reminded that we exist to do the same!

One way we do that is by harnessing every platform possible to make Jesus famous. I showed a video from my good friend, Nate Heitzig from Calvary Albuquerque, about how they use technology for ministry. He had some great things to add, including using technology to highlight the message and help people apply what they learned.

I’m no “pro” on the subject of technology, but if you know me, you know I love using any platform possible to further the gospel. Although technology wasn’t available back in the Bible times, I see Paul using letter-writing and quoting secular authors, while the books of Luke and Acts are basically old school blog posts written by Luke. I can only imagine how they’d use technology for the gospel if they had it…which we do! And since we have it, it would only make sense that we’ll be held accountable for it.

I gave a list of things we have used (and still use) at Awaken to get the word out…

business cards,

post cards,

ticket-style invites,

billboards,

radio ads,

TV commercials (coming for Easter 2013),

local newspapers,

city-wide events,

online videos,

social media,

and much more.

Although we spent a good hour discussing technology and advertising, we landed on this thought: the best advertising is something that we can’t manufacture – changed lives. When we step out in faith, and preach the Gospel faithfully, lives will be changed and people won’t be able to stay quiet…which is exactly how it should be!

That was a fitting way to end the class as we remembered that the battle is super and natural. We’ll do everything within our power to build the church and rely on God to do what only He can do: change lives!

Church Planting Day 2: The Calling and the Equipping

Teaching for 3 hours and 45 minutes each day is akin to each Sunday at Awaken. The difference being that after 3 Sunday services, I have a day off and 6 more days to recover before I do it again. Not here. It’s a sprint…but I’m loving it!

Today, we talked about the calling and equipping for ministry, as we took a look at some personal and Biblical examples. I shared about how God began to train me up for teaching, pastoring, and planting a church when I was 16 at a summer camp. For me, that was the start of my journey into ministry from starting a youth group, to leading a high school Bible Club, to eventually serving on staff at a summer camp and becoming a youth pastor.

Yesterday, I handed out a questionnaire to the class, asking about what they’re hoping to learn from the class and what some of their fears and obstacles are in church planting. A recurring theme in the responses I got is that people are stressed about their own inadequacies in ministry. Nobody is going to show up, there’s no money, feelings of inadequacy and inability, and so much more. I referred back to one time when I got to teach to the staff guys at the summer camp I served at, and I taught on God’s grace being sufficient in our weakness. We also discussed guys like Moses, Gideon, and Jeremiah – all great men whom God used in powerful ways, but all who felt inadequate for the task at hand.

We discussed how resources, teams, funds, and buildings are great tools, and God may bless us with them at different points along our journey, but ultimately, God has given us all that we need right now to take the next step. Gideon, for instance, ended up using less than 1% of his original army (from 32,000 soldiers to 300) to defeat an army that was innumerable. The driving point was this:

The resources and team you think you need may be the very things that prevent you from giving God the glory!

Sometimes God strips things away from us so that He can receive the glory and our ministries and churches can continue on a miracle basis.

We had a great time discussing the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3. We learned that although the context is specifically for elders/pastors, most of the qualifications are basic things that all Christians are held to: not drunkards, not lovers of money, gentle, hospitable, self-controlled, etc.

We ended the class with a video interview of my wife sharing her viewpoint on church planting. She talked about ways she supports me as her husband and pastor, as well as ways she’s seen God provide and teach her along the way. It was great to have her (virtually) in class for part of it!

We also talked about the importance and logistics of balancing church with family and marriage. Just like you have to put your oxygen mask on first in an airplane, the same thing needs to take place for your family in ministry. If your marriage and family fall apart, you lose your ministry too. To be effective long-term in ministry, you have to start with your first ministry: your family.

Unity within the church and between other churches is another vital step to reaching a city. We discussed practical ways to fight for unity and build bridges.

It was another great day. Tomorrow we discuss the business side of church planting and answer the question, “Where do I start?” Can’t wait!

Go to a different church.

On Sunday at our Year 3 Party at Awaken, I did something that I had never done before. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I’d never had the opportunity till Sunday.

On Sunday, right as I was getting ready to start teaching, I decided to call up a friend of mine that’s starting a church in Clarksville. His name is Grayson, and his church plant is called Fire By Night Church.

Grayson and his wife, Amy, visited Awaken for their very first time a little over 3 years ago, when Awaken still met in a living room! At that time, Amy was a barista at Starbucks, and they came to a few weeks of our Bible study before they moved to Georgia. They eventually felt led back to Clarksville to plant a church, and moved back in January of this year. Grayson recently got in touch with me, and we grabbed coffee and talked church planting for about 2 1/2 hours – it was awesome.

This Sunday was their first time at Awaken since the living room 3 years ago, and to say that things have changed is a bit of an understatement!

I didn’t warn Grayson, but I decided to call him up, tell Awaken about his church plant, then pray for him – all to remind Grayson and Awaken of an important point. I tell me church over and over that we are not focused on a denomination, a church title or brand, or a specific pastor; we’re about one name: JESUS. A new church plant that will be preaching God’s Word is NOT competition – we’re on the same team!

A big burden that God has given me, in addition to seeing the lost saved, is seeing God’s people united.

I’m not telling the people at Awaken to go to a different church, but I’m open to it if that’s where God leads. I’m not crazy enough to think that everyone in Clarksville is going to come to Awaken. The main point is that we get as many people as possible to connect with and commit to Bible-teaching churches across the city.

If you want more info about Fire By Night Church, check them out on Facebook.

3 Years of Ministry by the Numbers

We put a lot of time into recording and compiling numbers that help us track what God is doing in and through Awaken Church. Of course there’s no possible way to quantify all that God has done, but we also never want to forget how He has used us. We also never want to get so familiar with it that it loses its awe!

The numbers below aren’t bragging rights at all. Each number tells a story of changed lives, restored marriages, the Gospel being preached, kids being served, and so much more.

As we said over and over again at our Year 3 Party yesterday, Our first 3 years were amazing, but we’re just getting warmed up! The best is yet to come!

Praise God for all He’s done. I can’t imagine what’s ahead!

 

Worshiping through giving

Recently at Awaken, we shifted the way we approach giving. Until just recently, giving got a small mention pretty much each Sunday, and that was about it. Since we don’t pass an offering plate and giving just got a quick shout out, it almost felt like we were scared to talk about money. I know that money in church is a controversial subject for many, probably due a lot to the many ways it’s been misused and abused over the years. However, I felt like we had swung too far in the opposite direction.

So over the last few months, we’ve added a “giving” portion to each service. It’s still not much (60-90 seconds), but worshiping through giving now has its own portion of each service. Our reasoning is simple: not only is it our job as the leaders of the church to lead people into worship through singing, serving, and studying God’s Word, but also through giving.

In addition to that, Awaken is largely made up of a lot of young believers who are still learning what it looks like to follow Jesus (I LOVE that about Awaken!). So, part of our responsibility to them is to lead them in the area of giving as well as everything else.

My motivation has never been “we need more money,” but simply the benefits of honoring God through our finances. I know firsthand the blessings that come from being faithful with our finances, and I want everyone to experience that. Truth be told, most Christians are missing out on multiple dimensions of their walks with Jesus because they’re not being faithful stewards of what God has given them (money and talents).

If you an extra have 4 minutes and 9 seconds, watch the video below as I explain our philosophy on giving at Awaken Church. We truly believe that souls are the best way to invest.

And while we’re on the subject, if you’d like to be financially invested in the ministry of Awaken Church or our city-wide outreach, The Uprising, click and give as God leads!

We party hardy.

At Awaken, we celebrate what God has done in preparation for what God will do. And since God seems to never slow down with His displays of power and faithfulness, we end up celebrating often. In short, we party hardy.

I have no idea what the future holds, but judging by what God has already done and is doing at Awaken, it’s going to be amazing!  Easter gave us a foretaste of what is to come. We baptized more people on Easter Sunday than we had in the combined history of the church! It was amazing. After all, baptism itself is a party, celebrating what God has done (salvation through the cross & the empty tomb) in preparation for what He will do (use us to change other people’s lives for eternity).

Last Sunday, I gave an update on the great things God has done at Awaken so far in 2012. Our vision for this year was huge…at least we thought it was–God already exceeded it! Isaac put together a video that captured some of the emotion and celebration of Easter and the baptisms. In case you missed it, you should watch it…

Tattoos for Jesus

One thing I talk about a lot at Awaken is re-gifting the gift God has given you.

Don’t act like you don’t know what re-gfiting is. You’ve probably opened a gift, and as you’re thanking the person for the generous gift, you’re simultaneously thinking of who you could re-gift that gift to.

Every Christian has been given a gift, so that’s not the question. The question is, what will you do with the gift you’ve been given?

(picture by Angela Ashcraft)

As we’ve been prepping for The Uprising over the last few months, I’ve been so encouraged by the amount of re-gifting I’ve been seeing. A great example of that is the tattoo fundraiser that just happened last weekend. A tattoo artist that attends Awaken, Haley, got the idea to offer 5 different tattoo designs on a set date that she’d tattoo on your skin for a minimum donation of $50. Slots filled up quickly, and Haley spent all Saturday afternoon inking people from Awaken, in support of The Uprising.

Haley has a powerful story, which you should take some time to read when you can. She has a lot of tattoos and piercings, and if you come to Awaken, you won’t be able to miss her bright red hair and her infectious smile. Sometimes she’s greeting at the front door, and she serves in Awaken Kids every Sunday. Tattooing was something she was highly involved in in her past, but that she hadn’t done for a long time…until Saturday. The difference is, this time, she was tattooing for Jesus! Her fundraiser is just one example of how God can use our talents and abilities for His glory and an eternal purpose. The hundreds of dollars she was able to give to The Uprising will have an eternal impact on souls.

Tattooing is just one way I’ve seen people re-gift. I’ve also seen a team of musicians and worship leaders come together for practice, gearing up to lead people in loud, passionate worship that night. People have signed up to serve in every position from the merch table to the green room, from a full day of set up before the event to hours of tear down after. We have a full security crew, greeters, ushers, stage hands, video personnel, photographers, a street team, and so much more! We even have a local engraving shop who heard about the event and is donating 700 guitar picks with the Uprising logo on it.

The vision for this event is simple: We want to see churches united, Christian empowered, and sinners saved, under the name of Jesus. We are The Uprising – we’re not ok with just sitting around while people far from Christ die and spend eternity apart from God. We’re rising up to do something about it.

It’s been incredible to see the first 2 pieces of that vision happen already. We have a handful of churches from around the city and from multiple denominations who have attended the Join the Movement meetings, signed up to serve, and even donated financially to The Uprising. In addition to that, we’re also seeing Christians be empowered to use their gifts and creativity to play a part in this massive event.

Of course the goal of uniting churches and empowering Christians is to see the final piece of the vision take place: sinners saved. Every person who serves and invites a friend plays a part in making that happen! It’s amazing what God can do when His people unite!