At this point in the church planting residency, wisdom and discernment is so critical. Next, Tuesday we are presenting two possible locations for our church plant. It sounds easy enought, right? Choose 2 locations in Austin, pray for them, spend time there, ask God to reveal himself, and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
However, there is a flesh side that seems to interfere with this process. As we go from place to place, its' easy to confuse my wants and desires with the Holy Spirit's direction. Anything from the cost of living to the demographic reports of an area can play a huge role in my decision to plant in a certain location. I tend to view these places through my own lens. I ask the question, "What can these area do for me?," instead of "What can God do through me in this area?" I want to live in a nice area where people are friendly and I can own a large home. I don't want to deal with crime or poverty. I want to be in an area where people are receptive to the Gospel. The list goes on and on and the war wages between my flesh and the Holy Spirit's direction.
I found some encouragement through a story a heard this week. A few guys in Philadelphia have started a movement of churches. They have planted 3 churches that have 200 people in each. This is a serious accomplishment for a place like Philadelphia, which is spiritual dark. Praise God! However, in order to see God's hand work, they've given up a ton. In fact, one church planter said that his kids can't even go into the front yard alone because there is so much crime in the area. The other day he even saw a bum peeing on a tree in the front yard. All of this for the sake of the Gospel.
As we are looking at locations and praying over areas, I ask that the Lord gives me discernment and wisdom. It needs to echo Jesus, "...not my will, but yours." Please pray that God reveals a specific location to us and we are able to discern between teh Spirit's leading and our own wants and desires. Sometimes the most dangerous and risky place to be is in the center of God's Will.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A baby is on the way...
Well if you haven't heard...Heather and I are expecting a child. We finally came to this conclusion after 3 pregnancy tests. We ended up going to see our doctor this past Friday and found out that we are about 6 weeks along in the process. So the due date is June 2, 2008. We are so excited about becoming parents. Please, keep us and the baby in your prayers!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Vision (Now) - Part 3
So I've already established that there is a huge need in Austin for church plants. There are entire generations growing up disconnected from God and the church and the vehicle that God is using to reach these people the most is church planting!
Taking all this into consideration, we need church plants and NEED THEM NOW! As more and more people slip through the cracks of disconnectness, Austin and other cities within the U.S. are losing touch with God. We will continue to fall further into spiritual darkness, if we don't do something now! The younger generations, who are currently far from God, are becoming the leaders of society and culture. They will be leading out of worldviews that oppose Christianity and Jesus. They need Jesus and need him now!
Further as I stated in my first blog, when the city of Austin is reached the world will feel the impact. Disproportionate influence on the world exists in Austin because it houses the largest university in the U.S., is considered one of the most creative places in the U.S., has a population full of people in the field of techonology (from DELL to IBM to Samsung to game programmers), and is the live music capital of the world. When these cultures and groups within Austin are penetrated by the Gospel, the spiritual vibrations will be felt throughout the world. The world needs Jesus now!
Vision: God would use Heather and I to start a church that truly reaches out to the lost, hurting, and unchurched.
-A church that will love people to Jesus.
-A church that will serve people to Jesus.
-A church that will present and proclaim the full Gospel in Jesus.
-A church that has such a missional and outward focus, that the members give their lives
for the sake of the Gospel and others.
Vision is born out of the idea of what is and what could be.
-I believe that Austin can be a place that is radically transformed by the Gospel and when it is transformed, the vibrations are felt throughout the world.
Taking all this into consideration, we need church plants and NEED THEM NOW! As more and more people slip through the cracks of disconnectness, Austin and other cities within the U.S. are losing touch with God. We will continue to fall further into spiritual darkness, if we don't do something now! The younger generations, who are currently far from God, are becoming the leaders of society and culture. They will be leading out of worldviews that oppose Christianity and Jesus. They need Jesus and need him now!
Further as I stated in my first blog, when the city of Austin is reached the world will feel the impact. Disproportionate influence on the world exists in Austin because it houses the largest university in the U.S., is considered one of the most creative places in the U.S., has a population full of people in the field of techonology (from DELL to IBM to Samsung to game programmers), and is the live music capital of the world. When these cultures and groups within Austin are penetrated by the Gospel, the spiritual vibrations will be felt throughout the world. The world needs Jesus now!
Vision: God would use Heather and I to start a church that truly reaches out to the lost, hurting, and unchurched.
-A church that will love people to Jesus.
-A church that will serve people to Jesus.
-A church that will present and proclaim the full Gospel in Jesus.
-A church that has such a missional and outward focus, that the members give their lives
for the sake of the Gospel and others.
Vision is born out of the idea of what is and what could be.
-I believe that Austin can be a place that is radically transformed by the Gospel and when it is transformed, the vibrations are felt throughout the world.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Vision (Part 2) - The Solution
Like many other bloggers, I have neglected my blog for a few days. But I feel this nagging burden to finish my vision blog, so here it goes.
Vision (Part 2) - The Solution
To summarize my last blog: there is a huge problem within the church today. Here is the deal, most churches have become inward-focused, country clubs and have literally missed the boat on younger generations. As a whole, we have done a terrible job representing Christ and incarnating his teachings. Now, people under the age of 35 seem to have a general distaste for the church and Christianity.
However, there is hope! I truly believe that God is raising up a new generation of leaders that are having a tremendous impact on the culture and spiritual landscape of America. I believe the tool that God is using to do this is church planting. Statistics even show that church plants have a younger congregation on average, than more established churches. Some estimates predict that church plants are made up of 60-80% unchurched individuals, while most churches that are established gain 80-90% of their growth from member transfer. Church plants seem to have a more outward, evangelistic approach to ministry. On the other hand, most established churches program themselves to make members satisfied and meet Christian needs. We have lost our identity as agents of love, mercy, hope, and service for the sake of making people happy.
I am not bashing established churches at all; in fact, I am currently on staff at a church that has existed over 20 years. I have even seen established churches be powerful agents of God in restoring and reconciling His creation. Some established churches are more effective in the Kingdom of God, than church plants. However, time has shown that on a grand scale church plants are the most effective instrument that God is using to reach unchurched people. HCBC (the church I am on staff with) has realized the need for church plants. They have brought me and 4 other church planters on staff for the sole purpose of planting another church. How incredible is that? Building God's Kingdom is more important than their own kingdom. Interesting theory isn't it? A established church can actually give themselves away on behalf of church planting.
About 4 years ago my heart was captured by this idea of church planting. Now God has led Heather and I to plant in the amazing city of Austin, TX. I am so humbled that God has allowed us to participate in this movement. Again, I believe that church planting is the key to these disconnected generations. Church planting is the key to reaching Austin for Jesus.
Vision (Part 2) - The Solution
To summarize my last blog: there is a huge problem within the church today. Here is the deal, most churches have become inward-focused, country clubs and have literally missed the boat on younger generations. As a whole, we have done a terrible job representing Christ and incarnating his teachings. Now, people under the age of 35 seem to have a general distaste for the church and Christianity.
However, there is hope! I truly believe that God is raising up a new generation of leaders that are having a tremendous impact on the culture and spiritual landscape of America. I believe the tool that God is using to do this is church planting. Statistics even show that church plants have a younger congregation on average, than more established churches. Some estimates predict that church plants are made up of 60-80% unchurched individuals, while most churches that are established gain 80-90% of their growth from member transfer. Church plants seem to have a more outward, evangelistic approach to ministry. On the other hand, most established churches program themselves to make members satisfied and meet Christian needs. We have lost our identity as agents of love, mercy, hope, and service for the sake of making people happy.
I am not bashing established churches at all; in fact, I am currently on staff at a church that has existed over 20 years. I have even seen established churches be powerful agents of God in restoring and reconciling His creation. Some established churches are more effective in the Kingdom of God, than church plants. However, time has shown that on a grand scale church plants are the most effective instrument that God is using to reach unchurched people. HCBC (the church I am on staff with) has realized the need for church plants. They have brought me and 4 other church planters on staff for the sole purpose of planting another church. How incredible is that? Building God's Kingdom is more important than their own kingdom. Interesting theory isn't it? A established church can actually give themselves away on behalf of church planting.
About 4 years ago my heart was captured by this idea of church planting. Now God has led Heather and I to plant in the amazing city of Austin, TX. I am so humbled that God has allowed us to participate in this movement. Again, I believe that church planting is the key to these disconnected generations. Church planting is the key to reaching Austin for Jesus.
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