Very interesting summary of the different types of churches being planted today. Thanks Andrew for sharing your observations and experience.
10 Types of Emerging Church That Will No Longer Upset Your Grandfather by Andrew Jones.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Join Me at The Verge Conference
I hope you will join me at the Verge Conference in Austin, TX on February 4-6. If you have a heart and passion for starting missional communities, this is a "must attend" event! Presenters will include:
Francis Chan
Alan Hirsch
Hugh Halter
Dave Ferguson
George Patterson
Matt Carter
Dave Gibbons
Neil Cole
David Garrison... and more!
For more information click here! See you there!
Francis Chan
Alan Hirsch
Hugh Halter
Dave Ferguson
George Patterson
Matt Carter
Dave Gibbons
Neil Cole
David Garrison... and more!
For more information click here! See you there!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
First, Organize 1,000
Seth Godin is a business blogger but offers many interesting insights for pastors and especially church planters. Check out this blog post on "First, Organize 1,000."
Also, read his book Tribes. A great book on gathering a following!
Also, read his book Tribes. A great book on gathering a following!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
More Observations About Millennials
The Pew Research Center is helping us understand more about the millennial generation. These are mostly twenty-something adults. Our church is focused on reaching the 30 year old male so this is vitally important information for us. Maybe you will find it helpful too.
Here are 3 more big things you need to know about the Millennials:
Here are 3 more big things you need to know about the Millennials:
- They are the most ethnically and racially diverse cohort of adults in the nation's history: 18.5% are Hispanic; 14.2% are African American; 4.3% are Asian; 3.2% are mixed race or other; and 59.8% (a record low) are white.
- They are the first generation in human history who regard behaviors like tweeting and texting, along with websites like Facebook, YouTube, Google and Wikipedia, not as astonishing innovations of the digital era, but as everyday parts of their social lives and their search for understanding.
- They are the least religiously observant young adults since survey research began charting religious behavior.
Unfortunately, most churches in the U.S. are declining in attendance. This typically results when our churches are unable to reach the emerging generations and/or the changing communities around them. We must know and understand this new generation, and we must adapt our methods to be increasingly culturally relevant while always remaining Biblically faithful.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Do You Know the Millennials?
Pew Research has recently released some interesting data about Millennials. Just so you will know, Baby Boomers are now ages 46-64, GenX'ers are now ages 31-45, and Millennials start with teens and go up to 30 years of age.
One interesting fact about these Millennials is that they are more inclined toward trust in institutions than were either of their two predecessor generations (Boomers & X'ers) when they were coming of age. What are the implications of this for the church?
Another important observation is that they are starting out as the most politically progressive age group in modern history. In the 2008 election, Millennials voted for Barack Obama over John McCain by 66%-32%, while adults ages 30 and over split their votes 50%-49%. In the four decades since the development of Election Day exit polling, this is the largest gap ever seen in a presidential election between the votes of those under and over age 30.
From a generational standpoint in the U.S., twenty-somethings are the most unreached segment by the church. We need to know these young adults and discover ways to reach them with the gospel.
One interesting fact about these Millennials is that they are more inclined toward trust in institutions than were either of their two predecessor generations (Boomers & X'ers) when they were coming of age. What are the implications of this for the church?
Another important observation is that they are starting out as the most politically progressive age group in modern history. In the 2008 election, Millennials voted for Barack Obama over John McCain by 66%-32%, while adults ages 30 and over split their votes 50%-49%. In the four decades since the development of Election Day exit polling, this is the largest gap ever seen in a presidential election between the votes of those under and over age 30.
From a generational standpoint in the U.S., twenty-somethings are the most unreached segment by the church. We need to know these young adults and discover ways to reach them with the gospel.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Do You Have Enough...
Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time? Enough people? Enough money? Enough opportunities, etc.?
Silly question, right? This is the daily mantra for most church planters. Take a look at this blog post, I Don't Have Enough.... I think you'll find it very encouraging!
Silly question, right? This is the daily mantra for most church planters. Take a look at this blog post, I Don't Have Enough.... I think you'll find it very encouraging!
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Celebrate Small Wins
Having worked in business and church I can say with conviction that in the church we generally do not know how to measure success.
It’s easy in business, you must make a profit or you will not stay in business. You can celebrate small wins because you know they are the things that move you toward making a profit. However, in ministry “profit” is not the goal. In fact, many churches continue to generate income through tithes and offerings while never accomplishing much toward their mission. This is partly due to the fact that we are not clear on our mission!
In his excellent book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, Andy Stanley states “It is possible for a church to become very efficient at doing ministry ineffectively.” This is because we do not have a clear picture of the end. We must work with the end in mind, or as Andy says it, we must clarify the win!
Yogi Berra once said “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” That characterizes many (if not most) churches in North America. When we don’t know where we’re going, we never know what or when to celebrate! We don’t know what the “small wins” are if and when they come. Without celebration, people lose vision, hope, and motivation.
In a church plant, we must have a plan of action! That plan must move us toward a clear vision and it must identify small wins along the way. These should be the focus of our intercessors (please tell me you have an intercession team), and they should be markers for celebration. I encourage planters to maintain a 90 Day Plan and to update it monthly. At least monthly you and your team should celebrate the small wins!
It’s easy in business, you must make a profit or you will not stay in business. You can celebrate small wins because you know they are the things that move you toward making a profit. However, in ministry “profit” is not the goal. In fact, many churches continue to generate income through tithes and offerings while never accomplishing much toward their mission. This is partly due to the fact that we are not clear on our mission!
In his excellent book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, Andy Stanley states “It is possible for a church to become very efficient at doing ministry ineffectively.” This is because we do not have a clear picture of the end. We must work with the end in mind, or as Andy says it, we must clarify the win!
Yogi Berra once said “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” That characterizes many (if not most) churches in North America. When we don’t know where we’re going, we never know what or when to celebrate! We don’t know what the “small wins” are if and when they come. Without celebration, people lose vision, hope, and motivation.
In a church plant, we must have a plan of action! That plan must move us toward a clear vision and it must identify small wins along the way. These should be the focus of our intercessors (please tell me you have an intercession team), and they should be markers for celebration. I encourage planters to maintain a 90 Day Plan and to update it monthly. At least monthly you and your team should celebrate the small wins!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
I Was Wrong About Church Buildings
Just read an excellent article by Dan Kimball entitled "I Was Wrong About Church Buildings." Every church planting leader needs to read this. Dan says:
If you had asked me eight years ago what I thought about church buildings, I would have said, "Who needs a building? The early church didn't have buildings, and we don't need them either!" But I was wrong... Read the article here.
If you had asked me eight years ago what I thought about church buildings, I would have said, "Who needs a building? The early church didn't have buildings, and we don't need them either!" But I was wrong... Read the article here.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
The Essentials for Starting a Missional Church - December 11th
Our NEW seminar "The Essentials for Starting a Missional Church - 2010" is less than 2 weeks away. This will be a one-day intensive training for church planters, prospective church planters, and church planting teams. The date is Friday, December 11th! The location is Crossbridge Church, 1049 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land, TX.
This seminar is built on over 20 years of church planting research and experience. In this power-packed day you will learn about the most critical issues that every church planting leader should be thinking about TODAY as they start a new church.
For more information and to register click here and go to our New Church Initiatives Website. Our call our office at 281-635-3086.
This seminar is built on over 20 years of church planting research and experience. In this power-packed day you will learn about the most critical issues that every church planting leader should be thinking about TODAY as they start a new church.
For more information and to register click here and go to our New Church Initiatives Website. Our call our office at 281-635-3086.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Coaching: A Discovery Process
Coaching focuses on promoting discovery. A good coach will not tell you what to do, but instead will ask you the right questions to help you discover what you need to do. As Christians we have the added benefit of the Holy Spirit indwelling us to guide us into truth. A skilled coach will help you find untapped potential within yourself. A good coach thinks about you and your needs. He focuses entirely on you.
Jane Creswell, author of Christ-Centered Coaching, says "The best image for coaching is a vehicle. The word coach derives from an old British word meaning 'horse-drawn carriage.'" She encourages us to think of the coaching process as a journey, "one in which you are caught up in the process as you move toward a specific, targeted destination." The goal of the coach is to help you find direction and enjoy the ride, while maximizing all the resources at your disposal. The skilled coach helps you be the best you can be.
I said it before, every church planter needs a coach. In fact, I believe that every pastor needs a coach. Do you have one? What do you think? Let me know.
Jane Creswell, author of Christ-Centered Coaching, says "The best image for coaching is a vehicle. The word coach derives from an old British word meaning 'horse-drawn carriage.'" She encourages us to think of the coaching process as a journey, "one in which you are caught up in the process as you move toward a specific, targeted destination." The goal of the coach is to help you find direction and enjoy the ride, while maximizing all the resources at your disposal. The skilled coach helps you be the best you can be.
I said it before, every church planter needs a coach. In fact, I believe that every pastor needs a coach. Do you have one? What do you think? Let me know.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Throw Out Your Assumptions
For those of you who know me you know that I am big on planning. Part of this is my gifting and part of this is my OCD. My favorite TV show line comes from the old show "The A Team." Every episode the leader of the team ends the show by saying "I love it when a plan comes together." (You have to see the show to get it.)
I am very insistent that the church planters I coach create a project plan for their new church, even if it is a simple church. I love all the passages in Proverbs that affirm planning! I think they were placed in scripture just for church planters.
However, I am very aware while we prayerfully make our plans, the Lord directs our steps. I am aware that church planting is not a work of human effort, but a work of the Spirit.
With that said, I always encourage church planting leaders to re-evaluate their plan every 30 days. Is it still realistic? Does it seem to be in step with how the Spirit is moving? What progress are you making toward your milestones? What new things are you discovering?
One colleague told me that in a startup, you have to throw out all your assumptions every 3 weeks, while at the same time staying focused and moving forward.
This doesn't mean that your entire plan changes every 3-4 weeks, but it does mean that this venture is a journey into the unknown, and we must always be sensitive to what the Spirit of God is saying and doing. This is another value a good coach brings to the church planter - he is an advocate who can help you discern, evaluate, and make mid-course corrections as needed.
Always make good plans. But always monitor and evaluate your plan as you move forward! What are your thoughts?
I am very insistent that the church planters I coach create a project plan for their new church, even if it is a simple church. I love all the passages in Proverbs that affirm planning! I think they were placed in scripture just for church planters.
However, I am very aware while we prayerfully make our plans, the Lord directs our steps. I am aware that church planting is not a work of human effort, but a work of the Spirit.
With that said, I always encourage church planting leaders to re-evaluate their plan every 30 days. Is it still realistic? Does it seem to be in step with how the Spirit is moving? What progress are you making toward your milestones? What new things are you discovering?
One colleague told me that in a startup, you have to throw out all your assumptions every 3 weeks, while at the same time staying focused and moving forward.
This doesn't mean that your entire plan changes every 3-4 weeks, but it does mean that this venture is a journey into the unknown, and we must always be sensitive to what the Spirit of God is saying and doing. This is another value a good coach brings to the church planter - he is an advocate who can help you discern, evaluate, and make mid-course corrections as needed.
Always make good plans. But always monitor and evaluate your plan as you move forward! What are your thoughts?
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tell Your Story
Every church planter needs to write and communicate his/her story!
People are drawn to passion and they are moved by stories. Every church planter has a story and they should be communicating that story with passion. To get focused and clear on it, you MUST write it down!What is your story?
Your story should answer the questions:
• Why are you planting a church instead of doing something else?
• Why are you planting in the location that you’re planting?
• What has led you to this place?
• What do you hope for/dream of?
Your story should define your calling. It should express your passion. It should articulate your dream. You must understand that stories touch the hearts of people. When you touch the heart, people will join with you to make this new church a reality.
To succeed as a church planter, your new church must have at its foundation a story that drives and directs it day by day. And that story begins with God’s story and your story! A compelling story will answer the “Why?” questions and cause others to want to become a part of that story.
Have you written your story? You should be able to do this in one page. Have you communicated your story? You should be writing letters, articles, blogs, etc. every week. Have you engaged others with your story? You should have 10 face to face appointments every week sharing your story with someone new!
You are not ready to plant a church until you have written and begun articulating your story!
People are drawn to passion and they are moved by stories. Every church planter has a story and they should be communicating that story with passion. To get focused and clear on it, you MUST write it down!What is your story?
Your story should answer the questions:
• Why are you planting a church instead of doing something else?
• Why are you planting in the location that you’re planting?
• What has led you to this place?
• What do you hope for/dream of?
Your story should define your calling. It should express your passion. It should articulate your dream. You must understand that stories touch the hearts of people. When you touch the heart, people will join with you to make this new church a reality.
To succeed as a church planter, your new church must have at its foundation a story that drives and directs it day by day. And that story begins with God’s story and your story! A compelling story will answer the “Why?” questions and cause others to want to become a part of that story.
Have you written your story? You should be able to do this in one page. Have you communicated your story? You should be writing letters, articles, blogs, etc. every week. Have you engaged others with your story? You should have 10 face to face appointments every week sharing your story with someone new!
You are not ready to plant a church until you have written and begun articulating your story!
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Know Your Local Calling
Every missional church is keenly attuned to their local situation. I believe that a missional church is engaged both locally and globally as agents of the Kingdom of God. Think about your local setting and ask yourself these questions:
- What are the unique needs around you? In your neighborhood? In your city?
- How do you see these needs revealed socially, economically, environmentally, relationally, politically, and religiously?
- Where do you see the Kingdom of God most relfected? Least reflected?
- What special opportunities or events are found immediately around you?
- What prominent issues stand out in the eyes of the public and/or media?
- What needs and opportunities do the industries specific to your area create?
- What are the most significant changes in your community over the last decade, and what needs does this create?
- What is the creation story of our particular community, and what insights can this give us?
- Does the history of our community reveal any spiritual strongholds?
- How would you describe "lostness" in your community?
- What one positive change in your community would have the most dramatic effect in people's lives and/or the community as a whole?
1 Chronicles 12:32 tells us that the men of Issachar "understood the times and knew what Israel should do." Do you deeply understand your community at this time, and do you know what God is calling you to do?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Your Kingdom Concept
In the book Church Unique my friend Will Mancini teaches us how to discover God's unique vision for our church. He says the first step is to discover your "Kingdom Concept." I love what Will does with this. He says "The Kingdom Concept is the simple, clear, big idea that defines how your church will glorify God and make disciples." He goes on to say that "your Kingdom Concept is what differentiates you from every other church in how you develop followers of Christ."
What is your greatest opportunity to have an impact on the Kingdom? What can your church do better than ten thousand other churches? When you answer these questions you will discover what Will calls "your organizational sweet spot" or your Kingdom Concept. The big question is how do we discover our unique Kingdom Concept?
Will borrows from Jim Collins' model in Good to Great to help us answer that question. In Good to Great Collins introduces the idea of the "Hedgehog Concept." He describes an organization's "Hedgehog Concept" as the intersection of three circles. For Collins, circle one is "What you can be the best in the world at." Circle two is "What drives your economic engine." Circle three is "What you are deeply passionate about." Once a company or organization answers these three questions they are set to discover their "Hedgehog Concept," which is the key to their longterm success. Where these three circles overlap DEFINES their unique "Hedgehog Concept."
Will masterfully applies this concept to the local church using three circles. Circle one is to know your local predicament: "What are the unique needs and opportunities where God has placed us?" Circle two is to identify your collective potential: "What are the unique resources and capabilities that God brings together in us as a church?" Circle three is to declare your apostolic esprit: "What particular focus most energizes and animates our leadership?" Where these three circles intersect is your "Kingdom Concept."
Every church young and old needs to be crystal clear on their Kingdom Concept. Are you clear? Is your church clear?
What is your greatest opportunity to have an impact on the Kingdom? What can your church do better than ten thousand other churches? When you answer these questions you will discover what Will calls "your organizational sweet spot" or your Kingdom Concept. The big question is how do we discover our unique Kingdom Concept?
Will borrows from Jim Collins' model in Good to Great to help us answer that question. In Good to Great Collins introduces the idea of the "Hedgehog Concept." He describes an organization's "Hedgehog Concept" as the intersection of three circles. For Collins, circle one is "What you can be the best in the world at." Circle two is "What drives your economic engine." Circle three is "What you are deeply passionate about." Once a company or organization answers these three questions they are set to discover their "Hedgehog Concept," which is the key to their longterm success. Where these three circles overlap DEFINES their unique "Hedgehog Concept."
Will masterfully applies this concept to the local church using three circles. Circle one is to know your local predicament: "What are the unique needs and opportunities where God has placed us?" Circle two is to identify your collective potential: "What are the unique resources and capabilities that God brings together in us as a church?" Circle three is to declare your apostolic esprit: "What particular focus most energizes and animates our leadership?" Where these three circles intersect is your "Kingdom Concept."
Every church young and old needs to be crystal clear on their Kingdom Concept. Are you clear? Is your church clear?
Friday, October 23, 2009
How Different Generations View and Use the Bible
Have you ever considered how different generations view and use the Bible? I've been watching this, but now Barna offers some interesting research. He says:
As observers of American culture debate whether the nation has entered a post-Christian phase, one overlooked discussion is how attitudes about and usage of the Bible may be changing. A new research report from the Barna Group examines recent nationwide studies on how different generations of American adults view and use the Bible. Read more...
As observers of American culture debate whether the nation has entered a post-Christian phase, one overlooked discussion is how attitudes about and usage of the Bible may be changing. A new research report from the Barna Group examines recent nationwide studies on how different generations of American adults view and use the Bible. Read more...
Sunday, October 18, 2009
"The Essentials" is Postponed unitl December 11th!
Our popular seminar "The Essentials for Starting a Missional Church" has been postponed from October 30th until December 11th! Please note this change and plan to join us at Crossbridge Church for this new, updated One-Day Intensive seminar for church planting leaders! For more details click here.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Tools and Templates - Free Resources
Are you looking for some tools and resources that will help you as you gather people for your new church? Here are some resources designed for the new church planting leader. We call these our Essential Experiences. Here is an idex of tools that are available to you, absolutely free!
Also, join us for "The Essentials for Starting a Missional Church," on October 30th in Houston, TX. This is a one-day intensive for church planting leaders. Find out more here.
Also, join us for "The Essentials for Starting a Missional Church," on October 30th in Houston, TX. This is a one-day intensive for church planting leaders. Find out more here.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Jesus' Health Care Plan
Wow! This is the best article I've read from a Christian perspective on the health care debate. George Barna writes:
You can’t turn on the TV, listen to radio or read a newspaper without confronting some information about the raging debate on health care. Surveys continue to show that Americans are not well-informed on the issue and are struggling to figure out who is telling the truth about existing needs, the financial implications of the policies under consideration, and how they will personally be affected. Read more...
You can’t turn on the TV, listen to radio or read a newspaper without confronting some information about the raging debate on health care. Surveys continue to show that Americans are not well-informed on the issue and are struggling to figure out who is telling the truth about existing needs, the financial implications of the policies under consideration, and how they will personally be affected. Read more...
Friday, September 18, 2009
Things To Ask Before You Redo Your Website
One of my favorite thought leaders and marketing gurus is Seth Godin. He has posted an excellent resource on his blog entitled "Things to ask before you redo your website." Check it out!
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