Report 7--Remeber Your Call

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Last night's worship service was amazing. The celebrative music, the prayer time and communion, and most especially this service the message!! Bishop Jung of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference was preaching. He is a Korean by birth, child of God by adoption, United Methodist by profession, and proclaimer of God's word by calling. Though it was challenging to follow his broken English, the message was outstanding--all of it.

He described his struggle with the recent appointment as Bishop. He felt a vision to evangelize the Northern Illinois conference through church planting, but everyone kept telling him it wouldn't work. He prayed and prayed, and God still gave him the same vision. And still leaders in the church and conference said it couldn't be done. They gave him advice--just lay low for a while, get to know the people of the conference, and you'll see how our conference is.

It tore him up inside. And at one point he found himself in prayerful consternation, writhing in the pains of his heart, torn between two options. He fell down on his knees in prayer, sobbing in desperation for God's still small voice, a word of encouragement and hope. His prayerful posture eventually brought him to grasping for life the leg of his conference table. Had anyone walked in they would have assumed him an idiot. A bishop of the United Methodist Church weeping on the floor like a baby, holding on to a table leg in desperation? What came of it?

God gave him a vision for church planting! He set some goals he thought might be reached by 2020, and set out to accomplish them. At the present rate these goals will be met by 2010. God is good!

Bishop Jung's message echoed what I have heard from other bishops and leaders at this conference--Quit playing church!! Get out and MAKE DISCIPLES. Every one of our speakers possess a 'self-critical' stance toward the church (e.g. the loyalty to rigid and inhibiting structures of the UMC) matched by an amazing confidence in the power of God to use the UMC for making disciples of Jesus Christ. Have we lost confidence in the Holy Spirit?

I personally find this refreshing. Ten or fifteen years ago it would have been unheard of for a bishop to criticize his own organization. At the same time, ten or fifteen years ago there was not a great deal of confidence in the Lord. Sure, confidence in the UMC to become a great organization, but not confidence in God and his imperative to make disciples. There is a difference. And what a joy it is to see our denominational leaders negotiating the higher things for the sake of the kingdom.

Remember your call! It's not just a good sermon title. It is an invitation for all of us to grasp hold of the Lord's imperative to make disciples, to be on our knees in desperation, and to seek the fulfillment of God's promises!

Blessings in Christ,
JON

Report 6--New Church, part 2

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

The ministry track which I am attending is "New Church--Post Launch" presented by Brad Kalajainen, Sr. Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Grand Rapids, MI. He presents the Top 15 Post Launch Learnings. In a previous blog, we looked at the first 7 of these (http://drinkrain.blogspot.com/2007/08/report-from-front-3.html). Now we look at the rest...

8. Devlope a Clear Strategy. Move from vision statement to how that will be accomplished, and aim to do that in all ministry.

9. Invent a Workable Organizational Plan. Reduce the size of decision making groups. Meet often for action, not discussion. Give permission to ministry leaders/staff to make decisions that align with vision/goals.

10. Communicate Effectively. Newsletters need to be about vision--every issue. Provide opportunities for involvement in every publication (bulletin, etc.). Use testimonies in church often. Email for internal communication. Update website often.

11. Get People Involved in Outreach. Servant evangelism, mission trips, community involvement all give courage and motivation for members. Invite friends!!

12. Keep Stewardship Central. Stewardship is at the heart of our devotion to God, for it is the material expression of our spiritual loyalties. The goal of a new church is to become self-sufficient. Preach it; teach it; celebrate it!

13. Develop Leaders. What to expect of leaders--come spiritually prepared for worship (expect to minister, not to be ministered too); Give God your best when your on, be the best family person when your off; Be enthusiastic, optimistic and energetic; Tithe; Work out problems with co-workers without quitting; Be loyal to your spiritual leaders; Carry a vision for your area; Keep one eye on eternity; Have a lot of fun.

14. Work toward Adequate Space. Expect a crowd. Raise money from alternative sources. Be highly visible.

15. Keep it Fun! Expect a positive, enthusiastic attitude from leaders. Do a lot with humor. Encourage a 'can do' attitude. Preserve your family and sanity.

Report 5--Steps to Positive Church Culture

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Today I joined the group attending Woods Chapel UMC in Lee's Summit, Missouri. We went to their 11:15 am worship service--one of 5 Sunday services--followed by three hours of listening to the pastor and staff share their history, vision, methods, etc. Though much of this has already been said in other venues, it is good to see another church operating off similar principles, yet with a unique expression. One thing that struck me is the amount of mistakes all these churches make. Ministry is at times messy--like the 'elephant' of a previous blog (http://drinkrain.blogspot.com/2007/08/report-4-conversations-with-leader.html) --but somehow it does the trick. This is, of course, contrary to my personal preferences, for I like things very neat and orderly. It is uncomfortable for certain. Let me outline it, plan it, organize it, but don't make me move ahead in discomfort and challenge with the inevitable promise of messiness. Hmmm... I've got a lot to learn, but at least I am willing.

During our seminar time, Jeff the pastor shared steps to building a positive church culture, addressed mainly to pastors/leaders...

1. Be yourself, authentic. Don't be afraid to share strengths and weaknesses, hurts and joys. Be normal and relevant.
2. Keep your faith alive. Nurture a devotional life, not just for the sake of teaching/preaching. Find an accountability partner.
3. Share power. Foster a team spirit. Apologize when you are wrong. Mentor others, empowering them to be in ministry. Remember, this is all about effective ministry, not control.
4. Have high expectations. Membership is a privilege, not a right. Leaders need to be highly committed. Everyone is called to ministry; no one comes to sit. Quality people are drawn to excellence.
5. Model servanthood. Ask those who are mad at you, "How can I do a better job?" The bishop can give you an appointment, but only by winning people's trust do you become their pastor. Give credit to others for successes; take responsibility for failures (they failed b/c you didn't provide the necessary steps for them).
6. Believe in your future. Are our best days ahead or behind us? Are we here to save our church, the denomination, or the lost? Rejoice in small victories, for the culmination of them will bring the big victories.
7. Model joy. The 'church lady' (from Saturday Night Live) never won anybody for Christ. We have the greatest privilege to share God's love.
8. Keep an outward focus. Hospitality must invade and pervade. Those who are not here matter more than those who are. Look at facilities as an Ellis Island not a museum--the point of the church is transformation not immaculate property. Things will get messy, but if lives are changed, who cares?

Results of a Positive Culture...

1. Joy.
2. Lives are touched and transformed.
3. New people come to the church.
4. Giving--"when the heart strings are warm, the purse strings are loose."
5. We fulfill our purpose as a church--making disciples of Jesus Christ!!

Report 4--Conversations with a Leader

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Friday evening I shared in dinner, fellowship and prayerful discussion with Bryan Sims (no relation, though he's originally from Canyon, Texas). Bryan is one of the leaders of Spiritual Leadership, Inc. of Lexington, KY and facilitates leadership 'Incubators' across the nation for numerous denominations, churches, organizations and businesses. Interestingly, the Northwest Texas Conference is at the vanguard of this new wave of leadership development, and we are seeing the fruit of its effectiveness across the conference.

Bryan is a friend of many years and we share a penchant for academic endeavors as they playfully interact with ministry and the Kindgom of God. It is no surprise that our discussion at dinner quickly turned down the road of innovative theories on leadership. Bryan, who is working toward a PhD in leadership, has stepped into the world of "complexity theory."

Complexity theory has been influential in strategic management and organizational studies. The theory is used to understand how organizations adapt to their changing environments. The theory treats organizations and firms as collections of strategies and structures. When the organization or firm shares the properties of other complex adaptive systems--which is often defined as consisting of a small number of relatively simple and partially connected structures--they are more likely to adapt to their environment and, thus, survive. It is sort of like "chaos theory," but with direction and purpose.

Bryan hopes to approach church and ministry through similar categories. If the church is to survive and thrive in a fast-paced culture of quickly shifting values, viewpoints and patterns of behavior, then the church will need to be an 'organism' that is able to adapt with speed and effectiveness. The church, then, will need to become 'responsive' in its structure and organization for ministry to the changing demands of the world. At the same time, the church must hold fast to its timeless truths. Reaching a healthy balance between these two realities is, of course, the challenge for all churches, but one which we see happening through the leadership incubators of SLI and creative innovations in ministry across the world.

What does this look like? Conventional churches operate with a rigid organizational structure--committees, processes, roles and expectations are all set out with clear parameters. The typical image for conventional churches is a ship. This mechanical structure is steered by one leader who controls the direction of the whole ship and gives specialized knowledge to the staff to move it forward. Once built, properly staffed, and filled with passengers (i.e. members), the ship can then be directed to pursue its course.

In contrast, churches that hope to survive in the coming generation will need to be much more flexible. Principles, vision, guiding patterns of being will be at the heart of ministry, allowing the visible 'structure' of ministry to be adapted from time to time. Adam Hamilton provides a surprising analogy for this type of church--a running elephant. Barreling forward with bravado, ministry at Church of the Resurrection is very messy, at times stomping on things without grace or concern. Leadership at Church of the Resurrection involves trying to keep the elephant heading in the right direction, stepping out of the way at times. It is a highly structured environment, but the structures change--the vision and values don't! Other images come to mind as well--vine and branches, a human body--ancient analogies that reflect the organic, fluid nature of God's kingdom.

Report 3--New Church, part 1

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

The ministry track which I am attending is "New Church--Post Launch" presented by Brad Kalajainen, Sr. Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Grand Rapids, MI. He presents the Top 15 Post Launch Learnings. Here is what we have discussed so far...

1. Don't Lose Your Vision. Talk about it all the time, every week, every newsletter article. Two most important words for your vision: 'God' and 'them' (those who aren't there yet). Two most important words to teach your people: 'invite' and 'invest'.
2. Organize around Clear Purposes. Change organization of ministry to align with purposes. Ministry teams need to be focused and directed toward the task at hand. This affects hiring as well. If children are your forte, hire a children's minister. If small groups are your emphasis, hire a small group minister.
3. Create a culture of Change. Talk about change often. Never try to resuscitate dead horses. Constantly change the medium, but never compromise the message. If ain't broke, change it before it breaks.
4. Make Worship Accessible to Non-Believers. First impressions start in the parking lot. Most visitors will decide if they will come again within the first 10 minutes of their visit. Think and act like a bigger church. If worship is too 'casual' it will not grow. Never ramble or allow others to ramble. Use music which people hear in other parts of their lives. Don't get stuck in a 'reading' culture. Avoid code words (e.g. 'VBS', 'UMW'). Utilize multiple learning styles. Pick up the pace, esp. regarding tempo in worship and cutting out 'dead time.'
5. Discover the Power of a Team. Church leaders' job is to build teams, to empower others to do ministry. Most hires are made based on competence to perform task, but staff and leaders need to be 'managers' or 'facilitators' of ministry rather than performers of ministry. Choose leaders based on gifts.
6. Invest in the Power Source--Prayer. Through prayer God softens hearts, gives insight, and even prunes branches that are holding you back. Prayer breaks down walls. God will stir hearts. People will begin to find their purpose.
7. Think through a NEXT STEP process of Discipleship. Always answer the question, "What Next?" for visitors and attenders. A linear progression will work for Boomers, but most younger generation will appreciate a multi-valent approach to discipleship, where they can choose based on interest. Invest in small groups and train leaders by submersing them in it. Begin with video-based curriculum, so all that is required is "Open your home and press a button." Train them to be evangelistic by having your leaders recruit members from neighborhood and work. Don't recruit for them. Ask at the beginning of the process for 'missionaries' to begin and lead another small group.

Report 2--Evangelistic Congregations

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Bishop Scott Jones of Kansas East Conference spoke today on Evangelistically Effective Congregations. http://www.extremecenter.org/

The Problem--Most congregations are evangelistically ineffective because...

1. They have a 'club culture.' Churches that view membership and ministry as an earned priviledge will fail.
2. There is a failure to cross boundaries. This is especially true regarding our younger generation. Instead of speaking their language, many churches try to 'train' younger people to speak the older generation's language.
3. There is a failure to adapt to new situations. A desire to remain as it always has been will keep the church from rising above new challenges that enable growth.

Preliminary Thoughts...

1. Intentions Matter--Leaders need to decide that they are going to do it.
2. Relationships are complicated--Therefore, there are multiple ways of accomplishing the same task.
3. God deserves excellence. Give God your best.

How to become an evangelistically effective congregation...

1. Create & Sustain a Missional Culture. The church exists for people who are not there! This is the most difficult paradigm to work with, because most people will inevitably revert back to their self-serving ways. In order to keep a missional mind-set, a church (leaders/pastor) must... (a) Believe it. (b) Believe that evangelism is central to mission. (c) Teach and preach it week in week out. (d) Organize according to mission. (e) Nurture disciplines that provide incentive and accountability to keep on track.
2. Create & Sustain a Spiritual Culture. Ministry isn't about us; it is about God! Leaders must model an authentic dependence upon God and foster praying for the unchurched.
3. Create & Sustain a Culture of Hospitality. Jesus welcomes everybody; the church should too. Idea: 10 foot rule--if an unknown person comes within 10 feet of you, break off from your current conversation to greet and converse with that person.
4. Target Somebody. The church is not going to reach every demographic. Focus on a particular age and geography, then slowly move beyond it. Learn to love what the community loves.

Report 1--Principles of Vision

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Today we heard from Kirbyjon Caldwell, Senior Pastor of Windsor Village UMC in Houston, Texas, one of the largest African American Churches in the US.

He outlined 7 principles of vision based on Genesis 13, in which Abraham and Lot split ways.

1. COMPASS (v. 1)--Whom are you following?
Obey God. Nothing else matters; nothing else will help you.

2. CAPITAL (v.2)--How do you perceive what your ministry needs?
You've got to have funding to move forward in the vision God has given. Many churches act pitful, or apologetic about their finances, failing to address stewardship principles (e.g. won't use the terms 'giving' or 'tithe'). Don't belittle or curse that which you need.

3. CONSECRATION (vv. 3-4)--Have you and your plans seen the altar?
Your plans need to be from God. God to God in the beginning (Compass, above), but keep coming to God through every step of the process. If God wants to change the plans, then change the plans!

4. CAPACITY (v. 6)--Why haven't you run out of space?
Because God is a God of increase, at some point in our ministry we should have a capacity problem. It is seldom that 'historical' churches are making history! Many churches have a 'reverse capacity' problem, where too much space and too little people. All too often, it is because the church rests more on its history than on its calling. There is a great need to start new churches and revive old churches.

5. CONFLICT (v. 7)--How do you, or will you, manage folks' perceptions of your increase?
If you are growing, or are doing something different and innovative, people will be talking about you. How will you communicate your mission?

6. COMPOSURE (vv. 8-9)--Since you have been called, why are you still tripping?
God gives us what we see. If we don't see much, we won't get much. What do you see? That is your vision, and that guides you through the tough times. Vision leads to provision. God provides. Provision leads to division. People don't like change and will resist to the point of leaving. Division leads to television (meaning, take a closer look at things). Get your eyes back on what you see, your vision.

7. Unfortunately, Kirbyjon did not finish his final point.

Howay the Lads!

Many of you know I am a soccer fan. Though I follow several teams across the globe, I have a particular fondness for Newcastle United, a professional team in England. The fans of Newcastle, dubbed ‘Toon Army,’ are world renown for their loyalty and vivacious display of support during a game. Visiting teams despise playing in Newcastle, because of the passionately loud acclamations (and at times words to opposing teams that might not be so nice). Often, players in search of new contracts will seek out Newcastle simply for the electrifying atmosphere of encouragement during home games. When something good happens, the Toon Army cheers, “Howay the Lads!” After a good result, newspaper headlines declare, “Howay the Lads!” These words are a collective recognition of work well done and are meant to be highest praise. One thing is evident… the people of Newcastle take immense pride in their team.

One thing that pleases me about Westover is the pride our members take in our church. People of Westover, you are proud of our history, proud of our ministries, proud of our worship, proud of our staff, proud of our future. It is a joy for me to be in such an electrifying atmosphere of encouragement. We are exhorting each other to greater life in Jesus, passionately pursuing the wonder of his grace as we take these steps of faith together. And at every turn I am pleased. It is as if the heavenly realm of angles, saints, and Jesus himself is looking down with great acclamation, “Howay the Lads!” Keep up the good work!

I will be attending a conference in Kansas City this Sunday, learning how to be a more effective leader. Please be in prayer for me as I continue to gain greater clarity for the future direction of our church. In addition, come support Michael as he brings the word of God to us.

“Howay the Lads!”

In Christ,
JON