Part 2: Structures in the United Methodist Church Which Hinder (aka, walls to clear) In the last part, here, I listed these 3 “walls” to clear. 1. The structure itself and how to “classify” a missional community who are able to jump geographical Conferences in a single bound! 2. Old perceptions of “what defines church”? [...]
{ 0 comments }
I’ve been reading a Seal Team 6 book. Walls are to be breached, with the mission at hand! Let me jump over some walls and describe a bit of what I see as a missional church plant, and the walls to getting there. Our mission is to create missional communities, otherwise known as “church.” The [...]
{ 1 comment }
My people work and live perfectly happily outside of church! In fact, they are not interested in church. I should modify that somewhat: They are not interested in church the way they know “our” church (global church). But they have very good reasons. Over the next several articles, I’d like to share what I’m hearing [...]
{ 1 comment }
Can you imagine a denominational church unconcerned with “getting the credit” for planting a new church? A denominational church unconcerned with its rules and more concerned with a church planting … No, let me rephrase that … a church multiplication purpose? I’ve discovered one. It’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. I’ve recently been [...]
{ 0 comments }
It’s not a food thing … it’s a passion thing!! I just got off the phone with my “planting a church” coach, Cathy Townley. She listened to my plans for adding 4 new groups over the next few weeks, and in the kindest of ways effectively said, “You’re crazy!’ Now, I have no problem being [...]
{ 0 comments }
Until about a year ago, I would have told you to use Joomla for your online presence. I’ve switched! With the advent of WordPress 3.0, you are given a strong CMS system that should satisfy all of your needs. It’s been known as a blogging machine and it does that great. If you’re a pastor, [...]
{ 0 comments }
I wanted to give you a chance to read Erik Hall’s ideas about a “front porch.” Take a moment to read his blog article why don’t you? I don’t know the guy, but I like the way he’s thinking. Boiled down, he says this: Our front porch is the place where the “in” people mingle [...]
{ 0 comments }
I remember my grandma teaching me to bake a pie. She didn’t use measuring cups, but I can attest to the fact that she made the best pies in the whole world. What was her measuring cup? By the pure pleasure-mounting groans of the people eating them! What people said about her pies made her [...]
{ 0 comments }
I don’t want to forget this section of Ed Stetzer’s book, Viral Churches. “Christians must measure their success along the spectrum of their willingness to communicate the gospel to an inner city New Yorker who grew up in an irreligious, alcoholic family–like someone did for Ed, leading to Ed’s conversion to a life of following [...]
{ 0 comments }
A line from one of our favorite TV show, “Burn Notice”, had Fiona complaining to Michael Weston, “You love the idea of people, but not people.” It’s kind of an ethics question. Are people a vehicle to what you want? Or are they really people that you are fully engaged with? For a ministry and [...]
{ 0 comments }
