Ambushed

Before I get started, let me say that I have prayed before posting and this post, like my previous one about church planting, is for any church planter or anyone thinking about doing so, being armed with the information as part of their discernment process. I was warned by a far more credible mentor about the inherent dangers of being a church planting pastor and even thought to myself that it would not happen to me, but it did. I got Ambushed.  Not by the enemy, but by other pastors and even ones from within my own denomination. I won't sugar coat it. It royally stunk. I will completely tell that I have forgiven them and moved on, but this is not about the emotions, but a word of warning as you may venture into church planting. ** I will not mention the churches or people involved by name**  as a passed away colleague once told me; "forgiving someone means letting go of your rights to be angry or seek justice." (Chris Perry)

If you are a church planter, part of your job is to reach out and meet with other pastors. Raise money. Pray for one another. This is totally is supposed to be a blessing! I sent an email to a church who had a large attendance every weekend and I knew two of the pastors really well on staff.  Their senior pastor emailed me back and was delighted to have lunch with me. As a church planter, I thought that this was a positive sign !  Having their endorsement would be tremendous and the influence it could wield and yield would be a win. 

Instead of being asked about how they could help, I was blind sided with questions that seemed more orientated about us being in competition than cooperation. It hurt.  The phrase from one the pastors was repeated that "he simply didn't understand" and basically from there repeated that several times. Even after pointing out that I was directed by the Bishop and by BOCD ( denominational terms) and that established churches need 72 people on average to reach 1 person... "I just do not understand." For them, it seemed like I was after a resource for them or church folk. I wasn't.

 I remember saying to our earliest core group, and have continued to say ever since, “We could have a hundred churches around us, and it wouldn’t matter. We’re not after churched people!” I would often go further and add, “We’re not even primarily after people looking for a church. We’re after the person who, right now, the last thought on their mind is being in a church this weekend.”

The reason I say that this was an ambush is this. As defined by Webster, an ambush is: a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position. 

Allow me to be brazenly clear. If you want to say no to another pastor, then just tell them no. Do not invite them to lunch and surround them so that they can leave feeling interrogated. If we are in a common cause and denomination, there should be a celebration for someone being sent to start a new place for new people. 

To the church planter, before you take a meeting. Pray. Never answer hastily.  I went into the meeting feeling quite safe because I knew two out of the three pastors. 

If you do get ambushed. Just pray & forgive. Church planting is already hard enough. You are going to experience rejection and that is a normal.  I made it my practice after running into them on later dates to be cordial and grace filled. Who really knows why people do what they do.  

The Last 11 Months in a nutshell.

Where has the last 11 months gone?

It has been a long while since I wrote on my blog and shared. Mostly because I have school work, kids, wife,  and a church to shepherd, but I feel the need to now get back to writing and be a bit more faithful to bring creative content.

Some of you who know me already know the highlights, but I will unpack the last 11 months in more details over the next several weeks and some of this will include my 42 pages of writing on church planting in the Alabama-West Florida Conference.

It has been an extremely weird year.  January began and the world was full of wonder. I had been asked by my previous Bishop, Paul Leland, to plant a new church. It was a labor of love. A two year discernment process that at times was... less than thrilling. I went through assessment after assessment. Even was flown to Indianapolis to be run through a very stringent assessment, where we were one of seven couples, and to my knowledge, the only couple given the green light to plant a church.  I had expected in 2015 to be moved to my launch city only to be told to stay put and wait another year. Not because of anything I did, but because the Methodist itinerant system  said so. It was awkward, but it ruined any and all momentum that we could have had.

Let's fast forward. My wife is also a pastor and was appointed to be the pastor of another church  that was 55 miles from the outskirts of where I was planting.  Anyone who knows anything about church planting knows that it is already has enough pressure without adding a one hour each way drive. In less than 5 months of being on the job, I recognized early signs and began the smart process of praying more and more, because I knew that either my marriage was going to fail or the new church would. I chose my wife.  This was not an easy choice, but I made my choice that if they could not move my wife closer for the sake of my family, then I would let go of church planting.

Between February of 2016 to May 2017 , I drove 73,000 miles. That time gave me some time to really pray about what matters.

In late January of this year, my wife and I met with our new Bishop, David Graves. He said he would do all he can, but our priorities were placed as his ultimate goal. In mid Feb, our DS called and said that he and the Bishop were working hard and that it was a 50/50 chance of staying or going.  Mind you, we launched full time worship services in January. By the end of February , I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to prepare my heart for letting go. In March, I got the call and while I was prepared, it still felt like a punch to the chest.  My heart sank. I had grown to love this community that I was investing in. I had regular prayer meetings and slightly hoped to stay because I saw the potential future. Worship was vibrant.
The church had a young group that was driving down every week from Tallahassee to be part of what we were doing. Our church was just taking on their identity. Then ... it was over.

I was faced with some hard choices. Rip the band off slowly or quickly. I chose quickly, because I felt it would be disingenuous to keep services going while knowing we were leaving and closing the church.  I called my Kids director and broke the news. Devastated. My assistant and her worship leader husband. Bummed but knew that my family was important and prayed over us.  We cried a great deal. Closing the doors on a dream stinks, but even as we cried... the greater good was my family.

It was not until recently that I really began to allow myself to process the whole series of events. Which is why I want to write more. I want to help church planters to look for warning signs. What to to do when people who say "ALL IN" and then flake out. (some of that is ME TOO) I mean lets be real... HEY I am here to start a church... pastor a community.... and HEY ... I am gone.... Integrity takes a gigantic hit at that point. 

I will be writing a series of posts specifically about my dealings with church planting nuts and bolts. What NOT to do...

How to avoid dangerous predatory  pastors and the importance of building right relationships.
What do when you get asked out to lunch and cornered by others.....
Learning that people will let you down and give them grace , because you will let them down too.
Raising funds.
Why house church is a better start to the building process.
Ultimately, I know this won't sit well with others, but I knew going into this process that planting in the Alabama-West Florida Conference had low probability of success. Something around 25 %. I knew that going in and wrote 25 page paper about the strengths & weaknesses.

I thank God that I am healing and able to be where I am now. 

Be Anxious For Nothing

 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Selah- ( this means to think about it)

Have you ever had an irrational fear? Something that caused you just to move from being a little concerned to FULL ON FREAK OUT MODE? Ok. What was it? Did your worry or anxiousness help at all?   Probably not. 

Recently, I was struggling with something and a situation. I read this scripture over and over. One more time just to be sure.  Be anxious for Nothing!  What a great thought. I mean Paul was in prison when he wrote this. Beaten. Chained. He is writing to a group of believers in Jesus. Think about that for perspective. Here is Paul. He could be wracked up in anxiety, but he isn't.  So I studied this scripture more and more. What is Paul saying to the church?

Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, Let your requests be made known to God.

1. Don't let your NOTHING be your EVERYTHING. What is it that consumes you? Giving you irrational fear? Divorce? Money? Kids? School?   Here is how you can tell when that THING is becoming the needless anxiousness.  It makes you fear. You aren't thankful.  Paul goes into this rather quickly. Quit dwelling on it and pray about it instead. Give thanks to God. Paul is trying to get us to see things that from heaven's perspective are just not really a big deal.

2. Often, especially in our American culture, we can rush to the next THING. I think Paul is pointing out, be thankful for where you are, what you have, and even what you don't have. You will always have anxiety if you continually rush and don't wait.

I loved verse seven, because in order to get to it, you have to do verse six. You are what you practice.  The implication of Paul writes is that you LET your requests be known to God and then the PEACE of GUARD will guard your heart.  Meaning. You will have something that guards... what does a guard do? Keeps the wrong things out! That is what they do by design. So the peace of God... will Guard you! Keep that worry from living in your soul. 

I had to saturate this last part of the verse in my heart through worship. That his peace passes all my understanding. You don't have to understand it, you just have to experience it. I am not saying to be absent of genuine concerns for the things going on in your life, but not to let them control you.

So the bottom line is : Be anxious for no THING. Pray. Give it to God. Peace will guard you. 

Prayer: God, I give to you all that I cannot control. I exchange that for your peace. Rid me of my worry. Help me to have peace, rest, and live in freedom. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Sinking Deep

Have you ever found yourself in a struggle? Where you are just so desperate that everything in your being is crying for God?  Good! Jesus is not a fad. My church and I are currently in a series called, "Living Beyond Myself."  That our greatest joy in life is found being right in the middle of God's action and serving the local church. Your life will radically change when you find your best fit, get equipped, and serve others.  

You are called to be a priest. God is not looking for the equipped, but he equips the called. 
I can give you my own journey where as a youth director I tried to do it all. It wore me out and God spoke to me. "Don't be a fool. I put people around you for a reason!"

So you want to grow as a leader? Learn first that you need to empower others. When I did this I saw what God could do through others that I could not. Here is what you need to focus on first is that you are not looking for people to just be volunteers, but pioneers in ministry.


 Secondly, it is all about multiplication. We want to multiply ourselves in others by example, empowerment, and enlightenment .  It is not about HOW we do ministry, but who we are called to be. 1 Peter 2:9 says "but you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  That is pretty clear. All called.  Why do some hold back doing ministry? I can think of a few reasons:

1. Our past is too bad
2. Do not feel talented
3. Not close enough to God
4. I have been hurt

I know because I have used these before, but I was thankful for the leaders who would not simply let me sit on the sidelines. God is not looking for one in a million, but for one of a kind and that's who you are. You were gifted and created to serve God in a unique way. I know that I wish I could relate to everyone( and I try too!), but you could the right person to minister to someone I simply never could reach. God did this on purpose!

 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Message)  “God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.  God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit.  God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all.  Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!  The variety is wonderful…”

Don't disqualify what God wants to do in your life today for you might be the only Jesus someone gets to encounter today.


Prayer:
Father,
I ask for wisdom and how I can best serve you today. Flood my life with your light! I ask for the gift's you have for me to serve the body of Christ. Help me to use the gift you have given me to advance your purpose in the local church.  I thank that your design reveals destiny and you have a plan for my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Taking next steps.

I have taken some time off from writing because of a new schedule with school and now as a Lead Pastor for the last few months at a small church. God has done some incredible things in that time.  My first few months have been spent ( no offense to him) debunking, cleaning out, and taking heat from the Pastor  I replaced.( As I am sure he did too!) This would have happened either way if he had been liked or disliked.  What I have learned thus far:

•    It does not take a year to try new things, just pray & ask
•    Whatever the member of your church says, listen, discern, pray, and then act.
•    Don't let them bad mouth the last pastor, even if you think he deserves it
•    Admit you don't know what you don't know.
•   Stay Humble
•  Do what they are hungry for! Visit. Be apart of their lives and not just a passerby.

Some of these seem like no brainers, but the temptation to do the opposite is there and it  is real!!!
The best part of this has been getting to know new people, communities, and watching life happen. I did take a risk in my first few months because I refuse to stay still. Church should grow, develop, and look new every week. In my first few months, our people have brought over 100 new people in a community that is saturated with churches. 33 churches for a town 2,700 people!  This  is huge deal.

Have you ever felt that way at something new? Like you have to prove something? I have since crept back in the attitude to take it one step at a time, but always pray about everything. Right now my church is in a series called, Live.Laugh. Love.  Learning how to Live well, Laugh often, and Love much. It reminded me of all I had to be thankful for.

God,
 I thank you for this new thing you are doing in my life. Help me to Live well, Laugh Often, and Love much. Help me to be anxious for nothing, but with everything Thanksgiving!

Pure Worship Institute

I have attended countless workshops over my 17 years of worship leading and finally have one that deserves to be boasted about. Pure Worship Institute is a must send place for any worship leader/team! Whether you have been together for 6 weeks or years, this is a place to refresh both your talent and learn new techniques. Draw closer to God's presence and receive some close personal teaching from some of  the best worship and music industry leaders today. I am not only endorsing, but I am a graduate of  PWI 2009!

Why should you attend?
   This year on the schedule are 29 speakers who have a heart for worship. Whether you are singing from a hymnal or HillSong, the attitude of your heart posture is what is most important. Founder Jeff Deyo pursues passionately in each session and in no way is a hands off instructor who sits by without pouring into the lives of the students who come from all over to learn more about worship leading.
There are four tracks in which to choose from; Singer/Worship Leader Track, Musician Track, Creative Track, and Sound/Recording Track.

Singer/Worship Leader

This track is primarily for vocalists who desire to improve their technique and learn how to get the most out of their voices. We will focus on pop vocal methods, background singing, blending, and harmonizing. There will be teaching on how to care for your voice, how to increase your range, the difference between chest voice, head voice, and falsetto; the importance of warming up and cooling down, what God expects of singers, how to lead and direct a band, how to avoid pride, phrophetic singing, and more.( this is from pureworshipinstitute.com, the next sentence was cut off on the website)
I personally experienced this track and even after years of leading I found everything to be fresh & relevant. This is a cannot miss opportunity if you have just hired a first time worship leader! This is also a great place for those who are burned out! ( if they come thirsty)



Musican Track

This track is primarily for instrumentalists who want to better themselves while learning the tricks of the trade. We will focus on these instruments: drum set, bass guitar, electric and acoustic guitar, piano/synth/organ, and programming. There will be teaching on caring for your instrument, making the most of your practice time, worshiping with your instrument, God’s expectations of musicians, how to avoid the “rock star” mentality, networking with artists and other musicians, and more. There will be workshops and small-group clinics, as well as opportunities for improvisational jam sessions and gear talk.

Creative Track

This track is primarily for attendees who are interested in the creative side of music, such as arranging and songwriting, as well as a mix of other classes that introduce creativity in worship. Some of these venture beyond the normal congregational song sets, and explore important topics like “free” worship, improvisation, and prophetic worship. There will be teaching on worship intercession, songwriting techniques, and arranging for bands, while a new focus for 2013 may include a guest drama team and the introduction of drama in worship. . There will be multiple comprehensive workshops and hands-on clinics, as well as opportunities for small-group songwriting, basic demo recording and experimental, spontaneous worship.

Sound and Recording Track

This is a new track title, replacing the Technology Track. It is primarily for people who are, or would like to be involved in some of the surrounding areas in the music world. Most of these classes are very practical in nature and will help build skills that many musicians need but often don’t take time to learn. Some of the classes offered in this track include, “The Live Mix Fix”, “Audio System Setup”, “Running Rehearsals and Sound Checks”, and “Today’s Gear”. We also include classes on the industry side of things like “The Music Producer”, “Pro Tools I”, and “The Recording Experience” “The Recording Experience”, involves one song being selected from the Songwriting group, and being taken through a professional recording process to completion as attendees look on and ask questions.

If your team is looking for a place to grow spiritually, conditionally, and relationally then look no further!
PureWorship

Passion and Purpose, and living it out

I've been lying to myself.
 I have lost what was so valuable to me. Passion. I am not mistaken. I am missing passion. Tonight I was listening to my very dear friend  (shameless plug:http://lifechurchpelham.podbean.com/) Jeremy  talk about passion. Tears began to stream down my face as I listened to him talk about those who are serving the kingdom. I've been approaching this date in July as first time pastor with a sense of dread. This moment that I have been preparing for since I was 15 now feels like I am going to be walking into either a dentist office or funeral of fighting family. I hear "there a sweet dear church", followed quickly by how hostile they are. Even to the point of a man standing up in service and shouting down the Pastor during the middle of the sermon. The fact is that none of this stuff used to bother me. I've tried to pinpoint the time and place when I lost my zeal for life and to surround myself with those who are passionate, but I keep messing that up. So let me be real. Honest. We lose more people when we have no passion but have purpose. You can have purpose all day and twice on Sunday, but I would rather take 4 passionate people who want to do the small things really well, than have 100 people clamoring for greatness and the next rung or check in the box any day.

 God, renew my passion! Help me to understand that a know it all cannot do it all.