Church Planter’s Christmas Party

Here are some photos from our church planter's Christmas party on Dec. 4.

Message or Relationship

We are bombarded by messages each day: email, commercials, billboards, sales pitches. We know how to spot hype and mile a way. We get a sense that something is wrong when someone misuses our relationships to lure us into multi-level marketing scams. So, why do we try to start churches the same way? Relational church planting is about building authentic relationships with people because God loves them and we are trying.

Please listen to the following podcast and post your comments regarding "Message or Relationship"

Gabcast! The Church Planting Podcast #5 - Message or Relationship

20th Century churches focused on the message. Twenty-First Century humans are bombarded with messages everyday. We delete or ignore most of the messages that are sent to us, except for the relational ones.

For more on relational church planting, check out: http://everywherechurch.com/ and Hanging out on the EDGE

Mega or Micro?

So, are we advocating mega churches or micro churches?  Yes!

Alex McManus has an excellent post on his blog: Mega Church and Home Church Networks: Twin Trajectories and Why We Need Them Both.

So, What is a Simple Church?

November 1, 2006
10a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Apopka, FL
Free Event
Register Online

Quite simply, a simple church is one that focuses on loving God, loving people and making disciples of Jesus Christ. Simple does not necessarily mean small. Some simple churches are small and some are quite large. Simple does mean uncomplicated.

Sometimes we get so busy doing church that we fail to equip people to be the church in daily life. Simple churches evaluate all that they do in terms of loving God, loving people and making disciples. They stop doing or don’t do things that hinder them from fulfilling the mission of Jesus.

Simple Church Planting is all about intentionally multiplying churches that focus on keeping the main thing the main thing. In some contexts, simple churches will launch large with a paid staff and a full slate of mission opportunities. In many others, they will start as single-celled organisms that multiply quickly. Regardless of size, the principles are the same.

You are invited to spend 5 hours on November 1st with some simple church planters and others who want to learn. Simple Church Planting is not an event, it is a collaboration of people on mission together to evangelize Central Florida and the world with the good news that God came near. If you are interested in joining us click here for more details.

Marketplace Networking/Training Opportunity

Westpoint Fellowship Church is hosting their 1st business leadership conference to connect with and serve the business leaders of the Central Florida region. On November 14th, participants will get to sit in on a live simulcast as though in a board room doing Q and A with Jack Welch, Marcus Buckingham, Stephen R. Covey, and Ken Blanchard. This is a one-of-a-kind event that will have thousands of participants all across the country and in 32 countries. Westpoint is the host for Central Florida.

If you would like to participate, you have 2 options:
· You can view it live @ St. Paul's Presbyterian across from West Oaks Mall from 11 to 5 on November 14th. The cost is $100 per head or $75 per head for a group of 10 or more. Admission includes the in-depth learning experience, networking discussions and opportunities with other business leaders, an application workbook, lunch, a free gift, and the change to win a door prize.
· You can pay to have the feed streamed into your own conference room and have a private day with your own team.
This is an awesome chance to network with other business leaders in the community, as well as be challenged by 4 premier and proven national business leaders. For all the details, go to www.higherlevel2006.com. All proceeds go toward WFC being the church in the marketplace.
To find out more about how WFC is being the church in the marketplace, surf through Restoration Concept's website and share the vision with your friends in the marketplace.

Collaborate with Google Docs

OK, this is really cool and revolutionary. Google has released their online word processor aka writley. The new release, known as Google Docs is integrated with Google's online spreadsheet. With docs and spreadsheets, you can invite others to collaborate with you on a project and keep the project private. Each user logs in with their own Google account. Revisions are tracked, so it is easy to revert to previous versions. You can also publish your work to a unique url so that it can be viewed by anyone online, but not changed. The really cool thing is that you can track all changes via rss feed.

Simple Church Planting

Simple Church Planting Conference
November 1, 2006 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Camp Joy Chapel

I am excited to announce the line-up for Simple Church Planting at Camp Joy on November 1st. Alex McManus will get us started at 10:00 with “Effective Evangelism." He will be followed by Neil Hughes with a session on “Reproducing Disciples.” During lunch, we will hear testimonies of some local guys who are planting simple churches in Central Florida. The afternoon session will kick off with none other than our own Jim Collins talking about “Multiplying Leaders.” We will wrap things up with Mark Weible and Mike Hoffmann encouraging “Organic Development.”

We will have a cash book table with copies of Beyond Church Planting by Bob Logan, Organic Church by Neil Cole, Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Revolution by George Barna. These resources will be available in limited supply at 75% off the retail price.

We have a limited number of spaces available for this free event. If you would like to know more or wish to register online, visit www.goba.org/cpn.

What is a Baptist Church?

Not all New Testament churches belong to a denomination. Denominations are organizations and they have the right to choose their membership. Denominations have specific requirements for membership. Here is the basic definition of a Southern Baptist Church form the 2000 SBC Baptist Faith and Message…

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.

Denominations have other requirements for membership such as financially supporting the organization and physical participation.

What is a church

A good friend of mine will tell you that I am asking the wrong question. My buddy would suggest that “Who is a church?” is a better way to phrase that question. I like it, but find it awkward. I wouldn’t ask “Who is a family” or “Who is a country.” It should go without saying that a church is people. We know that, but tend to act as if a church is an organization.

In its simplest form, a church is two or three people who follow Jesus. North Americans have a hard time getting this concept, because we often look at the Bible through western, modern lenses. I was always taught that the church of Jesus began on the day of Pentecost. You know… when there was a large crowd gathered, a sermon preached and a public invitation given to follow Christ.

I have grown to understand that church began when Jesus said “Come follow me…” and a couple of guys did. Jesus modeled church with his first crop of disciples. His emphasis was on growing and multiplying disciples and not gathering crowds. Now don’t get me wrong, crowds gathered but He didn’t gather them. I’ll blog more about this later, but I have an agenda….

I want plug our conference called Simple Church Planting. On November 1st, a small group of revolutionary church planters will gather to discuss church planting principles gleaned from the New Testament. We'll meet for 5 hours at Camp Joy in Apopka, FL. This is a free event including lunch. We will interact with practitioners who are old school church planters – way old school. We will talk about how to plant churches without money, public facilities, advertising and pyrotechnics. We will discuss the issues I’ve raised in this blog and we will build lasting relationships as gospel partners. You can come to this event if you Register Online before space runs out. BTW, I have confirmation that Alex McManus will get us started in the morning session with his thoughts on effective evangelism.

Quality vs. Quantity

How do you measure excellence in a local church? If you have a cool gig on Sunday, a flash-driven website, and mailers that proclaim that you are not as boring as other churches, does that mean that you are a quality church?

Ask yourself, “Why do we exist on planet earth?” If the answer is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, then your standard of evaluation should reflect that. One measure of discipleship is the use of spiritual gifts. NCD* research indicates that small churches tend to provide more opportunities for followers of Jesus to use their spiritual gifts on a regular basis than larger churches.

Does this mean that megachurches are bad? Not at all, it simply means that large churches have to work harder not to let people slip through the cracks. However, we need to take a strategic look at intentionally planting more small churches. Starting small, indigenous churches that are intentional about reproducing themselves is the missional strategy of the SBC International Mission Board and many other mission organizations. These organizations are reporting exponential gospel expansion in various hot spots around the world as the result of small church multiplication. Meanwhile, North America remains the only continent in the world where the gospel is not spreading.

Over the past 40 years, our focus has been on church growth. Success was determined by size. Our bigger is better thinking has left many small churches with an inferiority complex. I’ve even met some folks who would declare small churches illegitimate- the solution being to shut them all down and combine them with larger churches.

Granted, many small churches are struggling just to survive and most have not reproduced themselves. But, let’s not overlook the value of helping these churches to develop a missional paradigm and encouraging them to reproduce themselves into even smaller segments. And let’s not forget to encourage large churches to value their smaller siblings and to consider starting a few themselves.

I am interested in your thoughts…


*The Institute for Natural Church Development spent the past ten years researching church health and growth in 70 countries and 40,000 churches.

More or Bigger Churches?

Watch Video

According to new information released by Natural Church Development, small churches grow faster than large churches. Over the past five years, churches with an average attendance of less than 100 added an average of 32 people each (38%) while churches over 1,000 added an average of 112 people each (4%).

The smallest churches averaged 51 people in worship attendance while mega churches averaged 2,856 people. So, if 56 new churches were started with 51 people each… 1,792 new people could potentially be reached within five years. One megachurch of 2,586 people would tend to reach 112 new people. NCD author Christian Schwarz claims, “Thus we can conclude that the evangelistic effectiveness of minchurches is statistically 1,600 percent greater than that of megachurches!” (Christian A. Schwarz, Natural Church Development: A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches, Revised. Carol Stream, Ill.: ChurchSmart Resources, 2006 p. 50).

What about quality? Can small churches provide a "quality experience" for their members? Perhaps a better question is... Are small churches effective at making and multiplying disciples? What do you think?

Church Planting Intern

This summer, we had the privilege to get to know Laurie Hughes.  She is a freshman college student who served as an intern with Rising Sun Baptist Church.  The Florida Baptist Convention provided Laurie’s stipend and Greater Orlando Baptist Association provided housing and local travel expenses.  Read in Laurie’s own words what God did through her life in the summer of 2006….  

“God uses those who are ready and eager to serve Him. I have learned this in many ways this summer. Coming to Orlando with an open mind, empty schedule and flexibility has allowed me to see God’s hand in the work all over Orlando. Each person that saw the love of Jesus Christ and His glorious plan for their life through my service has made this summer more than worthwhile.
I was given the opportunity to partner with Rising Sun Baptist Church and minister to the children in the Pine Hills community. This ministry began through outreach to the community at a Block Party. This one event energized the church body as well as the neighborhood. Over 150 attended the event, and 45 made decisions for Christ. With this amazing beginning and overwhelming response, I was assured that God had great plans for this summer. Discipleship of the community became my goal and my mission for the summer.
One way that God used me to mentor and disciple the children was through a weekly Kids Club at an apartment community. This time began strong and has run consistently over 40 in attendance. The children come regularly, always hungry and consistently learning and growing. As I have been able to build relationships with these wonderful kids, the doors have been opened to minister to the families as well. Not only has the community benefited, but whole families are coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Several events have also taken place this summer of which I have been a part. These have strengthened the relationships and ties between the community and Rising Sun Baptist Church. A concert in early June, a weeklong sports camp, a pool party in late July as well as an evening Bible Study series strengthened the foundations of the relationships formed. This partnership leaves a lasting impression and has opened many doors and witnessing opportunities. For example, an employee of the apartment community was compelled to ask us to visit a family in need of encouragement as well as groceries. During this divine appointment, God spoke through us; both the man and his wife became Christians that very afternoon. They share freely how God has set them free from their burdens, and provides for their needs. This one story is just a testament of how great a God we serve, and how he uses every moment to show His glory.
This obvious movement of the Holy Spirit has been a lesson for my own life. It has been so easy to follow His leadership by offering up my time and summer to working in Orlando. God has taught me to love genuinely, giving of myself to the ministry. Those who are lost and hurting do not need a lot of fancy words or designed programs. The gospel, my privilege to share, is simple and true. I have shared the Good News, coupled with love and concern, to whoever will listen. God has not only blessed my life through this ministry, but has also become real to so many others. I have great joy knowing that I have been used by Christ to plant the seed of His love in many hearts.
This ministry is now grown and developed, holding an abundance of hungry seekers of the truth of the gospel. My work in Orlando is completed, however, there is still much harvesting left to be done. Many have come to know Christ, but they need mentorship. Opportunities for the church to step up and raise these babes in Christ abound. My prayer for the Orlando area is that many will rise up and continue this ministry. I am in constant prayer and have complete confidence that God will utilize those with passion for the lost, completing the work that He has begun.”

Cowboy Church

NBC Nightly News ran a story about cowboy churches last night. You can watch the video on MSNBC and post comments on the Daily Nightly Blog.

Gene Blankenship, a cowboy church planter in Central Florida, gave me the heads up on this.

Outward and Upward Leadership Teams

You know you are supposed to have a leadership team; you have one, now what?

Is your vision team too “pie in the sky” to get anything done? Is your pastoral advisory team too “chicken” to try anything new? Is your sounding board made up of a bunch of “yes men?” It doesn’t matter what you call them; if your team members are not leading in personal and corporate growth, they are a crisis management team. You may know that already, but how do you lead your team to shift its focus away from today’s pressing needs to working toward vision fulfillment?

Adam Johnstone has developed a practical tool for Natural Church Development that is designed to help church leadership teams to personally and corporately grow outward and upward. This non-linear approach to principle-based strategic implementation is what Johnstone calls The Three Color Spiral. Although it is designed for churches that are going through the NCD process, the principles can be found useful by any ministry team. A free PDF version of The Three Color Spiral is available from NCD Australia. Permission is granted to reproduce for local use.

Creating community among apartment residents

Rebecca McLean knows the importance of creating community face to face. She encourages apartment management companies to develop a community bond by getting to know their residents and encouraging them to interact with each other. Management companies are encouraged to provide recreational areas and community facilities to help bring people together. Apartments that enjoy a true sense of community often have more stable tenancies and lower crime problems than comparable communities that are not organized. Rebecca is Assistant Vice President of the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association.
From Key Magazine,
Apartment Association of Greater Orlando
, May, 2006.

If you live in an apartment or condo community, you could become the catalyst for bringing people together by volunteering to organize parties and other fun events. Check with your property manager or association president for ideas on how you can help create community where you live. How could you use social networking technology to foster community building?

Podcasting 101

Listening to Podcasts
Podcasting is the process of syndicating audio and video content over the internet. The content can be accessed via a website, an aggregator like itunes or ipodder, or a portable media device.  

To find podcasts on the internet, one could simply conduct a web search with the word “podcast” included (try “church planting podcast” on Google) or browse any number of podcast directories such as christianpodcastdirectory.com or christianpodder.com.  Most podcasts allow users to listen or view at least a sample of the content using a web browser.

Apple ipod users know that the easiest way to find and subscribe to podcasts is through the itunes software.  Itunes is used to synchronize ipod devices with content that is stored on a computer hard drive, thus allowing podcasts to be heard and viewed anywhere.

The new Internet Explorer7  browser has an rss subscription feature built in.  Podcasters use rss 2.0 to syndicate their content across the internet. IE7 allows the user to subscribe to podcasts directly from the rss feed source.  An rss feed has a url address like a webpage (see http://feeds.feedburner.com/churchplantingpodcast for an example), but most current internet browsers are not configured to read the rss code.

Recording Audio Podcasts
Audacity is free multi-track digital recording software that is very popular with podcasters.  The software with the optional Lame plug-in converts digital audio to the mp3 format necessary for podcasting.  

Recording a Video Podcast
A simple video tutorial on creating video podcasts is available at freevlog.org.

Uploading Podcasts
A podcast is comprised of two files which are hosted on the internet.  The mp3 audio file or mpeg video file needs a home on the web.  Some web hosts will allow a limited amount of storage and bandwidth suitable for storing a few podcast episodes.  However, additional website resources may be needed and can be expensive.  A number of websites (such as christianpoddcer.com and Ourmedia.org) provide free media storage and distribution.

Rss files take up very little space and can be hosted on most websites.  Feeds can be created and uploaded with software such as Feedforall.  However, the easiest way to create rss feeds is to use free blogging software such as blogger and the smartcast feature of feedburner.com.  A complete tutorial on how to turn a blog into a podcast is available at podcastingnews.com.

Podcasting by phone
Podcasts can easily be recorded from any telephone by using audioblogger.  Audioblogger works in conjunction with blogger to provide a simple solution to podcasting.   Audioblogger automatically turns telephone calls into mp3 files and makes them accessible on blogs hosted by blogger.  Except for the cost of the phone call, audioblogger is a free service.

Clermont Fellowship Church

Here is an update from Tom Casolaro, lead planter for Clermont Fellowship Church. Tom and his team are doing a great job of connecting with people in Clermont and partnering with other church planters...


Imagine a football field, hotdogs cooking on a grill, more than 700 Easter eggs stuffed with goodies, and a truckload of kids! Got the picture?! What a wonderful evening of worship as families joined us for Easter on the Citrus Tower lawn! We could not have asked for better weather, fun, games and time with the entire family.

There are so many things to praisedate but I want to share the meaning of belonging …
We have seen the doors continue to open to share the gospel. We have been reaching out and ministering to families from all walks of life. One such family brought five adults and two kids to our celebration tonight. They are very open and want to learn, grow and be involved. They are searching for meaning and earnestly desire to “belong.” They are drawn to the life and excitement the life we share in Christ. One of the fathers is giving KidStuf tickets to 85 of his daycare kids this week because “I really want them to come, get it and experience it for themselves.”

I had the opportunity to share the good news with a young couple who are truly seeking to belong to a community of faith. They have many questions but were very open to discuss their journey. They know they are not satisfied simply with having jobs and going home at the end of the day. “We want to belong to a community where we can all grow and raise our family.”

Lastly, we witnessed a family on the distant edge of our community come a bit closer tonight. We experienced tremendous joy in hearing them laugh, asking questions, engaging in conversation and expressing their interest to “be a part of what you’re doing here” … it is both thrilling and humbling. We know their “skepticism” is changing to sensitivity … openness to hear the good news! They made a huge sacrifice to come back from their vacation just to come tonight.

We are speaking to so many people in this area that are yearning to belong … belong to the Fellowship … Fellowship with God and fellowship with the family of God. We spoke with a Boys Scout troop leader we met in “passing” today. He is excited to hear about KidStuf coming this coming weekend. “I am always looking for a place where our kids can learn solid values,” he says.

Will you join with us in praying for so many people that will be helping us this week? Will you join us in praying for so many people that do not know Jesus? Will you pray their lives will be changed for all eternity? Will you invest your time and talents with us? We need others to partner with us to make reaching Clermont and beyond a true reality with the life-giving power of the gospel.

Please pray for the Vine. They are a new church plant with limited resources. They are committed to partnering with us in Clermont to further the Kingdom of God and spread the transformational truth of the gospel. They are an example of sacrifice and love as they minister to us and along with us. Their pastor, Billy Rollins, baptized two new believers in their Easter worship service this morning. Billy is a loving and incredibly Kingdom-minded brother in Christ. Please pray for him.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. We are in the process of updating our e-mail lists and website. If you would like to be on our e-mail, e-news list or future podcasts, please contact us at info@clermontfc.com. Please forward this e-mail to any of your friends or family who might be interested in hearing and reading our updates too.

For your continued reading pleasure and for those of you who are looking for something to shout about … I have included A MONTH IN REVIEW …
Although I can be prone to ramble … I will give you a quick glimpse of our previous month and a quick forecast of upcoming plans …

• Nearly one month ago (3/19) we had our last preview celebration gathering. It was well attended but provided a much needed “picture” and preparation for our birth Sunday. We called it “sonogram of the future” playing off our birth date celebration. Our community could get an idea of the sound and sight of the “baby” to come …

• Two weeks later we gave birth to a wonderful child … after labor pains for nearly nine months (ready or not) we celebrated our birth! For those of you who know me very well … I am not a big numbers guys … but let me say that the theme after our evening together was “and the chairs keep on coming!” We continue to set out chairs and use all we had available after the initial amount of 75 in the room. We were packed in the “delivery room” and well attended by many in the community. We had the blessing of some friends from Birmingham assisting with the birth. We were also honored to have Don Miller, DOM (Director of Missions), attend with his wife Yvonne and our good friends and pastors Michael Hopewell (New Waters Church) and Lewis Ecker (Assoc. Pastor, First Baptist Clermont). We shared the message of “GOT LIFE” translated “GOD LIFE!” Great time of celebration!

• We have been steady planning for our partnership and show with the Vine for KidStuf. We are ecstatic about the possibility that doing KidStuf will provide for us in building relationship in our community. We have a desire to reach out to families in our area … KidStuf is one way we will be able to connect, build relationships and trust and share God’s message with the whole family in a new and exciting way. We are establishing our website for KidstufClermont. We are sending many invitations this week with the help of many and special thanks to dear friends, like Carolyn Walsh (new entrepreneur with husband Sean) and Mark from the Vine.

• We have had many meetings with local leaders: politicians, business owners, educators/administrators and community leaders. Many of our meetings have proven to be invaluable as we take steps forward to building a faith community where “you” belong as well as participate and partner with the greater community where we belong … One example of our relationship was praying at our Chamber breakfast this month with over 300 community leaders present for the meeting.

• We have worshipped with several new faith communities (local places of worship) to us in this general area. We have continued to pursue a relationship with several missional networks, local associations and local churches. Jason Dukes continues to be very supportive of us on this journey along with Renaut van der Riet. We are very hopeful in our relationship with Chan Kilgore too.

• Dianne and I took a brief trip for a wedding which I was a part of in Birmingham. Dianne worshipped at Brook Hills and I attended a new church plant of a prayer partner and dear friend and later that evening had a phenomenal time of worship and fellowship as well at Tapestry of Hope. Dianne spent a couple of days with her family while I attended meetings, enjoyed time with “old” friends and made some new friends.

• We will gather for celebration every two weeks with a KidStuf, coupled with adult celebration and kid’s Bible study, on the alternate weeks. We will be making a shift to utilize Sunday morning for training, discipleship and additional outreach in the next few months. EXCITING!

• We will be having several new community groups start this week! Please pray as we build relationships with our neighbors and those in the community. We truly want to serve them.

• We are updating our website with the help of some friends (like Eric Fuller) and the steady dedication of JV! Please be patient with us as we develop a design that is more consistent with who we are as a faith community. You can always send general questions or information to info@clermontfc.com.

• Our financial needs continue to remain a matter of prayer and tender reality as we continue on our journey. Again, we are grateful for your support. Please continue to pray for us.

• We will be promoting our summer “mission” trips in June and July. This will be a great opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good … an opportunity to experience Clermont up-close and personal … an opportunity to serve and use your gifts, talents and passion for the Kingdom! June 9-17 will be a huge harvest as we plan, prepare and put into practice the love of God through vacation Bible school for kids, sports camps, random acts of kindness, minor construction and home repair, and a community celebration. We have cookouts, block parties, breakfast and luncheons planned for community leaders and other extraordinary opportunities to get involved and make a difference!

Likewise, we will be promoting some other ways you can get plugged into this mission field from where you reside. We need help with graphic design, promotional events, support raising, web design, and so much more!

Again, please feel free to send any questions, ideas or comments to us. We welcome your input, feedback and involvement.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about a wonderful event that we helped “sponsor” … we helped a local business with a frozen custard eating contest at a local event (29,000 people come to our lakefront for this special occasion) … it was a blast … we got nothing other than the pure joy of helping others promote their business to a place of success and seeing the faces of kids smothered in ice cream! Priceless!!

God bless you and have a Christ-centered day and week …

Tom

Tom Casolaro
Clermont Fellowship Church
Suite 107-303
13900 County Road 455
Clermont, FL 34711
352-638-1488 (cell)
www.clermontfc.com

Is it time for a vision check up?

When is the last time you had your vision checked?  Did you try to do it yourself?  Wouldn’t it be better if you asked an objective person (preferably someone with experience) to help you?

Community leaders need to have their vision check periodically.  It only takes 30 days for vision drift to occur in leaders and much less time for followers.  It may be time for you to evaluate where you are in light of what you originally set out to do.

Get someone to help you ask the hard questions like:  What is our dream? What have you sold out to?   What are you afraid of? What are you ashamed of?  How are you changing the world?

Not only is it important to check your vision, you must use it or loose it.  Constantly communicate your vision to others so that they can communicate it as well as you.  Paint mental pictures to help the non-visonizing people you are walking with.  Begin with the end in mind and illustrate for them how your community is going to transform lives, communities and the world.  

I
C A
N S  E  E
B I G G E R
T  H  I  N  G S
S  W  H  E  N  I  
A M  L O  O  K  I  
N   G    U    P

Check out the Church Planting Podcast

Being the Church Online

Westpoint Fellowship Church is utilizing discussion boards to engage people in spiritual conversation.  People from all over the world are responding including some who have tried to hijack the boards.   There are some interesting threads taking place right now.

No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. (Luke 8:16 The Message)

Christmas at Seaworld

Last night, I took my family to Sea World here in Orlando.  We enjoyed the Shamu Christmas show.  Yes, I said Christmas.  Included in the program were the songs “Away in a Manger” and “Oh Holy Night”.  It was a beautiful and inspiring presentation. I am glad to see that Anheuser-Busch is not afraid to say” Merry Christmas”.

Business Gets Evangelsim

Check out this excerpt from US News and World Report:

"Evangelism is about selling your dream so that other people believe in it as much as you do," says Guy Kawasaki, former chief evangelist for Apple Computer and one of the key people responsible for marketing the Macintosh in 1984. "Those people then, in turn, get even more people to believe. Just like Jesus was an evangelist who recruited 12 more evangelists." With corporate evangelism, the goal is to find and identify those customers who are already crazy about your product or service--who are actively talking it up in blogs or Web forums, for instance--and turning them with loads of personal attention into "customer evangelists" who then spread the word to others, who then--well, you get the idea.

Business has learned the value of word of mouth evangelism while church planters try to discover the latest advertising gimmick. What’s wrong with this picture?

Planting Revolutionary Churches

Revolutionary Christians don’t want to go to “church,” they want to be the Church, the body of Christ, in every day life.  New research by George Barna shows that if current trends continue, one-third of Americans will express their faith through alternative forms of church by the year 2025.  These new expressions of church are meeting in apartment, condo, and manufactured home communities; they meet in houses, in restaurants and coffee houses, in work places and on the internet. Many Christian leaders have identified this radical shift as a new Great Awakening that is sweeping the planet.  Church leaders have a choice to ignore the movement, stand against it, or embrace it.

You are invited to attend a Free half-day conference in the Orlando area on Saturday, February 11, 2006.  This event is made possible through generous contributions Greater Orlando Baptist Association, Cooperative Program gifts to the Florida Baptist and Southern Baptist Conventions.

For more information, contact Mark Weible at 407-293-0450, mweible@goba.org or register online at www.goba.org/cpn.

Orlando could soon be known more for Jesus than Mickey!

There is an interesting statement in Acts 19:10 that often goes unnoticed: This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Did I read that right?  Did everyone in Asia Minor hear the gospel? How did it happen?  Can it happen in Central Florida?

When we read the rest of the chapter, we discover that Paul was in Ephesus, teaching at the school of Tyrannus.  It is not likely that everyone in Asia Minor had the opportunity to go to Ephesus to hear the gospel directly from the mouth of Paul.  They heard it in their own communities from people connected with local churches that were planted by the church at Ephesus and her daughter churches.

A church planting movement was sparked in Ephesus, a key metropolitan for reaching the entire region.  Paul and his team discipled missionary church planters in Ephesus and sent them out all over Asia Minor.  The result was that everyone in the province had an opportunity to hear the gospel.   What about Central Florida?  Could everyone here have that same opportunity? Absolutely!

Our theme for 2006 is “Acts 1:8, Who will it take?”  It will take Visionary Leaders who will pour themselves into empowering others to take the gospel to unreached people groups right here in Central Florida. It will take Engaged Churches that birth new churches in new and transitional communities.  It will take Transformed People who continually give themselves away so that others can come to know Christ.

It is possible that we will one day be able to say that all of Central Florida, both Christians and non-Christians heard the word of the Lord.  That means that Orlando could soon be known more for Jesus than Mickey.  In order for that to happen, there must be enough churches in every community to makes disciples of those who accept the message of the gospel.  That is why we are passionate about  planting churches.

Do you Wiki?

The information reformation is making new strides with the rising popularity of wikis.

The term wiki generally refers to a collaborative effort to assimilate information on the internet. The best known wiki is wikipedia.com, an online encyclopedia written and edited by its readers. Anyone can create and edit wiki entries. A relative newcomer to the waki wiki world is wikihow.com., a collaborative online how-to guide for anything from stopping a dripping faucet to becoming a Christian.

Wikis (along with blogs and podcasts) are just one aspect of what is being called Web 2.0. If the first generation of the internet was all about the dissemination of information, web 2.0 is about the collaboration of information. What Gutenberg’s printing press did for the modern period is nothing compared to how web 2.0 will shape postmodernity. (Checkout the ZDNet article on the impact of wikis).

A rapidly growing and powerful reformation is changing the way information is shared. It is conceivable that before this decade is out, information communities like wikis will replace traditional media as authoritative sources of information.

Web 2.0 will create great opportunities and challenges for Christ-followers. Some will feel threatened by the relativization of information. Others will realize the potential of communities of faith sharing the Truth with the world in the open marketplace of ideas.

Join me at
churchplanting.wikispaces.com
as we explore the waki wiki world together.

Mission Pine Hills Thanksgiving

We had a great time at the Central Florida fairgrounds on Thanksgiving Day. Here is a photo of volunteers sorting clothes before the big meal. Thanks, Mike Kimbrough for casting the vision and inspiring so many to serve others.

Check out the videos of the Mission Pine Hills Thanksgiving Fest.

Dad Time

I am hanging out with my son Zach and we are talking about online communities. Zach wanted to do a podcast to tell you about his new website.

...here is Zach just after launching his home-made rocket later in the day.

Billy Rollins

I am having coffee with Billy Rollins. Billy is planting a new church south near Kissimmee called The Vine.

Throwing Parties

Church planting is about creating communities of faith. Since communities are made up of people, doesn’t it make since that church planters need to meet people, a lot of people?

Church planters often use parties and events as a means of getting to know people. Derrick Shirley and Orlando Journey throw a big party for children and their parents once a month. Derrick is finding that Kids Stuff is an effective means for drawing a crowd.

Check out the comments on Alex McManus blog regarding throwing parties and spiritual conversation.


voxtropolis

Relief crews respond to Wilma

  
John Watkins and a crew from First Baptist Church of Kissimmee are headed today to Naples with the GOBA clean-up and recovery unit. At this time we do not know where they will be staged – will keep you posted as we get information.

Sam Walker from First Baptist Church of Central Florida will be leaving to go on Saturday.

Read Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Update

Waiting for Wilma

Please pray for the people of South Florida as they brace for Wilma. I am hanging out with my family in the living room of our home as we anticipate the arrival of yet another hurricane.

We are way north of the strike zone for Hurricane Wilma, but we are beginning to feel the effects of the outer bands. We expect to have winds of 40-60 mph in Orlando. All area schools and several businesses will be closed on Monday. We will enjoy an extended weekend with our family.

I’ve been involved in several discussions lately regarding the extraordinary number of deadly natural disasters in the past couple of years. Some people claim that God is exercising a temporal judgment on sinful people. Others blame global warming. Still others say it is just a natural cycle. None of these view points offer much hope to people who are suffering from the affects of these disasters.

While helping with disaster relief work in Orlando last year, I realized how fragile humans really are. When a person looses their belongings due to a disaster, the media often reports that the person lost all that they had. I’ve often thought, “No they didn’t… they still have their lives, their families, other relationships, fond memories, etc”. However, I’ve noticed that even minor disruptions in a person’s life can make them feel like their whole world is falling apart. Jesus spoke of building one’s life on a solid foundation so that it would stand up against the storms of life. A person whose life foundations are shaken needs to know that there is hope.

There were no hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes or wildfires in the Garden of Eden. God created a perfect place for humans to live, but we rebelled against him. The natural consequence of our sin is that the earth received a curse (see Genesis 3:17). Natural and man-made disasters are indirect results of the curse.

Jesus came to earth to restore humanity to perfect humanness and promised that he would prepare a perfect place for us so that we could go to be where he is. When everything is fully restored, there will be no more curse (See Revelation 22:3). There will be no sorrow, sadness, pain, or death in heaven and Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes.

This promise brings hope. But, hope can only be wishful thinking if there is no basis for it. Those who become followers of Jesus Christ can know for sure that their hope is real They can know that they are building their lives on a solid foundation that will withstand the storms of life. This is an unmerited gift from God that comes through faith and not by working for it.

Sharing this message has brought more hope to people than anything else we try to do. Sure, there is comfort in giving a cup of cold water or a hot meal in Jesus name. Many people have been encouraged by a listening ear, a kind word and a compassionate prayer. But, nothing beats resting on the solid foundation that is Jesus.

GOBA Annual Meeting

Here is a review of the GOBA annual meeting from a non-baptist. Harambe

Camping

The kids were out of school for a couple of days last week, so we went camping in the Ocala National Forest. My 9 year old son shot this video (click image). What does this have to do with church planting?

Surviving Storm Stress

Here is a helpful guide for dealing with storm stress written  by Dwight  Bain.  This  guide was extremely  helpful to many folks here in Florida during last year’s heavy storm season. You have permission to pass this on to anyone who can use it. See Redistribution Notice at the end of this blog.
Surviving Storm Stress
A Guide to Dealing with the Psychological Trauma of Natural Disasters
By Dwight Bain, Nationally Certified Counselor

Table of Contents

• Guide Preface


• Storm Stress


• The emotions which follow the storm


• Don’t make a bad situation worse


• Big storms require a lot of time to recover and rebuild


• What are the dangerous warning signs of “Storm Stress Syndrome”?


• Storm Stress Responses


• Physical


• Emotional


• Behavioral


• Cognitive


• Getting back to normal


• Immediate tips which help bring calmness


• Reconnect in relationships


• Rebuild your routines


• Reach out for faith


• Retell your story


• Storm stress and kids


• How does a critical incident like this affect kids?


• What are some ways to help our kids talk about storm stress?


• Are there “hidden dangers” the in media that parents should be concerned about that might make storm stress worse?


• What can people expect in the weeks ahead?


• The Formula to Recover Faster


• Patience


• Attitude


• Trust


• Is it wise to involve kids in the clean up and recovery process?


• Is it okay to talk about what happened to our family with others?


• Why do some people become bitter or hateful after a crisis like this one, instead of just being grateful to be alive?


• What is survivor guilt and how does it negatively impact people?


• So many people are worse off than me— so how can I decide who to help?


• Evaluate Relationship


• Measure Resources


• Do the Right Thing


• Is there a Rule?


• Is it Responsible?


• Is it Reasonable?


• What should people consider when first returning to their homes after being evacuated before the storm?


• Final thoughts to encourage you through this recovery process

Continue reading…
About the author
Dwight Bain is a Nationally Certified Counselor in practice since 1984 specializing in solving crisis events and managing major change. He serves on the Critical Incident Stress Management team of the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Orlando, FL where he lives with his wife Sheila and their children.
Redistribution Notice
You have the permission to copy, pass along or post this material in print or electronically if you believe that it will help others in your family, workplace, church or community; providing that you leave the authors name and contact information attached as follows.  For more counseling strategies from Dwight Bain on solving conflict, managing major change or rebuilding after a crisis check out the counseling blog at http://www.LifeworksGroup.org/ or call the LifeWorks Group in Orlando at 407.647.3900.

Tom Billings on "What Allison Taught Me About Katrina"

June 8-9 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dumped over 40 inches of rain on Houston and the surrounding area. The bayous overflowed their banks and much of the city of Houston was flooded. Tom Billings, Director of Missions for Union Baptist Association, learned more than he ever wanted to know about rescue and recovery. At ubahouston.org, Tom shares from his wisdom of experience...

Tom Billings on "What Allison Taught Me About Katrina"
"Tom, the office is flooded," she said. "You won't believe it." Sharon, our office administrator, called me late Saturday night June 9, 2001. Like many folks in Houston I had watched the rain from Tropical Storm Allison fill the streets of Houston. I heard reports of flooding across the city but never dreamed it would affect the UBA office.

I had no idea what to expect when I stopped by the office on the way to preach the next morning, but I certainly wasn't prepared for what I saw. It was devastating. The sights, the smells, the feel as I walked among the soggy debris … those are sensations that will be with me the rest of my life … sensations that come flooding back when I think of all that's happened along the Gulf coast this week.

The experience with Tropical Storm Allison taught me a few important lessons that I think will help me - and maybe you - as we reach out to folks impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

(1) No matter how bad you think it is, it's worse.
Folks fled the storm thinking they would return in a day or two. Now they know it will be weeks, maybe months before they can go home. Some never will. They thought they might lose their homes. Now many realize they've also lost their jobs and their livelihood. It takes a while for these things to sink in. That's good. If it all hit at once, it might be too much. To the folks going through it, it will seem like things just keep getting worse. Understand their grief and provide appropriate support.

(2 )No matter how long you think it will take to recover, it will take longer.
The day after the flood I received calls from folks wanting to help. In a classic example of understatement I said, "We'll be back up and running in a couple of weeks." At one level, we never missed a beat. One day to sort through the rubble and we were back at work helping others. But in reality it took several years to get back to where we were in 2001, and in some ways we are not there yet. These folks will need help for months to come!

(3) Helping needs to be a long term commitment.
There are two primary phases to disaster relief: rescue and recovery. We are in the rescue phase now. Folks need food, water, a place to sleep, health care, money … the basics. It is easy to respond now. But I want to encourage congregational leaders to think of helping as a long-term commitment. Remediation teams and construction teams will be needed for many months to come. We need to do what we can to help now AND we need to anticipate how we can help next year and the year after.

(4) God is gracious and his people are generous.
I am so glad. UBA could not have helped the churches we did or rebuilt our own offices without the very generous financial support of folks all across the nation. Now is the time to be generous. I commend all those who are donating time, food, clothing, toys, and money to help those in need.

(5) Use the established systems in place to help.
When Allison came I had a chance to see first hand how disaster relief agencies work and how they work together. One of the best things we can do is work with them and through them - Texas Baptist Men, Somebody Cares Houston, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and others. This is what they do. Let's help them do it.

For the latest information on what needs to be done and how you can help, visit our website at http://www.ubahouston.org/ and click on "what's new."

Westpoint Worship Gathering

Here is a video clip of today's worship gathering of Westpoint Fellowship Church near Winter Garden. The church which is sponsored by Church at the Mall in Lakeland and First Baptist Church of Orlando celebrated their grand opening in September of 2004. Jason Dukes is the lead church planter. Jason graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where his father serves as a Dean. At worship gathering this morning, Jason shared how the church can reach out to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Click the image to view download the video.

Louisiana Church Learns How to Be the Church During Diaspora

Paul Smith, pastor of Life Church of Mandeville, Louisiana is learning how to be the church when you can't do church in the usual way. He and his family along with several from his church relocated to Houston while they wait for flood waters to recede. Entire life groups have had to find temporary shelter in other cities. However, they are still ministering in their home community as well as their temporary communities. It is awesome to see how God is working through them. As you can imagine, their financial needs are overwhelming. Cash flow has become a problem. Please consider making an online donation to help this church so that they can share the love of Jesus with other evacuees and folks back home. Check out Paul's Blog at lifechurchinfo.com.

Disaster Relief

The GOBA clean-up and recovery unit has been mobilized.  The volunteer crew will leave for Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Sunday, September 4. Please pray for our crew as they join SBC disaster relief efforts along the Gulf coast.

Storm Refugees

Good News!

I just got off the phone with a pastor from Houston. Their church family is offering to provide housing for Paul and his crew. Praise God!

Displaced Families Need Help

Many of us know of people who have been displaced from their homes due to the effects of hurricane Katrina...  I’ve been in touch with a friend who is a pastor in Mandeville, LA and has relocated to a hotel in Houston, Texas.   There are 20 adults and children with him from his church.  They are in need of temporary housing and basic necessities.  I am attempting to connect them with churches in the area.  Please pray for Paul Smith, his family and those with him.  

Our hearts are heavy burdened for those who have been affected by this storm and its aftermath.  We can pray, give and volunteer to help those in need.  Here are some suggested prayer items:

1. Healing and health for the injured.


2. Wisdom and strength for relief workers.


3. Consolation for those who have lost loved ones.


4. Peace and comfort for those who are displaced, particularly those housed in the Superdome.


5. Cessation of looting and a spirit of lawfulness on the part of all.


6. Restoration of power and water supplies.


7. Food and water to come quickly to those stranded and homeless.


8. Swift and efficient implementation of aid by government agencies.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Fund, make checks payable to the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and mail to: NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543.
To make a donation online,  Click here.
For volunteer opportunities, check the following websites:
SBC Disaster Relief Operations
Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief

Godcasting and Spirtuality

Today, I would like to draw your attention to a couple of news article that I think are relevant to reaching our culture.  

The first is the cover story of last week’s Newsweek magazine about Spirituality in America.  The “God is Dead” movement has been dead itself for a long time.  Americans are seeking experiential relationships with God, while most churches are still trying to prove that He exists.  

The second is the International Herald Tribune’s article on “Godcasting.” Podcasting is proving to be an effective medium for reaching busy people with the message of Christ.  

How are you changing your message delivery system to reach a changing culture?

Odyssey Worship Gathering

I had an awesome time with Odyssey Community Church today. Here is the video I shot while I was with them in worship. Odyssey is sponsored by East Orlando Baptist Church. Byron Kirkpatrick is the church planter.




If the video does not play immediately, rick click on the link and save it to your hard drive. This is a 160MB file.

Visionary Leader

I am enjoying a couple of days with the NAMB church planting mentoring team here in Atlanta. We are considering revisions for Church Planter Basic Training for 2006.


After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:10)

It is the leader’s job to cast a clear and compelling vision. If he can’t do that, he should consider letting someone else lead. Paul received the vision and shared it with his team. The team discerned that the vision was in line with God’s character and that Paul wasn’t off his rocker. Once the vision was confirmed, they acted on it immediately.

Followers are looking for leaders to set the agenda, to have direction and to present it in a clear, consistent and compelling manner. Nobody wants to gamble their precious resources on a leader who doesn’t know where he is leading. However, team members want to be consulted, included in the decision making process and have an opportunity to weigh in on the vision.

A Godly vision becomes obvious to followers of Jesus Christ. Those who live by faith don’t need much time to respond to God’s call for a change in direction. To borrow a phrase... they Just Do It! Make sure it’s real… make sure it’s clear… make sure it’s from God.

Vision Harmony

I am in the Orlando airport waiting for my flight to Atlanta. I will be participating in a workgroup with the Mentoring Team of the NAMB Church Planting Group. We are in the process of developing a Basic Training resource for sponsor churches

Re: Vision - A clear and compelling vision is what unites team members, core groups and congregations. In Acts 16, Paul received a revelation from God. The vision came from God to Paul, he shared it with his team, they concluded it was from God and they adjusted their plans immediately. It is interesting to note that Luke uses the word “we” for the first time in this passage. Obviously he bought in to the vision and made it his own. The result – the gospel was introduced to Europe!

Check it out…

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:9-10)

Are you suffering from double vision?

Have you ever noticed that vision is the root word for division? According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the prefix di means “twice, twofold, double.” So, couldn’t we conclude that division in a church or organization stems from competing visions? This was a problem for the church at Corinth:

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." (I Corinthians: 10-12)

Vision harmony is a challenge for many church planters. This is especially true when a core group is developed with people from differing backgrounds and traditions. We will talk more about this tomorrow. For now, I am interested in your thoughts...

Acts 1:8 Who will it take?

I am sitting in a meeting with our ministry staff and the question has been asked, “Who will it take to fulfill Acts 1:8.” One of our pastors has suggested the following:

Visionary Leaders - Getting the vision into the church

• See it clearly
• Say it continuously
• Show it creatively

Engaged Churches - Getting church into the culture

• Locally
• Association
• Globally

Transformed People - Getting God into your world

• Home
• Neighborhood
• Marketplace

What do you think?

To the Ends of the Earth

I'm currently reading...



I am really enjoying this book. It is long overdue. Get more details at imb.org

New Podcast

Westpoint Fellowship Church, a mission of Church at the Mall in Lakeland and FBC Orlando, is podcasting weekly news and events about doing life together. Check it out at http://feeds.feedburner.com/wfclife

Greetings from Atlanta

I am in Atlanta this week for the Church Planter Missionary Forum hosted by the North American Mission Board. NAMB is rolling out some new resources for sponsor churches. Most of these church planting tools are available for download from The Church Planting Village. I am excited to see a shift in focus toward sponsor and partner churches. I think these new resources will go a long way toward fanning the flame of church multiplication movements. While you are at the Village, check out the webcast version of Church Planter Basic Training.

Currently Reading...

UpRising: A Revolution of the Soul

Podcasting Update

Apple just made it easier to automatically download podcasts!

Downloading Podcasts
Christian Podcast Directory
Creating Podcasts


Podcasting is one step closer to going mainstream thanks to Steve Jobs. Apple released itunes 4.9 today with a built in podcast catcher. (For windows users, itunes is like your windows media player.) It allows you to download, play, and sync media files to portable devices like ipods. This means that podcast listeners only need to use one application for managing their podcast subscriptions.

Before today, only a true geek would go through the trouble of downloading ipodder, su
bscribe to a podcast and actually synchronize it to his/her ipod. Now that podcasting is built right into itunes and the itunes music store, average computer users will become more likely to listen to portable radio shows known as podcasts.

Podcasting is a media reformation that rivals the invention of Gutenberg’s moveable type printing press. Anyone (including yours truly) with a computer and a microphone can create their own virtual radio station and make it available to world via the internet. Podcasts are not limited by geography, radio frequency, time of day or broadcast facilities.

Just as the Bible was the first book to be printed on Gutenberg’s press, “Godcasting” has made its mark as one of the most popular podcasting genres. “Godcasting” is a buzz word among podcasters to describe the phenomenon of so many pastors converting audio recordings of their sermons into mp3 files and syndicating them on the web via RSS feeds. A few savvy Christians with the gift of gab have gotten a little creative with podcasting technology and produced some Godcasts specifically with today’s internet users in mind.

Use your imagination. If you could create your own podcast, what would it sound like? How would you get your message out to the world? Post your comments and let me know.

imosaic

This is an official buzz: imosaic is coming. If you're interested in linking up with the iMosaic community register at imosaic.org --a community of bloggers and bohemians.

Church Planter's Network

We had an awesome time at the HolyLand Experience in Orlando yesterday. Twelve church planters gathered for prayer, networking and encouragement. We even enjoyed some great Mediterranean cuisine (if you count "Goliath Burgers" as Mediterranean). The staff at the Holy Land Experience were so hospitable to us that we cannot thank them enough. They provided us with a conference room for our meeting, served us coffee and gave us a tour of the park. After lunch, a few of us went through the Scriptorium, definitely my favorite attraction. The church planters
network meets the 3rd Thursday of each month. Locations and meeting times vary. For information on next month's meeting, email me - mweible@goba.org.

Blogging your life away

Find out what a typical week is like for a church planter. Jason Dukes of Westpoint Fellowship Church in West Orange County, FL is blogging his week:

"Well…I promise right off the bat that I am not delusional and full of myself. I have simply had a few people in the church family wonder what a typical week is like for a pastor. So, I thought I would share this week with you from Sunday, May 22nd through Saturday, May 28th. Here goes:"

Read the whole blog

Video: Downtown Orlando

Here is my first vlog from downtown Orlando.



Click Here to view the vlog.

Video: Reverse Migration

I shot this video of David Taylor talking to our church planter's network about reverse migration in downtown Orlando.



Click Here to view the videocast.

The Church in Her Most Beautiful Form Part III

The Church in Her Most Beautiful Form Part II

The Church in Her Most Beautiful Form Part I

Multiplying Legacies

Legacy

This past week, I participated in the Origins experience in Los Angeles. While in L.A., I was able to visit my aunt who is in a nursing home. Aunt Kathy is 83 years old and knows that she will soon leave for paradise. It had been years since I had last seen her, but it didn’t take long to renew our relationship. As we talked, I remembered that Aunt Kathy and Uncle Guy gave me my first Bible less than a month before I became a Christ follower. They also encouraged my unchurched parents to connect themselves and their five children to a local church.

I realized I was standing in the presence of a woman who lived her life in obedience to Christ and that I am a product of that obedience. I introduced Aunt Kathy to Jason Dukes, a church planter that I serve. I shared with Aunt Kathy how God is working through Jason to plant a church near Orlando and how this church will be a part of starting 11 new churches in three countries during their first two years of existence. I don’t know if she realized it, but I wanted her to see that she was leaving a legacy. Indirectly, Aunt Kathy is a part of planting churches around the world. Thank you God, for Kathy Fowler and those who influenced her.

Greetings from the Origins Experience in LA