Vision for the Future…from 1998

Today our leadership team is going to spend 5-hours together working on the future. We are dreaming about the impact we want to have in our community and across the world. I couldn’t be more jazzed about the process and the outcome.

We’ve gathered input from thousands in the church. And now we will begin to pull that together. To begin, I’ve asked each person on our senior team to write out their personal view of what the future might look like in five years (today we will share those initial thoughts with each other). As I was writing mine, it jogged my memory to a similar process twelve years ago. Here was how I envisioned the future of Granger Community Church in 1998.

It is the dream of a biblically functioning community, where Christ-followers are continually taking steps in their walk with Jesus.  It is a place where all are quickly connected in meaningful and life-changing relationship with others; where care and comfort happens in the context of shared life together; where a plethora of opportunities are available to help seekers and believers take their next step toward Christ.

It is the dream of sending scores of our people all around the world as career missionaries, and sending hundreds on short-term mission projects to every continent.

It is the dream of a campus large enough to support a regional ministry and national training site.  It will include a state-of-the-art auditorium seating thousands, a comfortable gathering area for discussion and fellowship for hundreds, a care and counseling center, a technologically advanced and flexible training center, and top-notch childcare facilities.  It will be set in a peaceful environment  with bright flowers, beautiful trees, pools of still water and sparkling fountains.

It is the dream of 10,000 gathering each weekend to explore Christianity and take their first steps toward Christ, and 4,000 growing together in spiritual maturity through worship, study and fellowship – loving, laughing, and learning together, understanding God’s plan and living life to its’ greatest potential.

It is the dream of a truly cohesive ministry strategy to reach all generations with the love of Jesus.  A place where we celebrate the strengths of all and focus on the similarities while accepting the differences.

It is the dream of a people who never shrink back from communicating the truth of God’s Word using relevant and innovative means; where “cutting-edge” is normal and change is readily accepted; where artists are pursued, affirmed, cultivated, loved, and released to use their gift in the church.

It is the dream of a church that makes an indisputable impact on our region, where people of all races and religions will wonder aloud what God is up to at GCC.

- Tim Stevens (February 12, 1998)

So much has remained the same in my vision. And–so much has changed. It’s going to be fun to hear everyone’s dreams this afternoon. If you have a minute–pray for us!

Do You Look for God When You Go to the Movies?

I’m pretty passionate about helping people see God wherever they are–including pop culture. I think it’s important to realize that truth is truth wherever it is found. Sometimes pop culture offers an amazing opportunity for spiritual conversations with people who are seriously searching–but who would otherwise never think to go to church for answers. I’m actually familiar with a book that has been written on the topic–I’ve read it several times (insert “laugh now” sign here).

In two weeks we begin a series at Granger that explores the spiritual truths from four different movies. In each case, we begin with the questions raised in the movie–and we discover answers together in Scripture. I hope you will join us in person or online.

What do you think…does this make it easier to invite a friend to church?

Church As We Have Always Done It Will Find Increasingly Fewer Participants

You may have heard that I’m a Christ-follower who serves at a United Methodist church (UMC). Your view of the UMC may be that it is traditional, side-lined, and non-innovative. In many cases, you’d be right. But there are flickers of hope. One such “flicker” in my conference is Ed Fenstermacher. He’s been a part of the UMC for decades–yet has kept an open mind and finds new ways to breathe life into the system.

I appreciated a recent blog that Ed posted. He writes…

Eddie Gibbs, in his book ChurchMorph, has identified at least five changes, or megatrends, as he calls them, happening in our culture at present.  They are the shifts from modernity to postmodernity, from the industrial age to the information age, from Christendom to post-Christendom, from production to consumerism, and from religious identity to spiritual exploration.  Books have been written on each of these.  The amazing aspect of them is that they are converging in our time, causing seismic shifts in our culture which require paradigm shifts in our thinking.  In this environment, “church as we have always done it” will find increasingly fewer participants.  Just as financial advisors are needing to modify basic principles they have used for years in this new economic scenario, so will those doing church development need to consider new ways to impact their mission fields.

And then Ed draws some conclusions…

Of course, the church will be slow to respond.  The classic bell curve used to show acceptance of innovation applies here.  Since the church is not feeling immediate drastic consequences of the cultural changes, most church folk, including leaders, will be glacial in accepting the need for change.  Ample evidence abounds indicating that even when change is clearly needed, change is very difficult to implement. (Read Ed’s entire article here.)

I am so encouraged to read of one of our conference leaders thinking “out of the box” thoughts like this. It is right in line with what I’ve talked about in relation to being attractional AND missional–and fits the precise topic of our November conference called AND.

Do you think Ed is right? If these changes are coming, will the church be slow to shift?

90-Seconds of Oh My

In 90-seconds, a young artist will move you to tears and make you think twice the next time you get in your car. I wonder if we can communicate the Gospel this effectively?

HT Matt Johnson

Coaching Opportunity for 12 Leaders

Last year I launched my first-ever Coaching Network for Executive Pastors. And beginning this fall, I’m going to offer this again. I will be meeting with 12 church leaders for a coaching experience which begins in September and concludes in March. I’m designing it specifically for Executive Pastors (or leaders in a similar role) who want to take their leadership to the next level. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but here is my best attempt…

• It will be personal. Highly practical. Intensive. Relational. Collaborative.
• Think less conference or workshop–and more hands-on graduate study program.
• We will drill down on building teams, hiring and firing, developing a healthy staff culture, leading change, budget and money issues, communication strategies and more.

It’s not going to be cheap or easy. It will involve an investment of money and time, and a commitment to travel (Granger isn’t “on the way” to anywhere). But for those who join me–I promise it will be an experience that will enhance your ministry and take you to the next level of personal leadership. Here are some comments from last years’ group.

This is a “must do.” The knowledge gained was worth the time and money. However, the relationships are priceless. –Scott Adkins, Cornerstone Christian Church, Shihloh, IL

The networking and relational value was worth it alone. I have been exposed to some great people, resources, and support. –Nate Drye, Abundant Life Church, Glen Burnie, MD

The network has been both a greenhouse and a sounding board! –Sharon Van Niekerk, The Father’s House, Chili, NY

Worth every penny. I am a much better leader due to this training. Incredibly valuable insights into how to better serve my pastor, my church and my God! –Alfred Turley, Rock Bridge Community Church, Dalton, GA

If you are interested, there is good news: This the first day I’m talking about it publicly. But– last week in informal conversation with some friends, three applications have already been submitted. So only 9 slots left.

Download information here: EP Coaching Summary 2010-11

I’m really praying that God will put together an amazing group and can’t wait to see what happens!

7/19: UPDATE: The 12 slots filled up VERY QUICKLY! So I have opened up a second coaching group. There are still slots available if you’d like to join us!

Google TV Brings Online Church into the Living Room

Unless you are a techie, you may have missed the announcement last week by Google about a new product called Google TV. As soon as it was announced, Google was proclaimed as “leapfrogging Apple” with this invention and a few others. That aside, I’m captivated by the potential that Google TV will make online church a viable, cheap and simple move into the living room. No longer will it be one or two people awkwardly sitting around the computer in the office. Or huddled over a laptop with less than stellar speakers. And, it won’t take someone with an electronics degree to connect all the wires. A church could actually write an app on the open-source Android platform–and wala–it’s on the big screen.

This will be released before the holidays, and will likely be less than $200 to add to an existing TV. Many new TV’s will come with it built-in.

Any other ministry uses you see for this technology advancement?