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Archive for January, 2009

8
Jan

Generate – a midweek worship service for 12-30 year olds?

That’s right.  Crossroads Christian Church in Corona, California has gone through some major turmoil in the last year or so, and the team that was brought in to sustain it has a midweek service that ministers to 12-30 year olds.

I went last night.  And it was amazing.  There were 9 baptisms that ranged in age from middle school girl to college graduate.  The worship team was phenomenal, and mostly because they were really trying to lead people to the throne of God and not just display their talent.  It helped that the lead of that group is a young lady with a seriously penetrating voice.  The service is held in the main sanctuary, and there were over 2000 people in attendance. They have a room right off of the sanctuary, called the “Living Room,” where people are directed to go for the invitation. 
But that wasn’t the most affirming thing.  The most affirming thing was that everything they did was in your face and unashamedly bold.  They used a hymn to close the service, before the talk they broke up the congregation into groups of 2-3 people to pray for one another, at the invitation somewhere between 10-20 people came forward, they took up an offering, they shared two stories about people in their congregation and while the talk was all over the place it was impactful because of the transparency of the speaker.
It’s without question where I feel like worship will need to go in the next ten years in order to be relevent to the maority of unchurched people.  Why ten years?  Because I’m in California, and it’ll take that long for the culture in Central Kentucky to be where it is now in CA.  🙂
So, I think Harmony should be expecting Andrew to begin to need to use the main sanctuary, and I think that service may need to eventually become a combo of Journey and what we were trying to do with the Arcade.
I’d love to see comments on that. 🙂
8
Jan

Gene Appel – How to change your church…without killing you

How to Change Your Church…Without Killing You

Four C’s that can kill your spirit

1. Conflict 
    Guard your over-reactions (2 timothy 2:24-25)
2. Confusion that leads to a loss of Courage
3. Comparison
    Joyfully celebrate who God made me to be to help confront the thoughts of not measuring up.
4. Crushes – personal crisis comes along as first three are happening.
    Allow God to work in you during the crisis
    Know that if I have Jesus Christ, then I have enough.
    Don’t be afraid to allow God to work through you during your crisis.

7
Jan

Models of Church Planting

Tim Goddu, World Impact 

Models of Church Planting
  • Franchise Model – Denomination attraction
  • Parent Model – Mother starts a daughter church
  • Partnership – two or more churches combine forces
  • Satellite- Video venues
  • Unplanned pregnancy – split
  • Parachute drop – left alone
  • Beachhead model – community development 
  • Organic Church – high on discipleship and outreach and meet in established businesses or residences
  • Missionary model – A missions organization ministers to unchurched, often cross-culturally, and plants churches.
WI’s Model is a Volcano.  
At the base is Evangelism:  live in the community that you serve, minister to the whole family and to the whole person (spiritually, physically, emotionally) through establishing camps, clinics, tutoring, housing, schools, job training, clothes, etc.
World Impact has established three schools.  Typically $50/month, kids wear uniforms, families go to the church plant.
Next Level is Equipping, teach people to lead
Third level is Empowering, allow people to lead