Archive for October, 2008

5/10 Year Movement

Posted: October 31, 2008 in Vision
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We’ve had a vision from day one, as this Origin Church dream was birthed, to launch multiple churches in smaller cities, after launching in Ringgold-Chattanooga.  We have a heart for Cleveland, TN, Ellijay, GA, and Dawsonville, GA; 5 churches over the next 10 years.  Sure, there are good works happening everywhere, but you cannot deny your own vision.  Now, it may not happen as you planned it, but the vision for a person must start with an almost unrealisticness.  (not sure that’s a word)

God will define it and it will declare itself as you go.  Case and point: When I went to Gainesville, Florida in 2004,  we had a huge vision to reach unreached people and I knew we would have to do something different in order to do that.  Four years in, God began to show me that my mission was complete and we had accomplished what we were sent to do.  I didn’t know exactly what God was doing with me, but we prayed.  In the meantime, God impressed my spirit that our church and my good friend, Chad Clemons’ church, should merge.  God was calling me back to Georgia to launch a new church; we began to see that.  God had not shown the merge to Chad yet.  He was convinced that he needed to be in the north part of the county with his 6 year-old church plant.

Short story: Two churches desiring to impact lostness, came together and merged, and became a Northpoint Community Church Planting Partner with Andy Stanley.  Wow oh wow…you ought to see the place today!  Anthem Church is a great place to be!  Now, I had no idea that my original vision for Tower would be this outcome to get to the same goal.  Chad had no idea, either, that his vision to reduce the percentage of unchurched people would involve this scenario.

My point is, dream it big and large, and let God direct it later, when He’s ready!  It may end up different than you had originally intended, but that’s ok, IF, you’re flexible and in “it” for the kingdom.  We’re all headed to the same place, we just have to check our egos and credentials at the door.

Tower & Christ Central People=Anthem Church

Giving To Your Church

Posted: October 31, 2008 in Giving
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Let’s make it simple.  We’re not discussing Old Testament tithing or New Testament giving, but just generosity, Jesus-style.  Are you doing this?  Think about it this way:  If every dollar in your paycheck is truly put there by God, then we must remember that He has set up a spiritual economy for us.  Here it is:  Give-Save-Live!  If you have 10, $1 bills fanned out in your hands, it would probably be a good idea to give one of those $1 bills to Jesus, don’t you think?  Secondly, it is also a good idea to save one of those dollars for the future preservation of your family.  Thirdly, God has set it up so you and I get to live on the rest of those 8, $1 bills.  Wow, what a great God!  He’s so generous!  “God, you’ve been so kind;  We get 8 and you get 1?  No, Lord, I want to give you one more.  That’s not fair for you to only get one.  You take two instead of one.  You’ve been so good to me!”  Watch God set you up for blessing when you obey Him in this act of generosity.  It begins with giving to a local church.  Andy Stanley puts it this way; “When you practice this principle, you won’t have fear.”  We hope that the middle-name of our Origin Church people will be, generosity!

What Will the Music at Origin Be Like?

Posted: October 30, 2008 in FAQ
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We consider music to be “reverberation” that ALL can relate to.  God gave Jesus as the song and since He did, we all love music, and many styles.  The great thing about songwriting is, it has no boundaries.  Notes, tunes, and sounds don’t indicate secular or non-secular.  That is determined by words.  So, you can creatively help an unreached person quickly feel at home in your church by doing one or two secular songs that relate to the theme of the day, and watch what happens! Change some of the words if need be;  they will connect by the tune.  At Origin, we’ll do radio songs to open and close and a great set of the best worship we can find.  Below will give you a little feel for what you’ll hear.  Enjoy!

Kristian Stanfill

Chris Tomlin

Rascal Flatts

Hillsong

Los Lonely Boys

Preaching/Teaching in Today’s World

Posted: October 29, 2008 in Preaching
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Loved Michael’s post on this subject.  Oak Leaf is one first-class act!  Read it here.

Francis Chan Thoughts

Posted: October 28, 2008 in Giving
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At Origin Church, we have set out on a major mission to have in our DNA, a culture of transparency and authenticity; one that allows people to come as they are, honestly, not hiding any of the challenges they or we face, and being loved all the same. 

Francis Chan wrote the following words, but I cannot improve upon them for me personally, and after 17 years as senior pastor, you should know that they ALL apply to me personally, so I want to share them with you, authentically: “Many of my sermons in the early days demonstrated my ability to manipulate people through guilt. Words like suffer, sacrifice and serve were used often; and it left people improperly burdened. The mentality of “suffer for Jesus since He suffered for you” can easily lead us to an arrogance and self-righteousness. It’s an attitude far from what God desires because it draws the attention to us and our sacrifices rather than Him.  God reminds us in Acts 17:24-25 that He doesn’t need anything from us. In fact, all things come from Him. He is the only Giver. Most of my sermons on giving now have to do with the truth that we can never out-give God (Matt. 19:29). Our cheerfulness (2 Cor. 9:7) in giving comes from a true faith that we are more blessed when we give (Acts 20:35).”

Pretty amazing article he wrote and I would encourage you to read it all here.

Gabe Lyons Thoughts

Posted: October 27, 2008 in Quotes
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This is why we exist, Origin Church, to help reduce these stats!  Pretty interesting statistics from Gabe Lyons, author of UnChristian.  Non-Christians aged 16-29 years old were asked, “What is your current perception of Christianity?”

  • 91% said antihomosexual
  • 87% said judgmental
  • 85% said hypocritical
  • 78% said old-fashioned
  • 75% said too involved in politics
  • 72% said out of touch with reality
  • 70% said insensitive to others
  • 68% said boring
  • 64% said not accepting of other faiths
  • 61% said confusing

A Productive Week

Posted: October 26, 2008 in Thoughts
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  • Jeff and I had a good meeting with Jim Akins and Brian Bloye on Thursday.  Two super Christians!  What a spirit these guys have.  We’re proud to be associated with them and their Westridge church planting school each month.  They have added some tremendous value to us.
  • Still digging on partnerships for Origin.  Going to Virginia in the next few weeks to cast some vision hopefully leading to a nice new relationship.
  • Met some new prospective launch team friends this week.  The activity of God in people’s lives is so exciting!  I really believe we have a philosophy and model to accomodate those that don’t like church.
  • We have a new feel for how and when we are going to launch Origin.  I don’t like the word launch.  Launch can encourage and depress.  How about the phrase, “next steps?”
  • Enjoyed the hospitality of Tennessee Temple Campus Pastor, Eddie Rhodes, and sharing our new launch concept with his Wednesday night church service for a few minutes.  We’re excited with the possibility of partnering with the University!
  • Jeff and I had a great vision lunch with our friend Ryan Fitzgerald about the discussion of timelines and philosophies for our launch.  Great comraderie and insight!
  • We launched our first community service project with the city of Ringgold, GA this past Saturday night.  We had a great group of our launch team in place handing out balloons and doing our best to lighten the load of event organizers.  Everybody looked great in their newly designed Origin t-shirts.  Volunteers, thank you!  You are appreciated!  God is using you already!  We appreciate the hospitality of City Manager Dan Wright and Pam Green along with Andrea Sherman.  We had a great time!  Our Origin volunteers will be back with the city next Friday night, the 31st, for the last night of the Haunted Depot.

Welcome Guest Blogger Jeff Gonzalez

Posted: October 25, 2008 in Launch
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Jeff is a big part of what’s happening here at Origin Church.  Jeff is on our lead team and I thought I would let him share some note nuggets of a lunch meeting he and I had this week with our friend Ryan, who happens to have a great mind for the unchurched culture  -Shane

  • People need small simple steps to move them through a process.  Make it easy for people to be a part of what you’re doing.
  • Slower and more intentional methods, in most cases are more productive.  Don’t be afraid to launch later rather than sooner.  We only launch churches, now, in the fall.
  •  It might have more impact to take all your streams of marketing and funnel them into one big week or day prior to launch.  This will give you multiple touches to the public during a concentrated time period prior to launch.  Ex.  Outreach event, mail out, door hangers, radio spot etc.  all hitting in the same week prior to launch.
  • Marketing strategies don’t necessarily translate into higher attendance, but marketing strategies combined with a personal touch can gain connection results.
  • Most marketing strategies are made to in-grain brand awareness into people’s mind. 
  • If you want to, take your target date that you have for launch and launch softly until the fall. 
  • You’ll know when it’s time, because you’ll sense that you can’t-not move to the next stage.
  • I don’t like the word launch.  It has a tendency to discourage you when you should be encouraged.  Call it “delivering a baby” simply because it’s the next step after laboring in prior stages.  How about at every stage we think this thought: ”We are practicing for the next new season.”

Faith in This Economy

Posted: October 24, 2008 in Giving
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Church giving and support should never go down, only up, regardless of the economy!  I am aware that it often does slip during economies like we’re experiencing, but we should actually step up and give more.  If we could learn the value of Malachi 3 where God said to “test him” in giving and see what happens.  Read it in every version and see what I’m talking about.  My challenge to you is out of every $10 bill you earn, give God $1 and see what happens.  You’ll never believe the blessing of God!  As years go by, add a dollar to God, and really see what happens!  At the end of this life, all the money you’ve handled and has gone through your hands, will not matter, EXCEPT, for that in which you invested that will outlive you (i.e. God’s work).  You’ll never outgive God and you always reap what you sow.  In fact, you can’t reap if you don’t sow.

Andy Crouch and Matt Chandler at Catalyst 2008

Posted: October 23, 2008 in Leadership
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Andy Crouch

  • Culture change starts with 3 people. Look at Google.  A small group can maintain the suspension of impossibility.
  • Then, they draw in 12.  They bring more depth and new resources.
  • Then, you draw in 120.  They all care about the vision.  They bring a “get it done” mentality.
  • All of us have a 3, who creates something. 
  • We can create something that no one else can create, and if you don’t do it, it will be left undone in this world.
  • Don’t bet against the 3 who can touch a town.

 Matt Chandler

  • If you’re using Jesus to grow a big church, then you’re an idolater.
  • You can preach with command and not be a jerk.
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