Archive for March, 2009

People

Posted: March 20, 2009 in Thoughts
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After 20 years almost as a pastor or in ministry of some sort, I have become aware of some of the idiosyncrasies of many “churchy” people.  Here are a few thoughts from the years:

  1. Most people are fickle.  If something better comes along, they’re gone.
  2. Most people gossip.  If they can lower someone else to elevate themselves, they will.
  3. Very few people know how to apologize.
  4. God will eventually get your attention.
  5. Many pastors are less than impressive.  (selfish, don’t return calls, only concerned with their kingdom, critical, proud)
  6. Tradition is more important than truth to most.   They just don’t know it.
  7. Even Godly people will make something up about you.
  8. People are people wherever you go.  They practice the same good and bad all over the world.
  9. People will believe a lie faster than they will facts.
  10. Powerless people in everyday life like to be in charge at church; powerful people don’t have time to be in charge at church.
  11. If you try to defend yourself against your critics, you will become inauthentic.  
  12. Successful people can become unsuccessful over night and vice versa.  
  13. Pastors think they are defined by how many people are in their church.  How stupid!
  14. Kids need both parents.
  15. Many put on their best “plastic” on Sunday mornings.  Why do you do this?  Don’t!

Will It Be a Success?

Posted: March 20, 2009 in Launch
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Many have been praying for us and with us for a successful launch.  Good question.  This question helps us really define success for this baby church.  Here is success for us:  To see a life changed for Jesus and added value to one person.  I love Kristin Avery’s statement: “If it were for just one family and you only stayed one month, I believe God would have you  go to all the effort you are going to.”  For the first service, we have one goal: to encourage everyone who attends to come back!  That means the music and speaking needs to be dead-on, the environments have to be welcoming, the signage clear, the technical aspects complimentary, and the children safe and loved.  While we will always have room to improve, I think we can accomplish these goals.  Chrystina Fincher will be leading worship on April 5.  She’s fabulous!  She’s a natural!  Join us!

Mythbusters

Posted: March 19, 2009 in Giving
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In planting a new church, I’ve discovered there are some common misconceptions worth “busting:”

1. Myth: Outside friends and organizations cover all expenses for the first couple of years.
Fact: There are a few visionary families around the U.S. who will partner with launching churches like ours serious enough to leverage their own relationships, time, and resources. They are generous, to be sure, but there is a limit to their resources.

2. Myth: God would never allow a new church to close.
Fact: 80% of new church plants do not make it.  Number one reason?  Underfunding.  Others and the local church body have to be ready to make huge sacrifices to make it work.

3. Myth: Staff salaries at Origin are paid by individuals and other organizations.
Fact: Each staff member at Origin depends on the generous giving of this local church to provide for their family and if that funding is not available, they have to raise their own support from outside sources and generous friends, and/or work another job to make it all work.

4. Myth: A handful of generous benefactors are all that are needed to sustain the church.
Fact: That would not be healthy for the church or for the benefactor.

5. Myth: My tithe doesn’t make that much of a difference.
Fact: It makes a huge difference in your spiritual life and in the financial health of our church. If we had 75 families at Origin tithing 10%, we would not need any additional funding!

6. Myth: Now that we’re about to be up and running, our environments are relatively inexpensive to maintain.
Fact: Much of our equipment is rented, or leased-to-own. Our ongoing expenses for equipment, facilities, and personnel run about $30,000 per month. Holding services every Sunday will increase that number.

We would love to have you join us on this journey! It’s been exciting to see a number of families make commitments to join this journey and we’re looking forward to a strong 2009. Please consider what you might be able to give!

Do Numbers Matter?

Posted: March 17, 2009 in Uncategorized
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The conflicted emotion in us is always there, and we wrestle with the question, “Do numbers matter?”

Here is why numbers don’t matter:

  1. They don’t signify life change. We didn’t start this church so Christians could “church-hop” to a more hip worship environment.
  2. It’s just the foyer. We measure success in the kitchen.  (see prior post below)

Here is why numbers do matter:

  1. It shows that attenders are investing and inviting. Their friends are inviting. Even those who disagree with us are inviting. There is an excitement spreading about Origin Church!
  2. Let’s be honest. We didn’t sacrifice all this time, money, relational capital and spiritual energy just to start another church. We want to see God revolutionize the city of Chattanooga-Ringgold!  It’s cool to see the beginnings of that.

We’re going to keep both perspectives in balance as we celebrate what God is doing.  ”Originals,” keep inviting!

What’s Next?

Posted: March 17, 2009 in Calendar
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  • Saturday, March 21- Volunteer Training For Family Ministry Coaches
  • Sunday, March 22- Coffee/Dessert Informational for Craven neighborhood- 5:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 29- Launch Team Meeting
  • Thursday- Saturday, April 2-4- Road Signs out
  • Friday Night, April 3- Begin Setup for Launch- 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 4- Continue Setup for Launch/Volunteer Training
  • Sunday, April 5- LAUNCH, 10:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, April 11- 25,000 Helicopter Easter Egg Drop-  Ringgold High School
  • Sunday, April 12- Easter Sunday

If you can be a part of these events, please let us know!

A Generous Origin Church

Posted: March 17, 2009 in Giving
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I love the thought of developing a culture of generosity in our church.  There’s no doubt that God is calling us as Christ-followers to share what we have.  Sometimes that means giving to the local church, sometimes that means giving to the world’s poor through incredible organizations around the world, and sometimes that means giving as a church toward strategic church initiatives around the country and around the world.

Before we even launched Origin, one of the written goals for the church was “a culture of generosity.” I want to be surrounded with people that see the world as bigger than themselves.

Kim and I decided a long time ago, from the beginning, that Church would be the number one financial priority for our family. I can’t ask anyone else to be generous if we don’t lead the way.  And you know what?  Sometimes it hurts. But God has been faithful and we have been blessed more than ever this past year by others being generous to us. It’s amazing what happens when you recognize that all you have came from God in the first place and trust him to take care of your financial future!

We Like This Thought

Posted: March 15, 2009 in Environments
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Foyer, Living Room, Kitchen: At Origin, we subscribe to Andy Stanley’s premise and philosophy that environments are very important.  In fact, we are confident that any spiritual truth that has stuck with you has been appropriated to you in the right environment.  The right people, the right setting, the right message; It’s really just using the metaphor of a home to explain three aspects to our simple church:

  1. Foyer-  This is the place in your home that serves as the welcome area for guests and new friends. It is the first step, and it’s often your only chance to make your guests feel comfortable enough to return.  That’s exactly how we’ve designed our entry environments at Origin.  Our Sunday worship services are foyer environments.  We want our guests to come back, so we do everything with them in mind.  
  2. Living Room- Once your guests arrive and are welcomed into your home, you invite them into the living room.  Everyone finds a comfortable place to sit, and the interaction begins.  At Origin, our living room environments are designed to help you connect with people like yourself.  Through fellowships, you will begin to develop relationships with others in a smaller and more interactive environment.
  3. Kitchen- Think about it.  What is the most popular room in your home?  Where do you end up when guests or family come over?  The kitchen.  This is where lasting friendships are made.  And that’s the kind of environment we are striving for in our community groups.  Community groups are where people meet regularly for Bible study and prayer and commit to accountability, friendship, and support.  They are the safe places to open your heart, share your life, and ask the tough questions.  There are small group opportunities for both adults and children.  Community groups are the places where ministry happens at Origin.  We will launch dozens of these at the right time, perhaps one in your own home.  

Kids Environments

Posted: March 14, 2009 in Children
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Creation Station

People occasionally wonder how you do good children’s environments in a new and portable church.  Listen, not only will we have them, but they are being designed and coached by the best, Kristin Avery.  Creation Station is much more than a nursery. It’s actually a group environment for preschoolers.  Creation Station was derived from the scripture that “we are created in His image.”  This environment emphasizes the Genesis story of creation.  The rooms will be designed to emphasize various themes.  The curriculum for Creation Station is very intentional.  We want preschoolers to know that God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever.  They get to learn this in small groups while their parents are enjoying the adult worship environment.  Every pre-schooler you know should come and check out this environment on April 5, 10:30 a.m.!  Hey, and bring your parents!

Railway 252 

Sometimes people think that a new church involves a dozen people gathered in someone’s living room, with the kids playing around in the basement.  Parents are often surprised to learn of the environments we are creating for kids!  What is Railway 252?  Kids will tell you, “It’s the best thing ever!”  Truth is, back in August of 2008, Origin was just about 15 people meeting in our home.  We prayed, we cast vision, we enjoyed each other’s company.  What an amazing 9 months it has been!  Railway 252 is for our elementary kids!  It’s a pretty cool environment we are creating for those in Kindergarten through Grade 5.  We want elementary students to know three things: That they need to make the wise choice, that they can trust God no matter what, and that they should treat others the way they want to be treated.

Railway 252 is an engaging time for students to learn how to study the Bible, to worship through singing, and to build quality friendships with other kids and adult leaders.  It consists of both a large energetic worship experience and small-group time.  Kids, make sure your parents bring you!

Waiting for 20 months

Posted: March 14, 2009 in Launch
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The Origin Church launch is now, 21 days away.  A lot of us have been praying, planning, and working for two years to see this come about!Sometimes we get the question, “How many do you expect for launch on April 5?”  You know what the answer is?  ”It depends on you and me!” We believe that creating irresistible environments for children and adults is a way for people not only to come “check it out” but the key is for them to come back again and again.  Creating an infrastructure like this costs a lot of time, energy, and money!  This type of environment will allow us to be both excellent and portable.  We’ve worked hard to build the right launch team, the right volunteer team, and the right team of staff to move the ball down the field in the most effective way.  Now, we’re ready to fill the room.  And that is something only you can do!  

We should not have this attitude: “Well, let’s just wait and see how the first week goes.”  Not a good mentality.  We need to fill the room the first Sunday to give us good momentum to carry us forward.  In fact, it’d be really cool to fill the room to overflowing.  The reason is, in building a new organization, there is a need to create energy, buzz, and dialogue in the community.  It will happen because you and I make strategic and repeated invitations over the next 20 days.  

Let me borrow a plan from Rich Barrett:  ”3 Cubed.”  Invited 3 people that you really care about and have invested in.  Invite them 3 times. People rarely respond to the first invitation.  Invite them today.  Again, next week, and again the next week. Finally, invite them to try it 3 times. They need to give anything of good value, a good chance.  They will need to get used to our music, our DNA, and our children’s environment’s.  See how it goes, “3 Cubed!”

Coming April 11!!!

Posted: March 12, 2009 in service projects
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Origin Church and the Ringgold Downtown Business Partners are sponsoring a different and cool Easter at Ringgold High School, Saturday, April 11!  25,000 eggs will be there for every child under 12!  Come far, come wide, and enjoy!  Matter of fact, it gets better than that:  Thousands of the eggs will be dropped out of a helicopter!  Lots of fun, events, games, and “Easter.”  Another day in the life of one of our key core values, serving our community!

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