Category: Church - IRONSTRIKES

Going to church might be good for your health

6/12/2017

According to a recent study by Dr Marino Bruce, a Vanderbilt University professor and the associate director of the school's Center for Research on Men’s Health, people who attend worship services may reduce their mortality risk by 55 percent — especially those between the ages of 40 and 65.

In the study, Bruce collected data on over 5,000 people, tracking their church attendance along with such variables as socioeconomic status and health insurance coverage. Using this data, Bruce and his team came up with a statistical model to predict risk of mortality.

The result? Those who did not attend church at all were twice as likely to die prematurely as those who had attended a worship service in the last year.

While Bruce is a Baptist minister, his research isn't tied to any particular faith. He found the results held true in "any place where groups gather together to worship. It could be a church, it could be a temple, it could be a mosque ... It's not only about a particular faith, it's about any faith."

So in the interest of science, there must be an explanation beyond, um, God-smiting nonbelievers, right? Bruce cites social support, a sense of compassion (which he describes as a "feeling that you're doing good or having empathy for others"), and holiness (which he explains as "being a part of something that's greater than oneself").

All of these likely contribute toward reducing stress, which we already know creates inflammation in the body and heightens the risk for disease.

Sounds like one more reason to say "hallelujah!"

This post was taken from a blog post written by Embry Roberts. You can find the original post here: www.today.com/health/going-church-might-be-good-your-health-says-new-study-t112296

Pastor shoots intruder during church service

10/21/2015

A man, who police say attacked a pastor with a brick at a church service before the pastor whipped out his Glock handgun and fatally fired back, ranted weeks before on Facebook that his pastor had gotten his wife pregnant.

The incident happened about 15 minutes into the 1:30 p.m. Sunday service at the City of God ministries storefront church on Grand River near Lahser, Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt said.

“The pastor had had issues with the man before,” Dolunt said. “He had been threatening him to do bodily harm. He walked into the service and went after the pastor with a brick. The pastor pulled out his Glock and fired several shots. I think he hit him four or five times, and the man died.”

The victim was identified as Deante Smith, 26, of Detroit, police said.

Two Detroit police sources said detectives were investigating a possible love triangle between Smith, his wife and their pastor.

Dolunt said police were called to the church in September. On Sept. 16, Smith wrote he planned to attend the church.

“Can’t wait to see Sunday message at the City of God Ministry,” he wrote. “I’ll be there with the truth.”
Later that day, Smith wrote: “This (expletive) gonna hit the fan.”

In a Sept. 15 post, Smith wrote: “That wasn’t my baby that was (his wife) and pastor(’s) baby.” That preceded a Sept. 18 rant: “This (expletive) got my (expletive) pregnant. Tick tock (expletive) and everybody with you.”

Smith posted several times in the weeks leading up to his death about the pain he wasfeeling about the alleged affair. On Oct. 8, he wrote: “I’m hurting, yall.”

His posts appeared to concern friends, one of whom wrote on Oct. 13, “may I ask (what) is going on with you?”

Smith replied: “I’m crazy they call me S.O.N.I.C.”

The pastor was not arrested and is cooperating with authorities, Officer Jennifer Moreno said Monday.

“He was never in custody,” Moreno said Monday. “He was just brought downtown (on Sunday) for questioning regarding the incident. He stayed a couple hours, cooperated fully and went home.”

After questioning the pastor, police will submit a warrant request to prosecutors, who will then decide whether the shooting was justified.

“We’re not sure at this point whether the man had mental problems or what,” Dolunt said. “It’s still under investigation.”

Smith had been a player for the semi-pro Michigan Lightning football team. The team released a statement on Facebook on Monday.

“His infectious smile and the courage in which he approached life, on and off the field, are attributes that will stick with all of us,” the team statement read.

According to the team, Smith was captain and founding father of the organization, established in 2012.

“More important than all his on-the-field achievements, was his ability to reach someone who was going through a rough time. ‘I got you,’ was echoed by him on many occasions, and to Tae, they weren’t just words, he wasn’t going to let you fall,” the team’s statement read.

Brad Bentley, head coach of the Lightning, said he was still in shock after hearing of Smith’s death. He had known the young man since 2007, and they’d been together on the Lightning since its founding.

“I’m tore up over this,” Bentley said. “I’m shocked.”

Bentley said he’ll lobby team owner Rami Abousaleh to retire Smith’s No. 3 jersey and even do a halftime ceremony next season.

Smith used to wear number 22, but had switched to No. 3. Bentley still called him “double-deuce” regardless.

“Before every game, he pointed to the sky and yelled Jesus!” Bentley said. “He believed in God, his family, and this football team.”
“He was a leader, a great man.”

Detroit City Councilman Andre Spivey, who also serves as pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church on Detroit’s east site, said late Sunday he had never met the City of God pastor. But concerns about security in places of worship, he said, have seemingly increased in recent months since June’s mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.

“It continues to shock me,” Spivey said. “Before June, you saw things like this happen every now and then. But now it seems every week something happens at a church.”

In the wake of the Charleston shooting that left nine dead, many Detroit pastors said they planned to beef up security at their places of worship.

In June, the Rev. Larry L. Simmons of Baber Memorial A.M.E. Church in northwest Detroit said he was one of them. “Unfortunately, we had an incident about a year ago at another church in Brightmoor,” Simmons said, referring to a shooting outside the Citadel of Praise Church in July. In that incident, an off-duty police officer serving as a church security guard fatally shot an ax-wielding man who was later determined to be mentally impaired.

“That incident alerted us that our security was not right,” Simmons said. “But how do you make a place that’s open to the public completely secure? You can’t.”

Spivey said Sunday he worries over the direction churches are being pushed in as they attempt to make their congregations safer.

“Thinking out about it, I do hope the church does not become a place where you have security like an airport,” he said. “My concern is churches are becoming a place where you can no longer welcome people freely. And that shouldn’t happen.”

This post was written by Jim Lynch of The Detroit News. You can find the article here: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/10/18/pastor-kills-brick-wielding-man-during-church-service/74190782/

Taking a break from sex scandals

10/20/2015

Does a faint voice somewhere deep in your spirit not cry out to you: "Be still, be calm, see, and understand, I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth" (Psalm 46:10 The Voice)? We might as well face the fact that we must, more often than perhaps we realize, break away from the sin and evil and tragedies rife in this world, get away to a quiet place with the Lord, and give Him thanks, adoration, worship: acknowledge His goodness; delight in His saving and merciful presence; be still in His grace. Know and understand with confidence that His justice, His righteousness, and His holiness will rule over all the earth in a place where love will be the Law.

Unrest, strife, murder and war are rampant in various parts of the world; disease is still ravaging lives; starvation exists even in our own decadent and wealthy country; Christians are in the media for sex scandals, sex addiction, financial greed and back-biting; politicians with a Messiah complex are promising new methods and new hope; and we have barely scratched the surface. These are merely a few issues about which we are aware.

Henri Nouwen astutely comments:

The world lies in the power of the evil one; there's nothing new about that. We don't have to get panicky about the fact that there is so much evil ... St John said that whilst in the world, we live with the mystery that the world is in the power of the evil one. That is why Satan says to Jesus, "You can have it all, it's mine anyhow." Jesus doesn't say, "That's not true." He says, "But I don't want it." So the point is how, in a world that is evil, do we create places that allow us to get a glimpse of God's goodness, of God's love?

St Peter writes: "Since all these things [all of life and the world] are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God?" (2 Pet. 3:11, 12 NRSV) If we are to live in holiness then we will have to learn how to be in the world but not of it. (John 17:16; Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 2:12; 3:18, 19, 20) Those who are of the world care solely for the events of the world. We as followers and disciples of Jesus are called to be active in the world, in a redemptive sense (Matt. 5:13, 14, 15, 16), but not to be caught up in the affairs or politics or scandals of the world. God is constantly, through His Spirit, calling us away from the place of that world to a place of confident stillness in His presence.

I will never understand people, including professing Christians, who thrive on drama, gossip, and the latest scandal. How could one's spirit feed on the wickedness, the depravity, and the rampant sin in the Church and in the world without breaking away from it in order to give thanks to God for His goodness, grace, and mercy; to adore and love on Him for extending that goodness, grace, and mercy to such wretched creatures as us; and to worship Him -- give Him honor and praise for His inherent worthiness -- as an act of pure devotion? If nutritionists are correct, and we are physically what we eat, then the same must be true spiritually: we become upon what we feed our hearts, minds, and souls.

Again, Nouwen writes:

I have a feeling that we need to turn everything upside down. We are always surprised by darkness. A certain darkness is brought about by evil. If you listen to the radio, or watch television every night, you see the news. You see that the world is in the power of the evil one. We keep telling people, "Look what happens, isn't it terrible? Isn't it awful? Isn't it incredible?" We keep being surprised by evil, but we should be surprised by goodness.

There is a quiet place of rest for your heart, your mind, and your soul in the stillness and presence of God. Rather than be shocked by evil we should be shocked by grace. Rather than be startled by sin we should be startled by God's righteousness. According to Nouwen, and I think he is correct, rather than be surprised by evil we should be surprised by goodness. Some suggest that they cannot believe in a good God because of all the evil in the world. Are they suggesting that if the world were full of goodness then they would be obliged to believe in God? Doubtful.

But there is a world where goodness, righteousness (rightness), and purity reigns supreme. That place is the very presence of God. One day soon God's world and our world will collide. "Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb [Jesus Christ] will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever." (Rev. 22:3, 4, 5) Everlasting goodness (rightness, righteousness) will be established forever (Dan. 9:24). God calls us to believe not in this world but in the world to come.

If you think you cannot believe in a good God because of the fallenness and brokenness, sin and evil of this world, keep in mind that God declared this world good before we brought about this calamity (Gen. 1:25, 31). Blaming God is quite the misplaced blame. We deserve the blame, not God, not the redeemer of this world Jesus Christ. Because of our stubborn disobedience, what should absolutely cause us immense wonder is not evil, but the goodness of God on our behalf. We can trust Him and we can thank Him and we can praise Him that we get to enjoy Him and His goodness in this fallen world before He brings about justice in the earth forever.

This post was written by William Birch. You can find his blog here: http://www.williambirch.net

Top 10 Church Planting Tips

10/7/2015

This year I faced one of my greatest fears: planting a church. I sought advice from veteran pastors and church planters. Their counsel has come through classes, formal coaching relationships, and one-off meetings or phone calls.

Now, our church (Immanuel Anglican in Chicago's diverse Uptown neighborhood) has launched. As I reflected on the past year, I made a quick list of the most helpful advice I was given during this first, vulnerable year of planting. Of course, this list is specific to our church's context, and most of our story has yet to be written. But I think the advice I've received could help others as well.

So without further ado, the top 10 insights I gleaned from others this year…

"Sustain high learning agility." - Mark Reynolds, vice president of leadership programs at Redeemer City to City.

In 2012 I was part of a church planting training. Mark taught several classes. He said "learning agility" (meaning mental and ministry adaptability) so often, that by the end of the course we couldn't help but associate that phrase with him. But I'm glad he repeated himself. This piece of counsel is the key that unlocks the nine tips below.

Mark warned us that many church planters are not willing to have high learning agility. They are sometimes so enamored with a particular ministry model or idea that when it does not work in the real world, they get embarrassed, defensive, and discouraged. Mark encouraged our class to find good coaches, learn from our mistakes, and constantly adapt to the conditions. At every stage of our initiative, veteran coaches have made adaptation and growth possible for me and our church.
"Go slow to go fast."- Stewart Ruch, senior pastor at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois (our sending church).

Church planting is this vulnerable, exciting space where something is supposed to come out of nothing. Everyone, including you, constantly wants to know: How's it going? What's happening? Where are the results? So when we moved back to Chicago to plant a church, I felt a strong urge to start make something happen—to go fast. And there are many faithless ways to generate activity in the early days. Stewart taught me that building a community is slower than you want it to be. It takes time to develop trust, grow as a leader, and wait on the Lord together in prayer. However, once the community is in place, you have an entire team with gifts and energy that take the church so much farther than you could on your own. Your people will have more enthusiasm about the church plant if they've helped you shape it anyway. So go slow to go fast.
"Gather a Launch Team instead of a Core Group." - Al Barth of Redeemer City to City.

Al, a church planting veteran, surprised me with this one. He taught our class that a typical church plant Core Group can be like a close-knit board meeting, made up of leaders who make executive decisions. As such, these groups are difficult to leave (there's no end date), they are difficult for the church planter to lead (less freedom, more like a hired hand), and people are often wary of joining such a high-commitment group. A Launch Team is more like an ever-expanding party, where there is a winsome urgency to gather others, take risks, and be creative together. Launch Teams are also easier to leave, because the launch of the church gives the team a defined off-ramp.

In 2013 our Launch Team partied, sweated, risked and made lots of memories together. I loved leading this team. Many of them ended up staying with us after we launched in October, and those who didn't are still beloved friends.
"Jesus builds his church, so stop watching the door and start feeding your people." - Mark Bergin, lead pastor of The Painted Door in Chicago.

Mark spoke these words to me because I was worrying about who wasn't showing up. When we finally started to gather people, I had thoughts like, "Why wasn't ____ or ____ there tonight?" Or: "Why doesn't X or Y type of person come, and how can we change that?" Who God brings and who God does not bring to your church will surprise you. Mark's timely word was instrumental in my own experience of God's grace related to the makeup of my church. Since Jesus builds his church, getting certain people in the door was ultimately not my responsibility. Instead, I was called to feed, lead, and commission the people that Jesus had already brought. I can still feel the relief that washed over me when Mark spoke these words. He was both coach and pastor in that moment.
"Finding worship space is an uphill spiritual battle; start praying."- Kevin Bruursema, New Life Community Church in Chicago.

Kevin has been involved in catalyzing many New Life church plants in the city (there are 19 of them). Kevin's words about worship space were prophetic. He knew what I know now: worship space is hugely influential to the development of your church, and finding the right venue can be as much a spiritual battle as it is a logistical one.

On two different occasions, we were in desperate need of space. The first time was in February, when our Launch Team outgrew the largest available house in our congregation. We prayed, and God provided a perfect multi-purpose space that we used for several months. The second time was in August, when we were weeks from Launch Sunday but without enough space to invite more people. We took Kevin's advice, and organized a 40-day period for prayer and fasting. At the beginning of the prayer journey, we had exhausted our options and had no idea where we would go. In other words, the logistical battle had been lost, and all we had left was prayer. Our intercession took on a desperate-but-hopeful intensity! We knew God would provide but didn't know where or how. By the end of the 40 days, we were in negotiations with a neighborhood high school that has allowed us to welcome substantially more people and actively serve the neighborhood. Even though this challenge was specific to me, Kevin taught me that if you are involved in church planting long enough, you will experience this reality as well.
"Identify your motives for church planting, and be vulnerable enough to communicate them." - This is my paraphrase of advice about building trust from authors Henry Cloud (from his book Integrity), Patrick Lencioni (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team) and Stephen M.R. Covey (The Speed of Trust).

Each of these authors encourage leaders to build trust by communicating their intentions. Unless people know your story, when they find out that you're planting a church, they are likely to project negative motives on you, such as: He's egotistical; he's just trying to prove something; he's mad at his old church … " Simon Sinek underlined this point in this TED talk when he argued that leaders should "start with 'why' instead of starting with 'what.'" Every potential launch team member and supporter will ask (even if they don't say it out loud): "What's the real reason you are doing this?" I learned that if I honestly told my story and explained why I moved back to Chicago to plant an Anglican church in Uptown, people often moved from being a skeptic to being a supporter of some kind.
"Collaborate with your fellow planters and pastors; don't compete with them."- While I have heard this from many good pastors in the last year, Tim Keller says it best in Center Church, when he reflected that Christian leaders who see the Kingdom grow in their city are "more concerned about reaching the whole city … than about increasing their own tribe and kingdom."

This is a paraphrase of Philippians 2:2: "Be of one mind … do nothing from selfish ambition." There is now a critical mass of church leaders in Chicago who model this posture, including Jon Dennis, Jackson Crum, and Mark Jobe. They and others have set a tone of collaboration, and as a result some of my best allies are other Chicago pastors and planters. My friend and fellow planter Brian Fultonorganized an informal church planters huddle that includes him, myself, and Josh Sherif. We regularly share ideas, resources, and personal support. Our discussions have ranged from confession of sin to what goes into child activity bags for Launch Sunday. If you are planting or pastoring, I encourage you to fight the temptation to posture. If you don't collaborate, you miss an opportunity to aid other church plants, and you lose what other pastors could give to your church.
"Don't be afraid to ask for money and people." - Aaron Wojnicki, founding pastor of Faith Community Church in Prospect, Kentucky. Aaron, who planted in the greater Louisville area, challenged me to ask senior pastors of supporting churches directly for money and people. He deconstructed the common association of meager resources with spiritual purity or greater faith. Having the resources of people and money makes church planting possible, not easier. People and money are like oxygen; they are two essential components for your church to stay alive and thrive. You are more likely to have a strong, healthy start if you humble yourself and ask for both without any shame or hesitation.
"Be flexible with how people grapple with your vision." - Daniel Hill, founding pastor at River City Community Church, a multi-ethnic church in Chicago's Humbolt Park neighborhood. Daniel planted in 2003, and his advice had the perspective of nine years of involving and raising up strong leadership in his church. In short, Daniel counseled me to be patient with people who over-engage or under-engage with my visionfor the church. This involves taking the risk of giving people room to disagree, and give them the choice of self-selecting out rather than making that choice for them. Strong leaders need freedom to disagree with you and share their ideas, knowing that you take them seriously.

Again and again I saw this process make the vision and direction of the church stronger, more thoughtful, and freed from unhelpful or inaccurate paradigms. The other side of this advice is that some people need time and space to decide whether or not they will join you. They need the freedom to under-engage. I allowed people to attend our meetings so they could "taste and see" without a firm commitment. Some people who became highly involved after our launch needed the freedom to simply be present in our community before the launch. Daniel was right—keeping your vision solid and exercising flexible patience is a tension to maintain, not a problem to solve. If you eliminate the tension, you forfeit the opportunity to include some of your best people.
"Follow Jesus on the journey he has planned for you, and invite your people along."- This is a combination of advice from two fathers in the faith: my dad, Lou Damiani, and my bishop, Stewart Ruch.

I learned that when God called me to plant a church, he intended for me to go on a journey with him. The beginning and end of this journey are not results, but the love of God in Christ. That is the promised land! Church planting is uncomfortable and dangerous work. When Jesus calls you to take it up, he intends to draw near in previously unknown ways. If you're willing to respond in your soul to where God is calling you, you can take people with you. The other side of the coin is this: Don't commission yourself to a journey that belongs to someone else. There are plenty of compelling church plant stories out there. I am not called to re-create them, and neither are you. They are good for inspiration and bad for copying! Your journey is your own and will be partially discovered as God allows it to unfold.

This post was written by Aaron Damiani of Leadership Journal. You can find the original post here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2013/december-online-only/my-top-10-church-planting-tips-from-2013.html

Servolution

10/7/2015

Our world is full of needs. There are countless opportunities and ways for us to reach out to those around us; we simply have to open our eyes. We have to train ourselves to see the world through a new perspective, “What can we do to serve those around us?” Sometimes it is even helpful to ask yourself “What could I use right now?”- Whether it be a piece of gum after a dinner date, a car wash, a freshly painted school classroom, or a complete home renovation.

The opportunities are endless, we just have to pause and notice them.

General

Hand out roses to ladies working in strip clubs (be sure to form an appropriate team)
Host a free garage sale
Bring free lunches to construction workers and servicemen in your area
Hand out free gum at a city parade
Clean up a widow’s yard
Give out free chapstick or sunscreen at a water park
Give out free bottled water at a busy traffic intersection
Plan a “Back to School Bash” for foster care children. Have free food, games, and a backpack/school supply giveaway
Give out free donuts and hot chocolate at a city bus station

Nursing Homes

Deliver fresh flowers to the residents
Host a regular church service at a nursing home (offer worship, devotions, prayer, and fellowship)
Throw a “Senior Prom” complete with live music, food, and decorations

College

Band: Serve free drinks or snacks at their practices
Fraternities/Sororities: Often these groups have a required number of community service hours to complete. Consider opening your outreach projects as an opportunity for them to get involved, thus creating an chance for your team to witness and share God’s love with those that volunteer.
Sports teams: Serve free bottled water at their practices
Give away free pencils and scantrons to college students during exam week
Help college freshmen move into a dorm
Prepare free meals for students and faculty
Locate bars on campus and serve free bottled water to students as they exit the venue

Special Needs

Host a fun day for children with special needs and their families to relax and enjoy themselves
Start a pen-pal program matching volunteers to a person with special needs. Ask them to write letters and send small treats on a regular basis, sharing God’s love in a simple way.

High School

Serve free watermelon to high school football teams
Host a free car wash for the faculty
Deliver gift baskets to teachers for “Teacher Appreciation Day”
Serve free hot breakfast to students before the school day begins

Inner City

Serve hot breakfast for the homeless in your community
Do a community trash clean up
Host a “Block Party” with free food, games, music, etc. for families
Renovate a run down school in the area
Do a mass door-to-door grocery giveaway
Hold a graffiti clean up day
Have a “Free Grass Cutting” day

Hospitals

Serve free coffee, energy drinks, and snacks to staff and those waiting in the emergency room
Give out healthy snacks to patients of chemotherapy
Deliver small gifts to patients and families in the children’s ward (toys, care packages, etc.) Or send clowns, balloon twisters, magicians, etc. to visit with children and their families.

Holidays

Hand out conversation heart candy to people for Valentine’s Day
Host an Easter Egg Hunt for children with special needs and their families
Do a a free water giveaway in your city on Independence Day
Plan a grocery and ham drive for families in need of a Thanksgiving meal
Host a Christmas toy drive for needy children
Host a Christmas toy drive for needy children
Offer to go Christmas shopping for prison inmates who have children.

This post is taken from the website: servolution.org

The Means of Grace: Where God meets us

10/6/2015

Most Tuesday evenings, I attend a community dinner hosted by my local church. It’s one of five, offered weekly in town, all with the intent to provide a free warm meal. And that’s where I met Stephanie.

Stephanie never misses Tuesday’s Table. That I will see her in the fellowship hall of Winfield FUMC on Tuesday evenings is as close to a guarantee as it gets. I know that if I want to be with Stephanie, I can go to Tuesday’s Table.

Which reminds me— if I want to be with God, I can go to the means of grace.

Grace is God’s power for our growth, and the means of grace are the ways by which we experience it. I like to think of the means of grace as spiritual meeting places—locations we go again and again because God is there. Tuesday’s Table is a space prepared by volunteers to nourish bodies. The means of grace are spaces created by God to nourish souls. I don’t know about you, but both my stomach and my spirit growl when hungry.

Wesley divided the means of grace into two categories: works of piety and works of mercy. The works of piety are practices of devotion that encourage personal holiness. These are things like prayer, the study of Scripture, theological conversation, and worship. The works of mercy are practices of service that contribute to social holiness— visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked, to name a few.

Don’t get hung up on that word: works. There is no magic spell that conjures up God’s presence, no performance that earns us God’s grace. It’s already been settled that God initiates this relationship and extends grace without condition. Perhaps, if he were here, we could ask Mr. Wesley’s permission to substitute places for works—the places of piety and the places of mercy. Because, in as much as they are things we do, they are also places we go. This upholds God as the agent of salvation while also acknowledges our call to participate.

We participate by showing up. If the means of grace are places, and if God is already there, then all that’s left to do is show up. Going to the places of piety is showing up for ourselves, receiving God’s grace. Going to the places of mercy is showing up for others, extending freely what we’ve freely been given. Commitment to both is what faithful discipleship looks like. It’s collaboration with God to transform ourselves and the world around us. It’s working out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).

Just like Stephanie at Tuesday’s Table, God is there, in the means of grace, whether we go or not. We don’t have to, but what a waste when we don’t! God has named the places—the means of grace. It’s up to us to make the time. When we do, we communicate that we know our need of God and we want grace for today.

Let’s show up.

This post was written by L.E. Hartman of Seedbed. You can find the original post here: http://seedbed.com/feed/the-means-of-grace-the-places-god-meets-us/

Microchurch

10/5/2015

One thousand square feet. It's not much space for a church. About the same square footage as two bowling lanes, to give you an idea. "Why so small?" you might ask. The answer is both economical and theological. Economically, our church is located in Brooklyn, and 1,000 square feet is what we can afford. Theologically, we've discovered that building big community happens on a small scale: 30 people around dinner tables, sharing a meal they've made together.

The five-year-old church where I am the founding pastor, is a Dinner Church. This means that we gather each week to share what we call a "sacred meal:" a worship service that takes place around the table. This meal is patterned after those shared by Christians in the first few centuries of the church, which evolved into our current day communion celebrations with participants sharing the bread and the cup. Our congregation doesn't need much space, but after renting by the night for five years, we've found we're ready for a place of our own. And so this summer we're moving to a storefront in Brooklyn -- the kind of storefront that might be a restaurant or a shop is instead going to be a church.

Dinner Church takes place on a small scale. We might call it a micro-scale. In a macro-city like New York, one can feel like a tiny cog in a giant machine. Shuffled down crowded city streets, elbowed on subway train cars and stuffed into elevators, many of us feel nameless and unseen for much of our day. Enter Dinner Church, a gathering of 30 or so folks over a meal we cook together. Everyone is known by name (we're all wearing name tags) and folks there for the first time are invited to chop vegetables or set out silverware.

I see the hunger for an experience of intimacy and the sacred reflected in the culture at large. Our renewed interest in the local, the artisanal, the reclaimed, seems to me to be a yearning for a life that takes place at a smaller scale. We want to know the person who made our bread in a bakery, not a sprawling, steely factory in some distant, nameless place. We want to know the smell of the earth where our vegetables came from. We want to make things from scratch. In short, we want to know ourselves and one another.

Just like bread from the kitchen, St. Lydia's comes in batches. A church of 30 people can't hope to be financially sustainable, supporting a pastor and providing an operating budget. And so we plan to grow by batch number instead of by batch size. About a year ago, we started worshipping on Monday nights in addition to Sunday nights. We'll keep growing this way, adding more services as we go. In this way, a church the size of a couple of bowling lanes can sustain a pretty sizable congregation, and afford that New York rent.

And so here we are, with our thousand square feet. Designing a space for a Dinner Church has been a curious process. We'll have no steeple, no bell tower, no rows of pews or stained glass windows. During a community planning process this Spring, our architect asked the congregation, "What makes space sacred?" Quiet, they told her. Beautiful things made by hand. Natural materials. The way the light comes in.

We've designed a space to direct people toward God, not by turning their eyes to a far-removed altar, but by turning instead to one another. The most dominant feature will be three ovular tables for ten. The bowed shape ensures that everyone at the table can make eye contact with everyone else. In addition, we're crafting a space that intentionally invites people to participate. Open shelves holding plates and glasses encourage newcomers to jump in and set tables. It's easy to see where everything is stored -- easy to take part. Like a Montessori classroom, the design to encourages interaction with both materials and people.

And what happens around those tables, designed to encourage the people of God to see one another, face to face? I would argue that justice, too, begins on a micro-scale at our church. It starts small, with relationships built around the table. I believe that every time a congregation sits down with someone from whom they would otherwise be divided, justice is made. The conversation between the recently homeless man and the recent college graduate. She may have passed him on a street corner earlier today, but tonight they are talking over a bowl of stir fry. Later, they will do the dishes together. And after that they may change their corner of the world for the better. To know the other always takes place on the smallest level possible: one human sitting down with another. But in doing so, we encounter something huge: the limitless presence of God.

This post was written by Rev Scott. You find the original post here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-emily-m-d-scott/weve-seen-megachurch-but-_b_5474319.html

Sexually arousing worship

9/14/2015

I was a camp counselor and we were having a great worship time with our preteen campers. However, up front, two backup singers were helping the worship leader by moving in time with the music (some people would call it choreography, others would call it dancing). With their movement, certain body parts were also moving and it was very noticeable. Being a normal man, I was distracted from my worship by such movement. Afterwards, I overheard a couple of the preteens boys in a discussion about how these two women looked (the women were camp counselors as well). It was obvious that I wasn't the only male that was stimulated...

Men whom I have counseled have told me similar stories. They become stimulated, and some even become triggered by such activity in the church. Their mind wanders away from worship and often this stimulation leads to acting out once they leave church. Not only do some become triggered by viewing worship leaders but sometimes they also become stimulated by the way that some women dress in the church. If they attend a church that "hugs," these men may also be triggered by such activity.

These men need the strength that comes with corporate worship but it often backfires for them.

How does a man who is addicted to sexual activity keep himself from becoming triggered when he goes to church? This is an extremely difficult thing for such men to work thru. There are no easy answers and it takes real work to follow thru with some of these ideas:

1 - Don't sit up front or where you can see the worship leaders
2 - Or sit close to the front behind a large person who will block your view (that way you won't see the women in the congregation nor the women up front)
3 - Close your eyes when you are singing
4 - Concentrate on the Creator rather than the creation
5 - Come late to the service so that you miss the worship time
6 - Consider going to a church that does not have such stimulating activity
7 - Sit with a male friend who knows of your struggles who will help you stay focused and not let you look around and who will pray for you while in church
8 - Talk to your pastor about your struggles and ask for assistance/ideas
9 - Join an accountability group and be honest about your thoughts during church and also pray about your mutual struggles.

These ideas are very hard to do and take much prayer, much mental discipline and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The answer is not to just make sure that women dress correctly. In case you didn't know, in churches that have organs, many have a screen so that you cannot see the organist's feet. This is done because it used to be too sensual for men to see the organist's naked foot. So, policing what women in the church wear is not the answer.

If you are a pastor, worship leader, or someone in a position of authority in your church, I would encourage you to spend some time thinking and praying about your church and what kinds of messages your church may send to people who struggle with sexual sin. Ask God to give you wisdom so that your church is healthy and not a hindrance.

BE HOLY.
BE A MAN.

Five things I have learned as a pastor

9/5/2015

I am a young pastor, and I do not presume to think that I can offer up much worthwhile advice and encouragement to a new generation entering the ministry. I do think, however, that any amount of experience has its own level of anecdotal instruction that can be offered to anyone willing to listen.

This week, I have thought about what I have learned in my decade of formal ministry (volunteer and paid) and I think there are some things that are worth sharing. Some items being shared in this blog are a result of frustration that has helped to grow me as a minister. Other points are simply things I that have come to mind. Just know that none of them are meant to demean, discourage, or demonstrate anger. I just feel these things need to be said.

I love learning. Sometimes the learning involved pain, and other times it was a result of great joy.

Today, I want to share 5 Things I Have Learned As a Pastor.

People prioritize what matters

Sunday after Sunday pastors all over the world work their hardest to preach, teach, and display the Gospel in their lives. Their families often feel the brunt of the time and effort they put into sharing vision, meeting with those in need, and attending business meetings. Sometimes a pastor will give their all for a congregation who seem to look at the idea of worship as “something they will attend if they have nothing else to do”. Don’t get me wrong. Pastors are thankful that anyone shows up for worship, but we now live in a Christian culture that has prioritized other things over meeting together as was commanded of us in scripture.

Discouragement is only temporary

I’m going to let you in, behind the scenes, for a moment on what pastors talk about when they are together. Sometimes we talk about how things are progressing with the church. Other times we talk about how discouraged we are in a particular area of ministry. For some people in ministry, short seasons of discouragment end in resignation. It is easier to quit than to persevere. When discouragement comes, and it certainly will, it is always vital to lean into God and rely on His promises. The seasons of discouragement do not last forever. They can just be painful. When we tap into God’s resolve, then we find times of great spiritual wealth and ministerial progress.

There will be resistance

No matter what God has asked a person in ministry to do, resistance to that call is inevitable. Sometimes there is resistance because the author of lies is creating unnecessary conflict in the church. Other times (I am speaking to myself here) it is because personal pastoral agendas are forced and God’s will is not taken into account. Pastors are not exempt from being stubborn or having human thoughts, emotions, or actions. A consistent prayer life trains the mind and heart to more readily pick up Christ’s signals and gentle nudgings.

Lives matter to God

When looking at scripture, it is apparent that God has spent a lot of time showing humanity His love. Sure, there are times of discipline, but the way He guided the Israelites out of captivity, restored them multiple times after their transgressions. sent Himself to die, and gave us the Holy Spirit, no one can deny the energy that has gone into God’s affection for us. He calls pastors to be distributors of this love and grace. Christians in general have this call on their lives as well, and are compelled to share this message with the world. So, when someone comments that a pastor’s focus is “all about numbers”, they are actually somewhat correct. Every person matters to God, and He came to die for every single one. A pastor’s job is a response to this concept.

Often times, more energy is spent on lemurs than butterflies

Ok, so this one is a difficult topic to talk about. Now, I do not want to sound harsh or condescending, but this idea breaks my heart so I felt as if I needed to share. You may read this heading and be somewhat confused, but allow me to explain. I wrote another blog post a while ago that compared the personalities found in the church to animals that live in a zoo. Lemurs are animals that live in trees and eat berries and bugs. When there are no more berries or bugs in the tree they move on to another one that will suit their needs. Butterflies start as caterpillars, and camp out in trees or bushes. They are sheltered by the tree and allow themselves to be transformed. Often churches respond to God’s call to help those in need (in and out of the church), and sometimes it is the “lemurs” get the most attention. In the church, it is often the case that the ones that are the most helped are the first ones to leave. The church is a great place to seek transformation. No matter the result, though, we are called to serve.

Overall, I can honestly say that God has blessed me more than I deserve. His calling on my life to participate in the transformation of souls is something that invigorates me. Ideas keep me going, and His spirit not only makes up for my inadequacies, but moves me out of the way completely. He has also given me an amazing church family.

If you are a young pastor leading a church today, I implore you to lean on that calling. Don’t quit. It is a very difficult job, and it is not going to get any easier. You are not going to make millions and you may struggle to help grow the congregation you are in. Don’t be a “corporate ladder” type of pastor and just move to the next bigger church for the nice facility and salary package. There is a large family sitting in your pews waiting to see revival, and their souls need it. Be vulnerable, and build deep relationships. What if they leave? Well, then you will be deeply hurt, but don’t run away from being hurt. God’s call means more.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. You can find his blog here: http://other-words.net

Church Planting: When Being Old News is Good News

8/8/2015

What type of things do you daydream about? When it comes to your life’s vocation, do you look forward optimistically or are your prospects grim? Before I go on let me emphasize that no matter what your circumstances may look like, God can bring about new beginnings, second chances, and fresh direction. “Never give up” is not always an accurate charge, because sometimes we are called to abandon our temporary desires and pursue His heart. When we do this, we realize there is more abundance on this route than the path we thought we desired. “Never give up”, however on pursuing God’s best.

The journey ordained by God will not always be new and exciting, or easy to navigate, but it will always be blessed. Therein lies the problem, at times, with pursuing God’s dream for our lives. So many people have programmed their minds and hearts to follow that which is new and exciting…essentially striving after the “godly” thing instead of the “God” thing.

If you are a Christian, you know that it is easy to start believing that the only sign that the Holy Spirit is active is the warm fuzzy/ goose bump-y feeling we often get during our favorite worship song. When we no longer feel that, it is tempting to move on to find it again. A mature Christian has realized that the Holy Spirit is always active in the midst of obedience, devotion, and rest in God’s promises.

So, back to the original question. What do you daydream about? Before I started the church that I lead, I had certain desires and dreams for what it would look like. I had small prayers like, “God, if you could just send us 50 people…” and I would fill in the possibilities. Then God did send that many. Then 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, etc. Each time my prayer would evolve to accomodate the next numerical tier. At the beginning, it was never enough. My old prayers involved begging God to help us not lose “momentum” so we would continue to grow. All of my results were based on numbers and the feeling I got when I saw the numbers increasing. When we didn’t see times of massive growth, i found myself feeling as if I failed (and satan always wants us to rely on our own resources). It is a cycle that many leaders find themselves in. My mindset had to change.

Guess what??? I am now happy to report that my church is old news. Yes, you read that correctly. We are old news. We have been around for almost 5 years, and we are not the “next newest thing”, and it feels fantastic. While, at the beginning we saw many people who came because of the excitement of “newness” (which actually was helpful for the mission), we now see those who are hungry for fellowship, servuce and growing deeper with Jesus. It is great. It is where we need to be. We definitely have much to improve, but we can now do so in a healthier mindset.

If you have been wrestling with the concept of starting a new church, allow me to extend some wisdom to you. Church planting is exciting, hard, frustrating, and overall worth every minute. If you learn to move away from the mentality of merely attracting more people with ellaborate programs, complicate structures, fancy lighting, the newest technology, and crowd gathering messages, then you will realize that God is waiting for you to be faithful and dedicated to truth. People need to be welcomed, accepted, and given a space for transformation through God’s word. Don’t allow yourself to gravitate to “what’s working” thus constantly being distracted from genuinely loving people.

God has blessed me with an amazing church, and I constantly thank Him for it. As pastors we need to start finding peace in the mission instead of our ellaborate daydreams. Then, we will know what joy looks like in ministry.

Keep fighting brothers and sisters. Love you all.

This post was written by Rev DeCrastos. You can find his blog here: http://other-words.net