ChurchPlanters.com "Giving You Permission"

Don't Lose Your Vision

IMPORTANT

Here it is guys...one of the number one things I see happening with church planters is they give away their vision.  This often happens before they even have a chance to launch the very first service.  Other times it happens over time as a result of multiple vision assaults from well intended people.  If we are real honest it also happens when we as leaders experience vision drift and over time we find ourselves running it right into the ditch. 

Regardless of the reason when we begin to lose the vision it is our fault.  That's right as leaders we have to "man up".  Our primary role is to clarify and cast vision.  If you don't know where you are going you are in trouble.  You may be leading, but you are leading NO WHERE!

Here are some thoughts that might keep you out of the vision graveyard...

1.  Get your vision from God! That's right!  "Where there is no vision the people perish".  Bad translation!  "'Where there is no revelation the people go unrestrained".  Better translation!  Do the hard work of vision up front and ask God to reveal Himself to you.  Once you get your vision from God...lock and load.  Unfortunately many people seek cool over clear.  Other go to the latest and greatest websites or conferences and rip off their vision.  A few months later they go back and find something cooler...the people they are leading are whispering and some times shouting, "Just tell us where we are going and we will follow." 

2.  Communicate your vision clearly!  I just said it but let me say it again...choose clear over cool.  Make sure people understand your vision.  Reduce it down to a few words, but only after you understand the big picture.  Chances are you are not communicating your vision enough.  An annual vision message is for the birds.  Try a weekly vision message.  People are motivated by vision and passion.  The only people who are content with just sitting there and listening to verse by verse teaching are already going to heaven.  Get out there and cast vision for changed lives and a better world.

3.  Deal with Vision Busters Quickly!  Visions are a name a dozen.  We all have our own set of religious preferences.  If your vision is from God you have a responsibility to be mean about it.  Now guys I didn't say be mean as a person.  I know church planters and you are already mean enough.  Be mean about your vision.  Let your "yes" be "yes"' and your "no" be "no".  Maybe the reason people challenge your vision is you are unclear or you don't have one. 

4.  Don't be fickle about your vision.  Vision is not like ice cream, don't offer a different flavor every month.  As we often say at MLC, "No plans perfect, work the plan."  I really believe this.  If there is any thing I did early was bounce around when it came to vision.  Don't be fickle.  Do the hard work and go. 

Guys, I don't know anything any more important then this vision stuff.  If you struggle here you are going to struggle in your plant.  Make plans now to attend our "Best Practices" Practicum where we are going to work with you on this practices and more.  For more information or to register visit www.churchplanters.com.  I can't wait to see you. 

Nurture Spiritual Vitality

I know two days in a row!  I told you I am back.  The book is done.  I can't wait for you to read it this when it is released this Spring. 

Right after joining the Mountain Lake team just over three years ago I have a conversation with Bil Cornelius.  Bil (that's right one l) has done an amazing job as pastor of Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi, Texas.  They have grown from 0 to 7000 over the past nine years.  I still remember when Bil was getting started.  I am so proud of him.  When we was just over 1000 in weekend attendance I asked Bil what had to happen for us to break through the next barrier I will never forget what he said, "You have got to take care of the leader."  At first I didn't understand what he was saying, but I come to understand that he is right on.  As the leader goes so does the church.  Churches consistently grow into the size of that their lead guy can lead.  It simply the way things are.  That is why it is so important that to the leader nurtures his vitality. 

If you are a church planter you have got to take care of yourself.  You have got to nurture physical, spiritual, emotional, relational, and spiritual vitality.  This doesn't happen automatically, but is the results of the leader practicing the discipline of self-development. 

On October 22-23, 2008 we are offering a Best Practice Practicum for church planters and lead pastors of new churches.  One aspect of the practicum will be to come along side of these leaders and help them develop a personal plan for nurturing vitality.  Make plans now to join us for this event at Mountain Lake Church.  It is going to be a blast.  For more information visit www.churchplanters.com

No I haven't quit blogging!

That's right I haven't quit blogging...However, I have been up to my ears in my writing project which was due this past Tuesday.  I still have about three or four days of editing and it is off to the publisher...so get reading for Breaking the Discipleship Code:  Becoming a Missional Follower of Jesus.  I wanted to rename it Losing My Religion...Finding the Jesus Way, but my publisher said, NO!  I didn't even know they could say no...but something about building off the clarity of Breaking the Missional Code and Simple Church. 

On the church planting front I have been hanging out with our two church planting residents; Jeff Murphy and Paul Peterson.  I love these guys they are going to do a great job. 

September 1 we will be relaunching our website....so stay tune...

Overtime Upset

I am up to my ears with this book....one week to my dead line...thank God!  I promise when I'm done I am jumping back into the blogging world...

I just got off of the phone with my mom....She was updating me on her life...let me fill you in...it is a story worth hearing.

For the last twenty something years she has had a terminal form of Cancer.  In the last five years the doctor told her she was fast approaching a time when treatment was going to be ineffective.  She took her health care in her own hands.  She found a clinical trial at MD Anderson.  She is now in remission for the first time in 20 years...the doctors think that this research is going to lead to a cure.  Amazing!  More recently she had a pacemaker put in to regulate her heart beat and ultimately her blood pressure which often hovered around the point of a major stroke due to her blood disorder.  Her heart and blood pressure has now radically changed for the positive. 

Today she told me she is going back to work.  She retired ten years ago after teaching art in the public school.  Now she is going back!  She loves kids and art and sees it as her calling.  She is past retirement age and she doesn't need the money, but she is going back. 

It was the forth quarter with seconds to go...with a miracle play she has pushed the game into overtime.  She is well on her way to an upset.  She she is one of my hero's in life.  I told her that today.  Regardless of what life brings her in the future.  Regardless of what happens with her disease, she wins! 
We too, can win.  Church planting is tough...but in Jesus we win! 

IED Attack

Last night we received a phone call from the front lines of the War on Terror.  Not one you necessary want to get.  With our Son serving in the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan we consider "no news, good news".   Thank God it was our son.  He was on a Satellite phone in one of the most remote and dangerous places in Afghanistan.  He had just survived an IED (Improvised Explosive Device).  He began the conversation with his mom saying something like, "Mom I'm okay, but we just got hit by an IED and I wanted to call you before you got a call from the Army and the story got all messed up."  As they were leaving a village they were hit.  The IED blow up the Humvee.  Two of the brave soldier  in the Humvee was blown from the vehicle.  Another one was blown into the bulletproof windshield.  Somehow they all walked away. 

While the others were taken in...my son loaded up his radio, weapons,  and other gear and headed to the top of a mountain where he spent the night.  As a Forward Observer he is trained to call in the heavy artillery.  He spend the night running recon, ready to rain fire down on the enemy at any moment.  The next morning he made it back to the camp where he called me.  We were able to talk for about 30 minutes.  He was banged up pretty good. He had intense pain in his back and legs from the blast, but he was alive.  He was hungry and thought he might get a hot meal.  All of the soldiers hit by the IED are being flown to a larger Forward Operational Base where they have the medical equipment for CT Scans and observation.  In approximately a week my son along with the other three will be refitted and sent back out to continue the War on Terror. 

I was on the runway at the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta when I got the news.  I immediately thanked God and gave Him all the credit for saving my son and the other troops lives.  I thought of Psalm 91.  I read it often as I pray for my son and others. 

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
      will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
   He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
      he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
      and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
      He will shelter you with his wings.
      His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
      nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
      nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
      though ten thousand are dying around you,
      these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
      and see how the wicked are punished.

I tell you this story to say thanks for praying...prayer does make a difference.  I also tell you story to encourage you to continue to pray for my son and our troops...david

ChurchPlanters.com Update

Shawn and I spent the last couple of days in Sacramento with the Stadia guys doing a post lunch church planters training even.  We got to speak into the lives of about 100 guys...it was awesome getting to do what we really love resourcing leaders. 

Best Practice Practicum

We are offering a Best Practice Practicum October 22-23, 2007 at Mountain Lake Church.  This Practicum will run from noon to noon and will focus on several make or break practices:  Nurture Vitality, Be Mean About Vision, Finance the Mission, Think Team, and Rethink Discipleship.  This practicum will be laid out in a workshop format and is designed for church from 1 to 10 years old.  Make plans to bring your ministry team and join us for this incredible learning experience.  You will leave with:  a plan for expanding your influence, for focusing your church on the main things, for raising a financial base for accomplishing the mission, for building a high performance team, exploding your volunteer and small group ministry.  For more information or to Register you team e-mail [email protected] with your contact information and someone will be in touch for you.  Cost $150.00 per person.