ChurchPlanters.com "Giving You Permission"

Evolve Conference 2008

Things that fire me up about our February 18-19, 2008 Evolve Conference!!!!

1.  Our main sessions and our theme...Shawn Lovejoy, Darrin Patrick, Mark Batterson, Steven Furtick, and Bil Cornelius all talking about there own vitality.  I believe this is the number one difference between those who make it and have have impact and those that don't.  You don't want to miss these main sessions they are going to be life changing.

2.  Our breakouts...all of our main session guys will be speaking during a breakout, plus Gabe Lyons, Eric Bramlett, Devin, Hudson, Gary Lamb, Casey Graham, Chad Ward, Mel McGowen...Just to name a few.

3.  Our Pre-Conference sessions...we are offering two session on Monday Morning February 18 from 9:00 to 12:00.  They both are over the top practical and they are going to be awesome.  How do I know? I'm doing one on Launching Large: Milestones for planting healthy churches and Casey Graham and Louie Lovoy are doing one on Connecting People Quickly:  Moving disconnected people into a spiritual process. 

4)  Our partners...we have some incredible partners that love helping church planters...some of them are  Equip, Catalyst, Leadership Network, Portable Church, StrongTower Financial, Injoy Stewardship..just to name a few.   

5) Our planters...last year we sold out at by the end of January and this year we are on track to do the same thing.  We can't wait to come together with a room full of church planters.

6) Our Worship Team...Todd Nichols and crew are going to rock the house down.  Each year one of my high points is  our five worship sets.  It is going to be amazing.

7) Our volunteers...Mountain Lake volunteers are the best.  We will have about 100 of our people serving their socks off...modeling the way...they always do.

8) Our outcome...hundreds of church planters are going to be inspired...encouraged...and helped. 

9) Our new relationships...we will have dozens of teams  join us later for one of our Best Practices Practicums and dozens of guys get involved in one of our Coaching Networks.  It will make a difference.

10) Our Mission...at the end of the day we will have accomplished our mission...giving you permission to do what it takes to reach those who are disconnected from Christ and the Church. 

House of Prayer

I don't know where to begin, all I know is God spoke to me this morning.  I don't think he is through speaking yet.  I'm afraid...I really am...I fear the Lord.  I know when he speaks it changes my life.  While finishing up Breaking the Discipleship Code God spoke to me. I didn't break the discipleship code it broke me.  Since breaking me God has refocused my mission clearer then ever...to rediscover the simplicity of Jesus and his ways.  Today as I was reflecting on our world God reminded me that his house was to be house of prayer for all people (Matthew 21:13).  You talk about the simplicity of Jesus and his ways. What if we had houses of prayer wherever we went.  What if my house was a house of prayer for my neighborhood.  What if when I went to places like the middle east I encourage those living under the oppressed hand of Islam to establish or be a house of prayer.  This is exactly what happen in China beginning with Mao's Cultural Revolution.  Today there are an estimated 60 million followers of Jesus in China.  What if when we plant churches in North America we begin with a house of prayer. 

ChurchPlanters.com Evolve Conference

Breaking the Discipleship Code Video Blurb

Check out the video blurb on Breaking the Discipleship Code here. 

Join Me in the Middle East

I don't know how we can be a follower of Jesus and not be engaged in the world...I frankly think it is impossible.  At Mountain Lake Church we have a fairly robust World Care ministry. We sent about 200 people last year around the world, invest thousands of dollars, put shoes on the feet of young children, computer banks in churches, trained pastors and other leaders, helped build a team house, mudded out houses, conducted revivals, participated in youth meetings, and shared Jesus with a bunch of people. 

When I am encouraging people to participate in some kind of world care project or trip I often have people tell me that they are praying about it...I understand that,  but at the same time what's there to pray about?  Jesus is very clear in the Great Commission that we are to "go into the world"!  I don't know how he could be clearer.  So let's go!!!

Speaking of going I am planning a vision trip to the Middle East March 7-14, 2008.  I would love to take several lead, executive, mission pastors with me.  If you are a follower of Jesus and eager for an awesome opportunity to live out the Great Commission give me a shout!!!  I would be honored to have you go on our vision trip.  It is going to be amazing.  You can contact me at [email protected] and I will give you more of the details...because of the sensitive nature of the Middle East I'm not posting them here.  I look forward to hearing from you...Peace on Earth!!!