Funding an ever expanding movement of new churches….brainstorming strategic next steps for classis leadership….listening in on Zeeland Classis Parenting Network….wrestling with encouraging new church organization. These are a few of the issues facing the Great Lakes Region Church Multiplication Team meeting mid April. The team is made up of representatives from each Classis in the Region along with the Regional staff. Each one of the agenda items listed above is significant to this movement. Your prayers are valued as well as input. Contact Dann Stouten(Zeeland), Elizabeth Potter(Holland), Scott Van Arendonk(Northern MI), Jon Beyer(Lake Erie), Tom DeVries(So.GR, Jeff Port(SW MI), Rick Tigchon(No.GR) or yours truly if you have any input for that leadership team.
Archive for March, 2007
REGIONAL MULTIPLICATION TEAM MEETING 4/16
March 29, 2007
NORTH GRAND RAPIDS UPDATE…lead on Rick Tigchon!
March 27, 2007
Rick Tigchon is a work horse for multiplication in North GR. He has faithfully encouraged and envisioned planting for several years and we are encouraged by steps of progress. Andre Daley the planter of Mosaic Life is in North GR and that ministry is doing well in heart of eastown. Rick and the team there has an eye now on Belmont/Greenville/Sparta areas and have been seeking a planter to move into that area. After a couple people that did not work out, we are encouraged by a possible planter that has come forward. Pray for this individual as they discern their place in planting! Also…Rick and his ministry partner at Rockford Reformed Aaron Van Mannen met yesterday to talk seriously about Rockford Reformed going multisite. The consistory there is encouraging it and so plans are afoot. We are blessed by people like Rick…and others that are not planters but are the keepers of the vision with us. Go get ’em Rick!
ARK REPORT!
March 22, 2007
Many of us have been praying for the Ark after they dipped to 40 in worship…so here is an update. They are now averaging about 80! Several new families are connected in the last month or so…and some significant “bench strength”! Randy is really encouraged. Giving is up…they are meeting budget and launching Alpha again along with other community ministries. Planting is tough work….really tough….Randy risked to share his heart cry from a painful place….and you can too!
Wayfarer Moves to Organize…is it your turn?
March 21, 2007
Josh Blunt announced it at the South GR Classis meeting Tuesday March 20th. This is a significant step that we can all learn from and that most of us may delay longer than we should. The “when to organize” question depends partly on the ministry model. When there are enough people (qualified and gifted leaders) to reasonably deploy the ministry you are well on your way. Clarity on ministry vision, responsibility of offices (elder and deacon), government (how major decisions are made…budget and ballot) and fundamental beliefs are part of readiness as well. This calls for explicit teaching and instruction from the planter (that’s you!). That can start anytime. Sample documents (bylaws, articles of incorporation) and coaching are available at www.synodofthegreatlakes.org (under multiplicaiton resources find two documents, legal business side of planting and organizing a church). Bravo Wayfarer….lead on Josh!!!
Rob, Josh, Brian & Todd may be calling…
March 15, 2007
Organizing a church and church organization can be different conversations. Organization of a church relates to bylaws and Classis assessments etc. It is a key issue for church plants that deserves some new creative thinking. Church organization pertains to the proper role of consistory, accountable systems, authority for decisionmaking. Plenty of organized churches are not organized well for ministry. New churches do not want to go there! This year our Regional assembly May 7 will focus on this discussion. ORGANIZING TO SUCCEED will feature John Kaiser. Todd Bush, Rob Link, Josh Blunt and Brian Steenhoek will be hosting planter tables at the event…if they call and invite you, say “yes”. It’s our opportunity to have both conversations face to face.
More Thots on Organization…are we “softies”?
March 14, 2007
When a new plant launches in the Great Lakes Region, the Synod asks the planter so sign a New Church Covenant. In that document the new church commits to sending 2.5% of their annual giving to the Classis, 2.5% to the Synod and 5% to other outreach efforts of their choosing. This can be a means whereby new starts are “precalibrated” toward assessments as the very first offering includes a tithe back to those who helped start the church. In denominations that are diligent about this it becomes a way of funding more new churches. To date, the regional synod has no record of ever receiving a 2.5% gift. Hummm. We have not gone asking either so perhaps we are guilty of being a bit soft! Question….what proportion of your giving goes to mission and what would it take for your congregation to value the wider church that helped give birth to their local church?
HOT TOPIC…ORGANIZATION
March 9, 2007
It is inevitable that this subject come up. With lots of new churches perking in the RCA there is a question emerging about the “o” word. The disconnect for some folks is the news about dollars invested in new churches and the wonderful evidence of new starts on the one hand and the few if any that are organized and received into the denomination at General Synod every year. There is a question of whether new churches put off organization simply as a means of avoiding assessments (don’t let me put any ideas in your head). For others there is a question of whether a new congregation can embrace organization and those evil assessments in less than 5 or even 10 years. They (planters mostly) feel that the challenges of reaching pagans and planting are such that organization and assessments would kill the spirit and financial capacity of their plant. Of course, organization of a plant into a church involves more than classis assessments. This is about legal and spiritual maturity as well.
In the coming weeks this blog post several articles on organization…when to…how to…why to… I hope you will comment and help us discern next steps in the process. Perhaps we start with a couple questions… Why would your plant ever consider orgainization?
Wake Up Dead Man
March 6, 2007
Last night, I began putting together a new liturgy that utilizes U2 music and lyrics for Tapestry’s Good Friday gathering this year!
I’ve called it “Wake Up Dead Man” (after a u2 song). It follows all the events leading up to Christs death, and ressurection. It combines U2 lyrics with images, song, and Biblical text (adapted to fit the poetic feel of the night).
I will be adding artwork to it this week and have it ready by this Friday.
If anyone wants it, just email me and I’ll send it to you.
Chad
Is Your Surface Teflon or Sticky?
March 6, 2007
It’s a question of reaching and keeping. New churches work hard to reach…but how are we doing at keeping? Last month I spent a day with the leadership team of Mosaic in LA. Erwin McManus was working his leaders hard on the issue of being “sticky”. Their ministry is long on relevance but short on retention. The word on the street had become; “Go to Mosaic and go get lost” and now the Mosaic team was huddled to change that. New churches have to work hard on both fronts…reaching and keeping. Relational warmth and connectivity is the essence of a “growth culture”. Program and organizational precision are “teflon” if they are our retention plan. Perhaps a start is to identify the “sticky people” and train them in “sticky moves” (come to dinner or next week sit with us in worship…). Better yet, what if you asked your community how sticky they think they are and where the teflon is in the ministry?????
THRIVE BOOTCAMP….Dave Lance on the move!
March 5, 2007
Church planting teams converged last week in Orlando for THRIVE bootcamp. Over 70 attended the event representing over a dozen new starts. Dave Lance from the Great Lakes was there preping his plan for San Antonio Texas. Dave is bringing his ministry at Hagar Park to a close in coming months and will be linking up with others who are moving to Texas for the plant. The Classis of Central Iowa will be picking up the plant with funding but Great Lakes can join in prayers for Dave particularly for their home to sell.
564 hits and counting…
March 1, 2007
Some stats just in case you wonder…. number of hits to rcaplanters since 2/13, 564!….highest # of hits on a single day, 56 on 2/27. This site is designed to serve planters in the Great Lakes region. Suggestions for improvement or otherwise are always welcome……
