Reset Button

Tomorrow the Tanners will be heading out west to Montana with Betsy’s parents to visit Betsy’s brother and family.  Ben and the rest of his family (Giner, Blaine, and Cade) haven’t had the chance to meet Luke yet.  So we are setting off for a week long journey starting in Billings and then heading up north to Yellowstone.

This is coming at a perfect time for me.  For the last month I have felt like a project manager with all the teams coming to help work on our building.  And it was a such a blessing to have over 100 people PAY to come help the Kingdom.  But while spinning that plate (copy right Mike Fielder) others have been neglected.  So this coming week I am hitting the Reset Button and coming back focused on our fall and what God is going to do.

In the past year as a church plant I have noticed the difference between plants that fail and those that survive.  The one variable: PARTNERSHIP.  Of the planters that have survived they have had at least one person to help carry the load.  They have had one person who stands by their side while the fiery arrows come.  Who is strong when you are weak, and allows you to recharge.  I am lucky to have such a person in Chris Barrineau our Executive Pastor.  I can step on that plane tomorrow knowing that Chris has it covered and will allow me take some deep, refreshing breaths.

We had a great Lead Team meeting last night (fresh breath) and have a TON of things planned for August as we get geared up for Fall!  I am praying that the Lord continues to send the workers because the harvest is plentiful.  We will be resting up this week because we know that when Aug comes it will be pedal to the metal as we penetrate darkness with the Good News.

Montana here we come!

Reaching the NEXT Generation

Today Craig Groshel hit the nail on the head this morning over on the Swerve Blog. He has been doing a series of blogs on how to reach the next generation. Today’s blog was on being a Mission Ministry. He said:

“If you plan to reach the next generation for Christ, don’t ask them to believe what you believe, instead invite them to do what you do.”

The twenty somethings don’t care about what you believe unless you back it up with action. If they grew up in the church they saw a bunch of talk but not much of a walk. If they have never been to church they saw their community, city, and world get worse by the day and the church just watched.

So I agree with Craig – Smoke what you sell! Good leaders are good at telling us what to do, but great leaders are great at showing us what to do. The church is beginning to see a group of leaders who just don’t talk (preach or blog), but they lead the charge in how to really impact those around them. That is very refreshing and the next generation is starting to see this movement.  Crazy idea – but that is EXACTLY what Jesus did.

Craig ends with these two powerful sentences:

As strange as it might sound, if you truly live a missional and Spirit filled life, the young generation might join you and do what you do, then one day believe what you believe.