Launch Team Updates

Things are moving along. This past week I had the chance to listen in on a tele-seminar with Nelson Searcy (pastor of the Journey in NYC) as he spent an hour talking about church systems. I know for most normal people that sounds like an hour of torture, but it was very beneficial. And remember, church systems are not going to go away. Rather, I intend for NCC to become a breeding ground for efficient church systems so that Christ can work through us and maximize life-change in our lives as well as the new people God sends our way. More to come on that later.

Meanwhile, Greg has become a guru of technology as he attended the Gurus of Tech Conference in Louisville, KY a few weeks ago. This was a free conference for techie church guys. I was excited to hear that Greg attended an event like this because someone (probably several of us) on our team is going to have to step up in order for us to become even a semi-tech savvy church. For those of you who don't know Greg very well, let me explain something about Greg. Probably the main reason Greg and I became such good friends is because Greg is completely comfortable trying something even when he has absolutely no idea what he is doing. The wonderful thing about Greg is that he always figures out the solution along the way. Plus, onlookers think he knew what he was doing the whole time...but don't be fooled. Seriously, we need people with this kind of attitude especially on a church plant team.

Do you remember a few weeks ago in a newsletter I mentioned that I had some exciting news? Well I got a call last week to confirm that an organization in Chattanooga, Souls for Christ Inc, is donating $10,000 to help launch Northwest Community Church! Two of their board members said that we have put together a great "business plan." This news was extremely encouraging to me and affirms the fact that we just need to keep plugging away. All it will take is for a few more businessmen, churches, or organizations to feel called to make a similar commitment and NCC will be ready to launch.

Finally, Sarah and I are planning to attend the Catalyst Conference October 8-9 in Atlanta. Any of the launch team members are invited/encouraged to come with us. It will be a super affordable trip. We can ride together, have free places to stay/eat in Atlanta, and through the generosity of some great people we can get a killer rate on the conference fees. Check out http://www.catalystconference.com/ for more info on this leadership development event. Be sure to let me know this week if you are interested in attending with us because I have to order our tickets this week as a group.

No Hateful People Allowed

A few years ago, a pastor named John Burke wrote a book entitled "No Perfect People Allowed." Burke pastors Gateway Church in Austin, TX which has done an excellent job of building a culture that accepts people just as they are and then allows Christ to transform them. It is a great book about a great church. Well, this past week I thought of a similar title of a book which could examine a different aspect of healthy church culture..."No Hateful People Allowed." Let me explain.

Without naming names and being hateful myself, here is something I learned this week...Christ followers have no excuse for ever being hateful to each other. There literally should be a sign in churches that says "No hateful people allowed." The sad thing is that in some churches that would cause half the people to stay home. I reflected on this idea for a while this week and I have a theory as to why there are hateful people in churches. Ready? Here it is: No one ever told them to stop being hateful.

Recently I heard a talk by Bill Hybels which I think applies to the idea of telling hateful people to "STOP IT!" Hybels said, "It is a leader's job to call fouls." In other words, a leader cannot sit idly when someone is being hateful, disrespectful, or un-Christ like to another person, especially in a public gathering where their behavior is a model for lots of other people. So, I have decided that even before we launch Northwest Community Church that we are not going to allow people in the church to be hateful to each other. Also, I am asking every member of the launch team to help eradicate hateful people as well. If you see a hateful person, just explain to them that this is not how we act, give them a do-over, and let them try again. I know this sounds like a joke, but I am dead serious. I will put a whistle around my neck if I have to and call fouls.

By the way, this is not directed at anyone on our launch team...you guys are the least hateful people I know. I am just preparing for the fact that in an environment of imperfect people (which I am certainly one of) people are bound to be hateful from time to time. But, that doesn't mean we just let it slide. Christ did not die for his Church so we would act like a bunch of hateful people.