LifeSong Manchester

Manchester is now our new home.  Lynn and I have been here for 2 weeks now, and fall more in love with the town everyday.  To love a town means you love the people.  We love the people!  In meeting so many people, business owners, residents, and people who are serving the community, the sense that the Holy Spirit is moving in this New England town is obvious. 

Everyone we talk to at this point is very open and find it interesting that a new church is coming to Manchester.  We are hearing comments such as, “I have so many questions about God”, I hope that you have a Saturday night service because I work on Sunday”, and “Your a Pastor?, I didn’t know I could have a relationship with the priest”.  There are times of sowing, times of watering, and times of Harvest.  The scriptures say that "the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers or few".  This certainly is a time and place of harvest.

There has been so many times in my life that I have been disobedient from God’s plan for my life, but not today.  And today I ask that God pour out my life for his glory.

Numbers 14:24

But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

The USA Today quoted the PEW organization that 1 in 5 are without religious affiliation.  More people are checking “None” in surveys.  In general, this is a true statement in New England, but we all worship something such as other people and relationships, or our stuff.  In Goshen Connecticut a white bison was born last month, and many Native Americans are visiting the town to worship…that’s no bull J
I see a little something different in this town.  People in New England are just simply tired or even broken by religion… the hypocrisy, the inability to live by certain rules or standards.

LifeSong Manchester is a community of people who most of all are in love with Jesus.  Everyone you ever come into contact with has a story to share, at LifeSong we listen and honor those stories.  We also believe that we are all a part of a greater story, God’s Story, and we want to be a place where we can help you enter into his story in a real and authentic way. 

We are beginning as a small group of people who all want the same thing, to transform lives and communities through Jesus.  It has become obvious to me that people in Hartford county really do want a relationship with God, they just don’t want to play games and be fake.  Me too! 

Our launch date is not yet set, but when we have met the milestone of 4 to 5 small groups of people sharing life together it will be time to launch.

We will be known in our community as a safe place to explore faith in Christ with others who are on a spiritual journey.  We know it can and will get a little messy, but I believe that as we start living authentically God smiles and says it’s “A beautiful mess”

Planting The Gospel,

Pastor Tim

2012 Gallup Poll

Ed Stetzer latest blog has an update from Gallup in the topic of religion in America. Below is his article Gallup released new research yesterday on religiosity in America. Gallup's Religiosity Index is based on the importance of religion in the everyday lives of Americans and the data was taken from daily tracking polls throughout 2011.

The study notes:
Residents of Southern states are generally the most religious, underscoring the validity of the "Bible Belt" sobriquet often used to describe this region. Coupled with the Southern states in the
high-religiosity category is Utah, the majority of whose residents are Mormon -- the most religious group in America today.

On the other hand, residents of New England and a number of far Western states tend to be the least religious. These numbers should come as no surprise to us. There has been little regional change in religiosity throughout the past few decades. In our lifetime, the South has always been seen as the Bible Belt. New England and and the West have predominantly been less religious states.

While many may lament the irreligiosity of much of the nation, we should be encouraged about the work God is doing through the local church and denominations in states shown to be less religious. My denomination refers to many of these states as "frontier states" and has made a conscious effort to provide more resources and church planters in both the West and New England.

There are many stories like that of Jared Wilson, who migrated out of the Bible Belt to a less religious area for the sake of the gospel. Jared left his church in Nashville three years ago to pastor a small church in rural Vermont-- the least religious state in America. He'd be the first to admit the soil is hard in New England. But he'd also be the first to proclaim the power contained in the gospel plows even the hardest soil like a hot knife through butter.

Yes the stats are alarming-- and they should be. But know that there are faithful men and women of God proclaiming the gospel to a dying world in these areas. And they would covet your prayers-- and your help. by Ed Stetzer

Heading North

Pastor Tim

New England Spring

New England Spring
It’s always exciting when spring starts to show its face. I feel the excitement as it means that Easter is coming and what a wonderful time of bringing worship to the one true King.

On April 1st LifeSong Church will begin a week of Love Invades, where many LifeSongers will take the week off from work to Love on the community of Lyman, through food distribution, free oil changes, free haircuts, and backyard bible clubs throughout the community. During this week there will also be a LifeSong team in Jacmel Haiti serving the community there.

Tim and Lynn Love Invades week
Lynn and I will be traveling to Manchester Connecticut from April 6th through the 11th. The main focus of this trip is prayer. We will be prayer walking the city of Manchester and some of the surrounding towns. There will also be a time that we get to visit with friends and pastors that have planted the gospel in Connecticut. Since we are moving closer to begin our lives in New England, we want to use this time to bring Glory to God as we worship Him this Easter in Connecticut.

Tim and Lynn Planting Update
Many of you are praying for us and we can see the results of being lifted up. Many of you have supported this call on our lives financially, and I want to say Thank You! for the support and prayers. The dollars that God has blessed you with; that you are now being investing in the Kingdom is awesome. We still have a ways to go, to get to the needed monthly support and we are trusting God to continue to supply for the need. Thank You Go Givers!!!!!

We are now moved into Matthew and Brittany’s house (son and daughter in-love), and will be there for the next few months. Lynn will undergo knee replacement surgery in April then will have a few months of rehab. During this time I will complete my work with Planting the Gospel church planting school, and interview for jobs in Connecticut.

My prayer for all of you this week:
Find your JOY in the Cross!

Heading North
Pastor Tim

Planting The Gospel

This past week, we had an opportunity to attend Velocity Church Planting conference at Mt Lake church in Cumming Ga. Lynn and I enjoy so much being in those environments because it challenges us as well as growing our hearts together toward the call in our lives to plant the gospel in Manchester Connecticut.

This morning as I skim through my notes from the week, I would like to share some snip-its:

On Planting the Gospel:

I am not alone (Exodus 33:12-14). He goes with you and ahead of you.
Gods pace is not my pace. Waiting is a faith issue.
If I do not finish with my family, I do not finish well.
Am I content with Jesus only? Because Jesus is enough I am fully in Christ,
I am secure in Christ.
Jesus + Anything = Emptiness.
When Jesus said “it is finished” Satan lost his power… we need not to forget that.
You can’t lead until you bleed. Follow Jesus so close that you will be associated with Him.
Love God more than you Love the vision.

On Marriage:

Pray in the house, pray together, and pray for each other.
Dream BIG dreams for your marriage.

Believing the best about your spouse creates trust, not distrust.
Absence of conflict is not the same as intimacy, but no level 10 responses to level 2 issues.
Carry each other’s Armor.
Leading from insecurity will cost you more than you think (Hebrews 14:14-15).

Tim and Lynn Update:

Our house has sold and we will be moved out by April 15th. God continues to us this time for us to
connect with others that have a heart to plant the gospel in New England. Our prayer is that future employment would land us in Manchester CT by the summer.

In the mean time we are meeting with many people and sharing the vision that God has birthed in our hearts. We are so blessed that so many of you are praying for us, encouraging us and sending us. Lynn and I can’t thank you enough for your love and support!

Heading North
Pastor Tim

Happy New Year!
Today I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for praying for Lynn
and I, and to give you an update. 2 weeks ago, we have had an offer on our
house, which is still being worked out. While we wait, we continue to down size
to prepare for small apartment living.

I interviewed for a job in Connecticut, and that door has been closed.
Currently there is another employment opportunity that will be confirmed by the
end of January. We are continuing to pray for guidance and discernment as we
move forward.

We have sold my pick up and God has blessed by putting us in a AWD
vehicle.

These latest activities move us closer to an arrival date in Manchester
CT. Spring would be a great time to relocate :) Lynn and I believe in prayer
and we have seen God move in ways that can only bring glory to HIM. Please
continue to pray for us as we are asking God to send us to a Spiritually dark
place to point people to Christ... to Plant the Gospel in Manchester CT

Heading North,
Pastor Tim

Awakening

Awakening: people who are already converted are awakening from their spiritual slumber and lost people are being saved. I have notice that during a awaking there are 3 reactions: Opposition / Indifference / Obedience.

Opposition – People continue to demonstrate that it takes no intelligence to criticize. I see this mostly with religious people that become threatened by a movement of God that can’t be explained away. Many times this is fueled by jealousy or pride within ones heart.

Indifference – People hear Gods voice and feel drawn to Him, but respond with indifference. Not vocal opponents, but simply chose to delay their decision. A decision to delay is a decision against.

Obedience – A desire for revival is a desire for Spiritual Life. This desire once acted on by obedience to God, is when the awakening happens
In the past several months as I prepare to start a new chapter in this walk with Jesus, God continues to expose things in my heart, my understanding of Him, and allow me to have a front row seat of His greatness… I sense a Great Awakening in my walk with Him.

I have been so consumed with getting to New England that it would be easy for me to miss the spiritual awakening going on around me here in S.C. My friend Ken called me while I was out of town on a business trip saying that he needed to talk to me. By the next day I had a chance to have lunch with him, and he proceeded to tell me about growing up as Catholic but never understood that God wants a relationship, not a religious activity from people.

He continued by telling me that I was the first to learn that he is now a follower of Jesus. To use his words “It was like I was so drawn to Him and I had to have Jesus”….I got to eyewitness a Great Awaking down in Anderson that day. Ken is so in love with Jesus, he now has pre packed meals in his car that he gives to hungry people that he meets along with a note that tells how Jesus changed his life.

There is an Awaking or I should say a Movement of God happing all around us and reaching all the way North to where God is calling us to plant the Gospel.

Ephesians 5:14
for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says "awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you".

NOTE: We desire your prayers as God continues to prepare us for this new work in Manchester CT. Take a look at the tab “Help Us Plant” for ways you can pray and support.

Heading North
Pastor Tim

Make Disciples

Planting The Gospel / The past week has been full of God moments. Last weekend Lynn and I completed our assessment by Planting The Gospel. The assessment allowed Lynn and me to express and communicate the vision that God has layed on my heart for New England, and to take an inventory of our lives in this movement of God. We were leaned in on and ready to kick it up a notch, while God has us here in S.C.

Baptism / On Tuesday, Greer area churches along with the Greer Baptist Association presented the New England planting team with a new portable Baptismal pool. To be sent to Connecticut with a baptismal is an answered prayer. We are so thankful that God is moving in the hearts of men and women here in the south in order to complete His mission in the north.

Making Disciples / This call from scripture to “Make Disciples” in Matthew 28, is a little deeper than most consider. It requires being right in the middle of people’s lives…many different types of people. I mean, I have friends that go on mission trips to build buildings for worship, and those things are needed, but what about building people? Is about making us feel significant or is it about reproducing ourselves as Christ followers? Please do not read any arrogance in that last statement. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that a person is transformed.

Building buildings has a start and an end. Do we sometimes confuse that activity with doing the Great Commission? Being a disciple and making disciples requires an investment and sometimes is a hard thing to do, because people (like me) are hard. Many are not teachable because their pride is bigger than their obedience. But, there is no greater fulfillment than to disciple someone to grow and walk with Jesus.

Planting the Gospel is not building a building, but disciple people. It’s not about having a bible study class and calling it discipleship, but living life with those who need Jesus, and be moved into action by what scripture teaches on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Does being theologically correct mean that discipleship has happened? I believe incorrect doctrine is incorrect doctrine, but I know of those who go on mission to find the MOST correct theological environment in a church, and I’m not sure that’s a journey that has an end. If the theology is correct, then the community will be transformed and the people will be coming back to God… just saying

What about you? I ask that you consider your relationships. Are you being discipled or are you discipling the ones you spend time with? In your discipling of others, is it focused on the teachings of Christ, his life, death, and resurrection?

Heading North
Pastor Tim

Update: Connecticut in October

During the first week of October, Lynn and I, along with Bobby and Misty Fogel, had an opportunity to visit Hartford CT, and the surrounding towns on the east side. We seem to fall more in love with the people, and towns. God is certainly stoking the fires in our hearts, to re plant our lives and plant the Gospel in this New England County.

We learned allot on this trip. Hartford is a very beautiful and very diverse city, and a place so rich with History. While on a walk downtown, we entered the Congregational church on main street and had prayer, while the folks on the steps of the church were getting high. Much brokenness and the burden in our hearts are for the people.

We visited and prayed in the towns of Enfield, Windsor, Manchester, Vernon, Glastonbury, and Rocky Hill.

High School football: Manchester Indians were playing Glastonbury and we meet a few families, and made a connection in the community. Saturday we went to a block party in Manchester for the disabled. There, Misty Fogel made a connection with MACC (Manchester Area Community of Churches)

Manchester is the largest of the eastern Hartford county towns. The food pantry, Feeding Kitchen is pretty busy, and we made connections with the assistant director there. Many of the old established churches, police, and fire departments in the city work together to insure the shelves are stocked with food.

With such a small percentage of the people of the town attending any church, you can sense that many serve or volunteer for the city, and have a deep rooted concern for their community. In some ways, their community has become their "church"... a church absent of God.

We ask those of you who are praying for us to continue to do so. A movement of God is very evident in New England. If God has placed it on your heart to support us financially , you can do so, by checking out the tab "Help Us Plant". It is greatly needed and we look forward to hear from you.

Lynn and I have tentatively planned to make another visit between Christmas and new Years, and I plan is to be in Connecticut 6 to 8 months after the sale of our home.

Thank you for your prayers and support.
Pastor Tim

12 Things I Don't Want to Forget

So far, 2011 has proven to be a very interesting year, and I have seen Gods work in my life, as He continues to grow and change me. A few weeks ago I was thinking about things that I do not want to forget, of 2011 to date. In no particular order:

1. Flight - I have spent a lot of time traveling by air this year. In doing so, there have been missed or delayed flights that changes your whole day. I have met some pilots that look as if they were old enough to attend a high school dance. But what I don’t want to forget is the amazement of flight. To look out the window as the plane leaves the earth. To look at the earth at 10,000 feet and see what God has done, and feel so small but feel so LOVED by God.

2. Family & Marriage – I had the opportunity to marry my youngest son Andrew to his bride Jamie. To see Jamie and her dad approach the altar, was ALMOST more that this old softy could handle. Spending an evening on the beach at Jekyll Island with my bride, sons, daughter in-loves, and Mikel was more that I deserve.

3. McGriddle – Without a doubt, the number 1 best American invention ever. I rediscovered the McGriddle on one of my business trips. Two small pancakes that have syrup flavor with pork, egg, and cheese in the middle. America I Love You.

4. Go Givers – I have had the opportunity to reconnect with people that have invested in me over the years. They have given me more than I could ever return to them. And God has used them to keep me focused and to have a thankful heart. Thank you.

5. Wave Sticks –Though it cost me a broken arm, the thrill of riding a 2 wheeled skate board for about 15 minutes was great… not worth it, but great.

6. Scott Naturals – toilet wipes. 2nd greatest American invention.

7. Tortoise and the Hare –weekly I get to read Tortoise and the Hare to Mikel my granddaughter. She is still amazed that the tortoise wins every time, and I love the 10 minutes I get to hold her.

8. New England – As God continues to prepare us for planting a Gospel Centered church in New England, I have even more opportunities to share the vision with other churches and Christ followers, and to make another visit to Connecticut. The burden and vision grows stronger as I talk with New Englanders. In the next few months, Lynn and I will attend church planting school at LifeSong Lyman, and visit Hartford County Connecticut. www.plantingthegospel.com

9. Church Family – God has blessed Lynn and me to be a part of a Movement of God at LifeSong Church Lyman. It’s been said that LifeSong is in the top 1000 fastest growing churches in America. But to serve with some other guys that just want to Love God and Love people swells my heart. To witness God Change in the lives of people at LifeSong, and realize that God NEVER slumbers or sleeps.

10. Coming Home – As mentioned earlier, there has been a lot of travel for me this year, which can stress a marriage. But there is nothing like getting home and seeing the smile of my best friend, lover, and having a cup of coffee on the front porch.

11. Atonement – Romans 3:25-26. Don’t ever say “God is Love” as if it doesn’t mean anything, or as if it at 1970s bumper sticker.

12. Justification – Romans 4:24-25. Don’t live your life as if it didn’t cost everything.

June/July Church Plant Update

Its been a busy 2 months in our lives. Last month I had the opportunity to share the New England vision with the Greer Baptist Association, and Crossroads Baptist Church Spartanburg. More and more partners are coming on board, blessing and supporting us, through prayer.

Planting The Gospel Network: I am excited to announce that LifeSong CT will be a partner church of the "Planting The Gospel" church planting network. PTG will play a vital role in training and assessing Lynn and I as we prepare for CT. The network's outrageous goal is to plant 10,000 churches within the next 10 years! you can read more at: David Putman's Website.

The more the Merier: As noted in a my last post, there is now a second family that has answered Gods call to replant their lives in New England. Going to CT with the Fogels and Edwards families is HUGE! All three families will relocate north, begin developing relationships with neighbors, and co workers. Bobby Fogel will focus on community transformation while Jason Edwards will be the "Connector" for people that become part of this new work. Our prayer is, that as more people sense the call, that they will take the leap of faith and be part of this Gospel Centered church plant.

Manchester: The weekend of the 4th of July, we traveled to Hartford CT, and the surrounding towns. One of the towns that really caught our eye was Manchester. Manchester is a beautiful city in Hartford county with a population of 70,000. It is likely to be the city for the church plant but we are still God's will on the exact location. On that same visit we had a opportunity to meet with Sean Sears, the lead pastor of Grace Church in Stoughton, MA. He gave us great insight to New England church planting, and Grace Church will be a great resource for us as we navigate New England.

Lynn and I desire your continued prayers as we have relisted our house and are seeing more activity with potential home buyers. In short, God has truly blessed in the past 2 months and we are very excited as we move closer to seeing this call unfold.

Be Blessed!
Pastor Tim

Answering The Call

Answering the Call
As God is preparing us for Church Planting in New England, one of our prayers is that God would send to us more people that are in Love with Christ and passionate about Loving people.

I want to introduce to you a 3rd family, which will be re-planting their lives in New England:
Bobby & Misty Fogel!!!
Can you tell that I am excited? You bet cha!!! Pray for the Fogels and their children, Hunter, Hannah, Anna Marie, and Bella, as they make plans to transition to the North and share the Love of Christ by being Missionaries where the Live, Work, and Play.

The weekend of the 2nd of July, the Fogels, Jason Edwards and I, will be traveling to Connecticut & Massachusetts for a few days of planning and meeting partners in Church Planting.

Be Blessed!

Pastor Tim

Called Man Part 3

The Heart and Head calls are internal. The next confirmation is External.

Skill Confirmation.

Sometimes the bar is set too low. You see this happen when someone is so outgoing, over the top passionate, about sharing Jesus, developing that persons character and skill is overlooked. This plays out when churches or people say to this guy, "man, you just need to preach!"

But sometimes the bar is too high and unreachable. Some churches will not even consider a called man unless he has a Masters degree. The problem of no character development still could be a issue here.

Darrin Patrick lists some questions that one needs to consider.

From the Skill Perspective:

Does he have a working knowledge of the whole scripture?

Can he articulate the gospel story throughout Scripture?

Does he understand controversial verses that have caused division in church history (Calvinism vs. Arminianism)?

Can he explain the Christ-centered nature of Christian theology?

From a Character Perspective:

Can he inspire the church for mission?

Can he cast vision for the church and inspire people to pursue that vision with him?

Can he organize the church to reach its goals?

Can he set up systems and structures that run apart from his direct influence?

From Jim Collin's analogy, the job of the leader is to get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus and the right people in the right seats.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Tim

The Called Man part 2

A call will have 2 activities (Burden Married to Vision) and 3 confirmations. Earlier we discussed the Heart Confirmation. Its the thing that screams out, "I Must Give My Life for this Call".

Next is the Head Confirmation

This is where the vision starts formulating, from what the Holy Spirit pours into to you, as you move through the burden to "How can I give My Life to this Call?" This happened for me as I was reflecting on my experience, from serving Cornerstone International Church in Norwich CT, this past summer. I began to "in my words" daydream about ministry in New England. Not only sensing Gods movement there, but how God could use me and my experiences there for the kingdom. Very specific ministry opportunities exploded in my mind and the vision had began its lift.

One of the things that a called man must be on guard against, is to just simply repeat or adopt ministry model,s that he has experienced. Every new work is different because people groups are different. The Holy Spirit supplies the guidance and plans, for you to realize the call, that is specific to the people group where God is already at work.

So if a man is being called into ministry or called to begin a new work such as a New Church Plant, the Heart and Head confirmations are important, and fit into the "internal" category of the call.

The greatest thing on this earth is to have Salvation! Next to that is to share the story. Next post we will discuss the 3rd confirmation "Skill"

Be Blessed

Pastor Tim

A Called Man

Sixteenth Century Theologian Martin Luther listed 8 qualities that a minister must have:

1. Able to teach systematically

2. Eloquence

3. A good voice

4. A good memory

5. Knows how to make a end

6. Sure of his doctrine

7. Willing to lose body, blood, wealth, and honor in the work

8. Willing to be mocked and jeered by everyone

I don't know about you but that list has a lot of meat on it. I have strengths and weaknesses in all 8 areas.

But how do you discern a call?

When people ask me how do I know that I am called, I explain that I had a burden that was married to a vision. I have read several book over the past few months and many related to my call to plant a church. One particular has pricked my heart and mind titled "Church Planter" by Darrin Patrick. He purposes that there are 3 confirmations when discerning the call. Heart, Head, and Skill.

In this post lets review the Heart Call.

Nehemiah cried because the city and people were in ruins in Nehemiah 1:4

"As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before God of heaven"

He had no choice but to follow and answer the call to serve. His heart was taken. This was a event that I can witness to, when I was called into ministry, while serving at Crossroads Baptist church, and then again when I was called to serve at LifeSong Church. In both cases it was clear, that this thing I Must do!

Now my call to plant a New England church was even more of a Nehemiah experience, as the call brought me to tears, and still does today, as I see the people that need Jesus there. Spurgeon refers to it as "an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work" One of my leadership coaches Jarvis Cooper stated it to me this way: "What makes your baby jump?" Over time the sense or the kick gets stronger, not weaker with time. That is HEART call.

Love God, Love People

Pastor Tim

Answering the Call

From Jason and Chrissy Edwards:
God does not always send you a flashing neon sign, so when you hear God speak, it is sometimes difficult to determine if that voice is your own or if it is from Him! I arrived home from a mission trip over the summer and God placed a burden in my heart to witness to the people of Connecticut. It was after many months of prayer and asking God to give me confirmation through my wife that He did finally answer, and we have decided to leave South Carolina and move to Putnam, Connecticut to assist in the planting of a much needed church. We want to take the vision and heartbeat of Lifesong Lyman to New England and help others understand that Jesus is well within reach. We have a desire to show others that he loves them more than anything, and that we need him more than ever! We are thankful to be used to do God's work, God's way and are experiencing a freedom that can only come from being obedient to Him. We love you and Lynn and can't wait to serve with you both!


Your brother and sister in Christ,

The Edwards'

The Great Awakening

In the 1740s, the New England area of the United States experienced what is classified as the "Great Awakening" It was a time of Pastors like Jonathan Edwards that lived and breathed God's word. He was desperate to share the Gospel Good News with any who would listen. Connecticut experienced a revival and thousands became God's children.

Today in 2010 less that 2% of New England consider themselves Christian or as having a faith in God. South Korea has Identified the United States as their #3 priority to send missionaries to, with New England being the least evangelized area of North America.

Pastor Shaun Pillay and his wife sold all that they had in South Africa to come to Connecticut to plant the International CornerStone Church. In July of this year, I will be traveling with 6 other LifeSong men to CornerStone to assist Pastor Shaun in this new Church Plant.

We will be helping by canvassing communities with information of the church plant, sharing with those in ministry on lessons learned in our own LifeSong Church plant, in the areas of LifeGroups, and Children’s ministries. Community service projects and “one on one” evangelism is also part of the focus.

We desire your prayers as we prepare for this mission whom God has laid on our hearts. If God has blessed you in a way that you could invest financially, we would be blessed by your support to reach the Lost of New England.

Romans 10:14-17
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Pastor Tim

Gather, Grow, & Go

Below is a preview of Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer

Across North America many churches are experiencing explosive growth because they are learning to connect with their communities. Pastors and churches are breaking the cultural codes of their communities. People are responding to biblical faithful and culturally relevant outreach.
Breaking the code means discovering the principles that work in every context, selecting the tools most relevant for your context, and then learning to apply them in a missionally effective manner.
There is not just one white, young, cultural code to be broken. Every culture needs to be exegeted [de-coded] for the gospel.
Breaking the code is a missionary’s work, and it should be seen [even in North America] as a missional process. A commitment to the integrity and authority of the Scripture, combined with a passion for reaching people to whom you are called, requires a commitment to prayerfully create a plan and strategy to reach your community.
Code-breaking churches must be indigenous in their context, and indigenous churches look different from culture to culture.


Attendance for August

1st Sunday 242
2nd Sunday 276
3rd Sunday 285
4th Sunday 297
5th Sunday 242

Average is 268

Gather Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

Tents

Realizing that not all of you that read my blog, also read the blogs of the other pastors of LifeSong Church, I have included in today’s update a guest blogger… Senior Pastor Jeff Hickman.
If you have visited LifeSong church or bumped into a LifeSong member in the community:
You will hear that we are about being missionaries where we live, work, and play.

You will hear that we will pitch tents, not build Cathedrals.
You will hear that we will be part of a movement, not to build monuments.
You will hear that we will avoid like the plague any activity that brings focus on ministry that fits only in the confines of the church building or only focuses on “Church Folk”.

From Jeff Hickman
It seems that the talk of the Christian "blogger world" is about Ed Stetzer's blog called "breaking news". The latest statistics from the Southern Baptist show that last year was the second time in the denominations history that there was a decline in membership. This is really not breaking news. It is has taken a long time for us to get here as a denomination. I am not a guru on this subject however, I do have my own opinions. I believe that LifeSong Network can help churches get back on track.

How?

The greatest error we made as a denomination was when the tail started wagging the dog. Local associations, state conventions, NAMB, and the International Mission board were created for specific purposes and we have relied upon them greatly. In most instances they have been effective, however it has moved the mindset in the pew from missional to mission-minded. People were taught to give and let somebody else go. This shift in thought and behavior within the church has created a crisis. Overcoming this mentality will be very difficult because it is built into our "DNA". Institutional thinking has been built into our pulpits, constitutions, budgets and attitudes. We must find a way to move the church back to missional living and destroy our institutional mentality.

It is very important that you hear me affirm our missions organizations. We need to continue to support our missionaries, but we must abandon the thought that our mission minded activities will solve this crisis.

LifeSong Network is aiming to help churches return to personal responsibility with our communities. We want to plant churches that build in a missional DNA. Churches that can see the importance of every person becoming a missionary where they live, work and play.

I believe that through coaching, pastoral encouragement and visional renewal pastors in new churches or in existing churches can see radical transformation in their churches and communities. We need to embrace a lateral growth plan where we are not looking to build kingdoms, but we help each other build the body. The church is one body. Many different names, but one mission. -Pastor Jeff Hickman

Gather, Grow, & Go

Pastor Tim

Prayer Walking

In the past few months here at LifeSong, you have heard a lot of discussion about
“Prayer Walking”.

So what does that mean?

http://www.waymakers.org/ is an organization that has championed this type of prayer activity in the local church body.


Below is what they have to say about Prayer Walking:

“Many Christians have been learning to quietly pray in the places that they live, work or play. We've come to call this sort of on-site intercession "prayerwalking."
Prayerwalking is simply praying in the very places we expect God to bring forth his answers. Prayerwalking is usually a low-profile affair: Friends or family stroll two-by-two through their own neighborhoods, schools and work places, praying as they go.

Once in a while the prayers can be demonstrative, but most prayerwalking is fairly quiet. It's usually being on the scene without making one.

As you pray God's promises with specific homes or worksites in view, you'll find that hope for those people begins to grow. You'll begin to see people as God might view them. You'll likely find yourself becoming more interested in the welfare of the people you are praying for. In other words, you might find yourself becoming the kind of neighbor that you always wanted to be.

Watch for the ways God impresses you to display his love in practical acts of kindness.

Be ready to offer to pray with your neighbors as opportunity may arise. Ask God to give you opportunity to explain clearly how people can enjoy friendship with God by the power of the gospel.

Check out the different sections on this website and the resources we have available. In a few years we'll be living in a prayed-for world and you will be part of it!”

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

Got Milk?

Have you ever seen a new born baby with a knife and fork, ready to tear into a medium well New York strip? Hope not. What about someone that has had major surgery and the day after is eating Chili Cheese a Plenty from the Beacon? That could land them right back in the hospital.

1 Peter 2:2 says:
2.Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

At LifeSong, we want to give you an opportunity to Grow and enjoy some Spiritual Milk.
On March 30th Sunday night we will be starting our 2nd Starting Point Class.

What is “The Starting Point”?
If you have recently started a relationship with God, or you are reconnecting with God after being away for a while, this would be a great bible study group to be in. It is a bible study that focuses on the foundations of being a Christ follower.

Where and when, does the Starting Point group meet? It is a 6 week small group study that takes place at LifeSong church on Sunday nights.

Who Leads Starting Point?
The study is being facilitated by Gavin & Patty Huckabee. The Huckabees are passionate about people and serving our Lord and Savoir.

The next “Starting Point” is scheduled for March 30th. Contact me if you are interested in taking part of this Growth opportunity.

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim