Good afternoon,
Things move fast in church planting and yesterday was a big day. I met with a commercial property owner and realtor in White House for the possibility of leasing his facility for our church plant. It was very exciting and I was up half the night imagining possibilities for remodeling the inside to make it our home.
The building is 6,000 square feet and includes four rooms which could easily be converted to children's facilities. It has a great entry point which would be ideal for checking in children and entering the warehouse, which will become our primary auditorium. The space is large enough both to seat what we need initially and also construct a welcome area at the back of the meeting room.
The open warehouse floor has a 22-foot high ceiling. The front of the building is brick faced and nicely done, the back is a metal warehouse and in good exterior shape. The inside would need a lot of drapery and covering to give us the ideal look we desire, but after watching the set up of some successful church plants, we can make this work easy.
The warehouse does have an interior office in the middle of the floor, but we're going to go Extreme Home Makeover and just tear the thing down. Demolition is fun! This will open the warehouse floor symmetrically.
Finally, the building has 22 parking spaces in front and the side, but contains a fenced one-acre lot in the back which we have permission to gravel and turn into a large lot. The exterior sign of the building is brick columns with a wooden insert, so we can make our own 6 x 4 sign and drop it in.
Prime location on the north side of town on Highway 31-W puts us in a great marketing and advertising position. We have budgeted for facilities and this is within our budget. We are very excited and though the agreement is tentative it appears we have a working arrangement well on its way. Don't stop praying!
I am speaking soon at local churches in Adairville, KY and Portland, TN. I would love to come to your church and share about the vision and mission for Revolution Church.
Thanks for checking out our update. Be Jesus to someone today and live blessed!
Live, love, serve in the name of Jesus!
Pastor K
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
New website launched
I'm working with iWeb and tinkering with the new website design. All I have loaded is the home page. Check it out. Simple, but coming together.
http://www.myrevolutionchurch.com
Be blessed!
Pastor K
http://www.myrevolutionchurch.com
Be blessed!
Pastor K
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Don't you just hate it when...
Your wife bites your head off? Man, I think I finally stepped over the line!
HA!
Be blessed!
Pastor K
HA!
Be blessed!
Pastor K
We are truth bearers in a tough generation
What an awesome week of training in Tampa, FL with Church Planting Dynamics. I have been doing a lot of reading since I returned home, and my first book is When God Builds A Church by Pastor Bob Russell, retired of Southeast Christian in Louisville, KY.
There is a strong temptation to water down the truth in our modern church environment. Build big buildings, be attractive, reach the community - but through it all the tendency is to compromise the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The reality is, all of those things can be accomplished while still ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit and proclaiming the salvation message of Jesus.
No matter how much the world changes, the answer still lies within the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!
Here's a good thought for you from Principle 1: Truth in Bob Russell's book, pages 18-19:
Stand for Jesus and don't compromise the truth! Be blessed!
Pastor K
There is a strong temptation to water down the truth in our modern church environment. Build big buildings, be attractive, reach the community - but through it all the tendency is to compromise the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The reality is, all of those things can be accomplished while still ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit and proclaiming the salvation message of Jesus.
No matter how much the world changes, the answer still lies within the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!
Here's a good thought for you from Principle 1: Truth in Bob Russell's book, pages 18-19:
"There are times in every church when the leaders are tempted to water down the truth. There will be influential people you want to accommodate. There will be brilliant, likable theological liberals you want to impress. There will be arrogant, angry conservatives you wish you could debate, because even though you may agree with their stance, you hate their demeanor. There will be seekers and believers you won't want to alienate by taking an unpopular stand on a controversial issue.
Despite the real temptation to say just what itching ears want to hear or to say nothing at all, it is imperative that the church be a place where the truth is unashamedly proclaimed. As Paul said, 'if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle.' (1 Cor. 14:8)"
Stand for Jesus and don't compromise the truth! Be blessed!
Pastor K
Monday, October 5, 2009
Time to get home!
Jen and I are sitting in the Tampa airport sipping on some Starbucks (Terrell would be proud) waiting to board the flight home and see our babies. It's been a long week so here are some initial thoughts and first reactions about what we learned:
KRIS:
- Excellent churches are built from the inside out, not the outside in
- It's amazing what can happen when you combine excellence in service with an incredible God
- Effective systems make effective churches (volunteers learning to worship when they serve)
- Gary Baldus and the staff at New Walk Church are awesome
- Church planting is going to be a tremendous challenge, but how awesome is it going to be to see people come to Jesus
- Steve Gray knows how to get me to lose my temper (enjoy it, big fella)
- Worshipping volunteers are happy volunteers
- Every church plant needs set up coordinator who looks like he's had too much caffeine and sugar (we love ya Matt!)
- It's going to take a team to make it work. The vision inspires people and people inspire service.
- I get really ill when someone pulls the fire alarm and evacuates the hotel at midnight
- My biggest leadership strength is my belief and self-assurance (*that's not self-confidence) (StrengthFinder 2.0)
- Know who you are in Jesus no matter what comes your way
- Know the timeline...don't miss key dates and opportunities
- Surround yourself with people who believe in the vision. Don't be afraid to ask someone to move on if they don't
- Be aware of agenda hijackers
- Listen to the discernment of the Holy Spirit in all things - more than you listen to people
- Thank those who invest in the vision
- Always be positive to your volunteers...don't ask for help, champion them with opportunity!
- Take the blame, share the credit
- General Baptists have one of the highest success rates among church planting groups in the U.S.
- My buddy Vince has the best Flippin church in Arkansas (*the town is called "Flippin" and that's the inside joke)
- I'm excited about getting the church planting coaching process started with Freedom
JENNIFER
- Watching success versus failure...it's easy to spot the difference. A focus on Jesus and excellent systems
- You have to be sold out and have faith or you will not succeed
- Shawn says lots of meds and lots of chocolates
We have a lot of new information to process and some great resources. It's time to get started. Invest with us in launching the Revolution - Fall 2010 in White House and Cross Plains!
Be blessed!
Pastor K
KRIS:
- Excellent churches are built from the inside out, not the outside in
- It's amazing what can happen when you combine excellence in service with an incredible God
- Effective systems make effective churches (volunteers learning to worship when they serve)
- Gary Baldus and the staff at New Walk Church are awesome
- Church planting is going to be a tremendous challenge, but how awesome is it going to be to see people come to Jesus
- Steve Gray knows how to get me to lose my temper (enjoy it, big fella)
- Worshipping volunteers are happy volunteers
- Every church plant needs set up coordinator who looks like he's had too much caffeine and sugar (we love ya Matt!)
- It's going to take a team to make it work. The vision inspires people and people inspire service.
- I get really ill when someone pulls the fire alarm and evacuates the hotel at midnight
- My biggest leadership strength is my belief and self-assurance (*that's not self-confidence) (StrengthFinder 2.0)
- Know who you are in Jesus no matter what comes your way
- Know the timeline...don't miss key dates and opportunities
- Surround yourself with people who believe in the vision. Don't be afraid to ask someone to move on if they don't
- Be aware of agenda hijackers
- Listen to the discernment of the Holy Spirit in all things - more than you listen to people
- Thank those who invest in the vision
- Always be positive to your volunteers...don't ask for help, champion them with opportunity!
- Take the blame, share the credit
- General Baptists have one of the highest success rates among church planting groups in the U.S.
- My buddy Vince has the best Flippin church in Arkansas (*the town is called "Flippin" and that's the inside joke)
- I'm excited about getting the church planting coaching process started with Freedom
JENNIFER
- Watching success versus failure...it's easy to spot the difference. A focus on Jesus and excellent systems
- You have to be sold out and have faith or you will not succeed
- Shawn says lots of meds and lots of chocolates
We have a lot of new information to process and some great resources. It's time to get started. Invest with us in launching the Revolution - Fall 2010 in White House and Cross Plains!
Be blessed!
Pastor K
Thursday, October 1, 2009
An effective assimilation system
Church planting training is an awesome process.
Effective churches with healthy ministries are built on effective systems. For example, New Walk Church and Pastor Gary Baldus use eight systems in the structure of a very successful church.
Author Nelson Searcy's book "Fusion" is the best on the market (in my opinion) at one of those eight systems: the process of Assimilation. That's a big word; you may have never used it before. So let's put it in simple words to understand.
What is the process a church takes reach people as first-time guests and move them into a mature relationship with Christ as a member of the church or the servant ministry? In other words, how do we take the person in the community who has no exposure to the church and effectively bring them into the doors for the first time, draw them back a second time, and eventually lead to transformational and incarnational life change through Jesus Christ? As this happens, they are plugged in, discipled and eventually recycle the process by investing the same in someone new.
Churches have many kinds of assimilation systems which incorporate dynamic elements: welcoming, hospitality, worship connection, small groups, children's ministry, follow-up, discipleship, etc.
So my question posed is this:
1. For those currently serving in the church, what effective systems do you employ to assimilate new people into your church? What works, and what are your struggles?
2. When this process happened with you, what were the most effective and productive things to bring you along in this process? When you met Jesus and your life was radically changed by Him, how did the church reach you and help you grow into ministry?
There is much debate in the modern church about how we minister to the unchurched. Attractiveness should never replace Biblical principles; in fact it should be modeled by them and utilized to connect and assimilate your culture and community in the best possible way.
No system is perfect, your vision and your community helps define what works.
Jesus is perfect, and it's our job to fulfill the Great Commission, and an essential part of it is reaching, teaching and growing new believers in all the world.
How are you doing it, and what did a church do that launched this process in you? Post the comments to the blog or my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/krisfreeman .
Discuss, and invest it in someone you know. Let's be kingdom builders.
Be blessed!
Pastor K
Effective churches with healthy ministries are built on effective systems. For example, New Walk Church and Pastor Gary Baldus use eight systems in the structure of a very successful church.
Author Nelson Searcy's book "Fusion" is the best on the market (in my opinion) at one of those eight systems: the process of Assimilation. That's a big word; you may have never used it before. So let's put it in simple words to understand.
What is the process a church takes reach people as first-time guests and move them into a mature relationship with Christ as a member of the church or the servant ministry? In other words, how do we take the person in the community who has no exposure to the church and effectively bring them into the doors for the first time, draw them back a second time, and eventually lead to transformational and incarnational life change through Jesus Christ? As this happens, they are plugged in, discipled and eventually recycle the process by investing the same in someone new.
Churches have many kinds of assimilation systems which incorporate dynamic elements: welcoming, hospitality, worship connection, small groups, children's ministry, follow-up, discipleship, etc.
So my question posed is this:
1. For those currently serving in the church, what effective systems do you employ to assimilate new people into your church? What works, and what are your struggles?
2. When this process happened with you, what were the most effective and productive things to bring you along in this process? When you met Jesus and your life was radically changed by Him, how did the church reach you and help you grow into ministry?
There is much debate in the modern church about how we minister to the unchurched. Attractiveness should never replace Biblical principles; in fact it should be modeled by them and utilized to connect and assimilate your culture and community in the best possible way.
No system is perfect, your vision and your community helps define what works.
Jesus is perfect, and it's our job to fulfill the Great Commission, and an essential part of it is reaching, teaching and growing new believers in all the world.
How are you doing it, and what did a church do that launched this process in you? Post the comments to the blog or my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/krisfreeman .
Discuss, and invest it in someone you know. Let's be kingdom builders.
Be blessed!
Pastor K
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