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