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M2C Retreat
Read Today - Register Today!
Deadline Near!
Read Below!
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Opening Words |
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I've tried to include a varying number of articles and
resources in this issue. Our challenge of 200 new ministries by
2017 continues to be an inspiration and a challenge.
We truly value the partnerships that have been and are developing
in the effort to plant new ministries.
The Borax twenty mule team is one of the most memorable icons
of the American West, and of the pioneers who transformed its
mineral wealth into a foundation of modern industry throughout the
world.
Today, that twenty
mule team is the proud symbol of a visionary company that remains
the global supplier of choice for customers seeking outstanding
products, value and service.
The saga of the
twenty mule team began more than a century ago in the arid deserts
of California's Death Valley. But the same spirit of enterprise,
innovation and service that gave rise to the world-famous "Twenty
Mules of Death Valley" continues on to this day at Borax
facilities worldwide.
Between 1883 and
1889, the twenty mule teams hauled more than 20 million pounds of
borax out of the Valley. During this time, not a single animal was
lost, nor did a single wagon break down - a considerable tribute
to the ingenuity of the designers and builders and the stamina of
the men and mules.
Our partnership is
all about teamwork! We're excited to have so many great team
members. |
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Join our list
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Tapatio Springs
May 6-8, 2008 |
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Worth Pondering:
"Old churches must
not simply stand as monuments to the past but as spiritual
grandparents that have invested in the future by passing on
their life to others and releasing their offspring to form
new congregations."
Eddie Gibbs |
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The Power of Systems
You've likely heard about "Systems." This is not just a modern
invention. Before God created man He created a universe and a
solar system. When God created man, the human body was a
system, with many sub-systems. Systems are just how the world
functions. We're a part of several different systems all at
the same time. The question is, what kind of system are the
people in your congregation a part of?
Sometimes we complain that people don't do what we want them
to or what we think they should do. You need to accept the
fact that your system is perfectly designed to get the results
you are getting. If you want things to be different, analyze
and change your system. Systems create behavior, and if you
don't address things at the system level, nothing changes.
I want to encourage all of us to begin to think about the
outcomes that we see (or don't see) in our ministries. Then
begin to think about your system. How is it contributing to
the outcomes you're getting? How is it not producing what you
want it to produce? If you want something different, change
the system!
May 6-8 will be here before you know it. We really need you
to register for the M2C Retreat taking place at Tapatio
Springs Resort outside of Boerne, Texas. It promises to be an
inspirational and informative event. As of this date, 39
people are registered to attend. We still have lots of room!
As you browse through this Update, you will see that I've
added some things, left some things from last time so you have
all the information you need to register for the retreat, and
changed the look just a bit.
So, until next time: May God give you strength and wisdom and
power to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ!
Lou Jander
Editor |
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ACT TODAY |
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The retreat is quickly approaching. Don't let this opportunity
get away!
A few Comments from the last retreat:
"I came home fired
up and convinced that this was the best way to reach those who do
not know Jesus Christ."
"The retreat was
excellent. It was relaxed but still had a compelling air. That was
evident in the fact that people weren't skipping sessions. The
emphasis was on reaching more people for Christ not building more
buildings."
"I felt like I
walked into a whole new world at this conference. It was so
amazing to see that the Texas District is aggressive, supportive,
and willing to walk alongside churches that are missionally
minded."
Click here to register now!
This year's retreat will focus on what needs to happen in the
life of "planting" congregations as they consider planting or
preparing to plant. Key note speaker is Rev. Phil Stevenson,
author of The Ripple Church, who now serves as the General
Director of Evangelism and Church Growth for The Wesleyan Church.
To say Phil is passionate about church multiplication would be an
understatement! Two of his congregations parented seven new
congregations! The Ripple Church is the finest book we have
found to date to help a church move from thinking about planting
to actually planting a church.
At this retreat, you will also hear about four different models
of missions from church planters, gain inspiration and information
that will help your congregation make God-pleasing and Spirit-led
plans, and network with other pastors and leaders who are
considering or already involved in planting new missions. We will
also spend time in prayer for these efforts, knowing that Satan
would like nothing better than to thwart the starting of new
churches. Finally, you will hear details about how the Board of
Mission Administration of the Texas District partners financially
with planting congregations to plant new churches.
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Top Ten Einstein quotes applied to Missions and Church
Planting |
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Many Albert Einstein sayings and quotes are highly applicable
to missions and church planting. The following "top ten" might
just be a good discussion starter in how each might be applied to
missions and church planting.
10. "The problems
that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of
thinking that created them."
9. "Imagination is
more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination
encircles the world."
8. "The world is a
dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil,
but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
7. "The significant
problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we
were at when we created them."
6. "Great spirits
have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."
5. "The most
beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious."
4. "Not everything
that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be
counted."
3. "Only a life
lived for others is a life worthwhile."
2. "The important
thing is not to stop questioning."
1. "Insanity: doing
the same thing over and over again and expecting different
results." |
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Church Architecture Research Released |
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Unchurched Prefer Cathedrals
to Contemporary Church Designs
by Tobin Perry
People who don't go to church may be turned off by a recent
trend toward more utilitarian church buildings. By a nearly 2-to-1
ratio over any other option, unchurched Americans prefer churches
that look more like a medieval cathedral than what most think of
as a more contemporary church building.
The findings come
from a recent survey conducted by LifeWay Research for the
Cornerstone Knowledge Network (CKN), a group of church-focused
facilities development firms. The online survey included 1,684
unchurched adults - defined as those who had not attended a
church, mosque or synagogue in the past six months except for
religious holidays or special events.
"Despite billions
being spent on church buildings, there was an overall decline in
church attendance in the 1990s," according to Jim Couchenour,
director of marketing and ministry services for Cogun, Inc., a
founding member of CKN. "This led CKN to ask, 'As church builders
what can we do to help church leaders be more intentional about
reaching people who don't go to church?'"...
Stetzer suggested
that the unchurched may prefer the more aesthetically pleasing
look of the Gothic cathedral because it speaks to a connectedness
to the past. Young unchurched people were particularly drawn to
the Gothic look...
Stetzer noted that
despite these survey results, most of the churches that look like
a cathedral are in decline. Just because people have a preference
for the aesthetically-pleasing Gothic churches doesn't mean
they'll visit the church if that's the only connection point they
have to the congregation, he said.
"Buildings don't
reach people, people do," Stetzer said...Click
here to continue reading. |
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Church Planter Traits |
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You are probably
asking......
Do I have what it takes to be a church planter?
Here are some traits
that church planters share in common. Not all planters have all
these traits, but church planters can give specific examples of
times when God has demonstrated some of these traits in their
lives. Can you think of specific times that you have exhibited
some or all of the following behaviors? If so, you might very
well be a church planter.
1. Clear
visionizing capacity... Is able to hear the will of God and
communicate God's vision for the church to the people in such a
way that the people of the church take personal ownership in the
vision.
2. Clear
missional calling by God.... Knows that God has called you to the
unchurched people of the specific community to accomplish the
Great Commission through people, not to people.
3. Empowering
Leadership.... Is able to empower God's people to be an effective
church that multiplies disciples. And creates ownership in
ministry by the church. You know you can do this if you can name
people by name that you have released into ministry.
4. Community
Involvement..... Is well connected in the non-churched community
outside the church walls. Knows what the hot buttons of the
community are and is able to take the Gospel into the culture.
5. Peer
Relationships with the Unchurched..... follows closely with
community involvement. Has friends that are at a peer level
outside the church. Typically business people, sales persons,
teachers, athletics, etc.
6. Entrepreneur
Ability... Able to start things from scratch. Either inside the
church or in the business world. You will be asked to give
specific illustrations. Able to build and work budget that
accurately projects both expenses and income of a start-up
organization
7.
Responsible..... Can demonstrate how you have taken responsibility
in the past. Includes ability to evaluate your role in both
successes and failures.
8. Passionate
Spirituality.... Thinks Jesus is cool and knows that everyone else
will too.
9. Can Do
Attitude.... Sees the glass as half full and on the way to the
top.
10. Resilience....
Sees obstacles as opportunities. Gets up and keeps going. When
you hit the wall -- you find a ladder.
11. Commitment to
the Great Commission.... Has proven track record of making
disciples that multiply other disciples. Also, honestly believes
that people are going to spend eternity in hell if the church does
not reach them.
Click here for the website.
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Have you gone blogging? |
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I have set up a reminder for all items related to church planting
that are updated on any "Blog" anywhere in the country. I have to
admit that I don't read all the "posts" on the various blogs, but
do try to read through the summaries to see if there is anything
worth reading or considering.
I'm going to use this spot to provide you with links to articles
written in blogs that I find might be something you would like to
read. I'll provide the title and the link to the blog being
referenced. Just click on the title to get to the web address. Let
me know if this is something you find helpful. I do want you to
know that I'm trusting your "theological" review...not everything
will always be stated in terms of the theology we believe. So,
just be aware.
Edge Equipping
New Churches
Multi-Site Church Planting Resources
Here are a couple of Blogs that are running around the Texas
District Office:
Extreme Makeover: Church Edition
"Things are changing rapidly. Our lives were supposed to get less
complex with more leisure time. So where is it?" Simple is in.
Complexity is out. People are longing for a less complicated life.
The title is provocative! Our lives and our churches might just
need some tweaking - some might need a complete redesign. Share
something you believe, something you have read, and/or some
thoughts that might get some response.
Missional Journey
Welcome to Missional Journey...thoughts on Missional churches,
missional people, and how a church planting movement might be
fostered in the Texas District, LCMS.
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Texas
District MMFs
Mr. Paul Krentz
512.926.4272
krentztx@txdistlcms.org
Area A & B and Circuits 21 & 30 of Area C
Dr. Lou Jander
Texas District LCMS
281.970.5308
ljander@txdistlcms.org
Area D and Area C Circuits 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 & 29
M2C Website:
http://www.m2ctexas.org or just
click here. |
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