Simply Creative

Every now and then when I see something creative I like to post it. We can find creativity and inspiration in all kinds of places.

I watched this guy on the show. I thought he was one of the most entertaining and highly creative...as well as talented. His name is Robert Muraine and he was on "So You Think You Can Dance". Trust me....you will want to watch this guy dance. This is probably the best poppin' and lockin' I've ever seen. I don't know how many times I've watched this...it's simply creative.

Summer Slump

I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I'm not even sure of the reason why. I could give you my thoughts on it. Maybe you've even gotten to the place where you are wondering what you can do. But the fact is...I'M NOT BUYING IT!!!

What I'm talking about is the idea that church growth doesn't happen in the summer. This is especially an excuse I hear in youth ministry circles. "Summer's coming and our numbers are usually low."

Maybe it's just me...WHO IN THE WORLD MADE THAT RULE!!!

And why are any of us buying it. If you really want to make it happen you will. And you won't let anything get in your way.

Can it happen? Sure it can. In 2006, we saw the youth ministry we led grow from an average of 35 to 50.

Are there any other stories of summer growth so we can start squashing this????

Building A Multi-Site Network 3

So you have decided you want to launch another campus. Another key factor other than leaders is deciding on your location.

As far as location goes you can launch your location based on one of three things.

1) An Existing Group - You have a group of people that live in a location and can increase your reach in their community by launching a site there.

2) A Leader - You may have a strong leader that may live in a community you want to expand into.

3) A Target Community - Maybe there is a community you want to expand into. This will be an area where you can reach more unchurched people.

Once a location is chosen for whichever reason, it is key to make sure that you begin putting the team of leaders in place.

Once you have chosen your location next is to choose your site. There are a variety of ways and places. You can go portable in a variety of locations or find an existing building you can renovate. Each has it's pro's and con's and different churches have seen success in every different way.

Building A Multi-Site Network 2

In a previous post I started to discuss some ideas in Building A Multi-Site Network. If you choose to take your site from one campus to two and beyond it is vital that you begin to focus on three areas...Leaders, Location, Launch Time.

Let's take some time and talk about leaders. Finding, training and sending out leaders is going to be the key to building each campus.

The Campus Pastor
Obviously this position is the most crucial to this whole venture. This leader is the person that will ensure that the DNA of the church organization is transferred to the site, they will recruit the core team, develop and deploy the team in ministry, and ensure that the work of the ministry will be carried on in the surrounding community.

The Children's Director
Due to the fact that the Sunday Morning meeting time is the prime entry point for visitors having a strong Children's Ministry is a factor of a campus success or failure. It is the Children's Director's role to replicate the environment of the initial campus.

Worship Director
This person is a primary overseer of the weekend experience along with the campus pastor. Their role is to create the authentic worship that permeates the atmosphere of the original campus.

Youth Director/Small Groups Director
This is not two positions in one. As you work through your first six months to a year you should look to expand your team in this direction.

Having a great team in place is and will be the greatest determinant of a your new sites success. Take away this team or even the quality and you will see that this campus may not succeed and reach its potential.

Church Signs

I've been driving by this church for a couple of years now and this sign has been driving me crazy.

I've even thought of stopping and asking if they realize it. Over two years... and you're telling me no one in their church has caught this.

Please...if I ever have a sign up like this...stop and let me know...don't wait over two years.

Anyone want to tell me if they also see what is wrong with this sign?

My Saturday Night Timeline

7:30 p.m. - After working 10 hours on our campus I got home to rest for awhile. All was well.

8:30 p.m. - My wife and I decide to go to pick up my car at the campus. When we went out we noticed water coming out of each side of our driveway. Not just a little drip...MASSIVE leak.

We call the city and were told they were going to try to get someone out.

11:00 p.m. - City Foreman arrives to let us know we have a leak. (Really????)

1:00 a.m. - City crew arrives to jack hammer holes in the driveway to find the leak. (I'm sure the neighbors enjoyed that.)

7:30 a.m - Day crew arrives to jack hammer and dig up our driveway entry, of course with the water shut off while everyone needs to get ready for church. (Again bet the neighbors loved that too.)

10:30 a.m. - Leaving to church with our driveway looking like this.





I was going to buy an above-ground pool for the summer. Thanks to the City of Corpus Christi I now have an in-ground pool for a drive way. It's probably going to be like this for two or three days due to the holiday.

Is there a leadership lesson in this? HMMMMM.....

Maybe...Be careful if you dig a hole for yourself....you might fall in.

Or...The systems lying beneath the surface that are uncared for are in danger of breaking.

What about you??? Can you find a lesson in this???

5 Points Update 1

Here is a video update on our Bay Area Fellowship 5 Points Campus. I posted and asked everyone to imagine and so here it is now.

We got a ways to go...but it's coming.



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Top Ten Movies

I actually like to do some tags when they come my way. It helps give some insight into me on a personal level.

I was tagged by Chris Day who was tagged by Doug Jones to list my ten favorite movies.

First a posting of the rules which are actually quite simple:
1. list your top ten favorite films (in no particular order).
2. if you’re tagged, you’ve got to post and tag 3-5 other people.
3. give a tag back (some link love) to the one who tagged you in your post
4. give a hat tip (HT) to Dan

My Top Ten Favorite Films (in no particular order):

1. Star Wars (all of them)
2. Lord of the Rings (ALL OF THEM)
3. The Matrix Trilogy
4. Conan The Barbarian
5. Platoon
6. Gladiator
7. Braveheart
8. Hitch
9. Home Alone
10. 300

There you are...my top ten...well really there are 17 of them in there...but I think you get the picture.

So now I tag Terrace, Adam and John.

[photo credit flickr.com]

Pastor Bil At The Purpose Driven Network Summit

This week my Pastor, Bil Cornelius, has been in California speaking at the Purpose Driven Network Summit put on by Rick Warren.

Check out a backstage video where one of my blogging friends, Carlos Whitaker is interviewing him and Kerry Shook from "The Fellowship of the Woodlands."

When you get to 8:15 Pastor Bil starts talking about our Multi-Site initiative.

Working Principles For Success

I received a training email this week from Brian Tracy that had three great principles for success. I took the principles and added my two cents to them.

Do The Unexpected
Where is the written rule to only do what is required. Doing the unexpected is where you begin to add value to what you do.

Follow Up and Follow Through
This falls into executing. Create a system so that you can follow up on the things requested of you. And when you agree to do something follow through...and do it before the deadline.

Work In Harmony With Others
No one wants to work with someone they don't get along with. Create harmony in your workplace by being someone people love to work with.

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