UTTERMOST: going where no one else wants to go// with you. // » Big Church-Small Town Church Leadership

small towns/church plating ideas?

chazzdaddy — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:01:00 +0000

Hey all! I am totally enjoying some downtime, including this on-line sermon from family church in pj’s today (watch this…it was amazing…and will help with some innovative ideas for helping people find their service and calling).

So far, it has also included this movie and this man fest getaway night with my brother’s-in-law while here in Motown tomorrow night. And on Tuesday, our family is heading downtown Lord-willing, to serve at this place together.

Tiffany and I are resting after a crazy year that we have seen more amazing things than ever at New Hope, and we know that God has amazing things in store for NH and for us as we seek HIM fully. Rest is KEY to staying passionate! “Divert daily, withdraw weekly, abandon annually.” (Rick Warren). I live by this theme…do you? If not, you are heading for a hard crash!

So…for oooooooooooooh-9, help me here…since I have been rolling in small towns for awhile and since we are planting again…what are some things that you would want to read here that would help you in your leadership journey in small towns or church planting?

Hit the comments and let me know…would love to have a community conversation that will help everyone and MYSELF (or mySELPH, ’cause my boy needs help) in the process.

Blessings all!

small town comments.

chazzdaddy — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:36:00 +0000

Trent Kirkland recently commented to a blog post that I wrote with this:

“We are ministering in a town of 5000, but try not to act like it!”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. If God can do big things in big places, why can’t He do big things in small places??? May this ENCOURAGE those of you called to do BIG things in small places!

blessings and peace.

ready to get UNLEASHED

chazzdaddy — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:46:00 +0000

As a leader, you should never stop learning. Learning means: soaking it up, engaging, living out a truth, stealing…yes stealing, and that is what we will be doing tomorrow. From snow to sun…nice huh? Come on, we’re just stealing ideas…mainly.

Heading to NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C. (they think ANDERSON is a small town…come on…) for the UNLEASH Conference. We will learn, engage, soak it up and of course steal. (And yes, KEZ…we will try to legally purchase a Lee McDerment CD for you, unless of course we can heist one.)

As a Pastor in a small town, or any town for that matter…you MUST continue to be stretched and steal…I mean learn, well you get the point. Stop building your Kingdom higher and higher and be humble and get out there and GROW, be stretched, LEARN WELL…in whatever God is asking you to grow in.

And yes, I did the WALL @ Holiday Valley, or well, it did me. Video to come soon.

blessings and peace.

small town…big church

chazzdaddy — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:56:00 +0000

I will be posting more and more to leaders who are like us in a weird position…You lead a larger church (or desire to) in a small to medium sized town (or to be honest, principals that are reaching people in all sized towns).

I am shocked at the lack of churches who are truly engaging the culture in huge ways for the Kingdom of Christ. Not to build bigger attendance, but to truly reach people for Christ and then help them grow in their faith to where they are truly “new creations.” Tried finding churches in my Sister’s town (a large suburb of Detroit…1 huge one, the rest non-engaging pretty-much, but a lot are trying…but it seems to not be truly fruitful).

In our personal lives, our spiritual lives, and in the lives of the staff at New Hope…one of the biggest principals we live by is vision. If we pray to God and ask His direction and He gives us all a picture of what that vision is, why do we stop and make excuses for why “we can’t do that!”

From lack of finances, to lack of staff to lack of knowledge…we cut short the vision God has given us and we wonder why we are not hitting on all cylinders. As a leader…you have to make things happen, especially if that vision was truly from God. That is the A-1-A principal that we have followed since day 1 at New Hope and in my family. “I can do all things through CHRIST who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Most wont like you for taking that picture that God has given you and bringing it to life. But who are we to obey…God or man? Tough stuff to ponder…

Yesterday I got some father-son time amidst the chaos of the week. Were supposed to do some stuff in Michigan where we were on vacation staying at my sister’s house…so we re-formulated it for home. Took him on His first skiing adventure…he did very well. We are both killer sore though…not used to being hit by downhill skiers who can’t stop at a rapid speed…then went to dinner and then…he was stoked big time…to see National Treasure 2. How amazing to spend time with my son. God must think the same when we slow down to be with Him.

Gotta run…need to spend time with the Father and prepare for the Celebration of Life Service tomorrow.

blessings and peace.