Here are a couple of seemingly random thoughts that combine together to make a very important point.

Random thought #1- Frequently, district level leaders report on how their district is doing by saying something like…”well, we planted 6 churches last year, but we closed 5 so we had a net gain of only one.” This comment is usually accompanied by a sigh of resignation indicating their frustration with their pace of progress in terms of Kingdom impact.

Random thought #2- Take a moment to read the article below from Christian Post. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m on my way back from a couple of days at the June 2008 edition of the Northern New England BootCamp. These events are very energizing to me. It’s simply amazing to be around a bunch of folks who are serious about being with Jesus on His Mission!  I especially appreciate the commitment of the entire Northern New England Executive Leadership Team to church planting. Superintendent Dennis Marquardt (who may be THE most tech savvy District Superintendent EVER, seriously check out his website!), Assistant Superintendent Dan Abbatiello (it was just announced that Dan is going to become the District Church Development Director, overseeing Church Planting and Revitalization) and Secretary Treasurer Greg Randall  (Greg is in training to serve as a BootCamp Facilitator) have been backing up their words with actions for years. They provide leadership in one of the most challenging mission fields in America. And slowly but surely they are getting it done. Northern New England is also blessed with one of the leading assessors and assessor trainers in the United States. Roland Ludlam (Pastor of Church on the Rock in St. Albans, Vermont) has been a great blessing to numerous districts and leaders over the years as he has provided highly competent assessment services and outstanding training experiences all across the nation. NNED and the Assemblies of God is blessed to have him on the team!

It was also a blast to be with an outstanding facilitation team. The Church Planting side was anchored by Roger Stacy who was assisted by Terry Broadwater with Greg Randall in training. The Church Health side was led by Jim Armpriester, Roland Ludlam and Jim Risner. Both sides were well supported by a great team of coaches. Debbie Armstrong did her usual outstanding job of administrating the BootCamp. By the way, last week Debbie celebrated another trip around the sun! Happy Birthday Debbie!! Wednesday night the facilitation team went out for dinner together at Newick’s in Dover, New Hampshire. Most of the facilitators (and especially Jim Armpriester) really enjoyed some freshly caught Maine lobster. Go to the “rest of the entry” to see some more pictures. Read the rest of this entry »

Art Heinz is a pastor very few people have ever heard of. That’s because Art has been quietly pastoring a church in a small Kentucky town very few people have heard of. Hope Harbor Church in Murray, Kentucky. Ever heard of it? (OK, you folks from Kentucky have an unfair advantage!) Art is a lot like thousands of other leaders of good solid Assemblies of God churches in thousands of small American towns. For years, he’s been faithfully serving, trying to do the right things for the right reasons…studying, praying, visiting, marrying, burying, preaching…all the stuff that pastors do.

However, a few years ago, he “shifted.” His ministry methodology had been built on a foundation of training he received that emphasized a “maintenance” model of church leadership. Like thousands of other leaders, he had been taught to be content with this inward focused approach that views the pastor as the dispenser of all ministry and most of the ministry is focused on the congregation. The theory is that good pastors nurture the sheep, who in turn will witness to their friends and family and the church will grow. This sounds really good except it doesn’t really work.

Art figured this out and decided to “shift” to a more Biblically sound approach to lead a church.  He decided that Paul’s Ephesians admonition to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry” was a fundamental principle of church leadership. So he radically changed his approach to ministry. Today, Hope Harbor Church in Murray, Kentucky is experiencing a whole new dimension of ministry effectiveness. You can listen to an interview with Pastor Art by clicking here. Go ahead and listen. I’ll wait……

What I love about Art’s story is that Hope Harbor is not a big, famous church in a large metro area. I’ve got much more in common with Art than I do with Tommy Barnett, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Jack Hayford, etc. Art’s story gives me hope. I’m hopeful that Art’s story gives you hope as well. So what do you think? Is it time for you to make a “shift?” Or, if you’ve “shifted,” tell me about it! Write me a note describing your “shift” at spike@ag.org.