By Steve Pike, Director, AG Church Multiplication Network

The March switch to Daylight Savings Time is always a challenge for churches. The church I planted in Ogden, Utah came up with a novel solution to the problem. As a congregation, we all changed our clocks together at the END of the service on the Sunday of the switch to Daylight Savings Time. That way, everyone got their normal night of sleep and nobody showed up late. A few people didn’t get the message and showed up early, but we had a nice continental breakfast spread. It gave us time for some extra fellowship with them.

Just a thought. Try it, you might like it.

By Steve Pike, National Director, Church Multiplication Network.

OK, I don’t mean “hot” temperature wise. I doubt it is ever “hot” in the sense of temperature in Minnesota. The whole of downtown Minneapolis is built with the idea that people don’t want to go outside because it’s too cold.

I mean “hot” in the sense of being active and fired up about starting new mission focused churches.

I just got back from a couple days at the Minnesota District hosted BootCamp that is conducted in partnership with North Central University. This camp is unique due to the fact it is held on the campus of North Central and students whose major is Church Planting get academic credit for completing the Camp. The strong contingent of young developing leaders add a lot of energy and passion to the “personality” of the Camp.

Veteran facilitators Roger Stacy and Larry Mederich did an awesome job of cultivating an environment where discovery and “ah ha” moments happened every hour. The table teams were energized and engaged.  The Minnesota District also provided an outstanding group of coaches that helped the table teams stay focused.

Over on the Revitalization side, Rex Bornman and Ben Hodge helped a group of determined leaders discover the way to help their existing churches become vigorous and reproductive.

The Minnesota District, led by Clarence St. John has made starting new churches a priority for a long time. They have started 95 churches since 1990 and there is no sign they plan to slow down. Today they have 51 churches committed to starting a new church in the next three years!

It’s great to be partnered up with such Kingdom hearted leaders. GO Minnesota!