Scott at Collide Magazine is beginning a feature on the magazine’s website where he’ll be interviewing other bloggers. I’m the guinea pig. Check out the interview where I respond to questions on blogging, my new book, my ministry role and the future of NewSpring Church.

While you’re there, you may also want to check out the story on my friends over at Elevation Church. In recent weeks, over 900 people have accepted Christ and over 1,000 people have been baptized. The church is less than three years old. What an amazing story!

Let me take a second to introduce you to the newest site sponsor, the sticks conference. The conference is being hosted by New Hope Community Church, a multi-site church with three locations in Ohio. A few days ago, I caught up with New Hope’s Senior Pastor Charles Hill to learn more about the story of the church and this new conference.

TONY: Tell us a little bit about the New Hope story.

CHARLES: I graduated from this town of 2,800 and was called back not out of my own understanding, but because of the NEED that was here. And as if by accident we opened the doors to a church that would attempt to bring Christ to our culture and 239 people were here on day one. Five and a half years later, we average around 1,000 to 1,200 people in three campuses.

The best numbers are the thousands of lives that have been changed as the result of the “New Hope” that only Christ can bring. We have campuses in Loudonville, Ohio, Wooster, Ohio and China. We are launching another campus in two weeks in Ashland, Ohio. We also are launching a campus at a boys prison in the next eight weeks.

We felt that just because we were in a small town that it didn’t deserve second best. We are happy to be a voice for the small towns in America. We have a great group of people, an amazing staff, and my family is amazing. Sounds like Mayberry, because it kind of is.

TONY: Has anyone told you that you can’t build a big church in a small town?

CHARLES: Yes. Our conference and parent church were very leary that “this type” of ministry would work in a small town. As a matter of fact, it might have been too much for their town of 50,000–so there was some Holy Spirit intervention that needed to happen.

TONY: If you could point to one thing, why are you experiencing ministry impact in your community?

CHARLES: To not sound so “spiritual” …we are led by the Spirit and the Spirit speaks loudly to us and to others. We look at what God is asking us to do, but we also look as Blackaby says, “Where He is moving and jump in!” We’re learning from others (like NewSpring) and not ever making excuses of talent, time or treasure. If God asks us to move, we just get ‘er done! No excuses. No second best.

We try to keep things simple (by accident, but now more by design) as well as implementing innovative moves done always with excellence. We like to say this: We have Planned, Preprepared, Practiced and Prayed…now we Place it in YOUR hands.

TONY: If you haven’t heard, there are lots of conferences for church leaders. Why is yours unique?

CHARLES: We seek to truly have a conversation and a networking event for those in small- to medium-sized towns. We have a couple of nationally-known speakers who are innovative, and whose principles cross demographics. And besides that, Tim Stevens (one of the speakers) is in a medium-sized demographic himself. The rest of us are in small town America and these guys are having HUGE impact in a small town.

I am looking forward to learning more from THEM and the people who attend than they pick up from us! We capped it at 400 seats to keep the intimacy, networking and conversation high. Seats will NOT last long! We have people from Florida to Canada and the east coast to Oklahoma already who are passionate about small towns!

TONY: When folks visit Loudonville, Ohio, what is a “must see?”

CHARLES: We are the canoe capital of the world so they say, but the weather in Novemeber is a bit frightful. So the State Park and Amish country are just two must sees in this amazing piece of God’s country.

The sticks conference will be held in Loudonville, Ohio on November 11-12. Register before September 30 to get the best rates.

Ten years ago this Sunday my life changed. Emily snapped a picture back then to capture the moment. On September 14, 1998 I started my full-time ministry role at Granger Community Church. Up to that point, I had prepared for a completely different career. God was obviously preparing me for a different journey.

A lot has changed in the last ten years. I have two more little girls, one that looks exactly like Kayla did in this picture. I don’t own any wingtip shoes or pleated pants. I don’t have as much hair, and I’ve gained about 30 more pounds. We have a new home and a new church family.

Here’s what hasn’t changed…

• I’m still humbled that God called me to do what I get to do.
• I’m still convinced we live in a world that desperately needs the forgiveness, hope and love that only comes through Jesus.
• I’m still figuring out what it is to be a fully-devoted follower of Christ.
• I’m still discovering how to help others be all that God designed them to be.
• I’m still passionate about the potential for the local church and its impact in people’s lives.
• I’m still waiting to see what God does next.

I can’t believe what’s happened in the last 10 years. I’ve watched literally thousands of people commit to following Jesus. I’ve watched people experience physical, relational and spiritual healing in ways that could only be classified as miracles. And, in the process, I’ve had the opportunity to share that experience with people I love. What an honor. I didn’t deserve it.

What will the next 10 years bring? Based on past experience, I’m fairly certain it’s nothing like I have imagined. As much as I try to out-plan God, he always seems to remind me that his plans are greater. I’m still a work in progress. He must become greater. I must become less. Why doesn’t that get easier? You’d think I’d learn.

I hate traditions, but I’m a pretty sentimental guy. Thanks for putting up with this sappy post about where I’ve been and where I’m heading.

In case you haven’t figured it out, God’s not done with me yet. Please be patient.

Haven’t had a chance to read all the stories, but I thought you might be interested in the articles from USA Today on megachurches. It looks like because Lakewood has gone from 47,000 to 43,000 that they think the megachurch movement has “stalled” even though the number of megachurches continues to grow along with the attendance at those churches.

I love how reporters spin data. They’re better then politicians.

Last Monday, Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast region. As of September 5, power is expected to be out in parts of Louisiana for about 4-6 weeks and many people’s homes are destroyed.

NewSpring is partnering with Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge to assist with relief efforts. During Sunday services we collected bottled water, canned food and blue tarps at both the Anderson and Greenville campuses.

You can still help. Folks are still in great need for blue tarps. It would be amazing if you could help them out by donating one or several. You can order them individually online and have them sent to the address below:

Healing Place Church
19202 Highland Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225.753.2273

Here’s a video from Senior Pastor Dino Rizzo further describing the need for assistance:

Hurricane Torn Baton Rouge Needs Our Help!!! from Catalyst on Vimeo.

In case you missed them, here are the posts that generated the most traffic last month in order of popularity:

1. Listen to this New Tune from Lincoln Brewster
2. Are You Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable?
3. 5 Questions with Seth Godin
4. My Weekly Routine
5. Killing Cockroaches: The Animated Version
6. Perryisms (alcohol message)
7. Why We Twitter
8. Friend, Counselor or Pastor?
9. Perryisms (culture message)
10. Lee McDerment on Worship

Later this week, I have a group of ten guys coming in from throughout the country for a coaching network gathering. I’ve been preparing for their arrival over the last couple of weeks. In the process of doing that, I took the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment. I took the first version of the assessment a few years ago. As you’ll notice, the first part of my results is identical. Only the final two “natural talents” have changed. Here’s my new profile:

1. Strategic
The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios, always asking, “What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?” This recurring question helps you see around the next corner. There you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. You cull and make selections until you arrive at the chosen path—your strategy. Armed with your strategy, you strike forward. This is your Strategic theme at work: “What if?” Select. Strike.

2. Relator
Relator describes your attitude toward your relationships. In simple terms, the Relator theme pulls you toward people you already know. You do not necessarily shy away from meeting new people—in fact, you may have other themes that cause you to enjoy the thrill of turning strangers into friends—but you do derive a great deal of pleasure and strength from being around your close friends. You are comfortable with intimacy. Once the initial connection has been made, you deliberately encourage a deepening of the relationship. You want to understand their feelings, their goals, their fears, and their dreams; and you want them to understand yours. You know that this kind of closeness implies a certain amount of risk—you might be taken advantage of—but you are willing to accept that risk. For you a relationship has value only if it is genuine. And the only way to know that is to entrust yourself to the other person. The more you share with each other, the more you risk together. The more you risk together, the more each of you proves your caring is genuine. These are your steps toward real friendship, and you take them willingly.

3. Analytical
Your Analytical theme challenges other people: “Prove it. Show me why what you are claiming is true.” In the face of this kind of questioning some will find that their brilliant theories wither and die. For you, this is precisely the point. You do not necessarily want to destroy other people’s ideas, but you do insist that their theories be sound. You see yourself as objective and dispassionate. You like data because they are value free. They have no agenda. Armed with these data, you search for patterns and connections. You want to understand how certain patterns affect one another. How do they combine? What is their outcome? Does this outcome fit with the theory being offered or the situation being confronted? These are your questions. You peel the layers back until, gradually, the root cause or causes are revealed. Others see you as logical and rigorous. Over time they will come to you in order to expose someone’s “wishful thinking” or “clumsy thinking” to your refining mind. It is hoped that your analysis is never delivered too harshly. Otherwise, others may avoid you when that “wishful thinking” is their own.

4. Ideation
You are fascinated by ideas. What is an idea? An idea is a concept, the best explanation of the most events. You are delighted when you discover beneath the complex surface an elegantly simple concept to explain why things are the way they are. An idea is a connection. Yours is the kind of mind that is always looking for connections, and so you are intrigued when seemingly disparate phenomena can be linked by an obscure connection. An idea is a new perspective on familiar challenges. You revel in taking the world we all know and turning it around so we can view it from a strange but strangely enlightening angle. You love all these ideas because they are profound, because they are novel, because they are clarifying, because they are contrary, because they are bizarre. For all these reasons you derive a jolt of energy whenever a new idea occurs to you. Others may label you creative or original or conceptual or even smart. Perhaps you are all of these. Who can be sure? What you are sure of is that ideas are thrilling. And on most days this is enough.

5. Futuristic
“Wouldn’t it be great if . . .” You are the kind of person who loves to peer over the horizon. The future fascinates you. As if it were projected on the wall, you see in detail what the future might hold, and this detailed picture keeps pulling you forward, into tomorrow. While the exact content of the picture will depend on your other strengths and interests—a better product, a better team, a better life, or a better world—it will always be inspirational to you. You are a dreamer who sees visions of what could be and who cherishes those visions. When the present proves too frustrating and the people around you too pragmatic, you conjure up your visions of the future and they energize you. They can energize others, too. In fact, very often people look to you to describe your visions of the future. They want a picture that can raise their sights and thereby their spirits. You can paint it for them. Practice. Choose your words carefully. Make the picture as vivid as possible. People will want to latch on to the hope you bring.

For those that know me, how well do you think these themes describe me?

Have you taken the assessment? If so, what did you learn about yourself?

I had the eleventh pick in yesterday’s fantasy football league draft. I’m joining eleven other NewSpring staff guys for this year’s league. Here’s my roster:

Starters

• Tony Romo, Cowboys QB
• Marion Barber, Cowboys RB
• Darren McFadden, Raiders RB
• Roddy White, Falcons WR
• Torry Holt, Rams WR
• Laveranues Coles, Jets WR
• Todd Heap, Ravens TE
• Phil Dawson, Browns K
• Colts D/ST

Bench

• DeAngelo Williams, Panthers RB
• Kenny Watson, Bengals RB
• D.J. Hackett, Panthers WR
• Ben Obomanu, Seahawks WR
• Vince Young, Titans QB

It’s looking a little thin at the running back position which is never good for fantasy football. Hopefully the Raiders will give McFadden a chance early to prove he’s the real deal. In the mean time, it’s looking like I’m going to be a Cowboys fan this year. First game is against Shane’s team next weekend.

I love football season! Hopefully all my fantasies will come true.

Let me take a second to thank my current site sponsors. I’m certainly grateful for their partnership. If you’ve been enjoying the content on this site, do me a favor and just click one or two of the links below.

Integrity Music – the folks that bring you great music from artists like Hillsong United and Lincoln Brewster

Updatable – the guys that delivered the newly designed TonyMorganLive.com and also provide church websites using WordPress

Church Volunteer Central – offering a free download of Hope Lives, the base from which several small group and ministry leader kits were created

Fellowship Technologies – provide FellowshipOne, a 100% web-based church management system

Joe Sangl – author of I Was Broke. Now I’m Not. has a free study guide download

faithHighway – design and develop church websites and are providing a free site consultation

By the way, I have one sponsorship spot opening in September. Is it yours? Contact me to learn more.

Let me try to address some of the questions raised from yesterday’s post on my weekly routine. I may not be able to address every one. After all, I have a weekly routine to keep.

1. I wish I had an assistant. – You may not be able to pay one, but people will volunteer for those roles. I used a couple of volunteer assistants in my early days of ministry. The right personality really matters here.
2. You only have one day off. – Yep. Maybe someday I’ll be able to contract out all my yard work, home finances, personal errands and writing, but, in the mean time, someone has to do it. If you can manage more, congratulations!
3. Tell me about the daily check-ins. – Yes, that’s from Patrick Lencioni’s Death by Meeting. Read that book and watch this video. No, I don’t follow Patrick’s entire formula.
4. How many people have access to you? That’s a great question. My assistant is on the other end of the building, so I don’t have a “gatekeeper.” I currently have seven direct reports (ideal), and anyone has access to me when I’m not in meetings (rarely) and my door is open (fairly often).
5. How much time in the office? Currently 45 to 50 hours a week.
6. What do you do when there aren’t a lot of things to do? Get a bigger vision.
7. Is “get out” in the community part of your job or personal walk? Personal walk…just like the 9,000 other folks that attend NewSpring.
8. What are your daily top 5 priorities? Not to have 5 priorities. I can only handle one or two each day.
9. “I’m jealous a little bit.” You ought to be. I have a great job. I get to serve with great people. And, I serve a great God.