Enough fluff, Let's Talk!

Over 250 Leaders, 5 Hoosiers Who Know Stuff, 4 Hot Topics in 1 Day of Fun!

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The question is this: How do you convince over 250 church leaders to come to Granger, Indiana for one day in November to learn about how they can reach more people for Jesus in their communities? I know. It’s crazy. It shouldn’t be possible. But, that’s what we have happening this Friday.

WiredChurches.com is offering four–count ‘em–four separate one-day workshops this week, and we’re expecting folks that have registered from throughout the country. They’re coming to hear Mark Waltz talk about "First Impressions." They’re coming to learn from Butch Whitmire and our arts teams. They’re going to experience a day immersed in our children’s ministry. Or, they’re going to hang out with Judy and Corey and figure out what it takes to help students take their next steps toward Christ. Good stuff.

And, in case you’re not able to make the trek to Indiana this Friday, we’re doing it all again next year. Hope you can join us.

Media at Granger Community Church

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Get the inside scoop on the use of media at Granger Community Church in this article by Jeff Petersen, Granger’s Director of Programming and Media, in the October 2005 issue of Church Executive magazine.

Simply the Truth | John 4:23-24

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"It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself–Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."

John 4:23-24 (The Message)

Tony’s Fun Friday Shuffle

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OK, Kem, I’ll play the game. I have my iPod. Random. First 15 songs. This probably says way too much about me…

  1. This Love – Maroon 5
  2. Shameless – Billy Joel
  3. Obsession – David Crowder Band
  4. Beautiful – Moby
  5. Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn
  6. White Shadows – Coldplay
  7. Somewhere I Belong – Linkin Park
  8. This is Your Life – Switchfoot
  9. Crush – Gavin DeGraw
  10. Jesus, You Alone – Paul Oakley & Tim Hughes
  11. American Band – David Matthews Band
  12. Blind Sight – Ryan Cabrera
  13. Perfect Lie – Sheryl Crow
  14. Kissing a Fool – George Michael
  15. Fallin’ to Pieces – Rob Thomas

Where did all my country music go? Oh, that’s right. I don’t own any country music.

Have a fun Friday!

Planting Churches, Techie Churches and Flying Churches?

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It’s been too long since I’ve downloaded all the fun things I’ve been reading from my corner of the blog world. Here’s the stuff that’s been floating around in my brain the last couple of weeks.

That’s Quotable [Bill Gates]

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"Like my friend Warren Buffett, I feel particularly lucky to do something every day that I love to do. He calls it ‘tap-dancing to work.’ My job at Microsoft is as challenging as ever, but what makes me ‘tap-dance to work’ is when we show people something new, like a computer that can recognize your handwriting or your speech, or one that can store a lifetime’s worth of photos, and they say, ‘I didn’t know you could do that with a PC!’"

Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect of Microsoft as quoted on NPR’s All Things Considered (September 19, 2005)

7 Practices of Effective Ministry

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7practicesIf you are in church leadership, I highly recommend 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner and Lane Jones. All three of these guys are on the leadership team at North Point Community Church in Atlanta. I think they’ve written the best book on church leadership that I’ve read since The Purpose-Driven Church by Rick Warren. The straightforward and insightful strategies they offer in this book could certainly be applied in any ministry setting. I felt like I was getting an insiders look at one of America’s fastest growing churches.

I won’t outline the seven practices here, because I really think you should buy the book. But, here are some of my favorite thoughts from what I read:

  • "The tendency in business, or in church work for that matter, is to mistake activity for progress. We think that just because people are busy and doing a lot of stuff that we are being successful."
  • "Don’t be so concerned about keeping the folks you’ve got, that you neglect the folks you’re trying to reach."
  • "Unfortunately, churches have a reputation for doing ministry without an end in mind…the gravitational pull of a church is usually toward overprogramming."
  • "Ministry becomes diluted because it is flowing in too many different directions. Years of adding and never subtracting have created layers of programs that all feel necessary."
  • "Today’s church needs wise and courageous leaders who will simplify their activity and refocus their mission."
  • "You can drastically improve how much people learn if you teach less."
  • "Too many churches are hiding behind what is convenient and comfortable while an entire generation is being left in the dark."

I could go on and on. This is the type of book you should purchase for your entire team and take a chapter at a time to discuss. There are too many churches that are making ministry complicated and difficult. This book will open your eyes to how simpler may actually be better and make it easier for people to take their next steps toward Christ.

Box Score for Weekend of November 5/6

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Here’s the "box score" for this past weekend at Granger Community Church.

Music: "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge

Message: "The Challenge of the Blended Family" — Mark Beeson, Senior Pastor, talked about how success in the blended family is: like success in marriage…with kids and hurt added, more likely when you have agreement (Amos 3:3), and achieved through persistence. Among other things, Mark addressed the irony of how single people want to live like married people and married people want to live like single people. People who are single have all the freedom they want, but the Bible says they shouldn’t have sex. Married people should have sex, but the Bible says they have commitments to their spouses that requires them to give up freedoms.

Family_channel_webService Highlights: This week we used the Brady Bunch to talk about the challenges of a blended family. The service included a hilarious parody of the Brady Bunch show introduction with each of the Bradys in their squares talking to each other about the most recent family crisis–the fact that Marcia had invited a boy to be in her square. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! Just like all Brady episodes, the crisis was resolved by the end of the video. The service also included a fun rendition of the the 70s hit "We Are Family"…complete with the disco ball.

Stats: 5,382 total attendance (4,157 adults + 1,225 kids); 26.0% increase from the same weekend last year

Percentage of weekend attendance by service:

  1. Sun 10:15 am = 29%
  2. Sun 11:45 am = 23%
  3. Sat 7:30 pm = 19%
  4. Sat 5:30 pm = 15%
  5. Sun 8:45 am = 14%

Final Notes: In this service, Mark also introduced the focus of this year’s Christmas offering which will be to used to feed over 8,000 families in the South Bend area, renovate Granger’s community center in downtown South Bend where we provide ministry to low-income families, and to prepare for Granger’s next phase of growth. FYI, the video for last week’s Cleaver drama in black and white is available on GCCwired.com. Click "Media Player" then "Drama" then "The Cleavers."

Volunteer Revolution Conference Highlights

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Tim and I had a great time yesterday presenting two workshops at the Volunteer Revolution Conference. Here are a few highlights from the day.

  • We were grateful for the opportunity to see the campus of Centre Street Church. The staff and volunteers from Centre Street were incredible. Tim and I appreciated sharing lunch with Henry Schorr, the senior pastor, to hear a little bit more about the church’s story. From other people we talked with, it sounds as if Centre Street could very well be the fastest growing and largest church in Canada.
  • We reconnected with Greg Harris, one of the executive pastors at Westside King’s Church in Calgary. I’m really curious to learn more about what’s happening at Westside. It sounds like they have a very innovative approach to ministry.
  • We shared some of our favorite volunteer strategies from our book Simply Strategic Volunteers. Hopefully the sessions were helpful. I love encouraging leaders about new ways to empower volunteers in ministry.
  • We got to hang out for a little bit with Tammy Kelley, the Director of People Resources, for Willow Creek Community Church. Tammy serves on the management team for the South Barrington campus. She’s very sharp and had some great insights to share on transitional leadership.

Finally, to the guy in our second workshop who asked about where we shop for our shirts–I don’t know about Tim, but most of my shirts come from The Buckle. I did a little research for you. The closest store is in the Holiday Village Mall in Great Falls, Montana. That’s only about a six-hour drive from Calgary–well worth the trip.

In fact, here’s what I’d like to do. I’d like to have a little contest. I’m willing to reimburse a shirt purchase for the first person who sends me a picture of themselves buying a shirt from The Buckle in Great Falls. You, of course, also need to provide a receipt from the Great Falls store to receive the reimbursement. (See contest rules below.) And, when you’re there, make sure you tell them that Tony Morgan sent you.

Contest Rules — Purchasing a cool shirt from The Buckle is necessary. Only one reimbursement will be provided. Winners must be 18 years of age or older or have a parent, legal guardian or a Canadian Mountie sign a release form to claim the reimbursement. Reimbursements may not be applied to other articles of clothing. Winners are solely responsible for all taxes associated with the reimbursement prize. Participants automatically consent to having their likeness used for promotional purposes on Tony’s blog. Winners agree upon acceptance of the reimbursement that Tony Morgan, his blog, and his blog affiliates shall have no liability in connection with acceptance or use of any reimbursement awarded. This contest is not open to Tony Morgan, employees of his blog or Lou, Tony’s neighbor, and the immediate families of any of these entities, its advertisers, agencies or judges involved. Contest void where prohibited. Tony Morgan’s blog reserves the right to alter or discontinue this contest at any time. Need not be Canadian to win…but it would be a lot more fun if you are Canadian.

Soap Update

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As some of you know from my previous travels, I’m a fan of big soap when I stay at hotels. The Greenwood Inn in Calgary has thrown me a curve ball. I would have to say their soap is mid-sized, which initially disappointed me. However, the soap is both "french milled" and it contains oatmeal. I’m not sure what added benefit oatmeal provides to my personal hygiene, but I like it.

Tim woke up a little grumpy this morning because he didn’t sleep well. He’s in the shower now. I’m pretty confident that the oatmeal soap will put him in a good mood.

Overall, I give the Greenwood Inn french milled, oatmeal filled soap a B+.

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