Church Visits, "Contemporary Excellence," Urbana and Sulphur Grove UMCs

In the last couple of week's I've visited two of our more traditional churches that have gotten in the last couple of years new, contemporary services in some form or fashion off the ground.

Observations from Urbana...one of the finest sanctuary remodels I have ever seen. The best of old and new...post modernity at its best. They retained some of the finer, more ancient accessories and decor, e.g. stained glass windows, fine trim, a beautiful paint scheme, etc. at the same time they upgraded with the latest and greatest sound and lights. The best multi-media equipment has never been more affordable. It is worth the look-see.

Observations form Sulphur Grove's service in the Y...you never would have known we were worshipping smack-dab in the middle of a gym. The worship space was transformed. The hospitality outstanding, relationships authentic, preaching and music relevant and on target.

May we all find the heart beat of God for our mission field and passionately give ourselves all out for it. The world knows when we are just going through the motions.

Church Visit, "My Favorite Day Yet," McKinley and Dayton Korean UMCs

It was a long day, but it ended up being my favorite day. Another good 12-14 hours. I’m working hard adjusting to a sustainable pace. But this ended up glorious. Started the day in worship at McKinley UMC in Dayton, one of our District’s African-American congregations, where they rocked the house in worship. Had an amazing worship leader. Involved all ages and especially the children. Pastor Diane hit a home run with the message. Went on to Dayton Korean UMC for a celebration of their 38 years of ministry and recognition of their new class of leaders. I had no idea our District had such wondrous diversity. The bounteous buffet filled with one Korean dish after another was emblematic of the feast of the kingdom I enjoyed all throughout the day. Then I ended it all with a tough but blessed meeting with a leader who is making some hard decisions for an even more success-filled future. Good job Miami Valley.

Church Visit, "Special Event Services/Radical Hospitality," South Charleston UMC

South Charleston UMC, like many, offered special services in view of Veterans Day. They honored servicemen and women, sang great songs, performed a cantata, and told some great stories. They even had a Teddy Roosevelt impersonator. The church was packed. “Special Event” type services can be highly strategic. Quality of worship is launched to a whole new level. Your church gains a bigger vision of what they can do. The community gets introduced to you all over again. Just make sure your hospitality is raring to go. New people will come. Be ready on the welcome and follow up side. Whether or not people come back or not is determined best by things we probably wouldn’t naturally think. It’s not the preaching and music. It’s 1.) The welcome and first impressions that they receive in the first 10” on your campus; and 2.) The number of positive “touches” they feel in your assimilation and follow up process. From the time they park the car till when they first sit down, most have already made up their mind. Doing the expected and polite doesn’t count as “Radical Hospitality.” How can we go over-the-top for Christ? We aren’t ultimately introducing them to us. We are introducing them to the overwhelming love of God. May we never forget who we represent.

THRIVE: A District Office Vision

An emerging for the District Office's vision to serve you and your local church is as follows. Key elements are also listed. Please feel free to comment and let us know what you think.

T...Trust that God is Moving in Every Place.

· Whether large or small, rural, urban, or suburban, encourage every church to develop a ministry growth plan for their church.


H...Help Every Church Find and Fulfill Their Mission for Christ.

· Work with our District’s Revitalization Teams to partner with local congregations in developing new vision for their church and coaching them for success.
· Teach and Train on the most fruitful practices of ministry and encourage collaborations for greater effectiveness.


R...Recruit, Develop and Deploy Christian Leaders of Passion and Excellence.

· Assist and partner with our DCOM, BOM, Cabinet, Lay Leadership Teams, Coaching, and Cluster System to deploy the best possible leaders in the Miami valley District.


I...Invest and Align Our Resources for Maximum Kingdom Impact.

· In coordination with District Leadership teams, maximize our collective resources for the cause of Christ.


V...Vision News Ways to Reach New People.

· Keep alive the culture of innovation within the Miami Valley and assist local churches in the exploration of new ministry models.


E...Engage the World Beyond the Walls.

· Encourage every church develop a size-appropriate missions program to go beyond their walls.

· Work with the District Strategy Team to develop BHAGs for our District (Big, Hairy, and Audacious Goals)

Change the World Conference, Ginghamsburg Church UMC

As usual, it was a world-class event all the way around. Mike Slaughter and his team always help me get out of my box. And they call the Church to the same. GUM has really honed in on the most kingdom impactful trend, turning your church inside out and “going missional,” living for those beyond the walls more so than within them. It can take years of discipleship, mission experiences, preaching, and teaching to get your people there, but there is no more meaningful an expression to living the life of Christ. It becomes so much more than just the mere survival of church your. Folk are brought to the point of being willing to lose themselves, which is at the heartbeat of Jesus’ call. Several exciting initiatives are coming into being that attack poverty like never before. What if all of us in the Miami Valley got behind that? Many are already doing some really great work.

Church Visit, “No Substitute for Passion,” Verona UMC

I got to see Leo Cunningham and the fine folks at Verona UMC last Sunday. It took over an hour for me to get there. Had to try three different routes for all the detours. Worth every bit of effort. While one might say, to a nonresident, “It’s out all by itself, what’s going on there?” The answer is everything. Leo gave a great message, vision-casting for their future. Getting ready to organize themselves accordingly. Mobilizing ministry to meet the needs of those around them. There is no substitute for passion. When you might think you have an excuse, even in the most rural areas, people are waiting to be reached. Laity are ready to get at it for Christ. Everybody is hungry for a pastor to light fire.

Church Visit, “Getting It All Going in the Right Direction,” Bellbrook UMC

Had the privilege of helping dedicate Bellbrook’s new addition last Sunday. Nice in all respects. One of the best looking add-ons I’ve ever seen. Matches their context well. A community room anchors their effort with new nursery and childcare facility. Will be a great resource for community and church alike. Bellbrook has one of the most potent social justice programs for its size. They make it an integral part of their DNA, identity, and culture, not just a program. Have some of the most creative worship and musicians. Size doesn’t have to equal quality. They do several things well that uniquely fit their cultural context. Synergy for growth then really gains momentum for something special. Best wishes as you continue on your journey.

Church Visit, "Spirited Tradition," Yellow Springs UMC

I don’t have time for worship wars. Within our district we have both contemporary and traditional congregations that are thriving. Visited Yellow Springs last weekend which happen to be of the latter. One of the best traditional services was led by Rev. Charles Hill who has been one of our best leaders in his long and storied career. It was fun watching him in action: personable yet strong, on a mission. Had to follow him back to his office to get “miked-up” and talk through the service. I could hardly keep up. His pace was amazing. The worship service itself moved along as well. It was energetic. Prayer requests were shared but didn’t drag or get too personal. The music was thematic and singable. Liturgical elements were written fresh, not out of somebody else’s book, and engaging. Everything was well done, not just covered. A sense of community pervaded. I’d go there if I lived in town. Great job.

Cabinet Reflection: "Things I Wish I Knew Years Ago"

Been serving on the Cabinet for three months now. Have learned a lot already that I wish I had known for years. Figured that there could be some things you might be interested in too. Feel free to comment back with your topic ideas that I could share a little more on.

Building Momentum, "In Life," part 2

A continuation of the series…

Readiness for life-long learning…I hope this is something I’m good at, but I can’t let myself think that. If it was up to me, somewhere along the line I would have probably thought, “OK, this is enough now.” “I’ve learned enough.” I can’t do that. The world is changing ever so rapidly. What was once good enough to get by ten years ago is no longer. What was once good enough two years ago isn’t either. But way more enjoyable and interestingly to me is that there is just so much fun stuff out there to learn.

The older I get the more I give myself permission to read and learn outside of my own professional disciplines. When I was in D.C. two months ago, I was reminded how the early leaders of our country always did that. They were “multi-disciplinary,” renaissance men and women. It seems like that used to be a much more highly valued idea back then. Of course, not as much had been written in any of the disciplines back then. I get some of my best, most creative thoughts when I get out of my field. It keeps me fresh.

Some days I will go to the library and browse, i.e. feast, picking up anything and everything that looks interesting.

I do try to read particularly in the fields of leadership (business, church, political, technology, and others), ministry, spiritual formation, and then for pure fun. And I’m big on experiences too: mission trips, field trips to business where friends or contacts work, interviewing people who are successful and finding out what worked best for them, holy land pilgrimages, etc. The older I get the more I also realize the importance of questions and the power of a good one. Not that good at it yet, but at least am making a better effort.

I have also discovered the ultimate power in doing something brand, spanking new. It feels like I’m on the biggest learning curve of my life right now. I pastored a church for twenty years. Some of the D.S. work is similar, but much is different. I’m learning more about myself and myself as a leader than ever before too. Still, not that good at it yet, but am trying.

Maybe I needed to shake things up in a much bigger way long ago…

H1N1 Implications

I always hated cancelling church. Had a mentor that never believed in it. You should have seen the look in his eye when he told me I better never either. Been too scared ever since to even think about it...until I was on my way home one day (Christmas Eve actually) sliding down a huge hill backwards in the snow with my young family holding on for dear life as I "drove" home. Then I realized there are worse things, especially when people's safety is at stake.

For the first time in my life last week I realized we might face a church closing some Sunday, not because of snow or ice, but because of flu.

It is causing us all to rethink some things...

1. How do we handle the greeting time now? Do we stop altogether? Give people an out? Do we pass the Purell at the same time we pass the plates? Is there a litany we can incorporate that makes people feel just as welcome or even more so? Instead of a hug, we could pass the peace by saying, "God is glad you're here and so am I!" or whatever you like.

2. And then there's communion. Do I dare dip my bread after someone else just dipped their fingers too? Saw it done recently where it was really done well. The servers broke the bread off for me and handed it to me, right after they washed with Purell before they stood at their stations. They explained that as hard as I might try I can't "possess it" for myself, I couldn't. Grace is given.

Got any other ideas that you can share to help us all figure out what very well be our new normal?

Building Momentum, "In My Life," part 1

Someone recently commented, "Waiting for your post now on building momentum for your life." And I immediately thought of a book written by one our region's leading pastors with that exact intent, "Momentum for Life" by Michael Slaughter. In it, he shares his "five life practices for balance and self-leadership" which "together form the acronym D-R-I-V-E:

1. Devotion to God
2. Readiness for Life-Long Learning
3. Investing in Key Relationships
4. Visioning for the Future.
5. Eating and Exercise for Life.

Following the metaphor of the above as it relates to me, under...

Devotion to God...I stay in the word and prayer with both a deliberate, "setting-down-all-else" time as part of my Daily Rule as well as taking advantage of moments of centering all throughout my day. Studying the Contemplative Prayer movement has been a real soul-saver. Merton and Thomas Keating have both been invaluable on that.

I serve and try to lay down my life daily. I don't "go to work." My work I treat as part of my service in addition to other. I pray I am devoted to God in every breath. And there are a myriad of things I do to stay in tune with that.

I recently signed up for just a simple thing, a daily scripture sent to my email in-box which I can get on my cell phone. Each day it feels like I am getting "a special message from heaven sent just for me." They have actually really hit me personally each time. A quick internet search can sign you up too.

Probably the biggest thing thing I do is to keep my daily faith practices fresh. Instead of doing the same thing week in and week out of every year, I live more as a free-bird according to the season. Others might be wired though different. Right now I am reading through the Bible in a year (or so) and journaling what I am learning in the Book of Judges, in addition to a new book here or there. I've also been deliberate recently in retreating where I can in nature, getting away and getting quiet to gain clarity in what can be the flood of my life.

If someone is actually interested, I'll finish what I've been doing with the R-I-V-E in successive posts. Stay tuned...

Building Momentum, "In Worship"

More thoughts...

1. Teach on worship.
2. Eliminate all but 2-3 pulpit announcements.
3. Outlaw dead space. Make sure people are prepared when it is their time to go.
4. We called it "traveling music." Instead of dead space, use some transition music.
5. Become the best, kick-butt preacher you can be. We are competing with everyone on TV, the internet, and the self-help industry. We have to make it worth people's while to listen to us. Feed their soul with the richest of truth and in the most enthralling of manners. Channel a combination of T.D. Jakes and Henri Nouwen. Ok, now I'm kidding, mostly.
6. Recruit and train first class musicians. God is worth our most excellent effort. Putting money here is usually well spent. In planting a church, the worship leader/musician is often a more important position than even the pastor. Sorry, it's true. :-O
7. Sing mostly what people know. People can only handle so many new songs in one service. Usually, it's about one.
8. Make sure everything connects back to the theme. We can make our churches disjointed in the flow as well as the logic. We are shepherds. Shepherd their hearts and minds.
9. Start with a bang: something upbeat, that everyone can participate in.
10. Find the spiritual-emotional flow of your service/people, i.e. get in touch with the movement of the Spirit.
11. Leonard Sweet said post-modern worship needs to follow the E.P.I.C. pattern... experiential, participatory, image-based, and connective.
12. Make it as multi-sensory as it can be.
13. Throw cheeseburgers to the balcony (I confess, I did that once.)
14. Keep them guessing.
15. Creativity, creativity, creativity... God said it was good.

Feel free to share your ideas...

Building Momentum, "In the Life of Your Church"

Just some things that you can do...

1. Begin a visioning team and process for your church.
2. Launch a new ministry to reach out to the community.
3. Start a small group for those that are willing and have the capability to launch their own small group. I called them "turbo groups." Can start a small group ministry from 0 to 60-80% in a very short time.
4. Divide the church up in small groups and do a church-wide study. It can do the same thing.
5. Get a new haircut and become a new kind of leader. Seriously.
6. Do a creative sermon series that kicks it all up a notch.
7. Deliberately try to up your quality level of worship over the long haul.
8. Start a new service.
9. Deal with your own angst and anger.
10. Be just a tad bit more positive and treat people just a tad bit nicer.
11. Just do one cool event that no one has ever done before. See what God does through it.
12. Celebrate people's accomplishments. Thank people.
13. Make eye contact and say hi to everyone you meet (Oh, you'd be surprised...).
14. Balance your church's budget and get them out of the red. "Right-size" your ministry. That can alleviate a lot of extra stress that no one needs.

Others??? Feel free to add your own in a comment...

Church Visit, "Committing to the Long Haul," Greenville EUM

My wife and worshipped with Greenville EUM last week at their big, blow-out community service held at the city park. What a great outreach opportunity: free food and carnival for all, over 1,000 likely in attendance. What we’re seeing there is the result of a long-term, committed effort of solid work. Every step of the way Bill Lyle and his team try to do it right, exploring the issues thoroughly and making the right calls missionally. Their discipleship development and missional outreach efforts are largely now driving it all. There’s a level of fruitfulness that can only be achieved after several years, and many of them in the trenches. I pray God meets you at a depth of soul with a strength that runs deeper than your need.

Building Momentum, "Pulpit Announcements"

I have been to a lot of different church services lately. Have seen and experienced lots of great hospitality. Seen a lot of the same things I used to struggle with though too in the pastorate: like balancing all that sometimes needs to get included in a particular service. On my first Sunday in one of the churches I served, I received 13 different requests for special, pulpit announcements at the last minute that included virtually everything, including the kitchen sink. That can really kill the momentum of a service. I have found that a pulpit announcement is sometimes a poor substitute for inviting someone personally to your event. I tried to teach my folk all the many ways that they can create momentum and interest in their event or program. Ministry is, at the heart, relationship building, and not program promoting. Announcing something from the pulpit was very strategic though when trying to mobilize the whole church behind a key initiative supporting the overall vision of the church. Our attention spans are only so long, 22 seconds the last time I checked. We already speak “at” them in our preaching. Maybe one more moment at the max, but much more than that can kill the Spirit’s movement and flow in the service. Reading all the prayer requests and then praying all the prayer requests can be more than enough sometimes too. Town and rural churches, though, seem to love that, however sometimes our practice inadvertently keeps us small. There are creative ways to incorporate it all. Found anything that worked effectively for you?

Stewardship, "Some of the Best Stuff I/We Ever Did," Part 1

Some of the best stuff I/we ever did to enhance the level of stewardship in my church included...
1. As uncomfortable as it was, determined not to be afraid to talk about money.
2. Keep people (my givers) informed on the status of things.
3. I made it a point to do a stewardship focused series each year to keep that imbedded in the culture of our church.
4. Picked up Mike Slaughter's book, "Money Matters," one of the best resources on the topic, and learned how to talk about money.
5. Instead of trying to get more people to give to the church, I tried to identify and speak to their real, felt need.
6. Instead of trying to get more people to give to the church, I tried to feature the mission of Jesus and invited people to participate in that.
7. Divided the need into measurable chunks so that it seemed within reach.
8. Helped people see the abundance of God rather than the scarcity within the world.
9. Thanked people, hopefully a lot.
10. Built into people's lives. When the opportunity came to give back, they were more than happy to.
11. Asked.
12. Featured and told of the stories of life change, that their dollar was really making a difference.
13. Tried to be as creative as I could get to teach the biblical principles.
14. Tried to help people see stewardship as a "Get-to" and not a "Have-to," i.e. "We get to participate in the kingdom movement."
15. Realized the Bible teaches at least a little "health and wealth" as much as it does the "suffering for Jesus," (but not necessarily in the same way that some of the televangelists teach).
16. Helped people see that it wasn't just about the money, but our whole life of devotion to God.

Church Visit, "Community Involvement," Jackson Center UMC

Jackson Center UMC recently dedicated a new community center, a refurbished warehouse about a block away from their traditional church site. Some said it needed to be torn down. Old fashioned hard work and ingenuity turned it into a seniors' center, banquet facility, conference center, after school program site, and fitness center for the community. They remodeled it all virtually themselves with community volunteers. A gift for the community it was built by the community. Everyone got involved. City officials really wanted it to work so they did their best in supporting the effort and getting it through government hoops. City workers stopped by after work to pitch in too. The grand opening was a "gala affair" of "who's who" in J.C. Even and, one might say, especially in a small town, people responded to a vision, one that wasn't self-serving but community-serving, that actually fulfilled some real needs and wasn't just to get people in the door and help the church. The folks at Jackson Center UMC helped the community fulfill a long held dream.

Resources, "They Are Available"

"My God will supply all our needs according to God's riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

Sitting here in D.S. Training at Lake Junaluska (I am paying very close attention) and marveling at all the cool resources that are available to us that I never took the time to learn about. For example,

For info on turning your church around, mobilizing your laity, position descriptions, stewardship programs, church vitality indicators, etc., visit The General Board of Discipleship online at gbod.org.

For financial related info, GCFA is online at gcfa.org.

For spiritual formation, The Upper Room, at upperroom.org (though it's not working for me at present).

For more innovation stuff and starting new churches, visit Path1 at path1.org.

In addition, in our District, we have some of the best resources in purely human form. Area pastors and church leaders would be more than happy to consult or share their experience and wisdom. We have some of the best churches and leaders in the world.

Apportionments, "Renewing Our Mind"

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed [How?] by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

Had a really neat conversation with one of our pastors recently that he initiated. His church has been unable to pay their apportionments...for awhile. It led into a great discussion surrounding stewardship, which is one of the larger issues. It caused me though to think about some of the ways I have had to retrain my mind over the years. Thought I'd jot down some of those various thoughts. Periodically, I might blog some more on them. On the bottom of this internet page, look for the tag, "Apportionments," as we chronicle the different articles over time.

1. "As" (my shorthand for apportionments) aren't "have-to's," they are "get-to's." We don't have to pay them, we get to. We don't have to do anything. I hate it when I catch myself, "I have to do" this or that. I'm retraining myself to always say, "I get to," no matter what it is. (e.g. "I get to preside over a funeral for a really great saint." "I get to go to the dentist." I'm still working on that one.)
2. Every "A" represents a key missional objective. If you or your church isn't motivated to pay them, then some more learning is warranted on what missional objective is behind them.
3. That missional objective then becomes the key motivator by which we can promote the "opportunity," instead of viewing it as a "conference demand."
4. When we look closely enough, we might find we agree with some. We might disagree with some. I have found I can get on board with most however, usually 99.9%.
5. If I disagree with something, my best recourse isn't to boycott paying them. I have learned it is to become a proactive voice in the process to change them.
6. Not paying "As" perpetuates a victim mindset. It is the weakest thing we can do, and rarely has any real impact.
7. If you really want to do something radical and honoring to God, become the best leader you can be and earn real influence. I would be more than happy to help any church or leader expand their lid on this.
8. Methodism represents one of the greatest resources of change on the planet. We do not have to be a passive and reluctant participant, but a proactive agent of change for the cause of Christ in the world.
9. If your church isn't currently paying them, the answer isn't to just sit there and hope no one notices. It is to begin an open conversation with your District Superintendent about growing into your opportunity. I don't expect you to instantly go from 0% to 100%, but each year we can take another significant step forward...in real influence and an effective use of your power.
10. The larger issue is "Right-sizing" (not "down-sizing") our church budgets and growing our church's level of stewardship. And again, I'd truly enjoy helping anyone do that. Stewardship started off as my least favorite thing, and now has become one of my greatest joys and privileges. Stay tuned for more of my thoughts on that.

Church Visit, "A New New," Eaton St. Paul/Crossroads

Back from a week off, preached at a joint service of Eaton St. Paul and their YMCA Campus Church, Crossroads. What a neat congregation: young and old, children and elderly, traditional and contemporary. They present an innovative model of ministry to the people of Preble County. What, however, was new and innovative just a few years ago, they are now meeting to discern the future God has in store for them. Instead of succumbing to the temptation that they have already done enough/we're already cutting edge, they are beginning to trust God for new. In the Book of revelation, Jesus said, "I am making all things new." I'm pretty sure He meant all things when he said all things. That includes therefore me and us today. The mark of authentic followership for the Apostle Paul was, in fact, a state of constant change and transformation, new creation status (II Corinthians 5:17). When was the last time you experienced, "brand spanking new?" How are we modeling the power of the resurrection for our people?

Leadership Summit 2009, Stillwater UMC

Sitting here at the Willowcreek Leadership Simulcast at Stillwater UMC. Hybel's opening talk is always worth the price of admission for me. Gary Hamel though stole the show, well worth looking him up and buying any book he has written. Great talk. My favorite line: "Sometimes we're so far stuck in a rut, that the edge of the rut looks like our horizon." As the speed of change increases are we keeping up with our reality, or are we increasingly losing our influence in the world??? The statistics show the latter. Four times as many atheists in our country today than there were in 1990. Only 17% in our culture are in church on any given Sunday morning. Oh God, what is it You want to do in me to help You reach the rest of the world? Hamel: "We are in a race to uncover our own orthodoxies." What do we take for granted that we can't any longer? What it means to be the Church? Where it has to be? What it has to look like? Who is included in it?

Church Visit, "Making the Most of What You've Got," Nation Chapel UMC

Driving out to Nation Chapel, my wife and I passed a house with at least three Ham Radio towers shooting up and out of it. It looked like a forward assault post for an alien invasion. Once we got to the church we encountered another, a forward outpost for Christ's kingdom. Rev. Johnson and the folks at Nation Chapel are doing servant evangelism and need meeting ministries as good as all the best. Though not specifically located directly in a town, they are making inroads all around. Whether you need a prayer, food, clothing, a car repaired, or a handicap ramp built, teams of volunteers live to serve you and reach out in Christ's love. Imagine...need meeting ministries that reach out to people at their point of need rather than what we think it should be. They are truly making the most of what they've got. The food pantry does double duty as an Adult Sunday School Class, Children's Sunday School Class, and the Nursery all on any given Sunday morning. Averaging now 85 a week even in the middle of summer (with two area county fairs going on), they still had to set up metal folding chairs in two adjacent Sunday School classes just to make room for all the people. A knockin' out praise band to boot--guitars, bass, electronic drums, keys, AND harmonica. Way to go one and all!

Living in Mission, "Springfield's Free Store"

Even when business is good, it's bad. Serving a total of 2,053 families, they picked up 18 new ones on the day I visited and 31 the day before on their grand opening at their new site. More business means more people are in desperate need. You can find the Free Store at the corner of Selma and Sunset in an old Springfield strip mall. Eddie, one of their volunteers, walks clear across town just to serve there. Others show up for free clothing, food, house ware items, and a whole lot of God's love. Pastors Bruce Gischel, David Yingling, and Sherri Blackwell have much to be proud of. Having just moved into and their new facility, they were up and running in full operation. In this part of the country, the city is the most underserved of Methodism. But Jesus said in Acts 1:8, the movement of the Spirit will begin there and then spread throughout the region. Our prayers go out to all their faithful who are preparing for the next great awakening and to all who have given themselves to reaching the least, last, and lost.

Living in Mission, "The School of Mission"

Went up to ONU last week with my son to speak about our human trafficking interest. Just wanted to highlight a great teaching event. If you need to boost your interest in missions, it could very well be the place: make great contacts for planning trips and developing partnerships, learn about issues in depth and from all sides, and regardless of your background, build an understanding and get exposed to the other. For you evangelicals, begin to build an understanding of social justice and vice versa. Just be prepared to turn off your cell phone. Ada doesn't have very good coverage at least for ATT. :-)

Reflection: "Working with a Remnant"

I have been in several different places recently and hearing lots and lots of stories. When I look back on the Scriptures, it seems rare that God starts with anything big: one Abraham, five loaves and two fish, 12 disciples, 4o days, an extended family, sparrows, a widow, a voice in the wilderness, a paralytic on a mat, five smooth stones, etc. etc. The list goes on and on. So much has been focused on the mega church in our culture, growing the big, that we have lost the art of starting with the small. The twelve grew to the 40, and they the 120, and then the 500, and the world outreach from there. What is the unique dynamic of what you have to work with now? As much as you study where you want to head, become the master of the nuances of where you are now. We were nothing more than a Gentile stump to begin with. Yet, even with that, there is no limit to what we can ever be. God's grace and love.

Church Visit, "Principled Leadership," Fletcher UMC

Last Sunday, Fletcher UMC dedicated its long awaited new building. It is asolutely beautiful, styled perfectly for its context. Bruns Construction seems to have done a really nice job for them. Together, they incorporated some special touches that you really need to check out if your church is considering: in-kind labor laid a porcelain tile Gathering Place, a coffee bar doubles on the other side as a serving line for the multi-purpose room (a great design, I think), and just the right finely appointed touches that completely remove the metal building feel. Russ Tichenor and his wife Michelle have done an even better job leading, however. In just a short time he has really grown to be their pastor. In typical Russ style, he let the dignitaries play many of the key roles in the service. Various groups from the church were well represented. You never have to shy away though from the mantle God has placed on your shoulders. You have earned it with your faithfulness. Fine job all the way around Fletcher.

Living in Mission, "The Wesley Center"

As many of us already know, Acts 1:8 says that "we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us to be witnesses." That is, there is a purpose behind the giving of the Spirit. It's not for our own self-indulgence, but for reaching out beyond ourselves in self-sacrifice. It's even more specific, though, I now think. We are to be witnesses, it says, "in Jerusalem, and Judea, Sumaria, and the greater ends of the earth." Our outreach therefore starts with the city, and Dayton's Wesley Center has always been in the business of pioneering that. If you want to see partnerships, visit. Dr. Walker and his staff would be more than happy to show you around and discuss their philosophy of ministry. Radical hospitality is at the heart. It permeates every person in their organization and every ministry activity of which they are a part. For that matter, any of our district-affiliated mission sites would be more than happy to give you and your leaders a tour and help you take your local mission efforts to a whole new level of effectiveness. And, it begins where the church has largely abandoned. The city, where the most people are, is where God first unleashed the Spirit's power to transform the world. If you haven't already, don't you want to go where God's Spirit has always been?

Church Visit: "A Field of Dreams," Germantown UMC

I really thought I was in a scene from the movie. I half-expected to look up and see Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones, for real. Germantown UMC last Sunday night broke ground for their new building...after something like nine long years of hard work and prayer. It's a beautiful piece of property in an idealic location. 150-200 people showed up. And virtually all of them carried a shovel. It was incredible. Every generation was represented, all of them well, especially the youth, children, and young families. What is your field of dreams? The place where there is nothing and you are dreaming of something? Germantown made it...through a church merger, and all the getting used to living with each other. They made it...after three different pastors, one of which left prematurely as he was called up to serve in Reserves after 9/11. Sometimes we would rather till in a field other than the one we currently own. Most fields of dreams, however, are right outside our own back door. Rent the movie.

Reflection: "Every Challenge an Opportunity--at a Cost"

Well, after two weeks on the job I am still smiling and having fun, though the territory seems still large, work huge, and challenges sometimes daunting. I have realized something though, in the midst of exploring some of "our issues." For every challenge there is an opportunity. Sometimes it's lurking a little beneath the surface. Sometimes, it's so glaring anyone could see it. Sometimes, it's only evident after I pray a prayer something like, "Lord, what in the world is the opportunity in this?" Or, "Dear God, what could be the wildest opportunity for You and Your kingdom in all of this?" Challenges become opportunities, though, in direct proportion to our willingness to pay the cost...

Some questions that would be helpful for us to consider in various situations throughout our district would include: 1. Am I willing to look at and evaluate how we do worship in our church? [Been to several services already. Fresh eyes always see at least a few things. Feel free to ask me what I see.] 2. Am I willing to look at and evaluate my leadership style? 3. Or heaven forbid, my preaching style? 4. When "The Conference" wants to take my pastor or not give me the perfect one, will I play continue to play victim?

Every now and then I turn on Robert Schuller just for the reminder to think positively about my situation, no matter what it might be, even when I realize it will cost much.

Church Visit, "Children's Ministry," Spring Valley UMC

A barefoot children's choir director who just doesn't direct, but also jumps up and helps her kids do the motions has really got it going on. Even in a small town kids abound. Spring Valley UMC just had as many kids in their VBS as they average in their weekly worship. Great work! George Barna published the research originally. But did you know that well over 80% dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ before they ever reach the age of 18? What we do for our children's ministry could be the most productive work we do for the kingdom. Is your church investing as much in it as it does in everything else?

Church Visit, "The Power of the Laos," Ansonia UMC

Wow, it was neat to see them in action. Got to introduce a new pastor to the fine folks at Ansonia, and boy, they really shined. Their previous pastor had prepared and led them well. They were engaged, and ready. They had owned their vision. It wasn't just the pastor's or that of the conference. It was theirs. And watching them share it and tell all that God was doing through it, blew me away. Great work Ansonia. In the Bible, there is no such thing as a word for "clergy." Rather, we are all the "laos" or laity. It's up to all of us, not just one special person or group. A strong clergy/lay partnership is perhaps the most important factor to a healthy and growing church. We get to love each AND work together. Just getting back to the basics of building strong and healthy relationships provides a foundation that with Christ will grow great things for the kingdom.

Reflection: "Appointment Making"

Last night I conducted an introduction for one of our most well prepared churches. In the midst of all the typical questions, they presented their church's vision, wanting the new pastor to see where God had been and seemed to be heading. What a great context to see if it was a good match with pastor and church. Too often, we see the appointive process as a negative. In the old days of the Methodist Movement, it was missional. As one pastor was "called" to another church for a very special purpose, so too was another "called" to the former church for just as important and special a reason. The conference didn't "take." God rather, "gives." Overall, as I have been now privvy to some of the inner workings of our shared appointive ministry, I have really been impressed with what all goes on behind the scenes. God is truly at work. Sure, sometimes we will miss the mark. We will in everything. Nothing though is irredeemable. God is Alpha and Omega: the Initiator of all good things and our Finisher. Looking forward to partnering together in Christ's mission.

Church Visit: "Mobilizing for the Future," South Park UMC

They are poised for growth not because of their prime location but because of their hard work and preparation. Pastor Brooks Heck and the leaders of South Park UMC are making the turn and positioning themselves for God to do a new work. Despite the challenges of their current reality, they have assembled several leading ministries as in-roads into the community: a Thrift Store and Food Pantry, Preschool, partnerships with the local University, community alliances, etc., etc. I have never seen such thorough demographic studies and neighborhood analysis. Keep them in your prayers as God puts the final pieces of their puzzle together for a new era of harvest. Despite how difficult it seems, Jesus said, "It is (still) plentiful."

Living in Mission: "It'll Break Your Heart"

Got back late Friday night from my Human Trafficking Awareness Trip to Mexico and my heart is still grieving. I saw things I never could have imagined even in my worst of dreams: a line-up of girls forced into prostitution; stories of children whose bodies were harvested for organs; a farm to take the taken and hook them on drugs so that they'd be willing to anything for the next fix; an onslaught of violence from the cartels that is taking up all of law enforcement's attention; and yet the breaking in of God's grace and light in the midst of what seems like such a dark place. I sat in the living room of a battered women's shelter and heard their stories, involving both the violence of men and God's saving provision. I have never heard such beautiful testimonies; let alone coming from such horrific of circumstances. What will you let break your heart? The church has never been more vital than when it's in mission to the worst of human need. The believers that I met abounded in love, and joy, and passion for ministry, much, much more than what I sometimes see here. Maybe we as leaders need to go even deeper into Jesus' mission. Instead of talking about parishioners needing to get off the fence, maybe it's we who need to lead even further than what we thought we do.

Living in Mission: "Human Trafficking"

Just some sites you can check out if you want while I am off in Mexico...

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2006/04/115450.shtml
http://voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/01/02/government/featured_stories/80strathdee122907.txt
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/15/AR2008061501867_pf.html
http://www.operationlookout.org/lookoutmag/Sex_Tourists.htm

Church Visit: “A Small Church Living Large for God,” Pemberton UMC

Off the beaten path for most, it is a beacon of light in its community and shining bright for the world. Pastor Don Burley and the folks of Pemberton UMC have made the turn and are not looking back. Averaging somewhere under 20 just a couple of years ago, they are now worshipping 60 in the heat of summer. And though smaller than some churches, they are living large for God. If I said, “Warm hospitality,” it just wouldn’t do it justice. They had fantastic hospitality. A strong relational connection was most evident with the pastor and the people and among one another, all very important in a smaller town. Children were evident and everywhere, a vital part of the service. Though it seemed like a lot was packed into the program, it all flowed, went with the theme, and kept moving. Their ministry programming is growing as well. Partnerships in Haiti and Africa have been started. But this time of year, they’re in the middle of sending as many kids as they can to camp, sponsoring each and everyone. Great job one and all. Keep the faith and enthusiasm, despite the challenges that always come with radical change.

Introduction to District

Dear Colleagues and Friends, I so look forward to serving you as our district's new superintendent. Thank you all for your warm welcome and kind encouragement as we begin this new season together. God is able to do exceeding abundantly, beyond all that we ask and think (Ephesians 3:20). So much is therefore still in store as we journey together as faithful Methodists and followers of Jesus in this the 21st century. There is no greater privilege than to engage in the mission to make disciples in His name.

For the last few days of June and first few days of July (thru 7/3), I will be on a missions trip with my son studying the very grave human trafficking problem in Northern Mexico. Please keep us in your prayers while we are away for both our safety and courage. It seems so daunting. I want to see like Jesus sees.

Upon my return, I plan on posting regularly to keep you informed of my activity and sharing thoughts and ideas that I pick up along the way from all of you. It will give us a forum to carry on a conversation that can maybe, just maybe expand our horizons for God’s kingdom work.

Looking forward to meeting you all very soon.

In Christ Alone,

Chris