Does Your Church Have "It" Going On???

As a church planting team, my wife and I regularly meet with Mark and April Nipper for prayer and fellowship. Tonight, we started a 9 session video entitled It by Craig Groeschel. We have all seen churches who have it and some churches who don't have it. It is our desire that Lakepointe Church will be a church that will always have it and will make huge impact in the lives of many in the north Detroit metro area and around the world because of it! If you don't understand what I'm talking about, then see the following short promo for the series. Hopefully, you'll get the point of it!

What will Lakepointe Church look like?

This past week, I read an awesome blog post by Perry Noble, pastor of New Spring Church in Anderson, SC. He shared how churches are so consumed with terminology and labels that they are missing the point of what they should be!

Read the following post by Perry Noble: Terminology or Transformation?

My desire for Lakepointe Church is to be a New Testament church who is:

• Traditional in teaching God's Word in relevant ways. The message stays the same, but methodology changes.
  

• Seeker-friendly in our approach to reaching people who are far away from God. We want them to visit a church where they don't feel like they are out of place and to receive a message that they can understand.

• Missional in which we are to always be adaptive to the changing culture that we're trying to reach. A church in Detroit is going to look different than a church in Jay, Florida.
  

• Attractional so that people will want to come back to church each week. Everything should be done with excellence! I know "time machines" aren't real, but they are real in many churches because it feels like you're in the 1950's when you walk in!

• Purpose-driven because I believe that a church without a purpose will eventually die or become useless! Our purpose is to see lives transformed. I pray that Lakepointe Church will never become a "country club with a steeple on top that gives our community the middle finger and tells them to go to hell because reaching them would make us uncomfortable!" [Perry Noble]

Happy Birthday, Nate!

Nate turns TWO today! He is growing like a weed and loves to say "no" to everything! This will be a big year of change for him with the moving and a new church plant.

This morning, we ate at Waffle House (he loves the waffles - too bad that they don't have WH in Detroit) and got a haircut. In a few minutes, we are going to party at the beach! We love you, Nate!

Coaching Network in McDonough, GA

Recently, I joined a pastor's coaching network at Avalon Church in McDonough, GA, 20 minutes south of Atlanta. On the third Thursday of each month this year, I will be traveling to this church to meet with about a dozen other pastors. The pastor of Avalon Church is Ritchie Miller, and he has led Avalon from its birth for the past 8 years and are averaging around 1500 each weekend. God is using him in a great way, and he has been a great avenue of resource and guidance to me.

For today session, my wife Karen was able to travel with me. She made sure I stayed awake on the trip. Today, we focused on two areas of ministry: building a strong Biblical leadership team (valuable teaching that I needed to hear) in the morning and children's ministry in the afternoon.

As I travel for the next 8 months, there will be some financial needs that I'm praying for, especially after we move to Detroit in June in which I will be traveling by plane. If you are able to help in any way, please contact me. I would greatly appreciate any help that I can get. This coaching network is extremely important to me. Research has shown that church planters in a coaching network are more likely to lead a church to a better launch and a stronger growth as opposed to a planter who is not involved in a coaching network. To me, this coaching is necessary!!

As I close, I want to thank Ritchie Miller and his staff for the time and energy to invest in the pastors of this network. You guys are great!

Lakepointe Church Logo and Website

Check out website at www.LakePointeChurch.tv.

Official Launch of Church - March 14, 2010
(Monthly services begin October 11, 2009)


Thanks to Red Iron Design House for Logo and Website.
Greg is the man (and so is Doug)!

Jim and Casper Go to Church

Recently, I've read a great book, Jim and Casper Go to Church. Jim Henderson is a believer who spends time developing a friendship with Matt Casper, an atheist. Together, they toured churches across America, some very well-known and some that I have never heard of. Each chapter is focused on a specific church where Jim asks his atheist friend to give an honest "outsider" opinion of that church. You'll be surprised at some of his insights (very practical observational points coming from an atheist).

It also shares some interesting perspectives about how believers should act around non-believers. I've known many believers who want to debate and argue their beliefs "to the point of death!" I love how this book teaches how we should "defend the space" and learn to listen to non-believers. Oftentimes, non-believers find believers to be downright rude because we tend to try to "shove" our beliefs down their throats.

Anyway, I found this video and it reminded me a little bit of this book and how believers and non-believers can co-exists and respect each other. In case you don't know, Penn is an adamant atheist. Watch how a believer gained his respect.



May we all have the "Christlike" attitude of this "unnamed" believer to be bold and at that the same time - to be respectful!

New SEVEN22 Series Kicked Off Tonight

Tonight, I started a new series at our weekly SEVEN22 young adults' service called "Decisions, Decisions" - how to make great decisions instead of making decisions that we regret!

Tonight was also monumental because I did something that I've never done before - to share the stage with another speaker. About 3 months ago, I called my good friend, Eric Hovind of the Creation Science Evangelism ministry, and threw the idea to him. In my good fortune, he accepted the challenge, and we did our first message tonight. Two different personalities - I'm the focus one, and I think Eric has ADD! Amazingly, I believe God pulled us together and help us to present a simple message.

Next Tuesday night, someone will have a chance to win $1,000! Will someone win it? We'll see, but join us next Tuesday night at SEVEN22 at Marcus Pointe at 7:22 PM!

Church Planting Team - The Nipper's

As a church planter, it is critical to create a strong team that will help you in the journey. Experts say that church planters that fail to create a team is often the first "red flag" in a possible failing church plant. Karen and I have been praying for people to be a part of the Lakepointe church team.

Recently, Mark and April Nipper announced to our church family at Marcus Pointe that they were joining the team! They will be moving to Michigan this summer, shortly after we move in June. My wife and I are so excited about the Nipper's being a part of our team. Mark and April have a real passion for ministry and they "get it." They understand and believe in the vision that God has placed on my heart.

I had the privilege to work with Mark on our church staff from 1999-2006. Currently, he is the athletic director at Alethia Christian Academy. April works at Wachovia Bank. Mark's greatest asset is strategic thinking and will help me to be "sane" in my thinking and organization. April complements her husband in the same way. Also, they are great when it comes to the area of finances, which is a huge blessing to me.

They have 2 children, Adam (5) and Hailey (4).

"Feed the Hungry" Sunday

Sunday, March 15, our church is concentrating on a day call "Feed the Hungry" where we focus on the "hungry" in Pensacola. Each week, we feed about 50-60 families a week through our Food Pantry, and the number is increasing each month. In Escambia county, there are about 4,000 families who go hungry on a daily basis.

We are challenging our people to bring a guest and 2 items to donate to our Food Pantry ministry. After the service, we plan to serve BBQ to about 2,000 people. If you are in the area, join us at 9:30 or 11:00 at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.