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Platform

2010-01-06T22:12:31Z

There are no shortcuts to having a platform. You have to earn it.

No one owes you a platform.

Sometimes someone who is trusted can help you get a moment on the platform, but you still have to deliver to keep it.

The harder you try to have a platform, the harder it is to get it.

If you do what you’re designed to do and you are faithful to stick with it over time, there’s a good chance you’ll have a platform.

Not all platforms are created equal, but all have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others.

Relationships are the foundation of a platform. If you can’t build relationships, you can’t have a platform.

The person who yells the loudest doesn’t necessarily get the platform.

If you never stop and listen, you probably won’t get the platform either.

If it’s just about you, you don’t have a platform.

You’ll lose your platform if you don’t continue to use it for positive change. You have to move people to a better place.

You’re more likely to leverage your platform if you tell stories that engage both the head and the heart.

You’re more likely to keep your platform if you ask questions.

If people can’t have access to you and your daily life, your platform is probably shrinking whether you know it or not.

Platforms are established over time and lost in an instant.

Lots of people want a platform, but very few are gifted to have a platform and even fewer are humble enough to keep it.

The Naked Truth

2010-01-05T22:49:03Z

I’m really excited about the launch of our first series in 2010. On Sunday, we start “The Naked Truth: Uncovering the Realities of Relationships” at West Ridge.

Brian will start us off this weekend by debunking some of the myths of marriage. Many of these myths create false expectations and become the source of frustration and division for many couples. If you are single, I can’t think of anything better than to understand God’s expectations for a marriage before you make that covenant with someone else.

Here are the specific marriage myths that Brian will be hitting on Sunday:

If a couple truly loves one another they won’t ever argue or have problems.
A marriage makes a person a complete human being.
Sex is really not that important in a marriage.
The key to having a lasting marriage is finding Mr. or Mrs. Right.
The purpose of marriage is happiness.
Married couples should do everything together.
Having children will make two people in a marriage closer and increase happiness.
Once I get married he/she will change.
Spouses should be able to read one another’s minds.
A person’s family background has little effect on their marriage.
Bonus: A marriage can never survive an affair.

We will pull no punches in this series. We will be talking about affair-proofing your marriage and what to do if you’ve messed up. We’ll talk about divorce and brokenness and healing. We will address singles and those that are single again. And, yes, we will even be talking about sex.

For those of you who live in and around northwest Atlanta, we’d love for you to join us. But don’t come alone. Invite some friends to join you. This should be an easy ask. Just about everyone is interested in the realities of relationships.

The question is this… Can you handle the naked truth?

Coaching Network Application Deadline this Week

2010-01-04T14:42:48Z

There are a few slots remaining for the two new coaching networks that will begin next month. This Friday, January 8, is the application deadline.

One of the coaching networks will meet in Atlanta at West Ridge Church. The other one will meet from the confines of your home office via the World Wide Web. I’m offering one opportunity for those who want to travel to Hotlanta and another for those who would like to save a few pennies and join us online.

Overview

This network is designed for leaders and strategists who serve in a local church. The network will be limited to no more than 12 participants. As best as possible, I will select candidates to participate who are in similar roles and at similar churches. I’ll try to create an environment where you can experience the coaching but also learn from your peers. And, frankly, I’m looking forward to being challenged and learning from all of the participants as well.

We will meet six times once a month between February and July 2010. Each day will begin at 9:00 am and conclude by 3:00 pm. The dates are listed below.  Once the coaching network participants are identified, I will ask for recommendations on topics to cover at each session. Topics may include: staffing, leadership development, communications strategy, financial stewardship, volunteer team development, weekend services, ministry structure, multi-site strategy and more. Additionally, each session will include an opportunity for participants to discuss the pressing issues they are facing in their ministry environments.

What will you receive?

Six day-long coaching sessions
The opportunity to network with like-minded leaders
An invitation to join an online forum limited to network participants for continuing dialogue between sessions
Several free tools and resources including my new book, Killing Cockroaches
Plus other fun surprises and guest appearances!

What are the expectations?

Be a leader and/or strategist who’s currently serving in a local church
Demonstrate a strong commitment to personal and ministry growth
Attend all six coaching sessions on the following dates:
- Web Network: Feb 18, Mar 18, Apr 15, May 13, Jun 17, Jul 15
- Atlanta Network: Feb 19, Mar 19, Apr 16, May 14, Jun 18, Jul 16
Invest $200 per session
Complete the coaching network application by Friday, January 8, 2010 and submit it for review

If you are accepted into the network, we will notify you by Friday, January 15. If you have additional questions, please contact me.

West Ridge Church Highlights

2010-01-03T22:50:10Z

Brian included a number of stats in this morning’s message. He shared the summary from our 2009 ministry year at West Ridge Church. For those of you who weren’t here, I thought you might be interested in seeing some of these highlights.

2009 at West Ridge Church

540 people (who we know of) accepted Christ on our campus.
425 people were baptized.
Attendance at our Christmas Eve services increased 70% from last Christmas…and 70 people accepted Christ.
We finished the year with 55% of our students and adults involved in a small group.
Sunday attendance is up 10.5% since the end of summer.
Student ministry has increased 35% in that same period.
Since 1997, West Ridge has helped start 42 churches with 4 more launching in January 2010. We also commissioned 5 more church planters today. The churches we helped plant in the United States are reaching over 10,000 people each weekend.
4,000 volunteers from 36 churches participated in the “Community Makeover” weekend this past summer completing more then 400 projects.
We’ve helped to provide the funds to have 26 wells dug in Burkina Faso, Africa.
This fall, we partnered with Samaritan’s Purse and several other agencies to provide flood relief to 425 homes. 1,100 volunteers gave over 20,000 hours in that effort.
At Thanksgiving, we partnered with CAYA Ministries to provide turkeys and food boxes to 700 families.
At Christmas, we provided toys and food boxes to 1,400 families including 3,400 kids.

Brian concluded the message by talking about what’s coming in 2010. Here are some of the specific goals he mentioned for the coming 12 months:

Launch our second West Ridge campus in the West Paulding area this fall
Grow our commitment to launching strong, reproducing churches in the United States (more details coming soon!)
Increase small group involvement to 75% of students and adults
Engage 50% of students and adults in a volunteer role serving others
Take 600 students to summer camp at Myrtle Beach
Partner with 75 churches in this year’s “Community Makeover” (Your church can join us.)
Work with Samaritan’s Purse to rebuild homes in our region that were impacted by the 2009 flood
Focus on an initiative to encourage healthy families beginning with “The Naked Truth” series starting next week
Increase our engagement in prayer across the ministry

We have a great deal to be thankful for, and I’m really excited about what’s coming next. This is a God-sized plan! I’m praying we’ll be faithful and obedient to his call on our lives to see the full impact of the life change that results.

I can’t wait to dive in!

#1 in 09: 25 Free Web Apps That Make Life Easier

2009-12-22T03:10:02Z

Here’s the revised list of various free Web applications that I’m using. I tried to rank these in order of perceived value they add to my life.

Gmail – I’ve been using it for years for personal/blog email. Last year I ditched Outlook and am also using it for all work email. Try Gmail Labs for fun beta options.
Google Calendar – We’ve been using it for family calendar for several years. Last year I also shifted my work calendar. Now my wife, my assistant and I are all on the same page.
WordPress – It’s how I share daily insights about ministry, leadership and life from my blog.
Twitter – It’s how I share mini-insights throughout my day.
Google Reader – I made the switch from Bloglines to Google Reader within the last year. I use it to track about 100 blogs each day.

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#2 in 09: The New Traditional Church

2009-12-22T03:14:45Z

Let me preface this by saying I’m not sure what I think about what I’m about ready to share. I’m still processing. I’m still waiting to hear more from God on this. I haven’t landed.

As best as I can tell as I study churches across the country, here’s how the typical contemporary church asks people to invest their time today:

Participate in Sunday worship services.
Read their Bible.
Become a member of the church.
Attend classes to learn more about the Bible and their spiritual walk.
Participate in a small group with other believers.
Serve in a ministry.
Participate in events and programs that connect believers with others in a similar life stage. (i.e. men, women, married couples, moms, singles, college students, etc.)
Participate in missions efforts either locally or globally.
Invest in people’s lives and invite them to church.

I think that’s a fairly comprehensive list, but you could probably modify that for your specific church and add or delete from the list.

Now, as a result of all this, we see that about 20 to 25% of people end up doing most of the serving at a church. Contemporary churches struggle to get more than 30% of their people engaged in small groups. A very small percentage of people are in the Bible daily. People end up spending a lot of time at the church rather than connecting with people outside the church. We reinforce a consumption mentality that says if you’re going to grow in your faith that the church needs to spoon feed you. People become reliant on the church rather than Jesus for their spiritual maturity.

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#3 in 09: The New Traditional Church – Web Strategy

2009-12-22T03:18:08Z

I’m amazed at the number of churches that still view the web as primarily an advertising mechanism to let people know who they are and what they’re doing. Go ahead. Visit several church websites. Really doesn’t even matter what size the church is. With few exceptions, you’ll find their web strategy is essentially a bullhorn approach. The church is standing on a streetcorner of the web yelling at the people passing by:

“Come to our services on Sunday!”
“Let me tell you about our men’s ministry!”
“Join us for the golf tournament or fishing derby!”
“Serve on one of our ministry teams!”
“Give money to our church!”
“Here’s what we believe!”

It’s a one-sided relationship. The church views the web as a place to promote their agenda. No interaction with the audience. No stories of life change. No solutions to help people experience community or discipleship online. At best, you may be able to watch a video of a service, but you certainly won’t have the opportunity to engage a conversation with others about what you’re watching.

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#4 in 09: The New Traditional Church – Music

2009-12-22T03:22:20Z

A couple of months ago, I wrote about “The New Traditional Church.” That particular post focused on the discipleship strategy. I thought I’d pick up where I left off and share a few more characteristics of the new traditional church. Today, I’m going to focus on music.

Remember the days when the only worship music was hymns? We were stuck there because that was clearly the “sacred” style of worship music. Then the 80s hit and Willow Creek made it possible for us to use current music styles in worship services to connect with the unchurched.

Only it’s as if we got stuck in the 80s. While the church still leans on a mix of rock and pop music as the preferred worship genre, our culture has shifted once again. Now, according to iTunes, 1 in 3 of the top 100 songs in the country is either hip-hop/rap or R&B/soul. My guess, though, is that you can’t name a church in the country that’s using these genres of music for worship. Why is that?

Now, before you let your “it’s-not-our-culture” bias set in, consider this. Most of the hip-hop and R&B music has been recorded by black artists. 14% of the U.S. population is black. But, remember, nearly one-third of the music purchased on iTunes is one of these two genres. You do the math. White people like hip-hop.

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#5 in 09: What if Target Operated Like a Church?

2009-12-22T03:25:40Z

‘Tis the season to shop for Christmas gifts, so I recently made a trip to Target. I love Target because I don’t have to spend a lot of money, and I avoid going to Wal-Mart.

After spending a little bit of time in the store, it struck me how different Target is from most churches I’ve visited in the past. That led me to wondering how Target would be different if it operated like the typical church. So, with that in mind, here’s my initial list:

What if Target Operated Like a Church?

Instead of having men’s and women’s clothing departments, they would be called clever names like Impact and Embrace that are completely meaningless to new shoppers.
Each department in the store would have its own logo to go with their clever name. And, of course, all those logos would be different than the logo on the front of the store.
The workers in each department would all have their own t-shirts and flyers to promote what’s available in their departments. The youth clothing department would, of course, have the best flyers.

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tonymorganlive.com

Platform

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