the sticks

This Blog has moved!

2010-08-24T17:19:00.000-04:00

Hey Guys, this blog has moved to:

www.thesticksblog.com

What's Up in the Sticks, May.2010.

2010-05-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, we have been on hiatus for awhile, but remember that we all do this on the side, and we are busy planting/revitalizing churches, campuses and other craziness in small towns and hard to reach places that nobody knows about!

For those of you who are doing ministry where no one else wants to...we know what it's like! Here are some updates for May:

1. Our new site/blog/conference details will be off the hook in June. It's our official roll-out. We desire the new blog to be a place of networking and resourcing those who are in small towns and hard to reach places. Look for it at our MAIN SITE. This will be the premier source for all things STICKS.

2. We are almost under 300 seats left for the STICKS CONFERENCE this fall in Galletin, TN on November 9-10. [35 miles n/o Nashville]. The main sessions and break-outs are tailor made for those of us doing it with no resources, staff, a wing and a prayer! Don't miss a conference experience like no other. No excuses...be there. And don't wait...or you might miss out.

The breakouts and speakers know what it takes to encourage, network, equip and inspire those of us trying to do a lot with a little!

3. BTW: Did you sign up for free tickets? You can do it HERE.

4. Want some help? No one else offers coaching like this to help those in small towns and hard to reach places where we have little money, little staff, little help, little _____________.

The STICKS coaching network has some openings. Are you trying to transition a traditional church? Are you planting or looking to revitalize a plant? How about bi-vocational? Is multi-site in the STICKS in your future? We have coaches that have been there, done that. Like Greg Oraham who is lead pastor at a church of 2,400+ in 2 sites all in a town of 8,000! Where else will you get access like that to help transform your ministry? E-mail us for more deets: [info@thesticks.tv]. And this is NOT group coaching...we are 1 on 1 right where you are.

5. We will be giving away a free IPAD next month just for re-tweeting, face-booking and helping us spread the word. We do this with NO BUDGET, so SHARE THE LOVE!

6. We will also be launching twice a month meet-ups with some of YOU and some of our speakers. Look for the details soon. You can live facebook and message your questions with people who are doing it in the trenches. Some you know well, others you haven't heard of at all...and we like it that way.

Look for THE STICKS to bust out next month and into July. We do this for YOU...so share the love and passion as we reach places where nobody else thinks of going because of the fire that Jesus has placed in our hearts.

We weren't invited to the conversation at most gatherings [not that we desire that...but how about those of us out on the edges?], so we are creating one ourselves. Thanks for being a part of this crazy tribe.

Yep...We Just Went Live.

2010-02-22T14:20:00.002-05:00

THE STICKS 2010-2011 website is LIVE! www.thesticks.tv

Our blog, networking and resource connection will launch within 45 days. Patience young grasshopper...we all do this on the side and we are lucky to have internet where we live!

Conference details are coming together...can't wait to release them as we get them.

Who will be the first to register? Great to see everyone at the VELOCITY CONFERENCE so far. I am jacked about gathering people in small towns [50K and under...way under, way, way under] and hard to reach places who go where no one else wants to.

Thank you for hearing the call and living the mission RIGHT WHERE HE HAS CALLED YOU!

STICKS NEWS AND UPDATES.01.31.10

2010-01-31T19:49:00.003-05:00

Hey all you STICKS crazies! How is ministry in the middle of nowhere going? You are the brave warriors going where no one else wants to go! Dang, it can be lonely, tough, discouraging and mind-blowing. So glad we serve a God who was born in a very out of the way place, when he could have chosen a palace! If you have ever wanted to quit, or don't know where to turn next, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

We are excited that in the next 8 weeks we will be unveiling a brand new site for those in small towns and hard to reach places who need a place for ENCOURAGEMENT, INSPIRATION, NETWORKING and TRAINING. That is what the STICKS is all about. PERIOD.

We are just a bunch of regular pastors, church planters, staff and lay leaders with "other" jobs, so thanks for your patience as we work to get this new site up. We have no formal staff, marketers, or gurus. The blog will serve as the place to gather and the new STICKS CONFERENCE website will be up with our 2010-11 line-up as we know it to date. Since we have no staff, we count on YOU to make it happen, so spread the word and get this thing jacked up as we move forward.

We do know that November 9-10th, 2010 we will be hosting our 1st full conference of the STICKS season. Look for final details soon!

Our STICKS TEAM will be there with some friends to gather together for those 4 purposes. Forget them already? [ENCOURAGEMENT, INSPIRATION, NETWORKING and TRAINING].

We believe that the purpose of the STICKS GATHERINGS is to be a place where RELEVANCE MEETS REVIVAL! Look for the new site and registration info very soon.

**Lastly, don't forget that we will be doing a PRE-CONFERENCE at CHURCHPLANTERS.com VELOCITY CONFERENCE next month. We would love to meet-up with you there. The main conference line-up is KILLER and if you can't make the whole thing, at least register for the PRE-CONFERENCE and come see us. [If you can come, the first person to e-mail me and ask, I will give a free pre-conference admission ticket for our STICKS GATHERING prior to the Velocity Conference].

We also have some spots still available in our STICKS COACHING NETWORK. There are very limited spots left for our coaching network [$150-$250/month for access to the ONE ON ONE coaching.] Hit me for more details: chazzdaddy17@gmail.com

Can't wait to see what God will do with a bunch of no-body's. Let's freaking rock it, right where HE has called us and placed us and sealed us with HIS MISSION. Just because we are in the middle of nowhere doesn't mean that we can't have BIG IMPACT in HIS POWER!

The Next STICKS Event @ CHURCHPLANTERS.COM 2010! Let's blow it up.

2009-09-21T10:00:00.009-04:00

THE STICKS is honored to have been invited to do a pre-conference workshop gathering for the VELOCITY CONFERENCE from CHURCHPLANTERS.com

The line-up is SICK for the main conference [which by the way is ONLY $72 for 72 hours starting THIS MONDAY...so get on it.] The pre-conference workshop will be on day 1 from 9-12pm, and the main conference begins @ 1pm.

Hold on...here is what our team will attempt cover at THE STICKS pre-conference:

1. HOW TO DO A LOT WITH A LITTLE. [little staff, little leadership, little money, little faith?]

2. HOW TO KEEP MINISTRY IN A PLACE WHERE RELEVANCE MEETS REVIVAL.

3. THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND ISSUES OF ATTRACTING STAFF, DEVELOPING LEADERS, AND OTHER STRUGGLES IN SMALL TOWNS AND HARD TO REACH PLACES.

4. Q and A SO YOU CAN BRING YOUR QUESTIONS AND GET PRACTICAL HELP TO WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK.

So glad that an amazing team of people have stepped up to lead THE STICKS into the future to minister to those in small to medium sized towns and hard to reach places so they might have a BIG IMPACT for the KINGDOM!

Check out all the other details about the pre-conference workshop HERE. Stop on by, and be prepared to do some serious networking and be ready for some fresh vision and inspiration. Who knows...maybe we can get some big name dude to stop by and donate some money to your church...maybe, just maybe.

I do know that we will be stealing some of the amazing equipment from Mountain Lake Church [that's one STICKS tip...big churches don't miss a piece of equipment or a stray motion light or 2... ;]

We're Back.

2009-09-10T11:40:00.005-04:00

After an up and down first year [2 amazing events, and 1 canceled event]...THE STICKS is still at it! We all do this on the side, and we all do this will no budget or staff...welcome to the church right?

We are putting together a GREAT TEAM of leaders from across the country who will continue to lead this movement and are excited about sharing the struggles, joys, victories and sometimes defeats that we all share in small to medium sized towns and hard to reach places.

Our goal is SIMPLE:

To TEACH OTHERS how to DO A LOT with A LITTLE. Because those who are in small to medium sized towns and hard to reach places, know that this is a challenge! We have little funds, little leadership, little vision, little encouragement, little support, little help, little ______________, you fill it in.

And along the way, we have built some amazing relationships and learned so much from our time together, and this will carry on into eternity. We have met some of the TOP LEADERS in the country...you know who you are.

You might never write a book, or speak at conferences. You will not have 9 minutes on the NINES, or featured in a magazine or whatever. You are simply FAITHFUL. And you are MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

We LIVE to tell YOUR STORY! Thank you.

Can't wait to share what God is doing in the hearts of leaders around the country.

Our next event is tentatively scheduled for February, 2010. Details to come.

What say YOU?

WE ARE STRIPPING IT ALL OFF FOR YOU in the sticks.

2009-07-03T10:21:00.004-04:00

Ummm...yeah. The gathering is stripped down. That would be more palatable, even though Dave has been working out at a special retreat in Mexico, so it is rumored.

This gathering is all about YOU. We simply desire to REFRESH, ENCOURAGE, REFUEL, and possible SEED some FRESH WIND into the place that GOD has CALLED you.

Yep...the CONFERENCE FOR NOBODIES as Dave has labeled it.

We'll even help get you here...yep. Full deets on that HERE.

Here's the agenda:

WHAT? // We are hosting a FREE Sticks Conference Round table on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

WHERE? // Hartselle, Alabama [2910 Highway 31 NW
Hartselle, AL 35640-4271] hosted by CrossPoint Church.

WHO? // YOU! YOU! YOU! Facilitators will be: Charles Hill, Dave Anderson, and a special guest that is still being confirmed.

SCHEDULE? //

8:30-9:15am // Tell us about YOU!

BREAK

9:30-10:45 // Session 1

BREAK

11:-12:15 // Session 2

12:15-1:15 // WORKING LUNCH THAT IS OUR GIFT TO YOU!

BREAK

1:30-2:30 // Session 3

BREAK

2:45-4:30 // OPEN PANEL Q and A

COST? // Bring yourself. Need help? let us know.

We will be talking about whatever YOUR agenda is in a special Q and A brainstorming session plus 3 "directed" sessions on various subjects that are pressing for those who are in small to medium sized towns and budgets. Do you have questions about casting vision, staffing, budgeting, church planting or multi-site?

How about youth and children's ministry, bi-vocational ministry, leadership development or spiritual development/assimilation process? Bring them...let's encourage and equip each other.

And we'll even throw in the HEAT and HUMIDITY for FREE...you can send a thank you card later...no worries.

Registration is easy: Hit me and say...strip me down, I am in: [chazzdaddy17@gmail.com]

FREEEEEEEEEEEE STICKS ROUNDTABLE GATHERING and we will help you if you need it...

2009-06-30T14:34:00.003-04:00

You heard right...

My co-conspirator in the STICKS round table, DAVE ANDERSON, just made an offer that you can't refuse...

Check out the details HERE.

See you July 7th for a time of gathering in HIS presence and seeking HIS glory and asking for HIS leading in the places where HE has called us.

The Sticks Round Table is a place where REVIVAL meets RELEVANCE.

2-3 Pre-Set Sessions, and the rest of the agenda is YOURS!

yes...

2009-06-15T13:04:00.003-04:00

we are still here and alive.

thanks to @loswhit people started talking about all things STICKS again...so that prompted us to let you know where we are right now.

some big news coming...so WATCH for it, especially if you are in the Southeast.

don't forget we are all VOLUNTEERS in this thing, so we took some time off lately after the big Southeast regional let down.

but small towns still need the love of Jesus...so we are firing it back up with some potential initiatives we are working on to network small town pastors.

How to grow your church to 93 people in a bi-vocational role and other ramblings.

2009-04-25T11:12:00.008-04:00

Guest Blogger: Dave Anderson is Lead Pastor at Crosspoint Community Church in Decatur, Alabama.

I'll never forget my first church plant. God called us to "the fastest growing city" in America. We lived in the "fastest growing county." We went to an Ed Stetzer Church Planters bootcamp, crafted our mission statement, designed mailers for our relevant church, opened our bank account and published our web site. And of course we practically memorized Rick Warren's book - "Purpose Driven Church".

We were going to be the next successful church plant. Anyone should be able to plant a church in those conditions!

A year later we shut it down having never had a service. It was painful.

The call of God was clear though. The location just changed. Back to our mid-sized town of 50,000 people. This time in the bible belt where its easier to find a church than a liquor store. No people, no money, no support organization. Just the painful reminder of what its like to fail.

Six years later as a bi-vocational pastor with about 120 people I thought - lets do something our town has never seen. I quit my job, moved our church from a rented building into a movie theater hung out door hangers and rented billboards and planned my next great sermon series and thought - we'll explode. That almost happened! We "relaunched" our church and grew immediately to 178 people.

It wasn't long till we pushed through growth barriers and hit 93 a few months later.

Discouraged and nearly defeated, I went back to work full time wondering if we might have to shut down yet another church "plant" and I began to ask God - "what's wrong and why can't a church grow in Decatur, Alabama?"

16 months later, on Easter Sunday 2009, while working 40 hours a week as a government contractor, The Crosspoint Community Church had 580 in attendance!

How you ask? Find out at THE STICKS CONFERENCE. I will be leading a break-out specifically designed for those in bi-vocational and smaller churches that will help them navigate the challenges that are faced in those unique contexts.

With God anything is possible in any town of any size and any church of any size for any pastor. Are you going to sit there - or register now?

Dave Anderson is Lead Pastor at Crosspoint Community Church in Decatur, Alabama.

One on One with ED STETZER about SMALL TOWN AMERICA.

2009-04-20T16:40:00.006-04:00

That title says it all...check out our dialogue with Ed on the podcast to the right. Huge thanks to Ed for all the time and effort he has given to us out of his extremely busy schedule.

You can meet Ed and a ton of other small to medium size town practitioners at THE STICKS CONFERENCE in 3 weeks! Only $99. We want to IMPACT your TOWN and your HEART, not your BUDGET!

NEWSPRING SECRETS...with TONY MORGAN.

2009-04-06T10:38:00.003-04:00

ok...they aren't top secrets, but I pushed as hard as possible to get the D/L on NewSpring and other leadership insights that Tony has picked up over the years. From Easter plans to assimilation, to breaking barriers in a small town...we try to cover it all in a few minutes in the podcast in the right sidebar...

These are some of the amazing topics and insight that we will be learning from each other at the STICKS gathering...coming in 5 weeks! The next Speaker Podcast will be with ED STETZER...and if you have any questions you have been dying to ask ED...hit me and I will try to work it in!
____________________________________________________________
...are you in a small to medium sized town looking for a gathering that will help facilitate true networking and learning for YOUR context? We have a limited number of seats...so GET AT IT SOON!

2 minutes/35 seconds @ the STICKS...

2009-03-28T00:00:00.002-04:00

Take 2 minutes and check out what you missed at the MIDDLE AMERICA STICKS conference @ Brand New Church.

Good news is that there is 1 more coming...with Perry Noble, Ed Stetzer, Tony Morgan, Gary Lamb, Greg Oraham and many others...and once we are out of tickets...we are out. Check it. [thanks to @patricksprague]

The Sticks Middle America Roundup from thesticks.tv on Vimeo.

The Sticks Middle America Impact

2009-03-20T09:12:00.006-04:00

The best way to explain what happened at the Middle America Sticks is to not explain it ourselves. Listen to just 1 of the amazing stories from last week:

"Thank you man!Many people have vision but never live it out. Having it is easy but living it............that is another story. I want to thank you for investing in the lives of our leadership. For all the hard work, for the sacrifice that you and your wife and kids laid on the cross, so that guys like me and our teams can be discipled to bear much fruit for the kingdom of God. God has changed my life so much. He has not only given me vision but passion as well.

I know I go by lion chaser, but sometimes man I just feel like climbing a tree instead of jumping into the pit. You know what I am talking about. This is not about what is easy, this is about what is necessary for the kingdom to grow.The vision and passion was caught by our team in this past two days. That would not have happened if we had not gotten to be a part of the Sticks. You, your wife, and kids are in my prayers man! Keep living it for Jesus, and helping out pastors like myself to live it as well."

Enough said.
_________________________________________
$99 Lambinator Super Early Bird ends this weekend. Get on it for the Southeast Regional with Gary Lamb, Perry Noble, Ed Stetzer, Greg Oranham, Tony Morgan and Charles Hill. $99? Not a typo for eternal impact.

The Sticks Main Session #3: Rick Bezet [New Life Church - newlifechurch.tv]

2009-03-18T12:29:00.001-04:00

The Sticks Main Session #3: Rick Bezet [New Life Church - newlifechurch.tv]

THE STICKS DAY 2 ::LIVE BLOG:: TIM STEVENS [www.gccwired.com]

2009-03-18T10:24:00.001-04:00

The Sticks Main Session #3: Tim Stevens [Granger Community Church - gccwired.com]

2009-03-17T16:01:00.003-04:00

The Sticks Middle America Main Session #2: Geoff Surratt [Seacoast Church - seacoast.org]

THE STICKS MIDDLE AMERICA LIVE BLOG NOTES...Session 1: Dwight Mason: New Pointe Church [www.newpointe.org]

2009-03-17T08:04:00.002-04:00

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=c3944cc332" &amp;gt;The Sticks Session 1: Dwight Mason [www.newpointe.org]&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-16T23:36:00.003-04:00

Just finished all the details and programming walk-throughs for the STICKS MIDDLE AMERICA...all I can say is that I am blown away. BRAND NEW CHURCH has BROUGHT IT big time.

I can't wait to see it LIVE and up-close. Thanks to the STICKS team and BNC staff and VOLUNTEERS for all their hard work. It has paid off.

Shannon O'Dell and his crew are amazing...just a look at their building is enough vision to send you on your way to take new ground!

We kick it off tomorrow...@ 9. Don't miss the first minutes or you will be sorry.

Get ready to be blown away in a place where RELEVANCE MEETS REVIVAL...
__________________________________________
New Schedule for both Days [had some speaker availability issues]...

Main Session : 9-10:30
*break/networking*
Breakout : 11-11:45
*Lunch*
Breakout: 1:15-2:00
*break/networking*
Main Session : 2:00-3:45
*break/networking*
Main Session : 4:15-5:45

Important News from THE STICKS!

2009-03-15T15:46:00.003-04:00

Still time to register for one of the most amazing experiences you have ever [OK...enough of the bad marketing...you know what you are in for...] Ready to have your world shook up? It's going to happen in the middle of nowhere this week. Not registered yet or waiting until the last minute? We do have space for WALK-UP REGISTRATIONS...GET ON IT!

For those attending...this might be worth the price of admission: we are hosting a PRE-CONFERENCE informal Q and A round table discussion with the BNC staff and other speakers who are there early! It will be @ BNC from 6:00pm to 7:30pm...don't miss it! That is where true learning, networking and fellowship takes place.

We will pre-register you as well and you can SKIP THE LINES!

The BNC staff and Shannon O'Dell has worked their butts off to make this one of the most amazing environments you have ever seen before! BNC is one of the premier churches in AMERICA of ANY SIZE, hands down.

It all goes down in 2 days...if you aren't able to come because of $$$$$$$$$$$ don't even think about it! E-mail us and let us help you: info@thesticks.tv [we don't have a ton of funds...but we want EVERYONE to come who wants too and not let resources stop you!]. Call it our special stimulus package. [congrats to Charity and Eddie who won free tix...use them well and bring a CREW!]

One other news note: They will be serving lunch for a small fee so you don't have to leave the church if you desire. I am sure sweet tea is on the menu. Scared to ask beyond that when it comes to southern fare :) Actually this is a kicking catering company whose owners that attends BNC. I am told they are amazing.

See you in THE STICKS...RAZORBACK STYLE...we leave in a few hours to head to the land of OZ...or was that Kansas? A place where RELEVANCE meets REVIVAL.
__________________________________________________________
and if you didn't see the line-up for the SOUTHEAST regional coming in May...are you kidding me? The LAMBINATOR SUPER EARLY BIRD ends next SUNDAY. Get it HERE.

oooooooooooops.

2009-03-10T18:50:00.002-04:00

the most recent podcast was with RICK BEZET. We suck.

Tim Stevens is on in a few days.

Rick could beat up Tim anyway.

a few moments behind the scenes with TIM STEVENS

2009-03-10T18:38:00.008-04:00

check out the fresh podcast we just tossed with the one and only TIM STEVENS...1 week and you can see him live at THE STICKS Middle America!

Get on it!

podcast is on the right hand side half way down on this page...we like to hide things around here. [thanks @mstake007 for the engineering] give him a twitter shout...he is a total rooooooooookie.

oooopsssssss. read this.

i think we broke tokbox today...

2009-03-04T17:15:00.003-05:00

WOW...either tokbox was broken by us small town crazies today or they can't handle our dial-up modems :)

Had a crazy, but fun time today with many folks today as we gathered on-line. So glad that we are not using tokbox at the STICKS...but talking face to face and growing together. Handled topics like: transitioning church/worship styles and wars/breaking into smaller town culture, and a variety of other issues.

Can't wait...2 weeks and we will be blowing up MIDDLE AMERICA at BRAND NEW CHURCH. Just heard of a group of 20 that is registering...that would be a new STICKS record.

BRING IT.

STICKS NEWS!

2009-03-03T11:18:00.003-05:00

2 weeks until MIDDLE AMERICA is rocking the STICKS! World-class leaders and pioneers in both small town ministry and multi-site will be gathered together in an intimate setting for a time where REVIVAL meets RELEVANCE! Think on the power of that phrase.

We extended the EARLY BIRD RATES through the time of the conference in response to the needs of the economic conditions at your church. And yes, small gifts of gratitude are welcome. REGISTER HERE!

Free on-line gathering TOMORROW! Check the deets HERE. And JOIN US ya crazy.

We are so honored to be serving you pioneers on the front lines of small to medium sized towns in America [75K or so...] some from much larger...we are praying that GOD will use this gathering in HUGE ways as we take the gospel to the world. [that was pretty churchy...but we mean it!]

If we can serve you in any way, please let us know: info@thesticks.tv [and no, we have no ties to rich investors...to save you an e-mail :]

And if you have not checked out our host church BRAND NEW CHURCH...you are missing out. 2 weeks and counting...

multi-site in THE STICKS.

2009-02-25T09:13:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we hosted a free on-line gathering for small town ministry leaders...check the deets HERE...will be doing 1 more next week.

I can't believe all the people who are considering multi-site in small town America! It dominated the topics.

So...don't forget this. One of the PIONEERS of multi-site, Geoff Surratt [author of THE MULTI-SITE CHURCH REVOLUTION] will be with us at THE STICKS. And so will veterans: Shannon O'Dell, Tim Stevens, Charles Hill, Dwight Mason, and Rick Bezet all run multi-site at their churches in different stages. [Dwight is kicking his first one this fall].

Check the bio's HERE.

It's going to be a multi-sitepalooza amoungst other topics for small town impact in an intimate setting where real ministry meets your real questions, needs and concerns. A place where relevance meets revival!

Less than 3 week...get on it.