Campus Crusade facility pics:

I’ve had several people ask what this is all about.  I’m going to “borrow” some of the information below from one of my new ministerial friends, Mark Bjorlo who was a fellow assessor.  Here’s what the assessment is all about, and how it functions:

We also consider some very important Style Factors.  Are they Below, Meet or Exceed our expectations for:

• Attentiveness (gives full attention to the person speaking)
• Expressiveness (verbal/non verbal to enhance a message)
• Team Player (knows how to fin into various groups)
• Clarity (others understand what is being communicated)
• Personal Appearance (creates positive attraction)

The Assessee meets with a therapist (trained in Church Planting), takes a battery of tests, learns about their personality types using several tools, preaches, participates in several group activates, evaluates a case study and creates a major church planting project.  Through all of these and the many other interactions we gain a tremendous insight into the candidates life. We look for one thing and one thing only…is this person a potential Point Leader for a Church Plant.  That is it.  We do one thing and we do it very well.  We aren’t looking to help them find the right nitch, just give guidance as to the Point Leader position.

Some of the Candidates:

At the end of the week we will tell a candidate what we saw and give one of four recommendations. 

1.  Approved – Green Light

If they are called to plant, we affirm that we see the stuff it takes in this person to make it happen.

2.     Approved w/Conditions  - Yellow Light

They have things they MUST do before planting.  These things could take up to 17 months.

3.     Approved w/Strong Conditions – Red Light (STOP)

This will be given rarely.  We see potential but there are significant things this candidate needs to work on before being re-assessed.  We anticipate this taking between 18 and 24 months.

AND

4.     NOT Approved – Dead End

You are not a church planter.  You should follow God’s leading into another area/focus of ministry.  

In all these cases we are not attempting to define IF a candidate should be in ministry but again, do the building blocks suggest that this person would be a Point Leader in a New Church.  

(Thanks Mark, for letting me “borrow” that summary)

Here is what the “deliberation process” looks like:

We began our days at 8:00 am and didn’t return to the hotel until 10:30 pm or later each evening.  It was exhausting work.  And yet it was exhilirating.  There is something unmatched about being in the presence of so much hope and so many dreams.  It reawakens within my own spirit the reality that the call and opportunity to begin a ministry is the highest calling and greatest privelege that I can imagine.  It stirs again the vision of seeing a body of believers become fully developed in their faith while de-populating hell and spreading the love of Jesus.  What a life…. Thank you Jesus!  

Updated: March 32, 2009

Steelers to loose Super Bowl Trophies

Pittsburgh, PA. The Super Bowl XLIII Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the only team to win six titles, will soon be loosing half of those trophies. After a meeting between NFL Commissioner Rodger Gadel and President Barack Hussain Obama, Obama decided to redistribute half of their Steeler Super Bowl victories and trophies to less fortunate teams in the league.

“We live everyday in the country that invented the Super Bowl.” said Obama “We are not about to lose this Great American tradition in the wake of these difficult times.” Obama’s plan calls for the Steelers, who are a successful NFL team, to give half of their Super Bowl trophies to teams that are not successful or have not been as successful as the Steelers. “The Detroit Loins are just as much a part of the same fiber of the NFL as the Steelers and they should, no rather will, be entitled to a Super Bowl Trophy as well.” Obama explains in his plan that he has imposed on Godel and the NFL.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, who by virtue of hard work, excellent team play, stellar draft choices, responsible investing of free agents, careful hiring of coaches and excellent community service and commitment to their fans, has prospered greatly during the past 30 years and have won six Super Bowl Trophies. But President Barack Hussain Obama’s plan calls for the Pittsburgh Steelers to carry the larger burden of the NFL’s less successful teams. Obama went on to further proclaim, “In these difficult times we are all in this to work together. We must reclaim the NFL Championship Dream for every team, for every city and for every fan.”

“My plan will not affect 31 of the 32 teams in the league.” Obama assures. That’s over 95 percent of the teams in the NFL will not have to worry about loosing any Super Bowl Trophies. “The worst teams in the NFL and the teams that can’t seem to get a break and win a championship will no longer have to worry about going without a title.” Obama promises. “We are a country and league of hope. We all need to make a change. It does not matter the color of the teams uniforms, the personal decisions that the teams make or their performance but rather if they are a member of this great American league.”

The Super Bowl XLIII trophy will be redistributed to the 0-16 Detroit Lions. Through no fault of their own incompetence, the Lions could not manage a victory all season and this trophy will help ease the pain of their lack of performance and give them hope once again. The redistribution of Super Bowl XL trophy will go directly to the Steeler’s division rival the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals who also have fallen on hard times have never won a Super Bowl. This victory will bring a smile to hundreds of Bengal fans all over the world as they can now celebrate. Finally, one of the Steeler’s two Super Bowl victories over the Dallas Cowboys will go back to the Cowboys since the league needs to provide hope in the face of difficulty and provide hope in the face of uncertainty. This is a heavy burden for the Steelers but together we can all prosper.

All hope is not lost for Pittsburgh fans, Barack Hussain Obama has another plan in place. Obama has meet with MLB and commissioner Bud Selig on a similar plan. The New York Yankees will redistribute two of their world series trophies to the Pittsburgh Pirates as a supplement to their loosing 16 straight seasons and counting. This plan will help stimulate the Pirates and enable them to regain the American Dream. Barack Hussain Obama will be meeting with the NHL and Michael Phelps in the upcoming weeks as this issue is high on his agenda for “Hope and Change.”

Steelers must now share their wealth and fruits of their success and hard work.

Since that time, I have heard lots of opinions about assessment centers.  There are those who believe that rushing out to plant a church without first submitting yourself to an assessment is foolish to say the least.  Even I, as headstrong as I can be at times, believe that it only makes sense to allow the “counsel of many” to lead you in this important decision.  

Recently I came across a different point of view and my heart broke for the guy.  Many of you may be familiar with xxxchurch.com.  One of its’ founders is Craig Gross.  Recently Craig made a decision to leave xxxchurch to begin a church plant in Las Vegas.  Apparently, Craig had the commitment of a church planting organization to support this new ministry in Vegas with $400,000.  That’s a staggering amount of money.  But they required Craig to go to an assessment.  While his results were good, he apparently didn’t receive a clear “go-ahead” which cost him his financial support.  I don’t know how I would react to losing a commitment for $400k.  But it doesn’t change what I percieve to be the value of the assessment process.  (You can read all of Craig’s post about the experience here…. and my response to it in the comment section below)

Having been assessed as a potential planter, and having been an assessor, I can assure you it is a hugely valuable step in what I believe is one of the most demanding undertakings anyone can put their hand to…. beginning a church from scratch.  I am humbled and excited to be here this week to be a part of the process yet again with another group of dreamers.  If you read this blog, please be in prayer not only for Lesley and me, but for all of the assessors that God will give us wisdom in speaking into the future that lies before these church-planting hopefuls.

To the Pastors:  Aren’t there days that you just want to quit?

Perry told a story that allowed him to address how hard church work, and how discouraging it can be for the leader.  

FOUR QUESTIONS THAT EVERY LEADER NEEDS TO WRESTLE WITH? (from the life of Moses in Exodus 33

1.  Who is with me? - Exodus 33:12

• The average stay of pastors is only 22 months at any given church…. is it possible that some preachers are actually church-hoppers too?  
• Does the church know you’re there… that you belong to them and are committed to them?
• To the Staff:  Satan doesn’t want to split your church.. he wants to split your staff.. and begins when the staff member begins to think about his pastor.. “I do as much as he does”
  • When you think you’re going through spiritual warfare… your pastor is going through the same thing 100-fold.  You have no idea the weight he carries.
  • most pastors carry a weight that you will never understand unless you are a pastor.
  • You need to understand that the pastor is called to lead… Sheep don’t lead the Shepherd…. he has to know that you have his back.  

2.  Am I pleasing You? (We must constantly ask God this question) Exodus 33:13

• If God told you that this Sunday would be your last Sunday what would you preach?  Then go preach it Sunday because it may be your last.  
• Don’t be a prostitute that preaches for a paycheck and please people, but be a minister that pleases God.  
  • DO I UNDERSTAND THAT MINISTRY IS RECEIVED, NOT ACHIEVED?
    • We try to do way to much on our own rather than receive what God wants to do.
    • God knew every stupid mistake we would make as leaders before we even make it… that’s the mercy of God.
  • AM I PLACING LIMITS ON ME THAT GOD DOESN’T PLACE ON ME?
    • God often puts his most powerful gifts in his weakest vessels
    • What is the thing in your heart that you won’t speak about because you’re afraid people will think you’re crazy or afraid God might not come through?

3.  Will we see God? Exodus 33:14-17

• Are we creating an environment in church where people can live lives full of sin, come to church, and leave unconvicted and feeling good about themselves?
• Moses told God that he wanted God’s presence over anything else.  
• Do you want attendence or repentence?  It takes a pastor, a leader that will proclaim the Bible as the Word of God without apology.  
• It’s not always a bad thing when people leave your church… especially if they leave because they are offended by the Gospel.  

4.  What’s next? Exodus 33:18

• We don’t want to be a monument, and we don’t want to be a museum… we want to be in motion asking God to show us, what’s next?
• What would happen if the leadership’s sole passion was to get ahold of God and ask him “What’s next?”.  
• What would happen if those in the church would partner with the vision God has planted into the leader to pursue what’s next?
• We would be able to reverse the current trend of the decline of religious affiliation.
• Lord help us to be people that want the ball in order to effect change rather than people who are on the sideline criticizing those are trying to move the ball.  

COACH MARK’S THOUGHTS

Lord, help me to lean more fully into you.  Help me to find peace in the fact that it is YOUR church… and I will never love nor care for the people you have entrusted to my leadership more than you do.  Lord, I want to know more of who you are so that I can know more of what you desire for our church.  Give me the courage to be fearless in following your call on my life.  Help me to never be swayed by the criticism of men, but to rest confidently in who I am in you and what you are calling me to do.  May my leadership flow through your power and your strength and may that allow us, at Second Chance Church, to be a force for you glory in advancing the Kingdom of God.

Perry’s message is based on scripture from 2 Kings chapter 7

*  It’s interesting how God uses people who are falling apart to serve his interests.  These lepers were thinking we’ve got nothing to lose… let’s take a chance.  

1.  ARE WE WILLING TO EMBRACE CHANGE? – 2 Kings 7:3-4

• Perry believes every church could be one or two changes away from doubling in size and scope of ministry… but embracing change is hard.
• Most churches would be far more willing to embrace change if they looked at kingdom issues as valuable as their own money.
• People who are having difficulty hearing the voice of God should be reminded that you will never hear the voice of God clearly if you aren’t willing to embrace some change.  
• Everybody can look at another church and call the change that needs to be made… but can you look at your own church and make the same call?
• The early church in Acts went through constant change:
  • Acts 1:14-15 (small number to begin)
  • Acts 2:41 (numerical changes) 
  • Acts 4:32-37 (financial changes) 
  • Acts 6:1-7 (responsibility changes)
  • Acts 8 (multi-site changes) 

2. ARE WE WILLING TO WORK? – 2 Kings 7:5-7

• To many times we ask for permission, instead of practicing submission to what God is wanting to do.  
• Investigat the obvious
  • Ask yourself… if you weren’t paid or on staff, would you go to one of your church events?
  • Are there ministries in your church that you are manufacturing energy for or is the energy there naturally?
• Ignore the jackass
  • “In Greek, jackass means blogger”… LOL… Perry is talking about ignoring the critic who feels called to set you straight.
  • In church, too many pastors are listening to the jackasses and not focusing on vision.
  • Perry says the jackass in the church is the one who says, “I want to go deeper!”  John Maxwell says that most Christians are educated far beyond the level of obedience.  If you want to talk about depth, let’s look at your tithing records… let’s look at how much worship you engage in during the week… let’s look at how much scripture you have read.

3.  ARE WE READY TO REACH THE WORLD? – 2 Kings 7:8-11

• Four terms causing trouble in the church
  • Contemporary – Our pastor wears a sweater vest and we sing songs that make it sound like he gets his underwear at Victoria’s Secret and pretend that Jesus is our boyfriend instead of our Crucified King.
  • Blended – No one in our church actually possesses a set and will proclaim where we actually stand.  In an effort to keep everyone happy, we reach no one.
  • Missional – No one is showing up, so we sought out a term to make us sound like we’re actually doing something.  
  • Emergent – We’re a bunch of spoiled former church kids who have a problem with authority… including the authority of Scripture.  So we have sided with the Devil, and Hell will be more crowded because of our efforts.  
• God didn’t call our church to condemn the city.. but to reach it.  

Coach Mark’s Thoughts

Every now and then I need to be able to sit and hear messages like this.  Just like anyone else, I need to have the Word of God spoken into my life and my ministry from someone else.  I agree with Perry that the church needs to be about the business of reaching the world… and that means living and dealing with change on a regular basis.  We say on a regular basis at SCC that “We’re going to do something a little different today”.  But even with that, we find ourselves at times settling into routines.  May the Lord help me as a leader to never simply “settle” but to always be ready and willing to move into a new setting or new paradigm… whatever the Lord requires.  

I also agree that the church will be a mess… and we have made peace with that.  Because the very people that Jesus is calling us to reach are messy we should expect no less.  

I also am asking God to help me to stay focused on vision.  There will always be critics… but God is bigger and he is who I will stand before.  On that day, I want to be able to say that I stayed true to the course he set before me and was not side-tracked by someone who “hurt my feelings”.

Interestingly enough, this morning, Seth Godin has published a similar thought on his blog.  In it, he uses the story of Noah.  While I can’t find any evidence for his “tanned dolphin leather”, the bulk of his post is really helpful.  

My friend Adam had an interesting take on this. He told me that the acquisition of the leather is irrelevant. It was the quest that mattered. Having a community-based quest means that there’s less room for whining, for infighting and for dissolution. Having a mission not only points everyone in the same direction, it also creates motion. And motion in any direction is often better than no motion at all.

All around you, people are telling you two things: 
1. whatever you want, forget it, it’s impossible, and 
2. sit still, preserve resources, lay low.

And yet, the people who are succeeding, creating change and (not coincidentally) are happier aren’t listening to either of these pieces of advice. Instead, they’re on the search for dolphin leather.

Frank Sinatra had it wrong. Your dream shouldn’t be impossible, but it sure helps if it’s improbable. Don’t choose your dreams based on what is certain to happen, choose them based on what’s likely to cause the change you want to occur around you.

There are quite a few people in Peoria and beyond that are truly scrambling for answers on the job/career front.  And the fear of job loss can be crippling.  Yet, perhaps it is the journey that lies ahead that is more important.  

And what about spiritual endeavors.  How often have all of us sat and complained about what is or isn’t getting done instead of simply joining ourselves in mission to reach those who need to hear the message of the gospel or feel the touch and love of Jesus through the actions of a church?  

As I sat in Orlando at a church-planters conference in February, I remember one statement in particular that really struck me.  It followed a re-telling of the story of Jonathon and his armor-bearer taking on an entire squad of men by themselves.  There were no resources, they were ridiculously outnumbered, but they took a chance for God… and God showed up.  At the end of that story, the speaker reminded us that all the God stories that we love to tell and hear, always happen on the other side of RISK!  

So what are you risking?  Where are you joining in a mission that has no gaurantees?  Where are you stretching yourself without a promised outcome?  There are times that the answer lies at the end of that risk and there are some lessons that will only be learned in the journey.

I got to thinking about how much like spiritual warfare is for us.  We want to to cruise down life’s highway and “just drive”.  Turn on some tunes, roll the windows down and enjoy the drive.  But the life of a Christ-follower is seldom that easy.  And the worst part is that the stuff that blows us out of our lane usually hits us sight-unseen.  When we’re trying to walk with Christ, we can’t afford to ease up because we can be certain that the winds of spiritual opposition are going to blow and we don’t know which direction it will come from.  I’m usually far more alert in high-wind conditions while driving because of that very thing.  Those of us who are Christ-followers need to take that same approach as we navigate life’s journeys.  We can be certain that we will be blind-sided by the enemy of our soul, but we can also be assured that Jesus is our ROCK and our FORTRESS.  And that’s good enough for me.

ABC REPORTS:  TWEET LIKE A BIRD

(you should click the link above, it does cool stuff)

Then there’s the whole question of all the available information and what to read and what to ignore.  The choices are practically endless and much of it has value, but you simply can’t read it all.  

Ever felt like that?  Apparently there’s a very good reason.  Check out this video on the progression of information… it’s really amazing.

We heard in the early morning from a planter who began a church in Chandler, AZ 10 years ago and has watched it grow to over 5000 in attendance. But far from sounding like a “mega-church” pastor, he sounded like the church planter he was and clearly still is. As he retold the familiar story of Jonathan taking on an enemy unit alone with his armor bearer, one truth came ringing through loud and clear:

The great stories of the Bible that we love to tell almost ALWAYS COME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RISK!!!!

Do you get the importance of that? The stories that we love to tell of who God is and how awesome he is comes after someone has laid it on the line to follow Christ. How many times have you heard someone say…. “Someone should do something!” That’s sort of God’s way of saying “Why don’t YOU do something?” Is it frightening? Yes! Will any of us have all the answers to make it work? NO! But when someone takes a risk for God, it allows God to do his thing. It really isn’t about the brilliance of the plan… Jonathan told his armor bearer “Perhaps God will work on our behalf”. What kind of plan is that? It’s really no plan at all… other than to say “Let’s take a chance and see if God will show up!”

All of life is a risk. I’m tired of trying to eliminate all the risk out of life. I’m tired of trying to make everything perfectly safe before we do something. It truly never will be. I pray that the church I lead will become full of people who are ready to set safety aside to see God show up on the other side of a risk. Then and only then will any of us be truly alive. Then and only then will we know the fullness of God. Then and only then will the world see who God really is as he reveals himself through our lives.

I pray that God unleashes through all of these planters here an wave of risk-taking that grows into a tsunami of God’s power revealed in the world. We are ready to multiply our efforts and see God show up in mighty ways and I’m thankful to be a small part of what God is doing.