This has been a very rough year for WRC. Way behind budget for the year. I think that most of the churches surrounding us are experiencing similar years. The economy around here has tanked. Hopefully it will be over soon.

I hate budget discussions. I tend to want to be “pie in the sky” and say “let’s believe God for the increase.” Then there are those that say “let’s back-up in these hard times.” There has got to be a middle ground. How do you guys handle this kind of situation? Andy Stanley shared with Brian that every budget is a budget of faith. People may not come to church at all next year. I’m looking some place in between.

I want to trust God but I don’t want to be foolish. How do I know?

“The American Church in Crisis” David Olson. Is a book that should be required reading for every pastor. Perhaps if more pastors understood the magnitude of the problem they would get off their backside and lead their church to plant churches. Olson says that any denomination that is not starting churches at least at the rate of 2% is losing members in relation to population. This amounts to 1 new church for every 50 churches! If denominations want to stay ahead of population growth they need to think in terms of 3-4 churches per 100.

What are the building blocks of successful church planting?

1. Parenting – not by a denominational agency, but by churches. Too many of our SBC churches wait for NAMB or some state convention to plant churches. They will NEVER do it as successful as a good parent.

2. High Quality Pastor who can GATHER and LEAD people.

3. Training and EFECTIVE launch process.

4. Coaching and Support System.

I believe we have 3 of the 4 available. We are working on number 4. If you are a church planter or know a church planter we want to help them. A new class forms this August. Can’t wait!

If you are a pastor. Find a quality guy you can pour your life into, train them, send them, coach them. Build the Kingdom! Sounds pretty simple. It’s a shame more pastors don’t get it.

Janis Joplin sang, “freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose, nothing ain’t worth nothing unless it’s free.” I’m not sure if that is a direct quote from “Bobby McGee” or not, I do know the first line is correct. This is late but I could’nt resist giving a shout out to our military guys and girls.

I watched “Wind Talkers” again this weekend. What an awesome movie! I was reminded again the cost of freedom. Despite what Janis sang. Freedom has a great cost. The lives of men and women from the 1500’s until today point to those who have been willing to give their lives for freedom. Unfortunately there are those today who are willing to give freedom away for political gain.

 Thanks to the 1,000,000’s of men and women and the families who have given their lives for my freedom.

Live free! 

Pro 23:7, “For as he thinks within himself, so is he.

I hate that verse not so much for what it says but what it means in my life. I am ashamed to say that often my relationship with God and what is happening in my life is based on how I feel. I hate living by feelings. I call it my “I disease.” Do you ever get I disease? For me it looks a lot like depression. It becomes all about me.

The sad things is that it is most often about such temporal things. recognition, position, influence, power, all ego dinven things. When I get the I disease I try to catch it early, yield those things to the Holy Spirit, confess my selfishness, and ask God to fill me anew with His joy. It may not work for you, but it helps me.

Avoid the I disease, stay full of the Holy Spirit

Yesterday one of my co-workers and I attended a training session to be certified for a process that we use in our ministry here at WRC. Now I must say my co-worker was more gracious than I about the training.

I have used the material for the past 3 years under the direction of another pastor here at WRC. My co-worker also has used the material. We are both trained in the area of ministry that related to the training with advanced degrees in the topic. No offense to the trainer but as relates to the material he did not say one thing that the two of us didn’t already know. That’s not totally true I did learn you can now take the inventory on the internet. But to be certified to use this very valuable tool we had to sit there for 7 hours and listen to what we already knew.

Who cares? The point is that sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. As a church planter there will be tasks that hit your desk that will absolutely drive you crazy or bore you to tears, but you gotta get ‘em done. You can procrastinate and put things off until the last minute, or you can do them immediately to get them out of the way. Your choice.

My habit has been to mix the two. I will take something I absolutely hate and mix it in the middle of a task I love so that I don’t get bogged down. I encouraged my daughters to register for classes in college like that. You know you’ll always have those drudge courses, boring topic, boring professors and lots of homework. I encouraged them to always mix in a class they loved so they could keep their sanity. You gotta do what you gotta do. Do it!

Yesterday WRC commissioned 7 new church planters. Two of the guys have already started public worship and are both averaging about 180 – 200 in attendance. We are partnering with FBC Woodstock for three of the churches, two from their church and one from WRC. We are partnering with Church at the Ridge to plant a church in Savannah.

When all is finished and these 7 churches get kicked off WRC will have participated with 30 church plants. We have now started churches in 13 counties in metropolitan Atlanta. These are exciting days because we believe these men are called and prepared to reach their communities for Christ

The School of Church Planting has 15 applications from 5 states including Georgia. We are changing the format a little for next year. Longer time on Saturdays but fewer Saturdays.

We are on staff retreat for the next couple of days. Enjoy getting away with people you work with and have fun being around.

My friend Gary admonished me for yesterday’s post. That must mean I was way out of bounds! Imagine saying something Gary thought was too much?!

I am sorry if I offended “the guy in the bowtie.” I did not mean that in a derogatory manner. It is just that I have never seen him without one and that is his signature. If I offended him I am sorry and ask forgiveness. I also wanted others in a similar position to understand that I knew this was criticism from him and not from all of the other men in similar positions. We actually have a great relationship with many in the denominational offices around the area.

I also know that many of you are able to identify him from my designation. I do not want to start a fight. I do not want to alienate others in similar positions, so if you have not forwarded my post. Don’t.

If I have occasion to meet with him in the future I will handle my issues privately.

 Again sorry if I offended you please forgive me.

I understand that there was a meeting at a denominational headquarters this week to discuss church planting. I also understand that WRC was mentioned a couple of times. Now I usually don’t feel a need to respond to these things because I know the mindset from which they come but since this was a fairly public gathering of church planters and people I know. I feel I must respond. I want to remind you these are my views not those of WRC or any of its pastors.

When the name of WRC was mentionded a comment from the “guy in the bowtie,” was, “are they Southern Baptist or Independent Southern Baptist?” I suppose a fair question. But first a personal comment. My mother left a SBC church in labor to have me. I was a SBC Baptist before I was a believer. I attended an SBC college and seminary. I was an appointed HMB missionary not once but twice. I AM SOUTHERN BAPTIST. I am SBC by Missionary conviction, if we ever stop doing mission work, then yes I can be independent.

The second comment, I would like to remind “the guy in the bowtie.” is that historically we were all independent Baptists. I think “the guy in the bowtie” should consider the meaning of the words AUTONOMOUS and COOPERATION. My understanding of autonomy is that each church is independent of any control from a denominational figurehead or structure. This leads us to cooperation. Cooperation is voluntary not forced. In other words because WRC is autonomous we can give as the Holy Spirit leads us to give, not as mandated by an executive committee or administration committee. After all the minimum is $250.00, WRC exceeds that. I wonder if “the guy in the bowtie” was checking the credentials of the presidents of the SBC that led the theological resurgence when he was backing them? Did it matter that most of them were giving far less than 1% or was it more important that they believed as he believed? Now that “the guy in the bowtie” is a denominational leader his tune has changed a little bit, now it’s about the money. That is not autonomous or cooperative.

The third item is that when the name of WRC was mentioned someone said, “church planting is about making disciples not converts.” I assume the point being made is that WRC is so big that we cannot make disciples just draw numbers. First let me say I NEVER apologize for numbers. I am proud that WRC is a megachurch and hope that it exceeds the numbers of every church before it. Because I do believe that there is life change happening all around us. If I could sit and tell you stories of people I know whose lives were changed because of finding first salvation and then a group that would guide them you would be praising God not criticizing. Also WRC just completed the REVEAL survey that has been completed by over 150,000 people for Willow Creek Church (oops not SBC sorry). And although we thought our numbers were pretty lame, Willow Creek has called and requested an interview because WRC was one of the TOP churches in leading its members in categories related to DISCIPLESHIP. Seems you can draw a lot of people, send out church planters (23 to date) and disciple people. Isn’t that amazing?

I invite comments. I invite anyone who knows to send this to “the guy in the bowtie.”

Independently and Cooperatively speaking, Jim

A couple of weeks ago a gentleman wanted to engage in a dialogue about tithing and how tithing is an Old Testament concept and not for the New Testament Church. And in many ways that is true. Tithing is not required of a New Testament Christian. Giving it all is!

The truth is that God owns everything. Throughout scripture we are told that God is responsible for our daily lives, our jobs are because of him, our families belong to him, our homes are his, everything. Whether I give 10% or more is not my issue, because realistically I owe it all to him anyway. How can I be angry over someone calling it a tithe. I give an offering not out of obligation but because I owe it all to him anyway. The old hymn had it right, “Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe.” I never see in scripture where God said, “Give me 10 and I’ll return a 1000.” If that is your motive for giving then stop giving you are not giving from the right attitude. God doesn’t owe you anything!

When a person comes from where I came from and have been blessed by God to be where I am I don’t think that a tithe is enough honestly. But, the offering or tithe comes from the increase God gives to me. A person should never be guilted to give. If you are not working, where is the increase? I don’t expect you to give.

Now here’s the kicker. Oprah a few years ago had a show entitled how to get rich. The number 1 strategy, TITHE. So who you gonna believe Oprah or God? Give cheerfully!

This Saturday we will finish the last class for the School of Church Planting for 2008-09. We will commission 6 churches. Our first grandchild, Canvas Church of Savannah will be sent out!

West Ridge Church has participated in some way with 29 church plants in the last 5 years. This is either through financial commitment or training or both. I am truly blessed that God has called me to a church that loves its community and is willing to put its resources into it’s stated priorities: Reaching the World and our Community with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Almost 20 men have indicated  a desire for next years class! From Connecticut to Florida guys have called and filled out some paperwork saying we intend to be there in August. What a challenge! What an opportunity! We accept. We don’t know how we’ll get it done financially, but God will provide. I believe it!