over the course of the last 15 years that i have consulted with church planters i have seen some really beautiful prospectuses, prospecti, however you say more than one prospectus. they come on slick paper, have beautiful pictures, great demographics, they’re gonna reach their community, they’re going to disciple people. but, i have discovered often there is no strategy to get the job done.

so what is strategy: a set of goals, methods and action steps that will help you reach your goal. you say, “i’m going to reach the unchurched.” well then tell me what your goal is (measurable) what ideas and actions will you use to do that. everyone says they’re going to reach the unchurched, very few actually do, because most of us have no clue what the unchurched want or need to bring them to the gospel. don’t give me a slick brochure…give me a plan…measurable…realistic…how…what.

you say you want to disciple people. 1. what do you want them to know? 2. how will you deliver this information or behavior to them? 3. define life change. does life change mean they no longer kick the dog or begin to exhibit the fruit of the spirit?

a strategy is not a slick presentation it is dirty, hard work for someone that has done their research beyond a demographic report and pretty pictures. that is what i’m looking for from a church planter.

5 stages of change

1. awareness that maybe there needs to be a change.

2. acknowledge that they probably should change.

3. understand what needs to change and the alternatives.

4. agreeing to make the change and taking action steps toward change.

5. stick to it.

here’s the deal. i think a lot of churches are aware of items 1 – 3. agreeing and committing to change and then sticking to it. that is another story not only for congregations but for most pastors.

there was a term we used to use in counseling – homeostasis – the tendency of a system to maintain stability. in other words the devil you know is better than the unknown. we would rather be dysfunctional than change. to most churches, it is obvious that they are dying, the world knows it, the neighbors know it, the pastor knows it, the parishioners know it, but by golly we like what we are and no one is gonna change us.

well, yes they are. you know who it will be? it will be the wrecking crew that dismantles the church building to put up  another building or business when your church dies. saw on a church planters blog the other day about how quickly they have developed traditions. not a bad thing unless they become sacred cows that never can be tampered with or changed. Brian mentioned this in Sunday’s sermon. in 2nd Kings the king had to destroy the snake pole that Moses had used to heal and rally the people, but  it had become an idol.

the last two on the list is making the change and sticking to it. how many times have i talked with pastors that said, “we tried that ____ , and it didn’t work so we went back to our old ways.” it’s like a diet. your body changes when you change your habits. that’s the easy part. but do you realize the ridiculously high number of people that weigh more a year after they quit the diet. have you seen the winner of the “biggest loser” from a couple of seasons before, he is bigger than ever.

pastors can change, churches can change, but it takes time. won’t happen overnight. begin with the things you can change. get credibility. then change the next thing. etc. etc. but if you think you will go into Little Bethel Church and make it The Next Big Name Church, you’re probably headed for a lot of headaches and disappointment and will be circling your resume’ a lot over the years.

change can be positive or negative. it’s all in how you handle it.

reading a little book on persuasion…starts out pretty negative…inducing one or more people to willingly and knowingly do something for you that they hadn’t initially planned or even wanted to do…they resist you and have more power than you…which is why you need persuasion…

is that how you view persuasion? i had never thought of it in such negative connotation. i know the image of a used car salesman and salesmen that persuade you to buy something you don’t want or need.

i think in the church some evangelists are viewed in this manner. as slick salesmen selling a ticket to heaven for notches on their belts so that when they get to heaven they’ll be able to say “look how many i brought with me.”

i think sometimes church planters may get in this mode. not consciously but…when you are desparate for people…you may get in a persuasive mood that has more motives than the person’s best interest. now the good side of my reading…the writer says, “you must act ethically.” 

so, how you do evangelism makes a world of difference. engaging a lost person as a potential member as opposed to a potential friend is a world of difference. often they know the difference also. had a friend in Utah, the local head of a Mormon Stake called him, “we’ve been helping this elderly lady in our neighborhood. she’s from the south and she’s Southern Baptist. she has not converted and so we think you should take care of her since she is one of yours.”

what’s your goal? notch on the belt or relationship?

got together with 31 friends that have connected in one way or another through the West Ridge School of Church Planting. we piggy-backed on guys being in town for Velocity’10.

it was good to catch up with some of them. i had not seen them since they finished the class. one was a third generation church plant. one strategist guy from NY. one guy from TN. the rest were generally from the ATL.

Tony Morgan challenged the guys with a message about Influence. the Brian Bloye cast the vision for a church planting network of like-minded guys that are not connected currently. we are appreciative of and friends with guys from most of the major networks out there: ACTS29, ARC, NewThing, Vision360. but they all have distinctives that keeps WRC from totally committing. Brian has been challenged over the last couple of years by some friends to bring together some Baptist types and Non-denoms that do not fit the profile of the above mentioned networks and lead. he has accepted the challenge.

so what does a network offer: training, assessment, coaching, relationship, funding. i know that perked up some of you when i mentioned funding. although that is important, it’s not the major thing that most church planters think it is. when you get out on the field you’ll want a relationship with someone who is either where you are or been where you are believe me. but…we do not downplay the importance of money.

WRC has participated in the funding or launch of over 42 churches here in America. some waiting and preparing, should go well over 50 just in America. to say that church planting is a passion of WRC is an understatement. but we can’t keep doing it alone. if you’re a rich person out there or even someone with a little cash laying around…imagine what God could do with that money in planting new churches. and if you’re ready to give …call me, i can help you make that contribution to the right organization…

question today, what do i do first? spent the last several minutes thinking through strategy again. haven’t done it quite like this in a while. it never gets old to me.

now it is time to go walk a church planter through the process. that is even more fun. seeing the light come on for a guy. a plan takes a while to develop. give the dough some yeast, give it time, let it rise, the bread will rise and you get a whole loaf. (sorry i’m on a diet and i think about food a lot). but if you begin to do things out of their time, or jump ahead the loaf will fall.

take some time and have a well thought strategy – it ain’t just about throwing some equipment together, finding a band and having worship. if you do it right - it takes time. if you do it right – it takes planning. if you do it right – it takes people.

do it right – in the end the aroma is unbelievable.

although i think the government used that some time ago. West Ridge Church will soon hire a Chief Launch Officer that will begin to organize a Network of Church Plants and Church Planting Churches. the intent is that this will be a nationwide network of like-minded individuals that will focus on training and launching healthy church plants – coaching – funding – networking for future growth.

this Sunday evening Brian and Tony will give a little glimpse of the vision of the future of church planting from WRC. i’m excited for what can be accomplished when we all work together.

i know that we teach this in the c.p. training that we want our church plants to be church planting churches but so few get that. we get the same excuses that the traditional church gives – now is not the time – money is tight – we don’t have leadership – my people wouldn’t understand putting money in a church plant when we are still struggling – in the future.

here’s a hint church planter – you can plant other churches when you partner. Rick Warren says, “you will very likely not plant another church if you haven’t done it in your first three years.” when you partner with others you can do it. WRC network will offer you the opportunity to be in on the ground floor of planting churches around the country and you can buy in – lead in – and contribute to the strategy of church planting early in the life of your church plant.

i was in a meeting early this morning. looking through a list of church plants in the local baptist association. WRC has had a hand in the planting of 7 of those churches. for most of them we were the primary sponsor but all of them have other partners. there were a couple on the list that we and another mega-church partnered in. you don’t have to do it alone whether you are big or small.

so here’s the deal – if you want to attend Sunday evening you need to contact me (jima@westridge.com) by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb 17. be at WRC at 6 p.m. for dinner ($5) and hitch up for a great ride. see you Sunday, but not without a reservation, I hope.

when i first became a believer my pastor whom i trusted implicitly and still do after 40 years, did a sermon series on the occult. it fascinated me so i did a little further study. i know i’m gonna upset some people but here i go anyway.

i believe that horoscopes are one way that satan deceives us and leads us away from trust in God alone. we are explicitly warned in Deutoronomy and in other books not to trust in diviners, witches, the occult, etc. i wonder if the people who read their horoscopes are reading the bible and obeying it and getting as much entertainment from it as they do their horoscopes. scripture seems to indicate that when you are listening to psychics, diviners, or reading the stars that you are showing a lack of trust in God.

i see on facebook people posting about their horoscopes all the time. and of course they ask you on your profile what your sign is. my redeemed sign is grace at the cross of Jesus. after that i didn’t need nor do i need stars to tell me about my life.

it may be fun, but remember that scripture says, that satan roams the earth seeking those whom he may devour. just wondering is this one way that satan gets a foothold in someone’s life? in an old book published in the 1960’s (i think, may be earlier) “Things Satan Uses to Deceive.” horoscopes are near the top of the list.

i don’t know about you but i don’t need anything else vying for my attention away from God. the Cross, that’s my sign.

daughter Brooke has been trying to get home from Baltimore since last Saturday. SNOWWWWWWW. anyway, rescheduled for today. checking flights from BWI. the only plane that has left the runway today was hers.

don’t know how i feel about that. glad she is coming home. but when you look at every flight and it says canceled…makes you think. i’ve got several pages open on my computer with flight tracking, news, arrivals, anything that might tell me where her plane is. currently she’s at 11600 ft flying at 386 miles per hour.

that’s pretty amazing. imagine how families must have felt when their children left the cities to head west to resettle. or missionaries leaving on boats headed around the world. what were the parents thinking in those days…well Brooke just took off and she’s a mile out to sea and moving at 15 knots. or traveling with the wagon train. you know she’ll be in smyrna by nightfall. glad God has allowed me to live in the age i live in. in just the time i’m writing this she’s at 17500 ft and moving at 456 mph. so in spite of all the stuff about what a terrible time to live in and how Christianity is dying. we live in an incredible time with incredible opportunity to share the gospel.

 in the meantime, i guess you need to pray for mom and dad at least until 2:30 when she is supposed to land.

i have received a few since Tony Morgan’s blog seeking a “chief launch officer.” some of you have asked “have you been fired?” some have asked “what’s going on?” so i want to answer a few questions for you.

one, i am not being fired. my position is changing some. i am not at liberty currently to talk about all the changes but i will still be involved in church planting. as far as i know (and it may depend on the chief launch officer) i will still do a training class and get to coach a few guys that ask. so i am not going anywhere.

two, Brian and i had a conversation about 18 months ago (before Tony’s arrival) about where i wanted to go and what my future held. first, i still feel called to WRC. i still think it is the best church in Atlanta. i still believe in the church’s mission and vision. secondly, we both realize i am getting older. i don’t “think” as old as my body “feels.” i still think i can strategize with the best of them. i (my ego speaking here) still feel that i can help young guys be successful at church planting with the best of them. i still feel i can help guys and ask the right questions, and help you find answers. but…

Brian and Tony think now is the time to start a Network of like minded churches that will take church planting to a new level both locally (hopefully some of my involvement) and nationally. frankly WRC has carried our church planting efforts without help from other churches. some of our church plants have given here and there but nothing like what it would take to really take off and make this thing happen on a grand scale. this is where my gifts, talents, and calling come in.

one, i have begun to really hate business travel. i hate airports. i hate homeland security. i strongly believe we ought to target and profile bad guys and leave middle aged Caucasian, African-American and Hispanic men alone. i know i’m gonna take a hit on this one. but it’s the truth. the new chief launch officer will spend a great deal of time in airports. i’m content with the three or four times i will travel in my new job description.  

two, i don’t feel called to a national ministry. part of that is travel. i feel called to the local church. i still hope that the chief launch officer will allow me to have input into church planting through training and coaching and i suppose my ego would say as part of his dream team, but that will be his choice. i love the local church. if you enter my office i have pictures of church buildings all over the walls. i’m so happy that God has different expressions of Himself all over our community and the world.

three, my gift mix is just not the person they are seeking. one, i have never comfortably asked for money. perhaps our church plants would have already developed a network if i had been better at the “ask.” secondly, i am not very good at recruiting. the truth is that i have never recruited for the school of church planting beyond a blurb on the WRC website. i can work a room if i have too, but honestly i hate it going in and i hate it after it’s over. bottom line is i’m not a salesman. not good at selling myself or an organization or a ministry. i like speaking, teaching and coaching but am content to get on the platform, have my say and leave. not very good at casual conversation. my strength finders says i’m a relator, means i develop a “few” meaningful relationships.

so, i am still at WRC. not going anywhere. job description is transitioning and changing. announcement later. i am excited that i have a place on the bus that fits in with my gift mix and personality. if we (you and I) have a relationship (church planting) i’m still here to help you. that relationship thing means a lot to me. and until the chief launch officer gets here i’m still the go to guy for church planting until they find “the guy.”

when the announcement is made of my transition i’ll explain why my gift mix, experience, and talents fit the new job description. for right now. send Tony the names of guys you know that could be a chief launch officer.

just read on facebook where one of the church planting dudes that is attending the class this time is nearly debt free. if you are a church planter you need to read and understand this. you will never fully realize the importance of being debt free if you plan on planting a church.

now the truth is, that statement is true for everyone. you would be surprised at how much ministry doesn’t ever happen because we owe too much money. can’t go on a mission trip – Visa/AEX/Mastercard is due that week; can’t give to this ministry – that Hummer payment is due; the church church plant can’t advertise – bills to pay and they can only afford to pay me this month; i can’t afford to plant a church there is no money for insurance.

and then there are the excuses for not being able to give to the church, bought a new car this month – can’t afford to give to the church and make payments on a new car (did you think used?); just bought that house you know the bank said we could afford that $400,000 house (did you ever think about a $300,000 house so you could give); just bought a boat – can’t give like i used to give…and the scripture asks “will a man rob God?”

so, church planter, pastor, church member what is robbing God because you didn’t count the cost. right after i moved to GA after being injured in NOLA i decided i wanted a swimming pool. you know it would be good exercise for my injured leg and arm. i had all the good excuses. i had the money from the insurance settlement. i bought a pool. do you have any clue what it takes to run a pool for a month or for a summer? i didn’t count the cost. it nearly killed me. someone described a pool as a “hole that you pour money into.”

don’t get me wrong. i loved the pool. and i would have one today if it weren’t so darn much trouble and so costly. and right there is the issue. we want the things we want regardless of the cost. except that is spiritual things. when it comes to giving to church or ministry most of us have the “i woulds if…”  “i would give if i didn’t have this boat, this vacation home, this expensive car, this Visa bill, etc. etc. etc. this is my lesson (and it’s a hard lesson i had to learn) if God has ever said to you to give to a ministry/church and you responded “i would if….” then there is something wrong with your priorities.

get out of debt. don’t let anything get in the way of your calling to serve or to give. amazing how freeing it can be. congratulations ng, may your tribe increase.