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Conference

I wish we had the funds to take everyone in leadership at The Journey, to a specific conference for their area of service. It's not gonna happen -especially this year. So, we'll bring the conference to you. 

Check out Unleashed - From Newspring Church in South Carolina. Turn on the space heater and it might almost feel like you are down south. There are two sessions you can watch.

Also, mark your calendars for the first weekend of May as we are bringing in Vince Antonucci, a church leader who's starting a church on the Vegas Strip, and the author of "I Became a Christian, and all I got was This Lousy T-Shirt". 

Size Matters: Big Church vs. Small Church 3

We have been chatting about how people will sometimes say that they like The Journey, but they miss the smallness of The Journey or the church they were at previously.  It's funny, because for as many people that may say that, there are at least as many that come to The Journey because it's "smaller" than the church they previously went to.  People will say "We used to go to such and such a church, but it just got to big (or insert impersonal)".

There will be a problem though for those people, because The Journey (if we're accomplishing the mission God has given us) will be big(ger) one day, and my guess is, that many of those people will move on to another church because "The Journey just got to big/impersonal/we didn't know everyone anymore".  That's why the things we posted about the other day - the need to make the big smaller, through Journey Groups, multiple services, etc. is so very important.

Of course, my wife always says, that if people have a problem with a church being "too big", they are not going to like Heaven very much!  Heaven is going to be BIG compared to our local church, so we might as well try to get over our "too big" mentality, now - so we can prepare ourselves for heaven.

When we think about it, it's okay to not "like" big.  For our preference to be small.  But, we're called, as followers of Jesus, to be about His purposes, not just our preferences.  And, His purposes call us to share the hope of Jesus with as many people as possible.  His purposes call us to open doors for whoever will be willing.  And, if we're doing that . . . we're going to have a big church.  Oh, and BIG Kingdom impact.

Size Matters: Big Church vs small church 2

So, we are getting bigger and compared to some churches we are Big. But we are also all about relationships, so how do we bring some smallness into the Big. If you think about it, even in a smaller church where you might "know" everyone - we really only have a handful of people you really "know" and are in a real relationship with. This is why we put a heavy focus on Journey groups. It's about having a group of people who will encourage each other, sit with each other at church, challenge, pray for, cry and laugh with each other through this journey of life. So when someone needs a meal - a committee doesn't bring it- friends do. We are continually looking at ways to help more people take next steps into groups.  Another way we make the big, small, is having two worship gatherings. Most people consistently go to one or the other and it keeps the church currently around the size of 200 people. We are also looking at things like multi-siting and other venues to provide more opportunities and environments so as we grow bigger, in some ways we stay smaller.

Size Matters: Big Church vs small church 1

I have heard a few people talk about The Journey and a previous church experience. They like The Journey but they miss the smaller church experience - like Cheers - many people want to go where everybody knows their name and they're always glad you came. I can definitely understand that. While there are a lot of good things about that environment, like care and support; it tends to be inward focused - we like to know everybody for our own comfort. The problem is, God's vision for His church is Big - go and make disciples. In the Book of Acts, Jesus called them to be His witnesses and then 3000 people were added initially when the went out. For The Journey, we aren't trying to be a "Big" church; yet, we are trying to be a big church. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible.  If we continue to reach people, we will obviously get bigger. Over this next series of posts, we will talk about growing and how we try to stay small in some ways. But it all starts with the vision of reaching people disconnected from God and helping people take next steps. The other morning I came over from the office into church and there were some hosts at the front doors that I have never met before. I laughed, introduced myself, thanked them for serving, and walked into church and looked around and realized that I don't know many, many people at The Journey. There is part of me that wants to know them (especially when I bump into people around town) but more of me is glad I don't. If I have to know everybody, then that is limiting God's vision. If we all take the Great Commission seriously and all go and share, then church isn't about the pastors - it's about God and Him working through all of us. I want God to use the Journey to reach many more people beyond me and my influence. This is why we continue to grow and why we are getting bigger. It's God's vision - a GREAT commission.

The 4 C's

I ran across a blog post from Gary Lamb, the pastor of a church in Georgia that seems to be really reaching unchurched people.  His original article can be read by clicking on his name.  He talked about hiring staff.  Bill Hybels the founding pastor of 20,000 person Willow Creek Church in the Chicago suburbs, has often talked about the 3 C's of hiring:

1.  Character - they need to be people of high character, integrity.

2.  Competency - they need to be able to do the job.  They have to be able to bring it and have the skillz to pay the billz.

3.  Chemistry - you've got to be able to get along together on staff.  Chemistry is huge, but sometimes overlooked.

Gary proposed a 4th C, that he has seen in his church, and it totally resonated with what we have felt at The Journey.

4.  Culture.  They have to fit the culture of your church.  There are people that have great character, competency, chemistry, but they don't get or can't embrace the unique culture of The Journey.  We are not your typical church.  You have to be willing to be authentic.  You have to be able to live in our staff culture of humor, sarcasm, and high intensity.  You have to be willing to sit next to people in church who smell like smoke, or alcohol, or just may swear during the service.  Our culture is not for every person.  

When we find someone that can fit all 4 C's, we know we've found a winner!  When Mark and Virginia first jumped on board at The Journey, that was our biggest concern.  We knew they had the first 3 C's, but what about the 4th C?  We're grateful it's worked out, but (and they would tell you this) it isn't always easy - but it is worth it!