Transforming Church in Rural America, by Shannon O'Dell

Recently, I was given this work by Shannon O'Dell, lead pastor of Brand New Church in Harrison, Arkansas. To say the least, O'Dell is a polarizing personality. He recently spoke at a conference in MO and I have heard reviews ranging from some who thought he was fabulous to others who weren't such big fans of the message he brought forth. As one pastor told me, if you can get even one good nugget of truth out of a book, it's worth the price and time to read it. That said, I did find a few good nuggets in Transforming Church in Rural America. These are some of those good pieces of wisdom.

1. When you desire to grow a congregation, you will never get it. But if you grow congregants, then you are going to see transformation in their lives and within the church. - pg. 39

We live in a day, as Rainer and Stetzer agree, that churches measure their success based on the 3 Bs - buildings, budgets, and booties in the seats. Isn't it time for something more than that? Isn't it time for pastors and leaders to think bigger than this? I pray that I'll not be so obsessed with numbers that I lose focus on the people behind the numbers. After all, Jesus never set out to grow a megachurch or fill a stadium. He was in the business of life-change and restoration. I pray that I, under the Lordship of Christ, will share the same goals as the Savior. I want more than anything to see our people know Christ and grow in Him.

2. Everyone likes change - except when it makes things different. - pg.71.

O'Dell also follows this statement up by giving the cycle his church has walked through. The cycle is: Change -> Conflict -> Growth -> Change.... I've heard Ed Young, Jr. say a similar thing recently. While I agree that sometimes change can actually be negative, I also agree with O'Dell when changing items that ought to be changed. Healthy things grow and change and adapt as they grow.

3. Exellence does not cost a lot of money: it costs in time and vision. - pg. 148

O'Dell explains that his church IS about doing things right, and that doing so doesn't always mean buying the latest and greatest and coolest ___________ (fill in the blank). In a church culture that seems to be in the midst of concert-style venues and hazers and guitar pedals and HD cameras, this is a refreshing thought. Now, I should probably say that I LOVE technology and I LOVE many churches that use such equipment. I just wonder if so many of us have decided to be copycats of what working in other places and states in hopes that this "formula" will somehow crack the code and twist God's arm into doing what only He can do.

Well, there you have what I think are three good nuggets from this book. There are other good elements in it as well, and I would recommend reading it, especially if you're doing ministry out of the metropolis like me. If you can see wild turkeys from your office window, you might be a good candidate to read this book.

In the trenches...of ministry

This week, I would like to take a moment to commend a great servant of the Lord. At Faith Baptist Church, we have a great worship team. Our team is led by Marc Dewever, a long-time servant and volunteer leader. Marc has been leading the music for years, and is faithful to our church. Along with that, Marc and his wife, Rose, are dearly loved by our members.
I, for one, am incredibly thankful to Marc for all he does. In the days of hipster worship leaders, Marc has stayed true to himself and the person God has made him to be. Marc desires to worship the Lord with his whole heart, and he has a passion for the church to do the same.
I've worked with Marc for three weeks, and I am grateful for his partnership. He has vision and passionately engages discussion about the future of our music ministry. In a day when most folks sit on the bleachers and criticize the team, Marc has stepped up to the plate.
I believe that men like Marc are paving the way for God to work in great ways in our church!
Looking forward,
Fred

Surprising Insights from the Unchurched

Often good research defies "common sense" thinking. This seems to be especially true in the church of today. In his book Surprising Insights from the Unchurched, Thom Rainer unpacks great research regarding the formerly unchurched. Rainer defines the formerly unchurched as "one who has not been in church, except sporadically, for at least ten years (most for a lifetime) but has recently become active in a church. All of the formerly unchurched have also recently become Christians, not merely church attenders." In his study, the data revealed that these are the primary factors that led the formerly unchurched to choose the church they now attend:

1. Pastor/Preaching - 90%
2. Doctrines - 88%
3. Friendliness of members - 49%
4. Someone from church witnessed to me - 41%
5. Family member attends - 38%

Anecdotally, the unchurched members said these factors had the least to do with why they chose a church:
Children's/Youth ministry - 25%
Other groups/ministries - 12%
Worship Style/Music - 11%
Location - 7%

So, what does this study reveal? It reveals that if we hope to reach the unchurched in our communities, we must allow the pastor time to prepare to preach well. The pastor must be diligent to be a student of the Word of God and must prepare well to teach the people. This is a challenge for me as a new pastor and I am stretching and growing in my preaching skills and abilities.
Secondly, it demonstrates just how important the people of the church are. When a new person visits the church building on Sundays, we must be people who reach out and love others. This may be all it takes for them to let their guard down long enough to hear the gospel message.
I'm so thankful that the people of Faith are loving. You wouldn't believe our fellowship. During the service, we allow a lengthy period of time for our people to greet one another. In most places, these times are rushed and cut short. They are normally used as a transition for the band to exit the stage and for the pastor to get in place. At Faith, our people truly demonstrate a great love for one another.
Faith, I hope that I can be the pastor that God has called me to be. Thank you for being loving people to all who join us each week. Together, we can reach the unchurched and bring great glory to God!
All for Jesus,
Pastor Fred

Courage

Courage can be defined as:
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, or pain. - dictionary.com.

As Joshua was handed the leadership of the people of God in Joshua 1, God reminded him three times to be strong and have courage. Now, why would Joshua need courage?
You see, Joshua had already been into the Promised Land when he was sent as a spy along with 11 other courageous men. On that mission, Joshua witnessed mighty people living in the land. He witnessed strong, fortified cities and he saw great armies occupying the land. Now, God had given him the reigns and told him to go and take the land.
Imagine being Joshua. There are giants to defeat, cities to overtake, and armies to conquer. Moses is dead. The people need a leader.
God told Joshua to be strong. Why? Because he was a great warrior? No, although he was. Because he was Moses apprentice? No, although he was. Because Joshua was a great leader. No, although that is true as well.
God told Joshua to be strong and courageous BECAUSE THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.

If you've read the story, you know that the inhabitants of the land were no match for the people of God.

What about us? Will we, the people of Faith Baptist, be strong and courageous? Will we be people of faith that impact our city for Christ? Will we trust that God is with us and cross the Jordan together? Will we win the battleground for our Lord and commander?

I, for one, believe that God's command for Joshua rings true for us as well. I can't wait to see how He will use each one of us to accomplish great things for His glory.

Newsworthy

If you are reading this, I can only assume that the Lord led you here. I have been prompted lately to begin writing again on this blog. I'm not sure how often I will update this, but I can promise that I will share whatever the Lord is stirring in me on the inside.

I am a part of a vibrant, God-centered small group that meets on Sunday nights. I consider this an incredible honor and privilege. I first realize that not many in the ministry have the opportunity to develop close friendships within their church contexts. I find that to be disheartening.

Anyway, one of our small group members sent this message recently, and it is worth sharing to you...maybe you can find encouragement as well.

Lets all pray that God uses us in huge ways. Maybe he is starting something through our little group. What if he really uses us. What if he really uses us beyond the walls of our house, beyond the walls of our friend’s houses, beyond the walls of IBC building. How would it look? How would it feel? How will we change? How will it hurt? What will our kids say? What will our kid’s friends say..and their parents? What will our parents say? What if people think we are irrelevant Christians? What if we never return to normal? What if it ruins us for the rest of our lives? What if He ruins us for His glory? What if…

I hope all believers can be a part of a group that sharpens them as ours does so frequently. In the meantime, what if God means to do something profound in and through you? What is He calling you to do?

You see, as Christians, we believe in this thing we call the priesthood of all believers. All of us have been called to minister and make a difference. Further, we are all called to be difference makers for His kingdom. Too often we think this area is reserved for "preachers," or big time speakers, or popular Christian authors, or someone "out there" who's leading the charge. What if God means to use us, the "common" folk? Isn't that exactly what Jesus did when He came to earth?

Hope you can be challenged as we have...

All good things must come to an end...

Hello everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't been updating this blog more often over the past few months. Things have been pretty busy around here, and posting to my blog probably isn't the best use of my time at this point. And so, I am discontinuing my blog. I simply cannot continue to post new entries in a timely enough manner. So, let me direct you to Lindsey's blog (www.fourbroomes.blogspot.com). Thanks to everyone who's read this blog.
If I stumble upon something you must know about, I'll blog about it as a guest blogger on Lindsey's blog (if she'll let me do that - I think she's drawing up the contract now).
Keep following the Lord!

Recent Sermon Online...

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a great week this week.
I was given a chance to preach at Ingleside in the "Big Room" this past week, and you can watch the message online at www.ingleside.org. The video is on the home page - you just have to click on the little video icon. Enjoy!
Recently, Lindsey and I have been using the Life Journal, by Wayne Cordeiro. Here's my entry for today:
Scripture - "...that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are a people of God;" - I Peter 2:9-10
Observation - This is one of our purposes here on planet Earth. We are a people belonging to God. We are a people with a purpose - to declare the praises of the God who took you from darkness into light. Just think about that for a minute - you once were in darkness. Have you ever been in the dark? You know, when the power goes out in your neighborhood and there is no light as far as you can see? That's dark! God brought us out of the darkness and into His light! So, why are we still here? To declare His praises!
Application - Everything in my life should declare the praises of such a great God. If I can really grasp this concept, it should change the way I act and react. I once was not a people, but now I am a people. How? Through Jesus Christ! I need to live as a person of God. I am here to live for myself anymore - I have a King to serve. Will I live today as His child?

Looking for a good Bible reading plan?

For those of you who wish to read the Word of God, but aren't sure about where to start, this resource might be great for you! Check out these Life Journals to help you with your spiritual walk.

These are great tools for you who desire to have an intimacy with God. Click on one of these journals to be directed to the site.

The Divine Mentor

My pastor recently recommended reading The Divine Mentor, by Wayne Cordeiro. After finishing the work, I would also recommend this to believers young and old. In this work, Cordeiro reminds us that the Word of God is full of mentors. These mentors are just waiting to teach us and help give us understanding of our current experiences.
Cordeiro points back to the Scriptures as the only divinely inspired Word from God. As you read this book, you'll be challenged greatly by Cordeiro. Listen to some of these quotes:
"Life has given us two very effective teachers. Both are top-flight instructors, but neither comes cheap. While both are effective, both require something of us. We have to choose one or the other, and if we choose neither, the second will be chosen for us. The teachers are wisdom and consequences."
"God not only marked out these 66 books, He also breathed himself into the whole library and said to us, "If you will read this, I will let you sit with Jacob. I will let you walk through the deserts with Moses - and the same wisdom that I gave to Moses, I will transfer to you...if you will only take to heart the words written here."
"Your best friends will be found in the Bible. They are men and women who have been handpicked and ordained by God to befriend you. They will guide you and tutor you. No seminar, no conference, no leadership forum will outdo what you will learn from entering the Bible. To attempt a substitute is like parents allowing the media to raise their child."
I would recommend this book to you. Cordeiro hits the nail on the head throughout this work, and he reminds us that the Scriptures are sufficient. If you are looking for a great book to help you get on track in reading the Bible (or back on track), this is a wonderful piece to check out. As I read, I was encouraged time and time again to continue in His Word.

Oasis '09 Recap

Wow! Just got back in from our first ever Oasis summer camp with the Ingleside student ministry. What an incredible time!
Josh Via led worship along with an outstanding group of guys (tim, andy, nate, and Josh's wife Tasha :). The times of singing and praising were amazing. Our students connected with them from the very first strum until the last set of camp. If you are a youth pastor reading this, you absolutely have to bring in these guys! You will not be disappointed. They were ministry focused, and they loved on our students and leaders.
Bill Stanley brought the Word each morning and evening. Bill is a beast (6'8" - ??? lbs.). Bill connected with our students and spoke truth into their lives. He made an impact on our students. Bill is a great guy to serve with, and he did a great job as our camp speaker.
We also had Tenth Avenue North come for a concert. You may not have heard these guys yet - but they just received a Dove award for best new Christian artists. If you have a Christian radio station like K-love, you probably hear "By Your Side" every hour or so. These guys were some of the most humble and caring people I've ever met in the ministry. They were unassuming, and they absolutely demonstrated the attitude of Christ. The concert was great!
For me, there were many great moments of camp. The morning celebrations were fun, the afernoon recreation was awesome (led by our Executive Pastor Riley), the family group times were so great (30 leaders pouring into our students' lives), the worship sessions were outstanding and worship-filled, the late night was histerical (led by Justin and Philip - or "Bart" and "Lance"), fishing in the morning with my guys was enjoyable - and tiring, and the beach and resort were exellent. Still, the highlight of camp for me was the salvation of one of our students. God truly made him a new creation, and changed his heart.
Thank you Lord for doing something only you can do.

Ten Things I Learned About Batching It...

This morning I picked up Lindsey, her sister, and the kiddos from the airport in ATL. They've been gone for 10 days, and I've been baching it in Maconga (macon, ga). After 10 days on my own, I learned some things that I'd like to share with you. Here they are in random order:

1. "It is not good for man to be alone" - God sho' knew what He was talkin' bout.

2. My clothes really do not wash themselves. Seriously!

3. A house with 3 loud children is better than a quiet house.

4. Redbox can only entertain you for so long.

5. Season 9 of The King of Queens is pretty good. Lindsey got it for me while she was away.

6. You can really eat PB&J for dinner!

7. I really love my family.

8. I'm still not good over the phone.

9. God fashioned a great rib for me.

10. I have the best wife in the world and my life is 1000 Xs better when she's with me.

I am so thankful that I don't regularly batch it. God has blessed me in so many ways.

Secret Church

For the past year and a half, I have been influenced by the preaching and teaching of Dr. David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, in Birmingham, AL. I first heard Platt at a conference in January 2008 in Chattanooga, TN. I was blown away by the passionate preaching of Platt - a believer that's my age!
I would encourage you to go to their website and listen to some recent messages. They are also on podcast.
You will not be disappointed by this teaching.
On the church site, you'll also find what's called "The Secret Church." Dr. Platt uses these efforts to teach the Word to the people of God. I would highly recommend it. I'm listening to one of these (4 parts) on the Old Testament. You can even print the notes out and follow along. If you've ever wondered what seminary is like, this could give you a taste - only it's better!
If you're in a place where you really want to learn more about the word of God, you have to check this out!

Latest Read

I've just finished Holy Discontent, by Bill Hybels. I must say that this read didn't "wow" me. This is the second book I've read by Hybels in the last year (the other was Volunteer Revolution). Each of these books list story after story of people who have gotten passionate for a cause or calling, and have pursued that fire. In HD, Hybels suggests that we all have a "holy discontent" moment. He used two Biblical examples - Moses and Nehemiah - to prove his point. These are the moments in our lives when we decide that we must act on our convictions. Modern day examples are given, like Bono and his support of AIDS foundations.

All in all, I did not enjoy these books. I love stories as much as the next guy, but I also love spiritual truth. Outside of a couple Biblical examples, it was a skyscraper (story upon story) book. Anyway, just thought I'd update you on the latest reading. I'm almost finished with a couple others as well. Have a great week!

Best Saturday in a while...

What a great Saturday!
This was quite possibly the most action packed and most exciting Saturday we've had in a while. Here's a rough outline of our day:
1. Went to the park - ate lunch and flew a kite.
2. Went to Bass Pro - Joshua asked us to buy an awesome yellow boat! That's my boy!
3. Got home - Paw Paw came to the crib.
4. Went to a Strawberry Patch - picked strawberries, ate home made ice cream, saw lots of animals, thought the kids might get attacked by several animals they got way too close to - peacock, steer, rooster, etc.
5. Ate at Nu Way Weiners - it's a Macon thing...
It was a busy day! It was a great day. Thank you, Lord, for such an awesome family!
For pictures, check out Lindsey's blog at www.fourbroomes.blogspot.com . She'll probably be posting some tomorrow.

life and death

This past weekend, we held my grandmother's funeral in Charlotte, NC. As I reflect on her life, I think about my own mortality. To be sure, we will all eventually die and stand before God someday (unless the Lord returns). That part doesn't concern me as much, because I know that "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." I cried out to the Lord for salvation many years ago, and am ready to meet the Lord.
My greater concern is this life. How will I spend it? Will I make any difference? Will I be a good father? Will I be a good husband? Son? Follower of Jesus?
One of my favorite past times is vegging out in front of the TV set. I've grown quiet accustomed to just sitting and letting my wheels stop turning as I watch whichever latest and greatest show hit primetime.
When it comes to my life, I am resolved not to veg out. I hope and pray that God will find me faithful to Him and to my family and friends throughout my life.
How does this happen? Less of me and more of Him. Me says "Sit down. Take it easy. You've had a long day of work. Rest." He says "Spend time with me. Be still before Me. Love your wife as I loved you. Teach your children and love them. Love your neighbor as yourself."
I hope when it's all said and done, I will have made a difference. I hope that I'll be a husband that loved my wife, a father who loved his children, and a servant who loved God more than anything. A legacy doesn't happen overnight. It will take small steps over time...am I willing to put one foot in front of the other?

Mighty to Save...

This week, I reflect on a great Easter weekend. The Lord worked mightily at Ingleside this weekend. We made every effort to lift Him up, and He drew many men, women, boys and girls to Himself. It is a blessing to serve the Lord at Ingleside! I'd like to point you to a couple of items to help recap this weekend:
Check out this video that a local news station did of IBC.
Check out Lindsey's blog from last night.
Only God can change a heart and make it new. For some reason, we get to be a small part of what He does. What a great God!

God's Way vs. Man's Way

I am reading through Nehemiah currently. The other day, as I read Nehemiah 9, I was blown away by the contrast between God's way and man's way. In context, the wall of Jerusalem has now been rebuilt, and Ezra, the priest, stands before the people of God to read the Word of the Lord. Upon hearing the Word, the people lift their hands and worship God. Then, they bow low to the ground in worship. The Levites read the history of Israel to the people. It is in this passage that God is exalted. Listen to some of the descriptions of God:
Blessed be your glorious name...
You made the heavens...
You give life to everything.
You are the Lord God, who chose Abram...
You found his heart faithful to you...
You made a covenant with him.
You have kept your promise because you are righteous.
You saw the suffering of your people.
You heard their cry.
You sent miraculous signs..
You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven.
You gave them bread from heaven.
Because of Your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert.
You gave your good spirit to instruct them.
You sustained them in the desert.
You gave them kingdoms...
You made their sons as numerous as the stars.
You brought them into the land.

Notice all the great things God did? Now listen to the response of the people of God:
They became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey your commands.
They refused to listen.
They failed to remember the miracles you performed among them.
They cast for themselves an image of a calf and worshiped it.
They rebelled against you.
They put your law behind their backs.
They killed your prophets.
They committed awful blasphemies.

Are you starting to see the same picture I am? Can you see that God is faithful even to those who do not deserve it? He always has been, and He still is today.
Listen to this verse:
"God demonstrates His own love toward us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
To this day I do not understand how and why God is so merciful to us. How He could love the unlovable is baffling. Still, I celebrate and rejoice in His grace and mercy in my life. I hope that as we approach Easter Sunday, you'll be reminded that God loves you. He sent His Son to die on your behalf - not because you deserved it - but because He is good. Do you know the One who died for you?

You're How Old?

What a day this has been! Thanks to the modern technologies of texting, facebook, and blogging, I have received many birthday wishes. Thanks so much to all of you for wishing me a happy birthday. I sure do feel loved by you all.
This week, I'd like to take a minute to tell you some of the life lessons I've learned in the first tri-mester of my life (Lord willing).
1. There is no relationship more important than the relationship with the Lord. Without Him, all others fail.
2. Be willing to wait on the right woman. Wait on the Lord, and trust that He will take care of you.
3. Children ARE a blessing from the Lord.
4. Keep walking...don't ever stop walking with the Lord. You'll have bad days, hard times, and times when you don't think He'd want to walk with you. Just keep walking.
5. Family is important.
6. Don't sweat the small stuff. And it is almost always small stuff.

How about a few others?
- don't look up while a flock of geese are going overhead.
- always take an extra set of clothes when going fishing on a boat (just in case you fall in).
- when the gas light comes on, just go ahead and stop for gas.
- stop while you're ahead (provided you're ever ahead).
- when you're extremely tired - just be quiet (you'll probably say something dumb that you wish you could take back) - trust me.

Well, that's all folks. I would like to say that these 30 years have been full of joy, excitement, sorrow, loss, gain, hurt, blessing, and transition. Still, they have been great. The last 5 have been the best, though. My wife, Lindsey, has been the most amazing blessing God could have given me as a wife. Thank you, babe, for being faithful to me, sinful as I am.

God is with you!!!

Recently, I was spending time with Joshua just before "dark nap time," or bed time - as most people know it as. I sat in his room and watched him run around and try to find any excuse of why he shouldn't go to sleep.

Then, he turned the light off and left the room. I asked him to come back and turn on the light because it was so dark. He returned, turned the light on, and pointed his finger in the air and said, "GOD IS WITH YOU!!!" And then he turned the light off again.

Now, I'm sure we've said this to him before. But really, when you consider what my 3 year old was saying, he is exactly right. Even in the darkest times, when it seems that there is no hope, God is with you. Thanks, Joshua, for the reminder!

I've waited so long...(sing that again)

Hello everyone -
You've probably been wondering if I died recently (or perhaps if I'd gotten the dreaded #4 at the nearest Taco Bell and have been down for the count for a while). It has been a while since my last entry. I hope this one is helpful to you. This entry primarily is geared for parents of teenagers...enjoy!
We have just finished a parent training at Ingleside called "Becoming a Web-Savvy Parent." The following took place on Sunday night between 6:30 and 7:30 pm(read that last line with your best Jack Bauer voice).
We discussed internet filters and recommended covenant eyes. Covenant eyes offers web filtering as well as internet accountability. It will send you, the parent, a printable report of every page that has been viewed on your computer. You can check out more at www.covenanteyes.com . You may want to see what Josh Via says about the tool on www.joshvia.com.
We also mentioned that parents must be savvy in regard to entertainment (ie - movies, CDs, video games). One of the best sites to use is www.pluggedinonline.com . This site gives reviews of all the latest entertainment. If you want to see the content of a movie before you watch it, you must check out this site. Lindsey and I use it as well. The conversation in the Broome house usually goes something like this..."What do you want to rent?" "I'm up for whatever." "Hey, what about that movie called _______? I heard it was really awesome!" "Yeah, me too." "Hmmm, it's rated PG-13." "I wonder why." "Let's check out plugged in before we rent it." "Good plan." Sometimes Lindsey even gets in on the conversation I'm having with myself! You've gotta check this site out...especially before you buy your child the next CD, DVD, etc.
We mentioned Facebook, the mega-social network. Our advice is simple: If your child has a Facebook account, you also should have one. You need to be checking in on them to see what's happening in their social network.
Overall, what the high school pastor and I suggested to our parents is to be actively involved in your child's internet life. Don't allow them to have "secret places" on the world-wide web. The primary issue is their own protection and purity.
I hope you can use some of these tools in your family!