Getting Started
October 29th, 2007 | by Scott |Today is my first day in the office marking the true beginning of my work as minister for the Agape Church of Christ.
As I sit here surrounded by boxes on my wife’s laptop I can’t help but feel a little bit overwhelmed. That, to me, is a great feeling.
Meeting with the shepherds has been a blessing. They want to proceed just like we would with a church plant and utilize some of the training we received this summer toward that end.
The question is: where do we start? What are the initial things that have to be done? How do we best impact this community? How do we be relevant and in tune with the culture without sacrificing theological depth?
In a nod to Mr. Barth I have just subscribed to the local paper.
I have a ton of ideas when it comes to setting a vision for this place. But let me ask you, my faithful readers, if you were beginning a new and fresh ministry what would you do? Joe and other church planters, let me hear you.
What should a young church focus on in the early days? I’d be anxious to hear you ideas and see how they mesh with what I am thinking. And, hopefully, those members of Agape that are reading this will feel led to respond as well.
I plan on using this space on Monday’s to talk specifically about the work of the church using this as my template to discuss what we are called to be.
Look for the return of top 10 Tuesdays tomorrow with the 10 greatest Springsteen songs of all time.
In the meantime, give me your feedback.
10 Responses to “Getting Started”
By Lane on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
While still young and just a simple youth minister, I know what I would want from a church…a sense of community. True, family oriented community. Everyone feels welcome, everyone feels used. No one is left in the fringe, but all are brought together by a common bond.
I’ve worked with 3 churches now, and none of the elders in any of the 3 churches ever go to visit anyone. Family and friends drop by, so why would the elders not want to do so?
The respect from the church comes from the top down. If there is no respect for the sanctity of the community of the church from the top, no one else will have that respect.
By Greg Brooks on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
It might not make the church any more relevant, but you could do some work to the website. I can’t click any links in Firefox.
By Scott on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
Lane, I think you hit at a fundamental flaw of many of our churches. Community is often limited to certain groups and aren’t seeking to be inclusive.
At this point at this place there is a great sense of community. Part of my interest will be in ensuring that remains the case as it grows larger.
Greg, I hope to start doing some work on the site very soon. I’m open to suggestions on that as well. My good buddy Travis suggested I do something like this in conjunction with my first Sunday:
http://www.ourrectorsearch.org/
By John on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
I’ve been going to my church now for 10 years and I went on what was the second week they ever met so I’ve seen the whole growth progress with the good and the bad and the downright ugly. One thing that is a tremendous help is if the church has a clear vision of it’s mission and goals and then have that filter down to the different ministries in the church.
This whole process did result in the church coming up with a mission statement and a 5 year plan to go along with that. If you’re interested it can be found at http://www.livinghopepa.org
By Jim MacKenzie on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
The best thing I did when we were in our small town in VA was get involved in the community. I wrote for the paper; I visited people in the hospital who weren’t even a part of our church (some regional hospitals are desperately looking for chaplains); I coached; I was even thinking of getting on the board of a community-service organization;
Just build relationships. They are key in small communities.
I am so glad God brought the Freeman’s and this church together. Answered prayer…
By Joe on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
Heck if I know! I can tell you some stuff we’re considering but I can’t tell you if it works or not. That’s yet to be determined.
First of all, work on that website. Yikes! But don’t do it yourself unless you’re a genius with HTML. Get it done professionally. Pay someone. It needs to be done well.
Which leads me to this, I think that folks expect excellence if they are gonna give up a couple of hours of their weekend so aim for that on Sundays. We CofC-ers grew up with a mentality that didn’t take excellence into consideration. Make sure your Sunday services are done well.
Finally, get involved in the community’s established institutions - the school, hospital, etc. Offer yourself up so that people know you are serious about the community and not just Sunday services.
But again, what the heck do I know?
By Doug Freeman on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
Scott, do the elders have a mission statement? What do they plan to do in the community? If no vision or mission statement, look at ours under the Elders information. It is a power point presentation we show every so often.Especially as we get new members.
By Justin on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
It looks like you’re getting lots of info on how to make the church marketable. Is that what you’re going for?
If I were to start a church, I don’t think it would look anything like our churches. first, I would try to do something at least one Sunday a month, where people from the church go and be with those in the community somehow. Like, maybe everyone canvases starbucks and just strikes up conversation with people. Or maybe you go downtown and have breakfast for those in poverty… I don’t know, but I think for the church to be relevant its going to have to start being Jesus rather than just talking about him.
By Steve Allison on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
Of course I know nothing of the history and collective psychology of your new group. However, it is nearly always a good thing for people to eat together. That is a great way to build community. This point is made in Conrad Gempf’s “Mealtime Habits of the Messiah”. Also, your fellow Oklahoman Wade Hodges in Tulsa did an interesting series on the Theology of Food beginning on his blog around Nov 20, 2006. Here’s an excerpt.
“What does the Bible have to say about food?
Quite a lot.
If all the stories, discussions, descriptions, and allusions that have to do with food were taken out of the Bible, it would be one skinny book. We could call it the Richard Simmons Bible. Similar to the Thomas Jefferson Bible which excised all of the miracles of Jesus, the Richard Simmons Bible would annoy the sweat out of us.”
(http://www.wadehodges.com/2006/11/)
By Scott on Oct 30, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for all the great comments.
John, I appreciate the link to your church’s website. Very well done. I hope to begin a vision casting process soon.
Jim, great ideas. I really want to get involved in the community. I’ve thought about trying to write for the paper and I want to look into your other suggestions as well.
Joe, you know. You are my resident expert.
I’m with you on the excellence thing. I firmly believe that if we can’t do it well then it might be a good idea not to do it.
James, (that’s my dad’s first name. just though I would keep the “j’s” going.) Not sure on an existing statement but I hope to spend some time looking at these issues soon.
Justin, (see, all J’s) we are going beyond mega to ultima. Bigger, bigger and bigger. Onward and upward.
Steve, (you don’t have a “j” in your name do you?) Great thoughts. We hope to have people in our homes regularly as soon as we are permanently settled.