My wife, Joyce, has been elected to the office of “Organizer” for a national charitable organization that sends 10 year old girls to summer camp. One of the organizer’s responsibilities is to help state organizations and local chapters recruit new members. As Joyce thought through this responsibility, she joked about the response she would get if she sent each chapter a hunting license. January through March tends to be a low season of activity. In April, girls are selected from recommendation from school nurses according to need. In early summer there is shopping and taking the girls to camp. In the fall, there is fund raising. Therefore, January through March is open season for inviting friends, neighbors, and colleagues to experience the joy and fellowship of this organization at a monthly meeting. I can tell you that we have had many good laughs as we played out endless possibilities of what a hunting license would look like, what words would be on it, and how it would be delivered.
Playing off a hunting season for this organization, the church is entering its most productive hunting season for sharing the Gospel with those who do not attend worship or belong to a church. Non-members are the most open to accepting an invitation to a church event or worship during the up coming holiday season.
Evangelism experts maintain that up to 86% of those who attend church for the first time do so because a family member, friend, or colleague invites them to a church event or special worship service. Because the non-member is with a friend, coming to church is not overly threatening. Because a non-member is with a friend, the non-member is not a stranger in the midst of a large group where everyone seems to know everyone else.
Think for a moment about the special events and worship services the disciples at Epiphany can invite their non-churched friends to experience. In a few weeks, we will have a special Thanksgiving worship to thank the Lord for all the gifts God has given to us. Then there will be the Children's Christmas Musical. And, of course, there is Christmas Eve and Christmas day services. Each event is “hunting season” in which Jesus’ disciples at Epiphany invite those who do not normally worship to experience the joy of Christian fellowship.
Through this blog, I invite all of you to think about who you can invite to come with you to one or all of the special services to be offered over the next nine weeks. Once you have identified those you can invite, choose one individual or family and extend an invitation. Offer to pick that individual or family up or meet them at the door of the church. Introduce them to your friends at Epiphany. Sit next to them and help them when needed to follow the liturgy. And after the event is over, invite them to another ministry which they might enjoy.
It may be just a little sacrilegious to suggest the holidays are hunting season for the church. But it is these days that give us the best opportunity to invite those who are not part of the church to experience the joy and benefits of being part of such a faith community. So let me extend to you a hunting license and wish you good hunting as we work together to grow Epiphany spiritually, in community, in outreach, and numerically.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
What's Next
I started writing this blog so that you would know what I was thinking, to test-out thoughts, to create conversations, and to just let you know what was happening. I believe the more open conversation a congregation has, the more its members participate and own the congregation's ministries. So, this is what I am thinking at this point of our partnership.
I am thinking that we have taken major strides in providing a firm financial foundation in order to provide the financial resources for Epiphany to love Jesus by serving others. I have a little anxiety about the up-coming annual Stewardship Campaign. The last two months laugh at this anxiety. The disciples at Epiphany have responded in extraordinary fashion to meeting our debt obligations. We have pledged over $270,000 to be added to the original Capital Campaign. There is every reason to believe a similar response will occur in the Stewardship Campaign. But I am human and so every now and then I become a little anxious.
Now that the major work on stewardship is completed, I am turning my attention to the Austin Campus. I have met recently with those who worship at this campus. That meeting lead to a strategy planning session to build-up this campus. Now, we are in the implementation stage of this process.
As I look at what the Austin Campus is doing, I am reminded of being in Berlin. Joyce and I were walking along Utter den Linden after visiting the Brandenberg Gate. As we walked towards the Berlin Cathedral, we past part of the University of Berlin. The university does not have a campus in one place like Ohio State in Columbus. Rather, the campus was located throughout the entire city. Its motto could very well have been, One university, many different schools, in many different locations. The school of engineering was not near the school of medicine, or the school of the arts, etc. Each school in its own neighborhood had its own flavor to meet the needs of its own students. And yet, it was one school meeting the needs of a diverse student population. I remember thinking, “This is the model for church growth and large congregations in the early part of the 21st century in America.”
I see the Austin Campus and the Far Hills Campus mirroring the University of Berlin. Austin will primarily minister to those south of Centerville while Far Hills will ministry primarily to those north of Centerville. Each will have it own style to meet the needs of those who regularly attend worship and participate in ministries designed to meet particular needs. But, there will be a common purpose: to love Jesus by serving others. There will be a common administration. There will be resources that can be distributed to both campuses. And, there will be the same commitment to grow Epiphany spiritually, in community, in outreach, and numerically.
There are things that all of us can do to help the Austin Campus grow. One is to pray for God’s guidance and success for Austin. Another is for Far Hills worshipers to occasional worship at Austin. Another, is to volunteer to help when Austin surveys a local housing development to determine how to best minister to its neighbors.
I am personally excited to be working with the regular worshipers at Austin. We should have a good and productive time together.
Pastor Pete
I am thinking that we have taken major strides in providing a firm financial foundation in order to provide the financial resources for Epiphany to love Jesus by serving others. I have a little anxiety about the up-coming annual Stewardship Campaign. The last two months laugh at this anxiety. The disciples at Epiphany have responded in extraordinary fashion to meeting our debt obligations. We have pledged over $270,000 to be added to the original Capital Campaign. There is every reason to believe a similar response will occur in the Stewardship Campaign. But I am human and so every now and then I become a little anxious.
Now that the major work on stewardship is completed, I am turning my attention to the Austin Campus. I have met recently with those who worship at this campus. That meeting lead to a strategy planning session to build-up this campus. Now, we are in the implementation stage of this process.
As I look at what the Austin Campus is doing, I am reminded of being in Berlin. Joyce and I were walking along Utter den Linden after visiting the Brandenberg Gate. As we walked towards the Berlin Cathedral, we past part of the University of Berlin. The university does not have a campus in one place like Ohio State in Columbus. Rather, the campus was located throughout the entire city. Its motto could very well have been, One university, many different schools, in many different locations. The school of engineering was not near the school of medicine, or the school of the arts, etc. Each school in its own neighborhood had its own flavor to meet the needs of its own students. And yet, it was one school meeting the needs of a diverse student population. I remember thinking, “This is the model for church growth and large congregations in the early part of the 21st century in America.”
I see the Austin Campus and the Far Hills Campus mirroring the University of Berlin. Austin will primarily minister to those south of Centerville while Far Hills will ministry primarily to those north of Centerville. Each will have it own style to meet the needs of those who regularly attend worship and participate in ministries designed to meet particular needs. But, there will be a common purpose: to love Jesus by serving others. There will be a common administration. There will be resources that can be distributed to both campuses. And, there will be the same commitment to grow Epiphany spiritually, in community, in outreach, and numerically.
There are things that all of us can do to help the Austin Campus grow. One is to pray for God’s guidance and success for Austin. Another is for Far Hills worshipers to occasional worship at Austin. Another, is to volunteer to help when Austin surveys a local housing development to determine how to best minister to its neighbors.
I am personally excited to be working with the regular worshipers at Austin. We should have a good and productive time together.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Instant Gratification
We are entering the second full week in October. In our culture of instant gratification, it is now time to take down the Halloween displays and sell Halloween candy at half price so that we can turn our attention to Christmas. (Remember, Halloween is still three weeks away.) Craft shops like Hobby Lobby already have their Christmas merchandise out. Last year, Home Depot was selling Christmas trees at this time so I need to check if they are on schedule this year. It will not be long until we hear Christmas music wherever we go. I’m sure, Thanksgiving will get lost somewhere in the rush to get to Christmas.
Instant gratification is not only for the holidays. Last Sunday was my birthday. I deeply appreciated the cards I received before the big day. Those sending them remembered! But I wondered about those who sent cards that arrived the day after my birthday. Could it be that they forgot? Logically, that doesn’t make sense. Neither group sent cards that arrived on the exact day. Perhaps one of the early cards was sent by a person who could not remember the exact day so sent a card hoping it would arrive close to the day. If it was early, that would make it acceptable.
Instant gratification carries over in every area of life. I want it and I want it NOW. Waiting is hard. I want the Stewardship Campaign to be successfully completed now. I want the new administrative structure to be firmly planted in the life of Epiphany now. I want the planning of Joyce’s and my trip to Jordan and Israel this Christmas to be now.
I know that I argue with myself with logic. It takes time to discern and test a ministry program. It takes time to to root a new procedure. In one of the books that I read, the author said it can take up to seven years. I know it has taken a year to put together our Christmas trip.
In my more rational moments, I have a strategy to deal with the impulse for instant gratification. When I am planning something, I ask how long should this take. I try very hard to be realistic. Once I have a realistic date in mind, I apply Murphy’s Law, “Whatever time you set for a project, it will take twice as long.” Since this law is accurate more often than not, I take my realistic time schedule and multiply by 2. Finally, I remember a commentary on Murphy and his Law; namely, Murphy was an optimist. I better allow some more time for the Stewardship Campaign, for the administration system to be implemented and firmly rooted, and for dealing with a trip to the Holy Land that seems to change on a regular basis.
If you have another strategy for dealing with the impulse for instant gratification, let me know. I would enjoy comparing notes.
Pastor Pete
Instant gratification is not only for the holidays. Last Sunday was my birthday. I deeply appreciated the cards I received before the big day. Those sending them remembered! But I wondered about those who sent cards that arrived the day after my birthday. Could it be that they forgot? Logically, that doesn’t make sense. Neither group sent cards that arrived on the exact day. Perhaps one of the early cards was sent by a person who could not remember the exact day so sent a card hoping it would arrive close to the day. If it was early, that would make it acceptable.
Instant gratification carries over in every area of life. I want it and I want it NOW. Waiting is hard. I want the Stewardship Campaign to be successfully completed now. I want the new administrative structure to be firmly planted in the life of Epiphany now. I want the planning of Joyce’s and my trip to Jordan and Israel this Christmas to be now.
I know that I argue with myself with logic. It takes time to discern and test a ministry program. It takes time to to root a new procedure. In one of the books that I read, the author said it can take up to seven years. I know it has taken a year to put together our Christmas trip.
In my more rational moments, I have a strategy to deal with the impulse for instant gratification. When I am planning something, I ask how long should this take. I try very hard to be realistic. Once I have a realistic date in mind, I apply Murphy’s Law, “Whatever time you set for a project, it will take twice as long.” Since this law is accurate more often than not, I take my realistic time schedule and multiply by 2. Finally, I remember a commentary on Murphy and his Law; namely, Murphy was an optimist. I better allow some more time for the Stewardship Campaign, for the administration system to be implemented and firmly rooted, and for dealing with a trip to the Holy Land that seems to change on a regular basis.
If you have another strategy for dealing with the impulse for instant gratification, let me know. I would enjoy comparing notes.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
What Time Is It?
Within any congregation, there is a time for change and a time to firmly plant and grow those changes into the life of a congregation. One of the roles of a leader is to know if this is a time of change or a time to firmly plant and grow the changes that have be started.
For the last eight months, Epiphany has been in the time of change. It has defined a new purpose statement, “To love Jesus by serving others.” Every ministry of Epiphany is guided and evaluated by this purpose.
Epiphany has discerned God’s vision for the next ten years. A vision defines how a congregation lives out its purpose. As a part of Epiphany’s vision, a new administration system has be established. The new system has four lanes: 1. Outreach to non-members in the Centerville area and around the world. 2. Worship and praise of God, 3. Care of members, and 4. Administration. This system was designed to encourage ministries in the same lane to work together to achieve a common purpose and to provide effective communications to the disciples at Epiphany about its ministries.
Epiphany has conducted a successful revisiting of the Capital Campaign. To date, the disciples at Epiphany have pledged an additional $266,500 to address Epiphany’s debt obligations. The success of this program has enabled Epiphany to continue the call process for a new senior pastor.
Epiphany is in the process of conducting an assertive annual Stewardship Campaign. The minimum goal is to increase annual giving by at least 5% of what is currently being contributed to the ministries of Epiphany.
Within a month, we will be implementing a new communication system. Instead of The Star published every other month, there will be a weekly newsletter with messages from the pastors, testimonies from disciples, and current news about up coming ministries. This new communication system will be orientated towards e-mail distribution instead of hard copies being sent via the post office. Our new communication director has been working hard on this project.
All of these changes have occurred while established ministries continue to function; i.e., the observance of Lent, the celebration of Easter, the summer musical, Vacation Bible School, the beginning of Sunday School, the starting of the fall youth programs, weddings, funerals, hospital calling, and much more.
Change does not last if a congregation and its leaders do not take time to let changes become firmly established. The vision is for 10 years. It will take time for all of its new ministries and changes in existing ministries to be planned and implemented. The new administrative system needs time to become familiar to those managing ministry lanes. Assertive stewardship programs need time to become part of Epiphany’s culture. It is the leader’s responsibility to say, now that we have implemented these changes we need to take time to let them take root so that they can grow strong.
I celebrate the changes that have occurred in the last eight months at Epiphany. As I look ahead, I will be spending a lot of time working on firmly establishing these changes into the life and ministry of Epiphany. My goal is to have them firmly rooted by the time a new senior pastor arrives to lead Epiphany.
Pastor Pete
For the last eight months, Epiphany has been in the time of change. It has defined a new purpose statement, “To love Jesus by serving others.” Every ministry of Epiphany is guided and evaluated by this purpose.
Epiphany has discerned God’s vision for the next ten years. A vision defines how a congregation lives out its purpose. As a part of Epiphany’s vision, a new administration system has be established. The new system has four lanes: 1. Outreach to non-members in the Centerville area and around the world. 2. Worship and praise of God, 3. Care of members, and 4. Administration. This system was designed to encourage ministries in the same lane to work together to achieve a common purpose and to provide effective communications to the disciples at Epiphany about its ministries.
Epiphany has conducted a successful revisiting of the Capital Campaign. To date, the disciples at Epiphany have pledged an additional $266,500 to address Epiphany’s debt obligations. The success of this program has enabled Epiphany to continue the call process for a new senior pastor.
Epiphany is in the process of conducting an assertive annual Stewardship Campaign. The minimum goal is to increase annual giving by at least 5% of what is currently being contributed to the ministries of Epiphany.
Within a month, we will be implementing a new communication system. Instead of The Star published every other month, there will be a weekly newsletter with messages from the pastors, testimonies from disciples, and current news about up coming ministries. This new communication system will be orientated towards e-mail distribution instead of hard copies being sent via the post office. Our new communication director has been working hard on this project.
All of these changes have occurred while established ministries continue to function; i.e., the observance of Lent, the celebration of Easter, the summer musical, Vacation Bible School, the beginning of Sunday School, the starting of the fall youth programs, weddings, funerals, hospital calling, and much more.
Change does not last if a congregation and its leaders do not take time to let changes become firmly established. The vision is for 10 years. It will take time for all of its new ministries and changes in existing ministries to be planned and implemented. The new administrative system needs time to become familiar to those managing ministry lanes. Assertive stewardship programs need time to become part of Epiphany’s culture. It is the leader’s responsibility to say, now that we have implemented these changes we need to take time to let them take root so that they can grow strong.
I celebrate the changes that have occurred in the last eight months at Epiphany. As I look ahead, I will be spending a lot of time working on firmly establishing these changes into the life and ministry of Epiphany. My goal is to have them firmly rooted by the time a new senior pastor arrives to lead Epiphany.
Pastor Pete
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