Jim Tomberlin is one of the most well known church consultants in the nation when it comes to multi-site church strategies.
Jim and I have crossed paths a number of times but never really talked until this weekend.
What he shared with me was very encouraging! He reviewed what we’ve been doing in Oakland and here in Wexford and had lots of good input to help us stay on track and, best of all, maximize the opportunities that are before us.
The one thing that I came to see is that “multi-site” is most definitely the best way for churches to reach new people and to create the “movement” of the local church in any given area.
This cutting edge thinking may require some cutting edge sacrifice, but the results are also very gratifying! Please pray for our pastoral team, elders and many people who are engaged in thinking outside the box. It gets lonely out here every once in a while but it’s great to know that people who have no vested interest in telling us what we want to hear, are giving us very high marks for our first steps into the multi-site world.
Blessings!
Dr. Jay
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Life is everywhere..!"
As I had the freedom to "roam" throughout the facility at North Way, Wexford, yesterday; I was almost overwhelmed by the countless ways that the Lord is touching lives through our Church family.
Most of us see what is happening in the sanctuary, but peel back the curtain and you'll find layers of profound engagement going on with all kinds of people.
There were nearly 100 folks in the "Daniel" class being challenged in a conversational way by Dr.Jim Platt, while 200 ft away, 30 mentally challenged adults were being loved and included in a very basic way in the "Friendship Class". We're the only Church I know that provides a weekly gathering time for this wonderful, but needy group of adults.
Hearing laughter in the Atrium as parents and kids spilled out in that awesome new space was magnetic! I can envision hundreds of new friendships being formed in that space in just this year alone!
The Worship Service was powerful, from the corporate expressions to the message to communion, but seeing 30+ people receive the gospel message and acknowledge their desire to receive new life moved me beyond words..
As I was thinking about all of this, I got word that the same things were happening with over 400 folks in Oakland yesterday..wow!
Life is everywhere because we believe..!
Pastor Jay
Most of us see what is happening in the sanctuary, but peel back the curtain and you'll find layers of profound engagement going on with all kinds of people.
There were nearly 100 folks in the "Daniel" class being challenged in a conversational way by Dr.Jim Platt, while 200 ft away, 30 mentally challenged adults were being loved and included in a very basic way in the "Friendship Class". We're the only Church I know that provides a weekly gathering time for this wonderful, but needy group of adults.
Hearing laughter in the Atrium as parents and kids spilled out in that awesome new space was magnetic! I can envision hundreds of new friendships being formed in that space in just this year alone!
The Worship Service was powerful, from the corporate expressions to the message to communion, but seeing 30+ people receive the gospel message and acknowledge their desire to receive new life moved me beyond words..
As I was thinking about all of this, I got word that the same things were happening with over 400 folks in Oakland yesterday..wow!
Life is everywhere because we believe..!
Pastor Jay
Friday, February 6, 2009
Beware of Speed Traps
One of the more interesting observations that I’ve made over the past couple of weeks is the “urgency” that the new administration is imposing upon the “economic stimulus package.”
Anytime someone presents me with a financial request and needs an immediate answer I am automatically prone to be somewhat skeptical. One of the axioms that I have developed over the years is that “due diligence” is essential when it comes to operating with other people’s money. (And that’s in fact what the government is doing!)
Although there are many good things that have been suggested, the idea of rushing in the first couple of weeks to spend a trillion dollars without adequate due diligence is not one of them.
If this is something that is essential to the well-being of our country and the future economic stability that we all desire, it will stand up to the test of a few more weeks of investigation.
At a personal level, I think the same things are true and have learned through error as well as occasional moments of insight that being in a hurry about such things is not a good idea!
Let’s pray for our leaders and those in authority over us as they need the wisdom of God in such difficult times.
Blessings!
Dr. Jay
Anytime someone presents me with a financial request and needs an immediate answer I am automatically prone to be somewhat skeptical. One of the axioms that I have developed over the years is that “due diligence” is essential when it comes to operating with other people’s money. (And that’s in fact what the government is doing!)
Although there are many good things that have been suggested, the idea of rushing in the first couple of weeks to spend a trillion dollars without adequate due diligence is not one of them.
If this is something that is essential to the well-being of our country and the future economic stability that we all desire, it will stand up to the test of a few more weeks of investigation.
At a personal level, I think the same things are true and have learned through error as well as occasional moments of insight that being in a hurry about such things is not a good idea!
Let’s pray for our leaders and those in authority over us as they need the wisdom of God in such difficult times.
Blessings!
Dr. Jay
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Simple Ask
One of the things that most of us fear (including me!) is asking a person if they would be interested in pursuing a step in their spiritual journey, especially if you don’t know much about their background.
Recently, I had a conversation with someone who is pretty well accomplished in their profession, but hadn’t given much indication that they had any interest in spiritual things.
During our conversation the Lord nudged me to simply ask him if he would have any desire to get together to talk through some of his questions related to his faith and spirituality.
His response was not just a qualified concession, but rather, an enthusiastic “I’d be very interested in that!”
Over the next minutes I pondered how many times I had avoided asking him that question and wondered why I had been so fearful.
Friends, there are countless numbers of folks who are just waiting for someone like you to ask them to take some sort of step that would lead them in the discovery of what God’s word really says and where they stand with the true issues of life.
I don’t know what it is about “the ask” but let’s all be just a bit more courageous when it comes to that moment. Who knows when the entire trajectory of someone’s spiritual life could be changed just because you had the courage “to ask” the question!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Recently, I had a conversation with someone who is pretty well accomplished in their profession, but hadn’t given much indication that they had any interest in spiritual things.
During our conversation the Lord nudged me to simply ask him if he would have any desire to get together to talk through some of his questions related to his faith and spirituality.
His response was not just a qualified concession, but rather, an enthusiastic “I’d be very interested in that!”
Over the next minutes I pondered how many times I had avoided asking him that question and wondered why I had been so fearful.
Friends, there are countless numbers of folks who are just waiting for someone like you to ask them to take some sort of step that would lead them in the discovery of what God’s word really says and where they stand with the true issues of life.
I don’t know what it is about “the ask” but let’s all be just a bit more courageous when it comes to that moment. Who knows when the entire trajectory of someone’s spiritual life could be changed just because you had the courage “to ask” the question!
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Through Fresh Eyes
Yesterday, I was able to have lunch with a brother in Christ who has a pretty influential position in our city.
I’m not going to share his name because it’s not what’s important. What really matters is that he is in regular contact with scores, maybe even hundreds, of churches because of his position.
He confessed to me that when he made the plans to come to visit North Way that it was “just another church visit” for him until we had an opportunity to walk through our facility and explain the different ministries that God has given to us.
By the end of our 90 minute lunch and conversation he was exuding affirmation and appreciation for what God is doing here!
I think that we all need to hear some validation through the eyes of people that are really objective. This happened for me and certainly lifted my faith to believe that the miracle that we need to see in terms of God’s provision is just around the corner. Remember our axiom: “Where God guides, He provides!”
That’s true for your life every bit as much as it is for our church. That’s how I see it through my eyes… and hopefully you do to.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
I’m not going to share his name because it’s not what’s important. What really matters is that he is in regular contact with scores, maybe even hundreds, of churches because of his position.
He confessed to me that when he made the plans to come to visit North Way that it was “just another church visit” for him until we had an opportunity to walk through our facility and explain the different ministries that God has given to us.
By the end of our 90 minute lunch and conversation he was exuding affirmation and appreciation for what God is doing here!
I think that we all need to hear some validation through the eyes of people that are really objective. This happened for me and certainly lifted my faith to believe that the miracle that we need to see in terms of God’s provision is just around the corner. Remember our axiom: “Where God guides, He provides!”
That’s true for your life every bit as much as it is for our church. That’s how I see it through my eyes… and hopefully you do to.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What Others See
I had an interesting exchange today with a person who’s visiting us from out of state. He’s seen a very broad cross section of our church life from the Worship Café to the regular service to a lot of time with our Oakland Community.
Perhaps his most poignant observation was “just how much community” he’s discovered with all the people that he’s met.
I wonder if many of us begin to take this incredible gift for granted. Even though we talk about small groups and community and personal relationships a lot, I wonder if we really understand how rare that experience is in today’s culture.
The person that I was visiting with has traveled the country and been in scores if not hundreds of situations and he made a point of saying how much he sensed the authenticity of our community.
To be honest, this blesses me about as much as anything I could think of! It’s an affirmation of a value that we hold here at North Way: That we will be true followers of Jesus who love Him and one another with all of our hearts!
And so let me encourage you to affirm each other when you have the opportunity. Put a value on your small group and on community and on the relationships that God gives you because they are indeed, a rare gift in today’s culture.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Perhaps his most poignant observation was “just how much community” he’s discovered with all the people that he’s met.
I wonder if many of us begin to take this incredible gift for granted. Even though we talk about small groups and community and personal relationships a lot, I wonder if we really understand how rare that experience is in today’s culture.
The person that I was visiting with has traveled the country and been in scores if not hundreds of situations and he made a point of saying how much he sensed the authenticity of our community.
To be honest, this blesses me about as much as anything I could think of! It’s an affirmation of a value that we hold here at North Way: That we will be true followers of Jesus who love Him and one another with all of our hearts!
And so let me encourage you to affirm each other when you have the opportunity. Put a value on your small group and on community and on the relationships that God gives you because they are indeed, a rare gift in today’s culture.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Super Moment!
There are a whole lot of things in my head right now concerning last night’s incredible Steeler victory over the Arizona Cardinals! What a game!
The one thing I found myself going back to over and over again is the simple value that every player seems to embrace - and that is that they share in the guiding principles of the team owner: the Rooney family. Personal integrity, team loyalty, and a incredible work ethic drive everything that this team does.
There’s a reason why a mid-market team has now won more Super Bowls than any other team or franchise in any other city in nearly 50 years. It’s because the players on that team all buy into that simple philosophy.
Think about what would happen if we as a church could move a little closer to that same simple principle of unity around the core values. We would literally change the landscape of the spiritual dynamics that affect our city. What a great thing to pray for as we move into this New Year!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
The one thing I found myself going back to over and over again is the simple value that every player seems to embrace - and that is that they share in the guiding principles of the team owner: the Rooney family. Personal integrity, team loyalty, and a incredible work ethic drive everything that this team does.
There’s a reason why a mid-market team has now won more Super Bowls than any other team or franchise in any other city in nearly 50 years. It’s because the players on that team all buy into that simple philosophy.
Think about what would happen if we as a church could move a little closer to that same simple principle of unity around the core values. We would literally change the landscape of the spiritual dynamics that affect our city. What a great thing to pray for as we move into this New Year!
Blessings,
Pastor Jay
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