Aug 20, Changing things in order to grow
As we approach our fifth birthday (can you believe it) in September great things are going on at 5 Point. We have over 200 more people attending than last summer. We had parents and kids out the door this past Sunday. Lives are being changed every week and the cool thing is that school hasn't even started.
As a leader I understand that growing a church to 700 is one thing but in order to grow to a 1,000 things have to change. I've never led a church of 1,000, I've never even thought much about it until the past few weeks. So in order to be better prepared I asked Pastor Greg Oraham (Pastor of Foothills in Seneca) to lunch in order to ask him some questions. (Greg, thank you so much buddy)
One of my first questions to Greg was, what barriers will we face as we head into the fall. Here are Greg's responses:
1. Space - we are running out of room. I need everyone to help me with this one because it is so true. A few things you can do to help until God moves us out of the Colony.
* park across the street and give our visitors and Moms with really young children the closest spots.
* sit in the center and not outside. Give visitors outside seats.
* move towards the front giving people coming in late the back rows.
* don't stand in the doorway and talk. It gets so congested you can't get to auditorium.
* please be patient while signing kids in and out. We love them too much not to go the extra mile.
2. Add another service - we'll only do that as space requires. But if we grow another 150 this fall. Third service will follow.
3. Organizational structure - the inner working parts. How we run things. Can't lead a church of 1,000 same as you did 500.
Every time you grow 35% things will change. We've grown 50% since last summer. Change is required. And a lot of that change has to take place in me. Some of the change you will never see because it will all take place with the leadership of the church. Some will be very obvious. In fact, next Sunday you will get your first taste of the change. I promise you the service will be like nothing you've seen at 5 Point. The change in me you will hear some of this Sunday.
As I was driving to the church after lunch I began thinking about changes Greg said I would have to make with Dean. Here are a few:
1. I must let go of more stuff and allow the staff and others to do more. this is hard for me. I'm not a control freak, really ask the staff. But this church has been my life for four years. Not sure anyone else would put their life on the line for her. This is the bride of Christ and God has asked me to lead it and I take that responsibility very seriously. But, Greg is right. I must concentrate more on vision, leadership and teaching God's Word.
2. Structure of the church - some tough decisions have to be made and it is up to me to make them.
3. Be willing to suffer - Greg shared an incredible truth with me. "Any organization call only grow as much as the leader is willing to suffer." What an incredible insight and oh so true. Am I willing to suffer to reach more people for Christ.
I'm dreaming and thinking out loud. Thinking about our future. Dreaming about the thousands of lives we have the opportunity to change. Pray with me that God leads me and the staff to be everything we need to be in order to make the necessary changes in order to reach more. Think about what part you will play.
Some random thoughts:
* Teaching New Members class tonight. Love meeting new people and hearing their stories. But, this is one of the things I need to let go. This could very well be my last New Members class. Part of growing and reaching more.
* Don't forget we have Lake/Baptism Day Saturday after next, August 29th.
* Singing God of this City Sunday morning. One of my favorites. Listening to it right now.
* I don't think I've been as excited about a message as I am for this week. Hope you get it!
* September 13th we'll be kicking off our new series entitled "American Jesus, who is Jesus to you?" Going to be our best yet.
* First High School football game tomorrow night. I'll be grilling hamburgers for Liberty High and then holding the down marker. Enjoy being down on the field listening to the coaches and players. I get to share with the team before the game. LOVE IT!
* Eating better is going well. Continue to see a pound drop every other day. 12 thus far with more to go. Riding bike and lifting in the morning. Goal - make belly smaller while arms and chest get bigger. I'm too old for this. But Christ deserves my best.
* I received more comments on yesterdays blog than any other. Laughed out loud as I read some. I'll be explaining how I, never mind, some of you couldn't handle it.
As a leader I understand that growing a church to 700 is one thing but in order to grow to a 1,000 things have to change. I've never led a church of 1,000, I've never even thought much about it until the past few weeks. So in order to be better prepared I asked Pastor Greg Oraham (Pastor of Foothills in Seneca) to lunch in order to ask him some questions. (Greg, thank you so much buddy)
One of my first questions to Greg was, what barriers will we face as we head into the fall. Here are Greg's responses:
1. Space - we are running out of room. I need everyone to help me with this one because it is so true. A few things you can do to help until God moves us out of the Colony.
* park across the street and give our visitors and Moms with really young children the closest spots.
* sit in the center and not outside. Give visitors outside seats.
* move towards the front giving people coming in late the back rows.
* don't stand in the doorway and talk. It gets so congested you can't get to auditorium.
* please be patient while signing kids in and out. We love them too much not to go the extra mile.
2. Add another service - we'll only do that as space requires. But if we grow another 150 this fall. Third service will follow.
3. Organizational structure - the inner working parts. How we run things. Can't lead a church of 1,000 same as you did 500.
Every time you grow 35% things will change. We've grown 50% since last summer. Change is required. And a lot of that change has to take place in me. Some of the change you will never see because it will all take place with the leadership of the church. Some will be very obvious. In fact, next Sunday you will get your first taste of the change. I promise you the service will be like nothing you've seen at 5 Point. The change in me you will hear some of this Sunday.
As I was driving to the church after lunch I began thinking about changes Greg said I would have to make with Dean. Here are a few:
1. I must let go of more stuff and allow the staff and others to do more. this is hard for me. I'm not a control freak, really ask the staff. But this church has been my life for four years. Not sure anyone else would put their life on the line for her. This is the bride of Christ and God has asked me to lead it and I take that responsibility very seriously. But, Greg is right. I must concentrate more on vision, leadership and teaching God's Word.
2. Structure of the church - some tough decisions have to be made and it is up to me to make them.
3. Be willing to suffer - Greg shared an incredible truth with me. "Any organization call only grow as much as the leader is willing to suffer." What an incredible insight and oh so true. Am I willing to suffer to reach more people for Christ.
I'm dreaming and thinking out loud. Thinking about our future. Dreaming about the thousands of lives we have the opportunity to change. Pray with me that God leads me and the staff to be everything we need to be in order to make the necessary changes in order to reach more. Think about what part you will play.
Some random thoughts:
* Teaching New Members class tonight. Love meeting new people and hearing their stories. But, this is one of the things I need to let go. This could very well be my last New Members class. Part of growing and reaching more.
* Don't forget we have Lake/Baptism Day Saturday after next, August 29th.
* Singing God of this City Sunday morning. One of my favorites. Listening to it right now.
* I don't think I've been as excited about a message as I am for this week. Hope you get it!
* September 13th we'll be kicking off our new series entitled "American Jesus, who is Jesus to you?" Going to be our best yet.
* First High School football game tomorrow night. I'll be grilling hamburgers for Liberty High and then holding the down marker. Enjoy being down on the field listening to the coaches and players. I get to share with the team before the game. LOVE IT!
* Eating better is going well. Continue to see a pound drop every other day. 12 thus far with more to go. Riding bike and lifting in the morning. Goal - make belly smaller while arms and chest get bigger. I'm too old for this. But Christ deserves my best.
* I received more comments on yesterdays blog than any other. Laughed out loud as I read some. I'll be explaining how I, never mind, some of you couldn't handle it.
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