Jason Salamun

Really cool music video for the song “This Too Shall Pass” by OK GO.  We played it prior to the message I shared this week at Project Church as an illustration of what a chain reaction looks like.

Give it looksy.

This video by Sean Mullens is simple, inspiring, and full of goodness.

If you’re a church planter, check out this amazing experience being offered by the Ecclesia Network.

αγγελος 2010

Download the brochure here: αγγελος Brochure

αγγελος is church planting training that presents a theological and practical trajectory for missional church planting.

αγγελος is unique in comparison to other church planters training opportunities available.

First, there will not be hundreds of people here. More than likely, there will be somewhere between 20-30. This means plenty of room for dialog, conversation, and questions amidst all of the planned training.

Second, everyone stays, eats, and prays together for the week. Most people leave with better friendships, some of which will be life-long, because they started the church planting journey – in this way – together.

Third, there will be a host of different equippers with unique planting stories. This gathering (as in all we try to do) isn’t dominated by just a few individuals or models of church planting. You’ll hear from a variety of planters, both seasoned and new, and learn from their experiences and approaches.

Finally, we hope to provide a good balance of theology, theory, and practicality. Each component is vital
We hope you’ll join us in May!

Topics Covered:

• Planting Missional Churches
• Planting Equipping Churches
• Staying Healthy While Planting
• Developing a Philosophy of Discipleship
• Incarnational Ecclessiology: Reading Your City
• Developing Models & Approaches
• Developing Your Team
• Navigating Team Dynamics
• Fundraising for Church Planting
• Administrative & Legal Issues
• Keeping Heart Till the End ….

General Information

Location
Richmond Hill Urban Retreat Center (www.richmondhillva.org).
Richmond Hillis a former monastery, located in the heart of the city of Richmond. Most people will be sharing a room with one other person throughout the week. All meals are all included as part of our stay and will take place on the grounds.

Registration
Email info@ecclesianet.org to confirm your spot followed by payment. A 20% deposit is required within two weeks of registration to qualify for rate and space. Full payment due May 1st, 2010.

Arrival/Departure
You should plan to arrive at the Richmond Hill Urban Retreat Center (www.richmondhillva.org) between 4.00 and 4.30 on Monday, May 17th. Please be prompt because we will start with an orientation to the week around 5.00 that evening. We plan to finish on Friday at approximately 4.00 pm.

What to Bring:
Richmond Hill provides sheets and towels for each guest. You will need to bring all other toiletries with you. In addition, please bring along any relevant documents and resources related to your particular church plant. This could include vision pieces, working budgets, drafts of values, demographic information, etc. Obviously, you should bring a copy of the scriptures with you.

Preparing to Come:
Spend some time in prayer, perhaps asking specific people to pray for you during this week. This will be a very “intense” week with a full schedule, but our hope is that it will launch God’s church planting efforts through you in an effective way.

Pricing

• Super Earlybird – before Feb 1, 2010 – $499
• Earlybird – before Mar 1, 2010 – $599
• Regular – before May 1, 2010 – $699
• Late – after May 1, 2010 – $799

A Word from a previous participant:

From the moment I arrived, I began to realize – this is a room of like-minded individuals intent on seeing the Gospel spread and healthy, missionally-minded communities planted. And in the lonely world of church planting, I can think of few things more valuable than having a handful of friends like that.

The boot camp itself was a great mix of the theoretical and the practical, the motivational and the devotional. Times of prayer, times of discussion, lots of learning and lots of dreaming. This was a healthy mix of seasoned practitioners and newer church planters all sharing what they’ve learned. And everyone was invited and expected to do the same.

The setting of the Richmond Hill community was wonderful with its rhythm of prayer and contemplative atmosphere. Hard to imagine a better setting for listening to God and seeing what it is He might be birthing through you.

-Bob Hyatt, Portland OR

Here’s a simplified overview of the biblical model of church leadership as best as I can see it.

Jesus is the Head of the Church. The Senior Pastor so to speak. (Ephesians 5:23)

The scriptures are the ultimate authority because Jesus is the ultimate authority. (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

His agenda trumps the church’s…always. (Colossians 1:18)

In scripture, the church is not a business or even a non-profit organization.

The church is a family of believers who love God and people. (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Timothy 3:15)

The church is the very embodiment of Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:15)

The entire church are priests. (1 Peter 2:9)

Ministers of the gospel. (Ephesians 4:12)

Storytellers of the gospel. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

With their words and lives. (Matthew 5:16)

From the church body, a team of leaders are called to lead. (1 Thessalonians 5:12)

Key word: called. (Hebrews 13:17)

They are the elders/overseers/leaders of the church. (1 Peter 5:1-2)

They are all equal. (Acts 14:23)

But there is a leader of leaders. (Acts 15:22)

A first among equals.

Often their primary role is teaching and preaching. (1 Timothy 5:17)

Not just anyone can or should be an elder.

There are biblical qualifications. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

And biblical responsibilities. (Titus 1:9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

In short, elders lead the church by following Jesus. (1 Peter 5:3-4)

And equip God’s people for works of service. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Taking on various forms and functions. (Ephesians 4:11)

There are other leaders called deacons. (Philippians 1:1)

Their role is serving by leading ministries. (1 Timothy 3:13)

They have biblical qualifications and responsibilities too. (1 Timothy 3:8-12)

The structure of a biblical church is marked by humility, service, cooperation, accountability, prayer, love, and gospel community. (Romans 8:9-18)

Followers of Jesus are to be in community and have a role in it. (Romans 12:4-8)

We usually call them members, owners, or partners. (Ephesians 2:19)

They aren’t to be spectators.

Here’s the deal:

They don’t just have a part, they are a part. (Ephesians 5:30)

If a healthy church is following Jesus they are joining him in the renewal of all things. (Revelation 21:5)

Together. (Acts 2:42-46)

Momentum grows. (Acts 2:47)

So do the people. (Acts 4:33)

And Jesus is made much of along the way. (John 12:32)

May your church (and mine) be a biblical, healthy, loving church.

Centered on the gospel; expressed in community; on a mission from God. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)

A shining city on a hill. (Matthew 5:14)

An unstoppable force. (Matthew 16:18)

Remembering Jesus is the hero and under him we are all equal. (Hebrews 12:2; Romans 3:23; James 2:1)

To the glory of God and for the good of our cities. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Jeremiah 29:7)

What do micro-breweries, indie artists, and church plants have in common?

They are the little guys.

For as long as I can remember I’ve always rooted for the little guy.

Rocky and Drago

It began when I read “The Little Engine That Could” in first grade which preached determination and perseverance against all odds. As a child of the 80′s, I was a huge fan of the Rocky movies and recall the profound effect it had on me when the underdog American hero Rocky Balboa defeated the unstoppable, cyborg-Russian Ivan Drago. I remember hearing the PG version of the David and Goliath story in church which further cemented my affinity for the little guy.

It seems it’s the little guy that’s on the verge of what’s next; who’s the catalyst for change; who’s always pushing the envelope and challenging the status quo. They are the outlaws, the mavericks, and renegades.  Ordinary people who aren’t content with ordinary lives. Pioneers driven by dreams and fueled with hope. Their passion is unmatched.

Perhaps it’s good to always be “the little guy” at something. To feel the odds stacked against you; to need help from another; to resist complacency.

Even when the micro-brewer has a large distribution, the indie-artist has a top 20 hit, or the new church grows in influence, it’s wise to continually put ourselves in position to be the little guy. We should always be striving for something that’s too big for us. As C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

I guess the reason I root for the little guy is because I am the little guy.

May it always be so.

I recently had the opportunity to attend some conferences and learn from some amazing leaders and thinkers. Wish I could have captured a snapshot with everyone but I was able to get a handful. Here are some of the more familiar names that I connected with.

Spent several days with Dallas Willard at the Ecclesia National Gathering. So much wisdom packed into one person. He was a wonderfully gracious gentleman. His book, The Divine Conspiracy, helped shape how I view life in the Kingdom of God.

Dallas Willard and Me

One of my favorite authors of all time is missiologist, Alan Hirsch. This aussie’s work was very influential to me prior to starting Project Church and it was cool to chat about specifics now that concepts have become reality. Looking forward to giving his newest book, Untamed, a read.

Me and Alan Hirsch

Had the opportunity to have lunch with Rick Warren along with a handful of other church planters. Tremendous experience. It’s refreshing to see a Christian leader use his influence for good around the world.

Rick Warren and Me

Met one of my favorite bloggers, Pete Wilson. He’s the real deal. Pete has a book coming out titled, Plan B which is sure to be a hit.

Me and Pete Wilson

Several months ago, I received a message from J.R. Briggs asking if I had heard of the Ecclesia Network. He went on to inform me they were a relational network of churches who are missionally-oriented, gospel-driven, and theologically centrist. All things that describe me and Project Church.

J.R., picking up on that, thought we’d be a good fit for the network. After further dialogue with him, I was intrigued to discover more about this young church network.

Then a conversation with Chris Backert (Director of Ecclesia and all-around great guy) and JR Woodward, prompted me to consider connecting with them and the rest of the Ecclesia gang at their National Gathering in mid February. In fact, Chris made it impossible for me to say no to the invitation to join them in DC (thanks Chris).

I went…and I’m so glad I did.

Here are some impressions from my time with Ecclesia.

They are hospitable
When I arrived at the conference it was clear that many of these folks knew each other well, like a small church. I wondered if I would be viewed as an outsider or if the collective arm of Ecclesia pastors would welcome me in.

It didn’t take long before they extended their kindness to me and welcomed me in like family. Over the course of several days, many new friendships were created.

They are curious
When they found out I was from South Dakota, curiosity arose about my homeland.  Apparently, they had never met one of my kind before.  :)   I answered many questions about my city, my church, and my story.

Their collective curiosity carried over into our sessions where we learned from people such as Dallas Willard, Bob & Mary Hopkins, and one another.  They were teachable, humble, and ready to learn.

Questions-asked outweighed answers-given which is a mark of an ideal learning environment. We learned from some amazing guest speakers but the best part was learning from one another.  There is a lot of wisdom, knowledge, and experience within this tribe and the free exchange of information, stories, and best practices was priceless.

They are genuine
Unlike most church conferences, most weren’t peacocking around talking about how they have it all figured out.  Actually, most were honest about their struggles in church planting, applying what we were learning to their context, and keeping heart to press on.

I had a number of conversations with folks who told me of failed attempts, broken relationships, and insecurities.  At the same time, I heard humble stories of changed lives, personal and corporate renewal, and total dependence on Jesus.

This level of sincerity is rare in church planting circles and was a refreshing drink of water for me.

They love God
What most impressed me was that missiology and ecclesiology was never divorced from Christology.  Jesus was always front and center and held up as the source of all that a church is and what she does.

There was much talk of dependence on the Spirit of God to fulfill the mission of God.  As Dallas Willard reminded us, “We are not in charge of the outcomes…God is.”   Our role is to listen to our Father, do our very best, and let God do what God does.

I needed to be reminded of that.

They know how to enjoy
While Ecclesia pastors take God seriously, they don’t take themselves too seriously.   They are whimsical and enjoy a good laugh.  A trait that I truly cherish.

They know how to enjoy a good cigar, pipe, and drink as well.  Each night, many of us went out to a cigar bar where we let loose, shared stories, discussed theology, and laughed heartily. These were perhaps the most meaningful times and truly enriched the experience.

All in all, I was greatly blessed and encouraged by my time with Ecclesia.  These men and women have a heart for God and his mission in the world.

If you’re a church planter and considering a network, you should seriously look into the Ecclesia Network. They are gospel-driven, missional-minded, and theologically-centrist (meaning they major on the majors).

Thank you for making me feel at home Ecclesia.

Here’s to what’s to come…