Day 36: The Only Thing That Really Matters

Launches are all about creating one thing – momentum.  Momentum is that sense that something is moving – that things are happening – that you are going somewhere. 

So many ministries are just plain stuck.  Stuck in the pattern of just doing what they have always done.  There is no sense that anything new is happening, or is going to happen.  And truth be told, most of our “regulars” have become pretty comfortable with the status quo.  They know what is expected of them, they know what is going to happen next and they enjoy the power and authority they have gained that keeps things the way they are. 

The problem is, when a new person walks through the door, I believe they can sniff out, in a minute, whether or not this place is moving.   They can tell if there is room for them, for their dreams, for their ideas, for their leadership.  They can tell if there is any momentum.

And nothing creates momentum like momentum. 

Some really good thoughts on creating momentum

I could write about specifics, about the kind of events and programs we have done in order to create momentum around here, but that is not what has made the biggest difference.  What I believe creates momentum, is as much about philosophy as it is about practice.  And there are two philosophical approaches we have used to foster a culture where momentum can flourish: 

Permission Giving and Unconditional Collaboration.

Permission Giving.  We try to say yes far more than we say no.  If somebody comes up with an idea to try something we are currently not doing – we try to find a way to say yes.  Most of the time, they have already given some thought as to how something might work – who else might be involved – how much it might cost – and where the money might come from to make it happen.

No need to refer them to a committee.

 

No need to ask for a complete five-year, budgetary breakdown.

 

No need to see if anyone objects. 

Say yes – then get out of the way and see what happens. 

My experience tells me that if God is in it – people and money are never a problem. Out of trying new things – momentum can be created.  The next “big thing” can emerge without spending a dollar or needing to come up with the idea or recruit the volunteers.  There is nothing that can stop an inspired person on a mission – equip them and grant them permission.  Momentum is sure to ensue.  

Unconditional Collaboration:  We will work with any one, and any group, if it helps further our ultimate mission (and again our ultimate mission is not to grow the church – our ultimate mission is the transformation of people, the community and the world.)  If you, or your group, are interested in doing that, we will find a way to collaborate with you.  

We will open up our building – open our ears – open our resources to help make that happen.  Our buildings are one of our greatest assets and one of the ways we can put ourselves in mission right from the start.  So we go out of our way to let the community use it!  If rent is a problem, we lower it or drop it all together to help make space available for the mission to happen.  

• Block Clubs, 
• Support Groups
• Baseball Card Shows
• Exercise Classes
• Even Baby Showers, Anniversaries Celebrations and Birthday Parties

All of them help you move towards the mission.  

We allow denominational events to use our space almost anytime with very few questions asked.  Any time our space is being used it helps create a spirit of momentum.  “That place is hopping.  Something is going on there all the time.  Maybe I should stop by sometime and see what all excitement is about!”  

Interesting Article on How to Collaborate

A story:  When I began my last appointment, Sally came to me wanting to start a drama team.  I could tell she had been through the church wringer before.  She had asked this question and been referred to committees who paid her lip service but did nothing to help her dream get off the ground.  She came to me.  She was nervous.  Almost bracing herself to be told no once again.  But what she got was, “Sure, go for it!” Her jaw almost hit the floor.  “Me.  You want me to do it?  You are going to let me do it?”  “Yes.  Go for it!  Research it.  Recruit for it.  Let me know if you need any help.  And when you are ready – we will use it!”

And sure enough that is what she did – and two months later we had regular dramas being presented in our worship.  But more importantly it created momentum.  Something new was happening and new people were getting involved.  The ripple effect from that single "yes" was too big to enumerate here – but let me just say, we rode that momentum for the six years I had the privilege of serving there…..

Need momentum?

Try saying yes next time somebody asks if they can start something – then get out of their way and see what happens.

TED Talk:  Stavros Michailidis - Building Momentum for Great Ideas

Day 34: Why I haven't written in two weeks?

I have not written a blog post in over two weeks.  And here is why.  I hit it!  I knew I would, I just didn’t know when and frankly, I didn’t expect it so early.  Bit I hit it nonetheless.

What am I talking about? 

The Dip.  I hit The Dip. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dip

The Dip it is that inevitable moment after the initial launch when things start to settle and the real issues start to emerge.  The Dip comes after the opening party is over.  The Dip comes after the initial press release has been released.  The Dip comes when all the hype and hoopla has died down.  It comes when you wake up one morning and you realize that there are more questions than there are answers, more things that need to get done than hours in the day, more things that need to be fixed than dollars to fix them.  It is when you wake up and stare at a blank computer screen because you are not sure you have anything interesting to blog about.  It is The Dip.

The Dip is the season of really, really, really hard work. 

I write this watching the Summer Olympics.  There is something just really fun about watching world class athletes perform at the absolute top of their game.  They make it look so easy – so easy that you think, for a minute, that anybody can do a Reverse 2 ½ somersault off a diving board and enter the water with absolutely no splash. 

What the Olympics doesn’t show you is that at some point on the road to London every one of these competitors hit The Dip.  They hit that moment when it got tough – that moment when it would have been easier to sleep in rather than train – that moment when others were going to go hang out with friends but they were headed to the gym – that moment when they weren’t sure they could do it any better, any faster, any higher, any stronger than they were doing it at that moment.

Every Olympic athlete is standing where they are today because they successfully navigated the dip.  And there is only one-way through The Dip.  It’s through the Dip.

You get up.  You go to work.  You do the next right thing.   You make a list.  You check something off your list.  You make a call.  You write an email.  You solve a problem.  You do your best.  You make mistakes.  You get up the next morning and you do it all again.

And when you are not sure what to write for your blog – you write something anyways!

To all of my friends out there trying to do cutting edge, vital, transformational ministry - let's push through The Dip! 

We are in this together!

Seth Godin talks about The Dip

Day 20: What an Experience!

“In doing so, workers become actors, intentionally creating specific effects for their customers. And it's the experiences they stage that create memorable-and lasting-impressions that ultimately create transformations within individuals.”

B. Joseph Pine III and James Gilmore, The Experience Economy

During the First 100 Days of your ministry launch, you need to create moments when the vision jumps off the paper and grabs people – moments when people says, “This is what he’s been talking about!  I get it!  I like it!  I am coming back for more!”

Ministry is not about preaching.  It’s not about singing.  It’s not about programs.  It’s not about budgets or slogans or the numbers of butts in the pew.  Ministry is about experiencing what Jesus called The Kingdom of God!  In fact, this Kingdom is just about the only thing Jesus talked about, and when he talked about it, he didn’t talked about in terms of ideas or strategies.  He didn’t lay out spreadsheets or 5-year plans.  What Jesus did was paint pictures and invite people to follow him in living the pictures out.

Paint the picture:  “The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed - it’s like a wedding party – it’s like a fish net bursting at the seams – it’s like your front yard when it’s full of those pesky, little dandelions (and oh yeah, you’re probably one of those pesky, little dandelions!)”

Invite others to experience the picture:  “Come guys let’s see if we can feed these folks!”   “Seriously, just go from house to house, and you will find good folk, and good food, and good conversation.”  “You want some real fun? Then step out of the boat!”

I don’t think I can overstate this – ministry is not a product.  It is not something we produce.  It not a series of things we can check off our “to-do-lists.”  Ministry is an experience.  And when you are starting something new – you need to create as many new, and transformational, experiences for your people as possible.  And in our hearts, we all ready know this to be true.  At the end of the day it is not new information that leads to changed and transformed lives.  It’s not a program or even a bunch of cool videos during our sermons. It is an experience that changes us – an experience of the Risen Christ and the Kingdom he invites us to live in – this is what changes us.

So, when we deliver cookies to area merchants on the holidays, we are not just doing this to “deliver cookies to area merchants on the holidays.”  No, we are doing this for the experience of seeing the face of unexpected joy when somebody receives a gift for no other reason other than that God loves them and so do we!  We do it for the experience of getting out into our community and meeting our neighbors. We do it to experience of getting lost for a minute in something bigger than ourselves and our problems. 

We do it, because in doing it, we meet Jesus and we experience this Kingdom of which he spoke.

I am writing all this because today we had our first real “experience” of what our One Church in Two Locations is all about.  We had our first West Outer Drive Work Day.   Was there work to be done in and around the West Outer Drive Church?  Absolutely! Lots and lots of work!  But is that why we had the Work Day?  Absolutely not!  We held the Work Day so that we could experience the Kingdom!  And experience it we did!

More than 60 people (from at least 4 different churches) showed up.  People worked hard.  People met new people.  People worked with people of different ages, and races, and backgrounds.  And by the end of the morning, we had laughed together, shared meals together, got a lot done together, and felt like we had made a difference – together!

We had an experience we won’t soon forget.  An experience we can’t help but tell others about.  An experience we will make sure to come back for in hopes of experiencing it again!

How are folks experiencing the Kingdom in your ministry?

Day 13 & 14: Choosing Your Wingman

At the very top of the list of things necessary for a successful multi-site ministry is having the right person to be your lead staff for the new campus. It is a make or break decision. This person, whether they are a campus pastor, program director, or administrator, is the one who will carry the ball most days for the new site. He or she is the one who will do most of the heavy lifting, connect with new people, create the systems, and initiate the changes that will lead to new growth.

 

As the lead pastor of a multi-site ministry, this has got to be your decision. Consult with other church leaders all you want, but at the end of the day,you have to have absolute confidence in the person launching the new ministry. Direct hire if you can. If you are in an appointment system, then do your homework, work with your supervisors, be clear on what you need in a campus pastor, and if it doesn't feel right, then say no!

 

Here are some of the qualities I think are necessary for lead staff at a new site:

• A sold-out commitment to the mission and core values of your ministry. They have to get it, and want it, as much as you do!
• A solid trust that they have your back and will support you in making tough decisions.
• A willingness to challenge your ideas, bring better ideas to the table,and push you to do better, be better, and dig deeper than you would on your own.
• This person has to be someone you can trust to step into the leadership of the whole operation in your absence.
• They must be confident enough to sit in the lead chair and comfortable enough to be in the second.
• You would go to "their church" if you could. Could they be "your pastor?"
• This person must possess a deep love of God, sincere compassion for people, a strong commitment to Christ, and an impeccable integrity of character.
• Chemistry - it has to feel right in your heart and in your gut! (Trust your instincts on this one!)

 

I say all of this because I got to go over and watch "my wingman," The Reverend Dr. Frederick Sampson III, in action this morning. Services at the Redford campus start at 10 a.m., and they begin at the West Outer Drive campus at 11 a.m.; so by 11:30, I was able to sneak into the back and take in the last half of worship. 


All I can say is a peace washed over me this morning. 


Frederick is talented beyond measure. He is throwing his whole self into the opportunity and dealing with everything, and I mean everything, coming his way. He is making ministry happen with little to no resources. He has vision. He loves God and loves the people of the West Outer Drive Community as if he has been their pastor for years. He is good. Very, very good! You should come and check out worship at West Outer Drive and you will see what I mean.

 

There are a lot of things to figure out in this new venture, but who is going to be the leader of the new campus is not one of them! Thank you,God, for bringing Frederick our way....we would not be doing this without him.

Day 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12

We <3 Detroit

One week into our launch, I left for a week with nine teenagers, and two other adults, for a weeklong mission trip. Over the past decade, I have been on more than a dozen mission trips with students, and another eight with adults. I have been to several different states and four different countries on missions. For some of these trips, we drove for upwards of 14 hours to get where we were going. For international trips, we sometimes flew more than 48 hours before arriving. 

But this year we did something totally different - something far more radical than anything we have ever done. 

We loaded the vans Sunday afternoon and drove 20 minutes down the road to the heart of Detroit. That's right; we are staying home for our mission trip. In fact, the neighborhood where we are working is less than 10 minutes from our church in Redford, and five minutes from our new site in Brightmoor.

In some ways, I feel that every trip over the past decade has been leading to this moment, teaching us how to be in mission right here in our own hometown. 


And it has been a great, great week! 


It has been amazing to watch these students fall in love with Detroit. It is especially powerful when you realize most of them have been told their whole lives, by their families, peers, and the media, that Detroit is a place they should avoid, be suspicious of, and just write off as beyond saving. But this week they are experiencing the Motor City up close and personal. They are meeting her people, experiencing her strength, listening to her hope, and getting caught up in her future. For maybe the first time in their lives, they consider themselves "Detroiters!"

I think success in any ministry setting requires "going local" - getting into the place you live, learning its culture and loving its people. Every place has a story you need to learn, and there is only one way to learn it - by "going local." During the past three years I have done everything I could to think of to become a "Redforder," and help Redford Aldersgate become a "local" church. In my first 100 days at Redford Aldersgate, I scheduled four prayer walks throughout the community, so I, and anybody who just showed up to join me, could get out in the streets that surround us. We started delivering cookies every holiday to local merchants.  I have a second office at the corner diner.  We drop off pizzas for the fire station across the street and we make baby blankets for the local pregnancy center.  I could probably spend several posts discussing all things we have done to "go local;" but it begins by recognizing you have to "love" the place where you are doing ministry.

I would even go as far as to argue, that until you have "gone local," you have not begun serious ministry.

Its our setting determines what "going local" is all about.  When I served in Birmingham, "going local" meant country clubs, Shakespeare festivals, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and a good glass of wine.  In Redford, "going local" means Nascar, Coney Islands, Bob Seger and a cold beer.  And in order for our new launch to work, we will need to "go local." We will need to learn, and re-learn, the story of Detroit and the Brightmoor neighborhood. We will need to love their people, celebrate their culture and get caught up in their futures. And luckily, we have nine newly formed leaders returning home to lead us into this new chapter of our ministry.  


What a great week!  I love Detroit!