paulurban.blogs.com

"Hey, I was just wondering about . . ."

I'm going to be doing perodic posts answering some of those questions that maybe you've been wondering about if you're a journeyer.

"Hey, I was just wondering about what was happening with the search for a Pastor for our teenagers"

We have focused our energy on using our various ministry and personal networks.  Matt and I were both long-time youth pastors, and Mark worked with an organization for 17 years that worked with teens.  We have also worked some ministry networks, like some larger churches, and Converge Worldwide, our partner organization. We've had countless phone conversations, multiple questionnaires answered, one official visit, yet here we sit after about 7 months and we're still looking for the right fit.

We traced down 7 phone references in the last couple of days.  We're continuing our search process.  We'll be updating our Lead Team at their next meeting in January, and talking about next steps that we need to take in the process.

In the mean time, Brian (our Youth ministry intern, and current student at Kuiper College in GR studying in religion/student ministry) is doing a really good job with our students & we've got a good group of volunteer leaders building relationships and leading with our students. 

The Journey is a unique fit, and it takes the right person.  We have a unique culture here, we can't pay a person a ton of money, and they have to be okay coming north.  Plus, they have to be willing to transform their ministry as we go - expand their role, and see just beyond a youth group.  Pray that God would lead us to the right person to play this role at The Journey.

It's Not Too Late . . .

We're launching our third gathering on 10.10.10 at 5 pm, and it's not too late to join the launch team for that service.  But, even if you're not joining the launch team, you can join our prayer team!  We just launched a 30 Day Prayer Guide for our Launch Team, but we'd love for others to participate.  You can check it out by clicking HERE!!  Save it to your favorites and check back everyday.  It will only take a minute, but your prayers are important!  So, it's not too late.  Join us, won't you?. 

Big Things

We have some big things happening at The Journey.  I'm not ready to share them all right now, but I will say this - these changes are fundamentally altering the trajectory of The Journey.  They will help us go further, faster.  They will help us be more effective, reach more people, and make a larger and larger impact.  You know about some, some you'll hear soon, and we're seeing significant progress on all of them. 

It has me as excited as ever for the future of The Journey and for what God is doing among us.  Please pray for us as a team and as a church.  Pray for wisdom and for God's favor in our community.

And, for those of you who attend The Journey . . . thanks for being on this wild, crazy ride with us.  It wouldn't happen without you all!

we've arrived??

I remember other pastors telling me that once they got to 300, 400, 500, 700 (whatever number), that it got easier - they got into a rhythm, a pattern.  There was a sense like they felt they had arrived.  Just do their thing, coast a little bit.

I've also had people tell me recently that it must feel good having all the people we have attending.  They get the sense that we've arrived and even as a pastor, that I can coast a little bit.

I feel SO FAR FROM THAT, it's ridiculous.  There is so much yet to be done.  So much more impact we can have together.  So many more people along the lakeshore to reach.  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US at The Journey have friends, co-workers, neighbors, family that are disconnected from God and relationship with Jesus.  That means there's still work to be done.  And, if you don't have ANYONE like that in your sphere of influence, you need to make some new friends and start opening yourself up to the mission that God has for you!!

I still feel like we could close the doors on any given Sunday.  Like people just won't show up and we'll have to shut it down.  I don't know if that will ever go away or not.  I certainly hope we NEVER get to the point where we feel like we've arrived and can coast!

Journey . . . we still have so much to do!  So much to impact.  So much to give.  So much to share.  So much to serve.  It will take all of us!  But, are best days are yet ahead of us.  We aren't even close to having arrived yet!  And I can't wait for the next part of the journey.

10 Questions for The Journey in '10

10.  Will we need to go to a third service time sooner or later?

9.  Will V blow a gasket trying to staff Journey Kids for a third service?

8.  Will Mark's salary finally be covered by us, instead of raising his own support?  (the answer is yes - somehow, some way)

7.  Will we throw anything off the roof this year or will the action figures make a comeback?

6.  Will we financially be able to finish the Doors project and look to hire a much needed staff position?

5.  What will be our next step as a church in being generous in our community?

4.  Will we take some significant strides toward multiple sites in 2010?

3.  Can our % of people in Groups, and serving increase even more?

2.  Who will step into coaching and leadership roles this year?  (we need some heavy lifters)

1.  What God-sized things will be accomplished this year?

Going Up North

I spent yesterday afternoon with our Church Planting Network.  It's a 5 church collaborative where we're partnering together to start new like-minded churches in Michigan.  The first one will be launching this next spring in Boyne City.  We've participated together in drawing up the guidelines, funding, and assessing and coaching potential church leaders.  The first guy to lead out is Jaime Woodall in Boyne City.  He's a great guy, who has a big heart for those who are disconnected from God.  His main coach is Norm Byers up at Genesis Church in Petosky. 

I'm excited about our partnership and what it will mean long-term here in Michigan.  I know for many of you - you don't get to see all that is behind the scenes at The Journey.  But, I wanted you to know what's happening here - as it's BIG.  And, if you know people who are disconnected from church and Jesus and they live in the Kalamazoo/Portage/Paw Paw area, in the Sawyer area, in Petosky, or in Boyne City - let me know and we can hook you up with some great churches.

By the way - one of the ways we're working together is that we'll be sending $5,000 to the Boyne City team to help them get started.  Each of our 5 churches will be doing that.  We don't have an extra $5,000 sitting around, burning a hole in our pocket, but we're going to be generous and bless someone else.  God's the blessor, we're the blessed, to be a blessing.

More to come on some of the partnerships we're making and how we're planning to be generous as a church.

6 years! (and my favorite quote from last night)

This weekend we celebrate our 6th anniversary as a church!  It's been a wild ride - filled with twists and turns.  We've met in a conference and banquet center, a movie theater, and our own rented space, plus a high school for 3 months during renovations.  We've went from 1 service to 2 to 3 to 2 to . . . We've begun partnerships in Kenya and Vegas.  We've seen our formerly unchurched population GROW to 60%.  We've seen lots of healing in marriages, and relationships, and dozens and dozens and dozens of people begin a relationship with Jesus and get baptized.  We've added a couple great staff members.  We've taken new initiatives.  We've tried new things.  Some have worked and some haven't.  And we've done probably 100 stupid videos.  It's been a great 6 years, but there is still so much more ahead!!  I can't wait to see what God brings our way in the years ahead.

This Sunday we're celebrating with a mini-party, baptisms, some cool videos, and a brand new series.  Should be fun.

Okay, here's my favorite quote from Must-see-tv last night:  "I want you to play the role of my father", "I don't want to be your father!", "Good, you already know your lines".  A little sad, but really funny.  By the way, that's fromt the new show "Community".

What Happens in Vegas . . .

What happens in Vegas . . . can change eternity!  At The Journey we've partnered with our friend Vince Antonucci as he gets ready to launch Verve Church, on the Vegas Strip.  Vince was at The Journey last May to speak and to share more of what was going to happen in Vegas.  Well, they're getting closer to launching and they have an incredible opportunity to lease some space full time, but they need some help.  We're committing as a church to help (we agreed unanimously at our last Lead Team meeting), but you can participate individually as well.  As a matter of fact, Vince is looking for 500 people to partner with them.  You can read more about what's happening here!  So, check it out and see how God might want you to participate.

By the way, we're taking a team out to Vegas in February, right before their official launch, to help.  So, if you want to go, you need to act NOW.  Contact Matt, or see the big Elvis and Dice display at The Journey to pick up more information about the trip. 

Jason's story

This past Sunday we shared a little of Jason's story.  If you weren't there, you might want to take 10 minutes and watch it.  It's amazing what God has done in Jason's life and you only get to see a glimpse of it here, but it's well worth the watch.

By the way, this week, we'll hear a little of Nancy's story - it will make you sad, mad, and rejoice all within the same story.

P.S.  Okay - one last thought . . . are you ready for some football?!!  It starts tonight!  And my fantasy football team is going to kick tail!!  That's right, I said it. Everyone else is going down.

Difference-making

So much of our world is looking for hope.  They are looking for something to believe in.  We are not a church that is just about works (what we do), but we are a church that is all about relationship with Jesus.

That relationship with Jesus, though, should affect what we do.  And it is, and I'm proud.  Over the last months our teens have given an extreme yard makeover to a woman in need, 17 Journeyers traveled to Kenya to work and see first-hand our partnership with the House of Hope Home.  We've given money and food away to the unemployed.  Numerous Journeyers have participated in serving at the food trucks around town.  We've had a couple of days of serving at a Habitat for Humanity Home.  We've collected personal care items for Love, Inc.  We've finalized details on our Vegas mission trip with Vince Antonucci.

This week, I've heard about a number of Journeyers checking in and serving one another and others in the aftermath of the storm that's done so much damage in the Fruitport area!  Way to go guys.  That's not only doing what we should be doing, but it's also a picture of Jesus to those around us.

This week, I also got an email about the food boxes and gift cards we gave out to people (last Christmas?).  We gave away some food and then tried to pack as many gift cards as we could in the box as well.  Here's an excerpt:

"That’s when she told me the story that I emailed you about her husband with no job and having her Mother son and daughter  with two children and one more on the way to support and looking at foreclosure.  I gave her the gift basket on Christmas Eve day she was shocked because she had no clue I knew her dilemma.  We were in the kitchen and all the ladies there cried and were very happy for her.  Today I inquired with Bev how it was going with her because she was not there and she told me this gift was very  instrumental in them not losing there house.  A house that was her husband’s home he grew up in.  Also that her husband has found part time work and things are looking up.I just love that." 

Let's keep making a difference!  If you know of any more stories of Journey difference-makers, let us know.  In the meantime, where can you make a difference today?