Where does your church stand?

Is the culture of your church such that whatever tool is new, whatever technology is hot that it is okay – encouraged even – to use on Sunday mornings for worship?  If that is you, congratulations!  But what if you are like me and find yourself at a medium sized church where the congregation is older and quite frankly, technology scares them? You press on with your call and your introduction of technology without waiting.  While you may be forced to move slowly, at least you are moving.

What can be done to get your church on board?

In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell, he states that plans fail because followers either have a fear of change, ignorance,  they are uncertain about the future, or because there is a lack of imagination.  When it comes changes in a church, and specifically those related to technology,  I believe that most of the opposition is due to ignorance and lack of imagination.  As our church has been on somewhat of a “capital campaign” to raise money for a new projection system in the sanctuary it has been met with resistance.  While the motion to begin the campaign passed with no problem there are still questions.  Some people understand PowerPoint and have an idea of what can be done with the system, but as you and I know so much more is possible through the effective use of video in a worship service than just have the pastor’s outline or some song lyrics on the big screen.  Some of the people have not gone to a worship service in another church in fifty years so they have no idea that things can be done in a different way than they are accustomed to.  They have know idea about what technology is available and what it can do to enhance the Kingdom and improve our worship and fellowship with one another.

So, when faced with the question of whether/when to move forward with introducing new technology to your church, you should.  If you are not an advocate for it, then no one will be.  Look for ways to distribute information about your project so people will understand what is going to happen.  Then, give them as many practical “tastes” of the project to increase their imagination to show them what could be done with the new technology.

Many churches are out on the edge of technology these days, and in my opinion that is a good thing.  Culture is telling people that all kinds of things are available for them to use and enjoy, but many churches are still providing the same type of “services” as they were twenty years ago.  While blogging and services like Twitter may not be bleeding edge, they are still new to most people and will still be “new” for a long time as people pick up on them.  Young people, however, are already into blogging and tweeting, Facebook, MySpace, Ning and other social networks.  Churches are losing ground with a younger generation because they are trying to communicate to them the wrong way.

There are many benefits to ministry blogging that include immediate dispersion of the information, more open communication, a conversation with your blog readers, getting to know the author and commenters on a deeper level, high quality marketing and publicity for you and the church, and many more.

I think most churches  have good intentions.  They feel a burden to reach out to a younger generation, but maybe they just don’t get into worshipping with up tempo music or a fancy light show.  They like a piano and organ.  There’s definitely nothing wrong with that!  The research will bear out that most young adults don’t weigh worship style as highly as everyone thinks.  I mean, it seems like that is the obvioius reason for church growth. But in fact, a feeling of community, belonging to something greater than yourself, authenticity and service to the world are what young adults crave and are what draw young adults into any organization (including a church).

Lowering Barriers

So, back to blogging and social media for churches.  These exercises are important because they lower the barriers of entry for someone that may be considering coming to your church.  Some people have never met a stranger and don’t have any problems showing up to a new group or meeting for the first time and just getting involved.  I’m not like that.  I like to have a soft introduction into a new group.  The first day of school was always rough for me if I didn’t know anyone in the class.  I can’t imagine walking into a new church “blind” and having no idea what to expect.

How does blogging lower barriers?  A blog is a window into the church.  You can get a whole new view on the mind, thoughts and passions of a person by following their blog.  When blogging is done properly by a pastor and his staff then you get a wide angle view of the church as a whole.  You get the opportunity to have a constant flow of information from the church then just on Sunday mornings through the bulletin and announcements and the monthly newsletter.  I follow many pastors’ on their blogs and feel like I know them and know what is going on at their church.  I could almost feel like if I attended their church that weekend, it would be like I have been going there for months.

Twitter also gives you a picture into the lives of the staff.  While a blog allows the staff to take time to throughly communicate to you about what is going on in their lives, what they are hearing from God, what is happening at the church and so on, Twitter allows you to see what is going on in 140 character snipits of other people’s day.  Relationships and conversations are formed on Twitter in ways that can’t otherwise be done.

Stepping Outside the Box

Many churches already record their services on video or at least record the audio on CD or some other format.  This data can be used in the social media context to lower the barriers, give more people information about the church and style, and expand the reach and ministry of the church from just your local area to an unlimited reach on the internet.  YouTube, Itunes, Vimeo, Viddler and many other services will let you host video and audio of your services or portions of your services for free.  These videos can become “viral” and spread around the internet.

I hope this quick post gives you a taste of what you can do with blogging and social media and you see the benefits that blogs can have for businesses, ministries and churches if they are used correctly.  There are many reasons for using social media – even in the ministry context – and those reasons will direct the methods, technology, and ethics used in a successful strategy.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

- Romans 12: 2

Conformed: To bring into agreement or correspondence; make similar. (dictionary.com).

Transformed: To change markedly the appearance or form of; to change the nature, function, or condition of (dictionary.com).

Renewing: To make new or as if new again; restore (dictionary.com).

Change: to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone (dictionary.com).

I have been thinking a lot about change recently.  People don’t like change.  In fact, tomorrow in the United States is election day and we will elect a new president.  Many things will change over the next few months and years as the country’s new leadership changes how things have been done in the past.  Both presidential candidates have been running on the platform of “change.”  In the political world it seems change is not only possible and necessary, but it is anticipated and longed for.

So why are people so afraid of the word change in a “religious” setting?  Whether it is something major like a change in worship format or something minor like a change in time for an event.  Change haunts many churches.  We try to make changes less painful.  We call them different things, but by becoming a christian we are required to undergo a change – a transformation.  We become a new creation, and we are supposed to be different from the world we live in.

In a business setting, not changing your product’s offerings to reach the new customer base will lead you straight out of business.  If Ford were still selling the Model T there is no way it could compete with all of the other options and competitors.  People want CD players, V8′s, GPS systems, DVD players, speed, slick looks, tinted windows and more.  Even if it was dirt cheap, people would rather pay more for something they liked better.  The Model T is simply not the product people are shopping for when they are looking for a new car.  It is similar in the church setting. Churches are not providing what people need.  Don’t get me wrong.  Church should not be about making people happy and making people feel good at the cost of watering down the good news of Jesus or by skipping over the parts that hurt our feelings or challenge us.  Church is about worshipping the one, true God.  Church is about community, fellowship and support.  Church is about learning how to go through life by becoming more and more like Christ.  But, churches should strive to be relevant to today’s culture.  The Church should strive to be essential to its community.  Sometimes that means changing the offerings, times, styles, and formats.  Sometimes it just means being authentic and doing what you do best for God!

Churches that refuse to change will still need a building program.  Except the capital campaign will not be to raise money to reach the community.  It won’t be used to construct a new worship facility.  It won’t be used to refurbish and renovate an existing facility to to upgrade the technology being used.  Rather it will be to expand the cemetary.  That scares me!

By refusing to change the church shoots itself in the foot.  Rather than fulfilling the Great Commission of going and making disciples, the church simply dies.  This pushes people away from the Church rather than bringing them into God’s kingdom.

We are called to make disciples as we live our lives.  We are called to grow into a deeper relationship with our Lord.  Our life should be transformed by His love and grace and it should be apparent to those we come in contact with.  Once we accept Jesus’ command to “go make disciples” and we are transformed to the point where we are excited and intentional about reaching people for Christ the changes we face will be easier to make.

As I look at the definition of change above, the scripture from Romans 12: 2 really hits home. I am thankful for God’s grace that I have been “changed” to “something different from what [I] was [before]” or “what [I] would [have been] if left alone.”

The Era of Procrastination is coming to a close; in its place we are entering a period of consequences.

- Winston Churchill

As we enter one of the most challenging financial times in our country’s history along with the normal challenges and bickering that go with a presidential election season people are hurting.  Our country has lived for years by spending more than we make, living on borrowed money, we are fighting a difficult war, crippling ourselves by our reliance on foreign energy sources and not making a plan for how to take care of our own people.

The quote above was spoken when Churchill was discussing Europe’s lack of interest in doing something to stop Hitler before he began his campaign in Poland and France.  The rest of the world’s lack of action caused a world war and devastating consequences throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

While we face enormous challenges today, our calling as the Church has not changed.  Even though church people are hurting too, we are still called to serve our community and to reach our community for Christ.  We cannot call a holy huddle and just take care of our own.  Now more than ever, we can show everyone around us the love of Christ.  Our efforts in the community around us are needed more now than ever before.  The Church simply can’t procrastinate any longer through this period of “consequences.”  The church should be leading the way to the solution.  No government, legislation, tax bill, or economic stimulus package is going to save this world the way the Church of Jesus Christ can.  Let’s turn our eyes out so we can be a blessing where God has placed us.

Featuring: John Waller

Music from the motion picture “Fireproof”

Everthird and Bill Steely

The Something Big Tour is coming to Cross Roads Baptist Church on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 7 pm.  You can find more information about Cross Roads and get directions by heading over to their website: http://www.crbcsc.org.

Tickets are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com for $10 per person.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

I am always amazed at the apostle Paul’s perspective and intense passion for his calling in life.  I also totally respect how he served God full time, but did not take anything from the church for his service.  He gave, gave, and gave for the cause of Christ and saw his ministry become blessed. 

I am constantly amazed at how people are afraid to change.  Things are comfortable and people don’t like the possibility of doing something different.  Some churches are still doing things the same way they did them 50 years ago.  In my opinion, a choice to stay the same is a choice not to pursue the younger generations for Christ because they expect more from "church."  Technology is not from the devil.  We are not letting "the world" into the church by using technology and new methods for reaching people as long as the Word of God is not compromised – that is never an option.

I think churches will struggle and fail to reach people until they get the same mind set as Paul.  A kingdom mind set. That life isn’t about you, but it’s about reaching people for Jesus, and bringing fame to God’s name.   Not about the next program or what church can give to us, but what we can give to the service of God. 

Once we get into this kingdom mind set we won’t talk bad about what the church down the street is doing that is working because will be rejoicing with them in their successes and we will be reaching out, and being effective for God. 

Reaching people for Jesus is not something that is only done by full-time pastors and evangelists, and not something that only happens during the worship hour on Sunday morning.  The apostle Paul went out to the Synagogue and the Marketplace to reach people for Christ.  That’s right, the marketplace. 

We learn about this in Acts 17: 16-17,  "While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there."

Paul reached the people where he found them and where he found himself.  He also used what they knew to tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What do you mean, Tripp?  He found the alter to the unknown god and used that as his entrance into their religious world view to fill in the gaps about their unknown god, who is God Almighty.  You can translate that to how the church should respond to the culture today to say, the church should be in tune with the culture so we know what matters to the culture, we understand their religious world view and by knowing that, we can present the Gospel to them in a way that they will find engaging and that will have an eternal impact on them.

Keep in mind, we (those of us saved by grace) are living "in" this world but we are not "of" this world.  I am not, in any way, advising that we should sin to reach people for Christ; but, that we should be willing to step outside of our way of seeing and doing things and look into what a lost and dying world sees.  How much more could we accomplish for God if we knew our audience and what type of message they will respond best to?

Not too long ago, he started pulling up on the furniture and pretty much anything he can get his hands on.  He isn’t walking on his own yet, but he is trying and I feel like he will start walking by himself very soon.

What I have noticed while watching him try to walk is the strong desire to do it.  There’s a ton of fear.  He’s never done it before and he doesn’t like daddy to let go of his hand.  But he is driven.  He is focused.  You can look into his eyes and tell that he is not going to give up, no matter what happens.  He falls down a lot.  He bumps his head.  But he gets back up every time.  He never loses that look in his eyes.

I hope that I have that same look in my eyes when it comes to what God has called me to do.  Sometimes, I feel like I have a look of disorientation or confusion going on.  Maybe it is because there is so much expected from us.  We all wear a lot of hats.  We all have a lot of responsibilities.  But it’s my prayer that I will stay focused on what is important and do the work I am called to do by our Savior Jesus Christ with the focus of a child.

I watch and listen several church services via podcast every week and one of the secondary reasons for doing so is to check out what other churches are doing with technology and multimedia. Two churches that really set a high bar are NewSpring Church and LifeChurch.tv. One of the things I really like about these churches is the planning and the awesome creativity that goes into their videos week after week.  It’s definitely one of my goals to be able to share this level of work with Cross Roads and our community.

LifeChurch.tv does a series each summer titled “At the Movies.” Here is the promo for that series…definitely the coolest promo video ever…check it out:

This is one area of my life where I feel completely and totally inadequate. I’m not good with my tools or painting. I start with a grand vision, but the final product never makes me feel like I have done an awesome job. I definitely feel relief, but never feel like I am a fine craftsman.

One specific area where I struggle is as a carpenter. I look at fine pieces of woodwork and can’t believe that a man can use his hands and tools to make such intricate pieces of furniture and decoration.

When I started working on the inside of the house, it was install the cabinets, paint the walls and then I moved on to the finish carpentry – the crown molding. Some of the more experienced guys at church told me it was a piece of cake – just hold the molding upside down and backwards. I tried that – apparently my version of upside down and backwards is not correct. As many different ways as I could think of, I could not get the crown molding to go up correctly. After cutting through several 12 foot sections of molding, I decided to cheat. Rather than working on cutting the corners, I would just buy the decorative corner pieces already cut. Yet, another mistake. I couldn’t find a good way to attach these pieces and they just looked awkward and out of place, especially in the smaller rooms. While, I finally got the molding up it was just never “right.” I still don’t like the way it turned out.

I got thinking about this the other day. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was also a carpenter by trade. The difference in me and Jesus is that he knows how to take us when we are upside down and backwards and turn us into beautiful crown molding that fits together beautifully. The really great thing about professionally done crown molding is that it totally makes the room look much better and more elegant. Jesus died on the cross to take sin from our lives and to make us beautiful in the eyes of God. I hope the we can take that good news, and like professionally done crown molding, make a positive impact on the environment where we’ve been “installed.”