You are ALREADY a Church Planter
Elijah told me that he was better than his baby sister Gigi yesterday because he was older and smarter – his words not mine! Yes – we know that we have a true first born in our home. But what was so fascinating to me about his statement was how even at his young age he has caught on to the fact that we all want to draw circles around certain privileges in life. Because Elijah is 2.5 years older he wants to know what he can do that Gigi can’t. He wants to stay up later, have an extra cookie, or get an extra toy!
We tend to do the same thing in the church.
- Because someone has been in church longer than they must know more and can be in a leadership role.
- Because someone gives more than they can have more say in how the funds are spent.
- Because someone serves more they must be a more devoted follower and more spiritually mature.
We have lots of arbitrary benchmarks in the church and if we are honest we have circles that we let people in and circles that keep others out. Now – please hear my heart in this – I am a firm believer that the fruit in a person’s life is what should be a primary indicator of the best role for them to play in the body of Christ. I am not suggesting that a new believer should be an elder or lead pastor the day after their conversion, but I am concerned about how we have elevated certain roles in the body that I believe Jesus has invited all of us to participate in – one of these roles is building / planting the church. We are ALL called to extend the grace of God through the local church – we are ALL called to BE church planters.
If you are a follower of Jesus – then you are invited to build His Church. In essence you are a church planter! Maybe one of the tangible ways you can do it today is to help build this church – SOUL CITY CHURCH! We love how God is weaving so many people and stories into the fabric of Soul City Church. This is truly becoming the picture of the body of Christ building another body of believers – TOGETHER! So maybe you will never go to Soul City church – but you can be a builder of it! Take a look at this video and maybe God is inviting you at this year end – to make a new START!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! THANKS FOR PLANTING SOUL CITY CHURCH WITH US!
You can Start Soul City Church for just $25 by visiting YearEndStart.com
Jesus ALREADY has in mind…
I love the miracles of Jesus. Easily one of my favorites is when Jesus feeds five thousand people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish from some kids lunch. It’s amazing. It’s inspiring. He turned a meager meal into a straight up All You Can Eat Buffet. Most people know about this miracle. In fact it’s the only miracle that’s recorded in all 4 Gospels. But what is so amazing to me in this miracle is the obscure interaction that is recorded in John 6:6 between Jesus and Philip.
It says, “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him. For he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take almost a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
I never noticed that tiny interaction between Jesus and Philip before, but I literally felt like I experienced that conversation first hand with Jesus in that moment. I am a lot like Phillip. I am an optimist that appreciates reality. While I tend to think of best-case scenarios I also believe that a leader needs to define reality and then help people see how to get to where they want to be. So much like Phillip – If I saw the hungry crowd and the kids lunch and I would have realistically predicted that it would take exactly 1 year before we can feed them all.
What I often overlook is that Jesus loves taking obvious situations and turning them into things that seem straight up impossible. For those of us that have ever been in a situation where you felt like all you literally have left is for God to come through – you know what I’m talking about.
I will be vulnerable and honest – Most days I feel like Philip. I look at our situation, I look at what we have in the bank, I look at our meager 5 loaves and 2 fish and my optimistic and practical self settles into reality instead of believing that Jesus already has in mind what he is going to do. He already knows and all he wants is for me to be faithful to bring what I have to the equation. So this past month we have been bringing every fish and loaf of bread we can find to the table – knowing that Jesus already knows what he is going to do with it. So today be encouraged and reminded.
- Jesus already has in mind what he is going to do with your finances.
- Jesus already has in mind how he is going to remedy the relational pain and complexity that you are facing.
- Jesus already has in mind how to turn your fears into opportunities for Faith.
- Jesus already has in mind how he wants to use your talents and gifts.
- Jesus already has in mind the best solutions to your problems that seem too big.
So we are gonna keep bringing our Little Lunchables to Jesus. And we believe that some of you might be able to be a part of what Jesus already has in mind to do with it for Soul City Church. There are 2 days left in this year – maybe you can help us add some more fish and loaves to our Year-End Start Campaign.
Click here if you want to see what Jesus can do with what YOU bring.
Headline: People Start a Church for just $25!
We have been so amazed at how people are rallying around the Vision for Soul City Church. From people who are praying for Chicago and Soul City from quite litterally all over the world. To people who have encouraged us through tweets, emails, and comments on this blog. To people all over the country who are leaving good paying jobs and really warm weather to come be a Soul City Starter. To people who are Financially Investing in this vision. We are so indescriably grateful.
And we want to make sure that YOU have a chance to be a part of it as well. We would love for you to consider investing $25 towards our Year End Start Campaign. Your One Time Tax Deductible Gift goes straight towards our Start Up costs and makes it possible for the Vision of Soul City to become a Reality.
You can hear more about how you can BE a part of Soul City Church in the following video.
We are so excited for all the God is doing and is going to do in this new year. We are so grateful to have you BE a part of it all with us!
Please visit YEARENDSTART.COM to make a $25 investment
in what God is doing through Soul City Church.
Anyone can do ANYTHING with Money…
Overheard a great quote from Mike Michalowicz today that is so true for life and SOOOO true for the Start Up phase that Soul City is in right now.
“Anyone can do anything with money. What can YOU do without?
What a brilliant reminder for us personally and for whatever Business or Church Endeavor you find yourself in. The comforting deception is that “If we just had more (or some) money we could…”
- …Reach more people in our city.
- …Hire more people to do more work.
- …Get out of all this debt.
- …Be able to give more as a family.
- …No longer worry about NOT having money.
You fill in the blank.
But the naging question remains – “What can you do without?” What can you do without money that people with money can’t do? What kinda faith and creativity and ingenuity might God be trying to squeeze out of you in the absence of having all that you think you need?
Money is nothing to God. He could give you all that you need and then some. So money is not the point. Faithfulness. Obedience. Dependence. Sacrifice. Creativity. That stuff that is priceless. And all the money in the world can’t get you that. But not having it…that may be the only thing in this season that affords you the things that God desires most.
So – What is one thing you have done or are doing that is GREAT in your family, business, or church without the supposed luxury of money? We’d love to hear your stories…
Pete Wilson Hearts Soul City Church
Our Friend Pete Wilson from Crosspoint Church in Nashville offers up great support for what God is doing through Soul City Church. This is from a blog post he wrote earlier today from his blog Without Wax.
Most of you know that I”m a huge fan of church planting. God has allowed me to be a part of two church plants. Both Morgantown Community Church and Cross Point church were launched because a group of people believed in the importance of launching a church with a unique vision to reach it’s community.
And while every church plant excites me every once in a while I hear about one that I’ve just got to jump in and help. Soul City Church is starting in the City of Chicago in 2010 and they are committed to helping people become all of who God created them to be. I believe in Jarrett & Jeanne Stevens– they spent 12 years at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL and 3 ½ years at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, GA. They are two of the most incredible leaders I’ve ever been around! I’m so excited to see the vision of this church reach many people in the city of Chicago and beyond and I have decided that I want to be a part of the story of seeing this Church start.
God is going to use this movement to make a significant impact on the city of Chicago!
Let’s help Soul City Church Start. Click below and give a one-time gift!
Promise ponders if there’s such a thing as “a new kind of church”?
Here’s a piece that our friend Promise Tangeman (Wurzell) put up on her blog today. Love her thoughts and love the opportunity to BE a part of Starting Soul City Church.
So… I want to ask…. What comes to mind when you think of church? Come on, you are all artists and creators in some way… therefore I KNOW you have opinions and have probably had an encounter with a church or church person at some point in your life. Here is a list that I came up with. Haha. Choir robes, sheet music, bad breath, sweat, stale air, no energy, the same thing all the time, hypocrites, judgement, know-it-alls, no creativity, cheesy, over produced services, bad acting/drama, weird, boring, annoying, to long, nagging, inward focused, no place for art, cliques and not accepting. That is a terrible list.
Not all churches are like that… but haven’t we all experienced that at some point or another? And it’s sad… but that experience was probably embedded in our minds giving us OUR definition of church. Ha. YUCK!
I grew up in church. In fact I think I was born in the pews. All of my life my dad has been a Pastor in the Seattle area and my husband is a worship leader at a large church in Arizona. Let’s just say that I have seen my fair share of churches through conferences, visiting other churches, and being connected in the world of church. There is one thing that I have seen to be consistent in most churches. There is not very much room for artists, out-of-the-box thinkers, dreamers, culture shapers, perfectionists, or creators. For many people… art as seen a luxury; meaning: not practical and not needed.
This has been an issue that I have thought about a lot when it comes to art and the church. You see… I have to be honest and say that it’s hard for me to connect and volunteer in the church when I am not gifted at hospitality, holding babies, making people feel welcome, singing, playing instruments, counseling, coaching, speaking, or cleaning. But I can make stuff… Hmm… Well, I guess that could be a tough fit. What could the church do with those people who are willing to contribute to the church and society with their art?
The church used to be the only place that would PAY for art. If you wanted to see art in the 1500s you would go to the CHURCH to see it. Instead of church trying desperately to keep up with society, wonder if the church took back the arts and society tried desperately to keep up with the church?!?! What can we do to help develop a place for art and creative thinking within the church?
There is a particular movement that I want to tell you about for a minute. This movement has a passion for artists, liberal/outside of the box thinkers, leaders in our culture, politicians, designers, creators, people with ambition. This movement is passionate about serving others before ourselves, serving our community, being apart of the gay and lesbian community, neighboring our neighbors, and seeing transformation in people’s lives. It’s a movment that reaches out to the community instead of focusing inward. Please check out this RAD video.
God is revealing the new type of church to our friends Jeanne and Jarrett Stevens. This is a church that is really inspiring to me. We are really excited to see what God does through them in the city of Chicago in spring 2010. Check out this video about how this idea has been brewing in their hearts. It gives me the chills thinking about how a church like this will influence the city for the good.
If you are like me and you want churches like this to populate the city. The first thing we need to do IS HELP churches like this get started. One practical way we can do that is to give financially. I am no sales girl and I don’t ever intend to be. haha…because I am terrible at it. All I ask is that you give $1, $5 or $100 to help the Soul City movement get started.
John mayer wrote a song that plays in my head alot:
“one day our generation
is gonna rule the population
so we keep waiting, waiting on the world to change
we keep waiting, waiting for the world to change..
we keep waiting”
Soul City is asking US to take a step in changing the world and give towards their “first impressions” category, so that they have the necessary funds for Soul City Church to have a strong and sustainable start in the spring of 2010. They are trying to raise $15,000 toward start up expenses for First Impressions. You can learn more HERE.
Of course, every dollar you give is tax deductible, but more than that, every dollar you give will be used to literally make the vision of Soul City Church a reality. You may never actually go to Soul City Church, but your generosity will make it possible for multiple people in the city of Chicago to experience the transformational love of Jesus. Your gift is a significant expression of your thanks to God.
First impressions are usually lasting impressions — and they always want to make great ones (even if it’s silly like avoiding bad breath, bad acting, sheet music, over produced services.. You get the idea). You can ensure this happens by supporting a variety of projects — from marketing initiatives to online and print materials, all the way to Sunday hospitality and signage. Your gift can supply all the essential start-up items needed to help people have a great 1st experience that will ultimately lead them to calling Soul City Church their “home.”
To help make a GREAT First Impression, to YEARENDSTART.COM to make a one time year end gift toward helping the Soul City Movement in Chicago.
Thanks Promise. Your Friendship. And your Support of Soul City means a ton to us.
Carlos Whittaker wants this Year End to be a Great Start…
Our Friend Carlos Whittaker wrote an awesome piece on his blog about WHY Team Whittaker is moving to Chicago to BE a part of Soul City and how WE can all invest in and BE a part of the Vision of Soul City Church. Here’s what Carlos wrote:
I am moving to Chicago to BE a part of a movement.
Of’ course the movement is initially a selfish one.
I want more transformation in my life.
I feel like this is the community where the next stage of growth in my family’s life will happen.
Some people think I’m crazy.
But I’m just following the story that God has placed in my heart to lead my family with.
So with that, I feel confident in asking you guys to pray about contributing in some way to Soul City Church.
Not it’s not an orphanage.
No it’s not a women’s shelter.
No it’s not a teen crisis center.
But I think it will be ALL these things one day.
I believe in my pastors, Jarrett & Jeanne Stevens – they spent 12 years at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL and 3 ½ years at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, GA.I can only imagine that guy. Let’s call him Carlitos.
In the HUSTLE that is the city life of Chicago.
Hustle, sleep, play, hustle, sleep, play.
He puts his head down every night wanting that other thing.
But he can’t put his finger on it.
I can.
Meaning.
Transformation.
Community.
I think this community could be the one he’s been dreaming about and we aren’t even there yet.There are lots of things that the church needs to get rolling…one would be to create a gathering space where we can communicate the transformational message of Jesus Christ.
You know I’m all about environments.
It’s what I do.Here is my ask.
If you have resources at the end of the year that you are looking to give away for any reason…
I simply ask that you pray about providing for the Start of a new church at the End of your year.Your gift today will help install sound, lighting and video systems that will be used to create authentic weekend experiences that speak right to the heart of that hustler I was talking about earlier. Carlitos
Let’s help Soul City Church Start. Click HERE to give a one-time gift!PRODUCTION – $50,000
Thanks again for your partnership in this adventure. You are playing a huge role in the Kingdom of God extending in the city of Chicago.
Late,
Carlos
We love that Heather and Carlos are a part of the Vision of Soul City Church. We love the idea that ANYONE can BE a part of that vision. One of the easiest ways to BE Soul City is through a small but significant financial sacrifice. You may be thinking, “Man, the most I could give is $10.” You’d be amazed what God can do with just $10. And you’d be amazed at what God can do in our hearts when, together, we move the kingdom of God forward like this.
To find out how you can Give / BE a part of Soul City Church, check out YEAREND START.COM
