The Thank You Economy
If you’re familiar with Gary Vaynerchuk either through Winelibrary.com or his new book – Crush It, than you know that he is an insane entrepreneur who has a tendency to get a little excited.
While listening to an over-excited Vaynerchuk on a recent podcast, he passionately pontificated on the new “THANK YOU ECONOMY” that we are now a part of. In his words, we are living in a day when it’s no longer ok to push your “product” on people, tell them to buy it, and be done with them. We are here to SERVE those who are somehow engaged and connected to us, and when we do that well, we won’t have to push or sell anything to them.
He’s right. But this is not one of Gary’s crazy ideas, or even a new idea. This has been / should be the posture of the Church from day one. We are created and called to Love and Serve in and especially Outside our walls. It is precisely our forgetfulness and neglectfulness of this posture that has led to Overt Evangelism Campaigns and Strategies, and Bring A Friend Weekends.
When we love and serve, first and foremost, we position ourselves to be heard, respected, and followed. In other words, “…let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16 NLT)
So, HOW are you “Thanking” the community that your church serves? Do they even know you exist other than the traffic hassle you cause on Sundays? What do they “get” from your church that is above and beyond Attending one of your services?
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WHO do you personally need to “Thank” this week? Who and How can you extend the Gospel in your neighborhood with no expectation in return?
10 Questions for Jarrett Stevens by Ron Edmondson
This is an interview that appears today on ronedmondson.com. Ron is a great Thinker / Pastor / Leader / Social Media Maven who has been a great support to Soul City Church. For some reason he thought it might be interesting to interview me. Go figure.
I have only recently started following Jarrett Stevens closely, but I am instantly inspired by his vision. Jarrett has a pedigree resume, having served in key roles at Willow Creek Church and North Point Church. He is the author of The Deity Formerly Known as God.
The part of his story that inspires me the most is his current venture. Jarrett and his wife Jeanne are leaving the comfort of the mega church to launch Soul City Church in Chicago. It is one of the most publicized and talked about starts of a church of which I have been aware.
I am curious on the front end of this planting experience to learn more about how Jarrett thinks, so here are my 10 questions with Jarrett Stevens:
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1. When you were growing up, is this what you thought you would be doing vocationally? If not, what did you want to do?
No. For the longest time I wanted to be a Christian Stunt Man (this is sadly too true to be funny or ironic). I wanted to be a light to those in the Action Stunt Industry. Once that dream faded, I thought for sure that I would be a Third Grade School Teacher.
2. What’s the most different job you’ve had from what you are doing now and how did that job help you with what you are doing now?
Pizza Delivery Guy, or as I like to call it – Domestic Food Export Industry. It taught me that I love serving people and playing a small role in their joy. It also taught me how to drive stick.
3. Who is one person, besides Christ, who most helped to shape your leadership and how did they help you?
Sheryl Fleischer. She was a Spiritual Mentor who shaped my leadership by dissecting, dismantling, and slowly rebuilding my soul. I didn’t learn a single leadership principle from her in the three years that we met. But I would not be the leader I am today without her.
4. Besides the Bible, what is one book that has most helped to shape your thought process in life and ministry?
Just One? Not possible.
Moments with the Savior – Ken Gire
Inner Voice of Love – Henir Nouwen
War of Art – Steven Pressfield
Good to Great – Jim Collins
Signature of Jesus – Brennan Manning
Rise of the Creative Class / Who’s your City – Richard Florida
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality – Peter Scezaro
5. What are three words other people would use to describe your work style/ethic?
Ideator
Developer
Fun
6. What is your greatest strength in leadership?
Ideas.
7. What is your greatest weakness in leadership?
Intentional Thorough Follow Through
8. What is the hardest thing you have to do in leadership?
Submit myself fully to God and live from His love and approval.
9. What is one misconception about your position you think people in your church may have?
That I’m the only Lead Pastor
10. If you could give one piece of advise to young leaders from what you’ve learned by experience, what would it be?
That Christian Culture is a tiny bubble in light of a world filled God’s love and acceptance and millions of people who desperately need it. Seek first the kingdom of God in every corner and crevasse of your life and in this world and settle for nothing less.
Jarrett has a huge vision. I look forward to following him in the years to come.
Thanks Ron. We are so grateful for your friendship and support. And thanks for taking the time to do this interview. You could have spent your time doing so many more productive things than this!
MLK and the Gift of Rejection
I am honored today to participate in the celebration of one of our countries finest sons – Rev Martin Luther King Jr. To reflect and remember this legacy in Atlanta amongst friends and family of the late MLK is both Humbling and Inspiring.
What is perhaps most amazing in the midst of our National Canonized Respect for MLK is that at the time of his death, he had the LOWEST Public Approval Rating of any point in his life. Abysmally low. His continued persistence in the work our country had yet to do in the ongoing struggle of equality, his stance against the Vietnam War, and relentlessness presence left him rejected not only by those that opposed him (largely White), but by those who first supported him and sought to make him live up to his name – King (mostly Black).
At the time of his death he was on a downward spiral of rejection and abandonment within the country he fought so hard to unite. This is perhaps why we celebrate and remember him to this very day.
He could have very easily settled for Acceptance. He could have said what people wanted to hear. He could have taken a nice job on a Sunday Morning Talkshow and enjoyed a lifetime of the unripened fruit of legacy. But…he did not. And here I am today not only remembering, but reflecting.
Am I willing to Speak Up and Speak Out, even it means that I will be Kicked Out. Am I willing to Stand For and not just Stand By. Am I willing to Walk On into my convictions no matter what the cost, rather than just Walk By.
And I suppose I would ask the same of you – Where are you being given the Gift of Rejection that affords you in it’s solitary fire the opportunity to have forged within you what God has put inside you? What are you willing to say? What are you willing to do? Even if it costs you everything that you thought once mattered.
Deep Roots in Dry Times
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it’s roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it’s leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8
Amy Lawlor is a part of the Leadership Team of Soul City Church. She’s making the move from Atlanta to Chicago this Spring to start Soul City. In her spare time Amy is an MMA Fighter. She currently holds the belt in the Women’s Lightweight Division.Haiti: Pray Now, Give Some, Go Soon
The images coming in from Haiti are truly horrific (which is why we chose the image above). It’s easy to watch an hour of CNN and be left worse than when you started. That level of intensity and catastrophe can tend to lead us down one of two paths:
- A numbed sense of powerlessness and detachment
- or
- A harried sense of temporary responsive activism
We are praying instead that God leads us and leads you to a God Given, Holy Spirit Driven, Sustainable and Responsible Response that reflects the way of Jesus.
We are asking that you
- Pray Now (For those suffering, for those serving, for families, new orphans, new widows)
- Give Some (Click the button to the right to give to Compassion International. Whatever amount you have in your head, add 25%)
- Go Soon (Tweets and Posts like this are good, but you and I are going to need to go soon and for a long time to come)
We are praying for Haiti. We are praying for those of us that are connected to Soul City Church, that we would live a Gospel that has always been for the poor, the outcast, the forgotten.
3 things I learned from 31 days of Fruit and Vegetables
In the month of December Jeanne and I embarked on a 31 day Daniel Fast. If you’re unfamiliar with what a Daniel Fast is, it’s basically committing yourself to eating nothing but Fruit, Vegetables, Legumes, and Water based on this passage from the life of Daniel
“During those days, I, Daniel, went into mourning over Jerusalem for three weeks. I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up. (Daniel 10:2-3, The Message)
Aside from the Not Showering part , we followed the fast as literally as we did dependently. In the midst of Christmas Parties, our own Fund Raiser, and a Giant 5 Gallon Tin of Popcorn from my parents, we stayed true to our fast.
We did it to focus our body, mind, and soul on the presence and provision of God. In a season when we are raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Soul City Church, we didn’t want to forget where it all comes from and who it all belongs to. It’s one of the most important spiritual discipines I have ever embarked upon and one that I will repeat regularly. Here’s 3 things I learned along the way.
- Satan is real (kinda already knew that) and uses Resistance as one of my Greatest Temptations. The day before the fast, I looked for every possible way I could cut corners, opt out, quit while I was ahead. Jeanne’s response to me was both Simple and Succinct- If you feel that God is telling you not to do this, than I will fully support it. (I don’t think Satan planned on Jeanne M. Stevens)
- Food is the Cause and Solution to all my Problems. In just 31 days I uncovered how deeply rooted is my belief that I am Chief Dispenser of Comfort to my life. And food is where I find comfort. Instead of staying in the tension I escape to whatever “little comfort” will take me away from the place where God tends to do some of his greatest work.
- The thing you are most afraid of, may be the very place God is inviting you…and He will give you the strength you need. This was perhaps the greatest thing I gleamed from God throughout this process. The first two days were hard (slurred speech not being the least of it), but every day after I literally felt like I had exactly what my body needed. I honestly never felt weak or overly hungry. My body was at peace (which had a wonderful ripple effect on my mind and soul). For anyone who’s ever finished a race or an impossible assignment or task, you know what it’s like to step back from it all and say, “Look at what I just did”. Only difference on this one is that I step back and say, “Look at what God just did.”
I am so glad we did it. I am so thankful for what God did in me through it. You may have never fasted before or may be in the middle of one right now. Whatever your exposure and experience with fasting, I am convinced that it is one of the most tangible forms of Transformation we can participate it. The math of the whole thing is brilliant – I take something away, God gives me something greater in it’s place. I would highly recommend that you ask God the simple question after reading this post – “Father, what are you inviting me to let go of so I can better cling to you?”
The question is NOT whether or not God is inviting you to Fast, but rather WHAT is HE inviting you to Fast from.
4 things that mattered to our parents…
Innovation has always and is currently moving at a breakneck speed. There is of course, those things that continue to be true and great that remain and weather the gail force winds of change. There is a reason these things remain. And there is a reason that many former “innovations” fall by the wayside. They need to. It’s time. They are not bad, they just aren’t as good anymore.
And yet there are those who are not willing to let go of the past. They are deeply rooted in the meaning that these things once held. They are stuck in the systems that these former “innovations” have created, unable to embrace what is now. Here are FOUR examples (of many) from our Culutre and ONE Question that each of us must wrestle with.
The Encyclopedia.
A brilliant breakthrough of the Modern Era. Knowledge for the masses! Everyone can own…26 Giant Books with Tiny Print. We had a set in our house growing up – grossly outdated and too expensive and complicated to update, they became fantastic door stoppers and forts for my G.I. Joes.
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The Phonebook.
Eclipsing the wisdom of a centralized Operator, now anyone could find a litany of phone numbers for 24 hour plumbers. They represent a centralized collection of localized limitedness that had to be updated every year with a new 18 pound 1384 page waste of paper. Not sustainable.
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The Home Phone.
The Cordless Phone simply was not enough to save the icon of a bygone era of simplicity and boundaries. ”Call me sometime…when I’m home…not on another call…and am willing to stand still long enough for our conversation.”
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The Newspaper.
An inky papery connection to the world around you…that the editors saw fit to represent. The world continues to move too fast, too far, and too wide for this iconic connection to the Greatest Generation. While the Newspaper may not die, it most certainly will not thrive in it’s current atomic state.
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Right or Wrong. Good or Bad. These are FOUR things that matter(ed) to our parents. But they simply DON’T to us anymore. They have been replaced by innovation that itself will be replaced in a matter of time.
The Question is – WHAT IS YOUR CHURCH STILL DOING THAT MATTERED TO OUR PARENTS, BUT SIMPLY DOES NOT MATTER TO THE WORLD WE CURRENTLY LIVE IN?
What are we still holding on to because of it’s unorthodox and uncritical “history” and meaning to us? What is it that we are still doing because we are too entrenched in the systems we’ve created around it? AND…WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
When 6.4% just isn’t enough…
Here are some fascinating numbers regarding Soul City’s Four Targeted Neighborhoods. It’s amazing to consider that in a city as LARGE as Chicago (2.9 million people downtown!) there is such a Surprising LACK of Vibrant, Growing, Transformational Churches. To be honest…we’re not even scraping the surface of our potential of reaching people in the City of Chicago with the transformational love of God. There is such a HUGE opportunity here.
Check out this video to see what we mean.
So how does a church (or churches) move from reaching 6.4% to reaching more and more people with the Transformational love of Jesus Christ?
How is YOUR church doing this…or not doing this?
