ConvergeUSA Blog

Cool Video Idea

epikosMedia from Danny D'Acquisto on Vimeo.

Technorati Profile

Updated Spiritual Journey Guide is Here!

Over the last couple of years I have been working on updating The Spiritual Journey Guide, moving it from a 90's feel to more of a new millennium feel.  After gathering many ideas from several avid users of the tool we have made some tweaks and changes to this 'spiritual conversation tool.'

The first major change is that it is square in  shape and looks more like a CD cover.  Daniel Montgomery of Sojourn Church in Louisville, KY made this suggestion. Thanks Danny! 

Another change is that we have real people reflecting each stage of the journey. It was tough but I the let the "alien heads" go!  We made the print more readable on the inside and also changed and tightened up some of the language to reflect more of a missional and gospel centered approach. Thanks to Darryn Scheske of Heartland Church, Fishers, IN, Geri Bourget our graphic artist, Dave Wetzler and Bob Rummel of ChurchSmart Resources.  Finally, a special thanks to my wife Mary who makes me look better than I am.

To get a sneak peek you can Download NewJGSample. 

To take advantage of the Special Sale Price you can Order Here.

Another change is that we have real people reflecting each stage of the journey. It was tough but I the let the "alien heads" go!  We made the print more readable on the inside and also changed and tightened up some of the language to reflect more of a missional and gospel centered approach. Thanks to Darryn Scheske of Heartland Church, Fishers, IN, Geri Bourget our graphic artist, Dave Wetzler and Bob Rummel of ChurchSmart Resources.  Finally, a special thanks to my wife Mary who makes me look better than I am.

To get a sneak peek you can Download NewJGSample. 

To take advantage of the Special Sale Price you can Order Here.

38 things I wish I knew at 18 - Todd Bush

I am 38 years old and there are 38 things that I wish people would have told me when I was 18. Someone probably did tell me, but I wasn’t paying attention. Re:Imagine what life would be like if we learned from the mistakes of others. We won't live long enough to make them all ourselves...

Here is the list of 38 things:

1. Life is short. Make every day count for God’s glory.
2. Life is short. Don’t take it too seriously.
3. Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint.
4. Jesus cares more about the church than you do.
5. You can’t please everyone…so why try?
6. People will criticize you. Quit whining. Get used to it.
7. Three months from now, you won’t even remember most of the things that are bothering you today.
8. You can’t do it all. Stop trying.
9. God called you because He is good, not because you are.
10. If you blame yourself for the bad results in life or ministry, you’ll likely also take credit for the good results.
11. Your kids will be grown before you know it. Don’t sacrifice them on the altar of ministry.
12. Your ministry isn’t your god. God is your God!
13. You know how to give and how to minister to others. If you don’t learn how to receive, you’ll burn out and/or die.
14. Studying for sermons doesn’t replace your personal time with God and in His word.
15. Err on the side of generosity.
16. Believe in people that others overlook.
17. If you’re going to reach people that others aren’t, you’ll have to do things that others won’t.
18. Your integrity matters more than you can imagine.
19. Hire staff members that you like.
20. When you have a tough decision to make, but you know it’s right, make it immediately. (Like pulling off a Band-Aid: do it fast, and all at once.)
21. Hire slowly. Fire quickly.
22. You can’t change people. Only God can.
23. Don’t criticize others’ ministries. Yours isn’t nearly as perfect as you think it is.
24. Take care of yourself. Eat right. Rest. Exercise. Take time off. No one else can do that for you.
25. If you don’t take much time off, it’s because you’re proud, and you think you’re more necessary than you really are.
26. Don’t just delegate responsibility. Delegate authority.
27. Laugh frequently.
28. People will leave your church. People you love and trust will leave your church. Don’t take it personally.
29. When you suffer and hurt because of ministry, worship Jesus all the more.
30. Talk about Jesus every time you preach.
31. Be careful what you say. You’re being watched.
32. Don’t return emails when you’re angry.
33. Double-Check to make sure your microphone is turned off before you use the bathroom.
34. Double-Check to make sure your zipper is zipped every time before you preach.
35. Love your wife more than you love the church. The church is Jesus’ bride, not yours.
36. Always be caught speaking well of others.
37. Compliment, encourage, and build up your staff and volunteers.
38. Smile and look people in the eyes when you talk to them.

Re:Imagine and start now...

Do any of these apply to you as well? Do you resonate with many of the thoughts? What do you think? (HT)

Todd Bush is the founding pastor of The Pointe in White House TN.

Four Church Planting Manuals Reviewed - Jonathan Dodson

First Steps For Planting a Missional Church

Gary Rohrmayer has planted tons of churches and written a helpful course called First Steps for Planting a Missional Church. First Steps is strong on the nuts and bolts and guides the planter through six stages of the first year of missional church planting.

These stages include:

• Relating to God and Others
• Networking and Gathering
• Building a Launch Team
• Designing Worship Services and Ministry Strategies
• Launching Public Services
• Establishing the New Community and its Ministries

Another one of its strengths is that it is principle-driven rather than model-driven. It accommodates a variety of models and encourages contextualization. Though the course is launch-focused, some of the templates for budgets, position descriptions, financial accountability, etc are helpful jumping-off points. You can also purchase a membership of The FirstSteps Network at CoachNet that allows electronic access to the entire workbook and PDFs and take the course.

Redeemer Planting Manual

Tim Keller’s Redeemer Church Planting Manual is incredibly strong on missiology and philosophy of ministry. If you really want to know how to become a lead missionary that cultivates a church of missionaries, follow Tim’s approach. At times, it is overwhelming (even to me, and I have a background in Anthropology!), but there are a lot of riches to be found in this manual.

Exploring the Land

Exploring the Land focuses on understanding your target people and culture. This book was written for reaching unreached peoples, which is why it is so helpful for domestic church planting. It forces us to ask questions that we think we already have answers for, forcing you to do the hard, loving work of contextualization.

The Church Planter’s Toolkit

Bob Logan’s Church Planter’s Toolkit is a standby that offers a lot of practical helps and is used by the Evangelical Free Church. Logan has actually transformed some of his personal convictions about methodology and is now planting more organically. He co-wrote an expensive book on this with Neil Cole called Beyond Church Planting.

HT Jonathan Dodson's blog

Cool Idea - Christmas Season Announcements & Year End Appeal

Josh Taylor of Missio Dei in Chicago, IL offers a REAL COOOOL idea for helping his people get into the spirit of the season.

Technorati Profile

One Life Capital Campaign

Darryn Scheske, of Heartland Church, in Indianapolis, IN shares their Capital Campaign video...it is not about money but about "One Life!"

Cool Idea for Free Financial Seminar by Mark Doebler

Mark Doebler, of Second Chance Church, Peoria, IL is offering a free financial seminar.  With times as they are right now, this would be a great opportunity for you and your congregation. 

We are in wild and scary economic times these days to say the least.  When 1/3 of the stock market’s value can be wiped out in in less than a year, things start getting pretty hairy.  There are a host of underlying reasons for how we got here, but in the middle of the crisis, addressing those reasons doesn’t help us right now.  We need some advice.  We need some guidance.  We need some assurance.  We need a plan…… And we need these things NOW!

Second Chance Church is offering serious help to weather this storm by offering a free financial seminar.  Go check out the details. 

Maybe your church could do a free financial seminar this spring? HT

Assessment Center Reflections - Marlan Mincks

On November 17-21, the ConvergeUSA Assessment Center was held at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in DC. It was a great week to see how God is working in the lives of so many people across this country. First impressions are important and our first impression of FBCG was one of overwhelming blessing. Their generosity to be hosts and sponsors of this assessment set the tone for the entire week.  We were humbled by their servant leadership throughout the week.

Our assessment looks for the sixteen building blocks that we believe a church planter needs to successfully plant a church. This type of assessment allows for multiple models or new methods as we understand that God is leading the way to reach His people. We are not locked in to a specific model and there is no average church planter. They are all uniquely called by God to grow his kingdom.

As the Converge USA assessment center is now moving around the country to hold its Assessment Centers regionally, we depend on the generosity of our churches to continue to grow our movement. FBCG has set the standard when it comes to serving His kingdom through the Converge USA Assessment Center. Their hosting of the Assessment Center is, as they see it, an opportunity to serve God’s people in growing Christ’s kingdom through church planting.

We encourage your church to host an Assessment center. Hosting an assessment center will bring your church right into the middle of what God is doing to reach tens of thousands of new people for his kingdom through church planting. The energy that the church planting candidates bring to the process is contagious as they share the calling God has placed on their lives to grow his kingdom. Your church will be energized by the vision to reach new peoples through church planting.

As co-director of the Converge USA Assessment Center I must tell you that I never leave the week without an incredible sense that God is fulfilling his promise to reach into every corner of the world and every neighborhood to bring the message of grace, love and salvation to every heart.  I know that if you choose to be a host your church and people will experience the same.

Marlan Mincks, Co-director ConvergeUSA Assessment Center and Founding Pastor of Iron Ridge Church, Waukon, IA,

Check out the Upcoming Assessment Centers Dates and Locations