Good Reminder - We Are in the People Business

Planting churches is a crazy, busy life - emotionally, a roller coaster.  It is hugely rewarding and worth every minute though.  Those of us that lead do need to remember that while it is for the glory of God, it is a PEOPLE thing -- loving God, bringing Him glory, proclaiming His magnificent Gospel, yes, but also loving people.  I sat down with most all of the members of our church in individual coffee meetings (yes, coffee is a membership requirement, ha) over the month of January and some of February.  This was VERY time consuming, but we limited each meeting to 30 minutes, and worth every minute.  The most surprising thing was the depth of the conversation in that short time.  What helped is that I did not hit them with any 'churchy' agenda.  I just asked them to pray for me when they left, and then I shut up and listened.  I reminded them to pray for me when they got in the car when they left, and I prayed for them according to how I heard them describe their life in the Gospel.  IT WAS AWESOME! 

This is a letter from one of the members that says it all:
Hi Tim. Thank you for taking the time to sit down, share, listen, & pray with us this past Monday evening.  We enjoyed it very much and continue to be blessed because of it.  I feel like I really know you now, and hope you feel like you know us a little better as well.  Your love and support of our family means so much!  We are praying for you for continued good health and wisdom in decisions that are coming up, and also for you, Kelley, Justin, and Virginia as you continue to adjust and grow in His will.
We look forward to to being a part of God's plan and sharing in His ministry along with you and our church.
In Jesus' Love,

Keys to Successful Missional Communities

1. Provide good toilet paper.
Nothing says "don't come back" like some Big Lots #8 grade sandpaper.

2. If you throw a party to invite new folks, don't wear a wife beater and short shorts.
That is unless it is an "Eddie from National Lampoon Vacation" party.  That is a bad gig.  For chicks, a formal dress with a pearl necklace like a bad episode of the "Young and the Restless" is bad gig also. 

3. Don't serve extremely cheap coffee.  Nothing says, "GO AWAY" like the dark roast from Dollar General. I'd give 30% of my income to churches who serve Dunkin Donuts.

Hospitality is a spiritual gift.  Let's use it, so that hopefully someday a person who actually agrees to set aside personal preference and come to your home to hang out with a bunch of "hypocrites" might actually sit on a comfortable couch and hear about a glorious Savior and His great Gospel.