As most of us know, this Sunday is a huge day in the Christian faith. And due to this day, many churches will be overflowing with people that only come to church a few times a year. We prepare for them, design amazing series for them, and make sure everything is ready for them. I think this is great. Prepare for them so that God will send them your way, but…

When they show up, visitors, those you haven’t seen in a while, guests, etc…I want you to do one very important thing…look behind their eyes. Here is what I am guilty of having done. I see someone and without thinking I begin to size them up, what are they wearing, how many kids do they have, how can I get them plugged in, I wonder what they will tithe, will they like me, will they like the church, etc etc etc. Last night and today I had the opportunity to speak to two people I deeply love and admire. As we were talking I saw behind their eyes, and when I did, things changed. I saw something more important. I saw two people that God loves.

Behind a person’s eyes is a story. There is a life that probably has issues. There is failure, lack of hope, fear, and maybe a surrendered spirit. Behind the eyes is a mind and heart that genuinely doesn’t care about some of the stuff that we as church leaders care about. (Check out Perry Noble’s blog about what they don’t care about here.) They want to know that they will be accepted, loved, encouraged, and to a degree held accountable. They want to know they have people that will be there when times are tough, and won’t bring a video camera to make a video to proclaim to the world how great a certain ministry is for helping. (Which I am also guilty of.) Behind the eyes is a story that could potentially change your life as well…

I am not saying that you shouldn’t look at a person’s gifts, and try to get them to use them so that God will be glorified. That is what leaders are partially required to do. But before you try to plug the person into a service team or whatever, look behind their eyes. Find their heart. Listen to their story.

I love Easter. I love the hope it brings through a torturous death. Jesus died a brutal death, and it was not for ministry teams, small groups, great series, or a plethora of other things we (INCLUDING MYSELF) feel are very important, and they are. He died for people, for their lives, for their journey of faith…for what is behind the eyes.

In continuing with my desire for you to hear a different perspective about why people invest in church plants, I have asked Dr. E. Bob Kuschel, Senior Pastor of Westwood Hills Ministries in Gainesville, Florida to chime in. He was a church planter in the past and has seen it evolve into what it is today. Enjoy!

“It was 1975 and I felt a strong calling in my spirit to “start a Church” in Boca Raton. That’s how we referred to a new work back then.

So, after obtaining the proper permission and authority, I headed for that community to “start a church”. I had a Bible, a family, a calling, ……… and $.35.

Things have changed since then! We now call them “Intentional Church Plants”. That terminology brings with it the idea that some thought, planning and prayer have been exercised.

I am so happy about that because it brings with it a sense of community, connection and support.

And support is such a vital life-line to a church plant. Support means that I care about the people in the community where the church is being planted. It means that I am willing to extend myself beyond what I find comfortable. It means that I will be praying for the people and the leadership team of the new church plant. It means that I will make some financial adjustments in my own life so that I can have a part in the harvest.

Baypointe Church in Panama City Beach is an intentional church plant that has a great leadership team that has my complete support.

They need your support. Let’s all help and watch God at work.

In the Bonds of Calvary,”

Dr. E Bob Kuschel

I recently asked some guys I admire why they believe in investing into church planting. Afterwards, I thought that many others would appreciate some of their answers, so for the next few posts I will be inviting guest bloggers to explain why they invest into church plants.

So today, a great friend of mine, Brian Hunter, Lead Pastor of Genesischurch.tv in Tallahassee shares his thoughts on investing in church plants, and specifically Baypointe Church.

“When times get tight, whether because of the economy or some crisis within an organization, leadership has to make some hard decisions.  As a church, the biggest decisions are where to cut and save and then where to invest.  Whenever a church withholds their own giving, resources seemingly get even tighter.  The wise decision is to pick what matters most, spend only what you have in order to function, and then embrace some faith venture that keeps you alive, even when it feels a little dead.  There is nothing more important to an existing church than investing in building another church.  Church planting should always be that faith venture, always because what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you even if you appear to be struggling. When things are tight and stressful, it is easy to forget the investment side of the faith challenge you are in.  When you invest in a new, life-giving church, something new and life-giving happens in your church. I can’t explain it, but it does.  Baypointe Church in Panama City Beach is an incredible opportunity to be part of something new and life-giving.  You have a great pastor and leadership team, tremendous network in ARC and the Church of God Church Planting Office, and a city ready for something big to happen.  So if you need something to invest in, something to be part of that makes your impact wider and broader, something to participate in that will change lives and make an eternal difference, then I challenge you to simply consider making some kind of monthly investment for one year to help launch Baypointe Church, Panama City Beach this Fall! The return on your investment will be immeasurable!”

Brian Hunter

We all have limits. We all have places, that if crossed in our lives bring about the formidable foe to healthy living: frustration. Are you aware how deadly this emotion is? Are you aware of how it affects multiple areas of your life?

Let me let you in on a little secret…as I write this I am frustrated. I mean really frustrated. The “why” behind my frustration is not that really a big deal, very inconsequential to be honest. It is just one of those mornings, but this is what I have learned about my frustration: I can fix what I can fix or I can just throw my hands up and live in the turmoil. Now, many of you will instantly say a few things.

1. “Why would anyone WANT to live in the turmoil?” Because it is easier to just let life be life than it is to work at changing what it takes to smooth life out a little.
2. “Well, there are things I can’t fix, they are out of my control.” This is true in many instances, but here’s what you can control: your perspective. If you can’t control the circumstance, then you can’t control it. This won’t make the issue go away, but by not taking responsibility, you will not add unwarranted stress.

Sometimes, life is just frustrating. Things don’t go as planned, and it you begin to look at life as just something you have to go through. Since you can’t change things, or this is just how you are wired, or circumstances seem insurmountable, you would rather just go through the motions. I know this is true, because I have been there. I still get there. It is in these moments that I have to do a few key things. First, I pray. Yep, sounds cliché and religious, but in the moments when I feel I am spinning and can’t breathe, I simply ask God to give me a moment of clarity. To calm my brain down and let me think. (In case you haven’t figured out or don’t know me well, my brain is one of my greatest strengths and weaknesses at the same time. Sometimes it gets going so fast…overload!) Next, I try to take a quick inventory of the top 2 things that are getting me. Are they controllable or not? Can I do anything right now to deal with either of them? Fix what I can, try to file the other away. Finally, when I can breathe, I see what I can learn from this. Did I fail to plan? Did I overplan? Did I speak without thinking? Did I not say enough? Is this just a season I am in, and I need to recognize and embrace it? Either way, all frustrating moments can teach us something.

Frustration can be a paralyzing force in our lives, or it can be a catalyst to make necessary changes or a shift in perspective. Know your limits, recognize frustration factors, and under no circumstances, make no major decisions while frustrated. Odd are it will be the wrong one.

…and by the way, I am not frustrated anymore.

Grace.

Ben

Someone recently asked me what the hardest part of being a church planter is. It is hard to answer for everyone, but for me this answer was simple and easy. It was not the recruiting of people, starting with nothing, being in a new city, or researching models. For me it came down to one thing that immediately came to my mind: ASKING FOR MONEY!

I am not good at asking for money. It makes me feel weird and I am always afraid of what people think about me when I ask them for money. Now, please understand that I am trying to raise money for Baypointe, not my personal income. I know that God has placed us here, He has opened doors for us, sent people to help, yet when it comes to trusting Him to move on people’s hearts to help us financially, I somehow think it is all on me. In reality, the funds needed to start a healthy church are His and He will find a way to get them to us. Why can’t I trust this? Because it is where the rubber meets the road. It is a massive faith issue, and sometimes that is where life gets the hardest. I hate asking for money!

Why am I afraid to ask for money to help bring Christ to a community, but am not afraid to do anything else for the same cause? Because I, like most, hate rejection. I know the state of the economy, and that many people would love to help, but simply can’t. Then I feel bad for making them feel bad. AHHHHHH! I hate asking for money!

I am a minimum of 10 grand away from getting all the supplies we need to open the doors for our first preview service. Did I mention I have less than a month to get most of that? I know God has a plan to make it happen, but I just wish He would let me in on that little divine secret so I could sleep a little! I will have to do the one thing I hate…yep you guessed it…I will have to ask for money!! I hate asking for money!!!

So yes, some of you reading this will be getting a phone call from me. I have learned that the only way this will happen is for God to move on your and many other’s hearts to make Baypointe a reality. So, I am asking you to pray now. To see if God will use you to change the face of a city. To plant into something you may never see with your own eyes, but will be rewarded for. I am asking you for help.

Okay, I did it. I asked for help. I asked for money.

Yep, I still feel the same way…I HATE ASKING FOR MONEY!

Grace.

Ben