Once arriving in Richmond our main focus will be on developing a team of people who can help launch this new church.  Until then we are on a commercial break.  It is a break because I need to focus on moving and I need the next couple of weeks to debrief from my time at EBCC.  One would think that starting a new church and serving as a Lead Minister in an existing church are very similar roles. It is not true.  I need to have a couple of weeks to really wrap my brain around doing things differently.  So this is a break.

This is a commercial because I am advertizing the need for people to help us move.  If you are in Bartlesville and are interested in helping us load a truck let me know.  If you are in the Richmond area and are interested in helping us unload a truck let me know.

My name is Jon, and my story is not one of eye-popping surprise. But it is a story of great adventure! I was raised in a Christian family and decided at an early age to follow Jesus. And, though the path didn’t go where I thought it would, God has led me through adventure to exactly where He wants me to be.

I have served as a youth pastor, a senior pastor, a worship pastor and an administrator. I currently serve as a hospital chaplain. There is a thread that runs through each of those positions. People. I LOVE people. I love to see people become what God has created them to be. Why? What’s the attraction? Because God’s plan for us is the best life we can have. I love seeing people living out their best life!

My wife, Jen, and I have 3 sons. Our oldest son, Drew, is a missionary in Brasil. Our 2 younger sons, Aaron & Sam, are students at Milligan College, preparing to study medicine. We have raised them to seek the life God wants for them.

For the past 5 years, I have been praying for the opportunity to help people who are far from God find that life that God wants for them. I am way more than excited to be working with Matt, Carrie & Michael and all our launch team to reach out into Richmond with Great news of the amazing life God wants for each person He has created. This is just another part of the adventure that is my life with God. Please join us in praying for God’s direction and His power!

When I interview potential candidates the discussion usually contains several parts. At first we just talk about life, passions and experiences.  Then, at some point I ask the candidate to share their story.  I ALWAYS, ALWAYS comment on their story because I believe our story (as it includes God) is one of the most important things we should be able to articulate.  I share what this church will be doing and how it will impact the community.  The candidate usually says, “man, that sounds perfect”!  And I always say, “by the way.”

Now, let me stop for a moment and prepare you for something that I believe you have to really listen to.  If you want to know the heart of these people who are on the team you have to know the story of their committing to this team.

So I say, “by the way…I am not going to pay you anything”.  Stop and soak it in.  You read correctly.  Everyone who joins our staff at this new church has to provide their own source of income.

I have a friend in Florida who is starting a new church and he asked me how I ask people to commit to something so big and then tell them I am not going to pay them anything.  I told him that if your dreams weren’t big enough that you think others would buy into it and raise their own financial support to be a part of it than your dreams are too small.

Soon you will be introduced to these people who actually said yes and are part of team that pays nothing but has huge expectations.  Our dreams for our community are huge and “by the way”, so are the hearts of our staff team.

1. I went to Vegas for a church planting conference called Vault.  I took my friend Jon who  is excited to be part of what we are going to do in Richmond (his story comes in a later post).  This trip was a time where we affirmed that we are on the same page.  It was a great conference loaded with practical wisdom for starting a church for people who don’t like church. Every time I visit Verve in Las Vegas I get inspired to do whatever it takes to reach lost people.

2. I was in Richmond for several days and one of the first things I did was attend 2011 Smart Futures dinner at the Boys and Girls Club of Richmond.  I was the 1989 Youth of the Year so it was really cool to be there and listen to the impact the Club is now making in Richmond.  I had a chance to network with leaders in the community, one of whom already looked me up and wants to be of support as we move forward.  I was also able to meet with the director of the Richmond Boys and Girls Club and share what we are currently doing with the Boys and Girls Club of Bartlesville and that I would bring that same mentality to Richmond.  The question that will lead our conversation is this, “What is your greatest need?”  From that question we will surely find a way to give back and make a difference in our city.

3. A couple, who are thinking of joining out team, visited Richmond to help them decide.  It was great to meet others who are like minded about truly reaching lost people.  When the time is right I will give an update concerning their decision.

4. We met with some of our family and friends.  It is alway good to hang out with people in the area and build deeper relationships.  I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.

5. I met with two area pastors to share what we are doing.  One of them is struggling with his current ministry so my agenda was more focused on better understanding his situation so that I can encourage him.  The other pastor planted a church with a similar vision as ours seven years ago.  We spent the morning together that was highlighted by checking out a property together.  Who knows what may come out of this conversation…

6. I just got back from Chicago after having met with a group of people who have a plan to start 2000 churches.  They are looking for 3 people to partner with as pilot church plants.  We both shared out dreams.  I don’t know if we will be one of the three, but it was a good time of listening to people who have big dreams of expanding the kingdom of God.

I am so humbled that I get to start this church.  I have no doubt that this new church is going to make a difference in our community.  Our dreams are big.   Let me rephrase that.  Our dreams are really big!  I am very motivated to get started and I cannot wait to see lives changed in the community.

Also if you are stalking my blog in hopes of knowing when our family is going to be gone from our home I must warn you of the alarm system and  neighborhood watch that includes a crazy old man with a shotgun and pet rotweillers.  The dude really is crazy!

Can you hear God? How do you determine if he is telling you something? There are people who look for signs. They may see a formation in the clouds that look the shape of a fish and determine that Jesus is coming back now. Signs are those moments that cause us to wonder if God is trying to tell us something. I had one the other day.

I hate flying. I love the shortened time it takes to get to my destination, I just don’t like being 38,000 feet in the air. I get nervous. I usually grab a movie to watch but did not have one this time. I thought the plane would have internet access because I was going all the way across the U.S. No movie, no internet and three hours of flying ahead of me had me searching for something to occupy my mind. I realized I had a DVD in my drive of laptop. At church I am leading a small group study and the accompaning DVD was still in my computer. AWESOME RIGHT! NO! I begin to watch the second video episode of this amazing speaker and within the first 30 seconds he talks about how today could very well be my last day on earth. I am not going to lie to you. I am a follower of Jesus and like to believe that I am ready to die, but not today. I immediately hit the power button and turned it off and found something else to do for the next 3 hours.

Many people are troubled when it comes to hearing from God. Not everyone gets to hear an audible voice or see him in the flesh. It can be confusing trying to figure out what God is saying. Now imagine you are not a believer in Jesus. You don’t have a history of a relationship with God or the church. How do you know what God is saying? How does this all make sense? For many people it doesn’t make sense so they hit the metaphoric power button and turn him off and find something else to do focus on. It’s a shame because if they don’t feel like they can hear from God they miss things like his love, grace, forgiveness, acceptance, inclusion, freedom and hope.

I want everyone to not just see signs but to actually hear God’s truth. Signs can give direction but truth allows us to move.

I came across my first first Apple product, the iPhone, a couple of years ago.  I held it in my hand waiting for something miraculous to happen.  I hit the magical little button that made the screen light up and began to see the ease of use.  I was shocked.  I didn’t need a users guide or a tutorial.  It was a product that simply made sense to use.  Ever since that moment I switched to Apple products because they are simple.  Does this relate to church?

Here is what I have learned about simplicity.  Simplicity speaks to a large percentage of people.  The average reading level in the U.S. is 8th grade and 20% of Americans read at the 5th grade level and below.  Apple designed their products to be used by anyone no matter their reading level.  It just makes sense.

Simplicity removes the illogical and allows the user to focus on objectives.  If I want to take a picture I don’t want to take ten steps to get to the camera.  While writing this post someone dropped in to see me and wanted to show me a picture they had taken on their phone. It him about 3 minutes to get to the picture and probably about 10 steps.  That’s crazy.  I want to get where I need to go without a bunch of extra steps.

Simplicity requires a lot of work for the designer but great benefit for the user.  As easy as their products are to use, the development is not.  Apple employs great designers who work long and hard to make my life easier.  My life is better because of their simple products.

Does this translate to the church?  I think so.  Life is complicated enough. Church should be simple.  The new church should not require a users manual and should not clutter your life with meaningless steps.  I promise you this, the people of this new church will be working hard behind the scenes so that others can enjoy the simplicity of the message of Jesus.  And I am sure life will be better because of that.

We move to Richmond sometime late this year/early next year.  While leaving our current church provides certain emotions there is also a sense of anticipation for what is ahead.  Will you do me a favor today please?  Just pause for a moment and ask God to do something extreme through this new church.  You notice I said “through this new church”, not “for this new church”.  We are not starting this church for us, but for others.  I mean I want you to ask for something so big that it could only be possible if God were leading it.  We don’t want to start “just another church”.  We want to take over a city.  Taking over a city with God’s love is a big dream.  With a dream so large I should expect to continue to bounce between stress and anticipation and that is not a bad thing.