Main Street BC — 50 Years Young

Last week was my birthday (no. 30).  Yesterday was the 50th birthday for my church, Main Street Baptist in Alexandria, KY. 

The weekend started off Saturday night with a wonderful worship service featuring great music, former pastors and a narration of our history as a church.  After the service, there was a huge reception/dinner and then plenty of fun time out on the back field with games, inflatables, and an ice cream eating contest.  (I was the adult champion at the 2006 picnic.  I finished second this time around.  It was rigged though.  Conspiracy against me.)  All in all over 500 people came Saturday night for the festivities.

On Sunday, we celebrated all together with another amazing worship service.  Nearly every seat in the sanctuary was filled.  The deacons and elders closed the service by serving communion.  It was so special and memorable.

50 years in the life of many congregations is only the start.  We pray God is only beginning to work within our church.  We hope the vision and dreams of those early church planters will be infused to us as we seek to dream HUGE dreams with God.  This is HIS congregation and we want to follow HIS direction for us in the future. 

I will be 80 for the 100th anniversary.  I am so glad to have participated in this one.  I might be too cranky and crotchity to be around for the next.

Turnin’ 30 Years Young

 Yesterday was my 30th birthday.  I had a great day.  I got hear the heartbeat of our little baby in the morning, ate Frisch’s Big Boy pancakes for breakfast, had birthday cake with the church staff over Skyline chili for lunch, and then had a nice movie night out with my wife, Harry Potter 5.  I also contracted a stomach virus and spent most of the nighttime hours in the bathroom.  (One negative in a day of all positives.  It was not the food, I promise.)

Everyone keeps asking me…”Well, do you feel 30?”  My answer has been YES.  

I have been waiting for this birthday for quite some time.  As a new 30-something, I might finally be old enough to be viewed differently by my peers.  In my life as a church and spiritual leader, youthfulness (a.k.a. being in your 20′s) is not a good thing.  I have been shuned by many because of my age.  Everyone wants a young pastor/leader because they are fully of energy and go-get-em.  But when it comes to being a change agent, seeking counsel on big issues, or leading more mature believers, age is definitely a mark against you.

So now that I am in my 30′s, I hope I will be offered the opportunity to be a more effective leader for our church and my family.  Not that 30 years of life is much.  I am sure that now I will be told, when you are in your 50′s….

3 Movies, 3 Reviews

So far this summer I have been to three BIG summer movies:  Transformers, Ratatouee (sp?), and Harry Potter 5.  Here are my film reviews.

Transformers
As a child Transformer junkie (toys, cartoons, early movies, clothing, etc), I was hooked when I saw the first trailer back in 2006.  There was no question I was going on opening night.  I did like the film, but I didn’t love it.  The special effects are some of the best ever in film history, but the story line was just not that great.  Michael Bay, the director, used his normal mix of corny humor and big action scenes to move the film along as he did in Independence Day with Will Smith.  But this time, the humor fell short with oversized robots.  I did love the voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron though.

Ratatouee
Isaac made his first “big boy” movie event to see a great story about a food-loving rat.  I really liked the film.  It made fun of the French people and stereotypes but in a way they would approve of.  Pixar is going way above and beyond what anyone thought could be done in computer animation.  Isaac liked watching the rats work in the kitchen but he didn’t like when the chefs tried to hurt Remi (the star rat).  It hurt his feelings to see the rat be attacked with frying pans and brooms.  [wagging his pointer finger] “Daddy, no.  Be nice” were his exact words.

Harry Potter 5
I am a self-confessed Potter junkie.  I didn’t live in a tent outside Barnes and Noble to buy the last book (I am too cheap, I will wait till it hits the public library), but I wanted to see the movie as soon as it came out.  I waited to go on my birthday (July 23–big 30) with Jennifer.  We liked the movie.  The Order of the Phoenix is by far the worst of the 6 books I’ve read, but it has a single purpose.  All no. 5 is supposed to do is setup 6 & 7, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows.  Which it does well in the movie.  I am sure the last two films will be better because no. 5 was done well. 

Main Street Edu. Min. #5

Main Street Education Ministry Transition #5
Church-wide Bible Study called “The Treasure Principle”

This is not really a transition at all.  It is a church-wide study. 

All youth and adult Sunday morning Bible study classes will participate in an uniting experience called “The Treasure Principle.”  From October 7 to November 11 (6 weeks), every class will study the book entitled “The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn.  Pastor Bob will be preaching messages in worship that also address the issues of this study.  The worship teams will aid us in understanding this principle in praise and drama.  Media, video, and prayer events will also instruct us during this great 6-week period.  The Sunday morning Bible study hour will be an integral part of a larger whole. 

Here are the details.  All teachers will be supplied with “The Treasure Principle” Bible study leaders guide and all attenders will have their own copy of the book.  The Bible study material has questions for discussion, scripture commentary, and teaching plans for you to use in your class.  (These resources are available in my office right now if you would like to get started early.  But I would suggest waiting till August to pick up your materials.)

The Treasure Principle is six lessons on Christian discipleship and stewardship taken from two teachings of Jesus:  Matthew 13:44 and Matthew 6:19-21

1. Buried treasure
2. Compounding joy
3. Eyes on eternity
4. Roadblocks to giving
5. Getting started
6. For such a time as this

Then on Sunday, November 18 (the Sunday after the study concludes), we as a church will be gathered in an amazing Worship Celebration led by our worship choir and praise band.  Plans are still be put in place to make this worship experience soar.  A special challenge will be given to the church concerning our financial commitments and stewardship for 2008. 

Again, plans are still being formed, but I want you to be aware that the Treasure Principle study will end with a corporate church challenge.  Therefore, your teaching and class time will be paramount to the success of this push in our congregation.

We will spend a decent amount of time preparing for this study in our August 25 Training Meeting, but you were also trained in March during the Good Sense Financial Weekend training.  While the material is not exactly the same, the principles and insights go hand and hand.

There is no question in the mind of our church elders, pastors, and staff that these weeks will be a highlight of the year.  Learning about giving is never easy, but as Christians, we are called to teach and learn all that God has for us in His word.  This will be a growing time for everyone involved.  Be in prayer now for this time in the life of our church. 

May the financial struggles of 2006-07 never be experienced again in the history of Main Street Church because we learned The Treasure Principle.

Main Street Edu. Ministry Transition

Main Street Education Ministry Transition #4
Limit the Breakout Classes on Sunday Morning

There is one basic philosophy given by all Christian Education gurus (professors, authors and the like) to young, impressionable Education ministers and Sunday School leaders.  The philosophy is this:

Pay attention Grasshopper…To grow a Sunday School program, you need three things.
      1.  More Space.
      2.  More Classes.
      3.  More Teachers.

This philosophy was passed onto me in seminary and thus when I came to Main Street back in 2004, I adhered to this philosophy is setting about to help Main Street’s education ministry grow. 

So how are we doing?  Well, we got more space with the relocation.  We got a lot more space!  Point one–in the bag.  Point two: more classes…we got as well.  We have started nearly 50 Breakout classes on topics ranging from the Beverly Hillbillies to Spiritual Disciplines to Heaven to Roman Catholicism to Parenting to Getting Out of Debt.  You name it, we have tried it (all under the guidelines of Scripture, of course).  Point three: more teachers…the Farm Club has answered that need.

But back to point two: More classes.  The Breakouts were the solution, but they have not had the long-term effects we had hoped for. 

For the most part, the Breakout classes have been topical, short-term (6 to 8 weeks), and taught by teachers who are not teaching on-going classes (there have a been a few pull double duty).  Every person was new to the class which made inviting other new people easy and fun.  Everyone chose to be there and was excited about the topic.  And everyone had to learn names.  It was like the first day of school or college each time a new Breakout class began.

The HOPE and PURPOSE of the Breakouts was that a class would start and get people into the habit of coming regularly to Bible study.  And when the Breakout had finished, they would automatically transition into an on-going Sunday morning class.  For a small percentage, that is exactly what happened.  They got connected to people and to the habit of coming to Bible study and once the Breakout was done, they found a class they could join.

But for the large majority, when the Breakout was finished, so were they.  They didn’t transition into an on-going class.  There was no class-shopping taking place or invitations from existing classes to come join them.  They simply faded back out.

SO…We are going to LIMIT the BREAKOUT classes on Sunday for a while.

We think that if we limit the offerings, we can push our on-going classes more intentionally.  We are going to invest heavily in those classes and encourage them to open up their arms to new people.  We are going to challenge our congregation to attend these classes with gusto and energy.

We are going to start ONE new class in September. 

This is not a Breakout, but a year-long class.  It is called “MARRIAGE BUILDERS” taught by Dr. Mike and Laura Kalfas.  Bascially, it is a marriage enrichment class on steriods.  Every 8 weeks or so, the class will begin another topic which will enhance their marriage.  Topics such as: romance and intimacy, communication, finances, the 5 love languages, and parenting. 

The class will meet in the second hour (11 am) in 1 Central Ave.  More information will come in August.  If you know a couple that wants to have a great group experience that encourages their marriage, invite them to Marriage Builders.

But other than that, we will be only offer our on-going Bible study classes on Sunday morning for a lengthy period of time.  Let’s help them grow to their fullest.

“Doh!”

I am not a Simpson’s fan.  Never have been.  But I had a moment yesterday where the only appropriate words were “Doh!” 

I am heading to school next week and have been furiously working on all my assignments.  A presentation, a research project, and ONE 8-page paper on the theories of change.  I read the syllabus to say “ONE” 8-page paper.  I had nearly everything complete and was expecting my weekend to filled with family time and church.  I might even relax a bit before being gone for nearly 2 weeks.

Then about 3 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, one of my fellow classmates sends me an email asking for some help on his SECOND 8-page paper.  I began to reply back to him and ask why he was doing 2 papers when only one was required.  I thought he must be out of his mind.  But just before I hit “send” I opened up my syllabus just to check.  Guess what I discovered?  I was out of MY mind.  I am a total MORON!!!  “DOH!!!”  There were 2 8-page papers, not 1. 

I had totally misread the assignment list.  I hadn’t even started on the second paper.  I thought I was nearly finished.  I thought I was going to have a restful, homework-less weekend.  Not so now.  My stupidity could have cost me a letter grade and some embarrassing moments in front of my group.

“Uhhh, sir, I just thought there was a misprint in the syllabus…and my dog ate my paper.”

But all hope is not lost.  I got straight to the NKU library and set about getting this paper done.  I will be finished sometime on Friday.   Thanks Rob for sending me that email, otherwise, I would have been in serious trouble.

Main Street Edu. Ministry Transition #3

Main Street Education Ministry Transition #3
Give 4 & 5 Boulevard to Kid’s Ave.

Kids, kids, and more kids.  What a wonderful place to be in!!!  Since we transitioned to two services back in April 2006, our Kid’s Ave. and G-Force (grade-school aged program) areas have EXPLODED.  You have witnessed many of the baptisms of these children and will likely see more and more in the months to come. 

With the influence of Awana’s on Wednesday night and the HUGE investment of our parents and children’s leadership team, OUR KID’S CAN’T WAIT TO GET TO CHURCH!

One parent remarked that her child wakes her up on Sunday morning, gets herself ready and waits in the car so she won’t be late for church.  Another shared that by Friday evening their kids starts talking about G-Force and going to church on Sunday.  They just can’t wait for Saturday to be over so that Sunday morning will be here. 

It is comments like these, and many others, that show how the kingdom of God is spreading in the hearts of our children.  What a remarkable blessing?  Do you start thinking about church on Friday night? I hope so, especially if you are teaching.

As a parent of a toddler, I know my son loves Kid’s Ave.  He stands at the door of his classroom and greets every one as they come in.  Some say he does that because he is a pastor’s kid, I think its because he loves the environment of Kid’s Ave so much and he is happy when others get to be there too.

God is truly working in our children’s ministry.  There is no question about it.

So, what are we going to do with all the GROWTH?

The strategy is simple.  We are going to give 2 Boulevard classrooms to the kids.  (The Boulevard is the hallway around the Sanctuary in case you were wondering.)  4 & 5 Boulevard are perfect for this.  They are used weekly for the Christian Education Center, which means they are already “kid-friendly.”  They have kid tables, kid chairs, pretty pictures on the wall, story books and teaching supplies already in the classroom.  It just makes good sense to give this space to the kids.

Right now, the adult department use those rooms for the Foundations Class, the Wisdom Seeker’s class, and Breakout classes as needed.  We will simply utilitze 1, 2, and 3 Boulevard more efficiently to compensate for the transition. 

Consider the growth next year at this time as the kids have more space to romp and play and learn about Jesus.  I am certain that we will see more and more children surrendering their little hearts to Christ because of this space (among other things).

They are so important to us and to the life of Main Street Church. 

I believe they deserve the BEST WE HAVE TO OFFER.  Don’t you?