Monthly Archive for May, 2008

1/5 of Healthy

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 23, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G.
. 0 Comments

Ok… so I need to explain 1/5 of healthy.  I truly believe that Matthew 22 and Matthew 28 passages on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission are at the core of what Jesus asked us to do.  For the past 12 years we have tried to integrate these in to the core of who we are.

From those passages of scripture we have expressed those expectations through the Purposes of Belonging, Growing, Serving, Sharing, and Worshiping.

Since there are 5 purposes… each owns a 1/5.  So when you hear me mention 1/5 of healthy you know that I am referring to one of the 5 purposes.

Notice that I have intentionally placed “ing” on the end of each work.  Anyone know why?

Wired to Served…Wired to Inspire

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 23, 2008
in Contribution
. 0 Comments

We are finishing up a two part series by Pastor Todd on “Wired to Serve…Wired to Inspire“. Watch the series online at www.gochristfellowship.com Part 1 is archived from last week. Part 2 will go live Saturday night, May 24th at 6:00 p.m. EST

Here is the deal… it is imperative that we model for others what it means to give our lives away. You know that 1/5 of healthy is SERVING. I so believe in it that it is one of the 4 C’s for Street to the Seat - CONTRIBUTION. You have also heard me say you have a ministry in the church.

Last week during Part 1 we had some 850 persons come forward during our Ministry Fair and commit to trying out a ministry on one of our six campuses (Gardens, Royal Palm, CityPlace, Stuart, Online, Espanol). How cool is that?

Now for follow-up…

No One Ever Got To The Top Alone

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 17, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Community and Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

OK… bear with me this is a long one. I am sitting in a hotel in Seminole, Texas on a 4 day consulting gig and I just had to write this post. I have been reading Dr. John C. Maxwell’s book, “Leadership Gold” when I stopped to think of all the people who have help me get to where I am today.

So, I’m stopping right not to say THANK YOU for investing in me over the years. You have made me who I am today. I am indebted to you. My success is your success. I have never been lonely on this journey. You are with me and I with you.

FAMILY

Faye B. Mackey (mom)
Stephanie (wife) Caleb, Josiah, Levi, Silas

PRE SEMINARY

Mark Wiley, James & Gaye Calhoun, Ken & Barbie Stogsdill, The Kensel’s

SEMINARY DAYS

Daryl Eldridge, Gary Waller, Ken Hemphill

MAYFIELD ROAD

Wayne C., Keven F. and their wives Jana & Regina and the ministry partners we work alongside.

WOODLAND HEIGHTS

Wayne & Amy B., Patty, Doug, Lee, Kristi, Rob & Donna, Jase & Tami, and the many ministry partners (volunteers).

FIELDER ROAD

Gary, Michael, Clayton, Jerry & Jerry, Dorthy, Ginger, Lonnie, Jim, Larry Dan, Yevonne, David, Analisa, Jarrod, Glen, Kyle, Elizabeth, Lee, Barbara, Kevin, and the hundreds of ministry partners (volunteers) on our team, and the list goes on…

SADDLEBACK

Gina, Erin, Linda, Stacey, Denise, Dee Dee, Janelle, Susan, Carey, Lance, Doug S., Forrest, Jan S., Jan W., Clayton, Pat, David Upton, Eric, Bill, Buddy, Mike, Steve, Rick W., Stevy K, Rick M., Tim L., Tony Steward, Brad, Dan, David, Mark, Dawn, Michelle, Glen, Tom, Tim D., Tony G., Charlotte, Shaun B., Doug F., Doug H., Kurt, Josh, Jana, Dick, Tom A., Todd, Debbie, Louis, David A., David G., Ron, Jim, Liz, Bob, Tommy, John B., Johnny B., Kevin, Chuck, Matt, Dave, Curtis, Bob, Bob, & Bob, Justin A., Oz Genis, Sam, Rick B., Jon, Kathy, Jim D., Steve R., Skip, David W., Craig, Brian, Shawn K., over 1100 ministry partners (volunteers) on our team, and the list goes on…

CHRIST FELLOWSHIP (just in the past 2 weeks)

Tom & Donna, Todd & Julie, Dave & Betsy, Lance, Patricia, Kathryn, Kelly & Brad, Shila, Ruth, Reid, Time, Brian, Peter, Mona, Gail, Tina, Julie J., Angela, Christy, Johnathan, Matt P., Don, Jon, Shaun B., Chis, Heather, James, Greg, Jay, Meagan, Lenora, David K., Robert, Heidi, Yvonne, Bill, Leo Nathan, Jason, Joe, Jeremy, Cindy, Spring, Katie, Stephen, Keven, Danny, Joe M., Char, Michal & the twins, Debbie, Pam, Tom, Darvan, Pam, Dale, Daniel, Danielle, Ricky, Bill, Paul, Dr. John Maxwell, the ministry partners we are getting to know and the list continues to grow..

I can’t tell you how blessed I have been to have been taught by so many. These people have made me who I am today. I am a blessed man!

Thank You All!

Identifying holes in your Assimilation Strategy

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 16, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G.
. 1 Comment

As you know I’ve just landed as the Pastor of Adult Ministries at Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. One of the first things that pastor asked me to dive into is an in-depth look into our assimilation strategy across our campuses (Gardens, Royal Palm, CityPlace, Stuart, & Online)

Think with me for a minute. How do you go about “identifying holes in our assimilation strategy“.

1st - don’t think like a Christ follower or church goer. You know where you are going and for the most part church goers know what to expect. Think like those who have never been to your church before.

2nd - know what you want people to know, where you want them to go, and how you want them to grow. Another words “NEXT STEPS”. Know before you start trying to communicate it to someone else.

3rd - evaluate EVERY piece of communication - oral, print, broadcast, and digital media. Brand it, message it, and unify it across campuses with a non church goer in mind. Remember, if you have to interpret it for someone it isn’t very good. They need to be able to understand it without your assistance.

4th - make sure your staff knows the plan - everyone must be on the same page and it needs to be transferable across campuses. Cross training is imperative. Multiple systems cause multiple problems so unify.

5th - get plenty of input from plenty of people - think tanks and way finding groups are very important. Gather groups for information; however, don’t gather groups for decisions. Take the information and have a smaller team decide, develop, and deliver.

6th - show up palms up - don’t go into this with predetermined agendas. Agendas don’t grow…they control. We don’t do control. We do ministry

Just a couple of tips as you start the process of identifying holes in your assimilation strategy.

More to come on this topic in coming days…

  • signage
  • people on the ground
  • platform communication
  • response cards
  • web
  • follow-up
  • next steps
  • baptism
  • new beginnings class
  • discipleship pathways
  • small groups (life groups)
  • purposes
  • etc…

The “WE” Principle

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 11, 2008
in Street to the Seat
. 2 Comments

Here is a principle I’ve been teaching for years, but it just hit home for me again these past few days as I’ve been evaluating and researching.

When it comes to ministry partners (volunteers), staff, and laity in your congregation the “WE Principle” is huge for leadership success. When building a team whether lay led or staff we have to understand that WE are always on the same team. WE are looking out for each others best interest. WE are here to serve one another. WE are here to serve the church. WE are here to serve Jesus.

It is always WE. WE is team. It is never about what I think I am entitled to or what I think I need, but what is best for the team and the organization.

This is counterintuitive to our nature and it raises it’s head far too often in the church. DO NOT allow it to invade your team. As your staff and ministry partner teams grow larger in size you will need to add safe guards so as to not allow the disease of selfishness to creep. If you are a multi-site congregation you’ll need to work evening harder so that your regional campuses do not pit one against another. It you have Sunday School and Small Groups you’ll need to strive for balance of the WE in that area as well. Believe me I’ve been there before and seen it. It isn’t pretty.

Helpful Tips:

1. Meet weekly with your entire team and celebrate the wins - (all departments, all campuses)

2. Pray and study God’s Word together weekly.

3. Conduct weekly leadership training together. (I am using Leadership Gold by Dr. John Maxwell - starting May 20th with my team.)

4. Play together. (My team sets aside one day a month to do nothing more than play.)

5. Never and I mean NEVER allow team members to use the words - them, they, us, their, ours, me, my, mine.

6. Model the WE yourself - (always put others above yourself)

Remember the One Anothers:

  1. Love one another (John 13:34-35)
  2. Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
  3. Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
  4. Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:24)
  5. Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:18-21)
  6. Forbear one another (Ephesians 4:1-3)
  7. Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)
  8. Forgive one another (Colossians 3:12-13)
  9. Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:31-32)
  10. Serve one another (Galatians 5:13-14)
  11. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
  12. Be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
  13. Pray for one another (James 5:16)
  14. Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
  15. Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
  16. Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:12-13)
  17. Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16)
  18. Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18)
  19. Prefer one another (Romans 12:9-10)
  20. Do not judge one another (Romans 14:13)
  21. Do not speak evil of one another (James 4:11)
  22. Do no murmur against one another (James 5:9)
  23. Do not bite and devour one another (Galatians 5:14-15)
  24. Do not provoke one another (Galatians 5:25-26)
  25. Do not envy one another (Galatians 5:25-26)
  26. Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9-11)

Christ Fellowship’s One Life

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 9, 2008
in Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

I am so stoked to share with you our One Life at Christ Fellowship.

We have 3 campuses in Palm Beach County, Florida ministering to 13,000 persons weekly and are launching our 4th campus in August an hour north in Martin County.

In addition, we have some 4,000 people worshiping with us online each week from over 22 countries that we are assimilating in to online life group chat rooms.

And if that wasn’t awesome enough we are opening our new Life Center this fall which houses our Gods Town for Kids, Student Zone, Adult Ministry/Family Area, Bookstore, Cafe, and offices.

I don’t know about you, but that ROCKS!

For more details CLICK HERE.

Image links to One Life Update Page

Leadership Gathering at Christ Fellowship and lessons from Jethro

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 9, 2008
in Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

Tonight we hosted our Leadership Team at Christ Fellowship for a night of food, tours of the new 125,000 sq. ft. Life Center and lessons from Jethro.

Now this is a great idea for you if you haven’t done this before.

Once every 3 to 6 months gather all your ministry partners together for a time of worship, fellowship, listening, and learning together.  It is a great way to build relational equity as well as to rally the troops and get face time with ministry partners and staff from across different ministries departments.

In addition, we used this time to introduce our new staff members to the core ministry partners and have our elders pray over the staff as a first step in their lives as a part of the new team.

Pastor Tom also gave us some great leadership principles out of Exodus 18 and how Jethro spoke into the life of Moses.  A couple of keys are that Moses received Jethro’s coaching well.  1000’s, 100’s, 50’s, and 10’s will spread the load.  You are not good enough to carry it all.  Help persons find their sweet spot in leading at the level they are best suited.

It was a really good night.

Join the ONLINE COMMUNITY at Christ Fellowship

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 7, 2008
in Community
. 0 Comments

Let me encourage you to join our online community at Christ Fellowship.

Watch Online This Weekend

Since late 2005, Christ Fellowship has offered LIVE online services every week. A large group of people all over the world now participate from where they are, and we are thrilled you may watch along with us.

Worship experience times:

  • Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. GMT -4
  • Sundays at 9:00 GMT -4 & 11:00 a.m. GMT -4

The video player is available during live services each weekend. Once the video player loads, it will buffer the video to get ready to play. If the service takes more than 30 seconds to load, there is a problem. Try the process again and if it still does not work, notify support via the options below.

The Online Worship Experience includes:

1. Live worship music.

2. Printable sermon notes, or you can take notes in the player box and then print or e-mail them.

3. An Internet Pastor to connect with online.

4. Join a Skype Chat after message.

Having Trouble Launching the Player?

Once the video player loads, it will buffer the video to get ready to play. If the service takes more than 30 seconds to load, there is a problem. Try the process again and if it still does not work, notify support via the options below.

Technical Problems?

If you are having some technical problems with viewing our services, please contact us by using our online form. Also, low-bandwidth users should try our Low Speed (Dial-up and Handheld) connection.

Not Your Father’s Seminary - Rockbridge Seminary

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 6, 2008
in Street to the Seat
. 1 Comment

Currently I am online and on a conference call with our first faculty meeting this semester for Rockbridge Seminary. Dr. Gary Waller is leading the discussion and we have 15 or so folks online / on phone for the call.

If you haven’t engaged Rockbridge Seminary as a servant leader for your learning experience and study/practice then today is your day.

Logon and get involved and join our ministry learning community.

Rockbridge Seminary’s Mission Statement

Rockbridge Seminary is a degree-granting institution of higher learning that exists to develop servant leaders for Christian ministry through learning experiences that allow them to study and practice without leaving their ministry field.

First Staff Meeting with my New Team at Christ Fellowship

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 6, 2008
in Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

It was a great day just getting to hang with my new staff at Christ Fellowship. What a talented bunch of folks I get the privilege of serving alongside. I am so stoked to be a part of the team. With 4 campuses on the ground (Gardens, CityPlace, Royal Palm, & CF Espanol) as well as 1 online campus we get the great joy of serving some 15,000 - 17,000 folks on a weekly basis. What a joy and privilege that is.

I can’t wait to introduce the team to you over the coming months as they begin to share with you what we are learning together.

I hope to have several of them join me on podcast and videocast in coming weeks.

We are ramping up for Get In The Game (GIG) 101-401 for this weekend on all our campuses so it is proving to be a great first week.

Praying for you!