Archive for the 'B.E.L.O.N.G.' Category

G2G “Grow to Go: Reaching Your Potential”

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on October 27, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Communication, Community, Connection and Contribution
. 2 Comments

Grow to Go

I am so excited to share with you how we have been unpacking the 4 C’s at Christ Fellowship (CF) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  As you recall the 4 C’s are Communication, Connection, Contribution and Community.

As we think through helping persons take next steps on the journey of faith see if this helps you.  At CF we are doing this through G2G - Grow to Go: Reaching your Potential.

G2G can be unpacked this way.

Discover - Now that you’re on the JOURNEY and have made the most important decision of your life…what’s next?

Develop - no matter what stage of life you’re in, if you have a desire to grow in your relationship with others and Jesus… here are more NEXT STEPS.

Deploy - Jesus commands us to GO… check our next steps that will take your FARTHER than you’ve been before.

First Impressions and the effect on Multi-Site Campuses

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on June 9, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Communication, Community, Connection and Contribution
. 0 Comments

I am so blessed to be in the midst of thinking though First Impressions and its relationship to a multi-site campus environment.

What does it mean to standardize First Impressions and all that that entails across multi-site?

I.e. -

Communication - oral, print, broadcast, & digital media (branding look/feel)

Connection - traffic, greeters, ushers, first aid, security, welcome centers, campus cleaning, ministry promotions

Contribution - enlistment, training, and placement of ministry partners and the need for cross training

Community - standardization of B.E.L.O.N.G.ing (Become, Embrace, Live, Offer, Nurture, & Grow)

What does it mean to have a standardized assimilation strategy that is organic enough to allow for real community yet strategic enough that follow-up and next steps are taking place.  Stability that creates flexibility.

The more I am researching the more I can see how standardization makes “intentionally”, “clarity”, “alignment”, and “focus” home runs for unity and productivity across an organization.

What are your learnings in this area?

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?

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…

Ed Bahler writes, “God Wants His Churches Dirty But His People Spotless”

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on May 5, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G.
. 0 Comments

A friend of mine Rex Miller put me on to Ed Bahler and some writings he is doing on shifts the church needs to address.

Movement 1 - The Digital Age
Movement 2 - The Global Shif
Movement 3 - Our Search to “Belong” (ever heard me use this word?
Movement 4 - Simplicity and Sustainability
Movement 5 - The Valuable Life Goal
Movement 6 - The Need for Navigators

Ed goes on to say:

The “Attractional ” model of ministry , or Seeker Sensitive model as some would call it, has already seen it’s momentum peak.

Now that is something to ponder.  Read more…

“The people Jesus misses most” and “Is this what your Jesus told you to do.”

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on April 14, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G., Community and Connection
. 1 Comment

I’ve hi-jacked this phrase from Jim Henderson at Off the Map, “The People Jesus Misses Most“. When I pair that with Matt Casper’s phrase, “Is this what your Jesus told you to do” it causes me focus in on asking questions about creating organic community to use Joseph Myers terminology, that moves persons in the direction of Jesus.

I find myself asking more critical questions about why we do what we do the way we do it. A discussion this past weekend triggered me to ask myself even more questions about topics that Jim, Matt, and Joseph are speaking of.

I was reminded of, “the people Jesus misses most” when I proposed the question to some clergy of how their church might react to someone who enters their church with tattoos and piercings. When the clergy replied, “they wouldn’t be welcome”. Why not, I asked? The clergy replied, “they would feel out of place, our people wouldn’t know how to respond to them and people like that just don’t come to our churches.”

My response was, “then I wouldn’t be made to feel welcome would I, because I have 2 half-sleeve tattoos from my shoulders to my elbows”. You can imagine the facial response. I responded by saying, “Do you get my point”. We have put limits on who we feel comfortable with in our services, how we treat them, and our expectations of them. This goes way beyond tattoos and piercings to persons of different ethic backgrounds, mix race marriages, persons living a different lifestyle, persons with criminal records, and the list goes on.

That begs the question, if we are to focus on, “the people Jesus misses most” - (to clarify, I’m referring to persons who are not moving toward Jesus) - it has nothing to do with piercings or tattoos, then we most ask ourselves the question. Is what we are doing the way we are doing it, “what your Jesus told you to do”?

As you look at the week ahead critically evaluated what you are doing and ask yourself these two questions:

1. Does this address the needs of the people Jesus misses most?

2. Is this what my Jesus told me to do?

My Time with The Crossing Church, Costa Mesa, California

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on March 31, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G. and Street to the Seat
. 0 Comments

Just wanted to say THANK YOU to Debbie Collette, Involvement Pastor of The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, California as we had a great time working with her and the team at The Crossing the week leading up to Easter 2008.

Debbie you are doing a great ministry leading The Crossing. I do believe I learned as much from you as you might have from me.

Street to the Seat family of readers, Debbie is a great mind in the world of 1st Impressions and assimilation. Look up The Crossing and see what Debbie is doing in leading her team to the next level of helping others B.E.L.O.N.G.

Sorry we didn’t shoot any video…very busy week.

What are the challenges churches face in providing both Sunday School and Small Groups?

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on March 6, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G. and Street to the Seat
. 1 Comment

Dr. Daryl Eldridge with Rockbridge Seminary posted this question as a comment on one of last week’s blog postings. GREAT QUESTION!

What are the challenges churches face in providing both Sunday School and Small Groups?

Here are my learnings around this topic:

1. Senior Pastors are not in either a Sunday School or a Small Group. (hard to lead if you aren’t in a group)

2. Staff members are usually not in either.

3. Us vs. Them mentality - have to address early in the transition.

4. Different leadership structures - if you are going to have both, set up the same leadership structure for both. It will save you time and energy. Enlist, Train, and Place around the purposes of scripture. It will make your job much easier

5. Entitlement issues for Sunday Schools - S.S.’s have entitlement issues with funding for everything including curriculum and childcare. Small Groups don’t cost anything…literally. Decentralized small groups fund themselves.

6. Childcare for Small Groups- who takes care of my kids? The group does. Church doesn’t provide childcare.

7. Control - pastors and some traditional leadership structures can’t give up control. They are so concerned that Small Groups will not be held accountable. This is interesting to me, because most churches don’t hold their Sunday School Teachers accountable right now anyway. It has been my experience that Small Groups are much more open to accountability than Sunday Schools. Pursue “growth over control”.

8. Maintenance - it has been our experience that some when considering both/and will choose maintenance over ministry which defeats the purpose of growth over control. Maintenance of Sunday School sometimes quenches the growth of what some are seeing in Small Groups which hinders health and balance. Pursue “ministry over maintenance”. Empower them until trust is broken.

4 Weeks Until EASTER - COMMUNITY

Published
by
Kerry Mackey
on February 25, 2008
in B.E.L.O.N.G. and Community
. 0 Comments

We are 4 weeks out from Easter and it is none to soon to consider helping persons to take spiritual next steps toward biblical community. I call biblical community, “belonging”. In fact, I created an acronym to help us B.E.L.O.N.G. Look under the category of the same name to find all my writings on B.E.L.O.N.G. and Community.

I recognize that Dan Kimball in his writings speak of belonging before believing and there is merit to that; however, I believe there is another level of belonging that requires another level of commitment which would include choosing Jesus and the church.

As you look toward Easter make sure you have a well defined assimilation strategy to help persons move from the outside - in. Clearly communicate your expected next steps for those who have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to take a next step. And give them the opportunity to choose a next step. Leverage your services to help persons act.

My non-believing friends greatest criticism of his limited church experience is that it didn’t call anyone to action. SO, let’s call people to action. Help them see their next step to being a part of your community.

Tips:

  • leverage the response card to call persons to action
    • be clear about what you want them to do
  • challenge people to choose Jesus and the church
  • provide a New Believer kit and have it ready to distribute at Easter
  • have a team of volunteers ready to meet with anyone choosing Jesus
  • have the baptismal pool open and active with every service (before, during, and after all services)
  • promote a new member class or discovery class for the following weekend
  • small group teams should have a ministry table ready to help persons take a next step
  • make available listings of ministries that persons can be involved in - show them they are needed
  • make relationships high on your priority meter
  • simplify your program promotions during this time
    • just give them the big bucket ministry items and their next steps (preschool, child, youth, adults)
    • how to choose Jesus
    • how to get baptized
    • how to choose the church (101-membership class)
    • how to get connected to a small group
    • how to begin serving others
    • how to tell their story

    If you have other ideas that help persons Become, Embrace, Live, Offer, Nurture, and Grow please share them with us.