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Category Archives: Methodist
All in All
All Out
Now Or Never
Missouri United Methodist Congregational Excellence Webinar
Small Church Talk by Pastor Kevin and Pastor Jeremy
by Kevin and I were able to share a few learnings from our experience planting a satellite campus in rural America. Our first campus is in suburban Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Our second campus is 90 miles away and in El Dorado Springs, Missouri.
The El Dorado Springs UMC closed in 2014. We came in the Spring of 2015 and launched a new campus in the fall of 2015. Here is our story.
Ten Reasons Why El Dorado Springs Is Working
by Here are the two videos from our presentation-
Here are our notes-
A) Who We Are
1- Know Our Purpose
We Are A Light in the Darkness for the Non-Churched,
Once-Churched and Badly Churched
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
We Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
2-Supportive Church Board
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherd and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12
3- We Know Our Context- Location
B) How To Start A Church with 11 people in El Dorado Springs,
1 1/2 hours from our Lee’s Summit Campus
4- Worship
5- Missions
6- Small Groups
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
C) How Do We Reach New People for Jesus Christ?
7- We Invite People to Church!
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
8- We Follow Up
9- Outwardly Focused- Out Reach
10- Pastor is “In” the Community
Questions For Ministry
United Methodist Church
Missouri Conference
Heartland District
CERTIFICATION INTERVIEW BY dCOM (¶310.2)
- Please tell us about the most formative experience in your life as a Christian.
- Please tell us about God’s call to licensed or ordained ministry and the role of the church in your call.
- How do you understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
- We each have gifts for ministry. Please tell us what gifts you have exercised and how effective/fruitful they have been.
- What is your present understanding of your call to ministry as elder, deacon or to licensed ministry?
- What is your support system and how has that helped you in your growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ?
- Why are you choosing to live out your call in the United Methodist Church?
- Having read United Methodist Beliefs, A Brief Introduction by William Willimon, how do you explain God’s grace?
9. Having read United Methodist Beliefs, A Brief Introduction by William Willimon, what is yourunderstanding of the United Methodist practice of the sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Baptism?
Interview Questions for Continuance of
Candidacy and Local Pastors
Holy Living:
The following questions are intended to help you convey your personal faith story.
- Describe your community and/or family support system.
- How often have you met with your mentor since we last met? And how
is that relationship helping you? - What spiritual disciplines pattern your life and how do they
nourish your soul? What has God been showing you through these
spiritual disciplines? - What progress have you made in your education this year? What are you
enrolled in for the upcoming year?
Holy Leading:
The following questions are to help you convey how you put your faith into practices as a leader and provide examples of how others follow you and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Tell us about your involvement in ministry through your local church or current ministry setting.
- Describe your leadership style broadly. How are you empowering
others to lead and serve? - What have been your challenges in ministry this year? What are you doing to address those challenges?
Written Work for Commissioning in the
Heartland District
Holy Living
Describe God’s call in your life and how it has led you to seek ordination in the United Methodist Church. Be sure to articulate how your call to ordained ministry continues to be confirmed.
Describe your understanding of the meaning and roles of ordination to Deacon and to Elder. How are these orders inter-related? What distinguishes these orders?
Describe your community and/or family support system as you pursue this call on your life.
What spiritual disciplines pattern your life and how do they nourish your soul?
More specifically,
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- How do you engage in and demonstrate passionate worship in your life?
- How do you intentionally develop your faith?
- How are you practicing extravagant generosity?
- How do you practice radical hospitality?
- Where and how are you engaged in risk-taking mission?
What is your current understanding and experience of God?
What is your understanding of humanity, sin, and the need for divine grace?
What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and why does it matter to you?
How have you experienced the Holy Spirit at work in the world and in your life?
The United Methodist Church holds that Scripture, tradition, experience and reason are sources and norms for belief and practice, but that the Bible is primary among them. What is your understanding of this theological position of the Church, and how has your practice of ministry been affected by this understanding?
Holy Leading
How do you lead others in passionate worship?
How do you foster intentional faith development for people in your care?
How do you nurture extravagant generosity in others?
How do you lead others in radical hospitality?
How do you challenge others to take risks in mission and service?
How do you teach and encourage others to share their faith?
Share some examples of your willingness to relate yourself in ministry to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, social status, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic condition, or disability.
Following A “Legend” in Your Organization
by Are you following a legend in your organization? Whether it’s church, the office or sports, there will be a time most of us follow a “legend”. Or so we’ve been told that they were a legend.
People may receive that moniker for a numbers reasons. Maybe they increased worship attendance, productivity, or won a bunch of championships. Odds are, you are not following a legend. You are following someone who did a solid job, but did not improve the role you now occupy.
Perception is reality.
Numbers rarely lie, although they can be manipulated. Championships do not lie.
For example:
Two of the best coaches in NFL history are Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson. They have 5 NFL Super Bowl Championships between them, a bunch of division and championship wins, college and bowl victories and other coaching awards! They are two of the best coaches of all time.
Walsh created the “West Coast Offense”, utilizing a small ball approach to advance the chains. He drafted and coached multiple Hall of Famers, including Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. As the 49 ers head coach, he became a legend.
Johnson is similar. He left his mark on the game by assembling one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history. His first year as head coach, his Cowboys yeilded a 1-15 record. Absolutely abysmal. But, over the next four years he went to the playoffs three times, and won two Superbowls! That is some coaching. He also had amazing players, such as Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith.
Both of these coaches are legends. But, who followed them? Interestingly, two more lesser known legends.
George Seifert followed Bill Walsh as head coach. He inherited an amazing team, put together by Walsh. Essentially, he was handed a Super Bowl team. What did he do with it? He won a Super Bowl his first year as head coach. Then, 5 years later, he won another Super Bowl with a different roster. Few coaches win one Super Bowl, even fewer have won two. Seifert is a legend, following a legend.
Barry Switzer followed Jimmy Johnson at the Cowboys. And two years after taking over, he won a Super Bowl. Amazing. He also has three collegiate National Championships, which included seven bowl wins. Barry Switzer is a legend, following a legend.
It is rare to take over for a legend, and continue the winning streak. Usually, the coach that follows the legend struggles to transition, does not make it to the Super Bowl, and rarely makes the playoffs again. Who knows why it’s that difficult, and I’m sure there are plenty of leadership books to describe “healthy transitions”, but it’s rare to win like the legend.
Ultimately, it’s how you define championships, not wins, that really matters. In business and in church, it’s fairly easy to identify a win. Whether it be profits, sales or stock price, a business can quantify a win. The church has a tendency to struggle with quantification. It used to be that wins the church were see as the ABC’s of ministry (attendance, buildings, cash). I’m personally not a big fan of the ABC’s. For many it’s worship attendance, baptisms, professions of faith and those evangelizing and serving. Those are standards I personally choose to focus on as “wins”.
Whatever you measure, you will focus on, as will those who follow and serve. The struggle though is during times of transition, it is difficult to score big victories. We are people connected through our relationships. It’s not just the playbook, the practice or the passion. We are connected.
One of my favorite coaches of all time is Marty Schottenheimer. During the 1990’s he coached the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a great coach and utilized every player to the greatest of their ability to win games. He never won a Super Bowl for Kansas City, but we were always there in the playoffs, not too far off. Was he a legend? For some, yes. For others, no.
However, it was a true joy to watch a Schottenheimer team play football together. He spent 10 seasons in KC. And he had some amazingly memorable players. Some included: Steve Deberg, Christian Okoye, Barry Word, Stephon Paige, JJ Birden, Neil Smith, Derrick Thomas, Will Shields, Marcus Allen, Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, Tony Gonzalez and Andre Rison. Now that was a walk down memory lane.
You may not be the “legend”, or even seek after it. You may be training up the next “legend” in your industry. These coaches have an amazing coaching tree under them. Coaches that trained under the legends have exceeded their legends number of Super Bowls. Not only do legends win, but they train up winners.
If you are not sure if you are following a legend, check the numbers. Don’t assume you are following a legend. No matter how many people tell you there were amazing, even if you thought it too. Search for victories. Ignore the hype, and get real. And see what their coaching tree looks like. Are there a significant amount of good leaders that have been influenced by your predecessor, or did people just tolerate them?
Victories can be had after the legend leaves, and new legends are made. It takes strength, vision and relationships to get the job done. And if you are not the legend, maybe you are setting up the next person for victory, because everyone follows someone.