* we now have a place to host volunteers. Currently we have over 50 man hours being given each week – visitor follow up, putting together mailers, event planning, etc..etc… Our goal is to have this facility packed with people doing kingdom stuff each week!

* We now can have weekly meetings for Growth Groups, One youth , staff and Creative Team…no more restaurants or the natural distractions that come with them.

*  The  band rehearsal  happens in the warehouse in back  every week- that’s where they will be working on their first CD for this fall – so pumped.

* It is gives us a hub for planning services, building teams, brainstorming sessions and getting ready for all our weekend ministry.

Did I tell ya, it’s 3 minutes from some of the best ribs in TX – Dosiers BBQ!   The thing we are thankful for how  God opened some huge doors to make this space fit within our budget,  so we can continue to send mailers, hire staff and see God change lives. If our landlord Waylan Bolls is reading this – your the man!  Thanks for all your help.

Here is our  virtual tour…click over the pictures for live video feeds…

Tom

I recently sat down with a bunch of pastors and the topic of prayer came up. It was refreshing to hear that I wasn’t the only one that struggled with this spiritual discipline. Over the last few weeks I’ve been attempting to be more focused on prayer. It’s helped me recognize  and respond to God during my daily routine.

Here are the 3 things that I’m praying the most for.

1. My wife and kids!
I realize that the area that the enemy would love to destroy is my family. Right now more than ever, I’m asking God to protect, reveal and strengthen my family.

2. Our Church
As we build community my prayer is that we also build deeper connections to Jesus. A church that puts others first and cares about the lost world around them becomes a powerful church. My prayer is that our community at THRIVE becomes more powerful as a result of our prayerfulness

3. My Mom
As many of you know my Mom has ALS. Its a disease that I’m praying God supernaturally shows up in. My Mom is staying with us right now and every day we spend time talking and sharing stories but I am desperately asking God to heal my mom.

What are you praying about right now?

PS – this Sunday kicks off our new series at Thrive we are calling “Your Story…in six words or less” It’s going to be strong – see you there!

Tom

Just came across this blog and thought you would enjoy it. By the way – all the reasons are 100% true….
Tom

Here are seven reasons your church plant won’t make it.

1. You imported your vision, mission and strategy from another church because you really don’t have a vision, mission or strategy.

2. You’re drunk with vision but haven’t developed healthy systems.

3. You sacrifice your family in the name of ministry.

4. You don’t talk about money.

5. You’re a cheap church planter who won’t spend money on leadership development for you or your staff.

6. You download all your sermons from the Internet because you don’t study, pray or read your Bible.

7. You started a church because, deep down, you have a problem with authority and don’t want a boss.

Michael Lukaszewski is the lead planter of Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, Georgia.

I thought I would give you a recap of some of the beset moments of my week.

1.      Last Sunday and our worship night at Thrive Church – Baptizing the 12 people that said “YES -I’m going public for Christ”….amazing stuff!

2.      Slipping out mid day to see the movie ” Secretariat” with my wife…the movie was good – spending time with my wife was better!

3       Sitting in our Parenting 101 Growth group and learning that real parenting should happen between the conflicts – not during them.

4.      Talking to my Mom on the phone about her coming down as soon as she gets her new “wheel chair friendly” van – so excited, love her so much.

5.      Having the privilege of praying with Tina Martin as she continues to battle with cancer on the brain.  You never know how much faith you have until you need it…she has TONS!

6.      Seeing my in-laws arrive on Wednesday. It’s a gift to have family in our house (and help with the kids)

7.      Thinking about our vacation that starts this Sunday after church, come this Sunday it could be the shortest message yet – Going to be on a boat in the ocean….ready to relax and refresh.

Smiling right now

Tom

Values Need Heat. It’s true…and it’s also a phrase that I learned from a pastor in Chicago named Bill Hybels. The things that we value need someone to excentuate, highlight or magnify them in order for them to be truly felt.

How many times have you heard a pastor say “we value this…” only to look around the church and not find a trace of it anywhere in the culture?  The truth is we are better at talking about values than living them out.  Here are some of ways that we are putting our values into practice at THRIVE.

*       Team’s Make the difference – We work really hard to “share ministry”. In our brief history we already have 12 teams with over 100 people using their gifts for God on a regular basis. It’s fun to see people serving God in their “sweet spot”.  Building Teams keeps people in ministry for the long haul while simultaneously connecting  people together.

*       No Perfect People allowed – Pretending is the quickest way to create a stagnate, religious organization. We constantly fight that by taking off our masks and sharing who we really are. It happens in my messages and in our growth groups. It’s in those moments that we have seen God do his best work in our lives…

*       Laugh Often – How do I know when it’s a good Sunday? – when I walk through our building and hear laughter – sometimes it’s in our auditorium – sometimes it’s in the halls….when you laugh often a bond forms and our guards come down…I’m so glad no one takes themself too seriously around Thrive Church and that we are able to experience joy and have fun together.

*       Excellence over perfection – This one is huge because some organizations push for perfection and everyone goes crazy in the process. Excellence on the other hand is simply doing the best you can with what you have. When you walk around our church people are committed to doing the very best with their gifts and talents and I believe that it honors God.  We are constantly evaluating, changing and building systems to become better but we give our self grace when we miss the ball and we grow from it!  That’s excellence.

These are just a few of the things that are making me smile and also make me love being apart of our community

Tom

Yesterday I jumped on a plane and went to Corpus Christi. What did I do there? I met with 15 other pastors in a Pastors Coaching network (yes even pastors have to keep growing) We were “coached up” from Bill Cornelius -the Lead pastor of Bay Area fellowship. He leads a church of over 7,000 in Corpus.
The guy is a great leader and challenged me BIG time!!!

Here’s some of my “walk away” points…. enjoy

* The most important person that buys into the vision is your wife. They often determine the church’s growth potential…if the wife is not “all in” eventually no one else will be…

* Your staff can’t handle all the vision God has given you as the pastor right now..they are overwhelmed making it happen in the day to day – give it to them slowly…

* You can be taught to do something but still lack the CONFIDENCE to do it – Confidence in God and yourself is key to growing a church…

* Keep a time log for a week – you will be surprised how much time you waste on TV and things that steal your potential…

* You have to BELIEVE that GOD BELIEVES IN YOU….so true

* Often as a leader you have to encourage yourself to push through what people tell you and the negative stuff you tell yourself…

* Even if it’s negative – learn to preach it positive…

* Always advertise – be everywhere in your community – the worst reputation for a church is “no reputation”…

* Somebody with less skills and less ability is doing it better than you RIGHT NOW – it’s time to get on it!

* You need to put a DEMAND on your FAITH – if there’s no tension – there’s no vision!

Great trip…great principles…
Can’t wait for Sunday

tom

For this Blog I thought I would share with you some of the things I’ve learned over the past few months.

1. Starting a church naturally increases your Prayer life.

2. “God loves Risk Takers” – a quote from a friend that is becoming more true in my life everyday

3. When you start a Church you will cast the vision at least a 1000 times ….and everytime you do, it counts!

4. Your wife is the most important person on your team. Her encouragement and support will be at times -God’s voice to you.

5. Making the Big ASK for people to join your launch team or support your Kingdom vision financially is the most important and necessary role of the leader.

6. Your best strategic plans without God’s spirit moving through them are pretty worthless

7. Planting a Church involves more details than any of us could or should ever imagine.

8. People want to the invitation to quit “playing it safe” and with passion move the Kingdom forward

9. God will give you a miricle..just when there needed most.

10. To be thankful and enjoy every second of the journey….

The best is yet to come
Tom

A few weeks ago a close friend of mine told me to read the book “IT” by Craig Groeschell.  He is the Sr pastor of LIFE Church in OK.  I recently picked it up and  have not been able to put it down,even with a busy church planters schedule.  This book has quickly made it to the top of “worth finishing list”.

In the book Craig describes churches that are contagious with hope and highly effective in their mission.  He describes the Church’s that have the indescribable intangibles. Here are the “IT” qualities that I am praying for  THRIVE Church to overflow with.

Enjoy!

1. Passion for God’s Presence
2. A deep Craving to Reach the Lost
3. Sincere Integrity
4. Spirit-filled Faith
5. Down to Earth Humility
6. Brokenness

Have to go finish watching my NBA game – go Kobe!

Tom