Archive for category Thrive

Where we are going as a church ( part 3)

Total Honesty!

It’s pretty simple. As we head into 2011 we want to create  a culture where we can be 100% honest. Most people avoid sharing their feelings simply because they don’t’ want to hurt anyone.  That doesn’t create a healthy culture.  When I worked as a youth pastor at Kensington church in Troy MI we called this the tunnel of chaos…..most people want to be honest but rarely share that last 10%.. That 10% is the trust builder – the thing that usually everyone knows and feels, but is afraid to say out loud.

As we build our team I want people I fully TRUST leading with me. I want them to feel the freedom to share the last 10%. We need to create culture where we don’t shelter each other from the truth. Instead we want to help each other discover it. We want it to happen in love and for the betterment of the kingdom.

Here are some of the things recently that I have heard from our team that were totally honest. (FYI -I will keep from you some of the things that I have been totally honest about with them)

- I miss the mark during the messages when I stay focused on my notes….as a communicator I need to work harder to memorize the message in advance.

- My personality leans toward being vision driven and even inspirational….but people still leave confused and unclear on how to hit their objectives. To help them I need to include deadlines and allow them to ask Questions for clarity.

- Our message titles have felt “safe” in the last few months…..so much so that 11 out of 12 leaders agreed that we need to get back to our DNA and focus our talks around things lost people people are asking Q’s about.

- Our team has told me that I need to let go of “smaller things” and stay focused on the big stuff that will allow thrive to gain spiritual momentum.

Totally honesty can sometimes sting, but is important and necessary to build a life-giving church.

Tom

PS – Who have you invited to our Christmas Services? Molly and I went door to door last night in our neighborhood handing out tickets. It was awesome! (note to self -it’s easier when an adorable kid does the invite)

PSS – Here is a quick peek at our new series that we are launching in Jan.  It’s going to be Huge for the kingdom…can’t wait

Leaders make things happen. All through out history. Any change good or bad..is the result of a leader leading someone into the unknown and bringing change.

As we are nearing the end of 2010 one thing that I get excited about is helping people reach their leadership potential. I am convinced there are people at thrive that are going to do some massive, incredible things for God in the coming years. Who knows perhaps the next the Billy Graham is in our kids or student ministry right now. (I know that sounds cliche…but it might actually be true.) One of the ways that we are creating a leadership culture is getting together monthly with everyone that are committed to leading volunteer teams.

So far, we have had some great conversations about our mission – our uniqueness – defining what leadership looks like – creating core values that as a team we are committed not to break. It’s been a blast. Every time I walk out of the that meeting. I am energized and ready to take on hell with a water pistol (one of my favorite youth ministry phrases I still use…and will until I go to heaven)

The point is this..God works through leaders…not dictators…not manipulators…put humble, serving leaders that are committed to bringing the right change. One of my prayers for 2011 is God help us identify and develop more leaders…leaders that are committed to seeing God show up and show out in people’s lives.

PS – if you still need tickets to 1 of our 4 Christmas services, you can download them online at www.thrivechurch.cc. Let’s be praying God does big things in peoples hearts during “Throwback Christmas”

Tom

PSS -here is another pic of my boy…Jackie and I woke up the other day and he was sitting in our bathroom sink….we would appreciate all the prayers you could muster..the terrible twos are upon us and we love it!

Christmas services are filling up FAST (one is almost completely full!) Tickets will be available this coming Sunday in the lobby …OR you can go online here and get your ticket. I saw this statistic the other day that I wanted to share here…

Top Five Times People Are Open To Considering Matters Of Faith…

* #5 – After the birth of a baby (28%)
* #4 – After a natural disaster (34%)
* #3 – After a major national crisis i.e. 9/11 (38%)
* #2 – During the Easter season (38%)
* #1 – During the Christmas season (47%)

Guys…my prayer is that we will EMBRACE this opportunity (because everyone needs someone to point them to Christ) and do EVERYTHING we can to BRING people to a service on Christmas!!! Research ALSO shows that the #1 way a person will receive information about a church is through the PERSONAL INVITE from a friend or family member. Let’s go after them like Jesus went after us!!!

PS – this Sunday is Ugly Sweater / Pot Luck Sunday at Thrive…there is no way I would miss this one -hope you don’t!

Tom

OK -It’s official Christmas has “Hit the Elmore house”.

How do I know? Well…the first gift that my wife hid for Cole has been found and already played with. Growing up I learned that that “hunt” for pre-Christmas gifts was almost more exciting than opening the Gifts on Christmas morning. I am glad that my two year old is learning the joy of the hunt and I will enjoy hiding future gifts in the deepest part of our attic….

As a church I hope that we can grab a hold of the REAL MEANING of Christmas. What is it? I believe it’s this…..Giving to those that need and can’t give to them selves. Before I go all theological on you, remember this – that’s exactly what Christ did for us. He gave us the gift of Grace. A gift we could not give it to our self.

As a church I want us to LIVE THAT OUT this season. That’s why we are stepping up as a church and collecting our “OUR GIFT Christmas offering” on Dec 19th. We are going to help meet needs and make a difference in 4 areas that are BIGGER THAN US. Our Goal is to POINT PEOPLE TO THE REAL GIFT – CHRIST. I am excited.

Here’s an overview of the needs that we are partnering with for OUR GIFT Christmas offering this year.

1. Helping provide Gifts to children that are in need through Katy Christian Ministries / Santa’s Sleigh Program for underprivileged kids.

2. Launching a Benevolence Fund for families in 2011 that are facing job transition or deep financial need within our church.

3. Helping launch other LIFE-GIVING church plants that will come out of the blocks in 2011. (Note we had 4 major partners that helped Thrive launch less than 2 years ago – we are the result of others generosity – time to pay it forward)

4. Partnering with www.watermisions.org to develop clean water in poverty stricken countries. Every 15 seconds someone dies from a result of contaminated water. Let’s do something about it.

Am I excited – you bet! If every person in our church gave $100 to Our gift. We would be able to reach and even exceed our goal!

We are collecting OUR GIFT on Dec 19th! Jackie and I are praying about what we are going to give on the 19th. It may even mean we choose to give give up a few gifts for our self so we are able to give to others….Let’s pray together and bring our BEST GIFT to Christ!

If your ready right now…go to www.thrivechurch.cc and you can give your gift.
Go for it.

Merry Christmas -Tom

Why do we go to church?

Let’s be honest , A lot of people have no idea. Last Sunday I shared what happens when when your personal God Story actually becomes OUR God Story…what’s the difference? It’s this…the first one is all about you. The Second is about US. One is individual effort and interaction between you and God. The other is about us becoming LIKE HIM. It’s rooted in community, doing life together and authentic connections.

Someone recently asked me, “when do you know if your church is going to make it”?

After choosing not be offended and choosing not to accidentally spill my hot drink on him I started thinking about his question from a different angle. What are the indicators of real community? What does a real, vibrant spiritually alive, non religious church look like?

I’m not sure I have all the answers but here are a few things that I have seen push a church’s toward one story – OUR STORY if you will

It happens when..

1. When We ENCOURAGE each other -Deut 31:7-8

2. When we STAND withe each other during tough times – 2 Cor 1:3-4

3. When we make a deliberate choice to FORGIVE – Col 3:13

4. When we PRAY for each other constantly – James 5:16

Are we making it? Not sure I care….

Is Thrive becoming OUR STORY to people that desperately want a connection with GOD. Are we are forgiving, encouraging, standing and praying for each other?

That’s when it becomes OUR STORY…and that’s the only story that really matters.

Tom