12 Lessons in Church Planting (from ChurchPlanters.com) 2 of 2

More on Lessons from Lovejoy and ChurchPlanters.com. For the first 6 lessons, see yesterday's post.
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12 Lessons Learned in 12 years (Part 2 of 2) by Shawn Lovejoy

7. Change the way people think about church

In the first year of our church, we made a decision: In everything we do, we’re going to seek to change the way people think about church. This is so much bigger than the type of music we do, or our dress, even though they are parts of the equation! It affects everything we do. Examples? Folks don’t have to be “Christians” to go on a mission trip. They might become one by going! They don’t have to be a “Christian” to volunteer at our church, much less, be a member! Our small groups are always not only open to new people, but are going after people who don’t go to church and inviting them to be a part of their group! Every group is responsible to “get off the couch” and serve and care missionally for people groups in our community. Just small simple example of how we’re changing the way people think about church both inside and outside our church in our community.

8. Go after unchurched people

We’re not worried about swapping sheep or reaching professional Christians. If they want to join our mission to reach the lost, great. If not, great. We are here to help as many people as possible find a relationship with God through Jesus. That’s our laser beam focus. Take us or leave us! We’re here to reach people who don’t like Jesus or Christians.

9. Be careful what you ask for

Did you know unchurched people don’t walk in and start tithing? And it probably won’t be a three-month process, either; probably more like three years! Unchurched people smoke and curse in the parking lot, and maybe even in the sound booth! All of these things really happen in our church. Being a hospital for sinners is messy!

10. The right team in the right seats makes all the difference

We’ve always had a great Ministry Team at our church. I am thankful for every one of them, however, the right team members with the right gifts and skills, in the right seats, in the right seasons of the church, allows a church to continue to breath and grow and reach people for Jesus Christ. The wrong team members on the wrong seats for too long will put a lid on the church’s effectiveness.

11. I must measure success God’s Way

Success is being who God called me to be and being obedient to what God has called me to do. I am so tempted to measure success by this week’s attendance. However, I’m never as good as people think I am when we’re exploding numerically; and I’m not as bad as I think I am when we’re not. My role is to be obedient to the call and stay sane, centered, and happily married in the process. That is success!

12. God is faithful.

God never gives up: on me; or on my ministry! He hasn’t given up on you, either! Don’t give up on yourself. We only fail when we give up. God never gives up. He is faithful!

Top Lessons from 2011- Be Faithful in Little

My next several posts will be lessons I learned or re-learned (the hard way) in 2011. All of them were learned through experience not books or in theory. Hopefully, I can save you the pain of learning them through difficult, so learn from my brokenness.

BE FAITHFUL IN LITTLE BEFORE BEING ENTRUSTED WITH MUCH

I started out 2011, leading Lifehouse with a vision to plant one new church this Fall and start 2 multi-sites, one on Saturday evening and the other as a 2nd campus on Sunday mornings. To be frank, I even shared with our team and thought privately that it was very ambitious and seemed impossible. I suggested that it's not really how churches function, even a thriving, healthy church like Lifehouse.

Then, I figured, "our vision for the Church should be overwhelming and seem impossible."

We planted Lifehouse- Hedgesville and it publicly launched in Sept. 2011! We're very excited about what God has done and is doing through Pastor JD and LHC-H.

BUT the lesson: we didn't start 2 multi-sites in 2011. We are still working on getting a multi-site service up and going and have it in the works for 2012. We very much plan on making this happen with God's help. However, we did learn a hard lesson: Be Faithful in Little BEFORE being entrusted with much!

God entrusts us with little so we can prove faithful and fruitful. Once, we've learned the necessary skills, lived the experiences, and developed the character needed to thrive in much, God will entrusts us with MORE. Then, MUCH!

We had not proven that we could launch ONE multi-site or plant ONE new church! So, it was not only ambitious to plan to launch 3 in one year, it was unrealistic. Not because God is unable, but because Kingdom- wisdom requires us to learn, be faithful in little THEN be entrusted with more.

We are planning on launching a multi-site this year. We hope to learn all the necessary lessons and gain all the necessary experience so that we can launch another.

What lessons do you need to learn in your area of "little" so that God can entrust you with "more"?


How can you prepare yourself rigorously for the dreams God has put in your heart?

Critical Announcements

TWO Big Announcements for ALL Lifehousers:


Three (3) Services start THIS Sunday!

When they said, "Good things come in threes," they must have been talking about Lifehouse Church East!

Beginning March 27, Lifehouse Church East will offer 3 Sunday morning services at 8:45, 10:00 and 11:15 AM.

"Why the change?" you might ask. It's simple-- each service was beginning to reach max capacity, and we want to share God's love with as many people possible!

You can expect each service to be jam-packed with all the things you love about Lifehouse: free breakfast, great kids programs, live music, and a message that speaks to your everyday life.

So pass the news on to your friends and family, and we look forward to seeing you March 27th!

NEXT Weekend is Spring Fever Sunday!


Hang up heavy coats, burn the boots, and scrap the scarves!  Spring is on it's way, and at Lifehouse Church East-- that calls for a CELEBRATION!

On April 3, we're inviting you and your kids to be our guests of honor at "Spring Fever Sunday!"  While the adults enjoy free breakfast, live music, and an inspiring message, the kids will be treated to a full morning of carnival-style fun at our 8:45, 10:00 and 11:15 AM services!

Egg hunts, moonbounces, carnival games, live performers, candy, concessions and prizes are all part of the fun.  Sound a little crazy?  What can we say...we have SPRING FEVER!! Do YOU??

AND here's the BIG Annoncement...

We are transitioning to THREE (yes, 3!!) services on Sunday mornings at Leitersburg Cinemas.

WHY?

1. TO MAKE MORE DICIPLES: Lifehouse is at capacity during 10:30 service, and we have seen many people transition to our 9am service. However, since we’re at nearly 100% capacity, we do NOT have room for growth, which means we can’t reach those who need Jesus! We must create opportunities and space to continue expanding God’s Kingdom and reaching the un-churched and de-churched in our region.
2. BEST IMMEIDATE OPTION: while we’ve been preparing for other options and venues, these will take more time and cost more money. We are still planning making exciting plans for further growth and development, and will announces those as they approach. At this point, the fasts, most cost-effective solution is to add a 3rd service. This also maximizes our space at Leitersburg Cinemas.
3. NOT A FINAL STEP: going to 3 services is only a NEXT step! We are aggressively trying to find office space, as well as assembly space for a smaller venue for a Saturday evening service. AND we are developing plans to launch a 2nd Sunday morning campus in the Fall. SO, buckle up! God is doing great things in expanding HIS Church through Lifehouse Church East!

WHAT?

Starting MARCH 27th to give us a one-week trial run BEFORE April 3rd Friend Day.

Service times: 8:45 – 9:50am; 10 – 11:05am; 11:15am – 12:20pm. Why these services times:

• It’s an experiment- since we’ve never done it before, let’s try it and then adjust as needed :)
• 8:45 is very close to 9, so we’re asking EVERYONE who attends the 9am service to shift to 8:45.
• Hopefully, we can multiply the full 10:30 service into both the 10 and 11:15 service times.
• Time to tear down: we need to finish up as early as possible to still leave sufficient time to tear down BY 1PM.

NOW WHAT?

• be flexible: thanks for your willingness to adapt with us as we make every effort to expand God's Kingdom and share His love and gospel with everyone possible,
• invite FRIENDS: we're making space so you can keep inviting friends, and everyone you know who is not plugged into a church. So, please invite your friends! A great opportunity- Spiring Fever Sunday (Friend Day) April 3rd.
• serve: obviously, with expanding service times, we need more people serving in every ministry. So, please find a place to serve.

--
Fired up,
-Patrick Grach
www.lifehousechurcheast.org
www.twitter.com/patrickgrach

BIG Announcement Coming THIS Sunday

Don't miss it! During our services I'll be making an exciting BIG announcement about Lifehouse and our continued adjustments to reaching more people with the message of Jesus Christ.

Our Cause is to share and show God's love through Christ with as many people as possible. This means that we must continually adjust and expand and be flexible while also being incredibly innovative.

So, I beg you- INVITE your friends and be FLEXIBLE!

An ANNOUNCEMENT and REQUEST

As a church, we're looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2011!

It's exciting to see our Sunday morning services filling up.  As we've been anticipating, we were actually over capacity in our 10:30 AM service this past Sunday!  While this is a great problem to have, we want to make sure we have seats for our guests and newcomers.

A Request:

If you are currently attending the 10:30 AM service, would you please consider attending the 9 AM service?  Every seat made available in the 10:30 AM service is another seat we can offer a first-time guest to Lifehouse Church East.

Here's why:

• LHE primary goal is the CAUSE of Christ and the MISSION of THE Church to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus and disciple them to become Jesus-followers.
• At LHE, we want to reach everyone in this region that we can, and want to overcome all limitations,
• as you've experienced, when a service feels full (over 75% of capacity), then we feel cramped,
• then, and worse, we don't think there is room for our friends and family,
• so, we stop inviting them.
• a packed service doesn't allow us to reach new unchurch and de-churched neighbors.

Please come at 9am and PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, and CO-WORKERS.

Join us this Sunday for part 2 of the Unquenchable sermon series.

Big Announcement COMING SOON. Find out THIS Sunday a few steps we are taking to multiple our efforts to reach this region with God's Good News. Hint: includes church planting AND new services.

Praying to the all- powerful God

Sunrise this morning was a great reminder that God's powerful and in charge. That's an especially necessary thought when things seem out-of-control or profoundly tragic. This is critical now both, personally and globally.

I imagine that those who have family and friends in Haiti are praying most passionately for those they love and for the rescue/ humanitarian efforts. Let's pray with that same level of fervency, urgency, and conviction that we would if our loved one was unreachable in Haiti. Let's cry out to God for people's lives to be spared, safety for humanitarian workers and efforts, and for an open door of the Gospel to penetrate a spiritual dark and antagonistic nation. Pray that many people would discover Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through this devastating, tragic earthquake.

Our prayer focus today, as part of our topical approach during these 21 days of fasting and prayer, is from Matthew 9:35-38. Read the challenge from Jesus,

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV).

Pray:

• those who attend the Church (not just Lifehouse but we're praying for transformation in the whole Church) would become fully devoted Christ-followers,
• Jesus-followers would obey Him through service and ministry, both in the local church but also to the needs and needy in their community,
• that God would stir the hearts of people so that they would be Spirit-prompted to serve, give, lead rather than need to be compelled by leaders in the Church.
• for many servant-minded people to step up to volunteer, serve, and minister,
• that ministries would be fully staffed and that new ministries would be launched through people passionate to begin living their service to Christ.

"Pray like everything depends on God". -Martin Luther

Big Announcement- We're going to 2 Services

Excited to announce that Lifehouse will have 2 Sunday services starting on January 10th. Here's some important info you'll want and need to know about the WHY's and WHAT's of this transition to 2 services.

First, the WHY's:

• So grateful that so many guests and regular Lifehousers show up every weekend. We've been averaging about 485 people per Sunday, and that means we're running out of seats.
• To reach more guests, we need more chairs. By adding a 2nd service, we double our seating capacity. This gives us more space to reach more people with whom we can share the amazing message of the gospel. And that is our ultimate Cause- to share and show our world the gospel of Jesus!
• More options: for more people to attend (can pick time that works best for them), and allow people who couldn't come before, to now join us!
• More opportunities to serve: some people don't want to serve in ministry during the service, because they don't want to miss it (we totally understand!). This way, everyone can participate in one service and serve in the other, and always get to participate in a service.
• INVITE YOUR FRIENDS. Our main purpose is to give us room to reach more unchurched and de-churched people. God loves everyone you know, and He wants them to discover the abundant life and salvation through Jesus. Invite them to join us during one of our services.

Now, the WHAT's:

• Times: 1st service- 9-10:10am; 2nd service- 10:30-11:40am.
• Café- 8:30-9am & 10-10:30. We want to continue providing coffee and light breakfast foods for both services, but don't want to wear our team out, so we're limiting this to 1/2 hour time slots and limiting what will be served. So, if you want coffee and breakfast get there early and say lots of THANK YOU's to the Café Team!
• Children's ministries: will be available during BOTH services. Additionally, for children that will be in both services (since many parents will be serving during one services), there will be Kidz Life Groups (discipleship classes) available during the 9am service.
• Sunday morning Life groups: we do offer adult life groups at 9am currently. We will offer life groups during both services. So, you can participate in one service, attend a life group in the other. Most life groups are available during the week in homes, but Sunday morning groups are available for those who need childcare and are only available on Sundays.

Addressing a few concerns/ questions you might have:

• Won't 2 services mean it will feel like their are 2 churches? Service styles will be the same, including sermons. We will be giving our best to both services, so quality and experience will be very similar. Primary difference will be time.
• Won't I feel disconnected from people in the other service? Great question! Yes, but do you feel connected with everyone in our service right now? Probably not. Why? If any church has over 40 people attending, it's impossible to be intimately connected with everyone. Additionally, Sunday services are NOT designed to help people feel more connected to each other, that's what life groups and ministry groups are for. We passionately believe in relationships. To get more connected to a small group of people, so that you feel like you're part of the Lifehouse "family of friends", join a ministry and a life group. Trust me, those small groups are the best place to find friends and feel connected NOT MATTER how many people Lifehouse continues to reach on Sunday mornings.

How can YOU help? Thought you'd never ask! Between Now and Jan 10th, we'll be asking you to commit to the following:

• which service will you be participating in: 9 or 10:30?
• which service will you be serving in: 9 or 10:30?
• which ministry will you be serving in: see our website for more details or sign up next Sunday?

Hope this helps provided so much needed information.

Please PRAY for God's favor during this transition and that we would continue to REACH many unchurched and de-churched people with the message of Jesus' salvation.

Living and leading on principle- part 2

Ever had a season when you are RE-facing an issue or situation you thought you had already dealt with or gotten victory over or passed that test? You're dealing with a pattern in your life, a mental block, or chronic emotional battle.

So, did David, and it's a great account of living/ leading on principle rather than on methods.

Some background: David had recently become king over all Israel, and the Philistines come to pick a fight and whip David out (ever felt like that?). While David is camped out in his "stronghold" seeking God, his enemies are gathering in the Valley of Rephaim (known as Valley of Giants. Hmm, that sounds familiar). Read 2 Samuel 5:17-20. God tells him to lead his army against them, and when David does, there is a great victory. So far so good...

Then, just win David is feeling good about his victory, the Philistines gather back up in Valley of Rephaim again. Same place, same enemy!

What would you be thinking? what would you do? David could have thought, "ok, been here before. Must have not been as big a victory as I initially thought. Well, God told me to go fight them before, guess I'll go fight them again. Pretty sure if it brought us victory the first time, it'll work again this time."

Did you see it? Methods are developed from past victories, either our own or someone that we're familiar with.

But that's not what David did. Instead, verse 23 says, "David inquired of the LORD". Read the rest of 2 Samuel 5:22-25. But this time, God gave David a different strategy- to have his army surround them from the back on the hillside where the Mulberry trees are, and then wait to hear the stirring in the trees. Once David heard the stirring, then he was to attack the Philistines. David follow the strategy precisely, and there he defeated the Philistines again.

What's the point? The strategy isn't what worked. Strategies must change. David had to first pray and inquire of God, then follow His plans and strategies. The previous strategy wouldn't have led to victory but destruction.

Just because David was facing the same enemy in the same place didn't mean he had failed, God was just testing him to see if he would seek God or default to some prescribed strategy, then write a book called "How to defeat the Philistines in 5 Simple Steps". No, David had to listen and obey. The only explanation for both victories was GOD!

Living and leading on principle- part 1

People want to copy or replicate what works, whether in business, ministry, marriage, parenting, or any other life- pursuit. That's why their are how-to books that top the best-seller lists week after week. We all want the techniques and methods on how to get rich, parent an all-star, or lead a community-impacting church.

But does replication and duplication really work? Can I copy your methods and reasonably expect to get the same results?

The answer is emphatically NO! Now, don't panic, it's not that you should throw away every book, stop reading this blog, and ignore every teacher. It's just that we can't COPY or duplicate a method and expect the same results as our method trend-setter.

Most books and methodologies get established, because someone experimented, diligently worked, prayed, re-tried, failed, cried, fasted, struggled THEN experience, over time, what we call "success". Then, they write a book , teach a class or seminar EXPLAINING the techniques that took them a lifetime of process and brokenness to uncover and live.

It's NOT the techniques that produce the results we all desire, it's the process of living by God-ordained principles.

DON'T look for the techniques or methods to effectiveness. That will only lead you to unhealthy comparisons and frustration.

DO study the principles that underlined another person's effectiveness, and follow their example. Jesus lived a principled life and taught us His WAY! He did not offer us a bunch of methods. When we lived on principle, methods will come and go, but we will live solid on TRUTH!

Preparations for a new year at Lifehouse

Sharing with you our steps in preparation for a new year (for church planters and pastors). I'm including in this several resources and links that might help you as you approach the end/ beginning of the year.

1. Evaluate/ assess the following: personal life, ministry life, church life. Goal should be to invite leadership team to honestly and candidly evaluate how they are doing personally, how YOU are doing as a leader, how their ministry is doing, and then, how the overall church is doing.

• Here's the form that we send out.
• We have worked hard to create a culture that is honest, candid, and willing to embrace the brutal (in love) facts.
• Honesty and candidness are two way streets. Usually, I have to be willing to take honesty and opinions on the chin several times before my team trusts me enough, that they'd be willing to hear my brutal honesty of their leadership and ministries.

2. Review all evaluations and condense them into one document. Here's ours from this year.

3. Leadership Advance or gathering point: we go away for a day and a half each November for prayer and planning. Here's what we do when we get away:

• Spiritual renewal: as leaders, we're often working in ministry, that it's easy for us to start running on "E" and that leads toward burnout. So, I encourage and challenge our leaders to get renewed and refocused on their personal life.
• Celebrate "wins": we take time to talk about the great things God did in us and through us this year.
• Review the combined evaluation form to determine: what we need to keep doing? what do we need to stop doing? and what do we need to do better?
• Cast vision for next year. Based on prayer, vision, and evaluation, we're able to make a fair and prophetic look at what God is calling us to do next year. This should certainly start in the heart of the leader and be embraced by the entire leadership team.

4. Theme for next year: as I just mentioned, it's my responsibility to hear from God, and determine the prophetic "season" or direction of our church as we transition into a new year. Couple of thoughts on themes and annual vision statements:

• This isn't biblical, but it's also not unbiblical. Just realize that there are no expectations for having a statement or theme for every year. I have personally adopted a prayer focus as we approach closing out one year and entering a new one. There are times when I am confident that God gave me clear insight into what would happen broadly in the life of our church.
• It's important to evaluate the "season" of the church. Like the sons of Isaachar, we must be people who "know the times and seasons".
• The theme must be born of God and focus on the positive direction of the church.
• A theme might not end on December 31, so ask God if you are to continue to point towards this years theme. Additionally, a theme usually builds on last years. So, if God has been "pruning" then it might be time for growth, then fruit.

5. Calendar planning. Take time now to look over next years calendar, look for important holidays that must be planned for and around. Pay attention to "pitfall" dates on the calendar. Determine when new sermon series will begin, and when is the best time for a Friend Day, baptisms, and vacation time.

6. Planning your preaching calendar. Nelson Searcy has an incredible resource on planning your 2010 preaching calendar (listen to it here). This should be done with great prayer and fasting. Believe and ask God to speak to you NOW about what to speak on throughout 2010.

Ok, gave way more content than should probably be dissemenated via blog or email. But wanted to provide the best information to those who need it.

What do you do as you lead out of one year and toward a New Year?

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 3

How can YOU partner with us?

Our goal is to quickly turn around this facility so that when the Grand Opening date arrives,  both Leitersburg Cinema, LLC and Lifehouse Church East will generate excitement and positive feedback from the community.  Since the Grand Opening date is only months away, we must quickly raise the resources to begin renovations immediately.

What's exciting is that we'll see immediate impact on the investment we are making in God's Kingdom.

This is your opportunity to join us in partnering both in prayer and giving. You may also consider volunteering time to work on a crew to help renovate.  

If you are interested, please consider maing 18-MONTH Pledge by emailing us at info@lifehousechurcheast.org or turning a pledge card on Sunday June 7th or by mail.

We are asking that you would consider making an initial sacrificial offering on Sunday, June 7th, and then give a monthly pledge over the next 18-months. Also, we strongly encourage you to pass this email, letter, or blog post along, to those you believe will be willing to partner with Lifehouse in this bold adventure.

Our hope is that Exodus 36 will come alive at Lifehouse as you and our church family join in what God is doing:

“…the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”  Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”

We covet your earnest prayers and generous giving. I can assure you that we will keep our focus on sharing and showing Jesus’ love to our community, and this building will be a tool to advance the Cause of Christ.

We are grateful for your financial support of Lifehouse and are encouraged by your confidence in our ministry. May God bless you abundantly!

Fired up!

P.S. For more information about the renovation project or your 18-Month Pledge, please call our church office at 301-824-4656.

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 2

In February, we learned that the Hagerstown 10 Cinema complex was going up for auction, and we immediately called our church to prayer. During that season, we fasted, prayed, and waited. As we waited, we didn’t feel led to bid on the property.

On March 17th, the auction came and went with no buyer. That day, the owners asked us to consider purchasing the property. I read Joshua 3:2-5 that morning:

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God… you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.”  Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

In the past, I have been reluctant to lead the church to own or buy a building.  This was for several reasons:

• Most church buildings consume the bulk of the church’s resources (over 50%),
  
• Ministry events and gatherings begin to gravitate toward the building rather than toward the community,
  
• The community and the believers begin to identify the term “church” as a building rather than a people.
  

I did not want the ownership of a building to hinder Lifehouse’s focus on the community. So in the past, I have explained to our leadership team that we would own a building only if ministry was hindered by not having a building, and if our resources would not be tied up in the facility.

Thankfully, God orchestrated a business plan that would not only enhance our impact in the community, but it would not burden the church financially.  Between March and May, we prayed and negotiated with the owners, and on May 15th, we signed a lease-to-buy agreement.

The miraculous part of the story is that Joe and Lois Quesenberry, our congregational pastors, prayed over this very property back in 1978.  At the time, the theater was a sordid business, even showing X-rated movies to families.  The Quesenberry’s prayed that the property would be redeemed and used for the glory of God. 

Here's a video of their story:

Who knew that 30 years later, they would be ministering at the very church that would occupy the property!

Details and Business Plan for the Cinema Complex

The owners had a $2.8 million contract on the property two years ago but declined the offer.

Our final agreement: 

• Beginning June 1, 2009, Lifehouse will lease the cinema complex for one-year for $3,000 monthly.  This amount is nearly equal to what we currently spend leasing the theater on Sunday mornings and using office space elsewhere.
  
• At the end of the one-year lease, we have a guaranteed option-to-buy the 7.2 acres of the cinemas and parking area for $838,000 (what owners owe on it).
  
• Also in the lease, after two years, we have a second option-to-buy the additional 11.6 acres for $892,000. (Giving us room to expand.)
  
• Hagerstown Cinema 10, the current theater company renting the facility simultaneously with Lifehouse, will operate in the building as usual until the end of August.
  
• Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC (a new theater company) will occupy the cinemas beginning in October in a separate lease agreement with the owner. Their lease will be $7,000 monthly, plus 95% of utilities.
  
• During our one-year lease, our use of the building will increase significantly, and we will be able to renovate and use office space on the second floor.
• At the end of our one-year lease, we will purchase the cinema complex and discontinue making payments of $3000 monthly. Then, as the owners, we will continue to lease the building to Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC to cover the full mortgage and additonal costs.
• The income from Leitersburg Cinema, LLC will cover all mortgage costs, nearly 95% of utility costs, and the company has additionally agreed to tithe 10% of their profits to Lifehouse.
  
• Additionally, Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC is owned and managed by a Christian businessman at Lifehouse, who has agreed to operate the cinemas as a family-oriented business.   The cinemas will NOT show R-rated movies, and will create a very family-friendly environment.
  

To summarize, Lifehouse will have the benefit of owning the building without the financial burden.  Because the building will continue to operate as a theater, Lifehouse will continue to focus on the community, and the church will continue to be viewed as a people rather than a building.  Our hope is that Lifehouse Church East and Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC will be able to work together to use the theater property for God’s glory.

Renovating the Cinema Complex

To make this endeavor successful, our part is to renovate the building to make it a highly visible, attractive facility.  In doing this, we will increase the impact of our church, and attract business to Leitersburg Cinemas LLC. 

• October 1, 2009 is the target date for a Grand Opening of Leitersburg Cinemas LLC and the new Lifehouse Church East building.  Our initial phase of renovations must be complete by that date.
  
• The initial phase of renovations include: new bathrooms, roof repairs, new lobby and café area, cosmetic exterior improvements, landscaping, parking lot sealing and relining.
  
• By December 2009, we hope to renovate 2nd floor office space for Lifehouse.
  
• By April 2010, we hope to finish the exterior structural renovations.
  
• Total cost for renovations are estimated at $550,000. 

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 1

The last several months have been very eventful and exciting at Lifehouse Church East. I’d like to take this opportunity to give you an update, and invite you to partner with us as we boldly step forward in God’s plans for our church. Please take a few minutes to read this letter and give us your heartfelt response and prayers.

Our Cause

Lifehouse exists to reach up to worship God, reach in to develop relationships and devoted Jesus-followers, and reach out to share God’s love with our world.

When Laura and I moved to Hagerstown, we believe God gave us Joshua 1:3-9 as a promise. Here are a few key verses:

“I will give you every place where you set your foot… Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you…”

 As I’ve jogged around our city and prayed, I’m pursuaded that God has called us to reach this entire region with the powerful message of Jesus. We won’t stop until we have shared and showed God’s love with everyone possible.

Our Growing impact in the Hagerstown-area

April marked our four-year anniversary of launching Lifehouse on Sunday mornings with 24 people. Since then, we’ve grown to nearly 400 in regular attendance and have seen over 1000 people make a decision to follow Jesus. We’ve served our community in various outreaches, including being the point church for Hagerstown Convoy of Hope in 2008 and again this year on September 26. Last year we coordinated with over 120 local churches and organizations to feed and give groceries to over 2500 people in our community.

Called to Thrive

In late 2008, I felt strongly challenged by God that Lifehouse would “thrive” in ’09.  I invited our church to participate in an “Isaiah 58 Fast,” referencing verses 11-12:

“You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.”

From that fast, God revealed what it would mean for our church to “thrive:”

• Lifehouse Church East would thrive and spread out in our community.  We would see significant impact and flourish at the theater property.
  
• We would facilitate unity among other area churches and work together to build The Church in this region, even send leaders out to help other churches.
  
• We would plant two churches in the next three years, and we are currently developing these church planters.
  

Check out this video we created explaining THRIVE:

Active Waiting

Lifehouse Family of Friends, 

To continue keeping you updated, here’s the latest at Lifehouse Church East: In prayer and fasting, I feel strongly called to continue WAITING. Not lazy waiting, but active waiting. 

What does it mean to ACTIVELY WAIT? I keep coming back to Joshua:

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Continue in prayer and fasting before God. For some Lifehousers, this idea is new and scary to be challenged to spend time daily in prayer and seeking God for His purpose to prevail for Lifehouse East. Great things from God happen when we don’t give up in prayer.

Worship God before we see the results of our prayer, not to manipulate Him to do something, but in celebration of what He will do.

Invite Friends. Don’t forget this Sunday is “Get Out” Friend Day, so invite everyone you can to join us and be part of what God is doing at Lifehouse East!

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

Prepare ourselves. “Consecrate” means to “make holy or pure” for God’s use. Let's get ourselves spiritually ready so that God can use us however He chooses. That's why we did the THRIVE campaign, to grow/ thrive spiritually and in lives that please God,

Prepare by planning ahead: we want to lay out the dream/ vision that God has put in our heart for Lifehouse. While we don’t feel like now is the right time to move forward to make it happen, we need to be diligent to get ready for when God does lead us to move. So here are our next steps to prepare and get ready (this requires all Lifehousers involvement):

• Cast Vision- I will begin regularly communicating where God is leading us, and we are planning to host a Lifehouse Ministry Summit in May to share the entire dream to THRIVE. Between now and May, we will have time to put a viable and well-thought out business, financial, building plan in place,
  
• Develop a Plan- we are beginning to work on a business plan for the future of Lifehouse. How we could launch business within a Lifehouse-owned building to cover all costs of the building and use additional income from those businesses to help the community, local churches, and to plant new churches,
  
• Due Diligence- We've already meet with contractors, inspectors, CPA, business planners, and have spoken to investors and lenders. We've researched this building, got proposals and plans in place, reviewed blueprints, etc. I think we've done more work and investigation than anyone else who will bid on this property- in less than a week.
• Build a THRIVE Fund- we need to start giving/ saving money for this dream. We will set up a fund within our books to save for this dream, and invite ALL Lifehousers to give generously toward our future. First, we must payoff our $14,000 outstanding loan with Susquehanna Bank, then begin setting aside gifts to this THRIVE Fund. We believe that as we give and save for the plans God has put in our heart, God will provide and we will be ready when God leads us to take the next step. I would like to stay debt free as we move forward, unless God leads otherwise. (write THRIVE FUND in the memo of your check- give as God leads you).
  
• Keep Focused on Eternity- even as we build this THRIVE Fund, we need to keep our focus on eternity and building God’s Kingdom, so we will give 10% of all gifts to that Fund to community needs, other churches, and church planting. We are NOT about buildings but about God’s Kingdom. We want to be generous to God so He will continue to entrust us with much. (see Matthew 25:14-30)
• Trust God and Don’t Panic. Waiting may be one of the hardest things for us to do, because we aren’t in control. We must trust God and not worry when troubling or discouraging things happen around us. I know that there will be moments in the future that will test our faith and resolve, but Lifehouse is part of God’s Church and He’s in charge and will protect and provide for us. So, don’t listen to negativity and keep your faith in Jesus. Read all of Psalm 112, but here’s the part the speaks to me:

Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.

Have great faith! Stay the course! Believe that God will do great things for the future of Lifehouse Church East!

Fired up,
-Pastor Patrick

Keys to Great "Success" in Ministry

What are the simple biblical keys to effectiveness/ success in the ministry?

I can look with certainty at a leader and say, "You will live and fulfill God's great plans for your life, so long as you..." And that's where this blog comes in.

Jesus explained the keys to "thrive" or "succeed" in ministry by telling the story of three servants entrusted with the wealth of their master. Upon returning to his servants, the master replied to the two that had doubled his wealth,

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:23, NIV).

Did you catch it? It's right there, the secret to success in ministry and life.

BE GOOD. Our character and right living before God are necessary to produce effectiveness and long-term fruit. Without it, all that we've invested in and built won't last. Without it, rather than bringing glory to God, our efforts will attempt to bring us glory and are destined to fail. But be good, and God will honor our integrity, pure hearts, and right motives with fruitfulness and greater responsibility.

BE FAITHFUL. Be good for a long time. Most will do the right thing if it gets them quick results and makes them feel "successful". But Jesus has called us to be faithful, even when the fruit is limited or even unseen. To be faithful, keep doing what you know is right regardless of what is happening around you. Faithfulness is never dependent on what others are doing but on your commitment to fulfill your responsibilities.

That's it! Be good and faithful. Two keys to become "successful" in God's eyes (the only audience that matters).

How is God calling you to be GOOD? To be FAITHFUL?

Sunday in the rear view mirror

One of our leaders asked me this week, “What was the one thing that made such a big difference this Red Carpet Sunday?” Yes, it’s true. This Friend Day was our most effective one yet- highest attendance, most first time guests, and so on. So many worked so hard to invite their friends, family, neighbors, and made sure that they showed up.

Effectiveness, changed lives, even great events, and having over 100 guests at one service- these things don’t just happen because of one BIG thing. They’re the accumulation of hundreds, if not thousands, of little things. (read this review of the Flywheel Principle in Good to Great)

What we are BEGINNING to see is the fruit of faithfulness, relationships, sticking to our core values, staying focused on the Cause, prayers, BIG prayers, fasting, prayers, hard-work, servant-mindedness, and above all GIVING GOD ALL THE CREDIT AND GLORY! Another church or ministry could replicate all the ideas, videos, marketing, sermon series, and not get the same results. Why? Because it wasn’t this event! They haven't invest enough "sweat equity".

We’ve planted tons of seeds, been faithful in the small things and now God is entrusting us with more things.

To my point: while we can enjoy and celebrate putting a W in the win column for God’s Kingdom, we stay focused. We continue to be faithful with the little (yes, what we have is little in light of the need- 60,000 people in our community who don’t know Jesus as their Savior). We’ll continue to do the little things- serve willingly, disciple urgently, give generously and sacrificially, love extravagantly, and multiple leaders like we’re a bunch of rabbits:)

Let’s keep our focus on doing and being whatever it takes to win as many to Christ as possible before He returns. I love my team and feel privileged to serve with each of them!

RED CARPET SUNDAY ticket info

You can do it! Get reserved seats of your choice for both YOU and YOUR FRIENDS! "How," you ask. Simple, follow these steps:

1. Just get some fliers.
2. Give fliers to friends and invite them to come on December 7th.
   
   
3. Tell them it will be an amazing experience with FREE breakfast, FREE horse-drawn-carriage rides, FREE family photos, and a chance to win a VIP dinner package.
4. If they are willing to commit to coming, give them a ticket (with reserved seat).
5. Fill out the stub with their info on it and turn it in on Sunday morning.
6. That stub will enter them into the drawing for the VIP dinner packages.
7. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE THEIR ON DEC. 7th!

RED CARPET SUNDAY

Here's the plan. We're going all out for our guests on December 7, 2008, rolling out the Red Carpet! And we're breaking all the rules in church:

• Rule #1: you can't have people in every seat in church, 'cause people need their space. We're filling every seat in the theater.
• Rule #2: only stuffy, religious churches have reserved seating, i.e. elderly women with bun in her hair has sat in that same indented pew for 63 years. Don't you dare take her spot! Well not on 12/07. We've got tickets for every seat in the theater, and if you've got that ticket, you've also got exclusive rights to that seat. Woo hoo! On the other hand, if you've got a ticket to a seat, you better make sure there's a warm body in the seat (and your dog doesn't count).
• Rule #3: church is only for religious people. We already broke this rule every week for the last 5 years, but we want everyone to know it. The whole point of Lifehouse is to reach people who are experts in "the way of religious formulas". We're just a bunch of ordinary, "normal" people who love God and want to know how to follow Jesus every day of our lives.
• Rule #4: God will strike you dead if you bring food, coffee, and yes, even that hard candy into church! Again, we blew this rule out the window a long time ago, we're just going public with it now. At Lifehouse, we eat in church, drink coffee during sermons, and beg people to take a breath-mint! And so far no one has been struck by lightning or keeled over from food-poisoning.

So, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS, NEIGHBORS, and FAMILY to Lifehouse East for RED CARPET SUNDAY on December 7 at 10 am. And if you want breakfast, you better get their at 9:30. There will also be:

• FREE Horse Drawn Carriage Rides!
• FREE Professional Family Photos!
• NEW Sermon Series- the X-Mas Files, "the truth is absurd"

SO, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THE SEATS FILLED! See video below for ideas on how to get people there: