One Piece at a Time
“I got it one piece at a time
And it didn’t cost me a dime
You’ll know it’s me when I come through your town
I’m gonna ride around in style
I’m gonna drive everybody wild
‘Cause I’ll have the only one there is around.”- Johnny Cash, “One Piece at a Time”
A lot has happened this past month as we continue to grow into our new space downtown. It’s been surreal to see where God has taken us in all the ways that matter. I am encouraged at how the vision He’s given us is being fulfilled and perhaps even a little more focused. We’ve also seen many of our members take hold of it and make it their own.
The new location itself is taking shape! After getting all the contractors in sequential order (to avoid having them on top of each other with the renovations), the carpet, chairs, lights, and paint are now all installed and looking great. Every time I’m asked how it’s going, I reply with the title of a song from Johnny Cash’s catalog: “one piece at a time”… indicating that we still have plenty left to do and to be patient with the work being done (I’m including myself in that).
Here are a few pics of the progress:
View from stage in worship hall
Sconce lighting in worship hall
The worship hall, coffee lounge, lobby, children’s classroom, and nursery are in various stages of finishing but all are functional and attractive at this point. The constraints of church plant finances certainly have a say in the timing, but then again it ensures that each area is done well.
The more I think about the work being done on the church building, the more I see the parallels in our church body. We have not been a fast growing congregation, but we’ve seen growth: one person, one couple, one family at a time. While the church has seen some folks come and go, there are plenty of people that have been with us since day one. Of course, this is all while we add on more “sold out” believers that identify with our church vision in the process.
Maybe there’s something deliberate about our pattern of growth, where we build our foundation organically with “unchurched”, but hungry-for-God individuals who come to us without the blinders of traditional religion limiting their scope of grace and what a church should be like. At the end of the day, only God knows how it all works! But I’m enjoying the ride…
Part of the character of TLC is our unique identity formed by the God-given experiences, talents, and passions our members have. I’ve discovered that we’re able to better enable these gifts when they’re added on in direct relation to our ability to process them. The result? There is no other church like ours! From the worship service and music style, to our outreach and fellowship opportunities, to our website and church staff, we set ourself apart with intent: to be different to reach differently.
Shouldn’t that be the aim for every church? Instead of copying a particularly successful ministry somewhere (take your pick), be bold enough to let the people and better yet, the Holy Spirit mold the distinctives of the church. This is why success recipes from one church to another are often hard to follow, because the ingredients, the kitchens, and the chefs are all well… different.
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 12:
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Paul makes a point here that the church must be made of different parts and that each one is there with an important and unique purpose attached to it.
Wouldn’t it be so boring if our church was made up of the same type of people, the same area of town, the same age group, and the same abilities and gifts? Not only boring, but this would be ineffective and unattractive to everyone else that wasn’t like that.
Notice that in the last half of the song’s chorus goes…
“I’m gonna ride around in style
I’m gonna drive everybody wild
‘Cause I’ll have the only one there is around.”
What is appealing and gets the attention of those around us is not only something that’s unique with “different parts”, but formed “one piece at a time”. It’s not a rushed and all-at-once assembly process, instead each item is acquired in due time and placed there deliberately. This also speaks to our dependence not on ourselves, but on the provision from a higher power in control of it all (whether it be General Motors or the Almighty).
Church planting has undoubtedly increased my faith and broadened my view of God. You simply can’t go through this time without trusting Him more with every turn! From the “big ticket items” to the “little things”, all I can do (and have learned to do) is give everything over to God. I believe our church family is learning this as well and it’s paying off in their spiritual and personal growth.
There’s going to be a day where we look back and gather a sense of how God put this all together. Even then, it won’t make complete sense to us! We may see much of the who, the what, the where, the when and hopefully a little bit more of the why. Ten seconds later, we’ll focus our thoughts back on what’s most important: taking the people of Hartsville back from the grips of sin and death!
Want to be part of that? Help us reach our city by investing in life-change and come join us at our new location (149 E. Carolina Ave.).
So what’s the BIG deal?
Wow! What a great day for God, Hartsville, and TLC! The best is yet to come.
We had an abbreviated worship service today in order to hit the streets as a church and spread the word about our upcoming Easter service at the Midnight Rooster. We covered about four neighborhoods in the downtown Hartsville area, which is in addition to the other parts of town we’ve hit already.
Sure, it was probably a bit awkward for our visitors, but if it was me on the outside, I’d love to see a church make a concerted effort in reaching their neighbors (rather than just talk about it)! Most of our folks jumped right in and we had a fun time together.
So while we accomplished a lot today, we still had more to talk about. I broke the news about something we have been praying over and seeking for almost a year now: our own building to host our worship services and do ministry out of.
Well, I’m quite excited to say we have finally found that place!
Our new location is at the corner of 4th Street and Carolina Avenue, which are two of the busiest streets in downtown Hartsville. It’s highly visible and the building itself suits our current and future needs.
The canvassing teams received a grand tour of the facility after we were all done. The excitement is contagious! A lot of our members can’t wait to start working on it.
This is a BIG step for our church and we are blown away at how the Lord has blessed us with this opportunity!
As we move forward, it’s important to remember that the name of our church implies: WE are the church! Not some building on a street corner. I pray that our church will continue to grow and make an even deeper impact on the city we know and love (whether we have our own place or not). That’s been our prayer since we launched over two years ago!
Sadly, this means that our time at the Midnight Rooster Coffee Shop will be coming to an end soon (although we won’t be going too far… just across the street). They have been a great help to us this past year while we’ve held our worship services and Bible studies there. Once the new building space is made “meet-able” we will be moving in, likely making improvements as we go along.
Want to know how you can help? One way to start is to show up to our Easter Sunday service on April 8th and we’ll have a volunteering schedule to sign up on. A little paint won’t hurt ya!
Another way is to give towards our refurbishment efforts of the building by giving safely and securely online via our website: http://www.tlchartsville.org/giving
Last, but not least, I welcome any prayers you can send our way! Support from our prayer partners undoubtedly helped get us this far and will continue to keep us moving forward.
Anyways, I think I’m going to take a nap now… right after I calm down a bit, of course!
BIG news this Sunday!
I told you folks that we had some BIG things ahead! And I want you to hear it for yourself…
Get over to the Midnight Rooster Coffee Shop this Sunday at 11:00 am for a very different kind of worship service which will include a BIG announcement about TLC’s next steps as a church. This is going to be awesome!
It’s also important to point out that while this Sunday is April Fools Day (no jokes involved, I promise) it is also Palm Sunday, which was about a BIG announcement itself… Jesus entering Jerusalem to much fanfare.
So join us this Sunday as we tie it all together. And don’t forget, as the sign says: shirts and shoes required! (you’ll need ‘em)
BIG plans // BIG God
Every now and then I’ll take the time to point where we’re headed as a church. “Selling the vision”, as it’s often called, is important for a growing body of believers as we follow God’s lead here in Hartsville. Communicating the vision helps remind people of the five W’s (and the H) of our ministry: the who (are we trying to reach), the what (are we offering them), the where (is this taking place), the why (are we doing it), the when (will it all happen), and the how (we make it a reality). A little more insight on all that here.
Shaping the conversation around growth, possibilities, goals, etc. enhances the individual purpose and responsibility of those participating now and those to come. We don’t just want people to watch what’s going on, but to make it personal and to make it possible! This looks like a lot of different things: volunteering, praying, and giving financially. No church moves forward without those means of support in place.
So obviously one of the consistent themes of a church plant is looking towards the future. While this should be the way for every church, young or old, big or small, church plants like ours are unique because:
1. We don’t want to stay small.
One would think that this is the desire of every church, but you would be wrong! Many congregations get far too comfortable in their tight-knit size and some may vocalize a selfish desire of not wanting to grow beyond that. “The Great Commission” (Jesus commanding His followers to actively seek others for His Kingdom) falls on deaf ears!
UNREAL… right? But churches like these exist everywhere, especially in the “Bible belt” where “church” can be just another club for people of the same socio-economic persuasion. Their vision is confined to what stands before them (and they need glasses to even see that well) It’s only a matter of time before they become like many places of worship in Europe: converted to restaurants, bars, shops, and homes.
At the same time we don’t want to “stay small”, as there comes a point where the size is too big to have a healthy and effective Christian community. While this seems like I’m going all “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” on the matter, the point here is that the purpose of our ministry is to go after new people that are without a church home and once they get plugged in they don’t get lost in the shuffle.
The idea for growing bigger should simply mean we want to reach people that don’t have a relationship with Christ. There is no cap on that number because the Great Commission was for “all the ends of the earth”. Take our city of Hartsville for example: the statistics show that less than half of the area residents are even remotely tied to a local church (including having their names listed on the membership rolls). There is absolutely a need for a dynamic ministry here and we’re just one of many that can help meet it!
As for the problem of “growing too big”? The answer may look like planting other campuses from the “mother church” in nearby communities. But, we don’t have to worry about that just yet. That will be a good problem to have when it happens!
2. We can only move up from here.
After two and a half years, TLC has sustained and established a foundation of believers, families, and leaders to grow from a point of strength. The building blocks have been (and will continue to be) put into place to provide the frame for God’s blessings and further growth.
One way to look at this is to think of your grandmother’s Jello mold (the one with a hole in the middle and the nice ridges on top). In order for us to want a solid, pretty looking Sunday afternoon potluck dessert with that lovely round shape, we must use a mold to pour the mix into before letting it settle and form. Without it, you’re going to have Jello soup! And no one wants that…
That’s a lesson we’ve learned the hard way in that without the right “mold” for God to pour into, our church will stay where it’s at (by all measures). All the “cool stuff” we do will essentially float around (become a wasted effort) if it’s not tied to solid ground.
So the good news is, we only have one direction to go from here… up! As we grow in Spirit and in number, we can identify what our needs are going forward. One of these needs is finding the right space to host our services at. Which leads to…
3. We don’t see buildings as churches.
To us, buildings serve as suits that we wear given the occasion. Even then, it’s there more for utility sakes than for style. Many church plants utilize school cafeterias, theaters, and heck… even coffee shops! (sound familiar?) While this is mostly due to cost and convenience, it also serves as a way to emphasize what a church really is…
As our name implies, the church is made up of living, breathing pieces (people) and not brick and mortar. The church is an identity, not a location. Yet, so many existing churches have turned into museums of past accomplishments and memorials for their ancestors with little regard for the current generation or the next. Honoring the past at the expense of the future is not what Jesus had in mind!
Obviously there are such historical churches that take the right approach and adapt their ministry methods to reach new people. This goes beyond style of worship and can include things like Bible studies/small groups, children’s programs, and outreaches that are tailored for their specific local culture and community. And of course Truth (as defined by the Bible) should remain the same, always!
So say we do find a building that fits our mission/vision that is conducive to growth and is centrally located for the area we’re reaching. Great! But the reality is, the only thing that really changes is our location. The ministry remains the same! Again, we are not defined by what four walls we meet in.
- – -
Why do I bring this all up now? Because our church has a real opportunity to take the next step! For one thing, there’s a building we have had our eyes set on for over eight months now, but just recently became open for discussion. It is everything we’re looking for in a meeting space at this time (and beyond). But getting people to cut a check to make the lease payment simply won’t be enough!
We’re going to have to do some serious work within (through prayer, fasting, and sacrifice) before setting a foot there. We need to continue identifying areas of weakness that need to be dealt with in the form of putting the right plan (and people) in place to ensure sustainable success (as much as humanly possible, of course). Point being: TLC must be a healthy church before ever hoping of becoming “big”.
If you want to learn more about what we’re up to, get to the Midnight Rooster Coffee Shop this Sunday (March 4th), 11:00 am. The worship, teaching, and fellowship is great! (and the free coffee doesn’t hurt either)
Next Steps: New Members Class
One of the things I get most excited about with our church is when I have the privilege of leading our New Members Class. Imagine that! Getting excited about a class… (but I’m serious!). I get a solid hour to share my heart and passion for this church and our community. That gets my blood pumping!
This class is designed to inform perspective members about who we are, what we believe, and where we’re going. These folks usually have been attending services and like what they see and hear. This is the natural next step in bridging the gap between attending and serving.
Why is this important? Because we want people to participate in (not merely observe) life change (people coming to faith in Christ) here in the greater Hartsville area. They wish to know God more intimately and make Him known to the people that surround them… friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and complete strangers. Having a wealth of individuals from varied backgrounds and experiences only enhances our reach and how we articulate the message of life change to those in need of hearing it.
In other words, this goes beyond having a name on a roll! We expect better than that and hope you do too. Being a member actually carries some responsibility (which is not a four-letter word!).
We have some big things coming up (BIG announcement coming Sunday March 4th) and we need all the help we can get! This “help” is most effective when it’s offered authentically from those who have identified themselves with TLC and what (and why) we believe. This means more than one would think!
A good example would be buying a car. I get annoyed when I know more about the product than the salesman does, don’t you? One time the guy literally read off of the window sticker. I mean c’mon, would you purchase a vehicle from a salesman who knows little about it? Or from someone that not only knows about the car, but even drives one themself on a daily basis? Personally, I would trust the salesman who can vouch from personal experience.
That’s what we need more of… people that aren’t just loosely attached with a surface level understanding of who we are, but instead have “bought in” to what we’re doing.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, you need to join us at the Midnight Rooster Coffee Shop on Sunday, February 26th at 10:00 am (before worship service). You’ll hear about our short history, the mission and vision of the church, our beliefs, and how we want you be part of it all!
There is no pressure to “sign the dotted line”. Instead, we want this to be a natural “next step” in your walk that comes as a result of prayer and contemplation. Come out and see why this is the church for you to invest yourself in!
Keep in mind that church membership is more of the “how” rather than the “why” of a healthy church. Membership gives structure to the mission: to live, breathe, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, I’ve seen far too many times where membership is just a means of getting rights to a cemetery plot, your name on a plaque in a hallway (or even on a pew), or so your children can participate in some program.
This process is intentional because as our name implies, the church is not a building on a corner lot. It’s something so much better: a collective group of Christ-followers that grow in His likeness and carry the message of life change locally and globally.
Take the next step with us!
La vita è bella (Life is beautiful!)
It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged, but pictured above is my valid excuse: Nelson, my 10 week old son!
With fatherhood comes a lot of changes, all good of course. Probably the biggest of such changes is the fact that I’m now responsible for someone who is for all major considerations helpless (but pretty darn cute). No longer am I the twenty-something that can take off to the beach on a whim or stay up all night (that is, not for the sake of a fussy baby). Instead, I’m challenged to be a better, more responsible man than I can imagine. Growing up ain’t so bad…
While we’re on this subject of “change”, TLC will be making a few of our own this spring. Best part is, you can take part in seeing it happen!
Details to come soon. Promise!
In the meantime, be sure to join us this Sunday (11am) at the Midnight Rooster Coffee Shop in downtown Hartsville for the start of our new message series, “Don’t Take My Word For It”.
He is Worthy (Glory, Honor, Power)
Is God really who we say He is?
Tricky question. As Christians, we’re pretty good at giving God plenty of lip service disguised as unwavering belief. It’s easy to give God the credit and exalt Him in worship when things go well. It’s when life becomes a little more cloudy, that we let our sinful pride blind us from seeing God for who He is, rather than what He’s done (or not done) for us. God becomes only as big as our satisfaction.
What often gets lost in today’s church world is the senses of glory, honor, and power; the consistent qualities that make God, well… God. In the midst of the practical, “real life”, “purpose driven” kind of vocabulary, we should keep the proper perspective of just who God is.
God isn’t like us. God is God. This is something we should be thankful for, quite frankly.
And our encounters with Him should give us a sense of awe rather than commonality.
Revelations 4:9-11 paints this picture well:
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for You created all things,
and by Your will they were created
and have their being.”
When the twenty-four elders are on their knees worshiping at the throne, they are acknowledging God for who He is. Much like pointing out a friend wearing a red hat, your brother growing a beard, or the waitress having blond hair; these things are obvious qualities about the individual that we notice off-the-bat. Such is glory, honor, and power in regards to our Creator!
We cannot add onto to who God is. We cannot pay Him compliments. He is perfect and is the essence of all that is good. Knowing that, worship should be moved by the realization of who God is, how worthy He is, and how far from Him in nature we are. So when the elders are saying that He’s worthy of these things, they’re saying it out of honest observation… not just of God, but in view of themselves as well.
The Hebrew saying for “give glory to God” means “confess your sins”. Being honest with who we are (as unworthy sinners saved by grace) demonstrates who God is. Repentance and humility simply reminds us of the pecking order in God’s Kingdom.
Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23…
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Yet time after time, man has propped himself up to be not just God’s equal, but His superior. We somehow know better than God on certain life matters. The third quality we’re talking about, “power”, is perhaps the clearest example of this.
How do we reconcile the power of God today? Do we trust Him for our everyday problems and societal issues? Does He still work “wonders” and “miracles”?
Come join us this Sunday as we close out our latest series, “He is Worthy” and discover why God is… God. (and why we are not)
