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! 

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)

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)

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!

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”.

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)

This month’s message series, “#WINNING” has been one of my personal favorites! I love being able to zero in on removing some of the blockages around our faith and how that translates to our personal success.  It’s a take on a popular meme started by everyone’s favorite addict Charlie Sheen.

His idea of “WINNING” was to live a life of severe dependency on drugs, alcohol, and prostitutes and essentially “get away with it”. It’s a sad commentary on what one’s life can be dragged down into, when the very things that destroy our soul (and body!) is celebrated in such a way.

My idea of WINNING is much different. It’s about conquering personal demons, rather than making them our friends. The best part is, once we win our own battles, God gracefully puts us in the path of others who may have faced similar struggles. We’re able to do all of this with more than a little help from our faith in Jesus Christ!

The series’ parts are divided into:  You / Home / Neighbor / Office / City

It’s very much an inward then outward focus that I feel should be applicable to most any message.

Why this series and why now? Because as a pastor you tend to notice difficulties other believers (young and old in the faith alike) are experiencing. Instead of having a “WINNING” mentality (for real, Christ has already won!) we keep our heads held low and our hearts heavy because of  ”life” holding us down. It doesn’t have to be this way!

When I was young in my faith I have naivety to believe that since I was a committed Christian, that everything would be “hunky-dory”. Surprise, surprise… I would grow frustrated with God when things didn’t work out the way I imagined.

Question was, did my faith bleed into my everyday life’s actions? Did I really trust God for all things? The answer was simply no. I had to learn that my faith is my life, not just a part of it. Faith in Christ should not only influence my behavior, it must direct it! The choices I made in life carried consequences, thankfully none that would last long enough to do permanent damage.

I was able to learn from them, but it was always the same lesson:  to make God first and foremost in all areas. That alone will give perspective as to not just what is less important, but also what is not fruitful or are possibly outright mistakes to engage in.

Eventually as I grew more mature in my faith in the Lord, the more I was able to be used by Him to influence the people and things around me. We must win our personal battles if we want to effectively influence others! You cannot expect someone else to “live the life” if that is not seen in you!

Also…

- You cannot tell someone the value in tithing and giving offerings unless you do it yourself!

- You cannot desire your children to be chaste and respectful in relationships if you aren’t!

- You cannot believe your loved ones will easily find Christ if your weak faith is blinding them to Him.

But it’s amazing that once you get your life in order (with reliance on the Holy Spirit!) how much God will use you to influence those around you (and even those that aren’t part of your “circle”). This my friends, is truly WINNING… when God can take losers like us to bring others to Him. Both history and the Bible backs this up!

The Apostle Paul makes a great case for it. He was responsible for persecuting the early church and putting many believers to death! Despite his past he was able to find Christ and realize that righteousness cannot come from following the law, but instead by faith in Christ!

He even had the gall to say to the churches he wrote to that they should follow his example:

Philippians 3:17…

¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

And 1 Corinthians 11:1…

¹ Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Don’t get tricked into thinking that we cannot be used as good examples! Parents do this a lot. “Do as I say, not as I do (or did).” is a common expression that has little effectiveness on those it’s intended for. A Christian, saved by grace, who is repentant of their past but also one who embraces God’s grace and His righteousness, is much more useful.

Think about it this way, most folks (Christians and non-believers alike) will accept that Jesus Christ was a pretty decent fellow (and then some) and he would be a model to live one’s life by. But Paul? He was just another guy… right?

God’s saving grace and power in building us up to His picture of righteousness has to be seen in something that needs it. Kind of like a “before and after” demonstration for a cleaning product you see on a TV infomercial. It’s one thing to see it in Christ, but another to find that it can work for a dirty rotten sinner. It has to prove itself applicable to the common man, even the “bad guys”. And again, Paul (author of the bulk of the New Testament) was one of them!

He writes in 1 Timothy 1…

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

If we desire to see our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and our city won over to Christ, we must first honestly look at ourselves and assess where our faith is at. Realize that every difficulty we face carries a unique opportunity to increase our trust in God, with our faith growing stronger as a result. This translates to others finding commonality and yes, even inspiration by the life we lead.

Join us again this Sunday at the Midnight Rooster as we continue #WINNING!

Are you seeing clearly? If not, what is the way to find out?

I remember when I was in 4th grade having difficulty seeing the chalkboard at school. My teacher noticed my drop in my academic performance (hey, I was a straight A student believe it or not!) and let my parents know. My mom took me to the eye doctor later that week.

It was there that I sat up in some uncomfortable pleather chair and took a vision test (with those terrible iodine eye drops and that clinking goggle contraption).

Sure enough, the eye doctor determined I needed corrective lenses and off I went with a snazzy new pair of big metal-rimmed glasses. I was kind of like a cool white version of Steve Urkel… at least I thought so at first.

Well, wouldn’t you know I could now see the chalkboard from afar and my grades improved, even if my self-esteem took a hit. (did I mention I looked like Urkel?)

In the church world, the word “vision” gets tosses around a lot. It’s a familiar Christianese term that pastors and leaders use often to describe what the future could look like. Our church is no different, in that before I ever thought about starting a church in my hometown, God gave me a vision for TLC and showed me the impact it can have on Hartsville.

The vision part of a ministry is vital because it outlines where it is heading (if followed). This week we’ll be examining the church’s vision and determine whether we are seeing clearly or not. If our sight isn’t 20/20, then we’ll simply grow frustrated with our ability to further reach the city we love.

Make plans to join us this Sunday at the Midnight Rooster Coffee Shop at 11:00 am for “The Vision Test”, part one of our “Seeing is Believing” series.

I recently went on vacation to southern California with my wife where we did all of the touristy things. We went to Disneyland, Laguna Beach, and made several trips to In-N-Out Burger (a must!). One day we ventured into Hollywood where we were part of a “Price is Right” taping at CBS Studios. We had a blast and possibly even made it on TV a few times cheering and waving our hands wildly in the audience.

After the show, we decided to drive around and see the area. Well, let’s just say that the Hollywood commonly portrayed in the movies isn’t exactly like the one in reality. We saw marijuana shops (or “clinics” at they were called), slummy looking apartments, houses with iron bars over every window, strange people jumping in the middle of the road during traffic (yes this happened), and hardly any beautiful palm trees to line the streets.

Aside from Drew Carey (host of The Price is Right), the only “star” we got to meet during our time there was the brother of Marc Summers (host of the old Nickelodeon show Double Dare and the Food Network’s Unwrapped).

In other words, none of the “glamour” was visibly apparent while driving. Even the famous “HOLLYWOOD” sign wasn’t in Hollywood itself, but far back in obstructed views (which doesn’t make for a good camera shot).

This experience lines up well with our next message series we’re calling “Lights, Camera, Action”. You see, much like my idea of Hollywood was an illusion based on unrealistic portrayals, the same applies with people’s view of Christ’s bride, the Church (capital C for the Body of Christ – the Christian Church as a collective whole).

The world sees the Church as many different things, both good and bad (but mostly bad). For some it’s a place where they might get married at someday. Others it’s where they know to get some half-rusted cans of green beans and pumpkin pie filling. Then there’s those who see it as a group of hate-filled bigots who want to push agendas on the rest of the world.

Where did it all go wrong?

What was the original purpose of the Church?

Why do people get so confused and angry about Christ’s bride?

What should we as the Church be focused on?

We’ll explore these questions and more over the next few weeks. Make plans to join us!

This Sunday we’ll be wrapping up our message series, “The Amazing Grace of God”. I think it’s been a healthy topic for all involved in exploring the depths of God’s mercy and love for us, in addition to looking at our flaws and how far we are away from being like Christ.

One word came to mind when anticipating this week’s message: gracious.

Merriam-Webster defines it as…

a – obsolete / godly
b – archaic / pleasing, acceptable

2 a – marked by kindness and courtesy

b – graceful

c – marked by tact and delicacy

d – characterized by charm, generosity of spirit

3 – merciful, compassionate

Basically, graciousness is grace personified in us.

But being gracious is quite uncommon, especially in today’s culture of isolation, vain attempts at community, and selfish habits. We’re “too busy” to be concerned with the feelings, desires, and needs of others. Why be “nice” when no one else seems to be?

In other words, graciousness sticks out. People notice it because they don’t expect it nowadays.

One expression you hear in using the word is being a “gracious host”. Jesus talked about this in Luke 14:

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.

13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

You see, being gracious is not about “getting something out of it”. There is no guarantee of a return on your investment of love and kindness. Instead, it truly means that you treat people better than they deserve, doing so lovingly.

Who does that sound like? I’ll give you one guess…