Outreach | hardly hormal

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If church was accepting and loving would we need outreach?

Published

on August 10, 2008

in Change, Church, My Big Mouth and Outreach

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“As long as Christians fail to repent of self-righteousness, we will continue to speak of evangelism in terms such as outreach, which implies we will not embrace lost people but will keep them at least an arm’s length away.” “… the transformed lives of people in the church are both the greatest argument for, and the greatest explanation of, the gospel. Therefore, it welcomes non-Christians into the church, not so much through evangelistic programs as through informal relationships like Jesus developed with his first disciples … (this evangelism) considers it vital that lost people be brought close enough to witness the natural and practical outworking of the gospel in people’s lives.”

- Mark Driscoll

I found this quote on one of my new favorite blogs

http://www.vinceantonucci.com/

This really hit me today as I walked into the Angelus Temple/Dream Center’s bathroom this morning and saw a few homeless men take benefit from a sink and running water in a place that won’t kick them out. In fact, they were welcomed. One was washing up and another was shaving. Trust me, finding a place that will allow that is rare. What would your security do? Come on keep it real now!

The thought that hit my spirit, though, is why do we even do outreach? And let’s be real, the majority of outreaches I have seen and or heard about didn’t change anyone. Not really. Some I even organized and managed so I am also speaking to myself here. From my first hand experience over the last 5 years outreaches were more of a preprogrammed thing churches do. Even though many of the people have right hearts they are blind to the infectiveness of their actions. It is like we are programmed to go to where we think the poor and needy are and give handouts, have a mini sermon, get people to raise their hands – AND THEN LEAVE. Rarely did I ever see these people in church. God is not magic. People need more than a sinner’s prayer – they need to feel real and unconditional love found through commitment.

And please, if you are going to bus people in commit to it. If a few kids get unruly, maybe even throwing some pizza out the window and mouthing back to staff members, DON”T STOP busing them it. You won’t be teaching them a lesson only reinforcing the abandonment they get at home. Buy more pizza and some cleaner. If you have a bad apple remove it BUT KIDS NEED LOVE and they don’t get it at home. The best place for them is church.

I know I am squirrel chasing here but one of the many stories Pastor Tommy tells comes to mind. They bus thousands of kids into Phoenix First for service. One of the deacons came to Pastor Tommy saying “we have to stop busing these kids in. They are writing swear words on the bathroom walls”, Pastor Tommy responded “it’s not required reading”. What is more important the kids or the building? Some of you will say we have to respect God’s house. But God himself would much rather have you take care of His people than YOUR building – guaranteed! You will teach hurting kids far more by continuing to get them out of their horrible environments into a loving place a few hours every week than you will by the disciplinarian tactic of stopping the route completely.

Please don’t get mad at me for telling the truth here. And there are some churches that do great works and we need to support them. Yet most churches are simply as lost as the people they are trying to reach!

The whole point I am trying to make here is if we took all the energy and money used for an outreach and simply made our church experiences more loving and ACCEPTING, than church itself would be where it ALL happens.

To repeat something I heard this morning, you cannot build a great church until you build great people. Love on people. Not just at the trailer park, the mall, or the place in your town where the homeless gather, but at your church. Before you plan your next outreach take a good look in the mirror and see if you really are a loving church for that demographic. If so, than the seats will already be filled with people from the areas you minster in! They will be attracted to you and your outreach ministry is effective. If you are only welcoming to a certain kind of people, let’s say upper-middle class, than love on them because all people hurt and have needs. Not everyone is called to reach the poor, and not everyone is called to reach people with money. Just stop trying to be something you are not.

Rich or poor, the key to reaching people, all people, is to sincerely welcome them inside and outside of your building - and without exception.

Why do we separate outreach? What would happen if we ALWAYS gave the love we show in a park in our church experiences?

Bless me or bless you?

Published

hardlynormal

on June 20, 2008

in Change, Character, Community, Homeless, Just Me, Leadership, Learning, Life's Lessons, Managment, My Big Mouth and Outreach

. 2 Comments

For the last 5 years I have worked in churches that were 75% focused on “bless me bless me” instead of blessing others. It was not until I needed help because I did not have money or food that I consciously saw the fallout from that style of ministry. When people focus on becoming a millionaire their hearts change. When leadership’s primary teaching is about receiving instead of giving, even though helping others is mentioned, giving unselfishly never becomes a priority or a lifestyle. A generous heart cannot grow when a person is constantly praying to receive.

A short time ago I had to apply for food stamps. Very humbling to say the least! At one point I was down to 3 cans of tuna. I found there are some very unselfish and genuine people in the world and I am in awe of the sacrifice they made to help me out. But none of those people attend a “bless me” church.

I say all that not to criticize the “bless me” churches, but to slap myself in the face! Thank goodness my original Christian foundation came from an outreach focused church because I continue to always put others before me, yet I am not proud of what I did or who I became these last several years. I compromised what I know to be right in so many ways.

Last week a couple handed me a large envelope of cash. The week before someone filled my fridge and another person paid my mortgage. When I told my best friend he said “God blessed you” yet I disagree! God does not bless with a new car or a fat check. God blesses with challenges that help you grow. We are confused. We all run around seeking “blessings” from God that are for the most part material stuff we’ll end up selling on craigslist. The new car only blesses for a short time as you show off to your neighbors. We are being trained to be selfish “bless me bless me” so we perceive, for the most part, that the only blessings from God are material or financial.

In my adult life the biggest blessings I have ever received where 1) homelessness 2) divorce 3) unexpected unemployment. Why would I say that? Because in each situation I grew to be a better person - I was truly blessed!

Listening to the unhappy customer

Published

hardlynormal

on February 18, 2008

in Change, Character, Community, Customer Service, Just Me, Leadership, Learning, Life's Lessons, Managment, Marketing, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach and Remarkable

. 1 Comment

I finally did it! I switched my Yahoo! start page to a Google start page. I probably have had a Yahoo! start page for over 10 years. Every time they changed I adapted, but about a year ago they created a new start page with a square ad right in the middle. It is horrible.

I didn’t make this switch overnight. I wrote to Yahoo! on several occasions. Also, I started a Google start page about 6 months ago and kept trying it out during that period. I would probably still stick with a Yahoo page, but every time their cookie is deleted I have to go to their new layout and revert. There is no way around this and it is very frustrating. So, yesterday I switched.

Seth Godin in his book Free Prize Inside!: The Next Big Marketing Idea makes a great point that we need to listen to our unhappy customers:

People who are happy are your company’s worst enemy. Satisfied customers don’t complain. Satisfied customers pay on time. Satisfied customers don’t bother the boss or the tech support people or the legal department.

This is a problem. It’s a problem because satisfied customers are unlikely to radically increase your sales. Satisfied customers are unlikely to push you and your colleagues to stay ahead of the competition. One day, in fact, the competition will pass you and then the satisfied customers will quietly leave.

Your growth will come instead from dissatisfied and the unsatisfied. The dissatisfied know that they want a solution, but aren’t happy with the solution they’ve got. The minute they find it, they’ll buy it. Yahoo!’s best customers weren’t Google’s first users. Nope. The happy Yahoo! customers weren’t busy looking for a replacement. Google focused on dissatisfied Web surfers. People who were online but weren’t blown away by what they had been using (and wanted to be blown away)

Yes, the loud people who complain all the time are just that, complainers, and are probably better off complaining in another church. But the majority of members who have been loyal for a longtime, but are now unhappy, and have been unhappy for some time (but have not said anything) will slip away without a word – unless you ask!

I believe in surveying. It helps in correcting issues and it greatly helps in being able to minister more effectively. Granger even offers the weekend survey they use for download. (another post about their weekend survey can be found here)

Of course, you might learn things you don’t want to know, because you might have to change, and change hurts because you’ll have to admit your way is not the best way! But, if you are so closed you are not listening, or you don’t have an effective vehicle for constructive feedback established, you are seriously missing out on valuable data that can lead to great insight and growth.

Let’s be real for a second! If church is to be about helping others, and we don’t seek out their input, how effective can we be? We cannot guess on how to help people and be really successful. Don’t ask your staff – ask the people you serve!

Nobody does it like Tommy Barnett.

Published

hardlynormal

on February 15, 2008

in Change, Just Me, Leadership, Ministry, My Big Mouth and Outreach

. 0 Comments

I love Pastor Tommy with all of my heart. This past week I was in Phoenix and probably experienced the very best time I have ever had at the event.

I really was wrestling with spending the money, yet when my plane flying flew over Phoenix First and I saw the massive campus from the air the reasons became clear. It is my home. Not physically, but I can be myself around people that sincerely love me. It was also good to be around likeminded people. People that have the same work ethic I have, that are into doing much with a little and that strive for excellence. Most importantly, people that truly care about making something big happen and that truly care about other people! At Phoenix First they don’t just talk about vision – they make it happen!

My yearly trip also realigns my spirit and shows me what a real church is. So many people are helped every single day. People that most churches would either not allow in, or have their security staff follow around because they are not like everyone else. Phoenix First is all about people and they do the most amazing work I have ever experienced.

This was my 13th year and every year I not only see Pastor Tommy change, but the entire church change. From my first trip in 96 to this year the changes have been massive. I am so blessed to have Pastor Tommy as a leader and mentor. I know change is hard on everyone yet he really has embraced change as a lifestyle and it shows.

There are many many reasons for Pastor Tommy’s success. I believe probably the biggest is his love for people and wanting to really make a huge difference. To reach many not just a few! To do that you have to take risks. Lots of risks! Also, he gives people safe boundaries and them leaves them alone to accomplish something big. Because he releases control and empowers people Phoenix First has grown to one of the biggest and most influential churches in the country. From what I have witnessed, Phoenix First and all the ministries the church has birthed, literally helps more hurting people find their dreams again than any other church in existence. And that is what it’s all about – or should be!

If it were not for Tommy Barnett I might never have gotten off the streets of Los Angeles. I owe him everything and I praise God for allowing me to be a part of something so great.

The worst part

Published

hardlynormal

on November 13, 2007

in Homeless, Just Me, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach, Personal and Personal Growth

. 0 Comments

So far what is bothering me the most about having surgery is not being able to participate in our “Hope Outreach”!

I started to think about it on the plane home. Then today it really hit me.

Funny how God changes a heart.

I met my favorite bloggers

Published

hardlynormal

on November 11, 2007

in Blogs, Community, Friends, Internet, Just Me, Life's Lessons, Marketing, Media, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach, Personal, Personal Growth and Technology

. 0 Comments

This week I was at the Outreach Conference in San Diego. I really did not know who would be speaking except Craig Groeschel and I was extremely excited to hear him. Too me, what he said not only slapped me in the face, I wish every pastor would “get it”. Craig was awesome. At one point he repented in front of a room full of pastors for focusing on bringing people in instead of sending people out. Wow!

Running into a few of my favorite bloggers was the high point of the trip although it made me feel a little bit like a “groupie”! I read their posts everyday (ok most everyday) and I am really grateful for the insight and encouragement they have shared. I especially appreciate their courage for being transparent!

Having made a living playing music professionally for many years it was a little alarming to me that I was feeling like a groupie. And these were people who worked in fulltime ministry not rock stars. What was wrong with me?

I was reminded of the first time the tables were turned and I became a fan having my idol right in front of me. Growing up Frank Zappa had a huge influence on me. Every year on Halloween; Frank would hold a live event in Manhattan. I would go every single year and it was probably some of the best and craziest experiences of my life. Usually Zappa played a live concert but this particular year, 1982, he debut his movie “The Dub Room Special” at the famous Ritz Theater, which I believe is on 14th. (Dang that was a long time ago so I could be wrong!) Frank was known for being anti drugs and it just so happened that the very first time I ran into him I was wasted. We arrived at the club early and because we partied all the way there, about three hours, I was stupidly stupid!! I was standing across the street when to my shock Frank walked right in front of me. I could not say a word. I was embarrassed to meet such an intellectual while my brain was fried. As I type this the thought came that maybe that was God’s first attempt to get me sober!

Later after the movie I found myself in a line of autograph seekers slowly moving towards him. As a performer, I hated autographs and there was no way I was going to ask him for one. I was just in awe of being so close to him. I was like a zombie slowly moving forward not really paying attention to what was going on. The next thing you know, BAM! I am next in line. So I grab my ticket stub out of my pocket and I handed it to him. Up to this point Frank was going through the motions hardly looking up at people. I won’t post what I asked here but I am a real Frank Zappa fan. What I asked him to sign got him to stop and look up at me. He then looked me in the eyes and gave me this huge grin because he knew I was not just a normal fan but I somewhat understood him, like if anyone could ever understand the genius of Zappa! Wow, that was sure a long squirrel chase. Anyway, where was I?

Oh, at one point when I first got to the hotel I thought I saw Bobby Gruenewald, but I was not sure. I walked by him yet he did not look like the photo on his blog, heck, no one really did except Tim Stevens! Haven’t you run into people that looked like someone you know only to find out they are not causing an embarrassing moment? Well, I chickened out and I regret that now. I personally wanted to thank Bobby for answering my tech questions when I was starting this blog. He not only responded with help his response was prompt. Craig introduced Bobby before he spoke and I realized it was him. I was planning on saying thanks after Craig’s teaching but Bobby was nowhere to be found. Next time I will face my fear even at the risk of making a fool of myself. Why be scared of something that comes so naturally! LOL

Then I happened to run into Kem Meyer and Tim Stevens walking in the parking lot. I did recognize them but again chickened out. I usually have no fear so this was all a little strange. I kind of felt dumb that I didn’t go and say hello.

Then, as luck would have it, I ran into them in the expo hall. This time I simply walked up and introduced myself. It was an honor to meet them. Both of their blogs have changed me for the better!

The conference closed with a panel that both Kem and Tony Morgan were on. Tony was one of the first blogs I started to read on a regular basis. Being a squirrel chaser blogs fit my style of input. I really think it was Tony’s blog that first showed me how I can download a bunch of great ideas by reading blogs. I have read all of the Strategic books that Tony and Tim coauthored – great stuff!

After the panel was over I went up and introduced myself. Tony seems like a fun guy with a great sense of humor. Like Tim and Kem he was very nice and genuine! It really was an honor to meet people who have helped me in so many ways. It made the internet actually come to life for me! Even though I am still a little skeptical of online social networks and such, I believe I maybe changing.

I did have my camera on me and thought about asking them for a group photo to post here, but I chickened out. I have always wanted to visit Granger and now New Spring so I am just going to have to make that happen.

OK, well, I know Phil Cooke so I now only have to run into Seth and I will have met all of my favorite bloggers!

Added next day:

I woke up this morning and was a little convicted about telling a Zappa story since it did not relate. Basically last night I was typing off the top of my head; like usual! I try not to tell personal stories from my past unless they may help someone today! I would have edited this post but today is Sunday and it is Super Bowl time. I figured I would do it after church.

Pastor Blunt started a series on extreme makeovers this morning and I changed my mind. What a great example of how God changed a heart if several years ago I was doing drugs and going to shows waiting to meet my favorite music personality, yet today I am going to conferences, Christian conferences, trying to get ideas and attempting to network and make new friends.

For those of you that are new to hn.com and are reading this for the first time here is a link to my story. It is a great before and after testimony although God has placed my growth in overdrive these last two years. I may just have to produce an updated version.

PFL going primetime

Published

hardlynormal

on November 11, 2007

in Just Me, Marketing, Media, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach, Television and Vision

. 0 Comments

Starting Dec 9th our TV ministry is going primetime on local ABC. Right after ABC World News at 5:30pm on Sunday nights. Ok, for those of you that read hn.com and work in the industry, before you correct me, yes I know it is really “fringe time” meaning right before primetime. Still, this is very cool. The lead-out is America’s Finniest Home Videos and it is a great avail.

Most Christian TV shows use a strategy to sell product so they air when believers are watching. There is nothing wrong with that. It is how they pay for being on the air. For us, because Pastor Blunt’s vision is to reach people and we don’t try and sell anything, airing when nonbelievers have their TVs on makes primetime avails not only really cool; it is a better strategy.

An exciting month

Published

hardlynormal

on October 26, 2007

in Future, Just Me, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach, Personal and Personal Growth

. 0 Comments

This month I will be doing some traveling.

Pastor Blunt is amazing and he is always investing in his staff

Nov 1st thru 3rd I am in Palm Springs for a Bob Harrison Increase Event

Nov 7th thru 10th in San Diego for the National Outreach Convention

Then back for Hillsong Untied on Nov 14th

Then I rest for a few days starting Nov 16th at St John’s Mercy Medical Center.

I get to go meet the nurses today. This is all new to me. Most of my hospital stays I was rushed into an emergency room so there was no time to think much less meet anyone. You might want to start praying for the Hospital staff now. They may need it!

Hillsong United is coming to COTR

Published

hardlynormal

on October 26, 2007

in Just Me, Marketing, Media, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach and Remarkable

. 0 Comments

November 14th is going to be wild. To help WOM we are trying something new. We are highlighting a section of our webpage where you can email a link to a promo video we made to invite your friends. Events like these make GREAT outreaches to get people into church who may never visit a regular service.

Check it out here cotr.org/hillsong

Video from Hope Outreach

Published

hardlynormal

on October 26, 2007

in Homeless, Internet, Just Me, Media, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach and Personal

. 0 Comments

Click To Play

20 minutes with Pastor Tommy Barnett

Published

hardlynormal

on October 14, 2007

in Friends, Homeless, Just Me, Life's Lessons, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Outreach, Personal Growth, Recovery and Remarkable