The Elders

Last night I met with the elder board here at NW, to talk about the future of LifeBridge. I have to say, that I have such high regard for our elders. It's good to be part of an organization where you trust and admire the leadership. In other contexts I've been in, this wasn't necessarily the case...and it's not fun.

At the gym I work out at there are signs everywhere promoting a new class called Body Attack. The signs are well-made. The title is catchy and makes me a little bit curious. I clearly need some kind of full-body assault against the extra weight I carry.

But there is no chance of me actually going to this class.

Why? Because I don't know anyone else going...and I'm not too sure about going to an "excercise class." It doesn't feel very manly.

Let me make the analogy clear. I'm motivated, I'm interested, I'm aware, but I'm not even willing to "check it out."

If you think that good advertising, great graphics, a slick website, a nice sign out front, etc., will cause people to come to your church, or your ministry, you're wrong -- even if they are "seekers," and they are motivated, interested and semi-aware of what goes on in your building.

In fact, I would probably argue that until they know someone that is being impacted by what you're doing. They probably won't come.

Most Innovative Church

Outreach magazine, in it's most recent issue named Lifechurch.TV as the most innovative church in America. Their criteria were the following: multi-site or video venue, formal civic partnerships, film/media production (for use outside of the church), availability of a podcast/vodcast, whether or not the church has a blog, attachment to church planting networks & whether they offer multilingual services/resources.

The cool thing about Lifechurch.TV is that by everything that I see, their goal is NOT to be innovative, but simply to reach as many people for Jesus as they can. If you'd like to see pastor Craig Groeschel's Vission 2007, click on the Lifechurch.TV button below. Here's his new blog, if you're interested.