Today was spent doing some brainstorming for our first series "Life in HD". I met up with Wil and Reggie at Marathon North and we brainstormed through all four messages in that series. We came up with some cool stuff that will challenge and stretch us all. Be sure to go ahead and be inviting your friends and neighbors to our first service on 10.07.07 @10:07 a.m. at Wren High School.
One of the main things Stone Bridge will be focused on is Keystones, which is our home group or life groups. Doing life together as seen in Acts 2 is a key component of what the church was created to be. Keystones will be a basis for discipleship, fellowship, missions , and evangelism. If Keystones operates the way the early church operated, we will see people come to Christ in our everyday lives as we come in contact people day by day. A friend gave me some interesting material this week. It basically said that a church can be an organization where Sundays become the entire focus or the church can become a living organism through life groups. Once a church moves beyond an organization and transforms into a living organism, then true life change begins to take place. Church then moves from being a building or a service and turns into a lifestyle lived out daily by the Body of Christ. Then our "services" become a celebration of what has taken place throughout the week in the life of the church.
My prayer is that we will will become like that. A church that does life together and as we do, a community is changed.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Update
The past couple of days have been extremely busy. The web site is coming together quite nicely and should be up and running within the next couple of weeks. We are putting together our Children's Ministry Team and have already met with a couple of folks who are going to be heading that up. This is huge because the Children's Area has been one of my biggest concerns.
I have met with several other people this week who will be a part of the church in different ways and each meeting has given me more insight into what it will take for the church to make an impact in the community.
This coming week begins our core group meetings. If you would like to be a part of one of these, drop me an email and I will send you directions to the one that you choose to come to. The response so far has been good and I am looking forward to seeing what happens when we begin to come together for these meetings.
I have met with several other people this week who will be a part of the church in different ways and each meeting has given me more insight into what it will take for the church to make an impact in the community.
This coming week begins our core group meetings. If you would like to be a part of one of these, drop me an email and I will send you directions to the one that you choose to come to. The response so far has been good and I am looking forward to seeing what happens when we begin to come together for these meetings.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
What Does it Take to Start a Church? (Part 3)
Recently, someone who knew I was starting a church, asked me how much money does it take to start a church. I told him that it depends on a number of factors.
You have to consider things like: what type facilities are you going to be renting for your weekly service? Will it be furnished? Is there a sound system? Are you planning on having a projection system? Will you have any paid staff to start? What will you do about computers? How much will it cost to furnish the Children's Area? Will you need a trailer to carry all the stuff you rent or buy? How much will your materials cost for Home Groups? This list could go on and on but I think you get the point.
Anyway, we have decided to focus on some key things at the beginning of our church start. Our main focus is the following aspects: Home Group Fellowship, Children, Youth, College, and Corporate Worship Time.
Having nailed that down, then we had to look and say what are they key elements we need to start? Then we proceeded from there. We wanted to avoid being in heavy debt so we have focused on the basics. Don't get me wrong we are going to do ministry in an excellent way but we did not want to start out way over our head.
So for us that number is $18,000. It will take us about $18000 to start a church. That covers facility rental, sound system, projection system, children's area, computers,materials for home groups, web design and more. The cool thing is that I have hardly shared this with anyone and so far we have had over $5000 given to the church. I am amazed at what God is doing and is going to do. My goal is for us to start into our first week and be completely debt free right from the start.
You have to consider things like: what type facilities are you going to be renting for your weekly service? Will it be furnished? Is there a sound system? Are you planning on having a projection system? Will you have any paid staff to start? What will you do about computers? How much will it cost to furnish the Children's Area? Will you need a trailer to carry all the stuff you rent or buy? How much will your materials cost for Home Groups? This list could go on and on but I think you get the point.
Anyway, we have decided to focus on some key things at the beginning of our church start. Our main focus is the following aspects: Home Group Fellowship, Children, Youth, College, and Corporate Worship Time.
Having nailed that down, then we had to look and say what are they key elements we need to start? Then we proceeded from there. We wanted to avoid being in heavy debt so we have focused on the basics. Don't get me wrong we are going to do ministry in an excellent way but we did not want to start out way over our head.
So for us that number is $18,000. It will take us about $18000 to start a church. That covers facility rental, sound system, projection system, children's area, computers,materials for home groups, web design and more. The cool thing is that I have hardly shared this with anyone and so far we have had over $5000 given to the church. I am amazed at what God is doing and is going to do. My goal is for us to start into our first week and be completely debt free right from the start.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
What Does it Take to Start a Church? Part 2
People- To start a church requires people, but not just warm bodies. To start a church it takes people that are committed to the vision of the church. When people unite with a shared vision of what a church can and should be, then we begin to see the church making a difference in the community in which it operates.
In Acts 2 it talks about how they were working together in unison. They were doing life together. They were authentic in their everyday dealings in the community. People could see that worship was their everyday lifestyle and not just a service on Sunday. They were doing ministry simply by living out each day of their life for Christ.
Starting a church requires people who are willing to do as Mathew 5:16 says when we're called to live our lives each day so that others see Christ working through us and in us.
To many, church today has become a Sunday Morning performance. People dress up and show up to put on their show. On the outside everything looks great but on the inside there is a longing for something more. To start a church it requires people who are committed to allow Sunday Morning to be an extension of Christ working in their lives the other six days of the week. When this begins to happen, the church comes to life and lives begin to be changed.
In Acts 2 it talks about how they were working together in unison. They were doing life together. They were authentic in their everyday dealings in the community. People could see that worship was their everyday lifestyle and not just a service on Sunday. They were doing ministry simply by living out each day of their life for Christ.
Starting a church requires people who are willing to do as Mathew 5:16 says when we're called to live our lives each day so that others see Christ working through us and in us.
To many, church today has become a Sunday Morning performance. People dress up and show up to put on their show. On the outside everything looks great but on the inside there is a longing for something more. To start a church it requires people who are committed to allow Sunday Morning to be an extension of Christ working in their lives the other six days of the week. When this begins to happen, the church comes to life and lives begin to be changed.
Monday, August 13, 2007
What Does it take to Start a Church? Part 1
Part 1 Vision-
Back several years ago, Melissa and I began taking a look at church and how it was or wasn't impacting the lives of the people in it. Being on staff it was an introspection process for me and all I was doing or not doing at the time. Melissa and I had several conversations on how the church was impacting or not impacting the lives of people. Then one Sunday we were sitting there in the service and it hit me. I had watched as soloist, deacons, the choir and others had done one part or another in the service and it seemed as if there was a total disconnect.
I began thinking about what I was doing and I realized where the disconnect came from. Most everything that the church(myself included) was doing was totally irrelevant in the life of the average person outside the walls of the church. The reason people were'nt coming was because we had failed to meet people where they were. We were in the 21st century conducting ministry from the 19th century. The same old way of doing things wasn't working but no one would change because it was so comfortable to continue doing things the way they always had been done.
That was over 6 years ago.
God placed a vision on my heart that church could be different. God is still in the business of using the people of the church to reach the world. But if we are going to do this then we have to be willing to change.
I see a church where people are passionate about God. I see a church where it's people are passionate about others. Not concerned about just themselves and what's in it for them but a people who look out for the needs of others.
I see a church where the people are authentic, a place where people are real in their worship. I see a church that lives out this authenticity each day of the week as they worship God with their lifestyle.
I see a church that is relevant in it's presentation of the Message of Christ. I see a church that doesn't get stuck in the rut of traditions. I see a church that is willing to step out in faith to become all things to all men.
And finally I see a church where people give their best to God, not just a half hearted effort. But giving their best realizing that people's eternity is at stake. A church where people don't merely go through the motions but rather dive in head first giving their full effort.
Back several years ago, Melissa and I began taking a look at church and how it was or wasn't impacting the lives of the people in it. Being on staff it was an introspection process for me and all I was doing or not doing at the time. Melissa and I had several conversations on how the church was impacting or not impacting the lives of people. Then one Sunday we were sitting there in the service and it hit me. I had watched as soloist, deacons, the choir and others had done one part or another in the service and it seemed as if there was a total disconnect.
I began thinking about what I was doing and I realized where the disconnect came from. Most everything that the church(myself included) was doing was totally irrelevant in the life of the average person outside the walls of the church. The reason people were'nt coming was because we had failed to meet people where they were. We were in the 21st century conducting ministry from the 19th century. The same old way of doing things wasn't working but no one would change because it was so comfortable to continue doing things the way they always had been done.
That was over 6 years ago.
God placed a vision on my heart that church could be different. God is still in the business of using the people of the church to reach the world. But if we are going to do this then we have to be willing to change.
I see a church where people are passionate about God. I see a church where it's people are passionate about others. Not concerned about just themselves and what's in it for them but a people who look out for the needs of others.
I see a church where the people are authentic, a place where people are real in their worship. I see a church that lives out this authenticity each day of the week as they worship God with their lifestyle.
I see a church that is relevant in it's presentation of the Message of Christ. I see a church that doesn't get stuck in the rut of traditions. I see a church that is willing to step out in faith to become all things to all men.
And finally I see a church where people give their best to God, not just a half hearted effort. But giving their best realizing that people's eternity is at stake. A church where people don't merely go through the motions but rather dive in head first giving their full effort.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Core Group Meetings
We have scheduled 4 of the Core Group meetings with one left to finalize. Having said that, if you would like to get in on the ground floor of what is going to be happening at Stone Bridge Church then make plans to be at one of these meetings. Each meeting will be the same so you will only need to be at one. This will be a time of sharing the vision for the church, prayer, and answering any questions that you may have. You will also have a chance to get plugged in to one of our ministries right from the start. If you are considering being a part of the church, then I encourage you to be a part of this awesome time. Once you decide which meeting you will be able to attend, please email me at scbushelno@aol.com for directions and so we can have an idea of how many to plan for at each location. The dates and locations are as follows: August 22nd- Easley @ the home of Ray and Sandra Clary, August 23rd-Anderson @ the home of Jeff and Alfreda Scott, August 28th -Piedmont @ the home of Jeff and Lisa Garrison, August 29th - Powdersville @ the home of Danny and Brenda Miller
Each meeting will last from 7:00-8:00 p.m. with the exception of the Piedmont meeeting which will start at 6:45p.m. and end at 7:45p.m..
Each meeting will last from 7:00-8:00 p.m. with the exception of the Piedmont meeeting which will start at 6:45p.m. and end at 7:45p.m..
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Here's the Latest
We have just about finalized our upcoming Core Group meetings. I will post the dates and locations in the next couple of days. I will say that there will be one meeting in Piedmont, one in Anderson, one in Easley, and two in Powdersville. Once I post the locations, you are free to attend the one closest to you. These Core Group meetings will help you find out more about the church and have any questions answered that you might have. These meetings promise to be exciting as we will begin to see the possibilities that can take place. I am excited about sharing the vision of the church and even more excited to see what happens when people get on board.
Melissa and I will be in Cincinnati this week with Isaac while he has surgery. I will still update and this week I will be doing a three part post on what it takes to start Stone Bridge Church.
Check back for more updates this week and remember to go ahead and begin inviting people for 10.07.07 @ 10:07 A.M. in the Wren High School Auditorium. My prayer is that people would come to Christ from Day 1.
Melissa and I will be in Cincinnati this week with Isaac while he has surgery. I will still update and this week I will be doing a three part post on what it takes to start Stone Bridge Church.
Check back for more updates this week and remember to go ahead and begin inviting people for 10.07.07 @ 10:07 A.M. in the Wren High School Auditorium. My prayer is that people would come to Christ from Day 1.
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