Here are my notes from Gary Lamb’s session titled, “Going all out for the disconnected.” Gary pastors Ridge Stone Revolution Church Canton, GA and meets in a movie theater. Gary is in your face and is about as real as they come.

Like I mentioned in a previous post, some dudes were squirming in their seats and Gary says someone stood up and walked out. I marked those moments I saw squirming in my notes.

Here are some highlights:

• You’ve got to be crazy to church plant. Church planting is an extreme sport.
• You’ve got to be balls to the wall to reach the disconnected. (Squirm 1)
• Most churches say they go for the unchurched but they don’t.
• Do you really want to reach unchurched people? It’s uncomfortable and messy and you will be attacked-by other Christians. (Squirm 2)
• It takes a messy church to reach a messy world.
• Reaching for the unchurched hinders your church growth, costs you financially, and brings criticism. Are you sure you want to reach the unchurched? (Squirm 3)
• Know the culture you are in and create a culture for those you’re trying to reach.
• Develop friendships with unchurched people in your area. Gary told about how he used to tip a hostess $1 for every person she sat next to him at the bar in Applebees just so he could connect. (Squirm 4)
• Quit talking- start doing.
• In Gary’s church, if you’re a Christian and are not serving or in a small group- leave. (Squirm 5)
• Things his church need to have: coffee like you’d get at a coffee shop, easy access in and out of the facility, have plenty of signate with simple wording.
• He believes in doing church in the marketplace.
• Gary’s church hs a 4 piece band with drums, guitars, and bass and they play rock music and use “secular” songs. Gary said, “When I see a guy chopping away at a keyboard and leading worship it makes me want to throw up.” (Squirm 6)
• Gary’s church uses cultural references and 75% of his teaching is for felt needs.
• He and his church communicate simple and directly. No churchy talk.
• The church wants to make it easy for newbies to be anonymous.
• They target men without apology down to colors, music, marketing, etc. “If you reach men, you reach their family.” They don’t use pastel colors and avoid femine touches. (Squirm 7)
• They monitor organizations that target their guys like SpikeTV, ESPN, NASCAR, etc. and then they copy them.
• He is not anti-women. Gary just knows that most women want they man to go to church and are happy when he does.
• Gary and his staff apparently buy lots of gadgets and toys.
• “We bring it hard.” They don’t water-down anything. Unchurched people love the truth. They feel disrespected if you don’t give it to them straight. Don’t be afraid to take a stand and show them where to back it up in Scripture.
• Keep it real- not just on Sundays.
• Be yourself at all times.
• Stop worrying about what other people think- even pastors, denominations, networks, bloggers, etc.
• Be best friends with your staff.
• Church planting is the most rewarding thing in the world.
• Regarding children- they don’t allow any kids in the service. (Squirm Ocho)
• 99% of the congregation love that they don’t. The service isn’t targeted for them.
• “If a kid is sitting in the back row coloring or playing PSP, that’s not worship.” Instead, they invest in their children’s ministry and allow the kids to get something fruitful that’s geared towards them in other theaters.
• Here is what their typical service looks like:
  • Intro with a popular song
  • Quick greeting
  • Worship with music
  • Video-intro or movie clip
  • Preach
  • End with song
• Unchurched people don’t come every week- accept it.

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These are notes from Perry’s breakout session- Maximizing Leadership at the churchplanters.com conference. This was off the chain incredible. I believe churchplanters.com will have these sessions available on CD and I advise you pick it up- especially church leaders. But heed this warning- it will cause discomfort.

All good churches have this one thing in common- a dynamic leader and there are five things you and I must do as leaders.

• I must champion the vision
  • Most churches are structured for failure.
  • Anytime God told something to someone in the Bible, he didn’t tell a committee- he told a person.
  • Many churches are run like an airline- There is a pilot and co-pilot and when they have trouble, instead of making the decision and fixing the problem, the go to first class and get opinions and then they go to coach and take a vote before they act.
  • Most people in a church never met a pastor with a backbone.
  • If you don’t lead your church- Satan will.
  • Don’t prostitute your vision
• I can not please everyone
  • In all of us, there’s a deep desire to make everyone happy.
  • Accept this- you will piss people off.
  • Your vision answers all your questions.
  • The bigger your church gets- the less you should do. Do what you do best and stick to the vision God gave you.
  • When people tell Perry they should have a Christian school he yells, “NO!”, He’s more interested in turning the public schools Christian. We are called to be the salt and the light.
  • Be willing to make someone mad.
  • When people tell Perry they should have a men’s or women’s ministry, he again says, NO! When people tell him they want to go deeper he says to read your Bible.
  • Church launches have to accept they are like space shuttles. In order to orbit, stuff has to fall off. The same is true of church. Be cool when people leave.
  • Addition by subtraction.
  • You can’t please everyone on your staff just like you can’t please everyone in your congregation.
  • When tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and there are people who need Jesus- Churches should have small savings accounts and spend their money wisely.
  • All decision should be made according to the vision.
• I must fully trust God
  • There’s a fine line between faith and stupidity.
  • If you’ve never had your back against the wall- get ready.
  • If you’re taking risks, you’re going to have “Oh, crap” moments.
  • Have daily time with God. You will need it.
• I cannot do everything
  • The bigger your church gets- the less you can do as the leader.
  • Operate like the church is double the size it currently is.
• I am not that smart
  • The worst thing that can happen to us is when we think we’re really that good.
  • It’s God’s vision that he placed in me. Again, it’s God’s.
  • God says, “I will choose the foolish to shame the wise.”
  • Beg God for wisdom and God’s wisdom is found in scripture not in degrees.
  • We underestimate what God will do in the long-term.
  • Never say, “I got it all figured out.”
  • Read Nehemiah over and over again. Also read about Moses, the Gospels, and Acts. There were some serious leaders.
  • A pastor doesn’t screw up his church by following scripture.
  • Seek wisdom from others.
  • There 3 qualifications of people before you listen to them. In order of importance:
    • They have a heart for God and love Jesus.
    • They love the church.
    • They love you.
  • Create a leadership environment where people can be honest with you.
  • Be secure when you’re learning from other leaders.
  • Again, be secure.

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I’m sitting in my hotel room and I’m just sort of depressurizing after the conference. What a trip! The thing that makes any trip awesome are the people you connect with. Here are some highlights of the people I got to know this week.

• I met a couple of cool guys, Matt Evans and Aaron Gable from Rock Bridge Community Church, at Chick-Fil-A before the conference began. They spotted me right away and asked if I was in town for the conference. Matt planted a church in Dalton, GA and he and Aaron are the real deal. I liked these guys and it was fun running into them throughout the conference.
• I also met Sean and Sara Alsobrooks towards the end of the conference. This was one cool couple. They live in California and are soon moving to Knoxville, TN to plant a church. I had quite a bit in common with them and I look forward to staying in touch with them.  These were the type of people I could definately be friends with. 
• I really dug Michael Lukaszewski. He leads Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, GA and is one of the brightest guys I met this week. His breakout session was very useful and he was open and honest.
• Another couple I met were Dave and Dana Anderson. Dave leads Crosspoint Community Church down in Decatur, AL. I appreciated Dave’s wisdom and you got to love a guy who’s willing to have his band play “Jump” by Van Halen during church.
• While I was the only dude from South Dakota, a number of people had connections to SD. One such guy is Greg Oraham. He is a pastor in Seneca, SC to an exploding church, Foothills Community Church. Perry Noble introduced this guy to me and had the highest praises for Greg. He actually has family in Rapid City.
• Nothing was funnier than watching dudes squirm in their seats during Gary Lamb’s breakout session. I, for one, loved it. Gary has sold out to reaching the unchurched and dechurched and it’s contagious.
• Perry Noble made me feel short and I’m 6’4.” I think he’s like 6’6”.
• The Mountain Lake Church staff and volunteers are the warmest and most welcoming group I’ve EVER experienced in a church. Kudos! Plus, they have a banging worship team.
• There were so many other folks I met and I can’t remember their names at the moment. Church planters are crazy, kooky, awesome, loving people and it was a joy to hang out with them for a couple of days.

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Perry Noble came with it today. What makes Perry so great is that he leads one of the fastest (if not THE fastest) growing church in the country and yet, he’s humble. He oozes passion and has got balls when he preaches. I love it. Here are some highlights of Perry’s main session.

• Perry does a rockin’ Yoda impression.
• Churches are always looking for the next program or formula to grow their church but it doesn’t exist.
• Relook at your calling (Exodus 33: 1-2)
• God called Moses- has he called you. You have to get this right. You HAVE to be called.
• “If you’re a pissed off youth pastor- don’t plant a church.”
• Church planting is not safe or easy- and God calls us to things that are unsafe.
• Relook at your own people. (Exodus 33: 12)
  Look at who’s around you. Who’s going with you?
  Don’t promise staff position to people before your first service.
  If you’re afraid to ask people for serious commitment- you shouldn’t lead.
• Relook at your vision. (Exodus 33:13)
• The only people we offend with tough talk is church people.
• If your vision is to be like someone else- that’s not vision- it’s admiration.
• The body of Christ is a body and every body has an exit.
  
• Churches today are full of crap and need an enema. (Like I said, he brought it).
• Relook at your potential (Exodus 33: 14-18)
• Be crazy enough to believe that if God said something in Scripture He can do it today.
• God is a God of no limits.
• As a church planter- don’t focus on the past- look at what God is doing right now.
• Don’t give up.

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Matt Carter is up.  Matt is the pastor of Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX.  He poured his heart out and that was awesome.  Plus, Chris Tomlin (the dude who writes most of those worship songs you sing in your church) is his worship leader.   Here’s some highlights from Matt’s session:

• God has resolved to fulfill his vision in me.
• Church planters put a mask on Jesus so others feel comfortable. We need to take it off and be real about Jesus.
• Matt shared about hearing he had cancer.  Very real and authenitic moment. He shared how he asked God to speak to him and he plopped open his Bible and read Jeremiah 2:13 and after reading it he realized that God want to bring comfort- he wanted to bring holiness.  Matt felt God saying that there were parts of his life he had not surrendered. (We can all relate).  And that God was going to send Matt in the desert.
• God has absolutely resolved that we be people of holy urgency (unction).
• Live your life like its your last day.
• After sharing with John Piper that he had cancer, Matt said that Piper replied, “Suffering is a beautiful hermeneutic.”
• Do you really trust God?  Really?
• In the example of Jesus, sometimes trusting means you don’t get off the cross.

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It’s day 2 of the Churchplanters.com conference and Dave Ferguson from National Community Church and author of, “The Big Idea ” is up. You can’t help but like Dave. Plus, he kind of looks like a blonde Edward Norton with blond hair. Here some notes from his session:

• Based his message on Acts 1:8
• What’s the dream? If you say it out loud, you sort of commit yourself to it.
• Quoted Alexander the Great, “Mediocre armies stay in known territories; great armies march off the map.”
• Have Spirit-led churches.
• Listen to Jesus (John 10:27)
• Keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)
• God speaks, we step. God speaks, we step. God speaks, we step. (Lather, rinse, repeat).
• We need to be a community with a cause.
• As bad as you want it- God wants it more.
• What do you miss by not listening?
• Be risk-taking churches and risk-taking leaders.
• What’s the affect of faith? What doesn’t faith feel like? Doesn’t it feel like risk.
• Church planters know about faith.
• The fear of failure and rejection prevent church planters from taking risk.
• Take risks on your emerging leaders.
• Take risks on emerging artists because art requires risk. Everyone who sings, paints, plays, dance, etc. put themselves out there and take risks.
• Churches aren’t known for taking risks…yet.
• That feeling you feel in your gut as an early church planter- don’t lose it.
• Be a reproducing church.

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I enjoyed hanging out with a bunch of dudes at the the Churchplanters.com Conference who have blogs. It’s interesting to hear how others use their blog for their ministry (or how they don’t use it).

There were quite a few other dudes interested in blogging which is pretty cool. I fear some view it as some magical growth solution for their church- which its not- but it does remove the “pulpit barrier” between a pastor and his community- and that’s cool. 

Check these guys out and if any peak your interest, add them in your favorite blog reader or your favorites.

• www.shawnlovejoy.com
• www.garylamb.org
• www.jayganble.com
• www.travisjohnson.net
• www.genejennings.com
• www.chriselrod.com
• www.rogerblackmore.com
• www.jonathaneverette.blogspot.com
• www.brekonelmwood.com
• www.jasonaldridge.blogspot.com/
• www.greenhillscc.blogspot.com
• www.fatguyinalittlecoat.blogspot.com
• www.douggregg.blogspot.com
• www.moviepastor.typepad.com
• www.youcanknowGod.com
• www.gregoraham.blogspot.com
• www.joshuagregory.net
• www.byron-harvey.com
• www.launchachurch.com
• www.thinkinginprogress.com

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Along with a great conference today, I got to hang out with some really cool pastors who have all planted churches. I ran into them at Chili’s and they invited me to join them for dinner. This was a pretty dynamic and diverse group of guys and I really enjoyed our time together. The gang included Travis and Joe and from Life Pointe Church near Miami, Chris from Compass Pointe Church in Lakeland, FL (who Ed Stetzer dedicated his session to), and Landon Reesor from Encounter Church in Stamford, CT. Landon needs to blog because that dude has some cool insights.

We spent hours over chips and salsa talking about the church, the unchurched, culture, theology, and more. A great group of guys!

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Ed Stetzer brought it today. I can tell you that he is very well-respected by many of the folks in attendance for this conference. He’s got street cred’ with church planters- that’s for sure. Here’s some highlights of his session.

• We are to relate the gospel to people in culture. Acts 13; Acts 17
• Pastors need to “move beyond creativity envy and demographic lust.”
• The problem with many church planters is they go to conferences and instead of going back and planting that church in their area- they only plant them in their heads.
• Plant the church in the community you’re in- not the one you wish you had.
• Fall in love with your people.
• Not everything in culture belong in your life or your church.
• We are to relate the gospel-not just creativity.
• Ask this question when reviewing your messages: “Would this messsage still be true if Jesus had not died on the cross?
• Ed said this of John Maxwell: The 80’s called and they want their turtleneck back. Kind of ironic coming from Ed.
• Creativity should help communicate the gospel. That should be its purpose. Not creativity for creativity’s sake.
• Your church should not be about how great a speaker you are- it should be about how great God is.
• Be creative but make sure they get Christ.
• Seniors show up to things early; lost people show up late.
• Relate to culture but don’t confuse.
• It’s vital that we have a clear understanding of the gospel.
• Everything we do to relate should not be a distraction to the gospel- it should point people to it.
• We need to be “seeker comprehensible.”
• It’s all about Jesus- not us!

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