There...up in the clouds! It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's...

...the Vineyard! I dumped in words from articles on the Vineyard USA website and this is what popped out on in a word cloud (from http://www.wordle.net/). I feel good about being part of the Vineyard movement because of the Vineyard's priorities and values. I think this is a good representation!

#1: The Kingdom of God (It doesn't get much better than that! ;))

Do you think there are any words missing from the word cloud? Is there anything the Vineyard (or the church in general) should be focusing on that could be added to the word list?

PS Click on the pic to get a closer look.

Why Plant New Churches? (Part 2)

Here is a great article on why the Vineyard is a Church Planting Movement. It's taken from Steve Nicholson, the Vineyard USA National Director of Church Planting.

1. Church planting is biblical (Acts 14:23).
Trace the expansion of the Church through the Book of Acts from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth and you will see that church planters led the way. Church planting is one of the key kingdom activities. It’s endorsed by God. And we can see its importance by how fiercely the devil tries to stop it. Every new church planter is tested by evil, undisciplined people, attacks on marriages, sickness, or depression. If church planting wasn’t so important, why would the devil put up such a fuss about it?

2. Church planting is the most effective form of evangelism

3. There are many people not being reached by current churches
Each generation must be reached on its own terms, culturally and stylistically. “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the Law I became like one under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law), ,so as to win those under the Law. To those not having the Law I became like one not having the Law (though I am not free from God’s Law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the Law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some" (1 Co 9:19-22). Even in saturated areas, there may be large percentages of people who are disconnected.
We need to reach the new culture, worship, and language that evolves over time.

4. We need new churches in new areas
The goal is self-reproducing churches in order to have exponential growth. Without churches, there is no conservation of the harvest and without new, vital churches, an area becomes hardened.

5. The very nature of the church directs us to church planting

6. New churches often exhibit more life than older churches
“It’s easier to have babies than to raise the dead.” – Peter Wagner

• New churches grow better than old ones
• Usually more visionary
• Easier to experiment and innovate
• Higher participation, “ownership”
• Easier to “take in” new converts

7. Church planting develops new leadership
In taking the best people from the mother church, it makes room for new leaders to emerge.

8. To reach the unchurched, we need to offer them a variety of options.
There are many not being reached!

• Among specific ethnic and immigrant groups
• Among younger generations
• In the cities
• On the mission field

9. Churches that die need to be replaced
Currently the church in America is in trouble.

• The culture has changed. 71% of Americans do not believe in absolute truth (1992).
• Of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of five either have reached a plateau or are in decline.
• 3,500 to 4,000 churches die every year. One study estimated that in the 1990’s, about 100,000 of churches closed their doors.
• Despite the growth of some churches, there has been no increase overall in people becoming Christians (Barna).
• The majority of people are unchurched. Only 37% of Americans attend services in a given week. That represents only 31% of baby-boomers and 34% of baby-busters.

Do you think these are viable reasons? Can you think of any other benefits of planting new churches?

Why Plant New Churches? (Part 1)

My chiropractor has been in our area for about 3 years. Before he came, he talked to two other chiropractors in the area. They both told him the market was saturated. He came anyway. With over 500 patients, I would guess that he now has the largest practice in town (and probably in our whole region)!

Some people wonder why we plant new churches. I see it much the same way as our chiropractor did. No matter how many people are in church, there are always that many and more who aren't. The market may be saturated with people from religious backgrounds going to church, but there are always more people who need to hear the good news of the kingdom of God!

Are there a lot of unchurched people in your area? What are churches doing to reach them? Do you think your area would benefit from new churches? Why or why not?

Does Your VISION Change Your REALITY?

(If you haven't already, please read the previous post. It's an intro to this blog.)

I started this blog because of some friends that I've been talking to about coming with us to Sioux Falls to plant a church. Most of the time people laugh when we ask them if they want to come with us to Sioux Falls, SD to plant a church. We live in Texas, so the response we usually get is, "Doesn't it get really cold up there?" Of course my answer is either, "Why, yes...yes, it does," or, "Well, with all the global warming, it's bound to be like living here in Texas soon." Sometimes I'll chuckle along with them, as if it was a joke that we would even ask them such a preposterous question about coming with us to such a foreign land.

It's not.

But we have at least one couple that is seriously considering, so I started this blog with them in mind. They at least asked the question..."What's the vision?" That's a great question! It's also a hard question to answer. I have somewhat of a vision written up (which I'll share in future posts), but sometimes I wonder if I'll have to scrap it on day one to make room for reality! At the same time, I know that vision is the driving force for reality. If we don't have an idea of where we're going and what it might look like when we get there, we'll never get anywhere!

So...with that in mind...I will begin working out the vision in blog form. I welcome you to add your thoughts to help make the vision unfold and take shape. I'm not an island, so I trust and depend on my fellow brothers and sisters to hear God's voice, too, and offer what they think He might be saying.

So, what are your thoughts on vision? Is it important? Will a specific, written vision make a difference in church planting, or will it immediately get replaced with the reality of the situation?

INTRODUCTION: The Part Everyone Should Read, but Probably Won't ;)

This blog is about the anticipated realization of a new church in Sioux Falls. It's a record of the journey to see a God-given vision come to reality (and beyond!). It's for those who are willing to join us, or are thinking about joining us, for the journey--whether by prayer, encouragement (friendship, mentorship, etc.), or your physical presence in Sioux Falls!

Even though I say it's about a church, it's really, ultimately, about the kingdom of God. We want to see His kingdom advance into places that have previously been resistant to His rule and reign. There will be struggles and challenges along the way, but they'll all be worth it for the miracles that will result!

Will you join us for the journey?