No, not the tv show!
Yesterday afternoon I called in on some friends. It was my day off, and after some training in the morning (yes - on day off!) I really didn't feel like coming back to Healesville to spend the afternoon alone at home. So, I crashed their place! In the end I stayed for a tea (with the extended family as well!), and didn't leave until after 9pm (I arrive about 3:50pm!!!).
I want to say that I feel very blessed to have this wonderful family as my friends. They are a great source of encouragement.
I also have to say that I was reintroduced to "real tea" again last night. It was brewed so well in a pot with a unique tea cosy. Perhaps it was the time of night, or perhaps it was the honey sweetening, or perhaps the interesting jokes - whatever it was it was one of the best cups of tea ever. It has inspired me to brew up some tea right now actually!
So, cheers to tea and great friends!
PS> I don't like the 29 Feb - it means I have to wait another day until the 1st March!!!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Seeking God's vision
What is it that God is calling The Salvation Army Healesville to be?
That's the question that has been buzzing around in my mind this past week or two. See, I've had lots of time to meet different people in Healesville, and get a bit of a glimpse of what the community is like. Given, it's a very limited understanding, and I know that it will grow and be challenged over time.
However, now I am really wanting to start to get a picture for the future of Healesville Salvos. I've been given some great resources - both by Andy Stanley actually!
We're part of the wider Salvos, so we will be about caring for people, transforming lives, making disciples and reforming society. How this will look in Healesville is what I am seeking.
Some of the questions I am thinking about are:
1. What are the Salvos known for - if someone says "The Salvation Army", what image comes to mind. See, if someone says "Hillsong" then people think music, if someone says "Planetshakers" it's probably music or youth. The Salvos definitely have a "brand" - whether it accurately reflects what happens in Healesville I am not too sure yet. I do know from chatting with a group of year 10 students at Healesville High last week that their understanding is limited of Healesville Salvos, and the wider Salvos for that matter too.
2. What do we do that no one else does? For me, at the moment this centres around our Care n Wear shop. No other churches run a thrift shop. The other two thrift shops in town are by non-church organisations. So, for us, we have to run the shop really well, it's something that is unique to us - and it supports the work of the corps too. Perhaps the shop is something that we can do better than no one else - and its a great way to serve the community, especially those experiencing hardship.
3. What is our preferred future? This is what God wants Healesville to look like. In 3 to 5 years what will the Corps look like, and more importantly, what will the community look like. We exist for the community, not as a club for Salvos to come and meet with each other and be navel-gazers. I so know we have to exist for the community of Healesville.
I also need to be clear about what we won't do - and stick to it (should be fun for me!!).
One thing that we do that is unique to us as well is 'cafe church'. People invite their friends to cafe church! How good is this! I think that cafe church could be further developed and become an important part of the community.
So, there are a few of the thoughts running through my mind at the moment. Needs lots of further prayer and clarification.
Please pray that I would allow time for God to speak to me. This requires me to be intentional to set apart time and be still.
Oh - grab a copy of Saturday's Warcry - it features Healesville!!!
That's the question that has been buzzing around in my mind this past week or two. See, I've had lots of time to meet different people in Healesville, and get a bit of a glimpse of what the community is like. Given, it's a very limited understanding, and I know that it will grow and be challenged over time.
However, now I am really wanting to start to get a picture for the future of Healesville Salvos. I've been given some great resources - both by Andy Stanley actually!
We're part of the wider Salvos, so we will be about caring for people, transforming lives, making disciples and reforming society. How this will look in Healesville is what I am seeking.
Some of the questions I am thinking about are:
1. What are the Salvos known for - if someone says "The Salvation Army", what image comes to mind. See, if someone says "Hillsong" then people think music, if someone says "Planetshakers" it's probably music or youth. The Salvos definitely have a "brand" - whether it accurately reflects what happens in Healesville I am not too sure yet. I do know from chatting with a group of year 10 students at Healesville High last week that their understanding is limited of Healesville Salvos, and the wider Salvos for that matter too.
2. What do we do that no one else does? For me, at the moment this centres around our Care n Wear shop. No other churches run a thrift shop. The other two thrift shops in town are by non-church organisations. So, for us, we have to run the shop really well, it's something that is unique to us - and it supports the work of the corps too. Perhaps the shop is something that we can do better than no one else - and its a great way to serve the community, especially those experiencing hardship.
3. What is our preferred future? This is what God wants Healesville to look like. In 3 to 5 years what will the Corps look like, and more importantly, what will the community look like. We exist for the community, not as a club for Salvos to come and meet with each other and be navel-gazers. I so know we have to exist for the community of Healesville.
I also need to be clear about what we won't do - and stick to it (should be fun for me!!).
One thing that we do that is unique to us as well is 'cafe church'. People invite their friends to cafe church! How good is this! I think that cafe church could be further developed and become an important part of the community.
So, there are a few of the thoughts running through my mind at the moment. Needs lots of further prayer and clarification.
Please pray that I would allow time for God to speak to me. This requires me to be intentional to set apart time and be still.
Oh - grab a copy of Saturday's Warcry - it features Healesville!!!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Back online
I'm back! I've been absent due to a lack of internet access - but last night I was connected again!
It's been another crazy week here in Healesville. I've spoken with a group of year 10 students at Healesville High, met the primary school chaplain at Healesville Primary School, met with the other ministers here in town, and eaten too much at Dinner at Darron's on Tuesday nights (including tonight's dinner which is currently sitting in my stomach).
There's lots to share, and will update the blog over the next few days.
Count113
Sunday's attendance: 23
Community Contacts: 84/113
Corps Contacts: 33/113
It's been another crazy week here in Healesville. I've spoken with a group of year 10 students at Healesville High, met the primary school chaplain at Healesville Primary School, met with the other ministers here in town, and eaten too much at Dinner at Darron's on Tuesday nights (including tonight's dinner which is currently sitting in my stomach).
There's lots to share, and will update the blog over the next few days.
Count113
Sunday's attendance: 23
Community Contacts: 84/113
Corps Contacts: 33/113
Monday, February 18, 2008
Healesville High
Today I met with the student wellbeing mangager at Healesville High School. It was an opportunity to make some further connections into the local community, and find out if there is some way that Healesville Salvos can serve Healesville High.The good news is that there are some good ideas that we talked about, and I am going back to the school on Friday to chat with a group of 24 year 10 students!
Back to school I go - in year 10 eleven years after I was there last!
Count113
Sunday's attendance: 25
Community Contacts: 76/113
Corps Contacts: 32/113
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Joyce Vera Mawson - My Grandma
Joyce Vera Mawson
28th May 1928 - 5th February 2008
Joyce Vera Healey was born on 28th May 1928 at Bethesda, Melbourne, to Salvation Army officer parents, William and Doris Healey, and was a younger sister to Jean and Glad. The family moved frequently and Joyce started school at Footscray when she was five years old. She completed her schooling in Western Australia, attended Secretarial College and commenced working for a real estate agency.
On moving to Adelaide she worked for AMP and worshipped at the Norwood Corps being involved as a timbrellist, songster and primary leader. Joyce was also an active sportswoman being a keen swimmer, netball and tennis player. After moving to Melbourne she worshipped at the Camberwell Corps. It was here that Joyce met a handsome young man, Frank Mawson, and they were married at the Camberwell Corps on 4 Feb 1950. They transferred to the Fairfield Corps and then to Heidelberg Corps where Joyce was the primary leader for many years. Joyce and Frank had four children, Rodney, Christine, Robyn (dec) and Judy.
They moved to Brisbane (where Judy was born) in 1964 and worshipped at Brisbane City Temple and then Mt Gravatt Corps. After Judy's birth she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour, and she concentrated on loving and caring for her family and friends. Joyce enjoyed her grandchildren greatly and loved being with them, often travelling significant distances to visit them.
Joyce had a strong Christian faith and this was taught and encouraged in the home. Family devotions around the dinner table were an important part of family life and she was often found on her knees at the side of her bed praying. Her faith remained strong and sure through all of her life.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Dinner at Darron's
Tonight I went to Dinner at Darron's - a weekly meal for people in the community. It's run by HICCI (that's Healesville Interchurch Community Care Incorporated which we as a Corps are part of).
I've been asked by the President of HICCI whether I can go to the meal each week as the "resident minister" to be there if people want to chat. Should be an interesting experience getting to know the community.
Tonight, Sue who attends the meal, told me a joke. "Why did the blonde have a sore belly-button?" All I can say is that dinner will be interesting...Don't know the answer...go to the end of this post!
A comment by one of the HICCI staff struck me tonight.
Tomorrow is a significant day - for two reasons. The government formally says "Sorry", and it's my grandmother's funeral. Two important events. I met with one of my neighbours last week, Auntie Dot Peters, who is an Aboriginal Elder. It was a privilege to chat with Auntie Dot, and I look forward to getting to know some of her story. There are others from the Aboriginal communtiy that I look forward to meeting soon.
Here are some praise and prayer points:
Praise:
- Lots of good connections in town
- Support from Corps members
- Support from Lieut Colonel Pam Trigg
Prayer
- To make connections & friendships with people my own age in town (can be a bit isolating)
- To be able to know what is important to do, and not be overwhelmed
- For a team to work with me in ministry here in Healesville. There are so many opportunities and possibilities, but not the people to do the work!
- For my dad and his sisters with Grandma's funeral tomorrow.
Oh - that joke answer? "Because her boyfriend was blonde too". (Don't think about this too much - I didn't say it was a good or appropriate joke!)
I've been asked by the President of HICCI whether I can go to the meal each week as the "resident minister" to be there if people want to chat. Should be an interesting experience getting to know the community.
Tonight, Sue who attends the meal, told me a joke. "Why did the blonde have a sore belly-button?" All I can say is that dinner will be interesting...Don't know the answer...go to the end of this post!
A comment by one of the HICCI staff struck me tonight.
There are many places to get a latte here in Healesville, but no where to buy pyjamas or underwear.This highlights the two different cultures here in town. There are lots of places for tourists, but if you are an elderly lady who needs new underwear, you are stuck! Public transport is lacking, and apart from Coles, you have to go into Chirnside Park to go to KMart/Target.
Tomorrow is a significant day - for two reasons. The government formally says "Sorry", and it's my grandmother's funeral. Two important events. I met with one of my neighbours last week, Auntie Dot Peters, who is an Aboriginal Elder. It was a privilege to chat with Auntie Dot, and I look forward to getting to know some of her story. There are others from the Aboriginal communtiy that I look forward to meeting soon.
Here are some praise and prayer points:
Praise:
- Lots of good connections in town
- Support from Corps members
- Support from Lieut Colonel Pam Trigg
Prayer
- To make connections & friendships with people my own age in town (can be a bit isolating)
- To be able to know what is important to do, and not be overwhelmed
- For a team to work with me in ministry here in Healesville. There are so many opportunities and possibilities, but not the people to do the work!
- For my dad and his sisters with Grandma's funeral tomorrow.
Oh - that joke answer? "Because her boyfriend was blonde too". (Don't think about this too much - I didn't say it was a good or appropriate joke!)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Isolation
Isolation hit me a bit last night. It's hard when you live by yourself in a new place and all you want is some company! It's worse when you think, "I'll go to church" then you realise that you are at least 30 mins away from somewhere so by the time you get there its too late!
There's that theme that has been present the past few weeks "God will be with me". I'm holding on to that!
Oh, in the end last night I took a magazine and went to one of the restaurants that's open late in town. I had a nice coffee and a beautiful lemon tart, and enjoyed reading the magazine. Might me a new Sunday night tradition!
There's that theme that has been present the past few weeks "God will be with me". I'm holding on to that!
Oh, in the end last night I took a magazine and went to one of the restaurants that's open late in town. I had a nice coffee and a beautiful lemon tart, and enjoyed reading the magazine. Might me a new Sunday night tradition!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Things I've learnt so far...
1. The Salvos acutually do more throughout the Yarra Ranges than I was aware. Take for example a community barbecue held each week in Milgrove. It's run by a local church, but the Salvos are involved in the funding through our community outreach worker!
2. Paying $25 to get someone to mow the lawns at the quarters isn't actually as bad as it seems - especially since it's about the size of the MCG (well, it felt like it when I mowed it).
3. Mowing the lawn and seeing a pile of feathers flying out of the mower is another reason to pay $25...
4. New carpet doesn't smell anything like old carpet.
5. I should have been an electician...$50 per hour is much more than I get!
6. The power goes off here regularly.
7. God will be with me. Again today, Pam reminded me of this through her sermon on Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3:12). There is a recurring theme coming through, and I think I am starting to get it!
Count113
Sunday's attendance: 21
Community Contacts: 63/113
Corps Contacts: Really need to confirm this week! At least 30/113
2. Paying $25 to get someone to mow the lawns at the quarters isn't actually as bad as it seems - especially since it's about the size of the MCG (well, it felt like it when I mowed it).
3. Mowing the lawn and seeing a pile of feathers flying out of the mower is another reason to pay $25...
4. New carpet doesn't smell anything like old carpet.
5. I should have been an electician...$50 per hour is much more than I get!
6. The power goes off here regularly.
7. God will be with me. Again today, Pam reminded me of this through her sermon on Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3:12). There is a recurring theme coming through, and I think I am starting to get it!
Count113
Sunday's attendance: 21
Community Contacts: 63/113
Corps Contacts: Really need to confirm this week! At least 30/113
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Jesus is cool
Disclaimer: This picture has nothing to do with anyone in Healesville...I just like the picture.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
RIP Grandma
My grandmother died this afternoon - my dad's mum.
RIP Grandma - enjoy being with Grandpa - don't party too hard on your first night, you've got all eternity to do that!!!
Love Graeme
RIP Grandma - enjoy being with Grandpa - don't party too hard on your first night, you've got all eternity to do that!!!
Love Graeme
Sunday, February 3, 2008
My installation
Today I was installed as the CO at Healesville Corps! I think that means I am now an official appliance of the Corps!We held our first "Cafe Church" for the year today. We ran out of mugs there were so many people present! I also had to find more chairs! Our guests were Noel and Joan Haworth, who I know very well from Mooroolbark. I witnessed them being enrolled as soldiers, and am good friends with their son and his family - great people! The people at Healesville love Joan and Noel! So today was a relatively relaxed day for me - no service to prepare or sermon. I did a 5 minute talk after my installation, but that was it.
During my installation Pam read from Joshua 1, a passage that was used at her first appointment many (about 37!) years ago.Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.This is a great promise - and one that I will remember well. I had prepared to speak on Matt 28 - the Great Commission...and what does that end with? "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." How great was it that we both chose passages that referred to God being with us - one from the Old Testament, and one from the New Testament. God trying to say something I think!
Other exciting stuff today - well, I mowed the back lawn, and am getting some tiling done at the house. Oh the joys of having a whole house to look after, not a two-bedroom unit!
Another exciting week coming up. Learning about risk management, finance, human resources, Red Shield appeal...sounds fun hey!!!
How's the 113 count going you ask?
Sunday's attendance: 28
Community Contacts: 51/113
Connected to Corps: 24/113
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Church hall maintenance 101
Yep - did my first 'church hall maintenance' job on Friday. I replaced the "Vacant/Engaged" catch on one of the women's toilet doors. Exciting stuff...! Even bought new soap and toilet paper too!
I did also do some other great stuff on Friday...not that the toilet maintenance isn't important! But I can't share about the exciting new ideas just yet...but they allow us to be the Salvos in Healesville, and do some of what we do best!
The greatest tragedy of the church
The greatest tragedy of the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor, it's that they do not know the poor.
Church growth and a cup of Starbucks
Thought this blog was interesting...it's from the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Community blog (www.pdymblog.com). What is it the Salvos are good at in Healesville specifically, and what is it the Salvos are known for best?
Church growth and a cup of Starbucks...
By Jim Clark
I have a bit of a different perspective on Starbucks... considering my wife works at one. And I have to admit, if you were to read through my blog, you would find that I love Starbucks. I especially love that Apple (iTunes) and Starbucks have teamed up for some things. I just think it's cool... and my wife is tired of hearing about it.
Well, last year Starbucks did something really dumb. They started trying to compete with McDonalds!!! You know, double quarter pounders, Ronald McDonald and bacon, egg and cheese biscuits. Instantly I recognized it as a church growth principle that we've talked about several times before, but I wanted to wait until the numbers were in...
Well, the numbers are in...
Starbucks stock is falling (40%... I know, we have some)...
Sales are struggling...
Stores are closing (100 low performing stores)...
Why? Starbucks isn't Starbucks anymore.
Two articles (HERE and HERE) came out yesterday in the New York Times and a customer actually passed them along to my wife. And as I read them that statement kept coming back to me over and over and over... Even though it never said it in the article, the idea was that Starbucks wasn't Starbucks anymore. It had changed and become something different.
In an effort to get things turned around, Starbucks is bringing back Howard Schultz who lead the country from 1987 - 2000. The first couple of paragraphs of one of the articles tells the story... in my opinion... check it out:
"As part of a turnaround plan, the beleaguered coffee giant said Wednesday that it would discontinue warm breakfast sandwiches at its stores and focus instead on healthy breakfast options and high-quality baked goods.
“In short, the scent of the warm sandwiches interferes with the coffee aroma in our stores,” said Howard D. Schultz, the company’s chairman and chief executive."
When you walk into a Starbucks, it smells like McDonalds... not coffee. And they are exactly right. It smells like sandwiches because they started selling sandwiches. Why?
-Trying to compete with a McDonalds.
Now, you might say, that's just a coincidence... But it's not. Recently the Starbucks stores in our area started opening a half an hour earlier... 5 am... why, you ask???
-Because it seems that McDonalds down the road does (in my opinion).
Here's another short snipet: "Mr. Schultz has said he wants to refocus on the “customer experience,” recapturing some of the magic of the chain’s early years, when employees — who had heard the term barista before Starbucks came along? — made the drinks by hand and customers were excited by top-notch coffee.
"Mr. Schultz faces a difficult task: He has to slow down the company to make stores feel more like hip neighborhood coffeehouses while also delivering the steady growth that investors have come to expect from Starbucks."
Now, I love Starbucks (I'm sipping on some home ground stuff right now...). I love to go to Starbucks... it's one of my favorite offices away from the office, but I have to admit, there are some problems with the stores.
So... what's the church growth aspect of things in this article?
Simple... two things:
1. Churches need to focus on those who are coming in their doors and those who may come in their doors.
2. Churches need to do what they do best and not worry about what everyone else is doing.
What always seems to happen in churches is that churches develop something that they are known for... AWANA... Students... Children's... College... Great worship... Powerful preaching... and they do it and do it well and people come for what is done well. But then that church notices that another church down the road is doing something different well. So they begin to adapt their programming to meet the competition of the other church. Rather than continuing to focus on what they are doing.
It's like a "Pizza Hut" looking across the street at "McDonalds" and saying, "Hey, we can make cheeseburgers too!!" Then in that situation, they take a location that makes pretty good pizza and they ruin it because they start tying to sell cheeseburgers. Or if "KFC" should look across the street at "Pizza Hut" and say, "Hey, we can make pizzas too!!" Then they take a place that is known for chicken and mess it up by trying to cook pizzas. Or if "Starbucks" should look across the street at "McDonalds" and say: "Hey, we can serve breakfast sandwiches too!!" In the end, everyone loses. Because we don't have any place that makes good burgers, pizzas, chicken or coffee. (Not that McDonalds, KFC or Pizza Hut actually make that great of stuff... but you get the picture...)
One of the problems with the scenario is this: Churches have begun or have always seen since the Reformation movement (16th and 17th centuries), the church across the street as competition rather than companions in Kingdom work. We see the baptist church... the community church... the presbyterian church... as someone that we need to run out of business rather than someone that we should celebrate and partner with in working for the Kingdom of God. (Differences in opinions and theology aside at the moment.) There is a church... Millcreek Baptist Church... being built about a mile down the road from FVCC. Is that church God's church or competition?
When a church tries to do something outside of its nature and tries to provide something inconsistent with its identity and mission, everyone loses. The church loses its way. The people lose what they have found at that church. The staff at that church lose their passion because they are doing something outside of their giftedness. God loses because that church isn't doing what He put it there to do.
Seems simple enough:
People like coffee... Starbucks has good coffee... Sell coffee.
People like things done well... Churches do certain things well... Keep doing things well.
Simple, but hard to stick with.
Jim
Church growth and a cup of Starbucks...
By Jim Clark
I have a bit of a different perspective on Starbucks... considering my wife works at one. And I have to admit, if you were to read through my blog, you would find that I love Starbucks. I especially love that Apple (iTunes) and Starbucks have teamed up for some things. I just think it's cool... and my wife is tired of hearing about it.
Well, last year Starbucks did something really dumb. They started trying to compete with McDonalds!!! You know, double quarter pounders, Ronald McDonald and bacon, egg and cheese biscuits. Instantly I recognized it as a church growth principle that we've talked about several times before, but I wanted to wait until the numbers were in...
Well, the numbers are in...
Starbucks stock is falling (40%... I know, we have some)...
Sales are struggling...
Stores are closing (100 low performing stores)...
Why? Starbucks isn't Starbucks anymore.
Two articles (HERE and HERE) came out yesterday in the New York Times and a customer actually passed them along to my wife. And as I read them that statement kept coming back to me over and over and over... Even though it never said it in the article, the idea was that Starbucks wasn't Starbucks anymore. It had changed and become something different.
In an effort to get things turned around, Starbucks is bringing back Howard Schultz who lead the country from 1987 - 2000. The first couple of paragraphs of one of the articles tells the story... in my opinion... check it out:
"As part of a turnaround plan, the beleaguered coffee giant said Wednesday that it would discontinue warm breakfast sandwiches at its stores and focus instead on healthy breakfast options and high-quality baked goods.
“In short, the scent of the warm sandwiches interferes with the coffee aroma in our stores,” said Howard D. Schultz, the company’s chairman and chief executive."
When you walk into a Starbucks, it smells like McDonalds... not coffee. And they are exactly right. It smells like sandwiches because they started selling sandwiches. Why?
-Trying to compete with a McDonalds.
Now, you might say, that's just a coincidence... But it's not. Recently the Starbucks stores in our area started opening a half an hour earlier... 5 am... why, you ask???
-Because it seems that McDonalds down the road does (in my opinion).
Here's another short snipet: "Mr. Schultz has said he wants to refocus on the “customer experience,” recapturing some of the magic of the chain’s early years, when employees — who had heard the term barista before Starbucks came along? — made the drinks by hand and customers were excited by top-notch coffee.
"Mr. Schultz faces a difficult task: He has to slow down the company to make stores feel more like hip neighborhood coffeehouses while also delivering the steady growth that investors have come to expect from Starbucks."
Now, I love Starbucks (I'm sipping on some home ground stuff right now...). I love to go to Starbucks... it's one of my favorite offices away from the office, but I have to admit, there are some problems with the stores.
So... what's the church growth aspect of things in this article?
Simple... two things:
1. Churches need to focus on those who are coming in their doors and those who may come in their doors.
2. Churches need to do what they do best and not worry about what everyone else is doing.
What always seems to happen in churches is that churches develop something that they are known for... AWANA... Students... Children's... College... Great worship... Powerful preaching... and they do it and do it well and people come for what is done well. But then that church notices that another church down the road is doing something different well. So they begin to adapt their programming to meet the competition of the other church. Rather than continuing to focus on what they are doing.
It's like a "Pizza Hut" looking across the street at "McDonalds" and saying, "Hey, we can make cheeseburgers too!!" Then in that situation, they take a location that makes pretty good pizza and they ruin it because they start tying to sell cheeseburgers. Or if "KFC" should look across the street at "Pizza Hut" and say, "Hey, we can make pizzas too!!" Then they take a place that is known for chicken and mess it up by trying to cook pizzas. Or if "Starbucks" should look across the street at "McDonalds" and say: "Hey, we can serve breakfast sandwiches too!!" In the end, everyone loses. Because we don't have any place that makes good burgers, pizzas, chicken or coffee. (Not that McDonalds, KFC or Pizza Hut actually make that great of stuff... but you get the picture...)
One of the problems with the scenario is this: Churches have begun or have always seen since the Reformation movement (16th and 17th centuries), the church across the street as competition rather than companions in Kingdom work. We see the baptist church... the community church... the presbyterian church... as someone that we need to run out of business rather than someone that we should celebrate and partner with in working for the Kingdom of God. (Differences in opinions and theology aside at the moment.) There is a church... Millcreek Baptist Church... being built about a mile down the road from FVCC. Is that church God's church or competition?
When a church tries to do something outside of its nature and tries to provide something inconsistent with its identity and mission, everyone loses. The church loses its way. The people lose what they have found at that church. The staff at that church lose their passion because they are doing something outside of their giftedness. God loses because that church isn't doing what He put it there to do.
Seems simple enough:
People like coffee... Starbucks has good coffee... Sell coffee.
People like things done well... Churches do certain things well... Keep doing things well.
Simple, but hard to stick with.
Jim
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