Blake Bouldin

How Do You Measure Success In The Church?

I ran across a great blog by W. David Phillips on www.backyardmissionary.com where he attempts to redefine the measure of success in the church.  The measures he writes about are quite different than what we normally measure success by.  Our culture's normal measures of success center around the number of people attending, the popularity of the pastor, and how big the buildings and the budget are.  Recently, there has been another measure added and that is how many video venues a church has.  While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of these things, personally I think the list Phillips gives has some validity as well.  Check it out and give me your feedback.

Measures of success for a local church:

1. The number of cigarette butts in the church parking lot

2. The number of adoptions people in the church have made from local foster care

3. The number of pictures on the church wall of unwed mothers holding their newborn babies in their arms for the first time

4. The number of classes for special needs children and adults

5. The number of former convicted felons serving in the church

6. The number of phone calls from community leaders asking for the church's advice

7. The number of meetings that take place somewhere besides the church building

8. The number of organizations using the church building

9. The number of days the pastor doesn't spend time in the church office but in the community

10. The number of emergency finance meetings that take place to reroute money to community ministry

11. The amount of dollars saved by the local schools because the church has painted the walls

12. The number of people serving in the community during the church's normal worship hours

13. The number of non-religious-school professors worshiping with you

14. The number of people wearing good, free clothes that used to belong to members of the church

15. The number of times the church band has played family-friendly music in the local coffee shop

16. The number of people who have gotten better because of the free health clinic you operate

17. The number of people in new jobs thanks to the free job training center you opened

18. The number of micro-loans given by members in your church

19. The number of churches your church planted in a 10 mile radius of your own church

For "The Cause"

Anybody that was at WCC this Sunday knows that I did one of the craziest things that I have ever done before from the stage.  In case you weren't there, let me tell you what I did.  I wore a Scooby Doo costume.  Now you have to understand, wearing a Scooby Doo costume is not something that I would ever do.  I mean, just ask my mom, when I was growing up from time to time we would have dress up days at school but I would NEVER dress up.  I don't know why, maybe I thought I was too cool, or maybe I didn't have enough self confidence to become vulnerable by wearing some silly outfit.  Whatever the reason was, I have always been anti wearing stupid looking costumes, and yesterday was no exception.  That's why, in most cases, just the thought of stepping up in front of a packed house with a Scooby Doo costume on wouldn't be something I looked forward to at all.

So why did I do it?  Well, let me answer that question.  I did it because of "The Cause".  Maybe you remember me blogging about this last week, but "The Cause" at WCC is reaching people and helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ.  We may get fuzzy about alot of stuff at WCC, but it is my intention to never let us get fuzzy about our cause.   In fact, I believe that in order for us to accomplish all the  audacious goals that God has placed in front of us that it is imperative that we have a clear cause, and a team of people that are committed to the cause first and each other second.  This may sound like it is over the top a bit, but I believe right now at WCC we have a team that is not only clear about the cause, but that is willing to die for the cause of reaching people and helping them become fully devoted followers of Christ.  It is this cause that drives us.  It is this cause that inspires us.  It is this cause that excites us into doing things that, on our own, we would never even consider.  It is this cause that made me want to make a fool of myself on Sunday by wearing a Scooby Doo costume.

Whenever you have a team of people that is clear about the cause, willing to die for the cause, and where doing crazy, foolish stuff feels like fun, a culture begins to emerge where people start to believe that we really do have the potential to change not only our community, but ultimately the world.  I feel like, for the first time, we have that at WCC and I am so excited.  I hope you are too! 

The picture that begins this blog was sent to each regular attendee or member of WCC this morning encouraging them to come help us by serving at the Amazing Animal Pet Show that we are putting on for the community this Friday at Weddington High School.  Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead in a monkey hat, but I had this picture taken and sent it out to hundreds of people for...you got it....."The Cause".  If you have a pet and aren't doing anything this Friday, come on out to the show. I guarantee you'll have a blast.  If you don't have a pet, but are interested in helping WCC with "Our Cause", give us a call at 704.225.0210 and we'll hook you up.

Have a great Monday! 
For "The Cause"

Blake

What Truly Changes People?

Yesterday as I taught on prayer I read the passage from Isaiah 56:7 where God says, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."  And I said, notice God didn't say that His house should be called a house where busyness is the order of the day.  Or where activities and programs and "the show" are what people are there for.  No, God wants His Church to be a place where people come to pray.  Why?  Because prayer is where we meet the one and only living God.  Prayer is where our spirit is refreshed.  And of course, just like I said yesterday, when we pray we place ourselves in the streams of God's power.

Jim Cymbala in his most excellent book Fresh Power writes this about prayer.  He says, "God has given us a very simple equation if only we have the faith to reach out and experience it:

1. The Holy Spirit's power is our greatest need.
2. This power and blessing is freely promised to ALL of God's people.
3. This promise can only be fully received through sincere praying in faith and through waiting on God for his blessing to come.

The unleashing of this kind of power is what happened in the New Testament and this is the only thing that will satisfy our soul's thirst.

Pastor Cymbala also says this:  "The Old Testament declaration is still 100% true today: It is "not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6).  A decade of gadgets and gimmicks will never accomplish what God the Holy Spirit can do in one month as he works in the life of a church."

Here is the bottom line.  When we begin to pray, the Father provides us power through the Holy Spirit that enables us to do so much more than we could ever do on our own.  So don't stop praying!  When you get up in the morning PRAY.  When you go to bed at night PRAY.  Pray and listen for God to speak to you.  Pray and ask God to lead you into relationships where you can share your faith. Pray and ask God to move in a powerful way at WCC because PRAYER is what truly changes people.

My Oh My What A Wonderful Day!

Before I left for vacation I posted a blog that I would have some very exciting news when I returned home.  Well, when I got home I wasn't immediately able to post the good news due to some loose ends that needed to be tied up.  Today, however, I am pumped to announce that I, along with the Elders of WCC, have hired Mark Patterson to be our new Executive Pastor.  Most of you who attend WCC already know who Mark is because he has spoken for me several times when I have been away.  As Executive Pastor Mark's primary role will be to implement Weddington Community Church's "purpose" by providing the necessary leadership to: staff employees, volunteers, ministries within the church, and also by guiding the day to day operations of the church.  Mark will also spear head small groups as well as preach on a regular basis.

OK, that is the formal announcement, now a few personal words.  Mark and I met a while back as he was going through a very tenuous time of ministry.  I had no ulterior motives when I called him one day on the advice of a friend.  But it was very clear from the very day Mark and I met that there was a special affinity that he and I have.  Since that meeting he and I have spent a lot of time talking about our philosophy of church and leadership and suffice it to say, I have met very few people who think so much like I do.

Mark is a very talented speaker and leader who, I guarantee you, will be instrumental in helping WCC be a Church that honors Jesus Christ.  His servant like spirit and humble demeanor, coupled with his humor and sincerity make him a rare breed.  Since Mark has agreed to accept the role as Executive Pastor there hasn't been a day that has gone by that I haven't said thank you to the Lord for sending us such a blessing. 

Mark, welcome aboard my friend.  I am excited to serve with you.  I am thankful you have felt led to join us here at WCC.  And most of all, I am excited about doing God's work with such a great friend. 

Blake

It's all about people far away from God

Today was a great day!  The staff and a few dedicated volunteers showed up at the High School to set up for tomorrow's Easter Sunday.  Was is it easy?  You gotta be kidding me!  We were moving tables and chairs,  carrying sandbags and pipe and draping, putting signs up and picking up trash.  It wasn't easy!  But it was worth it.  It was worth it because Jesus Christ rose from the dead!  I mean if we were there setting up for a concert I wouldn't feel the way I feel tonight.  If we were there getting ready to honor a dignitary of some sort, I wouldn't be as excited as I am.  But what we were doing as we labored for 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon was preparing a High School to be a place where people will meet Jesus.

You know when I read scripture one of the things that becomes so clear to me is that Jesus got excited when people far away from Him got a chance to meet Him.  He was all about reaching people.  That is what I want WCC to be about.  I am not in to being known as the church with the best worship band or the best sermons or whatever.  I want our church to be known as a church that, above and beyond anything else, is about finding people who are destined for eternal separation from God and leading them into a saving relationship with Him.  This process starts when people like we had today take time away from the busyness of life and focus on what's most important.

I know God knows my heart.  I have been praying all day.  My prayer is that tomorrow as we celebrate the risen Christ, those in attendance who don't know Him yet will meet Him.  That's what Easter is all about.  Tonight I am grateful that we have people who care enough to help make tomorrow a day that won't soon be forgotten.

Holy Huddle's

  "Few religious leaders or churches have any idea what it's like for an outsider to try to break into the holy huddle.  Most churched people have been so immersed in the church world that they have completely lost touch with what it is like to come through the church door and try to fit into a place that has very distinct habits, language, goals, events, titles, architecture, traditions, expectations, and measurements."  George Barna

Changing from me to we

One of the things that is happening right now at WCC is that we are becoming more strategic in how we do things.  There are a number of reasons for that, but our primary goal for changing is so that we can more effectively accomplish our mission of reaching people and helping them grow as Christ followers.  For that reason, change is good!  However, the downside to change is that when any organization begins to change, friction occurs.  For whatever reason, there are some people who just don't like change.  We have seen that at WCC some recently.  For instance, when we've asked people to move away from the very back and move toward the front, we have received resistance.  Another great example of this is our attempt to move away from the 9:00 connection classes and instead utilize that time to train leaders.  When we made that decision, some people have complained.  Believe me, I understand that there are valid reasons why some folks like to sit in the back.  And I am sure that some feel like taking away the 9:00 hour limits their ability to study the Bible and be with friends.  So what do we do?

Well, I could write for days about this, but one simple solution is to adopt a WE verses ME mindset.  I am sure most of you that attend WCC and have heard me say this phrase over a gillion times, but here it is again, "it's (meaning our existence here on earth) is not about you". No God has strategically placed us here, not only as individuals, but as a Church body so that WE might reflect Him and bring Him glory. And one of the things that the scriptures says brings God glory is reaching people who are far away from Him. Jesus was all about seeking out those who did not know Him. And since, as Christ followers, our job is to become more like Christ, that is where those of us who know Him should place our focus. And realistically, there is no better opportunity for us to do that corporately, than on Sunday mornings.  My goodness, can you imagine the impact that WE would have if everyone of us who have made Christ the Lord of our lives woke up each Sunday recognizing that WE have an opportunity to positively impact someone far away from God when they step inside the doors of our church?  It really would be an unbelievable environment with an unbelievable impact.  But it starts with a WE mindset which , in my opinion, is so much more Christ honoring than, wondering why the leaders of the church have chosen to make a change that may not suit me. Listen, here is a promise: If the mindset that "Church is all about ME", became the mindset that "WE can change the landscape of our community", WE would!  I really believe that.

Over these next few months our church will continue to change.  And, I am pumped about the potential WE have to see God change people's lives.  I hope everyone at WCC will feel the same way.  Through Christ, WE can do immeasurably more than WE could ever hope for or imagine.  Believe it!  I do.

My Starbucks was lukewarm

My Starbucks coffee was lukewarm this morning.  It's never happened before, but when I put the cup up to my mouth expecting a piping hot sip of coffee what I got was a lukewarm cup that almost made me want to throw up.  I was so disappointed and so surprised.  You see, Starbucks has a reputation and when I go and pay my $1.87 for a grande coffee of the day just black, I have expectations.  When they aren't met I feel like I have been jipped.

I think people feel that way when they come to church.  Seriously, I am convinced that whether people have ever been to a church before or are professional Christians, when they walk through the doors of a Church, I think they have expectations. And what's more, when those expectations aren't met those same people feel jipped.  In fact, I am going to go as far as saying that one of the main reasons I feel like Churches all across America aren't reaching more people is because they have become more concerned with the experience that people have when they come rather than the expectations they come with.

So what is it that people expect? We talk about relevant worship experiences and great programs which invariably puts the pressure on the staff to "perform".  But I am convinced that there is more to what people expect than we realize.  Let me mention two things that are on my mind that deal with with this issue.

1. I think people expect CONVICTION.  Let me ask you, have you ever been to a concert or a ballgame where the people in the stands acted like they could care less?  I have and it stinks!  I can remember several years ago sharing season tickets to the Panther games when they went 1-15.  Seeing all the empty seats and disinterested fans made me hate even going.  I think there are probably a whole lot of folks that feel that way about going to Church.  Who wants to be a part of something that people aren't excited about themselves?  Who wants to worship and give praise to God when everyone else acts like they could care less?  You know sometimes I think we worry so much about offending people by being over the top in our approach to Almighty God, when the truth is, a whole lot of the people who we worry about offending are surprised and offended that we're not more over the top. Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about some of the crazy antics we've all seen on TV and elsewhere.  I am talking about people who sincerely approach God with the mindset that He is truly deserving of ALL our praise and adoration.  In my humble opinion, anything that we REALLY care about we are convicted about, and my goodness, the God of the universe ought to be at the top of our list of convictions. Frankly, I think people who walk in the doors of Churches, whether they verbalize it or not, want to see a group of people who are serving and praising God with full out conviction.

2. I think people want to be told the TRUTH.  If you have ever been in sales you have probably heard of a sales approach called the "Back Door" approach.  When sales reps take this approach what they try and do is get their customer to lower their guard by talking with them about everything other than what they came for so that their customer will begin to feel comfortable. When the sales reps senses that the customer is comfortable, he/she then goes for the kill.  I was in sales for almost 10 years and I hate this approach.  I hate it because when someone is trying to sell me something, I want to be told the truth up front about what the sales reps intentions are. Subtly getting me to lower my guard seems deceptive.  I think people that walk through the doors of any church expect that same kind of truth telling from its leadership. In other words, I think people would rather the leadership of the church say things like God expects you to give and God expects you to serve and God expects you to commit.  When leadership says these things up front rather than caudling people with a good experience in the hopes that they will reciprocate by doing what God wants them to do later on down the line, I think it makes a statement. Now, I am not saying that Churches shouldn't create excellent, Christ honoring environments.  The experience is important too. But leaders need to be honest with people up front and tell them God expects you to tithe, and God expects you to serve, and God expects you to be full on committed.  People want to be told the truth and Christ followers ought to tell it.  It is truth worth telling.

I have heard people say that they go to Starbucks for the experience.  Maybe they do, but if Starbucks continually serves lukewarm Coffee, it won't be long before those same people will be looking elsewhere. The same is true with the Church.  People talk about the experience, but what they really want are people worshiping and serving God with full out conviction, and leaders willing to tell the truth.   

Drive 08

Andy Stanley is one of my favorite leaders both in church and the secular realm.  Several years ago he, along with some other phenomenal leaders, began doing a leadership conference called "Drive".  I took our staff in 2006.  I just received the invite for Drive 08' today.  I am definitely going.  One of the things that interests me about this conference is that there are so many great speakers/leaders that share their thoughts on leadership.  Andy's dad, Charles, who pastors the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, gave some valuable insights on leadership that I thought were interesting several years back.  I grew up watching Dr. Stanley on TV every week, and even though I don't think he is near as good a communicator as his son, I value what he says about leading.  Here are some of his thoughts below.

• If you do not allow God to change the way people do church, you will miss out on what God wants to do.
• As I look around at a lot of churches, I think they should be bulldozed.
• In my own denomination, 7,000 churches did not baptize a single person. Another 3,000 only baptized one person.
• Every day pastors are walking away from the ministry. The primary reason? Conflict.
• If you are afraid, don't show it. Hide it. People will push against you if they see your fear.
• Don't run away from conflict...run toward it.
• Conflict divides your mind.
• Daniel didn't have his eyes on the lions. Don't look at the lions, keep your eyes on God.
• Don't ever fight your battles in public unless you are forced to. Then, don't defend yourself.
• There are worse things than being fired.
• Fight your battles on your knees. Keep your focus on God. And you'll win every single time.
• You can obey God, or you can go the other direction and wonder for the rest of your life what God would have done with you and for you if you had obeyed.
• Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.

Follower Trap #4

Follower Trap #4: Not being willing to face objective reality

One of the things I have found growing up competing, coaching and working with others in a variety of different fields is that there are a large number of people that suffer from mild to severe delusions in relation to their efforts and competencies.  In other words, a whole lot of us have the tendency to convince ourselves that we are actually working harder and more competent than we really are.  The end result of this kind of thinking is that we never make the kind of progress we could and should be able to make because we are unwilling to pay the price.

Great followers, on the other hand, listen to what their leaders are saying, are brutally honest with their performance, and stare reality in the face.  They are the ones that err on the side of over practicing and over preparing.  They know that in order to accomplish anything worth while there is a huge price involved and in order to ascend to the top you have operate out of a mindset of objective reality.

So what does this have to do with being a Christ follower?  Everything!  You see, the objective reality is this.  Following Christ is hard!  In fact, I have often said that we too often mislead people by telling them that when they put their faith in Jesus Christ their life will be better.  That simply isn't true.  Ultimately, God transforms us into who He wants us to be, but many times that transformation takes place as we walk through the storms of life. Becoming a Christ follower isn't a call to an easier life, it's a call to take up your cross and submit to whatever and wherever Jesus directs.  It is a call to die to ourself so that Christ can live through us.  When we look at following from this perspective, it changes the way we live.

Truth be told, most of us who call ourselves Christ followers live very comfortable lives.  Our call to follow, more often than not, doesn't consist of sacrifice and service, it consists of wanting Christ to serve us.  This, in my opinion, all stems from the delusion that following means showing up once a week for church and making sure we watch our P's and Q's.  Ultimately this kind of following is demonstrated in our unwillingness to pay the price of taking up our crosses and submitting to the authority of Jesus Christ. 

These are tough words that I am writing because they are applicable to me too.  But here is the good news. We are not hopeless causes!  All of us have the ability to change and change starts by facing objective reality.  Here is an action step to start the process:  Commit to check delusion at the door.  Be honest and ask this critical question:  "Are my habits, actions, and behaviors congruent with the kind of follower Christ has called me to be?"  If the answer is no...maybe it's time to face reality.

I love what Jim Collins says in his book Good To Great about facing objective reality.  He says, "There is a sense of exhilaration that comes in facing head-on the hard truths and saying, "We will never give up.  We will never capitulate.  It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail."