why your church?

Tags

BCC, Bellevue Community Church, Bill Todd, David Perez, Nashville, The Church at HopePark

It is a curiosity of mine why people attend the churches they do…or not attend.

For me it is simple. I choose The Church at HopePark (Bellevue Community Church) in Nashville because it is geared towards my personality.

The music rocks, it is inviting and not stuffy, plus I can wear my baseball cap and drink my Starbucks all while enjoying a message from David Perez. Also, I have never seen one time where we acted exclusionary to anyone coming in from another faith. Our new small groups formation is going awesome (yep, pressure now being put on you Bill Todd:)). And finally, we truly find a way to get involved in the non-churched community and bring people together for fellowship like on 4th of July.

My curiosity is probably sitting in my reasons why I attend where I do but I always find it interesting when I see people pouring in other church buildings. Especially living in the most churched community in the United States. Why the Baptist church? Why that one? Why the church that is formal and you have to wear a shirt and tie? Why the one that does not allow music? and so on.

So here is where you come in.

Where do you attend? Give your church a shout out and provide a web link if you like.

Also, Why do you attend there?

If you don’t attend, why not? (You responses are safe here..no criticism, just curiosity)

www.hopepark.com if you want to see more about the amazing place I attend.

One 2 One

Tags

Bellevue Community Church, Habitat for Humanity, One 2 One, volunteering

I just spent the day doing an amazing project from our church called One 2 One.

We sent 500 volunteers into the community to work at Habitat for Humanity, individuals homes, cleaning up the community, and about 25 or so other projects all throughout Nashville.

My wife and I spent the day with Habitat repainting front porches from houses that were built a few years ago. We had an awesome team and really had a great time.

What I found interesting with this project, was the difference in how people viewed us in the community. I cannot speak for the other groups since we only worked at Habitat. Some families were overjoyed at the fact we were there and excited we were helping. Some families blessed us and jumped in and helped. Other familes ignored the fact we were there and/or looked at it as an entitlement. Expected us to do it.

Normally I am the type of personality that would have taken offense to the later, but in this case I just felt sorry for these people. The ones who ignored us and/or looked at us if we should be helping them.

I felt sorry for them because they could not experience the joy we had in helping. They could not feel the sense of accomplishment or fellowship our group had. They could only watch us and wonder why we were there.

Just after finishing I did have one great feeling though. The families that were happy to see us and or jumped in and helped, they get it. They will move up in the world and do great things for others. They will one day be painting porches for another family who is getting the blessing of a Habitat home. I love and admire these people and can only wish the best for them.

My question is this… How do people who expect everything for nothing make you feel? When do we as Christians say enough, and teach them by letting them fend a little for themselves?

Please realize, I am not asking this as an insult in anyway to those who are struggling. I simply want to know do we really keep supporting those who expect it and do not wish to work for it.

Thank You Habitat for Humanity…you are one top notch organization!

Church Success = SALES

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Bellevue Community Church, church, community church, Crosspoint Church, David Perez, Joe Case, pastors, Pete Wilson, sales, salespeople, Uprising Church

disclaimer:  before you read please note that in no way am I criticising the operation of a church or the way a pastor runs a church…this is a positive outlook on the success of churches and at no time was a pastor harmed while writing this piece.

A good friend of mine, Ernie,  and I often talk about churches and why some succeed and some, well, fail.

It always baffles us why certain concepts of churches bring in the masses while the traditional churches are starting to stumble a little.

We also often talk about how the Community Church is thriving.

I think it has finally dawned on me why this is.  Simply put: SOLD.

The new pastors of today know how to “sell” their church. 

From the time you step in the entrance of a church like Bellevue Community Church, Crosspoint Church, Uprising Church or a church of this nature there is something different.  A church designed for YOU.  A customized product that reaches those of us who did not feel comfortable in a traditional environment.  Kids areas that reach out and invite kids, letting them know church is a cool place to be.  In a probably crude example, but the church is becoming a product we want to buy, or, buy into.

Pastors like Pete Wilson, David Perez and Joe Case leading the sales charge (in a good way).  These are salespeople at their finest.  Putting a product out there that is not only what we want but being able to tell us why we will love it.

The reason this all finally dawned on me is because I am a salesperson.  A neighbor was asking me to visit their church (traditional) but with little enthusiasm.  Not a good salesperson.  A few hours later, I was at a trade show and someone invited me to Crosspoint.  This person was completely enthusiastic about what was happening and telling me over and over about all the cool stuff Pete and his staff was doing.  What a difference.  I thought back to all of the conversations I have had about my church, Bellevue Community.  Always sold with enthusiasm.

So, my question for you:  Are the successful churches you attend or see a direct result of a Pastor that can sell?  How do you think they would fare selling goods in a marketplace and not church?

Volunteerism- What Is Your Definition?

Tags

Bellevue Community Church, church, earthquakes, floods, Katrina, news, small groups, volunteering

We are currently having a huge discussion at church regarding volunteerism or getting connected through service and small groups.

What I often find amazing is the disparity between the amount of time churches volunteer vs. non-churches, especially in the wake of tragedies such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.   An interesting example is Katrina, which flocked news stations, celebrities, bands and any politician looking to get re-elected.

Now I beg you to find many if any of these people still around.  But the church is still there in heavy force.  Interesting.  Now I am in now way diminishing the work other groups did or what they achieved, but I find it an interesting test of faith how when everyone else is gone, the church is still there in tough times.

All this said, I have a question.

What is your definition of volunteerism?  How has it changed your life either as a volunteer or as a recipient?

The Changing Church

Tags

Bellevue Community Church, church, community church, denomination, Starbucks, volunteer, youth groups

One thing that always facinates me is how the traditional church is changing.

Not necessarily in a good or bad way, just changing.

When I was a kid, we always dressed up, acted our absolute best, and put on the best show we could at church.  I mean show in terms of good behavior, yes sir and no sir, and sitting quietly at the church lunch following service.

Now, as an adult, I look forward to swinging by Starbucks for my iced coffee on the way to service in my jeans, hockey or football jersey (appropriate on game days) and sporting my baseball cap.

As I drive past other churches I see the same things.

Pastors now even sport the jeans, untucked shirts, sandles etc. during service.

So here is my question….when did the shift occur?  When did the “community” “come as you are” church evolve and become so popular?

If you attend one of these like me, which one, and why do you love it?

Personally I attend Bellevue Community Church in Nashville TN.  I love it because it loves me in my jeans, with my coffee and my strong personality.  I love the music, the staff and the absolute fun we have every Sunday.  I love that my church is known in my community as a part of the community.  I love that its volunteers help thousands of people each and every year.  I love that it has an amazing youth program.

Your turn….tell me about you and your church.  If it is a traditional denomination, awesome.  Tell me why you love that format in todays “community” church world.

Also, let me know why you think your church is growing in a time where many churches are struggling?  If yours is struggling, why do you think it is happening.

Cool Churches- No…Really!

Tags

Bellevue Community Church, church, Crosspoint Church, David Perez, Pete Wilson, Religion

I heard something distrurbing today that just, well, drives me crazy.

A local church had a teen member who decided to attend a concert at another church and invited some friends.  The pastor of the church (non concert) confronted the teen and told her she had to choose and that if she went to church B for the concert to not come back.

I vaildated this story and I think the reason it drives me crazy is because for non believers it provides fuel that churches are exclusionary.  Exclusionary?  In this case it might appear so.  But people who think this is the norm have never stepped into a “Cool Church”. 

 

What is a Cool Church?  A Cool Church is a place of worship that all ages come and celebrate with rockin music, lively worship, coffee bars and community festivities.  They don’t exclude and are inviting to everyone even non believers.  Non believers are not treated as outcasts, but guests, that are allowed to explore faith on their terms and come to their own decisions without pressure.  Freinds from other churches are always welcome, in fact invited.  The community is the focus and improving the community is the goal.  Real People and Real World are the underscore of the church.

If, like me, you live in the West Nashville Area, these Cool Churches are Bellevue Community Church and Crosspoint Church.  I am sure there are others but these are the two I have visited and find “Cool”.  Both Pastors Pete Wilson from Crosspoint and David Perez from Bellevue, GET IT.  They understand what community and church is all about.  You want to see what a welcoming environment and safe place to worship is all about….well here you go.

Check out a Cool Church and see for yourself……you might be surprised.

Pete has a cool blog as well….it is under Blogs I Read.

Thanks for David and Pete….you got Cool Churches.

How Do You Make A Difference?

Tags

Bellevue Community Church, Philanthropy, Religion, Shoes, Soles For Souls

Today at BCC (Bellevue Community Church) we were lucky to once again be part of 1000 shoe weekend. This is when we wear a pair of slightly worn shoes to church, and at the end of the service, we leave them on stage, walk out barefoot, and the shoes are donated to Soles for Souls.
If you are not aware of Sole for Souls the brief overview is that it is an organization that gathers and/or purchases shoes which it then delivers to the needy all over the world. The shoes go to the homeless, abuse victims in shelters, third world countries etc. If I heard it correctly, a pair is placed on someones foot every 20 seconds.
What is cool about this story to me is that the fellow who started the organization is not only a member of our church, but is also a former CEO who had the idea after watching a shoe wash up during a broadcast of the tsunami in Sri Lanka. He used his background in the shoe industry to help out victims from that, then Katrina and realized that people needed help all year long. Hence, Soles for Souls.

I see how he has made an absolute difference but now I am wondering how can I?

I also pose the question to you…How do you make a difference?

I think it can be as simple as buying someone a cup of coffee or opening the door but let me know…what are we doing as people and a community to change the world?

After walking out barefoot today, in the rain, I also wonder..Am I doing enough?

Please let me hear from you.

Also, check out http://www.soles4souls.org/