Open Mike

Beside St Patrick's Grave: My Ode To Cathal in an Irish Pub

My doctoral dissertation concluded with this story from my Ireland travels.  After I completed research on the transforming missiological leadership of St. Patrick, i had the pleasure of travelling through Ireland to tie off my studies. For a week i drove around the emerald isle in a stick-shift, other-side-of-the-road volkswagen.  I visited the earliest known Christian archaeological sites, and the latest pagan Celtic sites.  All i can say is the trip was glorious. 

The first day i was in Ireland, I drove straight from Belfast's airport to Patrick's reputed grave. 
After a time of reflection and journalling around the huge burial stone, i then obeyed my English friends' instructions (I had been in a monastery in northeast England for a week before, the Northumbria Community) - go to the first pub you find and order a Guiness.  I followed their lead.  The results are as follows, and are recorded as the concluding section of my doctoral dissertation on St. Patrick. I pray that I could actually be the answer to my own prayer, to post-Christian culture in Charlotte NC. I hope  you enjoy:

 

 

To Cathal[1]

    The town of Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, is the reputed burial place of St. Patrick.[2]  A great stone bearing a carving of a Celtic cross and the inscription “Padraig” lies beside a church on a hill.  Down the road, the first pub on the right celebrates four hundred years of continuous service.

    After visiting the burial site, the American traveller slipped into Denvir’s pub on a rainy June evening (2005).  While journaling thoughts inspired by proximity to Patrick, conversation is begun, in the Irish way, over a pint of Guinness offered to a stranger.  Cathal (ca-hal) is a twenty-two year old, fresh in from his father’s wake.  His offer to buy the American ‘writer’ a drink is hospitable, particularly considering the circumstances. 

    Pleasantries are exchanged, cultural jokes indulged.  It comes out that Cathal’s late father’s name was Padraig (Patrick).  A second Guinness is poured, the conversation turns serious as Cathal’s eyes suddenly brim with tears as he recalls his loss. 

    MM: “What a tremendous loss – your father, so young, so suddenly.  I’m here because of the strong leader his namesake was – Padraig, Patrick.”

    C: “Ah yes, I heard he was…Protestant…eh?”

    MM:  “Patrick was part of the Catholic Church.  He fascinates me because of the way he stood for the hope you are wishing for and speaking about right now – that all is not futile, that God exists, God is good, and there is more on the other side of death.”

    C: “I know these things are true, somehow.”

    The conversation moved to the back room, where Cathal’s friends gathered to drink, smoke, and talk the evening away after the wake.  The American 'writer' was invited down.  Football, life and death were visited as topics, with Cathal’s sister offering neo-druidic thoughts, and the others wisps of philosophy, hopefulness, and stark naturalism.  Despondence ruled over hope in the words and countenances of those gathered, none of whom had ever attended church regularly their entire young lives.  Genuine interest was expressed in the American’s talk of a post-Protestant/Catholic Jesus, and humanity’s destiny found in his story, including the souls of the recently and anciently mourned Padraigs.

    The private room quieted, more Guinness was poured, then Cathal spoke.  “I think Jesus must be the way.  If church were like this, where priests just simply talked about God and life from the heart without talking down to everyone, people would listen.  And it would be good.”  The visitor invited Cathal and his friends to try an experimental form of ‘church’ the following week – Ikon.[3] 

The American traveler left,  walking while lifting up hands in the cobblestone street and praying for Cathal to encounter a Jesus-community that speaks his post-Christian, neo-barbarian language.  The traveler asked God to raise up an apostolic leader for this generation, in the spirit of Patrick, a leader whom God might use to transform disaffected people into a gathering, a movement, a church.  Who will that leader be?  For twenty first century Ireland?  For post-modern America?  Whom will the Lord send?

 

“Ego Patricius…”

Here's a picture of the pub where I met Cathal:
 

---

[1] Closing reflection from the author’s Ireland travel journal.

[2] The connection of Patrick’s burial to Downpatrick is based upon legend.  The pointed hill in the middle of town was the ancient seat of tribal power in northern Ireland (Ulster) during the time of Patrick’s arrival.  There is no solid evidence for the location of his resting place in Downpatrick or elsewhere.

[3] Visit http://www.paperstreet.org.uk/ikon/ for a glance at this experimental alt-worship community in Belfast.

Why Church Planting in N. America? Isn't it 'reached'?

As we have become a 'church planting church,' I've had some people question why church planting is important (shouldn't we just focus on improving the weaknesses of our own church? Does Charlotte or America really need more churches? Shouldn't all of our mission money go to traditional missions overseas? Etc.). 

We now commit 3% of our annual budget toward a Church Multiplication mission arm of our church, and pray that we will start one new Jesus-centered congregation every 2-3 years.  Churches to serve people who are near and far, people who are like us and not like us.  The next one we are exploring is a church to possibly serve the spiritual and life needs of the immigrant Latino population in N. Mecklenburg County. 

Since we are so committed to church multiplication, I want to offer answers to the 'why plant churches' question over the next couple of weeks.

This week Lake Forest celebrates the one year anniversary of our most recent church plant - Lake Forest Church-Westlake, a 20 minute drive from our Huntersville campus.  I send congratulations and admiration to the work pastor Aron and Mary Robin Gibson have done in gathering a launch team, then that team together constructing a church that's winsome to the hopes, needs and dreams of Westlake everyday people, and now simply living on mission growing as disciples and loving others in the way of Jesus.  At one year they are a church of 350ish souls, glorious.

Last weekend I taught the first two days of my 'Church Planting' class at Gordon Conwell seminary.  My class is diverse and highly engaged in the subject matter.  Here's a pic of half of the class at lunch on Saturday (with Quinn Rogers, whom I interviewed in class about planting a hip hop church, which now meets in the Neighborhood Theater in NODA on Sunday mornings).

 

So in today's and my next few posts I'm going to give you the slides material from one of my opening class lectures: Why Plant Churches?  The missional, historical, practical, and biblical reasons. 

WHY PLANT NEW CHURCHES IN N. AMERICA? The MISSIONAL reasons:

America has become a huge and important mission field.

} 1.  Recent research states that there are now 195 million non-churched people in America, making America one of the top four largest “unchurched” nations in the world.

 

}“The American church is in the midst of one of the largest mission fields in the world today. Only three other nations—China, India, and Indonesia—have more lost people.”1 Justice Anderson

}“Essentially, what was a churched, supposedly Christian culture has become an unchurched, post-Christian culture. People in our culture are not antichurch; they simply view the church as irrelevant to their lives.”2 Aubrey Malphurs

}In spite of the rise of mega-churches, no county in America has a greater church population than it did ten years ago.3 Ron Sylvia

}During the last ten years, combined communicant membership of all Protestant denominations declined by 9.5 percent (4,498,242), while the national population increased by 11.4 percent (24,153,000).4 Tom Clegg

 

2. AMERICA HAS MORE PEOPLE, BUT LESS CHURCHES

}Each year 3,500 to 4,000 churches close their doors forever; yet only 1,100 to 1,500 new churches are started.5 Win Arn  (note from Dr. Mike - this gap is beginning to close in the past 5 years)

}Even though America has more people, it has fewer churches per capita than at any time in her history. Although the number of churches in America has increased by 50 percent in the last century, the population has increased 300 percent.6 There are now nearly 60 percent fewer churches per 10,000 persons than in 1920.- Bill Easum

 

◦Number of Churches per Americans

}1920   27 churches existed for every 10,000 Americans.

}1950   17 churches existed for every 10,000 Americans.

}1996   11 churches existed for every 10,00 Americans.

 

3. NEW CHURCHES ARE AMAZINGLY MORE EFFECTIVE AT REACHING UNCHURCHED PEOPLE THAN EXISTING CHURCHES

 

}“Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of five are either plateaued or declining . . . . Many churches begin a plateau or slow decline about their fifteenth to eighteenth year. 80-85 [percent] of the churches in America are on the down-side of this cycle. Of the 15 percent that are growing, 14 percent are growing from transfer, rather than conversion growth.”10 Win Arn,

 

}In the average year, half of all existing churches will not add one new member through conversion growth.11 Ron Sylvia

 

}One American denomination recently found that 80 percent of its converts came to Christ in churches less than 2 years old.12 Ralph Moore

 

}Churches over fifteen years of age win an average of only three people to Christ per year for every one hundred church members. Churches three years to fifteen years old win an average of five people to Christ per year for every one hundred church members, but churches under three years of age win an average of ten people to Christ per year for every one hundred church members.14 Brian McNichol

 

Therefore we must plant new churches.

Celebrating Liberation on MLK Weekend

Sunday was my best and favoritest moment celebrating Dr. M.L. King Jr weekend ever.  Instead of preaching at Lake Forest, I spoke at the almost-one year old church plant nearby, Liberation Ministries.  Here's their church saying hi to Lake Forest for me at the start of the sermon (on Luke 15, the mission statement of Jesus):

 

Liberation meets at Hornets Nest Elementary School and was founded by my friend Rev. Byron Davis. As you can see they are quickly thriving as a church.  We've been a partner church as they've started, including the fact their worship team practices at LFC-H on Sunday monrnings.  Even better we partner in mission - they cooked and brought the food last Monday night to co-host the homeless in our building with us, as we do together every month during winter.

After Byron's far-too-generous introducution, I said to Liberation something like, "I am not qualified to address the most salient themes with you today regarding the legacy of Dr. King, what has been accomplished regarding civil rights, and how much farther we have to go.  But my presence here as friend to Pastor Davis and #1 fan of LIberation Church is a more powerful symbol than any words I could speak.  as is thefact that Byron preaches at our church annually.  A symbol of unity that's possible in Christ, that I pray our churches and individual Christians find across racial barriers in this country with increasing joy and fruitfulness in years to come.  Not only for friendship but also for justice." I then 'commenced to preaching.'

"Now about your love for one another we do not need to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other." I Thessalonians 4:9

The School of Ministry @ LFC - One of Many Things That 'Pump Me Up' Going into 2015

So, I didn't blog very often toward the end of 2014.  The press of a complicated LFC budget season, guarding time for preaching preparation, and new denominational responsibilities occupied me quite a bit. I also spent a lot of time participating with others laying the groundwork for some new ministry initiatives I'm 'pumped up' about for 2015.  Those include beginning plans for our next LFC church plant, some sermon series I'm jazzed about, and goal formation among our ministry staff leaders for the new year.

If there's one theme I've been most thrilled about working on for the new year, its the continuing growth of our church as a mentoring and training place for ministry-minded people. 2015 will be the year that we complete the construction of ministry training opportunities along the full spectrum of people - from members of LFC and other LKN churches who volunteer their ministry time, to staff leaders at churches regionally; from high school and college students interested in exploring a call to ministry through structured internships, to seminary graduates in need of a year of targeted training before planting their own church wherever God has called them to do so.  

Because of the 'talents' the LORD has simply entrusted to our church (including a killer staff who can in turn train others), this is our way of being good stewards back to Him, raising up healthy and honed Jesus-loving ministers for the future.  (The LOVE 10 initiative was an important first step - thank you, visionary givers and well done). 

Here is what we are calling the 'Lake Forest School of Ministry' in outline form, I thought you'd like to see it:

The School of Ministry @ Lake Forest Church

Mission: The School of Ministry @ Lake Forest Church exists to steward the resources of LFC for investment into future generations of equipped, fruitful and joyful men and women called to ministry.

Vision:                    Assist undergraduate leaders to discern if ministry is their life calling, through summer internships; Train post-college graduates for a lifetime of healthy ministry, through meaningful ministry under close mentorship for one or two year fellowships; Prepare post-seminary graduates called as church planters to launch a successful church wherever they are called, through one year residencies.

Strategy:               Lake Forest Church will raise up next generation ministry leaders for the Kingdom of God by linking ministry we already do with promising young ministry candidates, under the umbrella of personal mentoring, ministry skill training, and spiritual formation specifically for people in ministry.

Strategy Elements:

High School Internships: High school students who have an interest in and commitment to a specific ministry or skill area at LFC may apply to that department for a semester or year-long internship. Part-time, normally unpaid.

Summer Ministry Internships:  College students who have an interest in ministry as their future vocation will apply to be placed into a ministry area of the church’s need and participate in a 12 week program, along with a cohort of other summer interns.  The LFC Intern program includes the establishment of a learning covenant with a mentor (including a reading list), weekly learning lunches with the intern cohort and established LFC ministers, weekly meeting with a mentor, and weekly ministry duties.  6-8 per year. Part-time, paid by Lake Forest.

Lake Forest Ministry Fellows:  Recent college graduates who are potentially called to vocational ministry and show great promise will be hired into  areas of the church’s need.   While doing full-time ministry, they will participate in a one or two year training program with a cohort of other Fellows.  The program will consist of close mentoring by an LFC minister, life in community with cohort of Fellows, participation in ministry conferences and seminary classes, and completion of assigned reflection papers.  Expected full-time. Pay achieved by combination of sources which could include LFC staff position, fund-raising, external/internal grants, free housing provided by church.

EPC Church Planter Residency (in partnership with our denomination):  Recent seminary graduates or ministers in transition who are called to plant an EPC church may apply to this competitive program that will begin with two residents per year.  The residency consists of immersive learning through apprenticeship to experienced planters in a network of multiplying churches, with ministry experiences designed for the Resident’s intended missional context (ministry assignments may be at or outside of LFC, including work with partner churches in various ministry contexts in the Charlotte region – center city, cross-cultural, rural, tent-making strategy, etc.). Each resident will be developed in their personal life, pastoral vocation, and planting skills through practical ministry, coaching, study, evaluation, and reflection. The program includes bi-annual learning gatherings with other EPC Church Planter Residency sites (New York City and San Franciso Bay area).  Full-time, paid by EPC grant and funds raised by the Resident (amount varies according to ability to accept host housing).

Oversight:             LFC Intern and Fellows programs overseen by Rev. Mitch White and the LFC Leadership Initiative.  EPC Church Planter Residency program overseen by Rev. Dr. Mike Moses and the LFC Church Multiplication Team.

In addition to these internships, fellowships and residencies, we will continue to aspire to offer high quality training to LFC and local area volunteer church ministry leaders through the annual 'LKN Church Leaders Conference.' 

Church Leadership Network
2015 Training Weekend
Essentials: What every leader needs to know

January 23 & 24 at Lake Forest Church-Huntersville

Greg Surratt, founding pastor of Seacoast Church in Charleston SC will be our plenary speaker.  More at LKN Church Leadership Network Jan 23 & 24

We will also continue to annually co-host (with The Cove Church) a conference to offer national-level training for church staff leaders locally and regionally through the 'Sticky Teams Charlotte' conference.  Sticky Teams Charlotte May 4-5 info and registration

I am overjoyed to be part of such mentoring opportunities, and grateful for the leaders around me at LFC who are peer-mentors to me every week.

Sometimes I'm 'Coach Mike' - Who Could Use Your Coaching This Year? (and join me at Hip Hop church this Sat nite @ 5:30!)

I have been coaching three different church planters the past nine months and I'd like to tell you a bit about them, but first: This Saturday at 5:30 I get to preach at one of their churches - GeneratiOne Church in The Box @ LFC-Huntersville.  I'd love for a bunch of you to come and enjoy their worship while encouraging this fledling church with your presence.  Even better - invite a friend for whom you think this could be their church home.

One of the things I love most about this stage of life and ministry is coaching younger leaders whom God has called to do something like my own calling - plant a new baby church.  Are you watching out for opportunities to give away some of what you've learned in parenting, marriage, career, leadership, financial wisdom, winning through to sobriety, etc?  Because there's always someone a step or three behind you hungry to hear a report from further up the trail.

My coaching MOSTLY begins this way: "The only book I'll ever be qualified to write would be titled The 10 Ways I Almost Drove This Baby Church Into A Ditch & How the Holy Spirit Saved Us By The Skin Of Our Teeth Each Time.  So our conversations will each be about a chapter in that book - learning from my mistakes."  While that's pretty true, I also have some positive coaching from things I've learned.  Like:

More church plants fail for lack of applying received wisdom through deliberate process, than they do for lack of zeal or spiritual heart.

During your pre-launch phase, tell yourself and the launch team this is not a church, its a leadership team with a toolbox constructing a church - therefore we will not spend time making our meetings awesome in worship/sermon/pastoral care (because for a startup pastor, they will obsess over that and spend all their time in sermon and worshp prep - its not time for that and the teams aren't ready anyway).  Our time will be seeking the scriptures, forming teams, loving our neighbors and constructing a brand new bride of Christ.

A new church should have a primary purpose of introducing new people to Jesus.  Build it into yourself and the launch team from moment one by starting EVERY meeting with prayer and stories about each persons 'list of 3 people who've given up on church but not on God' they are praying for and investing into with love and friendship (and yes if its appropriate to invite them to the launch service yes, if not congruent with the relationship, don't).  Your new church culture will rise or fall in gospel authenticity with this action.

Here are three men I've had the privilege of coaching over the past three months.  I respect each of them as men of God, leaders and pastors, and I love the unique churches the Holy Spirit has seen fit to birth through each of them and a bunch of their friends:

Quinn Rodgers and GeneratiOne Church.  GeneratiOneChurch "GeneratiONE Church is an urban approach to ministry that caters to the Churched and Unchurched to experience Christ in a unique way. Yes our worship experience are on Saturday's...

Wes Barry andWaypoint Community Church, meeting at Myers Park High School in Charlotte. Waypoint Church   Wes is doing a great job creating organic community and worship at this new ECO church.

Aron Gibson and our own Lake Forest Church - WestLake.  He's been a refreshing companion in mission and theology for me, and has knocked our startup in Denver NC out of the park. LFC WestLake

Who are you spending a bit of time coaching in an important area of life in which God has given you significant experience?

2 Timothy 2:2 "Take the things you heard me say in front of many other witnesses and pass them on to faithful people who are also capable of teaching others."