Return from the National New Church Conference

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 28, 2006 in Church, Church Planting | 0 comments

I returned last night from the National New Church Conference in Orlando, Florida. It may take a bit but will unpack:

- Conversations and dinners with Ed Stetzer (Stetzer don't just lurk, post a comment!), Bob Roberts Jr., Acts 29 guys. I received a preview copy of Breaking the Missional Code and Planting Missional Churches by Stetzer, so I'll post thoughts on those as I read.
– Sessions attended on Fundraising for a Church Plant by Dr. Tom Jones at Stadia, Outreach Networking: Building Strategic Relationships in the Community and The State of the American Church – Why Church Planting is Critical to the Future of American Christianity by Dave Olson, Director of Church Planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church and Director of The American Church Research Project.

…and so much more. I don't know how much I'll do before I board a plane to head to the Resurgence conference in Seattle.

Raising Money for your Church Plant

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 20, 2006 in Church, Church Planting | 9 comments

Yesterday I met with 9 church planters here in San Diego. Admist the conversation, one guy told us how he raised $450,000 for the next five years. He got the idea from Funding Your Ministry: Whether You're Gifted or Not

His primary method was to approach local churches that would allow him to speak to 10 congregants. He then pitched his vision to these congregants and asked if they would be willing to make a monthly tithe commitment of $300, $500 or $1,000. There you have it, that is how he has $7,500 a month above and beyond his congregations tithe. [btw- If you want to support church planting in the South West, I'd be more than happy to take a monthly commitment!]

UPDATE: The Tentmaker Group has launched to help church planters raise funding.

Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology & Perspectival Theology

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 19, 2006 in Church, Teaching, Triperspectivalism | 0 comments

I found this post by the JollyBlogger to be an extremely interesting discussion around the flaws of systematics and singular perspectives rather than reading the whole of the Bible with perspectival lenses: [read my previous post on triperspectivalism]

Frame understands that we all come to the Scripture from different perspectives and it applies in different ways from different perspectives. These differing perspectives are not in conflict, and we should do all we can to harmonize the different perspectives. But, we are not a blank slate when it comes to reading the Scripture. We all have particular bents and questions we bring to the study of Scripture. The questions we ask of Scripture will determine the answers we get.

In one of his books (sorry I can’t remember which one) Eugene Peterson argues that, through systematization we often flatten out the bible. What he means is that the bible is full of peaks and valleys, different landscapes and different points of view. There are those who think that systematic theology is the only way to approach Scripture, or that systematic theology is the “queen of the sciences.” In such a perspective, the system controls the interpretation of every Scripture. Thus, the peaks are lopped off and all of the valleys are filled and the bible ceases to become the story of God’s mighty acts in history, but becomes something along the lines of a tech manual or legal brief.

The Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 17, 2006 in Church | 0 comments

I’ve been reading a book given to me by Dick Kaufman at Harbor. I’ve really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone in ministry: The Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller

Though he passed away in 1996, Jack Miller’s influence is still felt through the various ministries he served (the New Life Presbyterian churches, Westminster Theological Seminary, and World Harvest Mission) and the continuing ministry of individuals he personally mentored. This collection of letters, written primarily as counsel to pastors and missionaries, addresses issues basic to the life of every believer: prayer, confession of sin, repentance, and living by faith.

Miller’s advice is frequently challenging, demonstrating a deep understanding of sin’s insidious presence even in the midst of Christian life and service. His calls to labor selflessly for Christ and through Christ are wrapped up with confession of his own struggles with sin. As in his life and ministry, Jack Miller calls us to repent of sin and prayerfully focus upon the glorious good news of a glorious Savior.

Publisher Review: The pastoral letters serve as models of compassionate leadership. Jack Miller taught that a Christian leader should be the chief servant, and that right attitudes come only from a heart changed by an encounter with God. Miller leads his reader into a deeper understanding of the gospel and a life of humility, faith, and prayer.

Miller gently challenges those called to serve as leaders to find their primary motivation in the glory of God alone.

At Amazon: The Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller

The Importance of Art When Engaging Non-believers

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 17, 2006 in Church, Culture, Teaching | 0 comments

My co-elder at Kaleo, David Fairchild writes an article, The Importance of Art When Engaging Non-believers.

I believe that Dr. Francis Schaeffer was right when he said that the best way to understand the basic world view of a period of history is by studying its art forms, and it is because of this observation that I write this paper. My hopes are that we recognize our challenge in finding appropriate vehicles of communication directly connected to our interest, or lack thereof, in works of art produced by those who make up our culture.

If we are to be faithful to the cultural mandate given to us in Genesis 1, we must see that this mandate was and is not limited only to “creeping things” on the face of the earth, but to the entire scope of our existence and the expressions of our life in every conceivable area. This means that our engagement, understanding, and enjoyment of art as part of our culture and time is not optional if we are to see the whole of life under the reign of Christ, especially if our interest is to see this reign extended to the hearts of those we love most.