Jeff Jackson Live

Aviator Church a product of HOKSBA, in Derby Kansas just outside of Wichita, is probably one of the most innovative churches in their region.  This city has not seen anything like this ever and it was evident when large numbers of people started showing up for their services.  Aviator is just into their first year as a public church and they have over 300 people attending their services.  Now, this might not sound like a lot of people to those who live in the Bible belt and have planted churches but in the Midwest, where “build it and they will come” does not exist, this is huge growth and they just continue to grow.  I had a brief opportunity to meet the lead pastor Joe Boyd and it was a privilege.  This church is passionate about reaching their community and they spend their summers making themselves visible as much as possible.  One outreach event, native to Aviator, is what I have deemed the “Super Hero Outreach.”

During the summer months they would just start showing up in random places with these super hero costumes.  Like cl0ckwork, kids would come up and want their autographs and moms would want pictures with their kids and the super heroes.  You might ask how is this an outreach?  While signing autographs they would sign them on a promo cards that was all about their church and inevitable that card would make it to the refrigerator on the front on their kids doors.  Genius?  I think so!  What a way to get a constant reminder of Aviator Church.   Tell me what you think.

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If your not down with a game for Decision Darts for your next church plant location then take a look at the follow list of cities that have be identified as the fastest growing cities in the states.

According to citymayors.com here is the top ten cities that have seen the largest amount of growth since 2000.

1.  Los Angelos, California – 125.131 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant – The Hollywood Church

2.  New York, New York – 77,464 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant – Grace

3.  San Antonio, Texas – 70,079 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant – SEND ME A COMMENT WITH CHURCH

4.  Phoenix, Arizona – 67,371 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant – Poiema Church

5.  Houston, Texas – 56,059 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant – Kaleo Church

6.  Fort Worth, Texas – 50,428 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant - City View Church

7.  Charlotte, North Carolina – 43,830 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant - Elevation Church

8.  San Diego, California – 43,353  (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant -The Resolved Church

9.  Raleigh, North Carolina – 40,709 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant – Christ the King

10.  Henderson, Nevada – 39,471 (population growth since 200o)

existing church plant -Gracepoint Church

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What are you thoughts about the social Gospel?  This might sound like a question that needs no answer but I am suprised to see all the different churches that are so quick to meet the physical needs of people and ignore their spiritual needs.

Now, I am not saying that we, as a church, do not need to meet the physical needs of people.  I am the first one in line to volunteer at an outreach event.  However, we seem to neglect the fact that we need to share truth while meeting the phyiscal needs of people.

I read one time that it is truthfully said that you cannot tell someone about the bread of life when they are hungry for physical bread. Similarly, it is true that those who daily face real needs do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. A sensitivity to an individual’s physical need can often provide an opportunity to address the person’s spiritual need.  What do you think?  Leave a comment.

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Here’s the top 10 from the list with some commentary from yours truly:

1. LifeChurch – No surprise here really. Their main campus is about 3 whole miles from my dwelling place. I’ve watched them do some incredible, edgy, out of the box stuff. Here’s my post on 8 Lessons Learned from their recent MySecret.tv site.

2. Granger Community Church – Again, no surprises. I think of them a lot when I think of “innovative churches.” Tim Stevens, Tony Morgan and Kem Meyer all participated in my Blogging 101 for Pastors series. Check out their Q&As. I’ve wanted to attend Kem’s Communications Workshop for a year now and just wasn’t able to make it. I’ve had the good fortune to interview both Tim Stevens and Mark Beeson for Pastors.com and loved it. I was telling someone the other day that “Granger gets it.” It seems like they’ve brought in the all-stars for ministry and freed them up to fly! Go, Granger, Go!

3. North Point Community Church — I read Andy Stanley’s Communicating for a Change and it was really inspiring to me and humbling. I really appreciate and respect his communication style.

4. Fellowship Church – Again, Andy Stanley and Ed Young are the young, hip leaders. I’m happy to know they are helping set the pace for the next generation. Attending a FC service is on my to-do list as they’re only about 4 hours from me in OKC.

5. Mosaic Church – I’ve heard from a friend that Erwin McManus is the real deal. I believe it. Love his communication style. And by the way, Mosaic’s website uses WordPress! WOW!

6. Seacoast Church – Don’t know much about Seacoast other than they use blogs as part of their communications method …

7. Community Christian Church — Again, don’t know much. I emailed Dave Ferguson for my Blogging 101 Q&A series but didn’t hear back.

8. National Community Church – Personally, and I am entitled to my opinion, right?, but I think they should be higher on the list. I have not heard a pastor so involved, interested and engaging in regards to using technology and marketing for ministry as Mark Batterson. His blog is HUGE. Tons of feedreaders. And I thoroughly enjoy hearing him and reading him talk about ministry. He puts things in ways that helps me communicate hard concepts (marketing) to other people.

9. Mars Hill Church — “Strategic chaos” is a phrase Mars Hill pastor Mark Driscoll uses in his excellent book Confessions of a Reformissionary Rev. When everything got good with his church plant, he shook things up — strategic chaos. That’s bold, baby!

10. New Hope Christian Fellowship O’ahu – Don’t really know much about this church other than the name of the pastor — Wayne Cordeiro.

Found at Church Communications Pro

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I am constantly church watching.  That is right, church watching, just like you would watch people in the airport or the mall, I love to watch churches.  Let me clarify, no matter where I am, whether on the internet, in the book store or driving down the road, I am also looking to see how America’s church in interacting with the community.

Today, I was driving home with my daughter and as I drove by a baseball complex I noticed all the young little league kids preparing for practice.  At that moment I thought, “Man…I wish our church was located on this corner.”  I continued driving, thinking about having a church that can be so close to the young families that will be living at the baseball complex for the next couple of months…when I saw the most horrific sign I think I have ever seen.   Right there just feet from this complex stood a sign that read “NO LITTLE LEAGUE PARKING!!!!”  It would be one thing if it was a business or residence but it was a CHURCH!  Shame on them for being so ignorant.  I am sure they have what SEEMS to be a legitimate reason why they want to free up their parking lot.  People, it is time to start thinking differently.  How about:

• Set up inflatables and cotton candy machines and invite these young families to stick around.
• Host a BBQ (everyone likes to eat!)
• Offer free car washes while they wait (make sure to leave information about your church when you are done)

Whatever happened to making lemonade out of lemons?!!  The sad reality is that most of our churches do things like this without even knowing it.  How many times have you heard, “We have never done it that way?”  When people stop coming in our doors we have to ask what are we doing wrong.  I will quit the ranting now and give three practical steps to help you start thinking differently:

1.  Invite Jesus to be a part of your staff meetings (if your ideas, plans, programs, etc. pass Jesus’ approval then your golden)

2.  Remember the longer you are a Christian the less you think like a non-Christian so engulf yourself in mainstream culture **change your method not the Message!**

3.  I learned this one from my youth pastor, Gene Dodson, don’t be afraid to mix things up.  (we don’t always have to have traditional worship services)

• Without warning to your people, plan a service day or outreach during your normal worship time.
• HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PREACH

Remember, don’t be afraid to be different, have fun and preach the truth (even if it hurts!)

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