Church planting is hard. It’s fulfilling. It’s exciting. It’s full of change! I am about to announce a few very exciting changes to you that I am so amped about I can hardly contain myself! I know they are exciting because my wife is excited and she is about as cautious and reserved as it gets (that’s why God put us together)!
Because we are up to our eyeballs in hard work, I don’t have time to break all of these changes down in to great detail just yet, but I hope to do so in the days ahead. Let me preface these announcements by what I think is a moment of super transparency that may help another leader or church planter (or anybody for that matter) that may be facing some critical decisions.
Courageous Church is doing many things well, but I feel very strongly that we have gotten into a somewhat predictable rut found in so many churches (and business and families) all across our country. Six plus weeks into launching this church – let me tell you one big lesson that I have learned…planning for a church (or a business or a family) is not the same thing as leading it and growing after it has launched. I knew this would be the case, but it is REALLY the case.
I think we planned for the launch of our church about as well as any new church could, but after we launched, I found myself and some of our leaders following into some traditions and habits and ways of doing/being the church that I am completely confident God is not calling us to. Period.
Three songs. A sermon. An offering. See you later. Have a good week and please come back to do this same thing in pretty much the same way again.
I’m not feeling that. We tried it and our attendance and offering dropped week after week. The excitement and energy and momentum that we experienced during our first few weeks began to wane and it wasn’t just because the new car smell was gone either. Our church began to lose its mojo and its unique calling because we were not fully prepared to maintain all of the many moving parts that come with a growing community of faith. We’re working on those things, but are about to push forward at the same time into who God desires us to be. Here are a few of those things!
- Just a few days ago I shared a dream/vision for our church with a group of dreamers (if you all are reading this post a comment) that is going to change the way many people think of church altogether in our city. I can’t share all of the details yet, but all I can say is that it has something to do with books that I used to read as a child called, “CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!” It’s going to be crazy and its going to change our city!
- We are about to begin offering a big, FREE breakfast every Sunday morning from 9am-10:30am for ANYBODY & EVERYBODY that wants to come out. This is not just for our staff and leaders or even our regular attenders – this is for the community. It doesn’t matter if you just lost your job, you just like free food, you are a college student, or if you have a huge family – this breakfast is our way of showing Atlanta our love. We are doing this in place of any city-wide marketing that we were going to do and you can get all of the details, see a video, and sign up for more information @ FreeBreakfastChurch.com
- Our Sunday service time has been moved forward 30 minutes to 10:30am, but we want you to come out for breakfast anyways!
- We are no longer holding our Sunday services @ Center Stage, but we are literally just one block away @ 1330 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. Get directions and more here! I thank God for Center Stage (I talk about why we’re moving here), but the cost and a few other concerns made it a bad fit for us and our new location will work much, much better! Parking is still FREE and you will still our signs pretty much EVERYWHERE. Most of you will pretty much be able to come the same way you came to Center Stage, but you should click above for directions just in case because we are on the other side of 17th Street now and West Peachtree is a one-way street!
I have more to tell you, but that it’s about all I have time for. Oh yeah…
We are working on completely overhauling our website to make it more efficient and informative! Check out the new, more functional front page @ Courageous.tv.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I can definitely relate (on some levels). The para-church ministry, Spiritgroove.com, that I use to lead went through the same rut which lead me to completely hault it until we figured out what we were really trying to accomplish. Obviously as a parachurch org our focus is a bit different from a church. I'm curious to see how you all plan to "change things up", although I'm curious to know why you all are so intent on a Sunday morning service versus any other time slot??? Either way I encourage you to keep striving and keep reaching. Dream GREAT and do GREATER! Take care!
Shaun…I love your heart and I love your willingness to call things out early. My wife and I planted a church 7 years ago, and I worried about changing things too fast or too much. God isn't into worry…he is into putting his hand on people who dream big for Him. Way to go. I will be praying for you guys. Excited to see how God shows up and rocks your mind!
I loved this post. I was raised as a PK and grew really tired of "traditional church" but as I got older became really passionate about relationship with Christ and service to the "least of these." I love your passion for relationship and service that is exemplified by your new breakfast on Sundays. I think that is exactly the type of thing Jesus would do if He were here in these times. May God richly bless you and give you continued wisdom and success in reaching the lost and building up the body of Christ.
Shaun,
Thanks for the inspiration that I took back to Chicagoland with me.
For you and your fellow "Courageous Dreamers", keep pushing forward into the way that the Lord has provided.
Even when you are unsure, trust Him even more.
Peace!
David! It was a pleasure meeting you and and so glad you came out to dream. Let us kniw if you need anything! Love ya-courageous
The dreamers conversation the other day was great! I agree that we had gotten in the rut of the familiar, but am glad we are listening to that voice that says, "I don't know ya'll you're buggin' a bit, it's lookin' a little like church as usual…"
It is wonderful to have assembled a group of people that say "Let's do it!" when that inevitable dream response pops in your head saying "no, is that possible? that's way too big." I mean how many of us have shut something down in our heads because we've never seen something done the way that we dream it–I know I have, but how crazy are we because when God puts something in our spirits it IS going to be waaaay different than we've ever seen – after-all He is THE Originator never ever a duplicator.
Rock On All You Dreamers – Glad to be in the midst of those that are moving in it.
MAKE-IT-HAPPEN-YA'LL!!!