• This weekend we launched our new ministry initiative, Unstoppable. I preached about the vision of where we're going next as a church and the choices we need to make together to be a Matthew 16:18 church.
* To make a long story short - we're going to make major investments in increasing our ministry capacity, build a 10,000 sq. ft. children's building and make a major investment in local and foreign missions. If you missed yesterday you can check out the video here (it'll be up mid-week), plus we'll be rolling out more details over the next several weeks.
• This is SO much more than just another building program. It's a MINISTRY PROGRAM!! We're going to seriously increase our ability to do ministry by adding staff, adding space and reaching out to the lost both in our own community and in places where we will never set foot.
• And, yes, a major part of this investment will be in our own kids. I have said before and I'll say it till the day I die, OUR KIDS ARE OUR #1 MISSION FIELD. Our kids are not the church of tomorrow, they are the CHURCH OF RIGHT NOW!! They matter NOW and we're going to do whatever we can to reach them and raise them so they don't have to make the same mistakes and live with the same scars we live with as adults.
• Someone asked me, "How long will it be before we see these things happening?" Good question. Obviously the staffing and ministry capacity part of Unstoppable has to happen first. It doesn't make sense to build more space and try to bring in more people if we don't have the staff and ministry capacity to handle them when they get here. So, we'll go to work on that ASAP. As far as the children's building is concerned, we're probably looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 years. It takes time to get the designs done. We'll need to have at least 20% of the $1m set aside in cash before construction begins. And the permitting and approval process with Orange county will take time as well. This is why we're saying this is a 3-year initiative.
• Yesterday we started the process by asking everyone to just pray. We need everyone who considers themselves part of NHC to PRAY! Pray for our church...pray for me...pray for our leadership team...and pray for yourself. I'm asking you to pray and seriously ask God what he wants you to do to help us reach our goal of $2.4 million. I really believe if we will all just ask God what he wants us to do and then OBEY we'll accomplish what God wants us to accomplish.
• Let's face facts - it takes money to do ministry. It just does! How much ministry can we do for $100? About $100 worth! This is why we all have to step up and put our money where our mouth is. Anyone can say, "I love Jesus!" Anyone can clap their hands and carry around a Bible big enough to choke a horse. It takes serious commitment to sacrifice, step up and give.
• And for those who would say, "NHC is just about the money," let me just say, YOU ARE SO WRONG! This is about Jesus. It's not about me or NHC getting the glory. It's about positioning ourselves to share the good news of Jesus Christ with thousands of people.
• I know I covered a TON of info yesterday and we'll be rolling out more detailed info in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, if you have questions shoot us an email at info@newhorizonchurch.tv. We'll make sure someone answers your question.
• One final thought - I love you guys, and it is one of the greatest privileges of my life to be your pastor!
Our God is BIG!!! If anyone can accomplish this with him, it's those crazy NHCers! Pray...pray...and praying some more!
Posted by: Connie | October 19, 2009 at 04:40 PM