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10 in 2010 events slated


Illinois Great Rivers Conference — The Current


Developing New Congregations & Revitalizing Existing Ones Becoming a P.C. (perfect church)


Modeled after the Forged in the Fire events, the IGRC Evange- lism Committee will host 10 in 2010 mini-evangelism events throughout the IGRC. “We hope to bring the Forged in the Fire experi- ence closer to the people


of our conference,” said the Rev. David Kueker, chair of the Evangelism Commit- tee. “Transformation in systems occurs when a critical mass of persons adopt and practice an innovation. We hope to con- nect people in order to create a tipping point for evangelism and disciple making in each district.”


Several districts have held their 10 in 2010 event already. However, several events still remain: Nov. 7, 7 p.m. – Jacksonville Grace UMC (LaMoine River District), spon- sored by the Holy Spokes Cluster. Rev. Dr. Beverly Wilkes preaching. Special offering to the Judith Craig Children’s Village in Liberia. Dec. 5, 6 p.m. Marion Aldersgate UMC (Cache River District), Rev. Tom Atkins preaching Jan. 23, 2011, Champaign New Hori- zon UMC (Iroquois River District). Feb. 13, 2011, Normal Calvary UMC


(Vermilion River District). Rev. Dr. Kent Millard preaching.


Details for the Embarras River District event as well as additional details on the December, January and February events will be announced as they are confirmed. To keep up with the latest informa- tion, visit: www.igrc.org/evangelism and select 10 in 2010 events.


Camp Electric for


student worship teams Camp Electric, a two-day boot camp for student- led worship teams will be hosted at Troy UMC Dec. 29-30. The camp has space for eight student- led worship teams to learn about the mission of their band, the core of worship ministry, the best ways to sharpen skills and how to lead/serve the congregation as worship leaders. The registration cost is the same for each church and the church can send all the members of the student worship team. For more information or registration, please visit: http://harvest- conferences.org/campelectric/ or contact Tim Price at 618-667-6241 ext 14. In addition to time as a team to develop the mission of their group, individual- ized times will be available for student worship teams to learn skills and sharpen their musical ability, stage presence and arrangements.


Clinicians will be available during the boot camp to personally work with each team.


By Mike Crawford IGRC Coordinator of Congregational Development


Many people are Mike Crawford


looking for the perfect church. Many church- es are striving to be the perfect church.


Many pastors are praying to be appointed to the perfect church. You know the one I’m talking about. It’s the church with a certain style of worship with a certain type of mu- sic. It is the church with the certain type of activities. In other words, it is the church that is perfect…for me (and my family). But as I’ve heard it said, “When you


find the perfect church, don’t join it (or, if you’re a pastor, don’t be appointed to it), because it won’t be perfect anymore.” Recently, I’ve been studying the church


at Antioch (in the book of Acts). What I see in the church at Antioch is not the perfect church, but a POWERFUL church. Their


emphasis is not to be everything that ev- eryone wants, but to be the people and the body of Christ that God wants. The church at Antioch started when the


followers of Christ in Jerusalem were scat- tered because of the stoning of Stephen and the persecution of believers. Some made their way to Antioch. They told the mes- sage, not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles, and many people came to faith. When the Jerusalem church heard of


this, they sent Barnabas. When he arrived, he saw “the evidence of the grace of God.” The work of God was obvious, tangible, and undeniable. Lives were transformed. The Holy Spirit was active. The church at Antioch wasn’t seek-


ing the perfect programs that would attract others to the faith. They were seeking the almighty God who would break into their midst and turn their lives and their world right side up! And although it was started almost by accident, the church at Antioch became one of the most influential churches in the book of Acts (watch for more about


this next month). It didn’t come without a cost. One cost


was sacrifice. Both times fasting is men- tioned in the book of Acts, the church at Antioch was a part of it. Another cost was obedience. When it would have been easier or more convenient to do follow personal preferences, the church chose to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. People who are spiritually seeking aren’t


looking for a perfect church. People whose lives are broken by shattered dreams or emp- ty relationships don’t want perfect programs. They are looking for a powerful church where there is “the evidence of the grace of God.”


My prayer is that God will raise up An-


tioch churches within the Illinois Great Riv- ers Conference. I’m praying for churches that are willing to pay the price, asking God to break into their midst in a new and mighty way. I’m praying, not for perfect churches, but for powerful churches, where people will see “the evidence of the grace of God.” Will you pray with me?


First impressions matter to church guests


Can your church compete with Starbuck’s, McDonald’s or a warm, cozy bed? By Rev. Sheila Fiorella* The people who come through the doors


of our church have expectations. They’re making decisions as consumers at first. Whether they return rests on their entire ex- perience with our community. Those people leave asking the same questions they ask of businesses throughout the week: “Was this worth my time? Do the people care about me? Am I valued here?” How will our guests answer these ques-


tions? How do you answer those questions? We’re up against a competitor that is fierce, and I’m not talking about Satan or other churches. The other churches in town are on our team. They’re leading and loving for the same reason we are. Our competition, the rival that will keep


people away from our church, is any busi- ness, service or experience our guests have encountered recently. That includes restau- rants, malls, golf courses and amusement parks. First Bank (not First Church), United Parcel (not United Methodist) and Grace Medical (not Grace Community) set the bar for service.


According to Mark Waltz, author of


First Impressions: Creating Wow Experi- ences in Your Church, that competition doesn’t happen only on Sunday mornings. (The ideas I share here are from his book.) The competition for our guests began when they were wowed in another environment. Our guests have great expectations formed from experiences of excellence and reliable care. Although too much of their world is merely adequate, they know excellence, and they return to places where they experience it. Let’s not forget the intense competition


that comes from warm, cozy beds, especial- ly if you’re not a morning person. After all, competition in the mind of the consumer is about the value of the experience. Will our guests’ experience in our church be worth getting out of bed? When people matter, guests are wowed Competition for experiences that affirm


the customer’s value is so intense in today’s culture that consumers often base the quality of any business – or church – on the first few seconds of their experience. The people of our congregations should be able to commu- nicate to potential guests why they should be at our church on Sunday morning. A saying goes: “You only have one


chance to make a first impression,” and that is certainly true. Sometimes we expect great things, and the reality falls short. But consid- er lasting impressions. Some of the impres- sions you’ve had of a business, or church, for that matter, didn’t come within the first few minutes of your experience; they happened later. But they stayed with you. Try this quick word-association exer-


cise. Look at the following list and think about or jot down your first thought about each place: McDonald’s, your bank, your church, Starbucks. Organizations that understand the last-


ing nature of first impressions understand people matter. When people matter, guests are wowed. And when guests are wowed, they know they matter. An appropriate ap- proach to consumerism is not to see con- sumers, but people who matter to God. Meeting people where they are First impressions in church are about


creating the atmosphere expressed in Je- sus’ invitation. The Bible tells us he said,


“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message) I want to encourage you. Try these next faith steps. Here’s an action plan: • The next time you dine out, talk with


your dinner guests about your shared ex- perience. What disappointed you? Did the staff members do the best they could with what they had? What would have created a “Wow!” experience for you? Or was it a “Wow” experience? What made it so? • At the end of your day or week, list


your consumer experiences or any other encounters you’ve had. When did you feel valued? What did someone do or say that caught you by surprise in a positive way? When were you wowed? How could an aspect of this “Wow!” experience be dupli- cated in your church? • Did you have the opportunity to show


someone you value him or her this week? What did you do? What could you have done better? People matter to God; therefore, they


matter to us. If we can faithfully follow Jesus’ example, the guests at our church will experience forgiveness, acceptance and love. They will know they are valued. *Fiorella is the founding pastor of New Day United Methodist Church in Mansfield, Texas. Commentary adapted from the New Day website, www.newdayumc.com.


November 2010


Briefs


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