Dipendente

Sir Marcus Loane dies

Former Archbishop of Sydney, great teacher, preacher and leader died yesterday at age 97. Pray for his family and praise god for his amazing ministry over the past nearly century.

More info

Drops Like Stars - Rob Bell Australian Tour June 2010

click here
The tour kicked off March 27 in Royal Oak, with a second stop Friday at Interlochen. He will take a break for the birth of his third child, due in May, and resume the tour Aug. 19 in Chicago. Stops are scheduled into July 2010.

His third major speaking tour will involve props and audience participation as Bell uses artistic concepts to explore spiritual ideas.

One is that suffering strips people down to their basics, something like the way a record producer pares a song to its essentials or a sculptor chips away superfluous rock. What's left is the enduring human spirit, raw and hurting but open to new possibilities.

"It's interesting to meet somebody who's just found out they have cancer," Bell said. "They're rarely saying things like, 'Now I'm going to get that plastic surgery I've always wanted.' They say things like, 'I need to make amends. I need family, friends, relationships.' "

That deep re-assessment of what's important can lead to exciting new directions, he adds.

"There is a creative impulse that is birthed by suffering. So-and-so loses their job and it's awful and it's gut-wrenching. But, for the first time, a whole new future opens up. They begin to imagine things they never did before.

"Maybe, sometimes, it takes suffering to get the other stuff out of the way, so you can get at the greatness that's inside you."
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Through stories of tragedy and failure, Bell will examine the theory that people learn and grow the most during difficult times -- or as he puts it, when "everything got blown to pieces."

As in previous books and tours, Bell has an unorthodox take on traditional Christian themes. His concern is not why God allows terrible things to happen, but how God helps people get through terrible things.

"The Hebrew/Christian perspective has always been far less about why did God cause this and where was God, and much more about incarnation," he said. "Apparently, God's in this mess as well, up to something."

Source

DNA and foundations rambling and thoughts

As i am sititng at my desk with the announcement made and the reality of leaving SMAS setting in, it is kind of a bit overwhelming to think about the journey we are about to set out on, especially as i start to think through the fact that at this time and over the next 12-24 months i wil be setting the underlying DNA for the church (the foundation is Christ, the DNA of the church are the underlying values). the DNA of as church is something that is set early on int eh piece and is something that basically stays with the church for the rest of its life and it is near impossible to change, break or redirect (if you don't beleive me check out some of Ed Stetzers research on this).

The latest research says that 2% of churches are continually reaching non-believers, the rest are reaching churched. We don’t need another church that just borrows people from other churches. We don't need another church to join the Christian shuffle.

And it all starts now. what i do, how i do it, how i share and teach will all impact on the DNA of Brokenchapel. It has to start with Evangelistic DNA in my DNA. If I am not, the church will not be. So there is no point even bothering.

Most writers agree that If you start a church with a core group of committed Christians you will have a church of committed Christians. If you start a church with non-believers you will have non-believers in your church. The first 100 people will set the course for the trajectory of your church. the problem is it is much easier to recruit Christians and attract them than to work with non-beleivers. but then i suppose it all has to do with "are we starting a church for believers or are we trying to start something differnet a church for non-beleivers"

I suppose we do want to start a steak restaurant for PETA activists (thanks Vince)
We are starting a church for people who don’t see the value of God and don’t like God

And this will shape  our whole thinking, how do you get someone who is against eating meat to come to our restaurant. What adds do we do, how does it look, what language do we use, cause our ultimate goal is for them to eat meat.

I assume that all churches want to reach lost people, but they don’t why don’t they?

The cost of reaching lost people

1. Hate
2. Criticised by other people
3. People will complain that they aren’t getting fed
4. Being labeled by other Christians

Are you willing to make the sacrifices that it takes to be part of a church that reaches un-churched people?

Dinale Announcement

I delivered this letter to my SMAS family tonight

To: SMAS

It is with great sadness, excitement and fear with which I would like to inform my family here at SMAS that as of the 3rd of May 2009 I will resign from my position as Associate Minister.

This has not been an easy decision but has been one that both Kristy and I have prayed, talked and thought through over the past 6 months, which resulted with me informing Trevor of our decisions in late October.

With the blessing of Bishop Stuart Robinson and Bishop Trevor Edwards and with oversight from the Canberra Goulbourn Diocese and in partnership with Emerging Leadership Initiative we will be leaving St Matthew’s Wanniassa to plant a church in the Queanbeyan area.

Church planting and reaching those outside the grasp of normal institutional church has always been a passion and calling for Kristy and myself. In 2006 this was put on standby as we accepted the position at St Matthews knowing there was much rebuilding and healing to be done, but this desire and passion to see a different kind of church planted has never left our heart, and in 2009 the time is now right for this seed that was planted in our hearts years ago to be put into the soil.

There are a couple of things that make Queanbeyan unique and exciting

•    Small town feel with a real sense of community. This atmosphere is set to undergo dramatic change over the next 10 years with 15000 new homes planned for the area. This growth will be both exciting and challenging. Exciting because there will roughly be an extra 45000 people to chat with and the benefits that new communities bring with the possibility of expansion. Difficult because of the impact this will have on the small town feel of the community.
•    It is next-door to Fyshwick, which has the largest number of Adult Shops and brothels in Australia. It is also home to the only Australian porn production company. This dominant presence has warped much of the communities view of sex and sexuality and presents an interesting backdrop to ministry.
•    The majority of the illicit drugs available in Canberra and the South Coast area were produced in Queanbeyan. This has lead to a heightened rate of drug and alcohol abuse in the area. Many of the people who are/will be involved with Brokenchapel are themselves recovering from some form of abuse.

There is a real need for God’s love and acceptance to be shown in this place.

One of the ways this has been happening is through the “Celebration Community”.   Over the past 30 years they have been working to restore the lives of many of the most disadvantaged in Queanbeyan. One of the key needs that this group has identified is the establishment of a Christian church that is culturally relevant and yet theologically orthodox. There is the need for a new kind of church community.

Brokenchapel seeks to be such a community.  Our goal is to be accepting, loving and renewing – both to those who attend and to the wider city of Queanbeyan. 

Accepting
The message of Paul in his letters to the Romans and Ephesians that we have no need to pretend we are better or worse than we really are, but as we accept each other and speak the truth in love to one another, we can help each other grow into whole people. (Romans 12:3, Ephesians 4:11-16, 25-26).

The Bible is the living, active word of God which the Holy Spirit can use to make us truly acceptable. Therefore, we will seek to help every person understand and apply God's word.

Loving
As God’s image bearers we were created to love, love God, love others and to love ourselves.

We aim to help people Love God through culturally relevant teaching and corporate worship; to Love each other through honest and authentic small-groups; and to Love themselves by facilitating recovery from addiction and self destructive behaviour.

Renewing
We believe that people are renewed when they understand God’s grace in their lives and apply Biblical truths (II Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Romans 10:17, Psalm 1:1-3).

We believe that the Christian walk is a process. As we grow in faith, we believe that the natural response will be to increasingly show acceptance and love to others; both in the church and in the city of Queanbeyan.

We trust and believe that God will do immeasurably more in Queanbeyan than we could ever ask or imagine. Our commitment is to put our trust and faith in God alone and not in our planning or works.

Brokenchapel challenges us to step out in faith beyond our current comfort levels at SMAS and St Matthew’s. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told the parable of the talents. The servants who were entrusted with much were faithful and thus were blessed with even more. We recognise God’s blessing on us and will strive to be faithful with the abundance He has poured out on us.

God is calling us out in faith to do what we believe He has set up for us.

SMAS has undergone an immense transformation over the past 3 years and in my view is at the stage where it has recovered from the incidents of the past and will be able to continue to grow and flourish through God’s grace and only by God's grace in the years to come.

Your Sincerely

Josh Dinale
Rev. Josh Dinale

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF BROKENCHAPEL

Brokenchapel primarily targets youth and young adults (16-35) from lower socio economic backgrounds, but not exclusively.

From May 2009 our aim is to start various small groups:
a.    Formal group started for already eager young adults who have expressed some interest in Jesus but need some Christian mentoring. (From this group, future leaders will be developed, ministry teams will be filled, and a strong and active small group ministry will emerge. Considerable effort will be applied prior to launch in training, nurturing and growing this group. )
b.    Karabar High School & Queanbeyan High are considered to be amongst the worst schools in the greater Canberra region. The aim in consultation with the schools is to develop a program that combines a drop-in & gym center with a homework clinic. Successful completion of homework task will provide youth access to the drop-in and gym centre.
c.    Setting up small groups based on the “Celebrate Recovery” and an adapted “Alpha” course.
d.    Acts of service within the community i.e garden help, family days and educational assistance

Brokenchapel will be launched as a congregational gathering in April 2010 with an expected attendance of 40 people.

At launch, a core group of at least 20 people (approximately 15 adults and 5 children) will be actively participating in small groups. These people will NOT be just a transfer from other churches, but the aim is to have people who are not connected with an existing church. At launch, approximately 3 small groups will be in place and preparing to multiply within the first 3 months after launch. The development and growth of this core group is considered vital to a successful launch.

Josh & Kristy Dinale will oversee the Brokenchapel.

At the time of Launch a Children's Minister will also be hired (part-time or intern TBD).  A Student Minister / Intern may also be hired (part-time or intern TBD).

Brokenchapel is expected to be fully self-supporting within 5 years after launch. During these 5 years. Josh Dinale will raise support through deputations and partnerships with other churches both inside and outside the Anglican Communion. In the initial start up period Josh & Kristy Dinale are prepared to self fund their ministry through “tent making” (Josh in the fitness industry and Kristy as a Registered Nurse.

People will be drawn to the Brokenchapel through one-on-one relationships with members of the core group, through targeted community outreach events and through a targeted marketing strategy. First time visitors will be drawn back and will make Brokenchapel their Church home through practical and relevant preaching, culturally relevant worship (including music, dramas and video), a safe seeker-sensitive environment, a strong children's ministry, a first-hand experience of the warmth and love of God, a large selection of life-changing small groups and excellence in everything we do.

Free e-boook from Exponential

A brand new project. An e-book that is free. Leadership Learnings from Bloggers. The best leadership blog posts of 2008 from 20 national leaders/bloggers, such as Craig Groeschel, Perry Noble, Tony Morgan, Ed Stetzer, Seth Godin, Dave Ferguson, Mike Hyatt, Mark Batterson, Alan Hirsch, Tim Stevens, and many others. Including several posts from yours truly as well. 

You can access the e-book here. Check it out. Download it. And pass on to friends. It’s free.

Thanks to Exponential Network for putting this great resource together.

Thoughts on Branding

What is a brand?
 
A.  An intensely heated piece of iron which has some type of design that ranchers use   
to burn the hide and mark their cattle
B. A logo identity or design
C. The image that you communicate through your marketing or promotional materials
D. The thoughts, feelings, experiences, or image that others think about you
 
What’s your answer?  OK, this is a trick question because they are all valid and correct answers; they all tie into branding.  I know, all you people from th country picked “A” and that’s alright…after all you’re from the country! 
 
Branding is about experience!  It is about how others feel about you and what their experience is involving you (if any).  It is about their perception of who you are and what you are about, whether it is true or false.

You can develop a sizzlin’ logo, tell people your new church rocks and that you are ultra cool, design slick as snot advertising, have a tight sounding band, and even have a launch day with thousands of people present – but if the people don’t buy into you and define you the way that you define you, all of
your branding efforts are for nothing!  Their two cents count and what they emotionally feel and experience is the final word.  So whatever you say through your branding or communication tools, you better live it as well.

The “Free” Myth

Am reading this excellent book on church marketing and branding by James Dalman called "what is your church saying? Branding for church planters: a Quick and Easy to Read Manifesto"  (yeah i know it is not theological so keep it on the low someone else might call me liberal) it has some really helpful points for churches in general. The first chapter was all about the "Free Myth" and man do i wish churches would learn this lesson

I had the opportunity to sit in on a meeting once with a very well known and large church in my town.  The church desperately wanted to take their web site and communications materials to a higher level.  During the meeting we discussed the current problems, their needs, the structure of the communication team and the solutions to make it all happen.  We began to discuss the investment it would take and then it happened!  One of the church members, who was in attendance and was an owner of a local Internet business, jumped in and said his company would offer a cornucopia of services all for free.  This guy started throwing out how he loved his church, wanted them to have the best possible web site and that he would provide hosting, back-end solutions, training, and the design all for free…even if he had to pay for it with his own tithe money.  I was absolutely stunned.  The staff member leading the meeting looked as though he had just hit the Jackpot Lotto Power Ball!  “Well you can’t beat free can you?”    The problem is not that the guy wanted to help his church (though I question the motive about allocating his tithe money to pay his company) – the problem is that you usually get what you pay for.  This person even went on to say he could have the whole web site up in a day.  Now he is in the miracle business too!  I don’t mean to sound harsh or judgmental; it’s just that I believe the church will probably end up with a bad deal.  How can I make such a bold statement?  I know from experience.  I have sat through countless meetings where someone offers to help for free because they love their organization, they know the “Web-Master 2006” program, or they have a distant relative through marriage who has a junior high kid that works on computers that can do it.

I even admit that I made the same mistakes when I started out.  The situation almost always ends the same way…the organization seeking help ends up frustrated and worse off than before they started.  Why does this situation happen again and again?  Because it’s for FREE!   
 
Here’s a typical scenario: the person offers to do it at no charge to help out because they really care.  Then that person gets busy with life and soon the project becomes last on the list – it is no longer a priority.  It takes some time (or forever) before the work gets finished.  Their intentions were good and we can definitely understand that life happens, but the organization that needed the work might be left holding an empty bag.  Other scenarios can include:  the project gets really difficult or overwhelming and it takes so much energy to complete that the worker ends up resenting doing the work for free; or a person that offers to do the work is not experienced enough to do what needs to be done successfully; and then there are just those people who talk the talk and make great promises but fail to follow through.  These are only a few situations that I have observed personally and all can lead to negative results and disappointment to either or both parties involved.  Now every once in a while, the situation works out like a great fairy tale and there is a happy ending, but this is the exception and not the norm.  I’ll say it again, free is not always the best way to go. .......

......Here are a few more excellent ideas that can work for you:
 
□ Concessions can sometimes be made when hiring a professional.  Ask about payment
options, church discounts, breaking the project into smaller phases, taking off extra
services or products that aren’t needed, or discounts for paying in advance.  Sometimes
the church planter can even do some of the leg work to keep expenses minimal.  You don’t
know until you ask.
 
□ Purchase design files or layouts and find someone who can implement the rest for a lower
price.  Sometimes you can find a semi-custom design that you can download or purchase
and then have a design student finalize it to your needs.  It will save them time and you
money.
 
□ Go to a design school and see if they need a ‘real-world’ project to work on.  There are
many gifted designers just starting their careers that are looking for a chance to break into
the field.  The only bad thing with this option is inexperience…and sometimes this can be
very bad!
 
□ Start with a company like NetMinstry.com, who specializes in setting up ministries with a
small budget.  While the work might not be custom, you can get started for little upfront
investment.  You pay a minimal set-up or design fee and then a monthly fee after that.  
 
□ See if the company has any semi-custom options that allow you to start with a base design
and customize it to your needs.

I pray for the day when churches will not skimp out on doing things properly rather than looking for "Free"

Sex God Movember - Ask Anything

Finally got some questions over the last couple of days which meanc i will actually have something to talk about tonight, but i am not really sure i want to be talking. Whose stupid idea was this? here are some of the questions i will be dealing with tonight

• Why would we deal with something like this(i guess they are referring to the Sex God Series) in church?

• Is it wrong if a beautiful girl walks to notice that she is beautiful? (This is the questions that made me laugh the most, I didn't know beautiful girls could walk :P)

• Everywhere that i look there seem to be things that tempt me. What can i do to stop being sexually tempted?

• Thank you for the series Josh this has given me a way to talk to my kids about this very important topic, at what age do you reckon/should parents speak to their children about sex and their bodies?

• What is the biblical view of masturbation?

• Why is it wrong to live with your girlfriend before you get married?

should be a fun night. will post the answers i give up later tonight.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

The factors associated with church plant survivability

i have been making my way through a pile of papers lately on church planting and came across this research that was done in 2007 by Ed Stetzer & Phillip Connor and this section really caught my attention with regards to the factors that are associated with church planting survivability. if you want to read some interesting papers, newchurches.com has a lot of useful material

The following factors associated with church plant survivability were determined by factor
analysis using logistic regression methodology. Analysis was adjusted to match the actual
survival rates for church plants surveyed. Factors not listed were found to be statistically
insignificant. More than 100 factors were tested for church plant survivability.

CHURCH PLANT EXPECTATIONS
If, for the church planter, the expectations of the church plant meet the reality of the church
planting experience, the chance of survivability increases by over 400 percent. Of those who said
their expectations were realized, 87 percent of their churches survived compared to only 61
percent of church plants survived among those who did not have their expectations met.
 
 
CHURCH MEMBER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
If the church planter provides leadership development training for new church members, the
odds of survivability increase by over 250 percent. Of those church planters who provided
leadership training to church members, 79 percent of their churches survived compared to only
59 percent of church plants survived among those who did not provide leadership training.
 
 
CHURCH PLANTER PEER GROUP
The church planter meeting with a group of church planting peers at least monthly increases the
odds of survivability by 135 percent. We found that out of those church planters who were part
of a peer group, 83 percent of their churches survived whereas only 67 percent of church plants
among those who did not have a peer group survived.
 
 
STEWARDSHIP PLAN
The church plant having a proactive stewardship development plan enabling the church to be
financially self-sufficient increases the odds of survivability by over 178 percent. Of those
church plants who had a stewardship development plan, 81 percent of churches survived whereas
only 68 percent of church plants survived among those who did not have a stewardship plan.
 

A Big Thanks to someone out there

I don't know who you are, and am not sure if i ever will, but to the person who believes in what God is doing through me enough to nominate me for Arrow Leadership. Thank you so much, they selected me. I start next year.