When we’re born, we don’t CHOOSE who is in our family.  We don’t choose our dad, our mom, or our sibling if we have them.  No one takes our vote.  Our opinion and influence doesn’t shape these decisions.  I’m not saying we don’t love them – for the record I love my dad, my mom, and brothers! – we just don’t CHOOSE the people who will make up our family. 

HOWEVER, we do influence and shape the TYPE of family we will be.  Collectively, each person contributes to the overall family culture – how we’ll function, communicate, handle conflict, what level of love and loyalty we’ll express, how we’ll celebrate our differences or be turned off by them, and so on.  Through it all, we will be a family.  And we’ll shape what kind of family we will be.

For those who join into a local gathering of believers, we don’t CHOOSE who will be part of a particular church. We can invite and influence others and pray they’ll be receptive to the gospel of Jesus, but in reality a gathering of believers includes people we ultimately have no say in.  I’m not saying we don’t love them!  We just don’t CHOOSE the people who will make up our spiritual “family”.

HOWEVER, we do influence and shape the TYPE of family we will be.

For the past several months I’ve been logging thoughts in a journal on the type of gathering I want to belong to – my spiritual family. This past Sunday night at The Gathering I shared these thoughts and the type of community I dream for us as an expression of Granger Community Church in Elkhart.  We aren’t just a campus of GCC; we ARE GCC.  We don’t just mirror a campus – we carry a mission. We are the Church.

Let’s Be The Church.

• A place where we come to treasure Jesus above all other things, people, or desires.  Knowing Him is our greatest pursuit.
• A place where frequent conversations take place that are centered around spiritual things, where all are personally encouraged to fall deeper in love with Jesus.
• A place where all are accepted and relationships are cultivated.  Where love traverses differences and all are embraced no matter who they are, where they’ve been, or what they’ve done.
• A place where people know and are known in such a way that we sense each others needs – be it relational, emotional, spiritual, financial, or physical – and attempt to meet those needs whenever we’re able.
• A place where people believe in what God is doing in such a way that they give their best – generously, sacrificially, and joyfully.  A place where our best abilities, resources, time, energy, and influence are used to help others know Jesus and grow in Jesus.

Let’s choose to Be the Church.

• A place where people want to participate, not just observe.
• Where people come early and stay late.
• Where people come with anticipation and expectation.
• Where all people – regardless of tenure or perceived maturity – are regularly making significant decisions to move forward in their faith.
• A place led by gifted, godly men and women who are not just strategic thinkers or idea generators but spiritual leaders.  Spiritual leaders who lead with joy, who pray for those they lead regularly, who love those they lead evidently, who love Jesus and his church obviously, and who model authenticity and faith as they too take next steps in their walk with Christ.
• A place where the honor, glory, fame of the Father God is the driving force behind all we do.
• A place filled with people possessing an audacious faith to change the world around them in this generation.

Be the Church.

• A place where stories are told – frequently:  stories of broken lives being restored and made whole, stories of marriages that were fractured being healed, stories of addictions being overcome, stories of people who had lost all hope not only finding hope but sharing that hope with others.  Stories of casual, even calloused followers of Jesus becoming white hot once again with passion and purpose.  Stories of miracles – of hearts healed, of bodies healed.  For my kids to grow up in a place where they see and experience miracles.  A place where these stories and more permeate our daily conversations.
• A place where these stories are told – not only in our conversations – but in conversations throughout the community around us.  People talk about it, they sense it, they see it, they’re drawn to it, and they themselves become part of the story.
• A place experiencing transformation and joy in a way that only God can author; only God can orchestrate, only God can take credit for it.  I have no interest in being a part of something man-made, or emotion-driven, or guilt-driven – but Spirit driving.  A place that is undeniably His place filled with His people who are filled with Him.  And this can only happen when we choose to Be the Church.

Be the Church.

Some random thoughts and reflections on last night’s Gathering:

• I knew we’d be ready:  the band, the tech team, my message, etc.  What I didn’t know was (1) if anyone would show up, and (2) if people would come ready to engage.  Boy did they ever.
• This was a huge growth step for our campus in Elkhart.  It takes a lot to “pull off” a night like that, and our teams did outstanding.
• I like it when the doors open at 20 minutes before things start and there’s already a big crowd hanging out in the lobby.
• I like it when we run out of chairs and have to set up more.
• I like it even more when the chairs are empty because people can’t sit still, they’re standing and singing and shouting to their King.
• The band and vocalists were amazing.  You think I mean talent?  Yes.  You think I mean heart?  bigger Yes.
• I loved seeing new faces in the crowd.
• I loved seeing faced in the crowd that have been serving in Elkhart since day one – through good days and tough days – absorbing and enjoying the experience.  Almost like a proud parent, knowing the investment you’re making really is making a difference.
• That’s the first time I’ve spoken live at the Elkhart Campus.  I loved it.
• It’s been rare that I felt as confident and clear on exactly what I was supposed to teach as I did last night. (will post that tomorrow)
• The stage enhancements were cool.
• The sound was awesome. Best it’s been there yet.
• I think we knocked off some dust on the old RVs in the building.
• I’m concerned our high energy may have caused structural damage to the building.
• Jenn Marr and Nicole Moyer are heroes.  They both came anticipating a night of worship and community with friends, but when the need came up for help to take care of children they both stepped up and offered to help.  Jenn and Nicole – you have no idea how much that means to me.  So thankful for you.
• We launched 6 new groups last night.  Did 3 of them really fill already, and the other three are almost full?  Cool.
• I like it when people don’t want to leave after it’s over.  I don’t care how spent I am, I’ll stay and talk and share life and celebrate with people as long as they want.  Last night they wanted to stay for a long time.
• I love the new expression of GCC that is growing in Elkhart.  We are one church – cut us and we bleed the same.  But – it’s a new expression of this great church.  I love that.
• I’m excited for the next Gathering in June.
• I’m convinced we will Be The Church.

If you were there, what are your thoughts?

Sometimes products and events can be “over described”.  Our enjoyment and excitement causes us to exaggerate a little:  “That was the most amazing taco ever! Umm…it’s a taco.   The excitement is great, the description is just a little overboard.

And sometimes we do that with church services and church programs.  We don’t intend to – we just enjoy the experience so much that in the moment it feels like the most amazing, most awesome, most impacting, most “wow” thing we’ve been a part of.  And we want others to enjoy it with us.  So we can’t contain our excitement in talking about it – which is a great thing.  But sometimes the description is just a little over the top.

So it can be normal to respond to someone saying “that was the highest level of energy, worship, celebration and community I’ve ever experienced” with a gracious smile and a “wow, that’s great man”, all the while thinking:  That’s nice. You’re excited.  How sweet.

I get all that.

But…. :)

That’s what last night really was.

That really was the highest level of energy, worship, celebration and community I’ve ever experienced.

I’ve never been in a room with Jesus followers that came with as much anticipation and expectation as I saw last night.  Virtually every person in the room was fully-engaged, enjoying the worship of our King and a fully-alive community to belong to.

And isn’t that a huge part of it?  Isn’t the potency of the experience in part driven by the expectation and participation of those there?

I truly don’t know how to describe it. And maybe that’s the point.

So I won’t try.  I’ll just enjoy it. And celebrate that Jesus enjoyed it.  And His church enjoyed it.

But – I know this.  I wouldn’t be able to over describe it.

THIS Sunday night (March 7th) at 6pm we launch a new experience at the Elkhart Campus! The Gathering will be a quarterly celebration where we come together for worship, communion, teaching and community.

Think high energy.

Thing life-giving.

Think “don’t miss this”!

We’ll also use the night as a springboard to launch a new season of Group Life at our Campus! Groups will be launching throughout the area, providing a place to belong, ask questions, wrestle with your faith, study resources, and connect with new people in new ways.  To say I’m jazzed would be an understatement!

I’m as excited about this new experience together as I have been about ANYTHING we’ve done since we launch the Elkhart Campus.

Yep – it’s THAT big.

It starts at 6pm at the Elkhart Campus. Childcare is available for infants-5th grade.  Set the DVR to record your favorite Sunday night program and join us!

Any time we hire someone at GCC, we take our time at it. We do all we can to identify the right person in the areas of skill, spiritual life, affinity, and mission for the church. These are big decisions for us. The great news: God has raised up such a person to team up with me as an Administrative Assistant – Karen Metzler!

Many at the Elkhart Campus will already know Karen and her husband Marvin from the dedicated way they serve and lead. They are a true joy to know and serve with, such devoted and capable people. They’ve shown themselves to be a great gift to our church, and to me personally.

Am I excited about Karen being in this role? More like ecstatic! Karen has tremendous administrative and clerical abilities that will serve her well. She also has great wisdom and leadership insight. These will all be a huge help to me and our campus. But, the biggest thing that has drawn me to her for this position is her heart. Karen loves Jesus. Who she is as a follower of Jesus, a wife, and a mom is inspiring. The word I think of most to describe her is grace. Karen is a woman of grace that models strength and the fruit of the Spirit at the same time.  I’m absolutely thrilled to know that her influence will be felt throughout our campus.  I told my wife Leslee last week that I can’t think of anyone anywhere I would rather have in this role. And Leslee agreed. :)

Welcome to the team, Karen!

God is doing great things at our church, friends. Be awake, be alert! These are GREAT days.

(the Metzler family:  Karen, Nate, Stephanie, Marvin)

And what was it I was saying I couldn’t do today?

What am I excited about right now?

Can’t wait to roll it out to the Elkhart Campus this Sunday!

He’s a Student Pastor in New Jersey.  And he’s an awesome one.

Looks like he’s enjoying his job.

This picture just had to be shared!

This was Jeremy’s note with it:  “A scene from last week’s EPIC pillow fight, pj’s, and pancake night…we had over 100 in attendance!”

Four things:

• Over 100 junior high students?  at a church of 600?  Unreal.

• Pillows, pj’s and pancakes?  Kinda makes me miss being a student pastor.

• I’ll admit it.  I would love to hit Jeremy in the head with a pillow, too.  :)

• Knowing the impact that student ministry can make, I’m thrilled that we’ve recently launched Elkhart Students.  It’s off to a great start!  There’s a crowd of students gathering every weekend at 11:30 for connection, growth, and fun. Trust me – If I was a student I’d be there.

Rock on, Jeremy.

Rock on person hitting Jeremy with the pillow.

Rock on Elkhart Students.

And here’s why:

It was a quick move for me from disappointment at the Colts loss to a smile on my face when I saw this scene.  I loved this image.  I loved watching a dad share the biggest moments with his son.  Big win.  Gotta admit, I got choked up a little.

Here’s another reason Drew is a winner.  Watch this video – love hearing about his faith:

Ya, would have loved to see the Colts win the big game.  But that stuff is all secondary.

Well done, Drew.