Marks of a Healthy Church Part 2

Isn’t our tendency to avoid people, if we don’t like conflict? Or on the other end, doesn’t letting someone have it feel absolutely wonderful? That adrenaline rush we experience can be so enlivening. Or perhaps, we put others down, so that we can be right. The thought of being wrong terrifies us. How do we move forward in peace, in unity, in whole relationships with one another?



We ask ourselves, how did this car fall off the road, and get stuck in the ditch? (Maybe because the driver looks like he’s 9!) But seriously, relationship unity ends up in the ditch too! The car can end up in a ditch on either side of the road, and so can our relationships. Here I’m indebted to Ken Sande. We get stuck in the ditch as either peacefakers or peacebreakers. I realize this is a gross generalization, however, we do tend to fall into one of these two ditches. Think of it this way: if we’re called to speak the truth in love, then are we truth tellers or love makers? It’s incredibly powerful when a “lover” speaks the truth. And so wonderful when a truth teller adds some love to the truth. We generally leave one at the door. It’s possible for someone to give 100% truth, and still bludgeon the other person. And, it’s possible to love someone, and never get near the truth. The way we stay on the road, achieve peace and unity is through the marriage of truth and love, love and truth. When we speak truth with no love, we tend towards peacebreaking. Similarly, when we offer love, with no truth, we’re peacefakers. Which one are you? How does the Gospel, your identity in Christ enable you to wed truth and love together in everyday relationships. Is it possible to create a church culture where love and truth are held tightly together? Can we dream of such a church?

Marks of a Healthy Church

As I went through my first draft of core values (see previous post) I’ve recently discovered I have another core value rattling around in my head.  Now it’s time to bring it out.  It’s still not in a draft form, but the basic principles are on the table.  I just want to comment that this is different from the marks of a healthy Christian at Chesapeake Pres. (also a previous post)

So, how did this come about?  I’ve been influenced through Bob Burns (Covenant Seminary) and the Pastors Summit.  In addition, several of the families and people linking up with us to help plant Chesapeake Pres. were burned in previous churches.  Now, that’s not to say that we’re all not at fault in some measure.  But, I am saying that division and broken relationships within a church can be particularly painful, as the church ought to be a place of peace and free from disunity.  In my mind, the reasons most missions fail is due to the inability of the Christians to get along.  I’m passionate about unity within the body.  Thus, a core value on a healthy church.  I’d really love your input on this one.  Please comment.

It seems to me that in a family when the marriage relationship is healthy, the kids will be healthy.  Similarly, in a church, when the leadership is healthy, it follows that the congregation will be healthy….I hope!  At Chesapeake Pres. we’re committing to health!  But, what does that look like exactly?

Know Yourself in Light of Knowing Your Creator

Calvin began the Institutes, “Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves” and later, “Again, it is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself.” I believe it is essential, in order to be healthy, that an individual knows himself; how he projects himself, his impact in a group, his strengths, weaknesses, communication style, sin patterns, and emotions.  This list is obviously not exhaustive, but a primer.  When you know yourself, you’re able to enter into a situation or conflict and bring resolution.  However, if you are blind to self, then it is very difficult to be a peacemaker.  And, the way we learn about ourselves, is through our knowledge of our creator and how we relate to Him.  Who we are, as sinful, fallen, weak creatures, in relationship to a holy, loving God is so important.  It is here that we move to the Gospel (our foundational core value.)  The Gospel compels us to see ourselves in light of God’s holiness, all while He pours grace, mercy, compassion, and love into the gap between our sinfulness and God’s perfection.  The Gospel, both humbles us and elevates us.  We go lower, because we know that we’re broken, sinful and rebellious.  We go higher because in the Gospel of Christ, we’re elevated to the living room, throne room, and freed from the court room.  We’re made sons and daughters (living room) of the great King!  We’re made perfectly holy (throne room) in His presence.  And, finally, through the cross of Christ, we’re forgiven (court room) for all our sins, and declared not guilty only because of Jesus.  We begin to be a healthy church when we rest in our union with Christ and begin to know ourselves in light of God.

More thoughts next week.  What are yours?

Chesapeake Church Plant Progress Report

Let me give you a quick update on what I’m up to.  After a few months of social activities and vision presentations around the holidays, it is apparent that there is a lot of interest in the new church.  Already, people are trying to connect me with their friends in Great Bridge.  That is way cool.

Right now, I’ve pulled back from some of the networking activities, to focus my time on fundraising.  Trinity continues to be very generous with my time, allowing me to spend significant portions of my work day fundraising.   Here’s a quick update, the thermometer is at 45%.  Which is just shy of two years funding.   We’re eager to get to Chesapeake full-time to focus on developing the launch team and network with seekers.

I’m raising support in two main categories: individual and church pledges.  So far, I’ve met with all the pastors or sessions of the Tidewater churches but one.   Next week, I begin the phone calls to the Richmond churches.  The response has been fabulous. I’ve also begun meeting with individuals who may be interested in supporting this work.  The response here has been humbling, in friends generosity and giving.  So, continue to pray.  The sooner we’re funded, the sooner we move, the sooner, we begin training and meeting with unbelievers!

Christmas 2008

Prayer Letter  

Dear Friends and Family,

For Advent I gave a sermon on how Immanuel, God with us, both exposes us and pursues us with his love.  As sinners, we prefer to keep Immanuel at a distance.  We believe the lie that it is easier, safer, and keeps our lives neater to keep God at arm’s length.  We remain in control.  The closer God comes to our lives, the more our sin, failures, and weaknesses appear.  The holiness of God exposes us.  And so what we fear, exposure by a Holy God, is what we need the most.  In the “God with usness”, our exposure leads to love and grace.  Jesus drew so near that we could touch him, beat him, mock him and crucify him.  It is this same Immanuel who draws near in order to redeem us.  Immanuel is God exposed.  In Immanuel, we see who the self-sacrificial love of God.  At the cross, a duel exposure occurs, the sin and rebellion of humanity, and the love and grace as Immanuel was crucified for our sins.  Our hope at Christmas is the same as it’s been throughout centuries.  We see God drawing near to us.  We see God covering the ground of separation between him and his people.  We see in Immanuel our exposure and redemption. 

In the nearness, the “with usness” of Christ’s Spirit we can have hope, that Immanuel will be with us, period.  We so quickly forget that in the midst of anxiety that wakes us in the middle of the night, the fear over job loss, losing a home, stress over holiday events and purchases, Immanuel is near.  He is close. 

The idea of God with me provides great hope as April and I look more and more to planting Chesapeake Presbyterian Church.  As we announce this step of faith, God began to show us how He’s already preparing the ground for this new church.  We’ve met several people in the community who have shown significant interest in the church plant.  Amazingly, these are people I didn’t know two months ago!  Several business leaders have offered to introduce me to their coworkers and employees.  These kinds of networks are crucial to the success of the new church.

As you pray for us, would you continue to pray for Chesapeake Presbyterian Church and our family along these lines:

·        An open door for the Gospel to go into Chesapeake

·        Make us bold in proclaiming the Gospel

·        Deliver us from wicked men

·        Fundraising

·        Selling Home

·        100 Person Prayer Team

This month, in addition to my responsibilities at Trinity, I’ll be preparing a 3-4 year budget, and church planting plan in order to fundraise.  We’re eager to move to Chesapeake and be full-time planting the church.  We can’t go, until our budget is raised.   

I’d love for you to join our prayer team!  Would you please send me an email, and let me know if you’d be willing to join our prayer team? 

In Christ,

Bob Willetts

Why plan discipleship?  Why not let it happen organically?  Discipleship, developing growing and maturing followers of Jesus, is crucial to a healthy church.  Creating a strategy will not hinder organic discipleship, but foster it.

“Not thinking through a strategy as a church for winning and adding and shepherding more and more people is not an option.  Because no strategy is a strategy.  A heartless one.”  John Piper

The marks of a healthy Christian at Chesapeake Presbyterian Church will include a growing love for God and love for neighbor, growing knowledge of God’s word, bearing spiritual fruit.

A Healthy Christian at CPC will:

·        Regularly attend worship

·        Be a committed member of a community group

·        Serve on a ministry team or in the community

·        Support the work of CPC

·        Be involved in life on life relationships

We will train and equip our members to live out of the Gospel by impacting their hearts, and instructing their minds with Scripture.  In order to accomplish this goal, CPC will offer the following discipleship courses on a rotating schedule:

·        Christianity Explored

·        Discipleship Explored

·        How People Change

·        Helping Others Change

·        The Peacemaker

·        Theology

·        Living for the King/Gospel Transformation/Sonship

·        Officer Training

·        Leadership Training

We will encourage discipleship and mentoring relationships within the church.  When mature believers invest in young believers, and peers encourage one another, God’s people will mature and grow. This culture of one on one, life on life, will only be successful if the leadership practices it.  It is important for every Christian, to have someone further down the journey, peers, and someone they can invest in who is not as far along in their journey of following Christ.

While we recognize that God is most concerned with our hearts, we do believe a person’s heart can be known by its fruit.  The marks of a healthy Christian are in no way meant to produce Phariseeism, but rather our best understanding of what a growing, vibrant follower of Christ looks like.

Why We Are Here

Chesapeake Presbyterian Church exists to love our God with our heart, mind, and soul, and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Core Values

The Gospel Transforms Everything.

We are a church of people who were once disinterested, antagonistic, and distant toward God transformed into new people full of life toward their creator.  The Gospel confronts us with the reality that we are sinful, rebellious, and spiritually dead, and only the redemptive work of the Son of God through his life, death, resurrection and ascension can awaken our souls and save us.  The Gospel, however, doesn’t merely allow us to escape hell and enter heaven.  The Gospel is the engine and power that drives holy living.  In the Gospel we are free to admit our weaknesses, sins, and failures, resting in the truth that we are dearly loved daughters and sons of the King.  Through the Gospel we are freed to new relationships, service, and lives.  In short, the Gospel of Jesus Christ transforms everything.

Kingdom Prayer.

Prayer is the work of the Kingdom, and it is the driving force for God’s Kingdom to grow and expand.  We are a church that prays expectantly with childlike boldness for God’s gracious power to be made evident in and through us.  Jesus taught the Lord’s prayer focusing on our Father, the honoring of his name, and for his Kingdom to invade our world.  We must pray therefore for our Father’s name to be glorified in our community.  The early church devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42) and so are we, to focus our prayers on God, His Name, and His Kingdom.  We are engaged in spiritual warfare, (Eph 6:18) and our battle is fought through prayer in our homes, community groups, and worship services.  Prayer will undergird every ministry. (Mt 6:9-10)

The Gospel Frees us to Love our Neighbor Holistically in Service, Justice, Mercy, and Truth.

Through the Gospel we are freed to serve Chesapeake humbly, joyfully, and anonymously delighting in our savior as we serve our neighbors.  We believe that Word and Deed ministries together present the incarnation of the Son of God to our community and the watching world.  Our passions must be captivated by the heart of God in his love for the orphan, alien, and widow.

Ministry throughout Chesapeake is our Priority.

God is calling us to live as a community of his followers in Chesapeake.  Therefore: we will seek to bring God’s peace (shalom) to the people and city of Chesapeake, our near neighbors as our first priority.  And secondarily, bring God’s peace to the people of our global community, our distant neighbors.  Chesapeake, where God has placed us, is therefore, our primary mission field.  We are committed to the people in Chesapeake and her neighborhoods.  We believe that the most effective ministry occurs in our community amongst our neighbors and coworkers in Chesapeake, therefore we are a church for and in our community.

Equipping Every Member for Ministry is Necessary.

We believe that Christ is glorified most, and represented best, when every member is equipped, trained, and mobilized to serve in the ways that God has gifted him/her.  The Church is weakened when the saints are not serving one another in love. Therefore, developing the gifts of service and love of our members will be a priority, to unleash them to serve our church, our community and our world as God calls them.  Each member, called by the Lord, is freed through the Gospel to works of love and service.  The church is healthiest when every member is using their gifts and talents in service of their King. Ephesians 4:11-16  

Community/Relationships.

We are community of God’s adopted children striving to follow their Lord and Creator, unburdened from the tyranny of self-seeking and manipulative relationships, to learn to love one another freely and generously.  The Gospel reconciles God to his people and brings reconciliation between people.  In a world where true relationships can be hard to find, we desire love one another in such a way that God’s presence is readily seen.  Our goal is that together we may know God’s love, wisdom, mercy and joy. Ephesians 3:17-19   

Transformed People.

          We are a church for the seeking, confused, and skeptical to enter into our community and discover the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are a community where the self-condemned and the self-righteous, the licentious and the legalist, the irreligious and the religious can find freedom and be transformed in the whole person into who God created them to be.  We welcome the hurting and the searching, the disenfranchised, and the antagonistic, the lost and the proud.  At Chesapeake Presbyterian, we offer grace to both the spiritually burdened and the spiritually distant from God.

This is a very rough first draft, and will be shaped and molded by many whom God is calling to join us in this endeavor.

Press Release:

The Chesapeake Presbyterian Church World Tour 08 announces the first three dates to critical acclaim.  Here’s what people are saying:

“I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats.”

“…smashing success”

“It will keep you on the edge of your seat!”

“More exhilarating than the Griffon.”

“Fast-paced, witty, and wholly enjoyable”

“A thrill ride through fantastic ideas for the whole family”

“A superhero astonishingly more rugged and likeable than The Dark Knight”

“Bono as an opening act is brilliant”

Check out these dates at a venue near you:

Nov 1st- Coffee and Dessert /Vision/ Networking at the Willetts home in Norfolk.

Nov 9th- Preach at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church and Lunch after for Vision/Networking in Suffolk.

Nov 21st- Coffee and Dessert / Vision/ Networking Location TBA in Chesapeake.

Please email bob@trinitynorfolk.com for interest or information.

       Mapping out the birth of a church is no easy task.  There seems to be two poles you want to find your way between.   On the one hand is a rigid plan that does not take into account the movement of the Spirit, and situations on the ground.  On the other hand, no plan is often doomed for failure.  Psalm 27:1 contains wisdom for this endeavor, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”  Here we see the mix of the Lord building, and the people building.  Both build.  However, it is pointless to build without the Lord.  At Chesapeake Presbyterian Church we’re building a house of worship, a new gathering of God’s people.  (I’m not talking about a physical structure, rather the people of God.)  As we plan for this new congregation to take form and come into existence, it is important to plan, and remain sensitive to God’s leading.  Interestingly, the common wisdom in church planting is not to launch public worship too soon.  Therefore, our launch of public worship seems far, but time will go quickly I’m sure.  This timeline is tentative, based on many factors, and yet very realistic. 

Some may wonder why so long before launching public worship?  The preparation season is fundamentally crucial to the church. I’m a civil engineer by training.  In college I took classes in concrete, steel, and dirt (no kidding!)  Why?  If the foundation is off, the whole building will be off.  If the ground shifts, the building will crack.  Have you ever wondered why on a construction site, the site work (preparing the ground) seems to take forever in comparison to how quickly the building can rise?  You can fix a roof, but you can’t easily fix a foundation.  The contractor spends his time getting the site work just right!  This next year will be spent laying the right foundation.  It will be well worth it in the future.

Here goes, and let me make my disclaimer, all dates are tentative:

2008 Autumn               Build Prayer Team

                                      Slowly begin networking and fundraising

                                      Hold one informational meeting for those interested in

          becoming part of the launch team.

2009 Winter                Continue building the prayer team

                                      Ramp up fundraising

                                      Begin weekly prayer and training meetings for the launch

          team

2009 Spring/Summer  Once fundraising is complete: move to Great Bridge

                                      Continue weekly launch team meetings

                                      Network and evangelism full-time

                                      Develop Website

2009 Autumn               Continue networking and evangelism

                                      Start Women’s Bible Study

                                      Start Community Groups

                                      Continue weekly prayer and training meetings

                                      Run Christianity Explored courses

2010 February              Launch Public Worship

                                      Continue networking and evangelism

2010 Beyond                 Launch additional sites in Chesapeake

Do you believe that I am able to do this?

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”  ²⁸ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”  ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” Matthew 9:27-29  

That’s the question isn’t it?  Do I believe that God is able to plant a church from nothing?  Is he able to build a church where one doesn’t exist?   This second question is easy.  Yes I believe God is able to build a new church.  After all, every church that exists or has existed was a new church at one point.  It is easy to believe that God is able to build new churches.  The evidence is spread throughout history.

The problem it strikes me is when the question gets personal.  Like the two blind men.  Is Jesus able to heal their blind eyes?  Is he able to do something miraculous?  I say yes, but for the blind men, it was not 3^rd person, but 1^st person.  Can you heal my blind eyes?   They were desperate, and in their hearts, they believed that Jesus is able.

Today, as I peer into the future, I have no doubt that God is able to plant new churches.  But as I personalize the question, I face a polar mix of emotions, fear and excitement.  It is personal.  Do I believe that God is able to do this?  Do I believe that God is able to plant Chesapeake Presbyterian Church?  Yes. 

Do I believe that God will use me and a small band of people to proclaim the message of redemption?  Do I believe that he will provide the finances in an economically unstable world for this new church?  Will the Spirit transform hearts, relationships, marriages, families, and a community?  To put it bluntly, will people even come?  Will mercy permeate?  Will grace reign?  Will compassion lead?  And so quickly, it is not about what I believe, but Him who is able.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,  ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21  

People Profile                                                 Great Bridge, Chesapeake, VA

·       1/3 College Graduate

·       ¼ Postgraduate

·       Affluent and Middle Class Families

·       Average age 36

·       Lots of Children and Youth

·       21 % African American

·       Newer Suburban Neighborhoods

·       Commuter Culture

·       1/3 not involved with faith, 1/3 somewhat involved

·       Jobs: 2/3 Professional, 1/3 Blue Collar

·       Large Baptist Influence

·       Pro-military (Navy town)

·       Mid-Atlantic culture with a touch of southern living 

·       Voted for Huckabee and Obama in the primaries

·       Most are busy raising families, therefore kids are important and often           idolized.  Personal health, good schools, in short the American dream and the comforts it brings (materialism, financial security, vacations, suburban home with yard, recreation/leisure, family and children) are the idols of the community.

·       Felt Needs are fulfillment in career, marital counseling, activities for kids, financial security, recreation and relationships, dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Gospel Ministries

·       Vibrant youth and children’s ministries

·         Community Groups

·       Instruction on Marriage, Finances, and Parenting

·       Social Events: The church has an opportunity to position itself as a community gathering point to develop relationships.  The suburbs isolate neighbors from one another, the church can meet this gap by being the place of connection. 

·       Grace emphasis from pulpit, will transform those from a legalistic Christian background, plus draw seekers into the faith. 

·       Joyful worship where God is experienced.

Idols

·       Materialism

·       Comfort

·       Security

·       Good families, children

·       Career

·       Retirement as the golden years

·       Personal Health

·       Education

·       Porn

Beliefs

·       God and Country

·       Good Morals are important  (Work hard, don’t break the law, care for family) Yet many are struggling with the silent effects of sin…shame, anxiety, worry, melancholy, depression/anger

·       Christianity is legalistic  i.e. “Try Harder”

·       Belief that one needs to get saved, but lacking the Gospel’s transformative power

·       Little understanding of the Kingdom of God.

·       Church and Religion are generally good and positive, sometimes necessary for business relationships.

·       Tired of hypocrisy of the church

·       The church is too political, judgmental, and antihomosexual