2011 October » russbutcher.com

Loving the Community like Jesus

Church at the Grove, Community, Faith, General, Leadership, Missional, Random Thoughts 1 Response »

Oct 272011

Here is the question for the day:

If our church were to disappear, would Church at the Grove’s influence be missed?

Our role as a church is to be a bridge. As we serve and love those in our community we form a bridge through our actions over which the good news of Jesus can travel! I heard it said recently, “Influence is when you (church) become part of the fabric of the community.” My desire as a pastor is that Church at the Grove become a part of the fabric of the community. My former pastor Mike Linch spoke about this at a recent meeting of pastors and church leaders and it was a good reminder of the need for us to focus as a church on serving and loving our community.

Our community needs our church. Our church needs our community. True, lasting influence is gained over the long haul and leads to credibility with the community.

How do we “win” over the community….?

We have to learn to love the things they love and get involved in the things that are important to them.

My heart as a pastor is for God to raise up some leaders that will become the “flag waivers” (leaders) for our community ministry needs.

We want to serve our community with “no strings attached” just like Jesus love on people He came into contact with.

Popular author and blogger Seth Godin states, “If you are not remarkable, you are invisible.”

Church at the Grove, let’s dig in over the long haul, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, let’s serve our community in a remarkable way!

Check out my friend Brian Dodd’s thoughts on serving the community as a church: http://briandoddonleadership.com/2011/10/25/13-tips-on-how-churches-can-best-serve-their-communities/

Anticipation like the night before Christmas!

Church at the Grove, Church Planting, Community, Faith, Jesus, Leadership, Missional, Random Thoughts No Responses »

Oct 112011

When I was a kid in elementary school, I could not wait for Christmas day! The month of December passed at a snail’s pace! It seemed as if Christmas Day took forever to arrive. There was one specific year that I could not sleep the night of Christmas Eve and my mom and day were awakened to a strange shuffling sound coming from my room. I was pacing in circles and my pajama feet were rubbing against the carpet causing a shuffling sound. I was quickly put to bed again and told that if I didn’t get in bed quickly that I would not benefit from the Christmas morning festivities!

I feel a little like that this week! It is very similar to the emotions I experience just over 5 years ago when we had our first preview services for Church at the Grove.

This Sunday night we will have our first preview gathering in Social Circle at the Middle School Activities building at 6pm. We would love for you to be there!

Although we have been through something similar to this when we launched CATGrove and we may be a little more prepared than we were over 5 years ago. Nevertheless, we really don’t know what to expect, who will be there and exactly how things will go! Isn’t that great!

It is in times like this that we get to experience God at work in the most intense and fresh manner. We take a step of faith and He works in and through our faith!

I am hoping to have a great turnout from our Walnut Grove “Grovers” this Sunday night. We need some of you to come early and greet. We would love to have some of you join us in the afternoon and set up and we will need some of you to stay a little late and help us breakdown.

On Saturday November 5 at 6pm we will have a Social Circle Launch Team Meeting for those feeling God’s leadership to be a part of this new endeavor. The location is to be determined.

Please keep praying, keep investing and keep inviting!

Missional Responsibility & Investing in Others with a Purpose

Church, Church at the Grove, Church Planting, Culture, Faith, Family, General, Jesus, Leadership, Missional, Random Thoughts No Responses »

Oct 072011

We set out as a church over 5 years ago to be intentional in our efforts to reach people disconnected from God and the church.

We know that most people come to Christ on the arm of a trusted friend.

How are you doing at investing in people and inviting them to join you at Church at the Grove?

Remember, you gotta come yourself if you are going to bring somebody with you or have them meet you at the school!

Who are you investing in?

Here is the concept behind our Core Value “Missional Responsibility”:

We desire to fulfill the mission God has given the Church. In both Old and New Testaments we encounter a God who is on a redemptive mission in the world. In fact, we are astounded at the lengths to which God will go in pursuit of his mission to redeem the crowning achievement of his creation – people. In North America, the term “mission” has been associated with either sending called people to other parts of the world or giving financially toward reaching others around the world. With the United States now being among the largest mission fields in the world, and the fact that there are now multiple generations born and raised in a post-Christian culture, we must address the need for churches to think “missionally” in a local context.

What if each individual believer and household could see their home as a “base” for missional operations to reach the entire neighborhood for Jesus?

This is a core desire for Church at the Grove.