Starting Right

Yesterday I went with Craig Story (CATGrove’s other church planting pastor), Terry Little (East Metro Church Starting Strategist), and Mike Keaton (Pastor of Crossroads-Walton County) to visit with Ritchie Miller the pastor of Avalon Church in McDonough, GA.

Ritchie was awesome!  He and his Executive Pastor Dusty Beach spent over two hours sharing their journey, vision and what they learned in seven years of doing church at Avalon. 

Here is what Ritchie said was key to Avalon’s influence and growth (they have over 1200 in weekend attendance):

• Starting right-Vision, direction and focus on people without Christ.
• Taking Risks-Ritchie shared many stories of how they made decisions that normally wouldn’t make sense, but they followed God’s lead and God blessed the decisions.
• Commitment to the Vision and not compromising WHY they started the church.
• Quick Decision Making-They have structured their church where they can make quick decisions on the spot.

What does this mean for CATGrove?

• We have to be LASER-FOCUSED to the vision that God gave us at the beginning!  Please see this POST to see THAT VISION!
• We took a risk to start the church!  We took a risk to go to 2 services!  We must continue to take risks!  Many will not make sense.
• We must remain committed to think of those that are the “least likely to go to church”.  We must commit to EXISTS FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT YET HERE!  We must remain committed to those that are without Christ, disconnected, and unconvinced.
• Quick Decision Making is an absolute must.  Committees do not facilitate quick decision making.  We have STARTED RIGHT and set up our structure to make “on-the-spot” decisions.  This is HUGE for churches meeting in temporary facilities. 

Thanks to Ritchie, his staff and their hospitality.  Check out our pics below:

Mike Keaton, Ritchie Miller, Russ, Craig Story, Terry Little

Executive pastor Dusty Beach in the middle.

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