next gen pastors…devotional life

I think I’ve mentioned here that I got an opportunity to be part of Community formed by Leadership Network of next generation pastors.  Specifically, it is for young pastors leading churches that have an attendance of 800 or more.

At our first gathering in April, some of us were interviewed for a research paper on how devotional lives work in this next generation.  I found out they just published the paper.  It’s an interesting read except for that guy they quoted on page 9.  Click here to download it.

The 4C’s are defining us…student style.

This did my soul good today.  I just got a text message from Jared Mehrle, our student life pastor.  He has a big group of students at CIY and he was overhearing their conversation at breakfast today.  They were talking about the 4C’s as they talk about growing in Christ.

I think the 4C’s are now defining us as a church…and I can’t think of anything I’d rather be defined by!  It’s no longer just something that is talked about on Sunday morning, but it is part of the conversation in Children’s ministry, Student ministry, our community groups…everywhere people are trying to grow!

Our 4 C’s aren’t perfect, but they remain the best picture of a disciple I have ever heard if we can remember it is never about hitting one of the 4 or 2 of the 4, but all 4.  Here they are again…or for the first time.

A Christ-follower will..

• Cultivate a Personal Relationship with Jesus.
• Connect in Relationships where Truth meets Life.
• Contribute by Serving.
• Care about People far from God.

If any one of these are absent in our lives, we are falling way short in following Jesus.

A new church is coming…

 

 …To Providence.

Today, we took the 8 high school students to Providence, Rhode Island to do some research for the church plant that will happen there soon. 

It looks like our missions team at Suncrest has decided to make a major support commitment to this work and I’m really proud of them.  Our vision for launching new churches in new England is only growing as we see how effective it can be.

Today, the students did some “man on the street” interviews to gauge the spiritual climate and receptivity of the area.  We targeted the Warwick area south of Providence, which is the leading contender for where the new work will be launched.