jeff gibson

CCCEV Small Group Members up 42% in 2009

It's really cool to see that Central's small group members went up 42% this year, from 1668 to 2375.  It's still way below where we want it, but we're definitely on the right path.

How did it happen?

First, we changed how we led our groups.  We brought more people into top level leadership that spread the area pastor workload around.

Second, we changed how we got people into groups.  We stopped having a shopping list of groups and began adding new people to new groups.  We took the Sticky Church idea that new people stick best into new groups and designed Connection Events where new groups were created. We created 53 new groups this year.

Third, we had more exposure to small groups in our weekend services by having our Sermon Companion as an insert every week.  So even people not in a small group got to see the questions and wonder what kind of discussion might happen if they were to get connected.

Fourth, a lot of prayer.  Okay, the last should be first.

Samson and the Pirate Monks

I just finished reading Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin and recommend it to any guy who is struggling with sin in his life.

Okay, that's all of us.

Nate tells his story of addiction and sin, and how it led him to a group of guys that started calling themselves the Samson Society.  It's based on the premise that we all have some Samson inside of us, meaning we:

• tend toward isolation from other guys.  If they knew the real me, they would think less of me.
• are rovers.  We don't like to be tied down. 
• operate on reflex, rather than reflection.
• depend on the big things to make our lives right, rather than doing the little things faithfully.

The Samson Society gives men a chance to expose the things that we don't want to tell anyone, helping us to bring things to the light and deal with them.  It also lets guys connect with a Silas, a traveling companion, who will listen and give you a perspective outside yourself.

Central had Nate speak at our Men's Challenge, and his story was impressive and definitely a challenge to deal with the crud in our lives.

Great book.  A must read.

The Pool is Finally Finished!!!!

It's all done!  Bring over your Speedo's and your water wings!!!

 

The Christmas Tree is Up!

Soon I'll have to think about Christmas shopping!

 

Small Group Brain Food #smallgroups via @loswhit

Food for thought from @loswhit

"But just like small groups were a result of the current churches frustration with “Sunday School”, what will be the result be from people being frustrated with “Small Groups”?

Hmmmmmmm...

What else will Obama have to apologize for?

• I'm sorry we didn't have real health care change through tort reform because we were scared of the lawyers?
• I'm sorry your children now have to pay for my deficits?
• I'm sorry no one wants to start a small business because the taxes are too high?
• I'm sorry I kept saying I was sorry for U.S. foreign policy during the previous 233 years of our history?

What else?

This is my desktop today...

Bo better start yelling at the offense.  It, not the officials, cost Nebraska the Big 12 Title.

Fast Company has Cool Stuff

If you don't follow Fast Company's blog, you're missing out on the following posts:

• Presidental Approval Rating for the Last 12 Presidents.
• Totally zero-energy housing development article
• The Best Smartphones on Every Carrier
• Read this is you don't know about Mint.com

Rice and Beans and Water

Rice and beans.  Rice and beans.  Again.  Rice and beans.

As a church, Central is eating nothing but rice and beans until Thanksgiving.  The intent is to give us an idea of what much of the world has to eat on a daily basis.  And, I gotta tell you, this is not the most fun I've ever had.

Rice and beans.  Oh, and water.

I'm calling this a social fast.  It's cool to see our staff eating our rice and beans in the break room, and see what kind of variations people have.  White rice.  Brown rice.  Red rice. 

I'll admit, I'm hungry.  Not starving, but definitely hungry.  Got a little headache, probably from not having any caffeine.  Been days since Starbucks.  (By the way, my real coffee desire is Caribou Coffee.  Memories from Illinois.  I was listening today to web message from Scott Hodge, who pastors a church outside of Chicago and he mentioned Caribou.  DID NOT HELP!)

But I will not whine.  Much.  There is value to my discomfort.

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner.  I need to find a way to help others to have something to look forward to as well.

"Yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.

Five times in Amos chapter 4 God says "...yet you have not returned to me."  Before each of them he talks about the things that he did to get the Israelite's attention, yet they still wouldn't turn back to Him. 

I immediately think about the economic times we are going through, and can equate whats been happening to us with the Israelites.  "I shrank the value of your homes, yet you have not returned to me."  "I took half of your 401(k), yet you have not returned to me." "I took away your toys and fancy cars, yet you have not returned to me."  It's been a great reminder of just where we need to keep our trust.