Roles

We began the process of developing our plan for connections this week.  First we began defining the roles of those we need to help make Connections a reality.  Then we began asking for God to find the right people.  We are certain there will be new additions and roles redefined as we progress but, if you see a role which interest you please let us know. These are the roles we need when we launch:


Worship Leader
Responsibilities: Create a atmosphere of worship during Sunday service and special events through music and preparation. Train staff and volunteers to aid in audio and video set-up.

Spiritual Gifts:*  Creativity, faith, wisdom, leadership, discernment

Skill Set: Musically gifted, strong verbal communication  

Experience: 5 years music experience, comfortable leading others, able to coordinate and recruit volunteer musicians and technicians

Creative Lead

Responsibilities: Create community presence including logo, banners, press releases, and Internet presence.  Develop presentations (PowerPoint and video)

Spiritual Gifts:  Creative, craftsmanship, evangelism

Skill Set: Design, web development, strong written and verbal communication

Experience: 5 years design and web development, knowledge of video editing and creating presentations

Funding Facilitator

Responsibilities: Seek new funding opportunities through relationships and grants  

Spiritual Gifts:  Giving, hospitality, faith

Skill Set: Strong verbal communication and written communication, enjoy people

Experience: 5 years grant writing and people experience

Office Manager

Responsibilities: Bookkeeping, coordinate volunteer office staff, responsible for all telephone and electronic communication

Spiritual Gifts:  Administration, giving, serving, leadership

Skill Set: Strong verbal communication and written communication

Experience: 5 years office administration experience

Facility Minister One

Responsibilities: Oversee the daily operations and upkeep of the kitchen and shuttle service.  Coordinate daily feeding and Sunday morning meal volunteers Lead accountability small group.  

Spiritual Gifts:  Hospitality, encouraging, serving, intercession, leadership

Skill Set: Culinary, Verbal and written communication, attentive to details

Experience: 5 years culinary arts experience, comfortable leading small groups, willing to live on-site

Facility Minister Two

Responsibilities: Oversee the daily operations and upkeep of the shower,restroom, laundry and storage facility.  Lead new believers small group, Coordinate daily security as well as Sunday morning volunteer ushers and greeters  

Spiritual Gifts:  Hospitality, encouraging, serving, intercession, leadership

Skill Set: Security, verbal and written communication, attentive to details

Experience: 5 years security experience, comfortable leading small groups,  able to coordinate janitorial needs, willing to live on-site

* "Spiritual Gifts" refer to gifts of empowerment available to all followers of Jesus to enable the Church to overcome even the most unmovable obstacle. Spiritual Gifts are not earned but given freely to those willing to ask. Without these gifts The Church would have never flourished. When we refer to seeking the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we are referring to these gifts. Connections will encourage everyone to seek and use these gifts. 

 
⁴ And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-8, New King James Version)

 ¹ When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 
⁵ And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” ¹² So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
¹³ Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” 
¹⁴ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. ¹⁵ For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
       ¹⁷ ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
       That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
      Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
      Your young men shall see visions,
      Your old men shall dream dreams.
       ¹⁸ And on My menservants and on My maidservants
      I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
       And they shall prophesy.
       ¹⁹ I will show wonders in heaven above
      And signs in the earth beneath:
      Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
       ²⁰ The sun shall be turned into darkness,
      And the moon into blood,
      Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
       ²¹ And it shall come to pass
      That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
      Shall be saved.’

(Acts 2:1-21, New King James Version)

 ¹ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: ² You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
⁴ There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, New King James Version)

Boot Camp

We headed to Church Multiplication Boot Camp last week with a stronger belief in God's power.  Thanks to our experiences in Atlanta, God felt larger.  Pursuing righteousness has greater benefits than a healthy life, it allows us to trust God and believe our prayers will be answered.  Not a bad place to be when beginning a week of learning new habits. 


The first few days of the camp were slower than we expected.  Many of the other church planters were still getting to know their communities.  We have been serving the homeless and impoverished for six years.  Many were still grappling with vision.  Through this blog God has been clarifying and refining the vision.  Mapping out the needs of the homeless community and ways to meet those needs came easily.  Then we hit a head wind.  Trinity and Roger, both successful church planters and our facilitators for the week, began asking tougher questions, "who will plant this church with you, what is your plan, and how will you fund it."  


Wow, great questions.  God has brought solid men and women alongside us but how many share our vision for those experiencing homelessness in Tallahassee.  More than any other family within our fellowship at Freedom Church, the Fraziers are our closest friends and ministry partners.  We would love to have them at our side at Connections, but they carefully chose Freedom as their church home and may not be able to invest.  Others, especially those experiencing homelessness or recovering from homelessness share our vision, but how many are ready to stand?  Most will be asked to serve as volunteers in the beginning, believing God will provide part time and full time positions as we move forward.  By the end of the week we understood our launch team will need to be as committed as we are.  


God blessed us with His vision for Connections three years ago.  We are excited about holding our first service.  However, when we began considering the number of details required to launch, it began to feel overwhelming.  Fortunately, God has trained Deniz in project management.  While Jeff fought off anxiety, she pushed ahead mapping out the next months.  We have a new appreciation for talents and gifts.  Connection will trust in God while seeking His guidance through the entire process.  Rushing before having His resources in place would be foolish.


Resources, where are we going to find them?  How big is our God?  Unlike traditional fellowships which rely primarily on tithing we will need to look beyond our congregation.  Tithing will be taught and expected at Connections but additional help will be needed. As we move towards launch we are confident God will provide the funds.  Without God as a partner Connections will not succeed.  We choose to trust His vision.


If you are interested in playing a role in planting Connections and feel ready to commit fully to it's successful launch please contact us soon.  We encourage you to talk to your Pastor.  We appreciate Pastors with a heart for planting churches but understand the value of workers.  If you would like to remain with your current church, don't worry, there will still be many opportunities to partner with Connections.  


 ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (James 5:15-17, New King James Version)


  ³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33, New King James Version)

Miracles

Wow, what happened to July?  With the Trip to Rescue Atlanta at the beginning, followed by Church Multiplication Boot Camp a week later, the month has nearly escaped!  As I attempt to gain focus an reflect on what I have learned this month, one thing is clear, it is going to take a miracle to launch Connections.


I met Joel Crumpton at Rescue Atlanta.  Joel believes strongly in healing through faith.  While we were singing on the steps of the Georgia Capital in Downtown Atlanta, Joel was praying for a man bound in a wheelchair for ten years.  Joel simply spoke these words, "Take my hand, I have good news, the kingdom of heaven is upon you, God desires to heal you RIGHT NOW, in Jesus name be healed"


Then Joel encouraged the man to step from the wheelchair and walk.  The man stood from the chair and ran to the end of the block and back.  Was this a miracle?  My skeptical nature was unwilling to accept it.  I have ministered on the street long enough to know many who are in wheelchairs are not truly disabled.  Wheelchairs help those experiencing homelessness become more visible.  I was certain this was the case.


The following morning Joel gathered the youth to teach them his methods but first he spoke to their relationship with God.  A few days earlier I had made an emotional plea to the youth about necessity of pursuing righteousness to make the greatest impact on others.  Joel repeated this message in a much harsher way and called those not in right relationship with God to the front.  One of our young guys went forward, I followed to pray and and encourage.    


Eighty youth fell into stunned silence as Joel began to share his simple method of healing.  He shared many miraculous healings he had witnessed.  Joel said he was simply the conduit and the healings came from God, but I saw his confidence as arrogance.  I didn't trust Joel, but his words challenged me to ask myself, "how big is your God?"  


Most of the youth reacted to Joel's tough message the same way they react school principals or other authorities.  "I have good news, the Kingdom of Heaven is upon you", became the newest catch phrase.  We are all guilty of laughing at what we don't understand but it keeps us from stretching beyond our own understanding.  


As for me, when I found a quiet place to speak with God (not easy in a herd of youth) He reminded me of the healing I had witnessed.  A few years ago Jasmine, our oldest, was kicked square in the face by one of our horse while trying to feed them at night in a very dark barn.  I ran to the barn, following her awful screams and cries, Deniz called 911 as I escorted Jasmine down the driveway and into the light.  Blood was pouring from her nose and mouth, I was afraid her face had been fractured.  We sat in our living room as a towel filled with blood and we tried to calm Jasmine.  We prayed for healing, we pray for God to show up.  Soon after an EMT in a pick-up truck arrived from out of the night.  After a quick examination noting several of Jasmine's loose teeth, she encouraged us to rush to the Emergency room.  Jasmine calmed considerably.    


We live a half hour away from the nearest emergency room.  During the drive, Jasmine began carrying on normal conversation as we sped towards town.  At the time I dismissed it as shock.  When we arrived at the emergency room we were asked to wait.  Deniz, Jasmine and I sat in the ER for nearly and hour.  While we sat there I began to notice a change in Jasmine's appearance.  She appeared healthy.  Jasmine noticed she was no longer in pain and reached to touch her loosened teeth and found them solid.  We all agreed God had healed her and headed home.


In the months and years which have passed I lost touch with the miracle.  I convinced myself Jasmine must not have been as severely injured as I had thought.  There wasn't as much blood, her face wasn't crushed, and her teeth weren't hanging by a thread.  I dismissed the miracle.  While praying that morning in Atlanta, God reminded me of the miracle I had witnessed and I was ashamed.


I began seeing Joel in a new light.  Joel is a unique part of the Body of Christ.  He has been gifted with talents and abilities different than mine.  Some of those talents and abilities seem strange to me but that does not mean they are less real or less important.  Joel has witnessed many miracles and is confident in God's ability.  He wants everyone to experience the  amazing God he serves, but his challenge to accept this greater God pushes us beyond our comfort.  


The following day Joel prayed for Linda's knee to be healed.  I saw Linda dance and jump like a teenager afterwards.  She reported feeling no pain.  Linda is the wife of my senior pastor.  She is a mature Christian and very centered.  I trust her word and believe she was healed.  I was grateful God allowed me to witness another miracle.


Connections will believe in miracles.  We will trust in the greater God and not rely on our own comfortable understanding.  Connections will be open to learning from others, even when their methods seem foreign.  We will exercise the gift of healing and restoration as part of our ministry.


Read the following passages.  Do you believe miracles are possible today?  Is Jesus crying because we dismiss the miracles around us by choosing to seek a rational explanation over revelation?  I encourage you to move beyond your life size God and accept a much larger God.  I have Good News, the Kingdom of Heaven is here!


 ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  
(Matthew 19:26, New King James Version)


 ¹ Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. ² He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2, New King James Version)


 ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.   (Matthew 28:18-20, New King James Version)


  
²⁰ Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:20-24, New King James Version)

Simplify

Day 51


We are sorry it has been so long.  We had an opportunity through Access Youth to join a missions trip to Atlanta.  We spent a week on the streets with Rescue Atlanta.  It was amazing to see God move in the lives of the next generation and those they touched.  God is raising strong men and women of faith behind us.  


The following was placed on our hearts weeks ago as we considered our personal challenges and the challenges organizations face.

Through our financial struggles last year we were forced to take a hard look at where we spend our money.  We recognized our hearts tend to follow where our money goes.  We spend 35% of our resources on housing, 13% on transportation, 10% on food, 10% charity, 3% on communication, 2% on entertainment and the remainder on clothing, school expenses, credit card debt, and maintenance.  This division seemed good a few years ago.  However, in the light of our new understanding it seems slanted.  If we truly believe God will provide, why should our hearts be so preoccupied by basic necessities?

What if we simplified?  What if our numbers looked more like this; 50% charity, 10% food, 5% transportation, 10% travel/entertainment, 1% communication and the remainder on school, clothing, and maintenance?  Would out hearts be less focused on survival and more focused on the needs of our community?  This change is possible and we have taken the first steps to recalibrating the scales.  

To some of our friends and family this seems like a drastic sacrifice.  However, it is the American Dream which is the sacrifice.  We have pursued everything the world has to offer for twenty years and found nothing but empty promises.  Our greatest joy has been family, friends, and caring for others.  However, we have sacrificed these relationships because of where we spend our resources.  Imagine the blessings we missed.  What may seem as sacrifice is actually God’s attempt to free us from bondage and allow blessings to flow more freely.

If individuals can become bound by the focus of their hearts imagine the mess created when several individuals come together corporately.  Organizations are susceptible to an unbelievable amount of bureaucratic red tape.  

Once upon a time a man needed a brick so he asked his neighbor.  The neighbor, having a spare brick, happily gave the man a brick.

The End 

Once Upon a time in a neighboring kingdom a thousand people needed a brick? After much debate and many meetings, the brick committee was formed to decide who was worthy of receiving of a brick.  The brick keepers, reacting to the demand for bricks and worrying about brick theft created a brick vault.  More worry and strain was created when it was discovered the department formed to distribute the bricks did not have the proper security clearance to enter the vault.  Warehouses were built to store the records and decrees; distribution lists, inventory lists, candidate lists, referral lists, waiting lists, and lists of lists.   What once took moments to accomplish now took weeks and months, and many were left brickless. 

God’s solution is much simpler than the world’s economic models.   Proverbs 11:23-25 encourages us to give freely.  In God’s economy a generous heart yields greater blessings.  Jesus asks the Apostles in Matthew 10:7-10  to give the blessings they have received generously.  He does not suggest careful disbursement or resource management.  He does not demand a need assessment or customer profile be completed.  Jesus simply says, “freely give”.   In Luke 12:22-32 Jesus speaks about the freedom available by unshackling ourselves from worry. Do you believe God will provide?   Imagine a model which called someone to give 100%, do you think this person would be rewarded by God?  Acts 4:32-35 presents an organization which relied completely on God.  They were no longer restrained by the constructs of society but gave to those in need.  God’s favored them and blessed them greatly.

We understand all blessings come from God and he expects us to care for them.  He calls us to be good stewards.  However, Connections will give freely and seek simple solutions.  We will trust God’s providence and serve those he desires to reach.  Connections will rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment and seek to err on the side of giving too much than too little.  We will expect God to continue to bless us so we can bless others.    

Proverbs 11:23-25 

 ²³ The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
       but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

 ²⁴ One man gives freely, yet gains even more;
       another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

 ²⁵ A generous man will prosper;
       he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Matthew 10:7-10 

⁷As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.⁹Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; ¹⁰take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

Luke 12:22-32 

 ²²Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

 ²⁷"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ²⁹And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
 ³²"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Luke 16:13 

 ¹³"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Acts 4:32-35 

 ³²All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. ³³With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. ³⁴There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.