Numbers
Dec 21, 2011 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
This has been an exciting year at Riverview as we expanded the capacity of our Holt Venue, launched a new Church Planting Residency with our MSU Venue, and began preparations for another church plant within the next year. We are also gearing up to send over 200 people to Mazatlan, Mexico on short term mission trips in 2012, including all six of our pastors.
While numbers aren’t everything, they do matter a great deal (there’s even a book of the Bible called “Numbers”). Here are a few numbers from this past year that I am humbled and floored by:
- 12,877: Number of online views of our message videos (not including downloads)
- 104: People went on a mission trip to Mexico
- 1,329: Children were involved in RivKids
- 150: Students were involved in our middle and high school ministries (Chaos and Element)
- 3,863: People attended services at our Holt Venue on Easter weekend (51% higher than 2010)
- 2,762: Average attendance at our Holt Venue (20% higher than 2010)
- 168: Average attendance at our MSU Venue (18% higher than 2010)
- 2: Riverview Church Planting Residents
- 86: People were baptized (that we know about)
- 101: Number of Life Groups (includes 913 people)
What do all these numbers have in common? They each represent specific individuals learning to become sacrificial followers of Jesus through the ministry at Riverview. By faith, we are making even bigger plans for spreading the message of Jesus in 2012. We know we can’t do this under our own strength, but we want to follow the lead of the Apostle Paul who wrote: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:2-5)
Would you prayerfully consider a year-end gift to help us spread the Gospel throughout the Lansing area and beyond in 2012?
Just click this link to give online.
Tags: baptism, church planting, Jesus, Mexico, money, riverview
Review of “Church Planter,” by Darrin Patrick
Oct 19, 2011 Book Reviews, Church Planting
Church Planting is a big part of what we are all about at Riv. To that end, we partner with Acts29 for the assessment of Church Planters and their ongoing support and coaching. We decided to team up with them was because they do a better job than anyone at digging into the life of a man who desires to plant a church and accurately predicting whether or not he will be successful. That’s why I was so excited to read Church Planter by Darrin Patrick. I came away from the book feeling the same way I do about Acts 29, excitement with a hint of disagreement on non-essentials. If my slight reservations weren’t enough to keep us out of Acts 29, they shouldn’t be enough to keep you out of this book.
What did I like most about the book?
Whenever someone wants to start a new church, I recommend they read Missional Church Planting by Ed Stetzer because it is literally the textbook on church planting. He covers all the bases from the macro (types of church plant) to the micro (dealing with finances). The one missing piece was the most crucial of questions: “should I plant a church?” This is what Patrick hits in his book when he looks at “the Man, the Message, and the Mission.” This lines up well with Riv’s leadership development emphasis on “Character, Ministry Skills, and Doctrine.”
What did I like least about the book?
Many of the pastors in Acts 29 are more charismatic in their theology than I am and that definitely bleeds through in Church Planter. This was perhaps most notable for me in the chapter, “A Called Man.” I actually really enjoyed this chapter and thought Patrick nailed it on the head when he gave historical illustrations, practical advice, and Scriptural example. However, when subjective personal illustrations were used, the chapter lost its punch and their inclusion may have worked against the basic premise of the chapter. The problem with many young church planters is they elevate an experiential “call” to ministry over the counsel of godly men in their lives and others who speak into their decision to plant a church. It would seem that a supernatural call to ministry is the exception, rather than the rule in Scripture.
Would I recommend the book?
Any man who is considering planting a church should read this book before making their decision.
Key Quotes
“Often a pastor has the greatest impact on his church only after he has been there a number of years. When pastors fail to endure in ministry, they drastically cut shirt their impact.”
“Pastoral ministry requires dogged, unyielding determination, and determination can only come from one source – God himself.”
“Husbands in the home and pastors in the church are not more valued or more gifted, but they are charged with more responsibility and will be accountable to God for the way they lead.”
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
Tags: acts29, church planting, elders, pastors
Church and Church Buildings
Sep 12, 2011 Church Planting
A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a day in Detroit with the guys from Restore Church. One of the highlights of the day for me was a tour of old abandoned church buildings. For me it was a reminder of Jesus’ words to Peter:
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18
To the uniformed eye, it would appear that the gates of hell have prevailed against these churches. And then we remember that a building is not a church. There was a time when the church met in these locations, but not anymore.
Link to Detroit Churches Photo Album
Tags: church, church planting, detroit
Church Planter
Sep 6, 2010 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
My friend Darrin Patrick has published a book that I am very excited about. It’s called “Church Planter” and you can find it here.
I haven’t had a chance to read it, although I am hoping to while I’m flying later on this week. I’ll post a review of it soon (although, unless he really tanks on it, I suspect it will be a good review).
Check out this video that not only promotes the book, but kicks pastors, men, and boys in the butt:
Tags: church, church planting, marriage
