Richard Sims

We're On The Same Team

A few years ago my kids and I attended my parents’ church on Father’s Day. My home church has been a strong church for years, reaching people for Christ, developing believers, giving away lots of money to missions, and teaching English to the large number of foreign nationals in an Air Force town. Their worship service is also fairly traditional.

I knew what to expect from the kids, and I wasn’t disappointed. “Who are all those people?” “That’s the choir.” “What are they wearing?” “Those are called choir robes.” You get the picture. It was all just too foreign to three children who are used to loud guitars, drums, lots of clapping, you know,  a “cool” church.

And to be honest with you, I felt the way they did. I mean, I’m so past that traditional type of worship experience, and I don’t look forward to attending services like that. Ever.

But then came time for the invitation. After explaining to the kids what a hymnal was and showing them how to sing along to “Just As I Am,” I watched as an older couple went forward and shook the pastor’s hand. Then he introduced them as a couple he’d been meeting with...and they were coming forward to publicly give their lives to Christ!

I was ecstatic. When we got there that morning, these two people were lost. Now they were found. And I turned to my children and said, “This is why we should never make fun of a church who does things differently than we like. This church did things their way, and now these two people will be in heaven.”

That’s why I don’t understand when I hear Christians putting down other churches. Sure, there are lots of churches out there who aren’t doing anything for the kingdom and are just interested in getting their needs met. As far as I’m concerned, those churches should be called to task.

But I hear people talking negatively about other churches, not because of their ineffectiveness, but just because of the way they “do” church. What does methodology matter, if they’re impacting the world for Christ? And why do we have such a desire to belittle churches that don’t do things our way? What good does our slamming each other do for the kingdom?

There are all kinds of people out there without Christ. It takes all kinds of churches to reach them. We’re all on the same team. Let’s act like it.

Tea Parties and Tithes

I didn't get to attend a "tea party" yesterday, but I certainly was there in spirit. I don't want to get too political here, but I have always been in favor of smaller government and a balanced budget, regardless of which political party is in charge. I am totally against high taxes, big government spending, and a "redistribution of wealth" policy.

But here's my thought: as Christians, we are to take care of the poor. You can't seriously read the Bible and not come away with the understanding that God cares for those in need and expects his followers to help. I believe that God's plan is for the church to lead the way in serving the needy, and his desire is for believers to give 10% of their income so that the church can use a portion of that to efficiently take care of the poor.

But most Christians don't come close to a tithe, and too many churches spend too much of their income on themselves. God is most definitely going to take care of the poor, so he allows the government to take 30% or more from us and inefficiently take care of the poor. 

So as we call for lower taxes and less government spending, let's make sure that as individuals we're giving God what belongs to him. And as churches, let's make sure we're giving a lot of that away.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?

Yesterday's Road Trip

To all who went on the road trip to Buckhead Church yesterday, thanks for going! I was re-directed by a family change of plans (more on that in another post), so thanks, Josh, for taking the lead on this one. Everyone I've heard from was pumped after yesterday's service at Buckhead, including the music, the message, the facility, the whole thing. I also need to give a special thanks to Courtney and Ryan Fitzgerald for giving our folks the grand tour, including the pretty much inaccessible Waumba Land environment. That was above-and-beyond, and our folks truly appreciated it!

Buckhead Church was the Sims family's church for nearly 2 years, and we could have been content to just stay there. But those of you who went yesterday now understand our passion to bring that kind of vision, that kind of passion for worship, that kind of passion for volunteerism, that kind of passion to create a church that unchurched people like to attend, those kinds of messages, now you understand why we wanted to bring that to the people of Bartow County, especially to the people here who are going through life without Christ.

And I am so glad you're on the journey with us, helping us get there!

Road Trip to Buckhead

This Sunday morning, March 22, we'll take a road trip to worship at Buckhead Church in Atlanta.

We'll leave the Kroger parking lot by caravan at 9:30 am sharp, and we'll be attending the 11:00 am service.

Just in case you get separated from the caravan, go here for directions and a map. Basically, we'll be traveling south on I-75, then I-285 East, then taking the exit for 400 South. Exit off of 400 at the Lenox Road exit, turn right onto Lenox Road, turn left at Tower Place, and follow the signs.

Bring $1.00 for the Georgia 400 toll (50 cents each way). And don't worry, we'll have some quarters for you if you forget yours.

Rolling Hills Baptist Church

Check out this story about Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. Their pastor, Frank Mercer, and I served together years and years and, well, years ago. This church is stepping out in faith and doing something that a lot of folks (especially "church" types, if you know what I mean) think is crazy. I think it's crazy too, like Pop Tarts, "crazy good!"  In fact I think it's absolutely awesome! Imagine a church leaving their building because they are more concerned about ministry than they are about bricks and mortar. Hmmm....

A Question

So last night I'm suffering from withdrawals with no Olympics on tv, and I watched a live feed from the DNC in Denver. (This is NOT going to be a political post, so please keep reading). They did an interview with several young adults on why they supported Obama rather than Clinton, and overwhelmingly the answers had nothing to do with the positions or policies or ideas of the two candidates, but with the fact that the Obama campaign allowed them to "connect" with the candidate through Facebook, text messaging, and blogs. Someone even e-mailed in and reminded them that this was an election for the president of the United States, not a vote for "American Idol." Still, they stuck with their original answers.

My question for you is...what can the church learn from this when it comes to reaching young adults with the message of Christ?

Catalyst Church Update

Last week I asked you to pray for Catalyst Church in Greenville, South Carolina.  Good friend Ryan Fitzgerald is the service programming director there.  Catalyst asked big, you asked big for them, and here are the results:

• They needed 35 families to commit to being regular percentage givers. 45 families/individuals made this commitment!
• They needed $35,000 in donations by the end of the day yesterday.  They received $35,401!

Thank you for your prayers!  It'll be fun to watch God use Catalyst to turn Greenville upside down for His glory!
 

Ladies and Gentlemen...Buckhead Church

This Sunday at Northside...

I've been asked to speak this Sunday at Northside Community Church.  These are the wonderful people currently meeting at Excel Christian Academy.  They've asked me to come and share Tapestry's vision with their people.  The service starts at 10:30 a.m., so if you'd like to get a feel for the building and meet some fine people, come on over.  (Warning: if you were at the summer Tapestry gatherings above the pub, you've probably already heard everything I'll say!)  Our old friend Chas Childers will be leading worship! Please keep me and the folks at Northside in your prayers.

Why Are People Leaving the Church?, Part 2

I’m continuing a discussion of Thom & Sam Rainer’s article “Coming Home” in Outreach magazine.  Yesterday we looked at reasons why so many people are hitting the church exit door, but there is good news as well in this study.  The second part of the survey focused on how the church can help bring these people back into a local body.

62% of those who are currently de-churched said they were open to the idea of returning.  That’s the good news.  28% said they were unlikely to consider returning in the foreseeable future, which is totally disheartening, but let’s focus on that first number. Specifically, what can we do to help them return?

• Get this – 41% said they would return to the local church if a friend or acquaintance invited them.  And adults age 18-35 are even more open to an invitation; their number rose to 60%.  We all have friends who would come back to church if we’d only ask them!  That’s why our entire outreach strategy is built around our people investing and inviting.

• Almost a third said they would come back into a local body if it was a place where they could make a difference.  They need to sense that God is using them.  Setting the bar of high expectations for volunteers doesn’t deter these people from coming back, it actually helps them!  Whether it’s serving in Tapestry or helping us to serve in the community, all we need to do is cast a vision for ministry and invite them to serve! 

• And the number one reason why they would be interested in coming back to the church?  46% of them said it was because they want to feel closer to God.  At Tapestry, we want to lead people into a growing relationship with Christ by helping them to grow in community with believers, influence on those outside the faith (making a difference), and, get this, intimacy with God. 

If we just work our plan, we’ll be strategically set up to reach de-churched people for Christ!  I’m ready to work that plan – are you?