Leadership is on my mind...in my heart.

I’ve just recently finished the first ever all-church leadership introduction forum for LifePoint Church. Under 3 years into our plant and we had 70+ people in attendance. I’m stoked about the group of phenomenal people that filled the room. Every area of the church and multiple levels of leadership were represented. I have to celebrate a great team of leaders called the Key Ministry leaders of LifePoint. They are the strategic leaders of ministry and environments at LifePoint and have worked tirelessly to assemble this group of front-line leadership. They are a huge blessing to the Elder Council and doing an incredible job of training and equipping people to minister.

Leadership was becoming a bottleneck for LifePoint. We have not had bad leadership, or even a lack of, but our previous model to raise up new leaders was no longer adequate. It all started several months ago when we began praying, planning and searching for a third full-time staff position for LifePoint. I knew this was our logical next step in development and no doubt, we desperately needed it. As we worked to create a process to accomplish this task there was a constant hesitation in my spirit. I was never fully sure why, but knew something was stirring. As we progressed through the interviewing process, I never sensed a peace from the Lord. The Lord began to turn my heart away from ‘candidates’ and toward engineering pathways. I had never considered this as a way to accomplish what we currently needed, but rather thought it would come later in our development. It seems I was wrong. The Lord began to give us favor with people and we caught some traction with the internship program. We are still in the early stages of fully developing what it will look like, but the Lord is using this to build a vision in me to not only raise up leaders in the church, but also to create an environment for leaders of churches to be raised up.

The one compelling factor that Jesus is using within me is his vision of the harvest. When I read how he looked upon the crowds of people and saw the harvest, I’m convicted that my expectation of harvest is nothing like his. I’ve sold his vision short. I’ve expected too little. I’ve been much too satisfied with a few when he has seen the multitudes ready to be harvested for the Kingdom of God. I’ve too often envisioned a harvest that I could achieve and not one that only the King could bring about. I’ve repented. I’m asking Jesus to show me his harvest…to see what He sees…to envision the harvest that he wants. I’m becoming consumed with the harvest. I’m praying for laborers. The Lord is answering my prayers. Pray with me.

I’m not completely sure all that will develop through the new ‘leadership farm system’ that we are creating, but I am positive that new leaders will be raised up for the fame of Jesus. I have three immediate goals in mind to guide me. I want to create a pathway whereby new leaders can constantly be identified, engaged and trained. I want to create a community of encouragement and equipping for leaders, where the Gospel is richly growing in people’s lives and the stories of redemption are ridiculously abundant. I want to create a culture where leadership is celebrated and aspired unto, where every person sees a new challenge and senses a fresh calling, a move of holy resonation that will require surrender, sacrifice and suffering in order to be honored to participate in the King’s harvest story…and they joyfully say “Yes”! Come…join the move of God called LifePoint.

--Pastor Lane

Fall Worship

It’s hard to think about summer being almost over when your shoes melt to the pavement as soon as you step out of the door, but we’ll be sucking down s’mores and jumping in leaves before you know. I love this time of the year. As a pastor August and September are the most exhilarating months of the church calendar. Everyone begins making their pilgrimage back to church after much needed vacation, and you can see the wild resolve of a caged animal in the eyes of leadership. Aside from when LifePoint launched, I have never been more excited about a fall in my ministry life. I can’t wait to see what God has for LifePoint Church this year!

That being said, I want to share some of the things coming in the worship ministry. First, in October we will have auditions for anyone interested in playing or singing in the band. We are constantly looking for humble followers of Christ who want to use their talents to lead LifePoint Worship Experiences. If you or someone you know fits this description, don’t miss this audition. My goal is to add one more fully functioning band this year. We are close, but we need your help. In a couple of weeks, I will have more information available.

Next, I’m overwhelmed by the spiritual growth many leading in the worship ministry are experiencing. God is doing an amazing work among us. Several on the team have talked to me about what Christ is laying on their hearts. I believe in this next year we will see an all new level of leadership, creativity and collaboration. I look forward to the original creative expression coming from our people.

Third, we will be shaking the format of the services up a bit. We won’t lock ourselves into the present order of service. I look forward to exploring some Biblical themes in worship that are many times ignored in church settings. We will also move Lord’s Supper and baptism from Celebrate LifePoint to our Sunday morning Worship Experience.

Finally, we are going to ramp up our training for every Christ follower at LifePoint to be a worshipper, servant, disciple and missioner. What does that mean for the worship ministry at LPC? We are going to take a very active, planned approach to teaching what true worship is. This is huge. Everything from Worship Experience and Community Group to children, youth and adult ministries will be affected.

I want to challenge you as a Christ follower to join what God is doing at LifePoint Church. Don’t hold anything back. Make serving and attending a priority. Don’t come on Sundays to observe. Engage! Jump in and get some dirt under your nails by serving. Ask God to show you how He wants to use you. Build relationships with friends and neighbors. Cry out to God to lay a burden for the lost on your heart. Don’t be satisfied with mediocrity in your relationship with Christ. I fully believe that God is going to use LifePoint Church to a degree we never dreamed possible. Come join us!

--Pastor Dennis

Church Planting in Joplin

Recently I drove to Joplin, MO, on Sunday afternoon to meet with our church plant there, Mystery Church. It was a great evening as Pastor Dennis, Jon Goings, and Andrea Penland went with me to lead worship. The church has been holding public services now for almost six months. It is so encouraging to see all that God is doing through this young church plant! Pastor Steev and his wife Ashley have been working hard since January 2006 to launch and are just beginning to see the fruits of much of their labor. The people were very encouraging. It was the first time I had the opportunity to meet with them and what a warm welcome we received. I was overwhelmed several times during the service as I began to think about the high honor of participating in God’s mission of planting churches. I know we haven’t conquered the world yet…but we are one church closer.

Mystery Church meets in an old historic Presbyterian church building in Webb City. They allow them to use the facility for free on Sunday nights. The building is a beautiful location that provides an inspiring setting. Voice and guitar echo as songs are sung. Prayers seem to linger more with the acoustics of the room. There was an interesting group of people from all walks of life that attended that evening. They were very engaged as I preached on God’s covenants. A gracious and welcoming spirit was evident. I realize that I did not know any of those people when I went that night, but that God is using us both for the work of the his great mission and sharing the gospel.

There are moments, and more would surely happen if I would slow down enough to take the time and think on it, when I am able to step out of the craziness of life and I become so overwhelmed with the reality of the great life God has given me. What a blessing to know so many great people in my life. I am so honored and humbled to pastor a church that has a heart to plant churches so the gospel can be preached and shared, served and shown. The faces of the people of LifePoint began to flash through my mind as I gave thanks to God. I was reminded that those are the people that God is using to help plant this church…and many, many, many more.

I love to preach the gospel…just to hear it and remember once again how it has radically changed my life…so others can hear it and receive it as well. Steev Inge, Pastor at Mystery Church, and his wife Ashley and children will be at LifePoint on Sunday, 12 August, sharing with us about the great work of God in Joplin. I encourage you to come and hear how God is planting a great seed in this area…and how we get to share in this story.

--Pastor Lane

P.S. Check out Mystery Church at www.mysterychurch.com