Disciple vs. Apostle

We talk a lot about discipleship in church culture. I gather what people mean when they say they want discipleship is that they want to learn more about the bible, faith and living as followers of Jesus in the world. Sometimes it is equated with being more "spiritual," or couched in terms of a deepening relationship with Jesus.
True discipleship is an awesome thing. But I think we can learn something from the example of the first disciples of Jesus. Jesus, like a good Jewish Rabbi, called on a group of men to follow him- to live with, learn from, act, think and be like Jesus. And for three years that's just what they did.
But after three years of life together, before he returned to his Father's right side, Jesus commissioned his followers as apostles and sent them out into Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to all the world.* For three years the followers of Jesus were identified as disciples, but for the rest of their lives, for as many years as God gave them, they were identified apostles-

"Apostles: messengers, representatives, the founders of the church."

Perhaps the reason so many seasoned Christians are so disgruntled is that we've cheated believers by putting the emphasis on discipleship instead of apostleship? Maybe after about three years of discipleship (wasn't seminary three years?) we should be going out and building the church as the representatives and messengers of Jesus?
It would appear that in the long haul the first Christians were sustained not by remaining disciples, but by becoming apostles; not by looking back on their time with Jesus, reminiscing about the good old days, but by going forward. Going out into all the world as Jesus told them to do. Going out and sharing the good news of God's love. Going out and building more Christian communities, more churches. Maybe it's time for a lot of disciples of Jesus to get on with being the apostles of Jesus?
I know it's about that time for me.

*In the four gospels we find the title "disciples" used hundreds of times, in the book of Acts less than 30 times, and then never again. In the four gospels we see the title "apostle" used 9 times, but then in the books of Acts more than 60 times.

Feeling "Connected"

"What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ." the Heidelberg Catechism

It would not be an exaggeration to say that this past weekend my life changed forever. As many of you know already, my grandfather died. I grew up with my "Pap George" and will miss him dearly. But I've been missing him for some time now. His health had been in a long slow decline. While that afforded a preparation for his death, but it also stole his life a bit a time.
But even with all the warning and preparation, it doesn't make the moment any easier. It wasn't until I returned to London Tuesday night that I realized everything we missed. Robin had a conference in Niagara, I had a Promise Keepers event Friday night; we had plans for Earthday Saturday morning, we had a small group meeting and a dinner club gathering that night; I had a training clinic for soccer coaches Sunday, the kids had a birthday party that afternoon, and our Design Groups for the Launch Team where ready to start. Monday and Tuesday were equally as full.
I don't say this as if it was any question where we needed to be. We did exactly what we needed to do- we connected with family. We remembered Pap's life. We laughed and cried and caught up together. We ate way too much food. I had the blessing of conducting his funeral. It was an awesome experience. My mom did an amazing job remembering her dad.
But then something wonderful happened upon our return- I felt connected again, but in a new way. I had numerous phone calls, emails, and cards expressing condolences and offering help. I had people wondering how we were doing, missing our presence, stepping up to do whatever they could.
So thanks for making me and my family feel connected. It really makes all the difference.

In Memory of "Pap George"

Technically this blog is about my life as a church planter, and the story of our new church. But in this formative stage it's pretty wrapped up into my life.
Right now my life is pretty wrapped up in the death of my grandfather, George Sowolla. It was not a surprise, but still not easy. Thursday night I talked with my Gram at 7:30pm. Pap wasn't good. To be honest I expected another rally. As Gram often said of him in these last months, "He's a tough old bird." At 11pm my parents called to tell me the news.
There's so much I could tell. I could write a book about growing up with my Pap. What strikes me now is still the reaction my children had when I told them the next morning that Pap had died. Now my kids didn't know Pap well, and certainly not in the way I knew him as a strapping coal miner. But when we told them, they smiled. Eden and Karis got these big grins and said, "So Pap is in heaven right now!" They went on to ask all sorts of great questions- kid questions that are real and raw and honest and wonderful.
I have so much to process, more to write, and a funeral service to plan, but my kids have it right- Pap is in heaven right now!

Jesus said to her (Mary), "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die..." John 11:25-26

I've officiated numerous funerals. Even for relatives. But never for my Pap. And even now, as I go through this, I can't help but think ahead. I think about the faith that my grandfather helped pass on to me. I think about a faith community, a church, where the hope of life in Jesus Christ, now and for all eternity, is passed on to those who mourn, grieve, wonder and ask. I think about a community of people standing together in the hardest of times, even as my family stands together now. But most of all, I just keep thinking about my Pap.

How do you take your church?

Throughout the "dreaming" and now "designing" stage of developing a new faith community my schedule has been pretty random. A busy day means I had three meetings at coffee shops instead of the usual one or two.
So if nothing else I've developed quite the caffeine addiction.
I've also developed, against my original impulses, a fondness for Starbucks. Those that know me know I'm more the corner store, cream and sugar, kind of guy. But Starbucks is just so...good. Not the coffee, so much as the atmosphere. Now I don't own any stock so this isn't a plug- just an observation. But it was so compelling that when I noticed a book called The Starbucks Experience (see my recent Favorite Finds to the right) I had to pick it up.
All Starbucks partners (everyone who works with Starbucks is a partner) are steeped in the "Five Ways of Being," which are,

"Be Welcoming; Be Genuine; Be Considerate; Be Knowledgeable; Be Involved."

They practically preach themselves. I can come up with a dozen Bible passages that reflect the same values (Philippians chapter 2 covers all five). So for starters, I love that a business can openly espouse Christian values, even if it doesn't give God the glory. It shows that Biblical values work in the world.
But more, it makes me wonder, what would it look like to create a worship experience that is "welcoming, genuine, considerate, knowledgeable and involved," and more, gives God all the glory? What would it feel like to have a church culture where the norm is an atmosphere where outsiders and aliens are quickly made to feel like insiders and family?
So when it comes time to launch this church I think I'll gather our team, take them to Starbucks, and give them a little taste of what we are trying to provide. Plus, the cup we will share will offer so much more.

Design Groups are starting

Design Groups will run April 22 through June 12, 2007. This 8 week series will serve as our "incubator" to grow our Ministry Team leaders, Launch Team members, and Support Teams. Please sign up for a group by emailing georgesaylor@rogers.com

Group 1: Sunday Nights, 6-7:30pm @ the Saylor's (106 Barrydale Cres- child friendly)
Group 2: Monday Nights, 7-8:30pm @ the Talsma's (1326 Hastings Dr)
Group 3: Tuesday Lunch, 12-1pm @ First Christian Reformed Church (532 Talbot St)

Session 1: April 22, 23, 24- Introduction and Explanation
Session 2: April 29, 30, May 1- Biblical Foundations for New Churches
Session 3: May 6, 7, 8- Cultural Needs for New Churches (COS)
Session 4: May 13, 14, 15- 3C’s Strategy for 3C
Session 5: May 20, 21, 22- 3C’s Values
Session 6: May 27, 28, 29- 3C’s Values Continued
Session 7: June 3, 4, 5- Formation of Launch and Support Teams
Session 8: June 10, 11, 12- Where we go from here…

Goals:
1. Awareness and understand of the Biblical need for new churches
2. The specific need and design of 3C
3. Conducting the Community Opportunity Scan
4. Discerning individuals calling a gifts in ministry
5. Formation of Launch and Support Teams, & potential Ministry Leaders

We ask that all participants sign up for a Design Group. However, should you have to miss your regular meeting, you have two other days in which to make it up (For example, if you’re leaving on a work trip Monday evening, and that’s your regular group, plan on going Sunday night).

All participants will be asked to purchase one book and make a contribution towards refreshments. Meetings will consist of worship and prayer, teaching, and planning ahead. Invitation to the Launch Team is at the discretion of the lead pastor.

A lesson from the mayor

These days I see just about everything through the eyes of the church plant. There was recently an article in the London Free Press on the run for mayor. What was interesting is that the two top contenders, Anne Marie DeCicco-Best and Joe Fontana, each spent just over $84,000 on their campaigns. What was different is HOW they spent the money. Fontana spent over $22,000 on his office. DeCicco-Best spent only $4,259 and used one borrowed cellphone. Where was the difference made up? Fontana spent only $15,369 on advertising, while DiCicco-Best spent over $33,000. On election day DiCicco-Best had over 22,000 more votes than Fontana.
At some point all church planters, and all churches, must wrestle with this issue of advertising. The truth is, we don't even like the word and shy away from it. Somehow it seems "un-spiritual" (whatever that means)- like we're depending on human invention rather than God. I even hear pastors who brag about not advertising.
Launching a new faith community, a new church, is a deeply spiritual endeavour. There is no doubt about that. Yet at the same time it is more "worldly" than anything I've ever done before- the list of things to do to organize and prepare is enormous. At some point we are going to have to choose between our office and our advertising.
I think I've learned a valuable lesson from our mayor- don't act like the mayor until you have the office. And even after you have the office, keep spending your money on advertising. If it bothers you to call it advertising, then call it spreading the good news. Because the life we have in Jesus is just too great to keep in our office- it's meant for all the world to know and experience.

This won't hurt a bit...

I just had three fillings done this morning. My mouth is so numb I'm drooling on the keyboard as I write. If you're like me, you go to the dentist about once every 5 years because you know when you do the news is going to be bad- a massive cleaning and a few cavities that need work. (Total count- 15 teeth with fillings! But that's out of all 32.)
Every time the dentist gets started, no matter what dentist, they always start with that same reassurance, "This isn't going to hurt a bit." And the thing is- they're right! It never does. They pump my mouth so full of Novocaine that I'm a slobbering fool for half the day.
So why do I always put off going to the dentist? For some reason I do not like to be told that, 1) I'm not doing a good enough job of flossing (i.e. apparently not flossing is not considered a good job) and 2) I'm about to pay the consequence. So rather than face the reality of my own shortcomings and the decay that is occurring within me, I willingly choose to ignore what I know and put off what is inevitable.
If my knowledge of scripture is right, I can't recall anywhere in the Bible where it is written, "This isn't going t hurt a bit." Actually, I can think of many verses that say quite the opposite- this is going to hurt, this life isn't always going to be easy, brace yourself for trials. There's decay happening in your body right now- it's a sickness in your soul. Call it a cavity, call it sin, call it "transgressions," call it whatever. The point is, you can ignore it for while, and even put off doing something about it, but still- it is there, it is growing, and it isn't going away by itself.
So we make our appointment, go to church, lay back in our seat, and pray for the Novocaine of our choice to kick in before it gets too painful. But that's not how God seems to work. God says, "I need you to feel this. I need you to be a part of dealing with this." The great news is that God takes the root canal in Jesus Christ (OK, my metaphor is getting out of hand, just remember, I'm pumped full of painkiller as I write). God goes to root of the cavities in the soul of humanity and essentially takes care of the problem in Jesus' death and resurrection. Then he starts applying that to me.
So today I pray that I might not seek to numb the pain of dealing with the cavities in my life. I pray that God gives me the strength to face the decay and the cleaning that must take place. I pray that at the end of the day I can sit up and say that all things considered, it really wasn't so bad. After all, Jesus didn't say this isn't going to hurt a bit, but he did say I am with you always.

Welcome...

Time to wash up, boil some water, and hide the kids- you're invited to the birth of the Connections Community Church blog!*

All joking aside, I decided it was time to start putting life as a church planter "out there" for everyone to see. I can no longer keep my thoughts, encouragements, frustrations and experiences to myself. So after a fews days of playing around with the blog, adding some fun elements, and generally getting myself in tune with the blogging world, it's time to give birth to this baby!

My plan is to add a few posting each week, and invite you to read along. On the side bar to the right you can subscribe to my email list. This way, every time I make a new post, you will be notified by email. Then you can decide to link on and view it, or ignore it.

Also in development is our website. While it's under construction you can view it at site.advancedministry.com/3c (note: no "www") or just click here. It will be in development for a while.

Well friends, if you want to come along for the journey and birth of a new church- sign on! It's gonna be a wild ride, I guarantee.

Peace,
George

* If your not familiar with blogs, they are a sort of online journal for everyone to see. They are different than a website, as they are not on the web (note: no "www" in the address). However, they are like a website in that they are interactive. You'll get the hang of it- I did!