New RSS Feed And Twitter

We are in the process of changing the web strategy of the Innovative Network of Churches - Tampa. If you have gone by the blog recently you'll see we're in the process of changing the look of the site as well as the editorial direction. With this change also comes a change in the RSS feed. Please take the time to resubscribe to the INC Tampa blog RSS feed by clicking here or manually redirecting your reader to:

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/IncTampa

On June 1st we will discontinue posting to this Blogger site and RSS feed.

We also have a Twitter account set up. We'll be using it to live tweet the meetings as well as posting the latest INC Tampa info and church leadership tips. If you use Twitter, please take a moment to go by and follow us.

INC Tampa Is Next Week

Just a quick reminder that INC Tampa is next Tuesday, May 12th at 10:00 a.m. at the Italian Club in Ybor City. Click here for a map and directions.

In case you missed the April meeting...it was incredible!!! First of all it was actually raining in Central Florida, which was cause for a huge prayer of thanksgiving. Secondly, Jeff Iskra shared a devotional we all needed to hear about scheduling some down time in order to refresh and hear from God. His devotion brought about an impromptu conversation about Wayne Cordeiro's new book "Leading On Empty". The meeting also featured a great session where Paul Wirth and the staff from Relevant Church showed everyone how they work as a team to dream, plan and implement creative sermon series. The INC Tampa meeting itself closed out with a group discussion about volunteer burnout and then we all went down to Fresh Mouth to grab a bite to eat.

This month's INC Tampa promises to be even better so make plans to attend. We'll post the agenda for next week's meeting on Monday.

The Next INC Gathering

Go ahead and mark the next INC gathering on your calendars. Here's the info:

Tuesday, April 14th
10am @ the Italian Club, Ybor City
(Home of Relevant Church)

We're still working out the details about who will be doing what, but you know you're going to get a bunch of "take home" practical information for leading your church.

For directions to the Italian Club and where to park please see the sidebar to the right.

MARCH RECAP

1. DEVOTIONAL by Brandon @ Crossover Community Church

Proverbs 5:11-14

11 At the end of your life you will groan,
       when your flesh and body are spent.

12 You will say, "How I hated discipline!
       How my heart spurned correction!

13 I would not obey my teachers
       or listen to my instructors.

14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin
       in the midst of the whole assembly."

 Highlights: Regreats are a waste of time.  You can't change the past.  God is aware of your mistakes, learn from them and move on.  Mistakes are the best part of your testimony.  Don't miss out on the blessings God has for you because of regret. 

2. CHURCH SPOTLIGHT

• James Dodzweit - GrowLifeChurch.com

• Born in Nirobi Kenya, lived in Rochester NY, moved to Merrit Island, started a small church on the east coast.  James began arguing with God, knowing he has called to fulltime ministry 

• Grace Family Church asked him to speak at Kids Camp in 2000, and the ball started rolling.  Began doing ministry with them until God called him to do something new.

• He went to Pastor Craig and told him, thankfully he was a secure pastor.  But one thing stayed in his prayers: "Lord if you want to me to start this church, you need to prepare my wife."  6 months later, God changed his wife.

• Pastor Craig then found a new guy to replace him and launched through ARC (Association of Related Churches).  

• There are people who have done the "prescribed path" of church planting, but there has to be a part where you hold it loosely saying "God what do you want me to do?"

•  It's easy to copy cat ministry, but we have to lay our plans before the Lord.  ARC gave them a coach and he laid out the ABC's and began to encourage them to do mail outs. In Land O Lakes, James would get tons of mail outs.  He knew that it would just turn into noise.  The coach told him to do what the spirit leads him to do...

• James got involved with BNI - Business Networking International as network of local business owners.  Half of the BNI chapter has visited his church in the last 2 weeks.  He e-mailed Tampa Tribune and they took pictures and put out a story right before they launched.

• He thought about the analogy of a river - the Zaire River is huge and wide and he saw himself getting thrown along.  James decided that he could flail around and get tossed or just go with the ride.  And what a ride it's been!

• 2 Chron. 16:9 - "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

3. PRESSURE POINTS 

• Outward Focus - ServantEvangelism.com, partner with Organizations, take a video camera and ask the community about what needs to be done.  

• Security on Sunday - Have law enforcement officer in your congregation? Have volunteers keeping an eye out for suspicious people? Be aware.

• Mobile Church - Visit other churches who are doing it and take notes.

• High Expectations/Low Consistency - People will have bad experiences at other churches and come to yours. Meet with them in the office don't address those concerns on Sunday. Don't waiver on vision.  If they come to you angry they WILL leave you in two years.  Rarely do people who do that turn out productive.  If people push too hard to work in a certain area, don't hire them there.

4. CHILDREN'S MINISTRY - with DON PREISER

• If we're looking at volunteers to fill a spot... it's going to be difficult to "enlist".  We've "sold" our volunteers on vision.

• A child's world view is going to be locked in before 11 or 12 years old.  If we could do that, they can have an easier time in starting a relationship with Christ.

• Find people who have fun with kids.

• Be clear about expectations.

• We require volunteers to worship at one service and serve at the other.

• Be here every week and if they see someone different every time they come.  They won't make a connection.

• Enlist men as COACHES. Men like the roll of a coach and if you find a way to get them involved they'll enjoy it.

• Do background checks. - if people know they are getting background checks it will deter predators before they even attempt.

• Protectmyministry.com - Background checks

• Volunteers will sit in and observe first. - see the formats and what the volunteers do and how they work.  Then they plug them in with a teacher or leader and give them on the job training.

• Keep it simple 

• Emphasize relationships with the leaders around them and with the children.

• Share GO-GOD stories!  Email your workers with Go God stories!  Let them know they are making a difference!

• Keep firing out the vision!  Keep the vision HOT!

• Build the relationships with the volunteers!

• (Incident Documentation is important!)

• (use texting to communicate with parents - phone numbers can be the ID #)

5. RESOURCES MENTIONED

• FlatRatePrinting.com - Tell them you're a pastor and that Teddy sent you

• ProtectMyMinistry.com $6 per check.

• Mogulus.com for streaming video

• Hal was amazed at the twitter response to helping the families suffering through the loss with the football players

• CCB - Church Community Builder James from Grow Life uses it

• Kidmo.com they have incredible discounts for church planters and right now they have 20% for everyone else!
  

 

Next Gathering is Tuesday!!!

That's right the next Innovative Network of Churches gathering is here! Here is the info:

Tuesday, March 10th
10am
@ the Italian Club, Ybor City
(Home of Relevant Church)

James will do the reveal about their church plant and give us some insights into the wins and mistakes.

Brandon from Crossover will give us a thought to chew on from the Bible.

Danny will lead us in some pressure points, those things you just have to get some answers for.

Don from Church at the Bay will be talking recruiting, training, and keeping volunteers in Children's ministry!!! Don't miss that!

Hope to see you there and twitter it up!