Discussion 1 on March 10: The Danger Of The Christian Bubble

Join us this Tuesday, March 10 @ 6:30pm at the Staggering Ox for our first discussion night.

There will be live music going on as we try to take in two DVD segments and discuss "The Danger of the Christian Bubble." Yes, I know - don't ask me how well this is going to work. At the same time, we're pretty excited about getting out of our secluded homes and out into the public arena – among those with whom we hope to create a dialogue.

To catch you up, we're going through six of the most common objections and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church – guided by Zondervan's They Like Jesus, But Not The Church. Over the next weeks we'll seek to express the heart of Encounter Church with clarity, boldness, and compassion. See our previous posts for more.

Too often, the responses we Christians communicate to others actually end dialogue and close our opportunity to learn from each other. Our ultimate goal here is to create a forum of open and honest communication and dialogue.

So even if you're just curious, feel free to drop by and bring a friend. You don't have to attend every session to get something out of the discussion.

Contact us if you want to know more.

The Church of Tomorrow?

When I hear people refer to this generation as "the church of tomorrow," my heart breaks. Not because there is no hope for this generation, but quite the opposite. Seeing this generation as the upcoming generation means that we are tragically clinging to the past.

Dan Kimball is correct in the assertion that those in this generation are the primary shapers and influencers in our culture. He writes in They Like Jesus, But Not The Church, "Musicians writing the songs that influence people at a national and global level are primarily in their twenties. The creativity and innovation of people in their twenties and thirties are used in the marketplace and in the music world, but are they given a place to help shape the church?"

Truth be told, this generation is "the church of today," not tomorrow! Unfortunately, the hearts and minds of many in this generation are being squelched because they don't conform to traditional structures of organized religion. The thought patterns and life experience of this generation are like no other generation in history.

From Craig Groeschel and a recent series over at the Swerve blog, let's highlight some important observations about this generation:

Our world is smaller and our perspective is broader.
Because of technology, The lines between global and local has been blurred.

We have a wider definition of "friends."
Today a friend can be someone you may not have ever met before they clicked on your Facebook page and asked to be your friend.

We're more experiential.
Instead of accumulating possessions like previous generations, our generation is into accumulating experiences.

We have been under-challenged.
Many in this generation have been given much, yet we’ve been challenged little. We have more potential than most realize.

Our world is gray.
Many of us in this generation have been told that truth is relative, but deep down we believe and are searching for absolute truths.

We’re searching for a cause.
This generation is looking for something, often anything, worthwhile to live for. When we find a cause, we'll go to extreme measures to make a difference.

We are conversational.
But before we listen to you, we want to know if you’re listening to us. This generation builds trust slowly. If you’ll get to know us, we will listen to you.

We want to be loved.
This generation craves intimacy in relationships. We want to know and be known. We are hungry for acceptance and affirmation and respond well to sincere Christian love.

If you’re quick to judge, don’t bother trying to connect.
Unfortunately, too many Christians are turned off or intimidated by the young, tech savvy, tattooed, and pierced young adults.

This generation doesn’t want to hear about what you believe.
We want to see your beliefs in actions. As strange as it may seem, we are drawn to faith that feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, heals the sick, and loves the outcasts—all in the name of Christ, the King. If you’re daring enough to live like Jesus, we might join you. And then one day, we might believe what you believe.

Care to add to this list? Click on the word "comments" below...

Join Us For A Game Night Social

Getting ready to launch our Guided Discussion Group in two weeks, we're starting off with a Game Night Social to break the ice.

Join us this Tuesday, March 3 to meet others, play some games (i.e. Killer Bunnies, Apples to Apples, etc.), and have some refreshments.

We'll be meeting at the Powell Home at 6:45pm. Feel free to bring some soda or munchies to share. Email me if you have any questions or comments.

ABOUT THE DISCUSSION GROUP
We invited you to the discussion group here. Basically, we'll be viewing DVD clips and discussing relevant topics from Zondervan's They Like Jesus, But Not The Church. While responding to six of the most common objections and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church, we'll seek to express the heart of Encounter Church with clarity, boldness, and compassion.

Here are some more details:

• The discussion group will consist of six guided discussions throughout March and April.
• We'll have three Game Night Socials. One at the beginning (March 3), one in the middle March 24), and one at the end (May 5).
• We'll take one week off during Spring Break on April 7.
• We've been discussing meeting at the Lewis & Clark Library or other public place. We'll discuss and finalize at the Powell Home on March 3, the first Game Night Social.
• We're meeting at the Staggering Ox on Tuesdays at 6:30. Arrive at 6pm to share a meal together.
  
• Be sure and invite some friends. You can send them to theylikejesus.encounterhelena.org

5 Most Asked Questions

As we've been sharing with people our heart for this generation and how we're planting Encounter here in Helena, we get a number of different questions. Here are some of the most common ones.

#1 WHEN DO YOU GUYS MEET FOR WORSHIP?
It takes a lot of planning, preparation, and work to plant a church. We are currently looking at two public launch dates - the earliest is October 2009. But for us, the weekly worship event is only a part of who we are. Before we launch our public worship events, we have even more important work developing our Church Planting Team and meeting the needs of our community.

In the months leading to our public launch, we will be holding regular small groups for spiritual growth, planting team meetings to cast vision and develop leadership, informational meetings for those who want to find out more, and community impact events to serve our community and create awareness.

In fact, if you want to see what we're all about, we want to invite you to a great small group study study in March. Click here to find out more.

#2 DO YOU HAVE A BUILDING? / WHERE ARE YOU MEETING?
Looking forward to our public launch, we will begin looking for meeting locations in April and May 2009. But we plan on being portable from the beginning so that we can focus our efforts on people and relationships.

But just because we do not have a building does not mean we will not meet together. Our small group and planting team meetings are already being held in various locations throughout Helena. Some meeting will be in homes, but we also want to meet in some public spaces like the library. We feel that it is important to have a presence out in the community we serve.

#3 IS ENCOUNTER ONLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE?
We are creating a faith-community that is welcome to young and old, believers and nonbelievers alike. Our intentional strategy, though, is to design our gatherings and events for a younger audience. That's because we believe that experiential, relevant, and technologically-enabled gatherings are more likely to reach a younger generation AND also reach older adults. But the reverse is not true. When we design our services for an older audience, the younger crowd will not show up.

#4 WHAT IS THE CHURCH PLANTING TEAM?
Instead of forming what some call a Core Group, we have chosen to plant and launch Encounter with a Church Planting Team. The Church Planting Team are those people that form, serve in, and launch a new church plant. While involvement in the Planting Team can be defined for a short-term or long-term commitment, it involves four essential expectations.

1. To serve strategically within the church plant (including Planting Team meetings)
2. To participate in a small group or discussion
3. To invest your life into others both personally and through community impact events
4. To give financially during your commitment with Encounter.

Contact us to talk more about getting involved in the Church Planting Team.

#5 HOW CAN I HELP ENCOUNTER?
There are many ways you can help us reach this generation in Helena. In a recent post, we outline five key ways you can actively help us in planting and supporting Encounter.

1. You can become a prayer partner.
2. Your church can sponsor Encounter in various capacities.
3. You can financially help us with a one-time gift or ongoing monthly support.
4. You can join us as a member of the Church Planting Team. (Yep. Maybe even move here!)
5. You can spread the word about Encounter.

These are just a few of the most common ways, if you've thought of another be sure to contact us and let us know.

Five Different Ways To "Dive In" With Encounter Church

In all our communications, I don't think we've ever listed in one place all the different ways you can "dive in" and help us reach this generation.

So here goes. Here are five ways you can be a part of what God is doing in Helena.

#1 PRAY: BE A PRAYER PARTNER
We have people all over the world as part of our intercessory prayer team praying for Encounter Church. We feel that prayer is indispensable in planting a new church and we would love to have you as a prayer partner, to receive our Encounter Prayer Update, and commit to pray for us regularly. Our goals is to gather at least 200 prayer partners before we launch. To sign up click here and mark "Encounter Prayer Updates."

#2 SPONSOR: BE A SPONSOR CHURCH
Perhaps God is leading your church to get involved in supporting a church plant through monthly support, a one-time gift, ministry resources, or organized prayer support. Truth is, when existing churches sponsor other church plants they get blessed. Many sponsor churches experience a positive, re-energizing transformation. Contact me personally to talk more about the possibilities of sponsoring Encounter Church.

#3 SHARE: SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY
Starting a church is never a small endeavor, but we believe God is calling us to this task. In particular, it will take significant funds to create the types of environments we believe will impact this technological, media-driven generation. Will you dare to dream with us how your monthly support or one-time gift could impact the lives of many people who are far from God? Please help us reach our pre-launch goal of at least 100 financial partners.

A method for online donations will be implemented soon, but for now your tax deductible gifts can be sent to the Encounter Fund at our sponsor church:

Convergence Ministries
3020 South Avenue West
Missoula, MT 59804

You can make checks payable to "Convergence Ministries" and you must include the words "AA Strategy-Encounter" in the memo. Also let us know if your donation is a one-time or monthly gift.

#4 JOIN: BE A PART OF OUR CHURCH PLANTING TEAM
Much needs to be done in the months before our public launch and we need people to join with us in Helena as part of our Church Planting Team. Your involvement as part of this team will involve four essential expectations...

• SERVE | To serve strategically in Planting Team meetings to publicly launch the Encounter worship gatherings

• PARTICIPATE | To participate in an Encounter LifeGroup (small group) or discussion

• INVEST | To invest your life into those far from God, both personally and through Encounter community impact and awareness events

• GIVE | To give financially during your commitment with Encounter (see #3)

If you have a passion to see those of this generation experience a life changing relationship with Jesus – God may be calling you to join with us in planting Encounter Church and changing the spiritual landscape of Helena. Let's talk about some of the short-term and long-term commitment options.

#5 TELL: TELL EVERYONE ABOUT ENCOUNTER CHURCH
We know that while some of you live near us, others live half-way across the country. All of you, regardless of your involvement are part of our Extended Planting Team. As you read our blog and prayer updates, you are still part of what we're doing here.

We ask that you tell everyone you know of these crazy people you know who are starting a church for this generation in Helena – for those 20s and 30s who haven't found church to be relevant and essential to their lives. Direct others to our website here at encounterhelena.org, pass them our cell phone number, or even contact us and we'll get you some of our new Encounter Church awareness cards.

These are the “early moments” of a movement within Helena to lead a generation into a growing relationship with Christ. If you haven't already thought about it, we challenge you to seriously consider "diving in" to this church planting journey with us. If you feel that God is calling you to getting involved with Encounter Church, please let us know by contacting us today.

Read the updated "Four Ways to Get Involved" here.

Thoughts And Reflections From Andrea

I asked my church planting partner to share her thoughts and reflections about our follow-up Church Planters Training this weekend. These are Andrea's notes for each day...

THURSDAY
It all began Thursday evening when church planting couples (including us) shared their visions and plans for planting churches in Butte, Townsend, and Helena. It was awesome to hear about how God is moving in these communities. It is great to see the heart of the church planters to make a difference in their community and to see lives changed for Jesus. It was a reminder that God is definitely at work in the world and in Montana.

Looking back, Eric and I spent many frustrating hours on our presentation together. Near the end of that preparation, we we're reminded to listen to God's voice and trust in His power to help us put together this master plan for Encounter. The outcome was an awesome presentation that inspired and encouraged those at the retreat.

FRIDAY
Friday was a time of gleaning valuable insight about church planting both from teaching sessions and conversations with other church planters throughout the state. We discussed the importance of using our time wisely; allotting time for building relationships, taking a sabbath, and actually doing ministry.

We also explored ways to plan message series to make the most of our time and to allow others to be involved in the process. The ultimate goal being to communicate a clear message that will result in life-transformation.

Another powerful discussion was about the the importance of differentiating between a church OF small groups and a church WITH small groups. We were also able to share inspiring church planting experiences with one another and share our challenges.

SATURDAY
As a the retreat came to a close, Eric and I led a time of worship with the other church planters. A time of prayer followed giving us the opportunity to pray for one another and the challenges we were facing. It was great to get to know the other church planters. We've already begun the process of developing friendships and helping one another.

Encounter Logo and Cards

For the past two weeks, I've been working on some awareness cards which led to a logo for Encounter Church. Let me know what you think...

AWARENESS CARD


ENCOUNTER LOGO


Thanks to Brian for all your help and advice leading to the design of the cards and logo.

You Are Invited!

In the next month of March as we seek to develop partnerships with churches across Montana, we are not quite ready to begin hosting Informational Meetings or Planting Team Meetings. However, we've had many people ask us how they can get involved and find out more of what Encounter is about.

With that in mind, we are planning a six-week guided discussion group (aka small group) to explore why people who like Jesus, don't connect with church. It will be an opportunity for spiritual growth like many small groups, but it will also allow those who have an interest in possibly joining Encounter's Planting Team to learn more about how our vision, mission, strategy, and values play out in the real world with real issues.

We hope to express the heart of Encounter Church with clarity, boldness, and compassion as we discuss and respond to six of the most common objections and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church.

THEY LIKE JESUS BUT NOT THE CHURCH
To generate discussion and examine our own responses, we will encounter the firsthand thoughts and feelings of those who find Jesus attractive but don’t care for organized religion. From the Zondervan DVD and participant guide to They Like Jesus But Not The Church, we'll explore some of these questions about the church...

Isn’t the church just organized religion that is politically motivated? Is the church homophobic? Does it take the entire Bible literally? Does the church repress women? Is it judgmental and negative? Does it arrogantly think all other religions are wrong?

YOU ARE INVITED!
So the invitation is out. If you are at all captivated by the vision we've communicated for Encounter Church, if you want to explore how a faith community can welcome people in a non-judgmental atmosphere, if you want to discuss how Jesus would respond in these situations - we invite you to join us. We invite you to invite your friends.

Let us know today if you are interested in attending or if you want more details.