EncounterCast 8.8.09: Introducing 36 Parables

From the Journey Block in Helena's Great Northern Town Center, this week's EncounterCast introduces the new Encounter Discussion series '36 Parables.' Come join us at 6:30pm on August 11 at the Staggering Ox. More here.

Now Is The Time

When I look at Helena, this is what I see.

Some of us seem desperately lonely. Some of us are heavily burdened. Some of us are extremely busy with work schedules, with kids, or both. Still others of us lament past hurts. We experience damaged lives, broken marriages, and financial hardships.

Now is the time for a change.

Then we look at some of our friends and it is even worse. We have friends whose lives are being destroyed by alcohol or even meth. We want to help, but don't know how — life is difficult enough for us.

Now is the time for a change.

When most places close down by 9pm (if not 5pm downtown), many teens and young adults in Helena can find nothing better to do than to either drink or have sex. There are no cool local hangouts for this generation. We all know that 24-hour Wal-Mart is as good as it gets.

Now is the time for a change.

On our radios, John Mayer sings these words: "now we see everything that's going wrong / with the world and those who lead it / we just feel like we don't have the means / to rise above and beat it / so we keep waiting / waiting on the world to change."

And we embrace those words as our mantra for life. We keep waiting for our worlds to change. We're dissatisfied with the status quo, with the way things are in our lives and with our friends and in our city — but not enough to stop waiting and take action.

Now is the time for a change.

These are the “early moments” of a movement within Helena to see a generation encounter a better life. Let me assure you that God IS moving. He is moving to heal broken families and hurting individuals — not just through Encounter, but through the lives of few individuals across this city.

The question is "Are you still waiting?"

Too often we wait and do nothing, but God Himself is also waiting. He's waiting for you to join Him in His vision for Helena. Will you join Him? Will you join the lone dancer who is living out what God meant us to be?

If you embrace this challenge, I guarantee that your life and the expression of God's crazy love shown through you, will awaken and revitalize your family, your friends, your coworkers and even those complete strangers that come across your path.

Now is the time for a change.



Now is the time for you to fulfill the purpose for which God created for you – you can passionately and actively be involved in something significant, that is greater than yourself.

I challenge you to take a moment to ask God what He is preparing you for. I challenge you to consider how joining the first couple of dancers at Encounter could change the face of Helena.

Specifically, I challenge you to join us this Friday for the Dream Team Introduction (Facebook here). We'll be discussing how to make a difference in Helena as part of the Encounter launch team. Join us.

Now is the time.

EncounterCast 07.24.09: Dare to Dream

From the campus of Carroll College in the heart of Helena, this week's EncounterCast highlights the new Encounter t-shirts, the Crazy Love Discussion wrap up at the Staggering Ox on Tuesday at 6:30pm, and the upcoming Dream Team Intro Meeting.

Dare to dream about changing the face of Helena through God's crazy love — Come find out more about Encounter Church on Friday, July 31 @ 7pm at the casual and informal Dream Team Intro Meeting.

Making Helena Greener - Be The Change

The Making Helena Greener project was a huge success!

A group of us landscaped and planted donated flowers at the Helena YWCA home for women this last Friday, July 10. In a sense, we were involved in redeeming the landscape.

It was a lot of hard work, but it was a joy to serve others in a tangible way — with no strings attached. Honestly, I was blown away by all the people that showed up and gave up their time and effort on a Friday night, no less. You guys are awesome!

What an awesome way to make a difference, demonstrate God's crazy love in action, and engage the culture of Helena! We invite you to to Be The Change in Helena and join us in our next project at Encounter Church.

You can also find a bunch of photos of the effort on Facebook here.

EncounterCast 7.10.09: Going Places & Moving Forward

This week's EncounterCast from the Trolly Block at the Downtown Helena Walking Mall is a reminder that Encounter is going places and moving forward. We've got three things to share this week:

1. Tonight on Friday, July 10 @ 7pm, we'll be out at the YWCA planting flowers and doing some gardening to Make Helena Greener. It's just one way to "Be The Change" in our community. More here.
2. Next Tuesday, July 14 @ 6:30pm, the Crazy Love Discussion at the Ox is called "Profile of the Obsessed." We already discussed what it means to be lukewarm for Jesus. Now we'll look at "What does it mean to be obsessed with following Jesus?" More here.
3. And then finally, we're moving forward with the Encounter launch team. We're meeting next Friday, July 17 @ 7pm for a Dream Team Gathering to discuss more about our vision and DNA. This is for those who are already involved in the launch team, and for those who just want to find out more.
   

EncounterCast 6.3.09: Making Helena Greener & More

This week's EncounterCast is from the Helena YWCA where we will be planting donated flowers as part of the Making Helena Greener community service project. You're invited to come Friday, July 10 @ 7pm and get involved - more details about this and other community service projects are coming soon!

Also, don't forget about this week's Crazy Love Discussion at the Staggering Ox at 6:30pm on July 7. We're discussing the chapter "Your Best Life...Later" and asking "What are you doing in your life right now that requires faith?"

EncounterCast 06.26.09: Love or Obligation?

Here is this week's EncounterCast from Memorial Park where we handed out free give-aways this last Wednesday at Alive@Five.

So what does it mean to pursue love — to have an honest and intimate relationship with Jesus? We'll explore "When You're in Love" this next Tuesday, June 30 at the next Crazy Love Discussion at the Staggering Ox at 6:30pm. Join us!

EncounterCast 6.19.09: Crazy and Sweet!

This week we're coming from outside Dairy Queen on North Montana Avenue. This installment of the EncounterCast shares a few 'sweet' events coming up this week that you will want to put on your calendar:

Crazy Game Night at the Ox.
Tuesday, June 23 @ 6:30pm.
Read more here.

Sweet Community Service Planning Meeting at Dairy Queen
Thursday, June 25 @ 7:30pm
Read more here.

EncounterCast 6.12.09: Skate Parks and Leftovers

Here is this week's EncounterCast from the Helena Skate Park by the YMCA. This week I'm hinting at some great opportunities to serve needs in the Helena community. Join us Tuesday, June 16 at 6:30pm because we're hoping to discuss these opportunities at the next Crazy Love Discussion at the Staggering Ox.

EncounterCast 6.8.09: Profile Of The Lukewarm

We have some great church planting friends over in Indianapolis who are doing amazing things for God in the heart of the city. I have been inspired to follow suit with one of their ideas, a periodic video update that we're calling EncounterCast.

Perhaps this snowy, rainy, 33 degree June day video shoot will make a great first-ever installment...

Servolution in Helena on CBS News

On Good Friday, April 10, KXLH aired our interview about Servolution in Helena on the local CBS News. You can find the online CBS article and photos here. While I was originally disappointed with the interview, I have come to realize that the main idea of "Servolution" came across. We are very grateful to KXLH for helping us get the word out.

There were just a couple of details we wanted to clarify:

• Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the originator of the global Servolution.
• Encounter Church organized the effort here in Helena, Montana.
  
• We collected donations and assembled gift baskets for the workers and volunteers of Elhorn, St. Peter's Hospital, and Broadwater Elementary. We didn't exactly volunteer at these organizations as mentioned in the report.
• I'm also pretty sure I never used the phrase "Pay It Forward" :-)

Engaging The Senses

I think how we express the message of life matters. Especially new life and second chances. What does it look like to be a new creation?

I love the creativity of expression in the use of lighting, sound, and color to engage the senses in this video. It speaks volumes more than simply saying "we are a new creation." What do you think?

What It's All About

Sometimes when your friends or family don't understand why you go to church, or why you're into Jesus, don't you wish you could clearly explain this? ...at Encounter we'll never stop trying.



Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 - NLT)