Pastor’s Blog

VISION TEXT:  Acts 2:41-47 (NLT)
⁴¹Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church – about three thousand in all.  ⁴² They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer.   ⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.
⁴⁴ And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had.   ⁴⁵ They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need.   ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity –
⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

NUMERICAL GROWTH demands that
we broaden our leadership/volunteer base.
Let’s broaden the leadership/volunteer base in the following areas:

• All Children’s Ministries
  (Infants, toddler, pre-school, ExCell Kid’s Church, Mpact Girls’ Club, Royal Rangers)
• Hospitality Team (First Touch)
  (Usher, Guest Guide, Connect Center, Coffee Shop, Guest Welcome Center, First Response Team)
• Creative Arts
  (Music, drama, art, set design, set construction, costume design and creation, off-stage crew)
• Outreach Ministries
  (Prison ministry, assisting the elderly and disabled with repairs and light construction, events for the city and other organizations, NEW outreach to Seymour Johnson AFB, )
• Church Office
• Custodial service at The Bridge
• These are only a few areas…if YOU would like to join our team in another area, let us know by calling 919-735-5411, send an email to jamie@whitleychurch.com or sign up at the Connect Center.

VISION:

• To be a God-encountering church
• #1 Target:  Those who do not know Christ
• #2 Target:  Those who do not attend Church
• Compassionate and Accepting
• Multi-site
• Communication
• YOUTH = Children & Teens
• Singles
• More focus on reaching out to SJ Air Force Base
• Discipleship (men…prayer…Bible in a year….classes)
• Innovative
• Relevant
• “Whatever it takes” attitude to reach the lost
• 3^rd service at WC …. Sunday Morning at The Bridge?
• Explanation of Connect Groups/Pier Groups (Pastoral Care)

Question: Other than spiritual health, what quality would impact our church above all others?
Answer: The congregation taking ownership of the vision.


WHAT ARE WE ABOUT?

• CHANGED LIVES…Changed lives change a community!
• THE GOSPEL…when the Gospel is THE agenda instead of some ridiculous issue that happens to be the “fad of the year.”
• HIS PRESENCE…when He becomes UNAVOIDABLE!
• WORSHIP…singing and serving with our whole heart toward God.
• GIVING…when God is honored because Christians are willing to trust Him no matter what the economy looks like.
• SERVICE…when believers serve Christ by using their spiritual gifts rather than depending on the “paid professionals” to do it all.
• DEDICATION…when people in the church are far more passionate about pursuing Christ daily rather than showing up on Sunday and getting their “attendance star”.
• PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…when people in the church begin to accept responsibility for where they are in their spiritual journey…and then are willing to do something about it.
• LEADERS WHO FEAR GOD, NOT MAN…leaders who know that God called them and will take care of them…and refuse to let the threat of not getting a paycheck stop them from doing what God has called them to do.
• UNITY…when we stop pursuing our own agenda or the agenda of a church we used to attend, and begin to pursue God’s agenda for this church
• BAPTISM…people going public with their faith.
• SINCERITY…EVERYONE shows up with hearts ready to hear the Word, repent and be brought face to face with God, rather that coming to church only for social reasons or to “play church” (religion – YUK!)
• DESPERATION…for Jesus to show up at every worship gathering and to make Himself known to us each and every day as we seek His face.
• EXCELLENCE…for people to love God so much that they always give their very best effort to honor Him in their ministry.
• PASSION…Through intimacy with Christ, we become so confident and fired up about what God has called us to do that we do not allow criticisms from the community and/or even other churches to discourage us……that we return love, prayers and compassion for criticism.

TEN THINGS I want to See Happen this Year

#1 – I want us to plant a church in Smithfield within the next year.

#2 – I want to help as many other churches and church leaders as possible to reach their full potential.

#3 – I want to see at least 300 come to Christ this year.

#4 – I want 100 people who not currently volunteering, to step and begin to serve before Easter.

#5 – I want 50 households who not currently tithing to begin to tithe and give to missions.

#6 – I want 30 new people/families to step up and say, “My home is available for Connect Group meetings.”  I want 30 people/couples to step up and say, “I will lead a Connect Group.”

#7 – I want to see at least 150 teens get the courage to be different and step up to MINISTRY rather than always receiving ministry.

#8 – I want the consumer mentality to END at both campuses.  I want people who are only coming to GET something, to start saying, “What can I do to bless someone?” rather than saying, “What does this church have for me?”

#9 – I want to see God create 2 new EXCELLENT worship bands this year.

#10 – I want to see husbands and wives STOP being selfish and begin to take on the characteristics of Christ toward one another.  The enemy is using divided homes to hinder the work of God in this world…AND in our church.

As I observe my family members within the body of Christ, I am amazed at the incredible talents and giftings God has poured into His kids!  Some have communication skills, others are able to discern and bring healing to the hidden wounds of people they encounter, some form teams and lead them to accomplish great things for God, others are innovative and creative, some create music that leads us right into the very presence of God, and others serve tirelessly and with great joy while receiving little or no recognition.  I could go on and on.  God’s people possess amazing abilities – and each one is a gift from His almighty hand.

After more than 30 years in the ministry I have a message first to those who possess God-given talents that have them serving behind the scenes.  Not just a message – a warning.  Be careful that you do not allow the enemy to whisper in your ear that you are underappreciated; that you are being taken advantage of.  Human nature coupled with the whispers of the enemy will cause resentment to build.  Remember THE ONE you are truly serving.  Do not allow the enemy to sow the seeds of resentment in your heart.  You WILL be recognized and rewarded for your unseen faithfulness.
My biggest warning is reserved for those who possess the God-given talents that put them on the stage.  Everyone sees your gifts displayed.  You are often affirmed – even flattered.  If you do not stay on your face before God you will begin to believe that somehow you have something to do with your talents/gifts.  You will begin to think you are an expert on everything.  You will start looking down on others less talented and consider yourself of more value than others in His body.  You will begin to shun those who cannot advance your popularity or open more doors for you to display your talent.  You will become sarcastic, dismissive and even mocking toward those you consider “not in your league”.  Please be careful.  Stay on your face.  Remember that your very ability to breathe is a result of His grace.   Proverbs 16:18 (MSG) – First pride, then the crash – the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

“I’m debt free!!!!!” With extreme excitement, this statement is screamed everyday on the Dave Ramsey Show and it serves as a powerful motivation and proof to all of us that WE CAN live our lives without debt.  WE CAN drive cars that are paid for!!  WE CAN attend college debt free.  We can leave an inheritance for our grandchildren without borrowing money.  We can change our family tree forever! I DID!

Dave is often quoted as saying he teaches us how to handle money “God’s and Grandma’s way, only we keep our teeth in!” He’s right. His principles come from the Bible and old wisdom. I started applying these principles a few short years ago and have since become DEBT FREE of all consumer debt in my life. Dave’s teachings are nothing new; he just packaged it well and placed it on the shelf where people can reach it.

Financial Peace University is Dave’s 13-week course on personal finance. You will learn: The 7 Baby Steps to Financial Peace, how to get out of debt with amazing speed, how to handle creditors, what is the proper insurance for your family, how to invest for Retirement and College, how to invest for Wealth Building, and most importantly you will learn why God asks us to Give. Our first class has close to 100 students enrolled and lives are being changed every week! Couples are growing closer and Financial Peace students are getting out of debt and saving money at astonishing rates!

Did you or your family miss the first Financial Peace class? Don’t worry. We will be offering it again soon!

Until then, let me invite you to check out the largest live event on personal finance in America! We’re excited to announce that Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover Live Event will be coming to Whitley Church (via simulcast) Saturday September 19, 2009. This is a high-energy, high-octane, one-day event that will teach you and your family God’s way of handling money and provide you the tools to get started immediately on your way to Financial Peace!

For more information on this life changing event, just go to www.whitleychurch.com and click on the Total Money Makeover Live Event link.

Matt Chestnut
Financial Peace University Director
Whitley Church & The Bridge

Recently, I had an opportunity to attend a Sticky Church Conference in Atlanta, GA. One of the keynote speakers, Pastor Larry Oborne from North Coast Church in San Diego, CA, talked about something that is very near and dear to my heart as a church leader. The topic was about going from “leaky” to “sticky”. So how do we do this? How do we close the back door? What steps do we take to get a new attender or guest to “stick.” Let’s look at a few:

First, we work to develop and cultivate a healthy leadership team. This is critical. We can’t be sticky without health.

· This happens through individual bible study and prayer, as well as through training provided by the church.

· Another critical piece to this is vision buy in. We are a TEAM. We must come in line with and support the vision and mission of the church. This vision comes from God to the Lead Pastor. Without full support of the vision, the team won’t know success.

Second, we must become believer targeted and seeker sensitive. What do I mean? We must be a “user friendly” church.

· A person who comes to Whitley/The Bridge should be able to understand what is going on in the service.

· If a person that comes to our church is offended, we want them to be offended by Jesus, not by anything we are doing.  If we are preaching the uncompromising message of the gospel and that offends, then that’s o.k.

· We must not use “in house language”. Don’t speak “christianese”.  i.e. – When giving a scripture reference, tell them where in the bible the verse is located. For instance, if you were speaking from Malachi, you would say turn just passed mid-way in the bible. If you can find the page that says, “New Testament” take a left and you’ll be in Malachi. Then use some humor by saying, “God put an index in the very front of their bible to assist them in finding the very page # that book is on.” The way we speak let’s others know that non-Christians are here and we are happy about that.

We’re here to reach the “hell-of-a-talk” guy. The person who has never been in church. The person who at the end of the pastor’s message comes up to him and says, “Hey Pastor, that was a hell-of-a -talk”. We should plan and expect that people who haven’t accepted Christ are going to be in our pew this week.

Third, we must foster long-term, Christ-centered relationships.

· The greatest way for us to do this is through small groups.

· We also get here by helping people get connected in “body ministry” in the church. Serving on the hospitality team, serving on the nursery team, serving on the children’s ministry team, etc.

Let’s work together to plug the holes. As Assimilation Pastor, my passion is to see our local church evolve from leaky to sticky because we are sharing the greatest truth known to mankind. Let’s work together to see God revolutionize lives. Isn’t what what it’s really all about?

I was sitting at my desk today just thinking about the things that have happened in last 6 to 9 months.  I became very excited.  Here are just a few things that came to my mind:

I am excited…..

1. That I married Millie Daw nearly 32 years ago.  She is far more than I deserve.
2. That I do not have a church board or a staff that just rubber stamps everything I say or always agrees with every opinion I have.
3. That people love me and forgive me when I mess up.
4. That I get to be the pastor of a church that wants me to teach the Word of God UNDILUTED!!
5. That I get to be innovative and creative and relevant.
6. That my church board and staff allow me to be the leader/visionary …. not just a “hireling” (John 10).
7. That my church allows me to get way outside the box on METHODS, but the inerrant MESSAGE of God’s Word is never compromised.
8. That I get reports many times throughout the week that simply say, “Pastor, I love you and I am pryaing for you!”
9. That our church has so many children all over the place, screaming, crying, laughing, getting things dirty!!  Our church would be so dead without them!!
10. That I serve a church that lets me be myself.
11. That I have friends who love me in spite of my many flaws.
12. The Cross & The Crown has FOUR presentations this year:

• Thursday – April 9 – 7 pm
• Friday – April 10 – 7 pm
• Saturday – April 11 – 6:30 pm
• Easter Sunday – April 12 – 10:45 am
• CLICK HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt_oGOhpDek

   13.  That we are hosting  http://www.townhallforhope.com/  on April 23rd at 7 pm.
   14.  That we will be soon be starting Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University on
           the WC Campus!
   15.  That my son Mitch is serving full time on a church staff in Tennessee.  He is
           the Media Director.
   16.  That I get to see my son Brandon more often and that he is going to get his
          master’s degree in business.
   17.  That our small groups ministry is growing.
   18.  We had over 20 first-time households (families & singles) visit our church
           this weekend!!!!
   19.  That God will walk with Trampas & Carla Stafford through the loss of 
           their infant son.
   20.  That the All Access Conference at C3 is just a couple of weeks away!!!  
          Click here: http://www.allaccessconference.com/
   21.  That the WC student ministry (EncountIer) is experiencing REVIVAL!! 
   22.  That our Mpact Building (for our gir’s ministry) is already too small!! 

These are just a few things I’m excited about.
Ferrell   

Town Hall for Hope with Dave Ramsey at Whitley Church

This week, Dave Ramsey announced on his radio program a national event called Town Hall for Hope.  We will be partnering with Dave by hosting and broadcasting this first-of-a-kind event from Whitley Church.  This will be an awesome opportunity to help bring a message of hope to our nation in these uncertain economic times—and you can participate for free!

On April 23 at 7:00 p.m. thousands of churches will be joining us in hosting the live town hall via a simulcast web stream.  Dave will be answering questions from people across the nation via video, phone, twitter, facebook and more as we learn more about what’s happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going.  The Town Hall for Hope is free to attend.  In just the first 8 hours since the event was announced, over 900 churches signed up to be a host site!  There are a ton of exciting details coming in the coming days.  You can learn more at http://www.townhallforhope.com.

I believe that in times like these, the Church has an enormous opportunity to provide Hope to a world that is searching for it.  It’s an honor to partner with Dave for this event, and we can’t wait to see how God uses it to transform lives!

On the weekend of March 14 &15, 2009 our church experienced a miracle!!
March 14 & 15 was our annual Missions Celebration Weekend.  During these powerful worship celebrations the people of Whitley Church & The Bridge pledged and gave over $108,000 to missions for the year 2009.  THANK YOU for allowing me to be your pastor.  You are a very special church and I am honored to serve as your leader.  OUR GREATEST DAY ARE IN OUR FUTURE!!!

LITTLE REMINDERS:

• Invite someone to attend The Cross & The Crown.  Four presentations this year! 
  Thursday – April 9 - 7pm
  Friday – April 10 – 7 pm
  Saturday – April 11 – 6:30 pm
  Sunday – April 12 – 10:45 am
  For a preview click on:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt_oGOhpDek

• Kaden’s Fund Raiser on Saturday, March 21.  Buy a ticket!!  Call the office if you have questions: 735-5411.
   
• Financial Peace University (FPU) - Dave Ramsey – Interested?  Sign up at the info desk and you will be noitified about an orientation class.

More later!!
Ferrell      

This morning I got up quite a bit earlier than usual.  I was having some coffee (imagine that!).  I was just sitting, thinking, looking out the window at a cloudy rainy day.  I love cloudy rainy days, and yes, I know I’m twisted.  Anyway, I just started thinking about how blessed I am.  As a pastor, husband, dad, friend, son, brother and Christian I have made – and continue to make – so many mistakes.  Some of them I ignorantly stumbled into, and some I just stubbornly and pridefully decide to go my own way, knowing what I was doing was wrong.  Yep, that’s your pastor. 

In the middle of my morning musings I was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving for YOU.  I know churches that would have fired me for some of the blunders I have made as your pastor.  But not you.  Though you have shaken your head in amazement at some of the stuff I have done, you have always loved me.  You have confronted me, gotten righteously angry at me, questioned me about my decisions, disciplined me, held me accountable, but in the midst of it all you never stopped loving me.  I simply want to say THANK YOU.  You are a very special church.  By the way, I LOVE YOU TOO.
–Pastor Ferrell

OTHER STUFF:
SERVOLUTION – Click here: http://www.servolution.org/7days/
It takes place April 3-9 and both worship locations will be participating in this effort.  Please get familiar with what it’s all about.  More details from Outreach Pastor Jimmy Bryant soon.

ONE PRAYER – Click here: http://2009.oneprayer.com/
It begins June 6-7 and both worship locations will be participating in this effort.  Please get familiar with what it’s all about.  More details coming soon!

The Cross & The Crown
Please do not hesitate to get involved with the presentation of The Cross & The Crown.  Maybe you are a new attender.  This is a great place to get involved.  It is short-term and you will get to know a lot of people in the WC/Bridge family.  How do you let us know that you want to get involved.  You can use the sign-up insert in your worship program, sign up at the info desk in the main foyer, call the church office (735-5411), or email Pastor Jimmy at jimmy@whitleychurch.com.  Oh yeah, the dates of the presentation this year are April 9, 10, 11 & 12.  We added a Thursday evening presentation this year!  TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!  It’s free!!

Valentine’s Dinner Show – HUGE SUCCESS!!
It was delicious and hilarious and romantic.  It was my first trip to Paris and I enjoyed it immensely!  Special thanks to Creative Arts Director Betty Grantham and her awesome team!!

About once a month I read through our website(s) to review our claims/promises.  We have a link at the top of the WC homepage that asks, “New to Whitley Church?”  If you click on it, here’s what WE CLAIM: http://www.whitleychurch.com/index.php?pageid=9.

So after I read that claim I ask, “Really?”  So, what do YOU think?  Are our claims true?  How long would a business last if their ads didn’t deliver on what they promise?  Not long I assure you.  The same is true for a church.

1)  We claim that we are the first-time visitor’s “friend”.  So I ask myself again, “REALLY…WE DO?”  I am treating new attenders in a friendly welcoming way?  Really?  Am I actually thinking about others when I go to church or is it really all about me and how I am treated?  Do I look around on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday to see if there is anyone who has that “deer in the headlights look”?  If you see someone like that, do you remember when you attended for the first time?  Do you remember that same uncomfortable scary feeling in your gut as looked for a familiar face?  How do you wish you had been treated that day?  If we are not going to be friendly, let’s stop claiming that we are.  Right?

2)  The next claim I noticed is that we you come to visit will gladly help you find your way around.  Really?  We will?  So let me get this straight, we actually go up to new people and ask if we can help by showing them where the nurserys are….where the pre-school kids’ church is located….where the grade school kid’s church meets…..where the teen church meets…..?  Really?  We actually do that?  I’m just asking.  Oh, I know our Guest Guides do that, but they can’t cover everyone-especially the way our church is growing.  So do you ever just stop and look around and try to find those who appear to need answers or information?

Hey listen, Im not getting on anyone’s case here.  I just want to make sure that our claims match reality.  If they don’t, we could find ourselves “going out of business”.

–Pastor Ferrell