Forming the New Day Family

"It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4 NIV

For the past month now, we’ve been focusing a lot of time on the process of hiring for New Day UMC. Here’s an inside look on what this important piece of pre-launch involves...

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  It starts with prayer over who is necessary, and what positions the mission field requires. No matter how hard I tried to eliminate a position or two, the Holy Spirit kept telling me, “No, no, no. You can’t do without that one!”
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  Then came gathering a Staffing Team to help guide the process, and man, did God come through with a couple of the best guys for that job! John and Jason have been incredible;
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  Then there was the writing of job descriptions, and getting a very clear set of priorities on what we were looking for in each candidate (not as easy as it may sound);
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  Spreading the word through various networks -- emails, newspaper ads, university and seminary sites, United Methodist electronic bulletin board, facebook, Craigslist, and more;
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  Securing a Federal Employer Identification Number;
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  Researching equitable compensation by contacting sister churches;
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  Responding to interested parties; etc. etc. etc.

After 2-3 weeks, we had 27 people apply for our 5 part-time positions, many applying to combine several roles together for more hours for a total of 46 individual applications. There were so many wonderfully gifted people who came forward, and we gave thanks for each one of them! Further prayerful discussions lead us to invite 9 candidates in for interviews. You’d think it would be easier at this point, but truly it was not. It felt like a jigsaw puzzle to all of us, and we needed patience as we turned over more pieces of people’s stories and gathered their information.

This afternoon, we completed the interviews and tried to get a picture of the future New Day staff together. It includes 3 Godly people. It is not the same picture I had in mind even last night. It is not with all of the roles as neatly laid out as originally intended. It is not without risks. It is one more exercise in taking one faithful step at a time.

For us, this process is not simply about getting the job done, or bringing any warm body on board. It is a process of forming a dynamic team, better yet, of gathering a family together. The chemistry has to be right. The family has to harmonize well. The family has to be built around people serving Christ by serving people. The Spirit within the group has to be paid attention to. Right now, the potential family portrait has some amazing people in it, and I am excited by the possibilities. But it aint over yet, people!

What if he doesn’t feel at home with us? What if she needs more hours or more benefits than we can offer right now? What if they are set in their ways and unable to adapt? What if she turns us down? What if...?

We’ll keep you posted, but for now, keep the prayers for the new family comin’!

Leaps of Faith

News from Janet...

Never a dull moment here at New Day Church, and wanted to let you know a few newsworthy items! Last week Jim and the "Staffing Team" finalized job descriptions and started advertising for 5 part-time positions for New Day! The 2 most important will be Childcare Coordinator and Director of Worship & Music. The other 3 are Directors of Children, Youth and Adult Spiritual Growth. These are all very part time right now, and we're thinking that some may be combined depending on applicant's skills/needs.

We are taking a true LEAP of faith in hiring - and those we hire will understand that they will be entering into a "risky business"! They will be an integral part of expanding the New Day family and actively fundraising for parts of their salaries as well as their more normal duties. Jim has contacted about 45 UMC pastors requesting a special offering, or some other financial support, and the indications are that donations from these churches will come close to covering staffing salaries for the remainder of the year. So we take the leap, knowing we have planted seeds and worked the plan, and believing that God will do the rest! It will be just so interesting to see who will step forward for this ministry! Please pray for this process; people, funds, timing, etc.

New Day Church now has a BEAUTIFUL sign on our door! Thank you, Jim Baller, for this wonderful gift! Also, Jim's office is now finally complete and functional thanks to some awesome gifts from Delano UMC. We are so grateful! Things will be much more efficient with everything in one place. Working between home and church was creating much chaos!

The next Preview Worship will be this Sunday, June 14th, 10:45. We're anticipating another smallish crowd - if you would pray for God's spirit to be present in the preparation this week and during the service on Sunday, we would appreciate it! Guests are always welcome!

The launch team is very active now - working on staffing, hospitality plan, advertising and some special projects like marching in the Spud Fest parade, neighborhood picnics, farmer's market , etc. It's exciting to see their enthusiasm and ownership in some of these projects. And the Bible Basics class has been very well-received. Fun to see the excitement around learning about the Bible!

That's it for now! Hope all is well with all of you. Keep in touch - we love hearing your news as well!

5 Plus 2 Equals 5000

It is mid-May. Not only is the sun shining, the grass is greening, and the flowers are ready to be planted outside (well, almost – frost warnings are still on for tonight), but it is now only 4 months to Launch for New Day UMC. Starting the week of Sept. 12-13, we will have regular, weekly worship services, followed shortly thereafter with regular programs for children, youth, and adults. It is exciting, and yet overwhelming, to realize this. Thank the Lord our Launch Team has developed to the point of tackling more on their own; I have faith we will accomplish many of the items on our Pre-Launch To Do List. (If there are any others out there who could lend a hand, please let us know – we need you!)

But right now, the challenge which is just as big as getting projects done is raising the money to fund the projects which need to be done. For the most part, these are projects which coaches and church-planting experts have taught us need to be in place in order to make a solid first impression when people come to check us out those first launch months. With many people, you only get one chance, and first-time guests, we are told, often make up their minds if they are coming back again within the first 7 minutes after arriving. If that is true, what needs to be “ready”? Well, consider these...

SIGNAGE: along roads pointing the way ($500 - $2500), out front of the building ($400), above the door ($3000), on the door itself ($500), and inside the entry ($50-250)... TOTAL ~ $5,500

GATHERING SPACE: living-room style furniture ($2500 - $3000), computerized guest registration station ($2000), flat-screen announcement monitor ($1200)... TOTAL ~$6000

CHILDCARE AREA: rolling toy shelves ($2100), age-appropriate toys ($400), closet organizers ($300), tables and chairs ($3,500) TOTAL ~ $6300

WORSHIP AREA: projection equipment, sound systems, band instruments, microphones, etc. etc. etc. TOTAL ~$12,000 - $24,000

OK, you get the idea. Long before I stand up to share a life-giving God message, our guests have decided to return or not based on appearance, environment, and how well we have satisfied their family’s needs to this point. We get it. The frustrating part is knowing what needs to be done, but not having the money in-hand to get it done. We will obviously need to prioritize and make do with whatever we have at that moment.

Nonetheless, it’s like looking forward with sails hoisted, ready to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit, while an anchor temporarily keeps the ship locked in place.

Perhaps I am simply another product of our instant gratification society. Perhaps my worrying about tomorrow should be replaced simply with prayers of thanksgiving for today. Perhaps all of this is simply another exercise in faith, in relying on God to work through the hearts and minds of others to collectively achieve what I am unable to accomplish on my own. Perhaps I am like the disciples who looked out on a crowd of hungry people (over 5,000 to be exact), and felt overwhelmed by the expectation to feed them all with so little in the treasury. Perhaps I should simply trust Jesus, who takes the smallest of offerings from the least among us, and satisfies the needs of all.

Sigh. All right, Lord. I turn all of this over to you.

Is there anyone out there willing to share your 5 loaves and 2 fish with the thousands of spiritually hungry folk here in Big Lake? If so, I believe Jesus will make it an abundant blessing for many. Thanks for sharing!

[Contributions to the ministry of New Day UMC can be made by contacting Pastor Jim via their website or by simply leaving a message under “Comments” below]

Mother's Day Blessings

Greetings!
Although chilly, the sun is shining and God's love is abounding! I sincerely hope that all the moms are having a blessed day, knowing the abundant love you have for your children is just a sliver of the love God has for us all. Amazing Grace, Amazing Love - WOW!

New Day's 2nd Preview Service this morning was uplifting, joyful, full of spirit, fun and meaning! Rejoice and Praise! It seemed that the small (35) but significant congregation were touched by God; and Jim and I certainly felt the humble joy of sharing just a bit of His grace today. It was a one-man band, as Jim lead praise songs on his guitar; other music came from CD's. The borrowed projector and screen worked perfectly and the untrained amateur running it, (me!) managed to get most of the slides up when needed! Jim had the congregation create a bouquet of "tributes to mom" - each person was given a carnation when they arrived and then were asked to come forward and share a sentence or two about their moms and place the flower in a vase. The words spoken were so wonderful; a precious time of sharing. Jim's message was about doubt (scripture from John about Thomas), and he had interaction with some of the congregation and visual aids that kept everyone engaged. The service ended with communion and the smiles that carried out the door warmed my heart!

I've put pictures on the website (http://www.newday-umc.org/) - many thanks to Karla Vieau for some great shots!

Next worship will be Sunday, June 14, 10:45.

We'll be starting two small group classes in two weeks (Bible Basics and Discovering Your Spirituality Type). Please pray for people to attend and for meaning to be found in these small groups.

The "call" for the grant money to be provided by the United Methodist Metro-West Builders Assoc. was mailed out last week. Please pray for those folks who are receiving the brochure to be generous. To be ready for full launch by September, New Day has some very significant needs which we're praying this "connectional ministry" will help provide.

As always, your support and prayers are such huge blessings to us and this new, young community. Bless you all!

With much love,
Janet :->

First Service

Last Saturday evening we held our first service ever at New Day UMC. A month ago, I told my Advisory Team that I was worried – worried we’d have too many people show up. How many do you think might be there? Well, I told them, 50 weren’t out of the question, and in my mind I was thinking 75. A week ago, I was approached by the local newspaper wanting to do an article in anticipation of our first service; I am probably the only church planter in history to turn down this free publicity, but I was worried we’d have more people than we could handle. How many do you think might be there? Well, I told them, the space holds 100, and in my mind I was hoping 110. Saturday night came along, and I was right – adults and children totaling just under 150 people showed up! We were filled to the walls and out into the gathering space ~ it was fantastic!

Representatives from 8 of our 14 partnering churches were present to help bless our inaugural service. They symbolically carried forward the lights of Christ to our darkened community and prayed that this would be a place where Christ’s spirit would shine. Blessings were also posted and shared from others in the family of believers, from as near as Becker to as far as Nashville, TN; over 40 prayers, well-wishes, and notes of encouragement surrounded those first gatherers in this new space of sanctuary, silently giving witness to the saints from all times and places who continue to bless us. One woman we discovered, has been praying for this particular church for over 25 years.

But the baptisms were the most spiritually touching for many. This celebration of God’s love was poured or sprinkled on the heads and hearts of three babies, one pre-schooler, and one senior high student. The three-year-old was my assistant for the entire ritual, helping me to pour the water, show off the babies, and announce loudly when his name was read “That’s Me!” “Alleluias” rang so loudly through the air at the conclusion, they practically knocked me over. The mood spilled over into the parking lot and carried people home with Easter joy.

Now, what I haven’t told you, of course, are all those things that kept Janet and I tossing and turning all night long afterwards: Things not said. People not talked to. Rituals that did not go as planned. A sermon that did not flow in its expected order. Childcare that was ... Wow! Does that need work! Staging that blocked the projected prayers from half the crowd. A lack of sound equipment which kept God knows how many people from hearing what was being said. Passing-of-the-Peace near the end which spontaneously turned into Forget-the-Last-Song-Announcements-and-Benediction-cuz-That’s-All-Folks! Flowers which did not get gifted to the partnering churches....... Need I go on?!

But a wise friend reminded me come Monday, “But practically everyone went home with excitement, a big smile and having experienced a very holy time. Forget the little stuff. The big stuff happened, and that’s what matters.”

So, that’s my advice for you as well ~ whenever your best-laid plans keep you up at night, ask yourself if this is the big stuff or the little stuff. If the holy has been experienced and sent people home with blessings, then just forget everything else. What matters most has been achieved.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Matthew 6:25
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Philippians 1:18

Counting the Blessings

(from Janet, Pastor Jim's co-church planting wife)

Whew!
Being human, and in the "over 40" crowd, our feet hurt, our backs ache, and we are exhausted! Being also God's humble servants, our spirits soar, our gratitude is immense and we are praising God for enormous blessings!

The move-in was such a great day! Throughout the day about 16 of us vacuumed, washed windows, hauled and wiped down tables, chairs and platforms, and just enjoyed being in the new space. It looks soooo nice! Still many things to finish up, but after yesterday, and help from our son and his girlfriend with hanging the desk cabinet, the list we had made on Saturday is pretty much checked off. Blessings!

Also on Saturday, one of our launch team informed us all that she had found about 200 white coffee mugs that will be donated to New Day by one of the local restaurants! Blessings!

After worshipping and hanging the cabinet with Adam and Amanda yesterday, the remainder of the day was spent preparing for and attending the Metro West Builders event. We set up a display area similar to the one we had at the Expo and spent about 2 hours giving out planting kits and talking to people about New Day. Following this came the program and dinner, then Jim was able to give a short presentation to the whole crowd, which went VERY well! The group voted immediately afterward to make New Day the spring call!!! Blessings!

On top of all those blessings, before her benediction at the end of last evening's event, our former district superintendent (the one who had contacted Jim initially about this new church venture), asked those present to "throw something into the pot" to help supply some hospitality items for New Day's first preview service in April. Jim and I were so surprised by this totally unexpected gift, and so humbled by the response of over $500. WOW!!!!!!!! God continues to amaze us by the generosity and love pouring forth from so many sources. We are blessed, and more blessed, and MORE BLESSED!!

It's another busy week ahead! Prayers for stamina and wisdom would be great. Also, the next fellowship event is being mostly planned and implemented by one of the launch team members. Families will be invited to come to New Day and spend an hour or so, Sat. morning, March 28, planting seeds, singing songs and sharing fellowship. Please pray for Tammy and Bonnie (the organizers) and this event. Getting the word out is always one of the greatest challenges!

Starting From Scratch

In just over a week (on Saturday, March 14th), we will be moving into our new space. I have been joking with people that the move shouldn’t take too long, because we have nothing to move in! Being a brand new church plant, we are starting from scratch, of course. This was dramatically apparent when we started hosting our first community events last fall, and we didn’t have a table to set things upon, didn’t have pens for people to use to take surveys, and didn’t have the basics which used to be at our finger tips in an established church setting. The absence of ministry resources was surprising, but God provided.

I’m sure we’ll move in next weekend and again be surprised by the absence of a pastor’s desk, the lack of over-stuffed chairs and love seats in the Gathering Area, and (heaven forbid!) the nonexistence of a coffee-maker and mugs. No altar? No pulpit? No music stands even? None right now, but God will provide.

Aside from the absence of things, we started from scratch in terms of relationships as well. We came to Big Lake alone. We had no history here, no small group of mission-minded families to bring with us, and none who considered us their friend. And because we are reaching out to those who are disconnected from God and church, we also found ourselves starting from scratch with people in terms of church knowledge, devotion to the cause, and experience with spiritual stuff in general. No congregation at all?! No trust? No commitment? No prayer life? None right now, but God will provide.

What has been amazing is how much God has provided in just over a year: buyers for our home (in less than 45 days); a relatively quick response from the bank to buy a foreclosed home (in less than 45 days); 60 new chairs; 24 sets of curtains; 14 beautiful wooden tables; a desk set; copy machine; computer server; Inkjet (color) printer; a Wireless router; and more!

But more importantly, God has provided us with connections to the wonderful people up here. As a point of illustration, last weekend was the Chamber’s Business Expo. A year ago, the Expo was the first event we volunteered at in the community. We didn’t know a soul when we walked into the High School gymnasium to help set up last year. This year, we walked in to set up our own booth, and before we had three things in place, I probably gave away a dozen hugs and warm greetings to my Big Lake friends. My, how God provides!

Stuff like tables, chairs, trust, and commitment all take time when you start from scratch. At first, we feel the lacking when we notice what we don’t have. Then we feel the coveting when we see what others have. But if we can have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is providing, then lacking turns to abundance, and coveting turns to generosity. Everything and everyone become gifts of grace from God above! For it is written...

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV