First Newsletter Article for First Rowlett

Here is my first Newsletter Article for First Rowlett. It was included in a newsletter sent out to the members called the Summer of New.



“Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues,
announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every
sickness. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they
were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:35-36 CEB


I am looking forward to beginning my appointment at First Rowlett and getting to know
all of you. I am even more excited about being IN MINISTRY with you! As July 1 rolls
around, we will be partnering together as we start a new church in the southeast Wylie
/ north Rowlett community. Starting this new church will continue the rich tradition
here at First Rowlett of inviting people to Live, Learn and Love... but we will be doing
this through a different perspective.


As we partner together to launch this new church, let’s follow the example Christ gives
us in the scripture above. The passage starts out by saying that Jesus traveled among all
the cities and villages… He went to where the people were to minister to them. We see
that Jesus went out into the "community" to meet those who lived there face to face,
meeting them on their turf, to walk with them in their pain, distress and need.


The communities of southeast Wylie and north Rowlett are poised for tremendous
growth. In a recent meeting with the Wylie ISD, I learned that the current student
population stands at 12,000 students, with projections reaching upwards of 25,000
students within 5-7 years. Already, Wylie ISD has purchased land for new elementary,
intermediate, junior and senior high schools. They are preparing for the growth they
know is coming.


As a church we could plan for this growth by posting signs, sending out fliers or bulk
emails to invite them to come to us. However, if we truly want to follow the example of
Christ, we too must go out into this new community and share the transforming words
of Christ with them.


You may be wondering how you can help in this new ministry. 1 John 5:14 says, “This
is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in
agreement with his will, he listens to us.” First and foremost, I ask for your prayers.
This task will not be easy… but I have seen amazing things happen when God’s people
pray. Second, I would love to get to know you. Let’s sit down for a cup of coffee, or just
drop by for a visit to hear more about the new church start. Please feel free to call or
email me (or just stop me in the halls of First Rowlett after July 1), and I will be more
than happy to talk to you about what God is doing through First Rowlett as we reach out
to new places and new people.


Be God’s
Chris

Meeting with Wylie ISD

Yesterday, I meet Susan Dacus and Marcia Coker who work for the Wylie ISD. I wanted to just introduce myself and ask some preliminary questions.

As we sat down we started to talk about the ISD. There are over 50 languages spoken in the ISD. Languages from English and Spanish, to different Asian and Middle Eastern dialects. Interesting to note, that most of these non-English speaking segments of the ISD, most of them refuse ESL classes. From the website, here is an ethnic breakdown of the ISD. Gender: 51% Male; 49% Female. Race: 57% Caucasian, 20% Hispanic, 15% African American, 7% Asian, 1% Native American. Economically disadvantaged - 28.74%. Average student to teacher ratio 14.7:1  (Includes all classes such as Special Education and Title 1).

The ISD currently has 10 elementary schools, 3 intermediate schools, 3 jr. high schools and 2 high schools. Land has been purchased for a third high school and fourth intermediate and jr. high school.


Looking at growth, for right now, most of the growth is happening west of HWY 78. With the completion of the George Bush turnpike close at hand, the district is looking at growth occurring in the southeast portion of Wylie. Current growth has slowed down from 14% a couple of years ago to basically one elementary school a year. It is predicted that Wylie ISD will grow up to 25,000 students when all is said and done.


Looking ahead, our conversation moved from the make up of the ISD to renting policy. I received a large packet with policies and regulations for those renting school building for other activities. While I won't go into pricing (because I was told that it would change), I did receive some terms for renting. They rent on a two year term, with a possible additional 3 years if the church has proof that they are purchasing land or need time making other arrangements. The other stipulation deals with membership.  The new church must have 100 attendees with 80% of those attendees living within the Wylie ISD.


So with this information, I go back to focusing on prayer. Making sure that where the church goes, and what I do, I am listening and am in tune with God's will for me and my family and for this new faith community in Wylie/Rowlett.

Testing

I have a new device. It's an IPad 2. I am writing this blog on my new iPad as I wait to meet with a member of the Wylie Isd to get more information... Population trends, growth in ESL programs etc.
I am looking forward to this meeting and praying that God will guide me as I listen, pray and talk to this new contact.

The Haircut

One of the things I failed to do this weekend was to ask Tracy to cut my hair before I went to the conference office to record my three minute message for annual conference.  So this morning, I took it upon myself to drive up to Wylie to find a new place to get a haircut.  I knew that "barber shops" are a good place to talk to people and I wanted to use this moment to talk about the new church start and also just to get to know more people in the Wylie area.


I pulled up to the Great Clips at FM 544 and 78 and walked into an empty store wondering where the employees were.  From the back room in the store, a short middle aged Asian woman walks in and invites me to sit in her barber chair and she quickly went to work with her razor with the number 2 guard on it.


The conversation was slow at first, just some pleasantries, talking about the massive amount of rain, hail, thunder and lightening that just went through the area. To how long have you been cutting hair, etc., etc. 


Then the question came. She asked, "What do you do?" I took the opportunity to share that I was moving into the area to start a new church either in south Wylie or north Rowlett, starting in July of this year. She talked about attending First Baptist Garland and was genuinely excited about a new church coming to the area.  I asked questions about what she liked about church and listened as she finished up the hair cut and took the apron off of me.


We walked over to the cash register and I put down my credit card for her to swipe. When the receipt was handed to me, I scribbled down a $5.00 tip for her as a thank you for the wonderful job and great conversation we had.  She looked at me and told me to ignore the $5.00 tip because she wanted me to place that $5.00 in the offering plate when I held the first worship service at the new church.


I know that every conversation I will have about the new church start won't end as positive as this one, however, it was nice to have a moment where I was encouraged by a stranger as I started this journey of faith.


I'm looking forward to that Sunday, where I can take the five dollars I received today and use that gift to help grow a church that will connect people to the living Christ so they can share Christ's love with others.

Intercessory Prayer Team

I just finished reading a book by Jim Griffith and Bill Easum titled Ten Most Common Mistakes made by New Church Starts. This book was given to me by Jim Ozier who is the Director of the North Texas Conference's New Church Development Center.


As I read through this book, I took a lot of great notes and have already started to implement some of the suggestions supplied by Griffith and Easum.  One of the most important implementations had to do with prayer.  When I first met with Jim, I started to do prayer drives. Almost every morning on my way to Sherman, I drive through the mission field praying for the community. This is what the community looks like.

As of right now, the target area is located at 544 and Alanis Dr. in Wylie, Tx. (top marker). First Rowlett has also identified a place that is in the Waterview area. (bottom marker). I have been driving, praying and talking to people in this area and I'm already feeling a connection to this location.

The second implementation started to take shape today.  Griffith and Easum talked about Spiritual Warfare. Because this is a church plant that will connect people with Jesus Christ, Satan will be working hard against it. They write, "You'll find yourself confronted on every level -- culturally, spiritually, theologically, and politically." Then they make this distinction. " The opposition isn't about you the planter -- it's about the Kingdom. you must never blink! Remember, 'Perfect love drives out fear' (1 John 4:18). Your role is to prepare for it so it doesn't take you by surprise." (Griffith and Easum page 18-19 italics mine)

Their recommendation is to set up an intercessory prayer team. I am already impressed that First Rowlett takes prayer seriously and I am doing my part to make sure prayer is an important aspect of this plant.  They stress that the intercessory prayer team shouldn't be connected to the church plant so I can share my heart and concerns openly with this team.  I have identified four people (for now) for this prayer team and I have had confirmation from three of them.  Here is the story.

I had a woman from Grace UMC already in mind when I went to church this morning. I tried to talk to her between services and was interrupted by another member and told her I would talk to her following late service.  After the late service I walked up to her and she was standing next to another woman who I knew believed in the power of prayer.  I asked both of them if they would like to be a part of my intercessory prayer team.  They both said yes and I asked them to go ahead and start praying, their answer... We already have been praying for you.  As we were wrapping up our conversation, I saw another woman who is a prayer warrior and I asked her if she would be on my prayer team.  Without hesitation, she said yes with tears running down her cheeks because I asked her to be a part of this special ministry.  Once again I asked her to start praying for me... her answer... I already have been praying for you.  I don't think I could have asked for more perfect people to be a part of this special ministry. 

I have absolutely felt God's hand as I drive around the mission area and as I set up this prayer team. I know that God has great things in store for this church plant and I'm looking forward to this great adventure.

Thanks be to God!

New Appointment... New Church

It's been over a month since I passed my P&Q interview. In this past month a lot has happened. I have had the blessing to celebrate my passing with my Lay Teaching Committee, I have baptized two infants, and I have received my new appointment.


I've been relatively silent about the new appointment because it has taken a few weeks for the appointment to become official (as official as it can until the Bishop reads the appointments on the last day of Annual Conference on June 7). Officially, the new appointment won't take place until July 1.


My new appointment... I will be an Associate Pastor/Church Planter at FUMC Rowlett. My task will be to start a new United Methodist Church in the North Rowlett/South East Wylie, Texas area. My family is excited about this new opportunity and I'm excited to move into a new area and share Christ with new people.


As I think about the church plant. I wanted to set down some preliminary (vision points) for the new church. (In future post, I will elaborate on these "vision points")

1. I want those involved in the new church to live out "The Great Commandment"
“You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole being, and with your whole mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” Matthew 22:37-40 CEB


2. I want the new church to be serious and intentional about prayer.


3. I want the new church to see "The Great Commission" as our primary task.
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” Matthew 28: 19-20 CEB


This is my first stab at what I would like my church to be. I know that the most important aspect about this new church is that I know the community. I am looking forward to getting to know the community of North Rowlett/Southeast Wylie and seeing where Christ is already at work in peoples lives and help develop relationships with Jesus Christ.