Let me personally invite you to a special blogger event that I’m hoping to pull off next week, May 16, 2010, Sunday.

So, here’s the thing: I’m part of the launching team of a new church called LifeChurch Makati. It’s a new kind of church because not only its a non-denominational, non-sectarian organization, the method that’s going to be used is different from your typical Sunday church. For one, the teaching part will come directly from our partner church in the US, LifeChurch.tv on video. Of course, you’ll have a live worship band, only the worship will be “a notch higher”.

It’s really a different Sunday experience. That’s the reason why we want to have as much people to experience it, evaluate and share the word out. That’s why I’m inviting you.

I’m a blogger myself and I know how bloggers think. We want to share our good, even bad experiences to our audience through our blogs. I’m thinking that if you can heed to my invitation, you can experience this event and write about it in your blogs.

Some possible questions that you may have:

1. WHAT’S IT FOR ME?

The experience, and FREE LUNCH! :D To show gratitude for you covering the event, there will be a lunch especially for bloggers who covered the event. This is also going to be a great time for us to know each other and see the real face behind the avatar :D That will happen at Max’s Restaurant, Ground Floor of Glorietta 3 right after the event.

2. I’M A ROMAN CATHOLIC. CAN I ALSO JOIN?

Of course! The church is not denomination/”religion” specific. Anyone can come.

3. WHAT DO I BRING?

You can bring your cameras if you want. We just request that you turn of the flash during the event itself (which, I know you know, is a standard procedure.)

4. I DON’T REALLY HAVE A BLOG. I JUST USE TWITTER/FACEBOOK.

Twitter is micro-blogging. So, you’re a blogger :D You’re also invited.

This Sunday event happens right after the national election. I know we’re all tired of the same things we hear and see for the past 3 months. So this is the best time to refresh, hear a new and inspiring thing, and write about something other than politics :D So, I’d like to invite you to come. And pass on this link to other bloggers you know.

Click the “Attending” button, and on the event itself, please tell the people manning the welcome table that you’re a blogger and attending the blogger event. If you have other questions, you can ask here.

Thank you for reading :D

Confirm your attendance here at the Facebook event page.

Date: Sunday, May 16, 2010
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Glorietta 4, Cinema 4
City/Town: Makati, Philippines

Most of the greatest spiritual innovators throughout history were people who broke the rules… When you try something new in ministry most people will tell you that your idea will never work… Innovation by definition will not be accepted at first. It takes repeat attempts, endless demonstrations, monotonous rehearsals before innovation can be accepted and internalized by an organization. This requires courageous patience. If you have a God idea, you must be brave enough to go with it. Break some rules.

This Sunday marks the start of “breaking rules” for LifeChurch Makati. We’re going to break some rules in doing church here in the Philippines. If you’re interested to know what it is, check us out on our first preview service at Glorieta 4, Cinema 4 this Sunday, February 21. You’re invited to observe and experience.

I just feel that what he talked about is exactly what I need as one of the leaders at Grace Place — at this very moment, in this season of my life. He talked from his experience as pioneering leader at his church and how burnout has almost robbed him of the joy of continuos service to God. I believe he has a corresponding book about this talk — Leading on Empty.

Here’s my talk notes of Wayne Cordeiro’s talk at the Leadership Summit:

Wayne Cordeiro – session 2

- teach what you know, but ultimately you reproduce what you are

- we don’t forget that we’re pastors and leaders. we forget we’re humans

- there will be time that you will hit the wall

- suffering will change you, but not necessary for the better. you must choose that

- you can suffer incorrectly

- or, you can suffer according to the will of god.

- when everything is going right, we feel invincible

- you can’t keep burning a lamp and not refuel it

- 85% of what you do, anybody can do

- 10% of what you do, someone can be trained to do

- 5% of what you do, nobody else can do

- only I can be a husband to my wife

- only i can be a dad to my children

- only i can grow my relationship with God

- only i can keep myself healthy

- in the end God will not hold you accountable for what you have done. He will hold you accountable for how much of what you have to do you have done

- you might be doing the wrong assignment

- what’s your 5%?

- when you’re clear headed and close to God, write down your 5%

- when you are down in the valley, look at those list.

- Jer. 17:16

- greatness does not happen in a day, but it happens daily

- if you don’t feed your soul, you can be doing the work of God and starve yourself.

- you can be a dead leader running

- rest can give you traction in life

- you can do ministry without a soul

- your attitude is your barometer if you soul is present

- your first most important decision in life is to follow Jesus. The second most important decision in your life is your attitude when you follow Jesus.

I’m going to share my talk notes, beginning with Bill Hybels:

Bill Hybels – session 1

- Act 2:42

-there was a time in history that there was a community of believers radically devoted to God, so devoted to one another that they call themselves brothers and sisters and will die in each others arms during persecution

- they prayed bold prayers, God did amazing things

- people wanted inside that community because of what’s happening IN that community

- what happened in the 1st century can happen in the 20th century. The holy spirit hasn’t weaken over the centuries

- build a biblically functioning community or DIE TRYING.

- when we’re starting Willow Creek Community Church, we don’t have money, so we sold tomatoes

- we planned, and thought they will come by the hundreds, but then came in 10s or 20s and 30s

- we cleaned the theater for other people’s vomit

- I have doubts, and thought of the other life (as a businessman) that I should have.

- if we stick out with the acts 2 dream, we can change the community

- leaders have to believe it in their core

- the local church is the hope of the world

- be willing to set aside your career plans

- be fully surrendered into the acts 2 dream

- if the church will function like acts 2, it should be well led

THE SITUATION:
The Willow Creek Association published a book called REVEAL in August 2007 about “ground-breaking” research findings regarding spiritual growth. These findings were based on survey results from seven churches and have now been confirmed through research with an additional two-dozen churches around the country, including two Canadian churches.

Some in the Christian blogging and media world point to these findings as evidence of a church model “flaw”/breakdown that applies exclusively to Willow Creek and/or the seeker movement inspired by Willow Creek thirty years ago.
This is not what the research shows.

Here are several quotes based on partial or incorrect information:

• World magazine; November 10, 2007: “‘We made a mistake’. Bill Hybels…on a study that showed the Willow Creek model had not produced spiritually mature Christians.”
• Bob Burney, Townhall; October 30, 2007: “The report reveals that what they’ve been doing for these many years and what they’ve taught millions of others to do is not producing solid disciples of Jesus Christ…Numbers, yes, but not disciples….”
• H.B. London, The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing; November 9, 2007: “Hybels goes on to say ‘If you simply want a crowd, the “seeker sensitive” model produces results. If you want solid, sincere, mature followers of Christ, it’s a bust.” Bill Hybels did not say this. Focus on the Family is printing a retraction.

FOUR FACTS ABOUT REVEAL:

1. REVEAL’s findings go well beyond Willow Creek and the “seeker” church movement.

• REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow, chosen specifically to reflect a diversity of church models. We’ve surveyed traditional Sunday school model churches, missions-focused churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies, sizes and styles. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments.
• REVEAL is currently surveying five hundred churches, including more than a dozen denominations and English-speaking international churches. Early results from the first 200 demonstrate REVEAL’s segments exist across multiple church model/style/size alternatives.
• 40% of these 500 churches do not describe themselves as “seeker-focused” or “seeker-friendly”.

2. REVEAL’s findings show that Christ-followers are being developed at Willow Creek and all other surveyed churches.

• The two most spiritually mature segments, called the “Close to Christ” and the “Christ-Centered” groups, account for over 40% of the total thirty church sample. To date the spiritual profiles of those churches show a range of 30% to 60% for these two segments.
• The controversy is REVEAL discovered a Dissatisfied segment that fell out of the two most spiritually advanced segments noted above. They are sold-out Christ followers, but are disappointed in their church. The Dissatisfied segment averaged 9% over the thirty churches, ranging from 3% to 14%.
• Also, the bloggers and media point to this Dissatisfied group as proof that the “seeker” movement does not grow up disciples of Christ. The fact is this Dissatisfied group exists in every church we’ve surveyed, including the 200 churches currently in process.

3. Willow Creek’s Senior Pastor Bill Hybels said, “We made a mistake.”

• Bill acknowledged that Willow did not appreciate the undercurrent of dissatisfaction expressed by some of our strongest Christ-followers. Nor did we appreciate the Kingdom impact of training and encouraging all Christ-followers to devote themselves to a daily discipline of personal spiritual practices.
• But taking corrective action is not a new experience for Willow Creek. We’ve made a number of course corrections over the years – like adding a mid-week service in the ‘80s and building a small group ministry in the ‘90s. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is another example of Willow being open to God’s design for this local church.

4. Willow Creek will use REVEAL’s findings to take its mission to redeem people far from God to a whole new level.

• Bill would say that Willow is not simply seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on REVEAL’s findings.

I’m very impressed by the kind of energy all you guys have shown. Passion for Jesus — I think that’s the key phrase. The kind of passion that will make a dent in the lives of people around us — yuppies in particular, right? :D And that’s what Grace Place is all about. We’re going to love Jesus more and as a result, we’re going to love people more so they can also love Jesus in return. We’ll use extraordinary ways — radical ways if needed — just for them to get a glimpse of the grace of God.

For those who missed it, you missed a lot — big time! :D

But don’t worry, last Sunday was just the start of it. This Sunday, we’re starting a series we call “What GRACE PLACE Values”. We will start to immerse ourselves with God’s grace and learn how we can apply these when we do our public launch after 3 months. Please do come — you won’t be left out, I promise.

Some of you asked me if they can start bringing in guests. The quick answer is “yes”. While the themes for the next 3 months would be building up the team, the messages will be on a general tone and the Bible truths applied to our daily lives. They will be blessed too.

For those who brought their Christian friends who later on signed up as volunteers, thank you, thank you! If you still have some Christian friends who you think would like to enjoy this exciting ride, bring them in.

Till next Sunday.

* We prayed for 20 participants (the accommodation provided for us by the resort is up to that number only — so we prayed for the max). God gave us 17. That’s 85% of what we asked for! I realized that God will not always give 100% of what you ask for. But when he does, it’ll be overwhelming — like the other item I’ll describe later.

* We had a mix of believers (the core group) and guests. From the indications God gave us, the retreat helped all the guests to accept Jesus as Lord and savior and the core group was led to reaffirm their faith in Jesus.

*… and who said God won’t allow a 100%? The retreat culminated in a baptism. ALL asked to be baptized except for Kuya Prudy — the pastor who baptized the participants. That’s 100%! Sixteen souls were excited to tell the world about their faith in Jesus! It was the most celebrative baptism rites I have ever attended. Everyone was so excited and shouting for joy as each one rises from the water. (pictures later)

* I asked to be re-baptized. And I was the very first one to be dipped in the pool. I was first baptized when I was 13 years old. From what I can remember, it has no meaning to me then. So I thought of re-baptism because this is the first time baptism finally have a real meaning for me.

* My wife, who was a devout Catholic and has accepted Jesus sometime 2001, received baptism too! After her conversion back then, I mentioned to her about the possibility of being baptized. She reacted repulsively. I never mentioned the topic again — I simply let her grow in the knowledge of God in her own pace. Until yesterday, when she too, was very excited to perform the “wedding ceremony” with Jesus.

All these, especially the 100% baptism, is our very first literal, visual confirmation from God. He will change people’s lives through Grace Place! To Him be all the glory!

Can you please say a short prayer for us? We feel inadequate. But that’s good. Because in our inadequacy comes God’s sufficient power.

Christian bloggers, may I request for a link? :)

As worship leaders, we can get so excited about new music
that before we know it our entire praise set is made up of
nothing but new songs! Don’t let this happen — your
congregation will pass out from overload.

2. Use a new song in the middle or end of a praise set.

I’ve found that my congregation responds best to new music
after they’ve had a chance to worship with songs they know
and love. Starting a praise set with music that no one knows
is a downer!

Try using the new song as a response to your praise set. For
instance, we introduced “I Give You My Heart” following a
praise set that ended with the hymn “I Surrender All.” The
entire morning’s music had a theme of consecration and “I
Give You My Heart” was a perfect end to the worship.

You might also try using a new song as an isolated call to
worship at the beginning of your service that’s performed by
a soloist, praise team or choir – something like this:

new song [call to worship]

welcome / announcements

praise set

3. Introduce a new song as special music.

Have a soloist or ensemble sing the new song as an offertory
special, and have the congregation join in on the last
chorus.

4. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Use the song for three weeks in a row — the first week is
the introduction, the second and third weeks are
reinforcement. Then, skip a week and try the song again on
the fifth week to see if it has caught on.

>Bottom Line: Keep your worship fresh with new material.