Staff Retreat #2 – Jason Hirsch

After B-fast last Saturday we held our planning sessions.  The flip chart is my friend, and that is how we began.  I love blank flip charts!  Am I sick?:)

The goal of the morning and afternoon was developing a plan, based on our current knowledge and listening for the heart of God.  Below is the approach I took.  Not flawless, and definitely not the end all, so I’m open to your opinions and suggestions.

1.  I first laid out visually, how we want to move people from exploring Christ, to becoming Christ centered.  I used the resource “Focus”, which is part of the Willow Creek Association research project called “Reveal”.  “Reveal is the first book, “Follow-Me” the second, & “Focus” is the third in the series.  Very insightful research of polls numbering well over 200,000 people, and nearly 400 church’s.  I highly recommend all church leaders, at all levels, read these books.  Bottom line is:  What people want and need most from the church is, spiritual guidance.  What people want and need most from pastor’s is spiritual challenge.   Simple: Guidance & Challenge!!!

2.  After we discussed the above, we then moved on to the below model for church.  Rather than a baseball diamond approach that moves to completion, this below cell model represents an ongoing process that is never completed.  We’re always in process, but must be intentional about becoming self-feeders.  Everything in the below diagram revolves around Worship/Adoration.  If we don’t love God, and worship Him, all the other cells will never work like they were intended.   The dialogue about this was rich, and I pray that our team will grow to love God, more than anything else in this world.

3.  After discussing movement & values, I moved our team to discuss the following questions.

*Where are missing holes @ www.EpicChurchlv.org? – What needs developing?

*What has dying momentum? – What needs tweaking or killing?

*What is gaining momentum? – What needs energy/additional resources right now?

*Where is God Leading www.EpicChurchlv.org next year?

4.  We ended the retreat with praise & worship, communion together as a team, followed by prayer.  I highly recommend completing any retreat with communion.  God was in our midst, and wrecking us in the best sort of way.  I was moved!!

It was ultimately through team prayer, formation discussion, charting, and brainstorming, that we came up with where we believe God is leading us this next year & beyond.  We’ll refine our details in the weeks ahead, and I can’t wait.  What did we come up with?  Well, you’ll have to come to our vision night, Jan 2010 to find out.  All I know is:  Nothing is Impossible With God!!