Transitioning Church | North of Normal

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Defining Moments

This week as I’ve been preparing for next Sunday, there’ve been the usual (and some unusual) distractions. I’ve been forced this week to think of things I’ve not thought about in some time. I’m not talking major things, I’m talking about some of the little details that fade with time. Things we remember sporadically.

Sunday will be the 1st anniversary of the day we signed the contract and sold the old campus. I’ve thought this week about all that I was feeling a year ago. I’ve remembered everything that led up to it. We made some strategic decisions for C3 that launched us right into the community to become the church “right where YOU are.”

It’s funny the things that come to mind on anniversaries. I actually remember every detail of that day. I remember what was said. I remember the conversation Pastor Green (Eastland Baptist Church) and I had after signing the papers for them to purchase the property. I remember being so pumped that a church would occupy that campus - we took 1/2 million less than our highest offer and agreed to hold a second mortgage just to be able to sell it to them. Every time I hear how well Eastland is doing I rejoice!

The reality is that we didn’t really become C3 until we relocated. That day, October 5, 2007 will forever be one of the most important days in my life. It’s interesting, there’s not been one second in the past year that I’ve regretted or second guessed that decision. I still have something from that day that I’ll be bringing with me to the platform this Sunday.

One of the things I’ve thought about is the vision that is C3. There were so many times that things shouldn’t have worked out (and a small disgruntled group was plotting to do everything they could to stop it, but you just can’t stop God). That vision that is burned deep within me has been worth fighting for every moment. More lives have been changed in the last year than many see in a lifetime. I’m fully aware that only God can do that.

As we’ve pursued Christ and his plan for our movement, we’ve paid a high price. Dark days have been walked through and deep pain and betrayal have been experienced. Any time you give birth to life there must be labor pains.

Out of all the thoughts I’ve had this week, one of the primary ones is this: “The vision that God initiated, that we passionately pursued, that was birthed through prayer and sacrifice, that vision that now is changing lives from death to life weekly, that vision will be relentlessly protected and unswervingly followed no matter what.“ In the journey, there will always be choices. We will never coast in our purpose or retreat from our passion. While there have been many defining moments in the journey, there will be many more to come. In each of those moments… in every choice that’s made it will always be for the advancement of C3 no matter the cost. When you’re pursuing a vision most decisions are already made for you!

Almost one year ago papers were signed. In that year God has signed many names to the book of life because of the people of C3 who’ve invested and invited. And, it’s only the beginning.

To the people of C3 - Sunday… BRING IT!!!

Published

Byron Bledsoe

on October 1, 2008

in C3 Church, Church, Faith, Future, Leadership, Life, Life Lessons, Past, Random, Sunday, Thankful, Thoughts, Vision, church leadership, love, pastors, prayer, timeless and transitioning church

. 1 Comment

Saying Goodbye

In the process of the birth of C3, to embrace our future we had to abandon some things. Here are a few:

1. We abandoned the mentality of “institutional” to embrace the flow of “movement.” We began to think in terms of creating momentum rather than sustaining preferences. We began to rally around the cause rather than causing rallies.

2. We abandoned formality to embrace intimacy. So much of what defined us as a church was formality. How we talked - using terms only used on Sundays. What we sang - in fact, so many people who’ve grown up in church can sing songs they’ve always heard while thinking about everything but… we get good at just rolling through the “formality.” We kicked that to the curb so we could experience greater intimacy - with Christ and each other.

3. We abandoned surface relationships to embrace authentic relationships. We moved from the stuffy and exclusivity of Sunday School to doing life together through community groups. We just believe life is done better in homes than in an institutional setting on hard metal chairs staring at a lecturer behind a lecturn. There are people that go to church for years and never experience authentic relationships.

4. We abandoned financial security to live on the edge of faith. I really am reminded more and more how “secure” we used to be. We were secure in our resources which was very comfortable. Now we live on the edge - for real! We have seen more life-change on the edge than we ever saw in our comfort.

In reality, we said goodbye to all the things that were keeping us from living the life God created for us. Sometimes I miss some of those things… but not for long. As challenging as the journey has been, the hundreds of faces who’s lives have been changed are worth it. In that process, my life has changed as well - I see things I never saw before, and live dreams I only contemplated before.

Published

Byron Bledsoe

on September 17, 2008

in Barbaric Grace, C3 Church, Church, Faith, Friends, Future, Leadership, Life, Past, Random, Thoughts, Vision, church leadership, finances, love, pastors, questions and transitioning church

. 3 Comments

Invitation to Life

If you’re a part of the C3 movement, this is for you (if you’re part of another church, then do this for your church - if you can’t, find a church where you can).

You know it’s our culture to love God and love others - to go after people who are far from God. This Sunday we’re finishing our “Bodacious ’80’s” series. The message this week is one that every single person we know needs to hear. Would you purpose to invite as many people as possible, between now and Saturday night, to come to C3 Sunday morning.

I’m not talking about your friend who goes to another church… I’m talking about your friends who don’t go (or you don’t know if they go). It’s simple - “Hey, you’ve got to come check out my church this weekend. I think you’ll love it - it’s not like anything you’ve seen or heard of before.“ That’s it. Just a simple invitation. If they ask questions, answer them. Then let them know you’ll meet them in front of the theaters, or in the lobby -wherever they’re comfortable with.

There are people who you and I know that we’ve prayed for, thought about, talked to some - this is the week to get them there. Invest and invite - it makes a difference because it changes a life.

Published

Byron Bledsoe

on September 10, 2008

in C3 Church, Church, Faith, Friends, Future, Life, Past, Random, Sunday, Thoughts, Vision and timeless

. 0 Comments

One Thing That Will Kill Potential

If there’s one thing that often drives the heart of a pastor or church planter it’s potential. The potential to see God change lives, to see a movement that impacts a region and maybe even beyond, the potential to develop leaders, the potential for personal growth in leading. Potential is the track that vision and dreams run on.

So, often in church life pastors will go to new churches or areas because of the “potential.” There’s a dream and passion to see God do something big, to experience a huge movement that changes thousands of lives. While potential is important, I believe there’s often something we overlook when we’re caught up in the potential of a possibility.

Potential can never overcome structure. That’s it. Potential is vital, but a healthy structure is essential. You can have all the potential in the world, but if the structure plays against it, structure will always win. There are tons of churches whose structure is the primary thing keeping them from reaching the next level. Having traveled for years and been in hundreds of churches, I saw this over and over again. I met countless pastors and staff members who were incredible men and women - very able leaders, yet the structure they inherited kept them from doing the very thing they were expected to do: lead. Every church has one of the following scenarios when it comes to organizational leadership:

Effective people in a bad structure.
Ineffective people in a good structure.
Effective people in a good structure.

Only one of these scenarios will allow for the maximum potential to be reached. When we transitioned and launched C3 Church, we were determined to have a structure that would allow the church to be the church by allowing the pastors to be the pastors. It’s ridiculous when people who are not called to full-time ministry think they’re experts on how to run a church. Just because you may have great life experiences, love God, have a business mind, and believe in missions doesn’t mean you know jack about leading a church! Pastors, you need to have a structure that allows you to deal quickly, efficiently and effectively with the occasional “x-purts” (those who feel their God’s gift to church leadership but function in ignorance).

If you’re a pastor or you’re considering planting a church, remember potential will not overcome structure. Set up a Biblical style of leadership which will implement a healthy structure and you’ll be able to relentlessly and passionately pursue God’s vision for your movement, and capturing potential will become your DNA.

Published

Byron Bledsoe

on September 8, 2008

in C3 Church, Church, Faith, Future, Leadership, Life Lessons, Past, Random, Thoughts, Vision, church leadership, pastors and transitioning church

. 4 Comments

Danger Zone

In our C3 planning meetings Monday one of the things we talked about is something that I’ve continued to process. It’s a danger zone that any church can find itself in if we’re not both intentional and strategic (many churches are intentional without being also strategic - intentionality will lead to incremental and occasional growth, but when strategy is combined it will lead to crazy growth).

1. The danger of becoming Institutional. Any church, regardless of style, will be naturally drawn overtime to turn inward and shift toward an institutional mindset. We have to fight this tendency by staying barbaric in our pursuit of the vision. We have to make sure what we’re doing flows from a movement, not toward stagnancy.

2. The danger of being distracted by the novelty. While we are intentionally creative and plan engaging services, we must remember that only God can change lives. Yes we need to be prepared and ready, but the primary focus is not on the novelty of what we’re doing, but on the Spirit of God who can and does change lives. We’re in Central Florida and can’t outdo Disney, nor do we attempt to. Our passion is not to have something cool in the service, our passion is to see lives changed, so we communicate as creatively as possible.

3. The danger of mimicking a model rather than implementing the best ideas and practices for our movement. So many newer churches lack authenticity because of their pursuit to be like someone else. We need to always be learning from others while yearning for God to show us what our flow and purpose is.

4. The danger of chasing every opportunity. This one is difficult for me. If I’m not careful, my desire to reach as many people as possible can cause me to make decisions that fragment and distract us. As we grow it becomes easier to think “we can absorb that” and we begin to invest resources and time in things we’re not ready for yet. We must be true to the C3 Reality and keep a laser focus on our core strategies.

5. The danger of compromising because of our eagerness to reach people. If we ever have someone say, “I’ll join your church and give major bling as long as you do this ministry“. The temptation will be to rationalize how those funds could be used, so why not? No. There’s too much at stake and we will not prostitute the vision God’s given us for C3. Don’t misunderstand, we’ll take your bling, but not with strings attached - only God is God and he sets the vision. We said “Bye-Bye-Bye” to people who thought their money mattered more than reaching people, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

6. The danger to become entrenched in our way of doing it. We can become just as “traditional” as the traditional church. We can hold to what has worked to get us here and our practices can become sacred. We must always be open to and implementing change. We cannot lose the entrepreneurial spirit that got us here or we won’t get there. We must always be uncomfortable.

At C3 we’re always mindful of these things. We moved “right where YOU are” not to become what we were before, but to intentionally and strategically be a part of your life. It’s our desire to be right where you are in life with engaging and relevant worship experiences that translate to every day of our lives.

I can’t wait for Sunday - get people there!

Published

Byron Bledsoe

on August 28, 2008