Growing Pains

With growth comes unexpected challenges. New City leadership has been looking at the Capitol Theater's seating for a few weeks - trying to figure out how many we can seat, how we can make the upper balcony seats more usable, do we need to add video monitors... And it seems at our current rate of growth we could stretch one service gathering until Fall of 2010. We would need to add video monitors upstairs for the upper rows, add a 2nd coffee gathering area in the unused upstairs dining - but it would work.
Then came word from our nursery folks...
The Green Room - used for our birth through 2s is becoming unsafe for our infants. The toddlers are a little too mobile for the infants and the growing numbers of both groups is making it difficult to give good attention to both groups in the same room.
Then came a request from our 3 thru 6 year old area - our 5 and 6 year olds need to be split from our 3 and 4 year olds...
OK - so we need to split the nursery for safety reasons - a priority. We need to split our 3-6ers so that the older kids can be better taught - lower priority.
Problem:
The theater only offers the Green Room - in use, and 2 open dining areas (too loud for toddlers and older).
Reality:
We will outgrow the theater quickly - not because of theater seating, but because we are reaching young, reproductive families!
Solution:
For now we will move infants to the upstairs dining area - purchase a few items, set up a new area and we will be OK - for now. BUT not for long. This is only a temporary solution to a growing (and great) problem.

Something Crazy

We needed space for our New City band to practice, and we needed a place to gather for teaching/meetings and I needed an office. A couple of us talked about our needs and our mission in the city - Gospel Transformation. I wish I could tell you how smart we were as we laid out an incredible plan on how to use our space for the mission - but I can't. We knew that we wanted the space to be for the good of the city, and we wanted it to be a place where people from all over middle Georgia gathered - to see art or to hear really good music. So we proceeded - without a plan. Piece by piece it quickly came together - paint colors, carpet, stage, a sound system, sound/art panels, lighting, tables and chairs... and a name - the 567 cafe.
And Something Crazy happened.
People started coming. Art began rotating monthly. Musicians started asking to play here. And I sit today - a year later - in utter amazement. I cannot tell you the number of conversations about Jesus that I have had with patrons, artists, and musicians from all over the country. Stunned. This is crazy. This weekend we should have 2 packed nights of incredible music and opportunities to meet a ton of new people.
Take a minute to check out some of the talent that will be playing at my office:

This Saturday - Eleisha Eagle




June 5 - Ken Will Morton




August 1 - Joy Whitlock

Salt Thoughts

I have been thinking all week about salt. Of the million plus thing I could think about salt, I have primarily thought about just how it is that salt is effective. In order for salt to be effective (in preserving or in seasoning) it has to be applied to the thing seasoned or preserved. When you preserve meat with salt, the salt is rubbed all over and into the meat. The salt penetrates the meat. That is the only way it can be effective.
When you season with salt, say in a big pot of beans, the salt goes into the water and the salty water cooks the beans. So, the salt via the water, surrounds and penetrates the beans. Otherwise it wouldn't be effective.
In either case, it isn't enough for the salt to be near. It has to cover, surround - penetrate. The salt has to leave its container and come into contact with what it is seasoning or preserving. Leave it in the shaker and it is useless. Spill it near but not on and you have done nothing.

If we (followers of Christ) are the salt of the earth, then do these images of preserving and seasoning not apply to us? How can we act as the salt of the earth (to season and preserve) if we separate ourselves from the thing that needs salt?

In order for the Gospel to penetrate our culture and transform our city, it must be seen and heard in our culture and city. The only way that it can be seen and heard in our culture and city is if WE take it there. And like salt, we are not effective carriers of the gospel by simply being 'near' our culture/city; it does no good for us to stay in the safety and comfort of our 'shaker'. Like salt we have to be poured out and mixed up with those who need saltiness.

Rather than fleeing - or even staying distant from those who live lives apart from the Gospel - we are called to mix it up with them! To be In the world, but not Of the world. I know that scares some religious folks who thinks that they must protect themselves from all of cultures ills - RELAX - Jesus has got your back - He is interceding on your behalf! In fact, here is his prayer for you in John 17:15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. Do you think that the Father hears the Son? Do you think that He is able? Yes? Then get out of the shaker and mix it up! Live for the sake of the gospel!

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (Matthew 5:23)

Missional Living - Move to the City

What is Missional Living?

Missional: In its simplest form, the term missional is the noun “missionary” adapted into an adjective.
For example, an “adversary” is your enemy. So, someone who is “adversarial” acts like your enemy.
A church or a follower of Christ who is viewed as missional acts like a missionary. They do the things that missionaries do…
Ed Stetzer

Missional living then is living like a missionary. For most 'churched' people the word missionary brings to mind places like Africa, China, or the jungles of South America. That image is true of some missionaries, but not all. The truth is that ALL believers are called to be missionaries (Matthew 28:18ff, Acts 1:8, I Peter 2:9 - to name a few). Some are called to far away jungles, but most are called to be missionaries right where they are - to their family, their friends, their neighbors, their co-workers, their city.

Most of New City's body is made up of suburbanites, some living as far away as 25 minutes. Being missional for the vast majority of our body will likely mean living as missionaries in their existing suburban context. HOWEVER, as a church planted In the City For the City, there is no doubt in my mind that God is calling many of you to invest as missionaries in the city. Just as a missionary to China almost certainly LIVES in China, or a missionary to the jungles of South America moves to the jungles of South America, this means that many of you are being called to move to your mission field and live as missionaries among perhaps a different people, or culture. Quite simply - God is urging and will urge our people to be the incarnational gospel of Jesus Christ IN our city.

The Saturnas have moved to a loft in the city to be the gospel downtown. The McConnells just closed on a downtown home and will soon be living in their city. The Hinsons have made an offer on a downtown home and are looking to soon be in the heart of the city. We are hoping that our home will soon sell so that we can join these and others in living missionally in our city.

New City is here to see the Gospel transform everything in our reach - ourselves, our church, our city and the world.

Join us?

With and For Our City

Go Green!  Regatta and River Walk Festival

One of the joys of planting New City Church is the amazing opportunities we have to be an influence in our city.  I say with praise to God alone that I have never seen anything like this.  I have never even heard of anything like this!

To raise awareness of the beautiful resource that we have in the Ocmulgee River as well as to raise awareness and support for our city's River Walk, today was the First Annual Go Green Regatta and River Walk Festival.  As the event was coming together, New City had an opportunity to help out by lining up all of the music for the festival.  We took it.  

High Energy Systems provided an incredible sound set up for us that made life simple for all of our musicians and put out perfect sound along the River!  We easily lined up musicians to cover 8 sets - every musician was GREAT!  We used some of our own - Beth Hyde, and one of our New City Bands - the other 6 slots were old friends and several new friends we have met from the city!  One Bad Catholic played, along with Jared Wright (pictured), Dan Darden, Anny Stanley, Getrude's Mojo, and Tripp Spears.  A great day!

Thanks to all who served (Russell, Bryan, Rich, JD) and all who performed!  You made today a great celebration, and a great day for us to be with and for our city!

Ride Views - The Bibb Theater

The Bibb is located on Third Street near Poplar. The Bibb came to life in the 50's when an old building was refitted as a theater. The theater seated 750 with its floor and balcony. The theater ran until the 70's when it was closed. The Bibb is now a vacant building and is for sale. It is basically a shell. The balcony and old balcony seating remains. The main floor rotted out and with it all of the original seating was lost. Still a cool old theater.

Merciless Mercy - No Mercy FOR Our City (Part 2)

Downtown Macon is a city struggling for renewal. There is a constant push to draw residents, businesses, restaurants, shops, stores... There is equally a great push to attract shoppers and diners. The future of a healthy, vibrant city depends on the success drawing new people to the city-center.

There seems to be somewhat of a cycle to success - New Shoppers support New Businesses support New Jobs support New Residents support New Shoppers support New Businesses...

Each part in the cycle is necessary. A failure in any one area breaks the cycle and makes success difficult if not nearly impossible.

Seeing, meeting, getting to know some of the business owners downtown - men and women, young and old who are taking a risk and investing themselves, their family, and all that they have into our downtown - leads me to greatly desire their business success. They have much at stake. And they are a crucial piece in the cycle of downtown success. In order for their business to succeed they need consumers to stop in and shop or dine. They need new residents downtown as well - new residents will shop and dine and will bring their friends from places outside of the city to dine and shop as well.

One of the greatest deterrents to the cycle of success for downtown Macon is often encouraged by our attempts at mercy IN our city (part 1 Merciless Mercy). Our attempts at mercy may be creating and supporting a system of dependence that proves to be merciless both IN our city and merciless FOR our city. The system I am referring to provides daily meals, clothing, and money for individuals who do not work and often spend their days and nights drinking and using drugs and who may (often by choice) live on the streets, in vacant buildings, or in tents around the city.

Many if not most of the people living in this system of dependence rely on panhandling to acquire money for drugs and alcohol. This brings them to the city-center where they spend their day approaching consumers and workers begging for money. I have watched as panhandlers have scared downtown visitors, I have seen and heard panhandlers scream and curse at those who do not give them money, and I have seen visitors afraid to get out of their vehicle as a panhandler stood at their door and even knocked on their window.

Without a home or business downtown, these vagrants use alleys and doorways as their bathroom. It is not unusual to see them urinating or to see and certainly smell their defecation. The aroma blows down and out of most of the downtown alleys, spilling onto the sidewalks and into the streets.

So - the cycle is broken. Shoppers, diners, businesses, and residents go to places that do not have panhandlers and do not smell like a port-a-john. And with the break comes a halt to downtown growth and transformation. I believe that we should extend mercy IN our city, however, we should NOT extend mercy IN our city to the exclusion of mercy FOR our city. The new deli on the corner is a huge investment by the owner and his family - he works countless hours and has spent a great deal of money. He is investing his life. Should we not extend mercy to him? Should we not care that his investment is at risk because of vagrants who scare or run off his customers?

We should consider the good of the city as we seek to merciful in the city.

We should question whether our mercy in the city is truly mercy - or is it creating a merciless system of dependence?

If our created system of dependence is wrecking the cycle of transformation that leads to more businesses, more shoppers, and more JOBS for those who are willing to work, is that really mercy? and is it even the greatest mercy for those we are seeking to help?

So how then can we be truly merciful IN our city and show mercy FOR our city?
1) Don't give blindly - take time to get to know the people you wish to be merciful to. They have a name and a story. They have perceived needs, but deeper rooted is their real need.
2) Give to agencies that are doing a good job of mercy ministry. In Macon that includes Loaves and Fishes, the Salvation Army, and the Rescue Mission. These agencies are working to not only feed and clothe, but to find jobs, provide short term and long term housing, connect needy people to addiction/recovery facilities, connect needy with government agencies for food and housing and medical treatment.
3) Volunteer your time to serve in these agencies

4) Support downtown restaurants and businesses

5) Move your business downtown

6) Live downtown (yes - our home is for sale, so that we can live, work, and play downtown - showing Mercy IN and FOR our city)

Mercy IN our city and mercy FOR our city

Merciless Mercy - Mercy IN Our City? (Part 1 )

Many times in our effort to love and show mercy in our city, we are actually enabling people to live slothful, drunken, drug abusing lives.  We enable a dangerous and destructive lifestyle.  Often our efforts of mercy in the city actually serve to strengthen the bondage of the ones we are trying to be merciful to.  Feeding and giving money may seem to be merciful on the surface, but sometimes they are actually merciless.  By ensuring regular meals and providing money we enable a continuation of an unhealthy and sometimes deadly lifestyle.  

But that is not all.

When we make this lifestyle easy to maintain - 2 to 3 meals a day and money to purchase drugs and alcohol without the responsibility of work - we actually foster a system of living that draws others in.  So, rather than eradicating problems, we multiply problems.  Rather than seeing a decrease in 'homelessness' we see an increase.  Rather than seeing fewer addicts, we see more.  In the end, our mercy is often not merciful at all!

Some might argue that the gospel is all about unconditional love, and that our mercy in the city is simply an expression of that unconditional love.  But I would ask - Does the gospel keep us in bondage or set us free from bondage?  (How is your mercy setting people free from bondage?)  Does the gospel enable us to continue in sin or call us to 'go and sin no more'?  (Do you call people to change in your mercy ministry?)  Does the gospel lead to death, or to life?  (Often our attempts of mercy say, 'Here is food, and clothing, and money - go and continue in your addiction - continue in your abuse - continue on this road of destruction and death.')

So how then can we be truly merciful in our city?

1) Don't give blindly - take time to get to know the people you wish to be merciful to.  They have a name and a story.  They have perceived needs, but deeper rooted is their real need.

2) Give to agencies that are doing a good job of mercy ministry.  In Macon that includes Loaves and Fishes, the Salvation Army, and the Rescue Mission.  These agencies are working to not only feed and clothe, but to find jobs, provide short term and long term housing, connect needy people to addiction/recovery facilities, connect needy with government agencies for food and housing and medical treatment.

3) Volunteer your time to serve in these agencies

There are certainly many more ways to help - my hope is that we might consider how merciful our mercy ministries truly are!

Part 2:  No Mercy FOR Our City

Ride Views

This is a shot from the Poplar Street tunnel. I am not a photographer and my camera is my phone! Just thought I would share some of my ride views from around our city. It is my invitation for you to check out downtown Macon - maybe with new eyes.