Sometimes Subtraction is really Multiplication

Ten months ago, New City Church downtown was a single campus, not quite three years old. We seemed to finally be pushing to or through the 200 mark in regular attendance (one of the growth barriers in church world). A month later we sent out around 25 regular attendees to launch New City Church Milledgeville.

Rebounding growth began slowly... until late this summer we were again pushing through the 200 barrier with some consistency. Then came August 14, 2011 when at age of 3 years and 8 months we sent out 50 regular attending, hard working, giving, people who are sold out on the mission and vision of New City Church to plant New City Church Warner Robins...

So if we looked at the numbers of subtraction (after all we are subtracting!) we would see:

200-25 = 175 -50 = 125... all in the span of 9 months...

But sometimes Subtraction is really Multiplication!

With most of our Mercer University crowd not back yet, downtown was at 170 yesterday.

The new Warner Robins campus was at 125 (send out 50, get 125?!?!)

Milledgeville on move in weekend ExPlOdED! 380

Let's see... 170 + 125 + 380 = 675

By subtracting 75, we have almost tripled in attendance... which means we have almost tripled in influence, in opportunity, and in the number of potential missionaries that we can equip to advance the Kingdom! Incredible.

I am about #s - it is true - in that numbers represent people, and I love to see people transformed by Jesus through the gospel! And the more people I see being transformed by his radical love and work, the more excited I get.

I am amazed at the work that God is doing in our midst. I give him all of the credit (glory) for what is happening in and through New City Church... and I am enjoying the ride!

Our MC is bigger than some churches!

New City Church's attendance for it's launch in January 2008 was 100 people. Of that 100, we probably had a strong core of about 50 - including children! And yes, our children were strong, attending weekly and being involved in most everything that we did.

A month ago we started a new Missional Community. I am co-leading with a couple - Amy and Justin Weaver. Last night we met and with several of our core folks absent we had another packed house with more first timers - exciting! The problem is, the MC is already too big! Though we can all squeeze into the house (as long as some people don't make that night and it isn't raining so the younger crowd can run and play outside), there is no way that we can get to know one another well, have good, full, gospel discussion, and there is no room to grow - hard to be missional when there isn't room for new-comers.

Our new MC is bigger than the core that planted New City Church!

That is AMAZING - I would never have imagined that many people right from the start. AND we have 9 other MCs!

It is exciting - not just because of the numbers, but because it is evident in our discussions that Gospel transformation is happening... Jesus is being worshiped and followed.

It is overwhelming - we need to add at least 2 more MCs TODAY, and we aren't ready.

Wow.

What Is a Missional Community?

What Is a Missional Community?
by Jeff Vanderstelt / original article found on the desiringgod.org site

Family
First of all, a missional community is a group of believers who live and experience life together like a family. They see God as their Father because of their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ and the new regeneration brought about by the Holy Spirit. This means they have and know of a divine love that leads them to love one another as brothers and sisters. They treat one another as children of God deeply loved by the Father in everything — sharing their money, time, resources, needs, hurts, successes, etc. They know each other well. This knowledge includes knowing each other’s stories and having familiarity with one another’s strengths and struggles in regards to belief in the gospel and it’s application to all of life (John 1:11-13; Romans 12:10-16; Ephesians 5:1-2).

Missionaries
God’s family is also sent like the Son by the Spirit to proclaim the good news of the kingdom — the gospel — and fulfill the commission of Jesus. A missional community is more than a bible study or a small group that cares for other believers. A missional community is made up of Spirit-led and Spirit-filled people who radically reorient their lives together for the mission of making disciples of a particular people and place where there is a gospel gap (no consistent gospel witness). This means people’s schedule, resources and decisions are now collectively built around reaching people together (Matthew 3:16-4:1;John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 13:2).

Servants
Jesus is Lord and we are his Servants. A missional community serves those around them as though they are serving Jesus. In doing so, they give a foretaste of what life will be like under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Living as servants to the King who serve others as he served presents a tangible witness to Jesus’ kingdom and the power of the gospel to change lives. A missional community serves in such a way that it demands a Gospel explanation — lives that cannot be explained in any other way than by the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus (Matthew 20:25-28; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16).

Disciples
We are all learners of Jesus our rabbi who has given us his Spirit to teach us all that is true about Jesus and enable us to live out his commands. Jesus commanded us to make disciples who believe the gospel, are established in a new identity and are able to obey all of his commands (Matthew 28:19-20).

The missional community is the best context in which this can happen. Disciples are made and developed:
1. through life on life, where there is visibility and accessibility
2. in community, where they can practice the one anothers, and
3. on mission where they learn how to proclaim the gospel and make disciples.
Jeff Vanderstelt is a pastor at Soma Communities, an Acts 29 church in Tacoma, WA. He coaches and trains church planters, serves on the Board of Acts 29, and leads the Soma movement in vision and teaching.

*The original article can be found here, on the Desiring god site.

Bittersweet Day - Sending Out 50 to plant a new campus

Today is a bittersweet day... today is the last day downtown for around 50 people who will launch New City Church Warner Robins next Sunday night.

It is bitter because we love this group and watching it grow has been amazing. They have worked hard, given much, and served well in a city that isn't their home. They will be greatly missed.

It is sweet because so many in this group GET IT. They love their city and want to see the gospel advance and transform lives, and they know that the best way to see that happen is not by gathering in Macon, but by gathering in their own city. It is sweet because they are leading this charge!

I am thankful to be a part of this work that God is doing. I am excited about the tremendous potential that lies before us as we follow Jesus - who has gone before us and prepared for this day!

New City Church warner robins

Launching August 14, 2011

6:00 pm @ The River Church / 2440 Hwy 127, Kathleen