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

Who Will Be "The Pastor" in WR?

Let's start here - New City Church views "Pastor" as the equivalent of "Elder."

No one is given the title "Pastor" or "Minister" unless he is an "Elder." All Elders are Pastors, and as New City is an Elder Led body, we have a plurality of Elders.

Within the Elder/Pastor structure we have and will have different designations depending on the Pastor's specific role. For example - "Missional Communities Pastor." This Pastor is responsible for overseeing, ministering and leading our MCs. A Children's Pastor would be an Elder who oversees ministry to children... you get the idea.

Currently, I serve as the "Lead Pastor" of New City Church downtown. Ryan Lyons serves as the Lead Pastor of New City Church milledgevile. Patrick McConnell serves as our third Elder at New City Church downtown, and like Ryan and myself - wears a number of hats, including Warner Robins MC Pastor. Patrick oversees the Missional Communities in Warner Robins. With the WR plant, we are adding an Elder Designation - "Campus Pastor". Patrick will continue to oversee the MCs in WR and will take on the responsibility of General oversight of the new plant in its day-day functions (he will be the "Go To" guy in WR). NCCwr will not have a "Lead Pastor" initially. We will have a Campus Pastor and "Teaching Pastors". The Teaching Pastors being, Myself, Ryan Lyons, and Patrick McConnell. We will alternate teaching at the new campus on Sunday nights. The WR campus then will not have 1 pastor but 3! And it will continue to function this way until the Lead Pastor emerges that God has for this campus.