Reflections From Sunday Evening

I'm still pretty jazzed over the "Change Without Compromise" conference I attended this week. Brad Powell has led Northridge Church through a period of transition that has produced a truly kingdom building place. There was a lot of information but what really stands out is how we experienced the presence of God in a conference setting. There were signs of changed lives everywhere you turned. The key to this church's (now the 15th largest in America) growth may be attributed to people experiencing the transforming grace of Jesus Christ and transitioning the church to the dynamic Christ-centered place it is today.

Early on they identified some principles that anyone would be wise to consider. They identified ...

• Commitment to Tradition over Truth;
• Commitment to the Past instead of the Present;
• Commitment to Defense over Offense;
• Commitment to Duty over Desire;
• Commitment to Place over People;
• Commitment to Structure over Mission; and
• Commitment to Talk over Power.

Then they set out to correct these things. - and obviously have done so. We could obviously think through each of these (and probably will in coming sermons!).

We also heard about developing a plan for transitioning a church. They begin by laying a foundation that is descriptive of what your church is. Your "Vision" defines you; Your "Purpose" directs you; Your "Values" drive you. These are all principles that come from God as revealed in Scripture. The other important principle is "Strategy" which designs how you operate.

I invite you to think about these. I'm sure the concepts will show up in the days ahead.

The powerful part of the event rests in having an opportunity to find myself fully in God's presence. I guarantee you this is a vital part of what has literally transformed Northridge Church. When one person and then another and another and another experience the transforming power of God it spreads through the church. This creates the kind of momentum in a church that brings more people with a sense of expectancy. There is a sense that God is here and He may well step directly into my life today!

I pray to be able to share this spirit with you. It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too.