Thank you to all that have been reading my blog this week and for the links to the posts about the different cultures we are trying to create at Compass Point.  There are two more cultures that I will post about next week.  However, I wanted to take a break from the series to share some things that I’m currently praying about.  My hope is that you will add them to your prayer list also.

1. God will constantly disturb the people of Compass Point. Every week we seem to have more and more guests trying Compass Point out for the first time.  Many have had little or no experience with church.  If we ever get used to that or take it for granted…we are done.  I never want us to get comfortable as a church…living off our past accomplishments…and looking toward our own needs.  My prayer is that God will constantly shake us up…disturb our lives…make us aware of people that need to hear the Gospel.

2. God will raise up more folks that are passionate about seeing children come to know Jesus. A little over 30% of our Sunday attendance is children.  We are constantly having to rethink how we schedule, provide space and stretch  limited resources for our children’s ministry.  It’s one of the great aspects of God blessing us with so many kids.  However, what we need more than resources and space…is people that absolutely LOVE to see children come to know Christ.  A large percentage of our children have no Christian roots at home and are hearing about Jesus for the very first time in their lives.  The potential harvest is great…but the passionate laborers are few.

3. Revival will sweep across Polk County. The Lakeland/Polk County area has so many great churches…Compass Point is just one of them.  This area also has over 250,000 that do not attend church ANYWHERE on Sundays.  The thing I spiritually long for the most is to see a true moving of God break out in Polk County…that there would be so many converts that we’d have to launch 100 new churches just to keep up.  That would be such an incredible thing to be a part of.

4. The pastors, partners, volunteers and leaders of Compass Point Church. Every month we see people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior for the first time.  While it is a privilege and honor to be a part of what God is doing in Lakeland…it also means we are on Satan’s “hit list”.  Many of our pastors, leaders and volunteers face spiritual battles daily because of their association with Compass Point.  Some of the those attacks can be pretty devastating and difficult.  I pray daily…by name…for those that step up at Compass Point to help us carry out our vision…they are my comrades in arms.

5. Lost people.  The last thing I want to hear before I leave this Earth is the sound of someone praying to ask Christ into their heart.  It is such a sweet sound…the sound of true worship.  Each morning I start the day by praying that God will allow me to hear that sound before the day is over.  My prayer is that He will let me come in contact with someone that doesn’t know Him so I can share the Gospel.  Then I spend the day expecting…and looking…for that person.

At Compass Point we embrace the culture of simplicity.  T0o many times people make following Christ and being a part of church too complicated.  As a church that is called to reach people that gave up on God…and the church…Compass Point can’t afford to jump on every cultural bandwagon that comes down the pike.  It is for this reason that we’ve adapted a pretty simple philosophy when it comes to ministry and programming at Compass Point. The following is what we do…they are the only things we do.

Sunday Services - This is where the rubber meets the road for us.  Our greatest amount of unchurched people show up to our Sunday services.  We see the most amount of people accept Christ in our Sunday services.  The majority of those that decide to dive deeper into discipleship make that decision in our Sunday services.  The crux of the spiritual and emotional momentum that we see at Compass Point comes through the Sunday services.  It is for these reasons that we pull out all of the stops for Sunday services at Compass Point.  We work hard to create an atmosphere where people can hear from God on Sundays.  We work hard to make sure that people that are not familiar with church feel comfortable when they show up on Sundays.  We work hard to make sure our ministry to children is done with excellence on Sundays.  Mainly we work hard to make sure that Gospel of Jesus Christ is clearly presented on Sundays.

Bible Studies - We don’t do home groups or life groups.  We found out that in Lakeland people far from God don’t want to go to some stranger’s house and talk about their purpose in life.  What we did find was that people are hungry for the Truth found only in God’s Word.  Therefore our main form of discipleship training is through our Sunday night Bible studies.  We conduct these in a semester based format at the North Lakeland YMCA and provide childcare.  Some of them are closed studies that do not allow people to join after they have started…others are open to whoever and whenever they decide to attend.  They last an hour and a half and go for six to eight weeks.  There is usually a two to three week break in between each semester.  Except for our “basics of Christianity” Foundations class…we rarely offer the same class twice.

Serving - I mentioned this yesterday.  The way in which we begin the discipleship process and help people get to know others at Compass Point is through volunteering with our ministry teams.  We don’t have supper clubs, we don’t have scrapbooking groups, we don’t have home groups, we don’t create social mixers in order to help people get to know one another.  We have volunteering.  We have found that when folks get involved in carrying out the mission of Compass Point that they begin to meet others, get plugged in, buy into where God is calling us as a church, take ownership in the vision of Compass Point and establish friendships with others.

Relational Outreach – Almost 90% of the people that come to Compass Point for the first time do so because someone invited them.  We almost never do any kind of marketing.  Rarely do we invest in community events.  We almost never spend money in letting people know we exist as a church.  We’ve actually asked our local paper NOT to run stories about Compass Point.  We teach our people…and provide tools for our folks…to invite their friends and loved ones to Compass Point.  We have found that if a person that is far from God is invited to Compass Point by a friend…they almost always stick…and come to know Jesus.

That’s it…that’s all we do (other than develop leaders).  I’m pretty sure this is all we’ll do even if Compass Point gets larger as a church.

Every hour of every day people are dying without Jesus…and going to Hell.  At Compass Point we remind our folks of that each time we meet.  We want to create a culture of urgency to reach people far from God with the message of Jesus Christ.  We want to take those that have accepted Christ and help disciple them into mature followers of Christ.  We want Compass Point folks to know that time is wasting and that every person they meet…might need to meet Jesus.  It is urgent that people live each day intentionally looking for opportunities to talk to others about Christ, to be a witness with the way they conduct their lives and to invite people to church.  We emphasize that nothing they can do in society, in their jobs, in academic life, in their goals, in their plans…can ever top the importance of reaching people for Christ.  Compass Point needs to live in a constant urgency that people need to hear…and see…the Gospel in everything we do…as a church…and as individuals.

As Christians it is easy to get hung up on ourselves.  Instead of asking God about who we can reach for His kingdom we begin to ask Him questions about our own selfish desires.  What about my needs God?  What about my wants?  God, what about my schedule? What about my dreams? What about my family Lord?  What about my finances?  Me…me…me…I…I…I.  Christ was pretty hard on His Disciples when it came to this area.  Jesus basically told them in Mark 10:35-45 that they needed to be servants to God and others…that the first must be last…and He displayed that daily.

At Compass Point we try hard to create a culture of servanthood…that it is better to give than receive.  This is why we put so much focus on our ministry teams.  Every week we encourage people to get involved greeting our guests, setting up the production, making coffee, running the worship computers, leading our children or investing in those far from God.  Our ministry teams are the only place we intentionally try to create community.  It is where friendship are built and relationship are developed.  It is also where we find our potential “next level” leaders.  Mainly it is our way of carrying out one of the most important concepts in God’s Word…we are here not for ourselves…we are here to be servants to God and others.

Most of our teams ask their members to serve several times a month.  We have found that the more they serve on the team…the more they make friends at Compass Point and get plugged in for the long haul.  Some of our team or more geared for this than others.  A few of our teams are structured so that there members get to be in the worship service every Sunday like our Set Up Team and Greeting Team.  We schedule them to serve two to three Sundays a month. Others like our Kids Team don’t have the option of being in the worship so we try to schedule them to serve only once or twice a month.

Our scheduling goal of these teams only focuses on giving people the chance to live out the Biblical principles of servanthood and Christian community.  Burnout is really something we ask our team leaders to ignore when scheduling.  The reason is…in 20 years of ministry I have discovered that people using the “burnout” excuse do so because:

1. They have become so turned inward and selfish that they have forgotten Christ’s mandate to serve others.
2. They have added so much non-church crap to their lives (work, school, playing, events, hobbies, schedule, etc.) that the Church and God is getting the shaft.

Our goal at Compass Point is to create disciples.  With that goal in mind we work hard to create a culture where people begin to understand that following Christ means denying themselves…so they can serve God and others.

Over the years one of the most frequent questions I have received is, “What are the expectations for Compass Point volunteers and team leaders?”  I thought I would devote a blog post to answer that question. Thanks to Michael Lukaszewski and the folks at Oakleaf Church for the help in developing these.

1. We need volunteers that are committed to reaching people far from God with he message of Christ and fulfilling the vision of Compass Point Church.
2. We need volunteers who can set aside their egos.  At Compass Point it’s about serving others…not entitlement, personal agendas or being cool.
3. We need volunteers to remember their job. On Sundays it’s not about talking to your friends, catching up on the latest gossip or sharing your personal issues with a pastor.  It’s about serving others and making guests feel welcome and at home at Compass Point.
4. We need volunteers to be at Compass Point consistently.   You can’t be out two Sundays of every month and expect to be used…you are missing too much training, experience and vision casting to be a part of what God has called Compass Point to do.
5. We need volunteers to give their best.  This is God’s Church…the one thing He said He would build His Kingdom on. This is serious…people discover Jesus almost weekly at Compass Point and your best effort is needed to continue that.
6. We need volunteers to communicate with us regularly.  If you are going to be out, have an idea to better implement the vision of Compass Point or have an emergency…communicate with us or your team leader.  The best way to communicate at Compass Point is by email or by calling the church office.
7. We need volunteers to uphold Biblical principles in their everyday life. This is the most important expectation…we are here as a church to lead people to Christ.  That just doesn’t happen on Sundays…but every day of the week through your example as a follower of Christ.

To all of those men and women that served...and are serving...in our armed forces...thank you!

]]> http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/thank-you-5/feed/ 0 Chris Elrod World War II veterans now residing in Lakeland, Florida. http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/unleash-2010/ http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/unleash-2010/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:20:53 +0000 Chris Elrod http://pastorelrod.wordpress.com/?p=1660 ]]>

Last year several Compass Point leaders had a chance to travel to Anderson, South Carolina for the Unleash Conference at NewSpring Church.  Led by Senior Pastor Perry Noble, God is doing an amazing thing there and everyone of us that went to the conference came back energized, full of vision and experienced a renewed sense of urgency to reach people far from God in Lakeland, Florida.  This year I want to make the Unleash Conference (March 3-5, 2010) available to all of our leaders and volunteers…in fact Compass Point is going to cover the travel costs and a portion of the meals to make it more affordable for everyone.  The total cost per person is $150 which covers travel, lodging, breakfast & lunch each day, materials and all the fun of hanging out with other Compass Point folks.

This is what I need you to do if you want to go:

1. Go here to see detailed information about our trip.
3. When you’re done, go here to register (you only need $50 right now  to hold your place)
4. Go ask your boss for Wednesday, March 3rd through Friday, March 5th off.
5. Get ready for a life-changing experience.

Space is limited to several dozen people, so it’s first come first served.  The trip up will be a blast, the main sessions will challenge  you in mighty ways and the breakout classes will be give you practical tools for carrying out the vision God has given us as a church.  Don’t delay in registering or for asking for your time off from work.

I promise you that Unleash 2010 will be an experience that will grow your vision, spiritual life and relationships with others at Compass Point.  Newspring is an example of what God can do with a church who will stop at nothing to reach people far from God with the message and hope of Jesus Christ.  Their calling and vision is contagious…Unleash 2010 will rock your world beyond belief!!!

Hey Compass Point leaders and volunteers….watch the video below and then check out my blog tomorrow for a BIG announcement.  Mobile phone users can watch the video by clicking here.

Over the last two days I talked about rogue males and the ongoing consequences of their actions.  Today I want to finish this series of posts by talking about how not to be a rogue male.

Men that defy the purpose that God created them for (to lead their family in a Godly manner) don’t really plan on becoming a rogue male.  Then again…they don’t plan for it NOT to happen.  Men just don’t walk down the street and then accidently fall naked into an attractive woman.  It is a “frog-in-the-kettle” gradually letting down you guard kind of thing.  The only known way to stop a rogue male from happening…is preparation, accountability and death.

Preparation - If a man is following God…then Satan is following the man.  At every turn the Devil wants to destroy Godly men and their families.  The snares, the traps, the deception is everywhere…many times when we least expect it.  Men have to be always be prepared for the unexpected.  We have to constantly stay in God’s Word and in prayer with the Father.  We have to be sharing God’s Word with our families…praying that God will protect our wives and kids.  There will be a battle for your heart men…and the heart of your family.  You can never let down your guard…not even for one minute.  You never know when the Enemy will attack or from where.  You just don’t have that lunch with your female co-worker…even if she is your boss.  It’s better to quit your job…than to quit your desire not to be a rogue male.  You don’t sneak a peak at online porn. You don’t hang out with “the boys” for old times sake.  You don’t give in one single time…because that’s how rogue males begin.  It’s not one fatal moment of judgment…it’s incremental moments of poor judgment.

Accountability - Accountability has no boundries…there are no “off limits” conversations.  There is only you and another man…following God’s Word…praying for each other…meeting regularly…and asking the really hard, incredibly personal questions.  A good friend of mine in ministry used to say that accountability only happens if you want to be accountable.  In essence accountability and avoiding becoming a rogue male takes hard work.  You have to schedule time for it.  You have to do prep work and follow up.  You have to become actively develop a friendship with another male on a level beyond surface questions.  You have to be open, honest and willing to set your ego aside in order not be a rogue male.

Death - Your ego…your wants…your desire to be the constant teenager…must die in order not to become a rogue male.  You are not a child…put away childish things.  Yes you can go hunting or bungy jumping or skydiving…but as an occasional respite from the pressures of leadership.  If you live for the thrill and adrenaline…instead of God and your family…you’re one step away from being a rogue male.  The Bible tells us to take up our cross and follow Christ daily…to die to our selfish desires or perceived needs.  When you die to yourself is makes it easier to be prepared and be accountable…and to avoid becoming a rogue male.