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What a conference?!  It was an amazing time and I wish I was able to download everything to you.  I am sure over the next few weeks as I process the things I have heard and experienced you too will hear about them.

There is one thing that continually nags me… And it is in relation to the creation and starting of Epic Church.  Now some of you have read the prospectus, http://www.epicchurchonline.org/prospectus.pdf  And others of you had no idea it existed.  Well, here is the nagging thought.  It was from the first afternoon of this conference, the second session with Andy Stanley.

As the pastor of this new church, Epic Church, it is my job, responsibility, duty, calling, necessary thing, to communicate crystal clearly the vision that God has given to me in relation to what needs to be done through Epic.

Bono with ONE.org – “to make poverty history”

It is so simple.  Not the “how” but the “what” they exist for is really CLEAR!  Right?  To make poverty history.  There is nothing complex.  No large statements.  No words which are hard to pronounce.  No methods, models, motives, or much of anything other than starting why they exist.

Now I understand this is not something you can craft for me.  I have to do it on my own.  And I understand that this is something that should have been done at the start of Epic.  But, the fact is here we are now, and what am I going to do about it.  I also understand that to an extent in the prospectus  and the Epic Church website this has been addressed.  But, I don’t think it is simple enough at all. 

Here are my TASKS in the coming days in regards to communication and vision…

Find the problem Epic Church is to address in our community?

Define is the problem Epic Church is trying to address? 

What is the proposed solution to the problem?

Explain why Epic Church is going to fix it?

Why are we going to fix this problem now?

Simple enough huh?

-Jake

It was a wonderful experience in which I am still trying to process though my mind to see how it all fits into my life and into the life of Epic Church. So, I hope to share with you the way I have processed this material in future postings.

The first session Ed Stetzer talked about a new research project which addresses the “State of Church Planting”. This was an informative session. Ed talked about the need to have not only churches starting but the need to have churches, starting churches, starting churches, starting churches, sta…. I am sure you get the picture. I discovered that it is “never a good time to start a church,” and the #1 way to start a new church is by having someone who is dedicated to making it happen. I am still working this out on how to communicate it. But, I do know this for sure… we (the church) need to be dedicated to the expansion of the gospel.

The second session, Andy Stanley talked about vision. And about making vision stick. Here are the 5 points from his talk:

• State it Simple.
• Cast it Convincingly.
• Repeat it Regularly.
• Celebrate it Systematically
• Embrace it personally and publically.

Ok, I am sorry because I am sure, all 2 of you who are reading this are intrested in more meat on this stuff. I just can’t keep my eyes open anymore. So, I will have to catch you all up tomorrow. Plus, my head is in a whirlwind of new ideas.

Goodnight and sleep well.

I received this email and I am going.  Just wanted to share with you about this experience.  I will let you all know about what I  experience.

We would like to personally invite you to join 40 of your peers for a conversation around social justice, missions and empowering the next generation of global leaders, taking place around the Exponential Conference in Orlando.

VIEW YOUR INVITATION
http://create.imb.org/conversation

Global concern, social justice, environmental stewardship, serving the poor, poverty alleviation, cultural engagement and the importance of doing common good projects in local communities have never been at a higher interest for the next generation.

Simultaneously, the institutions that have been leaders in seeking God’s heart for the nations and sharing His love for all peoples are desiring to better serve younger evangelicals in Kingdom work.  Join us for a conversation to explore how to best engage twenty-somethings and new churches as they seek to engage global needs.

The International Mission Board is hosting this unique evening to dialogue with other church leaders about the future of global missional engagement and partnership with young leaders and new churches. We would like to personally invite you to join 40 of your peers for a conversation around social justice, missions and empowering the next generation of global leaders, taking place around the Exponential Conference in Orlando.

Greetings from Orlando.  The weather is wonderful, the hotel is nice and we are getting ready for an exciting conference.  Tomorrow we will be hearing from Ed Stetzer and Andy Stanley.  And a round of breakouts.  I am looking forward from hearing both of these men.  Both have started churches and are currently on the front lines of taking the gospel to “lost” people.

I am excited to learn from them both.  Thank you to all of you who are gracious enough to allow my wife and I to attend this conference.

Until tomorrow….

As many of you know I have taken the step of faith to being a new church in Tucson called, Epic Church.   So far we are a few weeks into it and I think things are going well.  Granted I wish there were like 10,000 people each Sunday for our Worship Gathering and then 20,000 in Community Groups with thousands coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ each week.  But, we will continue to trust Jesus to grow His church.  We will remain faithful to the scriptures and press on to achieve the prize.

On Monday my wife and I will leave for Orlando Florida for a conference.   The conference is called the, Exponential Conference.  The topic this year is:  “The DNA of Reproducing Churches”.  And although the focus might be on how to reproduce churches there is a heavy emphasis on the tough things in starting a new church.

My wife and I are totally jazzed about attending this conference to learn from some people around the globe who are making an impact in their cities for Jesus.  We are looking forward to removing ourselves for the daily grind to meet with Jesus and to receive some much needed training for new churches.

I would like ask you to pray for the two of us as we prepare for this journey.  1) that our children will cope with the separation from mommy and daddy.   Although they will be in great hands it might be hard for them, we know it will be fore us.  2) that we would be like a dry sponge in the presence of a large waterfall.  We desire to soak up tips, knowledge and wisdom from those who have started churches and who are in the same stage of the game as us.  3) that my wife and I would enjoy each others presence.  As much as this is a conference about how to better pastor Epic Church, it will be a time where my bride and I can rekindle our romance and connected with each other.

I will do my best to keep you informed along the way as to learnings and challenges I receive.  Thanks to all two of you who read this.

-Jake

As many of you know my family and I are American Idol lovers!  This season is no different.  My wife and I are sure our DVR has enough room to record the entire Idol show.  This is our third season watching.   But, this year and last really impacted me.   And no it was not the performances….

It was Idol Gives Back.  This was an amazing episode!  To know that the money machine is using it’s leverage in current culture to help make an impact in the lives of millions of people all across the globe.

I want to write pages and pages of recap from Idol Gives Back, but I will spare you.  Here is my thought to you.  If you too are an Idol watcher maybe you would check out the great things Idol Gives Back is doing around the globe and in our community.   Maybe you would ask yourself if you should give anything to this cause.  http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/

Malaria is particularly devastating in Africa, where it kills an African child every 30 seconds. Many children who survive an episode of severe malaria may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage. Pregnant women and their unborn children are also particularly vulnerable to malaria, which, during pregnancy, is a major cause of mortality, low birth weight and maternal anemia. And while we know malaria is preventable, the lack of resources, coupled with a climate very hospitable to the deadliest strain of malaria, has made the disease a leading cause of death among African children. http://www.malarianomore.org/

Here is my thought…

If the people of God stood up and unified our voices and demanded that our world be a better place, how much better would it be?  I desire to see God’s people making a difference in their communities and around the world.  Idol Gives Back is not the only way or even the best way to make a difference but it is, “a” way.  It is one way Team Rasmussen is getting in the game to help get a handle on the AIDS pandemic and more.

What are you doing?

Rankin & Tadlock write, “If you move your eyes from projects to people, true service can take place as you keep the divine appointments He has set.”

What a weird question to ask?

I am sitting in Starbucks on the eastside of town this morning working though the message for this weekend at Epic Church.  And I bumped into an old friend.  He is working at a church here in Tucson.  We did the chit-chat thing at the hand off counter.  He asked where I was at now, meaning what Church I was at, I told him that I have been a part of starting a new church called Epic in the movie theaters at Park Place Mall.

There are a few standard reactions:

• People who don’t go to church = Wow, really?  Tell me more.
• People who go to church somewhere already = Neat idea, hope it works for you.
• People who WORK for another church = How many are you running?

I think that is funny how the progression works.  I hope my reaction, when I learn about some new church or ministry, is not how many are you running but rather, what kind of help do you need or what can I do to help?

The reason for me posting this is to help you and I understand the importance of encouragement and the use of our words.  Although I do think attendance numbers are “an” important guide I know they are not “the” guide.

What if the people of God would drop all personal agendas, egos and motives to work together to help redeem our cities to for glory of God?

What if I did that?

How would the world look?

How would Jesus look the our community?