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Many of you know that over the past 30+ weeks have been part of starting a church in Tucson, Arizona called Epic Church.  This process has been uber stressful, very fun, sad and so much more.  But, one thing that I have been thing about is this…

People ask me often, with great sincerity, “What can I do to help?”

Those are powerful words and I welcome them SO much.  The problem is that I am not sure what to give people.  Have you been there?  Like you need help, you desire help, you are a team person but you don’t where to first lead others to help you?

Well, that is where I am at.  If you have any ideas, I would be open to the “help”.  (smile)

I have been stuck in the Atlanta airport today since early this morning.  I have been reading a bunch and working on the iLife series which starts this weekend at Epic Church.  But, I came across this thought provoking equation.  Read it.  Think about it.  Wrestle with it. Pray about it. Talk about it with others. Then share your thoughts.

Building + Clergy + Program = Church.

Body + Mission + Kingdom = Church.

*from http://threadsmedia.com/index.php?/store/detail/sent-leader-kit/

It seems to me the first is a very common way of “doing” church and even starting churches here in North America, in Tucson to be specific.  We find a location to meet, we raise some money to hire staff, we structure the best program we can think of for: children, youth, adults, bible study, and so on.  Then, we feel we have a church!  And the things I hear and even at times, I confess… think, if we just get a better place, get more staff, and have better things to do then we have a more successful church.

The later has a focus on relationships.  The relationship with Jesus as its foundation.  With the “body” being those who have accepted the forgiveness from Jesus Christ and have made a decision to journey with Jesus though life.  That journey is made with others toward the common focus which we hear over and over though the pages of the New Testament which is about brining the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.  Which leads the final addition to the equation; a Kingdom focus.  Not a “my church”, “my denomination”, “my city” focus but a Kingdom focus.  One that says, “I don’t care if my name ever become great, or if my church ever becomes great.  I desire for the name of Jesus to become great and that the Kingdom of God/Heaven is multiplied here on earth.”  When those things happen we have a church being born.  A place where you can be you.  Where you can journey with others toward a common goal, and serving our cities, friends, nation, globe, family… in the name of Jesus Christ.

I have more thoughts about this but thought I would share what I have thus far with you.

Finishing up here in Ohio.  It has been good time for sure.  The people of Ohio are wonderful and gracious.  I got the chance to stay with the pastor of First Baptist Church Mason, Ohio for the weekend.  He is a wonderful man of Jesus and excited about what God has done in his life and has a great passion for the people of his city.  I mean, this guy knows the scores of the local high school sports like Cross Country and girls Golf.  This man is passionate about this community and just a few moments with him you know it. His wife is kind, funny, and so supportive of her family.  Just a great family!

As I have been here a few things came to mind:

• The Kingdom needs all types of churches for all types of people.

• Southern Baptist Church building styles are the same NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO IN THE US.

• God is good and works all over the place.

• The Cooperative Program totally ROCKS.  It not only supports Epic Church but over 10,000 missionaries, students, hunger programs, disaster relief, community programs and so much more.

• If we are to reach our country for Jesus we need to start in the cities and we must start SIMPLE. Complex, highly funded systems will not transform our cities and our nation. (Benesh taught me that)

I have enjoyed my time here but I am excited to get back to Tucson and continue investing into the people of Tucson to transform our city for Jesus!  Anyone with me?

Something that continues to come across my mind is this idea that the people of Tucson desire not to “go” to church, but to “be” the church.  What Jake?  What are you saying?

I think… that the community of Tucson, painting with a broad brush, desire not to sit their booties in pews/chairs/couches to hear a message from the Word of God, or to sing along with a band.  I honestly think that people want to give themselves to something greater than themselves.

I believe that Jesus has called Epic Church not only to preach the Word but to live the Word out.  To seep into the cracks and crevasses of society to be the church to the city of Tucson.  Thus, preaching and living out the gospel of Jesus to be part of God’s redemptive plan in our city.

So… how?

I am dreaming of ways that Epic Church can be a catalyst in Tucson to connect all people into acts of service for the betterment of our community.  When people are giving sacrificially to their neighbors, family, co-workers, strangers… people are acting like Jesus.  That is where we as Epic Church come to help bridge the gap of understanding.

“I am doing these nice things to help people.”  —>  “I am doing these nice things to show people that Jesus loves them.”

“I am doing these nice things to earn my way to heaven.”  —> “I am doing these nice things to earn the chance to share with people that God is full of grace and desires to give them eternal life as a free gift.”

What do you think?

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

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

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?

I am up late. Yes, 10pm is late for me as I worked at Starbucks early this morning with a wonderful crew. I wish I could write a story about each person at the Starbucks I work at because they are all wonderful and have an awesome story to tell!

The reason for my post tonight it about the topic of breast cancer. No, I don’t have it. But, I know someone who does / did.

This woman is a beautiful, elegant, strong woman. She sacrificed for her child and her husband year after year. She made a tough decision for a better life for herself and her son. She made some wise choices along the way and is a great person. But about a year ago she found out she had breast cancer. She had an operation and now after a hard road to recovery she is whole once again. This is my mother, Jan!

Which leads me to this post. As many of you know I am in the process of starting a church in Tucson, Az. It is a church were people can find their way close to Jesus. A church that makes a difference in the community and exists for the pleasures of Jesus and for the betterment of Tucson.

My wrestle is this tonight…

You see we are “launching” our church Epic Church on Easter Sunday at the Park Place Mall movie theaters. Well, our advertising on the big screen didn’t happen on the date we wanted but rather is happening on the 28th.

As the first among equals I have the power to dictate the schedule of events in our young church. I want to hold church at the Tucson breast cancer walk. This is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure . I desire to see Epic not at the movie theater meeting for our gathering but being in the community walking for the benefit of men and women all over our city which are infected with this type of cancer. Get it, the church wouldn’t be having church… but…. being the church by “having church”. Impacting the community.

Think about this… what if every church were to NOT meet on this Sunday and encourage the “church” to walk to find a cure. For one I think it would raise a lot of money for the cure. But, what a beautiful picture for the church to actually be the church in the community. Don’t get me wrong I KNOW churches all over Southern Arizona are making wonderful impacts in our community. Some are better noticed than others but it IS happening all over. But what if….

So, do I not hold Epic at the movie theater and be the church in the community that Sunday? What if people show up because our advertising would be in full swing and people might show up at the theater and be ticked that they wanted to experience Epic and got up early and we weren’t there.

Ok, I am tired…..

-Jake

Today was spent placing some importance on the Sunday morning “thing”.

Like, what do we call it? What is the purpose of it? How can we create the environment? Blah Blah Blah.

This is an inside peek into the thoughts of Jake: (in no particular order)

• What is our first message series about?
• Do we “launch” on Easter or in August?
• Where do we get more money to fulfill this vision God has given us?
• Am I praying enough?
• Do I have enough faith?
• Am I making wise choices in regards to the creation of Epic?
• How can we help the monologue (sermon) be more of a dialogue (community learning)?
• Can someone make the days longer to get more done?
• How can we get the highlight reel from Sportscenter to show it on a loop about 15 min before we start on Sunday’s?
• Is it worth it to buy a txt program so people can txt the word: epic to ####?
• How can we be sure not to lose our focus on Jesus and the betterment of the community?
• The UofA beat USC tonight in basketball?
• Who got kicked off American Idol?
• Did I make in impact today in someone’s life?

Ok enough for now.

But what about at the end of the message at Epic Church’s Sunday Gathering’s can we do a Q&A session? I want to do what it takes to share God’s love with this awesome city of Tucson.

Night….

Epic Church met for the first time in our Sunday gathering place.

We are meeting at Park Place Mall’s Cinemark Theater.

That is right we are meeting in a movie theater. God has worked out an amazing deal to allow us to meet in the busiest movie theater in Tucson. We are thankful for the hospitality shown to us from Cinemark Theater. They have a wonderful staff and have been most accommodating.

We met on Feb. 24th to feel out the space. A long time friend and mentor came with his daughter. Along with some co-workers from Starbucks and some long time friends. I am most thankful for the relationships God has given me. We have a lot of work do to in the coming weeks to get ready for our Grand Opening on March 23rd.

Please visit… www.epicchurchsurvery.com and help us out.

Please pray that I would be able to stay on task, focus on relationships over stuff, and that I would always place my family over ministry.

-Jake