The Big 'Mo' 01/27/2010
 
If you watch very much football or basketball you will hear commentators talk about, "The Big Mo."  "Mo," is a shortened name for momentum which every sports team tries to seize at critical moments in a contest.  I feel like our church is gaining a little "Mo" - mentum with our building project which is spreading throughout our church.  Excitement seems to be high on all the lips of our people.
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This past weekend was a great success for our church on so many levels. Thursday evening we had a team of a dozen volunteers meet at the new building to run Data Cabling.  This cabling is CAT 6 cable that will allow us to have internet, tv, & phone lines throughout our building.  This project was critical to several of our future plans for the church's functionality.  On Saturday afternoon, a team of ten volunteers helped finish this project with great success.
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On Saturday, we also took on another big project laying the black ceiling insulation. A team of 8 volunteers worked diligently from 9 a.m. until well into the night to accomplish this task. This was a critical project and with its completion our contractor can put in the HVAC and our electrician can now install our lighting package. Once these items are installed we can start building our stage and riser system. I am so grateful for these volunteers and proud of our team's commitment to this project.
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NEXT - 1/24/10
In turn, this excitement has spilled over to our church.  We had our first NEXT session where 29 people gathered to get answers to the question, "What's my next step into the Journey process?" It was a great evening of conversation and getting new faces plugged in.

This week our small groups start back, which we have all been looking forward.  On top of all this, we had 152 people come and worship Jesus and talk about our city vision this Sunday evening at our worship gathering.  Maybe God is allowing us to see the Big-Mo come our way!
 
 
Ah Progress, oh it feels so good.  I have been dreaming of these days for so long.  Like most men, I need something to work on.  I think we all experience this in one way or another.  Some men want to work with their hands, some want to work on their computer, and some waste their time working on a new high score on their video games.  But this desire is inside all men, we want to accomplish something.  Working in the building this week brought that emotion out for me.  Most of you know, I am not a very handy person.  The common joke is that I only know how to work a hammer and a piece of rope.

Even with my lack of ability, I could feel the excitement welling up in my soul to experience accomplishment.  It is thrilling to know that we have many more days to experience this comradery together.  Over the last two days a team of about 15 volunteers painted the beams inside our church. (Make sure to check out pictures of our work weekend and the building's progress at re-built.org). To some, this may seem like a slightly insignificant task.  On the contrary, this action item will allow for our installer to run our insulation and it also allows for the HVAC company to install our air condition system.  This weekend really helped us continue to move the ball down the field.

As we worked, our contractor had a team laying our plumbing followed by the pouring of concrete. Now that these two items have been completed, the remainder of our wall studs can now be raised. Once the walls are up we can run our data cabling, which is next weekend's task. John Mills will be leading this team who will be working Thursday-Saturday.  We are also now gathering materials for our stage and riser system; our next big projects.  So get your hammers out, your work gloves on, and let's get ready to do this job.  We need all of you to help.  Painting walls is coming soon and we are going to have some very tall walls.  So excited and I hope you are too!
 
 
I am learning that in every building project there are ups and downs.  They can never be foreseen, but these emotional highs and lows are to be expected. 

For the last four weeks we have been waiting for several small issues to be resolved.  First, we dealt with a parking issue, which was resolved but then our excitement was halted by a mechanical engineering issue.  This issue was corrected just before Christmas week and then we began waiting for Berkeley County to release our permitting.  I am happy to announce that our builder has our permits in hand and our project is now moving forward! 

Now everyone knows that in America not a lot gets accomplished over the last two weeks of the year with Christmas and New Year's, but I am happy to report that construction crews are in our building and working diligently this week to get our framing walls up.  Below are some pictures of their progress.  We also expect that our frontage sign will be installed in the next seven days.  This has all been such good news to my ears and I am looking forward to our church getting our hands dirty together as we get to work on our part of the project.

Now as to our timeline, we had always hoped that we would be in our building and holding worship services at the beginning of 2010.  Our original timeline suggested that we would have access to the building in January and we would probably have our first service in the building in early February.  Now that we have waded through all these delays, we are recognizing that our initial timeline has been shot.  We expect that we will have more planning hickups along the way, so giving another possible move-in date may be premature.  Our contractor has told us that he needs at least 90 days from permitting to get this job done.  We also have some work that we are responsible for as well.  All I can tell you is this: God is in full control and He knows the exact date that He wants us to be in the building.  We will work diligently to make it come as early as possible, but God is ultimately in control.  Please join me in praying that everything will go smoothly and that God will work mightly through us over the next several months.
 
 
Dear Journey Church Family,

Merry Christmas, Journey Church family, I am so proud to be your pastor. While another year has come and gone, it is obvious that I have much to be grateful for as I reminisce about 2009. The love that Tarah and I feel for you is deep and long-lasting. Most evenings our family debriefs on the personal reasons we have to celebrate while sitting at our dinner table. This year, many of my stories of celebration have come after moments that you all exemplified Jesus to our world.

This year I watched our church forge a new vision to reach our community with the gospel. I witnessed many of you make painful sacrifices to ensure that this vision will come to fruition. When tragedy struck, I was so proud of our church family and the love that was extended to our hurting friends. I am overjoyed at the new, wonderful people that God has brought to our family who embody the bright future of our church.

I wanted to take a moment to wish you a Merry Christmas and thank you for being an encouragement to our family. I hope that this year you have been challenged to give your reigns over to Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this week. I pray that you will look back at this year as one in which you drew closer to our Savior Jesus. Finally, I request that you continue committing yourself to leaving an eternal legacy which points back to King Jesus in your life. We love each of you more than you will ever know.

Merry Christmas,

Will <><
 
 
After a couple of weeks in a waiting pattern - due to a stoppage by the Berkeley County Permitting Office that put our project  on 'pause' - we are finally moving again. All of the issues seemed to be clearing up, but our builder has a few new items he must comply with - all of which will improve our building. Once the builder has gotten the permit in hand, our sign company should be able to start fabricating our signage for the front of the building and, with a little luck, we should have our sign up in the coming weeks (for an idea of what this will look like - see below). The Christmas holidays are a time for many workers to take some time off with their families, which we validate, but that means things may not move at the predictable pace that they would if it were a different time of year.

What is in our hands now is preparing for the projects we are responsible for.  Clay has been working diligently to identify a lighting system that is inside our budget and has the capabilities we desire for the auditorium.  This week we have ordered some test lights to hang in the building to see if we approve of their functionality and design. One of the projects that we will take on as a church will be painting the ceiling in the building.  Secondly, we have ordered all our data cabling for our technology.  Once the walls have been constructed by the builder we will be able to come behind them and run our cabling.  John Mills will be leading our team in this task.  We are so proud of those of you who have volunteered to help in these areas amongst many others.  If you have not told us where you would like to volunteer, please email Clay at clay@journeychurchsc.org or fill out a volunteer form at the information desk this Sunday at church.  We will be in touch with everyone who has filled out this information in the coming weeks. These are exciting times and having each of you alongside both in body and in prayer - makes the progress that much sweeter.
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'Mock up' of how the signage should appear when it goes up.
 
Developments 11/25/2009
 
Over the last several months we have been raising money for our Rebuilt campaign.  At this point we are around 82% from where we need to be to take care of our needs for the next two years; leaving us in need of donations around $40,000. One of the unexpected new developments has been how God has provided in other means outside of such generous financial giving.  Lately, God has been providing through specified donations.  We've received wood donations for the stage and riser system that will go in the worship center and most recently, a good friend in Kentucky, Jim Powell, has agreed to help us with all our cabinetry, our coffee bar, and check-in stations.  The awesome part of this partnership is the quality of the pieces being donated. Below are a few mock up drawings for some of the work that is being donated to us.  These small touches will make our facility feel state-of-the-art, while allowing us to stay under-budget in each of these areas.

The Interior Design Team is working diligently at this time to develop a scheme that will work throughout the building.  God has been so great to us and I am confident that He is going to provide for us in ways we never expected.  Right now we are looking for QUALITY donations in the children's area.  We need cribs, toys, baby swings, bouncy seats, books and puzzles.  If you have any, and I stress, QUALITY items that you would like to donate please contact Katherine Williams at katsjourney@gmail.com.  

We are humbled and so grateful for all of the various ways that everyone is supporting and giving to Journey. This is an incredible walk of faith - trusting in God's continuous provision - thank you for being a part of His great plan.  
Top Left: Reception Desk; Top Right: Coffee Area - Overhead View.
Bottom Left: Sound Booth - Side View; Bottom Right: Children's Check-In Counter 
(Designs subject to change.)
 
 
After the Presidential State of the Union, there are all kinds of pundits that weigh in on what the President has said. Newscasters and analysts all give their opinions, trying to make sense of all the minutia found in the words of the address.  While no newscasters will be wading through our State of the Church address from this past Sunday night, and no pundits will ever weigh in on that same church service, I truly believe that God was listening in and I pray that He was pleased.  (If you missed it, download it here).

We spoke honestly about our failures and our successes.  We addressed areas where we need to improve and directions we are preparing to take.  No strategy is more important than our call to define our 'circle of responsibility'.  We have been challenged with finding six people who we will take responsibility over.  Six, out of the more than .5 million people, who live in the Charleston Metro area.  Once these 6 people have been identified, we will love them, serve them, invest in them, and invite them into a relationship with God and a relationship with us as a church family.  It is a simple plan, but it is the plan that we feel will allow us to make the greatest impact on our community.

As we move into our new location, I dream about seeing new faces walk through these new doors.  New people who walk in the door with you - that have been truly affected by your ministry.  People that you have invested in by having them over for dinner, buying them the occasional lunch, or serving their needs over the course of the next few months.  We are going to need everyone to take on this responsibility amongst other responsibilities.

The next 3 months we will be accomplishing a great amount of work in the new building and we need you to volunteer.  We will need painters, wood workers, lunch providers, builders, electricians, and technicians.  We have a lot of work ahead of us.  It is going to require hours and hours of volunteered work.  If you can help, please contact Clay at clay@journeychurchsc.org and tell us about your skill and expertise in any of these areas.  God is going to do some great things over the next few months.  Please join us as we change the landscape of this community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
 
I'm very excited about this coming Sunday's, State of the Church address.  Sounds presidential, right?  Maybe you are wondering, what is this State of the Church address all about? 

Each year I want to spend some time looking honestly at how the last 365 days have transpired.  Every month, as a staff and elder team, we evaluate ourselves.  We look at the progress that we have made over the 30 days prior with honest evaluation.  These are always very fruitful discussions and often challenge us to move towards new ideas and new strategies.  I believe that evaluation can aid individuals and churches to reach their potential if used as a motivator.  This Sunday, I will give an honest and full evaluation of the state of our church.  We will celebrate what we have accomplished.  We will speak openly about our failures.  We will even spend some time thinking about where we are going and what it will take for us to accomplish our goals.

One thing that you are going to hear me say is, "We have failed when it comes to communication."  Currently, we are brainstorming new ways to keep our church family abreast of all that is happening in our church.  Here is the plan.  First, I will be using this blog as a means to communicate information on many levels.  Second, we are planning on sending out weekly emails to the church body with important information.  Finally, I am planning to give a verbal update each Sunday at the beginning of my sermon.  Hopefully this will keep us all on the same page and heading in the same direction together.  I recognize that I need to give a big shot in the arm this week in the area of communication.  Here are a few questions you can look forward to being address this week at the State of the Church address:

     How are we doing financially as a church?

     Where are we at with the New Building's construction?

     Can we see the blueprints of inside of the building?

     When will we move into the new building?

     What is the plan for the next 6 months?

I'm super excited to share the answers to these questions and much, much more.  Please be with us.  Keep checking here for more updates.
 
Stressful Love 10/22/2009
 
I talked with a friend last month, and he made a statement that has been on my mind for the last several weeks.  My friend, Marshall, said, "I've noticed that the things that stress me out the most are also the things that I love the most."  Wow!  That is so true.  The top 10 factors that bring me the greatest amount of stress are also the top 10 passions of my life.  Maybe you aren't following me.  Let me give an example.

I love being a pastor.  I get to help people in their greatest times of need.  I get to see their life find purpose through their relationship with God.  I get a front row seat as He builds His Kingdom before my eyes.  While it is the greatest thrill on earth to be used by God in a mighty way, it is also most stressful.  I feel the weight of being God's mouthpiece.  I feel the immense pressure of being a visionary on His behalf and when people in my flock hurt, I hurt alongside of them in a transcendent way.

Okay, I recognize this experience is unique to me in comparison to the typical reader so let me give another example.  How about you guys who love golf?  Does it bring you any stress?  When your fade turns into a slice or when every putt seems to lip out, does your passion turn into frustration, anger, or stress?  How about parenting?  I love my kids, but they bring about a great deal of stress.  My 9 year old daughter is the love of my life, but she stresses me out to no end. She is already asking me when she can have a boyfriend.  I told her yesterday that she already had a boyfriend (her daddy) and I wasn't ready to breakup yet and probably won't for a long time.  I can only imagine what it is going to be like when she is a teenager.

How about marriage?  Your Career?  Your favorite sports team?  Why is it that the things we are most passionate about bring about the greatest amount of stress?  I think about Jesus on the cross, which must have been the greatest moment of stress in His incarnate life.  Why would he endure such stress?  Why endure the whips, the mockery, and the abuse?  If my illustration is implied to Jesus' death, the implications would say that Jesus had an unquestionable, deeply passionate love for God's children.  So much so that He would endure such excruciating stress that made the pores on his brow sweat blood.  Oh how He loves us!
 
 
There are so many things to be excited about at the Journey Church.  We are seeing life transformation happen in families, individuals, and in our community.  Next month we will be having our third baptism service as we celebrate the milestones in several of our family members lives.  Also, we are seeing 85% of those adults in our worship service attending a small group each week.   This tells us that the people in our church are serious about growing in their relationship with Jesus.  We are currently planning multiple mission projects.  This month we will be hosting a movie night at a local elementary school where we hope to engage with hundreds of unchurched families in our community. 

We are also excited about the recent growth in our worship services.  Each month since June we have seen our average monthly attendance rise.  Because of this growth, we have been forced to plan for our future.  We plan to move into our new location in the beginning of 2010.  These plans are going to require a lot from us.  A major theme at our church lately has been sacrifice.  We know that our people are responding because over the last few weeks we've seen our church sacrifice in a major way.  We had our "First Offering Sunday," last weekend where we raised over $35,543!  Added to the money that had received before the first offering service, we have raised a total of $49,891!  That is real sacrifice for a church made up of families, new professionals & college students.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us.  In the next 4 months we will be building a stage for our new santuary, painting a building, constructing a riser system, and decorating an entire interior.  We are also about 20% below our total pledge goal, which represents about $40,000 more in pledges that we need over the next two years.  If we could identify 10 givers who would pledge $3,000 and 10 givers who would pledge $1,000 we could reach our goal.  If you could play a part in these plans, please let us know by turning in a Rebuilt Pledge card.  We can accomplish this together!