Thailand Hotel Attempting Church Relevance

This picture is an actual flyer I got in my hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I absolutely love it. In case you can't read it - here are some excerpts.

• Dear My Guest
• Beverage rate in refridgelator
• "another beverage and snake you can buy at office"
• Please bring your cloth to office
• Free coffee in small house every day
• For another question you can ask me later

I think this stuff is so cute. But still... I'm wondering if my "refridgelator" will hold my beverage and "snake" that I buy at the office. And what "cloth" do I take to the office? Is that near the small house with the coffee? I only see a hotel with a clubhouse-sort-of-building. Honestly, I didn't have any questions until I read this unsolicited flyer in my hotel room. The last thing I want to do is get "another question" from this gal later.

Sound familiar? I think many churches, including Impact, can communicate in very similar ways to our 'target market.' As a church in Elk Grove and Sacramento, how many times have we used language that the people we are trying to reach just 'don't get?'

Communication is a KEY to reaching others. How are you doing? Do you use a lot of words like 'blessed' and 'hedge of protection' and 'my walk with God?' I'm really thinking that this type of language is like the well-meaning office manager who put that flyer in my room.

Oh - just so you know, I appreciated the effort of this office manager and  did take her up on doing my laundry. I looked past the miscommunication and to the heart of her message. It was actually helpful. But are our neighborhoods as apt to overlook our miscommunication? If we communicate more intentionally, we won't have to worry about it.

City Hope '09

Here is another update on City Hope '09 which begins Sept 12/13, 2009 in Elk Grove and at Impact... with the inauguration of our first Saturday night service (which is very cool, by the way).

As a part of this incredible way to impact our community, our small groups will be participating in various 'projects' over the 40 days (7 weeks). Here are a few ideas of what those projects might look like:
* Blood Drive
* Mentor Development for Men and Women
* Job Fair
* Adopt A School
* Senior Center of Elk Grove

And so much more. This is going to be one of the best things that has ever happened to the churches in Elk Grove. When God's people join together - from ALL denominations - to do a work in the name of Jesus alone... GREAT THINGS ARE IN STORE!

It will be SO cool that for 7 weeks - we will be known as "The Church At Elk Grove" - NOT Impact Community Church... NOT First Baptist Church... NOT Lifepointe Christian Church... NOT Grace Community Church. For 40 days, we will be "The Church At Elk Grove."

And for that - I am TRULY EXCITED! More information coming in the next week or two! Yard signs, 40 Day Devotionals, and Small Group Curriculum will all be provided for you! SWEET!

Vegas Odds - New Series At Impact

Very excited about a new series beginning August 9, 2009 at Impact. "VEGAS ODDS: the goal of evangelism is to play... not to win"

Here is the intro video that our worship pastor, Shawn Struckmeier, put together... very cool stuff.

Vegas Odds - Intro Video from Barry Smith on Vimeo.

If you don't see the video above - click here!

Hope you all can check out this brand new series either in person or on the internet. Some fresh perspective on reaching OUT with the good news of Jesus.

City Hope 2009 - PRAYER MEETING MAY 21 at First Baptist of Elk Grove

Mark your calendars right now... seriously... get out a pen and block out May 21 from 7:00-8:30pm. I'd like to see EVERYONE in the Sacramento / Elk Grove area out at First Baptist Church to pray for our community... while enjoying some worship as well.

The City Hope 2009 campaign is coming this Fall and this special prayer time is only going to last an hour and a half - and it will be well worth it. We are gathering as 'one body' to seek God's face for what HE wants to do in Elk Grove. Who does HE want to reach? What specifically does HE want to change? What does HE expect of the church? How is HE going to use us to see more lives changed?

Won't you join us for this important time together? We will be praying for our city in the areas of Revival, Reconciliation, Renewal and Provision.

Imagine... for six weeks this Fall... we won't be Impact Community Church or First Baptist Church or LifePointe Christian Church. NOPE! We will ALL just be, "The Church In Elk Grove."

See you at First Baptist Church in Elk Grove on May 21st at 7:00pm. I might even wear a tie that night... NOT!

Confessions of a Kings Fan

Ok - so I got some free tickets to attend the Friday Kings / Cavaliers game. I was incredibly excited because the seats were row "H" and on the isle at center court. I was also pumped about seeing LeBron James - probably the best player in the league.

The Kings really beat the Cav's. Serious. They outplayed them up and down the court with a 16 point lead with just 30 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.

That's when the Kings choked... they just started playing like wussy's. They tried to protect the lead... to be too careful. They stopped being aggressive. They stopped attacking on offense.

I HATED THE GAME! It was ours. It was a win. It was in the bag. And we choked... again! I went home and was physically mad. Then... I was even more mad at myself for being mad about another stupid loss. I would rather have lost by 20 than have it go down to the wire like that... and choke.

Oh, I'm still a fan... it's in my blood. I wish I could get a transfusion, but I won't.

Here's the insight. I think we do the same in the church. We see people come to Christ (we get a lead), and then we go into protect mode. We just want to 'keep our lead.' We don't continue to be aggressive. We don't continue to passionately reach out to unchurched people.

And that, my friends, is more than disappointing. I am so thrilled that we have a church that continues to reach out! As we grow bigger than we've ever been (well over 700 now), we continue to be aggressive, to seek ways to reach out, to not protect our lead but to gain on our lead.

I love Impact Community Church.