Clayton Bell | Online

Son. Husband. Father. Planter.

Archive for category Trinity New Life Church

Are you killing the cogs?

May 3

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church Planting, Spiritual Insights, Trinity New Life Church | 1 Comment

I’ve often heard (and perhaps said) “I’ll take any warm body!” when it comes to staffing volunteer positions in a church plant. I’m joking, of course (kinda), because as a former volunteer director I know the danger in viewing people as cogs in your church machine. In fact, it can lead to the situation described by a potential volunteer:

Please tell (her) she is welcome to sign me up to help, just know I am not un-enthusiast as much as I may look!!…I love to serve in the greatest need areas, but I have been so misused and mistreated within the kids ministry realm over the last (few) years, i.e. being called at a moments notice, working 3 to 4 Sundays a month, and even when I was on the prayer team for a Sunday having to leave that post to go serve in the children’s ministry because others would rather serve somewhere else. So, my motivation lacks luster!  :)

You need to make sure you’re monitoring the spiritual and emotional health of your volunteers as closely, if not more so, than their proficiency of the task at hand. Even if we’re a non-profit legally, we’re not spiritually. Don’t tell people to “suck it up and get it done” if the reason they’re fried is because you’re a bad leader. Care for the people fulfilling the vision more than you care for the vision, because people should be your vision!

Pastors and minister who’ve never worked a 9-5 job are more susceptible to this because even though you might be as hard of a worker than non-ministry types, it’s a whole different rhythm to understand and take into account. If that you be sure to ask trusted volunteers their opinions on what you’re asking/requiring of them. Sure, there will be times you need to push everyone past their comfort level, but you’ll be better informed to what that level actually is.

When’s the last time you asked your volunteer leaders about their spiritual health? Are they asking each other? Are you encouraging “one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness?”

How do you and/or your church prevent volunteer burnout?

Ed Stetzer laying the HAMMER down

Feb 1

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Leadership, Trinity New Life Church | 1 Comment

“So, my Reformed friends, let’s not only read 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John (that is, John Calvin, John MacArthur, and John Piper), let’s go plant some more churches. My emerging church friends, let’s take a pause from the theological rethink and head into the neighborhood and to tell someone about Jesus. My missional friends, let’s speak of justice, but always tell others how God can be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” My house church friends, let’s have community, but let’s be sure it is focused on redemption. My Baptist friends, let’s focus more on convincing pagans than Presbyterians. And, my charismatic friends, let’s focus less on getting existing believers to speak in tongues and more on using our tongue to tell others about Jesus.”

BRAVO, Ed. Bravo!

Read the full article here.

YouVersion is the new AT&T

Jan 14

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church Planting, Leadership, Social Media, Trinity New Life Church | 4 Comments

Well, kinda.

See, both have products people really love. YouVersion has these awesome new reading plans, AT&T has the iPhone. Both are so popular that they are causing their respective networks admitted problems and outages. We’re crucifying AT&T for this…so why aren’t we doing the same for YouVersion? Googling “I Hate AT&T” returns 1.24 million results. “I Hate YouVersion?” 15K results. However, none of them seem to actually complain about YouVersion!

I think the reason is because of the way the two companies are handling the outage. YouVersion.com regularly admits to server troubles on Twitter, talks to people with problems via Twitter, and even posted a “We know we’re having problems, it’s because of our awesome users, thanks so much, we’re working on it!” blog post.

AT&T? They tried to stop selling the phone in their problem areas. Well…that seems about right? Naw…

Look, when you have a problem, and EVERYONE knows it, why not just admit it, fix it, and be honest? How is that going to lose people? How will that not built trust and gain you a longer leash with your clients/users?

AT&T, you could learn a few things from YouVersion.com…

These go to 11!

Jan 12

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Leadership, Our Family, Spiritual Insights, Trinity New Life Church | 4 Comments

This doesn’t quite qualify as a goal for 2010; it’s really more of lifestyle change my wife and I are committed to making.

Kelly and I’ve been at the same base level of giving (with various offerings on top of it) for years now, but we’re upping our baseline monthly giving by 1% in 2010. I think we’ve exhausted the amount of growth and faith we can have at our old level, and need to step forward in trusting God for greater things in our lives. We’re not doing this hoping for a greater financial return, or really to GET anything. We’re doing it to trust God and be a blessing.

Now isn’t the best time to make this change, financially. While we’re not talking about hundreds, or even one hundred dollars more a month going to the church, every dollar is crucial for us right now. But my God gives seed to the sower, not the one who waits until the perfect time to give.

Because there never is one.

How about you? Are you consistant in your giving? Have you increased your consistant giving recently, or have a plan to do so?

Looking for a few good people!

Dec 15

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church Planting, Spiritual Insights, Trinity New Life Church | 2 Comments

To help make me a better communicator.

As we start Trinity New Life Church, I would like to do all that I can to steward the responsibility of speaking each week. I want to get better, I want to be clearer, I want to honor God and make Jesus the hero of every message. Would you help me?

I’m looking for a small team who will listen to my messages and provide me with feedback along the lines of my theology, delivery, tone, pacing, clarity and Jesus-centeredness. I’d like it to be a diverse team, not just a couple of white dudes. No, offense, Donny, Ross and Adam.

Interested?

It’s not what you say…

Dec 10

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church Planting, Cultural Commentary, Spiritual Insights, Trinity New Life Church | No Comments

…it’s EXACTLY what you say.

Words matter. Greatly.

And while they will never replace the move of the Holy Spirit in someone, they certainly can be used of the Holy Spirit to welcome, disarm, comfort and open people up. Which is why I’ll be stealing a large portion of the welcome below used by Matt Chandler of The Village Church in Texas.

“Good Morning. My name is Matt Chandler I am the Lead Pastor/Teaching Pastor here at The Village. If this is your first time visiting with us I want to welcome you. I am guessing that if this is your first time here you are in one of two lanes. The first lane is that you are a believer with a background in church and you’re new to the area or are just checking out our community. If at some point in the next hour or so your heart and mind are moved and you want to know more about us, you can fill out one of the cards in the seatback in front of you and either drop it in the joy boxes or, and this would be our preference, walk across the parking lot to the white portable buildings and there are some men and women over there that can answer any of the questions you might have about the church. The second lane is that you’re here today and you aren’t a Christian and don’t have a background in Church or not a recent one anyway. I want to welcome you. This is a safe place for you to have some doubts about what we are saying to be skeptical and curious. There are no doors that are closed for you here so explore as much as you want. Go to a home group, check out Recovery, help us mentor local students, hop on a plane to South America or Africa and help us, help others. As a former agnostic myself, I have a great deal of respect for the genuine seeker. If we can help answer any of your questions or serve you in anyway let us know.”

It’s not bowing so far to visitors that it waters anything down, but honors them and recognizes the culture shock that may be taking place when they come to church. As people who swim in this church culture I don’t think we realize how big of a shock it is for many to come to church. Read the whole post here, which includes highlights of how God’s used it to impact visitors.

Do you do something similar in your church? How much do you take visitors into account during worship, announcements, the message, etc?

I hate HELL

Dec 8

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Church Planting, Leadership, Spiritual Insights, Trinity New Life Church | 3 Comments

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.- Revelation 20:15

book-of-life

I know too many people who’s names are not currently written in that book.

Too many.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.- 2 Corinthians 5:20

Am I taking this seriously enough?

Are you?

How’s TNLC doing? So glad you asked!

Nov 24

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Church Planting, Our Family, Trinity New Life Church | 2 Comments

Brent Garrard, Lead Pastor of In Focus Church (an Every Nation church in Georgia), asked us to put together a video he could show his congregation to let them know about TNLC. Here’s the finished product, thought you might enjoy seeing it too!

RSS readers click here if you can’t see the video.

I believe in ghosts

Nov 17

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church Planting, Leadership, Spiritual Insights, Trinity New Life Church | 3 Comments

church-ghosts

Since I’ve become a church planter I’ve become a believer in ghost.

No, no the Bill Murry-type of ghosts, or the Poltergeist kind. I’m talking about the ones who look human but are, in fact, ghosts.

These specters come out of nowhere, appear to have supernatural talents in an area you need help, and then, just as quickly, disappear. It’s…spooky…

They tell you this will happen when you’re going into church planting. They tell you to get ready for it. And you agree with them, and nod your head. But in your mind, you’re thinking “not me, I’m not gonna be fooled. I’ll learn from their mistakes.”

And then the ghost comes along, and you get your hopes up, and you ignore the trail of ectoplasm they’re leaving behind them. And you start planning with them in mind. And they they get ghostbusted or something. And they’re gone. And you’ve got slime all over your hands. And maybe I’ve taken this metaphor a little farther than I should have.

Look, when you’re a leader, you need to be optimistically cautious when people come around. Perhaps God is providing, so be optimistic first. But be cautious and ask them to demonstrate faithfulness first. Look to their character, not their talent.

Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?

Have you been visited by a ghost lately? Have you been a ghost?! Be honest…

“Oh no!”- Lessons from Caroline

Nov 16

Posted by Clayton Bell in Our Family, Spiritual Insights, Trinity New Life Church | 2 Comments

spilled_milk

Saturday morning, during her breakfast, Caroline began throwing things on the ground. First her cup of milk (covered, thankfully), then the covering on her tray. Her response?

“Uh Oh!”

My response?

“No ‘Uh Oh’; say ‘Sorry.’”

When you spill the milk, literally or figuratively, and you do it on accident, you say “uh oh.” When you throw the milk down, that’s no accident. That deserves a “sorry,” because “sorry” recognizes you caused the situation, not that you happened into it.

We do the same thing with God. We sin, and we say “Uh Oh!” We choose to do wrong, to speak wrong, to think wrong, and we say “uh oh!” We need to come to God, recognize we chose to sin, and repent/say “sorry.”

Then, and only then,  will we see transformation in our lives.

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.