Planted a church in Mountain Top PA...upon first arrival they did a "felt needs survey" by posting a survey in the newspaper and offering free miniature golf to any one who brought in the survey! They found that the community felt that there needed to be more family stuff specifically for younger kids. After some brain storming and thought they decided that the trick would be "speed stacking".
This is a nation wide event! The target age group is 2nd-4th graders...this is the biggest group of responders although older students who excel stay with it! To get this thing going and casting vision for it is the fact that it is great for right brain left brained thinking!
You can get these cups from all kinds of places...Wal-mart, Target, etc.
After doing the assessment he realized that he and his wife realized that they did not have any friends or even loose associations with people who do not go to church. Through certain venues...coaching soccer, cup stacking, etc many relationships are formed and as a result there are several families in the church right now that began to come because of these relationships.
When the church was just getting off the ground it began attracting church people...although this was not completely bad but the church people came in with preconceived notions and expectations about how a church should be. Needless to say the individuals did not hang around very long.
An additional hang up was not being able to get in to the school systems. After a lot of run around and being ignored by the public school system legal action was threatened and eventually they were allowed into the public school system.
About 80-90% of the church were not involved in a church before Mountaintop Family Center Church. Leading this kind of church is much different than leading the traditional church. Most of the time the people do not realize what or how to do it! Things need to be spelled out about how and what to do and when.
One of the biggest challenges faced ministry wise is the fact that you give and you give and you give; and the number of people that come back to bite the hand that provided food is astounding. It is difficult opening your heart and your life to someone in need with the thought in the back of your mind they might come back and bite you.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
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1 comment:
Brian,
Interesting thoughts and opinions you have on Sport Stacking. I'd love to converse more with you, I am a Pastor myself and now work with the World Sport Stacking Association and would love to chat with you when you have the time. You or anyone can reach me at: mlingle@worldsportstackingassociation.org.
Looking forward to hearing from you and other Pastor's who have similar thoughts or feelings of this Sport or how it might be used in your church or community.
Rev. Mark Lingle
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