Nick Poole APC

Nick Poole has an interesting position! He is under Jeff Leake and supports many of the churches that are either church plants from APC or other churches that wanted to get on board with Allison Park!

Initially after graduating from CBC he never saw himself running board and leadership meetings for a church of over 200. With Allison Park, Nicks role can be this at times. This organization is called a multi-church movement.

There is also called MCM ministry school that works with Mission SOS in Stockholm; it trains students and individuals to be church planters in difficult areas. The target audience for this school would be high school students that incorporate Berean courses and also graduating studetns.

A church plant has just been initiated in Tarentum, PA. There has been a small group meeting that met in a house for a while but eventually that house was sold, but around the same time a boxing gym became available and they now meet there.

Some of the things that were done right according to Nick is set up and tear-down. This process only takes about 30minutes. There were also preview services they did 5 and the next time this happens there will only be 3 preview services. Also rather than launching in the winter they will probably launch during the fall.

Some other things that will be changed for the next church plant is securing a worship leader to be there for all of the events and services. Two things necessary for a church plant is a pastor and a worship leaders! This is usually difficult because there is no pay associated with the position...it is necessary to sell the vision and have them grab a hold of it.

Another thing to work on is getting more people from the actual community involved. The mother church lends people to the church plant and already they are beginning to go back to the mother church. From a pastoral perspective it can be painful for individuals involved in the church plant to go back to the mother church. On the flip side there are many people that will get involved in a church plant because they do not like the mother church. There will always be individuals in the church who want something that the church cannot provide. In either case a church plant can be a good idea because it allows individuals to "leave well". One of the challenges is the attituteds being carried into the church plant...also toxic motives and agendas.

One of the church plants launched a second service, but there were many people that did not see a reason for a second service even though there were lack of seats during a regular service. One of the things that helped make navigating these issues successful was casting the vision of reaching the lost, drawing focus to the mission and the heart of Jesus...this usually helps individuals endure those things that they do not necessarily enjoy about the service.

Before Nick even began the process of being involved with APC he was a youth pastor at a more traditional church. The church was an interesting dynamic because initially there was one AG church but it split and Nick became a youth pastor at the one that split. This was interesting because there were many in the church did not like Nick because he grew up in the area and went to the other church and he was considered a traitor.

One of the hang-ups he ran into right out of school that he wished he was better at was asking the right questions during the interview to understand the vision of the pastor for the church, and the leadership style of the pastor (hands-off or involved).

Another misconception is that a small church is an unhealthy church...this is not necessarily true there are many factors that go in to the environment of the church...the community they are in the income level, the relationships created in the church.

One of Nicks primary goals at the different churches he serves at is to equip pastors. He does not want to be seen but desires to work behind the scenes to support the pastor. He wants to help make the Pastor as great as he can be.

Some of my initial impressions that I have of Nick is that he is a learner. It seems that he tries to learn as much as possible. The position that he has could easily lend itself to arrogance and a sense of power that could be abused. But I see that he sees himself as coming along side of pastors and helping out in any way possible!

He seems very knowledgeable and laid back...both adaptable and flexible. Very personable and a great servant leader!

I actually interviewed with Nick Poole for a position at Sharpsburg Assembly of God. Unfortunately it did not work out but I fell in love with the vision and passion of the vision of APC. Not only that but i would have considered it a pleasure working along side of Nick.