Filed under: Assimilation | Comments Off

About a week ago I wrote a blog entry that centered on our new believer follow up process.� My purpose for the blog was to introduce our philosophy; you can read about it here.

At Elevation we have decided that we are going to cast the net as wide as we can in order to catch as many fish as possible.� Jesus teaches a parable about this topic in Matthew 13:24-30 that has guided our decision.� He suggests that the risk of trying to ‘pluck the weeds’ is far too great, you might unintentionally ‘harm the wheat’.� It’s better to leave the ‘weeds’ alone and let God separate them out at the end of the age.�

We have applied this basic principle to how we call people to salvation in our worship experiences.� On occasion we may get some people who for the wrong reasons, or without a complete understanding ‘check the box’, but isn’t that risk worth it in order to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to genuinely receive Christ’s eternal gift of salvation.� There will always be time to separate the wheat from the weeds later on, but frankly, God didn’t ask us to separate his harvest, he told us to sow the seed!

So, with all that said, here’s what we are working on to provide as many touch points as possible after someone ‘checks the box’.�

• We have put together a Nextlevel packet (this consists of a Bible, a letter from Pastor Steven, a book mark with the plan of salvation on one side and the table of contents for their new Bible on the other, and a copy of our most recent worship CD).�
• Also the people who ‘check the box’ will receive an email from Pastor that afternoon.� This email invites them to share their story with us.
• Immediately, following the service a team of people begin plugging people’s information into a spreadsheet that is loaded on Google Documents and by 6:00pm many of the people who ‘checked the box’ that morning are receiving a phone call from us.�
• Following that phone call people can choose to take any number of ‘next steps’ including a class about our church called 4G’s, a group devoted to New Believers called Starting Point (thanks North Point), a regular small group and/or a volunteer opportunity.

We don’t have a perfect system.� But we have a clear vision: people far from God being filled with life in Christ.� To that end we are casting, to that end we are sowing seeds, and to that end we are tending the harvest that has been brought in!!!

John Bishop, Community Groups Pastor
�

Filed under: Assimilation, Growth, Worship | Comments Off

One of the reasons why Elevation has the ability to help church planters who are just getting started is simple- we still remember when we did it. Now Elevation Church is known as a powerful move of God. But two years ago we were, by most accounts, just a good idea.

Two years ago, we had fifty people just checking us out to make sure we weren’t crazy. Two years ago we were just finishing our information meetings. We met in a room that would only hold seventy-five people with a floral carpet pattern. Our Pastor led worship, preached a vision sermon, took up the offering, and prayed to close us out. We feared every Sunday night that nobody would show up. We did childcare in one room- with two volunteers. We could count the offering in our heads. We still only had half of our staff even living in Charlotte.

A lot has changed in two years but one thing but there is one thing that has remained the same. There is one thing that I would say is the number one factor in how God has allowed us to sustain momentum. At every stage of Elevation’s life we have always felt like that what we were doing was the best thing ever.

My point is simple. When I look back at some of the things we used to do I sometimes laugh. But at the time we thought it was the best thing going. “Why wouldn’t someone want to be a part of this?��? we would ask. “This is the greatest church in the world��?.

Now whether that is true or not is debatable but what you couldn’t argue with was how we felt about what God wanted to do through this church. That enthusiasm was contagious and more people wanted to be a part. We have and continue to feel like each and every Sunday we provide an experience for people to have an encounter with God that is the best thing ever.

It’s not a competition for who has the best service on Sunday in town. It’s about giving God our best and creating an experience that is worth inviting people to. The key to marketing is delivering when people show up.

If your people aren’t excited about what you’re doing then that is a problem. If they don’t think that what you are doing is the best thing going then why would anyone else. Every Sunday is the SuperBowl and there are people who don’t know Jesus entering those doors every week.� They know when the church (the people) are excited about what God is doing in their midst. They also can tell when people are going through the motions. Which of those is more attractive?

Chunks Corbett, Executive Pastor
�

�

Filed under: Assimilation, Church Planting | Comments Off

We’ve seen God do so many amazing things over the past 20 months. And, one of the reasons we’ve been able to follow God’s lead so effectively is because we’ve got such an incredible volunteer staff force. We require nearly 300 volunteers every week to bring Elevation Church to life.

You’re wondering why the Creative Pastor is talking about volunteers? Because they are critical to just about every operation in the church. If you’ve never approached what you do this way, let me be the first to regurgitate a Mavericks at Work line for you, “no one is as smart as everyone.��? Meaning, if we don’t figure out how to bring in more people, minds, hands and bodies to make a significant contribution, we’re leaving great results on the table.

I would say we’re strong when it comes to identifying and qualifying volunteers. The retention rate is higher than average too. But, at some point, volunteers decide to move on for a variety of reasons. Here’s my take on why that happens:

Volunteers are no different than any of us. They are looking for a sense of purpose and belonging. And if they show up on a Sunday morning and feel unclear about how their effort makes a difference in the big picture or how their contribution even makes a difference at all, good luck at trying to make it last.
If I were building the ideal situation for a thriving volunteer it would be an environment where…

1. …every volunteer had more than just a knowledge of the biggest picture, but an intimate working knowledge of how their specific role impacts the big picture
2. …point 1 got creatively revisited as much as possible
3. …volunteers felt valued–they need to know we recognize and care about their sacrifice
4. …volunteers would be challenged to stretch themselves. If someone has one hour to give, do they have two? Not because milking volunteers for all their worth is the way we approach it, but because challenging them to become greater men and women of God sometimes starts with their willingness to sacrifice and surrender certain things in their lives. Our job is to create and present an opportunity, a volunteers job is to let God use the opportunities to grow them.
5. …volunteers didn’t feel ashamed for not knowing what to do or how to do something well. We have to build processes that allow for the development of new people.

Larry Hubatka, Creative Pastor

Filed under: Assimilation, Leadership, Staffing | Comments Off