such a time as this…

BCC is now facing a phenomenal opening of a new season which will see us reach new heights & ground breaking events. For far too long, in my opinion, the ceiling of mediocrity has dictated to church life in Stoke on Trent. These ceilings include ‘a tradition of small thinking’, ‘a victim mentality’, ‘poverty mindset’, ‘the giant called gossip’ and ‘people power’.

Here at BCC we have seen these ceilings demolished and it is my confident believe that between now and Christmas BCC will be firmly established with 5 campuses; have serious decisions to make about possibly 2 more campuses (including Cheadle & Tunstall); Sunday attendances to break 500; financial restrictions lifted; many more people saved; the visit of internationally recognised preachers (including Stovall Weems – USA; J.John – Philo Trust & Jon Partington – formally Edge Church International, Adelaide, now AOG UK National Leader) & YOU rising up to be the demon bashing, giant slaying, city transforming, miracle working, Holy Spirit filled warrior that God has designed you to be.

There is much talk of 2 Chronicles 7 in these here parts. In looking again at this passage I think that it is often missed that the context of this passage was when Solomon dedicated the Temple. The context was that once a generation of people had given their all to see a House built that was SO magnificent that it was to be the talk of the nations (1 Chron 22:5) and at times seeing the heavens shut (2 Chron 7:13) which meant the people had to work shrewdly & effectively – doing life together.

We are building a House that is SO magnificent that it is fast becoming the talk of this nation at least, & we are most definitely doing life together in most excellent fashion.

The scripture most famous is that if we humble ourselves – stand as tall as we can & still realise that we are nothing compared to His majestic splendour, put others before ourselves & ensure we live according to His agenda not ours; Pray – please continue to www.ei168.com ; seek His face – who you looking at?; and please don’t forget the part most like to ignore – turn from your wicked ways –  ways implies what we say about people, church, ourselves, the way we behave & conduct, and the way we think; THEN God will do His bit.

Here is what I know – BCC we have a job to do. It IS time to roll up our sleeves & take our focus of ourselves & set to the task of building a great church in a great city, even though to some it may seem as though the heavens are like brass. We have a city full of people who are in desperate need of a Saviour! I believe God has called BCC for such a time as this!

breathe @ homecoming..

When you look at the story of the prodigal son I find it amazing on so many levels.

The 2 things that are staring me in the face in this season of our BCC journey is:

1. The father & brother had to let the lad go!

It is amazing that they knew he was not choosing the best for his future but they had to let him discover that for himself. Many people in church life have to make their own choices. It is really that simple.

I watch the father not shout or manipulate the sons decisions but simply breathe.

Breathe.

It is very easy to be ’small’ in ones approach to leadership and shout about what you think but the ‘big’ way of behaving is simply, not to shout, but breathe.

Each breath that is taken shows that you are living. Each shout shows that you are desperate.

I find it amazing that God put His ‘breath’ in us.

This is the way God works.

Breathe.

2. The father was always, privately, but always preparing for a home coming.

The amazing thing about ‘building a church that loves people for who they are and inspires them to become all that they can be’ is just that! Love people for who they are.

In other words, it would be wrong, as a leader to live other peoples lives for them but, once they have realised where they are called to be, be ‘big’ enough to welcome them home.

I believe that there are many people across this city that want to come home.

Yes, they have had to go on a journey.

The exile must always know that home is always waiting.

Its kind of a framework of mindset we have at BCC. Every Sunday is a homecoming Sunday!

Every Sunday people are coming home.

Meeting Father.

Coming back to the House.

That is why we have got real good at partying at BCC.

We start the party because Father sees YOU in the horizon!

how effective…

I’m sat at home after an extremely intense week.

I’m sat with laptop & TV on.

Twittering away.

Then it dawned on me.

BCC is seriously breaking through to new heights with immense pressure as we stand in faith for some phenomenal things that we are believing God for.

I began to muse on that which I am facing.

Then.

I looked up to observe Sky News.

Sky News.

As in headline news.

There was no mention of BCC.

Nothing.

Not a drop.

No there wasn’t a mention of your church either.

Nothing.

Swine flu.

Steven Gerrad.

Amy Winehouse.

No BCC.

or your church!

I realised that the stuff that we think is SO huge.

The stuff that we concern ourselves with.

The stuff we talk about with our friends.

The stuff we criticise.

None of it was on national news.

Maybe we shouldn’t take ourselves seriously until we are seriously breaking through.

Maybe we should be more interested in what the world thinks than mainline christianity.

Maybe we should build in a way that Sky News would talk about it rather than the Christians in town.

BCC is on the up.

We ain’t doing it so church can talk.

We are on this absolute awesome adventure to make Jesus famous in our city.

I’ll be watching Sky News again.

I wonder if we’ll be on Sky News then?

or your church.

yes

It has been one awesome roller coaster of a journey that has seen great highs & tired lows.

23 months into this journey of senior pastor of Bethel City Church (the best church on the planet!!!!) has shown me that if you dare to believe, work hard & live outside of your comfort zone permanently, then God can use you to pretty much do what ever He likes.

BCC is a great church.

I wouldn’t say I’m a great leader.

I am however, committed to saying ‘yes’ to what ever I believe that God is saying.

This is the thrill of leadership – being a ‘yes’ man.

Not to people.

To God.

The better I get at saying ‘yes’, the more stuff happens.

To more fearful of God I am compared to man, the more effective I seem to become in leadership.

The more I fill my days with ‘yes’ to God, the more my days are filled with people who say ‘yes’ to me.

BCC is full of ‘yes’ people.

People who are not swayed by the opinions of man, but are together in their commitment to say ‘yes’ to what God is asking of us.

‘Yes’ is a key.

Doors need opening.

Cities need changing.

Many pray.

Others moan.

Many wait.

While rumour has it that there is a breath, even a sound, or a whisper that can be faintly heard & yet is having catastrophic effects.

‘Yes’ to God is ripping through the mess that we call life.

‘Yes’ to God is bringing clothes to the naked & food to the hungry.

‘Yes’ to God is seeing salvation in the House.

‘Yes’ to God.

Yes, it is that simple!

‘Yes!’

major conflict…

Here at BCC we are in a tremendous season of expansion and continuing to grow at a phenomenal rate. Learning to lead & pastor such a volume of people is incredible and such an exhilarating experience.

The volume of people making decisions to follow Christ, being baptised in the Holy Spirit & getting healed is overwhelming and humbling.

The shear tangible presence of God in our corporate gatherings is immense.

Recently we planted our second congregation (‘Burbs) where many were expecting us to trip up and fail, yet we are already at the point where we are about to break the 100 barrier. Our City congregation is flying & all our ministries are brimming with success stories of lives changed.

Yet we have major conflict to handle.

The conflict is focused on 2 areas:

1. twitter or facebook.

2. blackberry or iphone.

Although I have no biblical evidence for my opinion I still consider twitter & blackberry to win hands down!

It is amazing isn’t it that where there is unity God commands the blessing. it is easy to see that the Blessing of God is on the House & we are so privileged.

Acts 5:38+39 gives advice.

‘My advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God’ [NLT]

The fruit speaks for itself!

God is doing something phenomenal here at BCC.

I think people are jealous of my blackberry/ twitter revolution.

time to close the back door

Leading BCC is an awesome privilege of which I do reverently and fearfully. I have a clear understanding of what God is asking us to be and a commitment to the long haul ahead.

We have a very attractive style & a highly effective culture that people find immense novelty in. Since September ‘07 we have, numerically, grown by =400%.

This year we have been committed to (Luke 2:52) a Year of Expansion growing in ‘wisdom, stature, favour with God & man.’

This is what I have learnt:

1. people maybe attracted to BCC but it doesn’t mean that they are meant to be here.

2. our stature is not numeric but maturity. however, the more mature we get the greater the number.

3. most championship Christians really struggle to make the jump to premiership church.

4. people leave when things don’t go their way.

5. we would have nearly 600 people in BCC if people hadn’t have walked.

6. we would not be the size we are if we had have built on those that walked!

7. stature comes from capacity. big people build big churches.

8. some people don’t like big.

9. some people like big but didn’t realise that there was a cost.

10. i can only build according to the pattern He has given me.

Our front door is wide open and for a time we have had to ensure the back door has remained open also. However, as we come to the start of our 3rd year of this absolute awesome adventure, it is evident that we are now in a position to close the back door.

To this point we have encouraged people to use the back door. Now we disciple. The joy of building great church is you first have to find the right foundational building blocks with the right heart, attitude & character to handle that which lies ahead.

BCC is entering its 3rd year in an extremely strong and healthy position.

Our expansion has been far more than numeric. I knew the theory of the above in September ‘07, now I see the reality of experience.

We’re bang on course…

how you feeling?

It’s Saturday morning.

Not any ordinary Saturday morning.

www.lovestoke.orgvolunteers are out painting school toilets & litter picking around the same school in the Trentham area of our city. Trentham is a southern suburb that is affluent; professional; middle class; and desperately disenfranchised from our city. It has been reported that Trentham wants to go it alone and leave the city boundary.

This is no ordinary Saturday morning because tomorrow we (BCC) plant our second congregation in the school mentioned above in the heart of Trentham. This is no ordinary morning because 20 months ago we embarked on a journey to build an extraordinary, new breed of church in my home city. This last month has seen the realisation of this with continued growth, development of leaders, recording of a live album, establishing several campuses across the city & now our second congregation.

‘Burbs Family is specifically designed congregation with 21st century suburban family life in mind.

BCC is fast maturing into a next level church, some might say, a premiership church. All I know is that I am not the same person who arrived back in Stoke on Trent 20 months ago.

When I say, ‘not the same’ person, I am but, I’m not.

I have become so consumed with Jesus & building great church that some of the stuff that runs alongside I really have no time for. I am very much in the ‘Jehu season’ of life where I am SO focused on fulfilling the stuff that Jesus is interested in that much of the ‘other stuff’ that possibly other churches, even pastors do, I have no interest.

I’m kind of living the ‘no frills’ leadership which, to the consumerist christian, would really be too abrasive to cope with as it demands a ‘no frills’ demand & challenge to cast all religious nonsense off and get down to the real business of pursuing Christ & His great commission.

‘Burbs Family is not ‘another’ congregation.

If you want comfortable, don’t bother.

If you want to make a difference, bother.

I live in Trentham.

I bother that people feel disenfranchised with the rest of the city. I bother that when the facade of prosperity is stripped away there may be huge houses but not many homes. I bother that there is a large percentage of people in Trentham that used to walk well with Jesus & now don’t. I bother that a greater percentage of Trentham may seem to have much but how will that help them in eternity?

Tomorrow I’m involved in planting a congregation in the heart of Trentham.

Why?

Simply because I feel like it.

Because I bother.

How you feeling?

What you doing tomorrow?

Yours Faithfully (24th June ‘09)

This coming Sunday (28th) Bethel City Church is launching, due to its unprecedented growth, a new congregation in the heart of Trentham. This congregation is like no other; ‘Burbs Family congregation is specifically designed with family life in the suburbs in mind.

Why do I tell you this? Why would we, as a church, feel that this is so important to do?

Margaret Mead once said, “Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do.  With no relatives, no support, we’ve put it in an impossible situation. ”

It is my belief that holistic family life is an essential ingredient for the success and healthy development of a city.

If this is correct, we have to ask ourselves, “How much help do we give this thing called ‘family’?”

Family life is often described in two ways. The first is that it is similar to a harbour in which we find refuge from the storms of life. From the early experiences of falling over as a toddler to the devastation from the storms of life, the family is always there to give shelter and protection.

The second common description is that families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts. We can mostly testify that both descriptions carry weight!

My concern for our city is that we fail to invest properly into this essential ingredient called family and thus family becomes dysfunctional. Therefore the long term effect is that our children grow up believing this dysfunctional unit is normal and then gravitate towards people and situations that mimic the dysfunctional that they recognise.

This is not healthy for the people of Stoke on Trent.

Bethel City Church is committed to ‘Burbs Family congregation in the heart of Trentham because family is important.

Your family is important.

Here are some practical things that help Becky (my wife) and our 2 young boys (6 & 3) get by in the speed and hassle of 21st century living:

1. Downtime – try, at least once a week to have a few hours where you date your family. Date trips don’t have to cost the earth. Honestly your family find you of far more worth than money!

2. Laugh – life is tough. Really tough. In the season of economic hardships, stress, anxiety & pressure learning to laugh with each other really does relieve the strain.

3. Together – very often we decide on a project, not that it needs doing so much as, we need to do something together. I suppose the buzz word would be interaction. Pick a project from decorating to gardening and do it together. Don’t worry if the project ends in disaster, enjoy the time spent together. Who you are is more important than what you do!

4. Space – in saying the above, you count too. Parents, children & the individual need to learn to not be so demanding sometimes. Learn to give each other some space. Don’t use this as excuse but recognise that each person is different with differing needs.

5. Talk – it amazes me how many of us, in family life, shout at each other. Don’t! Listen, shouting isn’t always the best way to get your point over. Learn to communicate in a way that will not cause the roof to be blasted off. We are learning to speak to each other how we would like to be spoken to.

6. Surprise – do something that brings a smile to your family. Don’t expect them to always be there for you. You be there for them. Do that job. Clean that room. Make that cake. Do something that brings a smile!

7. Privilege – realise that you are. For each of us that has a family, many others don’t. To have a family is such a privilege. Don’t take it for granted. This is your family & no one else’s. You are privileged. Treat them special because you don’t get another!

I’m not an expert, just a bloke learning how best to get through this adventure called life.

Hope it helps.

dangerous church

I’m sat in bed.

Day off.

Lap top on lap!

Reflecting on the position that BCC finds itself in 21 months after Becky and I moved home to Stoke on Trent.

Last Sunday at our City Gathering we recorded our first ‘live’ album and this month of June sees us launch our 2nd congregation ‘Burbs Family. Alongside this we are resident in Abbey Hulton (Main Campus); Hanley (City Youth); Fenton (When… distributions); and we own a premises in Meir (ST3 The Treehouse) which is a major building project that is slow due to economic crisis the banks are facing.

The reality of BCC situation is one that no longer can we be called a church of potential! We are stepping into being a church of potential ‘realised’.

This changes things.

Why?

Honestly, I think that whatever principalities or demonic forces or ‘whatever’ opposition to the extension of His Kingdom really don’t listen to our talking but as soon as talking becomes a reality, they sit up and notice.

All of a sudden we are now maturing and facing huge steps of faith. All of a sudden it’s like we graduated to the battle field of city transformation.

All of a sudden you discover the men from the boys.

I have never been in this place. This place of a whole new level.

I like it!

I was talking to a much admired friend of mine who has gone the distance and whom I look up to (www.davegilpin.com) and as we discussed BCC’s awesome journey and phenomenal season, I began to realise that this is it!

This is where I always new the battle was.

I even thought that I was cutting it previously.

But you cross a line where there is no going back.

BCC crossed that line!

No going back.

BCC is a provocative statement of faith to Stoke on Trent.

BCC is a dangerous church.

BCC is a city transforming church.

There is no backing out now!

This is for real!

Building dangerous church is work giving your life for!

Really.

It is!

You in?

disciple?

As a house we seem, in the midst of continuing growth, that we are leaking people.

I’ve looked at those, or the track record of those, leaving and there are some real historical traits.

A refusal to tithe; an apathetic level of commitment; a dislike for challenge; an almost Pharisaical regard for ‘protecting’ the truth; & an ability to spiritualise gossip. All done whilst smiling at me – Senior Pastor.

I have no problem these people leaving as obviously they are not with us or connected to the culture, vision and heartbeat of BCC. God bless them in their next chapter. I hope and pray that their ‘issues’ don’t follow them (I think they will!!)

I do have a passion, even an excitement at the strength of discipleship and maturity that we are developing. It is like the fat is being burnt as the training of an athlete continues!

We are getting real fit!

Below is a kind of check list regarding discipleship:

1. Fruitfulness in our service for God (Matt 25:14-30) [this means more than lip service]

2. A humble attitude and a willingness to serve others (John 13:12-17)

3. A standard of excellence in our lives in general (2 Corinthians 13:11)

4. A close relationship with Jesus (Galatians 2:20)

5. The fruit of the Spirit manifest in our lives (Gal 5:22-23)

6. A stable, consistent and holy walk before God and man (Eph 4:11-16)

7. A solid knowledge of Gods word and discernment as a result (Heb 5:13/ 6:2)

Church growth is great.

Church strength in maturity & mobilisation is even better.

What is really humbling?

BCC is experiencing BOTH!