Showing posts with label New Church planting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Church planting. Show all posts

Arise Christian Church 3 year anniversary

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 | 0 Comments

Recipe for Success

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , ,

Recipe for Success
Rev. Samuel Robles Jr., M.Div.


-Aim for excellence
-Be a team player
-Stay focused
-Stay humble
-Worship in private
-Serve others
-Details matter
-Continue to learn
-Reproduce leaders
-Practice generosity
-Lead by example
-"Fruit of the spirit"

Wednesday, July 18, 2012 | 0 Comments

After effects of rest

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , , , ,

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35 NIV84)



Last week, my family and I decided to take a week of rest. It wasn't a vacation because we didn't totally disconnect from everything. Instead, we were intentional about taking a break to spend quality time together, evaluating our lives and ministry(ies), and discussing setting boundaries. If I could sum this up in a phrase, we wanted to feel normal.

Here are just 7 things we learned, or rather, here are a few things we decided to accept and implement into our pastoral family for the sake of our health and commitment to each other:

1) It's ok to say "no." We are not omnipresent, and we don't need to feel bad about it.
2) Family time is sacred time. Protect it.
3) Taking time to rest as a family needs to be intentional. No one is going to set it aside for us.
4) We are allowed to have fun, too.
5) Be honest in all things. In all things, be honest.
6) All that matters is our obedience to God and God's call. Stay focused.
7) A healthy pastor leads a healthy church. If I am rested, rejuvenated and refreshed, then I can be an effective leader and pastor.

Thursday, May 24, 2012 | 0 Comments

Thinking/Being Missional ~ Thinking/Being Sent

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: ,

Ever since we began Arise Christian Church, the topic of "missional" has ran through all conversations. In fact, with just talking about new church planting, the discussion on "missional vs. attractional" is at the top of the list.


Over the last couple of weeks I've come across a couple of videos and blogs about thinking/being missional that I find to be great. They have really affected how I think and what it means to be sent...and I love it!


Romans 10:14-15 says,
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"


Here are 2 videos and a blog post by Ed Stetzer that have sparked my imagination about what it means to be in the "middle of the marketplace" (using a theater church term).




This is Discipling from The Foursquare Church on Vimeo.

What would it look like if, as leaders, we focused less on the things that make our churches entertaining and more on making disciples?




Friday, July 29, 2011 | 0 Comments

If Walt Disney were a church planter...

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , ,

When you think about Walt Disney, you don't necessarily think about church planting. You think about Mickey Mouse, family, films, theme parks, etc.

But I imagine that if he were a church planter, he would have been very good at it! After all, "it was all started by a mouse."
Years ago, Walt Disney had a dream, a passion, a vision. Today, his legacy lives through one of the greatest and largest entertainment companies in the world!

I find that his leadership characteristics are applicable to ministry, and particularly, church planting.
Here are some quotes of Walt Disney that inspire me and motivate me in ministry:













(Photos were taken at Walt Disney World)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 | 0 Comments

3 things that motivate me & keep me on track

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , , ,

I am sure we can all agree that life is not easy. But that does not mean that life has to be hard.
When we get up out of bed every morning, this action is affirming (subconsciously or consciously) that we will tackle the day ahead of us, regardless of what it brings.

Here are 3 things/thoughts that motivate me and help keep me on track:

1) Maintain faith & trust in God
This is the foundation of my life! I have come to the conclusion that I need God in my life, because my finite self cannot do it alone. My theological convictions remind me that God is faithful and worthy of my praise.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29: 10-12

2) Staying focused on the goal/vision
Because God is part of my life, I believe that God has a purpose for/with my life. Saying "yes" to God does not guarantee a perfect life. There will be bumps and distractions down the road, but I/we must keep moving forward. If there's a problem, deal with it accordingly. But don't stay stuck there, or move backwards. Keep pressing onward!
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28: 20

3) Working harder & smarter
There is a school of thought that says, "Work smarter, not harder." This makes sense, and I affirm this. BUT, I am very careful about getting too comfortable. Sometimes a good challenge is necessary in our lives: it helps us grow and unveil traits and gifts that we never knew we had or could learn. I want to be a good steward of my time (self-care is important!), but I also want to make things better, and continue to improve.
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." - Acts 20:24

Hope this is helpful to you.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010 | 0 Comments

heart of a [new church] pastor

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , ,

Way before Arise launched, I did much research on new church planting and attended new church training events (both live and online), as I still continue to do today. I must say that they have all been very helpful and educational in some fashion or another. BUT, I have to say that one very important element has not been present in nearly 100% of these events: how to be a pastor.


Let me explain what I mean. Much of the content and events that surround new church ministry in general revolves around leadership. This is great. However, the image it paints is one of a pastor who basically tells people what to do because "he" (unfortunately, a lot of the content surrounding new church ministry is Eurocentric and male dominant) has the vision and knows what's going on. I understand this concept, and quite honestly, I agree with the importance of strong leadership in new church ministry. The new church planter/pastor must/should have strong skills in administration, strategic planning, team building, budgeting, etc. But the way it is presented creates a utopia that everyone that comes to help build and start the church under the leadership of the planter/pastor is "perfect." It's as though the people under the pastor have nothing wrong with them, and they are equipped to do everything "he" says.

I do not believe this is accurate and true. Yes, God does bring people to help build the church with God-given gifts, to be a part of a new, growing community of faith. There is no doubt in my mind that God participates in this, and does a great job with it. But to think that these people don't need pastoral care is not realistic. Just like any other parish ministry, people are going through stuff: grieving, sadness, loss, depression, stress, confusion, etc.

I raise a few rhetorical questions to challenge this utopia:
  • How can a new church pastor be an effective administrator and leader, and still balance the importance of offering pastoral care?
  • Is it worth starting a cool, new church at the expense of a lack of spiritual care?
  • What is the role of self-care in new church planting?
I hope that eventually as more content is created for new church ministry, that more time is taken to discuss and teach what it means to be a new church pastor, and just not a new church leader. While in many respects, they are one in the same, and one cannot be one without the other, they each need to be discussed respectfully in its own personality.

I must say that I am so grateful that I took 3 1/2 years for seminary training to help me wrestle with these tough questions. I honestly cannot imagine how I would be able to take on this calling that God has placed before me without appropriate preparation. It's a shame that many people who claim to be called by God for ministry think that they know it all, and don't need to educate themselves. Every pastor is human, and every human makes mistakes. Pastors not only have the power to help, but they also have the power to harm. While all ministry is important, new church ministry is unique, in so much that it presents opportunities for offering pastoral care in ways that ministries with many years of life may not offer. This should not be taken lightly.

I close this reflection with a quote that I have come across many times. I find it appropriate in this discussion:

"People won't always remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel."

Wednesday, December 30, 2009 | 0 Comments

Setting goals & challenging yourself and your leadership

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , ,

In leadership, it's important to set goals for not only yourself, but also your leadership. From a new church perspective, it's important to take steps forward. Put "one foot in front of the other." Here is a simple method that I use to help me set goals for our group:

1) Assess my leadership group. Every group I have ever been in has its own identity, strengths, and gifts. While there are certain traits that are consistently found in various groups, there are also certain traits that make each group unique. Take time to identify them, and use them as a strength.

2) I need to also assess how my leaders can also continue to develop themselves. So while I am also assessing their strengths and gifts, I am also identifying weaknesses and areas of improvement. This is where the leader can become their coach. Be strategic about this, and challenge your leaders with love.

3) I promote teamwork. This is important because no one should be taking on heavy tasks alone. Delegate tasks appropriately, but also create ways that people can work together and collaborate. This not only enriches the project at hand, but it also builds the group cohesion and it's an opportunity for people to learn from each other. This can be a very rewarding moment.

I also want to add to this the importance of celebration! Yes, take time to celebrate, especially if you're a new church plant. A new church has no history and no archive. Just about everything that is done is usually the first time in that church's history, and every accomplishment feels great. Celebrate! Take time to pat yourself on the back, and take time to pat your leadership on the back and tell them "job well done." Be sure to reward your leadership and let them know that you appreciate them for their hard work and time. And above all, thank God, and celebrate His goodness, because without Him, none of this is possible!

Friday, October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

Spiritual Growth vs. Congregational Growth

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: , ,

This is a topic that requires much time for thought, reflection, and attention. I have read and heard various perspectives on this, and many of them (which speak from opposite ends of the spectrum) present valid points. I will offer a quick thought to the discussion.

I recently had a wonderful discussion on this with my coach, and I was asked how I measure our church's success. Well, my response was that I do not measure the success of our new church on numbers. My goal is not to create the largest congregation. My goal is for lives to come to Christ and be transformed from the inside out. With this ideological mindset, I find that a church can grow. 

Ultimately, I measure success by the testimonies of the people. For example, someone from our congregation recently shared with me how they have seen their life change. This person is what we call at Arise an "unreachable." They grew up in a church where Spanish was only spoken, and this person eventually left the church at a young age because they did not understand what was being said. This person has now found a church where they are feeling whole in their identity and being discipled. Understanding this brief background, this person was on vacation one weekend, and instead of taking a vacation from God on the Sunday morning of their vacation, they took time in the morning to read the Bible, listen to what we call "Arise music" on their mp3 player, and took time to meditate and pray before heading out to the theme park. Wow! For someone who is now starting to build a relationship with the Lord, this is amazing. This is what ministry is about.

Now, this does not discount the importance of a church planter and/or pastor needing to be attentive to church growth as well. Why? Because if the church is not growing, there is a possible "red flag." The church SHOULD and NEEDS to be working to fulfill the Great Commission. If a/the church is not spreading the Gospel message, then a self-evaluation needs to take place.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Friday, October 16, 2009 | 0 Comments

5 things I've learned in 6 months of church planting

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels:

Arise Christian Church is quickly approaching 6 months of life. On March 22, 2009, I unveiled the mission & vision of this new ministry, and now, here we are a few weeks into our post-launch phase. Praise God!


As I reflect on the last 6 months, I am amazed on what we've accomplished so quickly! Here are some highlights: 
- we have had to move locations 3 times due to growth;
- we had 4 preview services throughout the summer before launch;
- our attraction events have revolved around community service & fellowship (average almost 1 a month);
- we've been able to birth various ministries, with more on the way. 

And throughout all this, and most importantly, people are giving their lives to Christ, transforming themselves , re-kindling their relationships with God, re-prioritizing their lives to put God first, creating new relationships, and worshipping their Creator. It's amazing what God is doing!

So what have I learned throughout all this? A LOT! 

Therefore, I am going to share 5 things that I have learned and experienced in 6 months of church planting that I find to be particularly important (this does not mean that areas I do not mention are less important). NOTE: these thoughts are applicable to not only new church pastors and planters, but also new church start attendees and members. 

1 - BE ORGANIZED
Organization is essential in church planting. Why? Because you are creating a foundation for your church. Don't build a house on sand. Build it on rock. (Matthew 7: 24-27)
Not everyone is organized. And if you find yourself to be "unorganized," surround yourself with people who are! Thankfully, organization is one of my leadership characteristics, and it has come very handy in church planting. 
In new church planting, there's going to be a lot happening at the same time. Look at the big picture. Be a good time manager, and prioritize. 
At Arise, we took time to create and organize our infrastructure and leadership. We did not rush it, or are rushing it. We created ministries that we knew we needed from the get go, and we took time doing so. With our current infrastructure and organization, we are now set to receive various people, and have something to offer them. 

2 - BE CREATIVE
What would be our purpose in church planting if we were mirroring someone else? I am amazed on how much time I have spent in reading about marketing, particularly church marketing. It has forced me to reflect on,  "what makes our church stand out?" One of the key areas of marketing is differentiation, which asks, "What makes us/you different?" 
This has challenged us to not only be creative in our liturgy, but also in our identity. Since Arise is a church whose initial target audience is bilingual, you will find many of the flyers and campaigns we create have "Spanglish" tones to them. Not only do we intermingled Spanish and English, but we also intermingle colors, designs, images, etc. We try to be relevant. We aim to speak the "language" of our target audience, and we aim to reflect that in our image. What we found is that what we look like as a church is pretty different than what many people imagine a church to look like, and guess what, that's ok.

3 - PRACTICE TEAMWORK
While I may be the church planter and pastor, this is not my church. It's God's church! I cannot do it all alone. At Arise, we do not have paid staff. But what we do have are people who are passionate about ministry and God. We aim to empower our members to practice leadership and use their gifts. We aim to work together as a team, and involve as many people as we can.
Working with other people energizes me because I sense their passion and excitement. It's almost infectious. Church planting can be very exciting and fun, yet also very overwhelming. However, it's possible when you have a team. We hear very often that there is no "I" in team, but there's also no "I" in church.

4 - STAY FOCUSED
I would be lying if I wrote that everything has been perfect for us in church planting. It certainly has not. There have been obstacles along the way. Yet it's important that in the midst of obstacles to stay focused. And how does one stay focused? Frequently revisit your church's mission, vision, and values. If this new ministry is commissioned by God with a purpose, than constantly remind yourself on what that purpose is. If God is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
During our gathering phase, I would constantly re-visit our mission, vision, and values with our people. Every week it was in my powerpoint, and I would spend 5-10 minutes talking about each of them. There were even Sundays when I quizzed them! (LOL!) And as a result, I heard testimonies how people were sharing the church with others because they understood the purpose of the ministry. I am amazed on how so many people have our values memorized! And why is this important? Because we now have an opportunity to live them out and practice them. It allows our church to stay focused on what God is calling us to do. 

5 - TAKE TIME TO RESEARCH, READ AND THEOLOGIZE
One of the many things I took away with me from my new church ministry training was the importance of taking time to "sermonize." I am glad that has remained a vital memory, in so much, that part of my agenda during the week of "administrative" tasks is to have time to read and research. I certainly don't have everything figured out, so it is very important to me that I continue learning and educating myself.
New church planting involves a high demand of details, conversations with people, conference attending, organizing and creating projects. etc. These are all very time consuming. It's easy for having personal time to read and "sermonize" to get lost. In my opinion, what good is planting a church and creating a brand new ministry like no other if the Sunday message is not good? (for lack of better terms) While ministry certainly exists Monday through Saturday (and I am a firm believer in this), there is an expectation to hear a word from God on Sunday mornings, and that will only happen if we (pastors and leaders) take the time to prepare and pray! If you really want to hear God speak on Sunday, take time to wrestle and theologize during the week. You can tell the difference, and it will be reflected in the spiritual growth of the people.


I can certainly go on and on about what I've learned and experience over the last 6 months. I do not hold my thoughts to be absolute. I do hope that my thoughts can provoke discussion and reflection on church planting. May everything we do and say lead us to Kingdom building, for God's glory!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 | 2 Comments

Insights for new church planters and pastors

Posted by Samuel Robles Jr. Labels: ,

I recently learned of a blog by Perry Noble, pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina. Lately, I have had an eye for articles and blogs on leadership and "out-of-the-boxness" in ministry. Well, Perry Noble fit the bill as soon as I read his statement, "These are the writings of a man who is out of his mind." What a way to grab my attention!


He wrote on article entitled, Fifteen things I wish someone would have told me, as a response to new church planters. I found this to be very thought provoking and insightful. Enjoy!


From time to time a church planter will ask me, “what do you wish someone would have told you before you began?”  Here’s a list of fifteen things I came up with…

#1 – Everyone Will Not Understand You…SO Stop Trying To Explain Yourself.  Cast Vision…And MOVE Forward!

#2 – Everyone Will Not Like You…So STOP Trying To Be Popular.

#3 – You Don’t Have To Be The Person Who Actually Solves Every Problem….Admit You Are Not The Smartest Person and Let Your Experts Be Your Experts.

#4 – Spend WAY More Time Talking About Who You Are Rather Than Who You Are Not.

#5 – A Leader Is Always An East Target Because They Are…A Leader.  So, Get Over Yourself And Get On With What God Called You To Do!

#6 – When The Holy Spirit Presses Something Into Your Heart…Don’t Ignore Him.

#7 – Do NOT Expect God’s Next Step To Make Sense.

#8 – You Can’t Plan A Move Of God…But You Must Be Prepared For One!

#9 – Do Not Resist Something Just Because You Do Not Understand It!

#10 – People Who Claim You “Are Not Deep Enough” Are Obsessed With Information But Have No Desire To Live Out Transformation.

#11 – You Don’t Need To Listen To Everybody…But You Had Better Be Listening To Somebody Because God Didn’t Ask You To Take This Journey Alone.

#12 – Never Apologize For Asking People To Commit To Something…Jesus Didn’t!

#13 – The Church Has Been Underachieving For Way Too Long…So Dream BIG And Don’t Apologize For It.

#14 – There Will Be Days When You Want To Quit…Don’t…Jesus Didn’t!

#15 – The Gospel Changes Lives…PREACH Every Sermon Like It’s Your Last!!!

Thursday, September 03, 2009 | 2 Comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)