ARC ALL ACESS TWENTY TEN

I was planning to blog often last week during my time at the Association of Related Churches (ARC) All Access conference. We traveled to Baton Rouge, LA, which was my first time in the state, to Healing Place Church led by Pastor Dino Rizzo.

What an awesome time hearing from some passionate men in ministry, worshipping with Hillsong United, and connecting with some great church planters. I wanted to touch on a few key things that I was reminded of and learned while there:

• There is going to be pain in church planting and in ministry - the key is to embrace the pain and thank God for the opportunity to go through something so small compared to the pain He endured for us.
• Being a leader is vital to ministry - leaders never cross the finish line first, because they are always bringing people with them.
• Don't be afraid to cry out to God - desperate people do desperate things, therefor never lose desperation when trusting God.
• To measure your church start with these 4 questions: Is your church humiliating? -does your service embarrass the unchurched or is it too embarrassing to bring friends to?; Is your church schizophrenic?; Is your church in denial about who they are?; Is your church delusional? - DO NOT FORGET about the hurting people around us, be the hospital, not a country club.
• We ought to be a magnet, not just drawing people in but also drawing God down.
• There is no big churches, only a BIG GOD using small churches in a really BIG WAY - stay small KEEP HIM BIG!

These are just a few small thoughts from my time in Louisiana. I would highly recommend if you are a church planter, a pastor, or anyone in ministry be sure to check out All Access Twenty Eleven next year.

So, whether you went to the conference or not what are your thoughts?