Easter Mailer

I spent a big part of the day tweaking our Easter mailing. The inbox was popping all afternoon with updated files with last minute tweaks. We hope to send it to the printer in the morning. I am really excited about the mailer design and the new sermon series it will promote. I will share the mailer when it is all finalized.

Journey Podcast

We are podcasting our Sunday sermons. For more information about podcasting and how to get Journey's weekly podcast go here. If you are not an iTunes user then you can simply grab them here.

Speaking of Journey's website. We have added a bunch of new content recently. Check it out!

Insert Key...Pedal To The Floor

The past two months have brought a myriad of emotions. I have been scared. I have been anxious. I have been thrilled. Planting a church has a way of bringing out the best and worst of the human emotions.

As we finish our seventh week, we are finding a groove--set up is getting "easier", I am becoming less and less nervous about it all unfolding, and people are making significant connections. We had 220 in worship on Sunday. We have close to 270+ people in the mix. Most importantly, we have seen 24 people make commitments in 7 weeks! We continue to see new faces. People are connecting to Journey Church. Momentum is still extremely high! God really is authoring an amazing story.

As the calendar changes to March, we are planning to find an even higher gear. March Madness (I'll share more about that later) will force us further outward. Our third mailing will go out on March 17th & 18th. As we head into spring, we are preparing to welcome a whole new wave of people into our community. When I think about what God did through a launch team of 60, I can't sleep thinking about what he might do through 270+!

I was thinking this afternoon of a word that Steve Sjo. spoke into my life a few days before our launch back in January. He said, "Tom, I believe what Journey is about to experience is going to be like taking a drive in a V8 automobile on an open road--insert key and put the pedal to the floor." When Steve shared that with me, I hoped it was true. I really hoped we could travel at a speed that would allow us to have a big impact on Southwest Ohio. The word that God gave Steve seems to be the story we are living.

I am simply trying to enjoy the ride...

It Is Coming...

Find out more Sunday morning at Journey Church.

Boston Legal

I failed to mention by personal relationship with the writers/producers of Boston Legal. I asked them to work in a Journey Church promo during our Live Big series. They did so last night. I am sorry I failed to mention that on my blog so you all could watch.

It happen during the final scene when Alan turned to Denny and said, "In the meantime, live big my friend. Live big!" Many thanks goes out to my friends at ABC. You all are great. The timing couldn't have been better!

(The only part of this post that is true is what Alan said to Denny. It was priceless!)

Writing

I am hiding out this morning at the West Chester Public Library. It has recently become one of my favorite places to sermon prep. I have a corner where I prefer to hide. It is quiet and comfortable.

I have my favorite Bible, Powerbook, and moleskine. Each one a necessary tool for my work today.

Share Your Story

I sent out the following email today. If you are not on Journey's list and read this blog please feel free to respond to me in an email (tom[at]cincyjourney[.]org]). Also, if you would like to be on Journey's email list then pass me your address and I'll make sure you get added.

Here's the email. I really do hope many of you will share your story.

The heartbeat of Journey Church is to inspire people to live big! We hope many of you have been inspired at Journey the past few weeks. Would you take a moment to share how Journey Church has impacted your life? Please do your best to share how you have been touched, encouraged, and/or in inspired in a couple sentences. We hope to share a few of these stories in future communications/promotions (ie. web page/mailing). We will NOT share your story in any capacity without your permission.

I will look forward to hearing from you...

Thanks!

~Tom~

Live Big!

A year ago this month, a core of Christ followers was dreaming of a church that could impact Southwest Ohio. In January and February of 2005, this core invested a great deal of time capturing God's dream for Journey Church. As we clarified the dream a phrase began to surface that would become our motto. These words succinctly communicated our passion as a community. These words certainly were not new. They were words Jesus used to define Himself and the work He longs to do in people. Jesus' words continued to echo in our minds and hearts. I can remember repeating them over and over again. They had completely captured our attention. We heard Jesus say anew, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

The mission and vision of Journey Church is summarized by a phrase (motto) that is shaped by Jesus' words in John 10:10, "Inspiring people to live big!" We have put those words on nearly every piece of communication since the spring of 2005. We did so because those words define the calling of Journey Church. They clarify why Journey is in existence. They define how we will invest our energy, spend our resources, and the path we will continue to encourage people to take.

This weekend I will begin a new four-week teaching series that will unpack this idea. The idea is simple, but definitely loaded. I am excited about unpacking what it means to live big!

Even a casual read of the Bible will reveal that Jesus came to bring us more than a mediocre existence accompanied by a good job, nice house, and a comfortable life in the suburbs. He came to give us life, a big life! Jesus was clear that He desires us to live, think, serve, and love big!

In the next four weeks, it is my hope and prayer that those hanging around Journey will not only be inspired to live big, but will!

Chaos

I have used one word to describe my life in recent days and that word is chaos. As fun as the past five weeks have been, it really has been chaotic. The plate has been beyond full. As you can probably tell, it hasn't left much room for blogging. I am yet to find the space to log my thoughts on this page. It has been completely impossible to find the time. I suppose I need more discipline as it relates to blogging. Know this, I am trying.

I spent the evening hanging around the house. It was actually pretty quiet. I was able to finish a few clerical task that needed to be completed before Sunday. Andrea spent the evening with some girlfriends. Tytus spent the night with a buddy. Hannah had a friend over to spend the night. They played very well together. They were asleep by 10 p.m. This left me alone for a few moments. The house was quiet long enough to post an update. I grabbed my Powerbook and put my iTunes on shuffle. It has been a nice way to end the week.

The pace of the weekend promises to be speedy. The calendar is full of events. I am looking forward to each one.

I am excited about Journey's fifth Sunday. We'll be finishing our first teaching series. We have challenged our community to extend an invitation to a friend. I hope the weather doesn't get too bad this weekend. We are prepared for a big moment as close our "Desperate Households" teaching series.

This weekend at Journey, we'll be promoting a new teaching series. I am very excited about teaching on a phrase that is very important to our community. Our motto is to inspire people to live big and we felt it was important to unpack that phrase early. The graphic above is what we'll be using to promote the new series. Once again, our graphics guru has delivered in a big way.

I continue to be amazed at the story God is authoring at Journey. I found out this week that we have been added to Tony Morgan's list of churches he is watching. I am not sure what he is looking for, but I am honored that Journey Church is on the radar screen of churches that are making a difference.

Bono Talks About Saving the World

If you haven't seen or heard this you need to.

* Thanks for the link Chad.

Newest Ministry Logo

Our graphics guru delivered again! Here's his newest gem.


Doug also designed our student ministry logo.


I love the way both spin off Journey's logo. It is good to know people with skills. Thanks D!

God's Provision!

As we closed the 2005 financial year at Journey, we did a year-end financial gift campaign. We asked people on our launch team to give a one time year-end gift above and beyond their tithe. I also did some year-end gift asks of some people in my life that were outside our launch team. God provided in a big way.

I sent a follow up letter to my outside support team on the Monday after our grand opening. I wanted this team to hear the story of what God was doing at Journey. At the close of the letter, I opened the door for my outside support team to contribute in 2006. I specifically wrote a few personal notes at the bottom of a couple letters with more of a direct ask.

One of those notes was a direct ask for a $5,000 gift for some additional equipment needs we have (i.e. a digital color copier). This person had already given a generous 2005 year-end gift of $10,000 in December. I hesitated to add the additional note and direct ask. It was the Spirit's leading that gave me the boldness.

This afternoon I swung in the post office to grab the mail from our box. I was excited to see a familiar envelope. It was a personal letter from one of the most generous men in Cincinnati. The letter was accompanied by a $5,000 check!

I continue to be amazed at the way God has and is providing!

The Journey Church Story

A pastor friend of mine in Kansas City thought our story was worth repeating. He asked me if I would do an interview to be placed on his blog. You can read the interview here.