Brad Wilkerson // COC Metro

Unlearn

As most of you know, last week I was in San Diego, CA.  Now before you go feeling bad for me since I was suffering for Jesus in the beautiful Southern Cal weather, please understand, I saw the outdoors about 6 hours the whole time I was there.  Of course, I'll let you guess what I did during those 6 hours.

So, I was really out there for some pretty serious stuff.  I was an Assessor at the CovergeUSA Church Planters Assessment Center.  There were right at 25 Assessors assessing 47 perspective church planters who have a great vision and dream to do exactly what we have done here at COC Metro.  So us church planting gurus were spending a week with these folks poking and testing them to see if they have the right stuff to get the job done in this post modern era we are living in.

In one of our assessors meeting one of the assessors asked me to ask the candidate I was representing this question, "What will you have to unlearn before you can learn what it takes to be a successful church planter in the 21st century?  

After thinking about that question, I must say, it is a brilliant one.  I find myself having to unlearn things everyday.  Not that the things my mentors and heros have taught me are bad but I must evaluate them everyday to make sure they are applicable for ministry in the post modern culture that we are trying to reach.  

So my thought for you this week is this, "Is what you learned as a kid about church and God actually helping or hindering you in seeing HIM every time you gather with the church to worship HIM."  Make sure you never turn tradition into doctrine.  Tradition is fine just make sure it is causing the death of something.

Remember, fall in love with the "Vision" of the church not the "Programs" of the church or a denomination.  Remember, people are drowning in the Lake and Jesus says get them out of the Lake and use whatever means necessary!!!!

Have a great week and unlearn something this week as you approach God.

The Future Is Now

I remember growing up in a traditional Baptist church and hearing the Pastor always cast and sell the vision for a vibrant Student Ministry with this thought, “We have to invest in our teens, they are the church of the future!”   While that was true back then and a wonderful way to cast this vision I now debate that thought process.  Now before you go emailing me while blowing your top thinking I don’t see Student Ministry as a priority let me explain.

 As I participated in THE EDGE Student Worship service this past Sunday night I was hit by an overwhelming thought.   As I watched 50 teens worship God through music and the presentation of His Word, I realized something as a Lead Pastor.  Here it is:  “The teens of COC Metro are not the church of the future, they are the church of NOW!” 

Thinking of them as future leaders and future faithful worshipers is just not a correct evaluation.  Maybe seeing them as the future is why an astounding 75% leave the church after high school graduation with no intent to ever return to their roots.  

We must see the teens of COC Metro and our community as the church of NOW.  My prayer and my vision as we have a fresh start to our Student Ministry, is that the teens of our church, including my 15 year old, would see themselves as a vital, valuable part of our ministry.   My prayer is that when they attend worship they don’t see themselves as an afterthought or just another ministry to keep them busy while the adults have worship, but rather, a PRIORITY!   My prayer is that they would actually feel they are the church now with just as much influence on our vision as a 25, 35, 45, 55 or even a 65 year old. 

I am committed to our teens and their value in the church.   I am proud of our new Directors of Student Ministries, Kaleb & Kaci McMillan (High School) and Tyler Kelso (Middle School) and the entire team of volunteers.  I am excited about the days to come at COC Metro and the days ahead for our teens.

Keep your eyes open COC Metro.  You’ll receive a blessing from one of our teens if you just look around you!

 

Be Careful Little Thumbs What You Text

I follow a few blogs and thought I'd share one in particular that caught my attention this week.  It's from Mark Batterson on Evotional.com.  

I was reading II Corinthians 10:10 today: "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." That text triggered this thought: some of us are very different people "in person" than we are "behind the computer." And I don't think that is healthy or holy. 

I'm not just talking about bloggers who write irresponsibly about that which they do not know. I think it's easier to slander someone or spread gossip from the comfortable confines of your computer. Somehow the medium excuses the sin. It doesn't. All it does is a keep a written record of what you've done wrong. I'm not trying to get on a soapbox. I just think communication mediums can be used for good or evil. They can help us grow spiritually or become a spiritual snare. 

To redeem an old saying: be careful little thumbs what you text. That goes for blogging, twittering, and emailing too! Keep it righteous! After all, God is blind copied (BCC) on everything we write! 

Mark Batterson, evotional.com, January 14, 2010

Vision

As we now enter into the middle of January I have really been challenged by the Lord as well as by some mentors of mine to refocus my attention on the original vision of COC Metro.  I've been challenged to evaluate and do a check up on where we are as a church in fulfilling that vision.  I have been challenged and God has prompted me to the fact that it's hard to refocus on the original vision if over half of the congregation couldn't share what the vision of COC Metro is.  Here's the deal...and it is a good deal...but we have grown so fast and have been so busy keeping up with the growth that the presentation and promotion of the original vision has been lost in the shuffle.  So, let's refocus.  The original vision:  "With every breath, COC Metro, will daily celebrate Jesus as the Lord of our lives."  Our key phrase in regards to why we planted a church on the 380 corridor was this, "To make His name more famous."  Let me challenge all of you to refocus and see what role you are playing in accomplishing this great vision and dream.  I challenge you to memorize it but more than that...LIVE IT!  It is our job to transfer that vision not only to our own children but to every new person that walks through the doors of COC Metro.  Join the team, refocus and lets make 2010 more than just about numerical growth but also about VISION GROWTH & ACCOMPLISHMENT!

Big Vision Requires Big Equipment

So a few years ago I was reading an article by the great leadership and motivational speaker, John Maxwell, where he said, "If you want to paint a few rooms in your church next year, God will send you a painter but if your vision is to accomplish God sized dreams, God will send people who can help accomplish those goals, visions and dreams."  Now I have nothing against painters as well as I am sure that Mr. Maxwell doesn't but it is a great point.  The point:  when God has a big dream and vision to accomplish He sends some big equipment to get the job done.  

That is the way I feel right now as the lead pastor of this incredible church called COC metro.  When I look around at our team of Staff Pastors and Volunteer Ministers I see some huge equipment.  I don't see hand saws, hammers, drills or tape measures.  I see huge pieces of equipment:  Backhoes, Dump Trucks, Earth Movers, Cement Trucks and Cranes just to name a few!

Finish Strong

As we quickly approach the close of 2009 COC Metro is finishing this year strong.  We have been crazy busy the entire month with outreach events, toy drives, ladies' event, weekend worship, Christmas Eve prep work and one of the coolest baptismal celebration I have ever been a part of this past Sunday.  Click on the link below to check it out. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7TXeCcsdZA

I am so proud of your 15 month old church.  COC is accomplishing things that most churches twice to three times our size only dream of doing.  We have always approached this ministry with the attitude that company is coming and acting like where we want to be rather than where we are.  This attitude has caused us to go from a church of about 120 this time last year to now pushing 400 in worship each and every Sunday.  We have seen 40 souls baptized this year, over 60 people giving their lives to Christ, delivering well over 500 toys this week to needy families in our communities (all of which were given through the generosity of the people of COC) and preparing for three incredible upcoming Christmas Eve Celebrations!  Of course those of you who were a part of our "It's a Girl Thing" Ladies' event last Sunday know that it was just awesome.  We had just over 115 ladies enjoying great fun, fellowship and of course hearing from Lisa Whelchel.  

So as you see, we are not coasting into the Holidays.  We are capitalizing on this most wonderful time of the year to continue to find ways to make His name more famous on the 380 Corridor.  I challenge you to finish this year strong as well.  Don't wait until January 1st to get busy for the Lord.  There is no better time than the present to just jump in and join God in His incredible work.  

PRESSURE

Have you ever had one of those moments when you just simply stopped and asked God to reveal just exactly what He is allowing to go on in your life and what the benefits are going to be from it?  Of late, that is the very state that I have found myself in.  Now I know, I'm a Pastor, and everything is always supposed to be a WINNING situation in my life but it just sometimes doesn't work out that way.  I also know that a Pastor is sometimes looked at as always being on top in every area of life but that is just not true as well. The pressures of life affect me and my family just like they do any other person or family.  So, with that said, I have spent a lot of time of late on my face before the Lord asking Him one simple question, "God why and why now?"  Simple questions yet questions I think most of us have asked Him a time or two.  Up until this past Sunday I haven't gotten my answer or at least I hadn't heard it if He had already replied to it.  But Sunday evening I finally shut up long enough to hear Him and I got my answer.  PRESSURE takes you to new levels and makes you the person He wants you to be.  The important thing is that you react to the PRESSURE as Christ would.  

 

Take for instance olive oil.  You cannot get the oil out of an olive until you press the olive itself.  Take an orange for example.  You can't get orange juice until you squeeze the orange to it's breaking point.  But look at our Savior as well.  On His way to the cross he stops at Gethesemene.  See Him there praying under such great pressure that the Bible records He literally sweat blood.  He was feeling the PRESSURE.  What PRESSURE you ask?  Oh, well lets see, maybe the weight of bearing the sins of all mankind from the fall of man until eternity.  Now that's some PRESSURE.  But take it three days further and see what happened as a result of that PRESSURE.  Our Savior came bursting forth from the grave on that first Easter Sunday and conquered death and hell all became better because of the PRESSURE.  Wow...what a great Savior we serve.

 

So today, this week, this month or this year, what has been your greatest source of PRESSURE.  Stop focusing on the element of PRESSURE and start looking for what God is trying to get you to become or do as a result of that PRESSURE.  Turn the tables on your enemy.  Take what he meant for evil and your destruction and let God use it for your good and your growth.  Romans 8:28 is still true.  Maybe that is the verse for you this week.  Press me dear God, if it makes me better and more like You! 

It's Beginning to Feel Like Christmas

Living in Texas in the fall and winter months rocks.  The weather is usually pretty good, which means year round golf!  Anyway, the downside to it all is that it really never looks like Christmas around here.  So instead of saying, "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas," I'll change the idea of look to feel.  We are finally starting to get some cold weather today and there is rain in the air and an actual chance of snow flurries tonight....NEVER HAPPEN...TRUST ME!  I think the weather men just like to say the word SNOW around here to get everyone in an uproar.  You can feel Christmas in the air from the radio stations continually playing Christmas music to the decorated stores and of course the upcoming community Christmas events.  The COC gang is doing a great job donating toys for this year's TOY STORY toy drive.  Keep on bringing those gifts for the next two Sundays!  This Saturday night is one of the most fun nights of the year for me and the people of COC.  This Saturday night is the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Festival at Providence.  We are excited about his event again this year as our band will be playing (even in the cold), we will be distributing hot chocolate and just simply helping to make the event a grand success.  Of course, this is another great time for us to connect with our community and be a blessing back to them.  So you see, for COC, it's beginning to FEEL a lot like Christmas.  We follow up this weekend with our "It's a Girl Thing" Ladies' Ministry, Come Home For Christmas, event with guest speaker, Lisa Whelchel, on December 13th.  And of course we conclude the season with not one but three wonderful Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion worship experiences.  This year's theme is Silent Night...Holy Fight.  It is going to be a great Christmas Season and we at COC put CHRIST first in all we do this month.  He is the reason for this season and we plan on sharing that with as many people as we come into contact with.  So from all of us down here in mild weathered TEXAS....MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanksgiving Top 10

It is Tuesday, November 24th and I am in day two of my three day fall planning sabbatical.  I am in a hotel somewhere in Dallas but you'll never know where because that is the whole point of a sabbatical.  I am actually getting some much needed rest in the morning hours and then hitting it hard from just after lunch till at least midnight and then calling it a day.  I go through this process every fall as I get away to prepare my sermon calender for the coming year, schedule many of the church events for the coming year, as well as finish up budget prep work for the coming year.  I then conclude my week with getting on my face before the Lord and asking Him to renew my passion and my strength for the year that lies ahead.  I will then leave this place on Thursday morning and meet my family at my mother-in-law's for a pig out Thanksgiving lunch and conclude that evening with a great time with my family as we do chili and snacks for dinner.  Of course the week is truly not over until I join the men of COC on Friday for a mean game of Flag Football and hanging out EATING again.  Don't worry men, in my alone time with God, I am asking that no one breaks or tears anything!  Anyway, 2010 is going to ROCK at COC.  It is going to be our greatest year ever.  We have seen so many wonderful things since October 07 but we are only scratching the surface.  Just to tease you a bit, I have planned some killer sermon series next year.  Here are a few to wet your whistle:  "Close Encounters of the First Kind", "Hyde - n - Seek", "I Am Not But I Know I Am", "Pirates", and "Fallen".  Of course with the addition of Upward Soccer and our second Football/Cheerleading season, the best is yet to come.  I look forward to watching God continue to do His work in and through us next year.

Now being that this is Thanksgiving week, I thought I'd just list for you all some of the wonderful things that I am thankful for this year.  David Letterman has his top 10 but so do I.  Here it goes:

1.  My SMOKIN HOT wife and my two AWESOME kids.  Sarah is the most precious gift God has ever given to me.  She is such a Godly wife and mom and I am so blessed to  call her my soulmate.  Haley and Ryder, I love you guys more than I can put into words.  I am proud of you two and look forward to seeing you continue to grow into the lady and man that God has called you to be.

2.  My two sets of parents and my siblings.  I am blessed to have great parents who love me unconditionally but who also pray and financially support the ministries of COC.  Thanks Dads and Moms...you all are the best any son could want!!!!  Thanks to my brothers and my sister who not only love me but put up with me and my lack of communication with them sometimes.  I love you guys and I want you to know you mean the world to me.

3.  My Grandparents.  Thanks for praying for me everyday.  Without your prayers, I'd be a mess.  Oh yea, they all kind of love me pretty unconditionally as well.  Actually, I'll put it this way, I can never do wrong in their eyes!  Don't you just love grandparents.

4.  My Mother-in-law, Margaret Coulter.  Margaret you light up the room with your overwhelming JOY.  Thank you for the gift you gave me in Sarah.  You are a great mother-in-law and have always supported us in our endeavors in the ministry.  Thanks and I love you.

5.  The Pastoral & Elder Team of COC Metro.  Wow, what a great team of like minded and like spirited people.  You all make my calling a joy not a burden.  I could name hundreds of Lead Pastors who would love to have our team as their team....Sorry, you're not getting them.  They are at COC to stay!!!  Thanks men and ladies for being willing to serve the Lord through the ministry of COC.

6.  The people of COC.  Wow, what great people God has blessed our church with.  I am amazed every Sunday when I look around me.  Your heart of generosity not just in areas of service in the church but to those outside our four walls just blows me away.  Keep on keeping on.  Don't look inward, always look outward and our church will soar.  And of course, keep on worshipping!!! 

7.  Our mother church, Midway Baptist, and our sister church, Church of Celebration in Maricopa, Arizona.  Pastor John and Pastor Josh, you are two of my best friends in all the world.  COC Metro would never have gotten off the ground without you guys not only having vision for this but a heart for me as well.  Love you guys and look forward to looking back with you all someday and saying, WOW!

8.  My golfing buddies that most of you at COC do not know.  Jim Morgan, Ken Adams, Steve Rebhan, Craig Jones, Matt & Kenneth Beresford, and Chip Knost.  Thanks guys for calling me and saying, "Get out of that office and get your butt out here with us!"  I need that.  I appreciate your friendship and the competition.  Remember guys, "I hope you have the round of your life and I beat you by one."

9.  The people of the 380 Corridor.  I don't know most of you but I am thankful that you are here...because that is why I am here and COC exist.  Look forward to meeting you all in 2010.

10.  My Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am amazed that you called me to do this.  I am also amazed at your patience with me throughout my life.  Your love truly is amazing and your power is overwhelming.  Thanks for calling me into the ministry and thanks for the vision to plant a church on the 380 Corridor.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Sunday Reflections

Since many of you that read my blog each and every week are not able to attend COC because you live in other areas other than the 380 corridor, I'd thought this week I'd give you some reflections about COC.  For those of you who each and every week are faithful in your attendance to COC, this will help you in continuing to celebrate what God is doing in our midst.

 A few thoughts on an amazing day...

• Sunday’s message was specifically targeted at the things that the enemy uses against us to steal our JOY.…Saw some serious breakthroughs in people's lives and the emails I have received since Sunday are incredible…I love how the Holy Spirit works!!!  SO WHAT...WHAT DOES IT MATTER...Philippians 1:18
• REALLY excited about how awesome our two service format is going.  It is awesome to see both services full of excitement and ready to worship.
• BTW…saw some serious financial needs met Sunday with an incredible offering.  You all are doing great in the area of generosity!!!
• Speaking of generosity, we have been challenged again to get out the box and live beyond ourselves.  Pastor Dane challenged us to give 500 new toys this year during our 2009 toy drive for Christmas!!!!  Come on COC...lets git r dun!!!!
• DANG....our worship at COC is incredible.  Ryan Oliver (COC worship pastor) YOU ROCK!!!  Band...you all are awesome.  You will never know what role you play in our entire celebration process.
• Brian and Amy Holt (Children's Pastor & Wife aka...wonderful assistant)  You all are crazy cool!  From birth through 5th grade our kiddos have a first class/excellent program designed to teach them on Biblical theme each week.  My 10 year old, Ryder, considers it one of the best things that happens to him each week.
• John and Jess Theisen, thanks for your faithfulness to our teenagers each and every week.  Your TRL mid-week youth worship service was a hit this fall.  Thanks for your sacrifice of time that you gave to our student ministry.  Love you guys.
• COC Ladies or should I say, "It's a Girl Thing" ministries, wow, already over 75 tickets purchased for your Christmas Dinner and evening with Lisa Welchel from the hit sitcom The Facts of Life and now one of the key note speakers at the Women of Faith Conference.  This event is going to be awesome.
• Our volunteers.  I watch you all each week and all you do to make this church happen.  Being portable is not easy but you all are awesome.  If I named all the names I would leave someone out plus there would not be room enough to contain them.  I love you all and appreciate your gift of service to HIS ministry each week.
• Oh yea...BTW...we collected shoes and blankets to send to Missionaries Lance and Melanie Gotcher, in central Manilla, Philippines.  COC gave over 1,000 pairs of shoes and over 100 blankets....yea baby, that's true generosity and it feels stinkin great!!!!

I thank God for the days to come....trust me and get ready...2010 is going to ROCK!!!!!

That’s about it for now…except for a few challenges to EVERYONE who attends COC…

• If you will…PRAY for our services this coming Sunday EVERY DAY this week.
• PRAY for our upcoming 3 worship services this coming Christmas Eve.
• INVITE someone to church this week…seriously…step out of your comfort zone and do it!!!  AND…
• Be generous to someone this week…seriously…just do it!  Give the server @ the restaurant a HUGE TIP…pay for the person’s meal in the drive thru behind you…WHATEVER...just make it happen.