Random and Reflective Thoughts From A Church Planter

Four years ago, when we planted At The Cross Church of Christ--man I was on a mission! I had already been on a severe high the previous two plus years of leading what used to be the Nehemiah Ministry at Allenhurst Apartments and later Peachtree Apartments were added as well. I had been a part of dozens and dozens of people who had been exposed to Jesus and they were excited and we had a lot of Bible studies, baptized a lot of people, and while we saw our shares of heartache--TIMES WERE GOOD!!!! We were gonna teach the Gospel to and baptize every lost family in Mesquite!

Then we planted a new congregation that would be a transition we thought at the time, of the ministry rolling into a new congregation that was designed to be a place where many folks around Mesquite--after being exposed to the Gospel--who might not normally fit in the typical church--could find a home and feel accepted. Those early days of being a new church planter after having already been running hard leading a tough apartment ministry were quite challenging. I think I learned some very poor leadership and work habits during those days that are now catching up with me both physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Back then it was just a few of us from established church backgrounds, with a lot of new Christians including many kids and there was much to do! I remember many worship services of me leading singing and doing the preaching as well. I remember many Sundays of going and picking up a bunch of kids and a few adults from the apartments for Sunday worship and then handling most of the worship service and then getting all those kids back home and still try to interact and communicate with the rest of my flock including new visitors. Then I'd roll my thoughts back around to start preparing for the next Sunday, making visits at Allenhurst, preparing for Tuesday afternoon tutoring at our church apartments, Wednesday night Bible class, trying to find the time for one on one Bible studies-- and the list goes on and on!

Then there were early situations where I had new Christians who would get involved with sin and I'd ignore it as long as possible--wanting to be understanding that new and older Christians alike are gonna stumble. But a situation would come up where we could no longer ignore the blatant sin that person or persons were involved in--and as soon as I would try to lovingly pull that brother or sister or couple aside to express that they needed to get out of that sin and that we wanted to help--I'd get just blasted and those folks would get angry and then leave the church--and my heart breaking! Lord knows that happened too many times. And of course, there are simply some things Bible college can't prepare a shepherd leader for in terms of dealing with the flock. I was so new at such a role and even though I often sought the wisdom of older and wiser spiritually mature men--it was still such a challenge. In fact, even today, it is sooooo unpleasant to hold adult Christians accountable for their behavior. Early on, we had a leadership team--but I'm simply learning that even veteran church leaders are not always apt to jump into dealing with situations that are "bloody and messy" if you will. So lets just say such things about leadership are just tough! However, if I could go back and do it again--I'd still offer just as much love, mercy and grace--but I'd apologize a lot less and be a lot more up front and honest about what God's word says about almost every situation in which His people might be faced! We live in a society today that so often says "No one should ever bother or question me in what I do." So, I'd often grieve over the loss of a family that we had labored so hard to help and then they'd leave after the lesson was over. So many new Christians are slowly trying to come out of a world that says: "I'm accountable to no one." Even though we know even Jesus was accountable to His Father. The Kingdom of God and the Lord's Church are simply not places to practice democracy and self-focus. Every Christian is subject to spiritual leadership. It takes a lot of time for people to really start changing and transforming.

Lord knows the many situations of members' lives I'd lay awake thinking about and praying for God to intervene in ways I simply could not. Lord knows how often I'd start questioning and wondering what mistakes I'd made that caused us to lose this family or that person. I've learned by the grace of God--that sometimes--really often times--it has nothing to do with the preacher or church leadership or even other members. So often God's people get so caught up in spiritual warfare and they struggle so much to just keep the motivation to even be around other Christian people.

So many benevolence matters that I often felt I needed to handle myself--especially if that person or persons seemed to be growing spiritually or if their children were heavily involved with our ministry. We will touch some on benevolence later in this series.

And in the middle of all those matters, I was constantly trying to find more volunteers and workers from other congregations to help us--as well as trying to constantly raise money for the work. I could tell early on, our tithes would always be a real challenge. And praise and honor to our mighty God Almighty for always providing and providing for the workers in His harvest field! I could tell so many faith stories about how God is such a wonderful and faithful provider!

So many wonderful things to reflect on, and yet so many mistakes I know we and I made throughout this process. And yet, I rejoice on some of those mistakes because God has been using to them to train and equip me for future kingdom service! I'll share more about some of my mistakes and learning curves over the past few years in my next blog edition.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

Tonight my family and I watched an incredible and most powerful movie that every Christian ought to watch! Its a story about a man who befriends neighborhood boys one by one--and eventually winds up having a weekly Bible study with 20 or so boys--all of whom seem to become Disciples of Christ. Four boys in particular, wind up later on all being involved in ministry in some way--and one being a full time pastor. The movie is a powerful reminder that it doesn't take a college degree in ministry or to work for a church full time--to make a major impact for the Kingdom of God--and for many precious souls God longs to be with Him for eternity! It gives me chills to think, what if--just on every street there was one Christian who opened up their home regularly for chats about the Lord, counseling/prayer opportunities for the hurting, and Bible studies. Imagine how differently our communities and neighborhoods would look and feel? Imagine if each of us began to tell others about how Jesus has changed our lives. Imagine! " Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20, NIV).

Getting Recharged

Some weeks back, as I was on the verge of being at almost burn out again and struggling to discern several big issues concerning my congregation, the outreach work we do in Mesquite, and my family at home--I stepped back and took a 40 day semi-sabbatical. I say "semi" because there were some days that I did some church/ministry work--but I nonetheless stepped back quite a bit from the day to day operations of the church. God blessed us with a young man named Spencer Gunnels who is our Associate Minister now and Spencer was able to take on a number of administrative tasks I handled for the last few years. Spencer also was able to take on planning Sunday worship and between him and some other wonderful brothers, they split up the preaching. After so many years of often feeling alone (human wise that is), I felt so thankful God had sent me a Timothy if you will! I could speak volumes more of the blessing this young man has been to me and the mission work we do in Mesquite! Spencer is full of fire and passion for the cause of Christ!

During my 40 days, I didn't pray and fast as much as I'd planned along with other important spiritual disciplines. I did however, take some extra intentional time with my family and paid attention to some extra details here and there regarding my children and it was a great blessing! I took some extra time to just shower my wife with love and adoration. I did a lot of chatting with God. I took some extra time to catch up with old friends and relatives. I did a lot of reading. And I was able to do a few service projects in the community that is tied in with the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission--although the cold weather kept those projects to a minimum.

One of the issues I was trying to discern, was if I would need to eventually become a bi-vocational minister who preaches and ministers and works a secular job as well. Sort of like Paul who not only planted churches, preached, and wrote half the New Testament--but who also made tents for a living on the side. So I started working some shifts a couple of days a week at my old job as a CiCi's Pizza Manager in South Mesquite. I was quickly reminded of how much I used to enjoy being able to serve guests and give good service and be free to talk about the Lord and evangelize when I was a manager there all those years past. Getting my feet back into secular work has also reminded me of how much God values hard work and us being productive with our hands. It has given me such a tremendous respect again for people who get out each day and work hard to provide for their families and honor the Lord. I think every preacher/minister out there ought to spend some time regularly working a little in the work force just to keep touch with reality.

While I was on my sabbatical, God definitely spoke to me about the fact that it is time I began living out my victory in Jesus! What I mean is simply, I spent too many years thinking I had to immerse myself into those I ministered to's daily lives. And while all that wasn't bad and I learned a lot and there were some impactful relationships and discipling that took place--too often I was putting myself out there as a subsitute for God and His word--without realizing I was doing that. And it took a great toll on me and my family. What I thought at times was shepherding, was basically babysitting some adults and some kids who were simply not ready to change and really give their lives over to Jesus. Not in every case--but too many. So I have learned now to put boundaries in place and accept that there are some things I have to allow the Holy Spirit to do--that I am definitely not Jesus! Good for the Kingdom! But again, God's name was constantly praised and we all learn new things daily! Many people over the last 6 years at Allenhurst and Peachtree Apartments, and other parts of Mesquite as well as many Facebook Friends--have heard much about the good news of Jesus Christ! And there is much more to come!

Now that Allenhurst Apartments is going to be handing us our new church apartment soon, we are most excited and revved up to get going with that renewed work! Spencer Gunnels will be spearheading that new project!

There is more exciting news to share, but I need to go do a little devotional with my family--which means I need to get off the computer and leave my office. But I know this--GOD IS SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD ALL THE TIME!!!

Grace and peace be upon each of you!

Bruce

Influence

I took a break from my congregation today--something more preachers need to do more often--and my family and I visited Spring Creek Community Church. The message from Pastor Keith Stewart was on "Influence," a series he was beginning today. I was most moved by the message and what God was telling everyone in that assembly.

He mentioned a quote from a man whose name now escapes me, how there are 5, not 4 Gospels. There is Matthew, Mark, Luke, John--and then there is each of us. Many lost people out there today--may not read the first 4 Gospels any time soon--but they will read us. What will they read?

Pastor Stewart was talking about our great need in this country and even within the Kingdom at times to "persuade" or just "Be right." What good is it to be "Right" if we can't do it in love?

Who will be motivated to hear the Christian message if it is delivered in harshness or rudeness?

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13, that "Love is not rude."

Let us share God's word with non-believers with love, sweetness, and kindness. Even if they don't grab hold of that word immediately--keep loving them and being kind. For God is love!

We don't just need more civlity in politics and government--we need it desperately in the Kingdom of God and within the Lord's Church!

Here is the sermon link if you'd like to here it: http://www.springcreekchurch.org/series2011/i_current_series.html

ARCHER FAMILY MISSIONARY SUPPORT REQUEST

Dear Family and Friends,

As we approach 2011, I have been working very hard to raise funds for the outreach ministry I've led here in Mesquite the past 6 years--based on the concept of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem--and the church I lead the past 3 and a half years that was a result of what we once called the Nehemiah Ministry. Since I began that step of faith out of the business world those 6 plus years ago--I have seen God do absolutely amazing things!

I have personally had the privelige of teaching and baptizing over a 100 people--several who are now faithfully serving Christ and who are now out evangelizing and planting seeds. I've got to see numerous people who were once living in absolute rebellion to the Lord--who did not fit into society or into churches--who have since been transformed by the power of Jesus Christ! Parents are parenting better, spouses are better loving spouses, addictions have stilled or slowed, anger has turned to love, and there are so many stores I could share. Of course, there are many heartbreak stories too--but God is still to be praised through it all!

Recently, we have revived and put what once was the Nehemiah Ministry--into a renewed very aggressive evangelistic (that is practical and flexible in terms of how we reach different kinds of people in the community) work--and we now call it the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission. One of the purposes of this work is to bring in more and more Christians from the community to help us reach the entire City of Mesquite one day--especially the areas where there is poverty and real brokenness and children who have no Christian parents to teach them about the Lord's ways. This renewed Nehemiah work--is currently under At The Cross Church of Christ--our congregation--but will eventually be a 5013c. This allows us to better shepherd and equip the members of At The Cross--who are mostly new Christians--and better disciple them. At The Cross will still be very evangelistic in nature--but as The Nehemiah Mesquite Mission grows--At The Cross will hopefully soon have some of the pressure taken off it it with the many masses we currently serve--by getting more help from Christians in the community who may not want to join At The Cross Church--but could still help us in our community outreach work.

The three primary areas are are working and serving in, in Mesquite are: Allenhurst Apatments, Peachtree Apartments, and The Valley View Heights Neighborhood near the Rodeo--a low income neighborhood thats been infested for years with decaying homes, crime, and other struggles. Because of God's power and grace, progress continues to be made in all three areas! One day Lord willing, we will be in many apartment complexes and low income neighborhoods!

But to keep all this going--I need to be able to still provide for my family. Our primary funding we had for the first 3 years of our church plant is gone--we are still grateful for it though!!! We had a grant from a church last year that helped fund my salary through this coming February--which we are also sooo grateful for!!! So I am seeking just as a foreign missionary woulld (I am a local missionary)--funds for my family's provision for 2011. If you could support us in 2011 with a monthly support of $200, $100, $50, or even $25. Or if you could just make a one time contribution--that would also be a blessing.

My work goes beyond my congregational service and our community outreach. I also handle a number of weddings and funerals each year for families who have no church home--who look to me for help--and these are wonderful seed planting opportunities.

My family had some tough attacks from Satan in 2009 and 2010, but there have also been many blessings. Christi continues to be a great support to me and a wonderful mother to our kids. Jaici is now 13 and in 8th grade. Jayden is 11 and is a 6th grader. And our newest addition, Bryson Anthamatten--my best friend Shawn's son--who passed away last December--is part of our family now--and a great blessing to us. Bryson is 13 also.

If you can help for next year and support our work--you could start sending your support in January if you want--or anytime you desire. Make checks out to At The Cross and send to:

429 S. Walker
Mesquite, Tx 75149

Or you can use our paypal if its convenient from our website: http://www.atthecrosscofc.org/

Please continue to keep my family and our work for Jesus lifted up in prayer.

Blessings,

Bruce Archer
Bruce Archer
At The Cross Church of Christ--Minister
Nehemiah Mesquite Mission--Servant Leader
(972) 834-7099
Dallas Christian College 07
http://soulsavin.blogspot.com/
http://kinderamerica.blogspot.com/

"Love One Another"

Authentic Worship Today

Today was such an awesome day the Lord gave us! Today At The Cross Church of Christ left our building and had our worship service on the grounds of Peachtree Apartments. We had so many residents including many children join us--it was so beautiful! I preached a message called "Whats The Bottom Line?" from 1 John 4. I drove home--that Christ's desire for all of us as He hung on the Cross--was not for us to be "good church folks." It was for us to love one another well--that anyone who loves--knows God. Anyone who does not love--does not know God.

Of course, we know its just a tad more complicated than that--for we know that even pagans and non-believers love their family members. But they don't understand true love--agape love--UNCONDITIONAL LOVE! Thats the kind of love God wants us to understand.

Very special thanks to the brothers from Saturn Road Church of Christ and First United Methodist Church in Mesquite for helping to provide a cookout of hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone!

There have been many hard days since I began this ministry 6 years ago--but days like today when you get to see people who live in poverty and struggle--get to see how wonderful Jesus truly is--MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT!

May the Lord bless each of you today!

Bruce

Tellling Jesus "To Hit The Road Jack, And Don't Ya Come Back...!"

I was reading this weekend from Matthew 8 where Jesus healed the two demon possessed men by driving the demons into the herd of pigs--who all were thus killed by going off a cliff! Then in the last verse, we see where neighbors and villagers then pleaded with Jesus to leave the area!??

Interesting, how they had witnessed the Son of God do something good for men and drive demons out--and yet--they wanted Him to leave? Now maybe some of them did not realize who Jesus truly was? We don't fully know. But we know that to date--over and over Jesus had done nothing but good for people! And perhaps over the fear of losing economic gain--these folks--after witnessing Jesus do something good--asked him to leave?

Do we ever do that? Do we ever subconciously ask Jesus to leave when we really want to focus on other things? Do we sometimes without realizing it--ask our Savior to leave when we don't want to be bothered by His ways when they interefere with our desires and our agenda? The good news is--HE never stops loving us and never stops gently knocking on our doors so HE can come back into our lives--no matter how often we may ask HIM to hit the road! What a beautiful and loving Savior Jesus is to us!

Embrace these words from the book of Job:

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God!" (Job 37:14).

I love each of you dearly!

Bruce