The Door

I was introduced today by a fellow church planter as Paul the Lead Pastor of Velocity church a Re-Start. It flew by me rather quickly and I missed the connotation. There was a sense of truth to the matter, for we are indeed a re-start, having been born of the closing of one church and the beginning of another. Some of our birth church members are still dismayed at a closing of the old and have not connected with the new. They walked out the doors and have not chosen to participate in a process of starting the new work. Why–because they feel betrayed because they think of us, the Velocity church as a re-start church, doing the same old things in a brand new place. But I think of Velocity as a New-Start.

Someone told me that if we begin again, doing the same things as we done them before–we can be 100% certain we will have the same results we had in the past. We you re-start, you keep the same programs, same ideas, same direction and same failed results. Velocity has the unique opportunity to have a new start, as a new congregation. Everyone must leave the preconceived ideas, hopes and dreams of the past–in the past. We must look forward to the new ideas, hopes and dreams of doing church better than before.

Our focus must be on the unchurched. Everything we do, in worship, must be for the purpose of giving God glory and reaching the unchurched. Classic church terms or phrases must be replaced with a language that the unchurched will recognize and understand. We must focus on how we can bring them to Jesus. In our small group ministry we gather people together in non threatening enviorments to enable them to learn more about Jesus and how Christians make a difference in the world. In our service, we encourage everyone to share in giving the love of God away in various projects for our communities we serve.

Doors swing both ways. Sometimes we must hold the door for those who choose not to join us. We hope and pray that they connect with a body of believers where they feel comfortable and are able to serve. But the door of interest to me is the door where the unchurched can find access to the greatest person who ever lived–Jesus. That door must be the focus. Fellowship deep within the body must never cause us to forget the door which brings people to God. Back door programs geared to keep the saints happy are better served by keeping God’s people focused on what can they do to promote the front door program of the church. Our goal is not to entertain the church–but to reach the unchurched.

Doors allow us to gain access. Jesus is the door who gives us access to eternal life. I will save my fellowship with the saints for that time in heaven when we all will celebrate together. But till then, I want to find and meet and know and lead the unchurched to the door. This prayer, this lifestyle might take me to some rather unpleasant places–but read carefully about Jesus choice of where He chose to meet the sinners. He went to their turf to lead them to the door.

I am the lead pastor of a NEW church plant–birthed by the foresight, generosity and support of a group of church people who seek a new way to do church. The church is like the hospital instead of the club. We provide healing for the sinner–not a place of fellowship and good times just for the saints.

Paul

Great Weekend

We had a great weekend, visiting with Brian Brunke, our future Connections Pastor. Brian’s experience and enthusiasm for the task at hand was super. I believe he will complement our current staff with both his personality and job skills. His wife, Melissa is a sweetheart and was very enthused about moving to Georgia. As details are available, we will let you know when Brian and Melissa will arrive to set up housekeeping.

Thanks to all who came out to the picnic  to greet and meet Brian and Melissa. They were very complementary of all of you and your desire to see Velocity reach our community. We took them to the airport today to fly home and begin the preparations to make the move south.

In less than two weeks our first two projects for Velocity will be over. We will involve ourselves in the Fourth of July parade in Douglasville, passing out Coke products, water and candy bags. Brochures will be passed out as well. And the next day we will be helping park cars for the Concert in the Park and Fireworks at Taylor Farm park. We will also have watermelon and coke products to give away with our literature.

Please email me at Paul@Velocity242.com or .org to inform me on which day you can help us. We need at least a dozen helping with parking on July 5.

I am just amazed at how God opens the doors for us at Velocity. Later this week I will share a devotional about doors. Doors swing both ways. We enter to worship–but we must forget to depart and serve.

Paul

Safe and Sound

I am back home from the Bike Ride Across Georgia, safe and sound. Now you will probably find it hard to believe, but I am rested and excited to get back to work. After pedaling over 400 miles or so, I feel invigorated and ready to go.

Of course many know that we have our address location for Velocity. God has blessed us with a unique opportunity to reach two separate communities. Hiram and Douglasville are filled with people who need to know Jesus and all that He can offer to their lives. Imagine if you will that while on my bike ride, I ran across a great restaurant, with delicious food, reasonable prices and free dessert with every meal. But, I will just keep that information to myself and never share with you where the restaurant is located. Well, as a Christian, as a plant team member, as part of church, we have residing within our hearts the solution to bad relationships, we have the purpose of life, we have the hope of eternal life–but we just keep this news to ourselves, never sharing with others who are in need of this person who abides within us–Jesus.

Many years ago we heard a lot about the statement–”What would Jesus do.” That is still pertinent today, but I would add another statement, just as relevant to our world. “Let them see Jesus”. Do people see Jesus living in you by how you talk, you walk or you act? Does you life reflect the risen Lord? Velocity has only one purpose and that is to connect people to Jesus and His lifestyle. In worship, in small groups and in service we want people to see Jesus in us.

Keep in your prayers this upcoming weekend. We have a potential staff member visiting with us. You will meet him and his wife at our picnic gathering at Taylor Farm  Park. Pray for God to continue to lead us as we take Jesus to the communities around us.

Paul

The Ride

My week long BRAG event began with a very hot and humid day. It was not to be one of the longest, but certainly was the most difficult. Many riders failed to ingest enough water and I was one. Along about mile 47, I began to have cramps in my legs. This forced me to slow down and keep a very deliberate pace far below my normal pace. Though I was drinking water at this point, I should have began sooner. I failed to read the signs of the day ahead and respond appropriately. Therefore do as I could when the cramps came about, I was unprepared.

Jesus talks to us about signs of the times and what they signal to us. One story in particular concerns the willingness to be prepared ahead of the great event of Jesus return. Like a thief in the night, He will return unexpectedly and catch many unaware, because they failed to read the signs and were not prepared. It is important for us to be working now, praying, reading, witnessing, living for Christ. Do not put off till tomorrow any decisions to make Christ Lord of your life. The day will arrive when we will all see Jesus coming in His glory–will you be ready?

Fortunately for me, the rest of the week’s ride has been much better. Though the days are longer, the weather is just as hot and humid–now I am prepared. It makes riding more enjoyable when you have prepared properly.

We will wrap up this week long ride in just a couple of days. As we draw nearer to the end of the week, I am anxious to come home see all that God is doing for Velocity. Prayer power is doing much. Do I need to mention it again–but our prayers during this beginning will set the standard for our expectations of blessings to come. Be praying today for God’s blessings of tomorrow.

Paul

Time Out

Hey all,

I am taking time to do the across the state bicycle ride, BRAG. We leave from Covington, GA and spend nights in Griffen, Macon, Dublin (2 nights), Hazlehurst, Jessup, and finally arrive in St. Simon next Saturday. I am riding with Bruce Kridle and our wives are headed to St. Simon to pick us up and spend a day or two there. We plan to worship at Savanah Christian before returning home.

God is continuing to bless Velocity. We have had an offer on purchasing the old buidings and 5 acre lot. We have countered and are waiting to hear. Be in prayer for this buyer that we can agree on a fair price. This is a church to whom we are working to purchase our facilities.

If I get access to a computer, I will keep you informed of how the bike ride is going. I will save the pictures for when I return.  So, keep me and Bruce in your prayeres that we may be safe and sound during our excursion.

Paul

Down Go the Walls

Great news for all. God has answered our prayers and we have access to meet at the Bessie Baggett Elementary School in Paulding County. The address is 948 Williams Lake Road. It is located just east of Rt. 92 only a few hundred yards from the intersection. Baggett is a newer school and we have access to the gym, classrooms and such.

Last night a few men from the plant team assembled at this location to walk and pray. We even stopped at the entrance doors to the area we were hoping to use for Velocity. As God instructed Joshua to march, pray and shout, we prayed in earnest that God would open those doors. We prayed that the doors would admit us to worship but would never prevent us from going to serve. We prayed for the principle to make a decision quickly in favor of God’s kingdom. That was last evening around 8 pm when we finished praying.

Today, just after lunch, we heard from the school system that we indeed were invited to meet weekly in the school. God heard our prayers and delivered. We will be back at that school very soon, thanking Him and dedicating this facility to God’s glory.

We are now making plans to begin securing advertising for Velocity. We want to attempt to make everyone aware between now and launch Sunday that Velocity is a group of people who desire to BE the CHURCH in all that we say, we do and become.

God is good.  Maybe the walls did not fall like at Jericho, but we saw some doors come crashing down. AMEN

Paul

A Rose by Any Other Name…

Juliet:
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.” Shakespeare

They have replaced the steeple. They are seen as necessary and of vast importance for the new church plant and the established congregation of believers. What am I speaking of such importance? The church’s quest for a Logo. Maybe with my tongue in my cheek, I see this quest rising above vision, mission, and commission for the church. And like choosing the carpet color for the auditorium, if enough people are invited to the party–all gamuts of opinion are presented, each with heart felt reasons for their selection. Even the paid logo professionals are caught up in the desire to bring to print expressions and directions from the church. And we think that in some way, we can boil down our message or our purpose to encompass a symbol or sign that expresses 100% of vision as a church. It just can not be done, or can it?

I can not find that the scriptures give us an injunction or command that we operate with a logo. I do find that the early church, post apostolic days, used the symbol of the fish to identify themselves. Did this symbol arise from Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish? We still find ourselves today using this symbol to identify a business as Christian owned or Christian operated. But I wonder what the early pagans thought of this symbol? Did they immediately see Christ? Or did they see, “Jerusalem Fish Company”? Did Peter have to take the time to explain, “We are the church–not a fishing company. But, speaking of fishing, we are fishing for men!” Way to go Peter, that’s using your logo.

Soon, the cross became another logo for the church. We see the cross in many different places. We wear them as necklaces, we display them on church walls, or see it on bumper stickers. And we find the cross used in many of today’s logos. Again, what would that early pagan think of the cross as a logo? “Yikes, why would you glorify such a crude, cruel execution device? Are you a executioner?“  Of course, Peter would come to the defense, “Christ died such a cruel death and rose again–for you.” Again, way to speak up Peter. Preach home the point of the cross to the world.

Velocity now has a logo. It will be misunderstood. The world will ask, “Is this a new telecommunications company?” Let me speak for Peter, “Well, though we are not a new telecommunications company, we are in the business of tele-communicating Jesus to a world lost in darkness. We are the voice of purpose and salvation.“

Our logo at best is a tool for Christ to help us reach the world. We should remember our logo is for those outside the church to peak their interest and give us opportunity to share Jesus?

Yet, I did find finally an unwritten logo in the book of Acts. This is a logo which we wear on our hearts. Acts 11:26b (NLT)
²⁶ It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.

We are Velocity–we are the church–but most importantly we are Christians. And with that name we let the world see Jesus in us and we show them God’s love in our actions. And along the way, our logo will stand to speak of our voice of evangelism to the world.

Paul

Worship–Connect–Serve is our mission

Turn It Up

Velocity Volume is Turning Up the volume on the purpose for each of us in God’s kingdom.  We are  informing you of the progress of the new church plant.  Here are more details, which in essence is Turning Up the Volume of what’s happening.

We have two on staff, and are praying about a third staff member. He too is praying about God’s direction in his life. Later this month we anticipate an announcment of exactly who God has brought to Velocity as our Connections Pastor.

Our location is just about solidified. We have toured two different facilities which are open to us and we have chosen the one which best fits the needs of reaching our communities for Christ. Again, it is not about us, but about how we can best reach those who need Christ.

Service projects are beginning to dot our summer calandars. We will be at parades, fireworks, and community movie nights at the park, giving away our kindness cards, sharing coke, water and watermelon with the community. We want to example the life of Christ in our lives. I am excited about these next few weeks to live out our message.

Continue to watch for updates. A new web page is coming soon. A worship band is being assembled. Advertizing is coming under contract. Equipment for worship, children areas, and hospitality are being arranged. These “costs” of hardware, usually behind the scene, are all necessary for us to present the message to those we encounter, those we worship with and those we serve.

We are turning up the volume. Listen–Velocity Church wants to make a difference in people’s lives–no matter who that person is. God died for the world and we must understand that the world is the mission field. It must start for us–exactly where we are located as a body of Christ. Turn it up.

Paul