Our transition to Pittsburgh and Allison Park Church has been absolutely fantastic! We are well under way to clearing the path for a new church this March. I thought I would share a couple of things that God has been up to in the birth and formation of Lifestone Church.
- Launch Date: Our launch date was origionally set for April 4 (Easter Sunday), 2010. We have decided to move that date up to March 21, 2010. I know this is just a couple of weeks, but it really will make a huge difference. By launching two weeks before Easter, that will give us two straight weeks where we can invite people back to special services (Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday). These will be natural flowing “comeback” services and not forced or generated. If we launched on Easter, there would be nothing to invite the people back to next week. We would have to create something (which is fine) but why create something when we could have two natural flowing “comeback” services in Palm Sunday and Easter. Second, by launching two weeks earlier, it will give us a little more time to build and gain momentum before the summer starts! Picking up momentum is very important in the early stages of a new church. Once summer rolls around, people begin taking vacations, school is out and parents are awfuly busy trying to keep in step with their kids. So needless to say that summer time can be a momentum killer for new churches if that momentum isn’t strong, steady, and consistent. We feel this early launch date will help us attain those goals.
- Demographics study: I have been spending countless hours and days working on getting to know the community of South Side. South Side is where we will be launching Lifestone Church and by knowing the community in and out, we will be setting ourselves up for success. A couple of things you can learn while studying demographics of a certain community; first, you find out who you will be reaching (cultures, people groups, races, gender, ages). Second, you will find out specific needs (finances, jobs, housing, etc.). I have learned so much about South Side over the last several weeks just by researching on the internet and talking with people in the community!
- South Side Neighborhood Group: This group exists for one reason only, and that is to serve the community with no strings attached. We have a group that started several weeks ago who is meeting at a local bagel shop right on the main drag. They have been teaching and planning outreaches that would target specific felt needs in the community. For instance, yesterday the group brought brooms and bags and swept people’s sidewalks and driveways. This is a tremendous opportunity for our people to show the love of Christ through their actions. To show people that we genuinely care about them and love them. At this point, our goal is not to get them to join a church, it’s to meet the felt needs of our community and make an impact in lives all accross South Side. Our group is growing as we just had two new attendees this week. Our group is growing and our passion for the South Side is growing too!
- MCM Network: Our church is and will continue to be connected to the Multi Church Movement (MCM Network). This is a network of churches that was started by Jeff Leake who is the pastor of Allison Park Church. Currently there are 15 churches in the network and Lifestone Church is one of them. I had my first MCM pastors meeting this week and was able to give a report of the progress that we are currently making. This network is a support system like nothing I have ever seen. We are so thrilled to be supported by and connected with this awesome church and network!
- Fall/Winter Vision Tour: I am currently talking with pastors about dates to come speak at their churches for two reasons; First, to share the vision of Lifestone Church. Second, to raise financial support for this new church that will impact the entire city of Pittsburgh! We will be planting in the most revitalized and multi-cultural community in Pittsburgh. Our vision as a church is to be a Life-giving people that bridge multiple cultures together and bring spiritual renewal through the cross of Jesus Christ! I currently have some incredible opportunities lined up to share about Lifestone Church but I am most definitely looking for more. If you are a pastor of a church and would like to connect, please contact me! Maybe you aren’t a Lead Pastor or even a pastor at all, but would like to hear this vision shared at your church. Just talk with your pastor and get me connected! I would love to come talk about what God is up to!
Wow, that was a lot to write, but God is up to HUGE things and I don’t believe that there is anyone other than God who is more excited about this than I am. I will continue to update all of you on the progress of Lifestone Church in the future, but for now I think I will take a breather!
Posted In: Lifestone Church, Pittsburgh Church
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