actionchurch received a very nice email from a “friend” in Hong Kong. It seems people worldwide are interested in helping us out! We not only want to hear your ideas about new places to meet, we want to know how to make actionchurch better. Is there something that you think you could help with, or a new way to do something. Let us know what you got!!

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And now, an email from our “friend” Mr. Chan Lee:

*For those who didn’t get my sarcasm… I’m just joking. We AREN’T doing this.

“ Dear Friend,

I bring you greetings. I am Mr. Chan Lee, I work with BANK OF CHINA, HONG KONG. I have a Business Proposal of $17.3M for you to handle with me from my bank. I need you to assist me in executing this Business Project from Hong Kong to your country. I need to know if you will be able to handle this with me before I explain to you in details. Should you be interested please send me the required information below;

(1). Full Names
2).Current Residential Address
3). private phone number,
I will want you to reach me on my private e-mail:
(l_chan28@yahoo.com.hk). Finally after that I shall provide you with more information.

Regards, Mr. Chan Lee ”

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There’s been a lot of talk lately about starting some sort of small group environment so that actionchurch folks can “do life” with people who are also interested in putting the teachings of Jesus into action.  People stop me nearly every Sunday morning to ask… it shows up in the questions and comments…in short- “demand” is building for something more than “just Sunday morning”.   I’m excited about what I am hearing.  From the  beginning we intended for there to be “actiongroups” that met outside of Sunday morning toallow people to build friendships, share their stories, serve their communities, take their relationships with God and others to a “whole nutha level”.

Tomorrow I’ll post the vision for what I think “actiongroups” should “look like”…but I want to take a few moments today first to let everyone “in” on what we will need to be able to start “small groups” at actionchurch.

One year ago, when we started out as a church we made a decision to wait 6 months to a year to start any small groups.  We wanted to wait for people to build relationships…build communitiy…for potential small group leaders to “appear”.   I think one year later those things are happening.  We will need more- but several people have expressed interest in leading groups in their homes…restaurants…and yes, bars.

What we need to “make this happen” is a “community organizer”  (Sorry President Obama is too busy).  We need someone to organize a system to match interested folks with small groups.  Someone to set up a small group “plan” so everyone is on the same page.  Someone to “visit” the various actiongroups and “inspect rather than expect”.   Someone to organize occassional “all play” events (Parties, bbq etc)  where we could all get to know each other better…and possibly discover an actiongroup that “fits” us personally.  The actionchurch “small group czar” will have to be one part manager, one part revolutionary leader, and one part “party planner”.  Someone able to put together a proposal based on our vision…present it for approval…and then execute it…without a lot of input or “hand holding”.

I’m not sure who our new “small group czar” is.  Everyone on our crew is operating at or way above “capacity”  We’re too busy now.   My “prime directive”  for myself and family is to take on LESS reponsibility in this second year of actionchurch.  Beyond that, I SUCK at  management and organization…so the thought of designing and administering a “system” makes me want to put a gun in my mouth    I am certain that God has someone that is passionate about relationships…someone who “knows” about, or wants to learn how to run a small group system.  Someone who loves to organize “events” and parties.  Someone who wants to perform top level work for zero pay    Is it you?  Will you pray with me that that person will “show up”?    

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.  More tomorrow…

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What can you do to help? I’m glad you asked… We need people to help set up and tear down the actionchurch booth, people to help make coffee, blow up balloons, hang out and meet people. We need people to wear there “actionchurch colors” (we have t-shirts available for the event) and answer fair goers most common question after “Is this coffee really free?”…which is…”Do you guys really have church at Fat Daddy’s Nightclub?”

We also need generous people to sponsor the event… Purchase 1000 actionchurch balloons for $125.00… purchase a great cup of coffee for a fair goer for .25…how about 100 cups for $25…. or 1000 cups for $250.?…Sponsor our (tent spot) rental at the Fair for $800?

So why do we do it? Why do spend the money…spend the time? Why do we give away stuff to people who may of may not come to church? (Michele actually makes a point to deliver coffee each night to the workers in the games that travel with the fair.) We do it because the York Fair is the single greatest opportunity to meet York County folks face to face…to “shock them” with the idea that there is a church who actually wants to serve them a free cup of coffee instead of bombarding them with a religious message…to offer them (not accost them) with an actionchurch invite card if they are interested. Best of all -to tell those who ask that there is a church where they would absolutely be accepted and welcomed…no matter who they are or what they have done!

Please do not miss this opportunity to be part of actionchurch at York Fair! This is an “all play” event and every one of us can be a part of the action!

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• Better organization for set-up and tear-down. We had lot’s of help this week but were actually a little slower because we don’t have a system developed that is easily worked by people who have never done it before.
• More Set up and tear down crew. We would like it to be a rotating “shift” before church (Maybe twice a month at first) We would like to have different people tear down so that the set-up crew that got there at 8am can leave.
• Jeff and Chrissie in actionkidz need more help! Some people indicated on their survey cards that they would like to help out…we need it. I loved walking up the stairs to actionkidz after the service and hearing a kid say “Mom that was Awesome!… actionkidz rocks!
• We need a place for infants… The new heated deck area is much quieter and much better suited to mothers with small children but we need someone to guide them out there and make sure they are comfortable…we have a screen and (Small) speakers in place now. We just need a better method to guide them out there.
• A “video dude” or “dudette” we are looking for someone with skilz in recording and producing video intro’s and short interviews for the service.
• Web site help… One of my biggest disappointments was not having a “good/cool” website up to welcome our guests…. Right now we are using a godaddy freebie template that I update. (link) We will be investing in a new website…but we are looking for someone with a passion to keep it fresh and updated.

Are you part of the solution to any of the things we are working on? After attending actionchurch do you see more stuff we should be working on…except for my hair, t-shirt choice, and love of the word “freakin’”?

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the crews realize they are all “in it to win”. If one crew member
is slacking or injured others will either jump in to help or
administer a “wake-up” call. Teamwork on a crab boat isn’t a goal or method…it’s survival! I love how proud the crewmen are of their “colors”. The highest honor for a rookie crewman is to receive a jacket with the ships logo on it that he can wear when he returns home. I love how every crewman strives to be great at their particular “station” so that the team can have a good catch. I also love that even though the captain sets the course for the ship from high above the deck, he receives a “share” in the catch just like the other crewman. Finally, (and I could go on…I really dig this program) I love that they constantly “keep score”! You will never find a crab fisherman on the Bering Sea who does not know how many crab they are catching and what they are worth. Every crewman realizes that they are paid to catch crab…not be on a boat, wear a rain suit, or talk about fishing. They are crab fishermen….and the most important thing to them, way more important than their physical comfort and safety, is that they are “on the crab”.

Interested? Does this sound like your kind of adventure? For more info email: info@actionchurch.com

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I did stick around to watch “On the Lot” which came on after idol because I am fascinated with amateur film making. Obviously, the technology is here and affordable enough to now make really amazing short films…with nothing but a digital camera and a laptop. I have a gut feeling that having great film at church will become (over the next 5-10 years) nearly as important as having a great Band in communicating with the “new to church” crowd.

So, are you an amateur film maker wanting to do something that will matter for all eternity? Can you imagine your art telling “the” Story. Making people laugh? Making people cry? actionchurch is looking for someone with the talent, equipment, and calling to digitally communicate truth and hope to York County and the world. Is it you? Do you know someone? If so, we’d like to hear from you. info@actionchurch.com

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