Springwell Staff

I just got back from a trip to Panama.  I won’t call it a missions trip, because it really wasn’t, and you might also go somewhere else in your thinking.

Let me tell you about it.

Lynda and I were part of a team of people who converged in a place called David, Chiriquí.  We were from different places, both Canada and the US, and apart from one person, I had never met the rest.  We had come for different purposes in our overall discovery, but common to our coming together was a concept.  A concept of a retreat center that would be defined and constructed and operated to provide solitude and restoration for burned out pastors and church leaders.  Panama is a place that meets most of the conditions of such a project.  Over several days we walked land, and met with realtors, property owners, lawyers, land developers and investors.  It was incredible, and I enjoyed working with these other professionals.

Within the entire discovery, we also had the opportunity to meet up with some gringo residents who get together for “fellowship” each Saturday at one of their homes.  I didn’t know anyone!  But after 6 hours or so, it was like we had been friends for life.  All I could think was that this was church!  They call it the Dolega Fellowship (maybe because it convenes in a town called Dolega???).  It was also comprised of people of different beliefs  -  and I mean extreme.  Over the course of the day there were moments of prayer and teaching, and, oh yes  -  food! 

But guess who came to mind many times during that experience?  The community we call Springwell Church!  I thought a lot about our home groups and efforts in encouraging people to become part of one.  In Panama, I was invited to a “home group” that functioned with little structure (and without pleading and soliciting!).  I was instantly part of a community of expats co-mingled with the local Panamanian residents who actually believed there was nothing better that one could do with one’s time but to spend it with others.

Here’s the punch line.  Their effectiveness as a small group was in their outwards efforts.  As individuals, to the other person who needed prayer and support and encouragement and practical help.  People were genuinely interested in what was going on in the life of another.    This care made itself very real in how life issues could be safely represented; how every person responded with ideas, encouragement, and practical support on matters of relationships, physical, emotional and spiritual health, finances, business concerns, child care, education, and just about anything that had to do with life. 

As a collaborative, its effectiveness was in extending their skills and compassion into the local culture.  A couple who are part of this group serve as a great illustration of how they mobilize about specific needs within the local culture.  Steve and Jenni Bliss typically host the Dolega Fellowship, but what Steve does with his time, every chance he can, is give to the Indigenous Indians in the Comarcas of Panama.  And the Dolega home group comes about these initiatives by giving of their time, skills, and other resources.  By the way  -  Steve turned me upside down in my thinking and definitions of service.  (My next “vacation” will be as a participant in one of his projects!)

Check out Steve’s website.

There is way too much to share.  And it would be too easy to slide off topic for what I want to communicate.  It’s this.  Home groups are not just an item to select from a list of activities that SpringWell offers.  They are SpringWell.  There is just no other option that pulls it all together into who we are called to be in community.  Wow did I experience it!  And in another country.  What else can I say other than I can’t encourage you enough to become part of a small group here at SpringWell. 

And you don’t have to go to Panama!  You can contact a group to visit right near your home.  Just select one by clicking here

Or email Tracey if you want more information!

Ken Newton

Springwell in the HOUSE!

Thanks to everybody for being at the Rosselli’s!  I don’t know about you guys but I had a blast seeing over 1350 people hanging out together.  It was hilarious to see the college students and the motorcycle group get up and sing some of country’s greatest hits.   It was also awesome to see children, youth, moms and dads, grandfathers and grandmothers, everybody ride horses and use the bouncers.  It was great to see a well organized event.  But, I think the things that impacted me the most was seeing new people and hearing the conversations they were having with people that are the “regulars” at Springwell.

One conversation went like this…”We’ve just moved here.”  “We  haven’t found a church home yet.”  “We love Springwell.”  “We love Heather” (you owe me for the plug)…”We’ve been to Springwell two times.” 

Another conversation went like this…”We’ve been trying to attend your small group but you haven’t gotten us the information of when and where.”  I apologize to these folks but they are coming to be a part of an already large small group.  It was a time for me to reconnect.

Still another from another staff member, “I didn’t do anything but visit with people.”  How good it is for our people and staff to do nothing but love each other?

Last thing, and on a different note…I don’t know about you, but as I looked around the Rosselli’s place I was reminded of how many people, children, and adults have come to know Christ personally because of your effort, genorosity, planning, service, prayer, and willingness to invite.  Don’t stop!

Take a minute and share with us what Family Fun Day meant to you.  Did you meet new people?  Did you reconnect with old friends?  How about reconnecting with your family outside of all the distractions in life?   Tell us what made Family Fun Day a one-of-a-kind event!  We would love to hear from you!  

Julio Samayoa

Minister to Children

Guest MC

P.S. I was glad to know we didn’t need the extra loaves of bread and extra fish, but it was awesome knowing that HE was there.

I had a conversation with Bill Simmons, one of our senior leaders at SpringWell, the other day.  He asked me “what makes a leader”?  In our conversation I suggested several descriptions of what a leader is in my opinion.  In all of my definitions, Bill said “no, that’s a characteristic…what makes a leader?”  As I began to ponder his comment & question I came to my personal conclusion that characteristics ARE what defines someone or something.  I believe that many characteristics of a leader can be learned.  Therefore to define what makes a leader, one would have to know what the characteristics are.  So - in driving down the road and pondering our conversation, I wrote some thoughts on scrap paper about the question:  “What makes a leader?”

To me what makes a leader boils down to willingness…

Leaders have a willingness to:

* learn.  Leaders are continual learners.  If a leader feels they don’t have any more to learn then it’s time to question thier leadership.

* serve others.  Leaders see themselves in a servant role - not in a “master” role.

* step out in faith.  Leaders are willing to follow the vision they believe they’re receiving from God.  They follow their hearts with passion.

* make decidions.  In following their God-given vision, leaders make decisions. 

* plan.  Leaders take time to plan for the future - praying all the while.

* work hard.  True leaders will be the first one to tackle a project or task but will also be the last one finishing it up.  They realize that the price to pay to reach a goal is hard work.  

* guide.  Leaders are willing to guide tasks as well as people.  There will always be both aspects in leadership roles and responsibilities.

* follow.  Leaders are willing to follow God’s plan even if it’s not the “popular” plan.  They also are willing to follow the vision of the organization they’re a part of.

* support others.  Leaders encourage other people.  They look for leadership characteristics and encourage othes to step out in faith to take on leadership responsibilities.  They also realize not everyone was designed for leadership.  True leaders support people where they are.

* adapt when necessary.  Leaders can adapt from “plan a” to plan b, c and d quickly.  They realize there is usually more than one way to accomplish a goal.

* be positive.  Leaders are willing to “see the bright side of things” rather than drag others down in negative commentaries.

* get dirty sometimes.  Leaders realize they have to be willing to get in the “trenches” and do the dirty work too.

So those are some of my “car thoughts” on leadership on that particular day.  Thank you, Bill, for getting me thinking!  Obviously we are always seeking leaders at SpringWell as well as followers.  If any of those qualities sound like you, please contact the church to let us know what your interests are and we can try to help you further develop into the leader God is calling you to be using the gifts He has given you!  (I hope it’s in the Home Group ministry! I know…shameless plug.)

As I was leaving my apartment complex this morning, I realized that I ran TWO stop signs on my way out! Technically, I performed a driving move that a lot of us call “the rolling stop.” You know what I’m talking about. We come up to a stop sign, see that no one is coming or watching, and then we proceed to slowly roll on through.

It really isn’t different in our everyday lives. Think about it:

1) How many times do we let sin slowly creep into our lives? We walk a fine line between right and wrong, and we slowly but surely begin crossing the line. Before we know it, we don’t even notice the sign to stop.

2) For the most part, we tend to do things we shouldn’t do when no one else is around. When you really break it down, the things we do when no one is looking gives us a better glimpse of our true character. We need to clean up our lives when no one is looking.

3) How many of us has way too much going on in our lives? We need to STOP
doing so much and focus our attention on what matters the most. What
are some signs you need to stop some things in your life? You have no
spare time to rest. You have no time with your family. You work
overtime every week. Stop doing so much.

What stop signs are you running?

I asked SpringWell’s eNews editor if she would postpone distribution until Thursday of this week.  I also asked if I could grab the staff blog spot in order to communicate some late-breaking news.
 
Here it is.  I just got the word a few moments ago.  Dan Dather is leaving us!  Ouch!
 
Especially for me…..
 
Dan and I started at SpringWell at almost the same time.  We were friends instantly.  We have also been colleagues working together over the past two and a half years aligning our skill sets into a developing strategy for change and growth at SpringWell.  Dan’s position has had different labels, including Teaching Pastor, Director of Ministry Programs and Leadership Development, and most recently, Associate Pastor.  His strength has always been teaching, and all of us have appreciated the times Dan has connected with us from his stool on the stage at Synergy and our weekend event.
 
Over the past year, we have gone through a major retrofit of our organization.  Dan has been instrumental in its development and implementation.  In fact, Dan is leaving in part for having built and endorsed an organizational structure that did not exclusively lend itself to his strong suit of teaching.  SpringWell’s greater effectiveness is more important to Dan than his self-interest.
 
Here’s the important point that needs to be made.  Dan could well continue at SpringWell in his role as Associate Pastor.  The emphasis of that position would be of an assortment of departmental and assimilation programs, and I know Dan well enough to also know he is very capable to do the job.  However, Dan knows his passion to be that of teaching….and teaching…and teaching.  And while he is fully committed to SpringWell and has much yet to contribute, an opportunity has come his way better suited to his giftings.  Even that is an understatement.  Better stated, it seems perfectly designed about his abilities. 
 
And that is always the tension of staff change.  It goes like this.  SpringWell needs someone like Dan.  We know he has the abilities.  He has been part of so many positive changes since coming on staff.  He is highly connected and appreciated.  You wouldn’t think there could be a better fit.  He is incredible to work with.  But somewhere else, a position has been crafted that offers a greater ministry return for Dan.  And that’s the tension, moreso, the sacrifice that goes with the choices of leaving and releasing. 
 
I won’t say any more at this time.  Dan will be around for a while yet, easing the transition and emotions of this change.  Over the next few weeks he will be sharing a lot more about his decision and details of this new page of his ministry.  We may just let him have rights of the next three staff blogs.  For what I already know, this is going to be very exciting for Dan and Debbie, and we all want to know more about this opportunity.
 
OK  -  I don’t like that he is moving forward.  But that’s what leaders do.  They are unsettled at the best of times.  And because of that, they make choices that favor the greater church contribution, regardless of location and present relationships. 
 
Go Dan!
 
But you’re still deserting me…..

This week, SpringWell entered the second quarter of its fiscal year.  Interestingly, we look to the first few weeks of this quarter as generating some of our strongest weekend revenues.  April is next only to December as a monthly percentage of our full year revenue performance.

As we have incorporated this pattern into our current year, with that in mind, I encourage you to continue in your faithful giving.  And, of course, the easiest way to do that is to be here at SpringWell each Sunday!  There are some great services rolling out beginning this weekend and continuing into May.  Stay connected by visiting springwell.org  and also subscribing to SpringWell’s eNews.

Very shortly we will be providing weekly financial updates as part of our eNews.  Nothing conspicuous, rather, just a brief insight into how we are doing in relation to our financial plan.  We believe it is important that you have a sense of the health of SpringWell by that measure  -  not to influence what you give, as much as to encourage you for what is being accomplished in relation to giving.

By the way, we’ve had a great first quarter!  If I tell you that our operating deficit was $20,000, your first response has to be how a deficit can be considered “great”.  Well, here’s how….

Income and expense isn’t a straight line through the year.  Revenues undergo seasonal fluctuations and weekend influences.  Costs are higher certain times of the year and lower at other times.  Our budget reflects a planned first quarter deficit that is actually 3 times what we experienced.  What happened is that our revenues were up 8% over plan and expenses were managed to 6% below plan.  And that’s a $40,000 net improvement over where we planned to be at this time.  That’s a great first quarter!

Folks  -  we’re really taking this seriously!  Faith and commitment is increasing.  The moments of financial crisis are becoming less frequent.  Lives are being changed in so many ways as we allow God to move and speak in response to our trust in Him.  Moving into this second quarter of our church operation, I can’t help but be excited about what great things are ahead!

Do we really need to know how many people are attending our Easter Weekend Services?   Yes!  So I have decided to share with you my TOP TEN REASONS we need you to TELL US who is coming… 

10.  We put out 250 chairs for the Saturday night service, and over 1000  people attend.

 9.   We have 40 volunteers to help in the parking lot on Saturday night, and they have a hard time figuring out how to park 20 cars and make the parking lot look full!

 8.   Our musicians and vocalists prepare for a response time with one song, when in actuality, they needed 3 or more songs because people are receiving Christ and the response is overwhelming.

 7.   Our children’s workers show up on Saturday night preparing to serve our “regular crowd of children”, and the masses show up with their kids, their neighbor’s kids,  and all their classmates from Mtn. View Elementary. Oops… We might need to run to Bi-Lo for some more kool-aid.

 6.   We print 4000 programs for the weekend, and because SpringWell tries to be a good steward, we use the extra programs as toilet paper in the MEN’s room.

 5.   At the 11:00 am service, we bring out the purple chairs, then the grey chairs from the kitchen, and then we resort to putting our kids in the floor and pulling out the tiny blue desks from Adventureland to accomodate the masses, and we still have standing room only.

 4.   We put out 1000 chairs in our Saturday night service, and only 5 people show up.  Maybe we could invite them to join us on the stage to make it more personal.

 3.   Our Ushers pass the regular baskets for offering, the money is overflowing, and instead of the tithes going to the church, they go to anyone who can catch the $20 bills falling out of the basket.

 2.   Our guests are sitting on the floor in the foyer watching and listening to the TV screens with the volume on 10, and they still can’t hear Scott’s message.

And the #1 reason we really need to know who is coming Easter……

 1.   We want to make a good impression on our guests.  We may never get the chance to share the life-changing story of Hope with them again.  

Please go to http://www.springwell.org/register_easter.html, and tell us which service you will be attending and how many guests you believe will attend as well.  We Need You! And just for fun, send me your TOP TEN REASONS in the ADD A COMMENT section at the top.  I would love to hear from you.

 Connie Burton - Communications Director

• On Sunday we hosted a Ministry Expo at SpringWell. Each department was creative about how they promoted their ministry’s Service Opportunities and encouraged participation. It looked like the circus came to town. We had two large enclosed tents, a cotton candy booth, and portable food trailer complete with corn dogs, french fries, and funnel cakes. We even had a stuffed moose, thanks to our student ministry. The whole place was full of energy and very exciting. As a result, 150 people made commitments to serve at SpringWell. The breakdown is as follows:       
•  Creative Arts: Worship & Music - 12     
•    Creative Arts: Tech – 5
•   Christian in the Wind – 9       
• Women’s Ministry – 15       
• Home Groups – 6 
• Central Community Ministries – 10
•  Angel Food – 7       
•  Adult Discipleship – 3       
• Children’s Ministry – 10
• Mother’s Morning Out – 6       
• Campus Support – 10
•  Care Ministries – 17       
• Student Ministry – 11   
• Communications – 2 
• Operations Ministries – 16  
• Guest Services – 11 

This was a great way to end our series SpringWell’s Got Talent. We have learned that each of us is uniquely SHAPEd by God with purpose and destiny. None of us is meant to sit on the sidelines. We are all called to serve. If you missed the Expo, you can still get connected. Check out the Service Opportunities booklet and connect with the team you feel you want to serve. 

His Servant….Your Friend,

Bill Simmons

 The Barna Group, Ltd. provides primary research amongst other leadership resources that are shared to help facilitate spiritual transformation in America.  This month, the latest Barna update examines the church-going behavior of Americans, with particular attention on the “Unattached”.  With Easter just around the corner, Barna provides information that might help us in understanding how best to connect with those who normally stay away from church.  As we together strive to meet our 3000/300/3 SpringWell objective on Easter weekend, these statistics may help us with how we approach our people we will be inviting.   Here are some excerpts.

Unattached - people who attend neither a conventional church nor an organic faith community (e.g., house church, simple church, intentional community) during the past year. Some of these people use religious media, but they have no personal interaction with a regularly-convened faith community. This segment represents one out of every four adults (23%) in America. About one-third of the segment is people who have never attended a church at any time in their life. Reaching the Unattached With the final weeks of the Easter season rapidly approaching, the Barna study also identified some of the characteristics of the Unattached that might enable conventional churches to more adeptly connect with those people.

Compared to regular churchgoers, the Unattached are:

• more likely to feel stressed out
•  less likely to be concerned about the moral condition of the nation         
• much less likely to believe that they are making a positive difference in the world        
•   less optimistic about the future          
•  far less likely to believe that the Bible is totally accurate in its principles           
• substantially more likely to believe that Satan and the Holy Spirit are symbolic figures, but are not real         
• more likely to believe that Jesus Christ sinned while He was on earth         
• much more likely to believe that the holy literature of the major faiths all teach the same principles even though they use different stories        
•  less likely to believe that a person can be under demonic influence         
• more likely to describe their sociopolitical views as “mostly liberal” than “mostly conservative” 

A Unique Profile Six out of ten adults in the Unattached category (59%) consider themselves to be Christian. Even more surprising was the revelation that 17% of the Unattached are born again Christians - defined as people who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that they consider to be very important in their life, and who believe that they will experience Heaven after they die because they have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior.  I encourage you to read the full article.  Click here to read more…. Here’s the kicker.  The article says, “Attempting to get them involved in the life of a church is a real challenge. The best chance of getting them to a church is when someone they know and trust invites them, offers to accompany them, and there is reason to believe that the church event will address one of the issues or needs they are struggling with at that moment.“ WOW!  There’s the challenge!  You get them here, come with them, and they will certainly hear and experience how their lives can be changed! 3000/300/3…..   ken

February 28th, 2008

I looked through some past blogs of mine and found something that may tie in with why we have decided to have a weekly staff blog.  Obviously, it is to get to know staff  -  what they are doing, how they think and communicate, and to what extent the reader can be influenced in better understanding SpringWell in its philosophy and operation.  The attached blog talks to what I believe is the value of blogging, in particular, the significance of being open rather than covert.  Gone are the days of corporate “secrets”, for fear of seconding to a neighboring church….  Simply, we are who we are and in the form we believe God would have us be a significant influence within our community.  Anyway  -  here it is.  ….ken

quote….

I was recently reading an article in one of my favorite publications (Wired) wherein was stated that “reputation and transparency will warp every corner of life in years to come, for good and ill”.  The context was blogging, and the inescapable reality that the reputation economy of the internet requires you to be more open, not less.

I agree.  Certainly, the blogosphere has the power by which reputation can be positively or negatively influenced.  And it seems that being open is what drives a positive reputation, even if it includes publicizing failings.  In fact, the observations of large corporations show that they grow stronger for being transparent about their faults and deficiencies.

Churches need to blog.  We know that the days of influencing reputation by signage, newspaper and broadcast media are gone.  Critical church leaders need to blog about the good and the bad.  Big ideas need to be published, not guarded so as not to be stolen by another church.  There’s a correlation  -  check out the fastest growing most influential churches, and I bet you will find they are fearless to represent everything good and bad, ahead and behind, for what they absolutely want to accomplish.

Blogging is what it’s all about now.  It’s just the device.  Who knows what will come next.  Regardless, the greater lesson of this discussion is the importance of being transparent.  Secrecy is a thing of the past.  The value is in disclosure.  People become more interested in a church that is comprised of “normal humans”, not an institution of perfect harmony and righteous behavior.  And once people are interested in a church for its commitment to try and fail and try again, they are even more interested in helping.

As leaders, our motivation shouldn’t be about trying to make the church look so good.  So perfect in its operations and its righteous grooming.  Cut the “PR puffery” and the criticisms of the other guy (church), because where once having softer pews or shorter services or better everything played as a positive sales tactic, the rules of how and what we communicate today have changed.  People will ignore or even discount such relative ploys, simply for the lack of honest, transparent representation.  The church institution is in a continuing state of imperfection and the better we get at saying so, people will take a greater interest in connecting with that reputation.

…unquote