Thoughts For May 6th

This Sunday morning will be a landmark in the history of Skyline Church, when a group of people proclaim in one heart's voice that we are committed to seeing the mission of life change become even greater than we have ever dreamed.  It is not a turning point for our church, but rather a moment of acceleration as we move forward and make preparations for our future ministry.

The step we are taking in faith is a step of preparation because we WILL NOT wait until we have to begin another chapter.  We WILL be ready for it.  As we continue to fulfill our mission of LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS, AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE, I believe without a shred of doubt that God WILL send a harvest as we have never seen.

I am thanking God in advance for what He has challenged each of you to do and I am thanking you for a response of faith.  Together, God can do amazing things through our church.

This weekend, I have a challenge for you that is four-fold.  1.) Pray intensely beginning right now, that God will move in a powerful way as we bring our commitments to lay at His feet.  2.) Be there!  If you have plans...cancel them.  If you have a ballgame, go late.  Moments like these are just too important not to be a part of.  This is a journey that we are taking together and I in no way want any person who calls Skyline home to miss it.  3.) Come prepared to celebrate.  When I say celebrate, I am not talking about patty-cakes.  I am talking about unashamed celebration for what He has already done and what He is about to do.  We will celebrate our commitment.  We will celebrate our opportunity.  And we will celebrate life change!  4.)  Bring God your best.  Don't just bring God something.  Offer to Him what He has called you to bring.  Whether large or small, when we bring God our everything.....God WILL DO His thing.

The excitement I am feeling right now and the excitement I have been feeling for months about this moment is indescribable.  I know you feel the same way too.  This will be a weekend that each of us will look back on and give praise to God for because it will be a moment where He gives us the opportunity to leave a legacy of eternity.  Hundreds and Thousands more are waiting in the Harvest and through The Mission Central Project......WE WILL HAVE VICTORY and THEY WILL HAVE VICTORY because God is and always will be on the throne!!!  Let's live radically together for Him!!!

Giant Slayers

It's hard to believe it, but The Mission Central Project's beginning phase is almost complete.  What a journey it has been!  I can't even begin to express how humbled I am to hear of how God has moved in the lives of Skyline's people.  I have heard stories of God's challenge as people have asked the question, "Lord, what would you have me to do?"

He has been challenging people to sacrifice in BIG ways for the funding of The Mission Central Project and many have chosen to respond to His direction.  He has been challenging people to step up in making a difference in ministry.  He has been challenging people to turn their lives over to Him.  For me, it has been one of the most incredible experiences in ministry I have ever had.  I pray it has been the same type of experience for you as well.

This past weekend, as I spoke about the giants in our lives, I couldn't help but think of how many in our church family are facing some serious Goliaths.  Whether in the financial realm, the personal realm, or the spiritual realm...these giants can cripple us if we allow them to.  That said, I will echo the points of the message from this past weekend.  God grants us victory through faith as we OFFER OUR SELF TO BE USED.  God grants us victory through faith as we OFFER WHAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE BATTLE.  And He grants us victory through faith as we BELIEVE THAT HE CAN DELIVER THOUSANDS FROM GOLIATH.....even through our seemingly insignificant nature.

As we approach May 6th and as we pray that question, "Lord What would you have me to do?", I am praying He will urge the people of Skyline Church to make a difference.  I am praying that God would challenge each of our families to step out in faith financially so that we can make preparations for the future.  Even through the seemingly insignificant, God can do mighty things.  It will take every one of this to make this happen by approaching the throne of Grace through Faith and trusting God as our protector and our provider.

The beauty of The Mission Central Project is that this same question, "Lord, what would you have me to do?" is not limited to our financial commitment.  While the leaders of our church have been challenging our people to make those financial commitments, the challenge has been so much more.  It is a challenge that is always at the forefront of EVERYTHING we do and that challenge is to make a difference.

A simple 3-year sacrificial financial commitment does not fulfill our mission.  That is only a piece of it.  As I have stated over and over, it is not about a piece of land...it is about changed life.  These giants we face, that's where the changed life happens.  May we as Skyline Church be so committed to the vision and mission that God has laid before us, that we would stop at nothing to see the power of Christ prevail in the hearts of those around us.

As we move forward with The Mission Central Project, may we step up financially like we never have before...may we step up in ministry like we never have before...may we step up in reaching out to those around us like we never have before.  When we step up and step out in faith in all of these areas, God moves and giants are slain in both our lives and theirs.

Mission Central Sacrifice

As you go through the process of seeking God for your level of involvement in The Mission Central Project, you may have found yourself wondering, "How can we make a difference?"  For some, the answer is easy because God has blessed your family financially more than others.  On the flip side, there are many who may not have that luxury and their level of sacrifice may be more difficult to determine.

This past weekend I spoke a lot about the idea of sacrifice.  A sacrifice could be extreme like selling everything to enter the mission field or something not quite as life altering as adjusting our spending habits.  In reality, sacrifice in its purest form, is defined as "giving up something you love for something you love even more."

For Heather and I, it has been a process of restructuring our budget.  It has not been a painful process in the least for us, but it does involve sacrifice.  Many of your family's are going through some of that same process.

I want to share with you some examples of things people have done to be involved in The Mission Central Project as well as other stories I have both seen and heard about in the past.

For one Skyline family, that decision has come in the form of both large and small sacrifices.  "Small" sacrifices have included a monthly gym membership, a subscription to Netflix, switching coffee brand from Starbucks to Foldgers, and a few more little "sacrifices".   In their mind, it is more important for their family to impact the Kingdom than to brew Starbucks in a coffee pot.  Their decision has also included larger sacrifices such as postponing the purchase of a new car for a couple of years so that the payment could be applied toward The Mission Central Project.

Others have looked at their dining budget to make a difference.  Instead of taking their family to a restaurant 2-3 times a week for a meal (which could cost upwards of $50 for a family), they elect to go out once a week.  Imagine the difference this could make over the course of three years.  $100/wk x 156 wks = $15,600.00...WOW!!!

I have seen people decide to forgo their morning Caramel Macchiato every day.  Let's do the math.  $4.00 per day x 5 days a week = $20/wk.  $20/wk x 156 wks = $3,120.00.  Who knew we could invest so much in Caramel Macchiato.

I know people from my past who have went even further as God has led them.  I know people who have invested a portion of their retirement accounts, sold extra vehicles, cleaned out their garage for a yard sale.  The list goes on and on.  Some of these approaches should not be entertained without seeking God, but as God leads we should follow.  As I have challenged before, ask God what He desires from you and your family.

Below are a few stories from other churches where people have sacrificed to pursue God's mission in their respective churches.  You may find some of them "extreme", but as God leads...he also provides.  Maybe these stories will inspire you to seek God in a deeper way than you thought you might.

Ø   Dave in St. Charles, MS - Emptied his entire college savings account (w/two pre-college students just a year/two away from entering college) in response to the vision and the challenge to sacrifice.  He and his wife believed that it was a necessary step of faith in order to both be obedient to God's leading and to show their children that their total dependence was on the Lord.

Ø  Single Mom - Living on a limited income and trying to raise young children, the vision of the church absolutely captured the attention of a single mom.  She prayed, pouring out her heart, telling God that she wanted to be a part - which she wanted to sacrifice, but needed to have Him to show her how.  She had an ability to bake whole wheat bread that everyone loved.  During her time of prayer, God impressed upon her that she should bake bread and sell it - something she could do from home, without taking on another "job."  She expected to sell a few loaves a week at best.  Very quickly, as others learned that she was baking, she had orders for 100 loaves/week!  By the end of the three years, this single mom had given over $25K to the stewardship journey!

Ø  Bellevue WA - In a recent campaign, an elderly couple in the church, who had previously flown beneath the radar, committed $2M to their church's stewardship journey.  The church was tackling three major projects for children - one locally, one regionally and one cross-culturally.  At their age, they saw this as the opportunity of a lifetime to embrace God's vision for the church while leaving a legacy that will last for eternity.  They have since completed nearly all their commitment in actual giving - less than 10 months after having made it.

Ø  Rita - From a senior pastor in FL.  An elderly lady named Rita, called the office, requesting an appointment.  Rita's husband had passed away recently; both having been in the church for years.  Seemingly a couple of meager means, they had nevertheless been faithful in serving.  Kirk was busy and reluctant to accept the appointment.  He did meet with Rita however, and was overwhelmed when she explained that the church had had a significant impact in her life and the life of her husband over the years.  In fact, he had given his life to Christ as a result of that ministry.  At the conclusion of the story, Rita handed Kirk a check for $1M for the stewardship campaign.  Rita and her husband had been living meagerly for years in order to invest in the work of God at a defining moment.

Ø  14- Year Old Bulls Fan - During the closing weeks of the campaign, a father was leading his family each evening over dinner in a discussion and prayer time concerning their family's expression of sacrifice for the campaign.  The 14-yr old son, an avid Bulls/Michael Jordan fan, had tons of Bulls memorabilia covering the walls of his room.  One evening, the father returned home from work to find the Bulls stuff mysteriously absent from his son's room.  Upon questioning his son, the father learned that "Jonathan" had taken the jerseys, cards, basketballs, etc., to the sports collectible shop after school and sold it all!  At the point in the story, Jonathan pulled out a wad of $100 bills.  The father was on his way to becoming furious, asking his son what had caused him to do such a thing.  The son replied by saying, "Dad, you've been asking us to consider sacrifice - giving up something we love for the work of God at our church.  This is what I love - the Bulls/Jordan stuff.  It's all I had!  I am learning that I should be more concerned about the Kingdom of God than my stuff - this is my expression of sacrifice."  It took a 14-yr old son to drive his parents back to their knees to reconsider their appropriate expression of sacrifice.

Ø  Church in IL - During the vision casting that accompanied all campaign events, a prominent local businessman sensed God speaking to his heart about not only a financial commitment, but an ongoing commitment of ministry service.  In response to the compelling vision, the man and his family made a very significant financial commitment; then took an early retirement in order to volunteer his services in full-time ministry at the church!   As we talk about another primary campaign objective being the expansion of leadership capacity, this story is the personification of that objective.  The church has reaped significant benefits by having this keen business mind on board the staff team.

Ø  Jay and his wife are in public school administration.  As leaders in the campaign, they were committed to lead effectively, i.e., commitment to sacrifice.  At their current stage in life and financial situation, a commitment of $5K for three years was truly an expression of sacrifice.  They saw no way, apart from God's help, that they would be able to complete a commitment that size.  Within one month after making the commitment, their son was home from college for the weekend (Ohio State).  The son asked Jay if he could borrow the family car to take his girl friend to the Cleveland Indians game that night.  Jay had other plans, and told the son that he would have to drive his own car - a "beater" Chevy Cavalier to the game.  On the way to the game, the car was broad-sided and totaled.  The kids were not hurt.  A few days later, the insurance company called Jay to say that they had placed a check for $6500 in the mail.  Jay explained that there must be some mistake; that the car wasn't worth that much.  The insurance company insisted there was no mistake and a couple of days later, the check arrived in the mailbox.  Jay and his wife drove to Home Depot where they were going to buy several things for the house, etc.  As they were getting out of the car at HD, they stopped, looked at one another, and realized that the Spirit of God was speaking to their hearts.  They had prayed during the campaign that God would lead them to an expression of sacrifice, and asked God to make provision.  God was providing all they needed, and here they were, nearly ready to spend it at HD.  They got back in the car, drove to the church, and paid their commitment in full - about six weeks after having made the commitment.  Over the three years, they were cheerfully able to far surpass the original commitment level in their giving.

Ø  CCV (Christ's Church of the Valley) 5^th Grade Student - In a recent campaign follow-up meeting with church leaders, the senior pastor reported an inspiring story of a 5^th grade student who took the challenge to sacrifice to heart.  He committed $2K to be given over the TWO years of their campaign.  At the end of December, he was able to come to the senior pastor and report that by taking on odd jobs in the neighborhood, after school, on weekends, and after sports practices, that he had just completed his entire commitment - 8 months after making it!  His sacrifice was "time" - the time he normally would have spent with friends, going fun places, relaxing, etc.  In those eight months, he behaved in an "extraordinary manner" for a 5^th grader - in order to focus on a "reprioritized" life that had Christ and the Kingdom of God in first place.  The young man intends to continue his new habits and his giving to the stewardship campaign, obviously surpassing his initial $2K pledge.

Ø  East 91^st St Student Ministry - The student ministry leadership team spent significant time casting vision and teaching biblical stewardship during the church's recent stewardship journey.  The students responded with a high degree of passion and enthusiasm; embracing the vision and wanting to have a significant role in seeing it achieved.  They prayed and determined that rather than making individual commitments, they wanted to make a "student ministry commitment;" an expression of sacrifice that would be personally challenging and inspiring to the entire church family.  They have purposed to "lead the way" by committed $250K as a student ministry, knowing that even at a young age, they have the unique privilege of leaving a legacy that will last for eternity!

These examples span a tremendous spectrum, but they communicate different ideas of sacrifice and the creativity that some people use when they are committed to the vision of changed life.  Maybe God will allow these stories to inspire you as you seek His will in The Mission Central Project.