If you read my blog AND you are going to be at the “Beyond the White Board” session on Sunday night at Cornerstone – this will be a double take for you.  (A Twin Spin – like we used to say in radio… )

Sunday evening we are asking Cornerstone Church to gather for a creative session about how we can be more effective at reaching the “Missing Generation.”  For more on that you can visit our website and listen to last Sunday’s sermon (10/25/09).

God is really challenging me and I think our leadership to dig deep. To press into him and reach for dreams and visions that will advance the kingdom.  But it begins with a brokenness like that of Nehemiah. 

Remember when Nehemiah received news about the state of Jerusalem?  He cried, and cried and cried… and it messed with him.   I’m not so sure the state of Jerusalem doesn’t equal that of our missing generations.   Yet, where is our response? Are we broken like Nehemiah.  

For more study on this – read Nehemiah Chapter 1 (especially verse 4).

See you Sunday – and Sunday @ 5 p.m. for Beyond the White Board.  (Child Care provided)

I have to admit – I’m messed up…     I know, you are thinking – we already knew that Brent.

We are concluding a series this weekend at Cornerstone, called “unCHURCHED.”     Why people won’t come to church. This whole series has messed with me a bit.  Doing the studying, the research and just the conversations, I have really been stretched in my life.

I love church life. I have been in church my whole life. I’m a paid professional Christian. This is the struggle I constantly wrestle with as a pastor of a church in Oklahoma.

#1 – The church is in decline. More than 75% of Churches in North America are in decline.

#2 – More than 75% in my state don’t attend church on Sunday Morning.

How do we balance being a church that is penetrating into those statistics and reaching people who do not attend church – and maintaining a healthy church and atmosphere for the mature believers? 

Here’s where I struggle – and where my frustration comes in. When a pastor or a church says – we want to reach the unreached… Christians give a good “amen.” On Sunday Morning – UNTIL – it affects them.  Until that pastors stops preaching the way they like.  Until the pastor stops catering to the needs of the mature believers.  Then – we go find a church that meets our needs and “feeds” us.   (What does that mean anyway… ?)  

I’m thankful for Cornerstone Church.  I think by and large our people get it.

     A.     They are very patient with me as a pastor as I try to navigate the waters and figure out how to be effective in an unCHURCHED culture…and still help mature believers grow.

    B. They are faithful to support the work and ministry of our church.     Because they give – we can send our youth pastor to a Jr. High to feed pizza to over 100 kids and challenge them to live for Christ in their life.     Because they give – we can be creative with our Sunday Morning Worship experience to make it welcoming to those who aren’t churched.

We believe different is good… See you Sunday.