I have spent a lot of time this week thinking about the year of 2012 and growing churches. I noticed an interesting common link that existed between 10 churches and/or their leaders I had interaction with.
Here is what I remember:
- I remember watching Louie Giglio give Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed $100,000 to launch a SVU unit to help prevent sex-trafficing in our city.
- I remember visiting Journey Church led by Senior Pastor Darryl Bellar and his wife Kara. Like many churches, they have shirts and other items displaying their church logo. They proactively made sure I would have a t-shirt in my daughter’s size that I could give her when I returned home.
- I remember meeting Pastor Derwin Gray of Transformation Church at the Velocity Conference in February. He presented me a copy of his book Hero and his been a steady source of encouragement throughout the year. When I visited his church several months ago, he and his team were incredible hosts. I still wear my Transformation Church bracelet and pray for this great church daily.
- I remember Ike Reighard of Piedmont Church dropping everything, changing his schedule, and conducting my father’s funeral.
- I remember Mike Linch of NorthStar Church and three of his staff members attending that same funeral.
- I remember The Cove Church, led by Mike Madding and his incredible staff, hosting our company’s Funded and Free Conference. Their church staff have the greatest collective servant’s heart I have ever seen.
- I remember visiting a First Baptist Church Woodstock, GA Wednesday evening youth service. What is unique about this service is that they open it to all children in the surrounding schools regardless of where they go to church.
- I remember watching Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv do a book signing at Catalyst One Day. Despite the line being 50-75 deep, Craig gave everyone individual attention and never broke eye-to-eye contact.
- I remember Brandon Cox, Founding Pastor of Grace Hills Church, promoting my eBook 151 Leadership Quotes: Timeless Truths That Will Make You A Better Leader on www.Pastors.com.
- I remember a wonderful dinner with Senior Pastor Thomas McDaniels of LifeBridge Christian Center in which he just poured into my life. He has also been just a dear friend to me.
I remember the incredible generosity of these 10 leaders and/or their churches. Do you know what else I realized about these churches? They are all growing.
I have come to believe that just because your church is generous does not necessarily mean it will grow. However, I also believe that a church cannot grow without being generous.
Pastors and church leaders, what do you have to say about the relationship between generosity and church growth?
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