Paul Clark

What I liked about the little church

A couple Sundays ago I preached at the small church which we are acquiring as a future satellite. One of the reasons they asked us to acquire them as a satellite is that they are so small and they have been unable to grow and attract new people for several years. They are in serous decline and they want to do something completely new and bold.

As I sat through the service and later gave the message to the 40 or so people in the room, I was taken back to my years in a small Baptist church, probably 200 people on a good day. I had a great experience in that little Baptist church. And for a morning, I saw again some of the things that are good about a small church:

1. People weren’t there to be entertained.  There weren't any strings, colored lights, guitars, or haze machines.  It was a "no frills" zone.
2. Nobody cared if there was a minor technical flaw. I had to start my own video clip on my laptop, yet the 10 or 15 seconds didn't seem to bother anybody.
3. Everybody knew each other. They knew each others families, jobs and stories.
4. The music was simple and sincere. Just a nice Wurlitzer organ, like the one in my wife's parents living room. The emphasis wasn't on the music, it was on the words.
5. I could look into every eye. No speaking into the darkness.
6. People were there because of relationships. Not because it was the place to be, the hot church, the best music, or the coolest preacher.
7. Nobody was a professional. Those who led, prayed, sang or played were regular people just trying to serve.
8. There were no clocks in the back, reminding me that people have places to go.

It was a good morning...

Story of transformation

When three factors come together: a journey of faith that is growing in grace, wisdom and the influence of the Holy Spirit; a comprehension of God’s story—his plan to redeem people who are far away from him; and an engagement with the world that is authentic and redemptive-- incredible things will happen. Check out Alic's story from a recent service at Fairhaven.

My Story: Alic Brock from Fairhaven Church on Vimeo.

Pushing through the demons

I was deep into my preparations for my message last month (David was taking a one-week break before the Christmas series started), when David asked me how it was going.  I probably had a somewhat pained look on my face, which usually reflects how I feel mid-way through my sermon prep. He took me aside and gave me some great advice.

He told me that even though he preaches every week, (and in my opinion, does a masterful job with it) he still faces the "preaching demons" about mid-way in his study.  The fears and doubts that keep whispering in your ear:

• This sounds like the same thing you said last time
• This is not coming together
• This is going to flop
• You're going to let people down
• This isn't powerful or engaging
• This isn't worthy of the opportunity

He was right.  Those were exactly the things rolling around in my head.  He told me to keep praying for God's blessing, keep working hard, and push through with what I believe God wants me to say to the congregation. He said, "Those thoughts go away by the time you get to the weekend."

He was right! The weekend came and it went well and people seemed to respond to the message. I felt like I had said what God had placed in my heart and I sensed God had given it his favor.

Don't we often hear the negative voices in our heads when we're out of our comfort zone? Isn't it true that so much of life requires "pushing through."  You push through because you know you're doing what you're supposed to do.  You push through because God has given you the opportunity and he deserves your best. Doesn't matter whether it's parenting, marriage, ministry or career: perseverance is the virtue that will make the difference. The voices will fade away.  Just keep pushing (Heb. 6:12).

I'm my own Yoda

I read in Leadership Journal where 71% of adults develop their own set of religious beliefs rather than accept the teachings of a particular church. "Faith today is more viral than pedagogical," according to George Barna. "More people than ever are serving as their own theologian-in-residence." Makes it challenging to try to communicate absolute truth to a relative culture. Reminds me of the funny spoof we did on people wanting to define salvation their own way... take a look.

Simply Salvation from Fairhaven Church on Vimeo.

A vote for intergenerational church

Last Sunday I was one of four in a quartet singing a Gaither-style Christmas song, "Down in Bethlehem." As in most quartet songs, it was high-energy, lot's of clapping, harmony, and enthusiastic applause at the end.  Andrew Nichol busted (almost a gut) the ending, which Glenn Priest wrote especially for us.  It was fun, and the older people, actually my age and up, really loved it. My 19 year-old son was smiling, but I'm not sure I want to know why.

There's lots of talk about using modern music to reach a modern audience.  I get all that...Gen-Y, post-modern, emerging church, yada, yada.  Most of the people I enjoy reading and the churches I follow, wouldn't use a Gaither-type song if the Gaithers were there to sing it themselves. I admit, a little southern gospel goes a long way for me. But when you see over half the congregation's faces light up, smiling, clapping and enjoying this small deference to a music style they appreciate, you have to think twice.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." There's value in expressing our faith using a variety of styles that speak across the generations. I think it takes more courage and skill to try to sculpt a ministry that reaches an intergenerational audience, than to write off those who are not in our generation and say we're being missional. I like where Fairhaven is positioned.  We lean young, but we value everybody.  Now and then, that means a quartet.

Second chances

We recently invited Don Solin back to the staff of Fairhaven Church.  Don served with Fairhaven as our leader of student ministries for almost 10 years back in the late 80's and early 90's.  He left to pursue a vision for being a senior pastor, which he did for several years.  As he journeyed through that experience, God walked him through some tough days in leadership.  Eventually, God led him to resign his position and, for a time, leave the ministry.  Through that process, Don realized that his gifts and passion are best fitted for leading leaders of students, not leading the church at large. 

We invited him back to Fairhaven as our Pastor of Next Generation Ministries, overseeing the staff leading middle school, high school, and college ministries.  He's found his sweet spot.  He's seasoned, settled, committed and passionate. He's matured through the last 10 years. He's doing an incredible job, and it's a thrill to be on staff with Don. I reflected back though, on some of the churches I've served in.  Not all of them- maybe none of them- would have had the grace and the courage to invite someone who left, to come back. Though God is a God of second chances, we often are not. I'm thankful I can be part of something that's different.  Meet Don Solin...

Why Fairhaven?....Why a Youth Pastor? from kevin batson on Vimeo.

A river runs through it

John Ortberg has a great article in the current issue of Conversations, a journal that I highly recommend to stimulate your thinking about spiritual formation--your own, that is. I'm especially challenged by the idea that living in the flow of God's Spirit is simple...

"What if Jesus really meant what He said? That the Spirit of God is like a river and flowing all the time? What if your job as a follower is not to try harder or run faster or get up earlier or rev up your emotions? What if God really is at work in every moment; in every place? What, if in a sense, my job is to learn simply not do those things that close me off from the Spirit? Instead of needing to do something else, what if it’s about how I keep myself aware and submitted so that rivers of living water are flowing through my being?

Paul puts it like this and in some ways, the spiritual life is that simple. Just don’t quench the Spirit. The Spirit is already at work. He is bigger than you. He is stronger than you. He is more patient than your failures. He is committed to helping you 24/7, so just don’t get in His way. Don’t quench the Spirit. Don’t grieve the Spirit. We are always either opening ourselves up—walking in the Spirit—or quenching the Spirit."

Read the article

Our story

I was recently reading through Stephen's story in Acts 6-8. His story--how he lived his life-- created such a bright light for the Gospel that untold numbers of people were brought into the Kingdom of God. Our stories can be so powerful. The story of how God’s love has impacted us can change the world!

Below is a beautiful story shared in a service recently-- Jenna's story.  Notice how clearly and wonderfully she articulates the intersection of her life with the love of God.  Are you using the power of story to communicate the Gospel?

My Story: Jenna Doyle from Fairhaven Church on Vimeo.

That’s not an easy story to hear. It pains us to hear about one of our own, a beautiful young woman, going through such darkness. But the power of her story is how she comes out on the other side. Something dramatic has happened in her life and she doesn’t hesitate to explain how that change came about. I think that’s what Jesus had in mind when he was standing on a mountainside and telling his followers about the light each one of them would carry (Matt. 5:14-16).

What's next?

Last weekend, David reminded Fairhaven about why we began the Imagine3:20 building campaign, and what lies ahead.  Really well done! Sacrifice and influence, the confluence of two forces...

Imagine 3:20: Confluence from Fairhaven Church on Vimeo.

Making it hard on guests

When I showed up for church last Sunday, the door in the rear of the building was locked. Nevermind that it's got a big yellow sign next to it that says, "Enter Here." The volunteer who opens all the doors had overlooked it. As I walked up a hill, got mud on my shoes, and made my way to another entrance, I wondered how guests must feel sometimes when we don't seem particularly prepared to receive them. Kinda like this video...