Establishment is Everything

The word motto is defined as "a maxim adopted as an expression of the guiding principle of a person, organization, city, etc."  So where a vision statement gives you the what, a motto gives you the how.  Yesterday I revealed that our vision statement for Reliant is: Producing Jesus followers of faith that will expand the kingdom of God through their witness and His Word.  This is what we will be doing.  But how are we going to get that done.  This is where a motto can come in handy.  A motto tells the organization in a few simple words the overlying principle of how to get it done.  For Reliant our motto is simple: Ministry Runs on the Rails of Relationships.

I first heard this phrase from a pastor/teacher of mine, Alan Shelby, the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Blue Springs, Mo.  The meaning is self-explanatory.  We know that all of life is determined by the relationships we have whether good or bad and ministry is no different.  When Jesus started his earthly ministry he did so by choosing some relationships that would last for all eternity.  These relationships would turn into more relationships that would eventually change the world.  Any true discipleship model will have the element of godly relationships built into it.  Without close relationships Christianity is just passing on information and information doesn't change lives, relationships do.

When we launch our website in February the address will be www.reliantrails.com.  We do this so as not to forget that building godly relationships is the key to our discipleship process.  Reliant members will be asking themselves three simple questions.

1. Who is behind me?  As mentors there should be someone that we are leading in the ways of the Lord.
2. Who is beside me?  As brother and sisters there should be people with whom you are walking.
3. Who is in front of you?  As ministers we will target and impact people with the gospel message of Christ. 

When these three questions are active in every members life well see a mighty moving of the Lord as he builds relationships through us.

Reliant Ministries

Ministry Runs on the Rails of Relationships   

Please consider a charitable gift to Relaint by Clicking Here. 

Why Another Church

I was running errands yesterday and I couldn't help but notice all the church buildings on every corner.  I live in Paulding County GA where the majority of the population never steps foot inside any of these places of worship. I have two thoughts on all these churches.  First, If your preaching the exact same message and targeting the exact same people, join up with the guy across the street and cut down on some the expense of running both places.  Second, if you have a building that seats 600 and your running 30, it time to change your strategy.  

In the midst of all these church buildings some would ask me, "Bill, why start another church in an area full of churches."  My answer come from Andy Stanley's book "Visioneering" (a must read for all church planters and pastors).  He states, "A God-ordained vision will begin with concern.  You will hear something that gets your attention."  God has gotten my attention over the last few years of this fact.  The people of God do not walk by faith anymore.  This breaks my heart for without faith it is impossible to please God.  If the church is not going to teach God's people to walk by faith we set them up for failure with God.

The vision statement for Reliant is:

Producing Jesus follower of faith that will expand the kingdom of God 

by their witness and His Word. 

We used the word "producing" on purpose to show the ongoing action of discipleship in the lives of the believers.  They will not only follower Jesus but will learn to follow him by faith.  This is the major lesson that Jesus pounded into the heads of the disciples.  His goal was to have them walking by faith by the time He ascended knowing that they could handle anything if they were walking in faith.

As I walk this journey of faith with the Lord my prayer is that I can be a shining example for others to walk by faith along side me.  Stay tuned.  

Join the journey by helping us get started.  Give Here  

The Journey Begins

As many of you may already know, Kim and I are about to embark on the biggest adventure of our lives. We are taking all the the wisdom and experience that we have learned over the past 25 years in ministry and starting a church. For the past 3 months I have been getting all the background work done (corporate papers, people management systems, bank accounts, vision statements and core values, etc., etc.) And now it's time to get the ball rolling with a core group of people that have the same heart and vision.

I had a great time with the staff of New Season Church as they gave me a send off lunch and blessings all around. I have learned many things during my two year tenure at New Season. It reminds me of all the things God has been teaching me from my first ministry 'til now.

The new church is called Reliant as we rely solely on God to see us through. It will be based on a discipleship model with many new ideas. When the vision comes to pass we will not look like traditional church at all. Our core group meetings beginning February 1st at my house. Our plans are to find a meeting place that will hold the core group of about 25 families (my house is not big enough). We will then look to open the doors to the public some time early August of this year.

During this start up time as we form the core, we could use some help with some simple start up money. It is amazing what happens when the people of God get together and give for the cause of God's kingdom. Many of you have been touched in some way through our ministry in the past and I'm asking all of you at this moment to pay it forward. The investment that I have made in many of your lives is the same investment I will be making in others. Some of you can give a little and some of you can give a lot to get this new church off the ground. I know that God will multiply your giving many times over. Please Click Here to pay it forward. All donations are tax deductible and will go directly to Reliant Ministries.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on the new church plant. And more than anything Pray, Pray, and when you get done praying, pray that God would do something amazing and unexplainable for His glory.

 

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Here Comes the Bride

All Summer long we have been anticipating and waiting for the day that I give Katie away and she becomes KatieTyndall. Well, it's here. We are in crunch time this week trying to get the final stages of the wedding ready and get all the details handled.

Of course at this same time I have two major things going on at New Season as well. We are starting our discipelship classes this Wednesday night and I have to get all the details for that in order. And we have Love Loud this weekend in Vista Lake which is going to be a blowout event. I will not be at this event but I do have some pieces of planning for the event.

What does all this mean? It means my whole world is changing this week and we will begin a new stage of life by next Monday. God has been so good to provide all that is needed and set the course for this new stage of our lives. I couldn't be more excited for Katie and Connor. They have their new appartment that Connor has been living in for the past few weeks as they have been getting all there stuff moved in. I know Katie can't wait to call it home. The appartment becomes a hotel room for bride's maids this week, so Connor got kicked to the curb.

The Wedding planner came over last night and set us all at ease with her organization skills (Thank you, Jesus) and tonight I'm finalizing the reception details with my sisters who are in charge of all of that.

It is amazing the way things pile on top of one another. On top of the wedding and work. We have company coming. This will be the first time that Kim's family has seen the house. You get me!! Cleaning, lots of cleaning. And not just the inside either. There's yard work and jobs that I have never done in the year and a half that I've lived here. I keep telling myself, "This too shall pass! This too shall pass!" and I know it will.

The one thing I can say is my life has never been boring; and I am greatful for that. I take it all as an adventure and a journey with Jesus. I really wouldn't want it any other way.

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Do you know the Bible?

I remember back when I was 18 and went into a Christian bookstore in downtown Spring Texas. I had never studied the Bible before but I knew that it was time for me to start. I had been in Sunday School and Church all my life and heard countless sermons and lessons on the principles of Christianity. But there was no way I could defend the Bible or even my own beliefs. As I stood looking at the books "like a deer in head lights," I noticed a book entitled "Current Events in Prophecy." I had always heard that Jesus was coming back soon, but I couldn't tell you why or what was going on. So I bought it and devoured it. And that is what started a life time of Bible study that is still going on today.

I come across so many people that are just like I was. They don't know the Bible for themselves. They have been listening to people for years tell them what the Bible says, but have never had the experience of the Holy Spirit burning something in their heart. I remember times on my journey through the scriptures when the Holy Spirit was so present in the room that it caused me to fall down and worship. It was as if the Holy Spirit was leaning over my shoulder saying, "Let me show you something you have never seen before."

When you have these kinds of encounters with the Lord you don't want to leave. You don't want it to end! I can understand why Moses spent so much time on the mount talking with God. I too have had those mountain top experiences. I believe anyone that desires to know God in a real and intimate way can have these moments with the Lord as well. So many say they want it, but are unwilling to put in the time to be with God in a meaningful way.

"I don't have time!" I have heard this excuse all my life and have even used it from time to time. I remember the hard times and many years that I got up at 5:00am every morning to have two solid hours of Bible Study before I went to work at Bank of America. Now that I work at the Church full time, I can get up at 5:30am instead of 5:00am. Yes, I still have to be disciplined if I want that time in the Word and with my Lord.

September 24th we start all our Bible classes at New Season Church. Don't let anything keep you from having your mountain top experiences. God is ready to meet with you. He has no excuses for you. If you show up, He will blow you away. See you next Wednesday.

 

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Suicide

With the recent passing of Robin Williams (one of my favorite actor/comedians), I recieved this email posing this question: "In efforts to understand Robin Williams suicide I would like some guidance as what the bible says on this subject. I am somewhat confused from what I have read is there not compassion for the weak?"
Here is my reply:

I doubt you are confused from what the Bible says. I would imagine you are confused at what religions are saying. Let's talk about what determines if a person goes to Heaven to be with God or separated from God in hell. A person is saved from his or her sin when they confess that Jesus is the Lord and believe in their heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. (Romans 10:9-10) It goes on to say in that same passage, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13) The Apostle Paul also said in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that not one may boast."

From these scriptures we understand that our salvation is not through good works but through the sole sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those that receive Him are saved and will be with Him. Those that reject Jesus are lost and without Him. There is no sin outside God's reach of forgiveness. There is no sin that cannot be covered by the blood of Christ through his sacrifice. The question is this, Did you receive Jesus and what He did for you on the cross or did you reject him and take matters into your own hands. Romans 3:10, states that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Therefore, we are all guilty. If you don't receive forgiveness through Jesus you must pay for your sin on your own.

I have no idea if Robin Williams ever accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. But I do know that God will not send him to hell because he committed suicide. When we listen to the words of the Lord there is grace and mercy for every situation. When we listen to religion we find ourselves outside of God's grace and mercy.

There are religions that teach you must ask forgiveness for all your sins and if you don't you go to hell. Therefore if one commits suicide they don't have the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and have perished in their sin. This does not agree with the message of grace and salvation taught is God's Word. Truthfully there is no way to ask for forgiveness for all of our sin because we don't even realize half the sins we commit. In this line of thinking we are all damned because we have all forgotten at least one. But salvation by grace through faith covers all our sins and leaves nothing to chance. Jesus paid it all.

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Finding My Place in the Kingdom of God

If I have learned anything in my many years of ministry it would be that God gifts people in many different ways. A casual look at 1 Corinthians 12 will show clearly that there are many gifts from the Spirit of God and all are important to the body. I have experienced times of frustration with people that usually stems from false expectations of people being like me. When I try to fit people into my mold, with my gift, and my calling, I negate their God given abilities and mission and hurt the work of The Lord.

As ministers, we are to identify the gifts of the Spirit of God in people and edify those gifts in people. This will allow people to excel in the ministry in their God given abilities. When we come into agreeement with what God is doing and join him, we remove the frustration of square pegs in round holes. So the question is not what does the church need, nor what I want you to be, but what has God made you to be and why did God place you in this body?

How amazing it is that God has a unique plan for our lives that fits with all the other unique plans to accoplish His Godsized will.

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