Loud & Clear

Clovis Hills: a redeeming church

We say it alot around here. There’s a church for everyone. No matter your dress style, worship preference, beverage necessity or preferred baptism method, there’s a church somewhere that fits you.

But what about Clovis Hills? Who do we fit? What’s our uniqueness?

Pastor Steve and I had a telephone interview this week with the Willow Creek Association. As we talked about our history, defining moments, biggest failures and most important learnings, one thing kept coming around.  We are a redeeming church.

I can tell you story after story of people who’ve come to Clovis Hills wounded, a jerk, abandoned, burned out, a snob or disconnected. We’ve seen marriages fall apart and end in divorce, yet both continue to attend here. We seen folks with huge abuses in their past come to health and be restored to life and ministry. We’ve had guys who were the meanest, nastiest guys you’d ever run into transform into the nicest, loving-est guys you could imagine. Totally different people! I still can’t believe it sometimes the transformation that happens around here.

Pastor Steve even once started a special growth group he called the X-Min (similar to the comic name) that was made up of about a dozen ex-pastors attending Clovis Hills. Some had simply burned out. Others made personal mistakes that cost them their positions.

I’ve always wondered where these guys went after they stepped down from ministry, especially those in disgrace. Apparently, they come to Clovis Hills. Here they are anonymous, just themselves and rediscover God’s love, grace and purpose for their lives. They’re in growth groups, in ministry teams (some are greeters!), and other areas. It’s amazing to me.

On September 7, we’re starting a message series called Redeeming Grace. One of these pastors is going to co-teach with Steve for two of those weeks, sharing his own story about his fall and his restoration. It’s going to be an amazing series!

Pastor Steve has said from the beginning Clovis Hills is about Changed Lives. And while some staff including myself, and perhaps even you, have managed to create some image in our own minds of what we think Clovis Hills should look like and be, and have wondered sometimes at why we aren’t everything we wished, Clovis Hills is still a place where life change happens.

So who are we? What’s our identity, vision and uniqueness?  We’re the place the broken, the bruised and the battered find refuge, God’s grace and purpose for their lives. What an awesome place to be!

Now let me clarify. Some will think that this shouldn’t qualify as a uniqueness. After all, isn’t that every church’s mission? Well, yes and no. My parents church is a missional church. Seekers don’t go to their church really. But they are constantly doing community projects, sending missionaries, equipping leaders. That’s their uniqueness. Other churches are discipling churches. Or worshipping churches. God seems to gift churches as uniquely as he does people.

Every believer and church should follow the Great Commandment (love God & people) and the Great Commission (teach them to follow Jesus). HOW they accomplish that exactly is part of their uniqueness.

If Clovis Hills isn’t your church home, what is your church’s uniqueness?

Summit Week!

Well, it’s finally here!  The week of the Leadership Summit. We’ve been working on this so long, it’s going to be odd when it’s gone.

Last night I was at training (I’m going to be an usher). Got pumped up by Dave Love, encouraged by Moses with a dose of bonding with my fellow ushers.

Today, Jen and I are setting up the projector. Tests tomorrow and Wednesday.

I’ll give you updates on all the boring stuff going on behind the scenes as we prepare. Hope you’re coming. It’s going to be great!