Mark Waltz | ...Because People Matter

What Motivates You?

I jumped back into some online journaling of my Bible reading through YouVersion this morning. Thought I'd throw the same content up here.

I suppose I've always read these passages of the first disciples following, believing they knew exactly what the call was about - of course, they were crossing the line of faith in Jesus, the Messiah and committing to follow him with the rest of their lives. I thought.

But maybe not.

What if they were a band of self-serving young bucks who were all too happy to leave the smell and scales of fishing for a little adventure? What if these guys - likely rejects from other rabbis - had a sense of mere value at being chosen by a rabbi, any rabbi? What if they had no idea who Jesus was?

What if these scenes of followership are snapshots of selfishness, rather than selfless denial of a life they loved to follow Jesus?

What's my motivation for following? If I'm honest my past is sprinkled with a lot of selfish reasons for following. Often, I've just wanted to matter. I've wanted to have some value. Too often I've "followed" because I needed others to approve of me. Sometimes I'm sure I've "followed" with my eyes closed, on auto pilot, going through the motions of what I thought was followership.

I see the disciples change their motivation much later in the narratives... when they see Jesus' power; when they reckon with their own commitment to the kingdom of God; when they stare the threat of death and loneliness in the face.

Jesus makes the difference. He becomes the motivation.

I want that motivation. Again. Today.

We're starting a new series at Granger in just a week or so - Sex for Sale. There will be lots of different motivation for people to attend. Many want better sex. Any sex. Some will be married, many will be single. Some will have some sense that honoring God with their lives actually includes their sexuality - tied directly to their sense of worth and the value they see in others.

I'm thinking I don't really care what their motivation is in coming to church. I just don't care. I just want them to come. I want them to show up. I want them to keep "following" - whether or not they know who Jesus is. I'm praying, like happened with those early disciples (and me), that they'll keep taking steps until they experience and marvel at the invitation Jesus offers when he says, "Follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men."

And they'll get it. They'll get him.

Winter? Cold? Stop Us?

I have tremendous respect and genuine admiration for these guys! Mitch, Chris, and Mark are just 3 members of our snow removal team at Granger. They are other-focused guys who choose to volunteer in the blowing, frigid wind and snow of Northern Indiana. They could have been home watching TV, eating dinner, or volunteering inside. Instead they followed their heart for people and their unique wiring by God and picked up a shovel and dug in! They come early, dressed in layers because they know that other people matter to God!

Winter isn't over in our neck of the woods - and neither is the call to reach people with the love of Jesus!

Every weekend hundreds of volunteers set aside their schedule, expend their energy, and leverage their skills and heart for the cause of the kingdom at Granger Community Church. I'm grateful for the partnership we share!

Lasting Impressions Readers

So, here's the question:

If you've read or are reading Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging - what  questions, concepts, or best practices would you like to hear more about in a workshop based on the book?

I'm currently putting this new workshop together (yes, I know it's only 2 weeks away), and I'd love your input as I create the content and develop our discussion for the day.

Please leave me your questions and/or topic ideas in the comment section below. Thanks!

BTW - the workshop is one of eleven workshops/practicums offered on March 5 and 6. Read the previous post here.

See you in 2 weeks!

Wired. Churches. Granger.

Get Here.

• take the bus
• hop a plane
• drive your car
• start walking now

Bring Someone With You.

• your pastor
• your spouse
• your neighbor
• the bus driver
• your Starbucks' barista

Pack Some Stuff.

• your Bible
• a pen
• another pen for the bus driver
• a couple layers of clothes - it's Indiana
  
• a little cash for the cafe

Expect.

• exuberant worship
• practical tools
• engaging teaching
• less clutter, less noise
• new ministry networks

Register.

• now
• online
• here

Overheard: On Change

"I'm not afraid of change. Just don't try to tell me how to do things differently."

Think Environments | Church Solutions Mag

Haven't picked up Lasting Impressions just yet? Here's a short excerpt from a featured article in Church Solutions Magazine:

Creating Ministry: Think Environments, Not People

by Mark Waltz

The Burden of “Responsibility For”

I’ve always cared about the journeys of the people I lead. As a youth pastor, I was concerned about “my” students learning, maturing and owning their faith. When I implemented a process by which adults could find and engage in ministry roles best suited to their wiring, I didn’t rest easily until everyone had made those connections. I cared about the job performance and personal lives of my team during the few years I spent in retail management. In early 2000, when I joined Granger Community Church’s staff as pastor of connections, I carried this same sense of personal responsibility for our people to connect in meaningful relationships, take courageous steps toward Christ and develop into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

I still care. I still pray. I still feel responsible. But not as I once did. And I’m really happy about that.

It’s not that I care less. I just don’t feel responsible for our people. I do, however, feel responsible to our people.

There’s a big difference.

Worth Celebrating

Maybe you think I should move on and not write any more about the economy and the impact it's had on our staff recently. But this is a different post. This isn't so much about me. It's about Shelley Arredondo.

I could write a similar post about any of the people who lost their jobs at Granger last week (if this is news to  you, see the links below). I miss Dottie, Lindsay, Sarah, Adam, Deb, Wendy, and Albert. But, the truth is, I didn't personally work with anyone like I worked with Shelley Arredondo.

I knew when I was hired to serve as Granger's pastor of connections that the role was too enormous to fulfill on my own. At Granger we've always operated in a team culture - no lone rangers. Volunteers make the ministry happen. They are, along with the staff, the church.

But on January 3, 2005 I hired Shelley as our Experience Specialist. With nearly 15 years of entrepreneurial experience in the restaurant / customer service industry and a grace-filled love for people, she was the ideal choice to come on board full-time to oversee all our guest services teams.

Shelley built new teams,