The Redemption Blog

THE Steve McCoy

Yesterday I had a chance to grab some coffee with some friends and fellow pastors in the Chicago suburbs. We laughed a lot, cracked jokes at each others expense, talked about life, ministry and church membership...You know, normal pastor stuff.  Joe had more to say here...

While I had hung out with Scott, Joe, and Jamie before, yesterday was my first time hanging out with Steve. You may know him from his blog “Reformissionary”. Here’s what I know about Steve so far:

• Steve has ever changing facial hair
• Steve pastors Doxa Fellowship in Woodstock, IL
• Steve and Joe are best friends...they swear there are not dating, but the jury is still out on that☺
• Steve co-leads “Subtext”
• Steve loves Jesus, has a great mind, and loves his church

Read Steve’s blog here...
Follow Steve on Twitter...

Driscoll on Nightline...

Operation: Facility #1

I have started looking for a facility for us to rent when we launch Redemption next fall. This week I had a walk through at the Loews AMC at Streets of Woodfield. The location is great because in many ways it sits right in the middle of everything in Schaumburg. It has a covered parking garage across the street which would be sweet in the winter and the theater over all is in great shape. Here's a few pics...
 

The down side to this is the price. AMC has out sourced their booking to Cinemedia and the quote I was given was $1,000 a week for 3 auditoriums which in my humble opinion is ridiculous! I don't know of any church plant that can afford $52,000 a year for a facility. We could probably lease something cheaper than that.

Needless to say this won't work, so we're going to keep looking. The next facility I'm checking is Harper College so I'll keep you posted!

Redemption Newsletter...

For those of you that don't know we have been sending out a weekly newsletter that updates people on where we are at and what we're working on at Redemption. If you are not currently receiving the newsletter and want to pray with us and know what's going on you can sign up here...

Thanks for all the prayers!

New Friends...

One of the best things about being a church planter is that your main job is to hang out with people and share your vision with them. I've been trying to hook up with some other like-minded pastors who are doing ministry in the area. This week I got to hook up with 3 guys that have all encouraged me in unique ways:

1. Joe Thorn
Joe is the lead pastor at Redeemer Fellowship, an Acts 29 church in St. Charles. He's one of the smartest guys I've ever met. He's recommended some great books to me and has given me some helpful and wise coaching. We had lunch today and I felt more sure of my calling than ever before because of Joe's encouragement. Joe has a great blog you should check out here and if you're ever in St. Charles on a Sunday morning, make sure you check out Redeemer.

2. Jamie Page
Jamie is currently planting The Church in DeKalb. I had coffee with him a few weeks back and it's easy to see how much Jamie loves Jesus and people. Lots of pastors don't love people believe it or not so it is refreshing to meet someone who has such a big heart for God's people. I saw Jamie for a few minutes today and they have some incredible things happening for them. Make sure you pray that God continues to work in DeKalb and that He provides for Jamie and his family!

3. Scott Eaton
Scott is the lead pastor at Calvary Community Church in Schaumburg. What struck me about Scott was that he is an amazing pastor. Some guys are great preachers, but lousy pastors and it's clear from hearing Scott's heart that he is an amazing pastor. It was incredible to sit and hear about all that God has done in his church and he is great testimony to the power of God through those who commit to stay in one place over a long period of time. Calvary has been through a lot and Scott and his wife, Julie, desperately need us to pray for them and their church!

God has blessed me with so many incredible people that speak into my life, encourage me, correct me, challenge me, and coach me. Pray for these guys as they are living on mission and leading churches bent on seeing the gospel change lives in their cities for the glory of God!

Family Fort...

One of the great perks of being between jobs the last few months has been the ability to be home with Tami and Ava more. Few Dads get to spend this kind of time with their kids and it has been continual evidence of God's grace. One of the things I have been amazed at is Tami's energy with Ava. Ava is 9 months and in need of constant entertainment and action and Tami provides both. Ava and I are beyond blessed to have her! Yesterday Tami built her a tent so we spent some time hanging out in Fort Huguley...

Update...

I think it's been about 2 weeks since I've posted, so I guess there is a lot of stuff going on I haven't posted about. Here's an update...

• I've been having conversations with Harvest Bible Chapel for the last 2 months about some short term work with them between now and planting Redemption. I found out last week that it's going to work out so I start in February leading worship developing their student bands at the Elgin campus!

• I led worship for a conference at Harvest Christian Academy last Monday and Tuesday

• I went down to Indianapolis last week to meet with and do some planning with two guys on our Redemption team (and I ate about 30 lbs of meat at Fogo De Chao)

• Saturday I went to the Subtext church planting forum at Redeemer in St. Charles

• Sunday night I led worship at Harvest for the High School youth ministry

Things are good and it is great being back to work! Here's what's going on this week:

• Trying to finish all my Acts 29 assessment materials

• I'm leading worship for another conference at Harvest Christian Academy in Rolling Meadows

• I'm headed up to Michigan this weekend to lead worship for HBC's Junior High Winter Retreat

I really want to finish all my A29 stuff this week so I really appreciate your prayers

Saturdays with Mr. Spurgeon...

*All quotes taken from "Lectures to My Students" by C.H. Spurgeon

From "The Minister's Self-Watch"

"It will be in vain for me to stock my library, or organize societies, or project schemes, if I neglect the culture of myself; for books, and agencies, and systems, are only remotely the instruments of my holy calling; my own spirit, soul, and body, are my nearest machinery for sacred service; my spiritual faculties, and my inner life, are my battle axe and weapons of war." (2)

"The analogy is perfect; a man in all other respects fitted to be useful, may by some small defect be exceedingly hindered, or even rendered utterly useless. Such a result is all the more grievous, because it is associated with the gospel, which in the highest sense is adapted to effect the grandest results. It is a terrible thing when the healing balm loses its efficacy through the blunderer who administers it." (2-3)

"True and genuine piety is necessary as the first indispensable requisite; whatever 'call' a man may pretend to have, if he has not been called to holiness, he certainly has not been called to the ministry." (4)

"Whatever his natural gifts, whatever his mental powers may be, he is utterly out of court for spiritual work if he has no spiritual life; and it is his duty to cease the ministerial office till he has received this first and simplest of qualifications for it." (4)

"He who presides over a system which aims at nothing higher than formalism, is far more a servant of the devil than a minister of God." (6)

Links 1.2.09...

Here's what I've been reading and listening to this week:

• Justin Taylor has some great Bible reading plan options here...

• Miscellanies tips for reading more here...

• Interesting article on President Bush's reading list here...

• C.J. Mahaney on the Pastor and His Reading here...

• The Resurgence recommended reading lists here...

2009 So Far...

I'm working on putting together my 2009 reading list, so here's what I have so far:

Daily Devotionals

1. The Bible (Tami and I are reading through Bible together this year)
2. Lectures to My Students - Spurgeon

Reading List

1. The Reformed Pastor - Baxter
2. Knowing God - Packer
3. The Cross of Christ - Stott
4. Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth - Grudem
5. Desiring God - Piper
6. Bondage of the Will - Luther
7. Prodigal God - Keller
8. Living for God's Glory - Beeke
9. Simple Church - Rainer and Geiger
10. Total Church - Chester and Timmis
11. Why Men Hate Going to Church - Murrow
12. No More Christian Nice Guy - Coughlin
13. The Sovereignty of God - Pink
14. Vintage Church - Driscoll
15. Breaking Dawn - Meyer
16. Systematic Theology - Grudem

That's what I'm planning on so far...we'll see where it goes from here!