The Redemption Blog

A note from Ryan...

Can you believe we are already five weeks in?!

We are half way through our new series, starting new community groups, getting ready to begin our first round of membership and the holidays are quickly approaching. It is getting colder outside and the Bears are running head on into being this years Super Bowl champions...yeah, that last part may not happen, but we can pray...

This is right about the time we may begin to settle in and get comfortable.

The excitement of our launch has come and gone and now we are into the grind of living life in gospel-saturated community, setting up and tearing down weekend worship gatherings, and generally just trying to keep our heads above water.  

But the truth is,the journey has just begun. 

There are countless people you and interact with each day who have no relationship with Jesus.  Whether they be family members, classmates, coworkers, a spouse, a child, or a stranger at Starbucks, God is putting people in your path.

So here's my challenge for us this week:

DON'T GET COMFORTABLE!

Let's continue to lean into the angst ridden feeling of knowing that God has put lost people in our lives for a reason. Let's seek God for the courage to open our mouths and share the gospel. Maybe you're wondering how we can do this together. Let' start like this:

1. Pray

Ask God who He has put into your life for gospel reasons. Who would He have you reach out to and get to know? Who is He calling you to for the sake of sharing the gospel and being a source of light in their lives?

2. Invest

Once God has revealed to you who that person is begin to ask Him how you can invest in that person. Maybe it will mean going to the same coffee shop each day to get coffee before work and intentionally starting conversation with a specific barista. Maybe it will mean going out with people after work in order to get to know them on a personal level. Maybe it will mean having neighbors over for dinner. The question is, how can you invest in the person, or people God is directing you to?

3. Invite

Simply begin inviting your lost friends to church. As you invest in these relationships and begin to have credibility and voice in these people's lives, invite them to come and check out Redemption with you some Sunday. Go to breakfast before, or lunch after. Offer to give them a ride, or meet them there. Have the courage to not just open your life, but open your mouth and invite someone into what God is doing in and through Redemption.

This is a simple way we can each be involved in the mission of Jesus at Redemption. Let's not get comfortable. Let's not just settle in and be content with who's already here. Let's ask God to keep us uncomfortable and bent on seeing rebels redeemed for His glory, their good, and our joy!

Reflection...

We have so much to be thankful for as a church family.  I wanted to share a couple things I'm celebrating after our first vision gathering at Cutting Hall yesterday.

1.  The Gospel
The gospel is the central factor in all else I'm thankful for.  I'm thankful to see the gospel at work in my life, in your lives, in our community, in our preaching, and in our music.  I'm thankful that we serve a King who gave His life in our place and for our sin, so that we could be restored, set free, healed, redeemed, and commissioned.

2.  Our Team
I'm constantly humbled by the people God has surrounded me with.  We have the most amazing group and I'm in awe of how hard everyone works and how much everyone desires to grow and glorify God. God has greatly gifted our team and I can't wait to see what He has planned.

3.  The Invites
I had been praying all week that we would have 50 people gather with us yesterday and we had 51!!  So many people brought friends and I'm thankful to you for that.

4.  Answer to Prayer
I had friends that gathered with us yesterday that I have been praying for and I continue to be in awe of how God truly answers prayer.  He can turn the hardest heart and use the most broken of vessels.

5.  Our Guests
I love the fact that we had lots of people yesterday that don't really know what they believe about God.  We had lost people that gathered with us and clearly heard about sin, grace, redemption, and Jesus vision for their lives and ours.

6. Our Venue
I love Cutting Hall!  God has so blessed us with not only a functional space, but a sweet space!  Plus, it's called Cutting Hall and how tough does that sound?  It sounds like we should hold cage matches there after our services.  Maybe we should think about that...

God has great things for Redemption and I am thankful to be along for the ride!

What are you thankful for?

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

Learning to Walk...

Last night Ava took her first real steps.  She let go, got her balance, walked across our living room and into Tami arms.  It was amazing!  As we continued to practice last night she would get her balance, take a few steps, and then fall down.

Believe it or not I know exactly how she feels. Life in general and church planting in particular are a lot like learning to walk.  You pray for courage, you let go of fear and step out, take a few steps, and then fall down.

The key is continuing to get up and do it again.

Everything in church planting is an experiment because every time you do something it's the first time you've done it.

I recently heard Andy Stanley say, “Plans change, but the vision remains the same”.  I have seen this to be true in the 6 short months we have been gathering as a church family.

We started out thinking Schaumburg was going to be the best place to launch and couldn't find space we could afford.

We started gathering every other Saturday night and saw that Saturday didn't work for a lot of people and that every other week was too inconsistent.

Then this week we attempted to do a Sunday morning gathering in Palatine and a Sunday evening in Crystal Lake for space issues and it turns out the majority of our group wants to just do Sunday morning.

Yet, in spite of changes to the plan, the vision has remained the same.

Seeing Rebels Redeemed

We have a growing core group of 31 people, an amazing venue to launch in, and our first vision gathering quickly approaching.

Please continue to pray that God would give us wisdom as we plan how we can pursue His vision. 

Please pray for me this week as I try and find a place where we can all gather for the next couple months on Sunday mornings. 

Please continue to invite friends to the vision gathering this weekend!!

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

On the Cusp...

It seems I can’t help but see evidence of God’s grace everywhere I turn these days.

Yesterday I had another such moment.

We had our first sound check at Cutting Hall and we were all nervous to say the least.  The big test was whether or not their system could handle the God-glorifying, face-melting, cross-centered, gospel-saturated music Scott and the boys will bring each week.

The good news is that it definetly will!  

If there had been issues with it, it would have cost us thousands of dollars to rethink how we would launch. But, praise God it sounded amazing!!

Each time I go and stand in the balcony of Cutting Hall I have this moment where I catch a vivid glimpse of hundreds of people coming face to face with the God who loves them.  With one heart, one mind, and one voice, they praise the God who gave His life, in their place and for their sin.

Friends, this is what we stand on the cusp of.

Gospel transformation...

Gospel community...

Gospel mission...

Next Sunday, July 19 from 9:45-11:15 we have our first of two vision gatherings at Cutting Hall and you need to be there.  Cancel plans, postpone trips, do whatever it takes to gather with us.  I want you to get a glimpse of what I see.  I want you to hear about what God wants to do through the small group of misfits He has chosen to plant Redemption.

I can’t wait for you to see what I see!

iPhone pics from the sound check

Cutting Hall Directions

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

Meet the Acts 29 Network...

I want to start a series of ongoing posts introducing our Redemption family to other church families in the A29 network.  I want us to realize more and more what we are a part of and what God is doing in other churches around the country, so we can pray with them and for them because we are all on this mission together. 

I wanted to begin with introducing you to Brent Rood and Seed Church. Brent was one of the three Acts 29 planters that did Tami and I's assessment and he is now serving Redemption by providing coaching to me. Say, "Hello" to Seed Church...

Church Name: Seed Church  

Website/Blog:  www.dyingtolive.org
City: Lynnwood, WA                      

Lead Planter:  Brent Rood

What is the story of Seed Church?

 "About 8 years ago a group of 5 families were meeting in a home in Greenville, SC to pray and prepare for moving to Seattle and starting a church.  Five years ago in April, after moving out to Seattle, and spending a year and a half getting adjusted we had our first service in a coffee shop.   Since then we have moved to two locations.  Our current project is merging with a dying Baptist congregation and inheriting their property and facilities."

What have been the two greatest obstacles you have faced in your plant?

1)   Regularly running into specific barriers or problems that couldn’t be solved through reading a book or going to a conference.  We had to prayerfully figure stuff out ourselves and experiment.

2)   Those first time situations in the plant.  The first time you have to install elders, or leaders.  The first time you do a wedding or funeral.  The first time someone in your church has cancer, has an affair, or needs to go through church discipline.

What has been the greatest step of faith you have taken in your plant?

There are so many it is hard to list just one.  Each time a decision is made to step forward in a direction without adequate money, people trained, or even a clear and fully developed plan it takes faith.  This happens in both small and large ways each and every month.

What one piece of counsel would you give to a young church plant?

Figure out early that prayer is truly the most important action plan of your church plant team.  Learn to pray proactively so you don’t have to learn to pray reactively.

What are some ways Redemption can be praying for you, your family, and your church?

1)   The merge is supposed to happen in September and we have spent the last five months meeting every morning with the other churches leadership to make this as smooth as possible.  Pray for unity  and that the merge will happen.

2)   We are in the process of re-focusing our missional direction.  It has involved analyzing what our community looks like in our new location and how specifically to engage.

Thanks, Brent, for all God is doing through you at Seed Church and for all you are doing to serve Redemption!

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

From Nothing to Something...

We have all felt THAT feeling before.

It's that feeling you get every time you sit in front of a blank computer screen trying to write a paper, having no clue where to start.

It's that feeling you get as a new parent when you look down at your new baby, and for the first time feel the weight of somehow getting your child from this helpless state, to a healthy adult.

It's that feeling you get when you lose your job and you're faced with reality of finding and starting a new career in a lousy economy.

Overwhelmed. Anxious. Insecure. Scared. Unsure.

It's the feeling you get every time you try to go from nothing to something. Even when you know where you want to end up you are still faced with the question of how to get there.

This is what it feels like to plant a church. It starts with a stirring in your heart. A calling. A vision.

It's exciting. It's exhilarating. It's inspiring.

But, then you start to step out in faith and reality sets in. For the first time you begin to feel the burden of what God has actually called you to. You start to look at people differently.

As I write, I am sitting in the Streets of Woodfield Starbucks, in Schaumburg and surrounded by people. This is the city God has called me to. These are the people God has called me to reach and the truth is, I am feeling all of the aforementioned emotions. I am starting to understand how Joshua must have felt as he transitioned from the #2 to the #1 leadership position in Israel.

Joshua had spent his life to that point following and serving Moses, the greatest leader we read of in the Scriptures. But, now Moses has died and God has called on Joshua to lead His people into the promised land. Imagine that feeling! You have to think Joshua was scared to death of the shear size of the vision God had called him to.

Last night, as I was reading and meditating on this account in Joshua 1, I was encouraged by what God says to Joshua and what I believe God is saying to those of us trying to go from nothing to something. God says, "...I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous..." (Joshua 1:5-6). Four times God tells Joshua to be "strong and courageous". We need to hear this just as much as Joshua did.

God knows the vision He has for my life appears overwhelming to me. God will knowingly and graciously put each of us in various situations in life that only He can get us through, that only He can accomplish. God's vision for our lives is always bigger than us because then He gets the glory.

So, be strong and courageous. When you feel THAT feeling...overwhelmed, anxious, scared, unsure...be strong and courageous. When the vision is too big for you, be strong and courageous. When the pressure is too much, be strong and courageous. When you don't know how to get from nothing to something, be strong and courageous. If God has called us to it, than God will get us through it. We can be strong and courageous because the God is we serve is the source of our strength and courage.

Be strong and courageous!

Posted by Ryan Huguley
Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision

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...

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!

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!