Tramp'n For the Kingdom

Planting a church is like jumping on a trampoline. There are a lot of ups, and a lot of downs, but if you stick with it,it's a lot of fun.

Ladies Night Update

This entry was written by Shana. Why is that important? B/c it is an overview of last night's ladies night and I would hate for anyone to get the impression that I went to the ladies outting......that would just be wrong.

Oh Yes, It’s Ladies Night. . .

Laughter. Side-splitting laughter. That’s what I had to endure for 3 hours last night. My sides are still hurting, and my eyes are still watering. Who knew that putting 10 women together, who come from all different backgrounds, walks-of-life, and areas of Memphis would laugh their heads off?

I would have to say that our first official “SouthPoint Ladies Night Out” was a success!
Through hours of food, stories, waiter harassment (the good kind, of course!), and laughter, I think that I know some SouthPoint ladies a little better.

Keisha loves animals, Brandy can feed her husband ANYTHING, Cyndy keeps point totals, Patti isn’t very competitive, Sonja has me all figured out, Sara = perfect, Lizisms are the BEST, Becki has the coolest DVD player, and Lisa is a GREAT listener!

If you think there are stories behind each of those, you’re right! You shoulda been there to hear them all. . .

I really feel very blessed to have each of those ladies in my life – and am looking forward to the next “Ladies Night Out”, with many more names to add to the list above!

Peace Out Y’all (see I CAN use it, right?!) –
Shana Leonovich

Pure Shock

Yesterday was one of those days. A day of shocking discoveries......Okay it might not shock anyone else but, well.....I've been counting down the days until we launch.
Days.
Not weeks.
Sunday morning I was sitting there going over some things and the realization hit me that we were only eight weeks from moving to the movie theatre. EIGHT! EIGHT MORE SUNDAYS! HOLY FREAK'N COW! That is not a lot of time. So yes, shock and horror set in. There are so many things to do to launch a church; it is absolutley mind boggling. I know it would be impossible by myself, and I thank God that I have a stellar team around me that is going for it! Praise God. So I have basically come to the realization that you can only do what you can do.
I know; profound.
But really we have all of these thoughts and goals, and when it all comes down to it, we can only do what we can do. Nothing more. I think this is where God said that whole thing about do all you can do to stand, then stand. Once the hububaloo of launch is past, we have to be able to look back and say, "Yup, we did ALL we could do." And then the rest is in God's lap. So, 8 weeks. The clock ticks, and we work.

Shock #2

Sunday night at the end of our preview service Cyndylou came up and surprised me and Patti with a pastor appreciation gift. It was awesome. They gave us a gift and a card signed by everyone. How cool. It was great b/c i was totally surprised. So nice. And then Cyndy almost cried, and I thought about it but refrained.
Thanks Team for all you guys do. You make me smile.

Word of Mouth

We know this good guy named Scott [not really his name but we will call him that to protect the innocent]. Scott manages a coffee house that I go into VERY often. No it is not Starbucks but a really good one nonetheless. Anyway, the other day Scott was in downtown Memphis taking care of some things and he stopped by Starbucks there to get some Java. He struck up a conversation with the one of the workers there and she said, “so what do you do?”
Scott replied, “I manage a coffee shop, but not a Starbucks.”
“Really where at?”
It’s called the Grove and it’s down in Southaven.”
“Really! WOW! Hey have you heard about that new church called SouthPoint that is going to be meeting in the movie theatre? I heard it was really cool?”
Scott stood there dumbfounded. Of course he had heard about it because we are in there all the time, but how did this girl in the heart of Memphis hear about it?

To me it is so cool how word of mouth travels. The best advertising is STILL word of mouth and friends telling friends. See if we really like something we tell out friends b/c we want them to get in on this really cool thing. For example-the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They take almost anything off of your walls. It is a really good product. The only reason I bought it is b/c Amanda told me. She found out about it b/c a girl at her office told her, who was told by her mother. Amazing!

Now if we would all get really excited about God. About Jesus. About what he is doing in our lives. And then……Get really excited about SouthPoint and the mandate that God has placed on us to be here in this place….imagine. Just imagine.

They say it takes about 5 times of someone hearing something [marketing wise] for them to finally investigate it and get it. There are only 1.2 million people in Memphis. We should have all of them told by next weekend. ☺

Weekend at Mosaic

Well, I’m on the plane headed back to the great Memphis area. I have been in Charlotte speaking at Mosaic with Naeem. We had a great time. I really enjoyed hanging out with everybody and catching up on old [okay not that old] relationships. It was a blast! We did two services in the morning at the movie theatre. Each one was full and the second one was packed. Then that night we went down town to the Visualite, which is a night club type venue that Mosaic has just started. Well, they didn’t start the nightclub, but they did start doing church there on Sunday nights. It was packed! People were standing all around with no seats left in the room. The old wood bar was stocked full of cokes, sprites and fresh water on tap. It was a great venue. Nick [one of the team leaders there] told me that when they arrive they have to open all the doors and turn on the fans to blow out the smoke because when they get there, there is still a fog of stale smoke from the night before. What a great place to do church! It was packed full of young people, all of which did not know Christ! Yip-ee! One of the girls that was on the team said that she sat next to two Buddhists gentlemen and they were intently listening the entire time and were touched. They were also planning on returning. Yea! Big win!

So now I’m stoked to return to where God has planted us. I’m looking forward once again to reaching out and touching those people that need Christ. Those that have never met him, and those that need to be touched again. What an awesome responsibility we have, and have been given by God. I was reminded how different we are last night. Naeem took me to a Gideon banquet. It was a room of about 300 people. All of which were well over the 50 mark. All of which had on coats and ties. All of them that is except for me and Naeem. We were a bit noticeable.

But we sat at a table with wonderful people who love God and are each serving Him in their own way. One lady that sat at our table was truly amazed that we were ministering and reaching out to the unsaved. She said [I kid you not] that she had never experienced a church that was that focused on saving the lost. She had only experienced church growth via sheep swapping. She asked a million questions about Mosaic & SouthPoint and then said, “wow. I would love experience something like that. It sounds fun and exciting, and I’ve never seen that in church.” WOW! Hey, let me say it again: I am so looking forward to doing church in a new way that is fun – engaging – life giving – and down right real. How about you?

Well, I just heard the ding-ding. Time to put my little computer away and help this pilot land.

Miracles Still Happen

Two weeks ago at bible study Becki [who is 8 months preganant] requested prayer that her baby turn, because at this point it is breech. The doctor has been preparing her for a C-section. Well, we prayed. While we were praying she felt the baby move over to Becki's side and do some wiggling. Well, today she went to the doctor and the baby has done a complete flip! It is in perfect birthing position and all is well! Praise God!

Second note worthy thing [not near as miraculous], our new website that will help in getting the word out is finally ready. Check it out at www.idigmychurch.com

Thanks Cyndy for all your hard work on the site. You are dy-no-mite!

Tornadoes and Joe-to-Gos

So, I have to be completely honest. I kind of didn’t want to go to pass out free coffee at the community college here in Southaven last night. No, we’re doing honesty, right? I REALLY didn’t want to go.

Last night was the closest we have come to tornadic activity here. Seriously, the winds were ridiculously strong – and the rain was that annoying mist that isn’t enough to really get you wet, but enough to curl straight hair. Cyndy throughout the night kept telling me that we would be in Kansas soon. . .

I digress,

Brian was all gung-ho about this outreach to the college students – since it is midterm week, and they would all be studying and stressing. So, Cyndy and I piled into her car, picked up 7 joe-to-gos, cups, and condiments and headed over to the student center.

After getting settled (and one run to the store for creamer!) we split into two teams. Brian, his son Isaac (one of the coolest 5 yrs old we know) and Keisha went upstairs, Cyndy and I stayed downstairs.

I have to say that I never would have imagined that I would have a good time standing and passing out free coffee. Harassing people isn’t my favorite thing to do, but harassing them to get a cup of FREE, TOTALLY FREE coffee is a blast! We would ask people if they wanted coffee, they’d say “No” and we’d say, “But it’s FREE!” They’d pause, smile, and come over. Isaac was by far, the best at handing out our SouthPoint coasters and magnets, and the Grove Coffee $1 off coupons! Who can really refuse a cute-as-a-button 5 year old?

We handed out about 50-60 cups of coffee, all said and done. We met some really cool people, and blessed a bunch of others. The remaining coffee was taken to the Baptist Hospital ICU Waiting Room, and hopefully blessed some people there.

So, long story short, I am really happy that I went! I am jonesing for the next event we’ll do – and would HIGHLY recommend to all of you that you participate. If you are not in Southaven, please get involved in the outreaches at your local church.

PEACE OUT-

Shana

Change

There are three things in life that I said I would never do….no wait four. Yea, there are four things in life that I said I would never do. #1 get a tattoo #2 Plant a church #3 switch from Windows to Mac #4 live in Mississippi.

Well, I'm 36 years old and I have now accomplished 3 of the four things that I said I would never do. Yesterday I went and got a tattoo of a huge eagle that covers my entire back. Each wing comes down and touches my elbows at just the right angle…..okay not really. No tattoos. But I am switching to Mac. And I am planting a church……and yes, I live 1.3 miles over the Tennessee border in to Mississippi and I'm loving it! Is there a point to all of this? Does it matter? Let's change the subject.

Don't you hate it when someone is in the middle of a story and they just seem to randomly change the subject? That drives me bonkers! So no I'm not changing the subject but I did have a thought about change. Change is constant.

Ed Young [pastor in Grape Vine Texas] says church evolves and God is constant. Kool quote. Craig [church planter, with no tattoos, soon to be a Mac user, living in Mississippi] says, combine the two and you have got an explosive combination. Church should be full of change. Continually moving. The problem is people hate change. The stat is like 83% of people hate change, and the other 17% do it just to tick off the other 83%. But seriously change is such a vital part of life, the eco system, and church world. As soon as you stop changing you have become a prideful person. I know that is a strong statement but think about the concept of someone who is NOT wiling to change. …….God is constantly doing new things. He is the creator of the "New and improved." Look at the children of Israel and their dessert experience. They were constantly moving. Continual change causes us to trust in God not in our own well formed habits and experiences. Change keeps us fresh and real. So when we refuse change we are basically telling God that we have got this whole thing figured about and we can take care of it on our own. Pride.

I'm planting a church in Mississippi, and I'm gonna do it with a Mac.

Still no tattoos.

Incredible Weekend!!!

TO use the 'incredible' word might be a far cry for some of you, but for us here in the top of the Mississippi it is an understatement! Here at Southpoint we had a super-win of a weekend. First off, a few us went to Huntsville for a launch party to raise some funds for the launch of our church. It was great! How great you ask? Well, we raised a chuck-o-change! How much you ask? 'Noneya bussiness!'
While we were in Huntsville the rest of the team set up a HUGE tent at Octoberfest in Olive Branch and gave away free Starbucks, Hot Cyder, and did free pumpkin painting for the kids. And of course balloons. It was awesome. We got so many compliments and hundreds [literally] of people told the team how awesome it was for the 'church' to do something like this. No gimmicks, no hooks, just love and life, and of course TOTALLY FREE!!! For more pictures of this stellar event check out the pictures to the right. Oh yea and they put us in the paper for being so all together kool at the festival.

But wait, that's NOT ALL! We were also the FRONT PAGE of the local section of the DeSoto Appeal [the main newspaper here]. They came and did a great article on us and what we are doing. You can check out the full article and picks at this link:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/desoto/article/0,1426,MCA_451_5052557,00.html

And of course we had a Kick'n Preview service Sunday night. The band from Visible School continues to rock the house in fresh ways. 104 days till launch! Yip-ee!!

Just To Hang Out

Yesterday I was standing in my bathroom brushing my teeth and Phoebe came to the door. Now allow me to preface this by saying that ALL morning Phoebe had been in the "I want-I need" mode. So when she came to the door I was sure it was another "I need" moment. Anyway, she knocked on the door and said, "Dad?"

"What Phoebe?" [this would be me speaking. You can tell by the extra bold manly type]

"Can I come in?"

Exhale. Slightly annoyed.

"Why Phoebe? Why do you need to come in here?"

"I just wanna hang out with you."

Heart melt.

New smile on face.

I feel loved.

That little exchange got me thinking. I wonder how many times God wonders why in the world we want in His throne room AGAIN. I know he is awesome and absolutely perfect. I know God loves us like nothing we can even imagine. But I still have to wonder if now and then God would like to hear us say, "Hey Dad-can I come into your throne room and just hang out? I don't want anything. I don't even need anything right now. I just wanna hang out with you."

I wonder if we would make a habit of that daily……maybe weekly…..How would that totally transform our relationship with God. Not coming with a prayer, a scripture, or our favorite song, but simply sitting in silence and being in his presence. I wonder. In case you're wondering too, let me let you in on a little secret…….it's stellar!

HEY! Subject change!

This Saturday is Octoberfest and a Launch party in Alabama. So listen. You guys…..everybody…..needs to be praying for this weekend. We need to touch our community this weekend. Love on kids and speak peace and love to the parents. The launch party….we need money. I would love to make it some hidden bait and switch, but it's just not in me. There just isn't enough time to play games. We know we are here on a mission and we need money to achieve our goals of saving souls for the kingdom. So COME ON GANG! Let's hit a home run this weekend!

Removing the Wedgie

Team dynamics are so vital to health and wholeness of a church plant, I cannot even begin to explain. Who was that professional football player that was fighting with his own team mates in the locker room and stuff? I think he played for the Eagles? Anyway, the point is, you can't have a successful team if there is fighting on the team. And you can't have a powerful team if there is griping on the team. What does a successful team look like? Well, it looks like a group of people, with locked arms all moving simultaneously towards the EXACT same goal. A goal that they are ALL passionate about. A goal that is not frivolous, but in their minds is a matter of life and death. Each and every team member using their special God given time, talents, and resources to achieve the goal.

So what's the danger? Where is the peril? Well, you've worked with people enough to realize that any time you have more than one person in a room you have conflict. Whenever two or more are gathered in my name a crisis is there in the midst. Here at SouthPoint we have a dynamic team that has locked arms and are slowly walking towards January 21st. One of the main perils that I see happening right now is the enemies desire to wedge us. And we know how we all hate wedgies.

One of the great dynamics with a team is that each protects the one next to them. Safety in numbers. But right now, I feel like the enemy is trying to take each one, and separate them from the pack. Thereby driving a wedge inbetween the individual and the safety of the pack. Making that person thereby-wedged. A wedge-ya know-that thing that starts off very small and insignificant, but then, with time, it grows into a much wider, larger thing. At the start, it is almost un-noticeable, but with a little time and negligence it grows into a separating force that really causes a detriment to the team, and ultimately messes with the individual in a nasty way.

NO! I am NOT saying that I see this happening. What I am saying is I see the potential for this to happen since we do have a great team with positive dynamics. So what am I trying to communicate? Well, let me sum up:

If you are a part of a team then do everything you can to stay a vibrant part of that team. If a small point of contention arises. Fix it. Wipe it out. If you let it fester, it will cause more harm than good. Don't get wedged. Because after all, you're the one that would get hurt the most. So let's all stop allowing the enemy to wedge out good people from our church teams. Lock arms. Fix your eye on the prize and let's go