Here are 3 key decisions we made when starting Elevation:

1. We will be staff led.
Some people leave when they figure out they’ll never rise to a power broker position at Elevation by graduating to a deacon board.
And you want them to leave. I promise you do.

2. We will keep our focus.
We won’t try to have a ministry for every sub group that ever walks through the doors.
(ie. We don’t have a Single males between ages 27-28 who grew up Episcopalian, like archery, and have visited Canada in the last 12 months Ministry.)
This has allowed us to unite and aim all of our heavy artillery at the same target.
We have gotten so freakish about simplicity during the start of our new campus that we now proudly boast about only doing 2 things as a church:
a. Worship Experience
b. Small Groups
That’s it.
Yeah, but what about…
Nope, that’s it.
But at my old church…
We’re not your old church.
But I have a passion for…
God bless you, go do it. You don’t need our sanctioning.

3. We will be over the top.
This is the one I really can’t explain. It’s harder to quantify.
All I can tell you is that when we’re trying to make a decision about which sound system to buy, we usually get the better one.
Because our worship experience is priority, and it has to rock very hard.
When Heather or Rachel need something for the children’s ministry, they get it. Even when it’s expensive.
Every time.
Because children aren’t JV around here. They’re first round draft picks.
When we’re trying to make a decision about whether to dump either a jar or a wheelbarrow of Runts out on the stage for a sermon illustration, we go with the wheelbarrow.
(You had to be at Central campus yesterday. Very amazing. Very messy.)

These 3 key decisions have paid off handsomely for us.
I don’t know why I just used the word handsomely.
I felt it, and I just went for it.
Sorry if it made you uncomfortable. It was a little awkward for me too.

In other news:

Yesterday we had our largest non-holiday attendance yet.
And I preached a hit ‘em high hit ‘em low message about money.
It was exciting and slightly controversial. The two often go hand in hand.

Then we blessed our volunteer staff with a volunteer only Evening of Worship.
I ordained 6 of our guys and talked about what Isaiah 49:6 has meant to me lately, and what it should mean to these guys.
Leaders, you’ve got to find those outlets when you only let people in the room who you know have your back and are sold on the vision.
These gatherings are priceless, because you don’t have to qualify everything you say.
Tell them you love them, you appreciate them, and then sling some mad vision.
Let it fly.

After 3 fever pitched services at Central, a breakneck speed trip to Union for their first ever Newcomer’s Lunch, an ordination meeting and an over the top worship experience with 300 of our best and brightest peeps, John Grisham and Tylenol PM put me right to sleep.

Happy Monday loyal readers.
I’m back tomorrow with a harrowing entry entitled:
It’s your fault.
Subtitle:
Do something about it.

See you then.