Substance Think Tank for Missions

Have you ever been on a dorky missions trip where you didn’t really do anything?  I have a friend on the mission field who used to host various mission teams.  And over time he started calling them “vacationaries” rather than missionaries.  Like many other Christians, he knew that there had to be a better way of doing short-term missions.  And over the years, I’m starting to agree.

To make matters worse, there’s such a dizzying array of mission organizations vying for our attention. I’ve been on many great trips with organizations like Operation Serve.  But I’ve also been with a few other organizations that were mediocre…at best.  Of course, every other week, we’re approached by a different organization wanting us to send a team somewhere.  Certainly, I’m excited that everyone is passionate about bringing Christ to the nations; yet, I’m also deeply concerned that our lack of strategy is becoming quite wasteful. That’s why, just recently, we called up our friend Rob Hoskins and One Hope organization to do some strategic consulting.

For those of you unfamiliar with OneHope.net, they are one of the most thoughtful mission organizations on the earth.  With hundreds of employees around the globe, they’ve engaged over 600 million youth with the scriptures in 125 countries.  In fact, they’ve done some of the best missiological research I’ve ever seen (see www.SpiritualStateOfTheChildren.com …it will blow your mind).  You simply name the country, these guys have a pretty well-informed strategy and network to reach it.  So, who better to help develop Substance’s very own missions strategy!?

One Hope was generous enough to fly up five of their brightest minds from their headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.  (Of course, the thought crossed my mind that we should have reversed the location : )  To be honest, our executive team was a bit nervous hosting such a brilliant crew.   I felt like the dorky 7th grader asking the popular girl to dance.  But all is well.  The One Hope crew is a riot.  (I think we’re even “going steady” now : ) But seriously:   These guys rocked my world.  I’ve never in my life heard such a fantastic and strategic approach towards global missions.

For example… most people think of “missions” as merely a budget of the church, not an extension of the churches’ greater calling.  In other words:  Every church has a strategic “missional gift-mix.”  For example, some churches have a large quantity of construction workers, videographers, or medical practioners.  Yet, very few churches develop their missions strategy in light of this gift-mix. Even worse:  Church mission trips become nothing more than wasteful vacations that put a huge burden on the foreign mission base – yet do little to actually grow the churches in those countries.  Even worse:  Some countries are far more strategic to reach than others.  Yet, many churches mindlessly take trips to countries that are already over-saturated with aid.  And just as bad:  Many mission trips aren’t even connected to thriving indigenous churches.  And if they are connected to churches, they rarely serve the strategic needs of those churches.  In the end, there’s very little thought given to “What are the most strategic churches to be serving.” And the reason is usually because, very few missionary organizations are as well connected as One Hope.  Thus, everyone seems to go with their aunt’s cousin’s mom & pop missionary church.  Yet, just down the road, there may be a wildly more fruitful church to be serving.

But at Substance:  When we spend our missions dollars, I want it to be on the most effective kingdom efforts on earth.  And if we take short-term mission teams, I want to use Substance’s strengths and go to strategic nations and then work with carefully selected churches who are fully capable of fully utilizing our short term efforts for long-term gain.  Even more, I want to send teams to foreign churches that are fully capable of healthily converting our short-term missionaries into one or two year missionaries.  But many churches are incapable of healthily absorbing westerners without harming the church or the well-intended missionary.  Yet none of these things will ever happen if American churches are constantly distracted with mediocre mission-trips to mediocre countries doing mediocre things with mediocre foreign-churches with out any long-term measurable goals.

Of course, many church strategies work through one or two of these things; but, I’ve never met an organization like One Hope who can create an elaborate missiological business plan that factors in all of these things.  (Can you feel my excitement!!!!)  DUDE!  I am so pumped!

Perhaps it’s because, I believe that we are designing far more than just a church missions strategy.  I feel like we’re designing an entirely new way for American churches to do missions.  Every ten years, there’s a new “missions bandwagon.” There are a lot of mission projects that “preach well”… like disaster relief or trafficking.  (Both of which I whole-heartedly support).  But I sense God’s heart is crying out for more from us!  We need ”God-ideas” not “good ideas.”  And the only way we’re gonna discover this is if we do our homework and then bathe all of it in a good amount of prayer.  Make sense?

But one thing is for sure:  I believe God wants Substance to be a model of thoughtful missional outreach.   So keep praying Substance!  We’ll be unveiling our new strategies over this next year.  But remember:  this is just the beginning.

P.S., Get your passports ready!  We’re going to the ends of the earth!   : )

Substance Financial Magazine 2010

“Oh no you didn’t.“  Oh yes we did!   Substance just finished it’s very first vision and financial update magazine.

I realize that it might not be that exciting to you. But it’s just that most churches give such small reports (thus, nobody cares).  Or just as sad, many churches give out these complicated profit and loss statements that are impossible to interpret.  (And honestly, I’m just confessing our own shortfalls from the past).  But as our team talked about it, many of our leaders felt like it was time to really step up our communication on our finances.  And frankly, I couldn’t agree more.

You see: I believe that honest transparency + Good budgeting philosophy = Generosity.   I.e., I believe that, when the average Substance member sees how efficient our spending systems are, it just makes you proud to give!  Of course, I know that most of you who give are giving to GOD (not Substance,) BUT…it sure helps to know that it’s still going to produce amazing fruit!  Agreed?

But the other reason for doing this magazine is because we have a huge number of big decisions to make as a church.  For example, What might a Future Facility Look Like? What will it cost?  How will it fit Substance?  Where might it be located?  What are the facility circumstances that we’re trying to steer clear of?  All of these things will be amply answered in this year’s magazine.

So where can you find it?  Every week we’ll have copies at the info center.  Or just click here for the online version:  http://substancechurch.com/content/pdf/Substance_Financial_Report_Mag.pdf

Alternatively, we have an audio version (read by me) that will soon be available on itunes, etc.  (But, frankly, you won’t want to miss all the pretty pictures.)

Yet, the greater point is this:  We need all of you to read this… especially as we move forward into an exciting new year.  And if you have any questions, feel free to contact us!  In the meantime, get inspired… get informed.  Substance is on the cusp of some pretty amazing changes!

As many of you heard, we had a pretty stormy Saturday night (& figuratively speaking a stormy Sunday morning).  When I came home Saturday evening, I had some pretty huge branches down all around my yard.  But I did not expect to be woken up early Sunday morning with a phone call:  “Uhh, Pastor Peter, Northwestern says that their electricity is totally out, what should we do?”

Of course, this is not an easy decision.  After all, most facility changes can easily cost us five, even ten thousand dollars… especially a last minute one.  Even worse, we see a good number of conversions on any given Sunday, so… the spiritual implications of canceling our services can weigh pretty heavily on me.

To make matters worse,  no one likes to make big business decisions in their pajamas (actually, I take that back)…but it’s still pretty disconcerting to make decisions before your alarm clock is supposed to go off!  Yet after a dream-like set of conversations, our dynamic volunteer teams put a plan into effect that was pretty bold:  In less than 90 minutes, we’re going to totally relocate our church services to a completely different location… AND, we’re going to do it in such a way that we won’t lose any attenders in the process. (But is that even possible?)

Of course, if you know anything about our service logistics, nothing is as simple as it seems.  Children’s ministry is a complex thing to set up.  Signage for a campus of around 1000 people is also nothing to snooze at.  But multi-site video technology adds a whole new layer of complication.

Yet, our volunteers gushed out a tsunami of text instructions that made me gasp.   And even more surprising, our attendance didn’t really miss a beat (which is shocking, under the last minute circumstances).

This tells me one of two things:  either (A). All of you sleep with your cells phones tucked under your pillow.  Or, (B). We have a pretty stinkin’ amazing group of interns who mobilized a great game-plan (& it’s probably both…  you little cell-phone-snugglers!)

But seriously…  God’s grace really came through the gifts of our people.  And I’m proud of you.  So here’s to you Mr. & Mrs Substance Volunteer!  You guys are the real deal!  And I look forward to troubleshooting even greater kingdom problems in this city.  So when life gives you tornadoes… you unleash our unstoppable force of volunteers!  Love you guys!

Substance Documentary coming soon

Every so often, we have so many cool announcements that I simply need to stop and blog.  As many of you know, we always grow by leaps and bounds in the Fall.  Pastor Mark Mellen (who’s in charge of many of our service logistics) is convinced we’re going to grow by 900; and, for the first time, I actually think it might be possible!  But, fear not: We have a pretty solid game-plan.

First off, we are changing our service times at Northwestern campus to 9:30am and 11:30 (to give more beauty sleep to our college students).  So if you missed your alarm clock for Fridley… it’s all good!  NWes. will be waiting!  Also, we are rotating my live preaching at both Fridley and Northwestern campuses.  I.e., I will be preaching live every other service every other week. (For Eg., I’ll be live at Fridley early service & N.Wes late one week, then live at N.Wes early & Fridley late the next week.) Of course, the reason for this is that we need to gain more balance between our services if we’re going to remain effective reaching lost people.  So, if you can, try to attend an early service at either Fridley or NW.  Chances are, all of them will feel packed.

Secondly, get ready for an amazing new program called SHIFT.  The staff and I just finished 8 short films that are designed to radically alter what you perceive church to be.  This last March, I talked all about how this will dramatically change our church culture.  If you haven’t had the time to hear my last State of the Church address (where I discussed this), check out the “Go Deeper 03/09/10″ video on Ustream (off of our homepage)… http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5320450 It’s filled with exciting testimonies that will get you charged up about Substance’s future!

Third:   In two weeks from this Sunday we are going to play a brand new Substance documentary on the Ethiopian church plant we are about to launch.  The story of Omot and Hannah Aganya is downright heart-wrenching and inspirational.  And we’ll be showing it as a part of a greater teaching series called “The Blessed Life” (which, we are launching this week)!  I’m convinced that this teaching series will alter the course of this church.  So, even though it’s summer time, Substance is making HUGE strides.

So, in between your Twins games and jaunts to the cabin, make sure you stay in touch this summer.   Come Fall, we’ll need all hands on deck!  I believe we’re going to see more miracles and transformations than we’ve ever experienced before.  In the meantime, I’m praying for you all!

I love you guys!  Stay full of God’s Word and power!

Peter Haas' Ipad Bliss

Every year or two, there’s always a trendy little gadget that steals our hearts.  My wife gave me an Ipad as an early birthday present (next Wed).  At first, I thought it’d be just another toy.  But I have gotten totally and completely hooked.  And I’ve had a boatload of pastors/lecturers ask me:  ”Should I get one?”  So, here are 6 reasons why I love preaching from my Ipad:

(1) I can actually see my text in the dark (or when bright stage lights are blinding me)

(2)  And when I have two Ipads (one in each hand), I feel like Moses carrying the stone tablets… i.e., (It makes me preach with more power and confidence)

(3)  I can edit my messages on the spot (without obscure pen-scribbling)… which is great when I’m touring through various sites and venues every weekend.

(4)   I can email the edited version of my sermon back to my computer (I don’t have to retype the extra insights and jokes into my master digital copy on Monday morning).

(5)  I can actually control my sermon powerpoint & videos from it (via wireless pro-presenter).

(6)  I don’t waste as much paper:  I’m probably not the most eco-savvy person; but, I hate printing things on paper.  In fact, when my printer or copy machine misprints, it makes my brain freak out.  I feel like I’m burning down entire forests of happily singing trees.

Of course, this entire blog is probably just my way of rationalizing why I bought one.  Honestly, I haven’t touched my laptop in a few weeks.  And wow, the Plants vs. Zombies game for Ipad has pretty much been a vortex of inefficiency for me. In fact, my kids and I have already beat the game (& we danced around the house as the end-credits rolled).

But here’s the deal church:  Do you really need one?   Probably not.  Because what we really need are:  (1) Jesus,  (2) Financial Margin, (3). The brand new issue of Substance Magazine  (Do you like how I subtly transitioned this into a church announcement?) … Come on!  I’m not gonna let an Ipad steal the lime-light!

But truth be told, we have an amazing number of summer small groups posted all throughout our new magazine.  And to boot, we have some pretty fun new testimonies being highlighted as well.  So, pick up your free copy this weekend at church.  And look for the all-digital version coming out this next week… (www.beingsubstance.com) perhaps to be read on your Ipad?

And there you have it:  I have brought this blogging journey full circle.  Hopefully, Apple will see this free publicity and reward me with an Iphone 4.  In the meantime: I love you Substance!  “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:58

As many of you know, I was off to South Africa via Amsterdam to preach at a pastor’s conference north of Johannesburg.  And all of a sudden, that naughty little volcano in Iceland (who’s name no one can even pronounce) came along & coughed up a good amount of ash into the air.  Of course ½ of the airports in Europe were suddenly shut down.  So, what does one do?  Apparently, one turns the plane around and goes all the way back to Minneapolis.

 Of course, every subsequent flight was instantly booked throughout most of the week… unless I wanted to spend $5 grand routing myself through China.  By the time I would arrive, I’d have to jump right back on an 20 hr flight just to make it back in time for Substance.   I mean:  Come On!  At the very least, this stupid volcano should have a pronounce-able name.  At least, that way, I could hurl insults at it.  (I suddenly understand how Clark Griswald felt when Wally World was closed.)  It had felt like such an epic journey… & yet now I’m back home for the week.

 I thought about that Proverb that says:  “Hopes deferred make the heart sick.“  Have you ever experienced that before?  Life has its share of twists and turns.  But, as I grow older, I’m starting to see the silver linings more quickly.  Romans 8:28 says that “God causes all things to work together for good for those that love him.”  So, I’ve been trusting God that He is having his way even when it’s different than I expect.

 Interestingly, on my North-Atlantic “site-seeing tour”, I got to sit next to a believer who helps lead at a great church that Substance is friends with.  (Seriously…What are the odds?) We had some fantastic leadership discussions.  And I can’t help but to suspect that God was simply planning a very unique and extravagant fellowship moment.

 It also hard to feel bad when it’s 80 degrees outside.  I immediately bought tickets to a Twins game this week.  And I’m still hoping to see a lion… even if I have to go to the Como zoo to do it.

 Of course, I realize that many of you are having tough times…. perhaps in your finances, emotions, your marriage or job.  And you may not have naughty volcanoes causing the problems; but, no matter what the cause of your burdens, remember this:  “[God] will never let the righteous fall.” Psm 55:22.  He has a fantastic way of turning tests into testimonies. 

 So, don’t let your emotions take you down.  Let your faith build you up… even if you’re forced to have a South African BBQ in Minneapolis!  All right?

I love you guys!  Thanks for all of your prayers!

“So, then:  How do you travel and stay fresh?” Well, I’d be lying if I said I’m “fresh” right now (& I usually blog when I’m procrastinating sermon writing : )  But, truth be told, I usually know in advance when I have a busy stretch; so, it’s not uncommon for me to get my sermons done five weeks in advance.  So, I always make sure that the Lord and my family are still my priority.

Ironically, I don’t really like travelling.  Once you get to know me, I’m somewhat of an introverted home-body (I realize that most of you think I’m lying!)  But seriously, I’m quite content hanging out with my wife and kids all the time.  To boot, I have a never-ending to-do list of fun Substance people I want to be with.  “So, then Pastor Peter, why in the world do you travel so much?” Well, let me give you two huge reasons:

(1).  I need Rare Mentors:  As many of you know, Substance is not a typical church.  Our growth rate puts us in a .01% of all churches in the U.S.  And it’s hard to find accessible leaders who are pastoring Substance-styled churches.  And more than this:  I need mentors who are a phase or two ahead.  So, one of the great serendipities of preaching at great conferences is being able to hang out with brilliant pastors.  (In fact, I actually preach at many of these conferences as a favor to various mentors.)

For example, one of our biggest dilemmas at Substance is:  “How do we afford a basic building project, when ½ of our members are college students?” Up till now, we’ve cut costs by being a portable multi-site church.  Yet, at this size, portability is now costing us as much as the would-be mortgage of a permanent worship center.

But how do we raise a down-payment?  And how do we keep our core values intact while we do this?  Thankfully, I’ve got dozens of mentors who’ve navigated this without becoming like those facility-obsessed corporate churches that we’ve all been scared of.  And, every time I hang with them, they give me organizational insights which have already saved Substance hundreds of thousands of dollars.

(2). But the Second reason I travel is this:  God is wanting to speak to the American church through Substance.

Recently, I was sharing about how much I hate travelling.  And truth be told:  I enjoy speaking to new audiences; but, I don’t have any deep ego needs to stroke by doing it.  In fact, sometimes, speaking out is nothing more than a burden to me… because it often simply means that there will be hundreds of new people vying for my time, money and resources.  Yet, recently, a Substance member told me: “Pastor, I’m praying that you start loving to travel… after all, you’ve got a message for the body of Christ at large that needs to be shared.” And, God must be answering her prayers because, the desire in finally increasing.

Honestly, it totally bugs me that the body of Christ at large in the U.S. is dying.  17% of Americans claim to attend church; but, only 9.1% actually do.  Of that 9.1%, the vast majority are senior citizens.  (And this 9.1% merely counts those who attend church 3 out of 8 Sundays!)

To make matters worse, misguided Christian leaders everywhere spend all their time bickering about complicated theology and church methods.  It’s like we’re standing on a sinking ship debating about it’s engine.  Yes.  Engines are important; but, not when it’s sinking!

What many Evangelical leaders fail to realize is that:  If we can’t even get unchurched people to even step foot in ANY Bible believing church of any kind… then all of our silly “Christian debates” are all for nothing.  The best mid-week discipleship program in the world is useless if we can’t even bridge the massive chasm between our Christian sub-culture and the vast majority of Americans.  And, dog-gonit… I would rather rip the skin off of my body than watch Evangelicals and Charismatics stay on the same silly course (O.k… so, perhaps that was a bit dramatic).

But, God is fast-forwarding our church for a reason.  He’s giving us credibility out of nowhere. So church:  “To whom much is given, much is required.” And for me, a part of that cost is travel.  And for you guys, the cost is: giving up your senior pastors a few more weeks of the year (which, is probably a healthy thing for Substance anyway : )

Besides: I’m going be taking many of you with me on these trips in the future.  In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if, in a few years down the road, we’ll have a few Substance campuses across state lines! …(somewhere tropical perhaps?)

And that’s the last reason I travel.  Right now, I’m looking out my airplane window and it’s amazing how far I can see.  I get perspective.  And the same is true as I work with the body of Christ at large.  I don’t want Substance to become some cloistered group of myopic Christians with no “Big picture” of the body of Christ.  God wants us to become a movement.  And to do this, I must move with the movers.  I.e., I must travel.

But the result:  More mentoring.  More clarity.  More opportunity for Substance to hold a torch for the American church.  So get ready Substance:  our best days are yet to come.

Substance Church in Charisma Magazine

Whenever we get a shout out from a national or regional publication I love to give you guys a peek.  Well this month we got a cool little feature in Charisma magazine as being a “Trendsetting Church” (April 2010).   So hats off to all you wonderful leaders at Substance… after all, you guys are the ones who truly deserve all the credit!  Especially after these last few weeks… launching our new video venue… we’ve had some of the most amazing conversion stories come in.  And YOU guys are the reason!

I was just reflecting on the fact that we’ve gotten over 500 new people into weekly ministries in the last 6 months alone.  And, I don’t know about you but… dude, that’s a lot of people!  And with all the new small groups we’ve been launching it really shows that this is a church that’s about the people… not about me… or any other personality.  My pastor friends have always been amazed by the extremely high level of volunteerism that pervades our movement.  And that really speaks highly of all of our mid-level leaders who keep stepping it up every Sunday.

Long story short:   I LOVE you guys!   I really do.  I’ve actually been in the middle of a 8 week tour of conference speaking engagements (Even though I’ve still been here on Sundays).  Honestly, it’s been a crazy season for me.  But even though I’ve been meeting wonderful Christians all over the U.S., there’s no place like home.  You guys are the best.  And when magazines like Charisma keep investigating all of you, it’ll be hard to keep a lid on things!

So keep rocking it Substance!   God is turning you into a group of Spirit-filled trend-setting hardcores for Christ!    

And P.S… if you check out the article, make sure you check out Healing Place Church (featured on the next page of the magazine)…  After all, Dino Rizzo is one of our overseeing pastors and mentors.  In many ways, it’s an honor to be placed anywhere near such an amazing church.

So, the printed article has pictures… but the stripped down online version can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/component/content/article/1078-features/26517-7-trendsetting-churches

I Love You Guys!!

Yes, we're doing an Easter series on Hell!

People thought I was crazy for naming our church Substance.  (And I’ll admit, I am a bit crazy! )  But people will certainly say we’re crazy for doing a four-part series on Hell during the Easter season.  “Seriously,” one member asked, “are you really doing a hell series during the highest visitor time of the year?“  In short, my answer is “Yes.”  But, trust me in this:  You’re definitely going to want to invite friends nonetheless!

 I recently met a Christian who heard about our growth rate.  The first thing he said was:  “So, how are you watering down the truth in order to grow your church?”  Of course, I was shocked by his assumption …especially when he had never even attended a singular service at Substance.  I.e., He was basically saying:  “Weekly growth = Compromise.”  It made me wonder how many people delude themselves with this type of thinking simply to excuse their own lack of fruitfulness.  But, seriously, what kind of religious weirdness does it take to actually say something that judgmental?  Certainly, we all know that a spirit of cynicism and legalism is unfortunately alive and well in the body of Christ.  And some Christians even think it’s God working through them to protect God’s church!

 Of course, my whole life, people have told me that I’m a rather intense “feed-people-from-the-fire-hose” kind of pastor.  So, finding people who think I water things down is a rather new experience.  But, when I met this young Christian with the boldness to say this to me, I realized there is a greater deception that looms in the body of Christ.  I call it the “Either/Or” Seeker-Sensitive Debate.  Allow me to explain.

 The great theologian Mary Poppins : ) once said:  “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.“  I.e., Medicine is like truth… sometimes it tastes horrible even though it’s absolutely beneficial.  Thus, a smart person adds the spoonful of sugar.  She’s not “Anti-medicine” nor is she “Pro-100% sugar.”  She’s advocating a 3^rd option… a blending of the two.

 Yet, the whole “Seeker-sensitive” debate is always being framed in an “either/or” mentality.  I.e., Either you’re Pro-inconvenient truth or Pro-sugar coating.  But why can’t we feed people inconvenient truth while simultaneously making it life-giving?  Rarely do people respond negatively to a confrontation when they truly know that we love them and would do anything for them.  And it’s much the same with preaching.

I recently had another young man tell me:  “The true Gospel is offensive” (thereby indicating that we had a false Gospel — because unchurched people love us).  Yet, at the same time he couldn’t explain to me why sinners ran to Jesus, not from Jesus.  Truth be told:  he was indoctrinated with the philosophy that “all sugar” is evil… even when the medicine (truth) is completely mixed in.

 As if this narrow-minded “either/or” thinking isn’t destructive enough, some legalistic Christians take it a step further by “idolizing the spoon itself.”  They say: “It’s not enough that you deliver icky medicine (hard truth)… but, “real Christians” use this exact type of spoon.“  I.e., If you don’t use this exact worship format… or if you don’t preach this exact method of sermon… then you’re compromised.  I.e., they judge a tree by its format not its fruit.  Indeed, Christians often worship their formats more than Christ.  Unfortunately, this is a common problem in long-term Christians.  And, ultimately, they’re going to miss a massive harvest when God does a “new thing” in a “new wineskin.”

However, at Substance, I refuse to buy into this hyper-spiritual nonsense.   And frankly, when you see how ripe the harvest is (how desperate the world is for ‘medicine’), I just don’t see how endless “spoon debates” bring honor to God.  And I certainly don’t think I need to choose between either “medicine” or “sugar.”  And by the time we’re done with this hell series, you’re gonna know what I’m talking about.

 We kept thinking:  “How in the world do we lighten up a Hell series without becoming sacrilegious?”  Of course, we realize that this just might be an impossible task with some Christians.  But, get ready, because our new series is called:  “Hell, Fuzzy Bunnies, and Brimstone.”  Believe it or not, the doctrines of hell form the foundations of God’s ultimate love letter.  To put it another way:  “Pure love without absolute boundaries isn’t love at all.”

 When I shared the series with the staff, all of them said:  “Wow pastor, you’re gonna blow people’s minds — in a good way.“  In fact, here are a few of the questions we’re going to attempt to answer: 

“How can a loving God create an eternal hell?  

Isn’t hell a consequence that’s disproportionate to the crime? 

Could hell be locked from the inside? 

What about the people who never heard the Gospel or had access to a Bible?  Is it really fair for God to judge them?” 

And, to boot… we’re gonna have FUN answering these questions!

The parody rap video we did for this is hilarious!  Your very own Pastor Nick is a superstar!  (see our youtube music video)

So invite your friends.  I’ve been working on the specific “medicine/sugar” recipe for quite some time.  But, be ready:  The “medicine” just might be different than you expect!

And don’t forget to pray for our new video venue at Northwestern (see my last blog).  God is doing amazing things in our community!  So come be a part of it this next month!

Peter Haas Substance Church Northwestern Campus

What a crazy few months it’s been at Substance!  Even though the staff and I are tired, it suffices to say that we’re also refreshed by all of the fruit we’re seeing.  Church: I’ve never seen so many radical conversions in my life.  Almost every week we’ve gotten a pretty radical God-story coming out of the Substance community.  It could be because, we’ve gotten over 550 new people involved in a weekly ministry in the last 6 months.  But I also believe it’s because, in the last few months, our small group ministries have been exploding (which is a huge sign of church health for us).

I’ve always dreamed that we’d have 24-7 prayer at Substance.  (So, watching our Tuesday Deeper experiences stay packed out has been really encouraging).  I’ve also dreamed that we’d have a small group devoted to every single book in the Bible… as well as a small group devoted to every imaginable spiritual discipline & outreach.  (So when I saw our 10-week live-internet streaming Apologetics class totally packed out, I was again encouraged).

But remember church:  This is just the beginning!  This year is going to be a radical shift in terms of small groups and mid-week discipleship experiences.  In fact, I believe we could easily quadruple our number of small groups in the next 9 months alone.  And that’s what I talked about in last week’s “State of the Church” address.

In fact, if you haven’t listened to last week’s “inside scoop message,” please take an hour to get clued in.  We are launching some amazing new programs that will alter Substance as we know it.  So, go online and watch the video… http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5320450 …or, at least, get the audio download on itunes or at http://www.substancechurch.com/podcast/.

So, it doesn’t surprise me at all to see our weekend numbers starting to swell.  When we launched a new campus in Northwestern’s 1300 seat auditorium, we had no idea that we’d be launching a 2^nd service so quickly.  We still had a couple hundred seats left over. But, after shuttle-bussing over 500 attenders to our service the other week, we realized that it’s time to change.

So, I’m excited to say, this week we’re adding a 2^nd service at our Northwestern Campus! (Our 5th Service!) So, here is the newest break-down of our weekend services:

Again, I’m going to preaching live at least once a weekend at each of our three campuses; but, once you see our “dual-feed” high-def-video-screens at both Sunday campuses, you may actually prefer the video venues (like many hundreds already do at Fridley).

So, many of you are probably thinking:  “Pastor, how can I help out with all of these changes?”  Well, my answer is three-fold: (1). Pray for all of these changes!  (2). Watch the State of the Church address ASAP. And finally (3). If you already attend Northwestern, commit to our 9am service for 4 weeks! I know it sounds weird; but, for 2 services to work at Northwestern, we need about 400 people to voluntarily attend our 9 am service for a temporary period of time.  If, after 4 weeks, you want to switch back, then that’s perfectly fine.  However, if we don’t free up seats at our 11am service, then our unchurched friends will be the first to stop coming.  Make sense?  But, never fear:  We’ll have extra coffee available for you!  And we also have a few fun surprises planned for those of you who attend our video venues!  So, get ready Substance!

But, in the meantime: I love you guys!  This is so much fun!  Honestly, there is nothing more fulfilling than pursuing the Lord together.   So, let’s know him & make him known!  Amen?