I admit it

I admit it. Sometimes I hesitate to tell people what we are doing. I mean, you never know how someone is going to respond when you say, "I'm starting a new church." Many people aren't sure what to say. My mom's honest reply was something along the lines of "Are you allowed to do that?" Probably most honest people have a similar thought.

So, this is my confession. Sometimes I would rather just say I am a student. After all, that is true. Of course when I tell them I am doing my Masters, they might ask "What in?" And then I have to say, "The New Testament of the Bible". Then I am ousted as a religious nut, right?

I'm kinda stuck. I cannot fly under the radar.

I wish I could pretend, with the Christian Pastor bravado that so many have, that I am always excited to proclaim whose I am from the rooftops.

Sometimes, I wouldn't mind saying, "I work as a manager at the new Wal-Mart." Or something else.

Now that I have admitted it, I have to say that I am getting over it. After all, God has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation that the dying world needs to hear.

When I became a Christian I was on fire for God and was ready to win the world to Christ (I was also immature in my approach). Over years of starts and stops, my passion cooled some.

And, to be honest, being in ministry often means putting up with a lot of church crap that can quench the most Spirit-filled among us.

But the truth remains- the Church is God's tool to save the world. After all, we are the ones who have been entrusted with the Good News.

So, that brings me to this morning. We finally got our YMCA membership, something we have been looking forward to. I want to make the YTMCA a place where I purposefully connect with those who are outsiders to the church world through coaching teams and connecting with men.

This morning I got there after a great breakfast meeting at about 8:00. And I was praying. Praying that in a very individual setting (picture fifty adults and 98 ear buds), I would get to meet someone or talk with another man a little bit.

I worked through the weight machines and didn't get to talk with anyone. I was discouraged and thought that once I was on the eliptical that it was less likely to meet anyone. But I did! Troy and I had a great talk for several minutes. Then I noticed another man that I had met at a doctor's office and got to talk with him and get his name. I suspect I will see both of them again.

And in talking with one of them, it rolled off my tongue with no hesitation... "I am starting a new church."

I hope you are comfortable enough with your Jesus that you are growing in boldness.

Permit me a Bible study.

The believers in the book of Acts were being persecuted. Their leaders had been jailed. The pressure was mounting. Their flegling band they called the 'Church' was on the brink of being stillborn. And they prayed. Did they pray for safety or favor or God to shut down their enemies?

No.

They prayed for bold speech, so they might proclaim God's message faithfully.

That's what I'm praying for, too.

Join me?

When we band together, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and proclaim his Word with boldness, we cannot be stopped, even by hell itself.

Official Website

Drum roll please....

Our webiste is up and running! It has a few bugs to work out (the online giving still needs adjusting before it will be up on the site) but many other things work and it looks great!

Check it out, make it your home page (it has Fort Wayne weather on the home page).

http://www.triplepointechurch.com/

For a 20 minute unscripted talk on how TPC came to be,

check out Extra--> Downloads!

Have fun!

I was realizing as I sat in a Disciples of Christ church this past Sunday morning that I have been to a lot of different churches lately. I counted them...

Six in about the past 2 months.

I've been to two "Christian Churches/Churches of Christ", two community churches, a Lutheran church and a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

You know what I found?

They all think that Jesus is pretty great.

If I were to list the churches whose senior leaders I have had one on one talks with I would have to add...

Our Lady of Good Hope
Journey Church
C.U.M.O.
The River
Broadway Christian
Christ's Hope
Georgetown
Cedar Creek

And I feel like I am forgetting someone.

The point I am trying to make?

Other churches aren't our enemies. We aren't in competition. We aren't Burger King and they aren't McDonald's. On a page of our new website, I actually recommend other area churches. I provide links that take you from the TPC page to the pages of other sites.

Probably not a link to BK on MickieD's site.

Is TPC different from every other church out there?

Yes.

And no.

It's time to come together. We might not have long to keep screwing around.

Switching Modes

Hey everyone. Going to be working on Masters stuff for the next week. So, I will be checking out. When we come back, though, I hope to announce the new website. It's basically up, so should be ready for public consumption soon.

BTW- it looks great.

Grace to you,
Patrick

InAsMuch

I spent some time volunteering recently at InAsMuch ministry downtown here in Fort Wayne. I would characterize their ministry in these ways:

1. Organized chaos as they help many people
2. Accountability- the ask people they pledge to help to do a few things, such as
   -Do two take home Bible studies
   -Attend church service (at any Christian church in the area)
   -Work up a budget
   -Try actively to get a job
   -Pay their other bills
3. Sharing the gospel. This isn't a joke- I watched it happen as they talked frankly with clients about trusting Jesus and getting into church and praying with them out loud.

It was good. I felt like they had a great balance of helping people and challenging them to grow.

InAsMuch deserves support.

Break All The Walls Down

I have often wondered, "What keeps churches from coming together?"

We would all say that denominationalism is a disease that we would like to overcome (at least most of us would say that). We might not actually want uniqunesses to fade away, since that would deny the uniqueness obviously present in the world. But we would more likely agree that the walls between people should be lowered.

So, what keeps the minister at a new non-denominational church in town from having coffee with the priest at the nearby Catholic Church?

Apparently it only takes a phone call.

I had coffee with a brother yesterday. He might wear a collar and I might wear a tie (sometimes), but it is the man who wore a crown of thorns who lives in each of our hearts.

Can I be honest? I really like Father Mark. And I am not just saying that. I like to talk with people who are smarter than I am. So, I liked talking to him.

Some of our doctrines differ, but there is one that is the same- there is no hope in this world without Jesus Christ.

Do I have visions of TPC and OLGH doing joint missions in inner city Fort Wayne? Not really. But do I have intend to get togehter with Mark again and get the book from him that he reccommended as I work on my Masters Thesis? Yes. And maybe I can get him to give me a golf lesson sometime, too.

What stops you? Are there walls between you and a brother or sister from a 'different' kind of church? If so, it's only because of your own inhibitions or ignorance.

Make a call this week. Seek a relationship for the sake of having a relationship. It's good. It's right. It's what God desires.

I prayed for Father Mark, and he pronounced a blessing on me. He asked that he Holy Spirit come upon me and remain upon me both now and forever. How could anyone argue with that?

Sorta feels like we gave the devil the finger.

Foundations

I posted this pic some time ago and it continues to apply.

I am not a builder, but I am guessing that the bigger something is, the more important the foundation is.

Some of the foundations of this ministry are:

• Process We ain't making cheeseburgers, here. However, the process is still important. Where do we want people to come in? Once they come in, what are we trying to accomplish in their lives? Where do we want them to move next? What does success look like? What does failure look like? If we are trying to lead people to Christ, what is the process?


• Financial It ain't all about money, but without some money, things will be hard. We want to have neighborhood parties, we want to help people, we want to support local and foreign missions and do things right. So, it is important to establish not only funds coming in, but the appropriate process and accountability. We need to raise about $8,000 in monthly support.


• Launch Team We need at least 35 trained adults for this ministry, adults who buy into the vision and process. This group needs to be committed to each other and to outsiders. They must also be faithful givers.


• Relational Contacts I have begun networking and will continue. We will have attended many local churches before launch and I will have sat for breakfast, coffee or lunch with many local leaders and pastors. Our launch team also must establish good relational contacts with outsiders and other community influencers.


• Facility We need it to well facilitate worship service and children's activities. We would like a good location and a good price. People will ask where we meet- it is important.
  

God has called us to reach people for Christ who are not going to church right now.
We LOVE GOD through obedience to Jesus Christ. We GROW TOGETHER because Christian maturity does not happen in a vacuum. We SERVE OTHERS because selflessness is the goal of the gospel.

We build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Then we realize there is pre-launch work that is needed. Then we must follow this simple process.

Thursday

Thursday was a good day. I was downtown in Fort Wayne at about 7am. I was supposed to meet Alyn Biddle (more on that in a moment) at 8:15. But I have gotten so conditioned to a long commute into 'downtown' areas after being in Cinci, I left way too early.

So, I hit the Dunkin Donuts in the dowtown library first.

Alyn (the InAsMuch minister from Broadway Christian Church) lead a ministry that is a compassion based ministry in downtown Fort Wayne. In our 2.5 hours together, I learned a lot about InAsMuch, but want to share two things with you now:

• They have an excellent structure and process for helping people out of poverty, not just handing them food, clothes or money without any exit strategy.
• They share the gospel with everyone they help. They provide accountability and help people to grow, not just survive another day.

After my time with him, including a prayer walk around downtown, I met my wonderful sister Penny for a quick lunch and then went to a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce about handling media outlets as a small business/non-profit leader.

One other note- in the last 5 days we have met and had good conversations with about a dozen neighbors. It's been great, and we look forward to getting to know them all better as the weather starts to warm up!

Thank you, Lord.

Onward marching

We have spent the past couple of days unpacking box after box. The house is looking better all the time and we will even be able to park one van in the garage tonight. We've gotten tons of help, for which we are grateful.

I am sitting in the library down the road and people watching as I type. We have been doing a bit of the same in our neighborhood. We've been blessed to meet a few neighbors already and are excited to see what is to come.

With a couple of friends last night I reminded us all of what success looks like in this venture.

• It does not look like getting a bunch of Christians together to do church the way we always thought it could be done.
• It does look like people coming to love God for the first time through obedience to Christ, growing together because Christian maturity doesn't happen in a vacuum, and serving others because that's the goal of the gospel.

Donations are coming in, the launch team is being assembled, a website will be up and running soon, my office will be unpacked, contacts are being made, and opportunities are being realized.

Thank you, Lord. You are good.

We made it!!

The days waned, school work was wrapped up, good byes were said, trucks were loaded, help was given...

And we made it. We arrived at our new home (which we all love!) tonight before 5:00pm. We have unloaded some, have more unloading to do tomorrow at 1:00, and are settling in.

A significant question has occurred to me. It's in the form of a multiple choice that I will also pose to you...

Are you:

A. Living the dream

B. Living a dream

C. Both A. and B.

We chose option C. Think about it with me. We moved here for a non-existing church and a job that has no income for people we don't yet know.

Are we crazy? Crazy like a fox, who counts his risk and makes his move.

Mark 10:29"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

We are significantly rolling the dice here. But we are rolling the dice on God.

So, welcome to the next chapter of the greatest story ever told- not the Riecke family story, but the story of the most important organization on the face of the planet- the Church of Jesus Christ.

Introducing...

Welcome to Triple Pointe Church! We have debated over our name for some time, but have settled on this name, suggested by a good friend. Some of the reasons we have selected it are:

• It reflects the triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)


• It reflects our discipleship process (Love God, Grow Together, Serve Others)


• It's unique, but not off the wall


• It's easy to discuss in conversation; "We'd love to have you join us at Triple Pointe this weekend."


• There are some good web domains available that integrate this name

I would say I hope you like it. However, my hope is that it works. That it is one more tool that helps us reach people who don't go to church anywhere right now. That's a whole lot more important than if I like it or not.

On the practical side, it doesn't change anything quite yet (Checks can still be made out to "The Development" and mailed to the address that is in a previous post). And the address of this blog will remain the same. I am in conversation with a group about an actual church website and that may be up and running in the near future.

If you like the name, I welcome your comments. If you don't- too late! Haha.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL,

Patrick

200 Days and Counting!

Out of the mouths of babes

Apparently, our kids are listening... all the time.

Sometimes that is not a good thing, but recently it was a very good thing.

I have been wanting to post about this for some time, but also wanted to let it all play out first.

Our oldest came to us last week sometime. He had been pretending with his brothers in their room. They had set up a fort, which is not uncommon for boys in general, or our boys in specific. This fort was a little different, though. In the fort they brought all their 'Jesus books'. Bible stories, Bibles, kids devotional books, etc.

DP therefore decided the fort was the 'Jesus Club'. He made a sign that read, "Jesus Club For Everyone". We didn't notice it at first, but his wheels were turning. Eventually, he came up to Kristen and I downstairs.

"I want to have a Jesus party and invite all my friends in our neighborhood over."

We were a little surprised, but knowing our oldest, it wasn't a huge shock.

"We'll have food and talk about Jesus." He says.

"Why do you want to do that?" I ask, just to see what's behind the surface.

"I don't know if they all go to church, so I want to tell them about God so they will be sure to know about him and Jesus."

Enter tears from mom and dad.

Actually, we held it together and starting talking about details and why it might not be the best approach to go immediately to their houses right that minute and ask them to come over. So, he started planning.

The next few days it was all we heard about. The "Jesus Party". He made signs, cleaned up the downstairs (only to see his brothers destroy it many times over). He talked about who to invite and wanted to make flyers, a menu, the whole nine yards.

We convinced him it was fine to just talk with people instead of doing a mass mailing and that we could just love them with the love of Jesus while they were over. I didn't necessarily want to see my 6 year old giving his first sermon yet, though I am sure that will come.

So, after many trips out to finally catch all our neighbors with kids, last night was the night. Total of 6 neighbors kids from baby to middle school and some parents. We had desserts, ice cream, cookies, etc.

And even though we didn't read the entire Bible to them like he might have wanted, the love of Christ was present.

Thank you, Daniel, for understanding the world better than most Christian adults (me included).

Crossway Church

At 5:45 this morning I left the house. I pulled up in front of a friend's place. He pastors a church plant in Independence, KY. His neighbor drives the truck. Yeah, the truck.

The truck that picks up and hauls one of the trailors they use to set up their stuff for service every Sunday morning. Yes, one of their trailers. They haul two each week.

So, we got the place where they store the trailers it was snowy and cold. That presented some interesting issues. Frozen pad locks, slick hills, iced trucks.

But we still got both of them to the high school they rent by 7:00 am. We unloaded all the goods for the main worship area, children's area and hospitality center.

It was all set up by about 8:00 in the main room, about 9:00 in the children's area. I got to help a lot.

It was at about 8:00 am, when I was using a lighter trying to defrost some padlocks that things started to get real.

Without getting into all the wonderful (and gritty details) I will highlight the three main things I learned today:

1. Kids can help. There were kids everywhere (young kids) helping with everything from setting up tents, projectors, fences and playpens in the children's area to coffee supplies and communion in the adult areas.


2. Things you move every week wear out fast. You've heard the phrase "7 moves equals a housefire"? Yeah, similar with a portable church. Only thing- you move seven times in just seven weeks. My takeaway- get a great trailer, get organized, and get high quality storage items.


3. "It's a lot of work, but it's also very gratifying." This comment, or something similar, seems to be the most repeated comment I hear from people who are involved in this kind of thing. They understand the work load, but they also see that it makes a unique impact in people's lives. Strap in, it's going to be a fun ride!

Thank you Crossway, for letting me come with you today.

P.S.- One other takeaway. I drove past the church we have been a part of while we have lived here on my way to my firend's house at 5:45- uh, no one was there yet. My guess is it's because there aren't any trailers to haul there.

Colossians 4

3And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Church Planter/Door Greeter

Tonight we went to First Church. They had a movie night for adults- FIREPROOF. And a Christian juggler (?) for the kids (which our oldest loved).

But we got there about 45 minutes early (just Kristen and DP and me, the others were home with Aunt MiMi).

Kristen was working a table and DP and I jumped in to be door greeters. He took the one side and I took the other. He was pumped about it and did a great job (until it was time for kids stuff to start).

It was great. I am a church planter now and I got to open the door and say "Welcome to First Church- do you know where you're going?" Because there were a lot new people- including a family we invited.

Welcome to the church- can I help you find your way around?

Hmm. Sounds like a good role, man. Welcome to the church. Come on in, let me help you out.

Sorry if this is incoherent, I'm pretty tired. There something signifcant here, I hope you see it.

Love to all!
Patrick

Opportunities

So, spent about 3 1/2 hours with the local fire chief this morning. And no, my kids did not set anything on fire. He and his wife are a part of our class at church. He was the fire chief in Bloomington, IN at age 30. He had a few things to say about being a leader when you are still young.

Wonderful opportunity for me to learn from a godly man.

So, if last year at this time you would have told me that I would have the opportunity to have personal connections with a bunch of church planters from Fort Wayne, Northern KY and inner city Cinci, have breakfast several times with one of the founders of Promise Keepers and personal counsel from one of the world's leading authorities on the gospel of John, with a fire chief thrown in for good measure...

I'd have said, "only if God wills."

He did.

Thanks, God.

Watershed Moment

As Kristen and I lay in bed last night before finally falling asleep, I told her something she already knew.

You see, yesterday morning was a our last morning at our church here before we move in 12 days.

"I don't quite know how to say this, but I realized something today." I said. "We like, left the institutional/traditional church today."

"Yeah, I know." She says (and she does, because she always knows things before I do).

"I mean, not like "Hey, we are outta here" kind of leaving. It's just that the road ahead does not look like the road behind."

There are no more kid's choirs or already staffed children's ministries in our future.

There are no padded pews or established budgets.

There are no people in this new ministry who have 'been there for years'.

There is no building, no money (very little, anyway), no staff (yet), no history to build on.

It's like the first day of school. Do you remember that? You've been so ready for it. You've prepared, built up for it. You've got your school supplies, your spiderman lunch box, your new 'school clothes'.

And then the day comes. And you are on the bus, or in the classroom, and you realize that mom's not there.

That's a little like what this feels like.

Warning- If you are thinking about joining with this ministry, you must be ready for this experience. You don't have to turn your back on 'normal' churches. But you do have to realize that our immediate future with this new ministry will not look like anything you have experienced so far. If you think you need the comfort of what normal churches offer, you need to stay there! This not a judgment, just a heads up before you make any decision.

That said, I am reminded of Jesus' words to Peter.

Matthew 19:28-30 (English Standard Version)
28Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

What we are about to enter into is going to be a wild ride marked distinctly by God's love and faithfulness. We will need God more than we have ever needed him. We will see God move in more dynamic ways than ever. We will see people in a new way and love them more intensely.

Just as I would not go back in time and refuse to go to school, just like the natural steps of progression in our lives from babyhood to boyhood to adolescence to teenage years to college to adulthood to marriage to children are all marked by harrowing passages that we would never think of refusing to cross, so too this. There's no turning back now.

Meeting New Brothers

So, how did I end up in the gracious home of a pastor who has planted a church in inner city Cincinnati yesterday?

It’s all about the Kingdom of God, baby.

You see, it went like this…

Years ago (I won’t say how many) my sisters were in school with a man who now lives in Cincinnati. He is working at this church in the inner city working with some kids who have it pretty tough- just go ahead and picture all the things the words ‘inner city’ brings up in your mind.

I never met him (except one time when I was about 5 years old). Until one of my wonderful sisters (I have quite a lot of wonderful sisters) wrote me and told me he was in the area.

So, naturally, I found him on facebook.

We finally connected yesterday and went out for lunch. As we talked about church planting and ministry and the ups and downs, it was like talking with someone I had known for a long time.

Afterwards, we went over to the man’s house who is the pastor of the church where he volunteers. As we entered Pat’s house (yeah, his name is Patrick, by the way), we were welcomed warmly. He’s got three crazy boys (just like me). He’s got his masters and wants to do his doctorate someday (again, two Patricks alike). And when I asked Pat and Galen both what the highs and lows were of their ministry, they answered the same.

People.

This deal is all about people.

You live with them, you laugh with them, you cry with them, you pray with them, you teach them, you do their weddings and funerals.

We are so ready to get back into the swing like this.

I don’t mean to belittle anything that happens within the traditional church. After all, it’s where I came to know Jesus and where I served for nearly a decade. But there needs to be a subtle change. Wise senior ministers are making those changes. I’m happy to see some of those changes at my home church. The traditional church emphasizes church attendance, programs and the offering totals.

God emphasizes love, relationships and service.

The two emphases are not mutually exclusive, but I believe it is time in the US for a revamping, a retooling, of how we ‘do church’.

“What kind of effect has doing this sort of ministry had on your boys?” I asked Pat.

“It’s been great.” He said, “They’re growing up thinking that this is what church is all about- the people and the relationships. It’s not about coming in, sitting down and being quiet in a pew for 60 minutes.”

And to my new brother, I say amen.

You?

I can talk inside my brain

So, the other day I am driving back from a friend's house. We had stopped over and picked up some boxes from them. The boys had played pretty hard and it was close to bedtime, so they were uncharacteristically quiet as we drove along the dark back Kentucky road through the paths of snow.

Until my middle son spoke up.

"Hey guys, guess what?" (Read with the 4 year old lisp in place)

"What?" say my 6 year old and 3 year old.

"I can talk inside my bwain."

"What?" I ask.

Quiet.

Then, laughing, "I was just doin it. I can talk inside my bwain."

Me- "You can talk inside your brain?"

Him, laughing, "Yeah!"

Everyone starts giggling.

Me- "Did you just notice that?"

More giggling.

Me- "Isn't it amazing how God made us so that we can talk inside our brains? I have to be honest, guys, these days Daddy does a lot of talking inside his brain."

To me, what we are doing right now is getting our "inside the bwain" talking out into group talking. I talked for some time on the phone the other night to a good friend who had a great idea about a name for the new minsitry. Whether or not we adopt this particular name, it was a refining conversation about why we are doing what we are doing.

More, please.

"Patrick is doing a lot of talking inside his own brain." But I need more talking outside my brain. I know that many of you are talking inside your brain about some of these concepts and actions.

Would you please let that brain talk out? You don't have to be right, just thoughtful.

Hit me up. Call me. Email me. Make a comment on here.

Let's turn some of our brain talking into group talk. It's what separates us from the mental patients (and not much else).

Maybe this is why I am doing this

I am thirty.
To some of you that sounds old.
To many, that sounds young.
To me, it's in between.

Thirteen years ago I was walking along the River Greenway in Fort Wayne. I was lonely, angry, and feeling like I hated the world. As I sat on a bench at the one mile mark out from the parking lot on Lake Ave, a figure approached in the distance. I am thinking, "I hope they don't talk to me."
As he gets closer, I realize he's an old man. To me, he's really really old. I am seventeen, he's probably 70.

"Hello!" he says with cheeriness that is like nails on a chalkboard to me."Hello." I reply. He ensues to make conversation with me. Even though I don't want to talk with him in the least, he seems to care. He asks what brings me to Greenway. I tell them I just came out there to think (a surprisingly honest answer). He asks me what I come out there to think about. And I mutter something about my job, school, my family and girlfriend. At this point, his chipperness hasn't been slowed by my gloom.

He says, "Do you know what I think about when I come out here?" I'm thinking, "No, and I don't care."But I say, "No, what?"

"I think about the Lord Jesus Christ."

Now, understand that lots of other people had invested in my spiritually. My parents always took me to church. They talked with me about God all the time. We prayed regularly. I served at church. And just before all this, there had been even more people talking with me about God. For some reason, though, I had not let it click yet.

I say that to preface what I say next.

In that moment, I was face to face with Jesus for the first time.

This man, though a stranger, loved me. And he loved Jesus Christ.

Sounds remarkably like he was fulfilling the greatest two commandments.

In that moment, I was converted. If my life was a mountain range, this was the watershed.

Why? Because of love, caring, and words spoken about Jesus.

His name is Bill Dunn.

Maybe one reason I am doing this is because I would like to lead a church full of Bill Dunns. I'd like to be a servant leader to a group who is taking the love of Christ to the streets- in the lives of family, friends, co-workers, strangers, the poor, the needy globally.

I think that's why Jesus came. He hoped that maybe, just maybe, by loving us so much we would want to spill that over into the lives of others so that they might come to know him as well.

It's a mission marked with love. Wanna join me?