Last night during the Wednesday night service Jim Smyrl and Mac Brunson revealed the strategy for extending the First Baptist Church Jacksonville brand into St. John's County. Mac's vision that he unveiled in February 2007 included satellite churches, and last night how this will be accomplished was laid out to the church.
The FBC Jacksonville brand extension into St. John's county will be accomplished by recruiting church members to start "in home bible studies" in strategic locations. These in home bible studies will run from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sunday nights, and will be limited to only 6 FBC Jax members in attendance. The goal of these FBC Jax members will be to invite unchurched members to come their homes on Sunday nights for "home church". Child care will be provided in the home as well.
Jim Smyrl gave a presentation on the three demographic categories of unchurched people we will try to reach, using information I believe was from Lifeway.
Mac Brunson emphasized that these are NOT going to be church "cell groups" where church members get together; these are specifically designed to reach unchurched people. Jim Smyrl added that church members that expressed a desire to attend one of these home churches out of convenience would be told "NO" that they are only for the unchurched.
Some unique aspects of this strategy:
- the members who volunteer will be trained, and all bible study materials will come from the church so that the church knows what is being taught, and any and all church members who are involved in hosting will undergo the same background checks as we have in place at church for those caring for children.
- the homes of these members will be visited and inspected by church staff, particularly making sure they are places suitable for the home church, paying particular attention to safety issues for children who may come to the home church.
- they will meet every Sunday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, functioning like an "extended Sunday School class" allowing for fellowship time, and bible teaching including the gospel.
Then at some point in 2009, the "converts" from this strategy and the church home points will come together for a celebration service at a new satellite site in the geographic area. This will not be a church plant, but an integral part of the FBC Jacksonville church.
At the conclusion Mac declared that there would be no vote on this strategy, saying "the day we take a vote on whether to do evangelism will be the day Homer Lindsay, Jr. comes out of the grave"....I have no idea the infatuation that he has with Homer rolling around in the grave or coming out of the grave.
If you're interested in being a part of this new, unique strategy of brand extension evangelism, contact Jim Smyrl.
33 comments:
If Mac were so committed to starting satellite churches, perhaps he should have turned down the $300,000 piece of land that J.D. Collins gave to him, and asked him rather to donate a $300,000 piece of land to the church for a new satellite location. But he didn't do that, did he?
Any bets on how long it will be before we have another "special offering" to give to a new satellite church location? When this happens is when the church will have its vote that Mac is refusing to give right now.
Also, since Jim Smyrl is the point of contact for this,let's hope that Mac will send a memo to him that it is ok to answer questions on how to get involved in this ministry so he doesn't call anyone who inquires an "unregenerate."
I mentioned it before Ghost, but I'll repeat it for the others.
Shortly after Mac came, there was a rumor that someone had donated land for a school or a satellite church. He even addressed it from the pulpit, saying "If someone has donated land for a school or satellite, I sure don't know about it." Then after I heard about the $300k land gift I couldn't help but wonder if that was how the rumor got started - it was half right - someone DID donate some land, but it was for our pastor to build an "executive" home.
I don't expect him to call for a vote on this; but again it just shows the poor judgement and arrogance of the man: I don't think most people would demand a vote before we embark on a new evangelism method, so WHY EVEN MENTION IT LIKE HE DID, that the day he does Homer will come out of the grave (not roll in the grave as he has said before, but COME OUT of the grave he said last night).
If Homer were going to come out of the grave over something Mac does, it would have been probably when he and Deb were drawing up plans for the $100k office suite renovation and children building conference room take over, and probably when they inked the $300k land gift. I knew Homer. Homer was a pastor of mine. I can say that Homer would NOT have stood for that kind of nonsense.
I guess the churches in south Duval and north St. John's counties aren't doing a good enough job? We need FBC Jax to start a satellite down here? I would rather see motivated Christians in the southern Duval area who are seeking to minister to people in their neighborhoods to join forces with a church closer to their home and work through a more local body in reaching this area.
anon 5:02 p.m. - you are correct. But Mac's goal is to increase his market share, steal sheep and increase his brand. All the while, justifying his big salary and gaining more fame and wealth and power for himself. I am no expert in demographics, but why not do this on the Northside, or Westside where there is much growth.....because we all know St. Johns county is where the money is! Mac is no dummy. Go get em Mac!
I am sickened by the references to Homer Lindsay, Jr.! Mac is already fleecing all the former sheep of Homer by using the name and position of the FBC Jax church and pulpit that Homer worked to make so influential. Now, Mac gets preaching gigs and writes books because he is the pastor of the great FBC Jax. But that is not enough, he also trots out audio clips of Homer during stewardship emphasis, patronizes Shirley Lindsay, and then dares to mention Homer coming out of the grave.
Mac, if Homer were alive and were "pastor emeritus" you better believe we would be worse than Dallas was with Criswell still hanging around. Homer would not have allowed you to confiscate and remodel the children's conference room, not allowed you to put your wife and son on staff, not allowed you to bring your dogs to work, not approved you to accept a $307K gift two weeks after you arrived, not allowed you to negotiate a salary and relocation package in the six figures and not allowed you to criticize his sheep while fleecing them blind. And you know he would not have agreed that starting a school downtown is the best stewardship to reach people. And don't you think Shirley might come out of the grave now and ask some questions about a pastor's wife being on salary, driving a Jaguar, NOT teaching a Sunday School class, NOT teaching the new member's class, not providing any example to the younger ladies in the church, yet serving on national boards like the IMB, and living in a million dollar home.
So if they haven't come out of the grave yet Mac, don't be afraid to take a vote on evangelism. You KNOW we would all vote for that.
You are a joke of a pastor, sir. A pathetic joke. And now you are not the only pompous ass in the pulpit. You have Jimmy Smyrl to be your preacher boy now too. Good luck landing that next gig Jim. You clowns are an example for the whole convention to see how leading a church is NOT to be done.
Voice of Reason says:
anon May 22 - 8:00 p.m. - you need to chill out bro. You will have the pastor and his supporters claiming they must be doing God's work because they are "under attack." One blogger writes an opinion that doesn't praise them and they want the whole world to think they are under constant satanic attack. But, thanks for sharing your opinion. I still maintain that EVEN IF the pastor did all those things, it would not have been so harmful to his ability to lead our church if ONLY he had done all of that openly and transparently. By refusing to be up front about these things, and having a hand picked group of yes men (and at least one major yes woman) he alienated his congregation, called into question his motives for coming here, and forever lost the trust of those he continues to solicit donations from. (When he makes a $307K donation of cash to the school or church or satelite ministry, I will follow him gladly.) But he felt the need to hide these things, change by-laws, not respond to anon emails, and basically, begged people to blog about him by demanding they "put their names on it". Whatever he accomplishes here in his own flesh, with his own "smarts and drive" it will never be what he could have done with God's hand on him and his being open and honest and transparent with his congregation. He left Dallas a failure, and has already failed miserably here. Ultimately, he will end up in a desk job in the convention or with his own individual ministry that he continues to build up while using his position at FBC Jax.
Why he couldn't have waited a little while before doing all that he did for himself and his family shows many leadership deficiencies. I do agree that he is pathetic. I would not call him "pompous" though. Arrogant, prideful, thinks highly of himself, unloving, angry, bitter, insecure (in comparison to Vines and Lindsay's ministry and how much they were loved and trusted) and immature spiritually, yes, but not necessarily pompous.
Now Smyrl, from what I have been seeing lately, you might be right about him. :0)
I have never understood the fascination with "satellite churches". If you really think those people in a particular area need to be reached then by all means start and support a mission church bring on a pastor paid for by the mother church (FBCJAX) and then when the church is viable and healthy loose its moorings and let it be all that God wants it to be.
But this is a blossoming trend in our SBC: Ed Yound at Second Baptist in Houston was the first that I was aware of doing this, they now have 4 satellites not including the main campus. All of the money and all of the numbers go into the overall offering and attendance as if everyone had attended the main campus. It is so successful that his son, Ed Young Jr in the Dallas area is even doing this with a campus in FLorida (the Miami area I believe!?!) JAck Graham- Prestonwood Baptist in Dallas the same thing.
In my opinion the bottom line is this, and I love each of these men, but it has very little to do with evangelism in the, dare I say, Homer Lindsay, Jr. mold, than it does with building the coffers and the individual egos. If it were truly about evangelism then we would already be in these areas reaching them-- without taking up an offering, or we would be placing a mission church with the hopes of it becoming self-sustaining to reach the area, withoutour input or collecting of their money!
I Cor 1:17 & 18:
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, less the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
I Cor 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. vs 2: For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. vs. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. vs 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: vs 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Question: Where is the power in the preaching today?
The hits just keep on coming. Whatever happened to the idea that the church is a "local assembly of scripturally baptized believers"?
Why not sponsor a sister church?
We have quite a few items on our plate already. Greater funding for missions,new school,satellite church,building upgrades and ect. ect.
Where will the money come from to fund these areas? Last Sunday Pastor Brunson stated we are not to be in debt. I hope we do not issue bonds to cover these items.
Will we get a vote on that?
We need to build the seniors classrooms to help minimize their traveling distances.
These are the ones who are still tithing. The younger groups not so much. Only time will tell if the Lord tarries. Evenso come quickly Lord Jesus.
The rumor about the land in St. Johns county started under Dr. Vines. It was also rumored at one point that Dr. Vines had the church by land in St. Johns county to possibly move our church out there or to start an extension of FBC out there. The rumor also included the need to sell Hillard to help pay for the land. Hillard was up for sell and was taken off the market just before Brunson arrived. As far as I know we never voted to buy land in St. Johns county under any one. Brunson has been asked several times if we owned land in St. Johns county when Vines left. I also never remenber voting to sell Hillard or even to try and sell Hillard.
Dr. Vines also talked to the deacons about a need to reach out to that area of town because that was where the most people in the city was living.
Mac may be many things, but he is not stupid. He knows exactly what he is doing. Starting this process as an "evangelism program" which does not need a "vote" is slick. This way, in a year or so, whenever he decides it is time to move from these small home groups to the new satellite location, it will be a foregone conclusion that the satellite location must be built, because there are already all these people ready to fill it. Pretty shrewd move, really, to avoid a public discussion or vote.
Additionally, while the stated purpose is to reach the unchurched (a statement on which I do not doubt Mac's sincerety), Mac is smart enough to realize that others who are already in another church may be drawn to this new meeting format. He may be able to tell current members of FBCJAX that they are not allowed at the home groups (although enforcement of this decree will likely be difficult without employing the talents of the Discipline Committee), but he knows as well as you and I do that there is no way he will (or even could) tell members of other churches that they cannot attend. In fact, the new format is likely to attract those who are currently church-goers more than it attracts the unchurched. So while reaching the unchured may be the legitimate, stated goal, growing the current church -- regardless of where the new members come from -- is the more likely, and perfectly acceptable, end result. But I think Mac knows that, and he is just fine with this "side effect".
I just have one question: As we now know the school is necessary to reach people because they are never home anymore, presumably because they are out doing other things, where are these "people" going to find the time to come to these home-based groups? Put more bluntly -- if people cannot be reached by church members going to their homes, what reason is there to believe they will be reached by inviting them to the church members' homes?
Not saying it couldn't happen. It just doesn't jive with the logic laid out in the school reasoning. But, of course, none of it is really that logical to begin with...
At least Dr. Brunson has taken a slower approach to satellite locations this time. He presented his 'vision' for 3 satellite locations in the DFW area in late 2005, as part of huge restructuring plan at FBCD. (See this sharp video by the A-Group: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ce2fe28308fd9f2a7baf)
Unfortunately, he never got past "Step 1", and left before the staff reorganiztion was complete. The "FBD East" location didn't open as scheduled in 2006, nor has any mention been made of it or the other locations which were to open in 2008 or 2010.
I am not pesonally convinced of the necessity or even wisdom of the satellite church model, but at least he seems to have a better plan this time of starting small and building into something, rather than the "lay out a huge plan and if we build it they will come" strategy he advocated in Dallas.
Fact: You havn't got it yet. The satellite strategy is right on cue. Mac is going to move the church. When are you going to realize that he is transitioning the church? Didn't you hear Smyrl say UNCHURCHED. Where does this language come from? Purpose Driven! If you can't get it now you have your head in the sand. Once you understand the PD stratagy then all of this falls into place. Listen, the deacons new of this plan before Mac even mentioned satellites last year. Not all of the deacons. For most of the deacons still where in the mode of,(this is God's man and I am going to follow him). While I'm here let me be very clear about the deacons. These are godly men who have served their Lord faithfully for years. But many of them still refuse to believe that they are already PD. Now here is the plan. Small groups-then buy large piece of land-move school to the land-move the church to new site. It is not evangelistic it is all about size. Rick Warren says the health of you church is measured by its size. The bigger your church the more healthy the church. Got it?
Billy Mayes here: If you didn't like my last product, try this one, its only $19.95 and, we will send you two if you call right away.
FBC is really becoming a joke. It just looks like we're caught in quick sand, thrashing around trying to get out before we go under. We're already on tv in ALL surrounding counties. If lost people don't watch the service on tv what makes you think they are going to get dressed, after a long work week, and drag their kids over to someone else's house?
Just preach the word. I know that this is an old concept. But, look how lost people got saved through the foolishness of preaching. I Cor 1:21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.....
Is it time to search for a new pastor??????? After all, he doesn't like us. Hotbed of legalism. He yells at us for not conforming. He keeps his long term plans for this church from its members. He is willing to spend the tithes for his own purposes. He is angry. He is dark. He... Is he led by the Holy Spirit? We can't tell all we hear is history and very little of God's word. Is it time?
You people are definetly having a rough time, but you shouldn't knock everything. Several churches are trying the home approach and if it attracts church memebers who are not being feed else where then praise God for that. The fact is if a church isn't growing, it's not going for Christ, so yes in some ways Rick Warren is right, health is determined by size. The Bible clearly states in Acts that the church grew daily---it was a healthy church, and they met in homes and broke bread together. Just don't be overly critical of everything, take heed lest ye fall being in the same condemnation.
I am NOT a fan of Mac Brunson but this time I think you guys are showing a lot of prejudice and paranoia. The Lord knows his motives and will deal with him appropriately if they are wrong--but as a pastor of 43 years, I think what I read in your post sounds great! Reaching the unchurched is one of the priorities of a real church and it sounds like that is what you will be doing.
I would urge you to quit criticizing and dissecting everything and pray that it prospers and reaches souls for the Lord.
The organization sounds good and solid--now just pray that the Lord will send workers into the field. I think you will see some tremendous results.
UNCHURCHED, SATELLITES: and you don't think you're in a Purpose Driven church. Wake up people, there has been nothing but trouble from the beginning. If you have studied P D at all then surely you recognize the Game Plan. CHECK IT OUT. Purpose Driven destroy's churches. Get it. FBC is even using P D lingo now. All of you long time members: beware, Rick Warren has stated: "You may have to get rid of the pillars of the church, but that's OK, because we all know that pillars just hold things up".
Voice of Reason said:
rm - I hope you are right. But like I have said over and over...even if this idea is of God, Mac Brunson is no longer able, or qualified, to lead it based on his abuses. He has lost the trust and followship of the flock because he made his own wealth and family his only priority for a couple of years when he first arrived. When he did all those things, and accepted personal gifts, nepotism, by-law changes, etc, etc, how can we not be suspicious and hesitant to follow any and all that he tries to lead us into now? He blew it when he accepted the land gift and put his family on staff, but that was a risk he was willing to take. Now he will reap what he has sown. A failed ministry opportunity at the FBC Jax. I just can't wait until God calls a man to lead us. Until then, Mac and his yes men will have to try all of these new strategies in their own strength, without the hand of God and without the support of the majority of those in the congregation.
Speaking of Purpose Driven, didn't Mac and the boys also create a committee to deal with the people causing issues??? PD docs tell us this:
1. Identify those who are resisting the changes;
2. Assess the effectiveness of their opposition;
3. Befriend those who are undecided about the changes;
4. Marginalize more persistent resisters;
5. Vilify those who stay and fight; and
6. Establish new rules that will silence all resistance.
Pastor RM I thank you for your 43 years of serving the Lord, but believe me the PD MOVEMENT is one of the most deceptive and dangerous philosophies to ever confront the church.Jesus revealed a parable about wheat and tares "A man sowed good seed in His field; but while men slept,His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop,then the tares also appeared".The PD movement is a tare.I agree that reaching the lost for Christ is one of the Church's primary missions,the problem that arises is how and by what means.PD's by it's very nature becomes increasingly more and more humanistic and worldly in it's presentation and less and less Christ or Gospel centered. According to many of the bloggers Dr.Brunsons demeanor and emphasis on history,his condesending,angry,dark attitude,also a resistance to having a transparent ministry indicates a man who is not operating by the Spirit of God but guided by his own selfish motives and agenda.The Apostle Paul wrote "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons"[2Tim.4:1].With PD the emphasis slowly begins to fall away from faithful Biblical exposition of truth to a preoccupation with the desires of the culture the world and numerical growth.Whether you or anyone else wants to admit it FBC is in the middle of being converted to a PD church;and the beautiful Christ centered reverent worship services that I enjoyed under Dr.Lindsay will be a thing of the past.I have many friends at FBC and by what they were telling me during the infancy of Dr.Brunson ministry I knew at that time that they were in a aworld of trouble.My prayer is that Dr.Brunson will see the error of his ways or that God will remove him before this great church,built by the Lord and the legacy of a great man like Dr.Homer Lindsay is forever destroyed.
Gas prices are continuing to rise. Drudge Report included a link to where someone estimated they could be at $12 a gallon by 2010. Looking at it both economically and spiritually, satellite churches are a good idea. Not only is the St. Johns County plan an evangelistic tool, but it is an awesome opportunity to encourage others to come to church who live close by. A large portion of our church commutes from that area. Think of the gas they will save, in the coming years!
Also, look at churches like Celebration. They have satellite locations all over Jacksonville, and the congregations continue to grow in number as they do ministry outlooks!
What an awesome opportunity. Yes, it's a new thing! But Christ gives people visions and despite opposition by others, we must step out in faith if we know that God is calling us to do something. I believe Pastor Brunson was given this vision and is doing right by following it.
anon May 23 - 11:01 - You wrote:"I believe Pastor Brunson was given this vision and is doing right by following it."
You are wrong. The "vision" is not new and was not different and was not given by God. It is a very common technique that was new several years ago and Mac's marketing and branding company, the A-group, "gave it to him", not GOD. You must be "trusting" Mac on this. I can't trust him after the conference room remodeling at $100K, the nepotism, his saying woman are led by the Spirit more than men, the wedding reception for his son at the church, the huge salary, million dollar home, and yes, the acceptance of a $307K gift two weeks after he arrived from a man known to buy influence.
Sure, trying to reach the lost sounds good, but open your eyes. And if gas prices were a factor for people coming downtown one or two times a week to church, just wait and see how many will start doing it over 10 times a week for a school. Trust me, Mac Brunson is lost and floundering when it comes to leadership. He relies on his family and the A-group and whatever other churches might be trying. Like he himself said, he is "fat and happy" and is incapable of leading this church. If it were not for some blindly loyal, gullible sheep (the Bible calls us sheep for a reason) he would have been gone a long time ago.
Homer Lindsay, Jr. taught us to love Jesus and to be thankful. That was his "secret" to church growth. People couldn't believe it. They came from all over the country to learn how he did it. Seems too simple doesn't it. No way that works anymore right? That is what they told him, too.
Now, honestly, what has Mac Brunson taught you these past 2+ years? History? How every story and challenge in the Bible relates to being a baptist preacher? That it is okay to be a millionaire preacher?, hire your family?, accept large gifts?, people aren't home anymore so we need millions to build a school?, and on and on. He has taught and guided us and lead us HOW in his 2+ years? But, boy has he done well for himself and his family in those years! And yet you still want to come on here and defend the guy. Awww, isn't that touching. Standing up for your poor, humble, defenseless pastor. So sweet and courageous you are. Keep on giving your income brother. Mac and Debbie are going to be needing it.
Anonymous of 9:10am.
Absolutely the most concise and correct description of the problem so far.....ditto...ditto. Don't forget to include the heavy hand of the Purpose Driven format on how to RUIN a church is evident here.
Anon 11:01 pm
Wouldn't it be better to maybe have the small local churches handle the salvation of those in the North St. John's County area since they are already there? The people will then be able to learn of Christ's word with people in their local community versus spending millions of dollars to create a satellite mega church south of town. Just makes no sense to me.
And pray tell, what good does it do for the Kingdom of God to post something like the one right before me?
What a sad commentary for the familly of God.
Fact: Where did this satellite (change) idea come from? Ed Young! Ed Young Jr. has a satellite church in Miami and his father has four satellite churches. Jr. is maxed out Purpose Driven. Jr. said you can't do traditional church anymore. If you are PD you are small group minded. Where can they get small group training material? (lesson plans) They can get there Small Group lesson plans from none other than Lifeway Christian Resources. Southern Baptist Convention? Say it isn't so! As I recall, they recently bought a company called Serendipity. Serendipity produces,among other things, small group material. Small groups is part of the Purpose Driven framework. So for those of you think that Purpose Driven is some small insignificant manifistation of Rick Warren. Think again. There are over 40,000 PD churches in the U.S. It is in all denominations. First Baptist Jax. has been using small group lesson plans for years. We had no idea that we were becoming PD. What ever happened to church planting? Are there no young preacher who want to start churches. Satellite srategy is all about greed. Build these satellites and all the money comes back into the mother church. You know,,,,,,like the catholic church.
May 24 - 6:00 p.m. - excellent comparison to the Catholic Church. Give us Baptists another 1500 years and we will have our own Pope and be burning Christians at the stake. Especially those evil, unregenerate, children of the devil bloggers.
RM May 24, 2008 1:46 PM
And pray tell, what good does it do for the Kingdom of God to post something like the one right before me?
What a sad commentary for the familly of God.
May 24, 2008 1:46 PM
I was thinking that in some case, a small church might be able to handle the salvation needs of the un-saved far better than mega churches can. Some "un-churched", to use Jim Smyrl's words, might find the mega church a little over whelming and might feel that their walk to Christ is not being addressed and leave and either abandoned their walk or hopefully find someplace that can help them to reach their salvation. I'm having a hard time trying to express my thoughts, but having come from a small church I understand that feeling.
Just because a Mega church might have the resources to build another mega church site, does not always mean it is the right thing to do. There are many small churches that teach and provide the word of God to their members and guest a lot better than the Mega's as they are not so caught up in all the mish mash that is the politics of the mega church.
Small churches perform a vital function in their communities just as the mega's do, but more on a personal basis. They tend to have more of a one on one relationship with their members and guest. It's been said here numerous times that the average member probably would not be able to even get in to meet with Mac and sometimes the guest are blown off. I've have never seen a small church pastor not take a moment to shake the hand or just take a moment to wave and say hello to a guest and welcome them to God's church.
It is becoming clearer to me that FBC Jax is more about the money and the so-called "prestige" of saying you attend this church. I am truly convinced that if membership in FBC Jax did not provide a way to talk to the movers and shakers of this city outside of their official business or public office, many of them would not be members and would attend a small church in or around their home neighborhood.
Did I hear someone mention the Agroup again? That is Maurilio Amorim for those who are not members of FBCJAX. I just did a quick search on him and found his site. www agroup.com/portfolio.htm. Two books that he liked most were. The Way of The Heart by Henri Nouwen and Journey of Desire by John Eldredge. Henri Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic,and a Universalist who wrote "Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God's house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God" WWW. lighthousetrailsresearch.com/nouwenbuddhism.htm Eldredge was another suspect personality. No wonder we got such bad reports about Mr. Amorim. OH! Did you know that Maurilio was the Secretary in the corporation of Bellevue Community Church when his pastor David Fostor was asked to leave, by the Church. By the way Bellevue is big time Purpose Driven. Bellevue is in Nashville Tn. This is not Bellevue Baptist Church; which is having its own Purpose Driven problems. While at the above site I found Mac Brunson's site in the portfolio section. INSIGHT MINISTRIES, there was a podcast there. I heard him browbeat the people again. I was also remided, from much research in the Purpose Driven movement, how often these PD preachers will preach one thing and DO JUST THE OPPOSITE. They can't help themselves. Rick Warren tells them to DON'T tell your people what you are doing until it is too late for them to do anything about it. This sort of thinking gets them telling half trueths and it gets out of hand.
Anon - thanks for that info on AGroup. Interesting choice of his "favorite books" for sure.
See my article on the Agroup back in the March archives, "Does Mac Follow the Holy Spirit or the A Group" for my remarks on this marketing firm that Mac is using.
Ready for another HISTORY LESSON? Well Mac brought one this morning at the 8:00 am tv service. I could not believe he took the dry bones in Ez and brought them up to present day Jacksonville!!! Did you hear those points by Randy Travis "digging up those bones"? Did you hear that one about "Dig up the past? or "I'm a victim". How about "Dig up that bone every two weeks".
Then he talks about members dropping out of church. No wonder they are dropping out...they are tired of these antics. Then he caps it off with "legalistic lists". He has a list why shouldn't we? I don't like his style. I don't like him alluding to members being thought of as redneck dumb southerners. Our moaning and groaning and our museum of memory. Then he suggest that the members bring a bible open it and read it? I believe a lot of us read the bible and try to pattern our life after Jesus Christ not after some historical figure he continually brings up in the 1700's-1800's. He spends more time on the past than he does the present and then castigates the members for thinking of the past at FBC!!! Yes, its hard to forget either Lindsay when you went to church and heard a great message from the bible. I'm sorry for Mac and his antics. They do nothing for me spiritually. He justseems to be getting madder and madder. Just what is it that makes him get madder and madder each week?
He talks about trouble people are going through marriage....problem with children at home finances...post modern church and it declining compared to Muslims replacing Anglicans in England.....Does he not realize that the world is in the LAST DAYS?
He is right about a lot of people being alone. Like David wrote no one careth for my soul. This is the real world. Getting a crowd of people together and building relationships? Is he kidding? Just stay at home for 30-90 days and see how many of your relationship people will come and visit. You will be surprised.
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