LIFEsync

The Kaleo Project - MISSIONS PARTY DALLAS

 

  

P  R  E  S  E  N  T  S

Something big just happened...

May 5, 2010 will be remembered as the beginning of a revolution in our church family.  As one ALC Lifer said to me after the service..."it felt like something big just happened"! 

The "Shot heard 'round the world" is a phrase that has come to represent several historical incidents. The line is originally from the opening stanza of Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Concord Hymn" (1837), and referred to the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

Perhaps, Pastor Dino Rizzo's message about "Others, others...others." will be the "shot heard 'round the world" for our church family and the countless lives that are to be impacted by our passionate response to this message.  It was a only a few months ago that I challenged our church to be "distributors of the gospel"!  God is definitely speaking loudly to us! 

Please pick up a copy of Dino's book, Servolution, and read it...immediately!  In the next few weeks, we are going to strategically plan for the content of this book to become infused into the culture of ALC. Please prayerfully consider the content and how you can join with us in impacting our world. 

Think about this...we are to be "missionaries" to the world we live in.

Just think...we are sent by God to restore all things to himself!

Jesus came to Earth to take on human form and live within the culture. He worked, ate and interacted among the people; living in such a way that those around him could see and experience what God was truly like. Jesus came so that all people, places and things could be restored to a right relationship with God. In the same way, I believe we are missionaries sent into our culture to restore all things to God through Jesus. We live this out as part of a community "on mission" for God.  (Study the following: John 1:14; 20:21; Colossians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

What would happen if every ALC Lifer invested eternally by serving "others"!  What would happen if every Life Group and ministry team at ALC adopted the idea of being a "missionary"? Think about that...

God is up to something big in our lives.  Let's increase our capacity through serving!

I love each of you and look forward to what God is creating in our church culture.  We will see God do amazing things!  If you have a passion to lead and serve, in this revolution, please email me @jhennigan@alcplano.org! 

I love each of you!  Let's start a revolution of revival! 

Jeff Hennigan

(Click the pic to the left for more resources on this revolution!)

 

Be a catalyst for God in your neighborhood!

Expand Your Expectations - Increase Your Capacity

A life group is not JUST a small group, Bible study, support group, social activist group, or a weekly meeting. It can involve these sorts of things, but it doesn't stop there. 

Our vision for life "together" in smaller groups is much broader and continues to expand!  Creating "community" is critical to gospel mission. We believe one of the catalysts God uses to bring people closer to him is other people.  Our Life Groups worship God, live in community, get trained for ministry, and make disciples together... over time. Being involved in community is critical to being the church rather than simply attending church.  In coming months, our vision for impacting our community through serving will beunveiled.  Pray about connecting or reconnecting to a Life Group now. 

Find a Group

Whether you consider yourself part of The ALC family – or maybe you are just checking out what it looks like to live as Jesus lived – we invite you to be an active part of a life group. We'll try and connect you immediately.  Contact us at LifeGroups@alcplano.org.

Start Your Own

If you've got a specific part of town or group of people in mind, and can't find an existing Life Group that applies, we'll help you start your own.  Our Life Groups Director, Josh Lewis, can instruct you on the next steps you would need to take to be a leader.  Email Josh at LifeGroups@alcplano.org.

Looking for More?

If you've got additional questions about life groups, please email us at LifeGroups@alcplano.org or browse the website.  www.alcplano.org

Invest and Invite..."The Office" starts this Sunday!

   

"The Office" starts May 30, 2010!   

Invest and Invite!  Click the pic above and use the "Share with a friend!" tool and invite someone you have invested in to the new series starting this Sunday!

This may be my most anticipated series ever!  When you walk in with your guests on Sunday, you will be amazed at the efforts that our teams have put into making sure this series launches ALC into the Summer of 2010 in a powerful way!  You do not want to miss this series!  The content that we will be sharing during this series will bring personal revelation to your life.  We believe that it is time for every believer to fill “the office” that Jesus died for you to occupy.  I am reminded of the scripture: 

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:9

We are going to challenge every believer to become what God has intended!  Our daily lives should “declare the praises of Jesus”! Our understanding of worship is going to be redefined! 

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”  - Revelation 1:6

By the end of this series, it is my prayer that you will eternally confident of who you are in Christ!

Join us...your new office awaits! 

Dino Rizzo and "Servolution" coming to ALC...NEXT WEEK!

There is a spiritual reformation in progress at Abundant Life Church.  There is a surge of the Spirit of God moving us into a new dimension of anointing.  Our commitment to displaying and distributing the Gospel is rising to unprecedented levels in our church family. 

 

In a recent message, I challenged our church to be “distributors of the Gospel" to our world.  The response to this revolution in our thinking has been exciting.  I firmly believe that we are about to enter our most effective season of evangelism!

 

Our church was presented with the opportunity to host a revolutionary leader in Gospel effectiveness.  I am privileged to announce a unique opportunity for you, the Lifers and Investors of ALC, to experience together.  Our heart to be a "Book of Acts" church in the DFW Metroplex is more than a dream...it's becoming revelation! 

The Abundant Life Church is honored to host Pastor Dino Rizzo, the founding pastor of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on May 5th at 7:00 PM.  This will be a Wednesday evening Worship Experience that will rival any Sunday you’ve ever attended!  The Worship Team will lead us into the presence of God and then Dino will share powerful lessons that will lead us to a revolution in serving our world!  If you are an ALC Lifer, please do not miss this moment.  I sincerely believe this could be a “watershed” experience for all of us. 

 

Healing Place Church has been named one of America’s Top 25 Most Innovative Churches and Pastor Rizzo’s book, Servolution, exposes his passion to see believers join together in a revolution of sharing the love of Christ by practically serving others.

Pastor Rizzo has taught leaders and pastors all over the world to serve the way Jesus served by reaching out to the poor and hurting right where they are. Examples of this type of outreach are demonstrated by hundreds of Healing Place Church members who volunteer to cook hot breakfasts for the homeless, help ex-prisoners re-enter society, administer free medical and dental clinics, and care for AIDS orphans. The list goes on and on. Pastor Rizzo and Healing Place Church were also leading forces in the efforts to help thousands of suffering people during and after Hurricane Katrina.

 

A “SERVOLUTION” IS COMING TO ALC!  MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND!  MAY 5, 2010 @ 7:00 PM!  

 

I love my ALC Family and believe God is about to blow our minds!  We will be challenged to be “distributors of the Gospel” in revolutionary ways!  I'll write more later but I want each of you to know how much I appreciate your love, support, and encouraging words during our season of mourning the loss of my father.  You are a generous church!  Thanks for letting me take time to simply be a "son" for my mother! 

 
I'll see you this Sunday for my final confession of this series. 

 

Jeff Hennigan

The Pastor has just one more confession...

 Series Finale'...this weekend!

Wait...your the Pastor!  You think..feel...like I do? 

The last few weeks have been full of passionate and transparent teaching.  God's presence has been tangible and each Worship Experience full of powerful moments!  Pastor Jeff Manning "brought it" the first two weeks.  Last week, I enjoyed challenging ALC with a renewed commitment to prayer!  "Sacrifice has to happen somewhere" for the fire of God to fall!  We want a spirit of revival to rest on our church family.  If you are "bored with church", then please commit to radical prayer! 

As you know, churches are often full of rowdy handshakes, empty smiles, and courageous gestures from people who work hard to mask the pain and "reality" of life.  We don't mean to be that way...if fact, most churches want to be a "sanctuary" for the hurting, frustrated, and broken.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of people view church as anything but a safe place to confide and confess.  This series has been a "fresh" look at what it feels like to be "flesh and spirit"! 

As Pastors, we have revealed the vulnerable places of our lives during this series.  We have shared some of our own struggles with faith, spiritual disciplines, and practical issues that everyone deals with.  We are certain that you have related to some of them because many of you have shared your own story with us and with others.  

This Sunday, I will have one more confession that I feel will be encouraging to you!  Please get here this weekend!  Bring someone who has ever had "doubt about God"!  God will show up and do amazing things!  I truly believe we are about to enter the greatest season of revival in our history!

I'll see you Sunday.  You won't believe some of the things I have to share...really! 

Jeff Hennigan

10 Reasons why churches stall

Here is an article I recently read that provoked my heart to repentance.  It is my prayer that the church community I am blessed to lead would "blow up every paradigm" of Gospel mission and harvest!  Please read with a prayerful heart.  

Here are the highlights...

1. The church forgets who we are and what we are for … When we forget that we are the community of disciples for declaring God’s greatness and making disciples, mission quickly becomes just one among many activities rather than the defining vision of who we are as a community.

2. The majority of believers are no longer thrilled with the Lord and what he is doing in their lives. When questions like ‘What is God doing with you at the moment?’ cease to be common currency, it is a sure sign of creeping spiritual mediocrity.

3. … In my view, the single biggest cause of stalled churches in the UK is the belief that material comfort can be normative for Christians. It is the opposite of radical commitment to Christ.

4. When [Christians]  see church as one among many leisure activities, usually low down the priority list. They are unlikely to see the Christian community as God’s great hope for the world and unlikely to put commitment above self-interest.

5. … Where people take no personal responsibility for their own spiritual growth a stalled church becomes more likely.

6. … When preaching, teaching and Bible study become ends in themselves rather than means to an end, something is badly wrong.

7. A church becomes afraid to ask radical questions … The danger is that people start to equate serving the church with living out the gospel. Few churches regularly evaluate every aspect of church life against their core vision.

8. Confusing Christian activities with discipleship …

9. Not understanding how to release and encourage everyone in the church to use their spiritual gifts for the building up of the church … There are two types of DNA in churches. One type of church says ‘we exist to have our personal spiritual needs met’, the other ‘we exist to impact our locality and the world with the gospel of the grace of God in Christ’. The first type is a stalled church.

10. … No church was stalled at the point that it was founded. At the beginning all churches were adventures in faith and daring risk for God. No one actively decided for comfort over risk, but at some point the mindset shifted from uncomfortable faith and daring passion for the Lord to comfortable mediocrity … The mantra of the maintenance mindset is ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’. But just like buying shoes for growing children, if structures don’t take account of future growth then fellowships end up stunted and deformed.

Marcus leads Living Leadership and the author Finding Joy   and Meltdown  .