The Vegas Project

Every Sunday I’m sharing a recap on some of what happened that week. It will be quick (in brief) and I’ll write in my underwear (in briefs). Here ya go:

1. Easter Sunday we went to Central Christian’s southwest campus, which is kind of near our house.

2. Sunday afternoon we had our Launch Team meeting. Several people couldn’t make it, but still I think we had 24 people (counting kids). We had a big Easter dinner, then did a Bible study on the power that raised Jesus from the dead and that (according to Ephesians 1) is available to us in living our lives and starting a church.

3. On Sunday night I went and did stand-up at an open mic night. Used all new material!

4. Spent all of Monday with Will Mancini. It was a great day of sharpening our vision and values.

5. Monday night we had a couple in town who will be moving here to Vegas soon to help start Verve. Very exciting!

6. Tuesday I talked again to one of the Vice Presidents at MGM/Mirage and heard again that it’s going to be very difficult to make the chaplain idea happen…

7. Tuesday I was interviewed for Las Vegas Tonight, a show on the local Christian TV station. My interview was supposed to be one 20 minute segment of the 60 minute show, but the host said I was so “fascinating” that he had me on for the entire 60 minutes. I told all of you I was fascinating! Finally someone agrees with me!

8. Wednesday morning I got to meet with a pastor who is thinking about starting a church sometime. Love that!

9. Wednesday I took my son to a Dodgers game as an early birthday present. We are HUGE Dodger fans, and he’d never been to Dodger stadium. Fun!!

10. Thursday I had one of the most difficult meetings of my life with a guy who is thinking about becoming a Christian but has some major hurdles to get past. I’ve rarely prayed so hard while I was talking…

11. Friday Robb and I met with a lady from a local drug rehab. It was cool seeing what they do and knowing they’re available, and also to hear her reaction to us starting Verve. She was psyched!

To Pray About This Week:

1. I’ll be at Exponential (National New Church Conference) the first part of this week. I’m teaching two seminars and hosting a pre-conference intensive. Pray that this conference will unleash some great new churches for God’s Kingdom.

2. Several of the ideas we’ve had have evolved and synthesized in my brain to a new and bigger idea. It’s kinda huge and pretty intimidating and there’s no way it could happen without God coming through in a big way. Please pray that if it’s a God idea, not just a good idea, He’ll make it happen.

Every Sunday I’m sharing a recap on some of what happened that week. It will be quick (in brief) and I’ll write in my underwear (in briefs). Here ya go:

1. Sunday morning we went to Grace Point in North Vegas. Their pastor, Devin Hudson, has become a good friend.

2. Sunday night we had our fourth Launch Team Meeting. I think we had 21 adults. I thought it was one of the best ones yet, and it’s obvious that God is putting together a great team.

3. We had two families in town, both of whom are praying about moving here.

4. Monday morning Robb and I met with a lady who’s been working in casinos for 14 years, mostly as a dealer. It was fascinating. Here’s just a few things she shared:

• A huge percentage of people who work in the casinos are single parents.
• Almost all of them are asking, “What do I do with my kids?”
• That’s especially the case because 7 pm to 3 am and 8 pm to 4 am are common shifts.
• Dealers get like six 8 minute breaks. There’s a dealer lounge they go to for their breaks, which will often have 20 or 30 dealers at a time hanging out in. I asked, “If we got permission and brought like bagels for people, would they appreciate that?” She said, “If you brought in a box of cracker jacks, they would LOVE it.”
• Most people who work in casinos are messed up (many are addicted to alcohol or gambling) and feeling depressed and hopeless.

5. Had my coaching call with Dave Nelson. I’m facing a couple of big decisions, and Dave really challenged my thinking on one of them.

6. Carol was in town from California. She’s moving here in a month or two, and will be (and already is) helping me with all kinds of administrative stuff. Thank you God for Carol!

7. I worked hard on an information sheet for churches wanting to do mission trips to help us out. It’s got all kinds of info. If you or your church is interested in sending a team here for a mission trip, e-mail me and I’ll send it to you.

8. Worked on a couple messages for churches I’m speaking at in the next month. It’s weird not preaching every Sunday (!!) so I think it’s good I’m doing this to keep me sharp.

9. Two families from out of town officially decided to move to Vegas and help us start Verve!! Wow!!! One is from Utah, the other from Kansas.

10. I’ll stop there but God is doing lots more!


To Pray About This Week:

1. We have Will Mancini spending the day with us tomorrow. I am so excited about that! Mancini is a brilliant church consultant and strategist and author of the excellent book Church Unique. Please pray that he really helps us to prepare for the future God has for us.

2. I’m being interviewed for a local Christian T.V. show on Tuesday. Not sure what to pray about that. I guess that I don’t make a fool out of myself, and that it leads a ton of Vegas Christians to pray for us, but not to join us.

3. I have several meetings this week – with a Christian or two who are thinking about joining our Launch Team, with two non-Christians who are thinking about becoming Christians, with a couple who has decided to move here and be on our Launch Team. Please pray God gives me wisdom!

4. My wife is looking for a part-time job. Partly so we’ll have a little extra money, and partly so she can develop some relationships.

Every Sunday I’m sharing a recap on some of what happened that week. It will be quick (in brief) and I’ll write in my underwear (in briefs). Here ya go:
1. I flew to Kansas City last Saturday night. It was 77 degrees when I left Vegas and when I landed in KC it was 27. Nice!

• Spoke about being a crazy, fool for Christ at Cedar Ridge Christian Church on Sunday morning.
• On Sunday night, one of my favorite people, Justin Moxley, put together a seminar for me to teach people how to build relationships with people who are far from God and share Jesus with them. A couple hundred people from over 20 churches showed up.
• On Monday morning I spoke to about 12 pastors (I think 8 were church planters) about lessons I’ve learned in church planting, and then about the dangers of making your church an idol.
• On Monday night Justin had put together a seminar for me to teach pastors about how to have a church with evangelistic dna.
  

2. On the plane I read Sticky Church by Larry Osborne. Hey pastors, if you want a laugh, read that book and Activate by Nelson Searcy in the same day. They are both guys I totally respect and listen to, but man, it would be tough to find two books that contradict each other more consistently!

3. Had our third Launch Team Meeting, but I couldn’t be there…  Robb led everyone, getting them up to speed on in’s and out’s of starting a CBO (Community Based Organization). I heard it went awesome.

4. Bought a Moon Bounce. A big, nice, used (so cheap) Moon Bounce. Not the most spiritual item, but we will use it for spiritual purposes…

5. Met with one of the Shift Managers at the Hard Rock casino. Great guy who has worked his way up over ten years there. He was willing to share his insights on how to serve and reach the people he works with.

6. Met with a guy who is close to making a decision to follow Jesus. It was great to hear how God’s been pursuing this guy in all kinds of ways.

7. Worked on Missions Team stuff. We’re hoping to have a BUNCH of mission teams come from churches all over the country to spend three or four days here helping us to serve the community and get the word out about our church. I’m working on making the process really easy for churches who want to come. Maybe YOUR church should come?

8. Met with a guy who has lived here for about six years, working in the marketing industry. Really good guy. I’m so grateful for people here who want to help us.

9. Found out my spiritual mentor guy, Dean Trune, is gonna come to Vegas for a few days in May and is willing to lead one of our Launch Team Meetings. Super fantastic!! Bringing Dean in to lead a staff retreat at Forefront (on spiritual disciplines and intimacy with God) was one of the best decisions I ever made.

To Pray About This Week:

1. I’ve got a couple decisions to make in the next few weeks/months that I just don’t feel like I have enough wisdom for. I’m glad I have some wise people (my Coach, Management Team) to turn to, but I really want God’s wisdom. Please pray I get it.

2. We have two families in town this week who are praying about maybe moving to Vegas to help start Verve. Please pray for them and the many others who are considering the same thing.

3. There are so many tasks in starting a church, pray that I make God my first priority and involve Him in everything I do. Thanks.