JOSHALLENBLOG

The Multi-Faceted Impact of Entire Services Online

In the last month now, we've been putting entire services online.  Check one out here.

I've been inspired due to watching the entire servcies of churches like Newspring.  Elevation also broadcasts live, but you can only watch sermons throughout the week.

I love watching entire services- admittedly, because I learn and it gives me ideas.  Seeing how songs work, worship leader transitions (we've all experienced-and I've even led-awkward transitions that are like an old John Deere tractor trying to downshift).

We wanted to start posting our services, not because we think a lot of ourselves, that's not the heart behind it- God's ruining in my heart the desire to be successful- but to bless the church, encourage other churches, and benefit our own team.

I saw on FB today a young lady in our church who's sick write- "I'm bummed to miss church today because I'm sick, but thanks to the staff at WR I can watch the whole service online).  We've also had several requests to start doing this in the last year.  I love that we get to serve our people- that in itself is enough to do this- it's what we're about!

We've had a few other churches bring teams to learn from our production teams and band- I'm kind of humbled by this, I'm certainly nothing special- although my team is- but I know how much I've benefited by watching others.  I think I've taken a tour with the Elevation guys like 4 times now.  Asking questions, watching from a distance weekly- it's so helpful.  I've got a real heart to invest in young guys who are learning.  However we can help, I'd love to.

Lastly, it's having a real impact on our worship and production teams.  We have around forty people on these teams- some are on weekly, others around every 8 weeks.  That means that it's tough to keep everything going the same direction. 

Live sound is so much more forgiving than recorded.  Weekly, I listen and think (hey, not bad...) or (ew, that's ripe).  It drives me to practice more and put more detail into everything I do, and it's having that impact on everyone on our teams.  That's part of the idea- it ups the ante- you need to be ready, because if your part stinks, it'll be out there for a long time.  The only post-production we really do is a post-mix by Brian McMahon and Christian DeLaat each Sunday afternoon- then I match with video, and we're up (that's the readers digest version).  If our teams can hear and see themselves- it helps you improve.

Our heart isn't to be slick, flashy, or full of ourselves- the word "production" can obviously be linked to that idea- but rather, we're trying to be excellent.  Excellence inspires people and honors God.  We're trying to take the next steps.  

I'm so proud of our worship and production teams.  I'm thrilled to be with them, and doing this thing together.  

We're learning with recording and video production- we'd love to hear your feedback.  Check out a service and let us know!  We hope it blesses you!

Back in the saddle again...

Hello my friends-

I used to be a regular blogger.  I really enjoy the creative element of writing what I'm learning.  

As my life has adjusted with roles, I've let it go the last six months, writing sparingly.

I've had the itch to get back.  I plan on resuming this Tuesday to write on a regular basis, 3-4 times per week.

I invite you to give me a chance this coming week and read what I write- feel free to comment on things, too.  I'd love to chat and use this as a venue to express what God has been teaching me.  Will you give me another chance and see if you like what I write?

See you Tuesday.

Environment Matters

I've been reading Deep & Wide by Andy Stanley.  He refers in chapter 8 to visiting two churches; one of which had problems with first impressions and the environment... the other with kids security and teachers.  After he discusses some of those observations, he writes:

"The one thing those two stories have in common is that neither of my assessments had anything to do with the preaching.  If your response to my assessment is, 'Andy, you're not being fair.  You shouldn't judge a church based on one visit,' you would be correct.  My assessment isn't fair.  And that's my point.

Every Sunday people walk onto your campus and determine whether or not they will return the following week before your preacher opens his mouth.  And that's not fair.  But it's true.  The moral of the story: Environment matters."

We have new developments coming in a few weeks that will, I believe, help our comprehensive environment go to a new level.  But I won't tell you it yet- it's a surprise.

Why are we going to be putting empahsis on creating an experience, an environment?

Because everything communicates something.  And we really, really care about lost people coming to Christ.  We want everything we do to communicate that.

Great stuff is coming!

Communicating with Everything

"The group met in a medium-sized assembly hall with a wall of windows on one side and a bank of classrooms down the other.  The first thing I noticed was the smell.  The room smelled like... like old.  The second thing that caught my attention was the clutter.  Stuff was scattered everywhere.  Sunday school literature.  Bibles.  Hymnals.  Umbrellas.  There was even a llama grazing on Cheerios in the corner.  The blinds on the half-dozen windows were all pulled to varying heights.  The wall color was bad.  The carpet needed replacing.  Did I mention the smell?  And no, there wasn't really a llama in the corner.

After being in the environment for less than a minute, I knew one thing for certain: The people who meet in this room on Sundays have met here for so long they don't see it anymore.  The room is invisible to them.  The real tragedy from my perspective was that this adult ministry taugh lessons they weren't aware of.

Lesson #1: We aren't expecting guests.
Lesson #2: What we are doing here is not all that important.
Lesson #3: We expect somebody to clean up after us.
Lesson #4: We don't take pride in our church."

Andy Stanley, Deep & Wide 

A few months ago, I visited one of the churches from my past for an event.  Just walking in; it looked like they hadn't cleaned in the last 10 years.  Brown water stains on the wall, ripped insulation hanging out, things were dingy- I thought; "they must have given up."

That's probably not true.  But that is what their building communicated.

I don't mean that critical-hearted, even if it reads that way.  I want them to do well.  But it challenged me about our space.

Everything we do communicates something.

I'm working on developing a role for a young lady... more details to come in the future... but one of her roles will be to work with me to craft the entire "non-stage experience." 

Now; I think the intangibles are the most important.  We're not trying to simply "put on a show."  However, we'll be striving for excellence with each of the senses, with every detail... we want to communicate to you that:

Lesson #1: We are expecting you and have made preparations for you.
Lesson #2: What we are doing here is really important.
Lesson #3: We want you to enjoy a clean space.
Lesson #4: We take pride in our church.

New song for Sunday- GO

 

Go over there to fish.

"When He had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Now go out to where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.'

Simon replied, 'we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing.  But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again.'"

Simon worked hard.  Says so.  Wanted to catch fish.  All night.

Jesus comes along, tweaks the method.  Go out to where it is deeper.

I'm no fisherman.

But there's probably a reason why Simon and the gang fished where they normally did.  

Comfortability?

Easy?

Where "their turf" was?

I don't know.  Level 5 interpretation.  But there was some reason.

They were tired.  Worked all night.  

Jesus comes along.  "Fish over here."

They followed.  

Lots 'o' fish.  Fishapalooza.

I want to catch fish.  I want fishapalooza.

But I also like my fishing hole.

Which one wins?

Not-so-level-5-interpretation: fish = people.

Lots'o'fish wins.

God, give me and us grace to follow you to where fish will bite.  It's not my boat, not my pond.  

I release the grasp in my heart over the way I like to fish.

Advance your Kingdom, Lord.  Save people.  Catch fish.  You have me.

Elevation Pre-Jam, 9.18.11

Here's video footage of the pre-jam Elevation had when our crew was there.  We were at this campus for this video.

Sweet-

 

The Day After

Last night was unbelievable.

The first Worship Team concert at Western Reserve.  200 people there.  Electricity in the air.

It was like you were watching God do something.

Wow.

I loved how I felt the church love on my team.  The team has bought into the vision, they work so hard- 

the church showed them some love last night.  A lot of love, actually...

Musicians, production techs- no personal agendas, no egos- all one family, on the same team, going the same direction, for the same purpose.

I know the inside stories of sacrifice and dedication these folks have done.  Because of their humility, great things are happening.

SO excited.  SO thankful.

Favorite part of last night?

It was a moment.

We prayed in the green room before the concert that the night would be a marker in the story of Western Reserve.  The next level of a culture of freedom of worship, the church worshiping with a pure outburst of gratitude and joy-

It happened.

"If this is what heaven is like, I'm ready to go now" - a quote from a Western Reserve family member afterwards.

Wow.

At the end of the night, I laid on the stage, staring at the ceiling.  Exhausted.  Taking it all in.

My wife laid down next to me.

She said- "there's even more, babe.  God has this."

"This" is "us."  Western Reserve.  Our church.  Our worship team.  Our family.  Where we are.  Where we are headed.

Last night was a marker.  A wonderful one.

Not the last one.

Here we go.

Worship Team Concert

Come out and hear my friends for a rockin' concert Sunday night!  

This is our first one of these- we've got an awesome worship team- come love on them and show your support- they're the hardest working worship team in the land.  Show them some love!

We'll start the night with 5 covers, then a 10 minute intermission-

then we'll have a night of worship after that- for about an hour.  Should be awesome!

Doors open at 6, we'll start music at 6:30.

Let's pack out the house for an awesome night!  See you there!

Breakfast at Tiffany's cover

Breakfast at Tiffany's Cover from Reserve Worship on Vimeo.