Tuesday, October 12, 2010

It Really is All About God

This morning I am still sitting in awe of what God has done at our church.  A year ago when I joined the staff of Lakeview I had no idea how many wonderful lessons God would teach me through this medium-size, multi-site, multi-ethnic church.  I come from a mega-church background, a church that has been in a long season of transition, so in the process have watched some pretty painful moments.  As well as I work with churches who are in tough seasons. It is not often that I get a front-row seat to watch a church get-it-right in their process.  But the last six months it has been my privilege to get a whole new view.

Some quick history.  I live in the ethnically diverse land called Chicago.  In the Chicago area there are about 150,000 Korean speaking immigrants.  Over the last several years the four largest Korean speaking churches have each had at least one split.  It is a broken community.   My church, Lakeview, has many second and third generation Koreans, including our senior pastor.  Over the summer our senior pastor shared with the elders, staff and church that he felt God asking Lakeview to be a part of the healing process for this community. 

Sounds nice, but in practicality this vision included adopting a Korean-speaking campus, a multi-million dollar building, and raising $500,000 in a month.  Almost everyones first response was "no", and had huge reservations about taking on the financial challenge of a third campus, the cultural challenges, and relationship challenges.  Here is where the big lessons came in. I watched a church full of individuals who stopped themselves from quickly saying "no" but seeking God.  I watched an entire church voice their concerns honestly and authentically through town hall meetings.  I watched person after person process the question, "What is God saying to me?"  Then I watched and entire church fast and pray for 21 days to discern God's will. I watched them pray that whatever the outcome of the vote that God would protect the church from division.

Two days ago the members voted and overwhelmingly voted for Lakeview to adopt it's third campus.  An entire church of changed hearts, seeking God's plan for them.  Oh, and the half a million dollars, God touched the hearts of several before the vote even took place and over a quarter of a million has already been raised.  Will the next year be filled with relationship challenges, cultural challenges.  Yep, I am sure it will be.  But looking forward to being a part of a praying church and praying our way through.