Day 2 - Session 4

Eddie Cox shared the Marathon Community Church story (http://www.marathonchurch.org/). Marathon, from day #1, has "pulled out all the stops" to make friends with people far from God. From rebating the cost of members lunches with lost people, to giving away popcorn at movies theaters, to picking up tabs at Ryan's Steakhouse, the DNA of Marathon was set. Marathon placed a high value on relationships with people who need Jesus.

Eddie Cox quotes:

"If you don't love who are in the seats, they will not come back . . . no matter if you are traditional or contemporary."

"Your core group has to think 'Sunday morning isn't for me.' "

"People are dying and going to hell, we can't get used to what we are doing."

Neal and Chris unpacked four ways Jesus connected with lostness. Relational networks were illustrated as movement makers considered ways they could help God find people.

Day 2 - Session 3

Today will look different then yesterday. The CMG training team concluded we pushed a bit to hard on Monday in past ICPTs. Our group of 10 movement makers had to change gears to leave their current realities to dream about God's future for them. Kids, jobs, and current church assignments were left behind.

Neal and Chris www.northrockhill.com will be the main presenters today. John www.northpointonline.og and Kermit will have a role. Time to put the marker to the paper. God has a mission inside your hearts. Let's take look at it together!

Eddie Cox, pastor/planter from Marathon Community Church in Easley, S.C. will be our "Church Planter Experience" guest this morning. He has great passion for lost people and church planters. He and a team planted Marathon over 10 years ago. The church has grown to over 3000 in weekend attendance -- but even more, they are focused on the community and the world.

Day 1 - Session 2

You will plant out of who you are! God has been working a life time to prepare you for now. Look back and see what He has done to shape you. Kermit introduced place as a tool that will build self, team, and church body awareness:
http://www.placeministries.org/
http://www.churchplantingvillage.net/
http://www.scmultiply.org/ will help guide you to the right places for FREE STUFF!!!

"DNA has to be set in you . . . you define expectations by exampling them," Neal said, in the afternoon session. Neal included four important DNA areas to be addressed:

1. Who do we need on the team?
2. Who are we NOT going to be?
3. What experiences does our core group need before launch?
4. What are the expectations of the core team?

Have you ever thought about planting a church on the west side of Spartanburg? Hub and Brenda Blankenship shared their church planting story. Hub and Brenda planted Spartanburg Community Church 11 years ago: http://www.spartanburgcommunitychurch.com/ . The God moments in the call process were amazing.

Hub and Brenda spent time in mens' only and ladies' only groups sharing about family pressures and expectations along the church planting journey.

Day 1 - Session 1

The foundation was laid by Dino www.dinosenesi.blogspot.com and Neal. The mantra was "not another cool church, please!" How about a church that is focused on the eternal? Missionary planters and movement makers who think past style preferences and short term stuff. A movement maker doesn't actually make the movement, but they prepare the environment with expectancy for God to do something only He could do, change a person, community, nation, and world!