Monday, December 28, 2009 2010 Is Going To Be Off The Hook!

These holidays mark our first Christmas and New Year for Encounter Church. While we have been planting Encounter for less than a full year, many things have been accomplished — we are building the foundations for a strong, edgy, and dynamic faith community simply devoted to following Jesus.

Efforts to be a burning bush in our Helena community have been directed and empowered by God's guidance — and we desire nothing less for 2010!

As the lead pastor and church planter, I am devoting this week to a special time to seek God's will for Encounter in the new year. Will you join me?

I will be asking important questions like ... Are we moving in the right direction? Do we have the right people in the right roles to help us move forward? Are we focusing our time and resources on the right priorities?

I can already tell you that we are super excited for what God has in store for Encounter in 2010. And there are at least three simple things we will be doing as we seek to catch the attention of our community and see people moving forward in a growing relationship with Jesus.

1) Encounter God: Planning for Launch

We will make plans and preparations for our grand opening. There are several key roles that have yet to be filled for a successful launch team. We are passionate about what God will do in Helena through Encounter and are seeing awesome people come forward who desire the same.

2) Experience Community: Meeting and Growing Together

We will meet regularly for Friday Night FWD to connect with others, encounter God in worship, and engage in some essential discussion of life and faith. In addition, we will launch our LifeGroups with the intention of multiplying into more as the year progresses. We will continue to learn more about, and live out what it means to follow Jesus in tangible and dynamic ways.

3) Engage Culture: Being The Change

We will engage our culture by meeting needs and sharing God's love in tangible ways in our community. We've already been making an impact and will continue to do so. As part of the Helena community, we desire to help make a difference for others while also seeing a change in the spiritual landscape.

What You Can Do

You too can be part of what God is doing in Helena. Do you know friends who are struggling with life or faith? Are you struggling to find a place to fit in and just be yourself? Want to journey with others and find out more about what it means to follow Jesus?

Our dream is to see Helena changed in a positive way. We desire to see broken families restored, struggling lives renewed, and new hope offered to those who are ready to give up. We want to be a burning bush, something out of the ordinary, that catches peoples attention so that they can encounter the hope of God.

Do you resonate with this dream? Do you want to know more? You don't have to join us in a formal capacity, we just invite you to check us out. Let's have coffee. Come join us for Friday Night FWD. Come serve the community with us this month. You just may find that this Encounter movement is what you are longing to be a part of.

Contact us to talk more...

Check out a little of what has happened in 2009 with the following links:

Encounter Happenings on the Encounter Helena Blog
Encounter Videos on YouTube
Encounter Photos on Picasa

Saturday, December 26, 2009 A Family Christmas: 12-18 Afterburn

Here are some photos of decorations and setup for our recent Friday Night FWD: A Family Christmas on December 18, 2009. It was a family oriented event designed to allow people to share time with their loved one while discovering the heart of Christmas and giving the gift of 'presence'.

We decorated pine cone ornaments and Christmas cookies and both were a big hit. We also had a holiday music sing-a-long. We ended the evening with a telling of the Christmas story from Luke 1-2 and then sang Silent Night together by the light of our cell phones. It was a great celebration!




You can find all the great photos on Facebook here.
Check out a Picasa slideshow here.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

Christianity was never intended to be a noun. And when we turn it into a noun, it becomes a turnoff. Christianity was always intended to be a verb.

Finishing my advance copy of Mark Batterson's new book Primal, I find myself encouraged and challenged.

I feel the heart of the Christian faith, primarily Jesus, is missing in many of our churches and it is encouraging to realize that I am not the only one that has noticed. But it is challenging to realize that it is not enough to recognize something is missing — and that this generation is responsible to rediscover the love of Christ

In Mark 12:30, Jesus says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

This 'Great Commandment' is the primary focus of Primal and Batterson's approach is simple and holistic. Taking from this verse, he covers four dimensions of what it means to love God: heart, mind, soul, and strength.

I continue to appreciate Batterson's writing voice as I did with his two previous books, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase. Both are excellent. Primal does not disappoint, bringing to light some great insight. As with his previous books, Batterson's illustrations shed great light on spiritual truths.

Unlike some other great authors I enjoy, Batterson has a great way of expressing truths in a way that does not divide. While offering rebuke, and pointing out shortfalls in today's church, I think he does so without alienating. And instead, Batterson offers bold challenges. I guess what I am saying is that Primal is accessible to a larger audience than say, authors Rob Bell or Erwin McManus.

Before posting, I briefly peeked on Facebook to see what people might be saying. Batterson is thanking people for such kind reviews of Primal, but my response is the same as another reviewer — as long as Batterson keeps writing such great books, I'll keep writing good reviews. Check Primal out on Random House's website here.

As usual, let me share a few of Primal's impacting truths:

THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY

• You cannot listen to just half of what the Holy Spirit has to say. It's a package deal. If you aren't willing to listen to everything He has to say, you won't hear anything He has to say.
• Minds often remain closed to truth until hearts have been opened by compassion.
• What does it mean to love God with all our heart? It means that our heart breaks for the things that break the heart of God. It means that inaction is not an option...
• What if, instead of sound quality or lyrical creativity, our litmus test for worship was a heart that breaks for the things that break the heart of God?
• Anytime you put an adjective in front of the gospel, you distort the gospel.
• Like love, faith is sometimes measure in dollars.

THE SOUL OF CHRISTIANITY

• Is it possible that we've settled for a god who fits into the constraints of our logical left brains instead of the God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can imagine with our right brains? Is it possible we've studied the God of logic without truly worshiping the God of wonders?
• Some things cannot be learned. They can only be revealed. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him – but God has revealed it to use by his Spirit."
• The older someone gets, the more it takes to fill the soul with wonder.
• We dissect scripture instead of letting scripture dissect us.
• I think many of us doubt scripture simply because we haven't done it. The way master a text isn't by studying it. The way you master a text is by submitting to it. You have to let it master you.
• The goal of knowing the Bible isn't Bible knowledge. The goal of knowing the Bible is knowing God.
• Most of us are already educated way beyond our level of obedience.
• Just like the Septuagint or King James Version, your life translates Scripture into a language that those around you can read.

THE MIND OF CHRISTIANITY

• Somewhere along the way, most of us stop living out of imagination and start living out of memory. We stop creating the future and start repeating the past. ...Why? Because we stop learning.
• He doesn't just want you to worship Him with you memory. He wants you to worship Him with your imagination.
• God wants to sanctify every part of your mind for His purposes: sanctified logic, sanctified intuition, sanctified imagination, even a sanctified sense of humor.
• The church ought to be the most curious place on the planet. It ought to be a safe place where people can ask dangerous questions. but all too often we're guilty of answering questions that no one is even asking. We ought to be challenging the status quo, but all too often we're defending it.
• God doesn't just want you to worship Him. He wants you to know why you worship Him.
• To know Him is to love Him. And if you don't love Him, it's because you don't really know Him.
• His answer to our questions isn't knowledge. It's a relationship. And that relationship is the answer to every question.
• To become more like the Creator is to become more creative.
• Lack of faith is not a failure of logic. It's a failure of imagination.

THE STRENGTH OF CHRISTIANITY

• Taking out the garbage is romantic. Why? Because love isn't measured by word spoken. Love is used by calories burned.
• Christianity was never intended to be a noun. And when we turn it into a noun, it becomes a turnoff. Christianity was always intended to be a verb.
• And the end of the day, God isn't going to say, "Well said, good and faithful servant." There is only one commendation when everything is said and done: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
• I wonder if we're so afraid of doing the wrong thing that we never do the right thing...over-analysis always results in spiritual paralysis.
• If you try to logically figure out the will of God, you'll never take a step of faith. Why? Because the will of God is not logical. It's theological.
• Faith is not faith until acted upon.
• I've learned that when I think Jesus is wrong, it actually reveals what's wrong with me.
• Those who follow in the footsteps of Christ ought to be the most passionate people on the planet.
• Most church problems don't come from an abundance of sin but rather from the lack of vision.
• Without His power, we become nothing more than theological Christians. Our testimony is reduced to our words. Our impact is reduced to our abilities. And not only is that less than exciting, it's wrong.
• Loving God with all your strength really means loving Him with all his strength...In and of ourselves, we're not capable of loving God. We cannot manufacture love for Him. We can only respond to His love for us.
• Religion is all about doing things for God. Christianity is all about receiving what Christ has done for us on the cross. And what we do for God is a reflection of and a response to what God has done for us.
• All of us love miracles. We just don't like being in situations where we need one. But that is a prerequisite. You will never experience the power of God unless you put yourself into a situation that necessitates it.
• "The impact that God has planned for us doesn't occur when we're pursuing impact. It occurs when we're pursuing God." (Phil Vischer)

Monday, December 7, 2009 A Friday Night FWD Family Christmas

We know that the Christmas season is a busy one. Trees to buy, homes to decorate, lights to hang — not to mention work Christmas parties and kids' pageants. It's difficult to cut back on all these things, but what we can do is make some time together with our loved ones.

SHARE PRESENCE THIS CHRISTMAS

Join us for a special Friday Night FWD Family Christmas on Friday, December 18 @ 7pm to share a fun and memorable evening and encounter the heart of Christmas with your family or with that someone special. Give more of yourself this year by spending less time in the "hustle" and give that precious gift of relationship.

Don't miss this opportunity to:

  * Create some fun ornaments with the kids
  * Help decorate some yummy Christmas cookies
  * Sing some or your holiday favorites together
  * Share the wonder of the original Christmas story
  * All in a casual atmosphere for FREE!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As part of the Advent Conspiracy, you will also have the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child who has never experienced Christmas. Just $3.50 will provide a gift package for a child and their family in the Philippines who has never before received a Christmas gift in their lives. The opportunity will be available but not required, but we challenge you to sponsor one, two, or more gifts as you can.

LET YOUR FRIENDS KNOW

We need your help in getting the word out about this event. Invite some friends and personally let people know about it. You and your family don't want to miss it! You can click on the image for a JPG or download a PDF flyer here.

Also, if you want to volunteer to help for the event: we need undecorated cookies baked, people to decorate, supplies for ornaments, someone to share the Christmas story, people to help set up, and more. Let us know if you can help.

JOIN US THERE

We'll meet at the Big Sky facilities at 8181 Avocet Drive. Go North on Montana Avenue past Bob's Valley Market at Lincoln. Then go about two more miles and turn left on Avian Road. Make one more quick left and you are there. Look for the Friday Night FWD signs.

WHAT: A Friday Night FWD Family Christmas
WHEN: Friday, December 18, 2009 @ 7pm
WHERE: Big Sky Facilities, 8181 Avocet Drive, Helena [map/directions]
WHO: You, Your Kids, Your Special Someone
FLYER: Download here

RSVP to the Facebook event here.

Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully

The true story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and revolutionary love.

"It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. It’s the party of the year.

Entering the story of advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest."

We've already talked about spending less and giving more this Christmas by giving of ourselves. Giving relationally mean giving more. We've also talked about loving all. By spending less on at least one less frivolous gift this year, we will be able to give a gift that truly makes a difference. Just $3.50 provide a Christmas gift for a child that has never received one.

Embrace these concepts and you will encounter Christ's Advent like never before. You will find yourself making a tangible difference in your family, community, and the world. And you will be more free to worship fully!

A FAMILY CHRISTMAS

We now challenge you to bring these concepts together and join us for a special Friday Night FWD Family Christmas. It will be an opportunity to give more of yourself through that precious gift of time and presence with your loved ones.

We invite you to come and create some ornaments with your kids or that special someone. Help decorate some yummy Christmas cookies. Sing some holiday favorites together. And then share the wonder of the original Christmas story.

After all, it's the party of the year.

More details here, but for now, you are invited to join us on Friday, December 18 @ 7pm. Share a fun and memorable evening and encounter the heart of Christmas with your family.

This is your opportunity to enter the story and worship fully. Enter the Advent Conspiracy.

Sunday, December 6, 2009 Friday Night FWD: 12-04 Afterburn

Last week's Friday Night FWD was a unique opportunity to connect with new friends in a casual atmosphere with great worship and real discussion about life and faith.

This week we started by getting acquainted over coffee and snacks. We spent the first 15 minutes or so talking, sharing some Apples to Apples cards, and enjoying coffee, hot chocolate, and our trademark Tootsie Pops.

Then we continued with a great band — a little edgy and a little loud. Honestly, our musicians rocked! If you want to get involved next time let us know. There is room for different musicians and leaders each time.

Finally, we got into a great group discussion. Now at Encounter, we're just a group of people who are struggling and learning together what it means to follow Jesus, so that's what our first series of topics revolves around.

This week we focused on "The Main Thing: Why Jesus?" We talked about why Jesus came and discussed whether we really need a savior. We also looked at the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1:18-21 and while it wasn't really a Christmas discussion, it tied in nicely with the Advent season.

Our next gathering will be Friday, December 18 @ 7pm for A Friday Night FWD Family Christmas. Friday Night FWD then resumes every other week starting on January 15.




You can find all the great photos on Facebook here.
Check out a Picasa slideshow here.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Friday Night FWD - This Friday, December 4 @ 7pm

You have already been hearing a lot about Friday Night FWD. You've seen the posters around town. Maybe even a friend told you or gave you a flyer. Come join us this Friday at 7pm.

What Is It About?

It's an opportunity to connect with friends in a casual atmosphere where you can be yourself. There will be some great music and some real, authentic group discussion about life and faith.

What's Gonna Happen?

This week we will start by getting acquainted over coffee and snacks. Then we'll continue with a great band; a little edgy and a little loud. Finally, we'll get into a great discussion as a group. Now at Encounter, we're just a group of people who are struggling and learning together what it means to follow Jesus, so that's what our first series of topics will revolve around. This week, we're gonna focus on "The Main Thing: Why Jesus?" We'll look at why Jesus came and discuss whether we really need a savior.

You Can Help

We need your helping in getting the word out about Friday Night FWD. You can also help us keep on the lookout for different musicians who might want to get involved one or more weeks. We want to keep it fresh with some variety. And of course, it would be sweet if you would invite some friends, let people know about it, and personally you don't wanna miss it yourself! You can click on the image for a JPG or download a PDF flyer here.

This Week's Location

This week we're gonna meet at the Big Sky facilities at 8181 Avocet Drive. Don't know where that is? Go North on Montana Avenue past Bob's Valley Market at Lincoln. Then go about two more miles and turn left on Avian Road. Make one more quick left and you are there. Look for the signs.

More about Friday Night FWD here.

Saturday, November 28, 2009 Advent Conspiracy: Love All

The true story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and revolutionary love.

"When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. He played to the margins.

By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join Him in giving resources to those who need help the most."

We challenge you to buy one less gift this year or even one less latte this week, and you can help streetwalkers in Ecuador find a new life, point people toward God in India, or provide a present for a Filipino child who has never received a Christmas gift. It will be one unbelievable present in the name of Christ. Here's how:

FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR A FILIPINO CHILD

On December 19, 2009, Mt. Moriah Camp in Malaybalay City, Philippines will be having a Christmas party for the underprivileged children that attend their fellowship. You may know Jaxi and Nathan Howes who have been serving there in the last week.

Many of these kids may have never attended a party or received a Christmas present in their entire lives. Can you be a part of a blessing that will give meaning to their Christmas?

The camp is preparing 300 gift packages for the children and their families containing sardines, noodles, biscuits, candles, toothpaste, tooth brushes, clothes, soap, toys, and more. The cost of a package is just $3.50 each.

Will you sponsor one, two, or more Christmas packages before December 15? DONATE THROUGH ENCOUNTER HERE and be sure to mention that your donation goes to the "Mt. Moriah Camp".

A SIMPLE WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

There are over 5,500 missionaries — as well as churches, volunteers, and local believers — that are finding creative ways to overcome spiritual and physical barriers and share God's crazy love all over the world.

In Ecuador, missionary Barbara Rivers helps street prostitutes escape a lifeless existence and discover that Jesus’ love isn’t for sale, but free. Just $3 a day can help Barbara lead these women in a u-turn that changes lives. [read more]

Amid India’s poverty, filth and noise, there is lostness. People there worship all kinds of so-called gods in a desperate attempt to cover their bases. Just $5 an hour helps a missionary named "Moses" point them toward the one true God. [view video]

With land almost too poor to farm and no electricity or running water, the villagers of this undisclosed location find strength in a legend that a “precious gift” would be shared with them. A missionary "Michael Martin" hopes to blanket this remote location with hundreds of cassette tapes. These tapes that share the "precious gift" of Christ are just $1 each. [view video]

We encourage you to help these missionaries make a difference. DONATE THROUGH ENCOUNTER HERE and be sure to mention that your donation goes to the "Lottie Moon Christmas offering".

We challenge you to enter the story of God's love. Enter the Advent Conspiracy.

Advent Conspiracy: Spend Less and Give More

The true story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and revolutionary love.

As we challenge you to worship fully this Christmas by spending less and giving yourself, I don't want you to think that we're "getting all Scrooge on you."

SPEND LESS

Let me be clear, I like gifts. My kids like gifts. But as we consider that America spends an average of $450 billion a year every Christmas, think about this.

How often have you bought a gift out of obligation?

A nice tie for your boss. A tin of popcorn for your co-worker. Too often, we are giving and receiving gifts out of obligation — and that misses the entire point of Christmas. Our worship of Christ at Christmas has nothing to do with obligation, and everything to do with adoration!

After venturing out on Black Friday yesterday morning (later, not earlier), it is clear that we are too involved in the materialism of Christmas instead of the miracle of Christmas. That is why we are challenging you to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas. Just one. Choose your gifts thoughtfully and carefully as an expression of God's free gift to us, and allow yourself to be more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season.

GIVE MORE

As we give away less things, it opens up the door to give more of that one thing that people so desperately need — time in relationship. Instead of giving that sweater that no one really wants, why not give our friends and family the gift of relationship. It can't be found at WalMart, or Target, or Bob Wards. Relationship is God's gift to us through Christ, and we can give back in the most memorable ways possible.

Why not write your mom a letter? Create and decorate some ornaments with the kids. Take a friend out for coffee and have a long conversation. Bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Click here and see what others have done to give more during the advent season.

And then finally, remember the money you didn't spend?

Why not take some of that money and help others experience the love Christ this Christmas? While there are many opportunities out there, let me suggest just a couple in the next article. Listen, nobody wants a Christmas worth forgetting.

We challenge you to enter the story of God's love. Enter the Advent Conspiracy.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 Enter The Story. Advent Conspiracy.

As Christmas quickly approaches, I begin to embrace those mixed feelings I experience every year. Excitement, anticipation, and joy are mixed with reluctance, increasing stress, and financial burden.

Even before truly following Jesus, I have always felt that our "celebration" of Christmas falls short of the world-changing event it was meant to be. The true story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and revolutionary love.

How did Jesus celebrate? Simple, He gave Himself.

We challenge you this Christmas to worship fully by spending less and giving yourself. And you will find that you are giving and loving more. Give one less gift this year, buy one less latte this week, and you can help streetwalkers in Ecuador find a new life, point people toward God in India, or provide a present for a Filipino child who has never received a Christmas gift.

Follow along in the upcoming articles this week as I share four simple statements behind a movement called Advent Conspiracy...

Worship fully.
Spend less.
Give more.
Love all.

I guarantee you that by giving yourself fully in these concepts this Christmas, you will encounter Christ's Advent like never before. And you will find yourself making a tangible difference in your family, community, and the world.

Enter the story. Advent Conspiracy.

View the video above or on YouTube here.

Untamed Truth: Night of Worship & Art Afterburn

It seems that Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art was a success! The place was packed with over 50 people. It's about all the place will hold so it was standing room only.

Despite that, it was a nice relaxed atmosphere and the band did great. Had a little snafu with sound system so we started a little late, but not a big deal.

There was some awesome poetry readings by Amber Olsson and Andrik Powell. There was also an amazing sketch artist, Andrew Giulio, who created an art piece the whole time. Just met him last week and just found out that he's legally blind and color blind. Wow!

People were also given a chance to create small artistic expressions throughout the night and then post them in a collage by the end of the night. I think people really got a opportunity to connect with one another and encounter God's creativity.

We heard a lot of comments that the music sounded amazing, the environment was so relaxed, people enjoyed themselves, and I hope they took away something about God's life-giving creativity.




You can find all the great photos on Facebook here.
Check out a Picasa slideshow here.

This night was a entry point and kickoff for a regular small to mid group gathering we'll be having every other week called Friday night FWD. We are already looking for musicians to get involved in one or more gatherings. It starts on December 4, so we could really use your prayer. So many people around here will come to an "event" like a Sunday morning service or a night of worship. But it is much more difficult help people connect for some ongoing spiritual growth.

Untamed Truth: Our God Is A Creative God

There is a deep connection between the creativity we express as humans 
and the creativity of God.

Because our God is a creative God.

And as “image-bearers” of God, as people who are created in His image, we too possess in all of us the ability to be creative.

But here is the problem.

In ancient times people thought of creativity not as something that someone had, but as something someone received from God as inspiration. To allow the creative spirit of God move through you. But we've lost sight of the potential for creativity that God places within us. We've become tamed, we've become civilized, and we've settled for status quo.

But Jesus challenged the status quo. He took Old Testament concepts and unleashed them with New Testament truths. He said this is the way you have been taught, but I offer a better way — a way that leads to an abundant life.

The problem is that we have begun to think of creativity as something that we ourselves possess. We've begun to say that person IS creative, rather than seeing creativity as a gift that flows through us as a vessel or conduit.

And it's unfortunate that we have done the same with our spiritual lives.

We look at good and Godly attributes and we begin to think of them as something we can possess. As something we can create in our personalities, rather than a gift of God that flows through us, as we are surrendered to His Spirit. We have selfishly begun to rely on our own will power to muster up these attributes. We rely in our own ability and we become prideful.

We can't do it on our own.

True creativity, true love, true relationships, and true freedom come through God's working in our life. It comes as we surrender to Jesus and allow His Spirit to create something new in our life — to make a new creation. So if you feel tamed, if you feel caged, if you feel like you've been chained by life as we know it — it's time to stop relying on yourself.

Remember that our God is a creative God.

Jesus specializes in creatively bringing new life from brokenness and helplessness. So lift up your hands and let him unchain you from the things in life you so desperately want to escape. Experience His creativity as He forms you anew from the inside out.

Thursday, November 19, 2009 Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art

You are invited to Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art. It is a community night of worship expressed through music, art, and word. Join us at Exploration Works on Friday, November 20 @ 7pm for a free, casual environment to explore Christian faith and connect with others.

This is part of an intentional and strategic effort to fill the gap that exists in Helena for end-of-day activities. At Encounter, we want to provide an opportunity for people to connect with others and encounter God in a unique, authentic, and creative way that is expressed through music, art, and creativity.

Join us just to participate in the worship. Or if you are a poet, painter, sculptor, or similar there may still be time to share your talent as part of the event. Just contact us for more.

Refreshments will be available. There will be no childcare for this event.

EVENT: Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art
LOCATION: Exploration Works, 995 Carousel Way [map/directions]
TIME: Friday, November 20 @ 7pm-8:30pm
COST: Free

Help Get The Word Out

Please help us get the word out about Untamed Truth. Please tell your friends. Let them know on Facebook and MySpace. You can event invite them to the Facebook event or download and print out some flyers in PDF format. Here are the links:

Facebook Event Page (link)
http://tinyurl.com/untamedtruth

Downloadable Flyers (PDF)
Full-Page Poster (5.5mb)
Half-Page Handouts (5.5mb)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 EncounterCast 11.17.09: Night of Worship & Art

This EncounterCast, we're highlighting this Friday's special event Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art. You are invited to join us at Exploration Works in Helena on Friday at 7pm for a night of worship creatively expressed through music, art, and word. You don't want to miss it!

View the video above or on YouTube here.

Thursday, November 12, 2009 Untamed Worship: Last Items In Place

As you may know, we've been putting together a one-night event called Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art. It will be a night of worship expressed through music, art, and word.

It has been amazing how God really helped everything come together and allowed this to happen. It's so exciting!

VENUE FINALIZED

I went down today to reserve the upper floor of the Exploration Works: Museum of Science & Culture. The folks at Explorations Works were really awesome to work with. It really is a cool room and will serve as a great canvas for creating the atmosphere of the evening. Below are some photos, but the exhibits will all be moved and cafe tables and chairs set up. We're planning on having coffee and refreshments.

Exploration Works was not our original choice, but I have to say it is probably better than anything we were thinking. Again, God knows better.

FUNDS RAISED

You may also know that we held a 24-hour Facebook fundraiser. We called, messaged, and emailed friends in order to ask for gifts from $25 to $50. Again, God took charge and we raised nearly all of our several hundred dollar goal in just 24 hours. Awesome! Thank you so much for everyone that contributed both here in Helena and around the country. We couldn't have done it without you!

The date of the event will be next Friday, November 20 @ 7pm. I would begin inviting everyone you know, but our goal is for each person to see at least two people come. If you would like to get involved, we need help for setup and breakdown from 5:30-9:30pm. Let us know if you would.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS

I have linked some PDF posters and handouts here and on the other posts. If you can print some up at Staples for 59¢ a sheet, we could really use your help getting them out into the community. Finally, you can also let your friends know online. You can send them the link to this page. Or you can invite them through Facebook. These links are:

Facebook Event Page (link)
http://tinyurl.com/untamedtruth

Downloadable Flyers (PDF)
Full-Page Poster (5.5mb)
Half-Page Handouts (5.5mb)

Monday, November 9, 2009 Untamed Worship: The Momentum Continues

As you may have heard or read, we're putting together a one-night event called Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art. It will be a night of worship expressed through music, art, and word.

Creativity and the arts are an important value of our group at Encounter, so such a night would will a great reflection of who we are. The idea is to pull from local talent and showcase different individuals in a group worship setting.

WHY WE'RE DOING IT

We met recently and discussed the purpose and details of the upcoming event. After some discussion we all agreed that Encounter wants to be intentional and strategic about filling the gap that exists in Helena for end-of-day activities. We have asked numbers of people lately what they do in the evenings and the consensus is "there IS nothing to do." We want to provide an opportunity for people to connect with others and encounter God in a unique, authentic, and creative way.

WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW

The musicians and singers that have been involved have been rehearsing over the last weeks and sound awesome! They are quite gifted, but also humble and authentic. I am personally excited to see some of these guys lead through the songs with their own style.

Finally, our planned venue is not working out. So we are looking for another venue that can facilitate this type of gathering. Join us at Exploration Works on Friday, November 20 @ 7pm for a free, casual environment to explore faith and connect with others.

Download Full-Page Poster here (pdf - 5.5mb)
Download half-page Handouts here (pdf - 5.5mb)

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Now is the time to bring it together. It's so important that people in our community not just attend this event, but actually participate in some way. It's the only way that this night of worship becomes a reflection of our community. So our question is simple. Can you help?

• Are you an artist? Do you paint? sculpt? Something else? There is still room to get involved. This would be a great way to get involved in something different.

• Do you write poetry? Lyrics? Stories? Again, share your inspiration with others in an alternative setting. We invite you to participate.

• Do you own or work in a place that would benefit from such an event? Do you have a connection that might help us pull this off? Let us know. Help make this happen and make a difference in Helena.

• Finally, can you help financially? Right now we are looking for just a few people who want to see such a night happen. People who want to see lives changed by a night of connection. A night of encountering Jesus in a unique, authentic, and creative way. If you can contribute with a $25 or $50 gift, it would only take 5 to 10 people to make an impact in our community, and FOR our community.

I am so excited about what's coming up. God is on the move! Contact us today if you can participate or help in some way.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Little Tykes Trick or Treat: A Huge Success!

This last Friday, October 30, we partnered with walking mall businesses for the Little Tykes Trick or Treat event held in Downtown Helena.

Like our involvement with Downtown Helena's recent Kid's Fall Fest, serving parents and their kids is a great way to develop relationships and engage our community by impacting peoples' lives in a positive way.

SERVING BUSINESS OWNERS

First, we offered to help business owners decorate their store fronts. Decorating for Halloween can be difficult for business owners in the midst of all their other responsibilities. Shown here is the display for Lasso the Moon.

SERVING PARENTS & KIDS

Second, we created a decorated area in the walking mall (hay bales, scarecrow, etc) as a free photo opportunity for parents. Parents love to have photos of their little tykes dressed up for Halloween. But for parents who did not bring a camera, we partnered with local professional photographer Anthony Harden of Harden Photo-Graphics which is located in Helena, Montana. Visit his blog at blog.hardenphoto.com.

The photo opportunity was a huge hit! We had lines of 5-15 people throughout the day, snapping nearly 300 photos for 107 families. One photo every two minutes during the three hour event. Now we are in the process of delivering these full-resolution photos via email. No small task!

Since the event, we have been receiving emails thanking us for the great photos of their little ones, as well as thanking us for creating the opportunity in the first place. We are grateful to the Placer Management for sharing the need and partnering with us in this, and we want to thank Anthony Harden for all the time and effort he donated to this event.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

We see this as just another way to be a church FOR Helena, not just a church IN Helena. We are eager to serve because it is another way to share God's love in a tangible way by "being the change." We invite you to Be The Change in Helena and join us in our next project at Encounter Church.

NOTE TO PARENTS: We have successfully delivered nearly 80% of the photos in two emails sends. If your child's photo was taken and you still have not received your photo, we suspect that our email has been 'blocked' or filed as 'junk/spam' by your email provider. We need you to contact us with 1) a verification of your email address, 2) a possible alternate address, and 3) a note that you have not received your photo.

Sunday, October 25, 2009 Calling Musicians and Artists for a Night of Worship

Calling all musicians and artists! Do you play an instrument, sing, paint, sculpt, write poetry, or have some other creative talent? We're putting together a one-night event called Untamed Truth: A Night of Worship & Art. It will be a night of worship expressed through music, art, and word.

Creativity and the arts are an important value of Encounter, so such a night would be a great reflection of who we are. The idea is to pull from local talent and showcase different individuals in a group worship setting. We'll probably mix and match throughout the night.

We are currently planning this event. Stay tuned for more details.

Contact us if you or someone you know might want to participate.

YWCA Hospitality Basket Delivery: Thank You!

As we posted before, Encounter is partnering with All Souls Community Church to help the Helena YWCA — by providing each new woman staying at the YWCA with a hospitality basket.

BASKETS DELIVERED

This last Friday, we were able to deliver enough baskets for a six month supply. We and the YWCA just want to extend a big thank you to everyone that helped collect materials for the baskets!

ENOUGH BASKETS FOR A YEAR?

If you or your church is able, join us in our attempt to assemble enough baskets for the whole year. Together, we want to make a difference in the lives of these women by providing materials and assembling these baskets.

Here is the list of items we are collecting for the rest of the baskets. Please seriously consider "being the change" by contributing some of these items. Contact us if you can help.

• Shampoo

• Conditioners

• Soap

• Body Wash or Bath Gels

• Deodorant

• Hand or Body Lotions

• Journal or Daily Planner

• Gift Cards ($5, $10)

• Taxi Vouchers

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 Steps of Faith: A Lesson At The Red Sea

As I look upon this journey of building a new faith community, I sometimes feel like Moses when he and Israelites stood between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea.

Looking back, the Egyptian Army, the old life of bondage and slavery, the old ways of doing things, was quickly advancing.

But looking forward, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, the Red Sea blocked the way. It seemed like they were trapped. Their options quickly narrowed.

OUR JOURNEY OUT OF EGYPT

In the same way, our journey to plant Encounter has led us out of old, lifeless, religious routines. We have discovered the newness of meeting people where they are, and sharing God's live in simple and tangible ways. We have served our community selflessly and begun to gain a reputation as people FOR Helena, not just IN Helena.

And just like the pillar of smoke and fire that led the Israelites in Moses' time, God has been faithful to guide us on our journey as well. People have been encountering Jesus in fresh new ways, throwing off the chains of ritual and self-improvement and refocusing their steps to follow an amazing Savior — people who would not step foot in an established traditional church have encountered Jesus in our discussions and begun to form friendships and relationships.

We've connected with those who have been hurt at or disengaged from churches to find an authentic faith community relevant to their life-stage. New babies, young couples, new marriages, and searching for God's call as they serve in international mission fields are some of the experiences of our regulars in these past months. We're now a small gathering of broken people who are doing life together to find out what it means to follow Jesus.

LOOKING OUT ACROSS A RED SEA

God has promised to lead us into His vision for impacting this generation and beyond in Helena and yet, we find ourselves at our own "Red Sea."

As we look across the sea to that distant shore, we can see that launch team of 25-45 people. They are key team members in the areas of worship, kids, students, small groups, and more that will help us launch in a significant way. We can also see the additional $3000 per month salary support and $90,000 needed for a dynamic worship gathering launch.

But there is a huge Red Sea standing between us and that distant shore. And now we're here, having followed God all this way and we might begin to question ourselves and even God. Did He make a mistake? Did He know what He was doing? Will we ever get to the place He has promised?

The answers is a resounding YES. Even now, He is preparing a way that we cannot see, something beyond what we can even hope or imagine.

GOD'S MIRACLE

Maybe YOU are part of God's miracle of parting the Red Sea. Maybe YOU are part of the dream that gets us all to that distant shore. It's time to get involved. It's time to take that first step of faith. Picture yourself as part of an Encounter ministry team. Picture being part of a community that truly cares for people and want to see the broken things healed. Picture financially giving of yourself to allow so many more to encounter Jesus in a significant way. And then take the step.

• You may already be part of what God is doing through Encounter. But maybe He's calling you to more.
• You may be partially involved with Encounter with one foot in from time-to-time. Maybe it's time to place both feet firmly within God's will.
• You may be watching Encounter from the sidelines, cheering us on, hoping for us to grow, and yet waiting for the dream to be realized before you jump in. Perhaps God is telling you to get involved now.
• You may have told yourself that you are comfortable where you are. That things are okay. That you know God "enough." But deep inside you know it's not true. Deep inside you feel a longing for something more. Perhaps God is telling you that it's time.
  

We are continuing to follow God, and we are waiting for His miracle. I encourage you to become part of the miracle and contact me today. Let's talk more about what that might look like.

Monday, October 19, 2009 EncounterCast 10.19.09: Check Us Out This Week!

It's been several weeks since our last EncounterCast. This time we're recapping this last weekend's Community Impact effort as well as two new ways to check out Encounter this week. Make sure you mark these on your calendar:

Fun & Game Night at the Ox – Meet New People & Get Your Game On
Wednesday, October 21 @ 6:30pm.
Read more here.

Dream Team Gathering: Risk-Taking – Worship, Discussion, & Free Pizza
Friday, October 23 @ 6:30pm
Read more here.

View the video above or on YouTube here.

Saturday, October 17, 2009 Kid's Fall Fest at Pioneer Park - Being The Change

Encounter partnered with Downtown Helena today to help bring some Fall fun to Pioneer Park.

There was a pumpkin patch, wagon rides, needle in the haystack game, and pumpkin art all organized by DHI and various Helena businesses.

As part of our effort to Be The Change in Helena, we at Encounter came alongside Downtown Helena to provide a rock climbing wall, kid's inflatable bouncers, cotton candy, and popcorn for the event. What a hit!

In the four hours of the Kid's Fall Fest, we went through over 200 popcorn bags and even twice as much cotton candy. We estimate nearly 400-500 kids and their parents had a great time!

Our Encounter volunteers did an awesome job serving our community and sharing God's love in tangible way. We invite you to engage our Helena culture and join us in our next project at Encounter Church.




You can find all the great photos on Facebook here.
Check out a Picasa slideshow here.

Friday, October 16, 2009 Fun & Game Night at the Ox - Oct 21

Building relationships, meeting new friends, and doing life together is important and so we’ve planned another Fun & Game Night, this time we'll meet at the Staggering Ox on Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30pm.

We invite you to join us as we play Apples To Apples, Killer Bunnies, Phase 10, or bring your favorite board or card game. Kids are welcome (think age appropriate) and definitely bring a new friend.

WHAT TO BRING

– Bring your favorite game(s)
– Bring a friend
– Bring a couple bucks for food or drink
– Bring your game face :-)

Yep, this is a great week to invite a friend to hang out. The fun of the night will be meeting new people and getting to know each other better, so definitely invite some friends for those "party games" you'll be bringing. If you've wanted to check us out, this is your opportunity to come and just have some fun.

WHAT: Fun & Game Night
WHO: Everyone Welcome (games for all ages)
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21 @ 6:30pm
WHERE: The Staggering Ox [click here]

Check out and/or RSVP for the Facebook event here.
Read more about Fun & Game Nights here.

Dream Team Gathering: The Art of Risk-Taking - Oct 23

If you are a part of the Encounter Church movement, want to be, or just want to find out more...you need join us next Friday for great discussion, worship, and FREE pizza!

We will be continuing to discuss building a faith community that engages culture by becoming more fluid. This time we'll be looking at Risk-Taking: Walking the Gangplank.

• Worship to some great songs!
• Talk about the next steps to launch the Encounter worship gathering!
  
• Share some FREE pizza! (please RSVP for pizza ordering)
  

If you wanna find out how to get involved and make a difference in Helena or if you just want to check us out, you can join us for some spiritual discussion, worship, and pizza. Also, we'll have games and videos for the kids during the gathering. We hope to see you next Friday!

WHAT: Dream Team Meeting
WHO: Those who dare to dream
WHEN: Friday, October 23 @ 6:30pm
WHERE: Powell Home [map/directions]

Please RSVP or attend the Facebook Event to let us know how much pizza to order.