Tory Farina

Make Room For More Brochure...

If you have not seen our Make Room For More Plan I want you to have all the information before Sunday. Due to our overwhelmingly positive response by our leaders who pre-comitted $299,000 we are upping the goal to $400,000. This is a miracle goal and we are believing it means that God has something even greater than we imagined.

You can download it here Download Make Room For More Brochure. See you Sunday at 10am for service and Lunch to fallow.

To Boldy Go...

Remember the opening to "STAR TREK"?

"Space... the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before."

I Love the exciting Idea of Going where no man has gone before. But it is a lot of energy and isn't as necessary as we think it is. I wonder how many people get stuck, burn out, or spend more energy then necessary because they are working harder than they need to?

I spend time every week looking for people who have gone where I want to go. I realized a long time ago, I can do this the hard way and cut my own trail, or I can look for those who have been their and done that and leap off their shoulders.

The funny thing about "Star Trek" is although they were the first "MEN" to go somewhere they were not the first to experience what they found. Principles are principles. People are people and although at High Point we have never been to where we are, I have never lead the size and type of church we are and this area of the City has never had a church like High Point in it before. We are not in uncharted territory.

This weekend I am spending with Matt and Sarah Keller Pastors of NEXT LEVEL CHURCH in Fort Meyers, Florida. My biggest question for them is, "Help me see what I can't see coming on the other side of the Horizon." We will talk about budgets, staffing, volunteers, leadership principles and what they experienced when they were where we are.

I am convinced we live too isolated for our own good. Someone somewhere has been to a similar place as you are in. The key is finding them and asking them to tell their experiences and observations to you.

Who is where you want to be? What would it take to get some time with them? What questions do you need to ask them?

iPad uses in a mobile church...

I've been thinking about this for a few weeks now off and on. Let me start off by saying I have only used the iPad for a few minutes at the Mac store. I also think that the 1st generation of iPad is probably not fully baked for everything I think that could be done. BUT... I love the concept and potential. 

After reading this article in Fast Company and this one in Wired I got to thinking about the uses a church could have with an iPAd type device. Sure you could do much of it with a net-book but the L shaped item just doesn't lend itself to the user friendliness of a hand held screen.

Here are my ideas of potential uses...

• Check in tool. For kids. Automatically prints a sticker with names on it and uploads the guests info to our Church Management Software.
• Visitor registration. This could easily allow us to log in the visitor info and instantly send an email to the person with details of upcoming events and how to get involved next.
• Hi End Music stands. I know what your thinking... Isn't a music stand and a sheet of paper less expensive than an iPad for every musician? Yes. But I hat the clutter of sheets of paper and music stands strewn about. And cost is not a factor in this little daydreaming exercise of mine.
• Interactive Notes. With multi task on the horizon i could... have my bible, notes, twitter, and run my own presentation behind me all from my hand. It would be easy to read in the strange lighting and could be a lot of fun for question and answer. 
• Electronic Giving. Everyone wants to give to the Lord but not everyone has cash or a check or a wallet for that matter. With the use of pay-pal or a credit card you could give at church as the Holy Spirit prompts you. Instead of wanting to give at hoe and forgetting to do it. 
• S.O.S. The social networking element to it would allow the various areas to communicate to our Sunday Morning Point person. If we are low on workers, in need of the speaker to land the plain, have kids who need to be rescued, or have a need to get a message from the ushers to the speaker and the kids all at once this could do that.
• Interactive Children's book. We lease our kids curriculum s how cool would it be to have the kids books and songs and notes be right their for the teacher to pick up and flip through with the kids. It makes it simple, Hi Tech and Hi Touch. you could also let the older kids go through it themselves if need be.
• Kids Game stations.  Mobile churches would be prefer to have something small to use as a gaming system to entertain and teach kids before and after service. Wii's and other gaming systems need a large screen and multiple power outlets. This just needs a protective casing and a supervised place to rest.
• Quick Forms. Everything from Registering for events, background checks and policy and procedure would be available via a cloud like google docs.

Cost and size of the device makes it affordable and user friendly. The church of the future will have something like these in its weekly operations. I look forward to seeing what innovations and pastoral care can be offered with such a device. Technology is merely a tool to touch people. It is never a substitute for interaction with people. It will not replace a teacher, usher, volunteer. On the contrary it will help make it easier for volunteers to serve guests warmly.

What other uses could you see this used for in the church?

Future Church Communication...

I am always looking for New and interesting ways to communicate with people. Ways that I can share life with people and they can share it with me. I Twitter, email, blog, facebook, (used to myspace), IM, text message and am looking for even more ways to improve the duologue. 

Pastors used to have to go to the local farm or factory or house and relatively recently they were able to make phone calls. I love to sit down with people and share life. It is a lot of fun and really good for a one on one discipleship and life sharing. The only problem with this is that it is limited to the time that a pastor or the person he/she is meeting with's time and space. You and I both know that we are busier and more scattered than we have ever been and so technology that increases communication that breaches time and space is priceless!!! Now with facebook and Twitter I can sit down with many people at the same time and share whatever i want to share and hear whatever they want to share. I LOVE IT! Google wave looks really interesting to take ur communication to the next level. It may not take off... But it is indicative of what is to come! I am excited because potentially I could sit down with many of you at the same time. (Some day I want to try a virtual connection group. Maybe over a lunch time...)

What is wave? What if E-mail was totally re-invented for today? That is what the Google team asked themselves as they invented this new product called, Google Wave. Sometimes its hard to remember that email is a 40 year old invention and how many limitations it imposes on us because it is not utilizing the horsepower behind the technologies available to today. Check out the video if you are interested.

 

How do you think this can increase our communication with one another? How could this help you connect with other people in church?

Do you See what I See?...

I have spent the last few months talking and interviewing with people about helping High Point Church get to the next level. It is kind of funny for me because I live in a reality that doesn't exist. People come and see High Point and they see what is. They look around and see the kids that are their and see what the set looks like and they will see who is volunteering and they see all that we are. The funny thing when I talk with them is that I don't see that. I know that sounds so strange but it is true.

When I see High Point I don't see what is because what is has never been my reality. When it was Elizabeth and I and we had no graphics, no Courtney, no Theatre and not even a name I saw a picture that looked similar to what we have now 3.5 yrs later. I would talk to people all the time like we had a church of a couple hundred with a staff and awesome worship and engaging connection groups. People who could see what I saw jumped on board. People who couldn't see it... never called me back. That was years ago but it hasn't changed for me. Every time I walk into High Point now I see what Could Be and what Should Be.

Do you want to see what I see?

I see a section of Youth that worships God with all of their heart in the front of the church. I see two services that are full to the gills with people and we have to have to ask regular attenders to give up their seat for new visitors. I see connection groups all over this city full of people who are growing in their relationship with God. I see us in a building that gives us ample room for our Kids to be transformed with as much room as they need. I see Lost people found. Depressed people set free. Broken Homes restored. Floundering people Living Their Potential!

Do you See what I See? We are on the verge of the next level of High Point Church. We are about to go to the preferred future that I SEE. Can you see it? As I have talked with a bunch of people these last few months most haven't seen it. But the ones that have... OHHHBOOOOYYY! They are going to see God do something Great in this place for this City! We are going to see an amazing future at High Point. What I See, I am convinced is just around the corner.

High Point Serves a Double Shot...

High Point Church will begin serving a double shot! Starting September 13 we will be offering 9:00am and 10:30am services.

We will be multiplying our efforts by offering two services on Sunday mornings. If you have followed my last few posts you have seen pictures that explain our reason why.

1- Our cup is running over! We have been seeing record numbers of people attending High Point Church and we are reaching capacity in our main theater and kid’s area. We have to make room for every single person who wants to come. Each week we have people who are giving God and church one more shot. We want to make sure that they are able to experience the life changing power of the Gospel. Without this change we will unintentionally be turning people away due to lack of space. We don’t want our capacity to keep us from fulfilling our calling.

2- Everyone needs a break. We have volunteers who work hard every week of the month so that people who are in the service can grow through the teaching of the word and worship. By going to two services we are able to have every volunteer... "Attend one and Serve one." Now everyone has an opportunity to serve in an area of the church where they can use their gifts, find friendship and share in the joy of helping people connect with God, without missing church! If you would like to sign up and volunteer you can do so here... HighPointChurch.tv/volunteer

3- Like a good espresso, High Point was meant to be shared. Options make it easier for people to come and experience the "Life Changing" community we are. Kids nap times, work schedules, Viking/Packer games and other Sunday morning obstacles are lessened by the fact that now there are two service times.

Many of you want to bring a friend, neighbor or coworker, but are scheduled to serve. This also makes it possible for you to do both in one morning. Now, sharing your church has never been easier.

Starting September 13, we will be having 9am and 10:30am services. Mark your calendars and get ready for an exciting fall! We have already been preparing for this for several months, and I am so excited to finally tell you about it!

Tell a friend and look for more details coming soon!

Some day I hope we have this problem...

So I read this post... laughed and then thought... Heck Yeah that is how to do an event for church... Love it or hate it it got everyones attention and man did it promote that church can be different. I loved it and  found it inspiring... I hope you do to... check out his blog and some of the pictures... Awesome!
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Easter Egg Drop…The Rest Of The Story

     

You can read part 1 here.

As I said in the earlier post, at 10:45 we opened the bridge that led to the field where we were doing the drop. At this point people were getting restless but still being very cool. There was a buzz in the air. People were having a good time, but the park was filling up to the point you literally couldn’t move. There were so many people there we actually couldn’t move the tables to allow people to cross the bridge.

Once we got the bridge open, people started crossing the field. It took 30 minutes to get people onto the field there were so many people and only one small bridge to get onto the field. At this time I am still feeling good. We start getting the helicopter in place and one of the police officers tells me we should hold on because there are still thousands of people on the road. I knew this was not an option so I told him we were doing it because we couldn’t hold the people we had now, much less the ones coming.

I tried to get on our sound system to address the crowd and that was totally worthless. So I took a megaphone and started my way around the entire field giving the same speech probably 12 times. The eggs would drop, I would sound the alarm, KIDS only would run onto the field, once the eggs were gone, kids would sit on the ground and we would allow the parents on the field to get the kids. Everything was fine.

As the helicopter flew over everyone started chanting “Drop the eggs.” I was pumped. I got up on a motorized cart we had there to get a good view. Tim started dropping eggs and people were going nuts. It was awesome.

As soon as the eggs dropped, I sounded the alarm and it happened. At once, the entire crowd rushed the field. I remember looking up and the first thing going through my head was, “That kid just got knocked down.” When I say everyone rushed the field, I mean everyone. People were getting knocked down, trampled, our volunteers were literally run over. I remember thinking something is not right and then it dawned on me that parents were rushing the field, knocking kids down, grabbing eggs, taking eggs from other kids, and acting about as redneck as is possible. At this time I am thinking that it was a pretty good mess, but everything seemed over. I was wrong.

As I am scanning the field, kids are crying like crazy. HUNDREDS of kids didn’t get any eggs, HUNDREDS of kids are covered in mud, and then I hear the parents start screaming out names. HUNDREDS of kids were separated from their parents! You couldn’t find anyone. Parents were screaming, crying, cussing people out (funny thing was I only saw two kids crying). Our volunteers sprung into action and literally people started cussing them out like they were dogs. Some lady slapped one of our volunteers across the face. I have never heard M.F. so much in my life. I kid you not, there were parents falling out on the ground crying because they couldn’t find their children. After an hour or so we got all the kids matched up. I then went out to the EMT’s that were there and they informed me that 3 people had heart attacks and 4 people had passed out!!!!!!

To make matters worse, people were furious and ready to kill us and they couldn’t leave. It took over 2 hours to clear the parking lot. So we stayed. People cussed us out about there kids getting no eggs, their kids getting hurt, their kids getting lost, etc. You COULDN’T get them to calm down.

At one time I look over to one of the police officers and he is literally frozen in shock at what is taking place. People were calling 911 and trying to file missing people reports.

After the event was over things even got crazier. People were emailing us telling us we traumatized their kids from egg hunts, people were calling the office tell me that I was stupid as (well you get the point), people were throwing stuff at our parking volunteers.

I know I am not doing this story justice but I have told it so much I am sick of it. Here are some random crazy things that happened:

• One of the officers told us and I quote, “You guys have literally turned Riverstone Pkwy into the strip in Panama City Beach.” He said people were partying in their cars, pulling over into people’s yards and just hanging out, and women were flashing people!!!!!
• Kids had no eggs, but parents were walking around with hundreds in scooped up in their shirts.
• Some crazy dude was walking up and down the field screaming in some mad man voice for his kid. I thought he was about to shoot all of us!
• I saw a kid fall and a parent pick up their eggs and take them while never helping the child
• I was shocked at how many people in Canton carry knives!!!
• When it was over people were literally driving through soccer fields and over curbs to get out.

Here are some things we learned:

• People will go NUTS over plastic eggs!!!!!
• Parents don’t listen.
• Parents won’t allow their kids to be kids.
• The city of Canton has some of the worse communication in the world.  Mayor Hobgood I HOPE you are reading this and I HOPE you call our office. I have let the city know I would like to meet with you and have gotten no response. We communicated EXACTLY what our intentions were with everyone from the city to the DOT to the police and the day of the event they acted like they had no idea what was happening.
• People had a blast!  Honestly, for every negative comment we have gotten, we have gotten two positive comments.
• Our volunteers are amazing. I can’t believe the beating they took. At the end of the event they were cheering and ready to do it again!
• The city of Canton is in major need of stuff for families to do!
• IF we do it again, we will put event fencing up around the field and not allow parents in at all.
• Kids are awesome! I had a young boy in a wheel chair who got ONLY two eggs tell me how awesome it was! That made the entire day worth it.
• I knew Canton was redneck, but didn’t know how redneck!  I love this town!
• I never knew kids wore the Easter outfits to egg hunts.  We ruined a lot of easter clothes!
• I would do it all over again! It was a great event for our community and I stand by how organized we were. NEVER in our wildest dreams could we imagined that many people showing up.

Our heart was to offer an awesome event for the people of our community, nothing more, nothing less.  Contrary to popular belief we WERE prepared and if we weren’t someone would have died.   I have NEVER been more proud of our people as I was  Saturday!  They were awesome and I thought the event was awesome!

If you are one of the people who had a bad experience, please accept my apology.  That wasn’t our intention.  We now know how many people an event like this will draw and we will be even MORE ready if we do something like this again!

I have to share

I am meeting in a few hours with people from North Central University to share with them about the Future AG blog I and some friends put together.

I am trying to figure out what to say...

I started this blog because I was frustrated with the course of our destiny in the Assemblies of God, but more than that I was not willing to sit back and talk among my friends about what could be and not actually put legs to the talking. But this is so me centric isn't it? The truth is that I felt like I was challenged by God in my prayer time to start the discussion.

I am convinced that there are a lot of good ideas roaming around the world and more convinced that most of them go unrealized and are waisted because people are not willing to step out and do what is necessary to make them happen.

I am going to tell them about Being lead by the spirit and not always knowing what to say but knowing that you can trust that the one who sent you will pull you through.

And your local FORECAST is...

Forecast...

Every night I hear a three not tune that tells me to pay attention and listen because i am about to find out what to expect outside tomorrow. It is great my favorite weather person gives me all the things i need to know about in a few minute time span. I then am able to tune out and get back to what I was doing before.

I sat at lunch today with a new team member Chad. He is a highly skilled sound technician and was a strong support to a youth ministry for a number of years in town. He is a youth major in college and has aspirations to be vitally involved in the work of the church. He said something to me today that made e think...

"I would love to know what is coming up next so that I can be prepared and think ahead. I am always thinking of great ideas about what you are talking about and cool things we could do as a church to reinforce the message while your talking."

So I says to myself... "Self, if Chad is asking this questions who else in the church is wanting to know whats coming up in order to partner with the future vision." I then heard three notes in my head that sounded very similar to the weather persons three notes.

Forecast! DUH! I have told you things are coming but I can forcast better what is on the horizan and give you more details...

check back more often and I will let you know what is coming up next!

Future AG Fallow up...

I told you a while back that I started a blog for the Future of the fellowship we are associated with. It was a smashing success. We hit it hard. Wrote what we had been feeling and found a whole group of like and not so like minded people who were ready to talk openly and honestly about some deep issues.

I discovered the power of a God Idea. He takes the small things and blows them up.

We have now been invited down to the AG national Headquarters to talk with the Superintendent. He wants to continue the conversation and we want to help make a difference. I was afraid and didn't think I could make a difference. Now I know that when I feel like that... I need to do it.