What I am Learning as a Church Planter!

Church planting has been a time of great growth and development for me as a person. I am thankful that I get to grow with such a gracious group of people at Legacy Church.

Here is a list of things that God has been teaching me:

1) Focus on spiritual growth measurements more than typical church growth measurements (attendance, finances). While attendance and finances are important to gauge your main goal though should be on the spiritual health of your flock. People are not a means to an end (your success), and are more then a number.

2) The strain of a start-up will bring you closer to your church members. Never be afraid to ask for help or enlist support. A close connection is formed by those who serve together. The cost is our time and sweat, but the reward is a deep bond with each other forged by the love of Christ.

3) Vision REALLY does leak. I sometimes assumed that because of a long relationship with my staff or others that we were on the same page. Many times we were not. Always communicate expectations and thoughts on a regular basis.

4) Say 'You're Sorry' when you've messed up. I've had to apologize to my staff more than once with a leadership error. The only thing people won't forgive someone for is perfection.

4) People look to YOU the church planter for vision. There is no way around being the chief fundraiser, vision caster, and strategist as a church planter. People look to you to lead them, and you must do your best, with God's help.

5) Expectations can gnaw at you. Don't compare yourself with the church next door. Be faithful to what God has called YOU to do and take realizable steps to get there.

6) If the vision is God's He will provide. The story of Legacy Church is simple. Once the people and the vision were crystalized God provided the resources.

7) Church planting requires sacrifice. Don't think it will be easy. It is rewarding though!

8) Team! Team! Team! The more you can delegate and have others help carry the load the better off you will be. Equip and entrust others. The long term future of the church hinges upon your ability to do this.

9) Your wife needs to be your biggest fan. Without spousal support I would be sunk. In some ways, I feel as if church planting is harder for the wife. Church planting will bring you and your wife closer together if managed the right way.

10) It's worth it! If asked whether I'd plant a church in Kendallville again I would say a wholehearted YES! I love the joy of watching a baby church grow. I pray that I will see this joy happen numerous times as Legacy Church grows and expands.  

Here's to many more memories and future church planting births Legacy Church! I am thankful to be YOUR pastor.

We had a fun Volunteer Appreciation Dinner this past Friday Night!

Can't wait to see who God adds to our number next year!

One BIG Step Towards the Fulfillment of the Legacy Dream - Celebration Sunday Recap!

I can remember thinking to myself, before moving to Kendallville, that if just one person came to know Jesus through our church plant then it'd be worth it. God continues to do more than we ask or imagine at Legacy Church.

On our launch Sunday I shared a bold vision that I believed God was calling our church to fulfill. God raised an army before Ezekiel out of dead bones (Ezekiel 37). In the same way, I believed that God wanted our church to be a catalyst in helping to raise up an army of people who were dead in Jesus but who would become alive in Him. I told our church on our launch day that I believed God was going to use Legacy Church to reach hundreds and thousands of people for Jesus in the Kendallville, IN area and beyond.

This past Sunday was the first BIG step towards the fulfillment of the Legacy dream. Before reaching thousands, hundreds, or even tens of people for Jesus you must start by reaching at least one person. This Sunday we had our first baptism service where three young ladies were baptized!

Here are some important things to note about what was so special this past Sunday:

- Each person who got baptized was not a part of our initial launch team. These were individuals who have only been coming to Legacy Church since our launch! New people are constantly visiting and people are being reached.

- One girl found out about our church through an outreach we did as a launch team in August, another came because her mother works at the YMCA and they decided to check our church out, another came through a relationship I had with her father. Super cool to see God using outreach and connections to bring people to Him.

- Every time a person was coming out of the water in baptism our church would stand, clap, and cheer for them! What a great picture of what was currently happening in heaven! Also, it was fun watching our church encourage and "spur one another on towards love and good deeds!"

- After the baptism service someone told me that I had the privilege of baptizing their daughter five years ago on the exact same date. That former student is walking with Jesus and doing great! What a great reminder of God's faithfulness!

What a powerful and incredible celebration Sunday that I will never forget. It was a BIG step towards the fulfillment of the Legacy dream!

Jeanette came to Legacy Church because of a chocolate bar with our church label on it given to her in August!

It was fun to stand clap and cheer for what God is doing in the lives of His people!

So neat to walk this faith journey with this young lady and her family who I'm seeing come alive at Legacy Church!

Fun watching our youth ministry reach and impact this next generation for Christ!

It truly was a CELEBRATION of life in Jesus!

We take investing into the next generation SERIOUSLY – Legacy Kids Sunday Recap

I hear from many church leaders this cliché saying: “We’ll do whatever it takes to reach younger people.” BUT when push comes to shove do church leaders really mean that? In all sadness, the answer is typically "no".

In order to have services that are geared at reaching younger people it means you MUST do the following: play music that connects and speaks to them; be authentic and genuine and not "churchy"; give young people areas where they can serve; listen to them and ask for their advice, and invest your best leaders and resources into your children and teenagers.

This is a steep price to pay when it comes to being the church, but it's well worth it. As a youth pastor for nine years I know the power and impact young people can have on a local church and the world. My prayer is that Legacy Church will always be known as a place where children, teenagers, and families can come and grow in Jesus. My promise is that I will fight for the children, teenagers, and families in the Kendallville, IN area and beyond.

In order to model this value of Legacy Church we handed the Sunday Service over to our children and teenagers.

It was a landmark Sunday for Legacy Church. Here's why:

- We dedicated and helped resource 6 children and 4 families. It's powerful when families commit to raising their children in a way that pleases Jesus and when a local church partners with them!

- We played games, sang children's song, and had fun as a church family!

- I noticed parents smiling as they were proud of their children for leading the church in worship or through testimonies.

- When the children are in the services it adds energy and looseness to the service. It helps adults to relax and gives us a picture of child-like faith. There was a "be who you are" type of atmosphere that oozed Legacy Church's DNA and which was modeled by our youth. I noticed many adults who were very Stoic early on in our service, but who were singing their hearts out at the end of the service!

- We got to pray over our young people that they would be lights for Jesus in their local schools!

- We got to hear and honor Logan and Jessica Conley for all the work they are putting into Legacy Church's young people. We are so glad that God placed them at Legacy Church!

- We had a teenage guy show up at the YMCA to play some basketball while church was going on and stayed through our services! When you are intentional about reaching young people God brings young people to you!

There are certain services that I will never forget as a church planter/pastor because God showed up in extraordinary ways. This was one of those services! Big things are in store for Legacy Church!

It was a blessing seeing all of our children and youth line up in front of our congregation

so we could pray for them!

One Word to Describe Legacy Church After Launch - Healthy!

What parents care about one month after giving birth to a child, more than anything else, is that their baby is healthy. A healthy baby will grow into a mature adult.

Four services in (including our preview service) I am proud to say that Legacy Church is healthy. Many church plants desire growth over health and it can lead to detrimental effects.

Here are just a few ways in which we have worked hard at being a healthy church:

- We have a great leadership team of men who help carry the weight of leading Legacy Church and who also provide great wisdom.

- We are seeing new people regularly at Legacy Church.

- We've launched incredible children and youth ministries. We'll average 30-40 youth under the age of 18 who come to Legacy Church. That's a GREAT start!

- Our financial giving has been steady.

- We have fun and love each other as a staff.

- We have lots of people who help serve and volunteer. The YMCA janitor told me yesterday that he was impressed with the volunteerism of our group! We are doing what we can to create ownership of the ministry.

- We have a tenacious desire to see our community hear about Jesus! We are not complacent and have some neat things planned in the next few months to be a blessing to our community.

- We are setting up healthy patterns for our staff and church.

- We have a diverse mix of people with many different backgrounds.

- We are getting ready to train small group leaders so we can launch our family small group ministry in January. Healthy churches foster discipleship and mentorship relationships!

We are in no way a perfect church. We've already made plenty of mistakes. Our aim is to learn from our mistakes though and make good choices to promote health.

As always a healthier you is a better you and a healthier Legacy Church will make healthier disciples of Jesus! We are excited to see what God does in the future with His church!

Legacy Launch Recap: Legacy Church = Life!

Was our first service this Sunday perfect? No. Did God work and was it worth it? Yes!

Legacy Church launched its first official public service on September 11^th, 2016 at 10AM at the Cole Center YMCA in downtown Kendallville.

Here’s a recap of what everyone experienced and how God worked!

 1) We had approximately 40 Legacy Launch volunteers on hand (with sweet Legacy T-shirts) who did an incredible job setting up, welcoming people, and making sure everyone knew where to go. Way to go team!

2) For a portion of our worship set our computers froze and the words were not displayed on the screen. I listened to what everyone would do. Luckily, the song was a familiar one and the singing grew louder! There’s something powerful when people worship and our group stuck it to Satan by not allowing him this little victory.

 3) We had the opportunity to thank those who were in attendance who serve our freedoms and liberties by having them stand and prayed over them! It was a great way to honor their legacies.

4) The sermon was entitled: Legacy = Life! We looked at Ezekiel 37 and saw how the nation of Israel was a picture of what our vision should be with the people that live within Noble County. The three main points were:

 - God wants to use you to bring life, but it will cost you your life in return!
 - Only God can bring life!
 - I have a dream (like Ezekiel) that God will use Legacy Church to reach hundreds and thousands of people and make them alive in Jesus!

5) We celebrated by standing and singing the song: God’s Not Dead. It was the celebration of new life in Jesus and we enjoyed singing the song at the top of our lungs and hitting beach balls!

 Here are some other moments that blessed me as a pastor that helped me see where God was breathing life through Legacy Church:

 - We had someone pray to receive Jesus at the end of our message! Even if one person comes to know Jesus our efforts are worth it. Praise God!

 - Someone came to our launch as they were at a funeral that I had officiated a few years back. It’s a privilege to officiate funerals and I thank God that He is still using seeds planted from a funeral service years ago!

 - I received a number of different encouraging texts and have had phone conversations from people who are excited about the energy and passion for the life giving gospel!

- I heard lots of children exclaim how much they loved our children's ministry kick-off! We love young people at Legacy Church!

It was an awesome first service but it’s just the beginning. A church has been birthed and we look forward to seeing God use it for the maturation of His people!

Powerful worship moments!

 Honoring of local hero's who are Legacy Builders!

We will be a church that does whatever it takes to help people take steps of faith!

 Legacy Church desires to be a life giving church and not a DEAD one!

Our worship team, made up of all Kendallville residents, hit a homerun in our worship set!

How do you sum up NINE years of Youth Ministry?

This is my last week in full-time youth ministry. I have spent nine full years as a youth pastor. It's a surreal feeling that this is the end of my youth ministry career.

I became a youth pastor because I wanted to make a difference in young people's lives. I wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself. I've been blessed and privileged to work with some of the best teenagers and adults in the world. I took some time in my office to reflect. Here is the best way that I could summarize what these past nine years have meant.

- I've taken 672 students to the Momentum Youth Conference. I've seen teenagers break free from sins, make first time commitments to follow Jesus, and make decisions to go into full-time ministry. This conference has truly been a catalyst for spiritual growth not only in my life but in the students and adults who have gone as well.

- I've taken 334 students on various mission trips. I've taken students to the following places in the U.S. Canton, OH, Chicago, Philadelphia, Hamilton, OH, & Hyden, KY. I've taken students internationally to Haiti & Israel. I never went on a mission trip as a teenager, but learned the value of serving others and teaching people to be outward focused. I've slept next to a witch doctor's home, walked where Jesus walked, and served in the worst county to live in the United States. I've encountered heavy spiritual warfare and seen young people bring light to dark places.

- I was a senior leader of a 31 person summer ministry team called Operation Barnabas. I led in 2010 on Team Colonial. Operation Barnabas (OB) is a summer ministry training program that teaches young people how to evangelize, serve, and minister. Our group traveled up and down the Northeast coast. We did beach evangelism in Massachusetts, ran into a cult in New Hampshire, and did ministry in my backyard in South Central PA.

- I've had the privilege of baptizing over 100 teenagers. I've also seen these teenagers lead many of their friends and family to Jesus who then got baptized.

- I've seen at least 9 former students who are in full-time ministry or who are pursuing youth ministry. The church who doesn't produce a pastor doesn't deserve a pastor. It's been a joy calling others to be workers in God's harvest field.

- I have had cries of joy and shed tears of grief over decisions students have made. I truly do love my students and always will.

- I have officiated weddings of many former students. I have enjoyed sessions of pre-marital counseling. It's an honor to be in the background on people's special day.

- I have worked with incredible adult support staff. I believe that adults are the glue to any youth ministry. You are only as good as the adults you have on your team. I've worked with some of the best adult support staff.

- I moved from PA to Indiana as a naïve 22 year old. When you are investing your lives into people and doing what God wants you to do it's always worth it. I don't regret my decision and never will.

- My house has been used as a safe haven for young people. I've had the opportunity to hang with and give a bed to many a need teenager.

- I have drunk tons of Mountain Dew and lots of pizza at various hours of the night in the name of Jesus.

- I've added my wife to the mix as a ministry couple. We can do more for the name of Jesus together.

- Youth ministry is a true ministry field. Its' real hands on ministry and in my mind is where the battle of a church is won or lost. I never felt like I was following a lesser calling.

- I've officiated funerals of former students. You never think that this will happen, but it does. I consider these huge opportunities to love on families and to point people to Jesus. It's part of the reason why youth ministry is so crucial.

- I've been pranked more times than one can count. As a mischievous teenager who did the same to my youth pastor I can't say that I didn't deserve it!

- I bet you I've had to fundraise close to half a million dollars to help teenagers go to the Momentum Youth Conference, Operation Barnabas, mission trips, etc. Every cent and all the energy is worth it!

- I'll miss those one on one conversations with students after youth group. I'll miss visiting the local  middle/high-school cafeterias and talking with teenagers. I'll miss the energy and enthusiasm of teenagers. Simply put, I'll miss immersing my life with teenagers.

As my youth ministry career comes to a close I have a saying that will always ring true. Once a student of mine (you are) always close to my heart! I always love hearing from students and giving good advice when called upon. My time as a youth pastor has inspired me to keep my eyes fixed on finishing the ministry calling of my life until the end. It's not the end, just the beginning!

I went through my FB page and pulled up a few pictures from my youth ministry career. This is not an exhaustive list but each picture helps flesh out what nine years of youth ministry has entailed.

My latest trip to Hyden, KY....one of the most impactful trips of my youth ministry career!

I will miss visiting students at their school (like Izzy) on a regular basis!

All-Nighters!

I will always have a heart to develop leaders. Here's a picture of Nick (former intern) who I'm excited to see where God leads.

Feed My Starving Children!

All of these former students are 'killing it' in ministry!

I was a Jr. High intern and these two were some of my first students. Honor to officiate their wedding last year!

I'll miss food, conversations, and giggling with teenagers!

#PastorDansLastRide....wait, I'm back!

Buck Buck!

A parting gift of underwear since I 'supported' so many teens through the years!

Love hearing stories of changed lives and baptizing teenagers!

Haiti!

Most epic Sub-Zero Talent Show rendition ever!

Bible quizzing was influential in my life and in so many of my students!

Loved leading teenagers to be 'on mission'

Israel trip! A couple of us go to wrestle a few Bedouin's....or we talked a lot about it!

 During this Momentum every opening session interview was done by a member of our youth group!

Hamilton, OH & Pastor Jack was a great trip through the years!

Loved what God would do on retreats!

Team Colonial '10!

Food fight....that we promised we'd never do again. Teenagers literally puked.

Birthday party by my first group of Sr. Highers. This is when I knew I could make it as a youth pastor!

This car was known through town because it got TP'ed so much!

I've loved teaching and engaging teenagers with God's Word!

First Momentum Youth Conference as a youth pastor!

Slip N Slide Kickball fun!

Loved reaching out to the 'worst county in the US to live in' with groups through the years!

My last night at Momentum was accompanied by being thrown into a pond, shaving creamed, and made to wear this tiara. Quite fitting!

Storybook Ending to My Last Momentum (As A Youth Pastor)

This past Saturday night was truly a storybook ending to my experience as a youth pastor at the Momentum Youth Conference.

At the end of our youth group time the students took over to share stories/remembrances of my time as their youth pastor. As a youth pastor I always struggle with thoughts and questions concerning my ministry effectiveness. Am I properly modeling certain aspects of the Christian walk well? Are my teenagers and adults catching anything? Am I making a difference in people's lives?

During the sharing time I was blessed hearing a number of different testimonies and praises. I was able to take a quick look during the sharing time at a youth leader sitting next to me and he whispered; "it stuck!" Stories and thoughts shared from that night will motivate me for years to finish the ministry race well.

To top the night off I was picked up and carried to a pond at Cedarville University and was made to 'walk the plank.' Luckily, a number of teenagers jumped in with me. When we came out I was doused with tons of shaving cream. It was a great send off.

Nine years ago our youth group threw a student named Josh into that exact pond during the Momentum Youth Conference. Everything had come full circle. It was now my time to be thrown into that pond.

I thank God for my time spent serving as a youth pastor, especially during the Momentum Youth Conference week. There was no other way I'd love to go out, wet & blessed!

I smelled like pond water for days.....but it was worth it!