The Heath Mullikin Project

Figuring it all out one day at a time

Church Leadership

The Story of Oakway United: A Wesleyan Fellowship

The Good Morning Show hosted by David Gould

David Gould is a Wesleyan pastor in the Nashville area.  He has his own radio show and has been kind enough to invite me on for Tech Talk Tuesdays.  We’ve talked about how families, churches, and individuals can use technology for the good of God’s kingdom.  Today he is giving me the chance to share the story of Oakway United.  It’s the story of Oakway Wesleyan and Common Ground Community Church merging in November of 2011.

In December 2010, [Read more…] about The Story of Oakway United: A Wesleyan Fellowship

What Vision Looks Like and How I Got there

My Johnny Cash Impersonation

Last week was the 2nd annual community Trunk or Treat that our church puts on with 6 other churches in the community.  Last year, we had around 2000 people come out to the elementary school so we moved to West-Oak Football stadium this year.  Around 400o people came out for the event!  It was a dream come true for me for several reasons:

1.  I have always believed the Church is at it’s best when the church works together.  None of the churches could have pulled off an event this size on their own.  By pooling our resources we were able to create an unforgettable event.  Size the day God called me into ministry I have desired to be a pastor that see’s other pastor’s as partners instead of competitor’s.  Great to see that in action last night.

2.  My wife has always dreamed of us being Johnny and June Carter Cash for Halloween and we pulled it off last night with the duet playlist playing.  People seemed to like our singing.  Most people knew more of the movie “Walk the Line” than the actual couple.  It was stressful, but a lot of fun for us to pull off.

3.  People from Oakway Wesleyan and Common Ground Community Church were involved.  We even shared candy as the crowd grew and the supply shrank!  As we move toward a merger between these 2 churches I see more events like this in our future.  It’s about the Kingdom.  As part of this merger discussion we distributed a vision packet.  If you’re a pastor and haven’t read Church Unique I recommend it highly.  There are also lots of free resources from the author, Will Mancini, at ChurchLeaders.com.  The book walks you through all the aspects of discovering your church’s unique place in the community.  It’s powerful and challenging.

Over the next few days(weeks, months) I will be taking you through the process from excitement about vision to frustration when you can’t find the vision to receiving the vision to sharing the vision to building the vision.  I’m no expert, but I’ve been on the journey.

To the future….

What is Christian Perseverance?

Run the race with Perseverance

The past five weeks have been some of the most trying of my entire life.  I have seen a young man I loved and invested in die much too young.  I have questioned my progress and maturity.  I have faced stress on every level and in every aspect of life.  It has been intense to say the least.  Not coincidentally, I had been preparing a message on perseverance as part of a new sermon series at Oakway Wesleyan and Common Ground Community Church(did I mention that I started pastoring 2 churches in the midst of all this).  That message came at just the right time for me.  Here’s what James chapter 1 says:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Anyone can be a flash in the pan.  In the era of YouTube, anyone can be famous and some people are famous just for being famous.  Perseverance is not about being satisfied with the daily grind.  It’s about making the daily grind count.  It’s about not overlooking the little things that matter in our efforts to do one great thing that matters.  Not everyone wants to pay the price, be tested, and work their faith out over time.  Most want the answer now, success now, happiness now, riches now….

How can we persevere if we are not tested?  God’s not trying to take away the life you want.  He’s trying to give you the life you were created to have.    Paul writes in Galatians 6:

8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

It’s hard to persevere when you reap destruction.  Destruction always leaves collateral damage.  Perseverance isn’t just about you, but it’s about your loved ones around you.  I’m going to hang in there.  I don’t want my son or The Son to think I’m quitting on them.

 

 

Modern Day Circuit Rider

Horse
Modern Day Circuit Rider

As I mentioned before, I am now pastoring two churches.  One is 118 years old and the other is 6 years old.  They are 10 miles apart.  On Sundays, I drive to Common Ground Community Church at 8:30 am to hang out and speak at the 9:30 am service.  I greet people before the service because as soon as the message is over I drive back to Oakway Wesleyan to speak in the 11 am service.  I want to thank my man Kristoffer Fox for his great advice and saving my voice.  His tips have helped me make it through each Sunday with a strong voice.  My wife has been amazing through all of this as she has to get our kids ready, pick up a family for church, teach Sunday School, and then take them all home after church.  We are firm believers in the “Wesleyan Hour”-a good Sunday afternoon nap.  Later I’ll post my weekly schedule and how I’m trying to balance all of this.

Back to the churches.  You could not find two churches more different or similar.   One has transitioned to a more contemporary worship style while the other was planted as a contemporary church for the community.  One meets in a traditional church building and the other doesn’t.  For all the differences there are important similarities.  Both are filled with people who love Jesus and desire to see the community transformed by his power.  This was evident on August 7 as we held our first joint service together with 102 present( Both churches have between 45-60 people for a Sunday service.)  There is a spirit of cooperation to see where this “partnership” takes us.  My desire is to see healthy Christians and healthy churches.  Over the next few months we will initiate some things to bring us all closer to Christ and each other as we strive to show His love to Oconee County.  This “circuit rider” deal wasn’t a scheme they had planned for me when we moved to South Carolina a year ago.  No, I volunteered.  I saw a church that would be needing a pastor and I sensed God opening the door for something amazing.  With Oakway’s approval I became a dual pastor to Common Ground.  I see this as my “for such a time as this” part of my life.  So far, only a few people have told me I’m crazy to my face.  The rest of them told my horse.

Why does your church have yard sales?

Church Yard Sale
Church Yard Sale?

This week, my wife, Karen, has been hard at work getting things ready for our church yard sale.  I have done my fair share of yard sales for youth fundraisers.  Some have done quite well and some…haven’t.  There was one where I had to sit on a block of ice for 15 minutes because people put more money in my jar than the other pastor’s(this was of course rigged).  I don’t think there’s anything wrong with youth fundraisers as long as it doesn’t take away from the ministry.  If you’re doing a youth car wash every weekend then…you may want to re-think that.

In the last year, I’ve heard of 2 churches(both Wesleyan) having monthly yard/hot dog sales to pay the mortgage on their new buildings.  Before I go off on a rant let me say that both of these buildings were built in better economic times.  I’m sure the church leaders never foresaw having to use valuable church space to store yard sale stuff year round because they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the payments.

Now, church yard sales can a be a good thing because they get people on your campus in a non-churchy environment.  It’s a great way to meet new people and for people to check out your church.  On the other hand, [Read more…] about Why does your church have yard sales?