In the past few years we’ve seen amazing things. We’ve been able to help plant another church, start a non-profit and challenge our people to live missional, took trips to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Egypt, blessed some projects in E. Austin, did some great local events like the Easter Egg Hunt… We’ve accomplished so much.

Last January we preached a message series called “A Church For The City.” The leadership at Vista wanted to bless the city of Austin and be a part of a movement. The good-news is we are now seeing that vision become real.

Today at church we announced next week would be our last “official” gathering as Vista Church. Long story short; Jeff is going on staff with the Austin Stone sometime in early 2009. Vista also will become a part of the Austin Stone. And the Marlow’s will do what we love to do…Fight extreme poverty by launching Help End Local Poverty.

Needless to say we covet your prayers:

1. Pray for the people of Vista Church. Change is always hard.
2. Pray for our new partnership with the Austin Stone. The Stone is truly doing some amazing things and I’m excited to serve with them.
3. Pray for the Marlow’s. Next week we head to Raleigh to hang with Tyler Jones and Vintage 21. We will be dreaming together and discussing some possible partnerships.
4. We need to raise my salary asap. So pray that happens.

Life is a journey and we are excited about the next-steps. The Marlow’s could stay in Austin for many years to come, move to Raleigh this summer or who knows…Move to Cape Town and learn how to surf.

In the meantime we walk with Jesus and seek guidance and peace and do whatever we can to live missional.

Shalom

This Sunday I’m kicking off a 3-week series on the Gospel. We’re going to weave this series in with our current verse-by-verse study of Luke.  Really excited about this series. I’m going to focus on how the gospel transforms the person, the community, and the world.

Today 10-12 Vista peeps are heading to Houston to do some relief work. Proud that our church has done what we can to help this tragic situation. I think we underestimate how vital the small acts-of-service can be.

Looks like I will be heading to Raleigh to hang with my Vintage 21 friends Nov 4-7th. Can’t wait to see everyone. It’s been way to long. If you’re a Raleigh blogger and want to hookup let me know.

This morning I got an email from a friend and fellow Austin pastor-Brandon Hatmaker. Brandon pastors Austin New Church and also leads a non-profit called South Austin Cares. Brandon and his church community is currently housing over 70 displaced folks from the Gulf Region. He’s also taking trailers filled with food, Ice and Gas to Houston.

Help End Local Poverty & Vista are going to partner with Brandon to provide practical needs to the people of Houston. We would love for you to also help us if you can.

This afternoon Mangum, Nate and myself took some supplies and cash that was donated. This Sunday @ Vista we are going to take a love offering. If you live close to Austin we could use LARGE gas cans, ice chests, diapers (new) and cash donations (South Austin Cares will have a way to donate online soon.) You could also send a check to HELP (make checks out to Vista Church) or you can drop off a check at the Vista office. 100% will go directly to those in need in Houston.

Also, if you want to take a trip to Houston to help in the clean-up effort please let me know. Not sure when this will happen…But I’m sure it will happen.

We hope to take another load of supplies and donations next week. Any questions please let me know.

Let Fill This Trailer With Supplies

Lets Fill This Trailer With Supplies

Also, we will let you know how we can help our friends in H-Town asap.

Some further thoughts:

• Glad I’m off tomorrow as I worked both yesterday and today.
• I spoke on movement this morning. I think it went well.
• Adam and band did great. That boy has got some talent. Plus he’s passionate on stage-that is so helpful. Loving our house-band.
• Lot’s of new faces.
• Really looking forward to this upcoming week. Lot’s to do. But I want to get it done.
• Missing my Raleigh friends. Love that city and the Sacred peeps.
• Madden 09 is awesome.
• Heard the new U2 is out in November. That makes my heart VERY happy.
• Can’t wait for some cooler weather in Austin. Man it’s been a hot summer.
• I love hurricane type of weather-but I”m hoping Gustav becomes a rain-storm. This could be bad.
• Need to workout…I’m slacking.

Also..these past few weeks I’ve went to the PO BOX for Help End Local Poverty to only find it empty, which is quite depressing. Yesterday I thought I would stop by and see if for some odd reason someone had sent a check…Needless to say my hope’s where not high. However there was a check for $4000. I seriously had tears in my eyes. This money will go straight to Africa to help those in need.

Vista was good this morning. Decent crowd for August and Jeff spoke a great message on learning to “self-feed.” Also Travis (from Color & Light) led today for Scotty as he is on Sully watch. (when is that kid going to come-geez). Travis has played faithfully in the band for over-a-year so it was awesome to see him step up and lead. I love how passionate our band-members are, they sacrifice deeply for The Kingdom.

I’m looking forward to meeting new leaders this week and I’m also pumped to hang with Necole in 75 degree SD weather as oppoed to 103 degree Austin weather. I have some friends I’m also going to catch up with from back-in-the-day. So that will be fun.

Hope you’ve had a good week. Thanks for reading Simply Missional. BTW-This weeks posts are going to be great.

For the rest of us, our job is to understand our role and calling within the body of Christ. First of all we have to understand that every role is vital, their is no “better” role. If you are the dude on stage, must people assume you are better/higher etc. That is just not case. We all co-submit to each other because we are apart of the body of Christ.

That being said…Their is some clear Biblical structures that are laid out for us to follow. My job as an Elder is to lead The Vista as a local expression of the church here in Austin. Other folks have other responsibilities and we if all understand this the church will be strengthened.

Everyone follows Jesus-but everyone has a certain road to travel on. My job is to empower people to fulfill their roles. That does not make me more powerful or better. It just means I’m trying to fulfill my role in the Kingdom.

So let me ask you a question…What is you’re job? What role do you fulful and how (or are) you doing that?

What they don’t see is all the behind-the-scenes stress. The late night writing binge to finalize a deadline, conflict management, financial stress, fear of speaking in public even though you do it every Sunday. 

One of the hardest aspects of leadership for me is knowing that for me to lead well, I will disappoint people in process. It’s simply impossible to please everyone all the time. A healthy church grows, but a healthy church also see’s people leave. Its very sad and I wish it was not reality-but it is, therefore I must deal with it.  

You can’t lead well and expect everyone to be alright with all the decisions. Very few people understand the totality of leadership. Most folks are very focused on their passion and the area they want to serve in, but they take no account that every organization has multiple streams therefore leaders have to manage all of those streams. For a church I have to manage our finances, kids, staff, worship, small group, assimilation, administration, vibe, web-presence, Sunday gathering, etc. Of course we have people over these areas, but Jeff and I still have to think about them. 

So please remember…The second you try and please everyone, you’re actually hurting the overall organization. Yes that stings…But at the end of the day if you want a healthy organization, you have to put the overall vision first and people’s feelings second. 

You sure you wanna be a leader?