I'm Dreaming!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...  Isn't that how the song goes.  Not much of a chance this year for a white Christmas around here.  I saw on the news the other day that there is about a 5% chance on any given year that we would have a white Christmas.  So, just another dream that gets dashed to pieces.
     When we launched groups almost 4 years ago I had several dreams.  One dream was that we would one day have 100% of our morning worship attendance would be in groups.
Here are some numbers:
     We had 796 adult individuals in groups this past season. 
     We have 989 Adult members.  That means we're at 80% of our membership number in groups!
     Our average adult worship attendance is around 840 (including teenagers).  That means we're at almost 95% of our morning worship attendance is in groups!

Dreams are coming true!

     I'm not sharing these numbers to prove that I've earned my paycheck or to say, "aren't we a great church".  I share these numbers so that we can celebrate what God is doing in this place!  796 people in groups means 796 people are studying the word of God.  It means lives are being changed.  It means people are growing as disciples of Jesus.  It means people are joining together in prayer.  It means people are meeting needs within our family and in our community.  It means God is AWESOME!! 
     We also know that God is not done!  There are many others both in our FCC family as well as in our community that are disconnected from the body of Christ.  Ya they might show up on Sunday mornings and stare at the back of someones head for an hour as they set through a worship service, but they're not connected. Continue to raise up new leaders for new groups.  Continue to invite others to join your group.  Continue to study God's word and share God's word with your group.
     God never intended on us trying to make it through this life alone.

Thank You for leading the way!
Lets keep dreaming!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope every one of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Hopefully you are able to spend it with family and friends.  Slow down and enjoy this time.

Know that I'm very thankful to God for all of you leaders!  He is using you to do great things in the lives of His people.

Remember, I'm here for you if you ever have any questions or needs that arise.

God Bless!
mt

Getting Ready for 2012!

We're getting ready for the next season of groups!!!
GROUP INFORMATION
Be sure to update your group information on the website.  We want to open up all groups to accept new members, so we'll have you reset your maximum number to be greater than it is.

NEW LEADERS!
If you are launching a new leader, be sure to let me know so we can get them set up with their new group on the groups website.  We already have 4 new leaders!

PRAY!
We hope to see more people than ever sign up to be connected to the body of Christ here at FCC through groups.  Pray that more would take this next step.

mt

What to do when your group gets BIG

This is a great video, especially if your group is large.  Like 12 or more.
Check it out and let me know what you think.


When your group is too big from Southeast Christian Church on Vimeo.


mt

Group Ideas

Trying to think of a good service project to do with your group?  Sure you are, because that's part of our DNA!
Here's a few ideas:

Care Packages for Soldiers:
"Adopt" a soldier serving in Afghanistan or elsewhere.  We've got the names of several, or maybe there is a connection within your own group.  Cost to mail a large, flat rate box (no weight limit) is $12.95 to APO addresses.  The boxes are free, and can be picked up at the post office or ordered online.   Soldiers can also receive cards and notes, with standard postal rates (no overseas rates).  They love cookies, chips and snack foods.  You could also include a small book or even a Ripple Effect Prayer Journal.  This is a great way to support out troops and share the Love of Jesus!

Chick-fil-A Stampede 5K:
We have been able to partner with our local Chick-fil-A in a number of activities.  They have been a huge support of some of our ministry events.  Let's return the love by serving them.
They will be having their inaugural Chick-fil-A Stampede 5K coming up on Saturday, September 24. They are needing volunteers to help with many aspects of the race, or you could even run in it! This event will support the Owasso Community Resources Inc., the YMCA, and M.A.D.D.
Each volunteer will receive a race day T-shirt and Chick-fil-A coupons.
Here is a link where you and your group can sign-up.
Chick-fil-A 5K Race Registration

Meet Fall Needs:
With fall approaching there will always be those who need help with fall projects.  Raking leaves and winterizing the home can be too much for some to be able to accomplish.  Look for those in your neighborhood or find a "senior saint" in our own church family that has a need, and as a group go share the love of Jesus!

If you've got other ideas, pass them on!

Have a great fall leaders!

mt

Fall Groups Reminder

As we launch into a new season don't forget about the DNA of an FCC Group:

DNA of an FCC Group

1.   Bible Study

2.   Prayer

3.   Leader Development

4.   Outreach

5.   Service

6.   Fun

Go over all of these as you begin this season.
Set a goal to launch a new leader this season.  Here's the 5 step process of producing a leader:

1. I do, you watch, we talk
2. I do, you help, we talk
3. You do, I help, we talk
4. You do, I watch, we talk
5. We both repeat steps 1-4 with another. 

 
Let's see how many new leaders we can raise up this season!

mt

Leader Update 08.16.11

Hey Leaders!
I need to cover a few things with you all.
1. Sermon Based Studies:  A new series will begin this Sunday called RENEW.  It's going to be a four week study in the book of Colossians with one week in the middle to commemorate 9/11. Also starting this Sunday at the North Garnett campus, study guides will now be available on the back side of the welcome center instead of in the bulletin.  Study guides will remain available Online as well.  Download the bulletin and it's in there.

2. Recommended Studies:  If you're looking for something else for your group, be sure to check out the Group Store.  Studies that we have placed on there are ones that we recommend to you.  If you choose a study that is not on the store, please let me know what that is so we're aware of what your group is doing.  It may be a study we would like to add to the store!  Be sure that your group site is up to date with what you plan to study this season.

3. 24 Hour Prayer Walk: Join us in prayer this Friday and Saturday as we launch into the Ripple Effect.  As a church, we want to seek God as we embark on this journey together.  Come as a group, as a family, or by yourself.   Click Here to sign up to pray

Service Opportunities:
Serving is a part of the DNA of an FCC Group!  Make sure your group is serving together.  Here is a great opportunity:

1. Owasso CARES Volunteer Day of Service: This will be on Saturday, October 1st. The project area will focus on the Original Town area (downtown
Owasso), West of Main Street. The day will begin with a gathering of volunteers on the West lawn of City Hall at 8:30 am where groups will be instructed and then sent out to their respective areas. Typically, they wrap up by around 1:00 - 2:00 pm, however volunteers are free to stay or go as their individual needs dictate.  Flier is Attached

2. Help a Mom Move:  We have a lady in the community needing help moving from one apartment to another.  If your group could help and show her the love of Jesus through this act of service, let me know.

Matt T.

Leader Lunch

We're having a leader lunch this Sunday, August 7th at 12:30 at the North Garnett Campus.  You and your family are invited.  We need all leaders there as we embark on a new season of groups at FCC.  We want to encourage you and prepare you for what lies ahead.  Please RSVP by going to the following link:

Leader Lunch

Forward the link above to those in your group who are potential leaders as well so we can help them on their journey to leadership.

See You Sunday!

Matt T.

Making Room For More!

What would you do if someone new came to join your family?  It may be the baby coming home from the hospital or the niece moving in for the summer.  What would you do?  I guess there's two options.  You can ignore them and assume that they will find their way around the house, find food, get clothes, find a place to sleep, etc.  Not sure how long that new family member would stick around or survive.  Or the other option, you could prepare for their arrival with a place to sleep, clothes, food, etc.  I'm thinking most of us would go with option two.
I'm not sure if you've noticed, but we've added a few more family members around here at FCC.  We continue to see steady growth, even through the summer!  The question is, are we going to ignore them or make room for them?  Let me answer that... We have to make more room in our groups for our growing family.  I'm not talking about building buildings, we have all the room we need in our homes!
We do need more leaders.  Many of our current groups have reached capacity.  We need new leaders to start new groups so we can accommodate new people.
What leader can take over your group so you can start a new one?  What leader can you send out from your group to start another one?
The goal is not to see how long your group can last.  The vision is to have multiplying groups who are multiplying leaders.  Your group needs to know the vision from day one and continually be reminded so that they can share that same vision.
Now, let's make room!

Click here to fill out our Group Leader form:
Group Leader Information

Sign-ups for Fall Groups begin July 31st
Leader Lunch - August 7th @ 12:30
Kick-off Fall Groups - Week of August 28th (**New Date)

- Matt T.

Service Opportunities!

Serving together is an important ingredient to having a healthy group.  The goal is that every group (Classes and Life Groups) would serve together at least one time during a group season.  Here are a few opportunities for your group:

FX
If you haven't heard FX is only 5 weeks away!  FX is the biggest event of the year for our Children's Ministry and hundreds of families will be impacted through this week!  It's gonna be awesome, but we can't do it alone!  So we wanted to let you know that there are a lot of ways that your group can help with FX!

1.  Help us repaint our set!  Our set is about 4 years old and were hoping to give it a makeover before the event.  If your group would be willing to help do some painting, we will happily provide the supplies!

2.  If your group consists of families that don't have kids, we would love to have you help in the nursery during FX!  This will allow parents to experience this program with their kids!  This is a huge chance for you to free them up to worship as a family!

3.  Have your group adopt a night!  We have 4 nights and each one will have lots of opportunities to serve!  Here are the nights and what will be taking place:
    Sunday Night - Record Breaking Game Night     Monday - Family Memory Night    Tuesday - Messy Madness Night    Wednesday - Picnic/inflatables Night

You can register for FX online at fccowasso.com and if your group would be willing to help with any of the things above please contact Aaron Rathbone at (918) 260-5159 or by email at arathbone@fccowasso.com


PRC
    The Pregnancy Resource Center of Owasso (PRCO) would like to challenge your group to help us with our 4th Annual Fall Banquet Silent Auction. We are asking each group to pick a theme, purchase items that go with that theme and the PRCO will put the basket together for you. In return we will recognize that your Life Group sponsored that themed basket at our Silent Auction.
Some baskets that have been done in the past are:
Chocolate Basket:
Everyone in the group bought different kinds of chocolate
Tool Basket:
Everything you can think of for a starter tool box was placed in a tool box. Items such as: hammers, screw drivers, wall hanging kits, flash lights, tape, and much more.
Cocoa Basket:
Thermos’, hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, coffee mugs, coffee maker
Taste of Home Basket:
Taste of Home cookbook, cookie sheets, oven mitts, spatulas and more



If your group is interested decided what basket you will do and contact Amanda Cadwell at 918.272.6888 or email at acadwell@prcowasso.org.
We appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from you all.
 

CAFE
We need volunteers to help in the cafe on Sunday mornings.  The cafe provides the food and drinks that help us have a better group time.  Everyone does better in a group when they have a donut!  At the time of my writing this, we will not have a cafe this Sunday, May 8th, due to no volunteers... If your group would be interested in taking a Sunday, let us know, we'd love to plug you in. 


If you have any questions about these or anything else, let me know!

mt

3 Weeks To Go!

 
Prayer Chain
We still have gaps in our chain!  That's not good!  Go to this link to sign up: Prayer Chain
Share this link with your group.  You could come together as a group at 2am in the morning and pray!  lol

Easter
We are anticipating Amazing things this Easter!  Rally your group to Invite & Invest.  Invite friends, neighbors, and family to join us at Easter Services.  Invest in the work of God by volunteering.  We need more outside hosts, greeters, ushers.  Encourage your group to serve during one of our services this Easter.  Here's the link to sign up to serve: Serve Form

Thank you leaders for all you do!

Matt T.

Stuff To Know

Hey Leaders!

Here's some stuff to know so you can plan.

No On-site Groups Easter Sunday, April 24th

Last Official Week of Current Group Season: Week of May 1st

Summer Group Sign Ups: May 8th - June 5th

Summer Group Season Kick-Off: Week of June 5th

Summer Group Season Final Week: Week of July 31st

Start thinking about the summer season and whether your group will meet and will it be open to new members.  This is a great opportunity to launch new groups.  If you have a co-leader ready to go let me know and we'll work with them to launch a group!

Over the next few weeks, please take the time to go to your group site and update your group information.  Remove inactive members, update your group description, etc.

I can't say thank you enough for what each of you do as you minister to your group!

God is doing an amazing work here at FCC through each one of you!

Matt T.

For Not From

Our Life Groups are right in the middle of the FLE Series!  I hope that your group is growing as they venture through this study. 
Any church that does a financial series, such as the FLE, runs the risk of being accused of just wanting more money.  "They just want us to give more..." can be a common statement.  I thought Charlie put it best a few weeks ago when he said, "We want something for you not from you!"
Wow!  How true!
We want our FCC family to experience several things:
1. Financial Freedom - Get out from under the burden of debt and living paycheck to paycheck
2. The Blessing of Giving - I don't care who you are, when you give, it feels good.  Whether you're giving your time, effort, or money, it feels good when you help someone.
3. Restored Marriages - Money is still the number one topic couple fight over and divorce over.  If we can help couples figure out their finances, we can save some marriages.
4. Partnering in the work of God - There are a lot of good causes out there (United Way, cancer research, aids foundation, etc.)  But there is none more important than the cause of Christ.  When we give to God in our tithe's and offerings, we're giving toward reaching lost souls.  We want our people to experience what it's like to be a partner in the Kingdom not just to be an onlooker.

Do we want your money?  Yes!  We want you to give to the work of God's Kingdom.  When God's people give to His standard, out of worship, amazing things happen and lives are changed!

Rockin the FLE!

The FLE Life Group Series launched yesterday!  Other groups will be launching throughout the week.  Challenge your groups to take action with their finances and take advantage of this series.  It can change their life, their marriage, and their future.

• If someone in your group still doesn't have their materials, we have them available at the church office daily or at the Welcome Center Wednesday night.
• Sunday onsite groups will meet both Sundays of Spring Break
• Wednesday onsite groups will not meet Wednesday, Mar. 16th due to Spring Break.  Our final Wednesday FLE will be April 20th.

Great things are happening around FCC.  Thank you for being a leader among God's people.  Continue to set the course.  Many look up to you!

FLE LIFE Groups

The Financial Learning Experience Life Group Series begins next week!  (FLELGS...)
ALL Life Groups will be going through this series together.
Sunday morning onsite groups will meet in the worship center to view the video.  We will start the video at 10am sharp, so let your group know to be there on time.  After the video we will then break into our groups throughout the facility in your normal spot.

Wednesday evening onsite groups will also view the video together.  We're still nailing down a location.  We will start the video at 6:40.

Home groups, you get to do it however and whenever you want!

Group materials will be available again this Wednesday.  Sorry that we ran out...
The materials consist of a book and study guide and cost $15.  As a leader you will need a leader notebook.  If you have not picked yours up, stop by the church and pick one up.  It contains the group materials, plus the DVD set, and some training materials.

Be sure to take time to check out the IWBNIN website and all the tools that they offer.  Joe and his team have many tools to help you and your group get a handle on your finances.  You as a leader need to be familiar with them so that you can help your group use them.

This series has the potential to change lives, strengthen marriages, and help people find financial freedom.  It takes you as a leader to make that happen!
Let me know if you have any questions.

mt

Financial Learning Experience (Updated)

You've been hearing me talk about the Financial Learning Experience (FLE) for the past few months.  It's quickly approaching so we need to get information out to you so you know what is up.  So, here's the skinny...  There are two parts to FLE, the FLE EVENT and the FLE SERIES.

1. THE FLE EVENT: Wednesday, Feb. 23rd
FLE Leaders Workshop: Wednesday, Feb. 23rd from noon to 5pm Joe Sangl will meet with all leaders.  This is free financial training!  We'll provide lunch for all who attend.
To register for the FLE Leader Workshop and lunch go here:
FLE Leader Workshop Registration

The FLE Event:  The event then takes place from 6:00 to 8:00 and is open to the entire church and community, so invite your group, you friends and your family for free financial training.  There will be full children and youth programming.  There will be food served from 5:30 to 6:00.  All those attending who are not in a group will then be invited to join a group for the FLE series.
To register for the the Event go here:
FLE Event Registration

2. THE FLE SERIES: The series will begin the week of March 6th and last for 6 weeks.
All Life Groups will go through the FLE Series together.  Classes will not be required to do the series since most people who are in a class also attend a Life Group.  This is one of those times we talk about when all Life Groups align.  All leaders will receive the group materials at the FLE Event.  Participant materials will be available at the event as well for $15.  Sessions will include a brief video followed by a discussion from the study guide.  On-site groups will watch the video together then break up to meet in individual groups.

FLE Website: http://iwasbrokenowimnot.com/

We're excited to see what God does through this FLE experience.
We're asking you to pray for God to do great things!
We hope to see many get their finances in order during these trying times.
We hope to see many who are not connected in groups to get plugged in and stay plugged in beyond the FLE series.

mt

And that's where groups come in...

Our services at FCC are amazing!  It is often that I'm brought to tears as I lift up praise to our God among His people.  Our services are indeed attractional and our services are indeed affective.  I can't appreciate Tim and his teams enough for their effort to bring us before the throne of God each week.  But how much greater of an impact can we have on our communities if we attracted the lost not with our worship services, but with our lives.  Click on the following link and read on:

If we build it...

And this is where groups come in...  Groups are to be about building Christ followers who make an impact in this world.  As leaders, that needs to be our vision.  Leading those in our Classes and Life Groups to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.  It's not about education, it's about transformation.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all saying we need to change our services, I'm saying we need to change our lives...
How will you build Christ into the hearts of your group this week?

Did You Know... Check In Roster

Did you know that you can print your own group check-in roster from your group site?  Ya, I know, I just made your day!
Here are the steps:

1. Go to the group site
2. Login
3. Click on your group name to go to your group roster page
4. Toward the bottom of the page click on "Group Reports"
5. Select "Check In Roster"
6. You can then add the dates that your group will be meeting 
7. You can include information such as emails and phone so that you can be sure to have everyone's info
8. Scroll to the bottom and select "Run Report"
9. You then print it!

This is especially helpful if you have a larger Group.  If your group members give you new information such as emails and phone numbers, be sure to update their information on your page by clicking on their name then clicking on their name again on the next screen.  Be sure it is accurate!

Thanks Leaders and attendance keepers!  We're off to a great start!
As always, if you have any questions, let me know.

mt

Challenge to Change

We are about to embark once again into a new season of Groups here at FCC!  We have more groups than ever, which means we have more room than ever.  So, if you've still got room in your group, go recruit.  Tell those in your group to go invite others to join you.  The unchurched are more likely to come to your group than they are to church! 
Did you know that from the Group Site Main Menu you can see the list of all FCC members who are not in a group?  Go check it out. Here are the steps:
1. Login
2. Go to "Main Menu"
3. Go to "View/export people not in a group"
4. Go to "People not in a group (online report)"
It will then generate the list.  You can then scroll through the list and find people that you know and invite them to join your group!  We'll close Life Groups in 2 weeks, so get your group filled up quick!
You, as leaders, are the only ones that can access this information.

I'm excited as we move into this New Year and New Season.  Challenge your group to walk with Jesus daily.  I believe that where there is a Challenged Life there is potential for a Changed Life.

mt

Here's a good article I want to pass on to you:
What's Next?