Making the Connection

Our newest quarter of Connection Groups started this week with lots of new people connecting with a group. We’re already getting great reports of things that are happening as groups have started meeting.

Last summer, we overhauled our group system in some key areas and have improved our group system to make it healthier and help them grow.

I am making our most recent Connection Group Training Guide available for free to anyone who wants to use it for their own groups. I recommend that you adapt it to your own setting and culture. If you’ve got questions about some of the specifics, feel free to comment on this post. I’d also love to hear from you about what’s working in groups at your church so that we can learn from you too.

Click on the link to download:
Connection Group Leader’s Training Guide

I’m so pumped to have Javier & Juanita Castillo and their 3 kids on our team. You see, Javier has been a pastor for many years. He has a heart for reaching people far from God. When he was leading Kyle Community Church, he found all kinds of ways to actively engage them in serving the community. And I’m honored that several months ago, they chose to follow God’s leading to join us at TCC.

On Sunday, Javi was one of the first people at Hemphill. Instead of striving for position, he said, “I may not get to preach every week, but if you’ll let me be responsible for setting up the chairs, I’ll be the best Minister of Chairs you’ve ever seen.” WOW!

They have stepped up to lead a Connection Group, and on Sunday they filled the group in one day just by meeting people and inviting them to their group.

And then, I was totally humbled after everyone was gone to see Javi & Juanita in the broom closet mopping up water that had leaked all over the place (the water was there when we got there in the morning, and not even our mess).

Their enthusiasm, support, and encouragement are off the charts. So Castillo’s, you are our Jesus Freaks of the Week!

TCC's First Celebration at Hemphill

Sunday was a great day of victory with our first day at our new temporary location. There was a great “feel” with many new faces. The vibe was a return to the days when we used to meet at Tobias. So I want to give you the top 10 reasons we like being at Hemphill for now:

10) It gets us Lean, Mean, and Back to Basics. We get to remember that we’re not about buildings.  At the core, we’re all about seeing lives changed. TCC has never been about all the bells and whistles. We’re flexible and can adapt to whatever environment we’re in. We’re going to see more growth while we’re at Hemphill.
9) The Bathrooms are “Fun-Sized.” Only in an elementary school can you relive your early years of school with miniature toilets.
There’s more Freedom and Less Rush. Now, we’ve got more time to connect with each other in a relaxed atmosphere, something that TCC has always been about. This move helps us do what we do best.
7) Indoor Baptism! We can move into the warm school for baptism instead of being outside in the freezing cold. Sign up for our next baptism on January 31st.
6) Serve a Service, Attend a Service. Moving to a smaller meeting space gets us back where everyone can serve every week and still get to be a part of worship. Are you plugged into a ministry team?
5) Interactive Sermons. Yes, occasionally I accidentally spit when I’m speaking. When we are this close, everyone can personally get involved in the message.
4) Saving Money. Because it’s not as expensive to rent the school, we’re able to save the difference to invest in our soon-to-be location. Give online here.
3) No More Rattlesnakes. By the time we left the PAC, there had been over 30 rattlesnakes found since the start of school this year. We even found one in Volunteer Central.
2) A Missionary Move for our Future. AT TCC, we do Whatever It Takes to fulfill God’s vision. It’s never about our comfort. It prepares us for our future, but while we’re there, we want to reach as many people in the surrounding area as possible.

And the number 1 reason we’re glad to be at Hemphill for now is:

1) Coffee and Donuts in the Service. Yes, now you can stay hyped up on caffeine and sugar during the Celebration Service!

Our family wants to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a new year full of God’s blessings. I am blown away by all of the incredible connections that God has brought into our lives and you are an important part of what He is doing in our lives! We trust and pray that 2010 will truly be Our Best Year Ever and look forward to walking through it with you.

This year’s Trunk or Treat was the best ever, seriously! It came off without a hitch with well over 1000 people in great looking costumes. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. And our Connectors (TCC peeps) worked their tails off to make it all happen. Once again, proving that they truly love people and will do whatever it takes to show them God loves them. The amazing thing is, these events always bring a harvest of people coming to check out TCC throughout the year. But don’t just take my word for it, see it for yourself: