Thursday's "Training Roadtrip" agenda included two stops in Oklahoma: first, Ben Janssen has been in Oklahoma City for a couple years, and is currently meeting with a core group for Crosstown Church, with a launch in the coming months. Second, Ricky Jones is about three years into planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Tulsa.(Ben Jannsen, Crosstown OKC)
Ben and I grabbed lunch at a great little local place near downtown Oklahoma City, and since we're both in about the same place with our churches and launch timelines, spent an hour and a half swapping ideas, talking about our experiences so far, sharing our Acts 29 experiences, and laughing at the crazy little intricacies of starting a new church. He had some great ideas regarding "pre-membership" (a 12-18-month signed "commitment" to allow people to involve themselves fully in the church until the full membership process is developed), kids ministry during the core group phase (they met weekly in a home, and a neighbor opened their house for kids to stay, with paid, approved kids' workers). It was a great time of mutual encouragement, and a nice stop in a five-hour drive.
Ricky Jones (Redeeemer Tulsa)
The first thing I learned about Ricky is that he is very gracious: google maps + bad traffic landed me at our meeting in Tulsa a full hour late, but he was very kind and forgiving. Redeemer Tulsa started in a very different manner than we're doing, but still had some great experiences and wisdom to share. They've met in a few different facilities, have developed a more full staff, and are solidly grounded in scripture as they engage the Tulsa culture for Christ. Some of the most beneficial ideas were the continual celebration of things that are important to the church (they party for baptisms, church birthdays, elder installations, and other "big days" in Redeemer life), the slow, uber-careful development process of all leaders and especially elders (they took two years before their elders were established).
In Closing...
One thing I got to reflect on as I continued to drive north was the difference in the two meetings: granted, Ricky was one of the most laid-back individuals I've ever met. But Ben and I are in equally-crazy, unknown places in our "churches-to-be," and we were both asking questions, considering options, and trying to build things as well as possible. We're both a little wide-eyed and anxious as we get new works started in our respective cities. Meanwhile, Ricky is three years in, has gotten into his "rhythm," has made his mistakes and learned to laugh at them, and has learned to take life as it comes within his church family. He was calm, endearing, and encouraged me to be sure to breathe and enjoy the ride.
I appreciated both men greatly - their hearts, their ministry, their willingness to share ideas and stories, and their experiences. Our time together gave some great ideas as I continue to research and get trained. I crashed for the night in Tulsa, with my friends Shane and Mallory (and their absolutely great, smiley 6-month old, Cole), and then headed north to Omaha. However, as I wrap this up, here's a few interesting things from Oklahoma:
- There's an old-school oil derrick in front of the state capitol
- I entered and exited at least a dozen Native American "nations" on the road - and I think half of the signs indicated that they were all Cherokee Nation - how's that work?
- There's a place in Tulsa called "Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness" - what's an "urban wilderness"?
- QuikTrips in Oklahoma apparently do not believe in the 49-cent 32-oz summer beverage deal that Texas ones have. $1.07 instead. Sad.
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