Granger Community Church - Granger, IN

Granger Community Church is doing some awesome things. They are use a lot of great songs for their messages. You can check them out on their media player. The thing that drew me to them was their creativity when it came to message series. The videos they used, the songs and many other aspects are so great. Right now they are doing a series on parenting. Check it out.

SNYDER

NewSpring Church - Anderson, South Carolina

This is a church I just started following, but their pastor Perry Noble is an amazing guy. He started the church 8 years ago and its just now starting to really do some amazing things. As I have been checking out churches I have noticed that at about 7 or 8 years churches really find out who they are and what they are about. Another guy who works there is Tony Morgan. Both of these guys are amazing and they have been a huge part of the success at NewSpring. Check em out.

SNYDER

Mars Hill Bible Church - Grandville, MI

This Mars Hill is amazing. Just by looking at the first picture on their website you can tell they are outward focused. They love to serve and do an amazing job at it. The church will be nine years old in February and run about 14,000. Mars Hill and Lifechurch.tv are different in many regards. Rob believes in the local church and the beauty in it. You won't see Mars Hill launching any campuses anytime soon. I have never been to visit, but it is one place I really want to visit. Check out their website and let me know what you think. Also if you want some more info on Rob and his teachings check out NOOMA.

SNYDER

Lifechurch.tv

This list is in no particular order, but the first church I would visit would be Lifechurch.tv. Just by looking at their website and all they are doing and offering it is easy to see why. Now I know you don't want to copy churches, but it is definitely wise to take certain aspects. There are a lot of churches who try to be exactly like Lifechurch.tv, but churches need to be their own. One thing I love about Lifechurch.tv is their open source resources. You can check out all of their free stuff here Lifechurch Open. They are about 12 years old and going strong. They are a multisite church using technology in ways that a lot of churches haven't even thought of. Check out their website and let me know what you think. Oh yeah, don't forget to check out You Version. This is something else the developed.

SNYDER

Church Dream List

If you were planting a church and could only go to 10 churches what would they be? I am going to list mine for the next 10 days. Each day I will show a new church. I will start at 10 and work my way down. So, what 10 churches would you vist across america?

SNYDER

Fire sucks

I have never seen anything like it. The pic is from Sadleback church on Tuesday around 3:30pm. This fire was about 500 yards from the Oakley headquarters. As you know the fires are still burning. Mariah and I are safe. We are far enough away, but still close enough to have ash fall in our area. Please be praying for everyone in Southern California. It is very dangerous.

SNYDER

Went to YS yesterday and my head almost exploded

Why did it almost explode you might be asking? I went to a workshop by a guy who use to be in the advertising department for Porsche. He now is a pastor. He was talking about how we always hear you can can change the method, but not the message. He explained to us how this is a lie. If you change the method then you are changing the mesage. It was really interesting, and I am still trying to put it all together. He said he had a rally tough time deciding to podast his messages at his church. He was talking to Rob Bell about this and Rob said that he is having a tough time with his sermon's being podcasted. Rob's are downloaded close to 100,000 times every week. Rob said it's great that people are getting the message, but he believes that it is taking away form the beauty of the local church. I see what he is saying and how this makes sense when you say if you change the method then you are changing the message. I still need to explore this some more, but I really like what he was saying.

SNYDER

Paid in full

Our house in Oklahoma sold and we no longer have any house payments. what a huge relief. Now we just have rent to pay in Caifornia. Not cheap. Oh well, I know this is where we are suppose to be. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us and keeping up with our lives the last 6 months.

SNYDER

Confessions of a Pastor

Just started reading this book by Craig Groeschel. I am halfway done and it is an aesome book so far. He writes about a lot of stuff pastors are afraid to tell anyone. He is so honest and open. I reccomend this book to anyone involved in ministry in any capacity. You can get it here.

SNYDER

I made it, #91

I know what you are saying, "Who cares about post 91?" Well I do. I wanted to celebrate this milestone now so I don't have to celebrate #100. But to check out a great 100th post blog, check out my wife's. She is pretty fantastic.

SNYDER

Sean Harris

Who is he you might be asking? He just entered the blogosphere yesterday. He has a passion and a heart for ministry. Mainly college mkinistry. Check out his blog here.

SNYDER

A little nervous...

For two reasons. 1) Oklahoma State plays Texas A&M in College Station. The winner will be the Big 12 south leader. I know it's early in the season, but as an OSU fan it's a big deal. and 2) I am speaking tonight at Mariner's Church in Irvine to the Junior High. It's a new audience and I haven't spoken to a crowd in a few months. I know it will be good. I could use some prayer. Thanks,

SNYDER

My conclusion

So after looking at my last 2 posts and talking to several people about it. Sure we can take a few things away from these companies, but we should not copy it. We, as a church, can borrow some things, but we need to change them and make them 100 times better. Sure they are doing some great things, but how come the church has gotten lazy and less innovative when it comes to this stuff. I mean, wasn't the printing press invented to produce tons of Bibles. That was one of the great inventions of all time and it was for the Bible. Why aren't we as Christians coming up with more stuff like this. We need to be ahead of the world. Why can't Starbucks or Apple say wow that Church is doing some amazing things we need to do that. Or wow that Chrisitian company is solving a lot of issues we couldn't let's talk to them and learn from the church. So, one of my goals now is to come up with this innovation. What it is? I have no idea. But I would love to come up with something and find the right people to make it happen. Give me a year.

SNYDER

Starbucks and Apple

Kind of along with what I was talking about yesterday. What are some things we can take from these 2 companies and apply them to church? There are so many. If you read my blog please comment on this question. I want to see some ideas.

SNYDER

Starbucks and Church

I have seen a lot of people blog on this subject, but I still wanted to throw in my 2 cents. What is it that Starbucks does so well? Well just about everything. Now the question is what can the Church take from Starbucks. I honestly don't drink coffe, but there are a few drinks I will get from there. I also hear a lot of people say they don't even like their coffe, but they love the atmosphere and the environment. I am the same way. I love hanging out there, but am not a fan of spending a lot of money on their drinks, but I do.
Their staff is super friendly.
They know their stuff.
They love being there.
I have visited many churches and it is funny that I can go into a Starbucks and someone genuinely asks me how I am doing. There are churches I have been to where the staff is not genuine in their hellos and there are also times when no one even says hi to you. I know that people aren't perfect and that is why churches aren't perfect.
Starbucks is doing some awesome things. I bet you could get a lot of people to church if church was in Starbucks. I wonder if you can get more people to church if instead of inviting them to church you invite them to coffee. Maybe more churches need to put actual coffee shops in their lobbies. Not just have coffe, but an actual store. I woudl love to see this in more churches. I know some are doing this.
The Church can learn a lot from Starbuck, but hopefully there is a lot Starbucks can learn from the church. I hope this rambling made sense. Let me know your thoughts.

SNYDER

learn me some photoshop and illustrator

I am trying to learn photoshop and ilustrator. Please let me kow some websites you reccomend for free brushes vectors or just any tips you have. I have learned a few things, but have a long way to go. So any advice right now will help. Thanks.

SNYDER