I Got It
So I just cried in front of like 100 people I don’t know.
Welcome to the emotion that is Carlos North Point SPD.
I would liken it to getting side swiped in an intersection without ever seeing the car that hit you.
Talk about a mood killer.
Tyler gets up and thanks his SPD team from Browns Bridge.
Julie gets up and thanks her team from North Point.
Carlos gets up and thanks…WWWWWAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
I just was overwhelmed that Heather and I actually did this. And we love it.
Literally leaving EVERY comfort behind. And feeling God’s favor.
On the way home I was cursing my ladylike demeanor, wondering what had gone wrong?
Then it hit me.
Nothing had gone wrong.
Everything had gone right.
This is why North Point Ministries is what it is.
Churches…Take Notes…
1. I have been empowered to work within my sweet spot. That is motivating the masses to thrive in who they are. Not who I think they should be.
2. I am blown away by this healthy work environment. The reason why there are like 20,000 or so people a weekend is because everyone on staff leaves it all on the court on Sundays. This place is saturated in health. Even the unhealthy things I see are healthier than most environments.
3. They take hiring here VERY seriously. I think only the FBI has more interviews before you are hired. This ensures that the right person is hired.
4. This is a mega-church that CRUSHES every mega-church myth out there. This is the most relational, least corporate group of people you have ever seen. Within the 400 plus full time staff, there is a family feel that only can come from true family. Not “staff culture”.
5. Excellence is seen as a friend and not a foe. Authenticity does not mean fly by the seat of your pants. It means going where your heart leads ON PURPOSE.
6. Everyone of my team members at Buckhead Church can quit tomorrow and make TRIPLE what they are making here. But they choose to give their talents to the church. I am constantly overwhelmed by this. Not one person here has to be here.
7. When much of popular Christendom has decided to focus on the unhealthy aspects of church and create a place that is “healthier”, North Point Ministries is focusing on leading people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Not on what is wrong with all else around them. Therefore, guess what? You have lots of people growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Go figure.
Focus on a single task, keep your mind off the circumstances around you, and you will succeed.
That is why I cried.
Because in front of lots of spouses who had conversations asking who the bald guy who cried was on the way home, I got it.
And I hope I don’t forget it.
Los
Technorati Tags: Andy Stanley, Buckhead Church, North Point Community Church, Northpoint church, NPMI
RAIN IT DOWN
Know what you mean… We are so blessed to also be on the ride known as NPCC! God is so good! Again, thanks for being you; real and transparent.
Thanks for always being real.
The emotions of God’s grace is also part of my DNA. As a pastor at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Pico Rivera, a suburb of LA, I had a glass of water and a box of kleenex in the pulpit. Often I would cry during the message as I reflected on the opportunity the Father placed on my table to touch lives and make a difference in this world.
When you are in the presence of the Father, it is so overwhelming your socks get knocked off. Too many of us have lost that connection. I pray you never loose the ability to cry. Jesus wept! You are an awesome son, and I love you very much.
good stuff los. i have to say that reading your explanation of the kind of church you work for would make most other pastors cry (if you get my drift).
i love reading about your experiences at Buckhead b/c not only does it destroy the myths you mentioned above you encourage those of us in cultures unlike yours to keep hope alive.
thanks bro. your authenticity is so freaking encouraging.
any video of the mystery open I missed cause i spent 30 minutes in traffic at buckhead on sunday morning?
Sandals church –
thank you for this man.
your fingerprints are all over him.
Alright so I love my church but come on man you just made a guy crazy jealous! I love it!
I would die for my church and my team and they would do the same for me. I can’t imagine it any other way.
I LOVE that last point. So good and so true. It helps me understand your and Heather’s family a lot better. And to understand why God is blessing Buckhead.
great post bro, very good stuff. It’s good to celebrate where you’re at, we did a little of that today at our place!
BTW last night at a membership class our pastor mispronounced lucifer (never thought you’d see that word on your blog!!) to losifer… thought you might like that.. I couldn’t find it in my bible anywhere!!
Blessings!
dang.
real men cry.
I totally got it this weekend too!
I had a few minutes with my team as well and had tears well up as I thought about all that they do. Great insights.
Kevin, it’s great to be on the bus with you and the rest of the team!
that is why we are glad you are here
we love you!!
So awesome to be apart of something bigger than yourself. To be right in the middle of what God is doing through you and your team. This is what being in the center of God’s will is. That was awesome, you are awesome, and the Jesus that lives inside you is awesome. It’s all about Him!
[Insert vasectomy/uncontrolled weeping joke here.]
Just kidding.
Right on to point 4. Right on.
Dude… you are so in the season of life I want to be in…
Send NP to come plant a church here in NC, and then hire me to do something… anything…
Oh, right. I’m supposed to be learning about contentment right now…
I am part of a fledgling church that is about to be planted by its “parent” church into the art district of our city. We’re very much learning many of these things right now. I get overwhelmed with tears pretty easily lately (in a good way), and I can definitely relate to the feeling that the only way I could be where I am and doing what I love right now is because of God’s perfect plan. It’s pretty awesome.
Thanks for sharing, Los.
Wow I’d love to work in a place like that. My work is the exact opposite. There is a lot of negativity, bad-mouthing, dissension and sometimes, straight up God bashing. Everyone knows I go to church and that I’m living a different lifestyle.
However Andy did a series a while back called, “On Location.” From that I learned I’m where I’m supposed to be. I know that here I am a light in a dark place. I know that here I can show the love of Christ.
Some days it’s rough, the attacks are brutal. But I know that through Christ all things are possible.
Thanks for sharing Carlos. I love Buckhead Church and I am fed spiritually there. Keep up the good work.
Glad you are right where God wants you Carlso!
*Carlos
Is this what happens when you get your balls cut off?
(ignoring the comment above me)
…and THAT is real ministry Carlos! Glad God brought you back to GA, specifically to BH and that you followed HIS leading and not your own.
I miss me some real world worship
Real with ourselves others and GOD . . . Hey Los, that sound familiar?
You are living it well, bro
Praise God that you are where He has you. Sounds like a very vibrant love-filled environment.
First time here from Brody’s blog. I look forward to getting to know you blogwise.
I couldn’t agree with #4 more! That’s why I began attending North Point (Alpharetta) in March and haven’t regretted returning to the large Church environment.
I am confused. Although I get the last message about what’s in your heart (by Adam Stanley). I don’t understand how someone who is only a small child can block what goes into their heart. I want to forgive my uncle who molested me but I cannot. I’ve been searching…I’ve been praying. I want to be the sweet girl I was way back when…but she’s gone. That country song “Why do you have to be so angry all the time” keeps playing in my head. I don’t want to be angry all the time, but I am. I know God has helped me, but still I have so far to go. I want to send hate mail to this uncle. I want him to apologize, but I don’t think he even knows the damage he has caused. All I can think about is how different my life would have been if all that happened wouldn’t have happened. It just isn’t as simple as saying, “I choose to not let this bother me anymore.” I’ve said too much. Sorry for the negativity. I know I’m not even posting in the right place, but where else was I suppose to talk about Andy’s message.