You don’t have to scroll very far through my blog to realize I stink at blogging! I’d much rather be with people than behind a computer. And I’m so ADD, it’s challenging for me to write in paragraphs. I’m bored with myself after the first sentence. I prefer status updates on facebook from my blackberry while I’m talking to someone at the same time.

But, I have an unbelievable story to tell. I don’t know if anyone even subscribes to this blog, so I hope somehow this story finds it’s way to the right person.

Sunday, January 25^th, my team and I launched MyChurch in Columbus, GA. We were supposed to be in this awesome, new strip mall with a cool build-out planned and decorated to our specs. Six days before our launch, we found out we could not be in the building (after 50,000 mailers had gone out announcing our big day). Keep in mind, this is January. It was one of the coldest weeks of the year (low temps at 21 degrees). We had no other options but to rent a big tent and put heaters inside. I was sure people would drive up, see the tent and keep going.

Fifteen minutes before the service, I was hiding in my truck praying for God’s power to keep people from turning away. When I came around the corner, I saw a line of people all the way across our parking lot, waiting to check their kids into a Tae Kwan Do studio turned kid’s ministry. Then, I walked in the tent, and it was full and overflowing with people (and warm too, I might add). My sister told me later that my jaw dropped open and I said, “Oh my gosh (I try not to say that around my kids).

Long story short, we had 625 people come to our launch, standing room only. (We’d have never fit in our building…God is so sovereign). We had to add 200 chairs all around the tent to our 300 inside. 44 people checked off on a communication card that they were choosing to make Jesus the leader and forgiver of their life! It was the most amazing God moment of my life.

What should have been an awkward experience with a bunch of new people upset for sitting in the cold turned out to be an unforgettable adventure. People walked away exhilarated. The Spirit of God moved in an amazing way! I asked how many people would come back next week. Everyone raised their hand, so we announced we’d have two services next week!

I am on my face praising God. This is not a story of success. This is a story of brokenness. Eighteen months ago, I shut my first church plant down. It was the most painful time of my life—worse than losing my mother. I felt like a complete failure. I had people blog about our church shutting down (maybe that’s why I still hate blogging). It was the lowest point of my life.

A few faithful friends, Shawn Lovejoy at Mountain Lake Church, Brian Bloye at Westridge and Bil Cornelius at Bay Area Fellowship, wrapped their arms around us and believed in us when we didn’t believe in ourselves. God poured down His grace on me and my family! I had read about grace, talked about grace, preached about grace, but I had never personally experienced God’s grace (other than my salvation). God broke my spirit and filled me up with His grace. I would choose the pain all over again to get to experience God’s love that way again.

I love my first church. Hundreds of people came to Christ there. Many of those people helped us launch MyChurch. It’s as much theirs as it is ours. I’m so grateful for all they sacrificed with us.

One thing I have learned, “God does not delight in sacrifice, He delights in a broken spirit.” The guys at ARC and DCN who partnered with us on round two, told us that God is using guys my age who have fallen down and gotten back up. I wasn’t sure whether or not to believe them. Now, I want every pastor and every church planter who is experiencing pain to know…relish in it. Let God break your spirit. He is preparing you for the next great thing.

So don’t call me and ask me how we did this launch. I’ll have to tell you to go out and fail at something or choose the most painful circumstances you could imagine. I have no talent, no good strategy, no superstars in the wings…I only have the power and grace of God. Praise God for using broken people like me! You broken guys out there, get up off your face and do what God tells you to do, even if you think it’s impossible. There are millions of people out there who need God’s grace, and you’re the only guy who can really authentically pass it on!

PS – I don’t have time to do links to all these people I mentioned. But they all have great websites and blogs, you should look them up!

               Jeff Murphy

                     November 2008 
 

 | mychurchcolumbus.com | mymurphys@gmail.com | P.O. Box 8925 | Columbus, GA 31907 

Here’s the answer to your prayers—My Church has a home! 

God sent us people. God sent us equipment. But, less than 3 months from our launch date, God had not yet given us a facility. Everywhere we looked, doors were being closed on potential launch locations—movie theaters, universities, schools, warehouses—everyone was telling us no! 

Then we found this incredible option in a brand new strip mall owned by a Christian businessman. Of course, the price was way out of our budget; so, we met with the owner, shared our vision, made a ridiculous lowball offer and guess what? He said “NO!” Our launch team spent the next few weeks fasting and praying. We were seriously considering setting up a tent. Then on October 24, God filled me with unexplainable boldness. I just felt compelled to call the guy and ask again. This time, he said, “YES!!!!” 

You’re looking at a 7,300 square foot miracle. The developer is going to finish the build-out to our specks for free! My church not only has a launch location—we’ve got a starter home, complete with worship center, lobby and kids rooms! How’s that for a financial miracle right in the middle of the worst economic month in 20 years? Praise God!! Come on, say it with me—“Praise God!!” 

God continues to give us favor and put people in our path who need help finding their way back to Him. We cannot wait to see the lives that will be changed in this facility! We are going to need to buy chairs, which is about a $9,000 unexpected expense. If you would like to provide a seat for someone, every $30 you donate will purchase another chair. Our plan is to start with 300 seats and add multiple services as soon as we can! 

Thank you for being a part of our miracle!

We are now accepting tax-deductible donations directly through My Church. Please make your checks payable to My Church and send to us at P.O. Box 8925, Columbus, GA 31907. If you have been giving online or by credit card, we will contact you as soon as we are able to receive online donations through our website at mychurchcolumbus.com. Your November contribution can still be accepted online through Mountain Lake Church.

We will be in Columbus and just about a week and I can’t wait… Thanks for all of you who have given, prayed and dreamt with us. I know God is going to go awesome things!!!!!

I heard Andy Stanley recently at the Orange conference and he had some great stuff to say about discipleship. Basically he talked about the question all churches ask:  How do you help people grow to maturity in Christ??  He said the goal is to help people become “Self Feeders”.

Making Disciples should be natural–just ask anyone there testimony and you will always find the same 5 ingredients. In all models of Discipleship and in every spiritual growth story here is what you find…

1.  Practical teaching

2. Providential Relationships

3. Private Disciplines

4. Pivotal Circumstances

5. Personal Ministry

So if maturity is getting to a place where your able to feed yourself—then as you put together your system or program of discipleship it should fan the flame in these areas. This also is very helpful if your leading a small group to know what to look for and how to encourage people as you see them somewhere in this process.

I visited Oak Leaf Church this Sunday and had lunch with Michael Lukaszewski and his family. My wife and I were so impressed with how many things they do so well. I was blown away at the quality of everything they do.

 Here are a few things I noticed.

• Great Signage
• Great Kids check in system(the best and most simple I’ve seen)
• Great looking theme’s that draw the kids into there rooms
• Everyone was very friendly
• Michael’s message was great– humor, content and passion.
• Great music.

Oak Leaf at only 16 months old and reaching 900 people is pretty incredible!!!  God is doing great things in Cartersville.

I am excited to see Freedom Church Launch this coming Sunday Jan. 27th. I am bringing a group of people up from Columbus to see it.  JR is a sharp young leader who really has it together. They (He and his team)  have really worked hard and put a great game plan together.

Here is some of what I noticed:

• They put alot of time developing there Launch team.
• They did a great job marketing and making an investment into their community before they even launched publicly. 
• They have spent time getting to know key leaders like the mayor in their area.   
•  They really know who they are and what God has called them to do.

I look forward to seeing great things happen in Acworth through Freedom Church.  By the way I love the name.

Today I’m hanging out with lead pastor J.R Lee from Freedom Church  that’s launching on Jan 27.  Freedom church has done some realy cool things that set the stage for who they are and what they will do to reach people.  I look forward to getting to know and learn from their team today.  Check back soon for an update on my take-aways from our meeting. 

bio bullets

• Born & raised in Ft. Lauderdale
• Met my wife Christy Hindson at Liberty University
• Loved & lived student ministry for 10 years, primarily in Columbus, GA
• Led hundreds of students to Christ
• Went back to seminary & became a min. of ed. at a mega-church (Lord, help!)
• Planted our first church in north Atlanta 2002
• Grew to 400 in 4 years and led hundreds of people to Christ

       recent highlight: When we moved into our cul-de-sac in 2002, our neighbors were so mad that a “preacher” was moving in they threatened to line up and moon me. Five years later, every family on our street had accepted Christ and was serving in our church. current calling Within about three months, every one of those neighbors we led to Christ relocated. So, we started to ask the natural question—“God, who do you want us to invest our lives in next?” Christy and I are wired for personal, relational ministry. It’s very important to us to have our family intentionally engaged in reaching and discipling people around us. After a year of prayer and a series of defining moments, we knew God was calling us back to Columbus, Georgia. We believe God’s desire is to use our influence in Columbus from our student ministry days with our church planting experience in Atlanta to maximize our impact for His Kingdom. When we finish this incredibly valuable residency at Mountain Lake church and ChurchPlanters.com (highly recommend it), we will move to Columbus with a goal of launching a new church by January ’09. Columbus, GA stats The city of Columbus is the third largest city in Georgia, located 1 ½ hours southwest of the Atlanta airport. It is adjacent to Phenix City, Alabama, which doubles the potential for outreach and multi-site ministry. According to the 2007 demographic reports…

• Almost 300,000 people live in Columbus and its tri-county region.
• The population doubles to 600,000 if you include the Alabama counties and the entire Columbus Valley region .
• 86% of those people are unchurched.
• The majority of unchurched people are ages 11-39.

 new church plantAccording to the stats, the people in Columbus, GA not only need a new church—they need a new kind of church. They need a church on a mission to reduce lostness. They need a church who will break down the barriers of traditional religion and connect with the younger generations. They need a church who will actively demonstrate grace and hope in the community. They need a church who will do whatever it takes to open the door for people who “don’t do church” to find Jesus Christ.  The Murphys are ready to lead this adventure in Columbus! Our dream is to raise up leaders and plant missional churches in our 16 surrounding counties. prayer & partnerships We can’t do this alone. We need you to pray for us and partner with us! Here’s how…

1. Sign up for the blog
2. Send us your email/address at jmurphy@mountainlakechurch.org
3. Join our team! (Columbus is a great place to live!)

 We’d love to hear from you!