Mark Riggins

4 Distinctives of San Angelo Church (part 3 of 4) - Closed Small Groups leading to Community

Jesus gives every church its mission: the Great Commission. At SAC, we have chosen to word our mission - "leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ" . . . the Great Commission. 

How a church accomplishes this mission is what makes each church unique. At SAC, I believe there are 4 distinctives we are pursuing to best accomplish Christ's commission. I want to continue to unpack these in a series of four blog entries. 

This is part 3 of this 4-part series. (You can click here to view the 1st and 2nd distinctives.)

Distinctive: Closed Small Groups Leading to Community

As we set out to start SAC, we knew we would be pretty unproductive if all we did was give people another option on Sundays. Honestly, there are plenty of places to "go to church" in San Angelo. But simply "going to church" rarely produces sustained life change. Don't get me wrong. I think church is  important. I, along with several other families, are committed to starting one. :)  But I don't think the Sunday church experience is enough. 

Everyone desires genuine and meaningful relationships. That is why so much of our life is spent within the context of small groups of people (work, family, sporting teams, social networks, special interest clubs, etc.). 

Spiritual growth is also best accomplished in this format. In fact, we believe sustained life change happens best in the context of small groups (4 or 5 other couples or 8-10 singles).

Now, many churches offer small groups with varying levels of "success". Some of the frustrations with traditional small groups are: they become too big preventing genuine relationship development and/or people do not really commit to attend regularly.

One of our distinctives is how we do small groups. We call our small groups "closed groups". 

That means once you find a group of people you are comfortable with, you and the rest of the group commit to doing life together for a period of time (1 yr - 18 months). During this time, no one else can join your group. We have found that focusing on a set of relationships over a period of time builds trust resulting in greater transparency. This is the place where you experience accountability, belonging, and care. 

We emphasize these groups because we believe your spiritual growth depends upon them. Since we believe sustained life-change happens best in the context of closed small groups, we do not offer all of the other traditional programs and ministries that would "compete" with small groups. This focus allows for increased participation. (This also reflects our 2nd distinctive.)

Weekend Review

Spent time at Baylor Hospital in Dallas as my dad recovered from a literal "near death" experience. Thankful for prayers as Dad is doing much better and recovering in private hospital room.

Spent time in Junction, TX w/my family and my sister-in-law's family. Good times and great memories!

This week Ginger and I decided to spend some time answering one of those "big life" questions. We've been considering this question: "When our life is over, what is the story we want to have written?" We have begun answering that question for our marriage and our parenting. I'll share some of our thoughts soon.

Ginger & I enjoyed a date night by eating at The Grill (I had the Baja fish tacos = good). We were then headed to watch the movie Blind Side but it was sold out. :(  So we went instead to our local bookstore (Hastings) and, to our surprise, we saw Mike Huckabee who was on his national book tour. 

Ginger & I decided to buy our own individual CDs. I bought a Christ Botti cd and Ginger bought a Harry Connick Jr. cd. I LOVE my cd!! 

Had some good "wrestling time" with my kids this weekend. However, I did damage to my foot. Or, I should say, "Lincoln, did some damage to my foot." Somehow, he landed on my unsuspecting foot. For now, I get around with a limp. 

Finishing off a good weekend as a family tonight by eating popcorn and watching the Radio City Christmas Spectacular! 

Some day I know I'll miss these full, family weekends!

Book Review: The Traveler's Gift

I recently finished reading The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions That Determine Your Success. Instead of just giving the reader the 7 "decisions", the author, Andy Andrews, bounces through history from one prominent character to another and allows the reader to see the time when that person in history made one of the 7 decisions and details how it shaped their life. This style of writing makes the book a fun read!

Quick summary of the book:

1. The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future.

2. I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others.

3. I am a person of action. I seize the moment. I choose now.

4. I have a decided heart. My destiny is assured.

5. Today I will choose to be happy. I am a possessor of a grateful spirit. 

6. I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive myself.

7. I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith.

Really enjoyed the book overall. Although it seemed to use the language of "self-help", it was full of biblical principles. It also has an AMAZING ending that really challenged me . . . gotta read it for yourself to get that nugget. :)

Big takeaway for me: "Constant detours do not bring you into the presence of greatness. Detours do not build muscles. Detours do not provide life's lessons. Between you and anything significant will be giants in your path."

Weekend Review

BUSY weekend!

- Some good times with kids riding bikes

- 1 flat tire, 2 tire repairs, and 2 oil changes on both cars 

- lots of final details completed in preparation for the San Angelo Church service

- preached Sunday morning for my Dad at his church

- Great service at SAC on Sunday night

+ I am amazed by the level of excellence our volunteers are achieving at each service

+ Great worship led by Ornan's Floor

+ Extremely practical message by Andy Stanley on gratitude (everyone received an IOU card)

+ A number of young families joined us as evidenced by the 29 children

- God continues to join people with His vision for San Angelo Church: creating a church unchurched people love to attend. 

- More and more people are becoming a "fan" of San Angelo Church Facebook page. Come and join us!

Weekend Review

This past weekend was so memorable. There was no major "event" planned so we just decided to make this a family weekend and do a bunch of stuff with one focus: we do it all together. 

We jumped on the trampoline, learned to throw a frisbee, rode bikes/scooters, grilled some hot dogs, picked up dog poop in the back yard, played a "homemade version of Jeopardy", ate breakfast at a new donut place in town Sunday morning and hosted an online small group. Now, I gotta tell ya' that my kids haven't mastered throwin' a frisbee yet and Lincoln actually fell off of the trampoline. But, he's okay and overall, we created some memories. 

While we were walking to school Monday morning, I asked the kids what their favorite thing was that we had done over the weekend. Kennedy said, "eating donuts". Reagen said, "throwing the frisbee". And, not surprisingly, Lincoln said, "jumping on the trampoline".

The weekends I spend doing stuff with my family are the best weekends of all! I took another marble out of the jar this Saturday. Such a great reminder that these days are temporary.

Weekend Review

- The Cowboys, Longhorns, and Mavericks all won = GREAT weekend! 

- LOVED taking my kids "trick or treating" last Saturday night. Reagen = princess, Kennedy = indian, Lincoln = dinosaur, Madison = madison. So fun enjoying the experience through their eyes! Plus, I love sorting through their candy making sure it's all "safe"! My least favorite candy = Dum-dum suckers. :)

- Really enjoyed participating in 2 of the community groups on Sunday. Our community group has 2 new families and I'm looking forward to getting to know these families better. Nothing like doing life together in group! 

- This Wednesday I am meeting with 4 small group leaders and 2 future small group leaders. These men are incredible leaders who are passionate about genuine community. So excited to take this journey with men like these!

- Finishing up the book "The Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews. Encouraging/challenging book! Great reminder today out of reading: "Forgiveness is not a reward that is earned but a gift that is given." 

Weekend Review

I am so grateful that God has called me to start a church. There have been a lot of encouraging reminders this week and this weekend that I am getting to be part of something eternally significant. 

Tonight our launch team got a chance to met as a large group (versus individual small groups). It was so much fun to get everyone together and laugh, eat burgers, have an important discussion, utilize a pipe cleaner, toothbrush, hair curler, battery, gum, candle . . . well, you had to be there! :) It was FUN!

At the end we circled up, surrounding the room holding hands, and offered a unified prayer. It was then that I realized something significant: Though we're working toward the goal of starting San Angelo Church, these are the nights that we'll look back on with a huge smile. The destination is on our mind but it's okay to enjoy the journey. 

Starting a church is hard work but I'm learning to enjoy the journey! :) 

4 Distinctives of San Angelo Church (part 2 of 4) - Simple Church

Jesus gives every church its mission: the Great Commission. At SAC, we have chosen to word our mission - "leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ" . . . Great Commission. 

How a church accomplishes this mission is what makes each church unique. At SAC, I believe there are 4 key distinctives we are pursuing to best accomplish Christ's mission. I want to unpack each of these distinctives in a series of four blog entries. 

This is part 2 of this 4-part series of blog entries. (You can click here to see the 1st distinctive.)

Distinctive: Simple Church

Our mantra is "steps not programs". Every organization (especially churches) naturally drift toward complexity. As a church it is so tempting to always add something until we eventually offer a menu of programs and similar interest ministries. However, we believe that more programs/ministries are often the enemy of spiritual growth. "Living at the church" restricts relationships with unchurched people and often creates an "insider-focused" culture.

We desire to see everyone get involved in a community group because this is where we believe sustained life-change happens. So everything we do will be to create a clear, simple step toward a community group. Instead of offering "competing" ministries that are good, we want to put all of our resources into the ministry that we believe is essential. 

Our model (foyer, living room, kitchen) reveals our strategy. Click here to see a 10 minute video explaining our model. 

So here are our steps: 1) Attend the Sunday service (foyer), 2) Then join one service team (living room), and 3) Then attend a community group (kitchen). Simple . . . "steps not programs". 

Weekend Review

I am soooo encouraged by the volunteers at SAC! We had our 2nd Preview Service last night. Ornan's Floor does such an amazing job leading in worship! I'm really growing to love those guys. 

It is so much fun to have services knowing that there are people in the audience who are "trying church" for the 1st time in several years. I could fall in love with that kind of ministry! 

Waumba Land launched last night with 18 preschool age children. That's a lot of little kids! We have 8 adults who teach, lead small groups, and do Bible story time with this ministry. 

One of the reasons I'm so excited about this ministry is two of those 18 children are mine! I mentioned last week that I was disappointed when I discovered Lincoln's (my 4 year old son) view of Scripture. :) However, we've had some good conversations this week thanks in part to the "take home" materials that Waumba Land provides the parent. Last night, after Ginger and I put the kids to bed, we stayed up to talk for a little bit. While talking we could hear Lincoln in his bed singing, "He's a big God . . . " Nothing better! 

This morning I asked Lincoln if he could say his memory verse and he quickly and quietly said, "I can do all things through Christ . . . Philippians 4:13" Awesome!! I asked him, "Lincoln, who does God love?" "Me", he said. "Lincoln, what can God help you do?" "Anything", he said. "Lincoln, who loves you?" "God", he said. BTW, these were on the "take home" card I was given last night from Waumba Land. There are also some suggested conversations and activities to further talk with my child. 

Ginger and I love being the primary spiritual influencers in our children's life. Even in my line of work I find it hard to find the time to create meaningful "conversations" with my child on a regular basis. I'm grateful to the Waumba Land Team for giving me the simple tools to unpack these eternal truths with my child.

Today me and some of our team fly out to Atlanta for a couple of days to attend the n*rich Conference at Buckhead Church. Can't wait to share and learn.  

Later this week, we'll continue the series detailing some of the distinctives of San Angelo Church.

Weekend Review

This has been a GREAT weekend. 

On Saturday we celebrated my mother-in-law's b-day. Love time with my family and Maxine is a GREAT mother-in-law. Enjoyed going to the ASU vs. ACU game Saturday night! (Just not the outcome of the game.)

This morning we had a couple of families over for a brunch. I love hanging out with friends with their kids (there were 8 kids ages 8 & under). There's something encouraging about spending time with other families. Plus we ate some great food and watched a incredible Cowboys OVERTIME win! 

Tonight ended the weekend with a HIGH. We had our 1st "practice run" at Waumba Land. Waumba Land is our preschool ministry at SAC. The environments are completely amazing. They are kid friendly and yet communicate loads of truth for both parents and kids. 

My 4 year-old son, Lincoln, was one of the kids who participated tonight. On the way home, I asked Lincoln the 2 questions that every parent asks their kid after church: 1) Did you have fun? (He said 'YES') and 2) What did you learn? Lincoln quickly said, "David was watching his sheep when a lion then a bear tried to attack and David got them away." Wow! That was a lot of information recalled quickly. I was so proud. Lincoln paused then said, "but it's not true - it's just a Bible story." Hmmm . . . I've got some work to do. 

Then I was given a "Take Home Card" that allows me to unpack the truth (God can help us do ANYTHING) with some questions, a Bible story, activities, memory verse, suggested conversation, etc. 

As a father that excites me so much. I look forward to this ministry launching next Sunday, Oct. 18th. I am so grateful that we are partnering with families so THEY can lead their children into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Good weekend!