Day - 9: The First 100

The first 100 days in a new church can set the tone for everything else that follows.  We are about to launch our second site at West Outer Drive in large part because of the direction that was set during my first 100 days at Redford Aldersgate.

Simply put:  Your leadership will never be viewed as fresh as it will be in those first 100 days.

Excitement about new possibilities will never be any higher than they will be during these first 100 days.

People will try things during during your first 100 days that they would have not tried before and probably will not try after.

So go for it!  That’s all I can say.  Go for it!

Be bold.

Preach your best stuff.

Lay out the biggest possible vision for the church you can imagine.

Be inspired.  Be inspiring. 

Try the things you swore you would try if you ever had a chance at a fresh start.

Take risks.  Shake things up.

This is your one chance at a first impression. Make the most of it.

It used to be said that when starting at a new church the preacher should sit back, watch, listen, take it all in – and most importantly: “DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!”

If that was ever good advice, it is not any more.  The mainline church does not need another season of being comfortable.  Complacency is what got us in this mess in the first place. 

We are gearing up for the first 100 days – and we are going to do everything possible to make them count.