Getting to Texas:
Well, it's official we will be moving to Texas during the week of December 18th. I will be starting classes at A&M on January 19th. I'm going to try to load my classes on Tuesday and Thursday and substitute teach on Mon. Wed. and Fri. Both of these avenues should give me the opportunity to build lots of relationships with people in College Station. Our hope is that Kellie can get on at the University as an academic advisor. This is the job I want to get when I complete my degree next year. We feel like there is no better bi-vocational gig in town for a church-planter than working at the University.
The Initial Strategy
My plan for launching the church is to begin with starting several "Discovery" bible studies within strategic relational circles in the Bryan/College Station area. The Discovery Bible Study is a type of small group that is bearing incredible fruit in the third world specifically in the 10/40 window. I've experimented with them in Chattanooga myself and have been impressed with the results (impressed enough that I'm willing to use it as part of our gathering strategy). The idea is that you take the bible (we will be using the gospel of Mark) and you gather three or four people. In the study you read a passage of scripture and ask a couple of questions.
1. What does this teach us about the God
2. What does this teach us about the human condition.
3. What is one concrete action that I can do this week to demonstrate obedience to what I've learned
4. Who does God want me to share this truth with this week
Its a very simple inductive bible study strategy. It requires one resource, the bible and the goal is to get each person in the group leading their own group within 6 months. The groups can meet anywhere. I do mine in coffee shops at 6:30 in the morning. It's a disciples making disciples strategy.
In conjunction with this we will begin with a low key worship service run out of a home initially. We are going to really try to capitalize on the relational strength of a small church plant. We will do a potluck breakfast, low key acoustic worship, and a time of equipping and training, followed by Vineyard style ministry of course. As we out grow the home we will move to a larger venue, and with each move up we will create the systems that accommodate the larger gathering (greeting, children, assimilation, ext.).
We will also host parties on Friday nights, at least once a month (possibly even more frequently than that) the idea behind these parties is that will be low key relational events where people can invite their friends and the different folks who are part of the church will have an opportunity to connect with each other's friends thereby building relational connections.
This is the strategy to gather the first 100. Once we get to that size our structures will begin looking more like a small church.
My heart is to build a really solid foundation based on disciples making disciples and strong Christ-centered friendships. I'm intentionally using an inside out model of church planting. Which means that we use relationships to gather people not a highly produced worship service. It might be a little slower on the front end but the foundation is more stable, and the depth helps reproduce depth.
Prayer Needs and Need Needs
Our first need is financial of course. We need people who are committed to seeing a church planted in College Station who will financially partner with us to see this happen. I am not a spring chicken just beginning life, I'm 47 years old with two daughters in college, and my youngest son will be joining their ranks in the not to distant future. The Vineyard Chattanooga is not able to do much for me at this point. We just finished a major building campaign and the church is trying to get its financial feet back as it walks through the transition of losing the only pastor its known in its 16 year history. So I need people who love A&M and the Vineyard to financially partner with us to make this dream a reality.
The Vineyard College Station has a financial board made up of:
Raymond McDonald - Senior Pastor of the Cleveland Vineyard
Michael Lehman - Senior Pastor of the Trinity Vineyard
Geoff Bynum - Senior Pastor of the Katy Vineyard
Jeff Anderle - Senior Pastor of the Chattanooga and soon to be College Station Vineyard
Brian Fox - Executive Pastor of the Cleveland Vineyard
Steve Anderle - My father who is an accountant with over 50 years experience
This board is in place to oversee the financial and ethical integrity of the church. You will receive quarterly giving statements and all gifts are tax deductible.
Make checks payable to:
The Vineyard College Station
20226 Needle Walk Lane
Spring, TX 77379
One of our greatest needs at the moment is a reliable car. I have not had a car payment in over a decade but our minivan has 291,000 miles on it. I have kept it well maintained and my plan was to save up and get a new one after our building at the Chattanooga Vineyard was built. Well the building is built but my income has changed dramatically. A good reliable vehicle would be a great help.
So Pray for a car, for cash, and for favor as we get ready to launch this new work.
Thanks and God bless,
Jeff Anderle
