Leadership Blog

This post is from Spencer Dunlap.  He is a church planter for Little Rock Church in Cabot, AR.

Wednesday, April 13.

It is the Wednesday morning after the Soft-Launch of Re:New Community Church, and I am more excited than ever.  I have spent the last couple of days really thinking about this past Sunday, what I saw, heard, felt, and thought, as well as anticipating this upcoming Sunday, and even Easter – the Sunday after that.

I’d like to share my perspective from last week, and a goal or two with you for the next couple of weeks.

Sunday was a day I will never forget.  I had asked many of you to help set-up Sunday about 9:00am in the restaurant at the AllFam Bowling center in Cabot, but I couldn’t wait until 9.  I got up early, very early – in fact, maybe I didn’t actually sleep at all!  I loaded the trailer at my house with all of the equipment, and headed out long before I needed to to get set up along with Travis Hunnicutt (one of our friends who is moving here this summer to help start Re:New) When we pulled in, one person was already waiting – I couldn’t believe it.  He said he knew I wouldn’t wait until 9:00 to get started and he wanted to help.  I knew then it was going to be an awesome day.  Shortly thereafter, people started showing up to help.  Everyone asked, “How can I help?”  My standard answers was, “I’m not sure exactly – just see if that person can use you.”  Terrible leadership I know, but it worked.  People got the coffee all set up, brought the donuts, set up the video screen, projector, and backdrop.  And then they set up the screen again…and then one more time.  Third time was the ticket.  The sound system went live, instruments checked, a run-through on the music…all with a half-hour to spare.  Then people started showing up…many of which I had never met, friends of friends, and people who were already “on the team”…so exciting.  By the time we got started, 64 people were worshipping together!  That morning, my mentor and coach, Greg Garcia texted me to say that we should have a good time, and plan for 10 things to go wrong.  I was pleased that we were in the 5-7 range on the problems…God was taking care of things in a Big way.

As I stood there, and looked around, I felt overwhelmed – in a good way.  My expectations were far exceeded on the number of people that showed up, and I kept thinking that this was really the beginning of what God had been doing in our lives for the last year.  I was so excited, I couldn’t help myself – and so I whipped out my iPhone camera…and took a few pictures.  I looked like a preacher- tourist.

As I continued to look around, I saw people that were excited, too.  There was an atmosphere of newness, and excitement, and curiosity – all wonderful things.  As we worshipped in music, some were very open in their expression, others were reserved, and it was all good.  Jon and Joy Atchison, and Greg Lindsey did a great job leading us.

At the end, someone said to me that what we were doing through Re:New was what this person had been looking for all of his life, and that he felt at home.  WOW…what an amazing thing to hear.  And then another came up and said he wanted to talk more about spiritual matters in his life.  WOW again.  Renewal in action…renewal of ideas, experiences, feelings, and more – so awesome.  After services, I spoke to someone who told me that people they had come with felt like our soft-launch was the best 1^st service they’d ever seen…and others have remarked about how awesome the time together was –especially considering the newness of our group coming together.  God is so good.

As I think and write, my mind goes back to Acts chapter 2.  This early church met together daily for fellowship, and prayer, and meals, and the apostles teaching – and there was a sense of AWE there.  That is where I am.  I am in Awe…that is a good summation.  My prayer is that you experience that sense of awe as well…and that you did Sunday if you were there, and that you will the next time we are together again.

So where do we go from here?

This Sunday, I decided not to meet at the bowling alley again because of a large tournament that will be there Sunday.  Last Sunday was challenging with a small tournament there – and we almost didn’t have classroom space for the kids because of it.  Jen and I began to pray for a solution for at least this next Sunday.  I checked on the movie theater, thought about the community center, called on the school district…but nothing seemed to be right.  Then yesterday, we went to visit a lady whom we had met at one of our earliest events for Re:New – and while there, she mentioned a church building that had recently come available.  We gave them a call, and they invited us to use their space this Sunday.  If you are familiar with Cabot, it is the AHOP building visible from Main Street near highway 67/167 off of Willie Ray Drive.  That church had their last service there last week as they are merging with another church in town.  They were happy to let us use it this Sunday…God provides.

I want to take advantage of meeting in this different place Sunday, and so I would like to get as many people together Saturday morning for about 1 hour, and put door hangers out in the community behind this building.  We can meet at the AHOP building at 10:00 am…done by 11:00.

Lastly, Easter is coming.  Easter is one of those days that people who never go to church will consider going.  I would like to see 100 people in our service Easter Sunday.  This isn’t to say anything about us, but instead to let some people hear some desperately needed good news in this community.  Please start asking everyone you know about coming with you on Easter – now here is the fun part…we are still working on where we’ll meet that day!  This is the life of a church plant – and I think it’s fun…and just like the place for this Sunday, God WILL provide.  This is part of the pioneering spirit that church plants bring…and I hope it is fun for you too.  We’re praying about some ideas for that day, and I ask you to do the same.  On that note, I have a very important meeting with the owners of the space we are thinking about leasing and making our own, which is the 9-thousand square feet next to AllFam.  Please be in prayer about that tomorrow as well.  My meeting is Thursday at 10:00 am.

I hope you are as excited as I am!  I love and appreciate you all!  See you tonight at LifeGroup, Saturday for door hangers,  and/or Sunday at the old AHOP Building at 10:30.  Blessings!

Spencer Dunlap

Re:New Community Church
194-B Dakota Drive, #200

Cabot, AR 72023
501-743-9899