York Fair...be part of the action.

I announced Sunday that we would be returning to the York Fair this year (September 5th-14th). We will be giving away free Duncan Donuts Coffee and actionchurch Balloons again. We have reserved a spot for the tent across from the Beer Garden and the 105.7 the X tent...yep that's pretty much the perfect spot for actionchurch! We will be "open for business" from 4pm to 10:30ish on weekdays (we close when the crowds clear out like the other vendors around us) and 2pm-10:30ish on Saturdays. Last year we had a fantastic time meeting people from the York area (York fair attendance is over 600,000/yr), serving them great coffee, and telling them about our "church for people who don't like church".

What can you do to help? I'm glad you asked... We need people to help set up and tear down the actionchurch booth, people to help make coffee, blow up balloons, hang out and meet people. We need people to wear there "actionchurch colors" (we have t-shirts available for the event) and answer fair goers most common question after "Is this coffee really free?"...which is..."Do you guys really have church at Fat Daddy's Nightclub?"

We also need generous people to sponsor the event... Purchase 1000 actionchurch balloons for $125.00... purchase a great cup of coffee for a fair goer for .25...how about 100 cups for $25.... or 1000 cups for $250.?...Sponsor our (tent spot) rental at the Fair for $800?

So why do we do it? Why do spend the money...spend the time? Why do we give away stuff to people who may of may not come to church? (Michele actually makes a point to deliver coffee each night to the workers in the games that travel with the fair.) We do it because the York Fair is the single greatest opportunity to meet York County folks face to face...to "shock them" with the idea that there is a church who actually wants to serve them a free cup of coffee instead of bombarding them with a religious message...to offer them (not accost them) with an actionchurch invite card if they are interested. Best of all -to tell those who ask that there is a church where they would absolutely be accepted and welcomed...no matter who they are or what they have done!

Please do not miss this opportunity to be part of actionchurch at York Fair! This is an "all play" event and every one of us can be a part of the action!

Stuff we're working on...

After week one here is the stuff we're working on:

• Better organization for set-up and tear-down. We had lot's of help this week but were actually a little slower because we don't have a system developed that is easily worked by people who have never done it before.
• More Set up and tear down crew. We would like it to be a rotating "shift" before church (Maybe twice a month at first) We would like to have different people tear down so that the set-up crew that got there at 8am can leave.
• Jeff and Chrissie in actionkidz need more help! Some people indicated on their survey cards that they would like to help out...we need it. I loved walking up the stairs to actionkidz after the service and hearing a kid say "Mom that was Awesome!... actionkidz rocks!
• We need a place for infants... The new heated deck area is much quieter and much better suited to mothers with small children but we need someone to guide them out there and make sure they are comfortable...we have a screen and (Small) speakers in place now. We just need a better method to guide them out there.
• A "video dude" or "dudette" we are looking for someone with skilz in recording and producing video intro's and short interviews for the service.
• Web site help... One of my biggest disappointments was not having a "good/cool" website up to welcome our guests.... Right now we are using a godaddy freebie template that I update. (link) We will be investing in a new website...but we are looking for someone with a passion to keep it fresh and updated.

Are you part of the solution to any of the things we are working on? After attending actionchurch do you see more stuff we should be working on...except for my hair, t-shirt choice, and love of the word "freakin'"?

Wanted: Extreme Fishermen!

I love the show Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel. If you would have asked me before I saw the show if I would be interested in "watching a program about

crab fishing in the Bering Sea" I think the answer would be a big
NO! After watching, I was absolutely hooked (that's no fishing

pun) by the crews of the crabbing ships. They are fearless and

hopeful, willing to risk it all because they understand the high
value of what they are fishing for. (Each King Crab is worth over

$20 and a crewman can make $10-20k per trip!) I love how

the crews realize they are all "in it to win". If one crew member
is slacking or injured others will either jump in to help or
administer a "wake-up" call. Teamwork on a crab boat isn't a goal or method...it's survival! I love how proud the crewmen are of their "colors". The highest honor for a rookie crewman is to receive a jacket with the ships logo on it that he can wear when he returns home. I love how every crewman strives to be great at their particular "station" so that the team can have a good catch. I also love that even though the captain sets the course for the ship from high above the deck, he receives a "share" in the catch just like the other crewman. Finally, (and I could go on...I really dig this program) I love that they constantly "keep score"! You will never find a crab fisherman on the Bering Sea who does not know how many crab they are catching and what they are worth. Every crewman realizes that they are paid to catch crab...not be on a boat, wear a rain suit, or talk about fishing. They are crab fishermen....and the most important thing to them, way more important than their physical comfort and safety, is that they are "on the crab".

We are currently looking for Launch Team Members. Launch team members are not "board members" or "committee members" or "steering team members"! The qualifications of a launch team members are actually very much like the crewmen on a crab boat in the Bering Sea! We are looking for men and women who understand the extreme value of the lives of our neighbors in York county. People who are willing to risk their own "comfort and safety" of being a "church goer/member"to save the lives of our neighbors and friends with the Good News of Jesus. We are looking for people who would be proud to wear the actionchurch "colors". People who will put their own "issues" aside to work as a team. We are looking for optimistic, entrepreneurial men and women who see declining church attendance as an opportunity for a "ship" who will go out to the dangerous and cold waters of our culture where the "big catch" is to be found. Most of all, we are looking for men and women who believe a place like actionchurch is needed in York county...and have the courage to do something about it!

Interested? Does this sound like your kind of adventure? For more info email: info@actionchurch.com

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Mathew 4:19

Film maker wanted.

Like everybody else in America, I watched Idol last night. Daughtry Rocked and Jordan will win. In the words of Forrest Gump, "That's about all I got to say about that".

I did stick around to watch "On the Lot" which came on after idol because I am fascinated with amateur film making. Obviously, the technology is here and affordable enough to now make really amazing short films...with nothing but a digital camera and a laptop. I have a gut feeling that having great film at church will become (over the next 5-10 years) nearly as important as having a great Band in communicating with the "new to church" crowd.

So, are you an amateur film maker wanting to do something that will matter for all eternity? Can you imagine your art telling "the" Story. Making people laugh? Making people cry? actionchurch is looking for someone with the talent, equipment, and calling to digitally communicate truth and hope to York County and the world. Is it you? Do you know someone? If so, we'd like to hear from you. info@actionchurch.com