There is a phenomenon called “CHURCH HOPPING” that is quickly growing  in many places. Church hoppers are notorious for seeking the next big high in town. They want more entertainment.  They want you to do more for them. As long as you give them what they want, they will reward you with their attendance.

So to appeal to church hoppers, you need excitement built on entertainment. If you can’t afford the musicians or your preaching is not popular enough then this may be a problem… You may have to spend all your feria (money)in bringing in the BIG GUNS! (speakers) 

But filling up the church is the point…right?

So how do you do it?

1. DON’T ASK FOR ACCOUNTABIBLITY in the church. Nothing causes church hoppers to run more than having to be accountable. Don’t hold people to anything. Don’t expect them to live differently than their non-Christian neighbors. Don’t preach about holy living.

2. DON’T ASK PEOPLE TO GIVE. Church Hoppers will run when asked to do something for someone else other than themselves. Do not ask for their money because their heart is very much attached to it. Oh and please do not ask them to give of their time and participate in church activities cause they just like to watch the show from afar.

3. DON’T BE SPIRIT FILLED INSTEAD BE ENTERTAINMENT FILLED. Do not ask them to pray, fast or read the bible that is a big no no! Only tell them that all they have to do is come  to church. Tell them that is good enough for God. Do not preach the cross only give them motivational messages and good stories. Entertain them and they will stay!

Do these things and you might be able to compete for church hoppers. They will come from the other churches around the city to yours. You will be able to report massive growth. You will have a church full of members that simply changed the place where they consume their religious entertainment. But you just wanted to put “butts in the seats”….right?….

YOU SEE CHURCH HOPPERS ARE:

1. CRITCAL CONSUMERS. “As consumers we reserve the right to pass judgment on the products and services we use, and the companies that service us begin to cater to our demands. ‘The customer is always right mentality.

That may work well at McDonald’s, but in a church it undermines the authority of the Word of God and the leaders God has called to represent Him. We do not go to a particular church to decide whether that church is doing everything right, but to hear from God and humbly find out where we went wrong that week in our own lives and what we need to do to make it right.”

2. INVISIBLE SPECTATORS. “Church-hopping turns you into only a number. A statistic. When you’re shopping around, you never stay in one place long enough to know anybody or be known. We like this because we have gotten into a habit of being anonymous in our culture. Church-hopping helps protect anonymity we already possess, and it keeps us alone.” Not allowing people to get close to us for fear that they might find out who we really are.  Revealing the weaknesses in our lives. 

3.CAROUSEL RIDERS They simply go round and round from church to church avoiding the truth of God’s word when it begines deal with the areas in their lives. God begins to deal with sin, serving, and surrendering things in their lives through the leadership of the church and they run to the next church. Avoiding the call of God. They dont want commitment, they want to be comfortable. They dont want to sacrafice they want live the sweet life acording to the eyes of the world. (Luke 18:18-23)

SO BE CAREFUL about receiving those who “hop” your way. When church hoppers hop your way and gush praise all over you (while criticizing their former church), it’s often only a matter of time before they leave your Church with the same critical attitude.  Don’t be surprised when your people leave to the newest big church in the city.

MAYBE…we should preach the word in season and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:2) Maybe we should trust that the Word  will not come back void. (Isaiah 55:11) Maybe we should seek to bring people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ…and this might grow our church to a large size…but then again it may not…but in the end, God will have given us the honor and priveledge to be  a part of God’s  Kingdom that is not based in entertainment or lack of accountability, but is based on the transforming power of  THE CROSS. Maybe we should grow a church not by putting on entertainment but by preaching the truth. For it is the truth that sets people free! (John 8:32)

So maybe we should ask ourselves this question? 

Is our church really growing with new souls or simply just attracting church hoppers?

Church-Hoppers remember this advice, “If you find a perfect church, don’t join it because you’ll ruin it.” lol

I hope you enjoyed this!

Have a blessed day everybody!

SO MANY TIMES WE DESIRE SUCCESS SO BAD THAT WE BEGIN TO LOOK FOR EVERY AVENUE AND TIP THAT WE CAN GET SO THAT WE CAN SEE OUR MINISTRIES GROW. WE BUY ALL THE BOOKS WE CAN GET, WE GO TO ALL THE SEMINARS AND WE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR US TO EXPERIENCE THAT GROWTH AND SUCCESS THAT WE DESIRE. HOWEVER THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF OUR MINISTRIES WILL NOT DEPEND ON HOW MUCH WE KNOW OR HOW MUCH WE DO. INSTEAD IT WILL DEPEND ON 1. DO WE  KNOW GOD EVERY DAY AND 2 . HOW MUCH DO WE LET HIM DO FOR US RATHER THAN HOW MUCH WE DO FOR HIM! GOD IS ALL POWERFUL AND IS ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING HIMSELF. HE DOESNT NEED US BUT RATHER WE NEED HIM!

AM I SAYING THAT YOU SHOULDNT SEEK TO GROW AND BE SUCCESSFUL? NO THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM SAYING AT ALL.  WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT MANY TIMES WE SPEND MORE TIME SEEKING AND TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN OURSELVES AND WE SEEK THE WORK OF THE LORD RATHER THAN SEEKING THE LORD OF THE WORK.

REMEMBER THESE 2 SCRIPTURES AS YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR JOURNEY!

JOHN 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

PSALMS 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city,
       the watchmen stand guard in vain.

LETS NOT FORGET ABOUT HIM. HERE ARE 3 KEYS TO SEE YOUR MINISTRY GROW!

1. SEEK THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. PRAY AND SEEK TO KNOW HIM.

2. HAVE FAITH AND LEARN TO TRUST HIM.

3. LEARN TO WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING AND NOT YOUR OWN. THE HARVEST WILL COME IN HIS TIME! 

4. BE PATIENT AND DONT GET AHEAD OF GOD, RATHER LET GOD GO BEFORE YOU!

5. DONT LOOSE FOCUS ON WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO WITH YOUR MINISTRY. DONT WORRY ABOUT HOW GREAT ANOTHER MINISTRY IS AND TRY TO BE LIKE THEM. INSTEAD KEEP YOUR EYES ON GOD AND HEAR GOD’S VOICE FOR YOUR MINISTRY AND THE DIRECTION HE WANTS TO TAKE YOU.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS THAT GOD HAS SHOWN ME THROUGH OUT THE YEARS. I HOPE YOU ARE BLESSED!

PASTOR ERIC

2. Miguel Benitez (Pastor of Alcance Victoria San Ysidro)

3. Al Valdez (Pastor of Victory Outreach Church of San Diego)

4. Jentezen Franklin (Pastor of Free Chapel)

5. T.D. Jakes (Pastor of The Potter’s House)

LAST NIGHT WAS A LIFE CHANGING NIGHT FOR OUR YOUTH! WE HAD A SPECIAL GUEST BAND ALL THE WAY FROM MAZATLAN SINALOA! IT WAS MORE LIKE A CONCERT BUT WOW! WHAT A CONCERT! EVERY SONG THAT WAS SUNG HAD SUCH A POWERFUL ANOINTING OVER IT.

YOUNG PEOPLE WERE NOT JUST ENTERTAINED AND EXCITED BUT THEY WERE REALLY MINISTERED TO. THEIR NEEDS WERE MET! ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL SONGS HAD TO DO WITH WHEN WE FEEL ALONE AND THAT NOBODY LIKES US AND HOW THAT BRINGS ABOUT  THOUGHTS OF ENDING OUR LIVES! THIS SONG SPOKE ABOUT HOW GREAT GOD’S LOVE IS THAT THE OCEANS STAY IN THEIR PLACE JUST FOR US, HOW THE STARS STAY IN THEIR PLACE JUST FOR US, AND IT REMINDED THE US THAT WHEN WE FEEL THAT NO ONE LOVES WE MUST REMEMBER THAT GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE DIED FOR US!

DURING THAT SONG THE LEAD SINGER MADE A SPECIAL  ALTER CALL FOR THOSE THAT AT ONE TIME HAD THOUGHT ABOUT ENDING THEIR LIFE. THE RESPONSE WAS SO HEART BREAKING BECAUSE THEIR WERE MANY. GOD PERSONALY BROKE ME RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT. THE BURDEN THAT WAS IN MY HEART FOR THIS GENERATION JUST GOT DEEPER! IT WAS JUST A POWERFUL NIGHT! THE PRESENCE OF GOD WAS THERE! I KNOW  THAT THE LIVES OF THE YOUTH AND MINE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!

Matt. 18:23-35

Does everyone deserve Forgiveness? Is there a limit to what God can forgive? Does God have the power to forgive us no matter what we have done?

Forgiveness is so important that ….. Without it there is no hope!  Without it there is no Christianity! Without it we are condemned to die.

You see the bible tells us that we have all sinned and that the wages of our sin is death! That means that every sinner has a large debt to pay to death! The problem is that this debt is so big that not even all the money in the world could pay our way out. This debt could only be paid by with blood! This is why Christ poured out his own blood on the cross for us! So that we would not pay the ultimate price of death!

Well I have NEVER sinned some can say! So lets play the guilty or innocent game! Are you ready? The bible says that sin is an offense against the law of God. So check it out! If your good in all of these areas than you don’t need forgiveness!

1.’You shall have no other gods before Me.‘

2. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image.”

 3.’You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.‘ 

4.’Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.‘

5.’Honor your father and your mother.‘

6.’You shall not murder.‘

7.’You shall not commit adultery.‘

8.’You shall not steal.‘

9.’You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.‘

10.’You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.‘

Are you still feeling innocent? I thought you wouldn’t! We have all sinned and fallen from God, this is why we need forgiveness.

To experience the Power of Forgiveness you must first………..

1. RECEIVE IT (Matt. 18:23-27)

No matter what you’ve done you can receive it thru Jesus Christ!

A. Redemption

B. Reconciliation 

2. GIVE IT (Matt 18: 28-35)

      The Power of Forgiveness is not only experienced when you receive it but when you give it!

A. Compassion

B. Mercy

C. Grace

 3. EMBRACE IT

When we don’t forgive ourselves and others, some things are born and begin to take place in our hearts.

 We have all hurt and been hurt! We’ve either hurt God with our sin and need FORGIVENESS or someone has hurt us and we need to FORGIVE. What ever the case maybe, the POWER OF FORGIVENESS can change your life if you allow it!

 Nothing will ever be more powerful than the words that where once said over 2000 years ago from a cross. 

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do”

 Have a blessed Day

Pastor Eric

HEY WHATS UP G.A.N.G. ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE CITY!

WOW! WHAT A POWERFUL SERVICE WE HAD ON WEDNESDAY. GOD IGNITED US TO SERVE HIM WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, MIND AND STRENGTH. THE LORD CHALLENGED US TO BE  A PART OF THE CORE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HE WANTS TO USE TO REACH THE HURTING YOUTH OF OUR CITIES. WE WILL REFUSE TO BE JUST ONE MORE OF THE CROWD! WE WILL NOT ONLY BE EXPECTATORS BUT WE  WILL BE PARTAKERS OF WHAT GOD WILL DO THIS YEAR IN OUR YOUTH MINISTRY. WE ARE READY AND WILLING!

THE CORE AND THE CROWD.

1.  The CROWD followed the signs and miracles but the CORE followed JESUS.

2. The CROWD followed to receive the CORE followed to give! (John 6:2)

3. The CROWD saw difficulty but the CORE saw opportunity! (John 6:5-9)

4.The CROWD sat down but the CORE served! (John 6:10)

 5.The CROWD leaves after its all done but the CORE stays behind! (John 6:12)

THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF OUR YOUTH MINISTRIES IS WITHIN OUR HANDS! IT WILL DEPEND ON US! WILL WE BE PART OF THE CROWD OR WILL WE BE PART OF THE CORE AND BEGIN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HURTING YOUNG PEOPLE?

THE POWER OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU! WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT?

(Eph 3 :20 )

Pastor Eric

JESUS IS THE IMMOVABLE ROCK, HE’S THE ONLY WAY! AND HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED!
 
AS WE BUILD OUR FOUNDATION WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE MUST BUILD WITH 

1.      THE RIGHT MATERIALS (1 Cor 3:12)

A.     PRAYER

B.     THE WORD OF GOD

2.      PAY THE RIGHT PRICE AND DON’T BE CHEAP  (1 Cor 3:13)

A.     SACRIFICE

B.     SERVICE 

3.      ADDITUDE OF FAITH. (Matt 7:24)

A.     BUILD FOR THE STORM

B.     BUILD FOR THE FUTURE

“LETS KEEP ON BUILDING!!!!!” 

God Bless

Pastor Eric