Sunday, Sunday, Sunday – Jason Hirsch

I never would’ve imagined 3 years ago, sitting in the chair I’m sitting in.  I’ve now been the pastor of www.EpicChurchlv.org for 3 years, and I could make a list of highs & lows.  I won’t, but I can say that God has been faithful in building and growing me.  I’m buckling up for what seems to be a bumpy ride ahead.  Not sure what that means???

Sunday, I’m giving a state of affairs address to the church.  I hope you can come out to listen and pray with me.  Because of the nature of what I’ll be addressing, we’ll not video & post the service.      www.EpicChurchlv.org is going to need some miracles in this new decade if we’re going to move forward, and advance the Kingdom of God in Las Vegas & the world.  I’ve never in all my years of ministry faced such a leadership challenge.  People facing foreclosure, job-losses, relocations, business being cut in half, etc…  All I can say is my Father loves the impossible.  He loves emerging, and showing us His faithfulness when things seem bleak.

www.EpicChurchlv.org we need God to show up and show us His direction for our future.  What will that be?  Not entirely sure yet!!  I’m brimming with anticipation, and hopeful.  Yet…….I’ve done everything I’ve known to do, now God has to do His part.  What is that??  I have no idea!!! Church….hold on – Sunday’s coming!!!

Merry Christmas – Past – Present – Future – Jason Hirsch

I love waking up before the entire family.   There’s something very tranquil about a silent house on Christmas morning.  The presents are all wrapped, and the stockings are hung and filled.  No fire-place, so we hang them on the banister going upstairs.  It works!!  I’m getting to ready to make fresh cinnamon rolls, which is one of many traditions we have on Christmas day.  Good times!

I wish all of you a very merry Christmas!!  As I reflect back over 14 years of ministry, I don’t remember a time when Angel & I have been with our families.  Sometimes it has saddened us, but from the beginning we’ve had a calling to impact lives, love people, and serve the local church’s we’ve pastored.  The church’s we’ve loved and served with, have inevitably become our families.  We don’t regret a day of it!!

To Evangel Assembly of God (Milwaukee, WI) where I youth pastored for 4 years – Merry Christmas to my students, parents of students, and volunteers.  I know you’ve grown up, and I feel really old now, but you’re never forgotten by me.  I love you all – Merry Christmas!!  I will always be in debt to David Arnett (my pastor), for believing in me.  I grew as I served next to Chad Gilligan, David Feltman, Marcy Batty, Darrin Kindle, and Jay Walls.  To the support staff – Marcia Smith, Pat Just (Do it), and Lauren Kuchta, I still pray for so many of you.

To Kenosha First Assembly of God where I was the family life pastor for 7 years – Merry Christmas!!  I thought I was a lifer, but God had other plans.  Other plans doesn’t make it remotely easy, but God’s grace has been sufficient, and His power has been made perfect in my weakness.  I don’t regret one day serving with all of you – I loved being a pastor to many of you.   To Dan Remus, thanks for not only being my pastor, but being my friend.  I don’t know a better man in life – Merry Christmas!!  To the rest of the staff I’ve served with over the years (Kevin Taylor, Mike Shepherd, Mark Dorn, David Duncan, Jim Guilford, Jon Brown, Chris Kliner, Brandon Gregory, Jason Held, Benny Ferguson, Wally Block, Lisa Kurman, Beth Swan, Dave Remus, Paul Blount, Susan Nelson, Troy Tennyson, Duane Bradley, Marge Gunhus, Nancy Marshall, Sylvia Villalobos, Deidre Aguilar, Iva Ostland, Peggy Cherny, Robin Vollendorf, Candi Bryant, Sheri Gunhus, Annette Junak – I think that is everybody???  But wait………Men’s leaders of First A/G – Mark Stofferahn, Ed Roe, Darrell Gunhus, Keith Daugherty, Osmar Aguilar, Scott George, Rob Bilger, Jim Kurman, Todd Thorne, Rob MacPherson – you’re the brotherhood to me.  I’m a different man today, because of you men.  You modeled great leadership, and taught me far more than I could’ve ever taught you.  I love you men as a brother!!!  Merry Christmas!!

To www.EpicChurchlv.org, I never in my wildest dreams would’ve thought I would be a pastor in Las Vegas, NV.  To past & current council and staff, Adam Martin, Debbie Wolford, Ryan Ford, Dave Read, Craig Zorger, Gail Key, Terry Steffen, Mickie DeVera, Noel Lutz, Misty Yoon, Billy & Esther Cho, Mike & Nicole Chapman, Troy & Sarah Hoover, David & Mikal Denny, Mike & LeeAnn Smith, Shatha Uebler, John & Valerie Zeller, Chris & Melanie La Rue, Josh & Alison Brown.  Merry Christmas!  Thanks for your love and kindness to my family.  Transitioning from Wisconsin to Vegas hasn’t been easy, but you’ve become our family.  Thank you!  I look forward to the journey ahead, and can’t wait to see how God is going to work through all of us.  I love being your pastor!!!  Keep your eyes focused on Christ, because there’s much work to be done – lets roll!!!

Lastly, I pray God will exceed your wildest dreams in 2010.  Your Father has no limits, and He loves to love on His kids.  Merry Christmas!!

Going to open presents with my children now!!

Jingle Bells – Jason Hirsch

The other night www.EpicChurchlv.org hosted our annual Christmas party.  It was fun, and I was roasted.  Hey, it’s all good, paybacks are great!!!:)  Our Lead Youth Minister  Chris La Rue finished the night out with a little team competition (unbeknown to me).  Each table had to write a song about me, to the tune of Jingle Bells.

Here’s the winner:

Jason Hirsch, Jason Hirsch, pastor of our church.  He’s the bomb, so is the mom of the family Hirsch – Hey!!

Everywhere he goes, he spreads the Christmas cheer, to everyone in need 365 a year.

So if you need some socks, a shirt, some pants, a clock, just twitter Jason from your phone and he will help you rock!

Note: No need to read any other songs written, because it was all about my hair.  Sunday I’m coming in bald!!!:)

Thanks www.EpicChurchlv.org family for the laughs.  I love being your pastor!

Reach A Man #3 – Jason Hirsch

I continue the dialogue about reaching men in our culture.   Not an easy thing to do, and the idea has raised many questions from some of you.  If you read my prior posts, it will give you a little insight into this one.

I have come to the conclusion, that Christ-Centered men must first train and equip the men in their sphere of influence, before God will bring more men for them to equip and train.  The idea is:  Be faithful in the little things first!!  Do you agree?

I was asked:  ”What is the definition of manhood?”  My answer:  ”Christ-likeness & Manhood are synonymous!”  You can be a 17-year-old man if you’re living for Christ, but on the flip side, you can be a 50-year-old boy, if you never grow to become like Jesus.

I was asked:  ”Who is allowing us to define manhood today?”  Good question!  The local church should, and the source should be the gospels, and men should be leading the charge.  Jesus defined manhood by His life!  At 12 he was awing leaders, and becoming a man.

I was asked:  ”Clarify  intentionality of ministry to men?”  My answer:  Making sure whatever process you put in place for men, is ultimately about pointing them to Christ, and building them to love and obey their heavenly Father, and ultimately become like God’s Son – Jesus.

I was asked:  ”How do we know that progress is being made in ministry to men & what are the signs that we should expect to see in this progress?”  Good questions!  My answer: It takes time, but ultimately the fruits of the Spirit working in the man will come forth.  Strong marriages, strong children, strong church’s, strong businesses, etc….  It’s fruit that is the ultimate sign of progress, advancement, and growth!!   That is tangible, but time will be the judge.  Remember, we never should stop growing spiritually, and that goes for everyone!!

So……if men are one of the least reached people groups in North America?  If men are the hardest to reach people groups?  If most men would rather send their spouse and children to church than attend?  If the church has directly or indirectly feminized men/chickified men, etc…., hence giving men the impression that they have to live in a certain religious box, be held in a certain mold, do things a certain way? Then why haven’t so many church’s moved to change the stigma that men feel the church has put on them, especially if reaching men, impacts the whole family??

Here’s the model I’ve worked in, and continue to use for launching a ministry to men in the local church.  I’ll give it in bullet points, but feel free to ask questions!!  Nothing new under the sun!!

1.  I intentionally take a year to disciple a core group of men that are growing in Christ.  The primary purpose is leadership training and character formation!!

2.  I retreat for a weekend with the men to begin the year together.  The retreat builds trust, develops commoradorie, and ultimately lays a foundation that will be built upon in the years ahead, if the men won’t quit.  So many men like to quit – Eagles Soar!!!

3.  After a year with a group of about 10-12 men, I learn who’s committed, and who’s not.  No judgement, just reality!  That has always stood true!  Those that remain, and have been faithful to the process, ultimately become the core group of leaders in launching a ministry to men.  If you try to launch a ministry to men prematurely, without the process working itself out, you’ll sabotage the whole deal, because it takes time with men to build trust.

4.  In my situations, I’ve always looked for a faithful man to take the helm and lead the charge.  I won’t throw out names, but you know who you are that has been faithful, and your reward is great!  It has been a pleasure serving Christ with these leaders, and I don’t regret a day of it.  Always remember though,  who you choose to lead is critical to a successful ministry to men.  ”Everything rises and falls on leadership!”  I know, I know, that cliché is over used, but I still like it!!!:)

5.  Once you’ve spent a year in training, found the faithful men, and  identified a leader, you’re now positioned to officially launch a ministry to men.  Get ready!!

But there has to be more?? There is!!  Next post!!

Reach A Man #2 – Jason Hirsch

16 hour day yesterday.  Dirt =  me right now!  I have no idea why I’m blogging.  Here’s a tip that you need rest:  When you’ve had 4 morning cups of coffee and could crawl back into bed and sleep for another 6 hours.  I’m hoping cup #5 will catapult me into mental alertness.  Crossing my fingers!!:)

“Reach A Man – Change The World!”

I asked a few questions the other day:  1. How should the local church reach men in our current culture?  2. How can the church really impact men?  3. Why doesn’t the church put a greater emphasis on equipping men, and raising up male leaders?  I honestly believe the future of major impact church’s, hinge on answering, and moving to execute the answers to the above questions.  Why?  ”Reach A Man – Change The World!”  I didn’t design it, but God’s divine order has always been for men to love, and lead their families in the model that Jesus gave us when He came to earth.  It doesn’t get much clearer!  Men, we’re to love our wives, lead our families and others, by serving them.  Simple huh?!

“Servership” (Servant Leadership, ultimately rooted in God’s love), is what God is desiring from his adopted sons, and I think the local church has to move to equip those sons (men), in this area.  When men love by serving as God intended, everything will change.  Agree?

So what is currently being designed @ www.EpicChurchlv.org is a ministry to men.  Very different from a men’s ministry!  How?   Men’s ministries are men serving, having b-fasts, doing events, etc……(Not wrong, but not the ultimate goal).  On the flip side, a ministry to men is about building the man.   Building men up emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially, etc.  I’ve seen men’s ministries over the years, some have been good, some bad, but so many of them keep men busy, without really growing the man.  I guess I would describe so many men’s ministries as having motion without intentionality.  Motion without intentionality is like running on a treadmill.  You’re in motion on a treadmill, but your not going anywhere.  That may work for exercise, but in life, with our families, and particularly the kingdom of God, that can be devastating to be continually headed to no-where.  No-where doesn’t exist!  Life always leads to a destination, whether good, bad, or indifferent, but time never stops, and your life is always moving towards something, the question is, what?

So for us to reach men, we’ve come to the understanding that we must first move to intentional motion, by training & equipping the existing men that we have.  If we can’t equip those we have, why would God entrust us with more men?  That statement stands true for local church’s in general as well.  Why would God entrust a local church with more and more people, if they don’t make disciples of those they’re currently ministering to?   Just a thought!  Be faithful in the little things!

The first step towards www.EpicChurchlv.org reaching men, is to train & equip the existing men.  How should we do that?  What should that look like?

I have more for you, but I’ll need 8 cups of coffee tomorrow to get me off the treadmill, and onto the road.:)

Reach A Man – Jason Hirsch

If you read my prior post about the local church and how I said “It’s all about the kids!”, what I’m about to say is going to sound contradictory.  ”Reach A Man – You Change The World!”  Please ladies reading this, don’t take offense.  I’m not saying that women don’t bring impact, make major changes in our culture, do huge exploits, etc….., because so many women do.  I’m saying, if the local Christian Church reach men where they are, statistics are off the charts on how those men bring change to their marriages, families, and workplaces.  Why is that?

Have you been to a local church lately?  Ever noticed the amount of women that attend without  a man?  Ever noticed a woman bringing in children, but her husband is not with her?  Now on the flip-side, ever noticed how many men are solo?  Few, very few!  Why?  Because if a man attends a local church, his better half usually attends with him, and the kids by in large follow his lead.  So many wives will find a local church, and even plug their kids into the programs, but so many husbands/fathers don’t have time for organized religion.  How come?  If statistics are right, that if we reach a man, we reach the whole family, then why aren’t men in the center of  the local church’s radar screens?  It makes sense if Jesus died for all, and the local church wants to reach the whole family, that it would become far more intentional about reaching out to men, doesn’t it?

So………why is it so hard to impact men & what should local church’s do about it?

Here’s a thought:

Maybe the box the local church has put men in for so many years is a wrong one?  What do I mean?  The church for so many people, and it seems primarily men, has become irrelevant.  So many men understand the local church to be singing, preaching, and then a tap into their pocket books.  If that was my understanding of all my heavenly father wanted from me, I think I would be underwhelmed.  I wouldn’t object to my kids attending church, and my spouse (granted she doesn’t give away the farm when the offering basket is passed), but I have bigger dreams, visions, and passions than singing, listening, and giving.  How about you?  I’m not saying women are content with the above either, I’m just saying more men aren’t!

Are you also saying the local church needs to stop singing, preaching, and giving?  No!  Those things aren’t wrong, or unnecessary, but when they’re the primary/only mode for which the local church attempts to impact men, then you might as well turn on ESPN in the lobby, and I’ll join them.   To get a man to sit for one hour, sing, and give, so much more has to take place.  Why?  It’s just the way most men are wired.  We’ll sit, sing, listen, give, etc……, but for that to be important to us men, you better empower, equip, educate, challenge, and do so much more outside the corporate gathering, otherwise the testosterone level in your corporate gathering will be non-existent.

So how do we reach men?  How do we impact them?  Those are huge questions, considering marriages, families, businesses, towns, cities, states, nations, and the world, hinge on the local church finding answers to those questions.  If the local church is the hope of the world, and our heavenly Father divinely appointed men to lead and model His example in marriage, fathering, and leadership, then the time is now to start reaching men, right?  ”Reach A Man – You Change The World!”  But how do you/we do that??

Tomorrow I”ll give you some strategic answers to the above questions, but I’m curious what you think?

It’s All About The Kids! – Jason Hirsch

If life is but a breath like the bible says, than impacting children and youth is an absolute essential.  Jesus even said His kingdom is filled with people who have the faith of children.  Studies have shown that a person’s personality, potential, practices, etc….can all be traced back to the developmental & impressionable years.  When are those years?  Primarily after birth, and before 18 years old.  I’m not going to get into psychological jargon or dialogue, because so many of you are far more equipped at breaking down every segment from birth to 18 years old, that I’m out of my league.  I’m just trying to make a point.  What is it?  ”It’s all About The Kids!”

Smart leaders of nations have known, and do know that if you want to change culture, impact the future, and ultimately lead a nation/s in a certain direction, you have to impact the kids.  Likewise, followers of Christ, otherwise known as the Church, particularly its leaders, have to put kids (Infants -18) on the center of their radar screens.  Why?  Because if you don’t impact them now, they will impact you later!  If history has stood true, and it does, our values, beliefs, practices, etc…,are a generation away from extinction.   Good leaders have to know the way, show the way, and go the way that they desire the future generations to go.  We only have a window of opportunity (18 years or less), to be exact.  Time is ticking away!!

So what do we do if the above statements are true?  Ask yourself the following 2 questions, and then set course and direction accordingly.

1.  What do I believe?  If you have strong beliefs, than teach them! First in your home, than in the environments that you find yourself leading in.  This is primarily cognitive and very necessary.  Knowledge, particularly biblical knowledge is essential for our kids.  They’ll believe in something, the question is, will it be truth rooted in God’s word, or will it be cultural whims?  If it’s all about the kids, then what are we teaching them to believe?  What do you believe?

2.  What do I value?  Values are always tied to belief, and are inseparable.  You must first believe, to value, and then your values will drive your practices.  Values move you from knowledge to action.  If you claim a value, but action doesn’t follow it, it probably isn’t a value of yours.   If it’s all about the kids, then check your values at the door, and make sure you’re practicing them.   Teaching is huge and necessary, but values are both taught, brought, and caught.  What will our kids be catching through our values?

If you were to ask me what I have planned for the local church?  I will tell you, “It’s All About The Kids!”   Why, because I’m here today and gone tomorrow! So……..I believe that kids matter, and I will be giving www.Epicchurchlv.org a glimpse of that Sunday A.M..  You’ll also see this belief that, “It’s All About The Kids”, exhibited in values that will be practiced in homes, work environments,  & corporate church gatherings of Christ followers that attend www.EpicChurchlv.org.  If you’re a part of an, “It’s All About The Kids” culture, you’ll eventually see the fruit of your beliefs and values, that will change generations of kids for years to come.   Ponder that!!

Want to know the future of www.EpicChurchlv.org?  ”It’s All About The Kids!”

Everything Rises & Falls On Leadership- Jason Hirsch

Don’t underestimate the value of quality service & products, which ultimately rises and falls on leadership.  I ate at a new restaurant today, and was underwhelmed.   I like trying new places, and this place over-projected its quality service and product and under-produced its quality service and product.  In a day of over-saturated everything, quality service & product is a must or you’ll get shut down.  I give this place…………6 months at best.  Bummer, but a reality!   Quality service & product is everything in our free market culture, and it all rises and falls on leadership.   FYI – This is not a spiritual post, and I’m not tying the local church to this post, even though I could.  I’m just giving you some food for thought about quality service, product, and leadership.  It’s my assessment of what I saw, and maybe you can apply it to some area of your life, or work.

If everything rises and falls on leadership, then this restaurant is plummeting.  Here’s why!!

1.  The place could maybe seat 40 people at best, and the table they sat me at was dirty.   Clean is always much better!!

2.  Ordered my food & waited for about 5 minutes before utensils arrived after the food.  Utensils are always a good thing, unless of course you’re eating finger food.  It almost turned into that.   I was hungry!

3.   Toast!   I was told I would receive toast with my lunch.  After 2 tries, I finally connected with the owner, and my toast arrived.  He apologized, and I honestly was not bent out of shape.   I’ve been in much worse environments, and have learned to just be thankful for food, so I error on the side of graciousness.  Trust me!  Still, in the good ol USA, people aren’t as patient as I can be. For some, service like that would be a deal breaker.

4.   The place reeked of grease, the floor was greasy, and my food was greasier.   I don’t think I’ve had a worse brunch in a long time.  I choked down my meal.  Rough!

What’s the point?  Dirty, slow, utensiless, toastless, tasteless, grease-bomb environments, have about a 1 in 1000 shot at making it.   It’s a quality and product issue, but I think it’s more closely tied to leadership.  The 3 are probably all interwoven, but I don’t think you can have quality service and product without effective leadership.  I  also don’t think the owner is banking on bankruptcy, but if his leadership doesn’t rise, the place will close.   I’ve watched 7 restaurant funerals occur in the last year.  How can we help these places?  I see it, everyone else sees it, how come the owners can’t?  I feel bad for him, so what would you suggest I do?  Not return and let the chips fall where they may?  Return and have a terrible meal without a word?  Talk to the owner and share some insights that just might help him keep his doors open?  What would you do?  Just curious!!

Networking – Jason Hirsch

I have to admit I’m not a great networker when it comes to people connections, and I would probably be dubbed a bad networker to tell you the truth.  Now, that doesn’t mean that I don’t call people, have coffee, hang out at socials, etc….., but I have to intentionally force myself to step out of my shell of internalization, and connect with other leaders, and particularly pastors.  Weird huh!!

The reason I say the above is, because I’m going to a ministers Christmas party tonight, so it got me thinking.  Is it really necessary to do such things?  That is, network with others in your profession/calling/line of work/etc…??  Even though I would rather be doing something else (no offense to the pastors & spouses I’m meeting with tonight), I do believe networking is a valuable thing for all of us.  Why?

1.  It gets you thinking about people other than yourself.

2.  It gives you a chance to find out the successes and failures of others, and hopefully learn from them.   That only works if the people you network with are truly authentic people.  Ask a ton of questions to make this point work.

3.  It gives you a chance to share your ideas with others that may be looking for some help.

4.  It gives spouses a chance to get engaged with people in your profession.  Team work makes the dream work, and I’m a huge advocate of taking our spouses on the journey, even if they aren’t directly involved in the day-to-day tasks of what we do.

5.  A good networking meeting usually has good food involved.  I couldn’t resist!:) Who cares?!

6.  Somebody always knows somebody else, and I’ve heard it said “You’re always only one person away from success.”  If that’s true, then networking has to take place, and I’m always looking for divine appointments because of what God has called me to do.

7.  Networking for me has led to life-long friendships.  I would never be where I am today, if it wasn’t for a few people I met while doing some networking.  I know it was a God thing, but He also asks us to step up and out and do our part as well.  I did, and have reaped the fruit of it.

8.  Money has to be brought up, because out of networking I’ve seen thousands of dollars come to the table.  Sometimes on my behalf, and sometimes vice versa.  But you never know?  Take that however you want!!

9.  One of my primary gifts is encouragement, so I look for opportunities to encourage the discouraged.   A word of encouragement can carry me for weeks!

10. Laughter!!  Laughter is medicine for the human soul, and I always try to bring it to the table when I’m networking with others.  Tell a joke, it just might catch on?!

Any additions??

Non-Negotiables – Jason Hirsch

Non – Negotiables?  Is that grammatically correct?  I guess it is now!!:)

I’ve had multiple conversations this past week & weekend.  They revolved around serving & leadership.  “Servership!”   I think you can serve without leading, but I don’t think you should ever lead without a servant’s heart.  In fact, what renders you a much more effective leader is, that you model servitude in the midst of your leadership.

The longer I live there are two non-negotiables that I look for in leaders or potential leaders.  I do look for more, but these two particularly stick out to me, and if they don’t get modeled pretty quick with people I serve with & lead with…….game over!!!

What are they?

Teachability = Someone who will never know it all.  A person who takes time to listen to others regardless of their status. A person that will process what others say, and determine if what they’ve learned or heard is something they should take to heart and apply.    If you aren’t willing to listen to others, learn from them, and even affirm that what they said is good and right, you might as well pack your bags for frustration island, because people won’t follow your leadership very long.  Maybe you’ve wondered why your leadership hasn’t been that effective?  Are you teachable, willing to take criticism, be put into check, and not get offended?  If not, ask your heavenly Father to change your heart, because teachability is the #1 thing I look for in perspective leaders.  Are you teachable?

Love For Others = You place a value on others over the project, plan, or things that need to get done.  You value others, not for what they do, but for who’s  they are.  Your heavenly Father’s!!  I don’t care how competent you are, I would rather take a C- producer, who values & loves others, over an A+ producer that doesn’t love and value people.  If you don’t love and value people, you’ll eventually be taking a long, lonely walk to nowhere.  Have you have been to nowhere?  It doesn’t exist, and neither will your leadership, if you don’t grow to love others.

Last two  thoughts: 

Teachability doesn’t mean that you listen to everybody’s advice.   It just means you’re willing to listen to anybody, because they just might challenge you & help you grow.  We still have to learn to filter the good advice from the bad.   Teachable people are always looking to grow, and that is what can make them effective leaders, that will ultimately make a huge impact for our heavenly Father’s kingdom.

Love for others doesn’t mean we don’t pursue excellence.  It just means we don’t rail people in our pursuit of it.  We learn to navigate people towards excellence, but do it with honest, authentic dialogue and instruction.  You can still love others and tell them that they’re not doing a good job.  You can still love others, and tell them that they aren’t the right fit for the role they’re in.  Loving people is not lying to people.  Truth, communicated in a life-giving, loving way, won’t always win friends, but I  promise you this, lying never will.  How do you know whether you’re loving people towards excellence in their leadership?  When you can honestly say that your motive for pushing them towards excellence is not for your own ego, but to truly help them become the best employee, leader, volunteer, etc.  Why is that so important?  Because your heavenly Father loves to see His kids excel, and mature brothers and sisters will really try to help their younger siblings prevail.  You can separate loving from leading, but in our Father’s kingdom, the recipe for true effectiveness includes both.