It’s officially been a week since I began my journey as a Lake Pointe staffer. Throughout the past five days, and even beyond that - throughout the past two months of communicating with them - I have been amazed by some things you don’t typically see, working in a church.

Below, are some of those things that have been consistently communicated in many avenues.

Prayer: Call me Captain Obvious, or even puritanical and idealistic, but a focus on prayer should be central and at the forefront of a church staff. (You think?) From my first conversation with Wes & Christina back in February which started out with prayer - to the time today as a staff walking and praying over the worship center for the people coming in over Easter, prayer has intentionally been made an obvious priority. Each month there is an Elder and Staff focus on prayer (April is for marriages to be strengthened) and a weekly list is published for the entire church to use.

Reaching Out: I realize every local church has different ways and means of reaching different people. Something that Chris & I personally believe in supporting is global missions. Lake Pointe has close to (if not over) 100 global missions trips available for people to serve on. A considerable amount of the money people give is sent out to help others in a variety of different ways.

Using your gifts & passions: Whenever I started interviewing, I asked for a job description. Wes said there really wasn’t one, but that we’d sit down and go over my strengths AND my passions and see where they led. If they fit in, great - but if not - there are other opportunities to use them, whatever they are. And sure enough, after some discussion we found working the media content creator position wasn’t the primo fit. So, they connected me with their communications director and here I am today. At first, I thought maybe that was just Wes’ philosophy for his team, but after talking to other people in other departments, it’s just the way it works. They know people’s passions, dreams, and strengths develop and even change and they realize in order for someone to be most effective, it’s best to put them in that perfect place. Many people who work there now have shifted through other positions and their responsibilities have changed as they have grown not only professionally, but spiritually as well.

TRUE Community: I say TRUE because we all know what it’s like to be in forced community. Where you have to join a small group or Bible study out of obligation to avoid feeling guilty. The first example of this was the Super Bowl party Chris & I attended when we were down here the first time, back in February. Everyone accepted us with open arms (and lots of food - technically, Lake Pointe is Baptist you know…) and we felt free to be ourselves. Everyone I’ve met is casual and laid back and there is no hoity-toity or “fake nice” pretense lingering on my perception tastebuds. Even after we had said no to moving here initially, the media team (staff AND volunteers) kept in touch faithfully without any expectation that we’d even see them again. The communications team (there are 7 of us between full time & part time) hangs out and has fun in the office and outside too. Going out to lunch (or even just eating in together) is common. Kim (a designer) asked if we wanted to go play old school BINGO Friday night. Everyone is great!

I’m sure some of you are thinking I’m still living in the idealistic world of Lake Pointe, only breathing in the good stuff to get my high - that I’m infatuated and sleeping in the honeymoon suite. And while maybe some of it is true, the newness of the job and people are refreshing and inspiring, I grew up a preacher’s kid, I’ve worked in churches or para-church organizations, and I’ve visited friends who work in churches. Each church is always a little different in the vibe they project and I can honestly say not one time in my experience here have I felt uncomfortable or unable to be myself, and that is not a common thing. Usually I’m overly concerned and protective of getting hurt or what people think of me.

Sure, Lake Pointe has its faults and blemishes and room to improve - but so do I, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities they have give Chris and me to heal, grow, learn, screw up and succeed - all for one great purpose.

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2. pretty church - messy church
3. i can’t stand my perry noble post!
4. how to lead a tribe (part 2)
5. how to lead a tribe (part 1)
6. next year could eat me* for lunch (*or you)