Parkview from another perspective

One of the advantages to getting out of my environment every once in a while, especially for several weeks in the summer, is that you don’t know what you have until your gone. Am I right? How many of you have traveled this summer and been to other churches and just couldn’t wait to get back to Parkview. I mean, I’ve been in great places and with great people. It’s always an encouragement. But this place is special. It’s not because of me, or my family, or any of our staff, or our culture – I truly believe that God is in the house in a special way.

When Paul Williams, my friend and church planting guru from New York, was here a few weeks ago, he sent me this note afterwards:

Tim,

Okay, here is the deal.

Your staff culture is excellent. The environment you have created with the staff is among the best I have seen. There is a great combination of focus on excellence, risk-taking, and fun. What a delight to talk with them.

You have an executive pastor who is great in front of a crowd, is quite personable, and can carry a tune. Has no one told him that if you are an executive pastor, you’re not allowed to be good at any of that stuff?

Either that was the best sermon I’ve ever preached, or you are an incredibly bad preacher, or they are the most thankful and expressive congregation on earth. I’m pretty sure it’s the latter.

Your Saturday evening service rocks. You should travel the country and show all the other guys with dead Saturday night services how it should be done.

So many people are so pumped about working with us in Manhattan. Lots of good conversations about that after each and every service.

That was the most dynamic church I’ve been to in a very long time. And I get to a lot of megachurches. You guys are smokin’.

Thanks for the opportunity, and thanks for your commitment to Orchard. The last two days have been a delight!

Paul

I really hope you can be around this weekend as we kickoff VBS. I know you may be thinking "I don't have small kids," but you don't get it. "Of such is the kingdom of Heaven," Jesus said. And the service is going to be incredible. You should definitely come by one night and see Parkview at it's best.

Back in the Saddle,
Tim

Comments

[Debbie H.]

I totally miss Parkview. We're in Ohio, enjoying Cedar Point and some great roller coasters. We've had our private worship time with Pam and Dennis (also from Parkview), but we all miss our home church. See ya all soon.