Yesterday was amazing as we kicked off Vision360 Long Beach! In fact, I’ve been giddy the last 24 hours as I’ve reflected on one my greatest moments in more than 20 years of ministry. What made it memorable was that I left with a healthier picture of what the Kingdom of God looks like. For many years the Sunday morning experience at church, a well produced pastor’s conference and a feel good mission’s trip defined my view of the Kingdom. Well, yesterday that changed again as over 260 people who love Long Beach gathered to celebrate what God is doing in their city. Don’t mistake me…I’m not celebrating the number I’m celebrating what the number represented. Here is a view of the picture I saw from a room with a view of downtown skyline:

• 50+ churches of all denominations and tribes from the same city committed to collaborate to accelerate the transformation of Long Beach
• A room that looked like the city ethnically, economically and socially
• 20 young, urban and ethnic church planters preparing to plant in Long Beach
• Over 100 business and domain leaders from Long Beach who want to do more than go to church, they want be the church
• The Mayor of Long Beach honestly asking if we really believe the Church can help transform Long Beach – More on this in my next blog  post
• A Vision360 Long Beach Board that is passionate and committed to seeing the Church in Long Beach strengthened and expand as well as the city transformed

Our Vision360 Long Beach Board was joined by Rick Warren, Lead Pastor, Saddleback Church and Miles McPherson, Lead Pastor, The Rock. They came to share about their passion for the Church and the City. We were honored and inspired as they help bless the city of Long Beach and the efforts of Vision360 Long Beach to plant 50 churches in 5 years.

I’m fired up and can’t wait to see the story unfold. I saw a lot and learned a lot at the kickoff. Here are few reminders and things I learned as we gathered.

1. Be collaboration driven…Not competition driven: The church grows best and healthiest through collaboration.

2. The city MUST need the church MORE than the church needs the city: Pretty powerful when you think about it, is it true in your city?

3. The church must have a long term vision for the city and for itself: The church must put a stake in the ground and take responsibility for what their city will look like in 10, 15 and 20+ years.

4. Stop mistaking participation for transformation: The church growth movement has “mythed” us into thinking attendance is how we measure success.

5. The Church was never designed to be a luxury for the rich: The greatest danger in the western church is that we continue to pour resources and funding into suburban churches and not the city.

6. Society isn’t on the grid of the church…Church is on the grid of society: We must produce disciples that impact the domains of society and transform cities. The church must be the missionary!

7. The future of the world is urban, young and ethnic: Our strategies, resources and vision must also be this way.

8. The church is still the greatest method of transformation: Not money, politics, technology, etc. People, cities, and the world are best transformed by the church.