Mark Waltz - Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging

Style. Creativity. Gimmicks. These can generate a certain buzz and attract people to your church. But when style trumps substance, creativity wins over content, and gimmicks overshadow real growth, weve missed the mark. Marks insight in this book on connecting people with God and others in real and lasting ways is right on. He reminds us again that everyone matters to God, and, because of that, we need to meet people where they arenot where we wish they were. Getting them in the front door is one thing. Keeping them from going out the back door is quite another. Pastor, read this book and remember again why we all got into this thing called church in the first place!

Ed Young
Senior Pastor, Fellowship Church
Author of The Creative Leader

Waltz says it clearly: You cant make people changethats Gods job. However, the local church can create space that is conducive to the work of the Holy Spirit in peoples lives. Want people to do more than visit your church? Read Lasting Impressions, wrestle with what is and what could be, then develop or redevelop your plan to help people belongto God and each other.

Craig Groschel
Senior Pastor, LifeChurch.tv
Author of IT: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It.

I loved Marks first book, First Impressions. And Lasting Impressions takes it a step further. Every leader who is serious about getting people connected to their church needs to read this book. Inspirational and practical.

Mark Batterson
Lead Pastor, National Community Church, Washington, D.C.
Author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase

We serve a going-out God who meets us where we are. This book reflects his heart. It will help you to go out to people visiting your church and meet them at their point of needand keep them coming back for more! Mark Waltz and the entire staff at Granger Community Church have much to teach us (more specifically, me) about reaching those who arent in church because they feel unworthy, unloved, and unlovable.

Dr. Joel C. Hunter
Senior Pastor, Northland: A Church Distributed

In this practical piece, Mark rolls up his sleeves and digs deep, unafraid of getting dirty with what Jesus truly meant by loving people. Seasoned with stories and illustrations from Grangers cutting-edge methodology of ministry, readers will walk away with both conviction and courage for applying these principles within their context.

Kary Oberbrunner,
recovering Pharisee and
Author of The Fine Line

Group resources really work!

This Group resource incorporates our R.E.A.L. approach to ministry. It reinforces a growing friendship with Jesus, encourages long-term learning, and results in life transformation, because its:

R elational Learner-to-learner interaction enhances learning and builds Christian friendships.

E xperiential What learners experience through discussion and action sticks with them up to 9 times longer than what they simply hear or read.

A pplicable The aim of Christian education is to equip learners to be both hearers and doers of Gods Word.

L earner-based Learners understand and retain more when the learning process takes into consideration how they learn best.

Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging

Copyright 2013 Mark L. Waltz

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher, except where noted in the text and in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, go to group.com/permissions.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture also taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

ISBN 978-0-7644-9122-1

Dedication

To Mark Beeson, founding and senior pastor of Granger Community Church. This book is the result of your vision to reach people with the good news that they matter to God. For more than 25 years, you have been about helping people take their next steps toward Christtogether. Thats been your mission at Granger since 1986 when you and your family moved to northern Indiana to pioneer a new approach to ministry in the local church. Youre always asking, Whats your next step?

And since everyone has a next step, youve led the way by leaning into your own next step. Thank you for modeling this norm. And for allowing me to do life with you, for allowing me to hear the tension you feel, to see the challenges you face, and to experience the courage you find to take your next step. Your modeling reminds me that the title pastor next to my name doesnt eliminate my need to grow, to take my next step. There is always a next one.

Thank you for taking such a genuine interest in my family and in my personal journey. Your cheerleading has encouraged me to be faithful with my steps. You are my good friend, even as I respect you as my boss. Thank you for trusting me to lead beside you. Your vision is my vision now. And we share it with thousands whose lives are being transformed by the grace and power of Jesus Christ.

With tremendous gratitude I dedicate this work to you.

Acknowledgments

My next steps have always been taken in the context of relationship (and so have yours). My journey has been more enjoyable and fulfilling because its been shared with people. People who extend grace when I stumble. People who help by listening and processing with me. People who share my passion to see others experience Gods purpose for their lives by taking their next steps toward him.

• Laura, my best friend, my lover, and my life partner, you are a faithful sojourner. Youve patiently accepted my erratic schedule and the glow of my laptop screen well into the early morning hours. Youve been my sounding board, my cheerleader, and my truth-teller. I experience the character of God in your grace. Thank you for sharing life with me, all of it. You are a true gift from God.
• Olivia, although youll always be my baby girl, youve already grown to be quite the young lady. I love your curiosity about life and your love for people. You are mature beyond your years, and I couldnt be prouder to be your dad.
• Tim Stevens, your friendship has marked my life. Your leadership has inspired me. You challenge me to lead from my own unique style, you care about my marriage and family, and you share my warped sense of humor. Thank you for your trust.
• Rob Wegner, Jason Miller, and Kem Meyer, my friends who round out the senior management team at Granger, what a ride! You challenge me, encourage me, and laugh hard with me. I love sharing this journey with you!
• Julie Smies, as my administrative assistant, you understand what it is to be an advocate. You represent me, organize me, cheerlead me, and, along with my wife, help me look better than I really am.