Wow! I can't believe I'm doing this - blogging. But for several months now I've come under the influence of my fellow staff talking about Dave's blog and Jon's blog that it's become a bit contagious. So here I am, blogging for the very first time, only I hope this blog will be different from all the other blogs floating around Community Christian Church.
This blog, fergusonfree, is intended to give everyone who loves Community Christian Church (like I do) a behind the sceens and ferguson-free perspective of how things really work and really get done around here. You see, I think many of us read Dave or Jon's blog because we love the vision they cast, and the stories they tell of people finding their way back to God, but behind that vision and those stories of changed lives is the story of how it happened, the internal stuggles it took to make it happen and from my perspecitve, how it got paid for. So while I hope you all continue to tune into their blog sites each week to learn what's happening here at CCC, I hope you'll also check in to this site from time to time for the real story; "What Dave and Jon will never tell you."
So here's my first entry on What Dave and Jon will never tell you...
I just read on Dave's blog that we baptized some 40+ people this past weekend across all eight locations. I agree, that's awesome! But did you know that it was Tim Bakker, our Naperville Campus Pastor, who had the idea two years ago to decentralize baptisms to every location? 
Yep, it sure was and that was a bit counter culteral at the time. You see for years we had a monthly gathering at our Naperville Campus called Commitment Celebration. It took place the 3rd Wednesday of every month. It worked great for the first several years, but when you get to eight locations, we found that it became a barrier to people getting baptized - either they didn't want to drive to the yellow box, or had to work that night or didn't feel like the yellow box was "home." So it was Tim Bakker who challenged our culture and the "one church" concept with what we affectionately call a renagade or unsanctioned baptism at the Romeoville Campus (that's while he was the Romeoville Campus Pastor). But after a severe flogging and tongue lashing by his fellow staff, we all agreed that his idea was brillant and investigated how to buy portable baptistries.
We purchased 4 portable baptistries in 2005 at a cost of $4,000 each. Yes, it was a lot of money, but if you consider the number of people who have taken their faith public in the last year alone, I think it was well worth it. And just in case my fellow staff read this and plan to use this against me by purchasing additional baptistires that are not in the budget, let me remind you of our new expense reimbursement procedures (I can't figure out how to put a smilely face here, but it belongs here).
It's all lies!!
Posted by: Dave Ferguson | July 27, 2007 at 02:25 PM
I am totally reading this blog from now on. Velocity and Viscosity that!
Posted by: TJ | July 27, 2007 at 02:28 PM
Total falsehoods!
Posted by: Jon Ferguson | July 27, 2007 at 02:30 PM
That is actually untrue about who started the de-centralized conversation or baptisms, but I love that you are blogging!
Posted by: Bill Carroll | July 27, 2007 at 02:33 PM
Wow! A new perspective to the place we love! Thanks John!!
Great title!
Posted by: Amber | July 27, 2007 at 03:21 PM
John is your glass half empty?
Posted by: rachel | July 27, 2007 at 03:26 PM
Wow, John welcome to the world of "Blogging". Please know how grateful so many are for your love, grace, and the ability to lead CCC/Shorewood. Hats off to your wife who is a perfect role model for so many. Can't help but love those little boys "J" X3. See you soon!!!
Posted by: Kristine D. Knight-Holzwarth | July 29, 2007 at 11:38 AM
sweet!
Posted by: eric metcalf | July 29, 2007 at 01:01 PM
Welcome to the blogosphere! I've already got you logged in my Sage toolbar! Very cool
Posted by: Lundie | July 29, 2007 at 09:26 PM
Thanks for keeping it real, John. Should we take up an offering so you can afford spell check? ;)
Posted by: lorinda | July 30, 2007 at 01:14 AM
All right!!
I'm lovin' it!!(McDonald's can't sue me because they don't use 2 exclamation points.)
Someone who's brave enough not to dish out the usual
(propaganda)--there--if it's in parentheses--I didn't really say it
really I love what everyone writes--but this is refreshing
You go, John!!
Posted by: serenity_chick | July 30, 2007 at 08:39 AM
imagine my dissappointment, when upon making it to fergusonfree.com, the very FIRST thing I see are a big picture of Jon and Dave! What's up?!
Nice post and YEAH Tim Bakker and YEAH God!
Posted by: BK | July 30, 2007 at 09:41 AM
PS....gosh, I hope Jon and Dave don't read my last post!
Posted by: BK | July 30, 2007 at 09:42 AM
Guess what we need to purchase downTOWN?!!!
Posted by: Brian Zehr | July 30, 2007 at 09:54 AM
You're in our favorites now.
Posted by: Laura | July 31, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Welcome to the Blog world ... I'll watch and see.
Posted by: Paul Sutherland | August 01, 2007 at 08:30 AM
I better get the real dirt here, or I will be forced to delete the bookmark.
You do know what a bookmark is, don't you John?
Posted by: Jeff | August 02, 2007 at 09:19 AM
Welcome to the blogosphere
Posted by: David | August 07, 2007 at 04:27 PM