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| > Celera Church Strategy Group |
What is Celera Church Strategy Group? The sole purpose of Celera Church Strategy Group is to “Raise the national average of church attendance in America.” Celera is an entirely different strategy to reach people for Christ – to equip churches nationwide by sharing resources for the Kingdom. By empowering the local church we see our ability together to reach the lost and restore the disadvantaged exponentially multiplied across the country. The facts prove a need: Nearly 2,400 churches nationwide closed their doors last year, and in 2000, the estimated number of churches in the U.S. was 331,000, with an average attendance of 127 people. We want to partner with you to help your church grow – to reach more people for Christ. We provide specialized programs, and coaching with a team comprised of some of the greatest leaders & innovators in the church world today. |
| Who is Celera Church Strategy Group? | |
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Mark Batterson - Coach Mark Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church ( www.theaterchurch.com) in Washington, DC. NCC was recognized as one of the Most Innovative and Most Influential Churches in America by Outreach Magazine in 2008. One church with nine services in five locations, NCC is focused on reaching emerging generations. Approximately 70% of NCCers are single twenty-somethings. Mark has two Masters Degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of a best-selling book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. His latest release is Wild Goose Chase. And he is a daily blogger @ www.markbatterson.com. |
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Chris Sonksen – Founder Chris is founding pastor of South Hills Community Church in Corona, California. South Hills has seen tremendous growth, thriving in a multi-site approach. Chris has an unwavering commitment to excellence in all things, teamwork for a common purpose, lifelong personal growth, adding value through every available means and developing leaders to their fullest potential. Chris serves as both a life and professional coach to church and business leaders nationwide. A motivational speaker for companies such as Verizon, Securitas and Home Depot, Chris brings high-energy focus and a passion for vision and leadership to encourage and equip the local Church. |
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Jason Harper - Coach As a person, Jason is first and foremost a father and husband. With a commitment to live life to the fullest, Jason seeks to push the envelope of life. As a seeker of relevant truth and a communicator of authentic faith, his life connects to those from all facets and faiths. Believing that Jesus Christ is more than a punch line of frustration, Jason seeks to communicate hope. Whether in a third world country or with a fortune 500 CEO, Jason builds bridges. These adventures have taken him to places that have changed him and challenged him. From Calcutta to California, change. Authentic. Bold. Relatable. Driven. |
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Dan Reiland - Coach Dan Reiland serves as Executive Pastor at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He previously partnered with John Maxwell for 20 years, first as Executive Pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, then as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at INJOY. Dan is best known as a leader with a pastor’s heart; he truly loves the local church, but is also described as one of the nation’s most innovative church thinkers. His passion is developing leaders for the local church. His semi-monthly e-newsletter, The Pastor’s Coach is distributed to over 60,000 subscribers, www.injoy.com . |
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Jud Wilhite - Coach Jud Wilhite is senior pastor of Central Christian Church in the Las Vegas area. Over 15,000 attend Central’s campuses along with a global community who attend online. Jud is the author of several books including Eyes Wide Open: See and Live the Real You, Uncensored Grace and Deadly Viper Character Assassins with Mike Foster. Under Jud’s leadership, Central is dedicated to helping people find their way to God. He is known for his conversational approach to teaching the Bible and his passion to help others know God and love him more. |
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Mark Cole - Coach Mark Cole is uniquely qualified to add value to pastors, churches, and church leadership teams. Mark served as Executive Pastor for 10 years in Jonesboro, Georgia before taking a position with INJOY. INJOY is a leadership development company committed to training and equipping leaders. In the past 8 ½ years, Mark has served in several capacities in the John Maxwell founded companies INJOY, INJOY Stewardship Services and EQUIP. Much of that time he has been Executive Vice President of INJOY overseeing all operations of the INJOY family of brands (Catalyst, Maximum Impact Simulcast, Thrive, INJOY and others). |
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Mike Foster - Coach As well as co-founding PlainJoe in 2001, Mike Foster has also lead the creative and marketing vision of several organizations over the last few years including xxxChurch.com, ethur.org and the Junky Car Club. Mike’s background in grass roots marketing and media have been the medium for his idea generating/cultivating approaches to making a difference in this world. Mike and his wife Jennifer two children and live in Corona. |
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Dave Stone - Coach Dave Stone is the Senior Minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he preaches the Truth to over 20,000 people each weekend. Southeast has three regional campuses in the Kentuckiana area and their Mission is to connect people to Jesus and one another. Dave graduated from Cincinnati Christian University in 1983. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Beth, and his three children: Savannah, Sadie and Sam, along with his son-in-law, Patrick Garcia. He enjoys an occasional round of golf, competition of any sort, and reaching the lost. He will touch both your heart and your funny bone. |
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Gene Appel - Coach Following his father's footsteps into ministry Gene started his ministry as an intern at Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, CA. For the next eighteen years he was the senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. Under his leadership Central grew from 450 people to 8,000 in it’s services weekly. Central also was significantly involved in church planting in the Vegas Valley. Later, Gene served as Lead Pastor for five years at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. Gene has now returned to Eastside as the Senior Pastor, and during his first year of ministry in Fullerton, Eastside became one of the 10 fastest growing churches in America. Gene describes it as a “fresh wind that God is blowing." Gene has coached church leaders from around the world on how to lead churches through healthy change. He is co-author of the book, How to Change Your Church without Killing It, and authored Dream Intruders and Healing Hidden Hurts. Gene, his wife Barbara and their daughters Alayna and Jenna reside in Yorba Linda. Their adult son Jeremy lives in New York City |
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Richie Huges - Coach After 15 years in all levels of Coaching Basketball, in 2004 Richie accepted the position of CEO at Free Chapel (Gainesville, GA and Irvine, CA). Recognized by Outreach magazine as one of the largest and fastest growing churches in America, Hughes saw God do amazing things from Coast to Coast on and off of the local church campuses. Richie's aggressive approach to ministry is based on each staff member and volunteer doing their part to the best of their ability, then celebrating the win, as God does HIS part. Whether serving the local church or businesses as a communicator or coach, the message is always one of encouragement with very high expectations. |
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Allyson Evans - Kidmin Coach Allyson is a Pastor and NextGen Team Leader at LifeChurch.tv, a multi-site church with 13 campuses in 5 states, based in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she has worked for over nine years. She, her husband Matt and two daughters-Matyson and Abby live in Edmond as well. She is responsible for providing the vision and direction for the ministries that lead kids birth to 18 years old. In addition, she also collaborates with other teams to develop resources, from curriculum to video teaching materials, print materials, parent resources and all training related to kids and student ministry for the campuses. One of her greatest passions is coaching and idea sharing with other kidmin leaders around the country. |
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Dale Hudson - Kidmin Coach Dale Hudson has been in children ministry for over 21 years. He is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Christ Fellowship in South Florida. Christ Fellowship is a multi-campus church with five campuses that ministers to over 18,000 people each weekend. He leads a Children’s Ministry staff of 58 people and a team of over 1,500 volunteers. Dale was recently named one of the top 20 influencers in Children’s Ministry by Children’s Ministry Magazine. He is the co-author of three children’s ministry books and has written numerous articles for magazines. His ministry has been featured in many newspaper, magazine, and television reports including Time Magazine, Christianity Today, and an ABC national television special called “The Changing Face of Worship.” He and his wife, Pamela, have been married for 21 years and have two sons, Josh and Caleb. You can follow his Children’s Ministry journey at www.relevantchildrensministry.blogspot.com. |
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Gabriel George - Kidmin Coach His love for people, his compassion toward young people and his great passion to continue reaching the next generation with the story of Jesus Christ are what have led Gabriel George to Youth and Children’s ministry at Church On the Move. |
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Greg Baird - Kidmin Coach The most important role in Greg’s life is husband to his wife of over 19 years, Michele, and Dad to their two teenage sons, Taylor and Garret. They live in San Diego & enjoy the outdoors together. Greg is a huge Chargers & Padres fan! |
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Justyn Smith - Kidmin Coach Justyn Smith is a husband to one amazing wife and father to five beautiful children. They recently moved to Corona, CA after having lived in Las Vegas for four years where he saw his children's ministry increase from 250 to over 900 and his volunteer base increase from 20 to 250. Justyn is the children's pastor at South Hills Church. He has a huge heart to see this young generation grow up to be the greatest leaders and influencers in history. He consults, writes and is a frequent conference speaker. He is an advocate for the local church who believes the local church is the hope of the world. Justyn has recently been named one of "Children's Ministry Magazine's" Top 20 to Watch. You can also follow him at justynsmith.com, twitter/pastorjustyn and facebook/pastorjustyn. |
What does Celera Church Strategy Group offer to help church growth? Free Resources: Posted weekly at www.chrissonksen.wordpress.com you will find free articles to shift your thinking and help you find new direction and inspiration. Current posts include:
You can Subscribe to Chris Sonksen’s Church Growth & Leadership Blog rss feed. Recommended Reading List Chris and the team will share recommendations for self help books that are power packed with motivation, tips, techniques and inspirational stories to help you grow. Books like:
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Paid Resources Weekend Sermon Series Themes These creative series themes can create interest, and provide a thought-provoking, emotional connection that prepares people to hear the message. Series Packages may include:
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Church Growth Coaching Why Coaching? A Celera church growth coaching relationship can help you gain the traction and momentum in your ministry to have a significant impact in your community and connect people to God. We’ll focus on objectives, monitor progress, address challenges, and set priorities. With our team of seasoned leaders and church innovators, you’ll benefit from years of experience that can dramatically increase your church’s impact. Network Coaching (group coaching) Imagine having the opportunity to talk with one of the most respected experts in outreach strategy, or leadership development. Celera Church Strategy Group church growth program is one of the few places where you can have that kind of access. You’ll network with 8-12 other pastors, and together have the opportunity to share specific challenges, ask questions and learn from some of the greatest experts in the country. How it Works: Network coaching is provided in a closed group conference call for one hour, once a month, for 12 months. The time includes a coach speaking on a specific point of leadership or strategy, as well as Q & A. Sessions may be provided via phone or webinar, so they’re convenient and cost-efficient. Celera Church Growth Coaching Membership Benefits When you become a Celera Group Coaching member, you’ll receive the following additional benefits:
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Celera Church Strategy Group’s Church Growth Secret Church Shopper Program 91% of the people who visited your church last week decided they’re not coming back. Let us tell you why. Get a first-person perspective on what it’s really like to visit your church. Celera sends a “Secret Church Shopper” to investigate your church, looking at it objectively from a newcomer’s point of view. We evaluate your church from the curb to the chair – looking at information, signage, environment and much more. This provides valuable insight into potential blind spots, as well as objective feedback about your church experience, and can also help close the “back door” to improve retention. Imagine how much insight you could gain from someone evaluating your church from top to bottom without anyone knowing it… That’s what the secret shopper is all about. The Wall Street Journal wrote an article about the Secret Church Shopper Program . |
Costs Network groups Cost $149.00 per month Includes monthly network group, two one-on-one annual coaching sessions, one annual Round Table invitation, and one free weekend series package. To contact Celera Church Strategy Group call 951.734.4833 or visit the Celera website Celera Church Strategy Group. |
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