We've Moved!

We've got some new e-digs and along with our website comes a new place to host our blog (http://www.portablechurch.com/about-pci/blog/)

If you are already subscribed to our blog, you are already subscribed to our new website. If you are a follower of this site and wish to stay up to date on our articles, used equipment postings and other such items, please follow our feed at the above link.

We've got lots of exciting e-things happening in the next few months, and they'll all start at www.portablechurch.com. Find us there, interact with us on Twitter, "like" us on facebook, learn about us on youtube. We're only a click away at any time. This is our last post in this location - be sure to follow us in our new location. See you there!

Used Equipment for Sale (Norcross, GA) - SOLD

Victory World Church is moving into a building & selling their used PCI Cases. First purchased in August 2010, these cases are listed in "Almost New" Condition.

The cases available are as follows:

• (3) Portable Church Kids Cases
• (1) Portable Church TV Cases (without TV)
• (1) Table Case
• (1) Base Holder Case (for Backdrops)

In addition to these cases, Victory World Church is selling the following items:

• (23) Play Panels w/ Feet
• Drapes
• Hardware for Pipe & Drapes
• (20) Carpets
• (3) Rocking Chairs

This is a bulk sale, and individual items are not for sale at this time. Anyone interested in this system should contact the following individual:

Avery Nesbitt | anesbitt@victorywc.org |678-360-7564

Upcoming Changes.

In the next couple of weeks, Portable Church® Industries’ web presence, emails, correspondence and Invoices will have a different look, but don’t be alarmed – it’s still us - just a little stronger and with a little more savvy.

One of our core values is Continuous Improvement. In the last few years, we've continuously improved our customer follow-up, our know-how and everything from our material handling process to the way we deliver product. Our solutions are faster, our consultants wiser and our project managers more efficient. We aim to get better and better so we can maintain the confidence you’ve placed in us. Our old look and website just didn't communicate that the way we'd like. So, we've made some changes. It’s all part of our mission to continue to be one of the most integral parts of mobile ministry.

As you experience growth, so do we. We have been honored to be a part of your journey and even more honored that you have chosen to share information about us with your own networks. We have learned so much from our clients and partners – and every time we work with someone new, we learn something new. Thank you for helping us continue in our efforts to get better and better.

We hope you like our new look, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with you.

You keep dreaming. We'll keep building.

Used Equipment for Sale (Hanover, MD) - SOLD

Mosaic Christian Church is moving into a building & selling their used PCI Cases. First purchased in August 2008, these cases are listed in "Good" Condition.

The cases available are as follows:

(6) PCI Shelved Cases

(3) PCI Kids Cases

(1) PCI TV Cases

This is a bulk sale, and individual items are not for sale at this time. Anyone interested in this system should contact the following individual:

Carl Kuhl

carl@mosaicchristian.org
443-875-4791

Used Equipment for Sale (Houston, TX)

Mission Church in Houston, TX no longer needs to be portable and is selling their equipment from our daughter company - Church. in a Box® Solutions (CBS). This is a complete system, including cases, trailer and misc equipment.

This system includes (but is not limited to)...

• (7) CBS Shelved Cases
• (4) CBS Kids Cases
• (1) CBS TV Cases
• (1) Custom Table Cases
• (1) CBS Audio Rack

This is a bulk sale, and individual items are not for sale at this time. Anyone interested in this system, and would like pricing & pictures for this system, should contact the following individual:

Sherrie Dwyer

ssdwyer@sbcglobal.net
281.345.8345

Support NYC Portable Churches!

By Brian Koehn

Almost every weekend, we’re helping another church or two learn a system for setting up for their weekend services in a rented school building. Churches rent all kinds of buildings, but almost 75% of our churches end up in schools. As Scott Thomas, Acts 29 president, says, “They’re designed for large groups, and they’ve got parking.”

So it was quite a shock when I heard that, “The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in June that a public school could bar a church from renting its space after hours, while other groups could rent the space if they weren't using it for worship.” reference here)

It hit close to home because we had just delivered a portable church system to a New York congregation this spring, and sure enough, they are one of the 60+ congregations affected by this ruling.

When USA Today picked up the story and called us for our input, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but two days ago, this story was on the front cover of their paper. They wrote, “The city’s Department of Education, which has been trying for a decade to oust the congregations and end the weekend worship practice, won the latest legal round in June. As the case winds its way through more appeals, an injunction allows about 60 congregations to remain in place…”

Then it hit me: Why not use the credibility of this article to start a campaign to let these churches know how many people support them, and at the same time let the politicians in New York know how many people think that what they are doing is wrong.

Please sign this petition and pass it on to people who share your values. Let them know why you took the time to sign it. After you sign it – help spread the word on twitter, blogs and facebook. Let these churches know that they will not stand alone!

Win $20K from NEXT Nuts & Bolts Conference

Remember all of the stuff I told you about Ron Sylvia's NEXT Nuts & Bolts Conference last week?

It gets better... they're giving away $20,000 to a Master Dreamer. Read about it here (told you these guys were awesome!).

http://nextcoachingnetworks.com/$20K

Great Conference for Church Planters!

When I first joined this company in 2004, I had the privilege of attending a church conference in Ocala, FL under the leadership of Ron Sylvia. It was the most practical conference I'd been to about church planting.

I loved the practical, team-based teaching approach. Planters, joined on principal, shared practical ways to build block parties, build & assimilate volunteers, grow disciples, choose a building, rent a facility... everything you need to know practically to begin your church planting journey. I told every planter I came into contact with about this conference.

It is several years later, and Ron's Conference is still one of my favorites. I had the privilege of attending many between 2004-2008, and I was so disappointed when the leadership took some time off.

... until now. Ron & His Team at Next Coaching Networks have joined together and will once again bring us this incredible, practical, fulfilling conference experience. If you are planting a church soon, considering planting a church, need resources or encouragement, you have to register for this one.

Find out everything you need to know here: http://nextcoachingnetworks.com/conferences. At $29, this conference is affordable, and trust me, you can't afford to miss this one!

Introducing Team Twitter

Portable Church® is pleased to announce a few new ways to get in touch with some of your favorite team members. Need a quick quote, want to say hello, share a Sunday video or even ask a first time question? You can now connect with us on twitter for all of this... and more!

Our Project Managers are available online to provide quotes, share resources and interact in real time. Reach out to them today!

• Kevin Jones
• Jesse Reed
• Matt Poronto

A couple of our Consultants are getting involved in the conversation as well. Have a quick tech question? Want to follow us for the latest ideas from tech shows, the latest articles and even their latest innovations? Reach out to them...

• Bob Smith
• Ron Land

Need some technical assistance? Want some warranty support? Want to follow a guy who has big ideas and even cooler gadgets? Then you want to follow Joe Kalamanir, one of our Resident Tech Geeks.

Talk to us... we're Listening!

Choosing a Facility - Pros & Cons

*We originally ran the blog series in 2007. Since I'm on vacation this week (and we're in the middle of launch season), I thought we'd run it again. Hope it's helpful!).

So we've talked about logistics, equipment and hidden topics. Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. There are so many places to have church, but we have found that most of our clients meet as follows: 80% in schools, 15% in theatres and the other 5% in facilities as common as a YMCA and as uncommon as a zoo.

Here’s a super quick Pros & Cons List to keep in mind as you continue your search.

Pros of Using a School

• Location
• Stature in Community
• Diverse Room Size Availability – Both for Adults & Children
• Electrical Capacity

Cons / Capacity in a School

• Elementary Schools Typical Maximum Capacity is 200/service
• Middle Schools Typical Maximum Capacity is 400/service
• High Schools’ Typical Maximum Capacity is 600-1600 / service

Pros of Using a Movie Theatre

• Political Stability (no “board” to deal with)
• Large Video Screen
• Well Recognized
• Extremely Comfortable Environement
• Drinks / Beverages Allowed in Worship Area
• Large Parking Lot

Cons of Using a Movie Theatre

• Lighting can be One-Dimensional
• Electrical Capacities Need to be Worked Through
• No Large “Run Around” Type Space for Children’s Ministries

There is a lot to consider when finding the right home for your new site or church plant. What we've talked about this week barely scratches the surface. If you want to talk to us personally, get a list of facilities to check out or even book a consultant to help you figure out your building - give us a call. We want to hear your story, and help you tell HIS.

Questions? Call Us. 800.939.7722

Choosing a Facility - The Hidden Checklist

*We originally ran the blog series in 2007. Since I'm on vacation this week (and we're in the middle of launch season), I thought we'd run it again. Hope it's helpful!).

Yesterday we talked about equipment; today we’re going to talk about some things that should definitely be on your list to consider.

What is the general culture of the facility? Is it conducive to your ministry aspects? Will using this facility cause you to forfeit a portion of your vision? Do people like the building you're considering meeting within?

What is the aroma of this building? Nightclubs, gymnasiums and older YMCA’s can have a lingering or stale odor that you just can’t cover with a backdrop.

• I used to attend a Portable Church® here in Royal Oak. We were utilizing a Saturday-Nigh-Only-Dance-Club for our Sunday services. The positive parts? Everyone knew where it was, there was plenty of parking and it had an incredible stage. The negative? The smell of cigarettes and liquor and body odor often lingered from the night before. We loved the venue so much that we mobilized a few volunteers to come in a little earlier on Sunday to clean and air-out the building. It worked, and it was totally worth it (to us). Not every church will make the decision we made, but we made the right decision for us.

Next, where are the restrooms? This is a two-fold consideration.

The first is simply a question of acoustics. First – trust me - no one wants to hear the sounds of toilet flushing during the sermon. Make sure are restrooms available for use that are both far enough away from the “sanctuary” to avoid disruption and are still convenient for your members.

The second consideration has to do with the size of the fixtures. Using preschools, nurseries or elementary schools can lend itself to also having to take advantage of small, child-size fixtures. There may be other restrooms in the facility that are not as diminutive and may be available for use. Ask your landlord to show them to you. If you come to an impasse with these competing values, your Portable Church® Consultant can help you figure out the right choice. By this time, he’ll be familiar enough with your values to help coach you in the right direction.

Finally, what is the overall layout of the building? Is it generally conducive to a first-timer being able to navigate, with simply the use of signs? Where is the sanctuary in relation to the children’s areas? How far will a parent have to walk to pick up / drop off their children? This is very important if you are going to be serving communities with young families.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at the pros & cons of different types of facilities.

Questions? Call us at 800-939-7722.

Choosing a Facility - Equipment Decisions

*We originally ran the blog series in 2007. Since I'm on vacation this week (and we're in the middle of launch season), I thought we'd run it again. Hope it's helpful!).

Yesterday, we talked about the logistics of a facility. Today, let's talk about the facility as a whole as well as the equipment in your rental facility and whether or not you should take advantage of the free "stuff" that is already installed.

During the inital walk-through and negotiations with your future landlord, consider the building as a whole - not just as the meeting spaces you will engage at the beginning. Make sure there is more than one large meeting space for adults. For instance, if you meet in a school's gymnasium, and there happens to be a basketball tournament over the weekend - where else could you meet within that facility? Figure out an exit plan and / or a work around solution now in the event of maintenance problems, basketball tournaments, fire, etc.

A lot of people ask us if they should buy equipment from us or use the permanently equipment within that facility (i.e. Using the Theatres Projectors in a Movie Theatre). This determination is usually done on a case-by-case basis by PCI.

Take, for instance the Projector we talked about above. The Projector is the means of livelihood for a theatre. It only takes one accident to break the projector, placing a tremendous amount of stress on your relationship with the Theatre Manager and, quite possibly, a tremendous strain on your budget.

That said, there are many good reasons to utilize permanently installed equipment, but before you make that determination – remember the moving scenario and then ask yourself a couple of questions:

• If you utilize that equipment, will you still be able to move ministries as needed?
• Do you want to create worship or meeting experiences elsewhere in the middle of the week? If so, does utilizing the facilities’ equipment still make sense?

It is often a good decision to invest in your own equipment up-front, rather than run the risk of mitigating your landlord’s ability to safeguard his investment, and spend thousands of more dollars in the long run! These kinds of questions can be worked through with your Portable Church® Consultant during the course of your partnership. We will coach you towards the right solution for your church. There are good reasons for both scenarios. The bottomline is, we don’t want you to make decisions today that will impact or hinder your growth tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we'll talk about the Hidden Make-it-or-Break-It Scenarios in Facilities.

Questions? Call us 800-939-7722

Choosing a Facility - Logistics

*We originally ran the blog series in 2007. Since I'm on vacation this week (and we're in the middle of launch season), I thought we'd run it again. Hope it's helpful!).

The idea of portable church is not only an American phenomenon; it is a global one, with millions of people being impacted for Christ every weekend. In North America alone, we estimate that there are 24,000 portable churches on any given weekend, impacting more 6,000,000 lives for Christ.

In our seventeen years of existence, we’ve seen churches meet in a variety of places. We’ve seen planters and pastors envision ministry where few have gone before, and have helped them meet in places as unusual as bowling alleys, casinos, zoos and, yes, even funeral homes.

Choosing the right facility for your new site or church plant can be daunting. You want the facility to be recognizable, navigable, relevant plus you want to be able to enhance and encompass your church "personality". Ron Sylvia pastor of Church @ The Springs in Ocala, FL & church planter coach tells his planters “We shape our buildings and then our buildings shape us.”

When setting out to find your place of ministry, there's a few things to consider. As you tour the facility, look at it not only from an aesthetic point of view, but from a logistical point of view.

• Is there ample parking for the # of Adults I hope to engage?
• Is there ample space for the # of Children we anticipate?
• Am I happy with the atmosphere here (what does it smell like, look like, feel like)?
• Does this building have good history within my community?
• Is this building accessible for families, single parents, visitors?
• Can this building be found easily?

As your surveying the facility, make sure to check on and ask questions about electrical capacity of the rooms in which you will be running multiple media. Depending on the type of rental facility, age of facility and accessibility of the facility - electrical capacity can vary and, in some cases, be very limited. Begin some initial conversations with your potential landlord so you're aware of possible obstacles to current or future growth. Later, when your Portable Church® Consultant arrives, he will will gauge the capacity and work with you (and in some cases your landlord) to get you what is needed.

Tomorrow, we'll talk about the nuances of using your facilities' equipment or bringing in your own solution and how that may impact your final facility decision.

If you have any questions about these items, feel free to contact one of our Project Managers - Jesse, Kevin and Matt are standing by! 800-939-7722.

Fall Consultation FAQ's

We've been talking to a lot of pastors lately who are launching, re-equipping or relaunching in the upcoming Fall Season. There's a few common questions, and we thought we'd address them here for you.

I am launching Fall 2011, when should I book my consultation?

Right now! We still have some dates available for onsite assessments and designs. We have a range of consultation services - from virtual to in person - and can determine which model right for you. Most consultations are conducted M-F over a 1.5-3 day period. We recommend booking your consultation at least 12 weeks before your first service.

What should I have completed before I book my consultation?

It's best if you have already solidified the facility in which you will be meeting. If you are having a hard time locating a facility, or having trouble making a final decision in which facility to rent - give us a call. We will provide some coaching for you so that you can choose a great facility. If you'd like us to visit in person to provide some on-site facility coaching, we can do that, too. One of our Project Managers can set that up for you.

After the consultation, how soon do I need to place my order for a Fall Launch?
For a full system, our preference is 6-8 weeks before your first preview service. Make sure to tell your Project Manager your preferred delivery date so we can accommodate you right from the start!

How soon do I need to place an "equipment only" order for a Fall Launch? For cases & a trailer, our preferencs is 3-4 weeks. For case-only, equipment-only or trailer-only orders, turn around is determined on a case by case basis (no pun intended).

How Can I Be Sure That You Can Deliver the Equipment by my Launch Date?
We can deliver, in person, up to 7 churches on most weekends. If there is still a team available on the date you are requesting, we will schedule the delivery date and teams as soon as your order is placed. If there isn't another slot available on your requested weekend, we will look into other possible dates or work to come up with creative and resourceful solutions for you.

Yikes! I'm already behind. I start preview services in six weeks, and I'm Just Now Calling You...
We can still help you. Call our office directly at 800.939.7722 for a personalized recommendation for your situation. We'd love to be a part of the work you are doing!

How do I get in touch?

• You can contact Team Twitter @kevintoddjones, @mattporonto, @portablechurch, @jessereed or @kendramalloy.
• You can email us at info@portablechurch.com.
• You can call us at 800.939.7722.

We look forward to hearing what God is doing in your community. Your vision is inspiring to us!

Resource Monday (May 2, 2011)

Yesterday was Resource Monday over on our Twitter feed. We talked about Staffing Resources for finding the right candidate to fill the open spots on your team. From outsourcing (MAG) to search groups (Vanderbloemen Group), we covered quite a few options.

Check it out today!

Keep in Touch with Portable Church!

Headed off to Exponential Conference this week? So are we! Stop by our booth in the Main Auditorium to pick up our latest Storytelling DVD as well as catch up with Kevin, Ron & Matt.

PLUS – if you’re a previous client of Portable Church®, we want to interview YOU for the next series of stories we’re putting together. Make your way on over to the PCI Booth… we’d love to keep the conversation going.

Have a passion for Family Ministry or Kids Ministry? We do too! That’s why we’re headed to the Orange Conference next week as well. If you’re in the neighborhood of Duluth, GA and have an incredible vision for your Family Ministry or brand new church, find Booth #62 and start the conversation with Jesse or Bob. We want to talk to you!

Let’s twalk. Have a quick question? Need some assistance? Want to stay updated on the latest news, product announcements and gear updates? Maybe you just want to stay connected to your friends at Portable Church®. Whatever your reason, check out @portablechurch (especially on Mondays, because that’s when we tweet great resources for church planters).

Are you a fan of Portable Church®? The feeling is mutual - we like you, too. That’s why, beginning in May, our facebook page will be featuring exclusive content, available only to our facebook fans. PLUS, we’ll tell you first. That means, you’ll know three hours before our twitter connections, blog readers and mailing list know about specials, used equipment and company-wide promotions.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.... (Part 2)

Yesterday, we introduced you to “new guy” Project Manager Matt Poronto. Today, I’m going to introduce you to our new Creative Director.

Me.
Well, Hello!

After seven years with Portable Church® working to equip and encourage church planters, I’m taking a role wherein I’ll be more involved with the Portable Church® public presence. While I have enjoyed every minute of working with our incredibly AWESOME pastors, I’m excited to dig in and figure out how to help inform and engage pastors before they begin their consultative phase with us. The truth is, I'm PCI's biggest fan, and moving into this position is an honor.

Stop by and say hello (and tell me what you’d like to see on our brand-new website coming soon...).

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes....

Changes are aplenty here at Portable Church®. First up... we’ve hired an additional Project Manager, Matt Poronto, to help our church planters and campus pastors as they navigate their launch or transitional journey. Matt is a pastor himself, having spent many years in youth ministry, teaching ministry, small group ministry and has, somewhere along the way, even managed to get himself an M.Div.

Like most of us here at Portable Church®, Matt secretly wants to be a church planter. “I am excited to be building relationships with like-minded pastors,” says Matt. “Church planting is, for me, a great opportunity to take the disenfranchised and re-introduce them to who Christ is.”

Matt, is a great addition to our team. Drop by and welcome him to the team, or call and introduce yourself – ext. 313.

Welcome aboard, Matt!

Congratulations to the Winner of the iPad 2 Contest!

Rodney Arnold, lead pastor of OneLife Church in Knoxville, won our iPad 2 contest last week. After Rodney's number came up in the drawing (lucky #13, for the record), I read his survey results.

I was surprised to see that he was what we call a second-generation client. That means, Rodney is familiar with us because a fellow planter sold him their gear once they were ready to move into a building. Rodney purchased a 2 year old PCI System in 2009, and from all reports, the system is still going strong in Knoxville.

I thought Rodney's win was interesting because it reminded me that, when we are church planters portable churches, there is generational value in everything we do - meaning - there is always someone who will come to the field after us.

Even with a system like ours, being a portable church, is dedicated work with a big learning curve. We do our best to think about everything from material flow to sound quality. Think, however, about everything else you go through on a given Sunday - assimilation, new comer follow-up, resource allocation and distribution, volunteer recruitment, etc.

Chances are you learned more about people, finances and your community in your first year as a portable church than you thought possible. Chances are there were as many "surprise" learnings as there were intentional ones. Make sure you're sharing your "surprise" learnings with others who will follow in your footsteps. Launching a ministry, whether it is a multi-site, brand new church or relaunch, is a lot easier when you know you're part of a larger community - when you know you can rely on the wisdom of those who have gone before you.

By far, the most interesting and effective thing about our Twitter promotion was watching the conversation start and continue with "tips" on Portable Church-ing. Let's continue to think about the next generation of planters - and keep that conversation going.

Larry Jones, You Were a Gift from Above

If you’ve worked with Portable Church Industries within the past five years, chances are you had the chance to work with Larry Jones, one of our beloved Tech Specialists.

Yesterday, with great sadness, we learned that Larry passed away very suddenly. It has been a shock to us both personally and spiritually.

Larry was a kind, gentle soul who would give a stranger or friend anything they needed - money, the shirt off his back, a place to stay... and sometimes all three! We liked to call him our Lar-Bear. Last week, as we celebrated his birthday, he insisted on buying lunch for us - the whole company - instead of letting us treat him. He was the guy in the office with the funniest emails, the funniest quirks and best taste in music (he once told us a story of watching Stevie Wonder play a personal show, and I swear, we felt like we were there).

Our Larry was more than genuine warmth and kindness - he was smart, too. He had a photographic memory and could remember anything he’d ever read on our paperwork (trust me, it was hard to make a mistake with him around!). He seemed to know everything about everything - cars, guitars, sound, lighting, video.

He was resourceful and gifted - when he delivered Tech Solutions for churches, pastors would often rave over his prowess as a sound engineer. He was an extremely talented musician, and would often shock us into silent admiration as he played his guitar.

He was passionate about our line of work - he loved being a part of equipping churches and teaching them how to produce with excellence. He once told me that, before finding Christ, he was sad all of the time. When he was introduced to Christ, he felt like He had met his best friend. He shared with me that the love of Christ had quite literally saved his life. He took great joy in being a part of a company that worked to equip pastors - so that those pastors could tell others of Christ and of the Love that he, himself, had found.

Our sadness is great today. It’s hard to understand why he was taken from us so soon or so suddenly. Our pain is lessened only by the knowledge that he’s dancing (or at least head bobbing) with Jesus now. I'd be willing to bet that he’s jamming with David, too.

He was our brother. He was our family, and we will miss him. If, like me, you have memories of Larry that you’d like to share, post them in our comments section. I’ll organize them as a gift for his family. If you’d like to send condolences or memorials to his family, please see the funeral information post below.

Lar-Bear, you were one of a kind. We will never forget you. You left a mark on our community, and it was an honor to serve with you.