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#SurpriseUsin6 – Kolem Stolu

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In following my wife’s lead with her theme about “by doing less, we saw God do more!” (Read her POST HERE)  This is a lesson we have learned in our church community as well. Two years ago after a tough season in our church, we in many ways were replanting a church and we looked at the situation and realized we couldn’t pull of “normal” Sunday gatherings every week, that is with music, preaching and what you would expect on a “normal” Sunday. We were also tired but we had a shared value of sharing our table and gathering around the table (or “kolem stolu” in Czech), as Jesus modeled.  

So in somewhat of a pragmatic decision we decided to have “kolem stolu” Sundays where we would gather around the table, share our lives, stories, thoughts and prayers. Some of us in leadership, included me, were reluctant in “doing less,” but we had a shared value and just couldn’t continue putting on shows for the sake of putting on shows each Sunday.  

What did God do in this midst of this? We saw DEPTH in relationship and our walks with Jesus in ways that we hadn’t experienced in years, I began to learn the stories of those that I had attended for years as we shared our stories and lives. Some started to invite their friends to the table to engage in conversation.  We saw God do more amongst us when we were honest with the situation and also decided to live out a shared value.  It was beautiful and one of the decisions that I love to brag on us and God about. 

Of course, not everyone enjoyed it, and others gritted their teeth to get through it, but we could not produce the growth in depth of relationship, community and even in looking outside ourselves to invite our friends to our table.  We saw God move and surprise us again!  When we were tired, exhausted, didn’t have a clue what to do and admitted this to God, he showed up and brought beauty from what was our perceived weakness.  Now the challenge is to continue to pursue him in this brokenness and honesty.  CLICK HERE to check out the rest of our #SurpriseUsIn6 posts and learn about us, #teamHARROD.

If you would like to give and help us reach our goal, so that we my return to Prague fully funded, please CLICK HERE!

Introducing #800in8

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#800in8BANNERb

I can’t believe my last full week is almost here! Where has the last 6 months gone? It’s amazing how quick life goes by and in the midst of it you have no idea that it is actually moving that fast! (CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW)

With that said, I am, rather we are, excited that I will get back to Prague and jump into life, ministry with the football team and the church but moreover we are excited about the our BIG DAY JUNE 28th! Even though we are so excited, we we are still trusting God to show up in some big ways. As I have wrote recently here on my blog, the process of raising support, or ministry partner development, has been tough. There have been so many cool things happen, so many people excited about what we are doing and excited about us BUT there have been the days where we have prayed and talked about this all and wondered “What God is doing,” and “Where and how are going to see what we need to raise come in.”

In our praying and pondering this idea came to us, that is an idea to share all over the internet about our ministry, about Prague, about Czech and more. So in my last 8 full days in America we are doing, and going for, #800in8. Our goal is to create awareness, energy and opportunities for people to join us and help us reach our minimal goal for monthly support.
So in this video I talk about what the next few days will look like and what we are hoping to share with you all. You can find us on social media here:

Zach’s Twitter Account
Míša’s Twitter Account
Zach’s Instagram Account
Míša’s Instagram Account

We will also use the hashtag #800in8 and #HarrodRallyTime (hashtags are used to find trending & specific information on most social media networks).

We will be sharing both specific and general information through the many portals of technology with as many people as possible, so that we might increase our chances of getting #800in8. Our hope is that people will respond by GIVING, INCREASING and SHARING all of, or any of the information we share. Then as people give and help us meet those needs we hope to share praises with you all as people respond!

We have a need and we are trying to be creative and faith-filled in seeing God help those needs get met.

So will you help us get #800in8? You can head over to our GIVING PAGE (click here) and/or send/forward/share this with as many friends as possible for us.

Thank you in advance. You’re all rockstars in our book! Ready. Set. GO. #800in8

#800in8 from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.
 

 

THIRTEEN PERCENT & CHECKING IN.

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13%

That is what lies between Míša and I reaching the “recommended” amount of monthly support that TEAM has set for us. It has been an interesting few months back in the States, trusting God to show up in the midst of this season of life and also provide for us. I’ve learned a lot about myself, my own walk with God and God himself in this process. Which, at times, has been beautiful, then at other times it’s been a mess, but through all of it I’ve seen God show up.

Last weekend I was blessed to take part in a mens retreat (which was life-changing and world-shifting! If you are a man, you need to do it, check it out, CLICK HERE!), and one of the things we talked about was “checking in” with our feelings, communicating how we feel and connecting with others around us. Fifty some men opened up using simple words – Sad, Angry, Scared, Tender, Happy, Excited and/or Tender to describe how we felt. Unlike, most men, I don’t have a problem always vocalizing this (even to a fault, that is why the minute time limit was great for me), but it was powerful opening up and hearing men open up. With that said, I thought it would be cool to “Check In” as I think about the next 40 days and everything that is ahead of me.
[Read more…]

Join us for a Sunday gathering at TaCesta

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Of course, you are always invited to join us in Prague at one of our gatherings of our church plant, TaCesta, but I thought it would be fun to give you a feel of our gatherings via video. I just didn’t want to just share what our gatherings look like but I thought it would be fun for you to here from Saša, our lead pastor, as he shared a bit about my work and my role within our church. I hope you enjoy it. If you would like to help Míša, my fiancee and soon-to-be wife, continue to make a difference in Prague, Czech and Europe through our work with TaCesta, CLICK HERE, and join us today! Enjoy the video!

TaCesta Video for Zach Harrod from Zach Harrod on Vimeo.

The Journey…

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This year, 2013, has been a full, full year! It was a year, that some big things happened in this crazy life of mine! I still can’t wrap my mind around it all! I did, however, want to share a little of that change with you, by sharing an article with you. If you have been paying attention I’ve switched organizations, TEAM), and that means God has finally after all these years (read about my heart for church planting from years past here) allowed me to be part of church planting with a amazing group of people, whom make our community TaCesta (which means “The Journey” or “The Way”). As I said, I wanted you to read more about TaCesta and this church planting opportunity, recently TEAM did a great article about our efforts, here a short excerpt, click the link below to read the whole article!

“Unrivaled in its day as the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, Prague was called the “Mother of Cities.” The city flourished during the Roman, Gothic, and Renaissance periods, and is the birthplace of priest and philosopher Jan Hus, a forerunner of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.

Yet somehow, the people of Prague and the Czech Republic are some of the most atheistic in the world. Polls peg as many as 89 percent of Prague’s 1.3 million people as non-religious.

“Czech has a rich spiritual heritage, but unfortunately that is pretty much gone,” says Zach Harrod, a TEAM missionary serving in Prague. Centuries of religious and political battles, followed by decades of Soviet domination, have left the Czech people suspicious of organized religion and outside influences. They tend to be private about any religious and political beliefs – if they believe anything at all.”

Please read on, click here…

where do churches come from?

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Watch this…

Where Do Churches Come From? from Aaron Youngren on Vimeo.


A couple of years ago, my friend Mike Gunn, of Harambee Church in Renton, WA, mentioned that they were sending a guy (Aaron Youngren) to Chicago with A29 to plant a new church, The Line. Immediately I got excited. “Why?” Because I love Chicago, often times I claim it as home, when I am introduced to people overseas. (I know, I know, I was merely born it what is today a suburb of Chicago, and I have a WI driver’s license and etc. I know, I know…) Seeing guys who are going on mission into urban centers to infiltrate the city with the Gospel gets me fired up. I also mentioned it to a friend, Andrew Lisi, who was moving up to the Chicagoland area to go to seminary, and the rest is history. Lisi and Aaron got connected and I’ve been following the birth of this new church in the “2nd City” for sometime via their blogs, twitter and etc. It’s been fun to pray for them and watch God do this from a distance. I would encourage you to check out what they are doing and pray for them and the city of Chicago. More over pray for all the men and women (guys like Reid Monaghan, who’s planting in Jersey!) all over the world that are trusting God to plant churches amongst people.

The Line website
Aaron’s twitter
Lisi’s twitter
Lisi’s blog

city on a hill church video – morning encouragement

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From City on a Hill Church in Albuquerque. Stumbled upon it after watching Pastor Dave Bruskas, bring it, about the nations, at the Acts 29 Boot Camp in Seattle. I really loved their promo video. It made me want to go make some vids and also go plant some churches sooner than later! 😉 Patience…. Patience? Wait, some have said I’ve already begun planting? Hmmmm… That’s another blog entry!

a swift kick…

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So it’s no secret that I love what I do now, with AIA, but it’s also no secret that I want to plant some churches that plant churches that plant churches that plant churches and so on… I think you get the point. With that said, I live in the tension of now and the dream. Some days it’s tough, other days it isn’t, but I do my best to try to live and make the most of the now with having a eye on the future (I would argue with you that the church planting process, for me, has begun. It began when God got me here September 4, 2007)! Having an eye on the future includes reading, following blogs that will challenge me and keep me sharp, following and praying for friends who are planting churches, and much more. Two of the places on the web that always challenge me are 1) theresurgence.com and 2) Acts 29 Church planting Network. So here is what was swift kick to the gut today… 20 Characteristics of a Church Planter. For some of you other hopeful church planters, or current planters, out there, that I know are some of my most faithful readers, how you doing? I’m thankful for the Spirit of God is at work in me [us] and is producing this, because if it were up to me, I’d get a big F!

20 Characteristics of a Church Planter

    1. Am I a Christian? (John 3:16)
    2. Am I passionately in love with Jesus, and is He the Lord of every area of my life? (Personal spiritual dynamics is the second most important area.)
    3. Do I believe His word, and does it affect my life deeply?
    4. Am I Spirit-filled, Spirit-directed, Spirit-led, and Spirit-controlled? (Acts 1:8)
    5. Am I qualified as an Elder? (1 Timothy, Titus)
    6. Do I love the local church as the expression of a gospel community on mission? (Matthew 28:18-20)
    7. Am I a missionary to the city? Am I sent for the advancement of the gospel in the city? (John 20:21)
    8. Do I have a clear vision for this new work? (Nehemiah 1:3-4; 2:11-18)
    9. Am I willing to pour myself out in obedience to the vision? (Phil. 2, Romans 6)
    10. Am I healthy—physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, relationally, maritally?
    11. Am I the kind of leader many people will follow? Have I served as a church leader successfully? (1 Tim. 5:22; 3:6)
    12. Can I preach effectively?
    13. Can I guard the doctrinal door with Biblical clarity and tenacious confidence?
    14. Can I architect a new work with entrepreneurial skill?
    15. Am I called to plant a church at this time and in this place? (Acts 17:26; 1 Peter 5:2)
    16. Have my church leaders commended me for this calling? (Acts 11:22-26; 13:1-4; 16:1-2)
    17. Am I a hard worker? Am I persevering? (2 Thes. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 2 Tim. 2:3-6)
    18. Am I adaptable to new people, places, and concepts?
    19. Can I raise the funds necessary for my family’s needs? (1 Tim. 5:8)
    20. Am I humble enough to learn from others—particularly those who have gone ahead of me in different areas?

Click here for the longer version.

lessons from a ‘failed church plant’

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While reading one of Steve McCoy’s lots-o-links I was taken to a great post, on lessons from a ‘failed church plant’, over at Mike Edwards’ blog, Part of the Story. I know, i know I just posted a post about how blogs rob me, but this blog did no robbing, it actually led to praying and pondering. He, obviously, talked about lessons learned from a “failed church plant” and they were challenging to me, as I always have an eye, or at least a glance out of the corner of my eye, on the future and and hopes/dreams/prayers that I have. These are simple and it would seem that one, who is planting a church, should acknowledge them before hand, but all too often it isn’t until after these things happen, which makes sense, I’m grateful that he had the courage, to help others learn from what God has taught him thus far. Here is the simplified version, but click HERE to read the full post.

  1. Plant GOSPEL identities, not programs or services.
  2. Plant TOGETHER, not alone.
  3. Be faithful, not cool.
  4. Be humbled, not overconfident.
  5. Live it as a family FIRST, don’t use your church as a crutch.
  6. Don’t go after people, pursue the God who will raise them up.

church planting, missional communities and moravia

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At this moment I’m laying down typing this on my iPod touch enjoying a beautiful sunset over the south Moravian landscape, which is amazingly beautiful! I’m at the Josiah Venture (a ministry in Eastern Europe that works primarily with youth) hotel and training center for a church planting conference with my friend Mike Gunn (Acts 29 int’l director, pastor in Seattle and former AIA staff guy who helped plant Mar’s Hill in Seattle) and thus far it’s been a blast! The conference starts in an hour but I’ve already had so much to think and pray about while interacting with Mike, who’s a dude! It’s been good. Mike has encouraged me with where I am and what I do know (working with AIA until God raises up Czechs to replace me and/ or says, “move on,” clearly to my director, Billy, and myself) but he also stokes the fires and encourages the dreams of planting churches in Prague, Czech and beyond I have for the future! This should be a cool next couple days. There will be current planters or perspective planters representing 7 European countries here, which is so cool! Well, I wanted to give you all a shout out from Moravia and also ask you to ask our Great God, who is the Chief Church Planter, to show up here in south-east Czech over the next couple of days. Please pray God gives me vision and excitement about what I’m doing now (how I’ve, to a degree, began planting, but in a “less than traditional” way than most) and what I feel He is calling and leading me to in the future here in Czech! Thanks! Off to dinner…

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