David Kenney

America’s Top 15 Most Innovative Churches of 2008 according to Outreach Magazine and The Church Report.

1. LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
2. Mars Hill Church (Seattle, WA) :: Mark Driscoll
3. Granger Community Church (Granger, IN) :: Mark Beeson
4. Flamingo Road Church (Cooper City, FL) :: Troy Gramling
5. Seacoast Church (Mt. Pleasant, SC) :: Greg Surratt
6. Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren
7. Mosaic Church (Los Angeles, CA) :: Erwin McManus
8. Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) :: Ed Young Jr.
9. North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
10. Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill Hybels
11. National Community Church (Washington, DC) :: Mark Batterson
12. NewSpring Community Church (Anderson, SC) :: Perry Noble
13. Community Christian Church (Naperville, IL) :: Dave Ferguson
14. Elevation Church (Charlotte, NC) :: Steven Furtick
15. Healing Place Church (Baton Rouge) :: Dino Rizzo

In 2007 it was…

1. Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill Hybels
2. Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren
3. Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) :: Ed Young Jr.
4. North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
5. LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
6. Granger Community Church (Granger, IN) :: Mark Beeson
7. Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) :: Joel Osteen
8. Mars Hill Church (Seattle, WA) :: Mark Driscoll
9. The Potter’s House (Dallas, TX) :: T.D. Jakes
10. Seacoast Church (Mt. Pleasant, SC) :: Greg Surratt
11. Mosaic Church (City of Industry, CA) :: Erwin McManus
12. Mars Hill Bible Church (Grandville, MI) :: Rob Bell
13. North Coast Church (Vista, CA) :: Larry Osborn
14. First Assembly of God (Phoenix, AZ) :: Tommy Barnett
15. The Church of the Resurrection (Leawood, KS) :: Adam Hamilton

Everyone assumes because my Myers-Briggs personality type is INFJ. That must mean I am a shy, quiet, withdrawn type. Believe me, I have wondered if I should even include it on my resume in fear that people would read it and assume that I was a recluse. Even more so since only 1% of people score as INFJ.

But the flip is that for those who know me, they don’t think I am “introverted” at all. I certainly don’t preach introverted. Well, that’s because the “I” or “E” has little to do with how you are in public and more to do with “what recharges you.” Sure, I can be socially awkward, but that has nothing to do with being introverted. Being introverted is just where I find myself when my energy is low and I need to recharge.

Pastor Mark Batterson says it best, “So I’m an extrovert by personality, but I’m an introvert by profession. I’m a pastor who is around people all the time so I’ve turned into more of an introvert out of necessity. I need my [private time]. That’s how I recharge my batteries. If I was working in a cubicle, I’d probably be the exact opposite.”

And you know what, I am pretty sure this is how Jesus recharged his batteries as well. We see Jesus doing very “street preacher” like things, talking to strangers, touching dead people, spitting on people, flipping tables and what not, but when he needed to re-charge, he knew how to “plug in” with God.

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.