Emporia is a community of 25,000 located on IH35 about halfway between Wichita and Kansas City. It is home to Emporia State University, the 2010 division 2 national champions in women’s basketball and the 2009 division 2 national runners up in men’s baseball. This past week I had the privilege of serving as the speaker at 12th Avenue Baptist Church's annual missions conference in Emporia.
The theme for the conference was “redeemed, equipped, light of the world”. I spoke four times as part of this important event in the life of TABC. I spoke twice on Sunday morning on the topic, “we are redeemed” (link to the message), on Sunday evening I spoke on “we are equipped”, and on Tuesday evening I spoke on “we are the light of the world”. Each message was drawn from the book of Ephesians. Al Areheart has served for 20 years as the senior pastor at TABC. He is a graduate of Columbia International University, where I am currently involved in a graduate program in intercultural studies.
On Wednesday I traveled from Emporia to Tulsa to speak at the 10th anniversary gathering of Tulsa Mission Movement on the topic “church missions strategy for unreached people engagement”. TMM is a local missions leader network that I had the privilege of helping launch back in 2004 in partnership with a long-time missions mobilizer, John McVay. A number of Tulsa area churches have recently covenanted through TMM to partner together around a vision of reaching 100 UPGs (unreached people groups) by the year 2040. WOW! What a compelling vision. TMM facilitators: Jerry Lout, Justin Schell, John McVay.
Following the time with TMM, I had the opportunity to meet with a pastor from one of my supporting churches in Tulsa. Nate Nauman, is the new discipleship pastor at Fellowship Bible Church. Neil Beasley, who I have known for a number of years through the global outreach efforts at FBC, joined with Nate and me as we interacted around issues related to future discipleship efforts at the church. We discussed how Navigator Church Ministry’s GIDC (growing intentional disciplemaking cultures) process might serve FBC in pursuing the discipleship related dreams and goals they have.
I am grateful that I am not on the road all the time. I always enjoy myself, but I miss my family when I am gone. The five days on the road this past week proved to be an enjoyable and fruitful time for kingdom service and advancement. It is exciting and humbling to play a small role with what God is doing with many great commission focused local churches across the U.S.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
from October 5, 2014 prayer update
One of my primary areas of focus since coming on board with NCM (Navigator Church Ministries) in the spring has been my personal training. Getting familiar with resources, processes, and training that will enable me to be effective in coming alongside local church leaders as they seek to create a disciplemaking culture within their congregations. Coaching is a significant component of this personal training.
Within NCM we have a coaching process that has been developed over a period of many years in partnership with Building Champions (www.buildingchampions.com) and Ministry Coaching International (www.ministrycoaching.org). The training takes place in the context of a reproducible coaching relationship.
My coach is Bill Mowry. Bill serves as the Great Lakes regional field director for NCM and is the author of one of our key resources, The Ways of the Alongsider. We will connect long distance every other week for the next year, as he coaches me personally and models for me how to coach others.
The coaching provided by NCM is more directive and intentional than the coaching I have seen used by others outside of NCM. It utilizes a traditional coaching process, but does so within well defined areas of focus. There is a limited version and a more comprehensive version of the coaching.
Tbe limited version focuses on a developing a life plan by developing a life mission statement and exploring with your coach seven important life areas (faith, priorities, health, family, friends, finances, and service). Each coaching session is preceded by a meaningful time of preparatory study and personal reflection. Accountability for follow through with past actions items is also an important part of the process.
The more comprehensive version is in four stages. The first stage is the development of a life plan. Stage two is the development of a vision plan, stage three the development of a ministry plan, and stage four addresses priority management.
Much of the work that I will be doing with church leaders will be conducted within a coaching framework, utilizing principles and practices I am currently learning. Please pray for me as I engage in this process. First, pray for a strong relationship to develop between Bill and myself. Second, pray that I would personally benefit from the coaching. Third, pray that I would master the reproducible aspects of the coaching and use them well in my work with church leaders.
Within NCM we have a coaching process that has been developed over a period of many years in partnership with Building Champions (www.buildingchampions.com) and Ministry Coaching International (www.ministrycoaching.org). The training takes place in the context of a reproducible coaching relationship.
My coach is Bill Mowry. Bill serves as the Great Lakes regional field director for NCM and is the author of one of our key resources, The Ways of the Alongsider. We will connect long distance every other week for the next year, as he coaches me personally and models for me how to coach others.
The coaching provided by NCM is more directive and intentional than the coaching I have seen used by others outside of NCM. It utilizes a traditional coaching process, but does so within well defined areas of focus. There is a limited version and a more comprehensive version of the coaching.
Tbe limited version focuses on a developing a life plan by developing a life mission statement and exploring with your coach seven important life areas (faith, priorities, health, family, friends, finances, and service). Each coaching session is preceded by a meaningful time of preparatory study and personal reflection. Accountability for follow through with past actions items is also an important part of the process.
The more comprehensive version is in four stages. The first stage is the development of a life plan. Stage two is the development of a vision plan, stage three the development of a ministry plan, and stage four addresses priority management.
Much of the work that I will be doing with church leaders will be conducted within a coaching framework, utilizing principles and practices I am currently learning. Please pray for me as I engage in this process. First, pray for a strong relationship to develop between Bill and myself. Second, pray that I would personally benefit from the coaching. Third, pray that I would master the reproducible aspects of the coaching and use them well in my work with church leaders.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
from September 7, 2014 prayer update
In August I had the opportunity to participate in two Texas based Nav events, a gathering of DFW staff and laborers on 8/16 in Plano and the NavVida Hispanic national conference in San Antonio on 8/29-31.
Darrell and Cindy Jolley were recently appointed as our Nav city leaders for DFW. Darrell came out of the Nav work at UT Austin a few years after I did. He is a layman, is actively involved in his home church in Grapevine, has a personal ministry to Muslim immigrants in DFW, and serves as CFO for a business in Dallas. Cindy was one of Kathy’s roommates years ago, and came out of the college ministry that I led at Grace Covenant Church in Austin 30 years ago. It was a delight to stay overnight with the Jolleys while in Dallas and catch up on what is happening in their lives. The half-day gathering was a cross-mission event, designed to bring DFW Nav staff and alumni together who serve across the 10 U.S. based missions of The Navigators. Rob Mahon shared three messages with us out of Matthew 9:35-38. Rob has served with the Navs in Japan and Thailand, and has led the Nav city work in Albuquerque for past 20 years. He is the brother of John Mahon, who led the Nav collegiate work at UT when I was an undergraduate there in the early 70s.
It had been 8 years since the last NavVida (Nav Life) national conference. We spent three days together in a hotel on the San Antonio riverwalk. 5 main sessions, 3 workshop sessions, and 2 affinity group gatherings focused around ministry to the 1 in 6 Americans who are Hispanic. Old friends from my college days spoke in 2 of the 5 main sessions. Eddie Broussard, senior VP for U.S. field ministries for the Navs, was our opening night speaker. Eddie was involved with the Navs at Texas A&M when I was at UT. We co-led a Nav summer training program for UT and A&M students in Dallas in 1979, and were roommates that summer. Eddie has become a gifted communicator and has spent many years in cross-cultural ministry in the U.S. and Eurasia. Alex Mandes and I were involved with the Navs together at UT and then attended Dallas Theological Seminary together. Alex lives in San Antonio, is a former church planter, and currently serves as the national director for ethnic ministries for the Evangelical Free Church of America. It was a pleasure to reconnect with these old friends.
One of the big perks in rejoining with the Navs has been reconnecting as colleagues with friends that I have known for many years.
Darrell and Cindy Jolley were recently appointed as our Nav city leaders for DFW. Darrell came out of the Nav work at UT Austin a few years after I did. He is a layman, is actively involved in his home church in Grapevine, has a personal ministry to Muslim immigrants in DFW, and serves as CFO for a business in Dallas. Cindy was one of Kathy’s roommates years ago, and came out of the college ministry that I led at Grace Covenant Church in Austin 30 years ago. It was a delight to stay overnight with the Jolleys while in Dallas and catch up on what is happening in their lives. The half-day gathering was a cross-mission event, designed to bring DFW Nav staff and alumni together who serve across the 10 U.S. based missions of The Navigators. Rob Mahon shared three messages with us out of Matthew 9:35-38. Rob has served with the Navs in Japan and Thailand, and has led the Nav city work in Albuquerque for past 20 years. He is the brother of John Mahon, who led the Nav collegiate work at UT when I was an undergraduate there in the early 70s.
It had been 8 years since the last NavVida (Nav Life) national conference. We spent three days together in a hotel on the San Antonio riverwalk. 5 main sessions, 3 workshop sessions, and 2 affinity group gatherings focused around ministry to the 1 in 6 Americans who are Hispanic. Old friends from my college days spoke in 2 of the 5 main sessions. Eddie Broussard, senior VP for U.S. field ministries for the Navs, was our opening night speaker. Eddie was involved with the Navs at Texas A&M when I was at UT. We co-led a Nav summer training program for UT and A&M students in Dallas in 1979, and were roommates that summer. Eddie has become a gifted communicator and has spent many years in cross-cultural ministry in the U.S. and Eurasia. Alex Mandes and I were involved with the Navs together at UT and then attended Dallas Theological Seminary together. Alex lives in San Antonio, is a former church planter, and currently serves as the national director for ethnic ministries for the Evangelical Free Church of America. It was a pleasure to reconnect with these old friends.
One of the big perks in rejoining with the Navs has been reconnecting as colleagues with friends that I have known for many years.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
from August 3, 2014 prayer update
I have had the opportunity to spend time at Glen Eyrie, The Navigators national and international headquarters in Colorado Springs, twice this summer. First for a week of new staff orientation and fundraising training, and second for several days of interactions with NCM’s regional field leaders.
Colorado has had more rain than usual this year, so everything is green. With the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, it is a beautiful setting. But greater than the physical beauty of the location, is the spiritual beauty of my new colleagues.
the castle on the Glen Eyrie campus
I have lots of first impressions from these first four months with The Navigators. I will share about three that stand above the rest. A passion for Christ and His mission, a passion for digging deep into the Word of God, and a passion for intentional disciple making.
First, a passion for Christ and His mission. The Navigators motto is “to know Christ and to make Him known”. Passion for Jesus’ mission should flow out of passion for Jesus. If we love Him, we also love what He loves. This is at the very core of who The Navigators are, and it is evident in the lives of our staff as you get to know them personally. The apostle Paul, the model cross-cultural evangelist and church planter, speaks of his passion for Christ in Philippians 3:8. “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”.
Second, a passion for digging deep into the Word of God. Depth in the Word in our personal times alone with God, in our discipling work with individuals, and in our coaching and training work with church leaders is central. It is the Scriptures studied, grappled with, and lived out that transforms lives. “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” – James 1:25.
Third, a passion for intentional disciple making. This is what The Navigators do best. I believe we do this better and with greater enthusiasm than anyone else. For the 130 staff serving with NCM, we have a passion for seeing this happen in the 400 thousand Protestant churches in the U.S. II Timothy 2:2 says, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” The Navigators believe that Biblical reproduction has not occurred until you see a solid third generation in place. The proof of reproduction is seeing someone you have invested deeply in turn around and do the same with someone else.
Colorado has had more rain than usual this year, so everything is green. With the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, it is a beautiful setting. But greater than the physical beauty of the location, is the spiritual beauty of my new colleagues.
I have lots of first impressions from these first four months with The Navigators. I will share about three that stand above the rest. A passion for Christ and His mission, a passion for digging deep into the Word of God, and a passion for intentional disciple making.
First, a passion for Christ and His mission. The Navigators motto is “to know Christ and to make Him known”. Passion for Jesus’ mission should flow out of passion for Jesus. If we love Him, we also love what He loves. This is at the very core of who The Navigators are, and it is evident in the lives of our staff as you get to know them personally. The apostle Paul, the model cross-cultural evangelist and church planter, speaks of his passion for Christ in Philippians 3:8. “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”.
Second, a passion for digging deep into the Word of God. Depth in the Word in our personal times alone with God, in our discipling work with individuals, and in our coaching and training work with church leaders is central. It is the Scriptures studied, grappled with, and lived out that transforms lives. “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” – James 1:25.
Third, a passion for intentional disciple making. This is what The Navigators do best. I believe we do this better and with greater enthusiasm than anyone else. For the 130 staff serving with NCM, we have a passion for seeing this happen in the 400 thousand Protestant churches in the U.S. II Timothy 2:2 says, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” The Navigators believe that Biblical reproduction has not occurred until you see a solid third generation in place. The proof of reproduction is seeing someone you have invested deeply in turn around and do the same with someone else.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
from July 6, 2014 prayer update
In June I read a book that was recommended to me in my new role with The Navigators. Real-Life Discipleship is written by Jim Putman, senior pastor at Real Life Ministries in Idaho. It is a NavPress publication. It describes the lessons learned and principles applied in disciple making in the planting and growth of the church where he serves as senior pastor.
In the book he describes disciple making as intentional, relational, and reproducible. He describes the disciple making process in five stages (spiritually dead, spiritual infant, spiritual child, spiritual young adult, and spiritual parent). The book is an expansion on the basic concepts found in Putman’s description and stages of disciple making. The stages are described well (and do not always conform to the stages that some churches use to describe their pathway to spiritual maturity). The author does a good job of providing windows into where a person is spiritually by the listening closely to the kinds of things they say and the kinds of questions they ask.
I found the book a helpful introduction to the disciple making process, written from the perspective of a pastor and practioner who has seen these principles at work over an extended period of time in a large, growing church that is doing a great job of raising of laborers and leaders. Outreach magazine lists the church where Putnam serves as one of the one hundred most influential in the U.S.
For those who are not well acquainted with the work of Navigator Church Ministries (formerly Church Discipleship Ministries), this book provides some great insights into what we do. NCM’s aim is to serve as catalysts and coaches as we come alongside local church leaders in helping create a disciple making culture within a local church. If we can ever be of service to your church, please let me know. We would be delighted to serve you toward the goal of becoming a more effective disciple making church, both within your community and among the least reached globally.
In the book he describes disciple making as intentional, relational, and reproducible. He describes the disciple making process in five stages (spiritually dead, spiritual infant, spiritual child, spiritual young adult, and spiritual parent). The book is an expansion on the basic concepts found in Putman’s description and stages of disciple making. The stages are described well (and do not always conform to the stages that some churches use to describe their pathway to spiritual maturity). The author does a good job of providing windows into where a person is spiritually by the listening closely to the kinds of things they say and the kinds of questions they ask.
I found the book a helpful introduction to the disciple making process, written from the perspective of a pastor and practioner who has seen these principles at work over an extended period of time in a large, growing church that is doing a great job of raising of laborers and leaders. Outreach magazine lists the church where Putnam serves as one of the one hundred most influential in the U.S.
For those who are not well acquainted with the work of Navigator Church Ministries (formerly Church Discipleship Ministries), this book provides some great insights into what we do. NCM’s aim is to serve as catalysts and coaches as we come alongside local church leaders in helping create a disciple making culture within a local church. If we can ever be of service to your church, please let me know. We would be delighted to serve you toward the goal of becoming a more effective disciple making church, both within your community and among the least reached globally.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
from June 1, 2014 prayer update
Church Discipleship is one of eleven missions for the Navs serving within the U.S. Our mission statement reads: “Partnering with church leaders to develop generations of disciples in everyday life – where they live, work, and play.” We serve as consultants and coaches to church leaders. We play a catalytic role in helping church leaders create a disciple making culture within their own congregation. We do this by coming alongside these leaders, modeling, networking, and recommending resources that provide practical help in six key areas: leadership development, life-on-life discipleship and mentoring, local and global outreach, mission and vision, small groups, and spiritual maturity.
Church Discipleship currently has 114 staff in 11 regions nation-wide, serving leaders in the 400 thousand Protestant churches in the U.S.. And we have 71 lay ministry partners serving as key volunteers alongside us in this work. Our vision is to see this grow to 1000 lay ministry partners.
God has promised to provide us with the resources we need for success in life. In II Peter 1:3 it says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” The next verse goes on to explain the role Biblical promises play in that process.
CDM also seeks to make helpful resources available to God’s people. The three key resources CDM makes available to local church leaders are the life experience of our staff, our printed resources, and our online resources. In this month’s update, I would like to introduce you to what is perhaps our most helpful online resource.
Discipleship Library (www.discipleshiplibrary.com) is a great resource on discipleship / disciple making for individuals, small groups, and in a variety of local churches settings. It contains thousands of audio messages from well known and not so well known Navigator and non-Navigator speakers on a broad spectrum of discipleship related themes. The audio messages are listed three ways: by speaker, by topic, and by Scriptural passage. It also contains links to hundreds of other excellent discipleship resources.
One of my favorites is a classic talk by The Navigators’ founder, Dawson Trotman, titled “Born to Reproduce”. Check it out, and many other helpful resources when you have the opportunity.
Church Discipleship currently has 114 staff in 11 regions nation-wide, serving leaders in the 400 thousand Protestant churches in the U.S.. And we have 71 lay ministry partners serving as key volunteers alongside us in this work. Our vision is to see this grow to 1000 lay ministry partners.
God has promised to provide us with the resources we need for success in life. In II Peter 1:3 it says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” The next verse goes on to explain the role Biblical promises play in that process.
CDM also seeks to make helpful resources available to God’s people. The three key resources CDM makes available to local church leaders are the life experience of our staff, our printed resources, and our online resources. In this month’s update, I would like to introduce you to what is perhaps our most helpful online resource.
Discipleship Library (www.discipleshiplibrary.com) is a great resource on discipleship / disciple making for individuals, small groups, and in a variety of local churches settings. It contains thousands of audio messages from well known and not so well known Navigator and non-Navigator speakers on a broad spectrum of discipleship related themes. The audio messages are listed three ways: by speaker, by topic, and by Scriptural passage. It also contains links to hundreds of other excellent discipleship resources.
One of my favorites is a classic talk by The Navigators’ founder, Dawson Trotman, titled “Born to Reproduce”. Check it out, and many other helpful resources when you have the opportunity.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
from May 4, 2014 prayer update
In my past two updates I shared with you about The Navigators. This month I would like to share with you more specifically about Church Discipleship, the mission within the Navigators that I serve with.
The Navigators was started by Dawson Trotman in 1933. Today more than 4600 staff from 70 different nationalities serve in 107 countries among 220 people groups in 174 languages. Our U.S. and international headquarters is at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs. Our organizational motto is “to know Christ and to make Him known.” Our mission statement reads: “To advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of laborers living and discipling among the lost.”
Church Discipleship is one of ten missions for the Navs serving within the U.S. Our mission statement reads: “Partnering with church leaders to develop generations of disciples in everyday life – where they live, work, and play.” We serve as consultants and coaches to church leaders. We play a catalytic role in helping church leaders create a disciple making culture within their own congregation. We do this by coming alongside these leaders, modeling, networking, and recommending resources that provide practical help in six key areas: leadership development, life-on-life discipleship and mentoring, local and global outreach, mission and vision, small groups, and spiritual maturity. I will share more about some of the processes and resources we make available to church leaders in future updates.
Church Discipleship currently has 114 staff in 11 regions nation-wide, serving leaders in the 400 thousand Protestant churches in the U.S.. And we have 71 ministry partners serving as key volunteers alongside us in this work. Our vision is to see this grow to 1000 lay ministry partners.
I serve as part of the south central region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas). I also have a role as a liaison between Church Discipleship and Nations Within (one of ten other missions within the Navs U.S. work, focused on ministry among the 40 million plus first generation immigrants living in the U.S.). Initially my work will focus on personal training, cultivating relationships with my new colleagues, and fundraising. I look forward to soon shifting my full attention into the roles I was hired to play.
In late April I had the opportunity to spend four days with my new colleagues at our annual Church Discipleship national conference, held this year in Orlando. What a great kick-start to my new role with the Navs. Please pray for success in my initial work and for a smooth transition.
The Navigators was started by Dawson Trotman in 1933. Today more than 4600 staff from 70 different nationalities serve in 107 countries among 220 people groups in 174 languages. Our U.S. and international headquarters is at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs. Our organizational motto is “to know Christ and to make Him known.” Our mission statement reads: “To advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of laborers living and discipling among the lost.”
Church Discipleship is one of ten missions for the Navs serving within the U.S. Our mission statement reads: “Partnering with church leaders to develop generations of disciples in everyday life – where they live, work, and play.” We serve as consultants and coaches to church leaders. We play a catalytic role in helping church leaders create a disciple making culture within their own congregation. We do this by coming alongside these leaders, modeling, networking, and recommending resources that provide practical help in six key areas: leadership development, life-on-life discipleship and mentoring, local and global outreach, mission and vision, small groups, and spiritual maturity. I will share more about some of the processes and resources we make available to church leaders in future updates.
Church Discipleship currently has 114 staff in 11 regions nation-wide, serving leaders in the 400 thousand Protestant churches in the U.S.. And we have 71 ministry partners serving as key volunteers alongside us in this work. Our vision is to see this grow to 1000 lay ministry partners.
I serve as part of the south central region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas). I also have a role as a liaison between Church Discipleship and Nations Within (one of ten other missions within the Navs U.S. work, focused on ministry among the 40 million plus first generation immigrants living in the U.S.). Initially my work will focus on personal training, cultivating relationships with my new colleagues, and fundraising. I look forward to soon shifting my full attention into the roles I was hired to play.
In late April I had the opportunity to spend four days with my new colleagues at our annual Church Discipleship national conference, held this year in Orlando. What a great kick-start to my new role with the Navs. Please pray for success in my initial work and for a smooth transition.
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