Last month I shared with you about a class I am taking this spring through Columbia International University titled “the mission of God”. I shared a little about the mission of God in the world from one of our texts, edited by Mike Barnett and Robin Martin titled Discovering the Mission of God. I would like to continue with that theme in this month’s personal reflections.
My class is divided into four sections, with a focus on God’s mission in the Bible, God’s mission in history, the role of culture in God’s mission, and the role of strategy in God’s mission. We have wrapped up the Biblical and historical sections of the class (some great stuff) and are now considering the role of culture in God’s mission.
As I reflect back on this past month, it has been a wonderful adventure in joining with God in a marvelous variety of ways in His mission in the world. I am convinced that each month can be a wonderful adventure in joining with God in His mission in the world for each of us. All it requires is a basic understanding of what that mission is, followed up with a resolve to intentionally seize opportunities that He provides. Mix in some focused prayer, meaningful relational engagement, and a willingness to extend yourself outside your comfort zone and you have the makings for an exciting and purposive life. A life that aligns with what God is already at work doing.
In January I had the opportunity to participate in a meeting of Hispanic leaders in the San Antonio area. Last weekend we had a series of similar meetings with Hispanic church leaders in the McAllen area. We had a number of wonderful opportunities to connect with Hispanic church pastors wanting very much to see their churches meaningfully engage the lost and make life-long disciples and laborers of those who come to faith. We may even have a new NCM staff member coming out of these meetings who will significantly expand our ability to impact Hispanic churches in Texas. Did you know there are nearly 10 million Hispanics in the state of Texas?
Back in January I also had the opportunity to begin developing a relationship with Xuebin, a graduate student at UT from central China. Xuebin is a newlywed (separated by ten thousand miles from his new bride) and does not yet know Christ. But he is seeking. Last time we met he had just had his first long distance fight with his new bride over Skype and was still stinging from the conversation. We talked about marriage, forgiveness, and he gave me permission to pray for he and his wife (which I did with him). Xuebin and I connect again this evening.
In mid-February I spent a few days in snowy Manhattan, Kansas speaking three times as part of Grace Baptist Church’s annual missions conference. A medium sized church with a long history of sending workers into the harvest fields of the world. A church currently partnering with a denomination in Ethiopia to send African workers into the 10-40 window.
A week ago, I had the opportunity to help with a training clinic for the Houston area, focused on one of NCM’s excellent disciple making resources, The Ways of the Alongsider. The clinic was a great mix of pastors and laymen, young and old, men and women. It was fun to interact with two older widow women who had roots that go way back into Navigator history. Individuals, who many would write off as well past their prime, but are still walking with God, living a vibrant faith, and are continuing to learn how to be more useful Kingdom servants.
Since September I have been meeting at 6am every Wednesday morning in a study with a couple hundred other men in my home church. We are studying Gene Getz’s book, The Measure of a Man. We are spending a week on each of the 20 character qualities highlighted in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 that should be present in the life of a church leader. I facilitate discussion for one of the small groups. A good time with these men every week.
This morning, I had the opportunity to participate for an hour with 15-20 others as part of a 24 hour prayer time for the persecuted church (think ISIS martyrs) sponsored by my home church. We prayed for the persecuted, the persecutors, for government leadership, and for the Church. Doing what Jesus told us to do, “pray for those who persecute you”.
Life is an adventure, an adventure that can have the mission of God right at its center. Would love to hear from you regarding how you have been joining with God in His mission in the world.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
from February 2, 2015 prayer update
I am taking my sixth class this spring as part of a graduate program in intercultural studies at Columbia International University. The class is titled “the mission of God”. We are using a reader titled Discovering the Mission of God, edited by Barnett and Martin as our primary text. In the introduction to the reader there are some excellent points made regarding God’s mission in the world. I will share a few thoughts with you.
Barnett asks and answers a number of important questions. First, whose mission is it? “It is not the church’s mission. Neither is it primarily the missionary’s mission, nor just the mission agency’s mission. It is God’s mission. … we should be both humbled and disturbed by the fact that God has chosen the church as His instrument, His agent, in accomplishing His mission.”
Second, Barnett asks, what is the mission of God? (Latin: misseo dei) He points out that “misseo means a sending of someone with a duty or purpose to perform.” It is a mission that is first described not in the great commission, but given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. The mission is that all peoples on earth will be blessed. “Everything between Genesis and Revelation is directly related to this mission of God, this sending of Himself and His people to bless all the peoples on earth.”
Third, Barnett asks, why this mission? The answer is simple: God’s glory. An answer that is very different than the man centered answers we usually hear. In Isaiah 48:11 we are reminded, “For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”
Fourth, Barnett asks, where do we see it? He points out that we find it both in the Scriptures and in history. He claims that the Bible itself exists because of the mission of God. He goes on to say that everything we do as Christ-followers, as the church, and as para-church should connect with the mission of God.
Fifth, Barnett asks, how does God do it? His response is five-fold: God’s love, people-to-people, discipling all people, equipping the saints, and through the church.
Sixth Barnett asks, by what power? The apostle Paul says “according to His power” and then goes on to discuss the power of the gospel. I would add to that the repeatedly promised presence and power of God’s Spirit at work in and through the lives of His children.
Finally Barnett asks, where do we fit? He states that “After discovering the mission of God, we can no longer say that we do not fit. We are unable to pass the responsibility to missionaries or mission pastors. We are all called by God to participate in His mission of blessing to all people.”
Some great questions and some insightful responses. Where are you in your life-long journey of partnering with God in His mission in the world?
Barnett asks and answers a number of important questions. First, whose mission is it? “It is not the church’s mission. Neither is it primarily the missionary’s mission, nor just the mission agency’s mission. It is God’s mission. … we should be both humbled and disturbed by the fact that God has chosen the church as His instrument, His agent, in accomplishing His mission.”
Second, Barnett asks, what is the mission of God? (Latin: misseo dei) He points out that “misseo means a sending of someone with a duty or purpose to perform.” It is a mission that is first described not in the great commission, but given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. The mission is that all peoples on earth will be blessed. “Everything between Genesis and Revelation is directly related to this mission of God, this sending of Himself and His people to bless all the peoples on earth.”
Third, Barnett asks, why this mission? The answer is simple: God’s glory. An answer that is very different than the man centered answers we usually hear. In Isaiah 48:11 we are reminded, “For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”
Fourth, Barnett asks, where do we see it? He points out that we find it both in the Scriptures and in history. He claims that the Bible itself exists because of the mission of God. He goes on to say that everything we do as Christ-followers, as the church, and as para-church should connect with the mission of God.
Fifth, Barnett asks, how does God do it? His response is five-fold: God’s love, people-to-people, discipling all people, equipping the saints, and through the church.
Sixth Barnett asks, by what power? The apostle Paul says “according to His power” and then goes on to discuss the power of the gospel. I would add to that the repeatedly promised presence and power of God’s Spirit at work in and through the lives of His children.
Finally Barnett asks, where do we fit? He states that “After discovering the mission of God, we can no longer say that we do not fit. We are unable to pass the responsibility to missionaries or mission pastors. We are all called by God to participate in His mission of blessing to all people.”
Some great questions and some insightful responses. Where are you in your life-long journey of partnering with God in His mission in the world?
Sunday, January 4, 2015
from January 4, 2015 prayer update
Happy New Year! January 1 always provides great opportunities for a fresh start. As I look forward to all that 2015 will hold, I do so looking to a God who delights in exceeding our expectations, but often in unexpected ways.
When I think about areas for personal goal setting, I think about things like character, family, finances, health, school, service, spiritual life, work. I have set personal goals for 2015 in all of the areas mentioned above. The things God has laid on my heart to focus on this year are not new. They are areas that I have been looking to God for growth in for some time. I have decided to focus on a few, with hopes of keeping these central and of making meaningful forward progress. Three I am highlighting in 2015 are:
• my character (dealing with impatience and a critical spirit)
• my health (consistency in exercise – 3x per week)
• my spiritual life (consistency in intercessory prayer – 3x per day).
I turned 60 in October. Entering a new decade of life is a not so subtle reminder of the brevity of life. This important truth is a great reminder of the need to live life with intentionality. This cannot be done well apart from personal goal setting. The apostle Paul states in Philippians 3 that “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He goes on to say “Let those of us who are mature think this way”.
How about you? What personal goals have you set for 2015? I would love to hear from you. Happy New Year!
* * * * * * * *
“Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day.”
Denis Waitley
* * * * * * * *
“If you’re not sure where you are going, you're liable to end up someplace else.”
Robert Mager
* * * * * * * *
• my character (dealing with impatience and a critical spirit)
• my health (consistency in exercise – 3x per week)
• my spiritual life (consistency in intercessory prayer – 3x per day).
I turned 60 in October. Entering a new decade of life is a not so subtle reminder of the brevity of life. This important truth is a great reminder of the need to live life with intentionality. This cannot be done well apart from personal goal setting. The apostle Paul states in Philippians 3 that “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He goes on to say “Let those of us who are mature think this way”.
How about you? What personal goals have you set for 2015? I would love to hear from you. Happy New Year!
* * * * * * * *
“Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day.”
Denis Waitley
* * * * * * * *
“If you’re not sure where you are going, you're liable to end up someplace else.”
Robert Mager
* * * * * * * *
Sunday, December 7, 2014
from December 7, 2014 prayer update
November 20-22 our NCM south central regional team met in Austin for a time of interaction and training. Our NCM national directors from Colorado, Roy & Margaret Fitzwater, joined with us to facilitate our time together.
Included in the photo are: front row (Cindy & Vincent Escandell, Wayne Lott, Dee Seifert, Judy Miller, AnnaMarie & Willie Peterson), back row (Blake McDaniel, Roy & Margaret Fitzwater, Steve Stahl), not pictured (Jen Howat, Kathy McDaniel, Cheryl Stahl). The Escandells recently joined our team and serve in Louisiana. Jen also recently joined our team and serves in Oklahoma. Dee, Judy, Wayne, the McDaniels, the Petersons, and the Stahls all serve in Texas.
I am praying daily for new NCM staff, primarily in their 30s and 40s, to join with our team of seasoned servants. I am also praying for a Hispanic couple to join our team to better serve the growing number of Spanish speaking churches in our region. There are two top 5 cities in our region (DFW – 6.8 million and Houston – 6.3 million). There are five additional cities (Austin, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Tulsa) of a million or more. And five more cities (Baton Rouge, El Paso, Fayetteville, Little Rock, McAllen) of 500 thousand or more. I am asking God for a NCM staff presence in all 12 of these key cities, and for a strong team in DFW and Houston to effectively serve many hundreds of churches of all sizes and theological bents in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Judy Miller wonderfully hosted our time together in her home in Cedar Park. We had good time together as a team in the Scriptures, sharing from our personal lives and ministries, and interacting over good meals. We also received some helpful training called “deep dive”. This training was designed to enhance our skills as certified coaches in our work with local church leaders toward NCM’s goal of helping create a culture of outreach and disciplemaking in the local churches we serve.
Included in the photo are: front row (Cindy & Vincent Escandell, Wayne Lott, Dee Seifert, Judy Miller, AnnaMarie & Willie Peterson), back row (Blake McDaniel, Roy & Margaret Fitzwater, Steve Stahl), not pictured (Jen Howat, Kathy McDaniel, Cheryl Stahl). The Escandells recently joined our team and serve in Louisiana. Jen also recently joined our team and serves in Oklahoma. Dee, Judy, Wayne, the McDaniels, the Petersons, and the Stahls all serve in Texas.
I am praying daily for new NCM staff, primarily in their 30s and 40s, to join with our team of seasoned servants. I am also praying for a Hispanic couple to join our team to better serve the growing number of Spanish speaking churches in our region. There are two top 5 cities in our region (DFW – 6.8 million and Houston – 6.3 million). There are five additional cities (Austin, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Tulsa) of a million or more. And five more cities (Baton Rouge, El Paso, Fayetteville, Little Rock, McAllen) of 500 thousand or more. I am asking God for a NCM staff presence in all 12 of these key cities, and for a strong team in DFW and Houston to effectively serve many hundreds of churches of all sizes and theological bents in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Judy Miller wonderfully hosted our time together in her home in Cedar Park. We had good time together as a team in the Scriptures, sharing from our personal lives and ministries, and interacting over good meals. We also received some helpful training called “deep dive”. This training was designed to enhance our skills as certified coaches in our work with local church leaders toward NCM’s goal of helping create a culture of outreach and disciplemaking in the local churches we serve.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
from November 2, 2014 prayer update
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.
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, 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.
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