interview - Discipleship.Network - The Reimagine Network2024-03-28T10:47:23Zhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/feed/tag/interviewThe Reimagine.Networkhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/the-reimagine-network-quote-unquote-interview-called-to-disciples2023-11-05T16:53:15.000Z2023-11-05T16:53:15.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><strong style="font-size:14pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12285874473,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12285874473,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12285874473?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="410" /></a></em></strong></p>
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<p><strong style="font-size:14pt;"><em>The Reimagine.Network "Quote/Unquote" Interview</em></strong></p>
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<div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed <span class="il">Danut</span> Jemna, Author of "Called to Discipleship: Reflections on the Gospel of Mark"</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">Danut</span> Jemna has PhDs in theology and statistics and sampling research, which combine gracefully in this book</span></div>
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<blockquote><span style="font-size:14pt;">For details <a href="https://langhamliterature.org/called-to-discipleship" target="_blank">√ here</a></span></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>"The costly art of discipleship</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>- as a commitment and a way of life, not a methodology or programme -</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>has become rare in our Christian communities.</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong><span class="il">Danut</span> Jemna's book invites us to take a fresh look at the way Jesus went about making disciples</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>as an inspiration for rediscovering this vital practice for the followers of Christ in the twenty-first century."</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><span class="il">Danut</span> Manastireanu</strong></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> As I was reading your observations on discipleship from the Gospel of Mark, it seems obvious to me (and your colleagues; see above) that your main objective is to help Christians and Christian leaders rethink or reimagine discipleship from a biblical perspective.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> Indeed, this is the purpose of my book. Why presenting discipleship from a biblical perspective? Because it challenges Christians today to revisit biblical revelation and the model of Jesus Christ in a context where we hear more and more about alternatives such as personal development, mentoring, coaching, positive thinking, character and personality building, etc. The problem is not that these concepts have emerged and are being heavily promoted. My concern is to what extent the Christian community can bring up the topic of discipleship as a way of life and as a path to maturity and fulfilment, how it can help its own believers to use their own resources, from the Scriptures and the Christian tradition, and then dialogue with what society offers. The book is an invitation and a challenge: it is a call to the fundamental message of Jesus, who asks us to represent him to the world as his disciples; it is an attempt to provide the contemporary reader with some coordinates of the dynamics of discipleship drawn from what Jesus himself practiced with the disciples of his time.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>"Today's society tends to focus on relationships, small communities, and elements of local culture at the expense of the importance of institutions."</strong></em></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> Why are societal trends relevant to how the Church designs systems of making disciples? Many would say we must resist (or "cancel") cultural influence<strong>.</strong></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> The relationship of Christians with society or culture in general is always a challenge. Of the models presented by R. Niebuhr in the book <em>Christ and Culture</em>, I believe that the ”Christ the Transformer of Culture” model provides the healthiest framework for the believer's relationship to the dynamics of human society. Today, specialists consider that we live in what is generically called postmodernism, a period which, through its ideological and behavioral coordinates, offers the Christian community numerous opportunities for manifestation. Among these, I would underline the return of interest in religion or spirituality, people's openness to a holistic or integrative vision of life, the interest in shaping an identity in context and the quest for an authentic experience. All this represents an opportunity for Christians to live and offer to others the model of Jesus' life, to live discipleship as an authentic way of life that makes the values of the Gospel transparent. This seems to me to be the best way for the Christian mission. Gone are the days of the great evangelists who gathered large crowds of people and persuaded them with powerful speeches. We live in a time when we can reach others through the fragrance of a consistent lifestyle. I believe that today we are somehow experiencing the dates of early Christianity, which could not use institutional mechanisms or power to impose itself on society, but succeeded through the fervour with which it fulfilled the teachings of Jesus.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>"Discipleship is possible because the Son of God himself went through this process.</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>Before Jesus became a teacher and a guide to others, he was an obedient disciple, a dutiful servant who diligently went through his lessons.</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>He has thus earned his authority to lead his disciples</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>along the path of formation and towards God. "</strong></em></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12285876684,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12285876684,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="12285876684?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a>PHIL>>> Agree/Disagree? (and please explain) - -This is not new-news. But it seems to me there are profound implications if we factor into our disciplemaking equation that Jesus went through a disciplemaking process.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> This is true, and I don't pretend to bring big news with the message of my book. It is an attempt to highlight issues that we may neglect or no longer find relevant. For example, I believe that in the Christian community the focus on Jesus as the Son of God is predominant and we risk relating to a distant and demanding person with whom we can hardly build a relationship and whose standards overwhelm us. But if we manage to explore the dimension of his <em>kenosis</em>, the way in which he lived as a man, in total dependence on the Father and the Holy Spirit, in humility and obedience, as a servant dedicated entirely to others, who learned through his own experience to become a teacher and a guide for others, we discover that his model of life is no longer distant and inaccessible. I am trying to draw attention to the transparency of the Gospel regarding how Jesus lived his life, not as a superman, but as one of us, who fought with himself and with the challenges of our life to earn his authority. This is a great encouragement and opens us to the relationship with Jesus Christ from the position of a partnership in which his assistance and presence grow and support us in the process of our becoming to be authentic disciples and to be able to assist others in the same approach of their becoming.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>"The biblical text distinguishes between two categories of people who followed Christ"</strong></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> What are those categories and why is it important to differentiate between them?</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> In the Gospel we are told that there were large groups of people who followed Jesus because they were attracted by his signs and wonders, the way he spoke or confronted religious leaders. We may call them admirers of Jesus. It is a volatile mass of people who acclaim Christ as he enters Jerusalem and, a few days later, demand his death sentence. The Greek biblical term for discipleship means following the master, but not just in this sense of companion and admirer. The other category of people represents those who embrace the message and values of Jesus and are willing to assume the implications of being his disciples. Just as in Jesus' day, there may still be people today who are attracted by the personality of Jesus, but are unwilling to take his life model seriously and live it. Nominal Christianity represents such a situation of admirers who value the person of Jesus from an ethical perspective, as a necessary reference to draw the lines of a religious system.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>"The choice and decision to become a disciple of Christ does not mean a renunciation of the world and of one's responsibilities in society.</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>The call of a disciple of Jesus draws our attention to the willingness to accept a radical change of life,</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>even if it involves a long and difficult process.</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>This is how discipleship begins."</strong></em></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> How is your description different from most of the disciplemaking that takes place across a wide variety of congregations?</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> My purpose is not to comment on discipleship models in different Christian communities. I am interested in observing whether discipleship is understood as a way of life defined by the values and teachings of Jesus or whether we are talking about a set of religious practices that are consumed far from the concrete reality of the society in which we live. As in the case of Jesus' contemporary disciples, the Gospel speaks of a paradigm shift, a real <em>metanoia</em>. It asks us to move from being mere fishermen, i.e. people who define the meaning of life in terms of worldly goals, to being fishers of people, i.e. people who assume the mission of the Kingdom of God.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>"Discipleship is a road of no return.</em></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>The right path of discipleship is the path of the transformation of one's being and the building of a new identity."</em></strong></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> How does Church leadership emphasize "transformation" into a "new identity" in our messaging and methods of making disciples?</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> In the book I emphasize that discipleship involves a transformative dynamic of the self, building an identity that is defined by a relationship with Jesus and with one's fellow human beings. Jesus Christ insists on this transformative process in his relationship with the apostles and uses many tools that are related to the cultural and religious specificity of those who follow him. We can see both a drastic process of demolishing or deconstructing elements of practice and understanding that are far from the spirit of Scripture, and an effort to clarify and build new meanings about the human existence and destiny. This process, however, is a costly one, requiring time and effort, like that of educating children, as well as a willingness on the part of Christian church leaders and masters to assist their own disciples with a clear project. But I have the impression that such an approach is more the exception than the rule in Christian communities. Leaders are more concerned with gathering followers and keeping them in churches through religious activities, both because of lack of resources and lack of vision for true discipleship.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>"The purpose of testing is not to point out weaknesses and what has not been done,</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>but to reveal how much learning has taken place</strong></em></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>and how profound the disciple's transformation is."</strong></em></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> How could this insight benefit us as we recalibrate our structures and programs?</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> Although we live in an era that promotes positive thinking, that is not what this is about. Christian discipleship represents the realistic framework that always emphasizes the importance of the steps already taken and the confident use of one's potential, of what God has put in each of us. The assistance that a disciple receives from Jesus or from a master who is his brother/sister in Christ is based on God's faithfulness and on the hope that what the incarnate Son of God has accomplished is also accessible to us through the personal participation that the Holy Spirit achieves with each one of us. This vision would lead to an orientation of ecclesial life towards the needs of the believers and towards a type of Christian ministry that would focus on the maturing process of Christians. This inevitably leads to the development of small local communities, actively involved in the lives of their neighbours and with a desire to be a transforming factor for others.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>"The dynamic of discipleship in history involves this twofold effort:</em></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>the desire to become like Christ, our movel,</em></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>and the investment of helping other grow in the same direction -</em></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>participating in the discipleship of others."</em></strong></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> Expand on why (and how) it is important for a disciple to "participate in the discipleship of others."</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>>> The expectation of Jesus, our great Master, is that we honour his work and investment by becoming like him, by becoming ourselves masters to others. The logic of Christian life as discipleship is elementally simple. Every believer, since he or she has travelled a segment of the journey of self-becoming, understands that he or she is called to be of service to others to help them walk the path they already know. And this approach is itself transformative and leads both to the progress of the person being accompanied and of the person who makes himself available. Scripture tells us that Jesus himself learned and became from what he did, from the service he performed for others, and from suffering for others, from his obedience to the Father's will. And participation in the discipleship of others can take many forms, from concrete commitments to support the development of others, to the involvement in projects that touch people's lives.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>"This book offers a fresh exploration of the nature of discipleship."</strong></em></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> Leave us with a question that prompts/propels our exploration...</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>> What are the main elements of your own cultural and social context that challenge or to test your identity as a disciple of Jesus? What about that of teacher or master to others?</span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>"We do not have a recipe or steps to follow to become disciples of Jesus."</em></strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14pt;">PHIL>>> <span class="il">Danut</span>, please write a prayer we can make our own as we seek to reflect and reconstruct a disciplemaking strategy.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span class="il">DANUT</span>>> <em>Father of all, who call to yourself your sons and daughters in the world to give them the gift of adoption and the glory of your Son, receive our prayer. We thank you for the help of Christ and the Holy Spirit you have sent to sustain us on our journey of discipleship. We thank you for the disciples and masters who are already on this journey and whom you support to be a living witness to the model of life lived by Jesus in the world. We trust in your project and commit ourselves to be disciples of the Lord in order to transform our lives, to build a solid identity and to give a coherent meaning to our existence. We desire to honor you by serving our neighbors and growing more and more into the likeness of our Lord and Master Jesus Chri</em>st.</span></div>
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</div></div>CityLife: Incarnational Prayer, Discipleship, Evangelismhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-the-reimagine-network-interviewed-gary-jennings-2023-10-09T02:04:49.000Z2023-10-09T02:04:49.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:18pt;"><em><strong>CityLife: Incarnational Prayer, Discipleship, Evangelism</strong></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Phil Miglioratti @ The Reimagine.Network Interviewed Gary Jennings of City Life</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">“I am praying today for the American Church for the foundations that don’t look like Jesus will crumble,</span></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">and as a result, a mighty army of disciplemakers will rise in obedience to see disciple making movements</span></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">sweep across our land from sea to shining sea.”</span></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Gary, how does this statement fuel your passion for ministry</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">?</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY>>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> Phil, I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. The only hope for the Church to fulfill the Great Commission is to obey Jesus’ final command to make disciples, not converts. Converts rarely make disciples. Disciples make disciplemakers. The bottom line for CityLife is to make and multiply disciplemakers in and through apartments. This is our role and responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission which will transform apartments from properties to communities. In other words, disciplemakers are world changers. They find out where God is working and join Him in His work, His plan to redeem the world to Himself. CityLife is our response to living a life of obedience in apartment living. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">The way we do that is to practice the principles of disciple making movements to first and foremost, pray and fast. Secondly, we serve with purpose and that purpose is to find apartment employees and residents who are Luke 10 persons of peace. We also start Discovery Bible Studies with lost people to disciple them towards conversion. Finally, we multiply everything we do. We call it “embracing multiplication.” </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">We have to make paradigm shifts in our churches to fulfill the Great Commission through multiplication. </span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">"How in the world can we build community in a place that is lost, fragile, needy, chaotic, unfriendly, and hopeless?"</span></em><span style="font-weight:400;"> </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Help us reimagine ... How would you coach church leaders to rethink "church?"</strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY>>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> Phil, we coach church leaders all the time to rethink or rewire their “churched up” thinking to a more Kingdom mindset. CityLife is not a church but we intentionally partner with churches, nonprofits and business leaders to create a “coalition of the willing” that my dear friend, Cecil Seagle, shared with me many years ago. The church should not be an “island unto themselves.” The Church is a living organism embodied by believers who call themselves Christians to obey the Mission that God calls every church to fulfill. We cannot fulfill Jesus’ final command by ourselves. We must cooperate, coordinate and collaborate to make and multiply disciplemakers. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">So, we challenge church leaders to get back to the one thing that we are all commanded to do and that is to make and multiply disciplemakers. I believe strongly and passionately in the 7 Realities of Experiencing God as an example of what we coach. We also coach church leaders to really evaluate and assess what is going on in their church and community. We ask the right questions of church leaders so they can discover on their own if they are on the right track of making and multiplying disciplemakers. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Most of what church leaders do in disciple-making is knowledge-based discipleship. We embrace obedience-based disciple-making using simple, reproducible tools that anyone can use. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Finally, we advocate that clergy is not the focus in fulfilling the Great Commission. What happened in the book of Acts never would’ve happened if it had depended on the clergy. We have to get back to equipping and empowering ordinary people to become disciplemakers who become world changers. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">CityLife models these realities in apartments which are micro mission fields. We also offer mission teams to come to “taste and see” so they can go back to their churches and communities to make and multiply disciplemakers in and through apartments or wherever God leads them. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">{ <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/adopt-an-apartment-initiative-reimaginecities-and-you-will-reimag" target="_blank">Read more>>></a> about this miistry initiative}</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Help us reassess how to make disciples in the 21st century. What question(s) do we need to begin with?</strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY>>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> Phil, the first question is what is a disciple? The answer is in God’s Word. I love the simple definition that a disciple team at LifeWay came up with several years ago which is a great summary of thoughts. A disciple… “is someone who thinks and acts like Jesus.” </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Other questions I use in making and multiplying disciplemakers are.</span></p>
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<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Are you doing knowledge-based discipleship or obedience-based disciple-making?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Are you praying and fasting to find out where God is working so you can join Him in His work?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Are you disciple-making principles transferable to any culture? Socio-economic group? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Will your disciple-making “system” multiply? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">What is the role of a disciplemaker? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Pastor, are you trying to disciple your church all by yourself from the pulpit? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">How is your church and community being transformed by your disciple-making efforts?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Share with me how disciple-making in your church is fulfilling the Great Commission? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">How do you make disciples who make disciples who make disciples?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Do you believe that God’s Word is as powerful as we say it is? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Do you see every person that you come in contact with as a potential disciple-maker?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Are you investing in the right people to make and multiply disciplemakers?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">What is the role of “discovery” in your disciple-making or are you just telling people what to believe? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Is prayer your highest priority?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Are you willing to consider paradigm shifts in transforming your church into a mission center? </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Is your hope for your church dependent on you or the Holy Spirit and His Word?</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Would you be willing to evaluate your church’s budget to see where resources are going to do church? What does your budget say about your church’s commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission?</span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Phil, these are some of the questions we share with church leaders as they come under our influence and coaching. We desperately want church leaders to discover God’s plan for fruitful disciple-making instead of giving them a plan. There are only a few times that we are prescriptive. The majority of our coaching is using methods that lead to discovery. We don't prescribe. We coach to discover. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> From our ministry time together I know you view prayer as vital/initial to church, ministry, everything ...</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY>>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> Thank you, Phil, for observing that. Let me pause to say that you, Claude King, Shodankeh Johnson and my Mom are the four people in my life that I point to for inspiring me to be a man of prayer and to have a ministry of intercession. Thank you, Phil, for investing in me by living out your passion in front of me and thousands of others. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">I would hasten to say that I’ve always been a doer. Yes, pray and then do. However, the “do-ing” became a distraction. With good intentions, I have always been so grateful to the Lord for saving me so I want to work for Him. That resulted in me losing the opportunity to have an intimate love relationship with the Father. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">My dear friend, Shodankeh Johnson, who is a disciple-making movement leader in Sierra Leone, say that “prayer is the work!” I believe that is true. I practice that personally. I spend much time in prayer about everything so CityLife can be a part of His work and plan. Praying and fasting is a lifestyle because it is my fellowship with Him that is at the core of my life, family and ministry. Praying and fasting keeps me in the center of His will as long as I obey what He is saying to me or showing me in His Word. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">I love what E.M. Bounds says. <em>“Every mighty move of the Spirit of God has had its source in the prayer chamber.</em>” He also says… <em>“The story of every great Christian achievement is the history of answered prayer.”</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">I want everyday of my life to be filled with answered prayers from the God of the Bible!!!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Describe the difference between networking and partnering...</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY >>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> I’ll try to keep this simple. Networking means that I have a pool of people resources that may be a solution to an issue or opportunity I or others have. Partnership is totally different. There are people in my life that I trust who will work with me to accomplish a goal in fulfilling the Great Commission. This is super simple but I believe it communicates that you have to have both in expanding God’s Kingdom. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> ... and explain why both are essential to effective ministry.</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY ></strong><span style="font-weight:400;">>> Phil, allow me to answer your question with an illustration. I was in the leasing office of an apartment complex one day when he asked me to help him do the Angel Tree Project for kids in his apartments. He told me they would not have much of a Christmas if he didn’t do something to provide a good Christmas for them. First of all, the manager is in my network. Now, he just became a partner. I was his solution to making this happen. He was a solution (more of an answered prayer) to get the Gospel to children and their families. We are now partners in the mission of making and multiplying disciplemakers by serving families at Christmas time. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12244741253,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12244741253,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12244741253?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="475" /></a>This illustration goes deeper in having networks and partnerships. My first step was creating a spreadsheet of the needs/wishes they shared. Then, I shared that spreadsheet with folks in my network of friends, churches and family. God answered our prayers through our networks who became partners in the goal of providing Christmas gifts at The Flats Apartments. Here are the results…</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">91 kids from 38 families were served</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">7 churches partnered with us to meet this need.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">8 delivery drivers shuttle almost 80 large bags of gifts and 21 bikes. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">We had $4000 given to this project on top of the gifts. We decided to give each family a Christmas food bag as well. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">We had around 80 people involved in this one project who gave time, Christmas gifts, money and drivers to make this happen. </span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">It was a network of relationships that provided the partners to serve these 38 families at Christmas time. That has made an impact on the lives of everyone involved. We have been able to partner with many of those same volunteers since then because they believe in God’s mission to love people to Jesus. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">"CityLife works with apartment management companies and teams to serve the holistic needs of their residents."</span></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">"Part 1 - Building Relationships • Part 2 - Building Trust • Part 3 - Build Community"</span></em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Tell us about your current mission:</strong> <strong><em>"serving apartments | building communities" </em></strong><span style="font-weight:400;">... and how churches/ministries can apply the core concepts that drive the vision.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY >>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> Phil, that tagline was the result of prayer in trying to provide a handle for both apartment management and CityLife partners and friends to understand that we are there to stay. Our “customer” is the apartment manager and/or team. We intentionally work with apartment management because they have a business model that is supposed to provide hospitality to keep their residents from leaving. They lost a LOT of money when their residents leave. They keep losing money if that apartment if they don’t put another resident in that same apartment. So, their business model is to make lots of money through retention. </span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">We come along to build a relationship with apartment management by asking two fundamental questions. The first one is <em>“how can we pray for you?”</em> This is super important for them to know that we are a faith-based nonprofit (not a church) that believes that prayer is essential. Over time, the apartment management (non-Christians and believers) see and hear about how God answered our prayers for them personally, their jobs, their families, and even their residents. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">The second question we ask apartment management is<em> “how can we serve you?”</em> One of our goals at CityLife is to make the manager and his/her team to be the heroes to their residents. Apartment management has to provide some type of hospitality to their residents to keep them happy, engaged and enjoy apartment living. Honestly, they are not very creative in their planning and they are terrible in executing their plan. CityLife has 40+ years experience in event planning so we know how to make things happen for their apartment community. In most cases, the apartment management sees us as partners in building a community. They see us as chaplains, community development specialists, event coordinators, and prayer warriors for their employees and residents. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">We know that the only way that an apartment becomes a real community is to make and multiply disciplemakers. We build lasting, authentic friendships with management so they trust us with just about everything including allowing us to walk with them in their business model. The crazy thing is that when we have their trust they give us a blank slate to do just about anything we want to do. The apartment management team publicizes every event we do in partnership with them. They give us access to meet, greet and build relationships with their residents. This allows us to become partners with the management team which takes care of multiple issues including loitering restrictions. They even invite us to go around to knock on doors to publicize our events. Just the other day we had a mission team from South Carolina that prayer walked one of our apartments. I went in to meet the assistant manager who is now a close friend to tell him that we are on the property prayerwalking. His response was so encouraging. He said, “thank you for praying for us!” </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">To summarize, we do all kinds of hospitality and serve events in partnership with apartment management because they trust us. In some cases early on, they didn’t really trust us but they were desperate in providing hospitality to their residents. Those experiences led to deep trust because we executed the plan with excellence and love. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">CityLife cares holistically for each employee and resident of an apartment. That allows us to do all kinds of things/events that will benefit their residents. We are currently partnering with a nonprofit that does an after school program for K-4th graders on Monday-Wednesday in one apartment. We are currently doing a beginner computer class for adults on Fridays in partnership with a nonprofit that will give them a laptop at the end of the 6 week class. We have done summer children’s reading programs, summer camps for kids, summer VBS, and many other things that are ALL in partnership with the apartment management company and team. We even have one apartment management company that invites us to serve their apartment management employee company picnic each year. All of these “access ministries” give us the opportunity to find persons of peace and start Discovery Groups. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">Our CityLife commitment to serve apartments also provides churches, nonprofits, mission teams and business leaders to do Kingdom work together in partnership to fulfill the Great Commission. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;font-size:14pt;">A final illustration of what this means comes from a conversation that I had with a brand new assistant manager of an apartment close to my house. I was introduced to him by his manager because one of his roles as the assistant manager is to be “resident-relations.” I shared with him what CityLife does, which is to work directly and intentionally with apartment management teams to help them serve their residents well in building a community. I also shared with him that we are faith-based and we want to make him and the team the heroes to his residents. He loved that. My final introductory remark was that although we are faith-based we were not there to take people to church. CityLife is committed to bring the Church to the apartment. I was shocked at his response. “Gary, isn’t that the way it is supposed to be?” YES!!! That conversation was back in April 2023. He and I hug each other every time we see each other. He loves God and is very active in his church here in Hendersonville, TN. He is an answer to prayer for us to work together as partners to get the Gospel to every resident in his 364 units. Only God!!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> One more thing ... tell us about your vision of prayewalks in cities and communities across the United States. </strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY>>> </strong></span><span style="font-size:14pt;">The vision of a National Apartment PrayerWalk Day is to mobilize the Church in teams of two’s and three’s to prayerwalk apartments near where people live, work or worship. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14pt;">It is our prayer that a National Apartment PrayerWalk Day will raise awareness with individuals, churches, faith-based nonprofits and Christian business leaders that 50% of the population in the United States lives in an apartment community. The staggering stat is that 95% of those who live in apartments are lost without Christ as Savior and Lord. Every apartment complex is a mission field without a doubt and it is harvest time! </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14pt;">The reality is that apartment communities are not only “mission fields” but they are spiritual warzones! We firmly believe that prayer movements precede disciple making movements. A day set aside to prayerwalk is an expression of the ministry of intercession and is the best opportunity we have to push back against spiritual darkness that exists in apartments. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:14pt;">We know from God’s Word that prayer is the foundation for everything we do so we desire for apartment communities to be flooded with prayer teams to cover as many apartments in the US as possible with His power, protection and conviction. We also pray that God’s people will pray and obey to hear what God is already doing so they can join Him in His plan to transform apartments by making and multiplying disciplemakers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Gary, write a prayer we can each pray that will help us be open to rethinking by the leading of the Holy Spirit.</strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY>>> </strong><em><span style="font-weight:400;">Dear Lord, oh God of all creation, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Would you stir the hearts of every believer to be an obedient follower of Christ who thinks and acts like Jesus in their life, family, work and community? God, awaken the soul of the Church to re-establish their commitment to fulfill Jesus’ final command at all costs in and through the relationships and influences we have on people in our lives as well as those we meet. May Your Church be a house of prayer to always be in the center of Your will, not to get God on our agenda. I pray, dear Father, that our churches help people discover the God of the Bible and not just tell people what to believe. I also pray, Lord, that churches would be more Kingdom-driven to work together with like-minded churches, nonprofits and business leaders. Finally, O God, I pray that every believer would become a disciple-maker who makes and multiplies disciplemakers and that they become great storytellers of how God has transformed their lives to our lost world around us. Your will be done, Lord!!!</span></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span style="font-weight:400;">I pray this with urgency and in the strong and holy name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!!!</span></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:14pt;"><strong>PICK & CLICK</strong></span></p>
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<p align="center"><strong>CityLife:</strong></p>
<p align="center">Incarnational Discipleship</p>
<p align="center">+</p>
<p align="center">Onsite Prayer</p>
<p align="center">=</p>
<p align="center">Relational Evangelism</p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-the-reimagine-network-interviewed-gary-jennings-" target="_blank">√My Interview with Gary Jennings,</a></p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-the-reimagine-network-interviewed-gary-jennings-" target="_blank">Church Ministry Strategist</a></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center">+</p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/citylife-a-mission-lab-case-study" target="_blank">√Missional Case Study</a></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center">+</p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/group/citylife-bringing-life-to-communities" target="_blank">√CityLife: Bringing Life to Communities</a></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center">+</p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/apartment-communities" target="_blank">√CityLife Newsletter</a></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center">+</p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics1/citylife-newsletter-a-case-study-in-bringing-life-to-apartment-co" target="_blank">√Sample Apartment Commuity Prayer Guide</a></p>
<p align="center"> </p>
<p align="center">+</p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/adopt-an-apartment-initiative-reimaginecities-and-you-will-reimag" target="_blank">Strategic Planning: Adopt An Apartment Community</a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>GARY B. JENNINGS</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="mailto:gary.b.jennings1@gmail.com"><strong>gary.b.jennings1@gmail.com</strong></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>615-431-9645</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">CityLife works with apartment management companies and teams to serve the holistic needs of their residents.</span></p></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Bob Tiede for The Reimagine.Network ~ a One-on-One Seminar on Leading With Questionshttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-bob-tiede-for-the-reimagine-network-2023-08-05T19:07:28.000Z2023-08-05T19:07:28.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Bob Tiede for The Reimagine.Network</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>a One-on-One Seminar on Leading With Questions<br /> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="/xn/detail/22531044:DiscussionEntry:219810">✔️Bob's LEADERSHIP LAB: Engage The Power of Questions to Reshape Your Ministry</a></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> You are the co-author of "Leading With Questions." Some people may think a book of 10 chapters with 262 pages is overkill. How much is there to really learn about asking a question?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12177027865,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12177027865,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12177027865?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="510" /></a>BOB >>></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">In many ways you are very correct! “Leading With Questions” is a really simple concept that the world’s most effective leaders know and employ! Once a Leader sees the power of leading with questions it seems so obvious! Yet for those who have not yet seen the power of leading with questions the obvious is not so obvious. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Whenever I speak I start with a confession: My confession is that for most of my career I was a benevolent dictator. Not out of evil intent. But the only paradigm of leadership that I had was that a leader needs to give his/her staff direction. i.e. a leader needs to tell his/her staff what to do! I did say “benevolent” dictator. I grew up in a home where I was taught to say “Please” and “Thank You” – so if you were on my team I used “Please” when I instructed you on what I needed you to do! And I said, “Thank You” when you finished doing what I instructed you to do! This all changed for me in 2006 when I discovered the first edition of “Leading With Questions” by Dr. Michael Marquardt. This book was a page-turner for me. It was filled with stories of leaders from literally around the globe who were leading with questions and it shared the questions they were asking. And as I read the book, I had only one question, “Why hasn’t anyone ever shared this paradigm of “Leading With Questions” with me before?</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Even if we already understand the power of questions, why do we rarely use them on purpose?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>BOB >>></strong> I think I need to push back a bit on your question. First, one of the things I have learned over the past 11 years is that very few leaders understand the power of questions. Like me, most leaders grow up with the Leadership Paradigm that they as a leader are the one that needs to have all the answers! They are there to “Answer” the questions their staff ask – not to “Ask” their staff questions! My observation is that as soon as a leader sees the power of leading with questions that they almost all immediately seek to begin to lead with questions. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">A second reason that many leaders might be hesitant to lead with questions is that they make the concept far more difficult than it really is! They imagine that they will have to get a Masters Degree in Questionology! A Nice Idea – but something that they probably can never do. Whenever I speak, I ask, “Who here would like to learn to lead with questions in 30 seconds?” Every hand goes up! I then invite one member of the audience to come up to see if this is possible. I then share that all they will need to do is to memorize my 4 most favorite questions. I share that I have a second hand on my watch and that the time will start when I share my first question and then after I share the 4<sup>th</sup> question I will ask if they have them memorized and if they say, “Yes” I will then ask them to share all 4 and if they are successful the time will stop when they have successfully shared all 4. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Here are my four most favorite questions:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What do you think?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What else?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What else?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What else?</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Every single time I have done this, the person from the audience has been successful and usually in closer to 20 seconds than 30.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">I then thank them – but make the observation that some in the audience are a bit skeptical – like you can’t ask somebody, “What do you think? What else? What else? What else?” And I then share that, of course you wouldn’t do this rapidly. But imagine a conversation. And of course you will add a “topic” to your first question, like, “What do you think we should do to take advantage of this opportunity?, or to solve this challenge?” The person you ask will answer – but when they pause, instead of just moving on – you will say, “Wow that is good, what else?” And guess what? They will give you more. You see all of us when asked to share an opinion, we instinctively roll out a safe answer to see how they will treat it. When they affirm our answer – we relax a bit and when they ask us, “What else?” we then are happy to share more. And when they have answered the second time – instead of moving on, you might say, “This is so good – let me grab a pen so I can take notes, please continue, “What Else?” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Truth is – you will get to their Gold Nugget with your 3<sup>rd</sup> or 4<sup>th</sup> question. You have heard the story of the proverbial Gold Miner who mined for Gold all his life looking for the Gold Vein before he finally gave up. Someone came along later and discovered he was only 6 inches away from the Gold Vein when he quit. Don’t be that Gold Miner. Don’t just ask, “What do you think?” and then move on after you get their first answer. Remember to get to their Gold Nugget – their very best thought – you have to keep digging by asking, “What Else? What Else? What Else?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Now remember my question here was, “Who here would like to learn to lead with questions in 30 seconds? If you have been that leader who thinks you job is to tell you staff what to do – imagine your next meeting with one of your staff, one on one, or with your whole staff team around your conference table. Instead of telling them what to do – you are simply going to ask them, “What do you think we might do about X? What else? What else? What else?” Just by using these 4 questions you will have moved from “Leading by Telling” to “Leading with Questions!”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> What is the benefit of creating a 'questioning' culture?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>BOB >>></strong> Great Question! Phil can I ask you a question? It is a silly question! But I am going somewhere with this, so please go with me: Phil if you were in a rowboat with your whole team – let’s say 9 of them plus you. And there were oars for every one of them and you wanted to get that rowboat across the lake as quick as possible, how many of them would you like to have row with you? </span></p>
<p><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil:</strong> All of them! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob:</strong> Yes – of course – I told you this was a silly question. But now I want you to imagine that same team gathered around your conference table. If you are a leader, like I once was – a benevolent dictator who thinks your job is to figure out what needs to be done and their job is then to do what you tell them to do, how many “mental oars” are there in the water – trying to figure out what needs to be done?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil:</strong> Just one!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob:</strong> Yes – just yours! But now imagine that you are a leader who leads with questions – so you share the opportunity or challenge before you and then lean forward – quickly connecting with the eyes of everyone at the table and then asking, “What do you think we might do to take advantage of this opportunity? Or to solve this challenge?” Now how many mental oars might be in the water?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil:</strong> 10! All of them! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob:</strong> Yes! And Phil as you hear their responses to your question, is it possible that you might hear some ideas better than any of the ideas you were thinking?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil:</strong> Sure!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob:</strong> Not a guarantee – but certainly a possibility maybe even a probability. Now imagine that one of the responses you hear from one of your staff across the table – we will call her Sarah – is absolutely brilliant – frankly much better than any of the options you were thinking! So you lean forward – look Sarah in the eye and say, “Wow Sarah! That is brilliant! I love your idea! In fact would you be willing to lead our whole team to implement your idea?” Phil, how hard will Sarah work?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil:</strong> Really Hard!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob:</strong> Why?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil:</strong> Because it is her idea! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob:</strong> Yes! Thanks Phil for this "interaction." I trust that now your readers will understand just a bit of the value, simplicity and power of leading with questions!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil: How does this fit into the biblical context of a church called to worship and disciplemaking?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob: </strong>One of the books that I compiled is: “339 Questions Jesus Asked.” I say “compiled” because Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the ones that recorded all of these questions that Jesus Asked. I simply compiled all the questions they recorded. And if you add up all the questions recorded in the 4 gospels you come up with 339 questions that Jesus asked. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Now I ask a lot of questions because I don’t know the answers. Think about this: Jesus never asked a question because he didn’t know the answer! So why did he ask? He obviously wanted to see people changed. Might he have known that if you wanted to see the lives of people changed that asking them questions which they in turn then answered would be much more effective? Because it would be their answers to his questions that would greatly increase the likelihood of them changing! I am guessing that Jesus knew this! And that is why he asked so many questions! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">This is still true today! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Someone once said that other people’s answers are like other people’s children – nice – but you still like yours best!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Do you like to be told what to do? Or what to think? I am guessing, “No!” Do you much more enjoy it when someone asks you, “What do you think?” I am reminded of a quote that I love by Henry David Thoreau, “The greatest compliment ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought and then attended to my answer!”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">If you want to see the lives of those you are discipling, changed – then don’t’ tell them what they out to think, instead, follow the model of Jesus, by asking them questions that will result in their being changed by the responses they share to your questions!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Unpack these elements of 'questioning.'</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Leading people >>></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob: </strong>it is a really heavy burden on the shoulders of any leader who thinks they need to have all the answers! Truth is that no one has all the answers! But I used to be that leader who thought my job was to have all the answers! What do you think a Leader who thinks they need to have all the answers is tempted to do when they are asked a question for which they have no answer? Yes! They are tempted to make up an answer on the spot! I know – because I remember doing this. Now my staff were very kind and no one every spoke up and said, “I think you just made that up!” But I am guessing some of my staff were thinking, “I don’t think Bob really knows – I think he just made that up!” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">But today I say, “Leadership is not as much about knowing all the answers as it is about asking the right questions.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Today when I am asked a question that I don’t know the answer for, I will respond – with, “Wow! That’s a great question. I don’t know the answer. How would you answer your question?” Many times they have an answer. But if they say, “I don’t’ know, that is why I am asking you!” I respond with, “Again this is a really great question. I don’t know the answer, but how do you think we could find the answer?” They always have some ideas of who might know or how they might find the answer on line. I then ask, “Will you please go find out and then come back to me with the answer? Because knowing the answer to your great question will greatly benefit us both!”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Asking the right question >>></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob: </strong> If you think that there is only “One Right Question” then you are going to be hesitant to ask, lest you ask the wrong question! This is why my favorite question is “What do you think?” Equally or probably even more important than asking is listening to their answers! In fact if you aren’t going to listen to their answer then don’t ask them a question! I frequently ask my audiences, “Who here would like to become a better listener in 8 seconds?” Again every hand goes up. I then ask, “What sport has an 8 second clock?” Someone in the audience always responds with “Bull Riding!” Yes! To us 8 seconds came seem like nothing! But to a Bull Rider 8 seconds is an eternity. In fact 80% of all Bull Riders are knocked off their bull in less than 8 seconds! So what does bull riding have to do with becoming a better listener. Research shows that the average person when they ask a question only waits 2-3 seconds for an answer. If they don’t answer in 2-3 seconds the silence seems like an eternity and the average person will either re-ask the question or ask another question or answer the question themselves or just move on in the conversation with absolutely no self awareness of what they have just done! Don’t be that person – Don’t get knocked off that bull in less than 8 seconds! – Ask your question! Then count silently to yourself, “One thousand one – one thousand two –one thousand three…… truth is there are times I have gotten to one thousand thirty! The longer their silence the better their answer. Of course if I ask, “Which way to the men’s room?” you will answer instantly. But if I ask, “What might have been one of your greatest failures than has led to one of your greatest successes?” If you have never before been asked this question, how likely will it be for you to have an answer in 2-3 seconds? Not likely! How helpful will it be if at 2 or 3 seconds I ask another question? Not very helpful! But if I wait silently to give you time to think, I will very likely be the beneficiary of an incredible story and an incredible piece of wisdom!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Building teams >>></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob: </strong>A leader who answers all of their staff’s questions will in fact develop a group of followers! But a leader who asks their staff questions will in fact develop a group of leaders! So what do you think: is the goal of leadership to develop more followers? Or to develop more leaders? You all know, “Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime!” The same is true for Leaders!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Planning strategy >>></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob: </strong> When you lead with questions, you will likely be 10 times more effective than when you lead by telling! You get everyone’s mental oars in the water greatly increasing the likelihood of great ideas surfacing! And when your whole team is involved in surfacing those ideas guest what – they will also own the path forward – greatly increasing the probability of successful execution of your strategic plan! </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Two ideas for a Strategic planning session:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Idea One: Start with a Question Storming Session: Set a Goal like 50 questions that we will need to answer to figure out the best way forward! Once the 50 questions are on the board – then everyone gets to put a check mark by the ten that they think will be most important to answer. Then once you have the ten – ask your team members to pick which ones they want to go research to come back to your next meeting with answers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Idea Two: Ask your team to Brainstorm: “How could we do this in a way that will guarantee its failure?” You know the guy on every team that loves to kill brainstorming sessions with, “That will never work!” – that guy will love this! Once you have a list of all the things that would guarantee failure then item by item ask: “If this would guarantee failure what would guarantee success?” For example, If “Never asking our clients for feedback will guarantee failure – what would guarantee success?” Of course the answer is, “We need to ask our clients for feedback as part of our plan!”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Solving problems >>></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob: </strong>Let me share about the power of “Might!” This has broader application than just solving problems. But when you share a problem with you team and then ask “What should we do to fix this?” might your staff be hesitant to answer because it can seem like there is just one right solution. So instead of asking “What SHOULD we do to fix this? Ask, “What MIGHT we do to fix this? Do you see the difference? Asking “Might” just might make your staff more willing to share their ideas. And of course the more ideas shared the closer you will likely be to finding the solution. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">There are also some other questions that I like to use when trying to solve any problem:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What’s our goal here? (Discussing the goal will help clarify the problem)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What would happen if we simply ignored this problem? (Not suggesting that you should ignore the problem – but asking this will likely surface strong support and therefore ownership for this problem needing to be solved)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What are we not seeing here? (Many times there are other issues that are not instantly visible that have created the problem – identifying them and then solving them will in help solve the problem on the table)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Have we ever been confronted with this problem or another problem very similar to this? How did we solve it? And/or What did we learn from that experience?</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> How does 'questioning' assist a leader who wants to reimagine ministry with Spirit-led, Scripture-fed thinking?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>BOB >>> </strong>It is always important for Christian Leaders (Truth is for all Leaders) to ask:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">How would God answer this?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What light can we gain for the Scriptures to answer this?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Where in the Scriptures might we find a similar problem? How did they solve it?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">What would Jesus Do?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">How might we pray about this? (If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">I think of one of my Cru Colleagues, who is always quick to instantly pray verbally, “Lord, what should we do?”</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Phil: How do we begin?</strong> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>BOB >>> </strong>Simply no matter what the issue start asking your team members one on one or when they are together: What do you think? What else? What else? What else?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> One more insight about 'questions' we need to think about</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Bob: Can I share my second most favorite question? Have you ever answered a question only to discover that you completely missed their question? I know I have. So my second most favorite question to ask whenever I am asked a question is: Can you please tell me more? They are always willing to tell me more and when they do I am much more likely to then be able to answer the question they are really asking or to come up with questions I can ask to help them find the solution to their own question. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">I love sharing this little story:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Johnnie (age 7) comes running into the house, yelling to his mom, “Where did I come from?” Johnnie’s mom had not been expecting this question–well, at least not yet! But after taking a deep breath and collecting her thoughts just a bit, she invites Johnnie into the living room where she shares all about “The Birds and the Bees.” Johnnie’s eyes are wide as saucers as he takes in every word. When Johnnie’s mom is finished, she says, “Now Johnnie, do you understand where you came from?” Johnnie replies, “No! Joey said that he comes from California and he asked me where I come from!”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Do you think Johnnie’s mom had wished she had responded to Johnnie’s question with, “Can you please tell me more?” Johnnie would have instantly blurted out, “Joey said that he comes from California and asked me where I come from?” And Johnnie’s mom then could have answered, “You come from Texas!” Johnnie would have immediately dashed back out the door to tell Joey, “I come from Texas!” And his mom could have saved her “Birds & Bees” story for another day! So, do you now understand why your first question should always be, “Can you please tell me more?”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Bob, write a 'questioning' prayer that will help us begin to incorporate 'questioning' into our ministry.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>BOB >>> </strong>Lord God the first question you asked, was your question to Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” You did not ask for your benefit – You knew exactly where they were. You asked for their benefit. Lord, I think your Holy Spirit still asks each of us, “Where are You?” Where are we in relationship to you? Where are we in relationship to your word? Where are we in relationship to our spouse? Our children? Our parents? Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ? Lord Jesus, your ministry was filled with questions: You asked, “Who do people say I am? But what about you, Who do you say I am?” You are still asking these same questions to us today? You are also asking, “Do You love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?” Lord you use questions to get us to think! You know that our answers to your questions will change us! Lord thank you that in our leadership we can follow your example to lead with questions like you have and are leading in our lives! Lord we ask for your Holy Spirit to continue to ask each of us questions! So that our answers to your questions might continue the process of conforming us to your image! In the Mighty name of Jesus! Amen!</span></p>
<p><br /> NEXT>>><br /> <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/main/search/search?q=Bob+Tiede" target="_blank">More with Bob Tied on Reimagine.Network</a></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><br /> Biography:</strong><strong>Bob Tiede</strong> (pronounced “Tee-Dee”) has been on the staff of Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ) for 52 years. He placed his faith in Jesus his freshman year at the University of South Dakota when a group of Cru Campus students from Iowa State shared Christ with his whole fraternity. Bob has served 8 years in Cru Campus and then 24 years as the CEO of Josh McDowell Ministry – a Division of Cru. And Now 20 years on the U.S. Leadership Development Team – developing the next generation of leaders for Cru. Bob’s blog <a href="http://leadingwithquestions.com/"><strong>LeadingWithQuestions.com</strong></a> is now in its 11<sup>th</sup> year and followed by leaders in over 190 countries. Bob has written 5 very popular free ebooks, including “Great Leaders Ask Questions” and “Now That’s a Great Question.” Bob's newest book, the 3rd Edition of "LEADING WITH QUESTIONS" was released on April 25. And is available on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Bob’s mission is to help leaders everywhere multiply their leadership effectiveness X10 by moving from “Let Me Tell You!” to “Let Me Ask You!” Bob has been married to Sherry for 53 years and is the proud Dad of 4 adult children – all married and 8 incredible Grandchildren – all who love to ask their “Papa Bob” questions!</span></li>
<li><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Social Media Handles:</strong></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bob.tiede"><strong>https://www.facebook.com/bob.tiede</strong></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobtiede/"><strong>https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobtiede/</strong></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/bobtiede"><strong>https://twitter.com/bobtiede</strong></a></span></p>
<ul>
<li><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Blog: </strong><a href="http://leadingwithquestions.com/"><strong>LeadingWithQuestions.com</strong></a><strong> </strong></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob has 5 free eBooks - all available for free download @ </strong><a href="http://leadingwithquestions.com/books"><strong>LeadingWithQuestions.com/books</strong></a> (they are also available in multiple languages)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Great Leaders ASK Questions</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>339 Questions Jesus Asked</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Now That's a Great Question</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>The Little Book of BIG LeadingWithQuestions Quotes</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>260 Questions Paul the Apostle of Christ Asked</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob's Newest Book, "3rd Edition of "LEADING WITH QUESTIONS" - for sale on Amazon or wherever books are sold: </strong> Here is a link to Amazon for Purchase: <a href="http://bit.ly/3MKwHke">bit.ly/3MKwHke</a></span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12177034063,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12177034063,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12177034063?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="610" /></a>Love in Christ, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Bob Tiede</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Leadership Development Team; </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">Cru</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="mailto:bob.tiede@cru.org">bob.tiede@cru.org</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a>214-213-2179</a></span><strong style="font-size:12pt;"> </strong><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
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<h1><span style="font-size:12pt;">LEADING WITH QUESTIONS IS PART OF AN EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP STRATEGY</span></h1>
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<p> </p></div>'Quote/Unquote" ~ Dennis Gorski: Casting a Vision of The Generous Church In Pursuit of The Great Commissionhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/quote-unquote-phil-miglioratti-interviewed-dennis-gorski-casting-2023-04-29T15:55:29.000Z2023-04-29T15:55:29.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"> <strong>Dennis Gorski: Casting a Vision of The Generous Church In Pursuit of The Great Commission</strong></span></p>
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<ul>
<li class="p2"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Intyerview by Phil Miglioratti @ The <a href="http://Reimagine.Network" target="_blank">Reimagine.Network</a></span></li>
<li class="p2"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Dynamis Ministries @ The Reimagine.Network <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/group/dynamis-ministries" target="_blank">Ministry Hub</a></span></li>
<li class="p2"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/refocus-discipleship-with-generosity" target="_blank">#Refocus Disciplship with Generosity</a> by Phil Mgilioratti</span></li>
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<p class="p3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11037798298,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11037798298,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="11037798298?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="642" /></a>"dy-na-mis: the state of that which is not yet fully realized: power, potentiality"</em></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> What is it about this definition, this word, that has caused you to reimagine your life; professionally and personally?</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">DENNIS >>> I believe that when we are born and come in to this world that we have been perfectly created in the image of God and have been called to be part of the body of Christ and fulfill our holy purpose. And then we grow up in this fallen and sinful world and get distracted and confused by messages of secular culture and consumption and accumulation and performance. These aren’t all necessarily evil forces but they may obstruct our true God given and God ordained power and potential. And so at Dynamis we help individuals uncover, discover, and recover that true and impactful potential. I am on that daily journey…..and certainly don’t have it all figured out. And we at Dynamis strive to help others who are on that journey and who are interested in doing something about it.</span></p>
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<p class="p3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Generosity is giving something to someone from what we've been given."</em></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> How does this description radically change our standard motivation for generosity?"</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">DENNIS >>> If we were to a play word association game, so often if I say ‘generous‘ the word ‘money’ is said in response. And while money is certainly something we have been given by God, to focus generosity on just worldly treasure is just so limiting. We have been given so so much by God. Everything good has been given to us by God. It is these talents, insights, holy attitudes, spiritual gifts, passions and hours in the day that have come from God that we are called to steward and leverage and use for the benefit of others and to further the Kingdom. When we approach it in this manner I believe we think of generosity in a whole different way. And hopefully positive action follows good thinking.</span></p>
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<p class="p3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Generosity is not just an act; it comes from the heart first...a spirit of generosity."</em></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Agree/Disagree and explain why: The Church has limited teachings about generosity to financial stewardship but there is a much greater potential when we integrate generosity into all areas of spiritual life. </strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">DENNIS >>> I actually disagree. I come from a church tradition where the axiom of “time, talent, and treasure” was often bandied about. But I believe this broader and more wholistic teaching of generosity often was cursory in nature. And then under the pressure of self survival the church probably focused more on financial stewardship than other aspects of generosity. I’d rather not comment on how the church might or might not be coming up short..…..I just know if we call ourselves followers and imitators of Jesus and then examine how we operate in the spirit of generosity compared to Him we have so much more we can do. And the amazing secret is when we do it is freeing and life giving!</span></p>
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<p class="p3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Imagine what will happen to the world when a movement of people across the country </em></span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>multiply their God-given potential for generosity."</em></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Your vision is wider than financial planning for wealthy Christians. You want to harness the movmental potential of the Church; congregations expressing generosity as they pursue the Great Commission to make Jesus followers in their neighborhood and to the nations. </strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">DENNIS </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•How do we begin to express generosity in worship? >>> I believe to grow in our generosity we first must truly realize and appreciate all we have been given. Really bathe in and contemplate ALL we have been freely given. We didn’t earn or deserve any of it…..from material to salvation and everything in between. This is where our worship should begin. And it doesn’t just have to be in a church. It can be in solitude and prayer at home or while spending time with loved ones or experiencing nature. From this worshipful position of what we have been given we can grow and deepen our giving. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•What does generosity look like in fellowship >>>It is a posture and disposition. It is being fully present and listening and asking sincere questions. And then gently, often with permission or blessing it is responding in love.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•Where does generosity fit in discipleship? >>> I believe there are levels of discipleship. There is a basic level of following Jesus that includes regular worship, Scripture, prayer, and service. And then there are deepening layers where we give our lives away, as Jesus did. This is where a generous mindset, behaviors and actions really come in to play. Generosity is love and service which is discipleship.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•Expand our view of generosity beyond financial stewardship... >>> See the above answer. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•How can generosity fuel evangelism? >>> There is a childhood song “they will know we are Christians by our love”, you could exchange the word generosity for love. Or there is a famous phrase “preach the Gospel…..occasionally use words”. Both of these typify how generosity leads to evangelism. How do we differentiate ourselves? What would cause someone to come up to us and ask, “I can tell you are different, what is that, why is that?” Generosity can open those doors to introduce Jesus to someone.</span></p>
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<p class="p3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Connect with your heart for the world."</em></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Explain how these relate to generosity...</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">DENNIS</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•Spiritual Gifts >>> Generosity is giving something to someone from which we first were given. Spiritual gifts are a perfect example. We’ve been given them and they should be used and developed and given. Many times people are unaware of their spiritual gifts or they need to be validated or nudged into use. We make their discovery part of our Generosity Plan process.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•Passions >>> Often people practice some level of generosity because they were simply asked. And they responded out of guilt or compulsion. We find when we tap in to their passions that generosity can be more meaningful, deeper and long lasting. These could be things like injustices, homelessness, children, evangelism. The list is endless. Our custom Generosity Plans use their passions as foundational to suggested action steps.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•Life Experiences >>> In the same way life teaches us things and inspires. An individual may have experienced or witnessed cancer or abuse or other negative items. On the other hand they may have experienced or witnessed tremendous generosity from someone and it has always inspired them. We are all on a journey, and understanding someone’s life story is foundational to us building their custom Generosity Plan.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">•Financial Capacity >>> While I have downplayed money in this conversation, it still can be a very big component of generosity. There are a variety of tools and vehicles that can be utilized and leveraged along with someone’s passions and life experience to live out their generosity. These too are part of someone’s Generosity Plan as appropriate.</span></p>
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<p class="p3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"A generosity plan is going to change your life and change your world."</em></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Share one more thing you have learned about generosity that will inspire or instruct us as we lead in ministry? </strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">DENNIS >>> People, individuals and couples, have so much potential to further live out what God may be calling them to. They have this deep longing to be heard and understood. It is often covered up by defense mechanisms, but when they get a little vulnerable and transparent it is just amazing to learn their story and what gifts they have that they really want to use and give away to change the world. It just needs some listening and nudging. I believe it is our role as ministry leaders to be the ones that listen and nudge. That is what we try to do at Dynamis and what I believe more of us as ministry leaders can do.</span></p>
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<p class="p3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Welcome God's work in your generosity life."</em></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Dennis, please write a prayer leaders can make their own as they begin to incorporate a spirit of generosity in their own life and into the lives of those they serve in ministry...</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11037801072,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11037801072,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="11037801072?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="440" /></a></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;">DENNIS >>> </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Heavenly Father, Creator of all good, I praise and worship you for all the love and generosity you pour down on me, especially your Son Jesus, and His saving grace. </em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Help me to fully comprehend your gifts to me. Help me to receive them. </em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>And help me to give them away. </em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>And Lord, help me to use my position and platform to model this to others. </em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Let them know we are Yours by the way we love. Amen.</em></span></p>
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<p class="p2"> </p></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Lynn Cory, Author ofhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-lynn-cory-author-of-what-happened-to2023-03-26T14:04:38.000Z2023-03-26T14:04:38.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11003524867,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11003524867,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="11003524867?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="367" height="551" /></a><span style="font-size:14pt;">Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Lynn Cory, Author of "What Happened to the Grassroots Movement of Jesus?"</span></strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"This book is foundational to the other books I have written." </em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Lynn this is the latest book in your Neighborhood Initiative series...Why is the 5th book actually the one we should probably read first? </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>> I need to give you a little background before I answer your question. I never intended to write a book. My first book, <em>Neighborhood Initiative and the Love of God</em>, came about because the LAPD Chaplain at the time encouraged me to journal everything I was doing with the ministry of Neighborhood Initiative. The content of the book is derived from the journaling I was doing at the time. When the book was complete, I had no sense that I had written the book and found it even difficult to call it my book. Each of the books I have written came as a sense of calling from God. The fourth book I wrote, <em>Jesus’ Secrets</em>, I thought for sure was the last book I would write. My wife was quite happy that I was finished writing. I am smiling. However, <em>Grassroots</em> came as a complete surprise to me from an invitation to speak about the Christmas Story as seen through the book of Luke during the 2021 Advent season. My eyes were opened to things I had never seen before about Jesus’ grassroots movement and how His kingdom grew exponentially. Through research, I began to see what hindered this rapid growth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Phil, you were instrumental in the writing of <em>Grassroots</em>. I had sent you a copy of my Advent message and you asked if I could send you the content of the teaching in written form. That request sparked something in me, and I began to realize the Lord had more to say through another book. That’s how the book took root. While writing the manuscript, I could see what the Lord had in mind with the book and why it was foundational to other books. Naturally, we would assume that I would write <em>Grassroots</em> first and my other books would follow, but the Lord chose this order. Only He could pull this off. Now that all five books are complete, <em>Grassroots</em> is the first book to read because it is foundational, and after that the other four books build on what Jesus initiated with His disciples nearly 2,000 years ago.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"A grassroots movement is self-organized and purposeful, usually mobilized for social or political change." (p. XI)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Why did you choose this question for the book's title: "What happened to the grassroots movement of Jesus?" </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>> The short answer, the question provokes thought and it sparks interest. The question came about because I believe it is an important question for us in the Church to ask. We often assume the way we do church is what Jesus had in mind for His Church. We are not inclined to ask this “why” question, because it is easier not to ask it because it might be upsetting to some or because we never realized there was a question that needed to be asked. However, when questions are asked we learn. One </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">of my favorite professors in seminary would often answer a student’s question with a question, because it stimulated the one asking the question to think. My intention with the title is to encourage the reader to think and consider this question: <em>Is the church in the West truly giving itself wholeheartly to what Jesus commanded in the Great Commission or are we just doing church?</em></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"We might be surprised to find what the enemy used to steer the Church away from Jesus' original plan. He chose to work inside the Church to replace the kingdom values that Jesus had set in place." (p. XII)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> How have the enemy's deceptions-distractions infected-influenced-impacted the Church? </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>> Satan from the beginning of the Church has mustered all his resources to stop the advance of God’s kingdom. Originally, he used persecution to impede Jesus’ grassroots movement through the Church, but he found that it only inspired greater growth and the advance of God’s kingdom. During the Roman Empire, in the early fourth century, our archenemy chose to work inside the Church to replace the kingdom values that Jesus had set in place with the those of the world. Humble-servant leadership gave way to hierarchal leadership. Before long, leaders in the Church looked and acted like the political elite, very much like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who continually stood in opposition to the advance of His kingdom. This was a slow process starting with the early church fathers, but the Church eventually became a full-fledged institution under the powerful hand of Constantine. The Church meeting intimately in homes was usurped by large gatherings in grand cathedrals. The enemy, through Constantine, anchored the Church to the building and the state, which gave way to more of an institutional and legalistic approach to church life. This and so much more killed any semblance of what Jesus set forth with his disciples. Today, our enemy is deceptively at work, as Dr. James Spencer puts forth, “Christians in the West are being controlled not so much by external forces—but being lulled into accepting ideas that are counter to God, not by conscious choice but by the slow reorientation of one’s beliefs.” Culture is subtly penetrating the church in the West with the world’s commission instead of the Lord’s…to make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to obey everything the <em>Lord</em> commanded. We have taken our eye off Jesus and have become entangled in the everyday affairs of this world, like politics, cultural trends, and so much more that serve to divide the Lord’s precious Church.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"World-Changers"</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> We typically teach that "disciple" means "learner" but you use the term "world-changers" ... why?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>> “I’m using the name <em>world-changers</em> because if I say <em>disciples</em>, right away we have a preconceived notion of what <em>disciple</em> might mean to us. Yes, it means “learner” or “apprentice,” but if we take into account Jesus’ Great Commission to go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded, we understand that Jesus’ intent was for His disciples to be world-changers. They would be influencing people in the most profound way—through transforming hearts and shaping </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">lives into Christ’s likeness by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God!” I like the word disciple, but world-changers takes on a broader meaning for us today. Making disciples not only brings about personal transformation in the life of individuals, but it changes the trajectory of people’s lives, as it did with Mary and Joseph, and it also has the protentional to change culture and cities as it did in the Roman Empire. As Gerald L. Sittser points out in his book <em>Resilient Faith</em>, “Christianity infiltrated cities, one relationship at a time, one apartment building at a time, one marketplace at a time, as if releasing white blood cells into the bloodstream of the Roman Empire. It was slow, laborious work. But over time it began to challenge and purge the cancer and corruption of Rome.” This is what can happen on a grand scale when the Church is collectively committed to making disciples of all nations. This is what world-changers do one disciple at a time and it multiplies like a virus and totally transforms people’s lives, cities, and the world.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"It is good for us to remember that some of the poorest churches in history have been spiritual rich and some of the wealthiest churches in history have been spiritual poor." (p. 17)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Why is this significant?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>> This quote about poor and rich churches comes from a blog by Rick Renner. He was addressing the condition of the church in Laodicea. Though they said of themselves that they were rich, they were in fact spiritually poor. Renner uses the following story to introduce the above quote:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">When the renowned theologian St. Thomas Aquinas visited the Vatican in the Thirteenth Century AD, Pope Innocent IV invited him to view the breathtaking treasures that had been amassed by the Church. With great pride, the pope told him, “No longer can the Church say, ‘Silver and gold have we none’!” To this, St. Thomas Aquinas answered, “Holy Father, that is very true indeed. But neither can we say to the poor and afflicted, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">‘Rise, take up your bed and walk!’”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Those in corporate institutions, like the one mentioned above, tend to organize into hierarchies and accumulate material wealth, which often distracts from the simplicity of Jesus’ mission. Disbanding the physical manifestations of the organization (the building, the material assets, the busy schedules) increases the likelihood of the demonstration of God’s kingdom power, because it requires complete dependence on God. This was quite clear when Jesus sent out His disciples. They were instructed to take nothing with them so they would have to completely trust the Father for their provision and so what was accomplished was by His power. The power of the Holy Spirit is what is needed in the Church today if we want to see God move powerfully in the lives of those who desperately need the Lord who loves them. This comes about by believers who have great faith and courage to live the kind of life Jesus did in the world.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Investing in Jesus' person-to-person movement is central to His grassroots movement."(p. 22)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> How would this change the way we design disciple-making programs?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>> Dallas Willard stated the following: “Discipleship is not for the church. Actually, the church is for discipleship. Discipleship is for the world, the world that God so loved, that he has great hopes for and that he is going to bring great things out of. That’s where discipleship belongs.” We in the church, myself included, have wanted to make it a program in the church, but as you take a closer look at the life of Jesus in the Gospels and the book of Acts you find that it is an activity for believers who are making disciples of those out in the world. It is a work that is organic and not a program. It involves authentic relationships with people in geographic or relational proximity to us or with people we have things in common with us out in the world. Sadly, many in the church hardly have any friendships with those outside of the church who have yet to come to faith in a God who loves them. He wants His kids back. So, He sent His Son on a rescue mission (John 3:16) and His Son in turn commissioned His disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) as well as His disciples today to be a part of His great rescue plan. The gateway into beginning this authentic work of making disciples is by loving our Father and our neighbors as ourselves. All five of the NI books are designed to help those in the Church to participate in our Father’s rescue plan.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Christianity infiltrated cities, one relationship at a time, one apartment building at a time, one marketplace at a time." (p. 27)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> How does person-to-person discipleship result in the Church impacting families, communities, affinities...?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>>The church today has missed the significance of making a single disciple. Jesus’ teaching in the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Matthew 13:31-33) is about multiplication, not addition. Think about the influence of the woman at the well and her impact on the city of Sychar or Cornelius and the number that came to faith because of him. We talk about how many people can we get to fill a room. No, the idea is how many people can we get the kingdom of God into so they, in turn, will “infect” more and more people. It’s like a virus. Look at the COVID virus. It started as a small, insignificant virus, and now it has literally influenced the whole world! Think about the kindof impact that could have happened if, instead of people being hit by COVID, we had people touched by the living God! The goal isn’t just gathering a bunch of people together, but allowing the precious mustard seed (the kingdom) we carry to permeate the life of one person before us, who then won’t be able to help doing the same for another! That’s how the move of Christianity, which we call the Church, grew so fast in its first three hundred years. Luke recorded this rapid growth throughout the book Acts. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Rodney Stark concluded his writing of The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries with its wealth of research with these words:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Christianity did not grow because of miracles working in the marketplaces (although there may have been much of that going on), or because Constantine said it should, or even because the martyrs gave it such credibility. It grew because Christians constituted an intense community . . . And the primary means of its growth was through the united and motivated efforts of the growing numbers of Christian believers, who invited their friends, relatives of Christian believers, who invited their friends, relatives, and neighbors to share the “good news.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">This is precisely what Jesus taught in His Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast and how it played out in the book of Acts. This is the exponential growth of His kingdom and what we see and hear breaking out in the neighboring and discipleship movements of our day.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Jesus is on a mission; a rescue mission..." (p.87)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> How do we begin the journey of reformatting our ministries from an organizational structure to a movemental system?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">LYNN >>> I want to preface my response to your question with the following: Movements of God have always started with prayer and humbling oneself. It is coming before the Lord and seeking His will for the work He wants to do in our cities and neighborhoods and asking Him for harvesters to carry out His work. If we want to see the Holy Spirit move in our cities, we need not only to spend time alone in prayer, but we also need to come together with other believers and pray like those early believers did. This can start with just a few believers or even a larger group. It requires faithfulness and persistence. It involves being in the easy yoke with Jesus. It takes praying, waiting, and watching, and then when the Father invites us into what He is doing, we join Him.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">1) Churches need to break free of their buildings, and many programs and events. The busyness of today’s church life drains those in the church of energy and any time to spend with those outside the church, especially family members. Sadly, all of these activities can even negatively impact families who are a part of churches. Churches need to provide margin for their people to spend time with extended family, neighbors, and co-workers. The home needs to become the center for the work of God in the community, not a building. We have made too much of the building. We see in the early church that the home was the launch pad for touching communities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">2) Those in the Lord’s Church need to begin to love those in their home, their extended family, those in the immediate neighborhoods where they live, where they work, go to school, play, and spend their day.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">3) We need to invite neighbors into our homes and have meals with them, so they begin to experience the family of God and His love. We had one lovely neighbor come to our home for our neighborhood Bible study and she said to my wife something like this, “I have been in a lot of homes, but there is something about this home that I have never experienced in another home.” You see, she was experiencing the presence of God. There is so much more to be said, but this is laid out in the NI </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">books.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>"Lord, move powerfully through your Church once again..." (p. 86)</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL >>> Lynn, give us a prayer that helps us take the first/next step in reassessing/rethinking... </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to respond to these questions that are central to Your heart and the grassroots movement you established with your disciples so many years ago. I pray that you will once again work powerfully through your Church by Your Spirit to bring about a great revival and awakening. May we see in our day Your kingdom burst into every family, every neighborhood, every workplace, and every campus, so that Your presence is undeniable to the watching world. Lord, please open the eyes of your Church to Your grassroots movement so that those in Your Church will not desire to go back to our old ways, but we will be filled with Your Spirit, will be courageous and bold to share your message of the Kingdom with those You give us opportunity to speak with. May we be like you, Jesus, only doing what the Father is doing. In Your name I pray that you may be glorified in the Church.</em></span></p>
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<p> </p></div>Phil Miglioratti @ The Reimagine.Network Interviewed Merlin Gonzales of Faith, Hope, and Love CommUNITYhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-the-reimagine-network-interviewed-merlin-gonzale2023-03-08T17:47:47.000Z2023-03-08T17:47:47.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div dir="ltr">
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span><em>“One day, our nation will observe Faith, Hope and Love Day.”</em></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><br /> <strong>PHIL>>> Merlin, unpack the "DNA" of your ministry name:</strong><br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span>MERLIN >>> reply at each bullet below; why are they vital to your vision? Thank you for reminding me of the earlier vision to impact the entire country to observe Faith Hope and Love Day. Two Governors of the State of Indiana proclaimed for 4 years in a row (former Gov. Mitch Daniels and former Gov. Mike Pence) Faith Hope and Love Week. It was during this time that I had the vision to reach out to Washington DC for a Presidential proclamation to observe Faith Hope and Love Day every Last Sunday in July. Please pray with us that this would materialize.<br /> </span>
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<li><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;">Faith >>> that sustains us during what seemed like impossible situations</span></li>
<li><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;">Hope >>> that renews our soul, mind, and body</span></li>
<li><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;">Love >>> that conquers fear</span></li>
<li><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;">CommUNITY >>> that helps one another</span></li>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><em><br /> </em></span><em>"The missional food pantry is a unique way to reach out to the public both in the physical and spiritual realms. Missional is intentional."</em></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span><strong>PHIL>>> Many congregations have food pantries but you have reimagined the model... What makes your version distinct? ...It seems you have asked different questions beyond,"How do we give food to hungry people?'</strong><br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span>MERLIN >>> The concept of the Missional Food Pantry (MFP) was the continuation of "Mission Trip in Your Own Backyard." After several years of doing annual week-long missions joined by dozens of churches, I thought there must be something more than event-driven missions. I mentioned to the Lord, "I want to turn this annual missions into a sustainable mission." The Lord said, "I have already started it for you." Then I remembered giving food to the hungry on street corners of Indianapolis since 2006. This food giveaway became big when the Lord opened up the doors to partner with businesses and, other community-based organizations to use their parking lots as staging sites. Then, I started partnering with churches to use their building for food pantries. Faith Hope and Love (FHL) would train the local congregation about how to serve and pray and how to share the Gospel with the recipients. FHL would provide food while the church provides the volunteers and to reach out in their own neighborhoods. In 2009, one of the churches asked me to train their congregation how to transform their current food pantry into the model that I showed them. At MFP, the focus is on people, not food. Although we give food and lots of them, the pantry volunteers are trained to establish trust with the recipients so they can uncover the deeper needs such job training, education, financial literacy, other available government benefits, etc. to help them beyond bags of food. Here's the parable that I have written and produced -<a href="https://www.fhlcommunity.org/river-of-hunger-the-reason-behind-missional-food-pantries/" target="_blank"> The River of Hunger</a>. Then, I wrote a sequel - <a href="https://www.fhlcommunity.org/2019/05/16/the-river-of-hunger-ii-unveiling-transformation/" target="_blank">The River of Hunger II</a> and lastly the <a href="https://studio.youtube.com/video/fp8M_ZjQX5s/" target="_blank">River of Hope</a>. <br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span>At MFP, we maximize the point of contact by helping people beyond food. We believe that discipleship is needed for any effective outreach, whether event-driven or sustainable outreaches. The mission of the church is to share the Gospel and the commission is to disciple people. Even in Acts 6, the Apostles recognized not to neglect the ministry to the Word of God and prayers. If Jesus wanted to alleviate hunger in His hometown, He would just have established a permanent feeding ministry but the Bible recorded that He only fed the multitudes 2 times because the hearts of the recipients were after the wrong reasons. <br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><br /> <em><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">"A missional food pantry connects with the greater community, such as businesses, other pantries and churches, the government, and all the sectors of society." </span></em></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><em><br /> </em></span><strong>PHIL>>> How does teaming beyond one congregation, with service-focused entities across the community, increase the missional dimension of providing food to those in need?</strong><br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">MERLIN >>> </span>FHL teaches building missional communities (in the immediate surroundings of a congregation) thereby offering opportunities to the entire neighborhood to be part of the solution. The pantry becomes a food pantry for the community and by the community. During the graduation of an MFP (after 8 to 12 weeks of training), we invite all the sectors of society for a grand celebration. This is also a way for the local pantry to cast the vision to the community and offer them opportunities to get involved. For example, the Mayor of a city is invited to welcome the new pantry and this attracts the media. With the Press Conference and media (TV, radio, newspaper) coverage, we are able to convey the message to the general public - the needs, the resources needed, and the opportunities to come together as one community to help one another.<br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> </span><em>"FHL seeks to break down walls of separation between churches, races, social status, government and education to unite people to show the compassion we were all created to give one another."</em></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Amen...but how does coordinating food distribution "break down walls"?</strong><br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span>MERLIN >>> FHL focuses on the common denominator - helping the poor. The government knows they need the church to mobilize volunteers that they do not have, the businesses are provided an opportunity to establish trust and goodwill in the community through volunteerism and donations, the school system normally has service days for the students to give back and the media wants to be the first to broadcast good things that are happening in the community. God had created a system to break down the walls not just in the church but also in the entire community.<br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span>"Changing the culture is beyond preaching/teaching.'<br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> How can church leaders/pastors begin to reimagine community ministry in their context? What are the questions that birth revitalization?</strong><br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span>MERLIN >>> As Christians, God had given us Kingdom solutions and resources to the world's challenges and problems. We are supposed to be the Salt of the earth and to bring the reality of heaven here on earth. Seventy percent of all the food pantries in the US are run or are in a church building. However, through the influence of the government and the world, most pantries are just handing out food to the people instead of influencing society with Kingdom values and practices. Many of us have been indoctrinated by the world's system instead of us influencing the world. Imagine turning these food distributions into mission hubs where the culture of the Kingdom is implemented. Our acts of kindness will emphasize the Kingdom culture and then we share with the recipients that there is someone who could answer all the questions they have and satisfy their life's purpose. We have a saying at FHL, "It's not about food; it's about people." Ask, "If Jesus is present at our food pantries, how would He wants us to operate? What would our food pantries look like if we apply the principles of the Beatitudes? If Jesus wanted to alleviate hunger, why did He feed just the 2 groups (the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000)? When we go to heaven, Jesus might commend us in feeding the poor but He might also ask, "Did you introduce the pantry recipients to Me?" Ask yourself, "What if I treat the pantry recipients the way I treat others during Sunday service."<br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><em>"Beyond handing our bags of food..."</em></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> What is your challenge to pastors/church leaders who are busy with many church-focused programs?</strong><br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">MERLIN >>> Beyond handing out food to the poor are people who have baggage they carry (like all of us.) In the busyness of creating a system to process the food giveaway quicker, many church-based pantries miss a lot of opportunities including sharing the ultimate transformation - eternal life with Jesus. Many of them offer prayers but many of them do not share the Good News of Jesus Christ. This is major. Many times pantries spend more time and money purchasing food that spoils. "</span>Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” - John 6:27 (NIV) In this "servant evangelism", everyone gets to play. We all know that satan would keep us busy doing minor things but are good things. Satan might say we are doing good which is correct, but giving food to the hungry won't get them to heaven. In the process of giving food to the hungry, we must also offer them food that will last for eternity. We must spend more time feeding people spiritually.<br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> </span><em>"Cities are being transformed through the collective efforts of ordinary people who live in the real world."</em></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Merlin, write a prayer we can pray inviting the Holy Spirit to help us reimagine ministry in our community...</strong><br /> <span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span>MERLIN >>> God I pray that You use us to influence our world not just during Sunday but especially when we are outside of the church building. Lord, I ask that you convict us to share the major things at any of our outreaches. Give us Your perspective as we serve others, to serve them not just with our hands but with our hearts also. Transform our minds according to the values of the Kingdom that we become conduits of God's love and blessings. Lord, You said that we can do even greater things than these. I pray that we live out your promises even in the midsts of the busyness of serving others. I pray Lord that you keep our consciousness of the Kingdom as we do outreaches, that it is not abour performance or how much food we give away to the multitudes but how many people were transformed because they got the privilege to interact us. I pray Lord that you literraly use our hands as you would use Yours, to give more hope to people, to not be afraiad to have relationships with the "least of these" and to call out that best of everyone that we meet. King Jesus, use us mightily to expand Your Kingdom here on earth through the practical and spiritual application of the Beatitudes. Lord, thank you for the privilege and the trust that You have in us. We do not deserve nor have the capacity to serve others but You empowered us to be Your representatives here on earth. Thank you Lord for Your examples in doing life here on earth, in serving others and in receivng the power and the authority You have given us to see heaven here on earth. In Jesus Name, Amen.<br /> </span>
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<span style="color:#000000;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ~There are countless resources that may help you in doing all kinds of outreaches posted in </span><a href="https://youtube.com/fhlinternationalor" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/fhlinternationalor</a> The FHL Blog is <a href="https://merlinfhl.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://merlinfhl.wordpress.com/</a> and my personal website is <a href="https://merlinfhl.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://merlinfhl.wordpress.com/</a> . The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FHL.Community" target="_blank">FHL FaceBook</a> and my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MerlintheAuthor/" target="_blank">educational FaceBook</a> contains helpful materials in the practical application of Kingdom principles. I have released my first book in 2012, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Our-Midst-Living-Dominion/dp/1480088080" target="_blank">The Kingdom in Our Midst</a>" and the accompanying Experiential Workbook called, " <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Living-Gods-Dominion-Here-Earth/dp/1532873166/ref=sr_1_3?crid=GC8XPHVRCCUE&keywords=living+in+God%27s+dominion+here+on+earth&qid=1678145905&s=books&sprefix=living+in+god%27s+dominion+here+on+earth%2Cstripbooks%2C119&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Living in God's Dominion Here on Earth</a>"; many churches are using these books as their Bible Study and to learn how to conceptualize meaningful and successful outreaches. Merlin Gonzales can be reach via <a href="mailto:merlin@fhlinternational.org" target="_blank">merlin@fhlinternational.org</a> or Ofice Mobile # at 463-210-4612</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Merlin Gonzales</span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">President/CEO, <a href="https://www.fhlcommunity.org/" target="_blank">Faith Hope and Love Community, Inc.</a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">1100 W. 42nd St. Ste #365 Indianapolis, IN 46208</span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;">317-572-5793 | 463-210-4612</span></div>
<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><img class="CToWUd" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wnrgZmpqdr37FqkftGN5NJXi_11ew4-uEzhgZBGm76iCKGYcZ2aq9tlHioNdk_8hG1ZwHFM7A" alt="AIorK4wnrgZmpqdr37FqkftGN5NJXi_11ew4-uEzhgZBGm76iCKGYcZ2aq9tlHioNdk_8hG1ZwHFM7A" width="200" height="84" /></span></div>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>~~~>NOTE: Scroll for - - </strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>BEYOND HANDING OUT BAGS OF FOOD: Lately, people have been asking me, “What is a missional food pantry.” ...and a collaboratoi. strategy from Merlin Gonzales</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/can-libraries-save-the-church" target="_blank">~~~>READ NEXT ~ Can Libraries Save The Church?</a></strong></em></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/Mini-Courses" target="_blank">MORE Mini-Courses>>></a></span></p></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Rick Ezell on the Importance of Workplace in Making Discipleshttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-rick-ezell-on-the-importance-of-work2023-01-13T17:43:42.000Z2023-01-13T17:43:42.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p> <strong style="font-size:14pt;">Phil Miglioratti @ The Reimagine.Network Interviewed <span class="il">Rick</span> <span class="il">Ezell</span> on the Importance of Workplace in Making Disciples</strong></p>
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<div><strong><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/leadership-lab-workplace-discipleship" target="_blank">NOTE: This interview is included in our Workplace DIscipleship Leadership Lab</a></strong></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> <span class="il">RIck</span>, the process of making disciples emphasizes the global scope of The Great Commission but seems to ignore the in our communities workplace...</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10933242279,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10933242279,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10933242279?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="347" height="320" /></a>RICK</span>>>> Henry Blackaby once said that the next great movement of God would be the workplace. An awakening of sorts is occurring in the marketplace with a variety of ministries targeting businesses and business leaders. And why not. We spend 90,000 hours of our adult lives at work. That's a lot of time to spend with people who for many don't attend church and have no Christian influence. The workplace has become a strategic area for evangelism and fulfilling the Great Commission. </span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">PHIL>>> Y<span style="color:#000000;">ou pastored churches in Indiana, Illinois, and South Carolina before launching Employee Care of America. How did the Spirit of God change the direction of your ministry?</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> I had always had an affinity for the workplace. My Dad was a business owner. My brother is an entrepreneur. When I pastored in Illinois the church was filled largely with white-collar professionals. When I moved to South Carolina I launched a ministry for the business leaders in our community. I saw fewer and fewer people attending church without the support and care a church offers. Seeing this need, I launched ECA, which is a workplace chaplaincy ministry that partners with businesses and organizations to provide care, counsel, and coaching. One of our chaplains was asked by an employee, "Would you do my funeral?" "Sure," replied the chaplain, "but I hope not anytime soon. Why are you asking?" The employee said, "You are the closest thing I have to a pastor in my life." Consistently our chaplains perform weddings, funerals, make hospital visits, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">provide guidance, and make referrals to counselors and mental health therapists. We are the church for many employees who will never attend church. </span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> <em>We don't know what we don't know .</em> . . What have you learned in this new sphere of ministry (employee care) that would have impacted how you thought about making disciples in your congregations?</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> As a pastor, I thought everyone's world revolved around the church because my world revolved around the church. Visiting workplaces and meeting employees I have learned the incredible stress they have in their lives. With the workforce shortage, frustration has increased as employees are working longer hours while being asked to take on more responsibilities. Several of our clients are trucking companies which we call the drivers monthly and construction companies which we call superintendents. These people are on the road that takes them away from their families and church. They are dealing with crises and emergencies without being home. Often, they don't go to church. I have come to realize that workplace chaplaincy may be the purest form of personal ministry because we come with no agenda except to engage people in a loving and non-threatening way with opportunities to care for people and to share the Gospel.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> Using the Prayer-Care-Share Lifestyle format, what steps would you take as a pastor to</strong></span></div>
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<li><strong>PRAYER - Reimagine prayer for your members' life at their workplace?</strong></li>
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<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> Pray for members, to be consistent in their faith at work. People are hungry for genuineness and authenticity. Christians have an opportunity to live the Gospel while sharing the Gospel in the workplace. Pray for Christian business owners to see their businesses as a place of ministry. I read that the average small business in America influences over 5,000 people each year, extending to employees and their families, as well as, vendors, supplies, property managers, and industry peers. The one common denominator to all the businesses ECA provides its chaplaincy is that the company owner or leadership are believers. They see the value we provide. They care for their employees. They know they can't adequately care due to the size of their business or the multiple locations so they partner with us so we can place chaplains in their various locations. </span></li>
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<li><strong>CARE - Reformat discipleship to equip believers \with a biblical understanding of their work as service to God and the world?</strong></li>
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<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> Discipleship is more than a six-week class or a weekend retreat. Discipleship is taking people where they are and helping them grow and mature into the likeness of Jesus. For one of our clients, I lead a Bible Study for the employees and others who have learned of it and now are attending. While we do expositional studies of various Bible books, the underlying focus has been to help these men and women to understand their responsibility in the workplace. Their work is a platform for ministry and evangelism. They serve God by serving others. They are called to the business just as I am called to ministry. They represent Christ so integrity, holiness, and love must show through. By the way, the Bible is one of the highlights of my week. These guys come from a variety of religious backgrounds. They come with Bible in hand, opened and ready for study. They are hungry for God's Word. They question and banter. And, they have a strong desire to make a difference for God's kingdom work. I know these kinds of studies are happening all over the place. This is discipleship at its purest level. Imagine the impact of every pastor leading a Bible study in a workplace setting every week.</span></li>
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<li><strong>SHARE - Refocus evangelism to include workplace relationships and opportunities?</strong></li>
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<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> As I mentioned, church attendance is decreasing but people still have to go to work. The workplace has become not only a place of ministry but also a place of evangelism. Last month I saw one of the truck drivers I call monthly at the garage, waiting on his truck to be repaired. He called me over, saying he need to talk with me. He said, "<span class="il">Rick</span>, I don't get to go to church due to my travel schedule. <span class="il">Rick</span>, I don't know God and know I need to get right with him. I know you can help me." I shared the Gospel with him. He prayed to receive Christ. It was a divine encounter but it only happened because I was on the worksite and because I had developed a relationship with this man through phone conversations. This incident reminded me of the importance of getting out among people. I tell my pastor friends they need to have a ministry in the workplace, even if it is only one afternoon a week. Their they can rub shoulders with lost people and encounter people turned off by the local church. The evangelism opportunities are abundant. People's brokenness provides an open door to share God's love. </span></li>
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<div><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10933315080,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10933315080,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10933315080?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="510" /></a> </div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> How can churches/ministries learn from and/or partner with Employee Care of America?</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> You can visit our website <a id="m_-966389964163363982LPlnkOWALinkPreview" href="http://www.employeecareofamerica.com/" target="_blank">www.employeecareofamerica.com</a> or email me at <a href="mailto:rick@employeecareofamerica.com" target="_blank"><span class="il">rick</span>@employeecareofamerica.com</a> or call me at 864-770-3560.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10933314688,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10933314688,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10933314688?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="310" /></a><a href="http://www.employeecareofamerica.com/" target="_blank">Upstate | ECAonline |</a></span><a style="font-size:12pt;background-color:transparent;" href="https://www.employeecareofamerica.com/blog" target="_blank"> Rick's Blog</a></div>
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<div id="m_-966389964163363982LPDescription765148"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Employee Care of America is an Upstate South Carolina-based company that provides corporate chaplaincy, coaching, and care for an organization’s most important asset, its employees. ECAonline.</span></div>
<div id="m_-966389964163363982LPMetadata765148"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="http://www.employeecareofamerica.com/" target="_blank">www.employeecareofamerica.com</a></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> One more thing we would do well to think about and pray over?</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> Pray for God's continued movement in the workplace and that churches will not see ministry in the workplace as a threat but as a way to further Kingdom impact.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>PHIL>>> <span class="il">RIck</span>, please write a prayer that will help us rethink the role of the workplace in our disciplemaking...</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span class="il">RICK</span>>>> <em>Father, help us to see the workplace as Jesus saw the fields as white unto harvest. Enable believers to take the risk to move outside the church walls to engage people where they are, especially those in the workplace. </em></span></div>
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<div><strong><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/leadership-lab-workplace-discipleship" target="_blank">NOTE: This interview is included in our Workplace DIscipleship Leadership Lab</a></strong></div>
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</div></div>CHAT With The Author ~ Phil Miglioratti @ Reimagine.Network Interviewed Carolyn Carney, Author of “The Power of Group Prayer: How Intercession Transforms Us and The World”https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratt-reimagine-network-interviewed-carolyn-carney-auth2023-01-01T19:47:58.000Z2023-01-01T19:47:58.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div id="contentsContainer" class="style-scope qowt-page">
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<p id="E399" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong><span id="E400">Phil </span><span id="E402">Miglioratti</span><span id="E404"> @ </span><span id="E406">Reimagine.Network</span><span id="E408"> Interviewed Carolyn Carney, Author of</span></strong></em></span></p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>“The Power of Group Prayer: How Intercession Transforms Us and The World”</strong></em></span></p>
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<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;">[This interview is included in the <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/leadership-lab-learn-the-art-of-facilitating-collaborative-prayer" target="_blank">Leadership Lab</a>: Learn The Art of Facilitating Collaborative Prayer or Planning]</span></p>
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<p id="E409" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10923298870,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10923298870,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10923298870?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="500" /></a></p>
<p id="E410" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><span id="E411" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">"When we learn to intercede with others...</span></em></span></p>
<p id="E412" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><span id="E413" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">Our hope for change grows</span></em></span></p>
<p id="E414" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><span id="E415" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">Our prayers are emboldened</span></em></span></p>
<p id="E416" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><span id="E417" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">We can pray longer with increasing energy and inspiration</span></em></span></p>
<p id="E418" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><span id="E419" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">We come to understand God differently."</span></em></span></p>
<p id="E420" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS" style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></p>
<p id="E421" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E422" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span id="E423">PHIL>>> Carolyn, this statement at the beginning of your book is crucial to understanding why corporate prayer is </span><span id="E425">transformingly</span><span id="E427"> different.</span><span id="E428" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault"> It seems the key is to reimagine prayer by learning how to pray with others.</span></strong></span></p>
<p id="E431" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E432" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E433">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E434">Yes! Typically, I don’t believe we have many good models of how to pray effectively with others. Often our examples in church </span><span id="E435">are</span><span id="E436"> that of the “pastoral prayer,” where the pastor prays in front of the congregation for 3 or 5 minutes in a monologue. Or in mainline churches, like the Episcopal church, where we have the “Prayers of the People.” Here, one person prays many short paragraphs, interspersed by “Lord, in your mercy…”, to which the people respond, “Hear our prayer.” In both instances, we are together in a room, but I would not say that we are necessarily, praying </span><span id="E437">together.</span></span></p>
<p id="E438" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2"> </p>
<p id="E439" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E440">Another example that I use in the book is one of my first experiences at my church’s Wednesday night prayer meeting. We divided up into same sex small groups. I remember ours had about a dozen women. I’d say now, that was too many to pray effectively together. We all shared prayer requests, which were dutifully written down, ostensibly, so that we could keep praying on our own during the week. When we finished with the sharing of requests, there was not too much time left to pray. One person started and named each request one by one, so that there was not much left to pray for. I do not doubt the sincerity of the woman’s prayer</span><span id="E441"> or that she desired God to be at work in each of these situations, but </span><span id="E442">I also think we can do better at</span><span id="E443"> praying </span><span id="E444">together</span><span id="E445"> than that.</span></span></p>
<p id="E446" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2"> </p>
<p id="E447" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E448">I use this analogy of building a highway through the mountains in the book. Simply put, when you build a highway you have to know what is blocking the highway from going through and remove it, and then bring in what needs to be there in order to have the highway. So, when Paul is looking for a job, we just don’t ask God, “Lord, please give him a job.” We think of all the things that are in the way of Paul getting the job that he wants: short-sightedness, despair, </span><span id="E449">a lack of jobs in his field, </span><span id="E450">being stuck. Then we pray in what </span><span id="E451">we believe</span><span id="E452"> Paul </span><span id="E453">may </span><span id="E454">need: a connection, encouragement, imagination, </span><span id="E455">trust that God sees him, </span><span id="E456">etc. </span><span id="E457">A group of four could spend an energizing time praying for Paul’s job, if they used short sentences and added to what the previous person prayed. I call this “praying in agreement,” where we make an audible paragraph together, by one person praying 1-2 sentences, the next person taking something that the first person has prayed a little bit deeper, and the next person doing the same and so on and so forth, until there is a bit of a pause, and then a new subject is brought up. </span></span></p>
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<p id="E460" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><strong><span id="E461">PHIL>>> </span><span id="E462" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">Unpack for us what happens when we present our praise and petitions in a group (triad, small group, congregation)...</span></strong></em></span></p>
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<p id="E463" class="qowt-li-7_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E464" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault" style="font-size:12pt;">•Our hope for change grows...</span></p>
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<p id="E465" class="x-scope qowt-li-7_1 qowt-list qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E466">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E468">When I pray with other people in a group, and we pray well together, focused on something intentional, I understand that I am not the only person who cares about this, or sees something wrong. My hope grows because I hear other people asking God to work along some of the same lines I have asked God to work.</span></span></p>
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<p id="E469" class="qowt-li-3_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E470" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">•Our prayers are emboldened</span><span id="E471" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">...</span></span></p>
<p id="E472" class="qowt-li-3_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E473">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E474">Someone recently asked me if I had the gift of faith. I said, “No. In fact, I think I am mostly a pessimist. But when I pray with others, I hear their expressions of faith in God being at work in an area I no nothing about or have long ago given up on. When they pray passionately for something, as I listen to their prayer, something changes in me and my prayers are birthed in a new boldness.</span></span></p>
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<p id="E475" class="qowt-li-6_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E476" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">•We can pray longer with increasing energy and inspiration</span><span id="E477" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">...</span></span></p>
<p id="E478" class="qowt-li-6_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E479">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E480">OH, this is one of the sweetest things about praying in agreement with other like-hearted followers of Jesus – I can pray for hours! </span></span></p>
<p id="E481" class="qowt-li-6_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E482" class="qowt-li-6_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E483" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">•We come to understand God differently</span><span id="E484" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">...</span></span></p>
<p id="E485" class="qowt-li-6_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E486" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">CAROLYN>>></span><span id="E487" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">And then after praying, not only am I drawn closer to God, I have a clearer understanding of his activity in the world. I see his grace and generosity, his authority and compassion, his steadfastness and condescension. </span></span></p>
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<p id="E490" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><strong><span id="E491">PHIL>>> Agree or Disagree: Most prayer meeting formats simply call for individuals to take turns around the circle praying their personal </span><span id="E492" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">need/fix/want </span><span id="E493">list rather than facilitating a group conversation. </span></strong></em></span></p>
<p id="E495" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E496">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E497">Agreed. And this is why prayer meetings are typically boring to many folks. </span></span></p>
<p id="E498" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E499" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E500" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><span id="E501" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">"Prayer that transforms is the kind of prayer that helps to move mission forward."</span></em></span></p>
<p id="E502" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E503" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span id="E504">PHIL>>> </span><span id="E505" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">How does corporate/group praying move mission forward differently than individual intercession?</span></strong></span></p>
<p id="E506" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10923299655,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10923299655?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="377" height="616" /></p>
<p id="E507" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E508">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E509">Corporate/group praying only moves mission forward when </span><span id="E510">mission</span><span id="E511"> is the central focus of why the group is gathering together to pray. If the group gathers to pray for individual needs, then mission will not move forward. But if groups gather together and pray the way that I suggest in the book, then I believe mission will move forward. </span></span></p>
<p id="E513" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E514" style="font-size:12pt;">We don’t like to be told that the way we are praying is wrong. It feels like an insult, because prayer is such a private matter. Well, it is, when we are praying in private! But when we are together as a group, we should pray differently. If a group is gathering together from a particular church, we should not be spending most of our time in prayer concerning ourselves with Aunt Susie’s hip surgery, because Aunt Susie lives a thousand miles away! </span></p>
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<p id="E516" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E517">What is the role of your church in the community? What could it be? What reach could the church have? These are the things that we need to be praying about and concerning ourselves with when we gather together to pray. It’s not that I don’t care about Aunt Susie, but is there not another place of prayer </span><span id="E518">where I can bring that important request? If the church has one evening a week where we gather together to pray, let’s make good use of that time. And if we do, if we pray with great intention about the mission of the church, then, mission will move forward. </span></span></p>
<p id="E522" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E523" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><span id="E524" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS">"Praying in agreement is like constructing an audible paragraph together."</span></em></span></p>
<p id="E525" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E526" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span id="E527">PHIL>>> </span><span id="E528" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">How does a prayer leader introduce then facilitate a conversational style of praying to a group or congregation?</span></strong></span></p>
<p id="E529" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E530" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E531">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E532">In the book I write </span><span id="E533">this about praying in agreement: </span><span id="E534" class="qowt-font6-Calibri">A paragraph, of course, is a cohesive group of sentences on one particular theme. Here’s how it works in prayer:</span></span></p>
<p id="E535" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E536" class="qowt-font6-Calibri"> </span><span id="E538" class="qowt-font6-Calibri">A topic is raised. A number of people should pray on this topic, having each prayer BUILD UPON the previous prayer, as if you were constructing a paragraph. For instance, </span></span></p>
<ul>
<li id="E539" class="qowt-li-2_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E540" class="qowt-font6-Calibri" style="font-size:12pt;">The first person prays, “Lord, make us mindful of your presence tonight, that we might hear your voice and allow you to lead us.”</span></li>
<li class="qowt-li-2_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Second person prays, “Yes, Lord. We confess our egocentrism and pride, our view that our way is right, that we know the way we should go. We need you to lead us.”</span></li>
<li class="qowt-li-2_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Third </span></li>
</ul>
<p id="E543" class="qowt-li-2_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E544" class="qowt-font6-Calibri">Third </span><span class="qowt-font6-Calibri">person prays, “Lord, the way that seems right to us, leads to death (Prov </span><span id="E547" class="qowt-font6-Calibri">14:12</span><span id="E548" class="qowt-font6-Calibri">). So, we seek your way tonight, we seek your voice tonight. O, lead us, Lord, in the way we should go.”</span></span></p>
<p id="E552" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E553" class="qowt-font6-Calibri"> </span><span id="E554" class="qowt-font6-Calibri"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Every</span> prayer gathering will be helped by s</span><span id="E555" class="qowt-font6-Calibri">ee</span><span id="E556" class="qowt-font6-Calibri">ing</span><span id="E557" class="qowt-font6-Calibri"> praying in agreement as the main means of praying together as a group. Praying this way keeps up the energy and doesn’t allow folks to ramble or dominate. We become more mindful of what others are praying. Since people are praying just a couple of sentences, it is much easier to follow what they are saying. You are saved from having to “pray it all” because you are only praying a sentence or two.</span><span id="E558" class="qowt-font6-Calibri"> Those who are new to praying aloud are rarely intimidated by praying 1-2 sentences. Also, praying this way helps to keep people from being intimidated by the eloquence of a long-winded pray-er.</span><span id="E559" class="qowt-font6-Calibri"> I depend on you to add to my thought. We are unified, we stay engaged, we stay on topic. </span></span></p>
<p id="E563" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E564" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span id="E565">PHIL>>> </span><span id="E566" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">How do these descriptors apply t</span><span id="E567">o concerted (</span><span id="E568" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">'</span><span id="E569">performed together</span><span id="E570" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">;</span><span id="E571"> in cooperation</span><span id="E572" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">'</span><span id="E573">)</span><span id="E574" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault"> praying?</span><span id="E575" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault"> </span></strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li id="E576" class="qowt-li-4_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E577" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault" style="font-size:12pt;">Worship-bred (birthed in worship)</span></li>
<li class="qowt-li-4_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Spirit-led (yielded to ...)</span></li>
<li class="qowt-li-4_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Scripture-fed (biblically prompted)</span></li>
<li class="qowt-li-4_0 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Corporate-said (agreeing in conversational prayer)</span></li>
</ul>
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<p id="E590" class="qowt-li-0_1 qowt-list x-scope qowt-word-para-4"><span id="E591" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault" style="font-size:12pt;">CAROLYN>>> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E593" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">I have not used such a rubric for prayer, but I can see where, in many ways, it follows along with my thinking on group intercession. God invites us into partnering with him in prayer. It helps us to begin our prayer from a place of having God and his nature front and center (worship-bred). </span><span id="E595" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">We yield to the Spirit as we listen for directives about how to pray. Sometimes the Spirit directs by giving an image, a word, a Scripture. That can led us to pray in a particular way that we had not thought of logically. I have examples of this in the book. Scripture, of course, is critical to feeding intercession. Think even of how many times The Lord’s Prayer has been prayed through the centuries! It is Jesus’ answer to the disciples request to be taught how to pray. Then, lastly, is the agreement of the body of believers in conversational prayer. Here is real unity, oneness of heart and mind and soul. </span></span></p>
<p id="E596" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E597" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E598" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span id="E599">PHIL>>> </span><span id="E600" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">One more exhortation or encouragement to equip us to reset how we think about collaborative prayer?</span></strong></span></p>
<p id="E601" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E602" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E603">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E604"> Many churches have a mission statement. No doubt, there was much prayer undertaken when the mission statement was determined. But what prayer has happened around that mission statement recently? Brainstorming around the mission statement – what would the community look like, here in the pews, and outside the church walls, if we were to fully live into that mission statement and then focusing your prayer time on the outworking of that mission statement is a great place to start praying in an effective manner.</span></span></p>
<p id="E605" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E606" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E607" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span id="E608">PHIL>>> </span><span id="E609" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">Carolyn, please write a prayer pastors and prayer lea</span><span id="E610">ders can use to reimagine praying when "two or three</span><span id="E611" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault"> of my followers</span><span id="E612"> gather together</span><span id="E613" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-gmaildefault">..." </span><span id="E614">(Matthew 18:20)</span></strong></span></p>
<p id="E615" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p id="E616" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><span id="E617">CAROLYN>>> </span><span id="E618"><em>Lord, teach us to pray.</em> </span></span></p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"> </p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>NEXT STEPS ~ <span style="font-size:14pt;">This interview is included in the <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/leadership-lab-learn-the-art-of-facilitating-collaborative-prayer" target="_blank">Leadership Lab</a>: Learn The Art of Facilitating Collaborative Prayer or Planning</span></em></span></p>
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<p id="E620" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E621" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS" style="font-size:12pt;">====</span></p>
<h1 class="hidden-xs">Carolyn Carney</h1>
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<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Carolyn Carney is the national director of spiritual formation for <a href="https://intervarsity.org/" target="_blank">InterVarsity Christian Fellowship</a>. She has a master of arts in spiritual formation and leadership from Spring Arbor University and serves as a spiritual director and retreat leader. She has led prayer groups and intercessory prayer training for more than thirty-five years. Carolyn lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with her husband, David, and their exceptional dog, Keeley.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Read her article "<a href="https://www.ivpress.com/pages/content/2-simple-ways-to-revitalize-your-church-with-group-prayer?source=carolyn-carney">2 Simple Ways to Revitalize Your Church with Group Prayer</a>."</span></p>
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<p id="E623" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><a id="E624" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ivpress.com%2FMedia%2FDefault%2FDownloads%2FExcerpts-and-Samples%2FA0306-excerpt.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Ccarolyn.carney%40intervarsity.org%7C3d43a2b61c2a42e4f8e008dad4707b80%7C2640efc8160349c5b70c71dc09f3c4b4%7C0%7C0%7C638055876953222879%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3G7tflih9ZxIDYdSoQvpvMHOMpMsRp4nEZgxqQFjruw%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><span id="E625" class="qowt-font7-TrebuchetMS qowt-stl-Hyperlink">Excerpt>>>What Builds and Blocks Prayer</span></a></p>
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<p> </p></div>CHAT With THE AUTHOR ~ Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Penny Cooke ofhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/chat-with-the-author-phil-miglioratti-interviewed-penny-cooke-of-2022-11-21T20:16:28.000Z2022-11-21T20:16:28.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div> </div>
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<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em><span class="s1">CHAT With The Author ~ Phil Miglioratti @ The Reimagine.Newtwork Interviewed Penny Cooke of "Pursuing Prayer"</span></em></strong></span></p>
<p class="p3"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10888890299,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10888890299,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10888890299?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="390" height="416" /></a>PHIL >>> Penny, please explain the difference between typical praying and pursuing prayer?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> Pursuing Prayer is a call to prayer, to fervent prayer, to consider the parts of prayer Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer. I’m not talking about reciting the Lord’s Prayer, but recognizing the elements Jesus included that we may overlook when we recite it. Might there be more to the Lord’s Prayer than reciting it? Could our prayers be more effective?</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">Our lives are busy and seldom quiet, so we need to be intentional about times of prayer that include the elements Jesus taught, as well as taking time in quiet to hear His voice, in addition to the short prayers we may pray throughout our day.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> The format of your book is based on "an acrostic for prayer." How has this acrostic [P-R-A-Y-E-R] helped you in your work as a biblical-life-coach to equip Christians who are pursuing prayer?</strong></span><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> In the book, I coach the reader through the Lord’s Prayer using an acrostic for prayer which coincides with each element of the Lord’s Prayer. The purpose is to help the reader understand Jesus’ prayer better and how they can personalize those elements in their own prayers, beyond reciting it. For example: What does it mean for me to hallow His name? What is His will for my life, and what does it look like for His kingdom to come in my life? Why does forgiveness mean in my life? What evil might I need to be delivered from? As a coach, I encourage the reader to consider what part of the Lord’s Prayer they need to focus on, what action they need to take, and how their prayers can be more effective as a result.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10888888080,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10888888080,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10888888080?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="450" height="687" /></a></strong></span></p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> Talk with us, teach us, about each of these daily prayer directives...</strong></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>•P - Pursue Prayer Proactively</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> Again, Pursuing Prayer is about being intentional, or “proactive” about praying to Our Father. Jesus proactively invites us to a relationship in prayer. Intentionality breeds habit. We schedule everything else in our life, why not prayer? Perhaps if we make time for it first, we won’t eliminate it when life gets too busy. Isn’t that just what the enemy wants? He knows how important prayer is, and he is certainly intentional about distracting us.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>•R - Remember God's Righteous Deeds</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> This is the “hallowed be Your name” part of the Lord’s Prayer. When we remember what God has done in the past, in the Bible or in our lives or the lives of people we know, it gives us cause to praise Him. So we begin with remembering and worshipping Him. This gets our spiritual perspective right and builds our faith before we go on to the rest of our praying.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>•A - Acknowledge Sin and Ask Forgiveness</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> This is the “forgive us our debts” piece of the Lord’s Prayer. This helps us keep short accounts, which gives us the peace and confidence to come to him. Otherwise, we can be like Adam and Eve hiding from God. If His mercies are new every morning, why not come to Him every morning for those mercies, for a clean slate and a fresh start.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>•Y - Yield to God's Will</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> “Thy will be done.” In the R, we focused on who God is. Considering He is all He says He is, all knowing and all powerful, and we are limited, why would we want to run our lives without seeking Him first? We can’t see into the next minute, why wouldn’t we want to follow His plan and will for the moments only He sees? But that takes being proactive about prayer.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>•E - Enjoy God's Daily Bread</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> “Give us this day our daily bread” is about trusting Him to meet our needs, relying on Him for everything. This is the part of prayer we pray the most, praying for needs such as a health or financial situation. We bring Him our “prayer list” because He said to bring Him our burdens and to pray about everything. But, I encourage the reader to go beyond that. Might there be more to our daily bread than our tangible needs? (Hint: He is the Bread of Life.)</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>•R - Rest in God</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> Part of prayer is being still to hear His voice. Jesus was intentional about going off by Himself to spend time with the Father. I believe that when we pray as Jesus modeled and taught, including all of the above, our soul will have rest—no anxiety about anything and a peace that surpasses understanding. That’s trust. That’s faith. That’s rest.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p7" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><strong>"True repentance means we make whatever adjustments need to be made and it produces an earnest desire to do better."</strong></span></p>
<p class="p7" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><strong>"Real repentance is a radical change of heart that leads to...taking responsibility (for) our own decisions and actions."</strong></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> How essential is true repentance in the heart of the believer if that believer is to reimagine how the Spirit wants to transform them by the renewing of their mind (Romans 12:2)?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> Let’s turn your question around: True repentance is essential if the believer’s mind is to be transformed. Repentance opens the door to renewing our mind. So we must understand what true repentance is and what it means to the effectiveness of our prayers. David said in Psalm 66:18, “If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Might something hinder our prayers? Might there be something hindering the renewing of our mind?</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">Once we have repented, cleaned the slate so to speak, then we must put something else on that slate, and that is the Word of God. We must be as intentional about God’s Word as we are about prayer.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p7" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><strong>"Hallowed be Thy names."</strong></span></p>
<p class="p7" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><strong>"Remember to raise God's names in praise."</strong></span></p>
<p class="p4"><strong><span class="s1">PHIL >>> What do God's names in scripture reveal to us and how should we incorporate them in our praying?</span></strong><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> The beginning of knowing someone is knowing their name. In the Bible, names had deep meaning and significance. When we realize who God is through His many names (one name could never adequately describe Him) we will have more faith when we come to Him, and we will worship more deeply. He wants us to know Him. And there’s so much to know about His love, His care, His mercy. How can we truly worship Him (hallow His name) if we don’t really know Him?</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">One of the names God is called repeatedly in the Bible is God of Hosts, or God of Heaven’s Armies. We don’t always see prayer as the spiritual warfare that it is. We can’t see the spiritual battles going on, how the enemy’s armies advance when we do not call out to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Perhaps if we considered this name of God and what it means, we would put on our armor and wield our “Sword of the Sprit” with more fervency. Perhaps prayer would become so vital to us that we would not cease to pray for our families, our nation, and our world. For we do not battle against humans but spiritual enemies. When we are, not just a member of, but in active military duty in Heaven’s army, praying fervently in spiritual warfare, perhaps then we will change our world.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><strong><span class="s1">PHIL >>> How would you coach a Pastor or Prayer Leader to reimagine/reshape the culture of prayer in their congregation?</span></strong><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> Many people struggle with prayer. It should be a joy, but instead they feel lacking. People are always wondering how to pray. It doesn’t have to be confusing or deeply theological—that’s when we lose the average person. So, I would say, teach the elements of the Lord’s Prayer as how to pray: worship, confession, seeking His will, praying against temptation to be delivered from evil, and being still to hear His voice. And when in a spiritual battle, teach them to pray scripture, the Sword of the Spirit. That’s what Jesus used to be delivered from the evil one’s attacks. I believe if we prayed this way, we would have more confidence and motivation to pray, resulting in more peace and less anxiety and fear…and a more effective prayer life.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">I say this from experience. I prayed for 13 years for my son to be delivered from drugs. I used many scriptures to pray for him, wielding my spiritual sword to fight for him. Praise God he was not only delivered, but God did “exceedingly abundantly above all I asked or imagined.” He is a pastor now.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p7"><span class="s1"><strong>"Pursuing Prayer is your invitation to chase the kingdom of God here on earth."</strong></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> Unpack the idea of chasing the kingdom of God and how that insight gives us a deeper-and-wider perspective of the purpose and patterns of praying.</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> We chase what we love. We chase what we desire. Chasing is pursuing. Chasing is being proactive. What does our level of chasing the Kingdom say about our desire for the things of the Kingdom? Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind. Our society, and even sometimes the church, has gotten so far away from this that we think being so Kingdom minded is radical, a Jesus freak. But that’s what we were supposed to be. Has our praying become watered down? Are our churches houses of prayer? We can think fervent praying is for the pastor and maybe a few “prayer warriors.” But it’s for all of us. Fervent prayers = fervent answers.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> One more thing you'd like to say ...</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> Have I always seen my prayers answered? Of course not. I doubt any of us have had 100% of our prayers answered the way we prayed them. But I’ve seen God move through prayer. I’ve especially seen God move in my own heart through prayer. I think the greater miracle is what He does “in” us, not around us. And if that is all I ever experienced because of prayer, it would be enough.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">This is what prayer is really about—relationship. It’s that sweet fellowship with the Holy Spirit we are privileged to have…the peace, strength, comfort. Oh, don’t miss out! If you’d like a more effective prayer life and a deeper relationship with Our Father, I invite you to Pursuing Prayer – Being Effective in a Busy World.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> Penny, please write a prayer we can pray with you in our desire to pursue an effective prayer life in a much-too-busy world.</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">PENNY >>> <em>Father, help us to be convinced that the busier we are, the more we need prayer, not less. Help us to know You and Your Word so well that we can rightly hallow Your name. Remind us to keep short accounts with You and to confess often, to draw upon Your lovingkindness and mercies that are there for us each new day. Help us to make Your will a priority as we bring You our requests. We need Your Kingdom on earth and in our lives, Lord. We need Your help and power to overcome the temptations in this world. We need You to deliver us from the evil one and his attacks in our lives. Our families need our prayers; our nation needs our prayers; our world needs our prayers. We need Your power that is released when confessed believers pray fervent prayers of faith to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Thank you for your love and that you offer this kind of relationship with You. Thank You for the privilege of prayer! In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.</em></span></p>
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<p class="p8"><strong> <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/main/search/search?q=chat+authors" target="_blank">>>>More "CHAT WIth The Author" Interviews<<<</a></strong></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Penny Cooke i</strong>s a Certified Biblical Life Coach, writer, and avid pray-er. She has been a leader in women’s ministry for more than thirty years and has taught numerous Bible studies. Whether coaching, teaching, or writing, Penny seeks to encourage and equip believers with the Word of God and see them empowered by His Spirit for this battle we call life.</span></p>
<p class="p9"><span class="s2">Website:<a href="https://pennycookeauthor.com/"><span class="s3"> pennycookeauthor.com</span></a></span></p>
<p class="p9"><span class="s4">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/penny.arakeliancooke"><span class="s5">penny.arakeliancooke</span></a></span></p>
<p class="p9"><span class="s4"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pennycookeauthor"><span class="s5"> pennycookeauthor</span></a></span></p>
<p class="p10"><span class="s1"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/773358583074796"><span class="s5"> Pursuing Prayer</span></a> group page</span></p>
<p class="p9"><span class="s4">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pennycookeauthor/"><span class="s5">pennycookeauthor</span></a></span></p>
<p class="p9"><span class="s4">Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/penny_cooke"><span class="s5">penny_cooke</span></a></span></p>
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<p><strong>Complement the <em>Pursuing PRAYER</em> book with the <em>Pursuing PRAYER</em> Bible study plan. <a href="https://www.newhopepublishers.com/shop/pursuing-prayer-bible-study/" target="_blank">Learn more HERE. </a></strong></p>
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<p><strong>Supplemental Resources</strong></p>
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<div class="vc_btn3-container vc_btn3-inline"><a class="vc_general vc_btn3 vc_btn3-size-md vc_btn3-shape-rounded vc_btn3-style-modern vc_btn3-color-danger" title="" href="https://2qdgftyi.pages.infusionsoft.net/" target="_blank">Chapter Videos</a></div>
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<div class="vc_btn3-container vc_btn3-inline"><a class="vc_general vc_btn3 vc_btn3-size-md vc_btn3-shape-rounded vc_btn3-style-modern vc_btn3-color-danger" title="" href="https://lifebiblestudy.s3.amazonaws.com/PursuingPrayer_MarketingPages_JournalingPage.pdf" target="_blank">Journaling Page</a></div>
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<div class="vc_btn3-container vc_btn3-inline"><a class="vc_general vc_btn3 vc_btn3-size-md vc_btn3-shape-rounded vc_btn3-style-modern vc_btn3-color-danger" title="" href="https://lifebiblestudy.s3.amazonaws.com/PursuingPrayer_MarketingPages_PrayerPrompts.pdf" target="_blank">Prayer Prompts</a></div>
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<div class="vc_btn3-container vc_btn3-inline"><a class="vc_general vc_btn3 vc_btn3-size-md vc_btn3-shape-rounded vc_btn3-style-modern vc_btn3-color-danger" title="" href="https://lifebiblestudy.s3.amazonaws.com/PursuingPrayer_MarketingPages_10PrayerTipsforBusyDays.pdf" target="_blank">Ten Prayer Tips for Busy Days</a></div>
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<div class="vc_btn3-container vc_btn3-inline"><a class="vc_general vc_btn3 vc_btn3-size-md vc_btn3-shape-rounded vc_btn3-style-modern vc_btn3-color-danger" title="" href="https://lifebiblestudy.s3.amazonaws.com/PursuingPrayer_MarketingPages_10PrayersforBusyMoms.pdf" target="_blank">Ten Prayer Reminders for Busy Moms</a></div>
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</div></div>An Interview. Two CEOs Unpack How To #ReimagineMINISTRY...https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/an-interview-two-ceo-unpack-how-to-reimagineministry2022-10-12T13:54:44.000Z2022-10-12T13:54:44.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Tony Danhelka and Jay Curtis, Two CEOs Who Reimagined The Same Ministry</strong></em></span></p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> <em>Today's culture is changing rapidly</em></strong><em> and many of the changes are radical ("from the root") in how we think about our institutions and guiding ideologies. These changes are impacting education, the workplace, social relationships, and how we function in community.</em></p>
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<p>TONY >>> Yes, Change is inevitable. We are creatures of habit and most of us resist change. Yet change is not new, ‘maybe’ more rapid and radical. My experience over 45 years in Church and Para-Church leadership is wakeup and embrace change. Internet, Wifi, Social Media, Smart Phones, iPads, laptops have accelerated how fast we can learn and communicate.</p>
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<p>JAY >>> There is no question that we are living in a time of unprecedented social change. 30 years ago American culture still generally embraced “traditional (Biblical) values.” Even those who wouldn’t claim to have a Christian faith, still largely supported basic Christian values. Today, that has changed radically, to the point that even the church in many instances has lost a solid commitment to Biblical truth. </p>
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<p>As a ministry committed to the Gospel we have to be aware of the temptation to “drift” from our commitment to the truth of scripture. As a practical matter, in the past few years we have found it necessary to bring more complete definition to our Statement of Faith and beliefs as an organization. We’ve also had to be more intentional to make sure that our Board and staff are in agreement on the issues of faith that are being tested. These are just some of the steps that we are taking to guard our hearts and stay true to God’s calling in our mission.</p>
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<h1 class="preSlide slideIn"><em><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The master objective of Fox Valley Christian Action is to partner with the local Church </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;">in discipling people in the under-resourced communities of the Fox River Valley into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.</span> </em></h1>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> Tony, you birthed a grander vision</em></strong><em> for Riverwoods Christian Center when you became CEO. What prompted you to lead with a reconceived vision?</em></p>
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<p>TONY >>> Grander and reconceived visions are in my DNA. We came to start a new ministry in 1976. The former board leadership were good, sacrificial, and God-fearing men that survived the Depression and WWII. I came along as a young early ‘Boomer’ with new paradigms and visions of what transformational ministry could look like. They had an 85 acre almost condemned facility that was built in the 1930’s. The then board believed it to be a Camp and the one staff member back then had camp money in one pocket and his personal money in the other pocket. It took me three months to ‘Change’ the boards vision from ‘Camp’ to a training ‘Center’ that could work beyond the camp. Over the years we birth grander visions to adapt to the times and best practices. We went from a Camp with a heart for the Poor, to a Camp that went home with the Poor, to a ministry that works in Economically Stressed neighborhoods that happens to have a 85 acre training Center with 800 yards of River frontage. Our first years budget was $30,000. With the new vision we raised $90,000 but I spent $110,000. In fact the former Camp owners told me that from 1935 to 1976 there total income, each year added to the next, did not total $110,000. I was a Co-founder with two other men, a dynamic businessman and a Pastoral mentor to me. I was the full-time developer and Executive Director with a CEO mentality from the beginning. There were many times over the first 20 years that I walked into Board meetings not knowing if I would have a job at the end of the meeting. The Good Lord kept prompting me to raise the bar and step out in faith. It took courage and much much patience to keep adapting to change, but God rewarded us greatly over the years.</p>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> Jay, after years of serving on Tony's staff,</em></strong><em> he handed you the baton. What was the process of reshaping the ministry into Fox Valley Christian Action?</em></p>
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<p>JAY >>> One of the things that I celebrate, and I believe is true evidence of the Lord’s leading in our ministry, is that the mission we operate today is really the fulfillment of everything that was envisioned 45 years ago when Tony and others founded the ministry. Programs, activities, and how we go about things may change as time moves forward, but the foundational commitments have stayed the same: 1) sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ; 2) serving people in low-income communities; 3) a commitment to long-term relational ministry. These have remained unchanged.</p>
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<p>It is the practice of our ministry to maintain a 1-year, 5-year and 20-year plan which are annually updated and approved by our Board. The introduction to our current 5-year plan contains a small excerpt which was actually scanned and inserted from a strategic plan document which Tony presented to the Board in 1977. This excerpt was specially inserted to recognize that the primary vision and values of FVCA in 2022 are still the same as they were in 1977. That’s not to say that we don’t do new things. The actual day-to-day ministry may look very different than it did in 1977, but the same values and mission that God established in 1977 still exist today and I believe that is great evidence of God’s leadership in the ministry!</p>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> What did you learn about reimagining ministry?</em></strong><em> Rethinking prevailing perspectives? Reassessing foundational assumptions? Recalibrating how to best serve the ministry's mission?</em></p>
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<p>TONY >>> I came to learn over and over that reimagining ministry is all about relationships. Genuine heartfelt relationships with the people we served and enabled, board members, donors, staff, volunteers, vendors and more than them all, The Lord God Almighty and his son Jesus Christ via his Holy Spirit. I learned and re-learned that it takes face to face time to hear the hearts of those involved in the vision and mission’s future. I learned that I had to resist getting caught up in the day-to-day demands and fires. I learned I had to delegate and ‘selectively neglect’ certain priorities to have time with God and the people of the ministry. It wasn’t easy nor free of critics. I needed to lead by teaching the team how to prepare or recalibrate to climb the next mountain to which I introduce them.</p>
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<p>JAY >>> Honestly, this is really challenging. There are lots of factors that pull ministry in different directions. Board and staff have slightly different visions, needs in our communities are always far greater than our apparent resources, funding sources often have specific ideas of how they want their funding to accomplish their priorities. We also operate in a ministry that is multi-cultural, multi-denominational, and multi-generational. So the challenge is, how do we hear God’s voice? When do we really need to make changes in how we do things versus when do we need to “hold fast” to projects and functions that rarely progress as fast as we want?</p>
<p>I have no easy answers here, but I have a couple of principles that I would suggest:</p>
<p>1) Stay prayerful. Constantly submit the organization, plans, ideas, “what-ifs” to the Lord and keep seeking to see where He is working, what doors is He opening?</p>
<p>2) Hold plans loosely. I am constantly learning that I need to hold plans loosely. I can try so hard to force things, whether it’s raising funds, building a new part of our facility or hiring a new staff member. I am constantly reminded that I need to be diligent and take proactive steps in all of these things, but I can’t control them.</p>
<p>3) Listen to others. I interact with a lot of people, staff, donors, volunteers, community partners, pastors, etc. I try to listen to see what “common themes” am I hearing among these different groups? There will always be far more ideas and opinions than we can possibly respond to. But it really gets my attention when 3 different people tell me the same thing in a short period of time, that’s usually a sign to me that the Lord is speaking through them and I want to hear how He’s leading.</p>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> How did you communicate a reimagined approach to ministry</em></strong><em> with your governing leadership team? </em></p>
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<p>TONY >>> We consistently had 8 to 12 men and women board members. They mostly were people who gave over a $1000 a year to the ministry and volunteered with at least one fund raising project each year prior to be asked to serve on the board. It was our aim that 75% were business owners and CEO’s or people in high corporate positions. Then 25% were specialty people like pastors, doctors, lawyers, and teachers. They were all active Christians. We learned that the business owners and CEO’s were the visionaries and risk-takers that knew how to work with a CEO and not get caught up in the day-to-day operations. The 25% helped with specialty care and they would cautiously check-balance the visionaries with the realities of budgets and Goals. We learned that when we had this balance on the board that the communication to reimagine the future was greatly enhanced and strategic. They would challenge us at times to look for new ways to adapt to the changing times. Reimagining Risk taking is challenging when you have staff members’ salaries and family responsibilities to meet.</p>
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<p>JAY >>> I think that one of my biggest challenges in this area was learning to say “no.” No, we can’t do that; no, we don’t have the resources to do that; no, that’s not what we’re called to do. A few years ago we faced a “mission crisis” in our ministry. It was a really painful experience and one where I made many mistakes. We were trying to move some things forward in our community ministry, but there were very different ideas of what that looked like. It was painful and we lost some good people during that time. As we emerged from that, one of the things that I recognized was that we (and I, as the CEO) were saying “Yes” to too many things. They were all good things, and for the most part even fit within our mission. The problem was that we were spread way too thin and we couldn’t get momentum in anything we were doing. Everyone was disappointed and everyone was frustrated. (Did I mention that it was really painful?)</p>
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<p>One of the ways that God brought us through that time was refocusing on some core programs and eliminating lots of other things that we had been trying to do. Eventually this led to some crucial conversations with our Board to more specifically define what we are called to do <u>and what we are not called to do</u>. It was then helpful to go back to our staff to say, this is what the Board has affirmed as our focus and this is where we will put our attention and resources.</p>
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<p>I think this is also where the 5-year and 20-year plans bring value. It’s sometimes hard to have strategic discussion when the time horizon is too close because we don’t think of positions, functions, and strategies; we get too distracted thinking about specific people, programs, and functions as they are right now. When we push out the time horizon to 5 years and 20 years, we aren’t hindered by our current circumstances, but we have the freedom to think clearly about how this should really work if we aren’t “bound” to today’s constraints. I find that having these plans and discussions are really helpful.</p>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> How did you implement a revised approach</em></strong><em> with your ministry team staff?</em></p>
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<p>TONY >>> Let’s face it staff can make or break a ministry. Each ministry has three basic needs… program, facility, and staff. One of these 3 make up 70% of the success of a ministry. Yes…Staff. When we hired a highly trained experienced staffer for a certain position with a clear position description, they would put their creativity to work within those boundaries. However, change happens over time. New mountains to climb that they were not originally signed up to climb. Position descriptions are re-written and not everyone can change at the same pace. Taking time for Relationship, listening Relationship, affirming Relationship and lots of early communication over time allowed. Changing our ministries approach to how we need to be doing things was always difficult for me. No one likes change. </p>
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<p>JAY >>> I find this to be really challenging. I know that one of my key roles is to constantly reinforce “the vision” with our Board, staff, donors, volunteers, etc. When it comes to our staff, I struggle because I feel like I am being repetitive or telling them things they already know. But I continue to learn and re-learn that communicating mission and vision is every bit as important with our staff as it is with our other stakeholders. I’ve also learned that when we’re making changes, we need to constantly assure our staff that we’re changing our methods (how we do things) not our mission. We’re not changing who we serve or our commitment to the Gospel, but we may definitely need to re-think how programs operate, what staff structures are needed or how we engage volunteers in new ways. These are things that we need to consistently be evaluating and thinking about how we can be more effective and how we can eliminate distractions or functions that consume a disproportionate level of resources.</p>
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<p>And, we need to be prayerful, sensitive, and gracious as we implement changes. This is sometimes hard for me because I often feel the need for changes to take place much faster than they are happening, but that is almost always a mistake!</p>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> What can we learn from your mistakes?</em></strong><em> Resistance you encountered? How you communicated to your supporters?</em></p>
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<p>TONY >>> I made mistakes. The saying, “God did not call us to be successful, but faithful” rang all to true and often for me. We are going to strike out or we are not risking enough. My critics often said I was too patient with staff’s resistance. To be honest, there were 7 staff that one by one over the years were not able to change with us. I agonized and prayed earnestly on how to bring them along into the suggested new ways to minister. After 3 clearly defined in writing and face-to-face communications I eventually encouraged them to move on. It was never easy for me or them. Most of them did find new positions elsewhere and were happier in their new roles. Regarding mistakes made with supporters, there were plenty. </p>
<p>However, I am convinced that most of them were because I did not invest in the relationship. Some of them were very private or too busy for even basic friendships, but most were well-meaning and engaged. They wanted to know that their donations of finances and talent made a difference. That takes relational time.</p>
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<p>JAY >>> I’ve already touched on some of my mistakes. The greatest resistance comes when people don’t understand WHY we’re changing things. When we don’t understand the “why” behind what we do, that’s when people tend to feel anxious, defensive, etc. One of the best things we can do, is keep going back to <u>why</u> we do what we do. We actually have a practice of printing our Master Objective at the top of our important documents like our 1-year goals and objectives, our 5-year and 20-year plans, and our Board agendas. This means that every time we look at one of these documents, we’re reminded that our ultimate goal is for the families that we are called to serve to be growing in a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.</p>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> What more can you tell us . . .</em></strong></p>
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<p>TONY >>> Two Points:</p>
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<li>One of the top ten lessons I learned over 45 years of organizational and cultural changes, was to keep the main thing the main thing. It was my job as the CEO to develop a mission statement that was approved by board and staff. Then to constantly remind the board and staff about that mission statement. Keep it clear and short. Make it a statement everyone can and will memorize. In 1982 (Six years after our founding) we hired a fund-raising consultant to help us with a special building project. He went out and met individually with each board member, staff member and 15 major donors. A few weeks later he came back to a joint board and staff meeting and reported his findings. He met privately face-to-face with 31 people. He discovered that there were over 25 different primary Mission Statements of our organization. He helped us forge a one paragraph mission statement. Half of the board and a few staff resigned not out of criticism or malice, but because they realized that they were not interested in the agreed direction of the ministry. Over time we rebuilt the board and staff with a unified Mission Statement that was more than words on a piece of paper. When times of change and reimagining came we always look at it through the lens of the Mission Statement.</li>
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<li>By-the-way… It is my opinion that FVCA’s greatest change and reimagined experience was in our Succession in ‘2011. As the primary Founder and Developer of Riverwoods/ FVCA I was able to build friendships with other Founders of other minsitries. Many of these dear friends ended poorly by retiring too old or retiring and still influencing the ministry from the background. Succession of the Founder is very delicate. FVCA is primarily donation funded and many of these donors had personal relationships with me. Jay was on our staff in various leadership positions for 20 years. He is 24 years my junior. He was amazingly patient as we appropriately visited each of the many primary donors. Jay is a Founders dream. He is a responsible self-starter leader, Faith risk-taker, dynamic Christian, and yet patient with me. We have prayed together every Thursday morning at 8AM for more that 20 years. When I retired after 35 years I resigned from the staff and board and moved to Tennessee for 10 years to give him space. The Jay, the board and staff did a great job at communicating to our donor base, volunteers, and community friends we serve that Jay is now in charge. Succession worked for us. Thank You Jesus!</li>
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<p>JAY >>> I have found that our supporters are more forgiving and more gracious about change, or redirection when we share the “why.” When we share <u>why</u> we’re doing things differently or restructuring something, when we share the reasons behind it, they are very supportive. They want to know that we’re thinking about what we’re doing and why we’re making the changes and then they are quick to get behind it.</p>
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<p><strong><em>PHIL >>> Please write a prayer</em></strong><em> Christian leaders can make their own as they strive to lead in their place of service by being "transformed by the renewing of their mind." </em></p>
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<p>TONY >>> <em>Father God, you have called me into leadership ministry.</em></p>
<p>I am humbled by such a high calling. Grant me the passion to hear your voice and the courage to obey. Help me to better sense when you are motivating us to re-imagine in a new direction or better way to do our mission. Allow me to develop appropriate and heartfelt relationships with the people we serve, board members, staff, volunteers, and vendors. Teach me to listen with new understanding. May I learn each day how to ‘selectively neglect’ that which is less important and focus on the most meaningful. May the Holy Spirit continually flow from me even when I am not aware of his presences. I worship you in Jesus’ name. Amen</p>
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<p>JAY >>> <em>Lord Jesus you are the Good Sheppard! </em></p>
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<p>You are the one who leads us, heals us, redeems us, and transforms our hearts and minds. Jesus, we confess that in ministry leadership, far too often our hearts and minds get distracted with budgets, fundraising, staff issues, and meeting others expectations. Jesus, bring our hearts and focus back to you. Show us again what it means to trust you and to see you transforming hearts and lives through the work of your Holy Spirit. Jesus, we pray that you will move in greater power and authority to transform lives, and for your Kingdom to break through in all of the places that you have called us to serve today. And Jesus, we trust <u>You</u> with the outcomes. We love you and we praise you- Amen!</p>
<p> </p></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Jim Tomberlinhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-jim-tomberlin2022-10-01T20:36:43.000Z2022-10-01T20:36:43.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10832400281,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10832400281,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10832400281?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="310" height="341" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Jim Tomberlin for a Reimagine.Network Leadership Lab</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Veteran Pastor, Author, Church Strategy Specialist, founder of MultiSite Solutions. Consultant with </span><span class="r-18u37iz"><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1cvl2hr r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/UnstuckGroup">@UnstuckGroup</a></span></p>
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<li><em>#Reimagine ... how to adapt to a post-Christian culture</em></li>
<li><em>#Rebirth ... to stuck, and</em></li>
<li><em>#Revitalization ... to struggling churches</em></li>
<li><em>#Re-Invent ... your church and break away </em></li>
<li><em>#Rethink ... like missionaries</em></li>
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<p><strong>PHIL: Jim, you have a distinct perspective on the Church.</strong> </p>
<p>You've pastored varied sized congregations and coached mega/multi-site churches through difficult struggles and with great success. What is your perspective of the state of the evangelical Church: strengths, weaknesses, obstacles, transformations? (using a revised version of the SWOT assessment form).</p>
<p>What are your observations, joys, fears...</p>
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<p>JIM: </p>
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<li><strong>Strengths</strong></li>
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<li style="font-weight:400;">The rise of a church multiplication movement through church planting with an emphasis on making disciples that make disciples.</li>
<li>The continued expansion of the multisite movement that is not slowing down and has become the norm for healthy, growing churches. </li>
<li>The explosion of church mergers that are offering rebirth and revitalization to stuck and struggling churches while helping strong churches grow and expand</li>
<li>The innovation of cutting-edge churches around digital church strategies and marketing. </li>
<li>The increase of churches that are embracing racial and intergenerational diversity, biblical justice and empowerment of women.</li>
<li>The recognition and addressing of sexual and emotional abuse in the church.</li>
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<li><strong>Weaknesses</strong></li>
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<li>The politicized nature of the Church. </li>
<li>The dominance of Christian Nationalism in evangelical churches. </li>
<li>The inability of the majority of churches to adapt to a post-Christian culture. </li>
<li>The decline and near absence of evangelism. </li>
<li>The pervasive sexual and emotional abuse in the church.</li>
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<li><strong>Obstacles that resist change</strong></li>
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<li>20<sup>th</sup> century church methodology and scorecards </li>
<li>Political polarization </li>
<li>Inherent racism, sexism and misogyny in the church.</li>
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<li><strong>Transformational action steps that are vital to 21st century culture</strong></li>
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<li>Thinking like missionaries in a post-Christian nation</li>
<li>Rising above partisan politics</li>
<li>Unapologetic but culturally-relevant biblical teaching</li>
<li>Pro-active evangelism of the good news of Jesus</li>
<li>Embracing and affirming biblical values that are pro-life from the womb-to-the-tomb that includes embracing racial diversity, addressing social injustice, affirming equality for women, and compassion & mercy for the poor and immigrants.</li>
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<p><strong>PHIL: </strong><strong>Agree/</strong><strong>Disagree</strong><strong>…</strong> Pastors and church leadership from smaller congregations should learn from the way mega/multi-site leaders think and innovate rather than copying their programs or pursuing their style of ministry.</p>
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<p>JIM: Church leaders of all church sizes should learn from church leaders of all church sizes. All mega & muItisite churches were once small churches. We should look beyond successful methods and discover the universal principle behind the method that could work in my context. Who is making more followers of Jesus and their communities better, safer and healthier places to live? The best churches to learn from are not based on size or wealth, but on health and effectiveness of reaching unchurched people and transforming their communities for good.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL: Differentiate between a tactical plan and strategic thinking</strong>...and explain how they work together. </p>
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<p>JIM: Strategic thinking is figuring out <strong><em>what</em> </strong>we want to accomplish—the vision. The tactical plan is <strong><em>how</em></strong> we will accomplish the vision—the implementation. Strategic thinking is getting the big picture from the 50,000 foot level. Tactical plans are the implementation of the strategic vision on the ground. President Kennedy demonstrated strategic thinking in 1961 when he cast a national vision to send and return a man to the moon by the end of the decade. The tactical plan to accomplish this was developed and implemented by NASA.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL: How do you coach leaders on building a church</strong> that connects and communicates to a rapidly changing culture which does not always affirm biblical truths or values?</p>
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<p>JIM: Think like missionaries in a foreign (post-Christian) culture. Stop trying to “retake” America or make America Christian through political means. Make followers of Jesus who will change the culture. Change a life, change a family. Change a family, change a neighborhood. Change a neighborhood, change a city. Change a city, change a nation. Change a nation, change the world!</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL: Creative</strong><strong> leaders begin with questions</strong> that prompt review and revision so that they end up with insightful/transformational answers. Coach us with a question in each of these areas that would prompt a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed pursuit of how to rethink ministry.</p>
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<li>Worship settings: Is your worship style engaging believers in a way that outsiders can relate to?</li>
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<li>Discipleship objectives: Does your church have a clear discipleship pathway—steps to following Jesus? </li>
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<li>Leadership styles: Is your leadership style collaborative and empowering or top-down and authoritarian?</li>
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<li>Fellowship experiences: Are your gatherings insider-focused and exclusive, or outsider-friendly and inclusive?</li>
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<li>Evangelism training: Is your evangelism confrontational or conversational?</li>
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<li>Compassion/Justice values: Do you have a pro-life womb-to-the-tomb mindset?</li>
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<li>Prayer practices: How are you developing prayer practices into the lives of your congregation?</li>
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<p><strong>PHIL: What can we learn</strong> from mega/multi-site leaders on impactful communication?</p>
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<p>JIM: The value of clarity. The more clarity of mission (why we exist), vision (what success looks like if we accomplish our mission), strategy (how will we accomplish our mission-vision), values (the priorities that shape our church culture and guide us in accomplishing our mission-vision) and discipleship pathway (the steps that help people follow Jesus) the more effective the church. </p>
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<p><strong>PHIL: Final words </strong>from a coach to a church leader...</p>
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<p>JIM: Now is an extraordinary opportunity to reap a great spiritual harvest with unprecedented permission to re-invent your church and break away from the old, tired, ineffective methods of the 20<sup>th</sup> century and political distractions of the 21<sup>st</sup> century. Seize the opportunity, focus on the Gospel and think like missionaries in a foreign culture.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL: Jim, write out a prayer for leaders</strong> who are ready to have their approach to ministry "transformed by the renewing of their mind." (Romans 12:2) “</p>
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<p>JIM: Lord, raise up church leaders today who will be like the “men of Issachar who understood the times and knew what to do.” 1 Chronicles 12:32</p>
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<p>BONUS: <a href="https://theunstuckgroup.com/who-we-are/" target="_blank">TheUnstuck Way</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10832410063,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10832410063,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10832410063?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><em>LEADERSHIP LAB:</em></strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-jim-tomberlin" target="_blank">JIM TOMBERLIN:</a></strong></span><strong> (above)</strong></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
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<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-nancy-beach-and-samantha-beach-kiley" target="_blank">NANCY BEACH & SAMANTHA BEACH KILEY</a></strong></span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
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<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/quote-unquote-phil-miglioratti-of-the-reimagine-network-interview" target="_blank">SAM RAINER</a></strong></span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
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<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/a-reimagine-coaching-session-with-phil-miglioratti" target="_blank">PHIL MIGLIORATTI</a></strong></span></li>
</ul></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Robert “Bob” Whitt, a Community Engagement Facilitatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-robert-bob-whitt-a-community-engagem2022-08-26T20:07:33.000Z2022-08-26T20:07:33.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Robert “Bob” Whitt, <span class="gmail_default">a </span>Community Engagement </strong><span class="gmail_default"><strong>Facilitator</strong></span></em></span><br /> </span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><span class="gmail_default"><strong>...for The Reimagine.Network</strong></span></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span>“<em>Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves</em>.” Romans 12:10 <br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10793685285,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10793685285,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10793685285?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="589" height="487" /></a></span><strong>PHIL >>> Why a book about honor?<br /> </strong><span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span></span>
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<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#500050;">BOB >>> </span><span style="color:#000000;">We are living in an era of hate. It comes through politics, the national media narrative, social issues and even <span class="gmail_default">race </span>still has us bound.</span></span></div>
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"There is a difference between devotion to a Person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause; He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself.<span class="gmail_default">." Oswald Chambers</span><span class="gmail_default"></span></div>
<div>For the purpose of making this point, if Jesus came back to earth for one day, He wouldn't march down a street with others holding up a Black Lives Matter sign. As terrible as it is, He wouldn't stand out in front of an abortion clinic protesting. Jesus was only about the Father 's business and not causes. I am not suggesting that people shouldn't stand up for certain things but it's the anger in how people go about it (including believers). What we tend to do as believers is say that everything we do is in the name of Jesus. I would hunch Jesus would say, "don't use my name in things that I haven't blessed". Somehow we have allowed politics and other things into the pulpit. We have a responsibility as Christ follower's to set the example for those who don't know. But we are to do it through honor not hate. We are to honor people for who they are and who Christ created them to be. Honor trumps hate and it is no respecter of color, social or economic status.<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> <br /> </span>“<em>He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life</em>.” - Muhammad Ali<br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span><strong>PHIL >>> What risk did you take by writing this book? And, what risk does the reader take in reading it?<br /> </strong><span style="color:#500050;"><br /> BOB >>> <span class="gmail_default">It was n</span></span><span style="color:#000000;">ot a risk as much as it was <span class="gmail_default">the </span>Holy Spirit speaking to me in ways that I could speak to something by way of my own experience that required me to seek Jesus out for my own healing regarding racial injustice. <span class="gmail_default">B</span>eing heal<span class="gmail_default">ed</span> of things over the years has now given me a legit platform to speak to what is right and what is truth. People have to get healed, whether you believe in Jesus or not, but particularly those of us who are believers. We need to be healed so that we can encourage others. </span></span></div>
<div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:arial, sans-serif;">For the reader, it may challenge some deep issues in their own lives. My prayer has been that everyone that reads the book would be moved in some manner that gives then a different perspective of looking at things a little different<span class="gmail_default">ly</span>. <em>"There is nothing wrong with what was said in the book; it's just different."<span class="gmail_default"> (RW) </span></em></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">For the reader I believe it's important to "learn to understand.<span class="gmail_default">" (RW) </span>We are so quick to defend our personal feelings about something (or a cause) that we forget to maybe examine ourselves through the eyes Christ.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#500050;"><br /> <br /> </span><em>"Refusing to learn the name of a person is a sign of disrespect." </em><em> </em>Robert Whitt<br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span><strong>PHIL >>> How does your experience <span class="gmail_default">in Christian ministry </span>and your service in law enforcement interact to influence your perspective on cultural and racial issues?</strong><br /> <span style="color:#000000;"><br /> </span>BOB >>> <span class="gmail_default">O</span>ver the years <span class="gmail_default">I have </span>learned to understand what I need to change within me. When I learned to do that through the Spirit of the Lord, then revelation c<span class="gmail_default">a</span>me; revelation releases truth<span class="gmail_default"> and</span> truth allows me to speak in a way that releases a spirit of honor. Working in a government<span class="gmail_default">al</span> environment where God is not welcome, I walk as an example of Christ and doing that without preaching to people, I am able to build relationships. Once relations are built around trust, then it opens the door to speak into people<span class="gmail_default">'s</span> lives because trust has been built.<br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><span class="gmail_default"></span><br /> <br /> </span><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10793684078,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10793684078,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10793684078?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="331" height="509" /></a>"You cannot have honor where injustice exists in the minds of the people who have been dishonored." </em>Robert Whitt</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span><em>"Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more t<span class="gmail_default">h</span>an<span class="gmail_default"> </span>it injures the hated." </em>Coretta Scott King<br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span><strong>PHIL >>> How can honor/honoring help us reimagine these critical issues?</strong><br /> </span>
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<li><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Racism</strong> >>> Learn to understand. Remember the history but don't just remember the history of one particular race or ethnic group. Many people of all races (including our white friends) have suffered. Know you're history, but don't stay stuck in history. The famous writer James Baldwin said, "We are stuck in histroy and history is stuck in us.<span class="gmail_default">"</span> I used it in the book. It's important for us to all know our history in relation to cultural and ethnic groups, particulary with black folks. We can't stay stuck in the past (history) or we will never advance. I shared some thoughts in the book on this. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Social Justice</strong> >>> Learn to understand but with the desire to see change. We are doing too much checking the box ... the hiring of more blacks in business, goverment, corporations etc.<span class="gmail_default">,</span> in wake of the Geroge Fylod incident. Some<span class="gmail_default"> </span>have a geniune desire to change the way a business or corporation is doing things. Then there are those who bring people on but don't want to actually change what they are doing<span class="gmail_default">;</span> they <span class="gmail_default">merely </span>want to check the box to be able to say we have done something different.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Cultural Diversity </strong>>>> There are a lot of wondeful consultants trying to do DEI <span class="gmail_default">(Diversity Equity Inclusion: Everyone is invited; everyone gets to contribute; equity) </span>in businessness, corporations, even churches. What we need is relationship building. I believe there is a difference between partnership and relationship. Partnership says we can do some things together through the transparency wall but not crossing over. Relationship says, I am interested in knowing more about you and building that relationship will organically move us to whatever purpose or vision we want to accomplish.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><br /> <em>"Honor is not a white, black or brown thing; it is a character thing.</em><span class="gmail_default"><em>" </em>Robert Whitt</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><br /> <em>"<span class="gmail_default">A culture of honor is celebrating who a person is without stumbling over who they are not." Pastor Bill Johnson<br /> </span></em><br /> <strong>PHIL >>> You have been a bridge-builder by functioning in uncommon roles:</strong> <strong>Catalyst </strong>(ideas), <strong>Convener </strong>(relationships), <strong>Collaborator </strong>(actions), <strong>Church Ministry</strong>, <strong>Community Engagement</strong>. How can Christian servants utilize these various roles to pursue a culture of honor in <span class="gmail_default">thei</span>r comunities?<br /> </span>
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<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">BOB >>> As stated in the title of my book <span class="gmail_default">"</span>The Culture of Honor, Between the Lines",<span class="gmail_default"> </span>my encouragement <span class="gmail_default">to Christian Servants </span>would be to stand between the lines or stand in gap between what people feel or beleive on the left side or the right side (not politically speaking, just being on one side or the other). The Commnader of the Lord in Joshua 5:14 said, "neither", He wasn't for nor against Joshua. It's like a referee at a basketball game, a fight brekas out and the referee comes in between the lines or stand in the gap to break up the fight but they don't take a side on who was right or wrong. They make ther decions based on what is truth. In my own experince I have done a Impact Audit, meaning a perosnal examination that influences a shift in my life of surrendering to Jesus in order to be able to do what God has sent me to do that makes an impact for <span class="gmail_default">J</span>esus to be <span class="gmail_default"></span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">g</span>lorified<span class="gmail_default">.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">We have to do more than just come together and pray. We have to cross over through relationships, not based only a church connection but based on God moving relationships. I had to do a lot of repentance and self healing. "We are drowning information, while starving for wisdom." (RW) We need God's wisdom.</span>
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<span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span><em>"Change is on the horizon - and honor is the impetus of that change."<span class="gmail_default"> </span></em><em> </em>Robert Whitt<br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span><strong>PHIL >>></strong><span class="gmail_default"><strong> Why should cultural change be a burden for the Church? </strong>How is cultural change different than the victory of a political party (red or blue) or perspective (conservative-never-liberal or liberal-not-conservative)?</span><br /> <br /> BOB >>> Joshua 5:13-14 ... Joshua is clearing out the city of Jericho and he sees a man with a sword in his hand. Joshua confronts the man and says, "are you for me or against me?" The man says, 'Neither". For I am the Commander of the Lord. Joshua falls on his face and worship's Him. I believe the change has to be that we are not on either side. We are aligned to the Father and His will for us. I understand the red and blue etc. But how has that been working for us? My personal opinion ... I do believe that the former President Trump lost his second term because man (including The Church) put their trust in him. We can blame it on vote stealing etc. I wonder if we were out of God's will? I know of some Generals of the faith who had to go back and repent because they put man before God. We have to change our hearts. Using race as an example .... race is the manifestation that Satan has been able to hold over us not for for just 400 years as some people want to believe. It's been a strong manifestation since the book of Genesis. Race is not the issue. The heart is the root. We have to change our hearts.<br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> <br /> </span><strong>PHIL >>> What else do we need to know to make a difference in our neighborhoods?<br /> </strong><span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span>BOB >>> As the Church we have to stop checking the box thinking we are doing God's work for Him. My encouragement is to minister to those who need Jesus and not so much those who already know Jesus. Building disciples has more effect when building outside the walls of the church. Going across international waters is great to minister and help others but we have issues right in our own back yard. If not us who?<br /> <span style="color:#500050;"><br /> <br /> </span><strong>PHIL >>> Bob, write a prayer that challenges us to be risk-taking change makers who are Spirit-led and Scripture-fed...<br /> </strong><span style="color:#500050;"><br /> </span></span>
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<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">BOB >>> This is what I hear Holy Spirit saying ... <em>His Presence and Peace: Live first and foremost in My Presence. Gradually you will become more aware of Me than of people and places around you. This awareness will not detract from your relationship with others. Instead, it will increase your ability to give love and encouragement to them. My Peace will permeate your words and demeanor. You will be active in the world, yet one step removed from it. You will not be easily shaken because enveloping Presence buffers the blow of problems. This is the path I have set before you. As you follow it wholeheartedly, you will experience my abundant Life and Peace that will transform others to walk in a place of honor.</em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;">847-989-4176 - phone</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:Pbwhitt3@gmail.com" target="_blank">Pbwhitt3@gmail.com</a> - email</span></div>
</div></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Shawn Lovejoy and Quovadis Marshall, https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-shawn-lovejoy-and-quovadis-marshall-2022-08-06T16:28:25.000Z2022-08-06T16:28:25.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Shawn Lovejoy and Quovadis Marshall, "Courageous Pastors" Coaches</strong></em></span></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10752497466,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10752497466,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10752497466?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="636" height="367" /></a></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL @ The Reimagine.Network >>> Why has “coaching become a significant component of the Church’s mission mind-set/ministry toolbox? In other words...why do we need coaches...and maybe, why do some think we do not?</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">SHAWN >>> I believe every leader needs two things in their lives: Permission and Perspective. Without permission, we second guess and doubt our decision making, so we experience paralysis by analysis. Coaching gives us permission to pull the trigger. Perspective on the other hand from an outside party, allows us to skip over another leader’s pain. Why not learn from another Leader’s mistakes? Why repeat the same mistake? Perspective allows us to fast forward our efforts by learning from the successes and the failures of others.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>>The three greatest influences in a persons life are their parents, peers, teachers and coaches. The reason is because these people provide more than technical skills in a given area or subject, these people play a transformational in the identity and understanding of a persons outlook on life and self. The best coaches take time to understand not only the skill set and weakness but also the motivation and potential of each player. More often than not a coach sees in you what you don’t see in yourself or lack the courage, training or discipline to achieve. In many ways that is how I see what we do. I am a Pastor and understand what it’s like to be in the trenches of attendance, budget, family, staffing and the battles that come with being both a human and leader. My step-father was a boxing coach, and what he taught me was that every boxer needs </span><span class="s1">a sparing partner, cutman and a coach. Every pastor will take hits, some seen and some unforeseen. As the great theologian Mike Tyson once said, everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"> At CourageousPastors we want to help every leader win.There can be various reasons why a pastor doesn’t pursue coaching is either they don’t know where they can go, don’t think they can afford it or they aren’t sure who they can tell that they’ve taken some blows and aren’t doing well. To that I say, we are here for you, and you can’t put a price tag on health. Allow us to help you get healthy.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">[Note: Scroll to the Comment section for more on Quovadis ~ Get To Know Coach "Q"</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What did the Lord use to get you into the ministry of coaching? What was the reimagining process in your journey/development?</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">SHAWN >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I was a business guy before I was a pastor. I was a successful real estate developer in my 20’s before God called me to vocational ministry. After I became a pastor, I always felt like a business guy trapped in a pastor’s body. I was really good at the ‘between Sunday stuff”: </span><span class="s1">Building and maintaining the Culture, the Team, and The Systems. I quickly realized that most pastors and churches don’t feel as equipped to lead “between Sundays” and began to coach churches over 20 years ago.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Like most things in life it’s our own personal pain that serves as a catalyst to our assignments. A year and a half into our church plant we were seeing significant growth, salvations and impact when I had two staff members resign out of the blue. That was a punch that I didn’t see coming. Their reason for resigning wasn’t due to some scandal or sin but undeveloped areas in my own life. I immediately called a more seasoned pastor and over lunch and through tears I shared my pain and anger with their departure. HE wisely walked me through a process that </span><span class="s1">helped me get to a place of healing. He helped me by coaching me through that storm. We hired him as a coach to walk with me and work with our staff. We met monthly for a year and it has been transformational to my leadership and our church’s health, effectiveness and impact.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Now, I don’t even want to imagine who I would be and where we would be as a church if I hadn’t had him as a coach.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Apply the term “coaching” to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, especially within pastors and church leaders.</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">SHAWN >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>God has always chosen to use people. I tell Pastors all the time that “The Holy Spirit is more intentional and strategic” than He is spontaneous. For example, the words faith and money are never used in the same sentence in the Bible. On the flip side, almost every time </span><span class="s1">money is mentioned. wisdom is alluded to. God speaks through prayer, the Bible, but also the church: his people. God uses coaches as part of His arsenal to be that source of wisdom that someone farther along can provide to a Leader.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>> I have been reading through the letter from John, in 1 John and I was struck again by the nearness and leadership of the Lord in my life. 1 John 2:27 in particular stood out to me. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach </span><span class="s1">you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. A few thoughts to set up the scenario in light of this verse. What John is not saying is that you don’t need anyone to teach you anything, because He is writing a letter teaching them things. What John is saying is that the Holy Spirit will grant you discernment to guide in your walk with God. There is a specific path that the Lord has marked out for each of us and the holy Spirit will confirm to you what that way is. Jesus described the holy Spirit as the Comforter/Advocate/Helper or in Greek: Paraclete, which is someone who cam alongside you teach, guide or coach you. A great picture of how we use this word in our day and time is that of a paraeducator. They come alongside the teacher to help a student that is stuck. Another example of this is what a coach does with an athlete. They come alongside them to show them how to something correctly or better. At CourageousPastor that’s what we do. We allow the Paraclete to lead us as paras, one’s who come alongside pastors to help them win.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How is “ministry” and “marketplace” different? Similar? Critical to the Great Commission?</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>> Both have been tasked with leading their organizations. In many ways that are transferrable pains, principles and pathways for growth. People, data, a product, systems, resources a plan and goals are things that both ministry and marketplace leaders need to know how to navigate and lead. The end goal of each is different but often times there are similar building blocks in both arenas that effect the overall health and growth of their organizations. Our CEO and Founder Shawn does a lot of work in this area and can speak this in more detail.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">SHAWN >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Well, first of all, I am not easily offended, but I sort of jump on the question: “Do you miss the ministry?” I had a ministry in my church and community before I was a pastor and I have an amazing ministry since I handed off my church to coach full-time almost a decade ago.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This is true for marketplace leaders. They have a ministry. They have a flock for which they feel a responsibility. I call ministry leaders “Shepherd on Sunday,” and marketplace Leaders “Shepherds between Sundays.” Both are vitally important elements of Christ’s church and His great commission.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How does a ministry-driven leader begin to incorporate coaching in their roles of thinking-planning-teaching-leading? ...and how can we connect with you for help/resources?</strong></span></p>
<p><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10752522885,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10752522885?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="598" /></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">SHAWN >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Every Leader needs a Coach. What some out there are calling coaching is really just content delivery, or consulting. Coaching requires a relationship. That’s why we have built our entire model of coaching around 1:1 relationships. We have over 20 coaches now and place a Coach with his/her Team at the church in a 1:1 relationship, hopefully for an extended period of time. Frankly, the longer we walk with a leader and their team, the more effective we become as Coaches! Pastors can find out more at courageouspastors.com/strategy. Marketplace leaders can visit <a href="http://couragetolead.com/strategy" target="_blank">CourageToLead.com/strategy</a>. This link allows us to <a href="https://courageous.mykajabi.com/strategy" target="_blank">jump on a Zoom call</a> for a few minutes with a Leader to assess if the timing is right for both parties to enter a coaching relationship with us.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We would love to serve pastors and teams in helping them win at what matters most. Our team at <a href="https://www.courageouspastors.com/%20http://" target="_blank">CourageousPastors</a> is positioned to provide ministry leaders with tools, coaching and a suite of resources that will help them in whatever area they want/need to grow. Shawn has done a great job of making it easy for pastors and leaders to take advantage of all that CourageousPastors has to offer.</span></p>
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What are you trying to thought-provoke in us about our ministry with this announcement?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p3" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s3"><em>"Q brings a unique perspective to our team. He always knew— since he was first called— he would plant a church in his hometown.</em></span></p>
<p class="p3" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s3"><em>His church is in Iowa, a state that’s 4% Black. His church is 50% White, 35% Black, 15% Asian + Hispanic. And, he’s married to a White woman."</em></span></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1">SHAWN: First, pastors need to know that most churches are flatlined or declining for one reason: A lack of COURAGE. Most churches are a few courageous conversations and a few courageous decisions away from breakthrough but they are paralyzed by fear. It’s either deep change or </span><span class="s1">slow death for churches, or any other organization.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s1">Secondly, we can’t shy away from having the courageous conversations with our people on issues like race, gender, etc., that agree so prevalent in the media right now. “Pastor Q,” as we call him, for example, brings a unique perspective to our team. He always knew— since he was first </span><span class="s1">called— he would plant a church in his hometown. His church is in Iowa, a state that’s 4% Black. His church is 50% White, 35% Black, 15% Asian + Hispanic. H also happens to be married to a White woman and he has a unique, profound perspective he brings to our organization and to </span><span class="s1">the Big C Church.</span></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>> Agree. Obviously I am passionate about addressing the racial tension in our world. The church should be so different from the world! You can’t read the Bible without coming into contact with diversity and God’s dream of multi-ethnic family. This has always been His plan. The Father has always wanted a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural- multi-generational family who reflects His imagine and joins Him in His mission by inviting the world into His family. There are about 300,00+ Churches in America and of them 92.5% are monoracial. Only 13% of churches in the </span><span class="s1">US reflect a demographic of 20% in diversity. A lack of diversity is a indicator that we aren’t reaching our communities. To make matters worse, we are taught what is known as the Homogeneous Unit Principle in seminary. Essentially the ideas is find a bunch of people who are a like and build a church around that. The danger of this ministry philosophy is that it creates segregated missiology and produces an anemic church. God has given us a heavenly view of the kingdom in Revelation 7:9, this is the reality of heaven today and will be our experience when Jesus returns. A multiethnic, multicultural family of affection united around His throne! One of the reasons that haven’t been able to walk in unity on this issue is because we aren’t uniting around His throne but around ours, our political, geographical, socio-economic and ethnic thrones and kingdoms. What we know and have been taught to pray by our King Jesus is for His Kingdom to come and His will be to done on earth as it is in heaven. If heaven is multiethnic then His church on earth should be as well. Anything short of that when we are able is falling short of God’s vision of the kingdom. The watching world will be convinced of our claims concerning Christ whenever they see the church unified, especially around the dividing lines of race. Jesus said, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:23 NLT It is hard, messy but it is worth it. I would love to walk alongside you as you discover how to grow a multiethnic congregation or ministry.</span></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>One more thought/idea you consider important for us to ponder and pray over...</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1">SHAWN >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The #1 mistake I see pastors (and churches) make is ISOLATION. Leader, You can’t do this alone. You need help. You need permission. You need perspective. Ask for help. You are not as far away from health and growth as you might think!</span></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>> God is with you. You can get better. You are not alone. We are here to help. Healing starts where honest begins, hope arises when we know that help is on the way. The Father hasn’t forgotten you, He will help you. You can accomplish His will for your life, but you can not do it </span><span class="s1">alone. Ask God to give you the courage to ask for help and the humility to change. Things can get better than they are today. That is good news and a reason to be thankful.</span></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Quovadis, Shawn, please give us a prayer to make our own that cries out for courage to lead...</strong></span></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1">QUOVADIS >>> </span></p>
<p class="p5"><em><span class="s1">Father, today I acknowledge you in all things. All that I have and all that I am is yours. </span></em></p>
<p class="p5"><em><span class="s1">Father you called and commissioned me to join you in your work of world redemption, allow me to hear your voice and respond in trust.</span></em></p>
<p class="p5"><em><span class="s1">Jesus you are my light and my salvation, all of my hope is in you., Make me strong and courageous as I do your will in Jesus name, amen.</span></em></p>
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<p class="p5"><span class="s1">SHAWN >>></span></p>
<p class="p5"><em><span class="s1"> Lord, grant the leaders in your church and your businesses boldness!</span></em></p>
<p class="p5"><em><span class="s1">Set them loose to lead! Get them off their heels and back up on to the balls of their feet!</span></em></p>
<p class="p5"><em><span class="s1">Give them courage to storm the gates of Hell and snatch people from darkness in Jesus’ name!</span></em></p>
<p class="p5"> </p></div>"Quote/Unquote" ~ Sam Rainer on Church Revitalizationhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/quote-unquote-phil-miglioratti-of-the-reimagine-network-interview2022-07-20T20:19:56.000Z2022-07-20T20:19:56.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div>
<div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><u>P<span class="gmail_default">hil Miglioratti of The Reimagine.Network Interviewed Sam Rainer on Church Revitalization</span></u></span></strong></em></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>"If God can save any person, he can save any church. The gospel embodies a movement -- bringing people out of spiritual darkness and into eternal light.</em></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>What Jesus does for individuals, he also does for the church, the assembly of saved individuals. The Good news is both personal and corporate."</em></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><strong>Phil >>> Sam,these are the very first words you write as you introduce your book. Why begin with this statement? What are we missing if we do not comprehend this concept?</strong></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> I believe every church is worth saving. Each church address and location is sovereignly selected by God. Every church should continue doing kingdom work until Christ returns. The work of church revitalization is critical to the expansion of God's kingdom. Imagine if just a small portion of unhealthy churches became healthy again. A major gospel movement would occur!</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>"Cultural Christianiyt might be dead or dying. Maybe that's embarrassing for some. But I'm not embarrassed.</em></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>We need more faith contenders and fewer church pretenders anyway.</em></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>The Christianity I see in the New Testament I see is lean and determined.We're called to work out our faith while running a race. We're called to gird our loins with truth."</em></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><br /> <strong>Phil >>> Agree/Disagree and explain why . . . Our problem with "cultural Christianity" is not the ability to see how culture impacts other ethnicities or ministries but an inability (unwillingness?) to assess how it has influenced our own church culture.</strong></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> Each community has a culture. Each church has an organizational culture. The problem occurs when church culture becomes an island in the broader culture. Local churches are not meant to be walled fortresses keeping the community out but rather vehicles sent into the community to share God's grace. </span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>"I titled the introduction "Leading Your Church into an Era of Renewed Optimism" to draw a clear distinction between my outlook on the future of the church and the more somber tone of other recent books on the subject."</em></span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><br /> <strong>Phil >>> Why is optimism essential to church revitalization? Are we to ignore the rapid and radical changes taking place across global cultures?</strong></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> </span></span>Just because national trends point to a decline in the North American church does not mean your church must decline. Leaders cannot resign themselves to negative influences and outcomes. Your role as a leader is to translate the message of hope in your own context. Leaders move people to the other side of tomorrow. And that requires optimism. Optimism at its most basic simply means seeing that something better is possible. Optimism assures us that we don’t have to stay stuck where we are. We can move, we can hope, we can take action.</div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>"The Kingdom of God knows nothing of pessimism. Pessimism in leadership leads ultimately to tyranny.</em></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>Describing reality is the job of the historians and journalists, not leaders.</em></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>Historians look backward. Journalists report what's happening today. Leaders move people to the other side of tomorrow."</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Phil >>> </span></span><strong>Aren't all Christian leaders optimistic? <span class="gmail_default">What do you mean by "tyranny?"</span></strong></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> Unfortunately, some church leaders assume the worst. When you believe the worst will happen, you will do one of two things: Retreat or destroy. Retreating is disobedient. We are called to charge the gates of hell with the Great Commission. The church is to move outward, not inward. Worse, some church leaders will simply speed up the process of destruction with pessimism. For example, I heard of one church in which the pastor was determined to let the church die so the denomination could have the building. When taken to the extreme, leading people towards death becomes a form of oppression rather than freedom.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>"We must start exploring now."</em></span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><br /> <strong>Phil >>> Many are hesitant to use terms like "explore" or "reimagine" for fear of compromising the scriptural truths we build our church ministry and experience upon. Should we fear exploration or fear more what happens if we refuse to explore?</strong></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> The Bible is clear. There are more places to go and more people to reach. The exploring church has a culture of wanting to go to these places and people. There is nothing to fear about a passionate pursuit of the Great Commission. </span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><em>"Far too many churches hit the pause button when what they really need is a full reset.</em></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><em>Depending on whos' counting, somewhere between 65 and 90 percent of churches need some form of revitalization.</em></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><em>Every church has a reset button. Don't wait...The church is supposed to change the world.</em></div>
<div style="text-align:center;"><em>Stop lamenting our increasingly godless age. Let's build God's Kingdom"</em></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><strong>Phil >>> Please unpack the difference between a "pause" and a "full reset." </strong></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> Pausing is the status quo. A full reset enables a church to do that which has never been done.</span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>"As average Sunday attendance grew to more than 125...most of the newcomers had no idea this had been a struggling church of only a few dozen people not that long ago."</em></span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><br /> <strong>Phil >>> What made the difference in this glory-story you detailed in the book? How could a pastor, church leader, begin to find the path toward revitalization?</strong></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> The first step in a revitalization is almost always evangelism. In our research at Church Answers, the biggest problem at most churches is a lack of outreach and evangelism. Church leaders must begin with themselves. Evangelistic churches have evangelistic pastors and church leaders. </span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><br /> <strong>Phil >>> Sam, please write a prayer church champions can pray that leads to a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed revitalization of their congregation...</strong></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default">Sam >>> <em>Lord, give me a heart for my neighbors and give me a heart for the nations. Please give me more opportuntities to share your good news. Place people in my life who are receptive to the work of the Spirit. May I give you glory through sharing the gospel. Amen. </em></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span class="gmail_default"><em>MORE from Sam Rainer @ The Reimagine.Network:</em></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/revitalize-leading-your-church-into-an-era-of-renewed-optimism" target="_blank">Revitalize Excerpt</a></li>
<li><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/notes/guest-post-why-most-churches-need-revitalization" target="_blank">Why Most Churches Need Revitalization</a></li>
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</div></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Jon Allis on How To Reimagine Evangelismhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-jon-allis-on-how-to-reimagine-evange2022-06-21T20:01:27.000Z2022-06-21T20:01:27.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div class="gmail_quote">
<div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Jon Allis on How To Reimagine Evangelism</strong></em></span></div>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong>PHIL >>> </strong><strong>Agree or Disagree?</strong> </span></p>
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<li><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Evangelism is not keeping up with population growth or cultural changes because our evangelistic thinking is stuck in the 20th century.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">The Church needs to redesign our methods and our messaging based on a non-reactive, biblically rooted, assessment of 21st century mind-sets and world-views.</span></strong></li>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> agree. First point, we, in the evangelical church, don't think about the "good news" as good. The gospel has lost relevance for many because we view it as "messaging and methods". In truth, I am a beggar who has found some bread and is happy to share the source. Evangelistic thinking as a closed-end process instead of an open-ended (lifelong) journey (discipleship) is simplistic and unrealistic. </span>Currently it seems our primary rhetoric / process centers around belief, not love. Agreeing to the "correctness" of a series of propositions instead of traveling a path of transformation (read authenticity in brokenness) in community.</p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> We are not curious. Jesus NEVER answered questions, he just seemed to ask questions and tell stories. Maybe we know too much.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> We do not tell stories, we make points.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> In or out thinking (bounded set) vs. centered set.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Recognizing mindset & worldview are important BUT the "Jesus ethic" (Lev. 19:18) of loving your neighbor, which is exceedingly more important, seems to have been lost. We need to teach disciples the ethic of kindness. Would it be ok to be wronged? Was Jesus wronged?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> >>><a href="https://redeeminggod.com/bounded-sets-centered-sets/" target="_blank">Note from Phil:</a></span></p>
<ul>
<li><em><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Bounded set = A bounded set is where we create a boundary, a theological border, a doctrinal fence, and separate those who are inside the fence from those who are out. It is an “us” versus “them” mentality where everyone on the inside is accepted, loved, and welcomed, while those outside the fence are kept away until they can change their beliefs and behaviors to fit the entry requirements.</span></em></li>
<li><em><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Centered set = There are no boundaries no walls, no fence, no dividing line between “us” and “them,” no rules or guidelines to determine who is “in” and who is “out.” Everyone is loved, welcomed, and accepted, no matter what. Everyone automatically “belongs.”</span></em></li>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong>PHIL >>> </strong><strong>How do we engage pastors/leaders to rethink how they think about evangelism?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> I have a great affection for the power of kindness. It leaves an amazing amount of room for the Holy Spirit to move and speak. Steve and I have been brainstorming about ways for church leaders to experience this, not just read about it, not just hear stories, but partake. To be in an environment where you are answering questions instead of "declaring truth".</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10586696500,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10586696500,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10586696500?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="316" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong>PHIL >>> </strong><strong>What is the unique difference of the DNA of Servant Evangelism and what difference does it make?</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> Serving without expectation, without a declared response that defines "success" is both freeing and and immensely challenging. Freeing in that there is no pressure on those we are serving to behave or respond in some way. Challenging in that we are really looking for, listening for, the work of the Holy Spirit in that environment. The method is love and kindness; anyone, any age, can do that.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong>PHIL >>> </strong><strong>I asked our colleague and friend Al Bchwietz to recommend a question. It asks for an assessment of Kindness Outreach:</strong></span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">•How does Kindness Outreach help or improve a church culture?</span></strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> KO helps us look away from ourselves and towards others. This is so helpful in spiritual growth. The opportunity for life on life discipleship abounds in service. Men have much more authentic conversations when the point is not to have authentic conversations. Serving is a powerful distraction that binds men together.</span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">•How can it create momentum?</span></strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> KO provides very practical access to and ownership of, vision and values. If done well, there's a high degree of fun!</span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">•What about fruit or fruitfulness over time?</span></strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> Both fruit and fruitfulness have the opportunity to grow over time. Consistent investment in your team and your community, sowing and watering, creates a very fertile environment.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong>PHIL >>> </strong><strong>Please comment:</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Authentic discipleship produces evangelism; authentic evangelism produces discipleship.</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> JON >>> Like 2 pedals on a bicycle, these 2 processes feed off each other. When they are in good rhythm it produces a growing love for God and fellow.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Many who fear solo witnessing can flourish in a group setting.</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> JON >>> KO creates opportunities for even the most introverted to meaningfully contribute to the event. Building a team where each member is recognized and has the capacity to engage, envelopes everyone in community.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Pursue multiplication by collaborating with other congregations; coordinate serving together.</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> JON >>> We are currently experimenting with growing this idea. There is strength in numbers, and doing projects that don't directly benefit "my" kingdom, but build "the" kingdom honors God and positively distinguishes our values in contrast to cultural values.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong> Unpack t</strong><strong>he growing importance of compassion, advocacy, justice in our evangelism.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> JON >>> These are areas of deep cultural concern currently. Justice and compassion has always been the concern of our King. Our values could easily align with these if we leave some of our dogma behind and are flexible.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">PHIL >>> Give us a thought-provoking question to prayerfully ponder . . .</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> What if the gift God wants most from me is my weakness, my brokenness and my inability? What if that opens the door to transformation?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">PHIL >>> Please leave us with a prayer we can pray for the next 7 days to move from conformed to transformed . . .</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">JON >>> is this cheating?</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> God, grant me the Serenity</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> To accept the things I cannot change...</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Courage to change the things I can,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> And Wisdom to know the difference.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Living one day at a time,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Enjoying one moment at a time,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Not as I would have it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Trusting that He will make all things right</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> if I surrender to His will.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> That I may be reasonably happy in this life,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> Amen. </span></p>
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<div>Resources to #REimagineEVABGELISM...</div>
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<div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=conspiracy+of+kindness&i=stripbooks&crid=2WHUV69G2VDXW&sprefix=conspiracy+of+kindness%2Cstripbooks%2C110&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" target="_blank">Conspiracy of Kindness: A Unique Approach to Sharing the Love of Jesus</a></div>
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<div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Irresistible-Evangelism-Natural-Others-Jesus/dp/0764426265" target="_blank">Irresistible Evangelism</a></div>
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<div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Making-Good-Church-Great-Community-ebook/dp/B00LA9LC02/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YYKSZQCXQY7Z&keywords=MAKING+A+GOD+CHURCH+GREAT&qid=1650684536&s=books&sprefix=making+a+god+church+great%2Cstripbooks%2C210&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Making A Good Church Great: Becoming a Community God Calls Home</a></div>
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<div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LA9FK9G/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i4" target="_blank">Community of Kindness</a></div>
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<div><a href="http://www.KindnessOutreach.com" target="_blank">Kindness Outreach</a></div>
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<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kindnessoutreachministries/" target="_blank">Kindness Outreach on Facebook</a></div>
<div><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=101+ways+to+reach+community&i=stripbooks&crid=TUX4F5SKGZGQ&sprefix=101+ways+to+reach+community%2Cstripbooks%2C103&ref=nb_sb_noss" target="_blank">101 Ways to Reach Your Comunity</a><br /> </span></div>
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</div></div>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Robert Hosken, Author of "The Ministry Driven Church"https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/phil-miglioratti-interviewed-robert-hosken-author-of-the-ministry2022-06-10T16:54:25.000Z2022-06-10T16:54:25.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1" style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Robert Hosken, Author of "The Ministry Driven Church"</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC" target="_blank">Phil Miglioratti</a> <a href="http://Reimagine.Network" target="_blank">@ The Reimagine.Network</a></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1" style="font-size:14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> Robert, how did you come to set "ministry" as the driving purpose of the Church? ... And how would this be a game-changer for most pastors and congregations?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10560602858,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10560602858,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10560602858?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="710" /></a> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">ROBERT >>> After reading Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Church" (he wrote a nice recommendation for my book), I decided to reimagine that title. The word "ministry" in Greek is "<em>diakonia</em>" and of course the first seven "<em>diakonoi</em>" - deacons (Acts ch. 6) were selected to share the load of practical ministry with the Apostles because</span><span class="s1"> the Apostles alone couldn't keep up with the Church's growing so rapidly (v. 1). The result was: "Then the word of God spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem" (v. 7b). This shows us that practical ministry to widows and orphans, the poor, lame, maimed, and blind, was the key ingredient to rapid church growth. My book "The Ministry Driven Church" is my D.Min. dissertation on this theme.</span></p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> Before inserting ministry as the central role, what would leaders need to "re-place" or reposition?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">ROBERT >>> </span><span class="s1">Some of my later research shows that the church expanded greatly because it built hospitals, orphanages, and old folks homes and staffed them with Christian doctors who were often also priests, Christian nurses and other staff (see "<a href="https://agape-biblia.org/literatura/#health-healing"><span class="s3">HEALTH AND HEALING IN BYZANTIUM</span></a>" and "<a href="https://agape-biblia.org/literatura/#welfare" target="_blank">Seek the Welfare of the City</a>.") But over the centuries, especially in the last century, we have allowed these functions to be taken over by the secular state's welfare programs and socialized medicine. So in order to grow again, it must be relevant to society: the church needs to reclaim her social ministry.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">The Evangelical movement is based upon witnessing, soul winning and studying the Bible. But if the main thing is just to get people saved from sin and on their way to heaven, why didn't Jesus, right after His baptism when John said: "Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world!" - go immediately to Calvary, be crucified and rise from the dead? NO! There's more to salvation than just going to heaven. "Salvation" is "<em>soteria</em>" in Greek and it has the dual meaning of healing as well as going to heaven. Jesus came to heal body and soul. In my role as editor of <a href="https://agape-biblia.org/"><span class="s3">a revision of the Russian Bible</span></a> and producing a <a href="https://agape-biblia.org/Good-News.htm"><span class="s3">harmony of the Gospels</span></a> during our 17 years as Evangelical missionaries in Russia, I studied the ministry of Jesus, the Messiah (Christ). He began His ministry by reciting in the synagogue the prophecy of Isaiah that the Messiah would heal the sick, give sight to the blind, etc. Then He spent 3.5 training His disciples: showing them how to do <em>diakonia</em>-ministry and then sending them out to actually do that kind of ministry. Only then did His time come to die, rise again, and go to heaven.</span></p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> In the Preface, we read:</strong></span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">The Ministry Driven Church covers the following twenty-one aspects of ministry as found in the Bible: fellowship (koinonia), making disciples (matheteuo), worship (latreia) and divine service (leitourgia), servanthood (pais) and bondservice (douleuo), practical service (diakonia), sanctification (hagiasmos), evangelizing (euaggelizo), proclamation (kerygma / kerusso), love (agape), joy (khara) and peace (eirene), moderation (epieikes) and self-control (egkrateia), liberation (eleutheria), wholeness (teleiosis), edification (oikodome), grace (kharis), truth (aletheia) and light (fos), intercession (enteuxia) and unity (henotes).</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><strong> ...How does a ministry-driven approach require us to rethink/reimagine each of these components?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">ROBERT >>> The book attempts to illustrate the "semantic field" of the word <em>diakonia</em> by exploring many of the nouns found in the same context along with <em>diakonia</em>. That's the way a child learns a language, by hearing how words relate to each other in their contexts. So all of the above words are found repeatedly in the context of <em>diakonia</em>, thus helping us to define what that word <em>diakonia</em> really means. Ministry does not entail going to seminary and just learning Greek, Old and New Testament studies, exegesis, homiletics, etc. Ministry means to learn how to do what Jesus and His followers did: real </span><span class="s4">hands-on <em>diakonia</em>.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> What is the role of prayer? Where does it fit into a ministry-driven system?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10560602883,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10560602883,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10560602883?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="333" /></a>ROBERT >>> Of course, prayer is essential. Jesus, although God incarnate, had to recharge His batteries by spending many hours being "plugged in" by being in prayer with His Father. So communion with God the Father and </span><span class="s4">intercession (enteuxia) for others are vital to continue plugging on in <em>daikonia</em>-ministry. Otherwise, we can suffer burnout or breakdown.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2"><strong>PHIL >>> You wrote:<em> </em></strong></span><span class="s1"><strong><em>"Real ministry means service."</em> And you use acronyms to make your point. Please unpack:</strong></span></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">WWJD?</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">ROBERT >>> This was a popular acronym years ago - maybe that dates me. It stands for "What Would Jesus Do?" It helps people to imagine how Jesus would respond in our real-life situations.</span></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">WDJD?</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">ROBERT >>> This is my version of that old acronym. It stands for "What Did Jesus Do?" The fact is that we can only imagine what Jesus might do in any situation -- people can come up with wildly different answers. So we need to explore what Jesus actually </span><span class="s5">did</span><span class="s1"> in His 3.5 years of ministry. Then we should...</span></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3"><span class="s1">DWJD!</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">ROBERT >>></span><span class="s1"> "Do What Jesus Did!" <em>Diakonia</em>!</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> What more would you like to say that will challenge us to reimagine ministry?</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">ROBERT >>> Winston Churchill was not only a great statesman, he also had a life-long interest in architecture. He once said: <em>"We shape our buildings, and then they shape us."</em> We design churches as beautiful cathedrals or simple rectangles with a steeple, a meeting hall, and Sunday School rooms. They are meeting places, but seldom <em>diakonia</em>-ministry places. We need to re-imagine our buildings and shape them to allow us to re-shape ourselves, to be able to do <em>diakonia</em>-ministry. We need accessible architecture and spaces where the poor, the lame, the maimed, and the blind can be restored to the image of God by our doing </span><span class="s4"><em>diakonia</em>-ministry with them.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">26% of people in the U.S. have disabilities, the majority of them being mobility problems. We don't see them because they can hardly get out and get to church, go shopping, etc. So bring the church to them! Build accessible housing with a chapel. We need to practice <em>agape</em>-love, that is, Christlike, self-giving love, not self gratifying "love" - "all love is love," the lie of the devil, is simply an excuse for people's self-obsession.</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1">We each have 168 hours in a week: subtract 40 hours for work, 10 hours coming and going to work, 56 hours for sleep, 30 hours for household tasks, leaving 32 hours of "leisure time." What if we re-imagine our use of that free time: give 10% of it, 3 hours per week, to doing actual <em>diakonia</em> for lonely widows who can't maintain their homes, or the disabled in nursing homes who are rarely visited by their own relatives. Doing simple things like getting a sink drain unplugged for a widow and buying her a new stopper, or bringing her a framed photo of her with her favorite grandson, or bringing some treats to a disabled person in a nursing home, singing hymns and praying with him. Just 3 hours each week! We've done such things and it re-shapes our lives. DWJD: Do What Jesus Did!</span></p>
<div>Here's how to learn about our "<a href="https://agape-restoration-society.org/ARC/" target="_blank">Agape Restoration Communities</a>" - then scroll down halfway to see how to get a free copy of my e-book "<a href="https://agape-restoration-society.org/ARC/free-ebook.htm" target="_blank">The Ministry Driven Church</a>."<br /> </div>
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<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><strong>PHIL >>> Robert, please compose a prayer that expresses our desire to implement biblical teachings that will produce a ministry-driven congregation (or team, organization, small group).</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1">ROBERT >>> <em>Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner, and re-shape me, renew my mind and transform me into Your divine image that I was created to have; re-shape and transform our churches into places for real, hands-on diakonia-ministry; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.</em></span></p></div>CHAT With The Author: Kim Butts, "7 Prayers for Discernment and Decision-Making: A Group Prayer Process to Find God's Direction"https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/chat-with-the-author-kim-butts-7-prayers-for-discernment-and-deci2022-05-20T20:36:24.000Z2022-05-20T20:36:24.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><strong>Phil Miglioratti @ The Reimagine.Network interviewed Kim Butts</strong></em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em><strong> author of "7 Prayers for Discernment and Decision-Making: A Group Prayer Process to Find God's Direction"</strong></em></span> </p>
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<p><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10503722688,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10503722688?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="300" height="393" /></p>
<p><strong>PHIL >>> Kim, you have extensive experience across many church cultures. What did you discern that prompted you to write a guide to decision-making?</strong></p>
<p>KIM >>> This is not a simple answer as it took a gradual “epiphany.” Although this book can be utilized for any number of purposes requiring discernment and/or decision-making, it was birthed from a need we (my husband, Dave, and I) had to find a bridge to a solution for a specific disconnect we were seeing in church after church across America.</p>
<p>For the past three decades, we have been in hundreds of churches to teach and train on prayer. Our passion for coming alongside of local churches and their leaders stems from the command of God given in Isaiah 56:7 and emphasized by Jesus in the gospels that His house is to be a “house of prayer for all nations.”</p>
<p>Scripture clearly teaches that we (both individually and corporately) are houses of prayer for all nations. God commands this clearly. Church leaders who desire to move this direction, first begin to look for tools and resources to help. Yet, there is a missing piece between realization of the command to become a house of prayer and the resources needed to grow in that direction. Tools and resources alone will not create and sustain a praying church. How could we help churches to move toward the reality of becoming a praying church that would be embedded deeply into their DNA?</p>
<p>Clarity came as I pursued my Masters in Spiritual Formation and Leadership. Using the questions Dave and I had about the process of becoming a praying church, and prayerfully leaning into God to show us how to better help leaders, I was introduced to a deeper experience of waiting on God, listening prayer, seeking Him for clarity, etc.</p>
<p>The “missing piece” of the process of helping churches move from desiring to become praying churches to making progress that was more than superficial and/or temporary, began to take shape. God was showing me my own process of discernment to discover the plan we were to teach churches. Isn’t that just like our amazing Father?!</p>
<p>The realization also came that there was actually no “one size fits all” formula or process to become a praying church. God has a creative, unique plan for every house of prayer. There is no cookie cutter or series of specific steps that will create a praying church simply by following human instructions or methods…which is the reason trying to pattern a church after the culture of another usually fails.</p>
<p>I believe God provides a roadmap of sorts – but only if leaders will do the spiritual work of discernment to see what that journey looks like for their own unique community of believers.</p>
<p>Helping leaders go through a process of discerning what God wants to do in and through them as a praying church was our “missing piece.” Having the input of the Holy Spirit through a guided process of deep humility, corporate prayer and unity provides the needed direction and guidance so that church leaders can move forward with clarity and a fuller understanding of what God’s praying community looks like in their own context. Once that process takes place, the appropriate tools and spiritual disciplines with which to disciple people individually and corporately in prayer will take shape. A strong, vibrant house of prayer for all nations can emerge when we partner with the Spirit in the process.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> Explain "discernment prayer" and why it is so rare in leadership team planning.</strong> </p>
<p>KIM >>> Perhaps it’s good to first distinguish the differences between Christian discernment and decision-making. It is my opinion that the two are not synonymous as many believe. Some utilize the two words interchangeably. For our discussion purposes, I’m talking only about a group/corporate expression of discernment and decision-making; however, the prayer process in this book is easily adaptable for individual use.</p>
<p>Decision-making can be primarily an “external” process that looks at two or more options in order to choose which is “best.” We might choose to list pros and cons for each choice we are considering prior to making a decision that meets our goals in the most effective way.</p>
<p>Often, a vote is taken rather than engaging in a concerted effort to “discern” which option is the best and then allowing God to guide us into the unity of agreement together. Discernment is primarily an “internal” process. Church leaders are often too quick to ask God to bless what they are planning rather than to plan what God wants to bless.</p>
<p>I love Henri Nouwen’s description of discernment as opposed to decision-making: “Discernment…is about listening and responding to that place within us where our deepest desires align with God’s desire. As discerning people, we sift through our impulses, motives, and options to discover which ones lead us closer to divine love and compassion for ourselves and other people and which ones lead us further away. Discernment reveals new priorities, directions, and gifts from God.”</p>
<p>Both processes should always involve God; but only if a team of leaders or a group determine ahead of time that the outcome will be Spirit-led and God-determined rather than human-led and determined by humans. I believe that good decision-making also requires discernment; however, discernment does not necessarily require decision-making. If we will make the time to invite the Father into our process and give Him the space to work in the midst of it, the path forward will become clear because hearts and minds will be unified as we yield to His plans and purposes.</p>
<p>Discernment takes time, and most leaders don’t feel willing or able to carve out adequate space to seek God’s guidance, either individually or corporately. In the book of Acts, church leaders were always seeking their next direction and guidance from God. The American Church has, to a great extent, lost its desire to wait on the Lord.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> Why is it <em>"crucial to seek the presence of God together"? </em></strong></p>
<p>KIM >>> When we talk about seeking God’s presence in our current church culture, it is usually an individual pursuit. There is vulnerability involved in seeking God together corporately. This is why our corporate prayer gatherings are so small in most churches. And yet, God clearly tells us that “where two or more are gathered” He is in our midst. There is something unique about seeking Him corporately.</p>
<p>If we simply look at the book of Acts, we can see over and over again how people met together for the purpose of prayer. Out of those seasons of prayer, decisions were made and discernment occurred: choosing a new disciple to replace Judas, setting apart and sending out missionaries, the determination that waiting on tables was not for the leaders to do as God has called them to prayer and the ministry of the word…etc. </p>
<p>Corporate discernment is powerful when it becomes clear that the Spirit is leading, even when He does something we do not expect! When we lean on our own understanding, we can often miss the clarity we seek. There can be strong confirmation in corporate discernment and/or decision-making when unity in the Spirit is sought.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> Please unpack these planning process insights:</strong></p>
<p><em><u>"The spiritual process of discernment/decision-making is not a democracy.</u></em><u>" </u></p>
<p>KIM >>> Again, in the church there is a human process and a spiritual one. *Of course, Christian business owners, schools, etc. also have to determine how they will choose options, hire staff, and expand vision/mission.</p>
<p>When we make every decision by voting, we are usually telling God that we don’t need His intervention or help. There are times when the “majority” can get things wrong in God’s eyes.</p>
<p>The need within a culture often determines how we operate. Will churches and Christian organizations follow Roberts Rules of Order or operate in the realm of the Holy Spirit?</p>
<p>In Scripture, God generally indicated when lots were to be cast, etc.; however, as demonstrated in the book of Acts, the situation was always brought before Him in prayer. Sometimes in the midst of prayer, God directed – even when no one was asking anything specific of Him: “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2). Can you imagine spending so much time in prayer as a church leadership that you hear this specifically from God?</p>
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<p><em><u>"The Sovereign God, to a large extent, has limited the working of His power to the prayers of His people."</u></em></p>
<p>KIM >>><em> </em>We all know that God is perfectly capable of doing His will alone. However, Scripture is also clear that God wants to work through His people. For the sake of space, let’s simply take two compelling passages. In Ezekiel 22:30 we read: “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Standing before God in the “gap” is a picture of an intercessor. God was looking for someone to pray so that He would not have to destroy Israel for their sinfulness. But because He could find no one to pray, destruction came upon them.</p>
<p>A different result took place in Exodus 32:9-14 when the people of Israel crafted a golden calf and began to worship it while Moses was on the mountain with the Lord. Psalm 106:23 puts this event simply: “So he said he would destroy them had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.” Moses interceded on behalf of the people, asking God to show them mercy because of His promise to Abraham. The result: “And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people” (Exodus 32:14).</p>
<p>God wants to be sought out by His people and wants to build a loving two-way relationship with us. If He didn’t there would be no purpose for the relationship that is prayer </p>
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<p><em><u>"Don't forget to stop, reflect, discuss, share, ask questions..."</u></em></p>
<p>KIM >>> The discernment process is just that – a process. It is the tendency of many leaders to desire to quickly and efficiently get from point A to point B when God may have a different journey in mind. This is why decision-making can sometimes over-rule discernment when taking the time to hear from God is taking too long from our human perspective. This is how we can miss the perfect will and plan of God.</p>
<p>As an example, let’s go back to a church leadership trying to determine what God wants their house of prayer (praying church) to look like. Without taking time to engage with God prayerfully, it is more likely that a human decision will made rather than a spiritual one. It’s easy to miss God’s best when we are in a hurry to accomplish an outcome rather than taking the time to truly hear the voice of God together.</p>
<p>It is important for a group to engage the dynamics of “stopping, reflecting, discussing, sharing and asking questions” together in order to stay in unity with the Spirit and with one another. If one or more in the group is unwilling to engage the process, or is feeling sidelined, confused or marginalized without being able to express those feelings…the path toward a unified consensus will become very difficult. This is why a process of moving through specific seasons of prayer can be so valuable to the process of discernment. It will help to get our human selves out of the way and allow God to move in our midst.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><u>"The Prayer of Listening..."</u></em></p>
<p>KIM >>> The spiritual discipline of listening prayer is not one we cultivate well in the church today. Rushing into God’s presence with our requests and concerns sometimes causes us to miss what God may want to talk to us about or teach us.</p>
<p>Continually staying attentive to the presence of God through listening to His voice is important if we truly want the Father’s plan rather than our own. In our humanness, we struggle to wait in silence and try to fill that void with unnecessary speech – even when it is prayer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><u>"The Prayer of Unity..."</u></em></p>
<p>KIM >>> Unity of heart, mind and purpose is necessary in both decision-making and discernment. If unity doesn’t take place in all three of these areas, there can be resentment, frustration, lack of participation, confusion, bitterness, poor communication, etc. The prayer of unity seeks God for His will, plan and purpose for us as a corporate body…so that what we decide or discern is something every group member can wholeheartedly know that God has led us to His best for us. The prayer of unity requires us to lay aside our personal agendas, our “my way is best” mentality, and our preferences to embrace what God may wish to do. In unity we are able to come into agreement together and have a consensus about how God wants us to proceed. He may choose to work through one or more team members who are most yielded to His Spirit or give the same “idea” or “vision” to everyone at once. Regardless, everyone will be able to wholeheartedly be on the “same page” and be of one heart and mind on whatever is being discerned or decided. There is a high level of trust required – of God and of one another.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> Kim, please write a prayer readers can pray, for themselves but also for their leaders, as they seek to find God's direction in their plans and projects.</strong></p>
<p>KIM >>> <em>Father, You have not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, but one of power, love and self-discipline! Teach us how to seek Your heart as we face decisions that need to be made in our lives, churches, businesses and homes. May Your word continually be a light for our paths and a lamp for our feet as we discern Your best kingdom plan. When we are uncertain about how to move forward, or when we need the guidance of Your Spirit, hear our prayers!</em></p>
<p><em>Sovereign Lord, our leaders are so busy and their plates are full. Teach them to seek You wholeheartedly for Your best plan or way forward individually and as a team. Unite their hearts in Your great love, give them humility to set aside their plans in favor of what You may want to do. Help them to listen and take the necessary time to wait upon You before making human choices that may be less than Your perfect choice. Help them to learn Your “unforced rhythms of grace” in seasons of rest and retreat individually and together so that they are better able to hear Your voice. </em></p>
<p><em>Teach us to trust Your ability to lead us all into our best possible kingdom life. In Jesus’ name we ask! Amen!</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Check out <a href="https://prayershop.org/7-prayers-for-discernment-and-decision-making/" target="_blank">the book >>></a></li>
<li>Check more "Chats" with <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/main/search/search?q=chat+%2B+author" target="_blank">thoiught-leader authors>>></a></li>
<li><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics1/resource-rethink-planning-as-opportunity-leadership" target="_blank">Prayer-Driven Leadership</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="gmail_default"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10503735057,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10503735057,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10503735057?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="310" /></a></div>
<div class="gmail_default"> </div>
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<div class="gmail_default">Kim Butts is Co-Founder of Harvest Prayer Ministries,</div>
<div class="gmail_default">Curriculum Director,</div>
<div class="gmail_default">PrayerU.com</div>
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<div class="gmail_default">Contact Info: <a href="mailto:kim@harvestprayer.com" target="_blank">kim@harvestprayer.com</a></div>
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<div class="gmail_default">Harvest Prayer Ministries ~ <a href="https://www.harvestprayer.com/" target="_blank">https://www.harvestprayer.com/</a></div>
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<div class="gmail_default">PrayerU ~ <a href="https://prayeru.com/" target="_blank">https://prayeru.com/</a></div></div>Recalibrate Discipleship to Lifestyle Learninghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/recalibrate-discipleship-learning-the-produces-a-lifestyle2022-05-13T16:43:40.000Z2022-05-13T16:43:40.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Recalibrate Discipleship to Lifestyle Learning</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/reimaginediscipleship-recalibrate-001?context=category-Mini-Courses" target="_blank">{This is one segment of the Recaliibrate Discipleship 101 mini-course ]</a></p>
<p><span class="im"><br /> <strong><span style="color:#ff2600;">PHIL >>> Bill, dream with us... "What if we began to embrace disciple-making as our supreme purpose in life instead of a program of the church?" (p. 25) <br /> </span></strong><br /> BILL >>> <br /> <br /> </span><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10484695083,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10484695083,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10484695083?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="343" height="434" /></a>Most churches have what they call “discipleship programs” but develop very few disciple-making people. Here is the problem. Disciple-making is not a program; it’s a lifestyle. This one truth has the power to change your life and to literally change the world. Jesus said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Clearly, this was no call to join a discipleship program but an invitation to a lifestyle of disciple-making. According to Jesus, this lifestyle is the supreme purpose of every believer. </p>
<p>Think about it. The early church was a church without walls. Unlike today, they had no church buildings or ministry budgets. However, they had something we often lack. The one thing these early believers knew how to do was the one thing Jesus taught them to do. They knew how to multiply. Jesus poured His short life into making disciples who make disciples.<br /> <br /> Plain and simple, the early church was a grassroots disciple-making movement. With no buildings or budgets, these early believers multiplied greatly, and the fame of Jesus spread across the earth. The authorities of the world could not contain it. Not even the gates of hell could prevail against it. If only the gospel had continued to spread like that, the church could have accomplished the Great Commission many centuries ago.<br /> <br /> For the first three and a half centuries of church history, this movement could not be stopped, but tragically, it did stop. A grassroots movement was replaced by professional clergy and disciple-making people were replaced with ecclesiastical programs. Consequently, the movement died. A church that once made Jesus famous was replaced by one that has often made Him infamous, and dark ages followed.<br /> <br /> Throughout history, there have been times when godly people have tried to revive the movement, but it has never returned to the great force it once was when it turned the world upside down for Christ. In America today, the vast majority of our churches are declining or dying. The Great Commission is often viewed as merely a good suggestion, and disciple-making people have been replaced with ineffective discipleship programs.<br /> <br /> If the church today wants to reestablish itself as a powerful force on earth for the gospel of Christ, it must return to the movement that Jesus began. The key to global evangelism is not the megachurch, but the many churches of all sizes willing to rekindle the flames of a once powerful disciple-making movement.<span class="im"><br /> </span></p>
<p><span class="im"><br /> <br /> <strong><span style="color:#ff2600;">PHIL >>> Bill, you make a bold statement at the beginning of the book: <em>"In authentic disciple-making, all these great works are joined together into one process." </em> (p. 12) What are those "great works" and how does this one sentence give us a fresh perspective on making disciples?<br /> </span></strong><br /> BILL >>> <br /> <br /> </span>According to John 14:12, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” What did He mean by this? How can anyone ever do “greater works” than the Son of God?</p>
<p>These words of Jesus have often been misunderstood and misinterpreted. Some suggest that we will do greater miracles than Jesus. However, Jesus walked on water, turned water into wine, fed over 5000 with a sack lunch, and raised Lazarus from the dead. Don’t take this wrong. I know that our God is still in the miracle-working business, but I don’t believe that anyone will ever do greater miracles than Jesus. But this is not what Jesus said. He didn’t say that we would do greater miracles than Him, but greater works.</p>
<p>What was the one main “work” that Jesus did during His three years of ministry? It was the work of making disciples. He poured His life into His discipleship group of twelve men. Disciple-making is the greater work.<br /> <br /> Through the power of multiplication, we can do greater works of disciple-making than Jesus. He was only one person and had only three brief years of personal ministry. Yet, the small group of men that He discipled quickly turned into thousands as “the Word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem” (Acts 6:7). Jesus did not teach His disciples how to add but how to multiply. The key to doing the “greater work” and advancing God’s kingdom on earth is to return to the principle of “multiplying” disciples. Sadly, most churches today do not have any ministry that is truly and organically multiplying. This much change for us to do the “greater works” He said that we would do.<span class="im"><br /> <br /> </span></p>
<p><span class="im"><br /> <strong><span style="color:#ff2600;">PHIL >>> Most who read what you are saying agree ... but<em> "here is a painful truth: We like to talk about making disciples until it comes to the point of actually doing it. The temptation we face is to cherish our programs more than we value our mission. We are making Bible learners but not disciple makers. The Great Commission was an invitation to a lifestyle of disciple making."</em> (38-39)<br /> </span></strong><br /> BILL >>><br /> <br /> </span>In most churches, we do a lot of teaching. We teach and preach in our worship services. We teach the Bible to groups of people in classrooms and conference rooms. Most churches have a number of gifted teachers who love to teach the Bible and are very good at doing so. We even bring in special teachers to teach our people or we watch their videos in what we often call “discipleship classes.” However, these are not really discipleship classes; they are teaching classes.<br /> <br /> Teaching is important, but discipleship requires mentorship. Both teaching and mentoring are absolute essentials to effective discipleship. This is why Jesus chose only twelve disciples. He could teach the masses, but He could only mentor twelve. Teaching was one part of Jesus’ mentoring relationship with His disciples, but they also went out together to put His teachings into practice. They learned to pray by listening to Jesus pray. They learned how to minister to others and share their faith by observing and participating in these things with Jesus. Jesus mentored them in all matters of Christian living and equipped them to live a life of mentoring others. This is true discipleship.<br /> <br /> To confuse teaching with discipleship is a big deal. Again, the mission of the church is hurt by this grave error. We have congregations full of well taught and spiritually educated individuals who don’t really know what to do with all their knowledge. Their idea of discipleship is to look forward to attending the next “discipleship class.” We have created a charade of equipping the equipped who think their purpose is to continue to be equipped. All the while, outside the walls of the church, people continue to die without hope. This is tragic. <span class="im"><br /> </span></p>
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<p><span class="im"><br /> <strong><span style="color:#ff2600;">PHIL >>> A vision or a new paradigm does not automatically produce a new culture.<br /> <em> "The hardest part will be to step outside of the box others have built around discipleship. You must get outside the box and let Jesus teach you about disciple making.with fresh-eyes."</em> (p<em>.</em> 46)<br /> </span><span style="color:#ff2600;"> ...How do we begin to follow this wisdom?<br /> ...How do we include the leadership of the church?<br /> </span></strong><br /> BILL >>> <br /> <br /> </span>It’s often said that if you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time. Don’t aim for nothing. Set some big goals. You now have a process in place to make them achievable, and you want to see the fruit of your labor. This is the fun part. Work with your leadership team to develop SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.<br /> <br /> Your first priority is to set your disciple-making goals. This will give you the metrics you need to come back later and set goals for all your other ministries. So, where do you begin in setting your disciple-making goals? First, you must answer two big questions:<br /> <br /> • How many D-Groups can you start with?<br /> • At what rate can you expect them to multiply?</p>
<div><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10484695455,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10484695455?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="410" />To answer the first question, you must train some leaders to start some D-Groups. Once you know how many D-Groups you can start with, you can begin to set your disciple-making goals. You will want to start with only those you feel are fully equipped and devoted to lead a D-Group for several years.<br /> <br /> To answer the second question, you must work with your leaders to determine the rate that you can expect your D-Groups to multiply each year. Your “D-Group Multiplication Rate” (DMR) is very important and you must pray it through.<br /> <br /> Answering these questions will likely lead to a crisis of belief. It will stretch your faith. However, with a true disciple-making process at the core of your church, you can experience the power of spiritual fission and multiply disciples at a rate unthought of before. Diligently seek God’s leadership, remembering that “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6a).<br /> <br /> Once you know how many D-Groups you can start with and at what rate you can expect them to multiply, you are ready to set some exciting goals. Let’s consider a couple of goal setting plans for both a small and large church.<br /> <br /> For a small church, beginning with 4 D-Groups and a 40-50% DMR is a realistic starting point. In the chart below, let’s look at a ten-year goal-setting plan for a church starting with 4 D-Groups and a 40% DMR.<br /> </div>
<div><strong><span style="font-size:small;">Small Church starting with 4 D-Groups / 10-Year Growth Goals with a 40% DMR...</span></strong></div>
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<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 2</span></strong></p>
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<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">6</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">36</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">2</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78">
<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 3</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">8</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">48</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">3</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78">
<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 4</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">11</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">66</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">4</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78">
<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 5</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">15</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">90</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">6</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78">
<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 6</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">21</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">126</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">8</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78">
<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 7</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">29</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">174</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">12</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78">
<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 8</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">41</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">432</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">16</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78">
<p><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 9</span></strong></p>
</td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">57</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">342</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">23</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="78"><strong><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">Year 10</span></strong></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">80</span></td>
<td width="168"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">480</span></td>
<td width="162">
<p><span style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:small;">32</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>In the first column, you see your ten-year growth in the number of D-Groups from 4 to 80 groups. If you average 5 people in each group, you will go from 20 to 400 people participating in a D-Group where they are certain to “Grow in Spiritual Maturity.”</div>
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<div>In the second column, you see your ten-year growth in the number of ministry projects your groups will do outside the walls of the church. If each D-Group does 6 ministry projects a year—as they are trained to do—you will go from 24 to 480 projects as your people “Serve in Missional Ministry.” Can you imagine the impact this will have on your community?<br /> <br /> In the third column, you see your ten-year growth in new D-Group leaders from 2 to 32. Each year you are equipping new leaders to “Reproduce as Disciple Makers.”<br /> <br /> Anyone can use a similar chart to determine your own goals for your church. Once you know how many D-Groups you can start with and the rate you expect them to multiply (DMR), you are ready to set your ten-year disciple-making goals. This will give you the metrics to come back later to set goals for all your other ministries. You want your disciple-making goals to complement all your ministries and to supply them with energy and power for growth.<br /> <br /> A well-known pastor of a popular mega church talks about “catching spiritual waves” as a key to church growth. However, what if church growth was never meant to be that subjective? What if it was really about the objective hard work of living out the Great Commission? I believe it is.<br /> <br /> Jesus never talked about catching a spiritual wave but about doing a greater work. Are you tired of waiting on a wave to catch? Let’s make our own waves by joining with Jesus in the greater work of making disciples who make disciples.<br /> <br /> I want to encourage you again to check out D-Life (<a href="http://www.livethedlife.com/" target="_blank">www.livethedlife.com</a>). D-Life is a true disciple-making process and a proven plan for making disciples who make disciples.</div>
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<div><span class="im"><br /> <br /> <strong><span style="color:#ff2600;">PHIL >>> Bill, write a prayer we can pray; a prayer for God's vision for disciple-making to become embedded into the culture of every ministry and family...and for courageous leadership to make this transformative transition a reality.</span></strong><br /> <br /> BILL >>> </span>Father, forgive us for our feeble attempts to expand your kingdom by our own devises. Thank you for the example of Jesus, who modeled a multiplying process of disciple-making. Grant that our lives may bear much fruit for you as we commit ourselves to the greater work of making disciples who make disciples.</div>
<div> </div></div>THOUGHT LEADER: Rethink the Principles, Paradigms, Practices of DiscipleMaking Evangelismhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/thought-leader-rethink-the-principles-paradigms-practices-of-disc2022-05-11T15:22:49.000Z2022-05-11T15:22:49.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>THOUGHT LEADER: Rethink the Principles, Paradigms, Practices of DiscipleMaking Evangelism</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/reimaginediscipleship-recalibrate-001?context=category-Mini-Courses" target="_blank">{This is one segment of the Recaliibrate Discipleship 101 mini-course ]</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed Ministry Coach Gary Jennings </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;">for The Reimagine.Network</span></p>
<p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10482323699,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10482323699,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10482323699?profile=RESIZE_584x" width="255" height="143" /></a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL >>> Gary, your mission statement captured my attention:</strong></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight:400;">CityLife is a faith-based, non-profit organization committed to joining God in transforming apartment properties into flourishing and healthy communities by serving with purpose.</span></em></p>
<p><strong>What was the process of rethinking ministry that led you to this vision?</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>GARY >>> </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">First of all, thank you very much for this opportunity to share about CityLife. Your friendship and partnership in the ministry for almost 30 years has been an incredible blessing to me personally. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">This is a great question. I’ve been on local church staff and on 3 different denominational ministry staff positions in 40+ years. I’ve always been driven by the Great Commission and my love for lost people to get into the Kingdom. However, I could not reconcile the obvious separation of discipleship and evangelism. The Great Commission is clear that we are to make disciples, not converts. The separation of discipleship and evangelism actually gives the opportunity to choose one or the other. I finally got the answer that I was looking for. </span></p>
<p><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10482337474,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10482337474?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="240" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I had been working with LifeWay for almost eight years when I was a part of a downsizing. In other words, I was let go. The first person that I called after telling my wife that indeed I had been let go was Claude King, the co-author of Experiencing God. After several months of meeting with him and praying about my future, I was introduced to Discovery Bible Study and Disciple Making Movement principles. This was the first time in my ministry that I saw zero separation between discipleship and evangelism. I was challenged to understand that we are not to make converts but disciples who make disciples who make disciples. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I was challenged and blessed to go see a Disciple Making Movement (DMM) church in Bo, Sierra Leone where I was blown away that 75% of their members were praying and fasting, serving with purpose, finding persons of peace, starting Discovery Bible Studies and starting simple churches. This church in 10 years has planted 7,000 small, simple churches. Obviously, I was even more curious and started down the road to embrace the Disciple Making Movement strategy that has been incredibly effective in reaching families as well as whole villages and communities. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I had been praying about how I could impact my world with DMM by being a practitioner, not just a catalyst. Actually, I was not a great catalyst because I didn’t have my own stories of implementing the DMM strategy. I was more of a promoter and advocate for DMM.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">There had been several signs in the past few years that I look back on that made me sit up and think that God was moving in apartments. I know now that God was leading me to join Him in what He was already doing. The final piece of information that caused me to dive in was an apartment management company out of Austin,, TX was soliciting potential resident support team members from my home church, Long Hollow Baptist Church, to move into their apartments in Middle TN to do ministry. One of our mission leaders who is a close friend of mine contacted me to see if I would be interested in following up with the email that he had received from this management company. Long story short, I eventually became a part time chaplain for them. Although, I no longer serve as a chaplain, I still partner with them. CityLife was started just two years ago to practice DMM by using the same strategy I mentioned above.<em> Our goal is to make and multiply disciplemakers in and through apartment communities. To be clear, we serve with purpose to find Luke 10 persons of peace so we can start Discovery Bible Studies and multiply disciplemakers. </em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">There are many other things that I’ve learned about DMM and Discovery Bible Study that I can share at another time perhaps but if there is one thing that I’ve learned is that the Church has to become desperate to change their paradigms and methodologies. I was open to paradigm shifts and counterintuitive thinking because what the Church in the West is doing is not able to fulfill the Great Commission. What we are doing right now takes too much time, costs too much in resources and doesn’t really look like the Book of Acts. I love the Church and will never turn my back on the local church but we have to make changes in how we carry out the Great Commission to the lost. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL >>> How have your previous ministry roles prepared you for this new way of bringing the Gospel to the community?</strong></p>
<p><strong>GARY >>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> </span><span style="font-weight:400;">I believe my role as a student pastor was pivotal. The churches that I served gave me a lot of opportunities to take risks in trying innovative approaches to equip students to be on mission for Him. My time with Illinois Baptist State Association, North American Mission Board and LifeWay was a proving ground as well to be on teams that were Great Commission focused. I was exposed to great tools, people and resources that were very helpful to churches in reaching and discipling others. Although, the results were more of an addition-model, each church and denomination environment was critical in preparing me for the final mission in my life and that is to prove that the Great Commission is attainable in the next few years if we will get on God’s agenda. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I have to say that being in these wonderful places of service exposed me to three major shifts in thinking. One is find where God is working and join Him in His Work (Experiencing God.) Secondly, I learned how to lead a group to discover specific solutions to issues that churches deal with all the time. Finally, missions is where you are. </span></p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> How can a CityLife perspective help leaders reimagine how to think about:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Church -</strong></li>
<li><strong>Discipleship -</strong></li>
<li><strong>Prayer -</strong></li>
<li><strong>Evangelism -</strong></li>
<li><strong>Social action - </strong></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>GARY >>></strong><strong> </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">All of these you’ve listed have to be reimagined for the Church to be effective in the advancement of the Kingdom. The Church is God’s choice and plan to get the Word out to the lost and found but to reimagine the Church means to commit to the making and multiplying disciplemakers. We don’t necessarily need more pastors. It will be disciples making disciples who make disciples who will be the world changers. The Church has to think and do multiplication, not addition. To do that means the whole Church has to be challenged and equipped with simple tools that replicate. </span></p>
<p><strong>The Church </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">has to be much more than the attractional model that is portrayed to their community. The Church family has to be equipped to take ownership of their community by serving and demonstrating the love of Jesus away from the church building. It is obvious that the lost will not be attending a church because they don’t know that it exists. Yes, some will come when invited by a friend or family member but it makes more sense to go to where the lost live, work and play to develop authentic relationships. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Where does </span><strong>discipleship</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> start? We believe that the Bible teaches to disciple towards conversion, not just from conversion. We’ve been doing that for decades with our children and youth in Sunday School and small group ministries. However, the discipleship the church usually offers is curriculum and knowledge-based. We need to offer something different that is simple and easily reproducible to make and multiply disciplemaker based on obedience, not knowledge. </span></p>
<p><strong>Prayer</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> is the central and most foundational thing for me personally as well as CityLife.. We believe that God is already working around us and around the world. Our desire is to join Him. We don’t go to </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;">do</span></em><span style="font-weight:400;"> His work. Instead, we purposefully seek Him believing He will lead us to where He has already prepared the way. Prayer and fasting help align us with His purpose and help lead us in that journey. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">As we diligently pray, we believe that God: Helps us to discover means of access in engaging lostness. Leads us to persons of peace who open new people groups and subcultures to an experience with Jesus and causes us to see His miraculous intervention to see the Kingdom advance in some of the hardest places.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Understanding the Great Commission really helps me understand that </span><strong>evangelism</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"><strong> and discipleship</strong> are inseparable. They are not two sides of the same coin but seamless. I don’t know when or how it occurred but the Church separated evangelism and discipleship many years ago. That made the church somewhat focused on making converts, but not making disciples who make disciples. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">CityLife is mostly focused on reaching the lost in some of the hardest places by practicing Luke 10 to find persons of peace. We serve and find these real live persons of peace as we have spiritual conversations with them. They open their doors to their networks of family and friends for the sake of the Gospel. We don’t go into those open doors to do evangelism, however. We go through those doors to build authentic relationships to start Discovery Bible Studies. The Gospel is proclaimed through an 8 question inductive Bible study that is easily reproducible among the lost. In other words, we make and multiply disciplemakers by putting lost people into small groups to discover the God of the Bible. Yes, we have spiritual conversations all the time in our apartment ministry but that’s how we find persons of peace who are sensitive and open to the Gospel. Persons of peace are key for us to multiply the Gospel to those who are lost and unchurched. Many times these Discovery Groups become healthy, vibrant, simple churches. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">To be clear, we are focused on making and multiplying disciplemakers as the new DNA of a small group that will result in several generations of new believers. </span></p>
<p><strong>Social Action</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> is our opportunity at CityLife to serve with purpose. We serve apartment managers and staff to create opportunities to serve their residents but we don’t just serve. We serve to have spiritual conversations to find persons of peace so we can start Discovery Groups where small groups of lost people can discover that they need to fall in love with Jesus. We serve in many ways by working directly with apartment management staff because they know the needs of their people more than we do. We have done many things that give us the opportunity to pray and serve the residents including picking up trash and praying, Easter Egg Hunts, after school program, children’s reading program, kids camp, Vacation Bible School, sports camps, etc. We are committed to making life better in apartment communities across North America. That compels us to intentionally serve apartment owners and management companies to create flourishing, healthy apartment communities. Our social action is focused on the employees and residents which results in making each apartment community we work with to be a great place to live, work, play, grow and serve. </span></p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> Agree-or-Disagree:</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> </span><span style="font-weight:400;">"The Gospel never changes but our methods and modes, perspectives and programs, systems and strategies must."</span></p>
<p><strong>GARY >>> </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">I totally agree that the Gospel never changes but we have to use creative means to fulfill the Great Commission including how we do church. The pandemic amplified this for churches who embrace the attractional model. Many churches were very challenged when people couldn’t come to church. For some churches, ministry slowed down to a crawl. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Therefore, we must go to the Father first and ask Him how we are to do ministry. The Church and the Lost World is His work. He is already working and moving so our “job” is to find out where He is working and join Him in His plan. He knows how He wants His church to live out the Gospel therefore He knows what is best for His church to engage a lost world. The Bible has so much to say about how to do ministry and it doesn’t look programmatic. It looks relational. His Word is true, sharper than a two-edged sword and He is the same today, yesterday and forever. We must go to His Word and obey. Not to be trite, but pray and obey; read His Word and obey. There is never a silver bullet or quick fix so the Church has to get back to the basics of making and multiplying disciplemakers who are equipped to obey and take God’s Word as the final authority. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">My final thought is to “walk by faith, not by sight.” The Church always has the opportunity to trust the Impossibility Specialist for all things including how we do church. His Word, His life, His ways are…His. Can we trust Him for our church? Can we truly believe that He knows what’s best for how to reach the lost? Are we willing to walk by faith according to His Word? Trust Him! Trust His Word! </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL >>> Do we also need to rethink how we introduce people to the Gospel?</strong></p>
<p><strong>GARY >>></strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> </span><span style="font-weight:400;">Yes we do, Phil. I realized early on in my ministry that there is a difference between sharing the Gospel and inviting people to church. I would hear people say that they talked to their lost friends and family members about coming to church to hear their pastor. I appreciate their love for their pastor but geez, there is a better way to introduce them to Jesus. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">The temptation at this point is to make a list of different and creative ways to introduce the lost to Jesus. I’m much less programmatic these days but here are 5 basic principles that I will almost guarantee the lost will get to know the God of the Bible. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">(1) Pray and fast to hear from the Father, (2) live out the Gospel with your circles of influence, (3) serve people and have spiritual conversations so you can find persons of peace, (4) go make disciples by starting a Discovery Bible Study with those who the person of peace led you to, and (5) multiply disciplemakers by equipping others in Discovery Bible Study and to practice Disciple Making Movement principles. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Quick story. There is a picture that used to hang in the office of Claude King that made me shake my head in amazement and wonder. It was a picture of seventy Imams from the Muslim faith who were in line to be baptized. How in the world did these Muslim men accept Christ as their Savior? All of them at one time or another had been invited to be in a Discovery Bible Study. The scripture sets were focused on a journey of the Creation to Christ. These men, as they went through this inductive Bible study, came to the realization that they were serving the wrong god. They came to faith by being introduced to the God of the Bible. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">Just make sure those who want to do Discovery Bible Study or learn about DMM will seek a DMM Coach to help them stay focused on the mission of Disciple Making. We will get bogged down in a lot of stuff if we don’t watch out. Satan will make sure of that. The coach will help us reach the lost through biblical Disciple Making.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>PHIL >>> How do you apply this admonition from Romans 12:2 that we are not to be conformed to the mind-set of the world because we are to be transformed by the renewing of your mind?</strong></p>
<p><strong>GARY >>> </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Wow, Phil. This is a great question. First of all, I can’t answer that without sharing the context of Romans 12: 1, “</span><span style="font-weight:400;">Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” These two verses are significant and key to knowing and doing the will of God. The personal application of these two verses is for me to recognize that God is God and His will, His ways, His Word are paramount; the final authority. I am nothing without Him. My ways are not His ways so the reality is that I have to abide in Him every moment. I spend time every day in His word for one purpose…to hear from Him. What is in my life that needs attention so I can think and act like Jesus? Is there something I need to repent, change, do, obey? I always include a time of worship and praise. I’m going to be transparent to say that transformation for me is not daily. It is moment by moment. I don’t want to miss out on what the Father wants for me to be and do. I practice the seven realities of Experiencing God that Dr. Blackaby and Claude King taught us. One of my greatest fears is that I might miss being what He wants me to be or failing to do His will. Have I failed? Yes!!! Thank God for His grace and mercy!!! “In view of God’s mercy…” I am His and He is mine. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL >>> Help us think through the process of building a coalition of leaders who come together to make a disproportionate impact in a community.</strong></p>
<p><strong>GARY >>> </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Phil, I have been to Sierra Leone in West Africa where Disciple Making Movements (DMM) are changing a nation, not just a family or village, but a whole nation. DMM is a unique strategy led by ordinary people walking by faith and trusting Him for everything including making disciples and planting churches. This church in Bo, Sierra Leone, is pastored by Shodonkeh Johnson. They were a traditional, attractional church that planted a few churches. They were exposed to the principles of DMM and in ten years planted seven thousand small, simple churches. Pastors, missionaries, church planters and ordinary people are practicing the following principles and seeing a miraculous Kingdom movement. I’ve seen it and I have not been the same since that trip. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I know when I list these principles that leaders will assume they can just go out and do them. Please don’t. Get a DMM Coach. We can help with that. Let’s build a cohort around these Biblical principles and trust God for the results. Pray as you read and ask the Father to show you what He wants you to see. Trust Him. You can’t afford to trust your abilities to fulfill Jesus’ final command. This below is what a thousand plus Disciple Making Movements are experiencing around the world. Our prayer is that DMMs will be started in and through apartments here in the US. </span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making focuses on making obedient disciples. It is not focused on winning converts. It is a strategy to launch </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making Movements.</span></em></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making occurs naturally and spontaneously when the right principles are applied. It is ongoing, unstoppable and out of control. It is not hierarchical, systematic, or highly structured and managed. Coaching and accountability is extremely necessaryv however. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">We go slow, to go fast. We focus on the few to win the many. Then, Disciple Making becomes a rapid multiplication of groups and churches. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is simply about churches rapidly planting new churches. It is not primarily about expansion of denominations, or growth of organizations.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making thrives in an environment of persecution and chaos. It is messy. Disciple Making does not do well in a peaceful environment of significant controls, policies, and procedures.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making focuses on replication. It is not about growing large highly programmatic organizations but rapidly multiplying small groups</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making has a core value of discovering where God is at work by finding a person of peace. It is not about starting church services, and inviting people to come.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is about the church emerging from within the culture of the people. It is not about calling the people out of their culture to form a new organization.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is locally led. While often started by outsiders, it is not led by outsiders who intend someday to </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;">turn over </span></em><span style="font-weight:400;">the ministry to the people of the community.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is family-based. It does not seek to extract individual respondents from their families and communities, re-culturating them and then sending them as </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;">semi-outsiders</span></em><span style="font-weight:400;"> back to their communities.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is powered by ordinary people; unschooled and non-credentialed. It is not driven by highly trained and credentialed professionals. The Book of Acts never would have happened if the movement was led by professional clergy.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is counter-intuitive. It does not fit management theory or organizational development.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is about developing independent leaders. It is not about building a mass of followers.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is about transformation of individuals, families, and communities by making disciples. It is not about religious conversions.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is simple. It is about simple men and women with the simple gospel for simple people. It is not sophisticated and complex.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making is inexpensive. Once begun, Disciple Making expands without outside resources at all.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making focuses on making disciple-makers of </span><em><span style="font-weight:400;">every </span></em><span style="font-weight:400;">member. It is not about the few reaching the multitudes.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making does not make buildings a priority. The church meets within the community of the people.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making places a high level of commitment on the health and welfare of the people; people caring for one another. It is not a strategy of hiring professionals to care for the needs of the people.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making churches never emerge without a heavy commitment to prayer. Disciple Making cannot be driven by a human programmatic system.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Disciple Making Movements churches are self-supporting from day one. They are never dependent on outside resources.</span></li>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> What additional coaching can you give pastors, church leaders, who want to reexamine the basis of their ministry programs?</strong></p>
<p><strong>GARY >>> </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Phil, I am one of thousands and thousands of ministers who have been to training conferences only to bring back the binder to put it on the shelf. I can honestly say that training will not bring a movement of God. A clergy-driven church where the pastor and his staff do all the ministry work is not scriptural but we see it all the time. Church is hard work; a burden itching for burnout and fallout. Whatever we’re doing is not working as we would like for it to work. Here is how it worked out in my own life and ministry. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I’ve been in ministry for 40+ years working on staff in churches, one state Baptist convention and two national SBC organizations, NAMB and LifeWay. I’ve also been an interim Director of Missions. I’m more excited about what God is doing in and through Disciple Making Movements than in all my previous years of ministry. The past has been great but greater days are ahead. There is one reason for that. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I often say that I’m a recovering strategy addict. I know God blessed me with a creative heart and an out of the box mindset. However, for many of those previous years, I’ve used the abilities He has given me to come up with a plan or strategy to fulfill the Great Commission. Then, I would ask God to bless my efforts. Although I had pure motives in doing His work, I seldom checked in with the Father to see what His thoughts and ideas were. I repented and for the past 7 years I have depended on the Holy Spirit for every detail of my life including CityLife. I’m still a strategy addict and I constantly fight the urge to help God out on the plans. I’m indebted to Claude King, co-author of Experiencing God who told a coworker of mine “don’t try to out strategize the Holy Spirit.” Great wisdom. I was guilty of that for most of my ministry. I do all in my power and mind to read His word, pray and fast and respond to Him with my obedience. My first and only response is “yes, Lord!” </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">I would ask every pastor, if I could, “What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?” Then, I would ask if they are obeying what the Father has told them what to do and how to do it. </span></p>
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<p><strong>PHIL >>> Gary, write a prayer that helps us begin a journey to catch a fresh vision from the Holy Spirit.</strong></p>
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<p><strong>GARY >>> </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">This is a prayer based on Isaiah 40: 28-31</span></p>
<p><strong>“Do you not know? </strong><span style="font-weight:400;">Yes, God, I do know. I have seen you work in my life and others. I’ve seen so many miracles and answers to prayers but my eyes deceive me. My heart is willing but my flesh is weak. Forgive me, Lord. </span></p>
<p><strong>Have you not heard?</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> Yes, Lord, I’ve heard the unbelievable stories in your Word of how you parted the Red Sea, provided manna from heaven, kept the guys from being burned up in the fire, demonstrated your love on the cross, calmed the sea, saved those who I thought were unreachable. I have certainly heard how You, O God, have moved mountains and heaven to love me, my family, my friends, my enemies. Therefore, I know You are Lord , the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. I have heard and I believe that You will not grow tired or weary, and Your understanding no one can fathom. You give me strength to help my weariness and You increase the power in my weakness. Even the youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but I will believe and hope in the Lord to renew my strength. I will soar on Your wings like eagles; I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and not be faint. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">In Jesus’ name, Amen!</span></p>
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<p><strong>This article is one segment of "Mini-Course" 101: ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP...</strong></p></div>Thought-Leader Interview: Asking the Right Questions to Rightly Assess DiscipleMakinghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/thought-leader-interview-asking-the-right-questions-to-rightly-as2022-05-05T14:52:11.000Z2022-05-05T14:52:11.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div class="gmail_default">
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong><span class="gmail_default"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/reimaginediscipleship-recalibrate-001?context=category-Mini-Courses" target="_blank">{This is one segment of the Recaliibrate Discipleship 101 mini-course ]</a></span></strong></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><strong><span class="gmail_default">PHIL >>> Bob, you and your co-author invite us to: "</span><em>A journey that can help you push your thinking...to ask the right questions."</em> </strong><br /> </span></div>
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> BOB >>> Pushing our thinking to ask the right questions is critical. That's the key to learning new things rather than just trying to reinforce existing beliefs. And as followers of Jesus, we are to be in a posture of ongoing learning. Asking ourselves--and each other-- good questions results in examining our own assumptions, allowing God to change our hearts, and coming up with creative ideas and solutions. We are clearly at a place in history where the church needs to think creatively and come up with new means of carrying out the mission God has given us. <br /> <br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <strong>PHIL >>> </strong>As I reviewed your book,<strong> 12 questions s</strong>tood out to me; questions that can serve as an assessment for anyone who wants to live like Jesus and make an impact on others.<span class="gmail_default"> </span>What do our responses reveal about our personal relationship with God? Our depth of discipleship? (and/or) Our quality of leadership?</span></div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> 1.<strong> <em> "How are you deepening your relationship with God?</em></strong><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> As a growing disciple of Jesus, we need to regularly ask ourselves this question. God desires an intimate relationship with each of us. We should seek to deepen our relationship with God, and that can look a lot of different ways. The idea is to be reflective about our growth and committed to it on an ongoing basis. If we aren't growing in our relationship with God, not much else we are doing is going to have much significant impact. </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">RALPH >>> <span style="font-family:Montserrat, Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">A vitally important part of deepening my relationship with God has been to learn to listen - to that still small voice. Reducing the noise in my head and life and just being in His presence.</span><br /> <br /> <br /> 2. <em><strong> "How is God changing your life? </strong></em><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> Here's a challenge to our internal honesty. We may not need to change huge behaviors in our lives; it may be something more like a well-hidden attitude of selfishness. But if we are not able to cite something that God is changing in us, we need to rethink how we are engaging with him. Likely we are being too safe or conventional in our approach to God, for he is a God of transformation and power.</span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">RAPLH >>> <span style="font-family:Montserrat, Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I now realize more than ever about God is that He has NEVER left me nor forsaken me - even when I did not feel that He was there.</span><br /> </span></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> <br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"> <span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> 3. <em><strong>"How has the Holy Spirit been prompting you?"</strong></em><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> This is a truly critical question and one that I use in my coaching practice all the time. The crux of the matter here is that I don't know what God has in mind for other people. I am not the Holy Spirit. I don't know how, when, or where he is calling them... and I would never in a million years be able to guess right and then tell them what to do. Rather, I need to trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in other believers-- just as he is in me-- and I need to trust that they can hear from him themselves. I am not in control. What I can do is to listen to the Holy Spirit with them... and ask this question to keep it regularly on their minds. It's one of the most powerful coaching questions I know of. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> RALPH >>> </span></span>The Holy Spirit has been prompting me to "love more" . . . each other, people, everyone - in this broken and divided world.</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> 4.<strong> <em>"In what ways are you being genuine with those around you?"</em></strong><em><br /> </em></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><em>"There are a lot of books that focus on our relationship with God, or on serving our community, or on making disciples, but...we want to help you put those three elements together.<span class="gmail_default">"</span> </em></div>
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10484577467,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10484577467,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10484577467?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="251" /></a>BOB >>> Especially as Christian leaders, it can be tempting to try to present as having it all together. Yet I've found that--far from being a good example to others, as intended-- this posture can do a great deal of damage: encouraging others to hide their struggles and weaknesses as well. The very opposite of authentic Christian community then arises: everyone pretending to be perfect and everyone being dishonest and afraid of being truly known.<br /> <br /> Lack of being genuine with others also does a great deal of harm as we reach out to those who doesn't yet know Jesus. Most people can sense this dynamic, even if they can't quite put words to it, and they run in the other direction as fast as they can. Hiding who you are, your struggles and your challenges, and pretending to be perfect is not appealing to anyone who is not already caught in the trap of perfectionism and trying to be their own God.</span></div>
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<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10484575256,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10484575256,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10484575256?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="236" /></a><br />
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family:Montserrat, Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span>RALPH >>> </span></span>Genuine means first being honest with yourself, because everyone else can see what you may not!</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> 5. <strong> <em>"How have you had the opportunity to value other people?"</em><br /> </strong><em><br /> </em>BOB >>> That's a great question, and I think it's rooted in two theological truths: the image of God in all people, and the presence of spiritual gifts in all believers. Every single human being, no matter how much we may disagree with their beliefs or their life choices, is still made in the image of God and worthy of being treated as valuable. And when people are believers, they all-- every single one-- has a contribution to make the Kingdom of God. Imagine someone who attends your church and is not necessarily a leader and may not even have very many friends yet in the church. Yet you can ask them to drive the equipment truck to the service, showing respect for their gift of service and the fact that they are an important, contributing, and valued member of the church. If they were not there, something would be lacking. Everybody matters. Show them that. </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">RALPH >>> <span style="font-family:Montserrat, Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every person has value. When I am not rushing and pay attention, I embrace this better than when I am in a hurry or impatient.</span><br /> </span></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> 6.<strong> <em>"How are you relationally engaged with others?"</em></strong><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> This question is closely related to #4. We need to be both genuine and relationally engaged. The church in the West leans dangerously close to an unbiblical individualism. The less intentionally we are engaged with others, the more we fall prey to faults like isolation, pride, and judgement. Being in real, authentic, honest relationships provides us with a regular reality check against these sins. </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">RALPH >>> </span></span>Our personalities affect how we engage in relationships. I tend to be more reserved and therefore less outgoing with strangers. After I get to know someone I am much more engaged. It's better not to beat yourself up - you are who you are!</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> 7.<strong> <em>"How have you been the hands and feet of Jesus?"</em></strong><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> I am thinking of Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats. If we cannot point to anything constructive or helpful we have done for others-- even in small ways--how can we really say we are living as disciples of Jesus? None of us is called to do everything, but all of us are called to do what we can with what we have where we are. (Note that I am paraphrasing Theodore Roosevelt in this last clause.) </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">RALPH >>> I have spent a lifetime of Christian humanitarian service.</span></div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> 8. <strong> <em>"In whom do you see God working?"</em></strong><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> This is another one of my favorite coaching questions. If we don't stop to ask each other this question, we miss SO much. God is not at work only in us, but in those around us as well. Sometimes we can see it and sometimes we can't. But when we can see God at work in someone, the natural follow up question is, "How can we help them?" We are called to come alongside others to help them see what God has called them to do and then help them take the best next faithful step toward doing it. So when we see God at work with someone, he may be calling us to come alongside that person in one way or another. I also appreciate that this question helps take us out of our own self-centric worldview, if even for a moment.</span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">RALPH >>> </span></span></span>God is working everywhere in and through many people. Humility is most important when we consider the value and contribution of others.</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> <br /> <br /> 9<strong>. <em>"What conversations have you had about spiritual things?"<span class="gmail_default"> + </span></em> <span class="gmail_default">10. </span> <em>"Who have you encouraged to become a follower of Jesus?"</em></strong><em><span class="gmail_default"></span></em><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> Questions 9 and 10 provide a check on how we are engaging with the intentional spreading of the gospel message. As we listen and build relationships with others, opportunities will arise for spiritual conversations. Much of this consists of us asking questions and listening to people's answers. Only then can we eventually respond with our own testimony of how we have experienced Jesus and asking if they want that as well. We never have control over other people coming to faith, but we can be intentional about engaging in spiritual conversations and encouraging others to become followers of Jesus when relationally appropriate. </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">RALPH >>> </span></span>Conversations and caring begin the process. Listening is vital. I try to let God bring opportunity for "spiritual things" in a natural way, not forced.
<div class="gmail_quote">We all have a radius of people in our lives that give us this opportunity uniquely. The challenge is not to pass up these opportunities, as I have regrettably done too often.</div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> 11<strong>. <em>"How are you helping new believers follow Jesus?"<span class="gmail_default"> + </span></em>12. <em>"How are you helping new followers make new followers?"</em></strong><em><span class="gmail_default"></span></em><br /> <em><br /> </em>BOB >>> Questions 11 and 12 relate to how we integrate new believers into the body of Christ and help them become healthy, reproducing disciples of Jesus. It's important to periodically ask ourselves these questions to assess how we are doing in this area. Like the other questions above, if we find we have little to say in response, we are usually close to identifying an area of weakness. In this area of assimilation of new believers, we can ask the question of ourselves, and also of our church as a whole. Most churches have some type of process in place for integrating new believers into the life of the church and helping them grow toward maturity, but the real question is how effective are those processes? How might they be shored up or improved? Who might you raise up to help in this area? </span></div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> RALPH: >>> </span></span></span>As scary as this thought is, how I live my own life (not what I say) is the best way to show someone how to follow Jesus. It's all about discipleship.</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> <strong>PHIL >>> Bob<span class="gmail_default"> </span>please write a prayer for those who want to be transformed in their ministry thinking and practice...</strong><br /> <br /> <span class="gmail_default">BOB >>> Although we have written suggested prayers throughout <em>The Undivided Heart</em>, at least one per chapter topic, I would reference our overall prayer at the very end of the book: </span></span><em><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">May our Creator and Father grant you the discernment and commitment to begin afresh on this quest. May you have the courage and discipline to put one foot in front of the other, laying aside every weight and burden so that you discover the peace that passes all understanding in living with an undivided heart. In Jesus’s name, Amen.</span></em></div>
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<div class="gmail_quote"><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/reimaginediscipleship-recalibrate-001?context=category-Mini-Courses" target="_blank">{This is one segment of the Recaliibrate Discipleship 101 mini-course ]</a></div>
</div></div>The "Quote/Unquote" Interview: #ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP....as Vocational Discipleshiphttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/the-quote-unquote-interview-equipping-christians-for-kingdom-purp2022-04-05T19:39:48.000Z2022-04-05T19:39:48.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><div id="contentsContainer" class="style-scope qowt-page">
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<p id="E310" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><em><strong><span id="E311" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10266487654,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10266487654,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10266487654?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="205" height="321" /></a></span></strong></em></p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><em><strong><span class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><span style="font-size:14pt;">The "Quote/Unquote" Interview: </span></span></strong></em><span style="font-size:14pt;"><em><strong><span id="E313" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">Equipping Christians for Kingdom Purpose in Their Work</span></strong></em></span></p>
<p id="E315" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E316" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">Phil </span><span id="E318" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">Miglioratti</span><span id="E320" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> (The </span><span id="E322" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">Reimagine.Network</span><span id="E324" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">) Interviewed authors Thomas Lutz and Heidi Unruh</span></p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0">{Our Ministry Resources Updates with fresh content and links to new resources are free-no ads-bimonthly - <a target="_blank">Subscribe >>></a>}</p>
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<p id="E326" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E327" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"I began to read the </span><span id="E329" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">Bible</span><span id="E331" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> quite differently than my pastor friends. They tended to read and teach the </span><span id="E333" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">Bible</span><span id="E335" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> as if it were written only to church members."</span></em></p>
<p id="E336" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><strong><span id="E337" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> Tom, I would describe your experience as a Spirit-led reimagining of Holy Scripture. What led to this revelation?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E338" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E339" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">TOM >>> I think it grew out of the context in which I prepared my </span><span id="E340" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">sermons and discipleship </span><span id="E341" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">teaching material. I was bi-vocational, starting a business while pastoring a church, so much of my sermon preparation occurred at my desk in my workplace outside the church. It was only natural to create illustrations from or apply my teaching to that context</span><span id="E342" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">—t</span><span id="E343" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">he salesperson I just interacted with, the customer I just served, the employee I just encouraged, the vendor I just paid. It was only years later that I realized that Jesus too taught this way, having spent 18 years as a builder before launching his Kingdom crusade. Pastors who work full time at church do the same thing, except for them the context is very different. In an attempt to be relevant to their congregation they illustrate from or apply to what they have in common with their members</span><span id="E344" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">, i.e.</span><span id="E345" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> their hobbies, family and church life</span><span id="E346" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">. B</span><span id="E347" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">ut since they don’t work “outside the church</span><span id="E348" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,” work-</span><span id="E349" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">related applications and illustrations go wanting</span><span id="E350" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">.</span></p>
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<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10266492454,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10266492454,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10266492454?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="300" /></a></span></p>
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<p id="E352" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><span id="E353" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"My dream is that vocational discipleship can ignite a movement that showing up for work means</span></p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><span class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">showing up for love of God, creation, and neighbor."</span></p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p id="E354" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E355" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> How is "vocational" discipleship different from "church" discipleship...and why should it matter to church leadership?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E356" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E357" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>></span><span id="E358" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> </span></p>
<p id="E359" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4"><span id="E360" class="qowt-font8-Times">As Tom indicated in his answer above, </span><span id="E361" class="qowt-font8-Times">we aren’t saying that church-centered discipleship is wrong, just incomplete and inadequate for where </span><span id="E362" class="qowt-font8-Times">connecting with </span><span id="E363" class="qowt-font8-Times">people </span><span id="E364" class="qowt-font8-Times">where they </span><span id="E365" class="qowt-font8-Times">spend a </span><span id="E366" class="qowt-font8-Times">significant portion </span><span id="E367" class="qowt-font8-Times">of their time. Our book </span><span id="E368" class="qowt-font8-Times">include</span><span id="E369" class="qowt-font8-Times">s</span><span id="E370" class="qowt-font8-Times"> a quote from Skye </span><span id="E372" class="qowt-font8-Times">Jethani</span><span id="E374" class="qowt-font8-Times"> that addresses </span><span id="E375" class="qowt-font8-Times">your </span><span id="E376" class="qowt-font8-Times">question: </span><span id="E377" class="qowt-font8-Times">“</span><span id="E378" class="qowt-font8-Times">Most of our church ministries are designed to make people into little pastors. We take our calling as pastors to teach the Bible, to evangelize, to teach the faith, and we replicate ourselves in our people. We teach them how to study the Bible, how to teach the Bible, how to lead small groups, how to share their faith.</span><span id="E379" class="qowt-font8-Times">”</span><span id="E380" class="qowt-font8-Times"> </span></p>
<p id="E382" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4"><span id="E383" class="qowt-font8-Times">In contrast, vocational discipleship is equipping people to be followers of Christ </span><span id="E384" class="qowt-font8-Times">as workers</span><span id="E385" class="qowt-font8-Times">.</span><span id="E386" class="qowt-font8-Times"> </span><span id="E388" class="qowt-font8-Times">We need vocational discipleship because </span><span id="E389" class="qowt-font8-Times">how we live out our faith on the job matters to </span><span id="E390" class="qowt-font8-Times">God—a lot</span><span id="E391" class="qowt-font8-Times">. Learning to be Christ-like at work is not incidental or optional for discipleship; it is an essential crucible for spiritual formation</span><span id="E392" class="qowt-font8-Times">. </span></p>
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<p id="E394" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E395" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"We agree with Amy Sherman's blunt assessment: '</span><span id="E397" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">DIscipleship</span><span id="E399" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> that doesn’t equip people for the activity they spend forty percent of their waking hours doing is not discipleship.'"</span></em><span id="E401" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><br /> </span></p>
<p id="E402" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E403" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10266490078,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10266490078,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10266490078?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="376" height="251" /></a>PHIL >>> Please unpack a scripture that undergirds this assessment. </span></strong></p>
<p id="E404" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E405" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">TOM >>> </span></p>
<p id="E406" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E407" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">In this regard the most compelling ver</span><span id="E408" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">se, to me, is Ephesians 4:11-12: “</span><span id="E409" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, </span><span id="E410" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">…” </span><span id="E411" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Taken as it is often read as to prepare God’s people for </span><span id="E412" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">“</span><span id="E413" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">works of ministry,</span><span id="E414" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">”</span><span id="E415" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> or </span><span id="E416" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">“</span><span id="E417" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">good </span><span id="E418" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">deeds,</span><span id="E419" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">” one might think it contradicts what Amy says. However, if we look a bit deeper in fact it confirms her words. </span></p>
<p id="E421" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E422" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">The pivotal phrase is the Greek phrase “</span><span id="E424" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">ergon</span><span id="E426" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span><span id="E428" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">diakonias</span><span id="E430" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">”. My undergraduate work was in Classical Greek. In seminary we are taught </span><span id="E432" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Koine</span><span id="E434" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> Greek. I call it church Greek. That usually results in churchy sounding </span><span id="E435" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">translations. </span><span id="E436" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">I have a habit of always consulting a Classical Greek dictionary when I begin studying a word. This is the sort of dictionary that Paul would have found on his shelf. In that resource you will learn that the primary meaning of “ergon” is “that which one normally does for a job”. You would also learn that </span><span id="E438" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">diakonias</span><span id="E440" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> meant “to be of service”, kind of like our term “customer service”. So, I think Paul in fact was saying that the role of gifted Kingdom workers is to prepare God’s people to do jobs that are of service, </span><span id="E441" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">or as I would put it, </span><span id="E442" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">that create flourishing. That’s what most Christians do in forty percent of their waking hours. </span></p>
<p id="E444" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E445" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>> </span></p>
<p id="E446" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4"><span id="E447" class="qowt-font8-Times">Hebrews 10:24 is one passage that speaks directly to the role of discipleship: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (NIV). Here we </span><span id="E448" class="qowt-font8-Times">also </span><span id="E449" class="qowt-font8-Times">encounter the Greek word </span><span id="E450" class="qowt-font8-Times">ergon</span><span id="E451" class="qowt-font8-Times">.</span><span id="E452" class="qowt-font8-Times"> </span><span id="E453" class="qowt-font8-Times">As Tom </span><span id="E455" class="qowt-font8-Times">exegeted</span><span id="E457" class="qowt-font8-Times"> above, this is not merely </span><span id="E458" class="qowt-font8-Times">synonymous with church or <span class="qowt-font8-Times">charitable </span><span id="E459" class="qowt-font8-Times">activities, but also </span><span id="E460" class="qowt-font8-Times">includes</span><span id="E461" class="qowt-font8-Times"> </span><span id="E462" class="qowt-font8-Times">literally “work” in the sense of tasks undertaken for a job. </span><span id="E463" class="qowt-font8-Times">Ergon </span><span id="E464" class="qowt-font8-Times">is </span><span id="E465" class="qowt-font8-Times">here accompanied by the word </span><span id="E466" class="qowt-font8-Times">“good” (</span><span id="E468" class="qowt-font8-Times">kalon</span><span id="E470" class="qowt-font8-Times">)</span><span id="E471" class="qowt-font8-Times">,</span><span id="E472" class="qowt-font8-Times"> </span><span id="E473" class="qowt-font8-Times">meaning </span><span id="E474" class="qowt-font8-Times">it is valuable, worthy, virtuous</span><span id="E475" class="qowt-font8-Times">, morally beautiful</span><span id="E476" class="qowt-font8-Times">. As Christians, we are to encourage one another to do good work in a good way.</span></span></p>
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<p id="E478" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-5"><span id="E479" class="qowt-font8-Times">I </span><span id="E480" class="qowt-font8-Times">also </span><span id="E481" class="qowt-font8-Times">learned a lot from </span><span id="E482" class="qowt-font8-Times">the book of </span><span id="E483" class="qowt-font8-Times">Titus in the process of writing this book.</span><span id="E484" class="qowt-font8-Times"> </span><span id="E485" class="qowt-font8-Times">Paul is discipling Titus to be a discipler, and in his short </span><span id="E486" class="qowt-font8-Times">letter</span><span id="E487" class="qowt-font8-Times">, </span><span id="E488" class="qowt-font8-Times">“good work” </span><span id="E489" class="qowt-font8-Times">appears </span><span id="E490" class="qowt-font8-Times">five times</span><span id="E491" class="qowt-font8-Times">! For example, </span><span id="E492" class="qowt-font8-Times">in </span><span id="E493" class="qowt-font8-Times">Titus 2:11–14,</span><span id="E494" class="qowt-font8-Times"> Paul says that God’s grace teaches people to live in a godly way as they put their hope in Jesus, “who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.” </span><span id="E495" class="qowt-font8-Times">Here again is the same phrase as Hebrews 10:24, </span><span id="E497" class="qowt-font8-Times">kalon</span><span id="E499" class="qowt-font8-Times"> </span><span id="E501" class="qowt-font8-Times">ergon</span><span id="E503" class="qowt-font8-Times">: getting useful work done in a way that multiplies goodness. Good work </span><span id="E504" class="qowt-font8-Times">that </span><span id="E505" class="qowt-font8-Times">helps God’s world </span><span id="E506" class="qowt-font8-Times">to </span><span id="E507" class="qowt-font8-Times">flourish </span><span id="E508" class="qowt-font8-Times">is the outcome of good leadership in the church.</span></p>
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<p id="E510" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E511" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"I offer tribute to the many image-bearers I know who struggle daily with difficult, unfulfilling jobs."</span></em><span id="E513" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><br /> </span></p>
<p id="E514" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E515" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> Heidi, how can this book also be a resource for women and men Christ-servants who live most of their day in the workplace/at their job?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E516" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E517" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>></span><span id="E518" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> </span></p>
<p id="E519" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4"><span id="E520" class="qowt-font8-Times">First, I hope </span><span id="E521" class="qowt-font8-Times">that all can find encouragement in knowing that their work matters to God, and is part of God’s eternal Kingdom plan. We have this </span><span id="E522" class="qowt-font8-Times">preconceived </span><span id="E523" class="qowt-font8-Times">notion that </span><span id="E524" class="qowt-font8-Times">being </span><span id="E525" class="qowt-font8-Times">super-spiritual </span><span id="E526" class="qowt-font8-Times">means devoting </span><span id="E527" class="qowt-font8-Times">time to prayer, reading Scripture and talking to </span><span id="E528" class="qowt-font8-Times">others </span><span id="E529" class="qowt-font8-Times">about God. Yet </span><span id="E530" class="qowt-font8-Times">a fresh reading of </span><span id="E531" class="qowt-font8-Times">the Bible </span><span id="E532" class="qowt-font8-Times">shows clearly </span><span id="E533" class="qowt-font8-Times">that our spiritual (God-imaging, Jesus-imitating, Spirit-filling) nature is </span><span id="E534" class="qowt-font8-Times">also </span><span id="E535" class="qowt-font8-Times">expressed in part through work. </span><span id="E536" class="qowt-font8-Times">Some of the most super-spiritual people I know are those who serve Christ as they do thankless service jobs. </span></p>
<p id="E538" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-4"><span id="E539" class="qowt-font8-Times">Second, I hope this book encourages Christians who are employers, influencers and decision-makers to respect the image of God in every worker, and to help create conditions where all who do honest labor can thrive. </span></p>
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<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E543" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"The world needs a church that sends out image-bearers who are productive in God-honoring kingdom-purposed work. Vocational disciplers are the hands and feet of this mission."</span></em><span id="E545" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><br /> </span></p>
<p id="E546" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E547" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> Tom, why the use of the term image-bearer throughout the book? And how could the use of this term by disciplers influence how they approach disciple-making?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E548" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E549" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">TOM >>> </span></p>
<p id="E550" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-6"><span id="E551" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">One thing that distinguished the original humans from non-human creation was that they were made “in the image of God.” In the garden, God gave these image</span><span id="E552" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span><span id="E553" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">bearers three assignments: 1) This place is empty—so create abundance for the benefit of all; 2) this place is dangerous and incomplete—therefore subdue it, tame it by corralling forces like wind, water, electricity etc. for the benefit of all; and finally 3) this world has infinite potential, placed by an infinite God—therefore cultivate all that potential for the benefit of all. </span><span id="E554" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Theologians call these commands, collectively, the creation mandate. </span><span id="E555" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">When the image bearers fulfill these commands, what the Bible calls “shalom” or flourishing occurs. Everyone has a call to contribute to the flourishing of all. After God spoke these words, he pronounced the image bearers blessed and announced that now the world was “very good”. </span><span id="E556" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">God </span><span id="E557" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">therefore defined all </span><span id="E558" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">human </span><span id="E559" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">activity in t</span><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">he world </span><span id="E560" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">aligned with His creation mandate </span><span id="E561" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">as spiritual. Too often present-day believers don’t understand that. When I say spiritual, they think nonphysical. When I say redemption they think, exclusively, sharing the Gospel</span><span id="E562" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> of forgiveness of sins</span><span id="E563" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">. When I say heaven, they think disembodied. The net result of this meta-narrative is they subconsciously think that spiritual stuff, stuff that really matters to God, is what happens at church on nights and weekends. When people grasp this role as image bearer</span><span id="E564" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,</span><span id="E565" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> suddenly “spirituality invades all of their lives”, as a man I </span><span id="E567" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">discipled</span><span id="E569" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> stated it. All legitimate work finds a home in this </span><span id="E570" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">creation mandate </span><span id="E571" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">perspective</span><span id="E572" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,</span><span id="E573" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> therefore everyone, from Sanitary Engineer to Brain Surgeon, find that God smiles on their work. Therefore, seeing myself as an image bearer makes a great difference.</span></p>
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<p id="E574" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-6"><span id="E575" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">If a discipler is not conscious of this distinction he runs the risk of reinforcing a limited view of spirituality. When </span><span id="E576" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">we truly disciple</span><span id="E577" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span><span id="E578" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">people </span><span id="E579" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">all for </span><span id="E580" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">all</span><span id="E581" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span><span id="E582" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">of </span><span id="E583" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">their </span><span id="E584" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">life we </span><span id="E585" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">become a “vocational discipler”. Dorothy Sayers tells us that failing to disciple believers for all of their lives results in a perception that the Gospel is irrelevant because</span><span id="E586" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,</span><span id="E587" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> as she says</span><span id="E588" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,</span><span id="E589" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">” it only applies to 10% of one’s life”. When believers </span><span id="E590" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">enter </span><span id="E591" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">their workplace, not </span><span id="E592" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">seeing it </span><span id="E593" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">as a </span><span id="E594" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">g</span><span id="E595" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">odless desert but as a place where they can enjoy God and glorify him forever</span><span id="E596" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">—</span><span id="E597" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">truly understanding that God wants the work done</span><span id="E598" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> well</span><span id="E599" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">, for His glory and the flourishing of His beloved creation</span><span id="E600" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">—then </span><span id="E601" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">they are doing what Jesus instructs in the sermon on the Mount: </span><span id="E602" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">“</span><span id="E603" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.</span><span id="E604" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">”</span><span id="E605" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> When believers work with this motivation the result is as </span><span id="E606" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">1 </span><span id="E607" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Peter </span><span id="E608" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">3:15 </span><span id="E609" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">suggests</span><span id="E610" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,</span><span id="E611" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> that people will ask for an explanation for the hope that is within us. So, if you are a church leader, </span><span id="E612" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">one of </span><span id="E613" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">the best way</span><span id="E614" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">s</span><span id="E615" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> to increase the evangelistic impact of your congregation is to teach this image bearer perspective.</span></p>
<p id="E616" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span class="qowt-font7-Arial"> </span></p>
<p id="E617" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E618" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"Being. Knowing. Doing."</span></em></p>
<p id="E619" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E620" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> How do these terms describe the primary objectives of making disciples?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E621" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E622" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">TOM >>> </span></p>
<p id="E623" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E624" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Most </span><span id="E625" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">religions take their starting point in Doing or Knowing. Your doing determines your being, i.e. you earn your being or you become what you do. Or secret knowledge determines your being; you become what you know. Christianity is unique in that God first changes our being and then, and only then, can our m</span><span id="E626" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">ind be renewed resulting in God-</span><span id="E627" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">honoring </span><span id="E628" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">b</span><span id="E629" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">ehavior. It is essential that, as disciplers, we begin with the need for heart change. Only after the disciple has been “born</span><span id="E630" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span><span id="E631" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">again” can the discipler begin to shap</span><span id="E632" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">e their thinking and acting. When </span><span id="E633" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">people have </span><span id="E634" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">been renewed by Christ, </span><span id="E635" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">they </span><span id="E636" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">can more fully grasp what it means to be created in God’s own image, as God’s beloved children, and then to live out of that awareness of who </span><span id="E637" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">they </span><span id="E638" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">are. </span></p>
<p id="E639" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span></p>
<p id="E640" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E641" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"Structure. Style. Substance."</span></em></p>
<p id="E642" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E643" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> Instead of a set program, why do you offer disciplers a range of options to build effective formats?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E644" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E645" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>></span><span id="E646" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> </span></p>
<p id="E647" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-7"><span id="E648" class="qowt-font9-tim">Both Tom and I come from a coaching perspective, which probably shapes this approach. </span><span id="E649" class="qowt-font9-tim">I’m not anti-program. </span><span id="E650" class="qowt-font9-tim">I just </span><span id="E651" class="qowt-font9-tim">think the people who read this book will come up with far better ways of implementing the core ideas </span><span id="E652" class="qowt-font9-tim">in their </span><span id="E653" class="qowt-font9-tim">own </span><span id="E654" class="qowt-font9-tim">context </span><span id="E655" class="qowt-font9-tim">than we could </span><span id="E656" class="qowt-font9-tim">prescribe</span><span id="E657" class="qowt-font9-tim">. </span></p>
<p id="E659" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span class="qowt-font7-Arial"> </span></p>
<p id="E660" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E661" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"Who Are You? What Is Your Purpose? How </span><span id="E663" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">WIll</span><span id="E665" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> You Fulfill Your Purpose"</span></em><span id="E667" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><br /> </span></p>
<p id="E668" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E669" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> How do these three questions equip disciplers?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E670" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E671" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">TOM >>> </span></p>
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<p id="E672" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E673" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">S</span><span id="E674" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">ince these questions make up </span><span id="E675" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">the majority </span><span id="E676" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">of the book, I’m hard pressed to </span><span id="E677" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">give a short </span><span id="E678" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">answer</span><span id="E679" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">! </span><span id="E680" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">But maybe to put it simply: </span><span id="E681" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Who are you?</span><span id="E682" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> defines your </span><span id="E683" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">essence, </span><span id="E684" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">your </span><span id="E685" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">“</span><span id="E686" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">why</span><span id="E687" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> are you here”</span><span id="E688" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">? This is the </span><span id="E689" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">foundation for all you do, that will </span><span id="E690" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">get you out of bed in the morning. The answer is you are </span><span id="E691" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">a beloved </span><span id="E692" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">image bearer of </span><span id="E693" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">God, redeemed by God,</span><span id="E694" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> to whom has been given the charge of causing the flourishing of the world God loves. Pretty </span><span id="E695" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">c</span><span id="E696" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">ompelling </span><span id="E697" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">s</span><span id="E698" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">tuff. Once the disciple has grasped this defining self-concept then we explore </span><span id="E699" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">What is your purpose?</span><span id="E700" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> We might also use the word your mission</span><span id="E701" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">.</span><span id="E702" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> In other words</span><span id="E703" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,</span><span id="E704" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> what part are you called to play in </span><span id="E705" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">God’s kingdom? This has both a broad sense in the overall biblical story and the specific way each individual is called to contribute to </span><span id="E706" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">the flourishing of God’s world</span><span id="E707" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">.</span><span id="E708" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span><span id="E709" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Finally, we can refine it down to How will you fulfill your purpose? In other words we get down to details and tactics of how best to accomplish the compelling work the disciple is called to</span><span id="E710" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> do</span><span id="E711" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">. </span></p>
<p id="E712" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"> </span></p>
<p id="E713" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E714" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> How do these three questions empower image-bearers?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E715" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E716" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>></span></p>
<p id="E717" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-8"><span id="E718" class="qowt-font10-time">When we </span><span id="E719" class="qowt-font10-time">start with “who are you as an image bearer?” we build on the foundation that God created people to be “very good,” and empowered them to develop </span><span id="E720" class="qowt-font10-time">and sustain </span><span id="E721" class="qowt-font10-time">a world of beauty and abundance. As </span><span id="E722" class="qowt-font10-time">image-bearers who work in God’s kingdom</span><span id="E723" class="qowt-font10-time">, we’re not just </span><span id="E724" class="qowt-font10-time">treading water </span><span id="E725" class="qowt-font10-time">in a fallen world, waiting to be delivered to eternal rest in heaven. Every day we can get up and </span><span id="E726" class="qowt-font10-time">tackle our </span><span id="E727" class="qowt-font10-time">work </span><span id="E728" class="qowt-font10-time">knowing that it has a </span><span id="E729" class="qowt-font10-time">good purpose</span><span id="E730" class="qowt-font10-time">. Even the struggles we face in the workplace are part of how God is forming us so that we can better fulfill that purpose. There’s a thread that connects our mundane daily work all the way back to the garden, through the cross and all the way forward to the heavenly city. </span></p>
<p id="E732" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2"><span id="E733" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"This is not discipleship for the status quo. Inviting people to follow Jesus in their work may lead to radical shifts in how believers see themselves (and others) ... and how their work connects with the Gospel story. This calling requires people who have the courage of their convictions as well as openness to ongoing renewal in their own lives."</span><span id="E735" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><br /> </span></p>
<p class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"> </p>
<p id="E736" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E737" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> It takes courage to reimagine discipleship. What reward awaits those who take the risk?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E738" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E739" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">TOM >>> </span></p>
<p id="E740" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E741" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">If you have a </span><span id="E743" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">discipler’s</span><span id="E745" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> heart you love nothing better than seeing a disciple make big jumps into areas of greater spirituality. People are often skeptical of this message. Mostly because all their lives they have heard that what is spiritual is what happens at church. But be persistent and you will see God grow amazing fruit. It’s like being a boss developing future leaders as you see several of them step up into</span><span id="E746" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> great company responsibility. </span><span id="E747" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">We help our disciples get promoted into greater Kingdom participation and the </span><span id="E748" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">immense </span><span id="E749" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">satisfaction that comes from knowing that they are </span><span id="E750" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">productively </span><span id="E751" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">doing work that God wants done. </span></p>
<p id="E752" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E753" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>> </span></p>
<p id="E754" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-9"><span id="E755" class="qowt-font11-ti">Well, consider the story in Acts 16 when Paul </span><span id="E756" class="qowt-font11-ti">rebukes </span><span id="E757" class="qowt-font11-ti">the </span><span id="E758" class="qowt-font11-ti">evil spirit </span><span id="E759" class="qowt-font11-ti">that had long possessed </span><span id="E760" class="qowt-font11-ti">a woman</span><span id="E761" class="qowt-font11-ti">. The evil spirit had led her to do work as a fortune teller, which distorted her purpose because this is not work that honors God</span><span id="E762" class="qowt-font11-ti">. </span><span id="E763" class="qowt-font11-ti">As </span><span id="E764" class="qowt-font11-ti">a slave, </span><span id="E765" class="qowt-font11-ti">her owners defined her worth </span><span id="E766" class="qowt-font11-ti">only as a tool for their profit</span><span id="E767" class="qowt-font11-ti">, </span><span id="E768" class="qowt-font11-ti">not as </span><span id="E769" class="qowt-font11-ti">their </span><span id="E770" class="qowt-font11-ti">equal </span><span id="E771" class="qowt-font11-ti">endowed with God’s image. </span><span id="E772" class="qowt-font11-ti">When Paul </span><span id="E773" class="qowt-font11-ti">and Silas </span><span id="E774" class="qowt-font11-ti">upended the status quo by freeing her from this oppressive, blasphemous work of fortune-telling, </span><span id="E775" class="qowt-font11-ti">their </span><span id="E776" class="qowt-font11-ti">reward was </span><span id="E777" class="qowt-font11-ti">to be attacked by a mob, beaten and thrown into prison. But </span><span id="E778" class="qowt-font11-ti">… </span><span id="E779" class="qowt-font11-ti">from that came the g</span><span class="qowt-font11-ti">reater reward of </span><span id="E780" class="qowt-font11-ti">seeing this woman freed to live out what God had created her to be and to do. </span><span id="E781" class="qowt-font11-ti">This also led to </span><span id="E782" class="qowt-font11-ti">bringing salvation to their jailer, his household and other witnesses, </span><span id="E783" class="qowt-font11-ti">as well as </span><span id="E784" class="qowt-font11-ti">strengthening the new church.</span></p>
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<p id="E786" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-9"><span id="E787" class="qowt-font11-ti">Long story short: the path of vocational discipleship is costly but leads </span><span id="E788" class="qowt-font11-ti">ultimately </span><span id="E789" class="qowt-font11-ti">to joy and glory. </span><span id="E790" class="qowt-font11-ti">And </span><span id="E791" class="qowt-font11-ti">when we disciple others to make tough choices in pursuit of their kingdom purpose, this often has long-term ripple effects beyond what we can see. </span></p>
<p id="E792" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"> </p>
<p id="E794" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><span id="E795" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">" __________"</span></p>
<p id="E796" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E797" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> Anything else you want to say?</span></strong></p>
<p id="E798" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E799" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">TOM >>> </span></p>
<p id="E800" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E801" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Thanks for allowing us to share about our passion for vocational discipleship with your</span><span id="E802" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> readers</span><span id="E803" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">. </span></p>
<p id="E804" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> </span></p>
<p id="E805" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E806" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>> </span></p>
<p id="E807" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-7"><span id="E808" class="qowt-font9-tim">Coming alongside Tom on this book has transformed my </span><span id="E809" class="qowt-font9-tim">perspective on work in many ways. </span><span id="E810" class="qowt-font9-tim">For example, I think differently about </span><span id="E811" class="qowt-font9-tim">youth ministry. How are we helping our young people </span><span id="E812" class="qowt-font9-tim">to affirm </span><span id="E813" class="qowt-font9-tim">who they are as image-bearers</span><span id="E814" class="qowt-font9-tim">,</span><span id="E815" class="qowt-font9-tim"> and </span><span id="E816" class="qowt-font9-tim">to </span><span id="E817" class="qowt-font9-tim">discover how God has designed them with gifts to apply </span><span id="E818" class="qowt-font9-tim">to their education and career </span><span id="E819" class="qowt-font9-tim">plans </span><span id="E820" class="qowt-font9-tim">(</span><span id="E821" class="qowt-font9-tim">Eph. 2:10)? </span><span id="E822" class="qowt-font9-tim">Along with the usual virtues we try to instill in our youth, </span><span id="E823" class="qowt-font9-tim">I see a need for youth </span><span id="E824" class="qowt-font9-tim">disciple</span><span id="E825" class="qowt-font9-tim">ship</span><span id="E826" class="qowt-font9-tim"> </span><span id="E827" class="qowt-font9-tim">to include teachings about </span><span id="E828" class="qowt-font9-tim">God’s plan for work with integrity, generosity and justice</span><span id="E829" class="qowt-font9-tim">. In addition to involving </span><span id="E830" class="qowt-font9-tim">youth in volunteer service projects, </span><span id="E831" class="qowt-font9-tim">youth leaders </span><span id="E832" class="qowt-font9-tim">can </span><span id="E833" class="qowt-font9-tim">affirm </span><span id="E834" class="qowt-font9-tim">that they </span><span id="E835" class="qowt-font9-tim">also serve </span><span id="E836" class="qowt-font9-tim">God when they do their schoolwork and household chores with diligence</span><span id="E837" class="qowt-font9-tim">. </span><span id="E838" class="qowt-font9-tim">Help them see how they make a difference to the flourishing of the world, not just when they go on mission trips, but in their daily tasks. </span><span id="E839" class="qowt-font9-tim">Raise up this generation to lead the way with vocational discipleship! </span></p>
<p id="E840" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span class="qowt-font7-Arial"> </span></p>
<p id="E841" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-2" style="text-align:center;"><em><span id="E842" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">"In Jesus name ..."</span></em><span id="E844" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS"><br /> </span></p>
<p id="E845" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><strong><span id="E846" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">PHIL >>> Please lead us in a prayer we can make our own as we pray with you.</span></strong></p>
<p id="E847" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-0"><span id="E848" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">TOM >>> </span></p>
<p id="E849" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-1"><span id="E850" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">Lord</span><span id="E851" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman">,</span><span id="E852" class="qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman"> take this offering of the work of our hands (and brains) and use it to bring Kingdom flourishing to this world you love.</span></p>
<p id="E853" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-3"><span id="E854" class="qowt-font6-TrebuchetMS">HEIDI >>> </span></p>
<p id="E855" class="x-scope qowt-word-para-7"><span id="E856" class="qowt-font9-tim">May we spur one another on </span><span id="E857" class="qowt-font9-tim">to </span><span id="E858" class="qowt-font9-tim">do good work in a good way</span><span id="E859" class="qowt-font9-tim">.</span></p>
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<div><a href="https://m.facebook.com/109788424962111/" target="_blank">Facebook page for Equipping Christans for Kingdom Purposes in Their Work</a></div>
<div><br />
<div><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/equipping-christians-kingdom-purpose-guide-disciples/tom-lutz/9781683073994/pd/073994" target="_blank">Order the book>>></a> </div>
<div> </div>
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<p><strong>Tom Lutz</strong> (DMin, Covenant Theological Seminary) brings decades of entrepreneurial experience to his work coaching marketplace leaders as a Convene CEO Roundtable chair and through his consulting company, Vision Planners. Tom also teaches biblical studies at Metro Atlanta Seminary and leads workshops to help Christians work with purpose. </p>
<p><strong>Heidi Unruh</strong> is a ministry consultant, trainer and coach who specializes in helping the people of God care well for neighbors and work toward the flourishing of their community.</p>
<p>Heidi Unruh interviews on The Reimagine.Network</p>
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<dt> <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/xn/detail/22531044:DiscussionEntry:23229">Resource: "Real Connections: Ministries to Strengthen Church and Community Relations"</a></dt>
<dd>Real Connections Joy Skjegstad & Heidi <strong><span class="search-highlight">Unruh</span></strong> Endorsement by Phil Miglioratti This is a book that deserves my #ReimagineCHURCH...hashtag! Written in the eye of a pandemic storm, Heidi and Joy fo…</dd>
<dd><small>Added by <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC">Prayer INC</a> at 9:41am on July 8, 2021</small></dd>
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<dt><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/xn/detail/22531044:DiscussionEntry:22547">The #ReimagineFORUM Coaching Session with Joy Skjegstad + Heidi Unruh</a></dt>
<dd>[ Community Impact • Justice ] The #ReimagineFORUM Coaching Session with Joy Skjegstad + Heidi <strong><span class="search-highlight">Unruh</span></strong> of “High Impact Community Ministry” WHY? Why is it important for Christian leaders to begin a jou…</dd>
<dd><small>Added by <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC">Prayer INC</a> at 4:00pm on August 12, 2020</small></dd>
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<dt><a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/xn/detail/22531044:DiscussionEntry:23204">CHAT with the Authors ~ "Real Connections"</a></dt>
<dd>Chat with the Authors: 5 Questions / 5 Minutes (or less) “In the eye of the pandemic storm, Joy Skjegstad and Heidi <strong><span class="search-highlight">Unruh</span></strong> found themselves asking the questions church members wanted to ask and co…</dd>
<dd><small>Added by <a href="https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC">Prayer INC</a> at 5:44pm on August 23, 2021</small></dd>
</dl></div>An Interview on 21st Communication: "Stop riding dead horses. "https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/an-interview-on-21st-communication-stop-riding-dead-horses2022-01-29T19:15:20.000Z2022-01-29T19:15:20.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>"Stop riding dead horses. "</strong></span></p>
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<div class="gmail_default"><strong>Phil Miglioratti Interviewed <a href="https://gregspeckministries.org/230-2/" target="_blank">Greg Speck:</a> Communicating With Impact in the 21st Century </strong></div>
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<div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"><em>"I am seeing God work in awesome ways, teenagers and adults are coming to Jesus Christ for the first time, marriages are being saved and lives changed. God is choosing to work through this ministry in powerful ways!" Greg <span class="il">Speck</span></em></span></div>
<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10055613689,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10055613689,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10055613689?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="223" /></a></div>
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<div class="gmail_default"><strong>PHIL>>> How has American culture changed since we were youth leaders in the same city in the early 70's?</strong></div>
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<div class="gmail_default">GREG>>> There are huge changes, a gender identity revolution, sexual constraints are mostly gone, religion is seen as irrelevant, social media impact which has led to information at our finger tips but also an increase in hate, more divided as a country, the shattering of the family, etc. But in the midst of all this brokenness and hate God is raising up heroes of the faith. Today teens are very open to the Gospel, they may not readily accept it but they have tried everything else and it hasn't worked so they are desperate for help. </div>
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<div class="gmail_default"><strong>PHIL>>> Agree/Disagree </strong>:</div>
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<div><em>The centuries old model of school (listen to lectures, read books, study for tests) does not serve discipleship well in the 21st century</em></div>
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<div>GREG>>> Agree to a point. Young people need to be taught the basics of their faith. What they believe and why they believe it. But growth experiences are also key in developing disciples of Christ, getting them involved in mission trips, evangelism, camps, etc,. </div>
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<div><strong>PHIL>>> How does do people (especially younger generations) acquire knowledge/information? How is communcating different today?</strong></div>
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<div>GREG>>> We have to adapt to social media. Tic Tok, reels, podcasts, youtube, etc., all reach teens. These are platforms that we are late to arriving at but are important in speaking to teenagers. But also camps, conferences, mission trips, etc are still effective and relevent in reaching students. When we communicate to teens we need to be story tellers. Jesus was the master story teller and so we follow His example. Their attention span is less and we can't go as long but "effective" communication from the front still works. </div>
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<div><strong>PHIL>>> Help us reimagine a new process of discipleship that is rooted deeply in Jesus' message and methods …</strong></div>
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<div><em>What questions should leaders be asking in order to reimagine making disciples</em>?</div>
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<li>[Note: Greg's insights apply to student of all ages]</li>
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<div>GREG>>> Go in your office, get down on your knees and pray, ask the Lord,<em> "Jesus what do you want me to do?"</em></div>
<div>God wants to do a unique work in your youth ministry that might be totally different from anything around you.</div>
<div>What works for one group doesn't necessarily work for your group.</div>
<div>Teenagers are so different today, with so many sub groups, that it makes it difficult to do something that is going to reach all the teens.</div>
<div>Two areas that bridge to all the sub-groups are worship and the Word of God. Do not stray away from those two basics.</div>
<div>If you do, you'll be building on sifting sand. To help you to be relevant remember that every teen has four basic needs, neet to be loved, need to belong, need to achieve and the need to be recognized for those achievements. </div>
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<div>Today discipleship needs to be about developing students in Christ but also meeting needs.</div>
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<div>-Am I seeking the Lord?</div>
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<div>-Is what I'm doing bringing glory to Him? </div>
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<div>-Is what I'm doing relevant to the student?</div>
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<div>-Am I addressing needs they have right now?</div>
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<div>-Do they know what they believe and why they believe it?</div>
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<div>-Does my youth ministry include discipleship, outreach, growth experiences?</div>
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<div>-Am I evaluating the programs and am I willing to get rid of things that aren't working? Stop riding dead horses. </div>
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<div><span class="gmail_default"><strong>PHIL>>>Anything more you want to say?<br /> </strong></span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default">GREG>>> Youth ministry can be a lifetime calling. The older you get the better equipped you are to minister to teens. Because you have more emotional and spiritual maturity. </div>
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<div><strong><span class="gmail_default">PHIL>>> Greg, p</span>lease write a prayer that will give us courage to take up this challenge<span class="gmail_default">, to make necessary changes</span>…</strong></div>
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<div class="gmail_default">GREG>>><em> "Lord Jesus, thank you for this individual. First and foremost I pray that they will seek you and love you with all their heart. Give them favor in the </em><em>eyes of the teens and work through them in powerful ways to speak truth and life into the students. Might they never compromise in communicating the good </em><em>news. I ask you to put your arms around them, love them and protect them. Might they experience your peace and personal presence. I pray your richest </em><em>blessing on their life and ministry, I ask this in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ!" </em></div>
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</div></div>Coaching Session:https://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/coaching-session-leading-congregational-change-a-practical-guide-2021-12-30T19:37:29.000Z2021-12-30T19:37:29.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p> </p>
<p><strong>Coaching Session: </strong></p>
<p><strong> <em>"</em></strong> Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey”</p>
<p><strong> </strong>with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Herrington/e/B001KHHVHW/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1">Jim Herrington</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Bonem/e/B002BLXRX8/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_2">Mike Bonem</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_3?ie=UTF8&field-author=James+H.+Furr&text=James+H.+Furr&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=digital-text">James H. Furr</a> </p>
<p><strong> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9969583291,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9969583291,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9969583291?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="222" /></a></strong></p>
<p><strong> PHIL>>> What <em>"defining moment(s)"</em> led each of you to personally commit to reimagine Church, eventually resulting in your book, <em>Leading Congregational Change</em>?</strong> </p>
<p>JIM>>> I don't think I was reimagining church back in 2000 when we wrote the book. I think I was imagining how to help churches do more effectively what they had been doing all along. Back then we would have used the language of the attractional model of church built around the homogenous unit with success being measured by church growth.</p>
<p> What we discovered in the late 80s and early 90s was that our mental models were built on assumptions of slow change and homogeneity in our ministry context AND THAT WAS CHANGING. So, without challenging some of the existing mental models of the attractional approach to church, I was trying to help congregations engage change in a different way than they have ever had to do before in working to keep growing the church.</p>
<p> It wasn't until a decade or more later with the influence of Leslie Newbiggin and then the book "Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America" (1998) that my vision of church began to be reimagined. So, it evolved over a decade.</p>
<p> A part of what has helped it evolve is that we have led four massive projects where we have field tested our work. We worked with more than 250 congregations in Houston over a five-year period. Then we did a three-year project with American Baptist Churches USA and 200 church planters. Then we did a three-year project with the Indianapolis Center for Congregations. This project only had twelve congregations, but they represented everything from liberal to conservative and most major denominational traditions in the Indianapolis area. And then we were involved in a 10-year project with the Reformed Church in America, the Christian Reformed Church in North America, and Western Theological Seminary in Holland Michigan. In this project we worked with over 150 congregations.</p>
<p> So, it was in all that work that our sense that the need to reimagine church evolved.</p>
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<p>MIKE>>> When we wrote the first edition, researchers were just beginning to name the reality that our society was becoming post-Christian. We could see the reality of this as we interacted with church leaders who were experiencing declining attendance while working harder than ever. We frequently said, <em>“If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting.”</em> Since what they were getting was not good, it was clear that deep change was needed. But few pastors had been trained in how to lead healthy change. We wanted to create a resource that would help them in this very difficult work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>JAMES>>> At least four streams of thought and experience converged to shape my contribution to <em>Leading Congregational Change</em>. First, during the 1980’s, graduate study concerning church and community interaction while I was consulting with churches in changing communities provided a background for later learning. I realized the significance of contextual dynamics and organizational change processes, as well as the rarity of deep and lasting change in individuals and organizations. Second, beginning in 1989, work with the UBA staff team toward systemic innovation in leadership development was inspiring. The strategy of helping congregational leaders experience personal transformation increased the likelihood of deep change in their churches. Third, my initial exposure to missional theology in 1996 began a life-changing journey toward a more fruitful ecclesiology and missiology. Without deep theological grounding, which we called spiritual and relational vitality in <em>Leading Congregational Change</em>, change efforts are more likely to be ineffective or even distorted.</p>
<p><em> Leading Congregational Change</em>, especially the 2020 Fortress Press edition, allowed us to summarize our learning and experiences in ways that can encourage, equip, and empower leaders to more fully embrace some of the inspirations, insights, and innovations that transformed us. A fourth motive, then, is a sense of stewardship to share some of the blessings of what we are still learning. </p>
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<p><strong>PHIL>>> <em>"We write this book out of a deep conviction that bold transformation is needed in many congregations that cover the American landscape." ... Using</em> your own question from the Preface, <em>"Why do today's congregations need to be transformed?"</em></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>JIM>>> Because the pace of change has been so fast for so long that most of our ways of doing church no longer work. Evidence of this is the growth of the "nones" and "dones" - both the pace and the scope of that growth is exponential. A growing percentage of the US population sees the church as irrelevant.<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9969588274,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9969588274,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9969588274?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150" /></a></p>
<p> Missional theologians have done a fairly good job of articulating the shift we need to make from primarily an attractional model to primarily a missional model. That shift is from activities that are primarily about getting people to come to church (the building) <u>to</u> activities that are primarily about equipping people to mobilize the body of Christ in the neighborhood and the workplace. </p>
<p> But the gap between where most congregations that I interact with are and where they need to be to impact the culture is huge. And in most of those congregations, the mental models of the attractional church are so deeply held that any change efforts focus on working harder at the things that made the attractional church successful.</p>
<p> Today I believe that every North American congregation faces two choices - deep change or slow death. And in the early stages they will both look like dying. In one case it will be dying to an old way of doing church so that a new way can be resurrected. In the other case it will be a death that results the loss of influence and impact in a more permanent way.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL>>> <em>"Congregational transformation is essential, but it will only occur when leaders commit to personal transformation. Can you live with that?" ... </em>Why that question?</strong></p>
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<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9969591082,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9969591082,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9969591082?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="200" /></a>MIKE>>> Leaders often name the organizational change that is needed in a way that externalizes the problem. They may suggest their problems would be solved “If our church members were more committed” or “If we can raise the funds for the renovation project.” What we’ve seen, however, is that meaningful organizational change doesn’t occur unless leaders are also willing to be changed. In fact, the personal transformation usually needs to come first. Our question – <em>“can you live with that?”</em> – challenges leaders to not begin a change journey unless they are willing to dive into the messiness of re-examining and changing how they lead.</p>
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<p><strong>PHIL>>> Leaders who reimagine ministry must also take their congregation on a journey into <em>"</em>life-giving transformation."</strong></p>
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<li>Can anyone become a change-agent? What makes someone a change-agent with the capacity to lead others into transformation?
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<li>JAMES>>> Insofar as the essence of change agentry, or leadership, is influencing other people, we are all inevitably change agents whether that influence is intentional or unintentional, faithful or unfaithful, constructive or destructive. The call for discipleship to Jesus, the core change, applies to everyone. The opportunity to serve as a change agent, or leader, requires our own transformation toward Christlikeness, and the passion and compassion to equip, mobilize, and inspire other people for the countless expressions of Christian discipleship.</li>
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</li>
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<li><strong><em>Spiritual and relational vitality is profoundly personal and corporate."</em>How is that not an oxymoron?</strong>
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<li>JIM>>> When we wrote the book, we only wrote one chapter or spiritual and relational vitality. Our assumption was that most congregations were good at this. What we have learned over the years is that this is not so. As we have researched this topic and worked in the pilot projects referred to above, we can now talk about this in a more nuanced way.</li>
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<p>On the personal side there is the work of helping people (our members) learn to have an intimate relationship with God, neighbor (stranger and enemy - see the Good Samaritan), and self. A measure of success of this work is this. Are people regularly being equipped to bear the fruit of the Spirit when it's easy and when it's really challenging (stranger and enemy) and are they joining God in God's mission in the world to restore wholeness to the earth?</p>
<p>On the corporate side, there is the set questions about how we mobilize people around a shared vision. We can do this in a way that get broad, deep commitment from key leaders in the congregation, or we can do this work in a way that results in formal compliance - "sure pastor, if that's what you want to do, you go ahead." The work of personal growth and mobilizing people around a shared vision is more complex than ever before.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Please comment on these <em>"Elements of Spiritual and Relational Vitality:</em>"</strong></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Encountering God's Holiness</strong> - </li>
<li>MIKE>>> Ultimately, leading congregational change is about discerning where God is leading a church. But we can’t discern God’s direction if we don’t encounter God in the change process. In the absence of God’s presence, a church’s change process will be a business or political process with a cursory prayer added at the end.</li>
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<li><strong>Experiencing God's Grace</strong> – </li>
<li>JAMES>>> We tend to operate as individuals, groups, and communities around the practice of exchange. You do something for me, and I match your action with the appropriate response whether that involves gratitude, compensation, or action. At best, this process can result in a process we think of as fairness and safeguard against abuse. The downside of basing our entire lifestyle on exchange is the tendency to assign value to people simple for the “services” they provide and to fixate on getting the best “deal” we can on every transaction and relationship. This can easily slip into pridefulness regarding our accomplishments and the temptation to discount the intrinsic value of people inherent in God’s creation. The disastrous effect on leaders can be an obsession with whatever seems “bigger, better, and faster.” The intent of God’s design is that the appropriate stewardship of our capacities and opportunities never assumes we are self-sufficient dealmakers. We are, in fact, limited and sinful creatures. Only by God’s unconditional love and grace are we able to enjoy life’s blessings with God and with one another. The disposition of gratitude and humility that flows from that dynamic is fundamental to faithfulness and life-giving relationships</li>
</ul>
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<li><strong>Embracing Unity - </strong></li>
<li>JIM>>> Unity must be distinguished from uniformity. We live in a world where congregations often organize in echo chambers. Using the body of Christ imagery, hands get in one church, eyes in another, ears in another. It's rare to find progressives and conservatives, young and old, people with differing view of the work of the Atonement, etc., in the same church. Unity requires a level of emotional maturity that is often not present in congregations. Instead, we settle for uniformity.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Engaging Community – </strong></li>
<li>MIKE>>>Genuine community facilitates the accountability and risk-taking that are necessary for healthy change. Community also draws in people with diverse gifts and thoughts, which results in better decisions. And when conflict occurs, which is inevitable in the midst of change, people who are engaged in community are better able to work through their differences.</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong>PHIL>>> <em>"The nature of leadership that is required to initiate and guide transformation represents a major shift for many congregations." </em>You assert the need to shift from transactional ministry to transformational ministry. Please define the differences and why this rethinking is essential to vital congregations in our 21st century culture.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9969589056,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9969589056?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="175" /></p>
<p>JAMES>>> My answer tracks with the necessity of God’s grace and the risk of functioning without it. Transactional leadership is about making deals in which a leader offers something sufficiently desirable to those he/she leads and their matching response. For instance, if a pastor provides the church a sense of direction, encouragement, and opportunities to satisfy various felt needs, the people may respond with loyalty, affirmation, participation, and resources. At the superficial level, churches can rock along for a long time this way until or unless a significant imbalance in the “trade” is perceived by one or both parties resulting in disengagement, dissatisfaction, or disruption. At the very least, the seeming positive energy only flows while the leader initiates the necessary activities. This progression helps explain why burn-out is so common among pastoral leaders. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Transformational leaders help those they lead to recognize and embrace the reign of God in creation, to discern God’s intent for their lives, their congregation, and all creation, as well as the distinct aspects of God’s movement to which they are called to contribute at every place and time. This transformational style shifts the movement from a dimension that is primarily extrinsic (initiated externally or from the outside) to motives that are more intrinsic (initiated internally or from the inside). The role and influence of transformational leaders is no less critical, but the journey toward God’s vision is likely to be more collaborative and interdependent. </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL>>> How will transformational leadership help us reimagine ministry?</strong></p>
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<li>Praying: Making prayer congregational priority...</li>
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<li>JIM>>><strong> </strong>For me, prayer is a call to align my life with God's life. God's ways are not my ways and God's thoughts are not my thoughts, but I can know God's ways and thoughts and align my life around those ways. So, at both the personal and the congregational level, discernment becomes a critical skill. People like Dallas Willard and Ruth Haley Barton are among those who have written and taught about this kind of discernment. A second thought is that when church becomes a place for religious consumers to get their needs met, prayer often becomes an activity designed to ask God to give me what I want rather than an activity to ask God to help me align my life with God's mission. Prayer and particularly corporate discernment must be tied to God's mission in the world.</li>
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<li>Organizing: Shifting from managing to changing...</li>
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<li>MIKE>>> Managing focuses on keeping the current system running as well as possible. Managing is important in contexts where change is not needed because it provides stability and efficiency. But the current systems are part of the problem. We don’t need to manage our existing systems better – we need to create new ways of thinking and new systems that are more nimble and flexible.</li>
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</li>
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<p> </p>
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<li>DiscipleMaking: Seeking to be experiential rather than programmatic...</li>
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<li>JAMES>>> Programs are the routine activities we design and implement to address specific goals like Bible study, community service, prayer, etc. The benefit of programs is that they intentionally mobilize people to achieve a desired outcome. They give feet to a preferred destination. The risk is over-reliance on program design, the popularity of the activity, and the assumption that it will always contribute to the original objectives. Good learning design requires that we routinely assess whether current and potential participants in the program have an experience aligned with the result. Programs are means to the ends of spiritual and relational vitality although they may be comfortable and enjoyable in and of themselves. A second consideration is learning style. Some individuals strongly prefer learning by reflection on planned actions rather than the more traditional mode of programs based primarily on acquiring information that is later “applied” by individuals if and when they choose to do so.</li>
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<p> </p>
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<li>Impact: In the community but also for the community and with the community...
<ul>
<li>JIM>>> We did a project in Houston nearly 20 years ago. We divided the city into about 40 regions, and we interview community leaders (business owners, public school leaders, police officer, etc.) and ask them several questions including <em>"How can the church serve the community?"</em> The most common answer we got was, <em>"Show up when the community is trying to solve problems like education, transportation, homelessness. Mostly the church is absent from those conversations. You only seem interested in the things that benefit you." </em>That was sobering feedback. Over the years the church is growing in its capacity to see itself as a contributor to the common good, even if/when it doesn't result in the growth of the institution that we call church.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong>PHIL>>> Please leave us with a question that will challenge us to seek Spirit-led direction and Scripture-fed vision...</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>JIM>>> Transformation is not a one-and-done journey. It lasts a lifetime. So, a question that I'm regularly asking myself is this. <em>What must change in me that empowers me to more fully join God in God's mission in the world? </em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>MIKE>>> I am regularly challenged by the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. We all serve in different contexts and have different resources and capabilities. God doesn’t call us to duplicate what someone else is doing. But God does call us to be good stewards of what we have been given<em>. So how well are we stewarding our leadership gifts and opportunities</em>?</p>
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<p>JAMES>>> It is easy to assert our willingness and desire to change as individuals and as congregations. Most of us know, however, even without conscious awareness or articulation, that there are limits to what we are willing to change and why. In fact, most of us probably avoid reflection on or verbalization of such questions so we do not have to acknowledge our restrictions. For example, I say I want to be healthier, but I am unwilling to exercise regularly. We say we want our congregation to be faithful, but we choose to avoid any issues that create discomfort for the members.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Worth pondering</strong>…<em>What personal and congregational changes are you unwilling to even consider? Why? What will you do?</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p></div>Leadership and Love in Disciplemakinghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/leadership-and-love-in-disciplemaking2016-08-31T19:22:20.000Z2016-08-31T19:22:20.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><h1><span style="color: #000080;"><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-SEEcret-Questions-Embracing-Answers/dp/1630470929/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1471905341&sr=1-1&keywords=garmo+seecrets" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000080;">The Leader's SEEcret:</span></a></strong></span></h1>
<h1><span style="color: #000080;"><strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-SEEcret-Questions-Embracing-Answers/dp/1630470929/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1471905341&sr=1-1&keywords=garmo+seecrets" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000080;">Asking the Right Questions and Embracing God's Answers</span></a></strong></span></h1>
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<p><strong>PHIL ~ Skip, what prompted you to write this book?</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869838?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="160" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869838?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="160" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p>SKIP ~ I wrote <i>The Leader’s S</i><i>EEcret</i> because of my heart’s burden to teach and encourage the Church-at-large—including myself—to “walk as children of light” in our darkening world (Ephesians 5:8 and Philippians 2:15). It is a call for <i>agape-</i>focused discipling<i>.</i></p>
<p> We have a pervasive and prickly problem in Christendom: We celebrate the salvation of souls, and then invite them into local churches populated with presumed Christ-followers whose lives and values in general are insignificantly different from non-Christ-followers. From the get-go, their lights become dimmed as they’re immersed in, and imitate, the pool of others with dim lights. It’s a tragic, self-perpetuating epidemic of dimness.</p>
<p> The recent Barnabas/Navigators research on discipleship across America quotes Mark Silk (Trinity College, Connecticut), who speaks plainly about this epidemic: “The real dirty little secret of religiosity in America is that there are so many people for whom spiritual interest, thinking about ultimate questions, is minimal.”</p>
<p> Church leaders often contribute to that disaster by focusing more on attendance-building <i>processes</i> (e.g., attracting, preaching, and activity-managing) than on God-pleasing <i>outcomes</i>. Other ministry leaders likewise distract from outcomes with attention-and-resource-consuming processes.</p>
<p> How does this happen? One cause of this calamity is not asking the right questions.</p>
<p> We have to recover from this disaster by teaching and encouraging Christ-followers to: (a) ask the right questions diligently and (b) embrace God’s answers courageously.</p>
<p> But regrettably, far too many believers rely on their church leaders and other ministry leaders to do that for them. That’s why the <i>The Leader’s S</i><i>EEcret</i> is written first to leaders.</p>
<p> However, <i>The Leader’s S</i><i>EEcret</i> combines story, reflection, and discussion in a way that all Christ-followers may welcome as a worthwhile life-focuser and ministry-refiner.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL ~ Let's dissect the title: Leaders. How do leadership and discipleship work together to make a faithful disciple who is also a wise leader?<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869780?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="212" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869780?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="212" class="align-right"/></a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>SKIP ~ Good question, Phil!</p>
<p> <i>Individually</i>, every wise leader (who claims to be a Christ-follower) must also be a faithful disciple personally. It is unwise to be otherwise. The consequences of “otherwise” emerge time after time in, for example, the devastating moral or integrity failures of too many pastors and others in ministry.</p>
<p> <i>Interpersonally</i>, discipling others begins with leaders in the Church-at-large, whether those men and women are pastors, nonprofit leaders, retirees, students, homemakers, or professionals in business, arts, medicine, and education.</p>
<p> Scriptures teach us that discipling is better caught than taught (e.g., John 13:15; 1 Timothy 4:12). Leadership is often summarized as “influence”—and the most powerful influence on others is a leader’s example. The Barna/Navigators study on discipleship observes that churches most extraordinary in discipling are those who intentionally declare being and making disciples as top priorities, exemplified by the senior pastor and staff, and rippling throughout that congregation. That process also fosters future generations of wise disciples who lead with continuing ripple effects.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL ~ Asking the right questions. Why are questions so vital? How does a leader learn to ask the "right" questions?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>SKIP ~ As an African proverb reminds us, “The one who asks questions doesn’t lose his way.”</p>
<p> Management guru (and eventual Christ-follower) Peter Drucker observed: “The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong question.”</p>
<p> The depth of that danger shows in Peter Senge’s sobering generalization in <i>The Fifth Discipline</i>: “Today’s problems come from yesterday’s ‘solutions.’”</p>
<p> Jesus made magnificent use of questions to expose the wrong questions and wrong solutions of religious leaders in His day.</p>
<p> Questions such as “Why?” and “How?” are invaluable. And the self-discipline of relentlessly questioning our questions will get us get down to root issues. It will expose unexamined assumptions, unnecessary expectations, and unintended consequences. The right questions lead to paths we might not otherwise consider and to solutions we won’t regret.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL ~ Embracing God's answers. Why is this simple truth so difficult?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>SKIP ~ Today’s noisy clamor of celebrities and media can distract ministry leaders from seeing and focusing on the simple priorities and processes presented by God Himself.</p>
<p> But as you note, simple is not easy. Discerning and embracing God’s answers to questions of church and ministry outcomes is impossible unless that leader develops the wisdom to recognize them, the conviction to trust them, the courage to express them, and the diligence to apply them consistently.</p>
<p> <i>The Leader’s S</i><i>EEcret</i> is the story of a young pastor who eventually looks away from those media and focuses on God’s Word. But he fears the possible consequences of obeying what he sees. The priorities and processes are not only different from the commercial world around him. They are also different from most pastors and other ministry leaders around him!</p>
<p> Why? Because God redirects his attention from numbers to <i>values</i>. 1 Corinthians 13 and Revelation 2 tells him clearly that what matters most to God is <i>agape</i> love.</p>
<p> <i>Agape</i> consists of core Christlike character values which, when reflected from God through us, conflict with fallen human nature like light conflicts with darkness. Confronting the fears and risks associated with living for Jesus requires a disciple to have wisdom, conviction, courage, and diligence—and more. That’s why Christlike <i>agape</i> is the core outcome of discipling.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL ~ SEEcret. Please unpack what this on-purpose misspelling is intending to reveal to us... </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>SKIP ~ From Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14-16 and many other scriptures, the “SEEcret” is that what people <i>see</i> <i>in us</i> is far more important than what they <i>hear from us</i>. “Talk is cheap.” How we act or react in easy times is one thing—but how do we act or react when stressed, fearful, angry, or in significant risk? God challenges us through His Word to walk our talk. <i>Agape</i> shows more in our actions and reactions than in our knowledge and skills.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>PHIL ~ Agree or Disagree (and why): The evangelism focused prayer-care-share lifestyle is the result of disciple-makers who integrate those three elements into their teaching-training, mentoring-messaging.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>SKIP ~ I agree heartily, but with a couple comments:</p>
<p>(1) About an <i>evangelism-focused</i> lifestyle: Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 14:21 mention the “making” of disciples in contexts that seem to melt evangelism into disciple-making. “Evangelism” emphasizes bringing the good news—a <i>process</i> in disciple-making. “Disciple-making” emphasizes the <i>outcome</i> desired when bringing a person to faith and maturity in Christ. At least as <i>I</i> see it in the Bible!</p>
<p> If so, and since <u>being a disciple is mostly about applying <i>agape</i> love to life</u>, I’d deepen the motive/focus and describe the prayer-care-share lifestyle as <i>love-focused</i>. No wonder, then, that I resonate with the Mission America Coalition initiative called “LOVE2020.”</p>
<p>(2) About <i>motives</i> for that lifestyle: If selfish motives trigger that lifestyle—such as one’s need for acceptance and applause on earth or in heaven—then 1 Corinthians 13 assures us that God cancels all credit for that lifestyle.</p>
<p> But if <i>agape</i> love triggers that lifestyle, then praying, caring, and sharing do reflect the Christlike values of a devoted disciple or discipler.</p>
<p> We tend to look on outward appearances, and may not discern motives accurately. But God knows the difference. <i>And His opinion is the only one that counts!</i></p>
<p> </p></div>Interview ~ Staying Is The New Goinghttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/interview-staying-is-the-new-going2015-11-17T21:01:32.000Z2015-11-17T21:01:32.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p></p>
<p><br/><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869511?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869511?profile=original" width="175" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p class="p1"></p>
<p class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><i>Phil Miglioratti's interview with Alan Briggs, author of</i></b> <strong><span style="color: #0000ff;"><i>S</i><i><a href="http://www.navpress.com/Staying-Is-the-New-Going/dp/1631464795#sthash.0JZQGZS2.dpbs" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000ff;">taying is the New Going</span></a></i></span></strong></span></p>
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<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Alan, I see your position description is "multiplying pastor" ... How does that indicate your position and your passion?</b></span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">I get to spend a majority of my energy during the week equipping disciples to make disciples, leaders to raise up more leaders and church planters to start healthy multiplying churches. Ironically, math is a huge weakness of mine, but I love this role I get to lead in. A team of us founded Frontline Church Planting (<a href="http://www.frontlinechurchplanting.com/"><span class="s2">www.frontlinechurchplanting.com</span></a>) about 5 years ago and I currently serve as the Director. I spend a lot of our time with everyday missionaries and missional misfits who want to have a faithful impact for Jesus. </span></p>
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<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Unpack the subtitle, <i>"Choosing to Love Where God Places You"</i></b></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">The subtitle has deeply connected with a lot of folks. Many people, even those far from church life, comment on how they have been wrestling with this same concept of loving and committing to a place and those who live there. </span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2"><span class="s1">Choosing - you seem to speak often about risk ...</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">It's certainly a choice. In North America joining God's mission seems to be optional, and in some circles people have never felt the permission or challenge to do so. I wanted the title to serve as both a call and a warning that it is, indeed, a risk. Jesus called the disciples to a risk, and I believe that's the risk every disciple is given. </span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2"><span class="s1">Places - what is the role of "place" (location)? ...</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">Place has been under-sold and under-understood as a vital piece of loving people toward Jesus. Places are ecosystems in which people live, play, work, make sense of life and seek to build relationships. Place means a lot to people, so it's one of our greatest entry points into their lives. While some Christian privilege can be taken away through legal decisions the grassroots relationships that our places offer us cannot be taken away. The early church exploded in the midst of a powerful Roman Empire because of the commitment to live the gospel into the everyday rhythm of life, work and relationships with those around them. </span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2"><span class="s1">Love - why love? ...</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">Apart from love we've got nothing new to offer this world. Devoid of love our faith will be expressed through proclaiming and embodying the gospel as purely an expansion scheme or a growth strategy. Love is what draws us to the Father, and love for people and the places where they reside is what brings out the saltiness and gives off a glow. A love for our places, however cool or uncool they might seem, can be a radical statement of contentment in discontent culture. </span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li2"><span class="s1">God - what is God's role in our calling? ...</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">We can do nothing apart from the Father, but we'll certainly keep trying:) I think we've all had futile seasons of ministry, because we tried to do things ourselves. Ultimately we have to trust the sovereignty of God that HE has placed us around people who HE wants us to have an impact on. I believe we trust God's sovereignty in many areas, but the North American mindset puts ourselves as the chooser of where we live and who we'll interact with. We need to give up that false reality and realize God orders our steps, even as far as the home where we reside. </span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>What does Cal Ripken teach us about our role, our ministry?</b></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">Cal was an All Star, but he experienced something most professional athletes never will; longevity. I remember getting teary-eyed watching Cal take a lap with a cheering crowd at Camden Yards as he broke the streak of consecutive games played. Our culture largely honors those who hit the most home runs, not those who keep putting the cleats on and keep showing up. Cal's life rooted in a small geography of Maryland committed to one team has become a narrative that has shaped my ministry. Our heroes, both secular and Christian, will shape our own narrative. Choose wisely. </span></p>
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<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>How is <i>"We began to offer our lives to our neighbors"</i> a statement of a radical transformation ...</b></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">Before following God's call to mission in our neighborhood we offered only leftovers to neighbors, mostly accidental encounters. Now the challenge is to be intentional in giving some of our best time, energy, intention and attention to our physical neighbors. Today, in fact, our neighbor who is a special needs adult celebrates his birthday, and we're throwing him a surprise party. Offering leftovers doesn't exactly communicate the loving heart of God, so we made some necessary shifts to offer full courses. </span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Salt, Light and Shovels. Salt and light we get; shovels?</b></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">Salt and light are, indeed, what Jesus calls us. Those are identity statements that should challenge us to the core. Shovels indicate work, hard work. Being salt and light can produce feelings of excitement, but can be hard to understand what that looks like. I included shovels as a reminder that it takes work, it doesn't happen on accident. We laugh a lot with our neighbors, but we also have to get dirty as we remember there is, indeed, work to be done. </span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>What more would you like to say to us?</b></span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">I have done a lot of ministry in unique and exciting areas, but I have never experienced anything like living with intention in a neighborhood and a city. God has met my family in such unique ways and shown amazing victories that we never would have anticipated. My four kids join us in nearly everything we do in the neighborhood and, in turn, understand some things about mission that I didn't understand growing up. It can certainly be hard work, but it's a kind of work and relationship that the human heart longs for. It's worth the risk!!! </span></p>
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<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Alan, please write a prayer we can pray with you that expresses our desire to make a difference right where we are, right now.</b></span></p>
<p class="p3"></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1">This is a prayer from the back of the book, one I have prayed over myself and my family, and I want to pray this over you. </span></p>
<p class="p5"></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May your eyes shift from where you could be to where you already are. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May global adventures become local as distant humans become near souls. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May you serve and befriend and have others do the same to you. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May staying with God’s hand excite you as much as finding your destiny. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May your enamored heart find focus.</span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May your life be described as salty and luminous. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May you be as content on two wheels as you are between two wings. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May you dwell well even when you haven’t planned well. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May you have the courage to see the mission field right in front of your face. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May you be known for nearness and here-ness to those around you. </span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">May the keeper keep you engaged and reengaged in his Kingdom work.</span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1"><br/></span></p>
<p class="p6"><span class="s1">You can connect with me at AlanBriggs.net and @AlanBriggs </span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s1"> </span></p></div>Interview ~ Following Jesus and Loving the Worldhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/interview-following-jesus-and-loving-the-world2016-01-09T16:54:27.000Z2016-01-09T16:54:27.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869515?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869515?profile=original" width="131" class="align-full" height="158"/></a></p>
<div>Phil Miglioratti interviewed Paul <span class="lG">Borthwick</span>, author of Great Compassion, Great Compassion</div>
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<div>Phil ~ Paul, no book is easy to write but some are smooth journeys, others are hard. Which was this?</div>
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<div><span style="color: #333333;"><font color="#0000FF"><strong>Paul ~ The book I did three years ago, <em>Western Christians in Global Mission</em>(IVP, 2012) was a greater challenge because of my attempt to collect, read and synthesize dozens of interviews, experiences, and writings from around the world. This book had it’s own challenges of course, but <em>Great Commission, Great Compassion </em>is a more hands-on application of developing a lifestyle that integrates the proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel. In one sense, it’s a long-term product of many years trying to encourage the average person-in-the-pew to live with a sense of being 24-7 “sent by Jesus” into the world.</strong></font></span></div>
<div><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869624?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="130" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869624?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="130" class="align-left"/></a> </div>
<div>Phil ~ Your bio indicates you teach, consult, mobilize. How do these roles shape the perspective you bring to this book?</div>
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<div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><font><strong>Paul ~ interacting with college students, speaking at North American churches, and teaching leaders from many countries who live at the “grassroots” level has shaped my perspectives greatly. As a person involved in global missiology, I would love to have people understand the issues of contextualization in the Muslim world or the difference between an unreached people group versus and unengaged people group, but as a practitioner, I realize that the first engagement point for most of my readers might be encouraging them to start a friendship with their Hindu co-worker or the Muslim family down the street.</strong></font></span></div>
<div><div>Phil ~ Agree or disagree ... The 100 year divorce between evangelism-driven and compassion-motivated Christ-followers is ending, not in a truce but in a return to a biblical integration.</div>
<div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><font><strong>Paul ~ I hope the biblical integration has happened, but I still see the potential danger of imbalance. If 40 years ago we emphasized proclamation and made demonstration secondary, I think the church in the USA today has swung in the other direction. Compassionate care, liberating captives, and fighting against injustice reflects Kingdom-of-God living, but our Gospel includes a proclamation-of-truth, invitation-to-a-relationship with God through Jesus component. We always need to remember that justice and justification, freedom and forgiveness, demonstration and proclamation go hand-in-hand.</strong></font></span></div>
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<div>Phil ~ Some of us talk about being intentional to express a prayer-care-share lifestyle. How could that be similar to your call to live a "Great Commission, Great Compassion lifestyle?"</div>
<div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><font><strong>Paul ~ I have not heard those three imperatives expressed like that before, but I think you’ve grasped one of the main themes in the book.</strong></font></span></div>
<div>Phil ~ Spiritual gifting, calling, and passion from the Holy Spirit seem to direct some into sharing their faith easily while others seem drawn toward acts of mercy, justice advocacy or community development. How do we live in our "sweet spot" without ignoring the other "great" commandment of Jesus?</div>
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<div><div><span style="color: #3366ff;"><font><strong>Paul ~ I’d add personality types and even Christian-conversion experience to that mix (gifts, call, passion). The insight that has helped me most emerges from the word “witness”. Some of us find it easier to be outgoing, engaging, and assertive. Others of us prefer the long-term, more behind-the-scenes lifestyle. But we are all witnesses in the case that God is building in other peoples’ lives. God is at work and He calls us in as His witnesses. Occasionally our lives and actions might be the definitive action that helps a person step into a personal relationship with Jesus. Other times we are witnesses early in the case – and God is using our words and deeds to soften the heart of a person who might turn to Him months or years later. If I live with what Bob Jacks calls “24/7 Availability” I can ask God for grace to live as a witness to the reality of Jesus in my own life.</strong></font></span></div>
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<div><div>Phil ~ Please comment:</div>
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<div> >Sensory evangelism ~ <strong><font color="#0000FF">My concluding chapter challenges us to live lives of witness to all five senses. We share the Good News to the sense of hearing. We are salt (sense of taste) by looking to enhance the quality (flavor) of the lives of those around us. We are light (sense of sight), living our lives in Christ in an effort to push out darkness. The way we treat the hungry, the lonely, the prisoner, etc. is an expression of the touch of Christ. And we are the aroma/fragrance of Christ (sense of smell) by the unspoken action, the random-deeds-of-kindness and the kind gestures throughout our daily lives.</font></strong></div>
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<div> >Leaving our culture zone ~ <strong><font color="#0000FF">The great commission statements of Jesus do not allow us to stay put in our own cultural comfort zones. The mandates to “all nations” (Matthew 28, Luke 24), all creation (Mark 15), or “Judea, Samaria & the ends of the earth” (Acts 1) call us out – to build friendships across cultures, to start the conversation with the guy named Abdullah, or to venture out in service cross-culturally on a mission experience.</font></strong></div>
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<div> >Every 10 seconds, 26 people die ~ <strong><font color="#0000FF">I heard this when I heard Dr. Ron Blue of Dallas Theological Seminary speak. Dr. Blue uses this stat to remind us of how many human beings pass into eternity without a relationship with Jesus Christ. He has synthesized data on who-dies-where, and he cites that if 26 people die every 10 seconds, 2 are Buddhist, 4 are Hindus, 6 are Muslims, 7 are Christians (of all forms), and 7 are “other” (agnostic, atheistic, other religious belief). I carry these stats in my wallet as a simple reminder that there are many people who need to be invited to follow Jesus.</font></strong></div>
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<div> >Welcome and celebrate ~ <strong><font color="#0000FF">The global migration of peoples (students, refugees, immigrants) is one of the greatest mission issues of modern times. We can react in fear or we can see the hand of God in this. He is bringing people into our midst from locations where they may have never heard the Gospel <em>so that</em> they can hear it from us.</font></strong></div>
<div><strong><font color="#0000FF"> </font></strong></div>
<div> >Advocacy (not just for the "professionals") ~ <strong><font color="#0000FF">All of us have opportunities to stand against injustices – whether by considering issues of “free trade” in relationship to the coffee we drink or by serving to help immigrants complete their documentation paperwork</font></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div> >Applying your teachings to small groups, study classes, ministry teams, families ~ <strong><font color="#0000FF">The first section of the book covers the theological foundations of the Great Commission & Great Compassion, but summary chapters in Part 1 list “take-aways” or “putting it into practice” ideas. Part 2 is all about application – living it out. If I were using this with small groups or in a class or even as a sermon series, I would always be asking the participants/ listeners, “OK so what do we do with these truths?” The book is for practitioners so let’s take action. </font></strong></div>
<div><br/> Phil ~ Paul, please write a prayer we can pray for you from a scripture that calls us to a Grest Commission, Great Compassion lifestyle...</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><font><span style="color: #3366ff;">Paul: </span><em><span style="color: #3366ff;">Lord Jesus, as I (we) go into this day, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to realize that I’m on Your mission. Help me to see people the way that You see them. Help me to open my mouth to speak and open my arms to care. The Bible describes You, Lord, as full of grace and truth. Reflect that quality in me I pray – grace to care for human need, and truth to invite people to know You. Amen. </span> </em> </font></strong></div>
</div></div>From Non-Discipleship to Disciplerhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/from-non-discipleship-to-discipler2016-07-30T16:03:19.000Z2016-07-30T16:03:19.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff6600;" class="font-size-3"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Phil Miglioratti interviewed Carl Simmons,</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff6600;" class="font-size-3"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">featured member of Discipleship.Network</span></strong></span></p>
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<p><strong>PHIL ~ <span class="lG">Carl</span>, please take us on the journey that caused to you write on disciplemaking</strong><br/> <br/> <span class="lG">CARL</span><span> ~ The problem of non-discipleship has troubled me my entire Christian life. Maybe it was more obvious because I didn’t come to Christ in the “normal” way. In fact, I didn’t get involved with a church until after I’d come to know Jesus. In those days it was what would have passed for a megachurch... charismatic pastor, strong worship focus, dozens of people coming up for altar calls every week... everything’s great, right?</span><br/> <br/> <span>Not so much. It was obvious that there were as many people going out the back door as coming in the front. People got excited, got “saved,” and then... nothing. Or worse, stumbled and got abandoned by a church that had so visibly “loved” them months earlier. It was by more than a little of God’s mercy that we later stumbled into a C&MA (Christian & Missionary Alliance) church plant, and eventually found ways both to become self-feeding and to help feed others.</span></p>
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<p><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869790?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869790?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><br/> <strong>PHIL ~ "From Disciples to Disciplers" is the series title for each of the 6 small-group studies you have produced. Why that recurring title?</strong><br/> <br/> <span class="lG">CARL</span><span> ~ It's the missing link in the church. We have programs, services, events, and other “opportunities to connect,” none of which are bad in and of themselves. But actual discipleship is rare, and almost always behind the scenes where people can only hope to stumble into it. And we haven’t made finding it any easier by burying it under all those programs, services, and events—and then calling that “church life.” </span><br/> <br/> <span>Even when we think of discipleship, it’s easy to get caught up in thinking, “I can’t do this” for whatever reason—“I need to learn more”; “I need to accomplish more”; “I need to have more credibility with that person before I open my mouth.” And sure, those might be things we need to work on. But very often, it’s mostly just fear of the unknown that holds us back. I wanted to remove some of that fear.</span></p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>PHIL ~ Season (book) 1 is about "Growing in Jesus." Why is that the first focus and what does it mean to “grow in” Jesus?</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869918?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869918?profile=original" width="170" class="align-full" height="255"/></a> <br/> <span class="lG">CARL</span><span> ~ The first people we need to disciple is ourselves. More to the point, we need to learn to let Jesus disciple us. We follow Him. But ultimately, if we're following Jesus, a deeper relationship with Him is going to lead us to reach out to others; otherwise, we've missed the point. And once we see others the way Jesus sees them, it's much easier to share Jesus with them—and help them to discover the Jesus we already know.</span><br/> <br/> <br/> <strong>PHIL ~ Talk about your core insights about how each of these “seasons” uniquely help disciples become disciplers:</strong><br/><br/> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869865?profile=original" target="_self"></a><span class="lG">CARL</span> ~</p>
<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869865?profile=original" width="173" class="align-full" height="260"/> <strong>Growing in Character ~</strong><br/> <br/> <span>Once we're grounded in our relationship with Jesus, we need to learn how to invite Him into our other relationships—family, friends, coworkers of all shapes, sizes, and beliefs. Probably the first thing we need to recognize is that God has already placed us where He wants us. Therefore, what do we do where He’s already placed us? How do we let Jesus shine into every other facet of our lives?</span><br/> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869868?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869868?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869868?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869868?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869868?profile=original" width="179" class="align-full" height="269"/></a> <strong>Growing in Your Gifts ~</strong><br/> <br/> <span>A lot of spiritual-gifts studies focus on “filling slots” in the church. I’ve sincerely tried to push past that, and maintain an outward focus. We not only need to celebrate what God’s given us with our fellow Christians, but be equipped to know how God’s built us to take His word to the rest of the world—and hopefully discover who might be able to help us do that—in fact, that’s probably going to be the person with the gifts that make you say, “That’s so not me.”</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869971?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869882?profile=original" target="_self"></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869955?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869955?profile=original" width="170" class="align-full" height="255"/></a> <strong>Growing in Leadership ~</strong><br/> <br/> <span>God matures us to the point where we’re ready to lead, whether we want to or not. But that’s OK. Still, it’s inevitable that we’re going to run into any number of foibles of leadership—for example, not only getting people on board but engaged, conflict resolution, communication, and learning how to adjust our ministry to God’s calling and the actual needs in front of us (versus “this is how we’ve always done it”). All of this requires us to keep learning how to stay focused on Jesus and others, instead of “my ministry.”</span></p>
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<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111869882?profile=original" width="173" class="align-full" height="260"/> <strong>Growing in Your Mission ~ </strong><br/> <br/> <span>God may give us a specific vision for ministry either inside or outside the church—maybe even planting a new church—and now we literally need to make the dream real. Again, there's any number of questions we need to address: How do we know it really is God, and not just us? What holds us back from getting started, and how do we get past that? How will we share the vision in a way others can hear and embrace it, and continue to grow as a team? How will we deal with people leaving, even when it’s not personal (although sometimes, it is)? And finally, how will we keep growing ourselves and others, as the vision continues to grow and take shape? I don’t know a single small-group study that helps people process this—and not a whole lot of books in general, for that matter. </span></p>
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<p><br/> <strong>PHIL ~ How does the book Growing Others answer the question: “How do you take what God's shown you, and help others walk through the same process?”</strong><br/> <br/> <span class="lG">CARL</span><span> ~ Think about the people who’ve influenced you the most. Chances are, they're the people we've stuck it out with you over the long haul. Because we've experienced each other’s highs and lows together, both we and our friends are changed.</span><br/> <br/> <span>Now, put Jesus in the center of those relationships. When that happens, our relationships take on a character greater than anything we could ever have imagined. It’s something we’ll want to see happen in every relationship. To do this, we need to acknowledge what God's done in our lives—where we can say “be imitators of me” and mean it, because we know we’re not the ones responsible. It also means learning how to listen—to pay attention to how God’s working in the people we care about—and point it out when we see it, because often the last person to see God working in us... is us. We’re here to guide others into what God’s telling them, not steer them into what we think they need.</span><br/> <br/> <span>Again, this is the missing link in the church. Older Christians get plateaued or stuck, and younger Christians are left to flounder and fail—and in both instances, at some point just get up and leave—because one simple but critical point has been overlooked: The people coming in the door and/or just coming to Christ? They need you. And you need them, too, more than you know. That’s what Growing Others is all about—and why I had to write it (and the whole series, for that matter).</span></p>
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<p><br/> <strong>PHIL ~ Agree/Disagree . . .Books, groups, classes, training, sermons are all vital resources in the disciplemaking process but produce weak Jesus followers if not integrated into ongoing, coaching/mentoring relationships.</strong><br/> <br/> <span class="lG">CARL</span><span> ~ Totally agree. All of those things are potentially good tools, but ultimately that's all they are. If they sit in the tool chest and never get used, they're more things that make us feel good and "spiritual" about ourselves than they are tools that might help advance the Kingdom and grow others in Christ. Even when we use those tools, they need to be used as the Spirit guides us. Hammering everything we see just because we've got a hammer now really isn't all that helpful, and in fact can be quite destructive. </span></p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>PHIL ~ One more thing ... you’d want to challenge us to think about . . .</strong><br/> <br/> <span class="lG">CARL</span><span> ~ Let's go with a brief quiz, taken from Growing in Your Mission:</span><br/> <br/> <span>• Think about where you think God's leading you right now. As you pursue this vision, are you sensing God revealing more about the things He truly cares about?</span><br/> <span>• Will this vision, once it’s realized, reveal more about God to others, or just more about you?</span><br/> <span>• Which parts of this vision were clearly not your idea (even if you're excited about the idea now)?</span><br/> <span>• Have you tried letting go of this idea, only to find God bringing it up again?</span><br/> <span>• Would you still want it to happen even if someone else did it—or even if you did it and someone else got the credit? </span></p>
<p><br/> <br/> <strong>PHIL ~ <span class="lG">Carl</span>, please write a prayer we can pray together toward building new disciplemaking cultures in our congregations and ministries . . .</strong><br/> <br/> <span class="lG">CARL</span><span> ~ Lord, we thank You for the people You've put in our lives—whose examples, whose challenges, whose friendships help keep us growing out further, and yet closer to you. May we reveal Your Spirit to everyone who sees our lives, and spread the love of Jesus to everyone we know—and beyond. May You use us to transform and renew our world, as You have transformed and renewed us. May our joy in Jesus be so great that nothing can contain it, so that it flows over to everyone you put in our paths—and ultimately to the world. In Jesus' name, amen.</span></p>
<p><br/> <span><strong>PURCHASE:</strong> Books by </span><span class="lG">Carl</span><span> </span><span class="lG">Simmons</span><span> <span>(</span><a href="https://www.createspace.com/pub/simplesitesearch.search.do?sitesearch_query=%22carl+simmons%3A&sitesearch_type=STORE" target="_blank">https://www.createspace.com/pub/simplesitesearch.search.do?sitesearch_query=%22carl+simmons%3A&sitesearch_type=STORE</a><span>)</span></span><span> the From Disciples to Disciplers series and his latest, Lay It Down: A Journey into Trust)</span></p></div>A #Reimagine Coaching Session with Phil Migliorattihttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/a-reimagine-coaching-session-with-phil-miglioratti2020-08-14T16:38:27.000Z2020-08-14T16:38:27.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p><strong><a href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/KvThGSB" target="_blank">The #ReimagineFORUM</a> Coaching Session • Phil Miglioratti</strong></p>
<p><strong> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3831320497,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3831320497,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="3831320497?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="330" height="329" /></a></strong></p>
<p>Phil is the Curator/Coordinator of The #ReimagineFORUM @ Pray.Network and Discipleship.Network</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Pray!</em> magazine contributor</li>
<li>National Pastors’ Prayer Network founder</li>
<li>City Impact Roundtable national facilitator</li>
<li>Promiseland @ Willow Creek creator</li>
<li>Mission America Coalition national facilitator</li>
</ul>
<p>Phil’s vision, through the collaborative ministry of The #ReimagineFORUM, is to engage and equip 10,000 Christ-serving leaders in their Romans 12:2 journey of “being transformed by the renewing of our mind” … A reviving of the Church by a revising of the temporary wineskins that have become standardized in our ministry. Spirit-led, Scripture-fed, discernment of how to rethink-to-relink with a radically and rapidly changing culture. Redesigning Gospel ministry while preserving Gospel truths.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>WHY?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Why is it important for Christian leaders to begin a journey of rethinking ministry?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Many leaders are motivated to reimagine their approach to ministry because their strategies or systems are producing very little fruit. Others realize the signs of the times point to a need for transformative change; simple upgrades are insufficient. All of us, however, need to review-revise-revive our ministry because of biblical commands that did not expire when our worship traditions were standardized or our ministry methods became our default model of how to pray together or train volunteers or share the Gospel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>These (and many other) Scriptures call every Christ-serving leader to take a journey; a pursuit that produces transformation in themselves, neighbors, and nations</p>
<ul>
<li>Start Right Here: Romans 12:2
<ul>
<li><em>“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”</em></li>
<li>What if … we began applying this command, not merely to every aspect of our personal life, but to every aspect in the life and ministry of the Church?</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Pray From Here: Ephesians 2:6
<ul>
<li><em>“We are seated together in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus”</em></li>
<li>What if … we offer our prayers (whether praise to petition) as if we were actually in the presence of the “trialog,” a trinitarian conversation between Sovereign Lord, Savior, and Spirit?</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ask This First: Matthew 7:7
<ul>
<li><em>“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you</em>.”</li>
<li>What if … we wait to ask God for ‘things’ (help, healing, hope) so that we first ask a question that seeks the leading of the Holy Spirit into the mind of Christ. Listening before listing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Aim For This: Galatians 5:6
<ul>
<li><em>“All that matters is your faith, activated and expressed when you love others.”</em></li>
<li>What if … we designed ministry (the biblical foundations and biblical formation of disciple-making, praying, evangelism, justice, communities/cities) with the one objective to “make love our aim”?</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><sub> </sub></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Why will a "reimagine-journey" be difficult and potentially dangerous to the status quo?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>A serious reimagine-journey has many risks. We may simply be rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship; swapping something trendy for something traditional. We may be following a person or program that was intended as the reimagine-journey of another leader or ministry but not for us.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Another significant risk is that a pursuit of God’s calling/mission/will (the mind of Christ as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit) usually demands change, often radical change, and that can awaken a pharisaical response from those around us (spouse, staff, church members, colleagues) who have a strong reliance on the status quo.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>An authentic reimagine-journey may affirm our current mission or vision or passion. But, it might not. It may be the beginning of a new calling that requires a huge step of faith.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>WHEN?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Agree/Disagree ~ <em>We live in an extraordinary world: Globalization. Immigration. #BlackLivesMatter. Gender reclassification. Marriage Redefined. #MeToo. The rise of White Supremacy. Terrorism. Unpredictable Weather. The impact of the Industrial Revolution gives way to the Technological Age. . . . This a time of epic change that requires the Church to rethink how we apply biblical truth to the traditions-programs-models-systems that format everything we do.</em></strong></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>I agree … Every generation has a unique set of challenging circumstances, but I am convinced we are living in an unprecedented “hinge of history;” a shifting of views and values that are producing stark changes in the core values of global culture, communication, and our sense of community. A 21<sup>st</sup> century ‘Roaring 20’s’ is unfolding before us.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Church must act. Now. But the first step is to hear “Don’t just do something; stand there.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Every leader who begins a serious reimagine-journey, brings the Church one step closer to a tipping point; the pendulum swing from what many believe is a hypocritical/judgmental/mean-spirited institution, to an authentic community of loving truth-tellers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We certainly need to protect biblical truth but we often seem more interested in preserving tradition (decades or centuries old) or promoting quick-fix trends. Biblical truth is eternal; the ‘things’ we design or construct to contain and carry that truth in our ministries all have a shelf life. We discover the expiration date only if we keep on asking (questioning the Spirit), keep on seeking (discernment from the Spirit in prayer and Scripture), keep on knocking (until a specific door opens to a new pathway).</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>WHAT? </strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What does it actually mean to "reimagine?" Please unpack the word as you understand it and the components of a reimagining process.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>I do not understand the term “reimagine” as a New Age practitioner or a therapist does.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To me, to reimagine means to:</p>
<ul>
<li>“Imagine again in a different way” – could mean, “pray first…”</li>
<li>“Creative problem solving; change a perception; rethink a new way of an old idea”</li>
<li>Review (assess by the leading of the Spirit; a collective experience of the group or team or membership), then revise (systems, programs, applications), then revive (move forward with the leading and in the power of the Spirit of God).</li>
<li>“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” Ephesians 3:20</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>I fear my refusal to reimagine (reaching for the mind of Christ) much more than my fear of being deceived (by myself or the Enemy) with an ungodly counterfeit.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What roadblocks or resistance, barriers and boundaries, inhibit or prevent leaders from pursuing a discernment-assessment when they commence a journey to reimagine ministry?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>-Fear.</p>
<p>Assuming beneficial models/modes from the past are eternal; untouchable.</p>
<p>-Inability to wait; ask, be silent-listen-hear, then obey.</p>
<p>-Unwillingness to be coached by the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p>-Flying solo; my plan, my way.</p>
<p>-Relying on successful leaders/models while not making oneself accountable to a community (cohort group, leadership team, churchwide prayer and deliberation).</p>
<p>-Better at listing (petitions) than listening (perceiving by the Spirit God’s Word and will).</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>WHERE?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><em>"Where do I begin?</em></strong><em> </em><strong>Where do you recommend a leader looks first to ensure they commence a truly Spirit-led, Scripture-fed journey?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>>Seek first his kingdom (God’s righteous reign and rule; God’s purposes and priorities). The Spirit may lead you through a process of:</p>
<p>~Conviction: misplaced trust</p>
<p> ~Contrition: genuine sorrow</p>
<p> ~Confession: “to say the same thing” by agreeing with God’s diagnosis</p>
<p> </p>
<p>>Surrender to a journey of discovery that is •Spirit-led, (“Keep on being filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18) •Scripture-fed (foundational truth), •Worship-bred (praise and honor to God is the beginning, middle, and ultimate goal of every aspect of ministry), •Corporate-said (God’s will is spoken through Spirit-led people, cohorts in our faith community), •Community-spread (reimagining begins with the Church but flows out into neighborhoods and unto the nations).</p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p><em>>Set a daily prayer format:</em></p>
<p><em> ~Ask … questions of the Coach who will guide your journey (list needs another time)</em></p>
<p><em> ~Seek … discernment; be still, search Scripture,</em></p>
<p><em> ~Knock … when the Spirit gives you clear direction, knock (pray boldly and with</em></p>
<p><em> confidence),then act faithfully by serving others with kindness and justice</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>>Share your journey with others who are also pursuing a Spirit-led path to a transformed perspective on ministry. <em>Scout-out cohorts who can give you wise-counsel.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>WHO?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Who are the thought leaders the Holy Spirit is using to help the Church reimagine?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>You will find a diverse selection of Thought Leaders and Ministry Organizations on:</p>
<ul>
<li>The ReimagineFORUM @ <a href="http://www.pray.network/">Pray.Network</a></li>
<li>The ReimagineFORUM @ <a href="http://www.discipleship.network/">Discipleship.Network</a></li>
<li>The ReimagineFORUM Bulletin (a free, periodic, listing of new links to new thought and best practices) … Subscribe <a href="https://lp.constantcontact.com/su/KvThGSB">here>>></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>HOW?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>How does your ministry help Christian leaders equip those they serve to begin their reimagine-journey?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Our mission is to invite/challenge Christ-serving leaders to embark on a Spirit-led journey to <em>“be transformed by the renewing of their mind.”</em> We do not present a programmed set of steps, rather, as the Spirit leads, we encourage “reimagineers” to explore our Archives-Blogs-Categories-Discussions as they pursue their journey:</p>
<ul>
<li>Discussions (articles/commentaries) on Disciple-making, Evangelism, Cities, Justice, more) <a href="http://discipleshipnetwork.ning.com/forum">>>></a></li>
<li>Discussions on the 6 Dimensions of Reimagining Prayer <a href="http://praynetwork.ning.com/forum">>>></a></li>
<li>#ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP - Tweeted quotes, links, resources <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Reimaginediscipleship&src=typed_query">>>></a></li>
<li>#ReimaginePRAYER Tweets <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23reimagineprayer&src=typed_query">>>></a></li>
<li>Our Directory of Ministry Organizations @ <a href="http://discipleshipnetwork.ning.com/groups">Network</a> and @ <a href="http://praynetwork.ning.com/groups">Pray.Network</a> and our Index of <a href="http://praynetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/50-newsletters-sample-subscribe">Prayer-Related Newsletters</a></li>
<li>#ReimaginePRAYER Blogroll <a href="http://praynetwork.ning.com/profiles/blog/list">>>></a></li>
<li>#ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP Blogroll <a href="http://discipleshipnetwork.ning.com/profiles/blog/list">>>></a></li>
<li>The #ReimagineFORUM on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrayNetworkCommunity/">>>></a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>MORE?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>More coaching insights to share? Questions we must pursue?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Everything is changing. To blindly embrace every new thought is dangerous but to stubbornly ignore or reject every new shift in culture is foolish.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Begin to:</p>
<p> >Ask questions before giving answers</p>
<p> >Submit traditions (whether years old or set in ancient times) to the review of the Holy</p>
<p> Spirit and be open to being revived by becoming revised.</p>
<p>>Facilitate more. You do not always have to lead or direct; give the Holy Spirit room to</p>
<p> lead through others or in unexpected ways. Soft planning.</p>
<p>>Facilitate from the front (instructions for interaction), the side (listen to conversations</p>
<p> and comments), the back (ask questions that point the conversation back to Jesus, our</p>
<p> center).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>PRAY!</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Please lead us in a prayer that sets us onto a reimagining journey . . .</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Jesus, we present this prayer in your name, your authority, asking for a fresh filling of your Holy Spirit that produces a deep-rooted assessment with the discernment to pursue the path you have for us … and we petition you for the faith to take the next step. To listen with others and to launch out with others who also seek the mind of Christ for every aspect-level-application of ministry.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Build your Church. Not for us but with us and through us.</p></div> The "Quote/UnQuote" Interview with Reggie McNealhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/the-quote-unquote-interview-with-reggie-mcneal-author-kingdom-col2018-04-24T20:16:45.000Z2018-04-24T20:16:45.000ZReimagine Curatorhttps://reimaginenetwork.ning.com/members/PrayerINC<div><p> </p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>The "Quote/UnQuote" Interview with Reggie McNeal</strong></span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2">Phil Miglioratti talks with Reggie McNeal, author of "Kingdom Collaborators: Eight Signature Practices of Leaders Who Turn The World Upside Down"</span></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s1"><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111870715?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111870715?profile=original" alt="111870715?profile=original" width="218" /></a></strong></span></p>
<p class="p4"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Phil ~ Your first words jump out: </strong>"Everyone knows that something big is up." Then you close your introduction with "It's happening again!" What is the "something big" that has captured </span><span class="s2">your attention and why is your hope rising?</span></p>
<p class="p6"> </p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">Reggie ~ We are in the phase that follows each new information revolution. The last one before this was the invention of the printing press, making possible the Renaissance and its religious counterpart, the Reformation. This is a time of great discontinuity, as every cultural/societal institution comes to grips with the implications of the digital revolution. The church is no different. People are moving away from institutional religious expressions, instead searching for movements and meaning, not just ritual and practice. In the case of the North American church this is a time of trying to figure out how to capture the energy of the movement that swept the Western world in the first centuries after Jesus visited the planet. This is the only way forward to relevance. In this book I contend that leaders across all walks of life (not just institutional church leaders) are showing us this way. I am encouraged by this development.</span></p>
<p class="p7"> </p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2"><strong>Phil ~ Unpack the significance of the segments of your sub-title:</strong></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/111870649?profile=original" alt="111870649?profile=original" width="183" /></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">Reggie ~ I think it’s important to note the characterization that I have chosen to help us understand the ‘Kingdom’ – “Life as God intends.” We open the Bible in a Garden with the Tree of Life in its center. We close the Bible in a city where the River of Life runs through it with trees of Life on both sides. In the middle of the book Jesus proclaims: “I have come to give you life (abundant as God intends); and, even stronger, “I AM the life.” He lives out in full view the life God intends us to have. Not just his message, but Jesus’ ministry and manner all convey the kingdom to us.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong> </strong></span><span class="s3">•</span> <span class="s2"><strong>Signature Practices</strong> <strong>=</strong> Passion has to be married to capacity to have impact. I have </span><span class="s2">observed that leaders with kingdom impact share some important competencies and </span><span class="s2">capacities with each other. By calling these out I hope to increase these practices among </span><span class="s2">leaders who share a kingdom perspective and are determined to have kingdom impact.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2"> </span><span class="s3">•</span><span class="s2"> <strong>Leaders =</strong> in every domain, not just church (but there as well). Not just positional </span><span class="s2">leadership, but personal leadership that reflects a kingdom priority of helping people live </span><span class="s2">more the life that God intends.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong> </strong></span><span class="s3">•</span> <span class="s2"><strong>Turn the World =</strong> we are instructed by Jesus to pray for the kingdom to “come on earth” </span><span class="s2">so kingdom work always has a this-world signature.</span></p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong> </strong></span><span class="s3">•</span> <span class="s2"><strong>Upside Down =</strong> right-side up, really. God’ intended purposes for life as he intends (my </span><span class="s2">characterization of what “kingdom” means), reversing and reclaiming what hell has stolen </span></p>
<p class="p3"> </p>
<p class="p3"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Phil ~ What happens if a leader is "dissatisfied with the status quo</strong>" of culture but wants to </span><span class="s2">protect or preserve the status quo of church practices, policies, and programs?</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">Reggie ~ Very little progress happens in our world without disruption, and the accompanying </span><span class="s2">tension. “Protect and preserve” is a ministry agenda that is born out of fear and control, two evil </span><span class="s2">twins that drive many ministry decisions in America. Allegiance to religious activity over genuine </span><span class="s2">spiritual vitality prohibits kingdom expression and prosecutes a competitive mission, not just a </span><span class="s2">misaligned one.</span></p>
<p class="p3"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Phil ~ Unpack the strategic significance</strong> of the questions you ask in the section you devote to </span><span class="s2">"Shaping a Discipleship Culture"</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">Reggie ~ I think it is important to put the following questions/responses in context. In the </span><span class="s2">book I claim that kingdom collaborators cultivate environments that major on people </span><span class="s2">development (which is my term for discipleship, since “discipleship” in our church-programming </span><span class="s2">era largely refers to curriculum and processes largely carried out by church for church people on </span><span class="s2">church property for church development. I am not naïve – programs are inevitable, and not evil.</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">However, in a program-age we tend to develop programs (we have a small group ministry, </span><span class="s2">women's ministry, mens ministry, recovery ministry), then recruit people to them with our </span><span class="s2">substantial marketing prowess. Kingdom leaders disciple people at home, at work, in their social </span><span class="s2">interactions, their neighborhoods, their leisure pursuits – in other words, they want the lives of </span><span class="s2">people in their constellation of influence to be growing and maturing into the life God intends for </span><span class="s2">them. Their conversations and interactions are seasoned and shaped by this desire.</span></p>
<ul>
<li class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Why are we reluctant to examine our assumptions about discipleship? =</strong> One would think </span>that our great capacity to turn out religious consumers over missional followers of Jesus would be enough to challenge our thinking</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Does your thinking about discipleship begin with a program or with people?</strong> = People are built to last – forever! Too often we think up programs of religious activity, then measure </span>the success of the program, rather than the admittedly more difficult measure of whether we have more mature disciples developing. Our scorecards assess program success; we don’t typically celebrate items like “we have this number of better marriages” or “we have an increase of people loving their neighbors.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>What is (your) underlying narrative of discipleship?</strong> = A narrative of “we need to fix people” </span>will create a different culture than “we need to help people grow into their God-design”; the underlying narrative of discipleship efforts will determine the shape and character of our engagement with people</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li class="p5"><span class="s2"><strong>Do we need to turn people into church people first before we connect with them for </strong></span><strong>discipleship?</strong> = Our discipleship methods/programs depend on getting people hooked into a church group typically; we need to figure out how to disciple people who are not susceptible to being congregationalized in their spiritual journey</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Discipling: "Regular scheduled programing" or can we "customize</strong>" = Any of us with more than one child knows that our kids respond differently to various incentives, conditions, and influences. We should recognize that the same holds true for helping people become the person intends them to be (my notion of discipleship). In a world where everything is customized – from ring tones to personal music mixes – assuming a standardized approach to discipleship makes no sense.</span></li>
<li class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Didactic discipleship or personal discovery?</strong> = Most adults learn through problem-solving. </span>The meaning for discipleship efforts is clear: people need to address needs they want help with. Since Jesus didn’t use a classroom model for discipling, why do we?</li>
<li><span class="s2"><strong>How do we help people know they are developing as disciples</strong> = People want to know </span>that they are growing. It’s that simple, and that profound. Most church discipleship programming never allows people to chart or celebrate their progress. Imagine a basketball game where all hoops were taken off the backboards, and the game was just about running up and down the court, throwing the ball up against the backboard. How long would that game stay interesting?</li>
<li><strong>Success: growth...or participation?</strong> = As it is currently, the “success” of most church programming is “how many participated?” as opposed to “are people growing?” The assumption is that if people participate in church programming they are growing as disciples. This is not necessarily the case. The goal should be maturation, not just participation.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p3"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Phil ~ </strong>What is the reason "kingdom collaborators...practice <strong>a robust prayer life</strong>" is the first of </span><span class="s2">the eight signature practices?</span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">Reggie ~ Kingdom collaborators are working with God, so they want to pay attention to what </span><span class="s2">he is up to. Prayer is God’s gift to us to bring us up to speed, not his gift to us to bring him up </span><span class="s1">to speed. “Pray without ceasing” involves non-stop listening, not non-stop talking.</span></p>
<p class="p3"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Phil ~</strong> What do we need to learn from: <strong>"Jesus loved parties"?</strong></span> </p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">Reggie ~ What I’m trying to say here is that God is One who celebrates life, so he loves life </span><span class="s2">celebrations. His critics accused Jesus of being a party animal. And eternity starts off with a </span><span class="s2">Feast. That will be the best party ever! Maybe we might ask ourselves if people want US at </span><span class="s2">their parties. If not, why not?</span></p>
<p class="p3"> </p>
<p class="p4"><span class="s2"><strong>Phil ~ Reggie, please write a prayer</strong> every reader can pray with you . . </span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2">Reggie ~ <em>Father, help me see your kingdom today – all around me in every area of life. Help </em></span><span class="s2"><em>me be a person of hope and blessing, helping those around me awake and live into the vision of</em></span></p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2"><em>the life you intend for them. Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us what a kingdom life looks </em></span><span class="s2"><em>like!</em></span></p>
<p class="p5"> </p>
<p class="p5"><span class="s2"><em>"Viral kingdom leaders—leaders who infect those around them w/ their values—aren’t just hoping for a better life in the hereafter; they’re working to make it possible for ppl to enjoy a better life in the here-and-now."—@reggiemcneal #KingdomCollaborators <a href="http://ivpr.es/2FxHice" target="_blank">http://ivpr.es/2FxHice</a></em></span></p></div>