Tuesday, November 10, 2009
two views for the future of the cooperative program
This article from the Georgia Baptist state paper, Two Views of the Future, provides us with two different visions for the future of the Cooperative Program. Which vision do you like better? Why? Or, maybe you have a better idea... share it.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
the sending church campaign
"This is not blazing a new trail... we are just trying to recover the trail, and go back to beat the weeds off the trail that was blazed in the book of Acts." This is a quote from our pastor, Pat Hood, from his message this past Sunday. LifePoint Church is entering into a very unique and exciting stewardship campaign. This campaign is different from any other because it is not about building bigger buildings... it is about building the kingdom. Our goal is to raise 1.5 million over the next two years to send ten families (30 people) as missionaries in Bangkok and Belgium. The funds will also be a resource for ministry budgets and new campuses. The vision: God's Glory among neglected peoples through transformation movements - by multiplying transformed disciples, leaders and churches - from the DNA of Christ-centered living in worship, biblical community, service, influence and generosity.
More about our long-term vision:
"LifePoint Church will focus on initiating and nurturing at least seven transformation movements among seven distinct peoples/places representative of each of the following world affinity groups: Buddhists, Non-Religious Europeans, Non-Religious Chinese, Hindus, Muslims, Tribal Poor and Non-Religious in the USA. As LifePoint Church follows God’s leading to a specific people/place among each of these affinity groups, we will discover existing missionaries and work alongside them to initiate and nurture transformation movements. LifePoint will also directly send missionaries/church planting teams to focus on multiplying disciples, leaders and churches to spark movements that will spread God’s glory."
I am amazed at what God is doing with our church. I have never seen such a unified vision and purpose from the whole church. For LifePoint Church missions is not a department in the church... LifePoint is all about being part of God's mission. If you are interested, you can check out the message from this past Sunday here.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
transformation movements
Perhaps no Bible story illustrates transformation better than the narrative about the demon-possessed man from the region of Gadarenes. After his encounter with Jesus the former demoniac was totally transformed. Picking up the story in Mark 5:14...
"Those tending the pigs (that the demons had entered and destroyed) ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, dressed and in his right mind... Those who had seen it told the people what had happened... As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, 'Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.' So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis (the Ten Cities) how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed."
The local people were at first so frightened by what happened, that they "pleaded with Jesus to leave their region" (the Ten Cities). Later, when Jesus returns to this same region, we see people looking for him to heal their sick and also spreading the word about Jesus, despite Jesus forbidding them to do so (Mark 7:31-37). A movement was started through this transformed life and the good news spread throughout a whole region.
We see several examples of this type of movement in the life of Jesus and the missionary journeys of Paul. Jesus radically changes people and through these very same people, and the people they impact, the good news spreads rapidly leading to new disciples and new discipling communities (churches). I have personally observed in three different places where God used transformed men/women to spark a movement that multiplied disciples, leaders and churches to impact a whole region with the gospel. This type of movement by God still happens today. Each of these experiences changed me and my perspective on how we might be a part in advancing God's kingdom and fulfilling the Great Commission.
Historically God has used “Awakenings” and “Church Planting Movements” to spread the gospel and His glory among a people or place. A movement that multiplies disciples, leaders and churches for God’s glory only happens through new Christ followers who are transformed by God’s grace and power. Transformation movements begin with new communities of believers who are radically changed by Jesus Christ and are used by God as catalysts for an indigenous movement that spreads the good news among their own people. Our church is catching this vision for transformation movements. Here is a first draft summary of our vision and how we are joining God in His plan to spread His glory among nations:
LifePoint Church will follow God’s lead to plant transformed Christ followers, churches and leaders where God can use them (if He so chooses) to start a movement that will multiply and spread the fame of His name among a neglected people. There are several elements (DNA) God uses to initiate and nurture transformation movements:
1. Radically transformed Christ followers
2. Culturally appropriate communication of God’s Word
3. Corporate and personal worship, prayer and fasting
4. Modeling of biblical community
5. Engaging the community through service and seed sowing
6. Relational influence through life on life
7. Generous giving within and without the church
8. Intentional mentoring and sending of new disciples
9. Training leaders on the job
10.Partnering with others for the spread of the gospel
The end vision is God's glory revealed among a nation/people, wherever God is sending our church. The means to that end is multiplying transformed Christ-followers, leaders and churches. That multiplication happens as we are radically changed and live a Christ-centered life on His mission (as described by the ten elements, or the DNA).
There is no formula for this and this description is not exhaustive or meant to be definitive. It is my feeble attempt at trying to capture in words what could happen when God moves in such a way that a whole people are exposed to His glory. So often we want to define and quantify something so we can maintain some measure of control or take the credit for it. I struggle on how to communicate this without coming off that way. A transformation movement transcends any methodology, church, denomination, or manufactured ministry we might come up with... So, how would you describe what God wants to do through your church to advance His kingdom and fulfill the Great Commission? Do you see anything here that could be described better or differently? Feel free to comment.
"Those tending the pigs (that the demons had entered and destroyed) ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, dressed and in his right mind... Those who had seen it told the people what had happened... As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, 'Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.' So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis (the Ten Cities) how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed."
The local people were at first so frightened by what happened, that they "pleaded with Jesus to leave their region" (the Ten Cities). Later, when Jesus returns to this same region, we see people looking for him to heal their sick and also spreading the word about Jesus, despite Jesus forbidding them to do so (Mark 7:31-37). A movement was started through this transformed life and the good news spread throughout a whole region.
We see several examples of this type of movement in the life of Jesus and the missionary journeys of Paul. Jesus radically changes people and through these very same people, and the people they impact, the good news spreads rapidly leading to new disciples and new discipling communities (churches). I have personally observed in three different places where God used transformed men/women to spark a movement that multiplied disciples, leaders and churches to impact a whole region with the gospel. This type of movement by God still happens today. Each of these experiences changed me and my perspective on how we might be a part in advancing God's kingdom and fulfilling the Great Commission.
Historically God has used “Awakenings” and “Church Planting Movements” to spread the gospel and His glory among a people or place. A movement that multiplies disciples, leaders and churches for God’s glory only happens through new Christ followers who are transformed by God’s grace and power. Transformation movements begin with new communities of believers who are radically changed by Jesus Christ and are used by God as catalysts for an indigenous movement that spreads the good news among their own people. Our church is catching this vision for transformation movements. Here is a first draft summary of our vision and how we are joining God in His plan to spread His glory among nations:
LifePoint Church will follow God’s lead to plant transformed Christ followers, churches and leaders where God can use them (if He so chooses) to start a movement that will multiply and spread the fame of His name among a neglected people. There are several elements (DNA) God uses to initiate and nurture transformation movements:
1. Radically transformed Christ followers
2. Culturally appropriate communication of God’s Word
3. Corporate and personal worship, prayer and fasting
4. Modeling of biblical community
5. Engaging the community through service and seed sowing
6. Relational influence through life on life
7. Generous giving within and without the church
8. Intentional mentoring and sending of new disciples
9. Training leaders on the job
10.Partnering with others for the spread of the gospel
The end vision is God's glory revealed among a nation/people, wherever God is sending our church. The means to that end is multiplying transformed Christ-followers, leaders and churches. That multiplication happens as we are radically changed and live a Christ-centered life on His mission (as described by the ten elements, or the DNA).
There is no formula for this and this description is not exhaustive or meant to be definitive. It is my feeble attempt at trying to capture in words what could happen when God moves in such a way that a whole people are exposed to His glory. So often we want to define and quantify something so we can maintain some measure of control or take the credit for it. I struggle on how to communicate this without coming off that way. A transformation movement transcends any methodology, church, denomination, or manufactured ministry we might come up with... So, how would you describe what God wants to do through your church to advance His kingdom and fulfill the Great Commission? Do you see anything here that could be described better or differently? Feel free to comment.
Friday, October 23, 2009
one21
Dr. Bob Roberts from One21 The Movement on Vimeo.
Bob Roberts has put his finger on what is happening in our world today and how we need to rethink/retool the way we do missions. If you watch this entire video, you will get an education in how biblical missiology looks in the 21st century. Thanks to Guy Muse for pointing us to this video.
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