Glocalnet Turbo Training Today
We do these little one-shot two-day things about twice a year where 20 to 30 people come together and we basically tell stories about our members, how they are engaging, our story in Vietnam and other places. We try to help them understand how church planting is more than just starting a church--that it’s engaging a culture and a community. Church planting is more than just starting a church--it’s making disciples. Church planting is more than my own turf, it’s the entire world. We combine teaching the Kingdom of God with practical implementation on how you engage. I was kind of taken aback, last I heard, we have about 80 people who have signed up. We started doing this in response to having a smaller forum to really get to know people versus big event gatherings. Our staff has threatened to kill me if I keep letting pastors and their staffs show up--I respect that--we all have a lot of work to do. I’m convinced the greatest need today of church plantings is not how to get a core group, launch a church, develop a budget, all those things that we have taught and do teach--and they are important--the greatest need of the hour and hunger in our land today in young pastors is how do we effectively engage people and churches in society. I’m seeing some sleepy eyes open, a stirring in the room. I’m so proud of Matt Chandler--he’s one of those big dog big churches, but he doesn’t act like it. He’s starting churches, working globally, engaging his community. I’m hoping that he’s more reflective of a new emerging breed of pastor and planter. If he is, I’m pumped about the future. If he isn’t . . . The good news is, I see several of those guys - Mitch Jolly, Byron James, and the list goes on . . . . .
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Feb 7, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Just a quick note of thanks. My husband Patrick and I attended one of these prior to leaving for France. Much of what was shared became life-changing for us. Some of the principles weaved their way into one of my books. It was a rich, interesting, challenging time. Thank you, Northwood, for hosting such events.
Mary DeMuth
http://www.marydemuth.com
Feb 7, 2008 at 12:36 PM
[...] No, we’re re-tooling it. Re-focusing, starting over fresh. That’s why this church in TX is so blogworthy, because they not only coined the phrase “glocal ” but they’re living up to it pretty well. I first heard this phrase used by a friend and honestly I thought it was a little corny (sorry, much love man) - that was probably my pride of having worked in the missionary enterprise. Which is exactly the point: Is it possible for the church to be about the local culture and at the same time be missionary on a global scale, and to not just talk about global missions/community development like it’s some kind of tokenism? Because I’ve seen global involvement done wrong enough times to make me skeptical - the dependency issues, the power-plays, the smug self-pats on the back, the naive armchair advocacy, the well-meaning cluelessness - I wondered if it’s possible for a church to be truly glocal. I think this church in Texas shows us that with some careful thought it is possible to be a local + global = glocal church. [...]----- [...] I’m attending Northwood’s Glocal.net Turbo training conference today and tomorrow. I think Bob Roberts has one of the most profound and yet simple approaches to church planting that exists. Every pastor and church planter should read his books Glocalization and Transformation. Also, he has a new book out called The Multiplying Church, which I haven’t read yet, but should be good. [...]----- [...] No, we’re re-tooling it. Re-focusing, starting over fresh. That’s why this church in TX is so blogworthy, because they not only coined the phrase “glocal” but they’re living up to it pretty well. I first heard this phrase used by Eugene Cho and honestly I thought it was a little corny (sorry, much love man) - that was probably my pride of having worked in the missionary enterprise. Which is exactly the point: is it possible to BE the church both locally AND globally, hence, glocal? Is it possible for the church to be on mission locally as well as in the world, and to not just talk about global missions/community development like it’s some kind of tokenism? Because I’ve seen global involvement done wrong enough times to make me skeptical - the dependency issues, the power-plays, the smug self-pats on the back, the naive armchair advocacy, the well-meaning cluelessness - I wondered if it’s possible for a church to be truly glocal. I think this church in Texas shows us that with some careful thought it is possible to be a local + global = glocal church. [...]-----
Feb 7, 2008 at 06:49 PM
We've had a great time at Turbo today. The Glocal concept is new to me and some friends in attendance but it is stirring something in us. I'm not going to lie. My head hurts right now. Partially from trying to wrap my brain around such a huge concept in 8 hours and partially from conviction. I've had the advantage of reading both books prior to attending Turbo so I've been exposed to it. But the live presentation is moving. It's also refreshing to see so many young guys that are passionate about building the Kingdom as opposed to finding the keys to being the next Meta/Mega Church. Much thanks to Bob, Bobby, Brian, Omar and others I haven't had the opportunity to meet yet, for investing your time into us today.
Feb 8, 2008 at 09:11 PM
What a great two days! Thanks so much Bob (and gang) for affirming these wild and radical mindsets and desires for the Kingdom! Can't wait to journey with you guys further.
Feb 9, 2008 at 06:53 AM
Fun times. Challenging, inspiring and affirming.
Thanks
Feb 9, 2008 at 12:46 PM
I am one of those visiting pastors who brought staff and made extra work for you guys -- all I can say is "Thanks!" for going the extra mile. We are ready to implement a glocal approach at our campuses (especially our inner city campus) and on the way home we were already planning our first exploratory trip to Mozambique. For some time the Lord had been preparing and leading us in this direction, but your ministry, Bob's books, and the Turbo was the catalyst we needed to launch faster and much more productively. Your efforts are multiplying Kingdom expressions, and I pray ours will too.
Feb 9, 2008 at 03:38 PM
We were just as fortunate to have all of you from around North America join us at Northwood. May be all Imagine what God is doing in our churches and collaboratively together. Here is a verse that keeps resonating
in my heart over the past few days.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:21-22
Thanks for joining us.
Brian Hook
Feb 10, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Antonioe de Saint-Exupery said "If you want to build a ship, don't summon people to buy wood, prepare tools, distribute jobs, and organize the work, rather teach people the yearning for the wide, boundless ocean". Glocalnet turbo training is about awakening the heart to yearn for the kingdom of God. We were blown away to see so many men and women at this year's Turbo with such hunger for that wide boundless Ocean of the Kingdom of God. We say go for it, risk it all.
"The frontiers of the kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution" J. Oswald Sanders. Thank you all for making 08 Turbo a huge success.
Feb 11, 2008 at 10:06 PM
What a motivating Turbo! It was great to see that these ideas have actually been put into practice somewhere and that God is moving. I can't wait to see what he wants to do in our church, our communities, and around the world through us!
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