GlocalNet

Great article.  A must read for everyone!

Yesterday at church we had a powerful story of a man who went to Vietnam for the first time to work at an orphanage with a group of people from NorthWood.  His story was very good and God did a work in his heart and life.  He shared and then we prayed with people coming forward all across the front of the worship center. 

When we finished praying I went back to my seat and I was standing there singing and thinking about how so many churches have asked us to help them engage nations like we are.  I was thinking about the training, writing, all that goes into that and how we are trying to do it in a scaleable way.  I was thinking about nations and opportunities.  I’m often asked, how do you get a church to do what NorthWood does.

It hit me - faith.  Core to “missional” values is always faith.  You see the opportunity and you do it.  We had no manual, no 10 step process for doing it.  Yes - I know - we may be in that 3% of innovators that figure it out and do it.  BUT, the reality is we don’t have a story because we read someone elses manual and then did it.  We have a story because we saw an opportunity and just starting moving towards it. 

I began to think about other leaders in the Bible - most didn’t have strategies, they just pulled up stakes and went - be it Abraham, or Noah building an ark, or David with a sling shot, or Paul following the Spirit to different places.  MAYBE that’s the curriculum, how to hear God’s voice.  That’s what Paul wrote about and others.  They loved God, they worshipped him, he put things in front of them, and in faith - they moved towards them.  Unexpected things happened and God WON! 

Last night on 60 minutes I watched the story on the Sudan and Darfur.  How tragic and horrendous.  Where are we?  Who will go?  How much more do we need to know?

For a couple of days this week I was in Manhattan at the Center for Foreign Relations where Richard Haas is President.  It was fun.  It was on religion and foreign policy.  I got to be with some friends and meet new friends.  Hopefully I’ll be able to fill you in on some of them in a few days and things I learned from them. 

Richard has been writing on the “Age of Nonpolarity.”  The article is in the May/June issue of the probably the best for affairs magazine around called “Foreign Affairs!”  Here’s the link.  The premise of which ”the world is not dominated by one or two or even several states but rather by dozens of actors possessing and exercising various kinds of power.  This represents a tectonic shift from the past.”

It fascinated me because it is how I see the world operating and how we do global engagement in the domains of society.  I’m in the editing process on my fourth book – and I literally draw diagrams to illustrate what Richard is talking about. 

So what will faith look like in this ever connected global world?  Go to the link, read the article and let’s translate it in to a “faith response.”  What about Richard’s conclusions?  Agree or disagree?

Stories of people engaging Vietnam for the first time from NorthWood always gets us jazzed!  We’ll let Steve tell you his story in his own words…

Steve
As a first time participant, I have learned more than I have taught and taken more than I’ve given. The leadership and coordination of the trip has been outstanding.

Two specific incidents reminded me of Father’s protection and our need to work without ceasing. First, we went swimming in the murky beach water four times. The first two times, I was assigned a young, rambunctious, wild boy named Huam. I called him Juan because it sounded the same and was easier to remember. The third time to swim I was late and he was taken by someone else. I admit, very ashamedly, that I was relieved. The fourth and final time to swim, I was running late and as I exited the hotel, everyone had gone except one boy-Huam. With a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, I ran to Huam-he was waiting for me and me alone. How foolish and selfish I was to want an easier child to handle. He wanted me. In the water, Huam wanted to be left alone, he wanted no help, no guidance, no boundaries, but he wanted to know I was there. When he got in over his head, he grasped for me. Isn’t that the same way we are with Father, or is it just me? No help, no boundaries, no guidance-but please be there when I need you. Fortunately, He always is.

What we need more of today than ever before in the church and society is leadership.  I’m convinced that what we pass off as leadership in reality is management.  There is nothing wrong with management.  For any ministry that is going to grow, there has to be good, clear, focused management.  However, management is only secondary to calling and vision.

Leadership that is driven by calling is never a call to a position but to a mission.  Yesterday, we commissioned a young lady in our church who is going to teach English in Asia.  I told her she would make it—not because she felt “called” to ministry, but because she felt called to something specific.  She has a mission from God.

I don’t see Moses politicking for being the leader of Israelites. If anything, he was running and hiding from it.  When he stood before Pharaoh, I don’t see him giving him his purpose statement or asking Miriam to let Pharaoh or the children of Israel know their 10-point strategy of plagues!  It was simple. Go deliver my people. And, he did it.  Not with the blessings of the Hebrews, but in spite of them.  The same would be true of Abraham, Noah, David, Paul, etc.  They didn’t inherit organizations; if anything, organizations were created around their ministry or specific call. 

Something else I’ve noticed is leaders want to go as far as they can and will use their last breadth to stretch out just as far as they can get.  For Peter, the guy who was crude, rude, and coarse, why in God’s name would Jesus make him the leader of the early church?  Couldn’t he have done better than that? Furthermore, why didn’t he get some highly educated and respected rabbi from Jerusalem—not Hicksville, Gallilee!  But, this country bumpkin who fished nayked (spelling proper!) at night winds up leading the church.  He doesn’t just lead it, he moves its headquarters to Jerusalem in the heart of all that is cultured and wise.  For him to declare that Jesus is the Messiah is HUGE.  He does it, even gets a revelation from God that the Gospel is for Gentiles.  He had to work through his own culture and background…but enter Paul. 

Does Paul, a few years behind Peter, dream of taking over for Peter?  “Wow, I feel called to enter the ministry—maybe I could one day get …

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In order to alleviate some of the confusion that is likely to ensue following this post, let me give a brief definition of terms here:

Intern:  Someone who attends our weekly Church Planting Classes and receives coaching/mentoring for 9-months. (unlimited amount of planters accepted)

Resident:  Someone who raises support for a one-year, staff position at NorthWood before starting a new work somewhere in the world. (Only 4 accepted)

We coach, mentor, and train many church planters (or “community developers” as we call them) here at NorthWood every year.  We have several ways that we do this. 
First, is our internship program.  This is for people who have a passion for planting a new church, but lack some of the training and experience needed to become a full-fledged Resident Church Planter.  This is a 9-month process where planters from around the world come to a once-a-week classroom setting to learn from Bob, NorthWood staff, and other leaders.

Next, is our Residency Program.  This is a one-year program where 4 people are chosen to spend the work-week with NorthWood staff serving in ministry positions.  These four individuals must meet our requirements in the assessment and application process.

The process for both the internship and Residency are as follows:
First, fill out this application and submit it with your resume (there is a place to attach it to your application).
Next, go to http://www.churchplanterprofiles.com and do the complete online pre-assessment.  Be sure to put “Glocalnet” as your agency.  (This costs $79, but is necessary to go to the next step)
If you are wanting to become a Resident and you pass the pre-assessment, you will then be asked to attend a face-to-face assessment with your spouse at one of our approved assessment centers.
If you are interested in learning more about our internship or our Residency Program, click the “contact us” button at the top of this page and someone will get back with you soon.

While we always accept people from around the world for our training, we are looking for people who are called to plant specifically in the following areas:
Washington D.C./Maryland area
Dallas/Ft. Worth
Detroit
Denver

Even if you are not looking to plant in these areas, please apply!  We want to see churches planted around the world!

One more thing, we are still accepting …

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By:  Brian Hook, Vision360 City Catalyst, Dallas/Ft. Worth

“Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

A few weeks ago I had a great discussion on this passage with Jim Hylton, a real-deal pastor from Missouri. Jim said, “Jesus doesn’t separate the supernatural and the practical. The supernatural is always very practical.” If it is God’s work, it’s all supernatural. We cannot separate practical from supernatural. There are planters and pastors reading this blog that have a desire to change their communities, cities, and even nations. How does this happen? It only happens through the supernatural work of Jesus Christ. The supernatural is something I once separated from the practical. But God has been showing Himself to me through the practical, “real” experiences that are also very supernatural.

I met Rodrick about eight months ago through friends, Mike Fechner and Roger Sappington (www.hisbridgebuilders.org). Rodrick was the top drug dealer in a community of Dallas. Early in life he had fathered a few kids and made a ton of money through drugs. He and his girlfriend, Lisa, didn’t have a way out. Through persistent prayers, and God working practically through believers, Roderick came to know the saving grace of Jesus. Roderick was set free, and Dallas had one less drug dealer. Rodrick says it best. “When I got saved, Dallas was drug free…..for a few minutes.”  Mike and Roger are helping people like Rodrick experience the supernatural power of Jesus Christ in practical ways. “Your Kingdom Come….on Earth as it is in Heaven.” God’s transforming power unfolds in the lives of people through practical transactions. For Rodrick, God’s Kingdom has been very practical. God’s power is a diploma through a ministry sponsored GED program. God’s provision is Rodrick learning a trade so that he can get a job. God’s Spirit is teaching him through a discipleship class led by Roger. God’s grace is experienced through a church that hosted Rodrick and Lisa’s wedding free of charge. It is just as powerful to see Rodrick’s transformation as it is for a blind man to receive sight. God’s Kingdom unfolds every day. It may be through a water well drilled in Nigeria, a preschooler learning about Jesus at church, or a pastor setting up for worship in a make shift auditorium every Sunday.  Don’t think for a moment that your practical service is less …

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By:  Brian Hook, Vision360 City Catalyst in Dallas/Ft. Worth

Today I met with Denise Hurst. She is a neighbor. She is also friends with brainy, highly influential world changers like Bob Buford, Jim Collins, etc. Peter Drucker mentored her, and she now heads up the newly established Drucker Institute in Fort Worth.  Here’s the short of it.  She is really smart – specifically in the areas of identifying needs, setting goals, and developing systems. It was a great meeting, and three questions still keep resonating with me. I will throw them out to you to chew on. Your answer will be different than mine, but if you are a city leader, pastor or planter, you must answer them. These questions are crucial before you determine metrics of success for your ministry or church.

1. “What needs doing that meets the needs of your community?”

2. “What is it that could be done?”

3. “What are the economics of how we need to fund this?”

Planters, don’t miss this. I am talking more than dollars and cents. Economics include time, talents and resources of the community at large. The city church! Not just your church.
The Body of Christ has all the gifts needed to do what God has initiated for you in your community. This is what Paul means when he says in I Corinthians 12, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” I love question #2, “What is it that could be done.” Of course, God can do everything, but He blesses you and me with segments of His work that are just for us during this place and time. (Acts 17:26) The work God has for you is bigger than your church. But here is the good news. His Kingdom resources are more than adequate for the job.  He will never call you to a work that He cannot resource through His Kingdom. Remember that you are “His workmanship, created n Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we should walk in them.” Open your eyes to the city, Identify the needs, and watch Him work …

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“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heart-breaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.”
—B.C. Forbes

Because NorthWood has grown and had a unique ministry and planted many churches I get lots of calls from young pastors dealing with different issues.  This week, I’ve fielded a few calls and even met with some guys.  One guy struggling with family issues, a couple with financial issues (hang in there guys - it’s tough for everyone but just remember God’s Kingdom economy is bigger than the US economy), and a couple with leadership issues in their church dealing with negative people.

I deal with all that stuff too - don’t kid yourself.  I learned many years ago everyone does.  Doesn’t matter how big or small they are, house or building, it’s just all part of it.  There are days I want to quit - just like anybody else - buy a cabin in Colorado by a stream, hide out, run naked with a spear through the woods . . . !!!! 

I don’t know of a single leader that at times hasn’t had enough and wants to quit.  In a church, you never can and never will please everyone - it’s just impossible.  That’s why you have to do what’s right and do it for God.  Better to make someone angry following God than trying to follow them.  I’ve also learned, some people are always upset about something - so if you appease them in one area, it won’t be for long, there will be another issue. 

As I was doing my personal worship this morning I read 2 Chronicles 15:2 . . . “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin!  The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him!  Whenever you seek him you will find him.  But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.  3.  For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. 4 But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found Him.  5.  During those dark times, it was not safe to travel.  Problems troubled the people of every land.  6 Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God …

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July 4th weekend is here.  What are you preaching?  Most will preach something about the love of America, etc.  That will be good.  What about preaching on what religious freedom is about and what separation of church and state is and why it matters to Christians?  It’s such a sometimes controversial topic, and complex that many often run from it.  I did for years.  BUT, the more I studied the Kingdom of God and worked globally the more I realized that this was crucial to Christianity and the potential of it’s future growth. 

Here’s, your text:  The Woman at the Well - how did Jesus deal with her with reference to challenging her to follow him, how did it impact the others . . . .  it’s a fun text for that.

Here’s outside sources, these four books, all current and very good:  Os Guiness - The Case for Civil Society, Steven Waldman - Founding Faith, Pople Benedict XVI - Jesus of Nazareth, and Jonathan Sacks - The Home we Build Together. 

Here’s some things to think about:

Freedom of religion is really about freedom of thought.

Freedom of religion means we are giving people the right to choose their authority for life.

Freedom of religion means we live more by moral covenant than social contract.

Freedom of religion opens us up to divine possibilities of what the world can be with Christ.

Freedom of religion matters here and to Christians because what we provide here, we can ask for and promote in other parts of the world.  Some people tell me, when Islam will let us build churches as freely in the Middle-East as they do mosques, then they’ll support it.  I disagree - the fact that I believe in their right to exist here, gives me the moral high ground to say, “I respect your views and right - would you please respect mine?” 
Freedom of religion matters because if someone must follow my faith because of law or a sword - what kind of faith is that?  How long can that kind of faith really last?  Faith must be in our hearts …

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