GlocalNet

Yesterday Nikki and I got home from Vietnam (and me for a jaunt to Australia).  She led our education team there that taught at the University.  This summer she’s done a lot of stuff - traveling across the country and the world - from Romania to Vietnam to teach anything from special education to health and hygiene.  In these pictures one is the airport with us leaving a couple of weeks ago.  The other two, we are eating supper with Ti’s parents in Hanoi (the Vietnamese boy we’ve adopted as our own), the other is a new exchange student that will be coming to live with a NorthWood family in a week or so.  We were trying to get him ready for Texas life!  Nikki’s been at the heart of all of this, in our family, at NorthWood, outside of NorthWood.  I’m asked a lot how did I get so lucky and what makes an exceptional pastor’s wife, leader’s wife, etc.  Here are some answers . . . . .  .

1.  They love God.  You can’t force that.  They have to love him, even more than you.  You see that not in just what they say, but how they live and what exudes from the m.

2.  They practice personal worship.  I’d like to think I had something to do with that, BUT, I know that that comes from her.  Generally speaking, the light is on in her study at 5am with her reading her Bible and praying.

3.  You have to be honest with each other.  Nikki and I for all our faults have always been able to do that.  Whether she was challenging me or I was challenging her.  We fight sometimes!  There I said it - it’s true of most people.  It’s OK - as long as it’s not demeaning or destructive.  You have to be able to say what you think - go back and forth - process things. 

4.  You have to force to keep them out of your shadow.  Many men who lead have long shadows - that’s just the way it is.  BUT, help your wife find places she can bloom without you.  It keeps her own sense of self-worth and contribution high.  Sadly, some husbands want their wives under their thumbs and under their shadow.  You bet, your wife should be supportive and …

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Tomorrow, Friday, August 8 is the final day for registering for the August 14 & 15 Turbo.  Register now to lock in your seat by clicking on the above “Turbo” in the menu!  The next Turbo will be March 5 & 6 with registration for that Turbo will be opening up on September 1st.

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 …

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Just a reminder to all Church Planters, Pastors, and Business Leaders looking to make a transformational difference in the world.  We have seats available for the August 14 & 15 Turbo.  Click on “Turbo” above and fill out the registration.  It’ll be a time of interaction with Bob, NorthWood Mission staff, and some very special guest speakers!  Hope to see you there!

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who say they want to be church planters and “build authentic community,” yet their actions don’t back it up.  For instance, just a few days ago I was talking with a young man who was telling me his dream of planting a church because he wanted to be a “transparent pastor” and “create an authentic community” (whatever that means).  He went on to ask me if I knew of any tools to help aid in that endeavor.  I asked him if he had a Facebook or Twitter account, or even (heaven forbid… personal opinion) a MySpace account.  He proceeded to tell me this long, drawn out story of how he liked to keep to himself and how his personal life was, well, personal.

Do you see the disconnect?

I think that every pastor and church planter should have a blog, Facebook, or a twitter account at least (pick one, at least one).  Live your life with your people.  You don’t have to give all the gory details, but let people know what you’re doing, what you’re going through, and what you’re learning.  You want an authentic community… be authentic.

GLOSSARY:
“Twitter” (http://www.twitter.com): “Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?”

“Facebook” (http://www.facebook.com): “Facebook is a social utility that connects you with the people around you.”

Well, for all of you who have been calling and emailing asking when the next Turbo is going to be held, we can finally give you a date! 

August 14 & 15, 2008

Here are just a few details:
Registration will be open on Monday, June 23rd (click on the “Turbo” link above on that day and it will take you to the registration form)
The cost is $199 per person, unless you bring a group of 5 or more, then prices drop to $179 per person (if you plan of bringing a group, please email us via the “Contact us” link at the top of this page and we will arrange for a group #).
It will begin at 8am on August 14 and go until noon on the 15th.
Seating is limited to 100 for the August Turbo.
For other details such as hotel reservations and such, click on “Turbo” above on Monday.

Well, ok, not “all” new, but new design and a few more tools added (with more coming soon!).  Here’s just a quick look at what you’re going to find on the new site.  Under “Churches” you’ll find information about our Church Planter Training opportunities and a short list of just a few of our daughter churches.  If you are a daughter church of NorthWood and would like to be added to that list, just email us and let us know (with a link to your church website).
Under “Turbo” you will find the registration forms and information regarding our Turbos.  While there is a form there right now, we have not opened up registration for our next Turbo just yet (later this week). 
Under the “Books” page you will see some of Bob’s recommendations along with what Bob has been reading recently! 
On the right side of the screen, you will see a map.  The blue dots represent all the people who are currently reading this at the same time you are!  There is also a photo slideshow that we will update with trip photo’s both from Bob’s trips and from trips taken by our Church Planters.
We hope to see you here often!

Aaron, for years you’ve tried to get me to take you with me to visit key leaders globally.  I’ve explained, for our meetings the metal has to come out.  Well - I finally found a place you can go and stay just as you are - in addition, you can put on a lot more - this is the King of Pandanohurtineedlesinfaceandbuttonstencilandtattoodledoodiiwop

As usual, we have a full cast of Church Planters hitting the field this year.  Here are a few who will be (or already are) planting all over the United States.  Some of the planters already have websites.  See their links below.  Please continue to pray for these families:

Tim Bach - Bend, Oregon

Roberto Munguia - Arlington, Texas

Brad Duncan - Albany, Oregon

Kevin Cox - Heartland, Texas

Richie Kim - Cherry Hills, New Jersey

Colby Fulfer - Springdale, Arkansas

Gabriel Alfaro - Puebla, Mexico (currently planting 3 churches!)

Eric Maggio - San Diego, California

Andy Wood - San Francisco, California

Aaron Snow - Las Vegas, Nevada

Last night we ate supper at Oscar Muriu’s home. It was a lot of fun. Omar spoke and did awesome. Later today we’re going to ride through a game reserve. Jack Sara from Palestine also spoke--what a powerful story. This is an utterly incredible conversation--a book could be written on it. One of the biggest ideas is the reality that the church is really not connected globally. Denominations and mission agencies are, but not the church. I’m sitting with the church--major leaders from all over the world and we believe this is the future. I wish young pastors were here. I MUST get them together with these guys. These are totally different conversations than the American Church and they are having conversations separate and apart from ours. We are the loosers. The problem is we don’t want to listen, and they don’t take us serious.

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