GlocalNet

I’ve known the guy in the picture since he was a baby. He grew up at NorthWood.  He has his own landscaping business and this is his first trip to Vietnam.  When he arrived I was told he was kind of “shell shocked” by the culture and differences and was just taking it in - somewhat quiet.  When they got to the mountains where they are working - and building water buffalo corrals, I was told it was as if he came alive.  He knew what he was doing, wound up directing the work and really connected with the people there in North Vietnam.  I’m so proud of him.  One good thing about staying at a church where you’re part of the community - versus just a preacher on Sundays - is seeing people come alive and making a difference locally and globally.

On this trip, one lady is a leader with a company in stocks and she is directing micro-finance.  People have bought pigs for years, but if you get a water buffalo that really changes your economic ability, so that’s what she helped people get.  In the evenings, my wife, a school teacher, along with other teachers is teaching health and hygiene and English.  While they are there, two other groups from Glocal Ventures, churches in the U.S., are doing different things there as well. 

Nikki has been hanging out with Amy Colon - a church planters wife that we’ve known for years and years.  It’s neat seeing people grow up, seeing churches grow up, seeing a city grow up.  It’s all possible because the people in the church have been released to do what they know best in work and daily life.  It’s possible because we’ve redefined discipleship, not as learn, grow, and go - but hear and obey.  That’s something everybody can do with their skill.

Lately, I’ve received lots of emails from many different laymen, from many different denominations, networks, etc., and they’re all asking for help in the same way.  How can we engage our city and work globally like NorthWood?  We offer conferences and turbos throughout the year to teach that - but immediately - the first thing I would do - is help people redefine their job as their number one ministry - this is what the book REALTIME CONNECTIONS is about that I just wrote -