GlocalNet

2011 has been a great year at NorthWood.  I don’t know where to begin.  We implemented our cell ministry and have grown now to 113 cells - this next year we are planning on 200+. The Building Bridges event with Muslims was incredible having an unexpected 2500.  Our ladies ministry launched in a powerful way and we had 700 at the Priscilla Shirer conference.  Our giving by all accounts should have been down with the economy etc., but we saw more generosity at NorthWood this past year than ever in our history and it was because of everyone.  We started another 25 churches here in the U.S. - Brian Hook is simply incredible.  We hosted a circus - first ever big event at NorthWood and we had over 4500.  We did domain development with 70 leaders focused on Keller and NorthEast Tarrant County.  We learned a ton about Sonship, a ton about 5-fold ministry, a ton about the Trinity, a ton about the divine/human nature of Christ.  I could go on and on. 

I was reflecting and made a list of things that really make NorthWood unique.  When I counted them - there really were 12!!  I’m proud of you NorthWood - you stay focused:

1.  Kingdom Paradigm
2.  T-life discipleship process
3.  Front door approach to nations
4.  Domains to engage a city
5.  Vocations connected people to people
6.  Global church connected
7.  Polycentric view of world and church
8.  Church Planting
9.  Biblical view of Holy Spirit - don’t add to but don’t take away from Scriptural teaching.
10. Loving people of different religions
11.  Access to global gatekeepers
12.  Cell Group ministry

So . . . . What kind of values drive this kind of stuff?

Kingdom based
Globally connected
City Engaged
Disciple driven
Multiplying Communities (Be it churches or cells or ministries)
Courage - As an Apostolic and global church - it means that many times there are no models for what God is calling us to do - and so we have to have courage to reach out - whether it was 25 years ago doing a contemporary worship service, or 18 years ago working in Vietnam, or 10 years ago working in Afghanistan, or this year working with Muslims in DFW.

OK, so what is a Global Apostolic Church:

1.  Influence beyond it’s local base and church.
2.  Multiplication of ministries launched by but beyond the local church.
3.  Pioneering
4.  Innovative ., etc.

I’m excited about where we are headed - and by the way - gotta go get on a plane with Nikki and Jill - going to one of those places evangelical pastors aren’t generally found . . . If I can write about it while there I will - if not, pray for me!!