GlocalNet

Saturday I spoke at the missions conference of River of Life Christian Church in San Jose, CA.  It’s a primarily a Chinese church, mostly 1st and 2nd generation from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China.  It’s probably the largest protestant, Chinese church in the U.S.  I then spoke in all 3 services Sunday with an interpreter.  Pastor Tong Liu started the church 12 years ago.  At their 2 year mark they started their first church.  They have now started over 67!!!!!  They work globally and have the same 3 dimensions that we do.  They have added a fourth, the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.  I agree with that. It’s at the core of T-Life.  There were so many similarities in what I’ve seen from my friends around the world.  His ministry is much like mine, training planters and working globally.  He is a kindred Spirit.  I’m excited about this new friend. 

Their ministry is tied to worship, the cell group, and what they call “glocal impact”, which they got from someone I’m a little familiar with.  He had read my book Glocalization 3 times.  It’s interesting that the book I wrote which is doing the best, is the one I that was the easiest and fastest to write, without thinking nearly as much.  The book, The Multiplying Church, has been doing well for years. Transformation has sold more, and is more for everyone.  BUT, my favorite to this point, and the most impactful book, in my opinion is Glocalization.  College students, businessmen, and internationals get it.  American pastors don’t really go for that book nearly as much.  Though they think “contemporary” and “innovative” in worship, it seems to stop there.  It doesn’t go beyond worship services and maybe a few projects.  That will change I’m convinced.  A new generation and a global church is making that happen. 

One other thing that really stood out was PRAYER.  They had a small prayer chapel and have maybe 4 prayer meetings of different groups a week, and on the side of the prayer chapel walls are small rooms you can go into and pray.  It reminded me much of Korea.  I loved it.  We gotta get that!!!!!!!