GlocalNet

Guest Blogger:  Brian Hook, Regional Catalyst - Vision360 (http://www.vision360.org)

Corporations have some simple goals - make money and keep the customer happy.  Successful businesses leverage everything to that end. A church has an end goal to make disciples of all nations. In light of that goal, NorthWood realizes our inability to fulfill that goal alone.

Whether it is business or church, we can learn from the words of Peter Drucker, “Every great leader should have a willingness to realize how unimportant you are compared to the task.”

I am at a church conference this week, and it is exciting to meet some leaders that realize they are nothing without Jesus, and that great things can happen when we leverage our resources together to make sure every person in the world see and hears about Jesus. As you read scripture, you realize that Jesus never intended for us to do this alone. Jesus called his disciples to go out together, make disciples together, and plant churches together so that people will see Christ in them. Northwood took this discipleship principle seriously a few years ago when they started investing their resources in identifying, training, and supporting leaders to start new churches.  These resources could have been used to do many other things, but the focus was not on NorthWood, but on seeing the nations come to Christ. This shift towards planting churches began at NorthWood in the 1990’s. No longer was it about NorthWood being the largest church in Keller, but rather, churching the community.  Northwood has now mobilized over120 lead disciples that lead 120 new churches around the world.  A new training process will allow NorthWood to potentially see thirty churches planted this year alone.

Here is what we have experienced in this process.

1.  Northwood impacts nations when they plant glocally engaged churches. For instance, these 30 new churches will impact 90 cities

2.  NorthWood gives a high percentage of their resources to church planting. The time and money given to new churches reach more communities, cities, and nations than Northwood could ever dream of reaching alone.

3.  NorthWood decentralizes their DNA by releasing these lead disciples to respond to the Holy Spirit in their communities. Many churches that are mobilized through NorthWood (Baptist) are part of other denominations and networks. God uses an open hand.

4.  NorthWood receives tremendous blessing by birthing babies. Being a parent is expensive, messy, and heartbreaking at times, but it is also filled with great joy!

I am so thankful to be a disciple of Christ at NorthWood!