Founded and led Hampton and San Diego Master's Commissions. He also started a church out there as well as an assembly program. He just started a new discipleship ministry call "Twelve (12)".
He is still young and already did all of this! The way he and Lance have worked together, he seems like a great disciple of Christ!
"The heart behind what he does."
He was telling us his story of his first missions trip. Don't know the point of it but it was funny! He seems like a great person to talk to. He definitely think very highly of Lance and same as Lance to Chad. Chad's daughter came on and said hi to us. That's very cute!
"The Heart of Discipleship"
"Twelve" taking Jesus's ministry on how he worked with his "12 Disciples". They launch this coming Sunday. He seems very excited to be doing that. Christian means little Christ. It's not about getting big fast when it comes to discipleship. They are starting with 13 students, but would like to eventually get to 50 or so. When an inch wide and a mile deep is how they want to go when they get with the "Twelve" team. He really wants to work on Jesus' ministry model and follow that. Discipleship can almost be synonymous with relationship. The only difference in a discipleship relationship is to exhort and and be relational within discipleship.
In third world countries, they have conversation and community. They don't think much of all of the technology. Sometimes, in our world, when we get home, or in the western church we do pretty good with programming and we shut the world out. I was a bit confused when he talked about this. In the area of discipleship, in the western church we tend to not see or pay attention to relationship with others around here.
Erwin McManus called "Soul Cravings" was the book he recommended for us to read. A quote from the book I got online states, "We can spend our whole lives trying to satisfy the one insatiable part of our being, our sould craving." I loved how he said and challenged us to be relational and disciple our ministries. I can tell he's so passionate about this! I love listening to what he says.
His Values and Questions he answered for us.
1. What is the underlying philosophy of your discipleship?
We need to value intimacy with God first, above all else. He is very passionate about this new ministry he's starting this weekend! It's because of God's love, mercy and grace we are accepted no matter how we are. Simply push people towards loving God. It won't always fix everything but it's what is very important. Matthew 22:32-40 - In the discipleship strategy, that's what he wants to exhibit and be first in his ministries and in what he teaches us. Loving God intimately and loving each other (1 Peter 4:8). It should be fervent prayer (having/ displaying a passionate intensity.
He values love. We need to love God and love one another
He values servant heartedness...and being or having transparency. (Matthew 20:28). That is so crazy because just yesterday, in our intern meeting with Charity, she had us listen to part of "The Call of a Worship leader". One of the points was servant leadership. It's not exactly the same but that's what came to my mind. Part of leadership and discipleship is servanthood.
He values evangelism and outreach (Matthew 28:19). We need to go and travel the world, our communities, our schools, and our families. When it comes to our disciples, we need to be reaching out. We often value authenticity where we need to value transparency.
Men and women tend to put themselves up on a pedastool where Jesus should be. Jesus was always bragging on the Father. We should be doing this! The Holy Spirit's role in our lives is to uplift Christ! Do not but yourself up on a pedastool.
They value balance. It's very important to be balanced in work and rest and relationships. He wants to teach them, how to date. Teaching disciples balance is very important. You have to be a mom before anything else. If you don't have fruit yourself, how are you going to grow and invest in others? We need to have fruit and be fruitful.
Picture yourself on a yard stick. One end of it, you are a mom, God's daughter, etc. Other side is your ministry. The balance is not exactly in the middle of the yard stick. It is whatever is to be a higher focal point/crisis at the time.
They value responsibility. It is an opportunity to serve God, not just man. (Colossians 3:22-24). He says a learner will learn anything from anyone at anytime. That is a very great quote to think on. I personally like learning but not reading. We need continual learning. Proverbs 19:8 they value creativity (look at Genesis and Psalms.
They value spiritual authority. Romans 13:1-2 illuminates submitting ourselves to governing authorities. Matthew 9:17
They value teamwork. There is no 1 person that makes something. It's being humble and working as a team (Philippians 3:4).
They value fortuitiveness. They have drive and will never quite. You have to refuse to quit. Use the book, "Celebration of Disciplines" to disciple those around you. What are the values of our worship team ? That is something I personally want to work on. Is that something maybe to involve the team in to decide on? Discipleship he thinks doesn't happen in a classroom. There are elements of learning. Discipleship is almost like a 1-on-1 thing or 1-on-3. PHILOSOPHY
2. How did he build the group or more so the logistics (the system) and how it works?
You want to think of how and who you want to be working with. Prayerful God, "what ways can we get to the spot you want me to be in." We can't just create our own waves but let God intervene. Building a ministry for discipleship is to have a platform for it.
The need to create a discipleship experience on paper that you are happy with, through past learning experiences. Have integrity with it. "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" we need to first start off with the end in mind. Walk through with it. Don't just go through the motions. Don't just make the plan for them but follow it yourself.
*He says, Make Your Ministry "Great". www.twelveexperience.org
Look at the 5 elements of your ministry.
Strategic document, 5 - year plan, mile-markers, major tasks
We can't always get things perfect but need to take a look back. In discipleship, it is so important to be learning from you past but visioning the future. You can look at the horizon, position yourself in the right spots of those waves and let God call you. Look at your strengths from strengthsfinder.com.
It would be great to go down and work with the others churches in West Virginia. The plan is going down in November and praying for 300 salvations that night. I really pray and hope for great expectations in this area w/ our ministry.
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