Class Response #4 - Adam Landers - YWAM

Here's what I've learned and typed as we heard from Andy.  He was such an inspiration, the way he talked about his ministry.  It was such a great learning experience for me.  My favorite part was the I+A=T.  It works so well with what I've been dealing with lately.

Matthew 16:24-25 – being a disciple of Christ.  Taking up the cross and following him.  Jesus says to deny OURSELVES and FOLLOW HIM!  He went around meeting God’s needs and following that call on his life and died for us on the cross.  If we have given our lives to Christ already, then it is not our life anymore.  It is God’s.  He’s our ultimate creator who made and loves us in his image.

He says we can look the “same” on the outside, but you also need to look at what’s going on in the inside.  We need to hear Christian principles but then take them into action.  Discipleship is not just about how it looks on the outside (Kings: crowing King David) but it’s about what is motivating our hearts.

Secondly, he started talking to us about the voice of God.  You can hear God in multiple ways.  It’s not just audibly.

3^rd part - I (information from the Bible) + A (Application) =T (truth/teaching/TRANSFORMATION)

Is there anyone that I have a broken relationship?  Is there a hindrance or fence?

When you hear the truth, apply it to your life!!!

4^th part is talking about being in a learned environment.  How is your training?  We need to find ways to be able to teach people in class but also through what goes on in your actual life.  It’s not all about the lectures but it is how you apply what you learn in the classroom.  You don’t want to just hear about the teaching part but the relational part.

The last part of their discipleship strategy is lots of structure, lots of love!!!  How much to you really work on that?  Do they have freedom, boundaries, etc?  People do need a high level of structure to their life to give opportunity to see the value in a disciplined life.  Some never learn to experience that.  He says the language of the Bible is the language of family.  This is how people should live.  It’s like having those spiritual roles.  If you don’t love them, how can you minister to them?  That is such a great quote from him.  This is really opening my eyes to more opportunity on my part and on the part of those around me.

Starting community to take initiative.  It needs to start with someone doing that, to make that sort of community grow. J

Question Time:

In this his first question was about a recent discipleship success story.  Went on a missions trip and one student, there was so much selfishness, he had to leave Thailand to go back to his church to figure out what was going on with the student.  The student had so much self pity, he had truth but wasn’t applying it to his life.  Jesus would give the law to the proud, but then when they get talked to directly then they didn’t want anything.  We need to be humbling ourselves more often.  We need to help those around us understand, it’s not about them but about taking up our cross for Jesus.

Well truth, is one size fits all.  The application of it, the input, can be the same but where do we walk it out.  Teaching as a team, Small groups make it really deep, 1-1 makes it really deep.  Taking time to work and have fun together at the same time, serving the Lord through serving each other.

How do you measure a win in your ministry?  It’s about their fruit.  The people that are graduated from the program, are they living out that discipleship process?  What are they doing with their lives?  He said that we can’t just reach out to one gender or generation…it needs to be bearing fruit to all others (2 Timothy 2:2).  I love how he says, though it can be hard, it to disciple them through the heart, not just the outside.

What kind of help do you need for the work you do?  Multiply yourself, your team.  Make disciples through what you have learned.

What are the 3 most difficult aspects of your ministry?  When well meaning Christians or the body of Christ say that you don’t have to take up your cross everyday.  The Christianity that is safe is not being a disciple.  It’s not about taking over the world, but it is giving up your life for the word of God, for the gospel.

How do you balance family and ministry?  Get your family involved in your ministry.  Ministry is a lifestyle, not a vocation.  Marry the right person, the one that works with your calling.  It really needs to line up.  One might be so on fire for the calling but the other may not feel the same way.  The life we live a blessing from God.  I think he’s doing a great job in the way he balances both.  It’s so cool when a whole family is in ministry together.

How did you build your ministry team?  What you do isn’t nearly as important in who you do it with.  You could be in so many different ministries and different people.  Who do you want on your team?  It’s about relationships.  You want to be with the people who will speak real truth, love, self-sacrificing.  It’s not about strengths of gifting, but it’s about relationship and character.

Unchurched Friends - Interview #1

Age: 21 years old

Sex: Female

1. Have you ever gone to church before?  If so, where?
1. Answer: Yes, at Jireh Baptist, St. James, and St. Paul's
2. What was it like being a part of that church?
1. Answer: Jireh, she really didn't like it. Didn't feel comfortable. Reminded her of a cult, talked down about other churches including Freedom Valley. Discriminating against other churches. Friendly greeting though.
3. Have you/or friends been involved in serving in ministries anywhere at/for church?  How much did that make a difference for you or your friend?
1. Answer: She never did but it was also offered. She thinks it would have changed her perspective on alot of things. Came up with excuses not to go. More into Native American religion. Doesn't really believe a lot of our church life. It's confusing to her and to perplexed. More into Mother Nature. Believe in God but in a different perspective. Mother Nature...it's hard to explain she says.
4. What do you believe churches do well at?
1. Answer: Getting the word across. Interpreting the Bible and applying it into everyday life. Greeting new comers. Reaching out to new people. Some can be very pushy about it though.
5. Why do you think people don't attend church regularly or why don't you?
1. Answer: Right now its because of her job. The way or religion she's into, you don't need to go to a building. You don't have to be there to practice her religion. You can just do it at home. Pray for things and being thankful for what she has.
6. What doesn't make sense to you about Christians?  Do you see a difference from people who have a relationship with God to ones who don't?
1. Answer: Nothing doesn't make sense to her. She just wants there to be respected on both ends. She doesn't really look for it, but if she notices it, the way they talk and respect. She says if you aren't being respectful to hear about others than how can you have a relationship with God.
7. What are your beliefs on church and God?
1. Answer: Her beliefs on church is that she respects it but she doesn't really understand any religions. She thinks God can be very mean. Say, someone is lost or passes. It's because she doesn't understand why certain things happen here on earth. It can be with your consciousness of what you believe. I know I shouldn't do this but I do it anyways.
8. If there was something you could change about church, what would it be?
1. Answer: Certain times. Why can't it be available all the time. You know all day.
9. How is your life going right now and do you think it could be better if you were a disciple of Christ?
1. Answer: Her life is going a lot better now more so than 3 months ago, because of trying to get on the right track, job, relationships. She does the same thing of practice in her Native American way like we are at our church.
10. What do you think churches could do around the community that people would like?
1. Answer: Don't do the door-to-door thing. If people need help, they know there are churches out there. Don't antagonize. Having the resources but not pressuring. 

Response:

Catching Up With An Old Friend

            Wow, after being best friends, almost like sisters since we were in middle school, I never knew that my friend was so different from me.  I mean, I knew we were different people but I didn’t really know much about her beliefs.  My mom and dad practically adopted her as another daughter.  I’ve missed talking to her.

            What I have seen over the years with her is such a growth but not all of it being so good.  There are some things that she does that I would not agree with.  She knows and I’ve told her my opinion on these things, that I don’t want our friendship to be lost over these things.  Sometimes the way she is, worries me, if she’s really doing ok.  She can definitely take care of herself but she and I have gone through a lot together too.  We’ve lost friends, family, etc.  In other ways though, she’s been a huge inspiration to me just because she sticks up for herself.

            Before this interview, I thought that she was a non-practicing Baptist or Lutheran but I was way wrong.  She and another friend of ours (he went to the same Lutheran church as me growing up) but passed away 6 years ago, loved Native American culture, or more so the religion.  She is a practicing Native American.  She’s still very new to it, doesn’t completely know how to explain it but she likes it.  I’m so glad she believes in God.  She says that church doesn’t have to be a building which is very true.  It’s out in nature or anywhere we want it to be.  It’s like relying heavily on Mother Nature.  She doesn’t understand why God let’s bad things happen, such as people dying, our economy is, etc.  Her and I have lost close friends and loved ones due to suicide or cancer.  She doesn’t understand why God didn’t work in their hearts and minds to not reach out more to others for help.  I feel her pain from that but also know and told her God doesn’t want us to suffer, fear or be confused and that I’m praying for her on that.  Churches do great things but that’s not all it is to her.  I know that she is very respectful and open to know and experience other religions and aspects of church but she tended to find an excuse to not do ministry at her one church.  She felt it was very pushy.  In that certain church, they actually called our church a cult or occult.  I’m just so thankful for church in general and people’s faith.  I believe a way I can start reaching her more is by meeting up with her for lunch sometime, talk and pray with her and definitely have her come with me to Freedom Valley.  I know she’d be very open to that if she didn’t have work.  I can’t wait to work on reaching her more.

            I thank God for her every day.  She didn’t have to answer these questions and she did.  Thank you God for the time I had to talk to an old friend and learn more about her beliefs!  Please bless her and I just ask she would live for you first and foremost!  It was a fantastic interview, for me tonight.  Thank you God!

Class Response #3 - Chad Furlong

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.

Class Response #2 - Jeremiah & Cori Herbert

The Intersection Church-FVWC

They work together being co-leaders in much of what they do.

Just like in marriage, when you have a church body you believe in and car about, you commit through all of it (good and bad).

Numbers are AN important thing but not THE most important thing.  Go and make disciples out of all the nations.  We need to restore Jesus and teach about him in everything we do.  That’s what the Herberts and the Intersection believe.  A disciple learns and does what they are taught.

            -Everything we do is discipleship

            -There is an ongoing discipleship

            -The come and follow “principle” – quoted Jesus in scripture

                        -come and die (come and pick up your cross daily)

            -Our goal should be that we’ve taught people to live their whole life for the cause of Christ to the end of their life.

It takes more than one time to talk to people about what’s going on in your church.  You may have the same conversation but eventually you can get people to church, when you are persistent about it.  It’s not ultimately of what we can do but what God (the Holy Spirit) does through them.

120à3000 filled with the Holy Spirit

You have to still be connected to people whether they go to church or not.

Discipleship is a process and you need to let others in to connect them to Jesus.  Say you are working on something and someone asks you if they can help…don’t say no you can’t.  Get them connected with God in that way by saying, “sure”.

Disciple people in the area you are passionate for!  Know what your strengths are, what your passions are, go to someone who you can trust and ask them for help. J

When you sow seed into something, don’t just take the whole thing for yourself.  Share half of it with others in that group.

            -Time Management & Availability – “Ordering Your Own Private World” is a great book to read to work on this.  Workload and family – juggling that.

*I really like how they were explaining discipleship to us.  They get straight and to the point which I always love about them.  Cori and Jeremiah are very direct and knowing what they want.  I see much leadership in them and look up to them in that way.

*When doing events, that’s all they are if you are just worrying about that.  The more important process is the relationships you make while planning for the event.  Something also that I learned from Cori and Jeremiah today is that, though there may be people in your ministry that are more “talented” or whatever more than you, the Holy Spirit put you into that position for a reason.  Faith and creativity can come together in that way.  Always try to humble yourself.  Don’t be prideful.  Also, have a sweetness to people but be direct too.  They really inspired me in that way.  It’s just like I was told to be faithful no matter how hard it gets through a vision, continue to do what you love to do, what the Holy Spirit wants you to do.

*Restore people’s dreams…”Dream Big Dreams*  Speak truth in to the lives of YOUR ministry!  In evangelism…you have to have that desire in your heart to speak positivity into the lives and  hearts of those around you.  It’s not just at big “events”.

Give your heart, soul and mind to the Lord.  To the vision!

4 Core Values @ The Intersection:

-Create

-Connect

-Contribute

-Celebrate

3 Filters (Questions):

            -Is this something we should do?

                        1. Does it connect people with their purpose?

                        2. Is it innovative or creative in a new way?

                        3. Does it contribute to our community?

Thank you so much Cori and Jeremiah for all that you do and the way you’ve inspired me. J

10 Questions For Unchurched Friends

10 Question's For Unchurched Friends*If anyone would lie/or could take the time to answer these questions, that would be great!  I'm doing this survey for one of my Outreach & Discipleship course @ Elevate Leadership School.  Thank you!!! :)

1. Have you ever gone to church before?  If so, where?
2. What was it like being a part of that church?
3. Have you/or friends been involved in serving in ministries anywhere at/for church?  How much did that make a difference for you or your friend?
4. What do you believe churches do well at?
5. Why do you think people don't attend church regularly or why don't you?
6. What doesn't make sense to you about Christians?  Do you see a difference from people who have a relationship with God to ones who don't?
7. What are your beliefs on church and God?
8. If there was something you could change about church, what would it be?
9. How is your life going right now and do you think it could be better if you were a disciple of Christ?
10. What do you think churches could do around the community that people would like?

Class Response #1 - Jan Workman

Discipleship Process at a Peak :)          


           What does the discipleship process look like?  That is something that Jan Workman  along with Christian Life Assembly works on.  Fornication and crucifixion is something she has been trying to teach students at her church.  She said that adults are in the same plus sometimes which tends to be a bit scary.  She believes in 3 things: Kids are capable of glorifying God. 

Move finish line from 18-25 years old…young adult ministry at CLA.  They have a kid’s ministry up to 5^th grade, a middle school aged group to 8^th grade, then high school group.  This generation is “caused driven”.  I love that she talked about the “Armor of God”.  One of the things in that she talked about was forgiveness.  Currently I am having a hard time with that so it is something to definitely pray about.

            I can tell that she loves working in kids ministry.  She worked with many kids who are now, vision-oriented young adults changing the lives of students from what God has taught them.  She isn’t teaching the same way at CLA that she did at FV but she always loves working with both.  Something I never knew about her was that she helped or lead at one of our church plants.  Church wide, what does discipleship look like from start to finish?  They aren’t completely sure but what they do know is that the staff at CLA is working hard to develop a process for all ages.  It isn’t all about students learning, parents teaching, staff doing all the work.  The barriers need to be broken down between these areas.  Students can also be teachers.  Parent may be trying to teach kids around them but they could also be learning in the process.  Staff doing all the work, that’s not even an option.  Everyone who goes to church I believe, should be involved somewhere in the church, in the body of Christ.  You have to think outside the box.

It takes a team of people to launch from a ramp, not just one person.  There may be a lead person on the team but we are all part of the leadership building.  The leader of the group puts the vision into the rest of the team.  She talked to us, reminded us about the whole spiritual gifts survey.  That is a very huge and important test to take.  That shows us what are strengths are, where they could be, where God has placed us in the Kingdom of God.  I love how she quoted from the Bible about the truth.  “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  It made me think back to when we went to Allison Park Church.  It’s a great thing to be vulnerable in trying to find truth.  It’s great to be trying to better yourself all the time.  Knowing the truth is good, but that doesn’t mean that it always gets easier.  That’s part of the verse is something that I’ve seen people and myself tend to look over sometimes.

The whole “adopt-a-block” idea she mentioned is great but what caught my eyes and ears even more was the whole portion of team building.  If there’s anything I got from her teaching it is team building.  I still don’t know how to completely make team-building better but it is a start.  I’m still in the learning process of this, especially with our worship team.   It is very hard at times to work with others who were already strong leaders when I’m just a growing leader built it also makes me very excited.  It’s so hard at times to work together but it’s during the hard times that the team can grown the most.  One of the best forms of Discipleship I’ve ever learned up to this point is from Gerry’s book “83 Lost Sheep”.  Following up is a huge thing too.  Keep following up with your team and those wanting to be a part of that group.  No one is beyond accountability.  Always keep that in mind with any relationships with others.  Not only with people but in anything you do.  Always keep that in mind.  This is what I learned from Jan’s fantastic message to the class. J