Call to the Nations

I got a late call up. Having returned from a very fruitful ministry time in the Middle East as well as London, I anticipated a free weekend when I got the text from my mate Proctor. It was Friday late afternoon and my weekend just took a very cool change of direction.

Rock Harbor church has been spending the last few months unpackaging the great story of God. I have loved the times I have been able to be part of the conversation - so when the call came to co-teach this weekend with him on the "Great Commission" from Matt 28, I was pretty stoked.

It gave me a most wonderful weekend to refleect on the many amazing heroes I know, who are 'discipling a nation' in a big or small way. These remarkable men and women will probably never have their story told in headlights nor have books written about them. They are ordinary people like you and me, who put up their hands as they wanted to belong to a bigger God story - an adventure that only God could provide.

I mean, there is the kiwi Tony who is passionate in his focus to refocus Nagaland in India. There is Sandy who has helped establish Jesus loving pre-schools in parts of the world where Jesus is simply not spoken of. Or do you know about Rob who has planted churches among the horsemen in Mongolia or Hennie who teaches army generals leadership through the scriptures in one of the most civil war destroyed countries in the world. An the list goes on and on and on - just remarkable men and women I love and respect so deeply.

But, can I ask, why has the call to the nations slowed down? Am I right? Well I think there are some very unhelpful reasons for this malaise:

• The fragmentation of apostolic households have created uncertainty of love and partnership out there in the front lines,
• The call to multi-siting has replaced the bigger conversation as many churches have become imperialistic in their quest for multiplied branding [I do believe in multi-siting - but it is a reason why few folks are responding to the call to the nations]
• The international political uncertainty is not for the faint hearted. This so called 'Arab Spring' has toppled a number of secular Arab governments that have created social uncertainty for many,
• The economic downturn world wide has reduced funds for bigger stories. Churches and believers have cut back on giving on many fronts. Unfortunately, the call to the nations does bow to the need for new buildings and more staff,
• Many of the successful pastors are no longer relocating themselves. They are adopting more of a Petrine model of leadership - remaining in one church. The Pauline approach of establishing a beach head, then moving and doing it again, and again - is no longer a subject of primary conversation,
• Nationalism has crept up the ladder of emphasis among leaders. Here in America, I do agonize, the call to the nations rarely is heard,
• City transformation has captured the hearts of many. Of course that is a good thing. However Jesus simply did not give us an either... or - Jerusalem or the uttermost. He simply said and... and... and...
• Insufficient courageous leaders who are calling believers to a large God adventure but will then walk with them in their simple obedience,
• The missionary model keeps eliminating the call to foreign shores to the 'green beret' christians rather than seeing it as a mandate to all - businessmen and women, teachers, contractors, medical personnel....

Can we beat this drum again? Can we model the call again? Can we offer this next generation a big faith adventure that only God can fulfill? I hope so. I am hearing the call to re-engage Europe with the gospel. I am hearing the call to the Middle East. Who will join us?

The first four years

"In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid... And in the eleventh year... the house was finished in all its parts and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it." 1 Kings 6:37 - 38

These kinds of texts always capture my attention. Firstly, I suspect as it reflects M and my story. Secondly because it gives us a little guideline to building his church.

M and I are in the third leadership chapter of our ministry lives. From 1983 till 1996, we had the remarkable privilege of captaining the team that led Glenridge Church International in Durban South Africa. From the very motley crew of friends who found each other with a dream to build a beautiful church, we set out on a most wonderful adventure. It was a community raw in passion, diverse in personality and large in vision.

Then one day, in Hong Kong actually God spoke to M and me about handing this beautiful 'girl' over. Our task was done but the work was not yet complete. Amazing really - it took 15 years to build the temple. It had taken us around 14 years to set Glenridge on course and then our task was done. Under Rory and the team, the church blossomed, growing from around 1000 to 3000 planting many churches and casting a large gospel light over Durban and beyond.

The call to LA, USA was out of left field. We simply did not see it coming. In fact M and I thought we would relocate to the east. That was not to be. We were called to replant a church with a very fragile history. This was a very different experience. Leading her from 1996 till 2010, we labored hard with many wonderful friends to recapture this community's call to a multiplied future. Great years, hard years, many tears and much joy. Again around 14 years was taken to fulfill our part of this great assignment. And again God surprised us, by calling us to hand over the leadership of the Southlands story just as the task of reconstruction was complete and new traction was being found.

There does seem to be some evidence that it takes around 4 years to lay foundations. For those of you planting or replanting, patience is the order of the day. It is easy to overly evaluate the first 4 years in a new story or chapter. We simply do not know how well we are building during that window. It is hard, dirty, labor intensive work. The new leader is so desperate to get results quickly but do so at their own peril. Quick growth or slow tedious effort indicates very little during those 4 years. The seduction of numbers [rapid or slow] has been the demise of too many leaders. The only thing we must look is the quality of our foundations not the seats in a room.

The glory came fifteen years later... please no more one generational wonders. We simply cannot afford that.

Summary of Movements by Tim Keller

With many friends looking to establish their own apo movements, I thought I would run this summary on movements by Tim Keller...

Summary of Tim Keller on Movements:

A movement is marked by an attractive, clear, unifying vision for the future together with a strong set of values or beliefs. The content of the vision must be compelling and clear so that others can grasp it readily. It must not be so esoteric or difficult that only a handful of people can articulate it. Instead, it must be something that all members of the movement can understand and pass along to others.

This unifying vision is so compelling that it takes pride of place. First, the vision leads to sacrificial commitment. Individuals put the vision ahead of their own interests and comfort. They are willing to work without high compensation, power, or perks. The satisfaction of realized goals is their main compensation. There is no more practical index of whether you have a movement or not. If the leader is making all the sacrifices, you don't.

Second, the vision leads to generous flexibility. In movements, however, the accomplishment of the vision is more important than power and position. So people are willing to make allies, be flexible, and cooperate with anyone sharing the basic vision and values.

Third, the vision leads to innovativeness. Movements are flatter because the commonly shared vision unifies and empowers. The vision is what matters - so anyone with a good idea about how to accomplish it is welcome to give it. Ideas flow out of the whole organization, top to bottom, which leads to greater creativity.

Finally, a movement is marked by spontaneous generativity. Spontaneous combustion means energy generated from within - a conflagration without the need for external ignition. A movement is able to generate its own resources, recruit its own new members and participants, and (especially) raise up its own new leaders. This does not mean that movements have no formal training programs. Rather, it means that first, the vision of the movement (especially as its content is disseminated) attracts people with leadership potential, and, secondly, that the work of the movement provides opportunities that reveal emerging leaders through real-life experience and then prepares them for the next level of leadership in the movement. Denominations or church networks that always have to recruit ministers and staff that were raised up in other environments, and that attract them mainly with good compensation, do not show signs of being a movement.

It is natural for new churches and ministries to try very hard to stay informal, non-codified, and non-centralized. But part of what makes a movement dynamic is a unified vision, and that always requires some codification and control. As time goes on, to maintain the main engine of movement-dynamics - a unified vision - a ministry must adopt some of the aspects of institutions. A strong movement, then, occupies the difficult space between being a free-wheeling organism and a disciplined organization.

A movement that refuses to take on some organizational characteristics - authority, tradition, unity of belief, and quality control - will fragment and dissipate. A movement that does not also resist the inevitable tendency toward complete institutionalization will lose its vitality and effectiveness as well. The job of the movement leader is to steer the ship safely between these two opposite perils.

My mate Mike

I am jetlagged. Returning from a very empowering trip to the UAE and then in the UK, I am sitting here in LA, at 3:00 am reflecting on the trip and its many implications.

Seeing Mike and Charmaine honored was a truly wonderful moment. I met Mike in the 70's when both of us were involved with the Invisible Church in Durban. For him it was a brief encounter before he went off to bible college as God grabbed this thorough sinner and redeemed him for a very large God story.

Look over a person's shoulder to see what fruit trails behind them. When uncertain, see what their life has produced, what evidence there is of their calling. That is what Peter did to Paul. In Galatians 2, Peter extends the right hand of fellowship to Paul in recognition of the grace gift that is upon him to be an apostle to the gentiles.

For Peter that was not difficult. From the first time they met, till they met again 14 years later, Paul planted churches, raised up leaders [church planters, Ephesians 4 gifts and others] pioneered new beach heads in new cities and countries, with great teaching and signs, wonders and miracles. There was no guessing needed. There was no speculation needed. The fruit was there to see.

Mike has a remarkable track record. With Charmaine and the boys, they left their great years with Rheinhard Bonke, [where they learnt so much about the multitudes, faith, healing and evangelism] to plant a church in the inner sanctum of the red light district in Durban South Africa. There they eked out an existence . With no promise of support but a call from heaven, they planted and established a community whose elders looked like poster boys on a most wanted list.

Eventually handing that over to a spiritual son, they moved across town to Durban North where they replanted a most wonderful community amongst the most wealthy in the city - yeh go figure. These again were very amazing years. Fruit there was aplenty. Not only did the church grow in health and salvations but they invested themselves in the call to the nations through the an apostolic team - doing a most outstanding job.

During this time, they in turn began to plant a church in Dubai in the UAE. Isn't this just an amazing story. As the Middle East began to open to them, leading a church in SA was no longer possible. So, they handed over the Durban community to a spiritual son [again] and embarked on their Middle East adventure.

By establishing a strong base in Dubai, they have planted churches into several other key cities in the region as well as Madrid, Paris, Brisbane, as well as working with planters in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. I know, it does sound amazing and I am only giving the headlines here. The soul of this story tells even more beautifully. Right now they have handed this community's leadership to a spiritual son [again] as they want to invest their time with churches, planters and city pioneers. They could be cruising on the back of a very wonderful base church, protecting their life's investment. But that would not be their apo heart. They have handed over captaincy of the church to step into the faith world of uncertainty but confident in their God.

I simply want to honor them. When a group of us E4 friends laid hands on them last weekend, it was not to commend them to a life of potential and promises. It was in recognition of what they have already done in Christ, with the gospel, for the advancement of the kingdom. Surrounded by friends, they were honored and applauded. Of course they have made mistakes. This they will admit readily. But there is much that still burns in their hearts. This new chapter of their lives has just begun.

May it to be a very fruitful and impacting season of your lives, reflecting the past with multiplied fruitfulness. You guys are courageous warriors in an unfolding apo story. Well done. We love you guys and are so proud of you.

Dirty Apo fingernails

"I daily carry the burden for all the churches" 2 Cor 11:28

I am sitting in Reading in the UK. I have loved watching the sun come up on a glorious UK morning. The last two days were spent loving on some pretty amazing men and women. On Friday M and I taught from 10 till around 4 to a group of pastors and wives whose deep love for the church and their nation is inspiring. It has not been easy for them. Several left very high paying jobs to engage on a Jesus journey that has reflected sacrifice and hardship. I love them.

Yesterday, we spent around 3 hours examine the nature of our divine calling with a broader group of leaders. Oh my - these are tough, tenacious God honoring bi-vocational leaders who let the gospel grab their hearts and change their way of thinking. Some were in the doldrums of weariness but left with their heads held high. Put Jesus in the room and watch and see what he does.

There is a clarion call resounding from heaven for the re-engaged role of the Ephesians 4 grace gifts to the church. All are essential. All are necessary. Each in a unique and different way is vital to every church in every city in every country in every part of the world. It is such raw naked arrogance to suggest that we can design the church better than Jesus - that apostles are replaced by mentors, coaches, consultants.

Apostles are known biblically, not as CEO styled leaders of organizations, networks or even movements. Biblically they are driven by a love, deep and sublime for "all" the churches. They are held captive by this love that compels them. They are in a deep love affair that the Father gives them for the churches they serve. They have dirty fingernails because are trench diggers. Paul says that apostles work with foundations... that is what they do. They are not roof wetters, champagne poppers. They have dirty nails from being in the trenches of the churches they love and serve to ensure that the foundations are true, biblical and fully Jesus.

So, how do we know who is an apostle? Two simple ways - look over their shoulders to see what they have built - strong, sturdy, Christ focussed churches that live for reasons beyond themselves; and look at their fingernails - they are in the trenches forging foundations that are essential for each specific church's future. They are intimately involved with these churches, not figure heads or distant administrators.

My pained hearts appeal - let us not lose this great moment of divine restoration again. For the sake of these churches, we simply have to get it right this time.

apostles

When I get home from this trip...

I am going to pour myself into writing a book on apostles...

I would love your help

1. Any books you can recommend?

2. Any thoughts perspectives or questions you may have?

3. Stories that can help?

4. Any help with Church History on this one?

Thanks

Can I trust you?

Thanks for your patience. I have been in my own hiatus. There are times, we need to sit back and reflect more than write, ponder more than pontificate, meditate more that meander publicly with our thoughts.

Blogs aren't meant to be narcissistic self righteous reflections of personal opinions. I think they are there to empower their reader through the challenges of life. This empowerment helps identify the key questions, may help to shape the essential components in the conversation and then watch the reader journey their way to their own conclusions.

There is so much adjustment and divine realignment taking place across the board. So many of yesterday's answers are simply not enough to ritualistically repeat for today's challenges. In the humility of leading through these uncertainties, we can all posture ourselves as students rather than tutors. Only the ignorant will quickly punch out a standard answer.

M and I have discovered through the clouds of uncertainty that the call to 'faith and patience' remains loud and clear. Having walked in a life of faith for some 35 years now, one would think that confidence in the journey would produce a air of boldness that is unstoppable. In many ways that is true, but there is another beautiful part of this mystery for which I am also so appreciative.

The longer we walk with Jesus, the less we are impressed with ourselves, our efforts and our labor. It is almost as if we become increasingly mesmerized with him - and that makes our humanity glaringly lacking. Yet the marvel of grace keeps us from despair and depression. It simply drives us to ever deepening wells of grace. There we find him 'whom our soul loves'. No words can adequately describe this very private walk. As we look into our own eyes and are embarrassed by our frailties, we look into his eyes and discover 'love so amazing so divine'. Faith's foundation is not revelation but love. When perfect love grips our soul, faith splashes our daily lives.

We are all on a journey. We are all on a great gospel story. There are so many promises that he has given us - both textual and prophetic. We will not find them in a pandora box. They are only found at the throne of grace. That is where he quietly asks : "Will you trust me?" Our one syllable answer will make all the difference. Faith and patience are only found where he is...