Here's something from Shane Deike National Director Ethnic Student Ministries
Yo compadres, a number of years ago we were talking about using small simple web sites to help surface contacts in international settings. Sites that could be built in 5 minutes and contain great evangelistic content. With such a tool we could saturate a campus with a simple poster campaign and trust the Lord to surface spiritually interested people.You can now do this in English with MyEveryStudent.com. For 150 bucks a stint team could have an excellent tool for surfacing those key contacts in the first few weeks of class. We need to get it up and running in other languages, but this is a pretty good start – and it may even work in English in some locations.For an example check out www.LaVidaUCF.com – and you can read how we used this to launch a Destino movement at UCF by going to MovementsEverywhereRant.com – scroll down on the right side and click on The Destino Adventure – Mini-Mi Master Plan – and then read the developments under The Destino Adventure. There is still some work to be done, but Chip thought you might like to know how this tool is working now. If you have any suggestions for international development and how it relates to our global mission – please feel free to let me know. Shane Deike National Director Ethnic Student Ministries (407) 435-9842 www.MovementsEverywhereRant .com
Friday, September 16, 2005
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
His Presence and the Call
I have been thinking a lot of Kevin’s talk at Keystone. You know the one where he showed the video about the father who preformed a triathlon carrying his paraplegic son. Kevin’s point of God carrying us has really made me look again at several passages of the promises of His presence that goes hand-in-hand with His call.
One of these accounts is in Exodus 3:11, 12. Moses asks who he is that God should call him to this task of going before Pharaoh and leading the Israelites out of Egypt. God doesn't response by telling him how skilled he was as a leader after leading sheep for 40 years nor by mentioning his pedigree of being raised in Pharaoh's house. He doesn’t mention his Myers-Briggs type or what cool gadgets He will give him (though a stick that turns into a snake might qualify as a really cool gadget). He just says, “I will be with you.” It’s like God says, “Bro, that’s all you really need. If I called you and I am with you, this is gonna work.”
The Lord says similar stuff to Joshua (Deut 31:23, Josh 1:5, 9). Here’s Joshua faced with replacing a legend, crossing the Jordan, leading this mob into the occupied promised land, taking the hill country, etc. What does God say? “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life (i.e. this will work), as I was with Mosses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The bible often couples victory / success / influence with God’s presence. For extra credit, you might want to read: Gene 39:2, 3; Num 23:21; Josh 6:27; Judges 1:19; 1 Sam 3:19; 18:14; 2 Sam 5:10; 7:9; 2 Chr 1:1; Is 8:8-10; 41:10-16; 43:2; Jer 1:19; 30:10, 11; Haggai 2:4-6; & Rom 8:31.
One of my favorite passages is in Luke 5 about the account of the miraculous catch. Before: professional fishermen fish all night and catch zilch. Afterwards: they catch so much fish that their nets begin to break, need help and the boats begin to sink under the weight of all the fish they catch. What’s different? It’s the same fishermen, same boats, same nets (though now washed), same lake, and maybe same spot on the lake. But this time Jesus got in their boat. Yeah, maybe we need from time to time to change nets or go to a different place on the lake or even a different lake. But it seems to me that the real critical mass is making sure Jesus shows up and then we go where He tells us to go and when He tells us to go. (Same with Book of Acts and the Holy Spirit.)
The one caveat with this correlation of God’s powerful, awesome, holy, presence and things working out is faith. Mark records that Jesus didn’t do many miracles in his hometown because of their lack of faith. He showed up, but not much happened because they didn’t believe.
I think there are about sixteen passages where the Lord says, “don’t be afraid because I am with you.” Lately, I have found myself during a midnight feeding feeling a little overwlemed with the thought of being a dad to three little boys wondering if I have what it takes (or will have enough money). Maybe you have felt (or will feel) a little overwhelmed by the task before you. Leading often brings about a healthy sense of fear. In the night I am reassured by the promise of His presence. He has what it takes even if we don’t.
Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4
One of these accounts is in Exodus 3:11, 12. Moses asks who he is that God should call him to this task of going before Pharaoh and leading the Israelites out of Egypt. God doesn't response by telling him how skilled he was as a leader after leading sheep for 40 years nor by mentioning his pedigree of being raised in Pharaoh's house. He doesn’t mention his Myers-Briggs type or what cool gadgets He will give him (though a stick that turns into a snake might qualify as a really cool gadget). He just says, “I will be with you.” It’s like God says, “Bro, that’s all you really need. If I called you and I am with you, this is gonna work.”
The Lord says similar stuff to Joshua (Deut 31:23, Josh 1:5, 9). Here’s Joshua faced with replacing a legend, crossing the Jordan, leading this mob into the occupied promised land, taking the hill country, etc. What does God say? “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life (i.e. this will work), as I was with Mosses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The bible often couples victory / success / influence with God’s presence. For extra credit, you might want to read: Gene 39:2, 3; Num 23:21; Josh 6:27; Judges 1:19; 1 Sam 3:19; 18:14; 2 Sam 5:10; 7:9; 2 Chr 1:1; Is 8:8-10; 41:10-16; 43:2; Jer 1:19; 30:10, 11; Haggai 2:4-6; & Rom 8:31.
One of my favorite passages is in Luke 5 about the account of the miraculous catch. Before: professional fishermen fish all night and catch zilch. Afterwards: they catch so much fish that their nets begin to break, need help and the boats begin to sink under the weight of all the fish they catch. What’s different? It’s the same fishermen, same boats, same nets (though now washed), same lake, and maybe same spot on the lake. But this time Jesus got in their boat. Yeah, maybe we need from time to time to change nets or go to a different place on the lake or even a different lake. But it seems to me that the real critical mass is making sure Jesus shows up and then we go where He tells us to go and when He tells us to go. (Same with Book of Acts and the Holy Spirit.)
The one caveat with this correlation of God’s powerful, awesome, holy, presence and things working out is faith. Mark records that Jesus didn’t do many miracles in his hometown because of their lack of faith. He showed up, but not much happened because they didn’t believe.
I think there are about sixteen passages where the Lord says, “don’t be afraid because I am with you.” Lately, I have found myself during a midnight feeding feeling a little overwlemed with the thought of being a dad to three little boys wondering if I have what it takes (or will have enough money). Maybe you have felt (or will feel) a little overwhelmed by the task before you. Leading often brings about a healthy sense of fear. In the night I am reassured by the promise of His presence. He has what it takes even if we don’t.
Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4
Monday, September 12, 2005
Starting off
Well most of you are out there right now. Taking His glory to the nations. Shepherding your teams. Awesome!
It's been a long time since we were in Fort Collins. Many of you commented on the community we experienced there. It's my hope that somehow we can continue that across the oceans and timelines where you are. I want to use this blog for your benefit. Maybe we can post thoughts on leading from other WSN leaders like Chip or Keith. If I find cool links from Jay Lorenzen's blog or others, I will try to post those two.
But I also would love to hear from you. What would you like to hear thoughts on? Who are people you would like to hear from? What ideas what you like to share with other leaders? Have you any cool stories or prayer requests to share? Post a comment here or email me andy.mccullough@uscm.org. I have been praying for each of you and hope you are doing great.
It's been a long time since we were in Fort Collins. Many of you commented on the community we experienced there. It's my hope that somehow we can continue that across the oceans and timelines where you are. I want to use this blog for your benefit. Maybe we can post thoughts on leading from other WSN leaders like Chip or Keith. If I find cool links from Jay Lorenzen's blog or others, I will try to post those two.
But I also would love to hear from you. What would you like to hear thoughts on? Who are people you would like to hear from? What ideas what you like to share with other leaders? Have you any cool stories or prayer requests to share? Post a comment here or email me andy.mccullough@uscm.org. I have been praying for each of you and hope you are doing great.
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