You are connected

April 8, 2012

Did you know? 
You are connected to the Mountain of Fire Celebration Centre, a recently planted church in the small village of 
Sensi, Kenya?

David Rogers who was completing his PhD and thought that his research could be used to advance missions in remote areas by training and discipling via a mobile phone. It was David
Keith Seabourn who realized this was an important strategic direction and committed the Global Technology Office to lead Campus Crusade in this area. It was Keith
Jerry Hertzler to give leadership to helping get prototype mobile learning courses developed and implemented. It was Jerry
George Mamboleo the African leader of the Go North church planting program, who recognized that mLearning could deliver needed training for this project to plant 20,000 churches in Africa.
Mike Waid had joined Jerry’s mLearning team. Mike leads a Bible study group in Orlando in which there is a Kenyan banker
Robinson Mokua who is also helping plant churches in Kenya. He had helped Nahason Mayaka plant the Mountain of Fire Celebration Centre church. But Nahason lacked basic pastoral training. From Mike, Robinson learned about the Pastors Training in Leadership in a mobile phone which became possible in Kenya when coordinators were identified
KaySeabourn and Mark and Karin trained to use mobile phones to train church planters in their country. Kay and I are able to participate in this chain
You and your prayers and gifts in response to God at work in and through you.

Kay and I thank you for the critical part you contribute to helping ministry happen around the world!

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We should not disparage the former as we are casting vision for a new way to do things. This cartoon says it well (click on the image for a larger view):

I was in a meeting recently where vision was being cast for a new way to train others, and a new way to think about building multiplying groups. The former ways were denigrated as part of promoting a new way.

I’m guilty of this sometimes, so I’m not casting stones. We should remember this cartoon and not denigrate previous efforts as we move forward.

Trash-talking former strategies has no place in leading into the future.

We stand on the shoulders of many that have gone before.

How can we lead into the future without trashing the past?

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You must wait until tomorrow

March 13, 2012

“I’m sorry, sir, there is no flight.” “Has it been cancelled?” “No sir, there is no flight from Nairobi to Bamako today. You must wait until tomorrow.” “But I have a ticket for a flight today, 13th March.” “Yes sir. I can see your ticket. But there is no flight today. You must wait until [...]

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Sam survived

March 11, 2012

Sam had no idea that a bomb-filled car had just entered the church parking lot. After the explosion, he stumbled outside and shook the dust and debris from his clothes. I asked Sam how he felt after surviving the bomb blast. Sam is part of the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in Nigeria. He [...]

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What’s happening in Ethiopia

March 11, 2012

25 years ago Ethiopia was a closed, Communist nation. Christianity was illegal. Now Ethiopia is open to the gospel and it is spreading like an unquenchable fire. The harvest is plentiful and the laborers, well, not so much. While we were in Ethiopia, Kay and I had dinner with a Campus Crusade for Christ short-term STINT team. [...]

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Fighting jet-lag

March 10, 2012

It’s 2:30 in the morning. I’m looking at the drape of white gauze mosquito net illuminated by the security lights outside our building. The buzzing of mosquitos is a safe distance away. As I’m laying in bed fighting jet-lag, I think of a childhood song “his banner over me is love”.  This mosquito net is [...]

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Five articles on mobile phones

February 4, 2012

Kay returned from teaching how to use mobile phones in Ghana and Kenya (click here to read the story). But is mobile a viable platform for discipleship and training? Here is some good reading on mobile devices. I’ve put some of my favorite quotes beneath each article link. 1. Tablets are starting to impact African [...]

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Kay in Africa

January 22, 2012

29 training topics written and prepared. Check! 4000 pages of training materials printed and collated. Check! 32 trainees from 11 countries traveling to the training locations. Check! Visas. Tickets. Bags packed. Check! Check! Check! Africa, here I come! Keith drove me to the airport. Then he drove home. I, on the other hand, flew to [...]

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Failure is a normal part of the process

January 18, 2012

I re-read this today. “Each step by any (and every) one who ships moves us.” Read it! Then pick something you haven’t released or shipped yet and get it out the door today. What letter hasn’t been written? What gift hasn’t been sent? What encouragement hasn’t been given?

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MinistryNet 2011: From Decisions to Disciples

November 22, 2011

Renner travelled 56 hours. Selegna was refused a visa to enter Thailand. International travel can be uncertain and frustrating. But Renner and Selegna and 170 others from 32 countries felt God had called them to join us. So they persevered. Renner wrote: I’m now at the São Paulo International Airport. I spent 5 hours on [...]

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