The Seabourns

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Reaching 5 billion

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Over 7 billion people that share our planet today. About 2 billion of them claim to share our faith in Jesus Christ. Not all share exactly what we believe, but let’s keep it at 2 billion for a nice round number. That leaves 5 billion. They do not wake up each morning looking forward to walking through the day with the creator of all days. Many have never heard his name. Others have heard, but not in a way they can understand.

Paul shared this same concern when he wrote:

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

That is where Kay and I come in. We have been sent. And we are also in the sending business. What if we can mobilize the 2 billion to reach out to the 5 billion?

What would it take to develop a systematic outreach among the 5 billion in every language, every demographic group, every business? It would take a permanent group that meets regularly, that loves Jesus, and is committed to living righteously and telling others about him. This a church.

We have thought this through. Most rural villages are about 1,000 people in size. Most suburban neighborhood developments are about 1,000 people. Most urban high-rise apartments are grouped into about 1,000 people. So if we  put one of these missionally-focused churches among every 1,000 people, 5 million churches are needed among the 5 billion. We need them evenly distributed so there is a light among every cluster, so that the church of Jesus is available to every person that shares our planet.

That is why we have set a goal of 5 million new churches, a church in every urban high-rise, every suburban neighborhood, every rural village, and every digital community.

The Task

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Your task is to develop a social media strategy to identify persons of peace among young professionals living in an urban African environment who want to launch churches and spiritual movements.

 

This was our assignment during Indigitous Addis. 130 people from 17 countries spent 3 days learning from each other and from technology leaders.

keith-kyamaKyama Mugambi was my frequent partner last week. He is in the photo at the top of this page. Kyama was part of the social media strategy group and we also enjoyed meals together.

Kyama is the Executive Pastor and gives leadership to international outreach for Mavuno Church. Mavuno means harvest in Swahili. Mavuno’s mission is to the young professionals in the capital cities of Africa.

Kyama also shares my passion to see young leaders grow into responsible roles. In the future, he plans to step out of his current leadership role before the age gap with his church target audience gets too large.

Indigitous created 13 projects ranging from evangelistic videos to mobile apps to strategic marketing plans. One team was excited to lead a number of people to the Lord as part of testing their online project.

We are connecting people to Jesus and engaging them in churches through digital strategies.

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Keith-Cosmos-Purity  KyaO  keith-at-table

On being global…

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GCM i4M - Feb 2014 Bangkok-91

It is a hard thing to describe. It is a beautiful thing to experience. Standing in the midst of a global conference. 244 people from 76 countries. Most speak English. For many, it is their 2nd or 3rd or 4th language.

In one corner is the Spanish table, the translator quietly speaking his translation. A few feet away is the French table, listening intently to their translator. Over there is the Arabic table and farther along is the Russian table. Along the wall is the large East Asian language group.

The worship team starts to play. We unite our voices in praising the One who brought us all together. We all have a similar story. We all have been redeemed. We all have been given new life. We all have been called to help tell the grandest news ever. The language of forgiveness and adoration is universal.

Speakers share best practices. Videos and stories tell of churches multiplying themselves to 4th and 5th generations. We share strategies and tools and ideas. We share encouragement. We spend time in small groups discussing how to apply the ideas in our local situations.

We bathe the time in prayer. Early each morning some pray for hard areas of the world, asking God for breakthroughs. A prayer team is praying throughout the day. Small groups commit plans for the future to the Lord. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” [Psalms 127:1]

One leader wrote, “I want to thank you for the holy time we spent together in Thailand.”

All 244 leaders returned home with renewed vision and tested best practices to help plant multiplying churches. 46 countries have turned in plans to train 22,536 leaders who will each plant a church in 2014.

Serving as emcee. Speaking in the main sessions. Interviewing conferees. Documenting amazing stories. Helping administratively. It takes terrific teamwork to host a conference and we are part of a terrific team.

Here are some photos. Click to see larger versions.

IMG_20140221_183748-001 GCM i4M - Feb 2014 Bangkok-153 GCM i4M - Feb 2014 Bangkok-3 GCM i4M - Feb 2014 Bangkok-49

Distilling moments

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Standing there in the chaotic baggage hall not knowing how Kay was doing and feeling 10,000 miles from her, I sang the Matt Redman song 10,000 Reasons. Over and over and over, I quietly sang the words. The sun was going down outside and the words of the song are:
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes.

This is not how I envisioned my return trip. I had received word about 24 hours earlier that Kay had fallen and broken a bone in her elbow. After spending the day changing my flights, I was on my way home. I had to get my bag from this domestic baggage claim so I could check in for my international flight. I had been waiting almost 3 hours for my bag. I was also waiting for a text from Kay telling me she was through the outpatient surgery.  Neither was forthcoming.

While I waited, I sang Matt Redman’s song to myself. While 500+ people from 2 international flights plus several domestic flights crowded around 2 small baggage belts in 90 degree tropical humidity. As bags were delivered a few at a time, I blessed the Lord. While I wondered how Kay was faring as the surgeon removed bone chips from her elbow, I blessed the Lord. He is good. I  received the next-to-last seat on the only domestic connecting flight that would have put me in this baggage claim in time for my international connection. Now if only my bag would come. If only Kay’s text would come.

God does that. He puts us in these distilling situations to help us trust him even more. And he brings others around to pray for us and to help us. It’s fragile and frail sometimes, but it works when we work it. It works when we choose to remember that he is faithful. It works when we choose to remember that he is good. It works when we choose to remember that he is full of mercy and compassion.

I think that is why I like the Psalms of David. He pours out his junk in plain language. He does not hold back. But he ends up with God’s goodness and mercy and faithfulness.

Have you read any Psalms lately? The 30’s and 60’s are good places to start.