Collecting and understanding data from the field allows us to see God at work and helps identify next steps. Such information is vital to our goals of one healthy, multiplying expression of the Church for every 1000 people.
On June 26, 2018, I and colleague Mike Waid met with leaders from over 25 other organizations to discuss measuring our mission. We discussed the iShare platform, a tool we developed along with an outside engineering firm.
As I review my notes on the Bold Moves Summit, things have become clearer to me. I am increasingly excited to be used by the Lord for His Kingdom come. Thanks to you, Keith and Kay, to Bekele and to your team for a conference that will produce eternal rewards. [from a participant]
Some came from far. Others were nearby. As the Bold Moves conference began in late February in Manila, 229 people from 89 countries gathered to explore Bold Moves: Boldly Multiplying, Boldly Expanding, Boldly Partnering and Boldly Leading. Directing a global conference with visas, around-the-clock arrivals and departures, establishing a meaningful agenda and executing it in atimely manner is in itself a bold move!
My prayer for weeks before the conference was from Luke 19 as Jesus expresses his love for Jerusalem. He laments that “you did not recognize the time when God visited you.” I felt God wanted to visit Bold Moves participants with a fresh breath of the Holy Spirit, a renewed vision and tools to overcome barriers. He wanted to invite us to closely follow our God who is boldly moving towards “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
My prayer was that we each would recognize the time when God visited us in Manila.
My prayer was overwhelmingly answered. There is a renewed dependence, vision and commitment. We have identified the big challenges. We have discussed the barriers. We have developed pathways to success. Participants departed saying, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (Acts 4:29)
Please, are you the Mr Seabourn who taught Electronics when I was a young boy at Government Technical College, Bukuru, Nigeria? If you are, thank you for helping me learn how to be a committed Christian as a young man with very little experience of life. Many thanks. ~Isaac Ajibade
So began a conversation through Facebook Messenger.
I currently pastor a small parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God here in the United Kingdom in a town called Gillingham, Kent. I am also a Professional Environmental Health Practitioner to support the work of the ministry.
Later, Isaac shared more.
On the 21st April 1979 during a Fellowship meeting where you spoke, I felt the need to make a better faith commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ. I pleaded with Him to take away the sin of anger towards others which I often demonstrated while playing football, often injuring others. Jesus took the anger away and I made peace with God. The change continues today with fellowship with Jesus and love for fellow men. God used you to be a source of the help that I needed as a young person seeking. I fell in love with Jesus.
It’s exciting to hear stories of God’s faithfulness almost 40 years later. I was a teacher of electronics for the government in Nigeria. Part of the joy of walking with God is that we never know when a conversation will be life-changing for someone.
Knowing God Personally on the God Tools app
On a trip this week, I handed Heath my phone opened to the Knowing God Personally section of the God Tools app. Heath read through the gospel. We discussed it. Although Heath is comfortable as a childhood-Catholic attending a Unitarian fellowship, seeds were planted.
Success in witnessing is taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.
Who knows, maybe Heath will have an Isaac story in the future.
This year we both celebrated 65 years of life, 40 years of fulltime ministry with Cru and in a few days, we will celebrate 45 years of life together in marriage. Who would have thought that high school sweethearts from a (then) small town on the edge of Dallas would be on their sixth passport filled with amazing ministry engagements, would have friends and ministry in over a hundred countries (we haven’t visited that many but we’ve made friends and enabled ministry through conferences and communications) and would have a powerful team of ministry partners who have enabled it all!
And we are not ready to retire, but feel that God is blessing and leveraging our gifts, skills and experiences in additional opportunities.
As Kay and I move around the world helping advance the good news through trainings or leadership conferences or even personal evangelism opportunities, I am reminded of what the angels said on that first Christmas, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Everywhere the good news goes, there is great joy. As people realize that this good news is for them, joy settles and often erupts.
This is why Kay and I train church planters to connect with the lost and to plant churches that multiply. This is why we develop training curriculum. This is why we develop digital technology tools to expand the scope and engage more people in the Great Commission.
Kay and I are honored to be a part of this with a team of ministry partners. Undergirding with prayer is important. I invite you to pray for every village, every neighborhood, and every high-rise apartment. Click on the Shine link and watch the Shine video while praying. In 2017, we want to train and plant and engage even more so that the good news which brings great joy will come so that no place is left behind.
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.
Kyama 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.
As I review my notes on the Bold Moves Summit, things have become clearer to me. I am increasingly excited to be used by the Lord for His Kingdom come. Thanks to you, Keith and Kay, to Bekele and to your team for a conference that will produce eternal rewards. [from a participant]
What an adventure Kay and I are living!
Kyama 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.
