Tuesday, November 21, 2006
You Guys Make It Happen!!
I’m so proud of NorthWood. Not many churches would be willing to do what you guys do!!!!!!! Whether it’s starting churches here in the U.S., working in the innercity, working in Puebla, Mexico, or sweating in Hanoi, you guys simply rock. Some people talk about just doing stuff and have tons of ideas--you guys do it. Your credibility is your fruit. That’s what John said it should be.
This entire month has been surreal--seeing and hearing from people directly affected by what you’ve been doing in low places and high alike. Whether it was all of us being moved to tears by Olga from the Academy at West Birdville, or ready to storm the gates with Gary Haugen for justice, or being thanked by Dzung Tran and Chris Seiple (globalengage.org) and challenged to move it ahead in Vietnam--WOW!!!
While in Vietnam, Bush spoke about the future of Vietnam being bright--and it is. But, while he was speaking, my home was filled with exchange students who are now in college that had lived with our church members--who were engaged with Dzung and Chris. I was with the future of Vietnam. It is very bright.
Thirty years ago, what Dzung, Chris, and I did on Sunday would have been unheard of--if not rare today. But thank God, times are a chang’in. I wonder what Vietnam will be like thirty years from now? Here’s some predictions of the kids you see in the picture:
Our Vietnamese exchange student son Ti will invent the first gasless car, become a millionaire and build us a villa on the Red River north of Hanoi!
Dang, will become the General Secretary of the United Nations, and redistribute nations according to tribes.
Chi, will become the first woman President in Vietnam!
Liz, will build hospitals throughout Vietnam and improve health 100%.
Hein, will sell her grandfather’s sculptures, become a billionaire, start the Art Institute of Vietnam.
Tuan will found Macro-Hard communication modules, making computers obselete and will single-handed end world poverty!
All of you will do something significant--I believe that.
The parable of the talents in the kingdom is what’s happening. But, with impact comes more opportunity, and with that comes more sacrifice, giving, and investment. Let’s stay on our knees, our faces toward heaven, our hearts soft for God and people, our sleeves rolled up, and see what God will do.
I heard this guy saying something at the board meeting of the Institute for Global Engagement where Chris Seiple is President, "First, do what is necessary. Second, do what is possible. Then, expect the impossible." I like that.
Look forward to sweating with a bunch of you this Thanksgiving Day at The Christiasn Center in Haltom City to serve over 1,000 meals to homeless and needy people. We’ll be working from 11am to 1pm. Contact Chuck Langford at 817.808.0713 if you can help.
Comments:
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Some people read history while others are busy making it. Northwood is doing the stuff! Keep creating this new path for the church to walk on. We are right behind you guys, following and learning, scared, excited,what an adrenaline rush. You all are changing nations using a basin and a towel, mandatory equipment of a missional church.
# posted by 
: 9:58 PM
: 9:58 PM
Hi Bob! I just got the Glocalnet newsletter and then got hooked up with your blog, then read your last 5-6 posts.... great stuff!
You've said several things extremely well
... movements are worth our lives!
... we must produce churches in small sizes... tens of thousands of them yearly ... especially important since the average church size in the world is about 50 in attendance. For every church like Northwood that is above that average then that means there are about 65 churches that average about 30 in attendance.
It finally came to me how about a year ago how to describe why we do church planting different overseas than it is done in the USA.... in the USA the mantra has often been "Crowd to core" (get a crowd coming and then get a core of dedicated leaders who are disciples or being heavily discipled). Overseas we can start many churches if we instead "Core to Core". Get a small group together who are being discipled and who are committed (and you often have to be more committed in hostile societies). Then the "core" can grow and also start new churches ("cores" of disciples or "platoons" from the newsletter's military example) as they go.
And WOW Great to hear about Ben's engagement! Blessings in our Christ, Neill
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You've said several things extremely well
... movements are worth our lives!
... we must produce churches in small sizes... tens of thousands of them yearly ... especially important since the average church size in the world is about 50 in attendance. For every church like Northwood that is above that average then that means there are about 65 churches that average about 30 in attendance.
It finally came to me how about a year ago how to describe why we do church planting different overseas than it is done in the USA.... in the USA the mantra has often been "Crowd to core" (get a crowd coming and then get a core of dedicated leaders who are disciples or being heavily discipled). Overseas we can start many churches if we instead "Core to Core". Get a small group together who are being discipled and who are committed (and you often have to be more committed in hostile societies). Then the "core" can grow and also start new churches ("cores" of disciples or "platoons" from the newsletter's military example) as they go.
And WOW Great to hear about Ben's engagement! Blessings in our Christ, Neill
# posted by : 7:26 AM
: 7:26 AM << Home
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