Thanksgiving and another year for Benjamin

This past week or so has been super filled. Thanksgiving week was filled with family and friends. Christine's dad, Frank, and his wife, Laura, came up from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to spend a few days with us. It was great having them here. On thanksgiving day our team of 13 and great friend Irma joined us for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast and festivities. It was filled with music, food and great sharing time. We are so grateful for all that God has given us. His grace and mercy is tremendous.

A few days after Thanksgiving Benjamin turned 6 years old. Our friends, Craig, Joe, Steve and Terry Morgan and others joined us for the cake and present festivities. Benjamin was super happy to have new bionicles, a video game and some nerf guns.

November was filled with many activities and you can see a photo run down at VanDiest Photos.

Categories: Family, Photos

Join me in 24/7 prayer movement

This coming Monday I'm joining students, staff and Christian in a 40 day 24/7 prayer movement. My prayer time is at 5am here in Mexico City for the next 5 weeks.

If you're up to getting up a bit earlier every Monday morning and joining me in prayer, please do so.

• Pray that God will reveal Himself to us.
• Pray that God will show us how He is already working around us and how we can join Him.
• Pray that God will give us hearts of faith, boldness and passion for Him and His mission.
• Pray that God's Kingdom would be expanded through students launching spiritual movements/churches in Mexico City and around the world.
• Pray that thousands come to know Jesus this coming months and year.
  
• Pray that God will raise up 4,000-5,000 new student leaders to lead the spiritual movements in Mexico City.
  
• Pray that we will train our new student leaders to launch more and more spiritual movements.
  
• Pray that our new movements will not be gathered Christians but convert growth.
• Pray for our Enfoque Mexico staff team. Pray that we will believe in Him, walk intimately with Him and listen to Him.
  

Categories: MexicoCity, Leadership, Prayer

Great Insights from Friends a far

This past Sunday, Don Wilcox, with Leadership Network, and good friend stopped in town. He was on his way to facilitate some meetings in Puebla with Campus Crusade and many other ministries, some of the same guys I met on Tues at Hotel Via Veneto. I first met Don about 13 years ago when Christine and I came on staff with CCC in Boulder. He was one of my regional directors in charge of our World-wide student network (WSN). Don was super instrumental in my growth and development those first years of staff. He had trust and faith in Christine and I in leading international trips to Chile and Spain. I worked along side of him for a couple of years helping with some administrative deals within WSN. I love his heart, ability to listen, coach and give great insights.

About 3-4 years ago Don came up with many of the dreams and visions of reaching Mexico City. He took first took students down to Mexico City in the early 90's and learned a bunch. Since then he led our ministry to deal with some of the major cities of the world. He was the creator and dreamer behind the early days of Enfoque Mexico (used to be called City Focus). So I can blame him for all my life change and move to Mexico City. What I should say is, I can thank him. About a year ago he left staff and now works with Leadership Network - Encore Generation. He gives leadership in helping churches maximize their influence with the Senior Adult generation. This is an untapped resource to build God's kingdom.

He came with a friend of his Peter, who works with Level 3, located in my backyard of my Colorado home. Monday morning we met Craig and Ryan, a good friend of Craig's from his Nebraska days, at Starbucks to share our ministry and potential problems. Don sees clearly and gave some good advice to help us move ahead with more effectiveness. After Starbucks Craig and I brought Peter, Don and Ryan to our favorite taco stand. These are $1 steak tacos that will knock your socks off in a good way. Ryan stopped at 3 but said he could have gone to 6.

Ryan also shared some excellent insights into teams, systems and just helped us make some good outside observations of our ministry and teams. Ryan works in Newport Beach, CA and is also part of the leadership of CBMC. Yesterday Ryan contacted the local Mexico City director of CBMC and Craig and Ryan are meeting with them as I write. Our prayer and desire is that businessmen will see the need to adopt a local university, pray for it, help raise up student leaders and use their place of business for a spiritual movement led by students.

We know that so much is going on in our new venture of Enfoque Mexico and it is going on quickly. This is why we cherish the insights and wisdom of outside observations of pastors, businessmen, leaders, and friends. So if you're needing a stamp in our passport, come on down and spend a day with us.
Categories: MexicoCity, Leadership, Coaching

I think I can be a dad

This past Thursday Christine headed off to Texas to visit her mom who is doing pretty bad with cancer, tumors, and energy. Initially Christine was going to travel with Isa but being 11 weeks pregnant, Isa, air flights, and taking care of her mom was a recipe for exhaustion. So, I being the father of the year, brought my "A" game. We actually did pretty good. I took the kids to swimming lessons, to my gym, out to dinner, cooked food kids liked, watched Amazing Race shows, was a teacher for home school, changed enough diapers and loved being a dad. Times like these when one of the parents is gone is never a choice but I do cherish the slow down and focus on the kids. It was fun and even Isa was happy with me as a full time parent.

About 2 of the 3 nights Christine was gone Craig and Joe came over for steaks, chicken, junk food, guac and chips. The weather was nice enough that we sat outside on my patio for hours talking, laughing and complaining about things that don't go our way. One night a small little visitor crawled up the wall behind Craig. We have seen possums in our backyard and we suspect they eat our cool limes from our lime tree. We have also suspected they live in a small hole near our patio. Well the baby possum climbing our vines confirmed it. Not sure how I feel about having a possum as an unofficial guest at our house. I think this possum felt threatened and left us a smelly gift on our front door step 2 days later (no picture of that.)

On Sunday we were at our gym and Benjamin comes running into the weight room to say that his tooth was falling out because he had bumped it. I rejoiced with him and told him that was natural part of becoming a man. He was losing his first tooth. It was a pretty big drama the first day as everything he chewed caused pain. Tues afternoon, he comes running to Christine and I and is smiling with joy, holding his tooth and explaining he it just fell out and that he almost swallowed it. We made sure he got prepared to put it under his pillow for the tooth fairy. Here in Mexico they have the tooth rat come by and take it and replace it with money. But since we are experiencing too many rat like looking creatures we stuck with the tooth fairy version. That night he told Christine he didn't believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus. Oh well, there goes my fun. I still went into his room about 11pm and replaced his tooth with about 25 pesos.

It us super fun seeing them grow and enjoy life. Isa now screams "HI" to me when I walk in the door. She can do no wrong. Her expressions, learning about life and new words is so fun. The boys are great swimmers (2 lessons a week) and are learning the game of tennis. This week they learned serves. A week ago our gym hosted a tennis tournament and on the first day there was a kids clinic. Benjamin won wrist bands and a hat. Then, much to his fathers delight, Jonathan brought home the bacon. He won a $70 Nokia cell phone. Very cool. He already made a deal to sell it to our ministry for $25. Just like his dad.


Categories: Family, MexicoCity

Connecting Some More

I've got to get a regular time to post some thoughts other than once a week but in light of my infrequency I post here about my last week.

Last Wednesday, Nov 8, we, Craig, Joe and I met with Eliud Gomez and his wife. They are pastors of Comunion de Cristo up bit north of where I live in Colonia Lindavista. There church was started with the Calvary Chapel connection and they are seeing some great things happening. Right away we connected at a deep level and agreed upon so many things about God, the power of God and the Gospel. Very early in our conversation Eliud and his wife said, "We have confidence and trust in you and your ministry." That was super encouraging. They have two children, one who is in college now. They hope to attend our leaders training this Saturday, bring their son and other pastors. It was just one of those times with a leader of a church that was Spirit filled. We look forward to many more conversations, serving together and being part of their church network (they are connected to 9 other churches.)

Yesterday Joe Cross and I headed, this time via metro (I'm scared of the police), down to the Tlalplan area to a hotel called Via Veneto. A few weeks ago a connection called us and wanted us to come to a breakfast that the General Baptist Conference was holding. I had no idea what to expect. We first met Gary Reynolds and Stephen Doggett. They are the executive directors of International ministries of the GBC. Stephen was on staff with CCC years ago. It was great to hear their heart for planting simple churches and being comfortable with chaos and ambiguity but not being comfortable with doing the work of church the way it always has been. Pretty cool vision and openess to partner to reach the lost and build the Kingdom.

After a great buffett we got to hear from Pastor Gilberto Gutierrez Lucero, president of the Mexican GBC and pastor of Horeb church here in Mexico city and author of Atrevete a sequirlo. His vision was compelling and inspiring. The GBC here in Mexico and in the states in changing to make it happen. Gilberto shared that they are going to plant 10,000 churches in the next 10 years but they won't look like churches of the past. They spoke of simple church. Their 3 part simple plan is to plant churches, Education and administration. Before he mentioned there were like 64 parts of the GBC. They want to train and equip lay people for rapid multiplication. Some other pastors and businessmen from the states shared and it spirit of partnership and building God's kingdom was present. We got to share our vision of launching 4,000 spiritual movements all through students and the room was responsive. I'm looking forward to where they partnerships will lead us in raising up student leaders and blessing this city.

That afternoon, Nate Hoover, a team member, and I drove up north. We had an appointment with Gerardo Ascevedo, a pastor of a local church. We knew we had to go north but didn't really know where to go exactly. After 3 phone calls on the freeway (safety was present thanks to my $20 bluetooth headset) we finally met him and we're only 10 minutes late. Gerardo was super encouraging, loved our vision but the only problem was that he didn't have any college students in his church. They are a largely industrial area with poor, poor, working class members where most of their kids don't go to college. But he agreed the need to adopt local universities and pray that God will raise up couples, professionals to reach out the campus and raise up a student leader. He is part of a Luis Palau network of churches and plans on sharing with them our vision and mission with the hopes of letting us speak at their monthly meeting.

It is all about trust, relationships and offering something that will bless them, their churches and reach the lost. Over time we are praying that appointments and relationships like these will raise up 4,000 student leaders.
Categories: MexicoCity, Church, Leadership, SimpleChurch

How to Launch Your Own Movement

Today I was reminded of a article I read a while back that Andy Swanson refered to. This is what we're doing here in Mexico City. This is what we eat, breath and live for. A massive movement that changes the planet. This is what we're seeing fruit in.

How to Launch Your Own Movement - By Thomas Frey Executive Director of the DaVinci Institute

Too often the old notions about starting a business fail because the end goal of what we're trying to accomplish is too big. It's too big for what you can accomplish yourself. It's too big for the traditional revenue paradigms of business modeling. And it's too big to fit within the legal structures that we as business people have to operate within.

Lately the trend has been to "Launch Your Own Movement".

Much of the work done in the open source community has given us clues as to how a movement can be developed and launched, but large pieces of this emerging science still remains a mystery.

But that said, there are several necessary components to "movement launching" that, if done well, set you on your way to lead the charge.

1. Establish the Need. Make a convincing argument as to why the world needs the changes you're trying to make. Crafting the message is extremely important. Always focus and "stay on message".

2. Naming. Create a name that people can rally behind. Something that conveys the noble purpose or your endeavor. Names like "Our Unshredable History" have a nice flare but may not survive well over time.

3. Credibility Building. Launching anything new becomes an exercise in credibility building. You will need to get many other people and businesses to buy into your thinking. Start with the thought leaders. There are many techniques for adding people and reputations to your membership - advisory boards, surveys, staffing, letters-of-interest, testimonials, etc. The more reputations you can add to your own reputation, the better you are equipped to create a cumulative reputation that extends far out into the market place.

4. Revenue Streams. Not all movements need to operate like a business, but if this is your sole source of income, you need to identify your sources of funding early.

5. Participation. Movements demand participation. You will need to devise strategies for people to become involved in what you're doing. Linux became an enabling technology with a platform on which others could build. Building new products, on their technology, was the form of participation that everyone could buy into.

6. PHP Nuke. Build a PHP Nuke website around the movement. It's free. Post articles on a daily basis about anything to do with file-sharing technology, permanence of data storage, P2P limitations, etc. Let people participate and build the movement organically. (www.phpnuke.org)

7. Finding Partners. No movement can accomplish anything without growing it. The first partners you will need are the people most affected by what you're trying to accomplish. Start with a focused niche and other groups will follow.

8. Branding. Package your descriptions, phrases and discussions about what you're doing into crisp clean sound bites. Good graphics and logos coupled with an easily repeatable message can be amazingly far reaching.

9. Creating Disciples. Train the trainers. Start by creating an association - some non-profit entity dedicated to the purpose of evangelizing your movement. Organize a conference or forum.to bring people together. Once they are thoroughly indoctrinated, they then will be empowered to go out into the rest of the world and proclaim the good news of your movement.

10. Establish Yourself as the Expert. Write a book on this topic. You need to be the person with the deepest depth of understanding and comprehension on this topic. You need to become the singular most influential voice on this topic. Your personality will become the driving force behind this movement.

11. Be Relentless. The movement needs to become the single most important thing in your life. You need to eat, sleep and breath it. You must become focused, relentless, tenacious, and dedicated to making it happen. Let nothing distract you. Neither rain nor sleet nor dark of night can keep you from your appointed rounds.

12. Make it Fun. No one will want to join your movement if it doesn't look like fun. Make it fun. Throw a pie in the face of all new members. Devise a corporate initiation strategy where the head of the company has to ride a horse around the town square dressed in nothing but feathers. Something like that. Being unconventional will get you tons of press.

There are thousands of details involved in each of these points and it's easy to get bogged down with the details. But the most important thing is to just do it. Be brave, be reckless, be creative, but just do it. Some of the best plans in the world never got off the ground because people talked themselves out of it.

The world has no respect for people who don't take risks. So come on in. The water is fine.

About The Author: Thomas Frey is the Executive Director and Founding Futurist of the DaVinci Institute, a futurist think tank dedicated to reinventing the world. His papers and articles about his work have been published in such notable publications as Forbes Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Futurist Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Rocky Mountain News, Oakland Tribune, Denver Business Journal, and many more.As a former IBM engineer, Tom received more awards than any other engineer. He is an internationally recognized futurist, designer, author, entrepreneur, and public speaker. His specialty is the future of technology and its impact on business and society.

Contact:The DaVinci Institute Thomas J. Frey, Executive Director PO Box 270315 Louisville, CO 80027 (303) 666-4133 dr2tom@davinciinstitute.com

Categories: movements, leadership, coaching, mexicocity

Insightful thoughts on Church culture

Here are some very tasteful but touchy thoughts on what church culture is like. You can view others at The Church You Know

Categories: Church

Pray for Christine's Mom

Today Christine's mom was checked into the hospital. She is fighting cancer and one of her lungs is collapsed. Christine is flying there on Thursday and we're so thankful.


Categories: family, Prayer

Bombs in the city

Today a few bombs in Mexico City. Pray for our and our team's safety as we move about the city.

Bombs rattle Mexico in new political worry


Categories: MexicoCity

The next 6 weeks here we go

This past Friday we were blessed to have the Brinks here and David Bedolla (the national director of Vida Estudiantil- Campus Crusade's campus ministry in Mexico) visit for our 6 week planning meeting. David bussed out from Puebla just for the day to meet, talk, and share for the day. Craig and I met him during the morning hours and I am impressed by his simple vision, strategy, willingness to recreate new systems to make reaching each and every student in Mexico happen. He is the real deal and will lead a CCC to a new future of reaching students in Mexico. I am very glad to work with him.

After some street tacos and no police David joined the rest of our team and the STInt (Short Term Int'l) team leaders for our 6 week planning meeting.

We looked over our last 6 week goals:
1. Start a U.S. recruiting plan - web and brochures
2. Surface 4-10 pastor/church networks to partner with
3. Identify many of the 400 campuses
4. Start a model movement.

All in all we're moving along and I'm encouraged. We're having to tweak the how to's to starting the model movement but we're moving along.

The next 6 weeks we have identified these 4 goals:
1. Clearly define a movement and it's "how to" resources
2. Recruiting for our Nov 18 Capacitacion de lideres (leader training)
3. U.S. Recruiting for spring breaks, summer projects and long term teams using our winter conferences as a platform
4. Surface 4-10 key movement leaders.

I'm excite to see what God does in the next 6 weeks and the miracles and supernatural appointments that will happen before Dec 15.

Categories: MexicoCity, Leadership, Coaching, Movements

The Brinks, Andersons and some Police

This past week Curtis and Emily Brink, our new team members (showing up in January) came out to Mexico City with their good friends, Mark and Abby Anderson. We're so excited to have the Brinks as we worked with them in Boulder for 2 years. They came out to see the city, look for housing and cars. They had a full 4 days. The first day I took them around some used car dealerships, different parts of our neck of the woods and then to a local spot for some street tacos carnitas style. We were enjoying our lunch and our adult beverage (Tecate) sitting on a plastic chair and table arrangement this place has set up in the street outside their local. Soon there after, basking in the warm sun, enjoying my taco afterglow a local municipality police officer taps me on the shoulder and says he needs to talk to me. ugh oh!!

After some nervous heart beating phrases of fear spewing out of my mouth he informed us that we had broken the no drinking in public places law. Hmm, of all places to experience this broken law, Mexico. I didn't know of this law and I informed him we were sitting in this restaurant's table and chairs about 3 feet from the curb. It didn't matter. He and his shady partner weren't budging. They informed us that we all had to go to the local jail and pay a 900 peso charge ($90 US). Ouch!!!

I had two approaches;
1. Be a dumb arrogant American and yell, kick and complain. The guns and paddy wagon scared me out of that one.
2. Go the Biblical humble approach and say I'm sorry. I did break the law theoretically. I did follow this one but it didn't seem to work.

We have a friend here, Illiana, who is a lawyer and we keep her on our cell phones for moments just like this. I called her and she, on the phone, went back and forth with the police officer. She talked to me and told me I had two options. Go to the jail and find out what the real fine is or make a street agreement. At the same time I was talking to her the owner of the restaurant, Andres called me deep into his local. He told me not to worry about it, wait, he was calling his friends on the State Police. They were the good guys. Then two more cop cars pulled up (the good guys), tons of more guns and shotguns and some arguing between the two types of so called police.

Then the good cop bad cop technique was pulled on me. The bad cop open up the paddy wagon and said in a strong voice, "Get In!" The good cop routine guy called me over behind a pick up truck and asked me what I wanted to do. I decided to go with the street agreement option. I told him I could offer him 500 pesos ($45 US) to allow the law breaking American to take his American Tourist friends back home. He went over to his bad cop partner and they agreed.

Then in a flash of an eye Andres bolted out of his restaurant mad and insistent that he pay for the fine. He gave the officer 500 pesos and the whole situation was made good. We were good to go said the police officer. All 3 cop cars and the paddy wagon took off.

All the while some local Mexicans mad and angry were shouting at the police officers for giving us a hard time. The apologized for us and took tons of pictures of the whole ordeal on their cell phones. We tried to tip the owner 500 pesos but he refused to take our money. He apologized as well for the situation and told me that not all Mexicans are corrupt.

What a lesson learned. No drinking in public places.

Other than that scary moment, we had a great time with the Brinks and the Andersons. We went downtown to the Zocolo to visit some Day of the Dead festivities with about 150,000 other people and headed off to Cafe Tacuba for some good food and mariachi.

We can't wait to have the Brinks down here as they add so much vision, passion for God and the lost and their skills and talents are a steal.

Categories: MexicoCity

Puebla, the Basiles and a great Party

Last week after I arrived home from Colorado the next morning we headed off for a short day adventure to Puebla, a 3 million person town east of Mexico City. The reason is that Tom Basile (Sandy and four boys too) invited us to come and stay with them. We have never met the Basiles but Tom Shirk our pastor in Boulder, CO went to school with them and many others we know know them too. Tom works for New Church Initiatives which helps them plant many churches in a few short years. I heard of Tom's work along with Glenn Smith (director of NCI) at the University of Texas the past few years. They saw some great things happen in planting spiritual movements all by students and saw great convert growth as well. In summary, I was looking forward to meeting Tom and his family.

The super added bonus was that one of Tom's friends, Klaus, an Austrian living in Mexico and not a believer yet, was having a huge birthday party (his daughter) and a Halloween party on his ranch/compound. I was almost ready to say we weren't going to go because I was so tired from my CO trip. Boy, would I have missed something special. Food, music, climbing walls, blow up toys, bungee cord jumping, games, horses and more food. You can see from the picture that this was a huge, massive place. Not only would I have missed it but my boys would have missed making new friends and enjoying all the activities.

We just loved meeting the Basile's and hearing about their ministry and experience. They're doing the deed. More to come from the Basiles as I hope to travel to Houston with Tom to be part of a one day training on how to franchise ministries and businesses.

Categories: Coaching, Movements, Church, Family

Can't Keep Her Clothes On

Lately, we're about 3 weeks running, we can't seem to keep our daughters, Isa's pajamas on at night. We put her down, regardless of how tired she is or not, and she takes off her pajamas and throws them in the middle of the room. I go in a few hours later when I'm heading off to sleep and there is Isa curled up in a ball in her diaper. We have had numerous conversations with her and all I get when I ask her to keep her clothes on is a big smile and an "ah huh."

You can pray that this habit stops before she goes to college. It could turn sour.

Categories: Family

October photo treat

Check out some awesome family shots from this past month. Click Here.
Categories: family, photos

Please Pray

• That God will guide us supernaturally to surface new movement leaders.
• That we will be able to meet with more pastor networks.
• That God will bring at least 50 potential movement leaders to our Nov 18 training.
• For our team as they hit new campuses every week. Pray God will give our team fruit and encouragement.
• That over 1,000 US college students will come down to Mexico this year to launch spiritual movements.
• For Christine's mom who is dealing with cancer. Christine is visiting her in TX on Nov. 9-12.
• For Christine's pregnancy; health, energy and stamina.
• For our kids' ability to learn, speak and understand Spanish.
• For Christine as she teaches the boys in homeschool.

Categories: God, Family, MexicoCity, Prayer, Newsletters

Increasing our Influence

How do you reach the world? Well, you need more leaders. That's what God is providing us personally. We're expecting our 4th child early June. Just as many think we're crazy in launching 4,000 spiritual movements so they think having 4 kids is crazy. All in the power of the Spirit.

Monday we went for our 8 1/2 week ultra sound. We were a bit nervous as we have miscarried about 4 years ago. As the doctor said our baby was normal we burst into tears of joy and thankfulness.

Our kids are giddy with excitement and want more!.

We want to ask you to pray for the health of our baby and for Christine's health and energy (lately she is laid low with exhaustion ).

Many have asked; can you deliver a baby in Mexico? Yep! Is it safe? Totally! Will you get dual citizenship? Not sure.

All of this is so exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Thank you for laboring with all 5 to 6 of us. We appreciate your heartfelt encouragement, prayers and generous financial gifts in order to give all of Mexico an opportunity to be part of a Christ centered community.

Categories: Family, God, Newsletters

Trusting God for a Model Movement

4,000 spiritual movements on over 300 campuses. Many people ask us if we are crazy or if we have caught one too many parasites that have made us delusional. If the massive network we've called Enfoque Mexico (Mexico Focus) is built around us leading students in these spiritual movements, discipling every student and preaching weekly then "yes" we are crazy. But we're here to do the opposite. We will provide freely in the power of the Spirit training, encouragement and resources to all churches, leaders, businessmen and students so they can create, lead and guide these movements to reach other parts of their campus and city.

We're meeting with pastors, church alliances and students all over this mega city. About a month ago we met with Capital City Baptist church's interested professionals and students. At that meeting we shared our vision and mission of reaching each and every department on every university. One of the gals, Lourdes, a secretary at CIDE University, mentioned that she might not be able to partner and lead with us. In spite of her hesitation the next couple of weeks she talked with a freshmen guy who has a Christian background. She immediately shared the vision of launching a spiritual movement with the goal of reaching his university. Our prayer is that he is our first movement leader at that university with Enfoque Mexico, our ministry.

Two months ago 30 regional directors joined us for a day of launching spiritual movements. That day, Chip (a Nat'l director) and Skye (our team member) went to Tec de Monterey to look for a spiritual leader. After asking numerous students who is interested and excited about God they were directed to David. Since then Skye and another team member, Jason, have been meeting with David, coaching and encouraging him to reach his university.

We're trusting God for a model movement. We believe that is how reaching the whole city starts. One secretary. One Student. One movement turns into 2 and then 4 and then soon we're at 4,000. As long as we keep providing training and leadership Mexicans will reach this city.

In this same manner we believe you, your friends, your church, small group can launch a spiritual movement in a day. If you're interested in coming down to Mexico City to bring the good news and good deeds of Christ visit www.MexicoFocus.com for an easy plug and play website that will provide all you'll need.

Categories: God, MexicoCity, Newsletters, Movements, Leadership, Coaching

What once was ugly has now become beautiful

I was listening to Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell today and was struck by his illustration of the Aeron Chair by Herman Miller. He was giving an overview of this chair and it's research, surveys, and release. Early on in the market research people found the chair to have high comfortable ratings but low aesthetic ratings. People thought it was one of the worst looking chairs but one of the most comfortable. It didn't look comfortable. It looked like a skeleton. It didn't have cushy leather and high backs.

They were weary about releasing the chair but Herman Miller led with his natural instincts and brilliance. He pushed through and now the chair is one of the best selling (best selling in Herman Miller's history) in the industry. It has gone from being ugly to a cult like following that all employers, executives and normal Joes just love and think is beautiful. The rest of the market has responded and has made a ton of rip offs.

This could be the same way people, church goers, pew sitters, pastors, and missionaries think of a new style of church and mission. When it comes down to the nuts and bolts of what the missional/apostolic church is going after people in all honesty rate that philosophy of mission as high. Yes, it may get us to reach the lost post modern world a bit better. Yes, it is about living for those outside the church walls. Yes, it is what Jesus meant when He said, "I have come to seek and to save the lost."

But it just isn't comfortable. It doesn't look good. We're not used to it. It is just sort of ugly. Where is the comfy cushions that we have so grown used to? All we see is a stripped down skeleton looking church (chair). We want fluff and flavor.

My guess and leadership is going to push ahead with a missional/apostolic style of ministry that is about creating a new church alongside of the old church. Both seem to be under the hand of God. Both will reach people. Another guess is that soon, this ugly looking style of mission will soon become beautiful and will have the cult like following that Christians and not-yet-Christians will all long for.

Will you buy this chair?
Categories: leadership, coaching, God, movements, culture, books

Reggie rocked my world

Reggie McNeal is not what I thought he was going to be. I have been to numerous conferences and heard tons of speakers with a ho hum response. Yesterday I was radically inspired and challenged. He recently wrote a book called Practicing Greatness and he touched on the 7 disciplines of extraordinary spiritual leaders. There were some great points that all leaders need to think about, struggle with and move ahead in. I particularly challenged with the discipline of Self Awareness and the discipline of belonging. Wow, so much was going on in my heart and mind.

Over lunch a group of us from around the world, outside of the U.S., got to have a private meeting with him. He touched on, a possible future book, the 3 shifts of the missional Church. It will:
1. Go from internal focus to external focus.
2. Go from being program driven to people development.
3. Go from church based leadership to apostolic based leadership.

That in itself could be about 50 blog entries.

In light of changing organizations to become more missional he made comments like:
"Cooperate with the Spirit. He is moving and will move. Don't try to fix or change the current systems and structures. Let the missional living and leadership become a pandemic to overwhelm the systems and structures."

That is where I want to live. I want to live on the fringes and jump on in leading a movement that is missional that blesses and transforms the world.

It is great getting to play with this. I'm glad I'm not just tossing around ideas but getting to flesh them out. More to come as we learn, make mistakes and see the Holy Spirit move.

We're staying up in Lost Antler Ranch owned by Tango Investments (Scott Beck) and it is knock out beautiful. Yesterday Matt Thiessen and I just sat out on the deck overlooking the valley, pond and how beautiful God is.

This morning though we woke up to 10 inches of snow. Isn't God just amazing!!

Categories: Coaching, Leadership, Movements, Church

From Mexico to Colorado

This past Sunday I left, not forever, Mexico City and my family for Colorado for a global leaders conference in Estes Park. It was great to be back in Colorado. I didn't say "it was great to be back "home"" as we really feel like Mexico is our new home. But all in all it was great to be back in Colorado and around some friends again.

Monday night I headed up to Estes Park for our annual local leaders conference in which I'm still part of but we're at a parallel Global Leaders Conference. This is one of my favorite places to be as some of my best , gospel breathing, life giving, understanding friends, Ethan, Matt, Joe, and Eric are there with me. I wish Christine could be here with me. She is doing a great job of being in Mexico with the kids. Amazing!

The first night we just talked about what is God doing in our lives. What a time for me to see Him working in others. That is such a great reminder of how is grace and mercy is working in me too. One thing I observed in my Colorado friends as they shared about their lives and ministries was the Spirit of God is moving. They couldn't always find out why or how. But it was evident that the Spirit was/is moving. Very cool.

Tuesday my good friend Ethan and Marta led us in a devotional. A great reminder of the Gospel. Oh, how I need the Gospel to lead me, change me, make me significant and grow me. Tuesday's highlight was going on a walk with Joe and Shawna and seeing God move in their lives, grow them, hearing about their kids and passions in life. Someday in the future we pray we will get to serve alongside each other in the same location. Joe and I spent the afternoon talking, sharing, and encouraging each other. God is good!

Today we're starting to hear from author Reggie McNeal, author of Practicing Greatness. Should be great.

Categories: Leadership, God

Followers and Real Leaders

I love what Sam Metcalf is doing, sharing and leading his movements.

Today he posted this quote:
"Followers want comfort, stability, and solutions from their leaders, but that's babysitting. Real leaders ask hard questions and knock people out of their comfort zones and then manage the resulting distress."

View his link What Followers REALLY Need.

Categories: Movements, Leadership, Coaching

Why Plant Spiritual Movements (Churches)?

A great question in church / campus movements is why not just keep putting our efforts and energy into things that are working, growing and helping people / students? Why not just do things the way we are currently doing them and put most of our manpower and money into those things?

A good answer is from Tim Keller, pastor, planter, trainer of Redeemer Presby in NY. "New church (movement) planting is the only way that we can be sure we are going to increase the number of believers in a city and one of the best ways to renew the whole Body of Christ. The evidence for this statement is strong--Biblically, sociologically, and historically. In the end, a lack of kingdom-mindedness may simply blind us to all this evidence. We must beware of that." (parenthesis mine)

I write nothing original. Just like what I read and want to practice it.

You can read the whole thing on a post in Steve Addison's blog at Why Plant Churches.

We as Campus Crusade and other ministries that have been around a while must begin to ask some great questions. How will we reach a new and changing generation? How will we develop new style of leaders with new vision and mission? How will we let go of control and let the next generation define how we will do Kingdom work? How will we in the same city, same campus, same district work together yet in different approaches to reaching the lost? Can we as one organization have two different teams in one city/campus? How will we change/tweak so that we are raising up entrepenurial/edgy/creative/go for it leaders who will do things new and different?

The times are a changing and we all get to be part of building a Church that redefines itself. What a time to live and lead.
Categories: Church, Leadership, Movements, Coaching

Partnership, Partnership and some more Partnerships

The last couple of days with Asrael y Adriana, our Enfoque Mexico volunteers from Oaxaca, have been amazing. They share with passion, expertise and experience the vision, mission and tactics of Enfoque Mexico. To have them here this week has catapulted us far beyond what we could do in months.

Tuesday we met with a group of pastors and missionaries that Ryan, A of G missionary, gathered at VIPS (a Walmart style Denny's restaurant). There 4 pastors of a Assemblies of God church from out east in the Neza area and a couple who are missionaries with Latin American Missions (LAM). They are the real deal. Not only are they partnering with others, churches and missionaries their vision to reach Mexico City and beyond is passionate. It was a fun time sharing our vision, mission and seeing the Oaxacan gals light it up. They are also putting on a huge conference in November 2007 to fill up Estadio Azteca. It holds 110,000 people. It will be a pastors, youth and other training time. They want us to partner and help in any way we can. Killer! This happens to be a similar vision that Craig Johring, my co-leader, had last year. God is good.

Again were praying this partnership with these groups will yield hundreds of university student leaders who will help their churches launch spiritual movements in each and every faculty on every university throughout Mexico City.

Tuesday night I took a break but Joe, Craig, Asa, and Adri took off for a follow up meeting with Capital City Baptist church. About 4 weeks ago we presented to some youth, pastors and professionals our vision of reaching each university with student leadership. Some of the same students showed and they brought more. I was told it was an off the charts time. After 3 hours presentation and questions and answers, Craig tells me there is no doubt that some will start spiritual movements immediately. He also tells me that we couldn't have done it with out the Doble A's (Asa y Adri) sharing their hearts and wisdom.

Wednesday morning we drove far out east to Los Reyes de Paz. Candido is a pastor of a 100 or so person church and gathered about 10 pastors, ministry leaders and pastor alliance leaders. They told us to not eat breakfast because they wanted to eat with us. We didn't go to VIPS, praise the Lord! They made us Chicken, Mole, rice, beans and tortillas. All home made and the mole was out of this world.

This group of pastors have a tremendous vision to plant churches in each little delegation. They send off members to pray, reach out, share the Gospel and impact the community. They too, like many of the others, see a tremendous need to reach university students and expressed they have no resources or training. This is where we come in with Enfoque Mexico and especially the Doble A's. They again knocked it out of the park.

What would happen if we could hire them to come up here at weeks at a time, meet with students and pastors and launch movements? They have been planting movements for 7 years in Oaxaca and bring so much to what we're doing. They want so badly to join staff yet at this point it hasn't worked out. They attempted to earlier to raise their support but it took 2 years. Now we're praying, seeking finances and talking with them about coming up regularly.

Categories: Leadership, Movement, MexicoCity, Coaching

Cuernavaca and back and then something new

This past weekend was a ton of fun. The weather here has turned cold and it is still raining daily. Yesterday we found many creatures running for their lives into our house. I sprayed around the perimeter of our house two days ago for bugs and others and low and behold they were not afraid of us or my poison. A little 8 inch snake showed up in our guest room. Youch! I'm not sure if that is a sign of deeper issues in my life. We'll have to take that one to a counselor. And it seems weekly we kill a scorpion in our house, the non-lethal ones.

Another group rolled into town as well, the good kind; Christine's sister, husband and 3 of 4 of their kids came to Cuernavaca. They used to live there about 2 years working with a church. It was such a blessing to see them, hang, connect and meet some of their friends.

We arrived back late to our house on Sunday night and the next morning two friends, Asriel y Adriana, of Craig's from Oaxaca showed up to help us this week. Craig met them about 6 years ago while he was living in Oaxaca, Mexico planting spiritual movements all over the region. These two lead a network of spiritual movements focused on Christ there in Oaxaca and bring a ton of experience, knowledge and wisdom to what we're doing here in D.F.

Yesterday we took them to an appointment with a church leader Edgar Torraya and two of his friends. This was encouraging to me as we talked less and the gals took over sharing their vision, experiences and answering questions. It is great when you relinquish control and hand it over to the next generation how great and effective it seems to work. The group of men seemed interested and will go back and see how many of their university students and other pastors in their network want to see if anyone is interested in adopting a university and/or staring a spiritual movement on their campus.

Then off to dinner for sirloin steak hamburgers. Pretty good but In and Out still would explode successfully here. Anyone want to start a franchise? Because Mexico City has it all and is growing like hot cakes or like "hot ones" from Krispee Cream we headed to Krispee Cream to share a little of American Culture with the gals. Isa liked it too.

No more creatures have showed up and the Broncos won last night. All is well.

Today we head off to meet two more networks of churches and university students. One is Ryan and Cristy, who are Assembly of God missionaries. They are bringing a group of interested pastors. Then tonight we are meeting a 2nd time with those at Capital City Baptist church who are interested in starting spiritual movements at their universities. God is good and each day we acquire new contacts, enter into new pastor alliances and are trusting God for a model movement in the next 4 weeks.

Categories: God, MexicoCity, Family, Movements, Leadership, Church

Movement (Church) Planting Gem

Jay Lorenzen, down in Colorado Springs on staff with CCC, posted a genious entry today with insights from Tim Keller, Redeemer Presb Church in NY.

Natural Church Planting by Tim Keller

This embodies what we're trying to do in Mexico City. We're trusting the Lord as we launch these movements and give them over to new leadership.

Categories: Movements, Church, Leadership, MexicoCity, God

Isa gets the shots this month

Here is a photos update on Isa. VanDiest Photos

Categories: Family, Photos

O God Change Me

Today reading from the Psalms 52-55 and from Glenn Smith's blog I was reminded of my sin, lack of seeking out God as number one in my life and the need for Him to be part of what is happening on a deeper level in my heart, life and ministry.

Here is the small excerpt from Glenn's blog:
A Coaching Moment

"Today was one of those highlights in coaching church planters. One of my planters has been struggling to gather a following and achieve a critical mass to begin his new church. Today he shared with me that the past month has been a time of soul-searching. Some major breakthroughs have been occurring in his heart and mind.

For example, he realized that passionate prayer had been absent from his last several months of work. He realized that he had not seen any significant spiritual breakthroughs or answers to prayer. Over the past two weeks he has devoted himself to intensive prayer, seeking God's direction and provision. He reported to me today that he has just experienced two very significant "God-things". He has clearly seen God at work in his efforts. More importantly, he shared with me how God has been changing him!

That's significant, because God is more concerned with what happens in US than what happens in our church. Why? Because little will change in our church (or our church planting efforts) unless something significant changes in us. My dear brother is now beginning to experience God in powerful ways."

So this all goes back to the same lessons I have been learning for a year or so. Is God number one in my heart, life and ministry? Is He my 'one thing'? Do I care more for the change in my life than the success in my movement launching ministry?

Again, back to step 1: Seek God.

Categories: God, Ministry, Leadership, Movements, Simple, Church

Could this happen, but even more?

CNN Live Katrina

5 min 2 sec - Sep 21, 2006
Description: 10,000 Campus Crusade college students choose to spend spring break doing Katrina relief work.

Watch this video and you'll be encouraged by the power of a few college students, well 10,000. This is what we want to see every year; college students going throughout the world making a difference. Down here in Mexico City we're trusting God for just 3-4 groups this Thanksgiving and over 1,000 over spring breaks. If you want to come, check out www.MexicoFocus.com

Categories: MexicoCity, Movements

Mexico City has it all

Check out what the media is saying about our little place in heaven.

Mexico City is a Hive of Activity
Mexico has become an increasingly popular choice among backpackers because of its reputation for laid-back beach resorts, strong cultural heritage and varied landscape.

From the deserts of the north to the turquoise Caribbean waters of the Yucatan in the south-east, the country is full of surprises.

The capital, Mexico City, is reckoned by some calculations to be the most populous city in the world and it certainly has a bustling feel about it. Distinctive green and white VW Beetle taxis buzz around the streets, with the main action centring on the Zocalo (square) in the city centre.

This square is the third largest in the world (after Beijing's Tianenmen Square and Moscow's Red Square) and highlights include the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, where you can see Diego Rivera's famous murals. These fascinating paintings capture the history of Mexico and cover almost 1,200 square feet of wall space.

Also near here are the ruins of the Templo Mayor, the main temple of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, which stood where modern Mexico City is now.

With more bars, restaurants and clubs than you can shake a stick at, the Mexican capital is a hive of activity and is a natural starting point for backpackers, who can explore Oaxaca, Acapulco, Chiapas and the pyramids of Teotihuacan.

Categories: MexicoCity

I hope I don't have a lot to lose.

Yesterday afternoon after writing some thoughts about movements and style of ministry (insider and outsider-I will post later once my thoughts are clear) I came across Steve Addison's blog entry The Rise and Fall of the Swiss Watch. It is a short must read.

He says at the bottom as a summary: "Movement insight: Those with the greatest investment in the way things are have the most to lose when it comes to the need for change. Expect the breakthroughs to come from people who don't have an investment in the way things are."

The reason I titled this post "I hope I don't have a lot to lose" is because I want to move forward in bringing a new generation the Gospel in a way that transforms lives, cities and countries. I believe right now the western church has a lot to lose. I believe major Christian organizations who have been doing things relatively the same every decade have a lot to lose. I believe those who are hanging their hats on past successes and victories and talk about about the good old days have a lot to lose. I don't want to be in a camp where we're hanging onto the old, tried and true, successful practices. I believe there could be something more.

Do I have some things to lose? I'm sure I do. But one thing I have come to grips with in my leadership these past 12 years is that I was not good at a lot of things. I have already left behind the idea that I will be a great preacher, a great shepherd of thousands and an icon in the Christian world. So I lost that image of creating a traditional movement or church. That happened about a year ago. That was freeing.

Now I know that God has called me to create new forms of doing church and movements so that every person, educated or not, can lead a movement with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit at the helm. They don't need years of training. They don't need tons of money. They don't need to be the greatest extravert. They don't have to preach like Bill Hybels. Here is what I want to give them. Simple training. Encouragement. A vision that a new day of experiencing God and His Kingdom is coming. And I want to give them the validation that they too can change the world. Ordinary men and women who don't have it all together and have all the right skills are going to change the world.

What do I have to lose if I fail in this? Nothing at this point. We have already in our minds left the concept that old is better. We have left living in the states. We have left big teams. All these are good but I believe God is ready to pour out a whole new way of experiencing the Gospel and His Kingdom. Maybe I have to lose reputation and sanity but why not aim for something that will change so many more lives.

This is why I pray, "Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Categories: God, Leadership, SimpleChurch, Movements, Church

Crazy-Gnarls Barkley

I heard "Crazy" by Gnarles Barkley this past summer and the tune caught my ear. Then I heard it again today and I thought about the lyrics and some other things that have been going on in my mind about church planting, simple movements and missional living. Read Shane Deike's blog today for some crazy perspectives/observations about how we normally do things: Factors in Revival and Renewal Movements By Dr. Paul Pierson

I think many think I am crazy for doing what we're doing, in a non conventional way, in Mexico City and Long Beach, CA. "What, you're trying to reach 1,000,000 college students with only 6 staff?" "What, you're not having lots of controlled structure, weekly meetings, teaching, Bible studies, outreaches?" "I think you're crazy." They all say.

Here are the lyrics: (In parenthesis are my comments)

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind (about two years ago when I was fed up with the style of ministry and my leadership)
There was something so **PLEASANT** about that place
Even your emotions had an echo in so much space

And when you're out there, without care
Yeah I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
possibly

And I hope that you are havin' the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice

Come on now who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you
think you are, ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you're in control (many of us in Christian ministry think we are in control and have it all figured out. Well, it may just be that God is in control and if we let Him and others do the work, we won't be crazy anymore.)

well,
I think you're Crazy
I think you're Crazy
I think you're Crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart to live their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinkin' I wanna be like them. (When I look at the heroes of the faith in their early years, I want to be like them. aka Dr. Bright, Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliot, Amy Charmichael, Jesus, Apostle Paul...)

Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And there's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done

But maybe I'm Crazy
Maybe you're Crazy
Maybe we're Crazy
Probably!
Probably!

Here is the Video: Let's all be crazy in living for Jesus. Forget the tried and true methods of ministry and church. Let's be considered the radicals of the world again. Let's live out on a limb. Let's leave behind plastic church and Christianity and let the Spirit of God go crazy. Maybe I'm crazy. Probably!!!! Categories: SimpleChurch, Leadership, Movements, God, Music

Jesus Film Mexico - Super connected

This past Thursday Craig and I headed off to meet with Jorge Dorcas the Pelicula de Jesus (Jesus Film) director in Mexico. Jorge has been with J film for over 10 years and is so well connected to churches, ministries and Christians in Mexico City. They know and believe their resource will change lives and in order to get it in every home and neighborhood they must partner with others. This is the same realization we have in Enfoque Mexico. In order to see God raise up a Christ centered spiritual community in the over 4,000 departments (faculties) on each university in the city we must partner with others who are trusting God with the same thing.

He brought together Andres Cerros Ruiz, the director of a family ministry. They loved our vision and mission and on Oct 30 we are speaking to about 30 pastors and ministries that Andres organizes monthly. We also asked for other networks of churches, pastors and leaders. Jorge was super encouraging and willing to help. He kept saying, "we're family." "my office is your office." Now we have our hands full in the next week or two to start meeting with, sharing and partnering with as many churches who want to bring a student led spiritual community in each faculty.

An answer to this need to meet with and share with these churches and pastors was provided through two gals from Oaxaca. These two girls, as Craig calls them the Doble A's. Both their names start with A. He worked with them in Oaxaca years ago in planting movements on campuses all over the south. One or two of them is coming in a week to aid us in planting movements and meeting with pastors. They get the vision and mission and this is a huge step forward in seeing God radically move here in Mexico City.

Categories: Leadership, MexicoCity, Coaching, God

Ability to make changes

Yesterday I was talking to a good friend, Joe Linstedt. He is the CCC director at CSU in Fort Collins. I love my conversations with Joe and I love watching his life, family, marriage and leadership. A man you'll want to spend time with. Like Joe, the other Colorado directors, Christian, Eric, and Kevin have all made changes to their ministry these past couple of years and I'm encouraged by what they are learning, how they are going about it (all different) and the success they are seeing. They are all up at the Rocky Mountain Getaway fall conference in Keystone, CO. This weekend would have made my 13th RMGA. Oh I miss them and the experience.

We were talking about some of the changes and how it is easier for me here because we don't have a history in our ministry to have to navigate that change. We can just start from scratch here in Mexico City and go for it. Yes, there are hundreds of years of Catholic and Protestant history and even about 40 years of CCC history but in all reality on the 400 campuses here, there is not much going on. We get to start from scratch and create exactly what we want with no baggage. I'm thankful because I'm not the best one to shepherd those through change. Joe and others have great skill in helping others be cared for, loved and listened to. The Colorado movements of Crusade will be charting a great future for CCC.

This morning I was reading the Get Off That Horse post by Steve Addison and Get Off That Dead Horse by Sam Metcalf and they reminded me that I love change. I love getting off the pre-dead horse as it is slowing down, even if it isn't dead yet. Yes, I miss elements of my life, ministry and responsibilities in Colorado but I love the fact that we made huge changes in our leadership, ministry and life. There have been challenges and now I must learn to stay on track with the simple plan that we have.

The key element for me here is to learn to trust and listen to the Lord, start with the right elements in our life and ministry and enjoy each day as the Lord gives it.

Categories: Leadership, Coaching, Movement, MexicoCity, God

Recent Photos

I wanted to share with you some shots from our recent trip to the Pyramids up north of the city.

Categories: Family, Photos

We Love it Here

Some common questions and concerns we have received from many of you is how are you doing? Are you safe? How are you adjusting?

From the 1st moment last November we really sensed the Lord's hand upon this vision and mission to Mexico City. Have there been struggles, frustrations and fears? Oh, more than you can imagine. Have there been times that we have lost it emotionally? Sure, especially with the phone company and other cultural differences. But in all this we are seeing God's hand upon our family, marriage and ministry. We couldn't be happier that we moved to Mexico City. We feel safe. We feel like God is blessing us more than ever. This past weekend we heard often from the boys that they love it here. There are many new adventures and explorations we get to be part of. They love homeschool and are learning a ton from Christine. You can even catch them speaking Spanish once in a while. They have found friends and we are meeting couples each week. Pray for us as we begin to initiate with some foreigners and Mexicans about starting a spiritual community group in our home.

Thank you for making this move encouraging and possible. Your partnership in this ministry is changing the face of Mexico.
Categories: MexicoCity, Family, Prayer, Newsletters

Movements Everywhere - updated

Many years ago we heard that Robert Goizeta (former CEO of Coca Cola) once told his shareholders that it was his desire to put a Coke within arms reach of every thirsty person in the world because he knew that about 5.5 billion people in the world wake up thirsty each day. Why not give each and every person a refreshing Coca Cola?

In a similar manner we know that there are about 6 billion people in the world who wake up spiritually thirsty each day looking for love, significance, and truth all found in the person of Jesus. Let's get the Gospel within arms reach to each and every person in the world to quench their spiritual thirst. That became a great visionary picture of what we want to aim for as Campus Crusade for Christ.

Now that we're in Mexico City this vision has resurfaced. How can we get a coke product (the Gospel) within arms reach to the 1,000,000 students on over 400 campuses?

We believe the best way to guarantee that students can come back over and over again to the refreshing person of Jesus is to provide a Coke machine (a Christ-centered Spiritual Community) within arms reach of every student in every department on every university.
Our dream is that every student in Mexico will know exactly where to find Jesus so they can hear about Him, learn about Him, know Him, grow with Him and share Him with others. That is an ongoing, life changing, campus transforming, city impacting, country revival, world penetrating vision.

This is not just exposing the campus to Jesus but providing an authentic Christ-centered spiritual community led by students to students that is focused on Jesus every day in every place.

The reality of this vision is overwhelming.

This past week we have met with Beatriz, Ryan and Christy and a local church's youth and potential leaders. We are encouraged that they are all wanting to join us from different churches and mission organizations in launching spiritual communities on each and every campus.

We will need thousands of more partnerships like these in order to raise up 4,000-8,000 student leaders over the next 3 years. Pray that God moves supernaturally in the hearts, minds and lives of people in Mexico City.
Categories: MexicoCity, Prayer, Newsletters, Family

Please Pray for us

Please Pray:

• That we will be rested and committed in the Lord's grace and truth. Psalm 27:4.
• That we will communicate clearly and honestly with each other.
• That we will see God's hand and presence in our lives and challenges.
• That God raises up student leaders on each campus and that we’ll have a model movement by Nov 1st.
• That God's hand will be upon our recruiting and resourcing web sites.
• That we'll have over 100 students from the U.S. here during Thanksgiving week to launch spiritual movements.
• That we'll have 100's of more church and ministry vision casting appointments.
• That God will move supernaturally in our personal community group with new friends. Pray this group impacts our community and beyond.

Categories: Family, Prayer, Newsletters

The World is Flat. Are we?

In order to be effective in the world and its changing cultures we, CCC, and other large Christian organizations or churches must adapt. We definitely don't adapt our core message, the gospel, but we must adapt our methods of communicating the greatest story to the world around us. If you haven't seen the stats (Revolution - Barna), churches in American are shrinking and dying as a whole. Yet around the world, especially in Asia, South Africa and Latin America churches are growing rapidly (The Next Christendom - Jenkins).

What is it? Why are they seeing some success?

I was listening to the audio of the World is Flat by Thomas Friedman a few weeks ago and something caught me as he was talking in chapter 11 (I think-it is 18 hours into the audio version). He mentioned that in order to compete small companies must make themselves big, using the flatteners of the internet, free trade and commerce, communication, and other described in his book. He used a shipping company in the middle east that does all the shipping for Airborne Express. They are run out small back room offices but now, this small company has made a huge impact and made themselves big.

But on the flip side, companies that have been big must make themselves smaller. He used E-trade as an example. They took something, your finances, that is normally operated by large companies and put that power into your hands the consumer via the internet. Now you can trade stock, check out your mortgage and make more investments all with the click of the mouse. The company is basically run out of your office, kitchen, or wherever you have a computer.

Now there are people that don't want to mess with their finances and just hire some big firm to take care of them. They don't call and they don't care. But others in this changing world, want that power in their own hands. They understand the rules for making money and taking care of debt haven't really changed; positive is good, negative is bad. But the methods to make those positives bigger and the negatives smaller has changed significantly. From what I have read and heard, not many just want to leave their hard earned money in their company pension accounts for some other guy to make decisions on. They want to maximize that investment.

In order to compete in this financial world big investment firms have had to make themselves small to us, catering to our needs and desires.

How do I see this playing out in Campus Crusade the past 55 years. In the 50's and 60's we were a small organization, new to the Evangelical church world, yet in all our actions and influence we were big. It seemed that if there was a "I found It!" evangelistic campaign or some sort of ministry training, Campus Crusade and it's small band of faithful and radical staff and students were behind the scenes sharing vision, mission and a belief that the Great Commission would be fulfilled. Small had big impact.

Today, 40 some years later, and after many successful ministries that were birthed, millions of people saved and sent into the world as missionaries, Campus Crusade is BIG. I think we may be the biggest Christian organization in the world. What does that bring? Great influence. Great impact. Great glory to God.

It also brings missed opportunities because in our hugeness we move slower. We trust in the tried and true that worked the year before or the generation before. We get a bit comfortable because we are big and we miss moving out in bold, radical, passionate faith. We miss the millions of people, our target audience, that are looking for a Savior and possibly have been hurt by traditional methods or are thinking a bit different than our grandmother would have thought 50 years ago. They still want to be saved but they just don't see any relevancy in the methods we use to get to them; a church service, praise and worship, a mass mailing, an apologetic speaker using all sorts of logical proof or just convincing preaching that misses their questions and doubts.

The reality is that the whole world is not calling for change. There are still hundreds of thousands who still want to and can find Jesus in this method. But there are millions of others that want to touch Him, experience Him, and see Him through their neighbors, on their streets, in the projects, in their language, on their campus and through a friend. They want to access Christ and His never changing message, the Gospel, personally, just like those using E-trade. This generation doesn't want some big firm making decisions on how they practice the methods of knowing a Biblical Jesus and His mission all while they sit in a pew and listen. They want control. They want leadership. They want change and impact in their neighborhoods and on the streets. They want Jesus in their lives making a difference

I would dare bet if we were to take a survey of young radical, sold out, Christian men and women they would not point to Campus Crusade as being the radicals of the faith anymore. We are present. We are hard working. We do have great strategies. We are big. But I would guess they wouldn't say we are the ministry that will allow them to change the world. I think what needs to happen is that we must become small once again with a big influence. We must take the control, power, and Gospel message out of the hands of the professionals, the big firms, the board rooms and put it back in the hands of those we say always could change the world, STUDENTS. Didn't Dr. Bright always say, "Reach the Campus today. Reach the world tomorrow." If we continue to be the big ministry that makes room for all the professionals/staff desires and giftedness and forget that we're a movement of students then we have missed the point. Then all we become is a club of Christian leaders that like using their gifts. Its not to say these gifts are valuable but the often times we missed the giftings of the students and their ability to make a difference. Maybe it isn't all about our orthodoxy, right doctrines, correct preaching, perfect weekly meetings and creative outreaches that are birthed in our staff meetings and offices. I would dare bet it is the passions, the conversations, the dreams, the prayer groups and the students behind them in their dorm rooms, coffee shops, bars, frat houses and workplaces that will make a difference.

It's humbly stepping aside. Letting go of the reins and control of our ministries. Sharing the vision and mission. Releasing students (people) to change their campus, neighborhood, workplace and the world. Renewing and refocusing our mission for existence as an organization and church, "Turning lost students (people) into Christ Centered (Missional) Laborers.""For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10

Categories: Books, Leadership, Movements, SimpleChurch