People Being the Gospel

I think a ton about people being the Gospel to others; loving, sharing, sacrificing, forgiving, showing mercy and bringing life. Not that I have figured it completely out in my own life but isn't that why I, you, we need the Gospel daily?

I love the Liberty Mutual commercials that have been blessing the TV airways.

When you watch these, ask yourself, what would it take for a follower of Jesus movement to look and act like this? Maybe we need to ask the question, what would it look like if followers of Jesus to even act like this, not what would it take? This might give us a vision for the simplicity and impact Jesus could make on a movement. Simple truths and experiences of Jesus passed onto others. Could it be the greatest movements throughout history didn't require high programs, tons of strategic plans, and high paid full time workers.

Enjoy and no be the Gospel to those around you.





Categories: Movements, Gospel, Culture, Media

The Cemetery Experience Keeps Giving

There was about 6-7 years in a row I would take college freshmen at CU to the great, old cemetery on the hill in Boulder. I would have them wander around in the dark, no flash lights looking at tombstones, the old cool ones, for someone who died when they were 18-20. Then we would speculate about their lives, relationships, dreams and experiences. Then we would open up the Word and see what God's perspective was on life, the shortness of life and what we could be living for that had an impact on eternity.

Today I received an email from Ox, Bryan Gullette, a great young warrior who is loving Jesus, loving others in Romania along with his wife, Alina. They are hereos of the faith after working for a few years, packed up and left for Eastern Europe to love others like Jesus does.

Here is his email. It was an encouragement to me today.

Hi Steve,

I hope all is well. I thought that you might be
interested to hear about how your influence has reached to Romania.
Tonight I led a small group of abandoned Romanian teenage boys to a cemetery to
talk about making life count, like we did for Bible study one night. “It
was classic” and I hope it’ll “change their lives, bro!” * Ah the
memories. Thanks for being an important part of my life, Steve.

As great as the legacy is that you left with Crusade, I pray that
it can’t hold a candle to what the Lord is prepared to do in this next area of
ministry. I am sure that it will look totally different, but I expect
amazing things to come of it. I hope the transition is going well.
If you just remember all the things you taught us, you should be
fine.

I also pray that all is well on the home front with your… is
it 18 kids now? Growing the kingdom one child at a time! Awesome! I
am excited about your family and your kids and I pray that they bring you much
joy and fulfillment. I ask God also for His special blessing on your marriage,
that it would be the firm foundation of love overflowing to the children and the
church and the world. Yeah, I know, it sounds like a lot of love, but we
know it is just a drop of what the Lord offers to us.

Take care,
Steve, say “hi” to everyone for Alina and I.

Bryan

Categories: God, Community

Starting a House Church

It was about 5 weeks ago I finished a new copy of my local library's book of Starting a House Church by Larry Kreider and Floyd McClung. A few years ago I read Kreider's book called House Church Networks: A Church for a New Generation and I remember that he gave a great balanced approach to Mega-church, community church and simple/home church. I felt like he wasn't attacking traditional forms of church but offering a new approach to church to compliment others. Since I had a good experience with him, I wanted to read this recent book since we have ventured out to start a home church.



For a couple of years in ministry I had been searching for the 'golden goose egg' in ministry that will solve all our problems. I would think, "If we just have this new technique, strategy, formula then we'll be an explosive, life changing ministry." What I realized about 2 years ago is there isn't a golden goose egg of ministry, other than what God desires to do through Christians; hearing and following the will of God. If you do take a look at New Testament Movements they were all pretty simple. Run by normal, unschooled men and women. They were bold, courageous, believed in a real Jesus, God and Holy Spirit that spoke, answered prayers and moved mountains. They didn't have church growth seminars or massive discipleship programs. They loved people and talked about the love of Jesus that changed lives. They brought Jesus to the streets and encouraged people to bring Jesus farther into their homes, business and yes, even bars.



After reading this book I was encouraged and reminded again how simple doing church is. We have made it pretty complicated. Normally today, in order to get more of Jesus, we need seminary trained teachers, buildings organized in way that maximizes the church experience, big amps and big bands, videos, youth and child-care centers and massive parking lots; all this to allow us to worship God who is a personal, communal, intimate God that is known through the Holy Spirit, His Word, and fellowship of 2 or more believers.



This is what we want to be about. Making Jesus known in homes, streets, workplaces, parks and bars. As Neil Cole says, "lowering the bar on church and raising the bar on discipleship." Let's teach people to follow Jesus and then they'll see how simple church is. Yes, I still believe church is a tool that God is using to make himself known to the world. Yes, church is Biblical. My thought is that the way we have known church the last 20, 200, and 2000 years is changing, morphing and adapting to meet those that want to know an unchanging, unmorphing powerful, intimate God. There are many forms of church and church is ecclesia, meaning "called out ones." Isn't church just the gathering of 2 or more believers, regardless of the structure, setting and education level of those leading?



I appreciate the vision, passion and heart of Kreider and McClung. They have been part of some pretty radical churches, big and small, traditional and non-traditional, throughout the years. They encourage the 'chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation a people belonging to God' to just go out and be church, not just attend one. Yes, they have an apologetic, how to's and questions you may have as to why simple/home church is uniquely platformed to reach this new generation of not-yet-Christians. But why is that all that bad? New forms, new wine skins to go out and love a lost and hurting world with the message of Jesus. I think the dream of many today is that we'll look across this planet and see many types of churches, some with huge steeples, others small and with a run down look and others you can't visibly see because they're hanging out gathering in homes and stores.



Here are some quotes:

• Could it be that God wants to change everything about how we view the church? He has created the church to be a dynamic, growing, changing movement, not a static doctrine. The Spirit of God calls each generation to re-imagine church for its own context and culture. The Holy Spirit invites every generation into the struggle to discover answers and approaches for themselves about church--answers that bring them into fresh partnership whith God and fresh contact with their culture. p. 17



• We believe that simple, small, non-building oriented, non-professional led, family based communities are some of the keys for re-evangelizing our nation. p. 30



• House church networks reproduce churches rapidly because the micro church model lends itself to more authentic relational connections, deeper and more natural discipleship accountability, quick reproduction of leaders and every member involvment. p. 33



• Rich Joyner says, "Pastors sometimes don't like having young stallions in their church. They seem to cause too many problems. But only young stallions can reproduce. Resist the temptation to 'fix' them so they cannot reproduce." p. 83



• The goal of leadership is to facilitate, release and encourage. p. 95

Go start and be the church!

Categories: God, Movements, Leadership, Books, SimpleChurch

Business and Mission

We arrived in Texas last night to visit Christine's sister and her family down in Waco. Yep, we're heading down to the Waco for a great Thanksgiving day and some wonderful Mexico Thanksgiving food her aunts make. Hmmm, I can't wait.

Today it has been great seeing the kids play with their cousins. I have been sitting around reading. A few weeks ago I received the Mission Frontiers Magazine. The whole issue is about Business and Mission. I am a coming out of the closet leader who would love to be in business and tie it into restoring our communities.

I have been thinking for some time now of opening up a laundry matt in Denver. I heard that Tony Campolo, not confirmed, has a bunch of these in Philedelphia. I would love to open up a bunch of these off Colfax and other places that are in need. My desire would be to make them break a small profit, throw it back into the business, make them the lowest cost laundry matts in town with a staff that loves, cares, listens and prays for the customers. Make it a place where people can be refreshed from the hardships of life while sitting around waiting for their skivies are drying. Who knows if this is even a viable plan?

I would love to create a business where lives are changed, a real service is offered and a model of business can be replicated by anyone. Could it be that business and mission are not oppossed to one another? Could it be that a profit could be made, a competitive edge could be kept and a service and blessing to a people is offered that allows for community restoration. Isn't that the way of the Kingdom?

One of the articles (go ahead and read the whole magazine at the above link) that challenged me was Over-steering a Cadillac. Click on the link and read it in pdf format.

If you're interested in partnering with me or have some capital you would like to invest, drop me a comment.

Categories: Missions, Business, Movements

Fall Photos are amazing

I just spent today watching the Broncos win. Amazing! But not as amazing as these family shots at VanDiestClan

Categories: Family, Photos

A New Beginning

We believe God is stirring a new movement of His Spirit that will provide a church in every community that transforms people, relationships and neighborhoods with the love and grace of God.

Wow! It has almost been one year since we came home from Mexico City. We are so grateful to God, our leadership and you for giving us this past year to rest, restore, recover, wait on the Lord and now hear from God as He is calling us forward, a new beginning.


After much prayer, counseling, meeting and processing with our leaders, pastors and good friends we have decided to transition off Campus Crusade for Christ staff and join full-time with another ministry called Global Service Associates (GSA). GSA’s purpose is to help launch us as leaders, care for us as followers of Jesus and encourage us to fulfill our mission and calling.


For 18 years (including our student years in college) we have seen God move, grow and challenge us and have enjoyed serving with Campus Crusade for Christ.


In this period of waiting and listening which has been so refreshing and also difficult we sense God leading us to help the local church impact our culture.


Imagine walking down your street and finding a church that felt more like an old friend than an old building. It is alive. It is real. The life of Jesus is bursting out beyond the church doors and into your community. The authenticity and love draws people to want to know this Jesus who changes lives.


A Christ-centered community that touches personally every home in Colorado, the U.S. and around the world.
Recently we began a home church and invited soccer friends and our neighbors. One neighbor, Rochelle shared her heart for her non-Christian coworkers. She wants to take them to church, yet they have no desire to go. After our time together sharing and praying she asked if this concept of home church was a safe place to invite her coworkers to hear about Jesus; a place where the life, love, and mercy of Jesus is felt.


We are burdened to follow God’s call on our hearts. We want to reach out to those hurting. Encourage those who have lost hope. Inspire Christians to follow Jesus and to be His hands and feet to our neighborhoods. Pray with us that God’s Spirit will move powerfully.
Categories: SimpleChurch, Family, Newsletters, Prayer, GSA, God

What does all this look like?

We are transitioning off staff with Campus Crusade for Christ to GSA at the end of the month. You might have questions about our financial support, how you can stop your auto-payments (if applicable) and where to send your new financial support in December. Within two weeks you’ll be receiving a detailed letter explaining our monthly and end of year financial needs and the process on how to continue to partner with us. We will still be fully funded and paid for through monthly individual financial support. Therefore we still need your partnership of prayer, financial support and encouragement as we continue on in full-time ministry.

GSA is a non-profit religious order with a 501-3c status and will be processing all our administration, support, and your tax-deductions.

We plan on calling you if you are a financial partner after Thanksgiving to share in more depth about our new ministry. We look forward to connecting with you.

We cherish your prayers in this time of transition. Our hearts are full of gratitude for your partnership. Thank you for continuing to labor with us in giving every person an opportunity to be part of a life breathing Christ-centered community.



Categories: Prayer, Newsletters, Family, Ministry, God, GSA

Please Pray

Please Pray:

• That God will be our guide in each step in the weeks to come. That we will trust Him and not our own efforts.
• That God will protect us from the evil one that will be on the attack in our transition.
• For our kids, time as a family and marital relationship.
• That we will be sensitive to God’s work in our lives.
• For our home church; its authenticity, love and mission to reach out to the lost.

Categories: God, Family, Prayer, Newsletters

Putting out a Fleece

Wanted to ask you to pray for something. We're putting out a fleece before the Lord in regards to where we are living. We have so enjoyed Northern Colorado, Greeley and more specifically our neighborhood: The Arbors. Recently our good friends and neighbors have asked us to move to Denver to start some community and see what God has in store for ministry, church, etc. We're not sure what God has for us but we know we will miss their community and friendship as they have lived 3 houses away.





We are drawn to them, what God is doing in Denver and who knows; we stopped trying to control and figure out what we are doing and where we are living. This past year we have thrown our plans out for a plan of following God each step, day by day. This has been a hard lesson to learn.





So we're putting our home: 4360 W. 23rd Street Drive, Greeley, CO 80634 on the market. If you know of anyone who might be interested, toss them our way.

Categories: God, Prayer

So we'll see what God has for us.