Here’s a flyer with more information including dates, location, etc.

And here is an outline of the sessions, which will be led by Rob Fairbanks and Dan Stiegerwald and hosted by New Community Church.

Session One: The Story We Find Ourselves In
Tuesday September 14, 2010 @ 6PM

Session Two: Discovering & Following Our Missional God
Tuesday September 28, 2010 @ 6PM

Session Three: Cultivating MIssional Church
Tuesday October 12, 2010 @ 6PM

Session Four: Growing Local Missionaries & Sustainable Initiatives
Tuesday October 26, 2010 @ 6PM

Session Five: Listening & Learning In Context
Saturday November 13, 2010 @ TBA

Session Six: Missional Leadership
Tuesday November 30, 2010 @ 6PM

During our recent trip to Haiti we encountered the deep contrast of beauty and brokenness.  In creation, in people, in systems, in possibilities.  Our first few hours of navigating chaotic and crumbling streets, hiking up eroded mountain paths, breathing in the mixed aroma of burning trash, exhaust and food being cooked over open flame led one of our companions to say, “this can’t be fixed.”  Over the course of our time in country we also met amazing and creative people, experienced hospitality that left us humbled, and began the joyous process of friendship and misison shaped partnership.  As such, the aforementioned companion, and all of us, realized that progress, redemption and change could and would happen.  But it will happen little by little.  Or as the Haitian proverb we learned says, “piti, piti, wazo fe nich li” (little by little the bird builds it’s nest).

I’m confident that all of us would agree, to some extent, that the same is true of our mission shaped work in this time and place, and in all times and places.  But what about our souls?  Would we agree that, to some extent, our souls are formed in the same way?  As I reflect upon the brokenness and beauty mentioned above I find myself confessing that there are days, seasons, where my soul is a crumbling mess, much like the streets of Cap Haitien.  And if I were to expand the story a bit more I’d say that there have been times where I’ve tried quick and unsuccessful fixes, or simply wondered if it could ever be fixed at all.  What about you?  What about those we journey with?  What about those we seek to mentor and develop as future leaders?

How do you assess the state of your own soul?
Have / Are you experiencing soul formation as a “little by little” journey or something other?
Do you see this as an aspect of mission shaped (missional) formation and faithfulness?
How do you foster care for the soul in your church community?
How are you training future mission shaped pioneers in this?
What other questions or issues related to this would you raise?

How are you equipping your people to live as a gospel community on a disciple-making mission? What are your measurements of health when you think about your groups? How are you forming and resourcing your groups? What challenges are you facing in this arena? What insights have you gained that could help us all be more fruitful and effective in this area?

It seems to me there is a deeper issue, even, underneath the practical challenges. The question I often find myself asking is this: Why is this not naturally happening already? Why does it seem like such incredible labor to get people to stop attending church and live as disciples who make disciples all the time? Is it simply that we’ve not told them enough times that they should? Is the Bible not clear enough on what it means to be the church? Are we preachers not talking about the Lordship of Jesus enough?

What needs to happen in your church community to move your people out of the seats and into their neighborhoods and workplaces, living in deep community together as servants of Christ, joyfully talking of the greatness of their Savior to each other and to the world?

Illegal drug & alcohol abuse is a reality within all  of our congregations. It’s a cultural problem that has long lasting consequences for individuals, families, children and our communities.  As leaders who embrace a gospel of grace, and enjoy the freedom it allows, as it relates to responsible use of God given pleasures; I wrestle with what this looks like among the addicted and those in recovery. Most recovery models or programs are “abstinence based”, which isn’t always consistent with the message of learning “moderation in all things” as a gospel value, that I often teach. I also find many other elements within recovery ministries that seem out of harmony with the gospel…i.e. fear based accountability, legalism, law focused teaching, defilement anxiety vs. sanctifying power, habit vs. transformation, works over grace, man focused vs. God focused, determinism vs. new life.

I am interested in discovering a recovery model or program that embodies a healthy balance of truth and grace that enables addicts to truly experience the power of God for change. Helping people find and live in wisdom and freedom that empowers them to not be “mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). How are you approaching these issues personally and within your church community? ,We’ll put these questions and the topic of recovery on the table as we gather in April.