Being in this South Asian country this week has truly inspired me. The alumni caught the vision of being community and even more importantly of living in a love relationship with God: They are ALL IN with God and they LIVE Community! They are also all committed to Accelerating Kingdom Leaders BUT, it’s important to note that this only flows out of our/their love relationship with God: John 15:1-16 Just see John 15:5 alone -
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Accelerating Kingdom Leaders
Two of those pictured here (I won’t point out which one’s to protect their identity) are alumni of A3. Their stories poignantly highlight this third core value of ours: Accelerating Kingdom Leaders!
Alumnus #1
One of them was a graduate of the first batch in country and he said today that his church had become complacent, not living out this third value that we focused on this week in the module: We are blessed to be a blessing! - Genesis 12:1-3 His church went from a nice, thriving fellowship: a deep rooted community embodying the values of Christ together to one that is now multiplying (bearing much fruit)! Today, they are planting 4 more fellowships in his city and challenging them to reach those who have never heard the Gospel. We learned this week that nearly half the unreached people groups in the world live in India and many live right next door to churches in cities like this!
Beyond this, two of his church members moved to another city and have had difficulty finding a fellowship that embodies the type of community and disciple-making that his church lives out. After our next week together in another module, he is going to visit them as they have asked to start a fellowship in their city! How cool is that! Another fellowship, a fifth church, is being started that will live out these types of kingdom values.
Alumnus #2
The other graduate was from the fourth batch and actually co-taught with me this week. He was so inspired that he decided to duplicate the leadership training within his denomination: one of the most expansive denominations in this region. They are now empowering pastors and lay leaders using the same exact format as A3 within their system and they are doing it in Hindi so as to reach more people! He’s convinced that they will reach far more of their nation by equipping in the local languages and as they do so, many unreached and unengaged peoples will be reached through the empowerment and releasing of kingdom leaders! That is so exciting!
Jesus Values
As I listened to many of these graduates share their strategy paper, I realized that they are all committed to these Jesus values:
- Living in a Love Relationship with Christ
- Developing and Embodying Christ-like Community
- Accelerating Kingdom Leaders
Out of their walk with Jesus and inspired by the rich community, they have sensed God calling them to plant so many churches in their country. If I got the numbers correct, they will be on their way to seeing 268 churches planted across the Northern part of the nation by 2020. How encouraging to hear this!
My fellow co-faculty, Mary Jo, Laji and me
What about you?
Are you inspired to listen closely to God and see what vision he has for you? Have you spent rich times with Jesus lately, daily, seeking his face? Have you processed what you are learning and hearing with a community of people committed to you and God? I’d love to see how God inspires you as you live out these values… Share with me/us if you’re giving this a try!
Joe Handley
@jwhandley
