Such ENERGY!

by | Sep 16, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Monday’s Bottom Line:

The Disciple-Makers Retreat is in full swing, and it’s going so well!

Monday’s Prayer Requests:

1. The retreat delegates to leave on Tuesday afternoon with everything God wants them to have (information, skill, joy, goals, plans, new friends, etc.)
2. A super-productive and refreshing debrief time for Scott, Hillary, James, and Hellen on Wednesday and Thursday.
3. Scott to be Spirit-led, healthy, peaceful, and energetic as he finishes this week well. He will come home Friday night.  = )
Monday’s Details:

The DM retreat started at 6:00 PM Sunday (Kenya time). I don’t know how late it went, but it was after his midnight when Scott sent me these comments.

“Never before have I heard of a gathering of 50 disciple-makers, all of whom are leading others through the disciple-making process (i.e. leading disciple-making groups). It was certainly an historic day today! There is some amazing energy in the room. Lots of logistical challenges, but even more energy!

“These people are totally sold out. Hillary told the group tonight, ‘It’s in my blood!’ All of them are realizing that I am not the “vision-bearer” alone. No, they are all “vision-bearers.” They are all stewards of the mysteries of God (specifically, the mystery of the difference between a Believer and a Disciple). And that they must be found faithful.

“It is going amazingly and I expect even better things tomorrow (actually, that would be “today” looking at the time).”
Then on Monday, Hellen spoke to the group. I’m guessing she’s speaking in English with the interpreter translating into Swahili, or vice versa.
She must’ve said something really funny. I love to see all those smiles!
And Scott said, “It was another great day. Hillary’s sharing about Vision was the high point for me. He stressed that disciple-making is not Scott’s vision, but God’s vision and we need to embrace the vision if we are to see it bear fruit. If people continue to view it as Scott’s vision, they will not sacrifice and the fruit will be minimal.”

I hope you’re as excited as we are about the lasting impact God is enabling Scott and our team to have during this trip. Would you please take a moment again today to pray for them? Thank you!

Blessings,
Patty

First-ever retreat & Testimony time!

by | Sep 16, 2024 | What's New

Dear All,

Sunday’s Bottom Line:

The East Africa Disciple-Makers Retreat is currently underway, we will end today’s update with a wonderful testimony, and My Hero will be home Friday night.  = )

Sunday’s Prayer Requests:

1. This DM Leaders Retreat to be helpful, informative, relationship-building, spiritually meaningful, and FUN!
2. Scott and Pastor Mark to be energized and healthy throughout this week as they meet with many other disciple-makers.
3. The Holy Spirit to orchestrate divine connections among the current East African DM leaders, so that at the right time, God’s plans that we don’t yet know about will be able to happen.
Sunday’s Details:

I’m not sure how to adequately explain the potential impact of the retreat currently in progress. Close to 50 DM leaders have gathered in one place in one accord for a special time of fellowship, instruction, and mutual encouragement. They began at 6:00 PM Sunday (local time) and will continue all day Monday and until after lunch on Tuesday.

All these men and women are leading DM groups; some lead more than one group.

These people are related generationally. Scott discipled Hillary, James, and Hellen. Hillary, James, and Hellen each discipled 7-12 folks. Those 7-12 have discipled more, etc. Now numerous “generations” of leaders are gathered together to…

– Learn from those “ahead” of them,
– Hear fresh ideas for improving processes in the groups,
– Share what has worked well for them and what has not,
– Be taught by Scott and others, learning both current best practices and future goals,
– Be challenged to make any necessary “course corrections,”
– Be reminded that even when things are difficult and stressful, they are not alone, and
– Realize that they have friends who can truly empathize with what they’re going through and will pray for them and encourage them.

In short, this retreat is a really big, hairy, IMPORTANT deal!
Meanwhile, on Saturday, while Pastor Mark was presenting his Tentmaking and Ministry seminar in one city…

Pastor Mark Phillips teaching in Kitengala
… Scott was leading his final Better Together marriage seminar in another city. Here the Hero husband is thanking his wife for her life-giving words.

What a sweet couple!
Scott also sent the following testimony from Jane and Eliphath, a couple at one of his Better Together seminars a week or two ago.

“The Kagio BT [seminar] was the turning point for our marriage. We have been struggling with things in our marriage so much, but after the seminar, we went home and repented and forgave one another for a long time. If the seminar did not benefit anyone else, it was surely given for us. The work God did in our marriage cannot be measured.”

That’s what it’s all about for ministry marriages! Thank you for making this kind of change possible in the lives and marriages of pastors in Kenya and many other places. Scott and I (and our team and many couples you and I will never meet) really appreciate you!

Blessings,
Patty