The Villasis DM seminar ended very well, and the participants are full of energy as three new DM groups begin!
Wednesday’s Prayer Requests:
Each leader to lead their group according to the example they have been trained by, and close relationships to develop among the group members.
Scott to have God’s wisdom (and human help) to standardize administrative systems for managing and growing the RDM network in each nation.
The Holy Spirit to have his way in the Better Together marriage seminar on Thursday. Wednesday’s Details:
First, here’s a bit of explanation about Prayer Request #2 above.
I believe five new DM groups have been formed so far during this trip. Sometimes it’s a challenge to have enough trained leaders standing ready to lead new groups. Often, experienced leaders are already leading a group – or sometimes two groups – of their own, and since leading a group involves a major commitment of time, praying, and planning, there’s definitely a limit to how many groups one person can and should lead.
Also, for a number of months, Scott has been sensing that things are about to break open and expand rapidly, and he knows that the ministry is growing to the point that he can’t personally lead/manage/oversee it all. He’s been working to set up systems and give key leaders responsibilities that in the past he has handled personally.
He wants to standardize procedures so that each national Disciple-Makers network functions in the same way, but he also knows he needs to be flexible, sensitive to each culture, and led by the Holy Spirit. We are already past the point where Scott “does it all,” and that expansion creates new opportunities as well as some challenges.
I hope that explanation helps you better understand #2 above. And now, here are some pictures of our newest groupies. = )
Scott said, “The seminar really went well today. The people clearly understood the process [of raising disciple-makers] and the need to get in the vehicle [the relational environment]. As you can see, we had a great turn-out for the groups. 3 new DM groups were birthed today…
one group for the eight pastors, led by Wilson (standing),
one group led by Angelica (in stripes), with lady pastors,
and one group with church leaders led by Angeline (standing), one of Angelica’s disciples. It is exciting that Angeline is going to lead one of the groups. She is really honored to be part of the team. We are excited to have a 3rd trained and experienced disciple-maker!” Then on Thursday (Wednesday night, MO time), Scott will lead a very powerful marriage seminar, which is specifically designed for couples in which one or both spouses are vocational ministers. Ministry marriages are precious and, like all marriages, the enemy would like to destroy them. We trust that God will use this “Better Together” seminar to bring hope and health to ministry marriages there in the Villasis area. BT seminars usually bring both tears and laughter, as well as deeper connections between husbands and wives, so please agree with us for God to do amazing things in that seminar.
I’m about out of creative ways to say, “Would you please pray for My Hero today?” so I’ll just say once again, “Thank you so much for praying for My Hero today!”
Scott said the first day of this Raising Disciple-Makers seminar in Villasis went even better than the ones in Anao and Loo, with another DM group being formed! He will conclude that seminar on Wednesday and then lead a Better Together marriage seminar there on Thursday.
Tuesday’s Prayer Requests:
The spiritual energy from the pastors in this Villasis DM seminar to continue and grow as they put into practice what they are learning.
Open hearts for the marriage seminar on Thursday, and the Holy Spirit to specifically draw in those ministers who will come with their spouses.
No interruptions or delays in what God wants to do in the lives of these Villasis area pastors and leaders this week. Tuesday’s Details:
Scott sent me a short audio report Tuesday evening and said, “Great seminar! Great turnout! We had 45 or 46 and may have three [DM] groups. We recruited one of Wilson and Angelica’s disciples to lead one. There were pastors from 10 or 12 churches with very good results. Tell all the people, ‘Thank you so much!’ Thank you to everyone for PRAYING. God is working. Hallelujah!”
Hero in rooster shirt engaged in one of his favorite activities = ) Scott is really big on audience participation and timely, practical application of biblical principles. Several of these folks are clearly ready to DO whatever he’s teaching about. = )
Looks like a “Here I am, send me” moment! I can’t overstate the great value of your prayers during this mission trip. Scott’s out there on the cutting edge, teaching and mentoring pastors and church leaders to become – and raise – disciple-makers. But your faithful, faith-filled prayers are the wind beneath his wings. Thank you SO MUCH for pausing and praying about the requests listed above.
The new Anao DM group had its first meeting Monday night! Scott will begin a two-day DM seminar on Tuesday, and he’s pretty jazzed about it.
Monday’s Prayer Requests:
This mission trip to result in “fruit that remains.” More pastors to “take the challenge” to become disciples who raise disciple-makers, and new DM groups to be formed and continue meeting each week.
For Scott’s Tuesday-Wednesday seminar, God to draw in the specific pastors and church leaders whose hearts are ready to receive and act on the material Scott will be teaching; disinterested folks to stay home. =)
No hindrances or distractions during this two-day DM seminar. Monday’s Details:
This is where I’ll be short and sweet. Well, actually I’m always short (5’1″) and usually sweet. Anyway…
Scott sent us this picture of the first meeting of the new DM group in Anao. Anao was the first place Scott taught when he arrived in the Philippines some 10 days ago, and you may remember how pleased he was that Madam Myrna signed up to be in that group.
First meeting of the new Anao disciple-makers group! Scott said, “[They held the] first DM group with 6 Anao pastors and 4 [church] leaders. Praise God for a good beginning! I’m expecting a great day tomorrow!”
I, likewise, am expecting them to have a great DM seminar. It will begin on Tuesday (Monday night MO time). And may all of us who are PRAYING for Scott and for that seminar also have a great day today, wherever we are!
Scott has had a full weekend of ministry, and he will have a day off on Monday before beginning a two-day DM seminar in Villasis on Tuesday. His time with Wilson and Angelica’s disciples on Sunday was TREMENDOUS and fun. = )
Sunday’s Prayer Requests:
Refreshing and encouragement for Wilson, Angelica, and their disciples; they have been working faithfully in difficult situations for a long time and some have been discouraged. 2. Strength, health, and discernment for Scott to finish this final week of ministry strong.
The new DM groups that have formed during this mission trip to meet each week and the members to establish and maintain the various necessary disciplines. Sunday’s Details:
Everything doesn’t always go according to plan, but God can bring something positive out of any given situation. Although the attendees at Saturday’s singles seminar weren’t really the intended audience for Scott’s material, he said, “…one redeeming aspect of the seminar was the time of repentance for sexual sins. There were quite a few young people who came up and cried out to God in repentance.”
Young people “cleansing themselves…” so they could become vessels of honor, ready for the master’s use. Scott was able to meet Sunday afternoon with some of Wilson and Angelica’s disciples. A bit of background may be helpful.
For several years, Pastors Wilson and Angelica were associate ministers in a church in which they did a large portion of the pastoral work and raised more than 40 disciple-makers. In the past year, God directed them to leave that church and plant a new church. That is what they did, but in obeying God they had to leave behind the disciples they had raised. Since they had poured their lives into those people for years, it was a wrenching transition all around. In this picture with some of their disciples, Wilson and Angelica are in red right in front of Scott.
I think this picture was taken AFTER the Sequence game Scott said “It was such a powerful time with Wilson and Angelica’s disciples. They were really discouraged because Wilson and Angelica left to plant the new church and then their senior pastor passed away. But after I shared the vision of TTC and then shared a message about Keep Going (Swagaliga), they were so encouraged. Three of them shared through tears about how they have wanted to quit (like Elijah).”
Another thing Scott has noticed in a number of countries is that Christians who are active in ministry are often quite busy, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, and sometimes they don’t have or make time to relax and have fun. Scott is a game-playing guy, and he brought a few of his favorites. He said, “We also played Sequence, Taco/Cat/Goat, and Spot It. I bought them their own copy of Sequence to use with their disciples!” And then, “We had Boodle Fight for dinner.” As I understand it, a boodle fight is a Filipino (celebratory?) meal that is strewn down the middle of a long table and then eaten entirely without utensils. The link above explains more about the history of the term and explains the basic “rules” involved.
Let the boodle fight begin! Today we wrap up with a piece of joyful news that isn’t really related to the Philippines at all. Once of our missionary friends in Tanzania, Alex, has been traveling some eight hours one-way each week to lead a DM group of pastors. Alex and his wife Janeth have been expecting their second baby, and he was born last week! Alex said, “The Lord be glorified! He has given us a baby boy, Declan Yadah Imoli. Hallelujah!”
Introducing Declan Yadah, whose name means “Man of Prayer and Praise”
Daddy Alex with his newborn son A new baby is a reason to rejoice, whether in Africa, Asia, or America. Thank YOU for praying for Declan Yadah to grow to fulfill his name and for My Hero and those he’s ministering to to experience God’s goodness today!
Following his Thursday meetings in Rosario with pastors from Madam Myrna’s network, Friday was an official “day off” for Scott, with the exception of an important online meeting with portions of our Kenya leadership team. On Saturday he will lead a Singles conference in Villasis, and on Sunday he’ll be ministering in the morning (church), afternoon (Wilson and Angelica’s key disciple-makers), and evening (monthly online DM fellowship).
Friday’s Prayer Requests:
1. The singles in Villasis to be just as open and receptive to the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts as the singles in La Trinidad were! 2. God’s guidance for Scott to focus and effectively adapt his remarks to each different group of people he’ll be serving this weekend. 3. The leaders of the new DM groups to connect well with their people; those groups to function like healthy families. Friday’s Details:
Although he has quite a few ministry opportunities in the next couple days, Scott’s main focus right now is getting the several new Filipino DM groups established. One in-person group will start in Anao (bottom of the map) on Monday, and one in-person and two online groups from those who signed up in Loo (top of the map) will start in the next two weeks. Scott is staying in Villasis; the meetings this weekend are in Tombod and VillasisIn order for DM groups to thrive and fulfill their purpose, the participants must be: – diligent in various spiritual disciplines, – open to being corrected, – honest about their challenges, – and most of all, eager to grow.
The first few group meetings are always key to building the relationships among group members that facilitate those components, and it takes loving, experienced leaders to create the environment to build those relationships. Scott pours heavily into our several national leaders, they pour into their disciples, and some of those disciples will be leading these new groups. We are expecting God to help and guide them all!
We’re glad to report that Scott’s back is doing well – praise God! – and he seems to be nearly over all the respiratory crud he was hit with a couple weeks ago.
If you’d like to get a personal message to him, send it to me and I’ll see that he gets it. = )
Scott is so thankful for your prayers! I know that because he says so in nearly every text or conversation. Would you please pray for him and the folks in the Philippines again today?
Even though Scott had to compress his two-day DM seminar into one day in Loo, the response was really enthusiastic, with three new groups being formed! Our team has traveled back down to La Trinidad for the night, and on Thursday, (Wednesday night MO time) Scott will be ministering to the pastors affiliated with Madam Myrna’s Agape Network.
Wednesday’s Prayer Requests:
1. God to quickly and closely connect Pastors Wilson and Angelica with the Loo folks in the three new online DM groups they’ll be leading. 2. The Holy Spirit to give Scott the exact things to say to the Agape Pastors in Rosario on Thursday. 3. Grace for Scott as he deals with any physical challenges or exhaustion.Wednesday’s Details:
Scott said, “Good meeting today, although it was hard to try to compress the 2-day seminar into one day.”Scott teaching in Loo (“LOW-oh”)“17 signed up in 3 different online groups. Angelica will lead two ladies groups and Wilson will lead the other one.”Pastor Wilson handing out the first lesson to the new group members!Scott usually ends his DM seminars with the story of Barnabas, which demonstrates what a big impact we can make by discipling just one person. Scott calls that message “The Power of One,” and that’s why all these smiling folks are holding up one thumb. = )“The Power of One”
You may recall that the road between Loo and La Trinidad is quite curvy. After traveling back down from Loo, Scott said, “I’m totally worn out, but thankfully, I’m back in my room in La Trinidad and I did not throw up on the way home.” Thank God for a settled stomach!
On Thursday morning, they will descend another 3,100 feet during the 35-mile drive down to Rosario for Scott to meet with Madam Myrna’s pastors. That drive is expected to take an hour and 45 minutes. La Trinidad to Rosario: 35 miles + 1.75 hoursWould you please pray for Scott again today? We are SO grateful for your prayers.
I’ll leave you with this lovely picture Scott took on his Loo jaunt.What a gorgeous view!Peace and Blessings, Patty
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Scott is staying in Villasis;
Scott teaching in Loo (“LOW-oh”)“17 signed up in 3 different online groups. Angelica will lead two ladies groups and Wilson will lead the other one.”
Pastor Wilson handing out the first lesson to the new group members!Scott usually ends his DM seminars with the story of Barnabas, which demonstrates what a big impact we can make by discipling just one person. Scott calls that message “The Power of One,” and that’s why all these smiling folks are holding up one thumb. = )
“The Power of One”
What a gorgeous view!Peace and Blessings,