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Mobilizer Summer 2008
The Power of Missions Coaching
Matthew Ellison
Chief Ministry Officer
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On a very special Sunday, at the end of April I had the privilege of watching and listening as Sagebrush Community Church (a church Sixteen:Fifteen is coaching) unveiled the new dawning of their missions vision. I wish you could have been there.
As the teaching pastor, Todd spoke of the spiritual and physical plight of the peoples they will be engaging with their mission, there was visible brokenness among the listeners…but as he shared the vision (not only of what can be among these peoples, but of what must be), their brokenness became mingled with hope. Todd asked the congregation to close their eyes as he began to articulate a future picture of what they are believing will happen as they fulfill their mission To make Christ known among all nations by equipping indigenous leaders and planting churches that plant churches… he continued, walking them further into the future, describing what they were trusting God to see in the days ahead:
Church:
We see a church so in love with Christ that they are no longer comfortable with the fleeting American Dream, rather they are gripped by a vision to fulfill the Great Commission.
We see a church passionate for the nations, living and giving generously to fulfill the Great Commission.
We see our own sons and daughters going to the ends of the earth as short-term and career missionaries.
We see every member of our church empowered to fulfill a personal life mission in the world.
Field:
We see unreached people trusting in Christ, becoming disciples, leaders, missionaries and pastors.
We see formerly unreached peoples reaching the remaining unreached peoples.
We see churches being planted at the ends of the earth where Christ is treasured, His Word is being taught by well-trained indigenous pastors, and people are being transformed by the power of God.
We see nations being overturned by the love of Christ.
We see things so wondrous they can’t be explained. (Habakkuk 1:5)
My eyes filled with tears as I reflected back on the coaching process that had taken place over the last 10 months and how it had not only yielded this clear, heart-grabbing missions vision, but it had also caused the entire elder team to count the cost of turning it into a reality. I was there, coaching them through it! I had asked the elders to close their eyes, just as Todd did with the congregation; I had asked the elders the same questions that Todd asked. In the very workshop where the vision finally came into focus, several of the elders were moved to tears at the thought of what God could do… I quietly said, “I want to elevate the importance of this moment as high as it can possibly be elevated. This is a sacred moment in history!”
It is important to know that Sagebrush’s vision includes “handles”, that is, strategic opportunities for the body to grab hold of the vision. Though their vision is focused in five areas of the world, there are broad sets of opportunities so that the maximum number of resources can be mobilized to fulfill their vision.
Lately, Sixteen:Fifteen’s mantra has been “Unleashing the Missions Power and Potential of Churches to Reach the Nations,” well I had the privilege of watching as the prayer, generosity and service of Sagebrush was unleashed for the sake of the Name that is above all names. Their mission budget has increased several times over since we began coaching them, and that doesn’t factor in the off-budget, designated giving that was set in motion at the unveiling of their vision. For example, one man stepped up in the second service with a 10K gift…hundreds more gave undisclosed gifts and commitments of time, talent and treasure. In total over 1,300 people responded to the invitation to become engaged in the greatest cause.
One year ago at Sagebrush, prior to going through Sixteen:Fifteen’s 3-D Mission Coaching Process it wasn’t as if there weren’t opportunities for people to be a part of missions, there simply wasn’t a heart-grabbing vision that would capture the whole congregation, there simply wasn’t a strategic plan that would unleash body-wide participation.
Our little ministry was instrumental in deploying the mission vision of yet another congregation. And I believe with all my heart that the joy of the worshiping souls, saved from eternal despair and woe, through Sagebrush Community Church, will be part of the heavenly inheritance of all who stand with the ministry of Sixteen:Fifteen. Thank you.
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