Letting God's Word Teach

“Roughly half of all US churches did not add one person through conversion last year,” shared Richard Williams, Regional Vice President with City Team DMM (Discipleship Making Movements).  Obviously, something is wrong.  DMM focuses on making disciples and planting churches through finding a person of peace with whom to work.   The emphasis was on the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to transform people, families, and communities.  It is not about religious conversions, but bringing people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Discovery Bible studies (DBS) is at the core of the movement.

“We often expect people to accept our culture (or commit cultural suicide) before they can accept our Jesus.  … We must not transmit the gospel of the church but the gospel of Jesus Christ,” shared Williams through a power point.  DMM does not require degrees, credentials, or past leadership skills to lead a Bible study but uses willing people to reach into their sphere of influence.  It disciples to conversion and starts with creation, not Christ, to build a strong foundation.  The groups meet wherever it is convenient for those interested.

The group facilitator (the person of peace), not necessarily a Christian, looks at a passage of Scripture with the group.  Each person restates the passage in their own words.  Then they formulate “I will …” statements to obey what they learned in the passage.  These must be concrete and measureable so they can know if they applied what they learned. They share what they have learned with others.   Williams stressed “Teaching obedience produces mature disciples rather than knowledgeable converts.”  They are learning to be obedient to God’s Word and not just to a particular teacher.  Groups grow through multiplication, not addition, as each member grows to a point where they can start their own group.

Massive prayer support is needed behind the scenes, and spiritual warfare is common as we reach out to unreached people.  Williams also stressed the importance of reaching families rather than aiming at one family member.

Mallory, a summer intern, said she learned that you don’t have to know everything about the Bible to be a disciple, and bringing a person to church isn’t often as effective as going into their culture area.  It was a new idea to her to let the lost lead Bible studies.

 

Emily, another intern, found it freeing that she did not need to rely on time frames.  “It is about how the Spirit works in that person.  I’m impatient.  It is however the Spirit leads, which takes the load off my shoulders.”  Another point that stuck out to her was to not be religiously obnoxious.

It amazed Emily how much she is learning already. “This is real stuff.  God is real.  This is part of why I am here.”  Both young women feel the techniques they learned for studying God’s Word can be applied in their own devotional time.  Emily said, “I’ve been a fan of God, not a follower.”  She wants to start applying what she learns.

For more information on DMM, contact Richard Williams at 610.872.6865 or through e-mail at rwilliams@cityteam.org.

Made It!

At first glance, the words “Made it!” posted by Emily Cruz on Facebook could just mean her two day car ride to Covington, LA was over.  In Emily’s case, it means much more.  After attending meetings In Louisiana in September, Emily knew God wanted her there working with ReachGlobal Crisis Response. 

With the help of Connie and Drew at EFCA, Emily began the ENGAGE short-term application.  In the beginning, she kept up with deadlines as she plowed through paperwork.  Drew was impressed to see someone so young not procrastinating.  This encouraged her to press on.  Pastor Steve Frykholm, Pastor of Small Groups and Missions at Lebanon Area EFC, sat down with Emily and helped her complete her theological questionnaire in one day!  Emily said, “I got so much Jesus at one time. Through the application process, I learned so much about God and grew so much.  I got to see who I was, what traits God gave me, and flaws I needed to work on.  I discovered myself in a new way.”  It was hard sharing intimate details of her life with strangers as she answered questions.

Then came the waiting.  Drew called over Christmas break.  He reviewed the answer could be yes, not yet, or no.  Emily’s heart beat harder wondering if he was preparing her for refusal.  Then Drew added, “I want to be the first to congratulate you.  You have been accepted for summer internship.”  Emily breathed deeply.  She had made it.  It did not sink in immediately that it was not for a full year as she hoped.  With excitement she shared, “Drew, I was blessed to go through the application process.  I learned so much about God and myself and who I am in the eyes of God.”  It was one of the best experiences of her life.  She knew her internship would enable her to grow more in her relationship with God.

She was a little upset about all that work for only summer approval.  Then, she thought, “Get over yourself.”  They had not said “no”, and she knew God had a plan for her.  Spiritual warfare followed with many obstacles and changes in her life.  She focused on her job, her online class, moving, and church, but she did not know how to proceed to find health insurance or raise support. 

Since Drew had many applications to process, Jen took over hers.  In April, Jen called and asked, “How are you doing with support raising?  How are you doing with support letters?  How are you doing with health insurance?”  Emily answered each question, “I don’t know.”  Jen replied, “What do you know?  You realize you can’t go if you don’t get this done?”  Tears were running down Emily’s face as it all sunk in.  She had not been applying what she had learned.

Emily went to her church family, and they jumped in to help her.  They set up an opportunity for her to speak in church and helped her get support letters into church member’s mailboxes.  A Crisis Response staff member made sure she had a display board, prayer cards, and fresh baked cookies for her church display.  As Emily spoke to her church, she saw so many who she knew cared.  People were praying for her and sharing her prayer card.  Her support need was met in a month’s time.  Katie and Ariealle helped her find health insurance.

Emily with Pastor Steve

 

Emily is finally here.  Her first thought was, “I’m home.”  She reviewed all she had gone through to get here, how her faith had grown, and how she had seen God at work in her life.  She looks forward to what God will do in and through her this summer.

Mallory, Laura-Jean & Emily at Intern House

 

Part of Something to Change the World

When Emily Cruz joined a work team to New Orleans in July 2013, a life changing experience awaited her.  On her first day there, Emily sat transfixed listening to Ariealle’s testimony.  A heaviness filled her heart, and she felt an instant connection to Ariealle.  Tears filled Emily’s eyes, and she knew God wanted her to return to New Orleans.  Fears rushed in at the thought of leaving home and doing something so out of her comfort zone.  As the return trip to Pennsylvania began, Emily stared longingly out the window as Covington passed out of view.  Her heart ached as if she was leaving home.  She heard a voice inside her say, “You’ll be back, don’t worry.”

When Emily emailed Katie Hooks in mid-August, Katie invited her to the September staff meetings to get a better feel for the ministry.  Car problems prevented Jen Jones from driving Emily as planned.  Instead, Emily met Ariealle in Pittsburgh, and they drove together.  The connection between the two women grew, and Ariealle told Emily she was going to be her protégé and replace her someday.  God had again directed circumstances to plant a vision in Emily’s heart.

A group fast from the evening before through supper Monday started the week.  Emily’ reaction was, “We’re fasting?  What?  Just one meal?”  Ariealle informed her it was a whole day.  With her hypoglycemia, Emily would drink juice to keep her sugar levels up.  “This was a test.  It really got me to connect to the Lord in a different way.  Fasting was not what I thought.  My definition changed.  It was not taking time focused on filling myself with the world, but filling myself with God instead and growing close to Him. … Fasting made me think a lot more, feel a lot more than I ‘ve felt before, and made me vulnerable to God.”

Emily’s hunger kicked in as delightful smells filled the room for the group feast.  As the steam rose from the pig roast pan, she thought, “The Lord provides in His time.  There is a little sacrifice in the beginning, but He provides abundantly in the end.” 

At first, watching people who knew one another made her feel like an outcast and unsure if she could fit in.  This changed quickly as she connected with others. The meetings and tests benefited Emily.  Spiritual gift tests and strength tests reaffirmed direction in her life.  Group member’s tests helped her discover who others were. A visual exercise moved people into groups according to strengths allowing everyone to see similarities in others. 

All parts of the body of Christ work together for a purpose.  God made us the way we are to reach out to certain people who will respond to us.  If everyone was the same, how could we reach the world?  Emily needed this reminder.  It is okay to be different.  As she pointed out, “God knows what works.”

The need for time alone with God beckoned to her.  She impatiently waited to hear from God.  Taking a walk, she watched children in the church play area.  The thought of childhood faith came into her head.  God spoke to her heart, in a way He never had before, telling her to run into His arms like a child seeing her father, and He would hold her close.

Toward the end of the meetings, Mark Lewis called Emily to the front, laid his hand on her shoulder, and prayed over her.  He told her, “We hope you come back.”  As small groups prayed, Emily could hear her name mentioned.  She thought, “They want me here.  I’m not being pushed aside.  They actually see something in me that nobody else does.”

Mark is the director of the ministry, and “He didn’t just see me as someone tagging along.  He made a point to notice me.  A lot of people look over me.  Mark is intentional in the way he cares for people.”

Amid the confusion at so many new ideas, Emily felt peace.  These were principles she could learn.  “They all made me feel like I was part of something great.  This was one of my favorite parts, even from the beginning when I felt like an outcast.  I felt part of something that would change the world.  At the end of the week, I felt part of a family.  ReachGlobal Crisis Response is part of MY story.”