Future Plans

Many of you know that I have had some recent health issues that have had me in the hospital three times in the last six months with two surgeries. It has been one of the most trying times in my life. For most of my adult life, I have practiced a lifestyle that could be characterized by this motto... "If you think you have too many irons in the fire, stoke up the fire!" I have burned too many candles at both ends without (until now) many consequences. Now, it's time to relearn two words that I have ignored up till now: balance & pace. I am relearning how to balance diet, exercise, family, ministry & rest. I have a ways to go here, but the value of balance is now something I can see. Pace is another word I've ignored, but now, pace is a necessity. These two words do not go well with my earlier slogan of "stoke up the fire." Stoking more fire will only cause one to burn out faster! Some of you learned that a long time ago, but for me, it seems new!

God has allowed this recent experience for a purpose. He has used it to reveal to me that I am to refocus my ministry energies in a specific way, much like a boss who gives a subordinate an assignment and expects it to be done the way he says. Several of you are asking what that looks like, so I'm devoting this blog moment to fill you in. My assignment focuses in three major areas.

• Training Institutes. We need more! More locations. More subjects. More instructors. More languages. More vehicles of delivery. I am convinced that the Lord is calling people into deeper levels of leadership within the local church. But the options for training seem limited. Training centers are badly needed and people seem hungry for this training. We need more locations than just Midland and Lansing where we are today with the East Michigan Training Institute. We need more subjects to be developed and implemented. Subjects that help lay leaders to become better equipped for leading ministry in the local church. Subjects that broaden the skills for those preparing for full time ministry. We need more instructors who have a passion for equipping others for Great Commission ministry. And we need to expand into other language groups! America is no longer a white only, English speaking only nation. Harvest is occurring among these other cultural groups and training of leadership is badly needed. Already we have invitations to initiate training centers with our Haitian friends on the east coast. And finally, we need to deliver training materials in ways to meet the changing demands of our culture. Online learning, I-Pods, DVD's, and satellite services present a variety of new vehicles of delivery. The days when classroom only forms of training do not meet the lifestyles for many today.
  

• Healthy Church Consulting. A large percentage of churches in America are plateaued or declining. Many close every week. Why, when so many people need Jesus, is the local church ineffective in reaching others with the Good News? Why, when surveys tell us unchurched people are open to spiritual revelation, is the local church unable to bridge the gap of relationships and meet this need? Why, when there is so much uncertainty about life and trouble brewing everywhere around us, is the local church perceived as irrelevant and powerless to meet these challenges? Churches often need outside intervention! Part of the assignment by The Father is to be available for local churches in diagnosing hindrances to their effectiveness. This includes providing recommendations, tools and training options that enhance Great Commission health and growth. Part of our assignment is to be a catalyst of turnaround in local churches. The Lord has blessed me through a consulting relationship with The Church Doctor Ministries, as well as our own Coaching 4 Growth Ministry.
  

• Missions. Since my first visit to the mission field in 1987, I have had a heart for missions. For me, missions means doing ministry cross-culturally. In recent years, we have seen opportunity to minister cross-culturally right here in America, as well as over seas. My assignment includes helping cross-cultural ministries get started (church planting), become equipped and trained (Institutes and training materials), and stay healthy (consulting). These activities are not restricted to one people group or location, but to wherever the open door presents itself. It could be in my own city (where over 40 languages are spoken among people as their first language), or it could be in a far place like Africa. Right now, the door of opportunity is open among our Haitian believers in New York, Boston, and Florida. It will be interesting to see how the Lord leads over the next few months.
  

Although the assignment seems clear at the moment, The Father has the option of adding to, or redirecting this ministry at any time. I submit to that with no regrets! There is no greater peace we can experience than to know we are in the center of his will. Thanks for reading. I would be honored if you would remember us in your prayers.

For Him,
Coach