My most deadly enemy in 2011

“…God blesses us so that His glory might be made known in all nations. But an all-important question remains. How do we make God’s glory known in all nations?” – David Platt in Radical

The house is quiet as I sit here on New Year’s Day. Football hasn’t started in the US and no one is up yet after the parting last night. So I’m thinking about the new year. In 2011, how do I do my part to make God’s glory know in all nations? What is it that I believe He is calling me to this year? Heavy stuff, but I’m most of the way through my pot of coffee and I think this is the kind of moment for these thoughts.

God has us in a unique position. He has shaped me in a specific way, given me experiences that most others haven’t had. You can say the same thing. You and I are instruments in our Father’s hand, formed by Him to fulfill a specific role in making His glory known in all nations. Heavy. Scary.

Most days, I love everything about what He has called me to. But there are days where I look at this place He has me and I want to step back into safer areas, areas where I don’t have to trust Him so completely. Comfort is probably one of my most deadly enemies. Humility and courage have to me two of my greatest allies.

I think I see the answer to the ‘how’ question for my life. The next is', “In His power, will I do it?” I’m praying for you and me, that this year we will.

Normal Day?

‘What is a normal day for you?’ Someone asked me that question a while ago and I found it difficult to answer. Well, here’s a shot at answering it by describing a little about today.

I started off by heading downtown to meet with a guy I’d never met. Howard is with Jaron Ministries and was in Budapest as part of the European Leadership Forum. A mutual friend wanted us to meet to see if there was potential for working together. We had a nice 90 minutes getting to know each other. I walked away with quite a few ideas about where we might be able to cooperate.

As I rode the bus back to where I parked the car, I started thinking about what needed to be done in the next two weeks. (The family flies to the US in 13 days.) My whiteboard at the office is full of tasks. My calendar has a few more personal ones for getting the house and family ready. I decided to try to work on both lists a bit today.

When I got home, the first thing I did was take the door off the house. This thing has been giving me fits. It would barely shut and I finally had to take it apart to figure out what the problem was. Only took a few minutes and several times on and off the pegs to get it sorted out. Now it shuts fine and that irritant is out of the back of my mind.  Since I had such success with one door I considered working on a second one before lunch. Unfortunately, the longer I looked at the closet door, the more I felt like it was going to take too much time for today. The door wouldn’t hang right anymore because the wood in the jamb had rotted away. Earlier I had taken out the rotted part, so now I’m percolating on how to repair it. I need to get it done before we leave, (and these are dangerous words) I’m just not sure when.

After lunch, I got back to work. I answered a few emails, but not nearly enough. Then I went to work doing prep for preaching when I get back to the US. I’m not sure how many times I’ll be preaching, but between that and telling people about what we’re doing I’ve got a lot of preparation.

The day was cut a little short because I’m trying to spend more time with the family after being gone for almost two months.

We went to see Katie’s class displaying their work from Hungarian culture class (gulyas, a folk dance, and dessert) and we capped off the evening at the Middle School Recognition ceremony. Here are a few pictures from the last few days and a cool video. I’m really enjoying being with my family. =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Life in Rhythm

Your Life in Rhythm by Bruce Miller; he’s a pastor I know ;-)

When I first picked up this book I wondered if it was a question of semantics. Is this just another way of looking at managing my time? It didn’t take long to realize that Bruce was asking me to change the paradigm I use to look at time and my life.

The message of this book is that balance is an unattainable myth, a static state, and not realistic for anyone’s life. Instead of striving to find ‘balance’ we should be working to ‘understand the times,’ at various levels. This is from the flow of my day all the way to examining the season of my life. The season of life I’m in helps me make decisions about what I should be (and not be) doing. When I look at my year I can see the busy seasons and the more relaxed periods. What is it realistic to attempt in each of those phases? What should my expectations be?

What difference does this make in my life? I was concerned about the amount of travel I was doing for my role. As I looked at the overall flow (of my year and my life) and the state of my family, I realized that there are ‘high travel’ seasons and stretches where I am home. When I’m home, I focus on my family and preparation for the travel times. When I’m traveling, I don’t need to feel regret that I’m gone if I’ve been faithful to give my family what they need from me when I’m home.

I would recommend this book to anyone regardless of their season of life. I’m still working through applying many of the principles and I’m convinced they will help not only me, but my family.

LeadTeam Report

LeadTeam was pretty good. Ok, I think it was the best so far. We had a great start with the Quiet Waters Retreat where we spent the day in fasting and prayer. We got a significant amount of time with our leadership where they were transparent in sharing their heart for the vision to which God is calling us.

I have a few questions that I'm planning on reviewing regularly:

• Am I thinking too small?
• Am I underestimating the power of the Gospel?
• Am I underestimating God's power within me?
• Am I thinking too narrowly?
• Am I working too independently of others?

Here is how I'll be describing RG when I'm meeting with partners in the US & Europe:

We are a Gospel-centered movement

transforming lives, communities and institutions world wide

in the power of God's Spirit

I'm excited about where RG is going.

Leadership Meetings & My Role

January is the beginning of travel season for me. January 21 marked the beginning of 8 days of meetings with the Europe Leadership Team. It was an encouraging time. There has been a lot of transition since Rick Burke left as International Leader for Europe. We spent some time working on organizing ourselves so that we are covering all the important areas.

I was affirmed in my role of 'partnership strategist' or something like that. Basically, I work where we don't have RG staff to mobilize movements. What does that mean? I do a lot of meeting people to figure out who might be like-minded partners. I talk a lot about the RG Sandbox (an illustration which describes how we operate). I try to connect people who I think might help each other. I ask questions to help people think about their strategy and come up with good ideas. I encourage/teach principles of church-based leadership development.

Next post will be explaining a bit about how all that happened on my trip to Albania. First, I've got to shave Nate & John's heads for Crazy Hair Day at school.

Traveling

I had meetings in Levice, Slovakia; Lodz & Szczecin, Poland; and Frankfurt, Germany and this was going to take a week of my life. I had promised myself 'no more night trains,' but this was going to require one on the first night. Not the way I like to start off a week. Did I really want to do this? Yes! Each of these meetings was very important. I had to buy the tickets twice, since the first set was stolen with my computer and GPS two days before my trip. (Can you cancel this ticket for bed 25 on the night train to Warsaw and issue another? That's a copy of the ticket. Yes, the original was stolen. Then you should go to the police. Will they give me my money back or issue me a new ticket? No, and we won't either. Two hours gone. When will they start issuing electronic tickets for the train? Now I'm in bed 47.) It is less stressful traveling without a computer on a night train ;-).

First meeting in Levice was good. I am glad I'm on this trip even though the night train is coming up next. God has me right here for this kind of stuff. I can be rested by sleeping 6 hours in 20 minute spurts.

Wait, my train is late. An hour late. I'm going to miss the night train in Bratislava. Am I happy or sad? The lady at the train station in Levice can't do anything for me in any language with or without translation assistance from the crowd. This isn't how I was imagining this trip going. So, I'm on the train to Bratislava, the are there other trains from Bratislava to Warsaw tonight? Eight changes and 13 hours? Hmm, I wonder how comfortable the train station is in Bratislava. Finally, I get to Bratislava. I wonder around the station till I find the ticket counter. Standing in line, wondering if it is worth it to get a hotel for the night and get the train in the morning. Finally, I get to the window. (Always begin any sentence to anyone who sits behind a little window in Europe with this: I'm sorry...) 'I'm sorry, but I missed my connection and I'll need another ticket for the next train to Warsaw.' (as I show her the ticket) Her eyes: concern as she reads the ticket, then puzzlement, then happy? 'You didn't miss your train, it's right there! Hurry!' What? My first train wasn't the only train late that night. The night train with 20 minute chunks of sleep is much better than the train station.

Getting off in Warsaw, slightly rested. Wait, it looks like bed 25 was slept in...

My Role

I have a job that can be nebulous. When people ask me what I do I have to decide whether to give them an answer which satisfies them or the real one. The answer which satisfies is usually ‘leadership development for our staff and partners,’ which is kinda true. The real one is more complex and either doesn’t help or baffles them into silence. I’m thinking about this because these past couple of weeks I’ve been working on my annual evaluation. That’s where I sit down to evaluate the past year, look at the role I think God is calling me to, and make some plans for the coming year. There are forms to fill out and all that, but the most important outcome for me is a fairly clear picture of my direction (and the one short sentence answer to the ‘what do you do?’ question). I’ll be working it all out on the calendar over the next few weeks, but I wanted to share some of this with you so you can get a look at what I’m going to be busy with over the next 12 to 18 months.

I have two main areas of focus: developing a network for church-based training across Europe; and oversight of unstaffed locations and in Europe.

Church-based training network
Simply put, church-based training is the local church engaging in its responsibility to equip the believers, all to maturity in Christ and some to leadership. The predominant model sends individuals from their church to a school where they study for 4 years and then they search for a church which will pay them to serve. In many parts of Europe, that model doesn’t fit the context. Individuals can’t afford to uproot their family to attend school and the local church can’t afford to pay anyone to serve. The model I’m encouraging has the local church training up people from within to serve as its leaders. There are other benefits aside from the financial aspect. The local church provides the context for spiritual and character development and the individual is developed in the ethos of the local church.

My aim in this area is to develop a network across Europe of people who understand the principles of church-based training and are involved in putting them into practice in local churches.

Unstaffed locations
Right now we don’t have any staff in Slovakia or Albania or Moldova, but we have a relationship with a local church or denomination in each of those places. I get to develop those relationships. Sometimes it’s me meeting a pastor or a group of pastors. Other times it’s meeting with denominational leaders or US partner churches. I’m asking questions, offering resources, networking connections and sometimes giving my opinion.

This next year I’ll be exploring some new locations in hopes of developing the beginnings of relationship into more practical partnership.

So, if we’re riding in an elevator somewhere and you turn to me and ask me what I do, you’ll hear one of two things:

I work with pastors and local churches to help them be healthier
or...
Read my blog

A New Role

When we moved from Poland to Hungary back in 2004, it was because of a role for which we thought I was well suited. In the middle of that move there were a lot of changes in the mission and the circumstances. In the end I ended up filling a spot that was needed, but not my strongest suit. Ideas, coaching and 'woo' will only take you so far in a managerial relationship. I think I found the edge of my capabilities in a more administrative role, the very ragged edge. So in the interest of serving everyone around me better and my own well being, I asked for a role change. After we talked a lot and prayed a lot we decided that we understood the direction God wanted us to go. I'm happy about the change. Here is the official blurb:

Develop. Empower. Release.
Committed to this ReachGlobal vision, the Europe Area Leadership is regularly asking the question, how can we do this more effectively in Europe?
After much discussion and prayer, the leadership team has determined some organizational changes to purposefully impact ReachGlobal ministry in Europe. Aligned with the Sandbox and its strategic focus to develop, empower and release RG staff and national leaders, these changes aim to move our teams forward in building strategic relationships.

Motivation for leadership changes is as follows:

• Further development of Church-Based Training (CBT) materials to meet the needs of Europeans and that are contextualized for ministry in Europe
• Strategic development of relationships in Europe, including but not limited to Albania, Moldova and Slovakia.
• The strategic needs of ReachGlobal in Europe, including the development of partnerships and tools to help develop, empower and release national workers
• Gifting of Area Leaders, established relationships (within the mission and nationally), and the stages of City Team development
  Note: Pure geographic boundaries were not the primary motivating factor.

We're excited to announce the following changes to our leadership staff in Europe . . .
Mike Edwards brings rich experiences as a pastor in the local church prior to his move to Germany. He has developed close relationships with national German pastors, and acts as a catalyst for partnerships and service alongside ministries in Germany, Austria and Poland. The close ministry relationships and heart between the Free Churches of Germany and Austria will be drawn on to develop even closer and more effective working relationships. Consideration for future ministry expansion includes Berlin and the reopening/development of relationships in Vienna. Debby and Mike Edwards live in Berlin, Germany.
Mike's responsibilities include: oversight to City Teams and ministries in Austria, Poland and Germany (Berlin and former region of Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR)).

Todd Hiltibran offers experience, gifts, vision and passion that are important in seeing CBT and key national relationships developed, critical for the future ministries of the national church and ReachGlobal. This represents a significant commitment on behalf of area leadership to see these areas expanded and developed. In order to be most effective, this requires Todd's focus on these new responsibilities and long-standing strategies. Kristi and Todd Hiltibran live in Budapest, Hungary.
Todd's responsibilities include: Church-Based Training expansion; ministry relationship development in Slovakia, Moldova, Albania/Kosovo and other partnering fields where we are currently unstaffed by ReachGlobal.

Dale Phillips is transitioning in the coming months to lead the Europe Area Service Team (late 2007 to early 2008). Dale brings valuable experience in staff training and development with the airline industry and Food for the Hungry to aid our staff here in Europe. His new role includes leading and serving with the Europe area office staff, area recruitment, and the development and training aspects in Europe. As he works with Gary and Sandy Wittevrongel (serving as team coaches for Europe), Dale will also oversee the Mostar City Team as Area Leader. Carmen and Dale Phillips will live in Budapest, Hungary.
Dale's responsibilities include: Leadership for Europe Area Service Team, RG Europe events, ENGAGE/ EQUIP/ ENHANCE for Europe; Mostar City Team.

John Westrum will continue to serve as Area Leader for the City Teams in the Czech Republic and Germany (Kandern and Duisburg). In addition, he will be area leader for Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Budapest, Hungary. Though Todd and Jana Patterson (Slovakia) are currently on educational leave, they will report organizationally to John. Judy and John Westrum will continue to live in Prague, Czech Republic.
John's responsibilities include: Area Leader for City Teams in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. Additionally, John is leading efforts in Europe in the area of Crisis Management and maximizing women's ministry.

As the Europe Leadership team, it is our continued desire to serve you. We believe that the above changes will move us closer to accomplishing the Key Result Areas (KRA) that are consistent with our Guiding Principles and mission in Europe to multiply healthy churches among all people. Please pray with us over these changes and the future toward which we trust God is moving this ministry.

For God's glory and our joy,
The Europe Leadership Team

These changes are effective October 1, 2008.