Jason Fitch is the Pastor at Freedom Valley Tulsa. Josh Ploch is the Associate Pastor to Jason Fitch. They are both amazing people in which i have had the opportunity to meet and their hearts are huge and they are just amazing men of God!
Today Jason talked about Discipleship and Evangelism. Believe it or not they are trying to start a Discipleship group right now where they would have a group of people who are willing to get together with new believers in the church to help them grow and just talk about the Bible and just be able to disciple them just as Jesus discipled many. I think that this idea is awesome and so necessary so that first off, not only can you see the people that are growing in Christ that you are ministering to, but it can also Jason to grow his church even more! I just love this idea of what he is doing and i am personally really going to pray that God would work out something awesome for Jason and the staff so that they can do some awesome ministering in Tulsa!
Another thing that i loved hearing Jason talk about today was how he does team building. This interests me for the reason that i believe God is calling me to work in discipleship ministry and i want to be able to know how to do some awesome team building and finding the right people to work with my vision and what God has called me to one day! One thing that Jason said was, "Pray that God would go ahead of you to build that team first." I like this saying because really when you think about it, God is already thinking about the people that he has picked out for your team. I think thought too that you need to pray and ask God to set those right people before you and that God would help you to choose the right people. I am so excited for the ministry that i will work in one day and what God is going to do in the young adults that i am able to minister to and i just cannot wait! I can't believe how much God has been growing me in my calling in this class. Jason has such a heart and i loved what he talked about today but these two things were exactly what stuck out to me today and i thank God for it!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Unchurched Friend Interview #2
Sex: Male Age: 21
1. What are you reasons for not going back to a church that you visited once or any church?
Limited amount of time.
Not in particular.
3. What do you think the purpose of church is?
Worship God
4. Did you feel welcome when you walked into church? If not, why?
Yes
5. Do you think there are areas in the church that could be improved or made better? If so, what could be improved?
Not specifically the church. I've had people not like me because of my religion as opposed to who I am and my values. Which sends a bad message toward me. Then again there are people in every type of group that make poor choices.
6. What would make the enviornment of the church more inviting to you?
Church always seems very inviting. I have no advice there
7. Do you believe in the one true God? If not, how come?
No. I have not been able to put my faith in the bible.
8. Is there a way that the pastor and teachers at the church could make it easier for you to understand what they are preaching about?
So far I have been able to understand what I learned at church very well.
9. Do you think that a Christian should go to church on a regular basis? If yes, why, if no, why?
Yes, from what I understand the bible tells them to. Not to mention if you believe in something to that extent, I think it is important for the person to experience it weekly and make sure it stays real in their lives.
10. Do you think that going to church every sunday could change your life around?
I'm not sure I want my life turned around so to speak. I am super happy with my life!. I'm always open to finding ways to improve though. I know the values instilled within people at church, are great values that help to turn their lives around.
I was actually really amazed at the answers that i got here. This man was completely honest with me and said how he really felt and actually gave me length to his answers. I was actually very interested in his answer to number 5. It's quite different and i am curious as to what his religion is. The fact that he hasn't been able to put his faith in the Bible and not believing in God is really mind blowing to me in a way. So given that he has understood what we is being preached when he does attend church he knows what the truth is but because he is so enjoying his life right now he doesn't want God, he doesn't want to give up his life for Jesus Christ. I think he is learning a lot and i really believe that God is going to work in his life and i think God may be getting ready to show him some things but maybe just isn't seeing yet. So my thoughts on this interview and how it went, was that it went really well and some of the answers that i got really makes me think a little bit more because here this person believes in God but seems like he picks and chooses what he wants and what he can do and can't do and i'm not sure that he is ready to give up everything to follow after God. I hope that in the future he is ready to give up everything to run after the one and only King of the universe.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Cullen Allen Response
Cullen Allen is on the staff at Allison Park Church. Cullen oversees the young adults and the MCM School.
Cullen's underlying philosophy is "To raise up spiritual warriors for the Kingdom of God, to teach them how to live out the book of Acts in signs, wonders, and miracles." I love Cullen's philosophy here because working in a discipleship program, in my view the point of it is to exactly what Cullen said. I personally want to be able to raise up spiritual warriors for God's Kingdom.
I love that Cullen said their school is very hands on with ministry. I find that to be huge, especially when you are in a ministry school. I'm a believer that when you are able to get hands on in the ministry it helps you grow so much more and it gives you much more experience when it even comes to getting hired in the ministry. I love being hands on because i get the experience behind it and i learn so much more because i'm able to actually do it, not just learn about it.
One of the biggest things that i got out of listening to Cullen Allen was Confrontation. He made the mention that confrontation is a daily and necessary part of our ministry even though it's difficult to do. As Cullen put it, "Confrontation is an art; it's really like trial and error. The way i learned how to do confrontation was by doing it wrong so many times." I had asked Cullen about confrontation and that's what he told me. It kind of hit me hard. Even though i don't want to be bad at confrontation, i do realize that each time i'm able to improve it or learn something that i did wrong that i can improve for the next time. I know this is an area that i am definitely working on right now even as a small leader now. It's not easy and i want to get better at but i'm not really sure how to either. I am going to do my best now as a leader with confrontation when it happens and i really hope in the future that when i am discipling young adults that i am able to do well with confrontation, at least better than i have been and not come across as kind of harsh but to come across lovingly.
Cullen Allen does a great job with his program for just talking to him and i am so glad that he was able to share with us!
Cullen's underlying philosophy is "To raise up spiritual warriors for the Kingdom of God, to teach them how to live out the book of Acts in signs, wonders, and miracles." I love Cullen's philosophy here because working in a discipleship program, in my view the point of it is to exactly what Cullen said. I personally want to be able to raise up spiritual warriors for God's Kingdom.
I love that Cullen said their school is very hands on with ministry. I find that to be huge, especially when you are in a ministry school. I'm a believer that when you are able to get hands on in the ministry it helps you grow so much more and it gives you much more experience when it even comes to getting hired in the ministry. I love being hands on because i get the experience behind it and i learn so much more because i'm able to actually do it, not just learn about it.
One of the biggest things that i got out of listening to Cullen Allen was Confrontation. He made the mention that confrontation is a daily and necessary part of our ministry even though it's difficult to do. As Cullen put it, "Confrontation is an art; it's really like trial and error. The way i learned how to do confrontation was by doing it wrong so many times." I had asked Cullen about confrontation and that's what he told me. It kind of hit me hard. Even though i don't want to be bad at confrontation, i do realize that each time i'm able to improve it or learn something that i did wrong that i can improve for the next time. I know this is an area that i am definitely working on right now even as a small leader now. It's not easy and i want to get better at but i'm not really sure how to either. I am going to do my best now as a leader with confrontation when it happens and i really hope in the future that when i am discipling young adults that i am able to do well with confrontation, at least better than i have been and not come across as kind of harsh but to come across lovingly.
Cullen Allen does a great job with his program for just talking to him and i am so glad that he was able to share with us!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Chuck Lenhart Response
So, today we listened to Chuck Lenhart speak. Chuck is a missionary in China and speaks Chinese as well! He is truly a man of so much wisdom and knowledge. I loved everything that he said today and i just felt like i was sucking up everything he was saying today.
I loved what he was talking about in his second point. He said, "as we are going in our purpose we begin to write down the vision, speak the vision as God begins to make it clearer to you." Then he said, "live in the letter of God's vision for your life." I love that Chuck made this point. I know that God has such a plan and purpose for my life and all i want is to be in God's will to do what he has called me to. As i write down the vision that God is giving me and as i grow in the passions that he has placed on my heart i am going to begin to allow God to write the letter on my heart that he has for me. And so much lately, God has been writing that letter on my heart. God has opened up so many doors for me and is talking to me more than ever before. So the vision is the huge part and i just loved how he expressed that!
One of the other things that i really like was when he talked about just stirring up the fires of passion in your ministry. Right now, as God is stirring up a fire of passion in me to disciple young adults and work in a discipleship ministry i want to work with co-workers and people around me who are also stirred in the same way i am for a passion for discipling young adults. Along with stirring up the fire of passions in your ministry, Chuck also said this, "continually be stirring up yourself to see the world through Christ's eyes and not your own." What a statement that is to me. I want to be a leader and a person who is able to look at people the way God looks at them and not be so quick to judge someone on how they look or who they are. I want to focus on seeing people through God's eyes and i know that that isn't easy but i want to do my best to be able to see people how God sees them. So God i am asking you that you would help me to see people through your eyes and show them your love like never before.
I loved what he was talking about in his second point. He said, "as we are going in our purpose we begin to write down the vision, speak the vision as God begins to make it clearer to you." Then he said, "live in the letter of God's vision for your life." I love that Chuck made this point. I know that God has such a plan and purpose for my life and all i want is to be in God's will to do what he has called me to. As i write down the vision that God is giving me and as i grow in the passions that he has placed on my heart i am going to begin to allow God to write the letter on my heart that he has for me. And so much lately, God has been writing that letter on my heart. God has opened up so many doors for me and is talking to me more than ever before. So the vision is the huge part and i just loved how he expressed that!
One of the other things that i really like was when he talked about just stirring up the fires of passion in your ministry. Right now, as God is stirring up a fire of passion in me to disciple young adults and work in a discipleship ministry i want to work with co-workers and people around me who are also stirred in the same way i am for a passion for discipling young adults. Along with stirring up the fire of passions in your ministry, Chuck also said this, "continually be stirring up yourself to see the world through Christ's eyes and not your own." What a statement that is to me. I want to be a leader and a person who is able to look at people the way God looks at them and not be so quick to judge someone on how they look or who they are. I want to focus on seeing people through God's eyes and i know that that isn't easy but i want to do my best to be able to see people how God sees them. So God i am asking you that you would help me to see people through your eyes and show them your love like never before.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Ack Ackerman Response
Ack Ackerman was a man who is the Director of the Men's House at Adams County Rescue Mission. He made one statement that i feel was very strong for me. He said, "God loves us and cares about us but the reason we go through things is because it builds our character."
This statement hits me because a lot of times i don't understand why i go through things, i don't understand why i have to be the one to deal with pornography when i did at one point in my life, i don't understand why all through my years i felt like i had to act like everything was ok on the outside when everything wasn't ok. Looking on it, God loves me and when i look back on certain situations i see how it grew me in my faith and in my walk with God. I want to be a leader to young adults where i can stress to them that i want them to know that there is a reason to why we go through the things we do. Ack is someone who helps men see that in my opinion. He helps them see that there is a reason they are going through certain things and that's where we show them that God loves them and cares about them and God is going to bring us through the situation no matter what.
I want to disciple young adults and teach them to be more Christ-minded. I want them to know that struggles are just a part of life and it's also part of walking with Christ in my opinion. God is teaching me that i will pull you through the hardships and even though i may not see it now, it will grow me in my faith and in my walk with God.
This statement hits me because a lot of times i don't understand why i go through things, i don't understand why i have to be the one to deal with pornography when i did at one point in my life, i don't understand why all through my years i felt like i had to act like everything was ok on the outside when everything wasn't ok. Looking on it, God loves me and when i look back on certain situations i see how it grew me in my faith and in my walk with God. I want to be a leader to young adults where i can stress to them that i want them to know that there is a reason to why we go through the things we do. Ack is someone who helps men see that in my opinion. He helps them see that there is a reason they are going through certain things and that's where we show them that God loves them and cares about them and God is going to bring us through the situation no matter what.
I want to disciple young adults and teach them to be more Christ-minded. I want them to know that struggles are just a part of life and it's also part of walking with Christ in my opinion. God is teaching me that i will pull you through the hardships and even though i may not see it now, it will grow me in my faith and in my walk with God.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Mark Chester Response
I enjoyed Mark Chester. I like that he compared Discipleship to kind of like a weight loss or self-help because is done in so many ways. I actually kind of found it funny that that's how he compared it.
Another thing he mentioned was about the media. We don't realize how much people are actually saved through watching television or through watching things online. Because the media is so big in our day and age, we need to figure out a way that we can anoint through the media.
In Romans twelve it talks about how God has put a gift in each person. When God created each of us he gave each of us certain gifts. We have to take into consideration that when we want to learn from someone else we learn but being someone is completely different. You want to learn from people, not be them. God has given us the gift of learning so we need to put our minds to it, and be open to learn.
Mark said, "Victory doesn't rest in our techniques, it rests in the Lord." I really like this quote and here's why. We don't gain victory through our techniques, it's by the Lord that we gain our victories. See, Jesus is the only one who is actually able to give us the victories. God is the only one that can change hearts, we can't do that and Jesus has all the victories already, it's not with my techniques that we get the victories.
One thing that not just Mark said, but many of our other speakers have said, is that discipleship is all about relationship. When you have relationship personally with somebody it builds something even more with people. When you are able to be real with people it shows them that they can trust you, i also think it allows them to be more open and honest with you and willing to listen to what it is that we have to say. When we build relationships with people we are able to show them that that's the kind of relationship that Jesus wants with them as well.
Another thing he mentioned was about the media. We don't realize how much people are actually saved through watching television or through watching things online. Because the media is so big in our day and age, we need to figure out a way that we can anoint through the media.
In Romans twelve it talks about how God has put a gift in each person. When God created each of us he gave each of us certain gifts. We have to take into consideration that when we want to learn from someone else we learn but being someone is completely different. You want to learn from people, not be them. God has given us the gift of learning so we need to put our minds to it, and be open to learn.
Mark said, "Victory doesn't rest in our techniques, it rests in the Lord." I really like this quote and here's why. We don't gain victory through our techniques, it's by the Lord that we gain our victories. See, Jesus is the only one who is actually able to give us the victories. God is the only one that can change hearts, we can't do that and Jesus has all the victories already, it's not with my techniques that we get the victories.
One thing that not just Mark said, but many of our other speakers have said, is that discipleship is all about relationship. When you have relationship personally with somebody it builds something even more with people. When you are able to be real with people it shows them that they can trust you, i also think it allows them to be more open and honest with you and willing to listen to what it is that we have to say. When we build relationships with people we are able to show them that that's the kind of relationship that Jesus wants with them as well.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Complete Book of Discipleship Review
This book is so good! I was enjoying so much of it and God was really speaking to me through it as i read the book. I didn't even get that far into the book and on page 45 it has Hebrews 12:1-3 written out and as i read it today i totally felt like it really reflects our Master's team. Right now we need to literally throw off everything that is hindering us and get rid of it for good. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and run the race that God has marked out for us. I know that's what God is calling me to do, but i also believe that's what God is calling our team to do. Bill Hull makes a statement that reads, "Jesus calls us to - a life of following Him - a life of humility, sacrifice, submission, and obedience." I can't believe how much God is stressing this to me about me personally and our team once again. I just can't help that God keeps bringing it up. Hebrews 12:1-3 was even brought up again in my further reading.
Salvation is such a lifelong journey and i love that Bill Hull mentioned this because our walk with Christ is a journey. It's not hard, but you just have to fight through and go as hard as you can go. When you feel like you are ready to give up, you don't because God has already won it and going through your journey is what God uses in your life.Your journey is how God sanctifies you in the way that he does and that's why we go through things we don't understand that Jesus can sanctify us all the more and make us whole again because that is how much our God loves us!
Another awesome quote was, "But a disciple's heart consistently yearns for and desires to please God." Wow! I mean come one, that's what i want my heart to be is that i would consistently yearn for my king and to please him only and nothing else. God has spoken to me such as i read the book and i love what God has been doing. I could probably write much more but those were just a few of the things that God was speaking to me through this book. I loved the book though and thought it was absolutely great and Bill Hull was truly anointed by God when he wrote this!
I read 33% of The Complete Book of Discipleship
I read 33% of The Complete Book of Discipleship
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)