How to reach young skeptics?

Bad news.  A couple years ago the Barna group reported that younger generations were more skeptical about the Bible.  They viewed scripture as less sacred, less accurate and teaching the same thing as other religions.

Good news.  But they also found that those younger generations expressed an above average appetite to gaining additional Bible knowledge. David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, stated:

“[The] central theme of young people’s approach to the Bible is skepticism. They question the Bible’s history as well as its relevance to their lives, leading many young people to reject the Bible as containing everything one needs to live a meaningful life. This mindset certainly has its challenges but it also raises the possibility of using their skepticism as an entry point to teaching and exploring the content of the Bible in new ways.”

How?  Here are Kinnaman’s six suggestions on how to engage young skeptics, along with how I am Second’s small group curriculum utilizes these suggestions.

1. Allow them to participate more in the process of learning:  I am Second uses discovery and discussion Bible studies, not “teaching” sessions.

2.  They expect experiences that appear unscripted and interactive.  I am Second group materials are discussion based, so they are interactive.  They also are unscripted.  The group watches an I am Second film, then reads a Bible story about someone with similar issues.  As six questions are discussed, we trust the Holy Spirit to guide the discussion and address needs in the group.  

3.  Allow them to be open and honest with their questions.  These types of questions surface because there is no predetermined “point” being made.  It is fascinating to see God fulfill His promise that His word never returns empty, but always accomplishes the purposes for which He sends it forth.  

4.  Are technologically stimulating.  I am Second uses culturally relevant technology.  Raw and authentic films on our website.  Everything available on smartphones. iPhone and Android apps.  Communication through Facebook and Twitter.  

5.  Done alongside peers and within trusted relationships.  Our materials advocate using the Person of Peace principle from Luke 10.  Which teaches to focus on spiritually open people, then reach their network of friends and family through them.  So the best place to do an I am Second group is alongside a person’s peers and within trusted relationships.  

6.  Give them the chance to be creative and visual.  Go to Facebook or YouTube and search for “I am Second.”  What you will find are lots of Facebook pages about I am Second in cities, campuses and schools.  And even more homemade YouTube videos of people doing their own rendition of an I am Second film. All confirming in their own hearts, and to the world, that they are indeed Second.

More about I am Second groups at www.iamsecond.com/groups. I am Second small group discussion guides are available as free downloads here.

They also may be purchased as printed booklets in our online store at www.iamsecondstore.com.

Church Grows through Student Second Groups

Report from Daniel, a youth pastor in Little Elm, Texas.

When I was first asked to take over the student ministry in my church, our Senior Pastor told me “When the youth get activated, the whole church will get activated.” I didn’t completely understand how true that statement was until a couple of weeks ago.

In December 2011 we launched our first I am Second group in our youth group.  It didn’t take long for our students to get behind the groups.  A few weeks after our first group launched, six students told me they wanted to take I am Second into their public schools. So in early 2012 we launched I am Second in our local Junior High and High School.  Soon 35 new students had joined those school groups.

We now have 8 groups. Each group caters to different types of people.  About 30 kids have joined our youth group because of groups our students are doing outside the church.

One group amazes me because they consistently have over 25 kids attending each week. This group has inspired the parents to get involved.  Each week 4-6 of the parents team up to host the group and provide dinner.

The whole church is getting behind these youth groups.  For example, the parents are wearing I am Second bracelets and t-shirts. Their impact is spreading, too, for now we are finalizing a strategy to launch I am Second groups for the men’s and women’s ministries.  Several new families have come to our church because their kids started coming to one of the Second groups.
 
After we train more leaders, we plan to expand the groups in the schools.  The schools have given us permission to put up banners during lunch to get more exposure for the Second groups.  So we’ll have an official launch soon when these new leaders are ready.

There is nothing more powerful than young people passionately telling others about what Jesus has done in their lives.  Our Pastor was right. “When the youth get activated, the whole church will get activated.”

What is a Second group?

Five students at a high school learned how to do Second groups with their friends.  Within one semester more than 100 students were meeting in the school field house every Friday morning at 7:15.
A campus ministry started using Second group methods, and within 2 months 25% of their existing groups had multiplied.

I am Second’s immediate appeal is aesthetic with its slick design, cool website, and inspiring films. But the real difference is more than skin deep. Here is the heart behind I am Second’s materials, using the SECOND acronym.

Stories and small.  Encourage people to tell their story. Listen to the stories of others. Then discuss stories from the Bible. Keep your group small (between 2 and 8 people) to maximize impact and allow everyone to discuss these stories.

Everyone learns.  Help people learn how to do these things themselves: a) tell others about Jesus, b) study the Bible, c) pray, d) live in community, and e) endure hard times. They learn these things as they go through the I am Second curriculum.

Consider everyone a potential leader.  View everyone as a potential leader, both before and after they trust Christ. Give people opportunities to lead if they continue to obey and progress. Hand over leadership roles to different people each meeting.

Obedience based, not just knowledge focused.  Allow the Holy Spirit to guide people in the life changes they need to make as you do the Live and Tell questions. Then as you start the next session, ask each Second to share how they did with their Live and Tell commitments. Consider not moving on if people did not complete them. This creates an environment in which loving Jesus means obeying Jesus.

New groups rather than big groups.  As people share with others, encourage them not to invite the new people to your group, but instead start a new group. Encourage new leaders to stay in your existing group, which is a “learning” group for them. Their new group becomes their “leading” group. So they get on the job training, but stay connected for ongoing training and accountability.

Discuss and discover.  Focus on the Bible. Trust the Holy Spirit to help each person discover the meaning of Scripture as your group discusses it. Lead through asking questions rather than lecture. Help everyone participate.

You can watch films here that describe Second groups and how to lead them.  You can download free materials to use to lead a Second group.  Or you can buy printed booklets of these materials through our online store.

These materials also are available as an iPhone app and an Android app so groups can discuss the materials using just their phones.

Please leave a comment if you have any questions.  Or let us know your experience using the Second group materials.

What does a Second do?

What does a Second do? In other words, what does a follower of Jesus do?  What are the basics of being a disciple?  Here’s the list we use to develop I am Second tools, training and technology. These are the traits people will develop as they progress through the I am Second discipleship process:

1. Has put faith in Jesus as Savior.
2. Is baptized.
3. Studies and obeys the Bible (everything else flows from this!).  Can do this by himself.  Is “self feeding.”
4. Prays like Jesus taught.
5. Leads others to believe in Jesus.
6. Makes disciples.
7. Can endure hard times.
8. Lives in genuine community with other believers.
9. Puts God and others first.
10. Understands and practices the Lord’s supper.
11. Is a generous giver.
12. Participates in local and global missions.

What do you think about this list?  What would you add?  Subtract?  Change?  

Do you have a process for developing these characteristics yourself?  A process for helping others develop into this kind of follower of Jesus?  Not just knowledge, but actually doing, living, thinking, acting like this?

More later on the discipleship process that is embedded in the I am Second small group curriculum.

Help Developing Healthy Spiritual Habits

New Year’s Resolutions.  Fail.

“I’ll pray for you.” Fail.

“Yes, Lord, I’m gonna . . . .”  Fail.

Want to get past making commitments you can’t seem to keep? Want to develop healthy habits of helping people?  Take I am Second’s [22]  Day Challenge. 

Sign up here.  You’ll get an email every day for 22 days.  It will have one of the I am Second films to watch.  As you watch it, think about who you know that needs the encouragement in that film.  Then forward it to them.  

There’s also a daily challenge to take a Jesus step that is prompted by the film.  

The [22]DC is patient with you, too. If you don’t have time to open the email . . . it waits.  We all have those days when we’re pressed for time, so it gives you a break.  If you haven’t gotten to it in 3 days, it sends you a reminder.  It waits until you restart it by viewing a film.

People say that it takes 3 weeks to develop a new habit.  Take the Challenge.  Develop a new habit of thinking about how to bless someone else each day.

Looking for something to get your church all on the same page? Lead a youth group?  Host a small group?  Have a Second group?  Challenge everyone to take the Challenge with you.  It’s more fun to do it with friends.


Here's what others are saying:

• "I loved the challenges. I reconciled with a dear old friend that we were not on speaking terms for the past 7 years. It lightened my heart and had a very positive outcome." 

• "It brought our middle school and high school youth groups together to FOCUS on Him by focusing ON OTHERS.... and making self be Second! My husband and I have done youth ministry for 20 years and found this top notch and top quality as well as inspiring!"

• "Challenges led me to be active in my faith." 

• "The films get you out of your comfort zone and remind me that beyond the smile there might be a hurting person."

Click here to sign up for the [22] Day Challenge.  

How to Get Your Prayers Past the Ceiling

Do your prayers seem to hit the ceiling and bounce back in your face? Like a bad basketball shot--nothing but air?

Are you tired of muttering ineffective “Lord, thank you for this day, please gimme“ prayers?

Jesus taught us how to pray. It’s simple, but for some reason many of us don’t do it His way. We get into prayer habits based on what others say, not what Jesus taught. We get terribly out of balance. Usually focusing a lot more on the ask part than the worship, surrender and repent parts. Out of balance like this poor creature.

From http://www.emconsulting.net/images/Donkey%20Carried%20by%20the%20Cart.png

So we came up with a simple reminder how to pray like Jesus told us. You use your hand as a prompt. The palm and each finger each remind you of the parts of the “Our Father” model prayer Jesus gave us in Matthew 6:9-14.

It's really easy. Palm reminds us of our relationship ("Our Father").  Thumbs up is worship ("who is in heaven, holy is Your name").  Etc.

Here’s a diagram to help visualize this.

Click here to watch short film about how easy this is, and how to teach it to others.

Want to learn more?  Click here to download free "Second Start" discussion guide.

3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave the Church* Part 3

*This is the intriguing title of a recent blog High School Pastor Jon Neilson wrote about youth that have stayed engaged in ministry past high school.  

As I mentioned in the first two parts of this series, Jon’s article has challenged us on how I am Second can help youth keep living like Jesus after they leave home.  Here is Jon’s third point, with some thoughts about how to use I am Second to meet this need.

3.  Their parents lived the Gospel at home.  Here is Jon’s challenge for parents:

“This is not a formula! Kids from wonderful gospel-centered homes leave the church; people from messed-up family backgrounds find eternal life in Jesus and have beautiful marriages and families. But it’s also not a crap-shoot. In general, children who are led in their faith during their growing-up years by parents who love Jesus vibrantly, serve their church actively, and saturate their home with the gospel completely, grow up to love Jesus and the church.”

Jesus said “if you love me, you will obey my commands.” Unfortunately, too many times we focus on feeding people more knowledge, rather than obeying what they have learned.  Barna research discovered that only about 5% of US church goers said their church holds them accountable for integrating biblical beliefs and values into their life.  

As someone once said, “we have been educated beyond our obedience.”

I am Second group materials are obedience based, not just knowledge-focused.  At the end of each session, people are challenged to commit to what they are going to do to obey what they just learned.  And who they are going to tell.  Then report back to the group at the next meeting.

Families can go use I am Second materials together.  As they do, they all will be challenged to obey what Jesus taught. Parents will model to their kids the challenges, and the joys, of loving Jesus by obeying what He taught.

Want to talk more with our student ministry coaches?  Email us at contact@iamsecond.com.  

Click here to read Part 1 of this series.  Here to read Part 2.

Please leave a comment and let us know what you think.

3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave the Church* Part 2

*This is the intriguing title of a recent blog High School Pastor Jon Neilson wrote about youth that have stayed engaged in ministry past high school.

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, Jon’s article has challenged us on how I am Second can help youth keep living like Jesus after they leave home. Here is Jon’s second point, with some thoughts about how to use I am Second to meet this need.

2. They have been equipped, not entertained. Jon’s words are convicting:

"Are we sending out from our ministries the kind of students who will show up to college in a different state, join a church, and begin doing the work of gospel ministry there without ever being asked? Are we equipping them to that end, or are we merely giving them a good time while they’re with us?"

Challenge:  how to equip students and give them opportunities to really lead?

How can I am Second help?

Here's a couple examples of what can happen in your youth group.  One of our coaches trained five students.  By the end of the semester their one Second group multiplied to 10 groups with over 100 attending each Friday morning at 7:15 am in the high school field house. A Christian club on another high school campus learned how to lead Second groups. In less than a month the 10 trained leaders had more than 120 fellow students in their groups at school. Because the groups grew so big so fast, they quickly learned the importance of constantly developing new leaders by allowing them to help lead the groups.

Here is a diagram of the discipleship process embedded into the I am Second core curriculum.

This discipleship process turns spectators into soldiers. The Second group materials give students an opportunity to step out and lead. Second group participants are encouraged to tell others what they are learning, then start their own groups to cover material they already have learned . . . and obeyed.

This process is embedded in the discussion guides available here. First pick one of the evangelistic Bible studies (the box that says “How to Become Second”). Then take the booklets in order from 1 to 11. Your group will go through all the parts of this discipleship process. Or you can skip around--each booklet is self-contained--if you have particular topics you want to hit first.

Click here to read Part 1 of this series.

Want to talk more with our student ministry coaches? Email us at contact@iamsecond.com.

Give us your feedback. Leave a comment below.

3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave the Church* Part 1

*This is the intriguing title of a recent blog High School Pastor Jon Neilson wrote about youth that have stayed engaged in ministry past high school. 

It has challenged us on how I am Second can be used to help youth keep living like Jesus after they leave home. Here is Jon’s first point, with some thoughts about how to use I am Second to meet this need.  I'll comment on his other two points in later posts.

1. They really have trusted Jesus. Here is Jon’s challenge:

“We need to stop talking about 'good kids.' We need to stop being pleased with attendance at youth group and fun retreats. We need to start getting on our knees and praying that the Holy Spirit will do miraculous saving work in the hearts of our students as the Word of God speaks to them. In short, we need to get back to a focus on conversion. How many of us are preaching to ‘unconverted evangelicals’?"

Challenge: students in church actually have put their faith in Christ.

How can I am Second help? 

I am Second group materials focus first on helping people put their faith in Jesus. The “Identity & Truth” discussion guide is one example. It is a semester long study of topics like self image, money, rejection and approval that leads students to the truth that a relationship with Christ is the answer to these struggles. Students are attracted by the authenticity of the I am Second films, then discuss how Jesus interacted with Bible characters with similar issues.

Also, there are discussion guides to help students reach their friends with the story of Jesus. "How to Start a Second Group" helps them pray and plan how to start a group with their friends. "What’s First?" is another guide that helps them develop their own story of how Jesus has , then share it with others.

Check out these and other small group resources at iamsecond.com/groups.

If you'd like to talk with one of our student ministry coaches, click here to contact us.

Next post we'll look at Jon's second point.

I am Second Films

What is your favorite I am Second film?

Welcome Home Adelaide Joy

A few days after Adelaide was born in the capitol, we headed back to the Asian city where our kids live. Here's a look at life there during the first month of new granddaughter Adelaide Joy's life.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Awaiting Granddaugther in Asia

Rejoice with us at the birth of 0ur second grandchild--Adelaide Joy. Here's a short video about our time in Asia a week before and after her birth.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Missions Math

+ 36 enthusiastic Seconds (Christ followers) from the States
+ 30 Bolivian translators (we have some bilingual team members)
+100 or more local Bolivian Seconds
+ 1 triune, all powerful, loving, gracious saving God
___________________________________________
Many changed lives + new churches planted + great glory to God

We’re heading to the airport. Will be a long couple days even if everything goes great. Please pray for all of us to safely intersect in Cochabamba, Bolivia Saturday afternoon.

Pray also for God to prepare the hearts of the people we will be meeting this week so that the “light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ” might get through to their hearts.

Jesus is First!

Mike Jorgensen

Ultimate Cell Group

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Chaplain Albert started an I am Second group in one of the pods (dorm rooms) at the Dawson State Jail in downtown Dallas. Last week we joined the group as he presented certificates to about 25 inmates who has completed the first 10 sessions. With tears in his eyes and a crack in his voice, one young guy shared “finally I have something my kids can be proud of their dad for.”

Prison Missionaries? Now some of them are ready to start their own I am Second groups as they are moved to other pods, and some to other prisons around Texas. Pray for God to “grow them in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

My favorite picture is above, taken as they prayed for one of the guys that had just had a year added to his sentence.

Click here to see some other pix.

Only God Can Do Stuff Like This

Jon was a long term project. His sister, Vicki, had been praying for him for 24 years. Around the first of January Jon saw the Colt McCoy I am Second commercial running on ESPN. He was out of town, but he went to his computer to check out http://www.iamsecond.com/ as soon as he got back home to Boise, Idaho on Jan 7th.

As Jon watched film after film, he was amazed how Jesus changed lives. Jon called Vicky, who lives way off in Atlanta, to see what she thought of the site. “It’s good, keep looking at it” she told him.

Jon spent 6 hours . . . yes, 6 hours . . . looking at videos. Then his heart could not hold back . . . he fell to his knees and talked to Jesus. Confessing. Worshipping. Putting his faith in He Who is First.

“Find an I am Second Group” caught Jon’s eye on iamsecond.com. As he clicked on the page, up popped a Google map right around his house. Jon didn’t know it, but that part of the website had just gone live 3 days before. But in God’s providence there already was a group registered near him. Probably not another one for 500 miles, but God had a group right there for Jon to find.

Jon called Vicky to tell her the good news that he now believed in the Good News. Vicky’s joy overflowed to Mike R. Mike R knows Scott, one of our Board members who lives in Orlando. Scott knew I’d love the story, so he sent it on to me.

The rejoicing went from Boise to Atlanta to Orlando to Charlotte, where I was when I got Scott’s forward of Mike R’s forward of Vicky’s hallelujah email message. As I joined in the email celebration, Mike R asked where I am Second is headed next. When I responded that actually I was in Charlotte that very moment discussing launching there, Mike R mentioned that Apartment Life, the ministry he’s with, had just started work there.

A few hours later . . . I’m sitting across the table at a Starbucks in Charlotte talking to Nick, AL’s brand spanking new regional leader. Discussing how we might partner together. All because Jon trusted Christ in Boise a few days before.

The fingerprints of God . . . all over that whole thing. I can’t help but believe in a sovereign God who WILL accomplish His plans, and often in a way that only He gets the acclaim for pulling it off.

Also challenges me NOT to give up when praying for someone. For we never know when or how God will cause the spiritual dominoes to fall.

Here’s what Vicky told us later—

“I want to personally thank every person involved with this website for helping to bring my brother Jon to Christ. Jon and I were not raised together. We share an earthly father who struggled to give either of us what we needed emotionally. But now, after I have been praying for him since he was 15 years old - 24 1/2 years of prayers, God has drawn us together as children of the same heavenly father. A father who can love Jon in a way that he has never experienced before.

“The work that you are doing has such great eternal impact. My brother who was lost up until this day is now absolutely blown away by the love of Christ and his new life in him. And I have the privilege of sharing this with Jon and having new life breathed into my own spiritual walk - if DOES matter what we say, what we do, where we put our efforts, and how we nurture these over the years.”

People are looking for hope and change and God. Would you like to be there when they come looking? Register your group or ministry at http://iamsecond.com/join/.

Blessings.

Mike Jorgensen

Marry the Miracles?

Two major ministry miracles happened in 2009. In 2010 we’d like to figure out a way to marry these two bountiful blessings from God.

Miracle No. 1. Despite all the gloomy economic news, the Lord of the Harvest did a miracle with e3’s 2009 mission trips (with reports still coming in):

• Trip participants went up 7%
• Nationals equipped went up 13%
• Professions of faith went up 26%
• New churches went up 31%

Miracle No. 2. Even though we’ve only advertized I am Second in the Dallas area, God’s fingerprints have been on iamsecond.com since it launched about a year ago:

• 1.7 million visits from 208 countries
• 75,000+ Facebook fans
• 5,300+ Twitter followers
• Almost 3,000 people registered on a new part of iamsecond.com
• Partnership requests from numerous ministries and churches

The best part about these startling stats? Behind the numbers are multitudes of people whom God is touching and changing and inspiring. All for His glory.

God answered your prayers exceedingly abundantly above what we thought or imagined. Thank You, Lord. Thank you, prayer team.

So here’s the next prayer assignment we’d like you to embrace:

Marry the Miracles? How can we marry the international eternal impact of the mission trips with the excitement and commitment the I am Second movement is generating?

Idea: I am Second Expeditions. Do an experiment with some of our e3 Mission Trips. Keep the same focus: evangelism and discipleship with the goal of starting new churches. But add some I am Second elements. Like orientation using parts of the I am Second curriculum. And a community service activity on each Expedition, like medical or dental clinics, free wheelchair distribution, eyeglass clinics, sports clinics, or HIV/AIDS awareness training using our Hope Cube. Recruit through the I am Second network.

We look back on 2009 with great gratitude that our glorious God did things we did not imagine last January 1st. We can’t wait for 2010!

Ethiopia Slideshow

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Waking Up Sad in Ethiopia

I woke up sad.

It was about 4 am last Wednesday, the third day of our eye clinics around Gondar, Ethiopia. I woke up sad, but not because jet lag was stealing my sleep.

I woke up sad thinking about all the eyes I had looked into the previous two days. The eyes of the very old and the young. The eyes of those encrusted in dirt, and those of the smartly dressed. The eyes of children with flies feeding at their corners. The eyes of those clouded by age and cataracts. The weeping eyes of those with problems beyond our capability.

I woke up sad grieving the spiritual darkness that shrouded their spiritual eyes. Grieving the spiritual strongholds of religion and tradition that chained their hearts. Grieving that whatever help we gave them would evaporate the moment they breathed their last breath if they did not put their trust in Jesus the Savior. Grieving that they do not have the joy of worshipping our Risen Lord, but instead bow to lifeless idols amidst the daily squalor in which many live.

Our wonderful team of 23 did exactly what the leaders in Gondar asked us to do—break the spiritual ice with humanitarian aid. Eye glass clinics in four villages. HIV/AIDS awareness training using our Hope Cube. And 220 free wheelchairs on their way in a few weeks. Several government leaders enthusiastically thanked us for this help, and invited us back. So our obedience served its purpose, and for that we give thanks.

We did encounter opposition, though. In one village, the local religious leaders convinced the clinic director to barricade the door of the room we had been using. From what little information they gave us, it seemed that a couple stories our team told offended them, including the one about the Good Samaritan. While we told it to emphasize helping others, they evidently focused on the part where the religious leader is the bad guy.

It was harvest time in Gondar. As an Iowa farm boy, I was fascinated by the techniques they use. Cutting the grain by hand. Using oxen and other animals to tread out the grain to separate it from the stalks. Throwing it up in the air to winnow away the chaff. Loading bags on donkeys to transport to local markets. Like first century Biblical passages coming to life (pictures in slideshow linked below). But while there was an abundant harvest of grain, we saw no spiritual harvest. Too early in the process.

I woke up sad last week, and my grief continues today. But it fuels my focus on continuing to pray for the people of the Gondar region of Ethiopia. To pray for that spiritual harvest to one day come to these sweet and polite people.

Would you pray with us? Would you pray for the seeds of compassion that were planted to ripen into a harvest of more worshippers for our King? Take a look at this short online slideshow, and pray as you travel with us through pictures.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Bolivia Praises

Heavenly Father, Lord of the Harvest, Patient God—

When Your glory is displayed, we are most blessed. You manifested Your glory in so many ways in Bolivia, Father. We worshipped You then, in prayer, in song, even in dance. We worship You now.

As Lord of the Harvest, You raised up a blessed US team. From 7 and 9 year olds to grandparents, with teenagers, college students, dads and sons, and many other godly people in between. Including a family and several couples. You even gave us several having birthdays and anniversaries during the trip. Even enduring their “different” traditions. You led us through Pastor Enzo. You raised up 30 talented and enthusiastic ministry partners (translators). You partnered us with host churches eager to reach their barrios for Christ. We fellowshipped together, then together saw Your fingerprints all over Santa Cruz. Blessed be Your name.

You opened doors and hearts all over the city. Down dusty roads. At barbed wire gates. In homes. The prison. Soccer teams. Executive suites. A restaurant chain, like the McDonald’s of Bolivia, where our team was able to go to about 10 locations to share the gospel with the employees. This was all You, Lord, all You.

But not any schools, which was a blessing. As the schools remained closed due to the swine flu scare, many kids and teenagers trusted Christ. Then started evangelizing and discipling their friends. Such as Katerine, who trusted Christ, then led several of her friends to Christ. As she began the discipleship process, she turned around and immediately taught her friends what she had learned. Just as ducklings walking in single file, following their brother or sister only one step ahead of them.

Father, You gave our team the privilege of seeing 612 pray to receive Christ as You drew people to Yourself by giving them faith to trust in Jesus as Savior. Thank You.

In the midst of all this, You gave us safety and good health over thousands of miles of travel.

Lord, we surrender the follow-up to You, for we are confident that You are able to complete the good works You have started in many lives. We were able to have 91% follow-up, but we know that discipleship is a long term process. As we turned over the names and addresses of these precious new spiritual babies, we trust You to raise up disciple makers to stick with them to help them follow You.

Jesus, You are the Head of the Church. You are Head over the 4 new church plants and the 5 churches that were strengthened. Enable all our Bolivian partners to obey your command to make disciples. As they build people, we claim Your promise on behalf of them that You will build Your church.

We pray this also for the restaurant chain, one of whose HR leaders is a Dallas Seminary grad. Enable them to disciple their employees who now are following Christ. Whether You point them to a church, or start small “restaurant churches,” give them spiritual communities in which to grow and obey.

Without You, we can do nothing. Everything that happened this week of eternal value was 100% You. Thanks for letting us in on the fun.

All this we pray so that You might be more famous in Santa Cruz and around the world.

Amen.

Bolivia: Burger Churches?

In Texas we have a lot of Cowboy churches. Churches that reach people with similar interests who enjoy a similar culture.

Sunday we asked people what groups they are part of when we spoke at the church we helped plant three years ago. We were talking about the person of peace principle from Luke 10, an example of which is the woman at the well in John 4. We challenged them to be the key that unlocks the Gospel for their groups, networks, workplaces, neighborhoods.

At the end of the service the owner of a chain of hamburger fast food restaurants talked to Enzo. [Their restaurants are sort of like the McDonald’s of Bolivia, since McD is not here.] “Will your team speak to the employees of my restaurants? We have 200 in Bolivia, and 20 here in Santa Cruz. We will gather the employees at the beginning or end of their shifts to hear the Gospel.” So today Steve and the Vidor team (Linda, Terry and Lloyd) have appointments at four of the local restaurants!

We are challenging this church to start discipleship groups wherever people receive Christ . . . possibly right in the restaurants.

Please pray for open hearts, and also the discipleship of all the new believers. We are doing our best to model follow-up discipleship in all the areas. We want to have what Jesus called “fruit that remains.” Today and tomorrow are our last days to accomplish that.

Thanks for praying for us here in Bolivia. Everyone is doing great, although people are getting pretty tired from the long days.

Blessings.

Mike Jorgensen