{"id":1429,"date":"2011-02-09T22:11:26","date_gmt":"2011-02-10T04:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1429"},"modified":"2011-02-14T11:37:58","modified_gmt":"2011-02-14T17:37:58","slug":"state-of-the-communion-2011-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/2011\/02\/state-of-the-communion-2011-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"State of the Communion: 2011, Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Update:<\/strong> Click here for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1395\">Part 1<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1419\">Part 2<\/a>, and here for the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1434\">2010 Highlight Video<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This post is the third in a series of three posts highlighting some of what God did at Desert Springs Church in 2010. The full report is also available for\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/DSC-State-of-Communion-2011.pdf\">download<\/a> in case you&#8217;d rather print it off and read it in one sitting.<\/p>\n<p>What follows is a report about God&#8217;s work in a number of areas under the umbrella of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/ministries\/missions\/\">Local and Global Missions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/ministries\/missions\/\">Local and Global Missions<\/a>, Clint Moore<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Becoming a church planting church<\/em><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2010 we\u00c2\u00a0rolled out our vision, mission, and really, calling to become a church that plants churches that plants churches. \u00c2\u00a0This included two messages at Missions Emphasis Week. \u00c2\u00a0One about counting\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0costs\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0becoming a church planting church and one about\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0purpose behind church planting locally. \u00c2\u00a0This will be a costly endeavor for us as a church that will require a continued paradigm shift toward radical sacrifice, prayer, and generosity as we send families out to live among\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0nations and our neighbors. We rolled out our goal\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0$2.5 Million for church planting over 10 years through our $1\/day in 2010 + prayerfully increasing by $1\/day in future years. \u00c2\u00a0133 folks were committed to this by\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0end\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a02010, and many\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0those were committed to more than $1\/day in 2010 already.<\/li>\n<li>We formally announced Carlos as\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0first local church planter to be sent out from DSC. \u00c2\u00a0He is continuing to gather steam when it comes to pastoral training through Re:Train and Acts 29.<\/li>\n<li>We have already received $27,000 in giving toward church planting at DSC, and it is only January. \u00c2\u00a0God is indeed providing for His purposes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>SNAP \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Sunrise North Africa Partnership<\/em><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Applied for and received a\u00c2\u00a0$75,000 matching grant\u00c2\u00a0for church planting among\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0unreached from SKI (Strategic Kingdom Initiatives) to be used for training and launching funds for our team in\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0coming years.<\/li>\n<li>Invested another $6000 ($500\/month)\u00c2\u00a0in evangelism, discipleship and leadership development through Arab World Ministries Media outreach and their\u00c2\u00a0Maarifa Website, as well as their\u00c2\u00a0PALM\u00c2\u00a0(Preparing Arab Leaders for Ministry) program. Planning\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0same for 2011 as we continue to invest in\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0future ministry\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0our church planters.<\/li>\n<li>Hosted AWM couple that was expelled from North Africa who helped paint a picture for us\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0environment we are sending out team into, as well as challenged us to stay\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0course, though North Africa is a moving target.<\/li>\n<li>We\u00c2\u00a0formally recognized our SNAP families as\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0first candidates to be trained for going to North Africa as church planters with AWM\/Pioneers. \u00c2\u00a0We are continuing to send them through various theological and ministry trainings in\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0next couple\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0years, and, Lord willing, send them out in 2013 and 2014 respectively. \u00c2\u00a0Each family is also undergoing close evaluation by all\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0current elders for relationship health, preparedness for planting churches, parenting, marriage, and a host\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0other categories. \u00c2\u00a0We will, Lord willing, submit them as candidates for church planting with Pioneers toward\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0end\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a02011.<\/li>\n<li>People in the DSC body have begun to rally around these families to support them financially, logistically, relationally, and prayerfully.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Guatemala<\/em><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>After more than 30 years\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0translation work by Carol and Rodrigo Barrera,\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0Rabinal Achi New Testament was finished in\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0early fall\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a02009. \u00c2\u00a0And\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0audio recording was finished by Hosanna just a few months after that in early 2010.<\/li>\n<li>Several elders and missions leaders traveled to Achi land in\u00c2\u00a0January 2010 in order to help celebrate\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0NT being finished, and to help establish a yearly pastoral training\u00c2\u00a0time for Achi Pastors pointing them to use God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s word as\u00c2\u00a0<em>the <\/em>central tool in their ministry.<\/li>\n<li>We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve continued our\u00c2\u00a0partnership with Dr. Jacobo Pineda through his ministry\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0Community Health Evangelism\u00c2\u00a0(CHE) by sending\u00c2\u00a014 people on medical and dental trips\u00c2\u00a0in 2010, and\u00c2\u00a011 on a water project\u00c2\u00a0to Guatemala. \u00c2\u00a0God raised $2000 through us to help with water projects in Guatemala during our Sola Aqua month in September. \u00c2\u00a0Besides giving monetarily to this project,\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0entire DSC body has rallied to support\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0Dental and Medical trips by supplying medicines, medical supplies, and toothbrushes for these mission trips.<\/li>\n<li>Total DSCer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s who went to Guatemala in 2010 ~ 49.<\/li>\n<li>Working with Barreras and Pinedas on a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Next\u00e2\u20ac\u009d proposal for doing more Community Health Evangelism, as well as leadership development, and possibly church planting in Guatemala.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Mexico<\/em><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Travel to Mexico has been very limited again this year because\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0increased and sustained violence in Juarez. \u00c2\u00a0Please continue to pray that things will change, and that through this, God will continue to use\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0church, especially our partner, Las Palmas Church to reach their neighbors for Christ.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Native American Partnership<\/em><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A team\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a017 from DSC helped lead VBS with our partner church (Bethel Navajo Baptist) in Steamboat Arizona. By\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0end\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0week there were almost 120 students and several adults coming to hear about Jesus and study\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0Bible.<\/li>\n<li>We are praying that we will continue to grow in our partnership and\u00c2\u00a0potentially provide some theological and pastoral training\u00c2\u00a0for Bethel Baptist church, as well as expanding the\u00c2\u00a0VBS and construction projects to\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0Rez in 2011.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Local Mobilization\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s people to be on Mission<\/em><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The\u00c2\u00a0main thrust for\u00c2\u00a0mobilizing God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s body on mission\u00c2\u00a0has been a push for\u00c2\u00a0prayer for, equipping for, and modeling\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0a missional life. \u00c2\u00a0We are fervently asking God that He will move in our leadership (elders, staff, deacons, and community group leaders) to be on mission in all\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0life, pray that God use them to save souls, and mobilize those they lead to do\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0same.<\/li>\n<li>Working with Jay, we have\u00c2\u00a0established a monthly SYNC meeting for vision casting, mission realignment, as well as leadership and theological training for Community Group leaders. \u00c2\u00a0We are praying that as\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0vision\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0missional communities (groups on mission to expand God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kingdom) spreads to\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0CG leaders, it will spread to their people as well.<\/li>\n<li>Offering our third offering\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0Ambassador Training Series in 2011 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c designed to equip God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s people to be faithful, competent Ambassadors through discussing\u00c2\u00a0the Knowledge, Wisdom, Character, and Tools\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0an Ambassador for Christ.<\/li>\n<li>There are currently 26 Community Groups at DSC, and at least 12\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0them started this year either out\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0nothing or splitting off\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0an existing group. Nine\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a026 groups are at \u00e2\u20ac\u0153capacity\u00e2\u20ac\u009d now.\u00c2\u00a0And several of those are raising up new leaders within and looking to split in order to make room not just for more DSC folks, but, Lord willing, as we go out on mission, for new converts that we are asking God to provide as He wills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Adoption Ministry<\/em><em> <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Because of DSC donors, the<em> <\/em>Abba fund is nearing $50,000 in interest free loan money\u00c2\u00a0available for families to borrow to help with adoptions (loans are limited to $5k for now).<\/li>\n<li>5 Families completed adoptions\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a08 children at DSC in 2010. \u00c2\u00a04 new families began\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0adoption process in 2010. And 3 families continued\u00c2\u00a0the\u00c2\u00a0process\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0adoption in 2010. Several families are being trained or already serving in foster care as well.<em> <\/em><\/li>\n<li>Continued our Bi-monthly fellowship\u00c2\u00a0where we come to share stories, struggles, and praises in adoption.<em> <\/em><\/li>\n<li>Held our 2nd annual Adoption Sunday.\u00c2\u00a0Trent Hunter called us to love orphans individually and corporately. \u00c2\u00a0We seem to be a body uniquely gifted to press into this pocket\u00c2\u00a0of\u00c2\u00a0hurt and lostness in our city,\u00c2\u00a0state, country, and world and we pray God will continue to use us to make disciples through adoption and other orphan care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Click here for\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1395\">Part 1<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1419\">Part 2<\/a> in this year&#8217;s State of the Communion blog series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Update: Click here for Part 1, Part 2, and here for the 2010 Highlight Video. This post is&#8230; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/2011\/02\/state-of-the-communion-2011-part-3\/\">Continue Reading &rsaquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1429"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1433,"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1429\/revisions\/1433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}