CPM: To Infinity and Beyond

4th Generation and Beyond

4g+ by Stan Parks

This post comes from a series of conclusions of a group of 38 key CPM trainers who are  working all over the world and are connected to over 80 CPMs. These conclusions are  good clues as to what the Holy Spirit is doing around the world in these movements. As you read each post, use these as opportunities prayerfully to evaluate your own ministry. Closing: The group took some time to write down thoughts on MOST IMPORTANT things heard   A lot about “letting go” – not all groups, disciples, leaders, will reproduce so let some go.  Investing deeply in those we work with – to relationship with God, family, workers, character issues. Mentoring not only “giving” but mentor is also receiving info and being vulnerable to those he is mentoring. Multiplying “nurture”.  Avoid slowing down reproduction - mentor new mentors to equip next generations        Matt 10:8 - real disciple freely receives & freely gives creating a counter-traditional Christian culture      5.   Importance of graphing out what is going on - evaluating and diagnosing for growth      6.  We all start out ministries with high levels of intentionality, but we don’t always adjust the machine        as it works out into the future.  We must keep that level of intentionality.  We should not “coast” on a        system established.

CPM: Let It Rain

“If only we could have rain for our crops then my people would not suffer  common hunger pangs,” Ibu Lurah (county leader) expressed. After a stick fighting exhibition in this Muslim woman’s local area, she declared her shepherding heart for the aches of a drought ridden region of SaSumBi.  Our short term Luke 10 team postured themselves to listen to what the Father would reveal regarding breakthroughs needed. 

We also asked the Lord to lead us to Persons of Peace, those who are spiritually seeking and would open their households to His message. The men in the group walked through the rice barns in the community while the gals in our group came alongside the women. The quick tour of their community exposed the unique challenges physically. 

At this point, I felt prompted to ask the Lurah’s wife if we could pray over their area in the name of Isa Al Masih? We had already identified ourselves as His followers in the beginning of our time with these women. They readily received these prayers as we offered in the matchless Name of Jesus that He would bring the rain, as well as bring His reign. I offered stories from the Taurat, Zabur, and Injil for our next meeting and asked them to gather their households when we return. Lord, let it rain. Let is reign.

CPM: POP Hunting

CPM: POP Hunting

POP Hunting An expat colleague on our island shared with me how she wanted to be trained in the search for POPs. I met with her and trained her in just 2 beginning tools for approaching others. As we spent the afternoon trusting the HS for finding POPs the Lord led us to a group of family members of a Haji Pilgrim. They had escorted their relative to his/her departure for Mecca. We sat down with this group and exchanged introductions and backgrounds. My friend had watched me as I engaged the first group of Muslims and offered the DBS stories to their group. At that first earlier encounter I took the lead as per my friend’s request. This next group we engaged were quite chatty. I engaged them with a few approaches and thus identified ourselves as followers of Nabi Isa. To which they exclaimed, “Oh, you are both Muslims?!” To which we responded no, “But Allah is in pursuit of the hearts of men who are in pursuit of Him, are you all those who long to follow the Sirratol Mustaquim?”  I then offered for my friend, with her permission, to tell a story from the Taurat, Zabur, Injil (books of Moses, Psalms, gospels). We prefaced this story with the request that they in turn share a story of significance to their hearts. My friend shared the story of the women who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. Their Haji male leader responded with a story from the Koran regarding Soloman. After we exchanged stories I asked him if my husband and I could come to visit he and his household and share more stories from the Taurat, Zabur, Injil. He responded. I gathered his cell phone number and made plans to have my husband contact him for follow up.

CPM: No Greater Love

No Greater Love

S and I enjoyed dinner last night with one of my dear mentors/heart friend, Lelia Lewis. She is 87 years old, fragile in best of moments, fiery in the Lord's endeavors till the last breath. I have been thinking a lot lately on what it is to live more clearly with the radiance of Christ in all. I think of Lelia: hardships galore, peace of Christ in-tact, love of Christ increased, death to self-life daily, honest embrace of the lonely places (not too many peers left in this space and time who live out their days on the field among the UPGs they were called to), honest transparency of the healthy regrets which have led her to repentance, unmitigated trust in the purposes and worthiness of God, full of Rhema words which God has given over and over again, takes herself less seriously these days, laughs more readily at the ironies of life while she clings steadfastly to the goodness of God. She is serving among the Balinese since 1953. She and Roger Lewis (passed into the Lord's presence 1999), her husband, were contemporaries and friends of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. Most of what we see of those who have come to Christ from among the Balinese, find their roots in the efforts of this couple. God alone gets the glory.

Earlier this year I asked Lelia to share with me any words of encouragement for this generation of believers. I plan on pulling this together in an effort to pass on the words of a life still well-lived for His purposes in tough places like we all know. To the ends of the earth, among the Unengaged/Unreached People Groups, He has called all of us to either send others or go ourselves. That is the most often neglected part of the Great Commission, to partner in the privilege God affords us to be part of His glory covering the peoples of the earth as the "waters cover the seas."(Hab.2:14)

I have sent this to you as I see you as one who desires to exemplify these Kingdom realities as you continue to cling to Jesus. May we never choose to forget to remember that we are His to reflect His glory, glory bearers, no matter where He leads. There is no greater love than His, no greater love to be embraced by, and no greater love to live empowered by the Holy Spirit to live by. CPM is the process of being empowered by the Holy Spirit to catalyze the transformation of whole households of indigenous people among these UPGs who then reproduce what it means to love/adore Jesus and obey His commands because of that growing love. 

I have attached a video link, which I use typically for vision-casting with women in the home country of Texas and beyond. This was so encouraging to watch again for me, I trust it is an encouragement to your heart as well. This story is one of the stones of remembrance for me and what the Lord used to bring me to the point of saying to Jesus, "Lord, make my heart willing to be willing to go anywhere, do anything, be anything for Your glory."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QHyYzh_pHk       For the Sake of the Call Steven Curtis Chapman Musical Tale

RA
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