Visions are funny things:

The older I get the more reluctant I am to claim a vision from God.  Sadly, I have seen God blamed for lots of stupid things.  Nowadays, I would rather root something into a clear command of scripture and claim Biblical authority for my crazy idea.

So it is with great reluctance I put into writing what God is stirring in my heart.  When you put things in writing they have a way of becoming more tangible than things simply rolling around in your head.  So here it goes. 

One of my main 2017 goal needs to be getting JumpStart into eight primary languages.  Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili.  These languages cover a great deal of the planet.  There are certainly other areas of the world with unique languages, but these eight cover a lot of ground.  I have this picture in my mind of 24 books in a row on Amazon.  Allowing JumpStart to wander around the world.

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and make disciples."  That is all the Biblical justification I need for the vision I am sensing.  Then there is something a trusted friend said to me recently.  "JumpStart may not be for America."  That is a crazy thought.  But he might be right.

Americans tend to like big, fast, flashy, and cutting edge.  They want the best and the brightest.  JumpStart is slow and requires diligence and persistence.  It requires 1-2 hours a week of homework and 1-2 hours of mentoring.  It requires Bible study and application based introspection about your walk with Christ and service for His Kingdom.  Some of it is warm and encouraging, other parts are a kick in the butt.  It has the power to double the number of disciples twice a year.  In two or three years it can transform a church.  But it doesn't work like microwave popcorn.

So while I pray JumpStart takes root in America, it may not.  It may find it's home in cultures where 3-4 hours a week with God and someone else is acceptable.  With that in mind I accept the challenge of getting eight sets of JumpStart up on Amazon by years end.

To that end I ask for your prayers, networking partnership, and financial support.  If you know of a church that needs a discipleship track, tell them about JumpStart.  If you know somebody theologically sound and linguistically competent in Arabic, Russian, French, or Chinese please let me know.  If you would like to help me go to conferences, churches, and denominational meetings to share the power of JumpStart Mentor Training I welcome your financial support.

It actually scares me to say I want to light a fire and see a global movement for training disciple making mentors.  But that is what I want to do when I grow up.  I have looked in my imaginary mirror countless times and asked, "Who am I to think God could use JumpStart like this?"  But then I read 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters,

that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful

or wealthy when God called you.

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish

in order to shame those who think they are wise.

 And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.^.

 God chose things despised by the world,

things counted as nothing at all,

and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

I am content to be a foolish pastor from San Bernardino who offers God a mustard seed in eight languages.  It will be a great deal of fun to see what He does with it.  Thank you all for your support, connections, prayers, and partnership.  Thanks for joining the JumpStart journey.

I love you all,

Paul 

I AM NOT RETIRED, EVER!

One of my real life heroes is Roland Kelly.  I was holding hands and praying with him a few days before he left for heaven.  I asked him if he had any regrets.  He answered, "Just one."  He regretted he might not make it to his 107th birthday the following month.  He did not, but there were hundreds of people filling the sanctuary at his service, and it took several preachers to do the service.  Why?  Because Roland lived until he died.  Let me say that again.  Roland truly lived, right up to the day he died.

Two weeks ago they celebrated Karen and I leaving NorthPoint.  That may sound funny, but it was time for me to go.  Twenty one years was long enough, and Chris was ready to grab the ball and move it farther down the field.  God is already opening amazing new connections and points of ministry for him.  You should check it out at www.northpointsb.com.

We received really nice cards from some wonderful people wishing us well in retirement.  I love you, the cards were beautiful, but I am not retiring.  Karen and I warmly receive the kind words and warm wishes for the past twenty one years of ministry, but honestly I am already working on the next fifty nine years.

This week I worked on formatting Volume Two of JumpStart in Swahili.  The corner table is reserved for JumpStart at the Christian Ministries Training Association Impact Convention in Pasadena 4/1/17.  They are letting me do a workshop on Discipleship in the Old and New Testaments.  The American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles have opened up a table for JumpStart at their March 4th Equip Conference in Glendale.  Yesterday was spent figuring out how to obtain a VISA for Hyderabad, India in March.  I spent an hour with a pastor from the Mid-West encouraging him to lead a guerilla rebellion and take over his church.

A sweet friend told me, "You are very busy for a retired person, you should be taking it easy and enjoying your time."  I am truly enjoying my time but I wanted to scream, "I AM NOT RETIRED!"

So let me invite you to help me work.  Help me spread JumpStart around the world.  Give your pastor a set of JumpStart.  Grab a friend and work through JumpStart.  Then grab a couple more and do it again.  If you are a denominational leader consider allowing me to do a workshop at your next conference.  I promise JumpStart and I will challenge your status quo.  If you have money, consider supporting JumpStart Mentor Training.  You can give at NorthPoint.  Just write JumpStart on the check or Pay Pal.  If your a Military Chaplain I challenge you to grab some young believers and take them through JumpStart.  Train them to make disciples for Jesus Christ where ever they go.  Give them the tools. 

Above all, pray.  Pray God allows me to have JumpStart in eight primary languages by 1/1/18.  Pray God opens doors for me to teach and challenge the church to do mentor based discipleship.  Frankly, most churches don't do it.  Jesus never called fish and chips for 5,000 discipleship.  It is time for a revolution.  I pray JumpStart can be a part of starting it!

I love you all and look forward to being with you somewhere in the coming year!
Paul

An Invitation to Partner with JumpStart

Greetings Ministry Partners:

When you leave a job, ministry, or position logic dictates you already have or quickly find a new job.  My father always taught me the manly thing to do in life was to work, earn your money, and pay your own bills.  I confess that inviting people to financially partner with a dream is very humbling.

Leaving a local church after twenty-one years is a big step.  Even if you sense it is the right thing to do.  All my personal prayers and wrestling lead me to believe JumpStart Mentor Training must be my focus.  Close friends and prayer partners tell me there is a need for JumpStart.  I have a general sense of the potential, but also believe God has surprises I have not yet imagined.

Currently, JumpStart Volumes One, Two, and Mentor Training exist in English.  Guillermo is finishing Volumes One and Two in Spanish.  Shakilah in the Congo has translated Volumes One and Two into Swahili.  A man in Tanzania is checking it over.  This week, Dorival and I worked on the Portuguese translation over lunch.  He anticipates completing all three volumes in four months.  I am pursuing leads for translators in Russian, Chinese, French, and Arabic.  Suggestions are most welcome.

I will do JumpStart Mentor Training and preaching at First Baptist Church of Big Bear in January.  First Baptist San Luis Obisbo in February.  In March, Frank Zummo and I are planning a trip to Hyderabad, India to be with Pastor Gumma Suresh and his network of house church and cell church leaders.  I will bring 40 sets of JumpStart for his English speaking leaders.  I have done my "Live Scan" and am waiting for the Department of Justice to complete my background  check.  When they do I will receive my San Bernardino County Volunteer badge.  This will allow me greater access to the prison system, where JumpStart is already being used.  Facebook Live begins next Tuesday at 10:00 am PST.

I have officially joined the Church Health Assessment Team of Transformation Ministries.  We will be working with the 180 churches of our movement in general, and I will focus on helping churches in need of developing an intentional discipleship track.

The best way to pursue the Vision God is birthing in my heart for JumpStart is to humbly invite like minded Christ followers to prayerfully and financially partner with JumpStart and I.  I pray for the day when books and speaking will finance the ministry.  Right now, it is a startup based solely on faith.  This is the Vision I have for my next season of life and ministry.  If God leads you to partner with me I will be very busy and humbly grateful!  If you have churches, schools, or organizations in need of a discipleship track I would love to introduce them to JumpStart.

NorthPoint Christian Fellowship has graciously allowed JumpStart Mentor Training to work under their 501C3.  This will allow our Partners to receive tax credit for their charitable contributions. 

Partners can visit www.northpointsb.com and click the Donate button.
Then type JumpStart under the Special Instructions tab.

Checks can be mailed to:

NorthPoint Christian Fellowship
Attn:  JumpStart
P.O. Box 219
Patton, CA
92369

Please add the word JumpStart to the memo line of your check.

Thank you for allowing me to share my vision with you.
God bless you for prayerfully considering Partnering with JumpStart.
I pray God raises up multiple generations of disciple making mentors,
through His power and our Partnership.

Much love,
Paul