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