Great Weekend at First Baptist Church of San Luis Obisbo

 

Karen and I just finished an awesome weekend.  We had the privilege of doing JumpStart Mentor Training with the team leaders and future board members of FBC/SLO.  The team looked at the discipleship path of JumpStart.  Then we worked through Session Seven, "The Invitation."  After a great Subway lunch we walked through the Jethro/Moses Mentor Model.  We finished our day in Session 11, "The Method."  FBC/SLO has a committed, excited, optimistic, and forward thinking leadership team.

After a great time of worship and the Word Sunday morning the implementation team met to discuss the next step.  They explored creative ways to implement JumpStart in their specific church setting.  Dr. Bob Orr is the transitional pastor.  He is leading the teams through a very comprehensive preparation process.  They are laying the foundation for a great future ministry.

The team leaders will do Volume One in a peer/mentoring experience.  Then they will each grab two members of their team and begin JumpStart in a triad.  The team leaders will continue peer/mentoring through Volume Two.  The new Elder Board will pair up and begin JumpStart.  Then each Elder will begin mentoring another future elder.  Most of the key church leaders should complete JumpStart Mentor Training by fall.  Then they can reach out to the rest of the church.  It is possible for the entire church to experience one on one or triad mentoring by years end.

I am excited to see how God uses Dr. Kirk Mackies Leader Training, Dr. Tom Mercers OIKOS Training, and JumpStart Mentor Training to establish a culture of health, evangelism, and discipleship at FBC/SLO.  I hope to revisit the church in about six months and see what God is doing!

God bless you and thank you for allowing Karen and I to join your journey!

Paul 

THERE IS A FORK IN THE ROAD:

 

I can look back over my forty years as a Christ Follower and recognize strategic moments when I clearly stood at a fork in the road.  Karen and I are standing at one of those forks.  We are going to take what Dr. Brown would call a risk of faith.  We are going to lay our thinking bare before you all, and then ask for your prayers, and Words from God if you get them.

Here is our fork.  I, Paul, am getting a very clear sense of purpose for the next season of our life.  A previous blog shared my WIG, Wildly Important Goals.  The three point summary is Translation, Introduction, and Support.  Translating JumpStart into 14 plus global languages.  Introducing JumpStart and I to everyone possible.  Supporting the ministry through speaking, books sales, and financial partners.

As Karen and I have prayed about this we have concluded we will be traveling to churches, conferences, schools, military chapels, and mission centers across the country.  Some of the opportunities presenting themselves are global.  The last two days Paul has messaged with pastors in Kenya, Tanzania, and India.  Only God knows what doors He will open.

That being said, our crazy idea is to sell our house, pack up the precious memories, sell lots of stuff, and buy an RV suitable for long term living.  We could go the places we need to go, visit old friends on the way, and build out the ministry by video, Skype, Zoom, audio, Facebook, Messenger, and text.  Paul can write and format anywhere.  WiFi is very easy to find these day and our phones create hot spots.

Leaving our 1949 era house would cut our overhead, remove maintenance issues, free up time, and give us amazing freedom to focus on the WIG's.  The downside is our kids and grand kids.  We have lived near them since the grand kids were born.  We love them, and they are a precious part of our lives.  We would like to think we are an important part of their lives.  There is obviously Skype but real hugs and kisses will be much less often.  The thought of not swimming with our little fish is very painful.  The upside would be the potential to grab kids and take them for adventures in the moving house.  As far and long as their parents would permit.

So there is our Y in the road.  There are the rough thoughts and not fully formed ideas.  We would covet your prayers, thoughts, and like I said, "Words from the Lord."  Feel free to share this blog with your family, friends, prayer partners, small groups, and Sunday Schools.  Karen and I want as much prayer and wisdom from on high as we can get.  We do not want to miss God by fear, or presumption.  We truly want to walk, or drive, in the center of His will.

Many thanks to all of you who have been a supportive part of this adventure already!

Much love,

Paul and Karen

MY WIG IS GETTING CLEARER:

JUMPSTART W.I.G.

Wildly Important Goals

TRANSLATE---PRESENT---SUPPORT

1.      TRANSLATE:

A.       In process:     English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili.

B.       Looking for translators:     Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian.

C.       Dreaming:   Telugu, Punjabi, Japanese, Bengali,

                             Hindi, Indonesian, German.

2.      PRESENT/INTRODUCE:

A.       JumpStart Mentor Training

B.       Dr. Paul M. Reinhard

Mailers, Ads, Conferences, Compatible Denominations,

Regional Events, Mission Trips, Schools, Overseas Bible Colleges,

Networking, Facebook

3.      FINANCIAL/SUPPORT:

A.       Preaching, Teaching, Training, Coaching:

Colleges, Churches, Conferences, Foreign Mission Fields,  

Para-church Organizations

           

B.       Book Sales:

Amazon, Churches, Conferences, Military, Camps, Magazine Ads.

           

C.       Ministry Partners:

Individuals, Churches, Denominations, Movements, Foundations. 

Please join me in dreaming about a wave of mentor based Christian discipleship circling the globe.  Every day I am hearing people say, "We should be doing discipleship, but we are not!"  It isn't hard.  Grab a friend.  Do Session One of JumpStart.  Meet and talk about it!  If JumpStart stirs you to follow Jesus and engage in ministry then tell your pastor or small group leader.  Pray God allows translations to go global.  Support JumpStart with your prayers and purse.  Like this blog and share it with others.  

Next time I will share about JumpStart India in March of 2017.  Frank and I have our Visas and plane tickets.  Be praying we find a local Christian printer.  

I love you all,

Paul