Most of you reading this blog have also read my February newsletter entitled
“Can These Dry Bones Live?” (if you haven’t, please check it out HERE). In that newsletter I talk about God’s heartbeat to convert hearers into warriors through penetrating cell groups. God never intended church members to only sit and soak. Ephesians 4:11,12 tells us that God has raised up gifted leaders to prepare the laity for works of service. I saw this truth in action during my last seminar in Newark, New Jersey at Bethel International. What a mighty army of cell leaders! I came back from that seminar inspired and a renewed vision for cell church ministry.

In the past, I’ve tended to over-magnify culture. “We’re just individualists in North America (and Western world), so it won’t work in the same way,” I’ve found myself thinking. Yet, the Bible, not culture, needs to guide all that we do or say. The community, one-another ministry, and group orientation that I saw at Bethel among the Latinos is actually Biblical culture. God has placed in the Latino culture (and many other cultures) a more biblical trait of community and unity, and He wants to change us to conform to that biblical pattern. Granted Western culture also has many wonderful, biblical traits, such as diligence, organization, adherence to law, etc. God wants to instill those traits in other cultures which might lack them. Again, the Bible, not culture, must dictate all we do and say.

My excitement lately is that cell church is a biblical model of raising up leaders. God is behind it. Yes, a church must make adjustments and be willing to pay the price (e.g., coaching meetings, training, leading cells, etc.), but there are many hungry souls who are willing to pay that price. I’m encouraged to run with those who are passionate with the vision, rather than allowing the doubters to weigh everyone else down.

God wants us to learn from the worldwide cell church, test everything by the Word of God, and ultimately pray that our ministries would fulfill the prayer of Jesus: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38). God is ready to blow on the dry bones in our chruches and convert them into a mighty army for His glory. Are you ready to participate?

by Mario Vega

When I got home I found under the door a small sheet of paper that said “Coffee Cells.” It was an invitation to a cell meeting in an address that I did not know and neither did I know the person who was inviting.

I don’t doubt that God is merciful, and that He can reach a person with an invitation as simple as that one. But that’s not the spirit nor the method of the cell work. Of course, it’s much easier to throw a paper under the door than to go through the trouble of interacting with people. But to establish a friendship with people happens to be the foundation of cell work.

Fellowship and community is one of the key purposes and components of cell work, and therefore one should not ignore the process of creating new friendships as a first step to inviting someone to the cell meeting.

In previous blogs, I have written about how to be successful in bringing a guest to the cell meeting. The essential element is relationship and friendship with the person you intend to invite. That definitely can not be achieved only by sliding a paper under the door.

Comments?

Mario

Translation in Spanish:

La invitación a la célula

Al llegar a casa encontré debajo de la puerta una pequeña hoja de papel que decía ‘Células café’. Se trataba de una invitación para asistir a una célula en una dirección que no conocía y a la cual invitaba una persona que tampoco conocía.

No dudo que Dios es misericordioso y que puede alcanzar a una persona con una invitación tan sencilla como esa. Pero, ese no es el espíritu ni el método del trabajo celular. Claro que es mucho más fácil arrojar un papel bajo la puerta que tomarse el trabajo de relacionarse con las personas. Pero el establecer una amistad con las personas resulta ser el elemento fundamental del trabajo celular.

La comunión entre las personas que asisten a una célula es uno de los propósitos y componentes del trabajo celular. Por ello, no se debe dejar de lado que el crear una nueva amistad es el paso previo a invitar a una persona a una reunión de célula.

En blogs anteriores he escrito sobre los pasos para poder lograr un invitado para la célula. El elemento esencial es la relación y amistad con la persona que se pretende invitar. Eso, definitivamente, no se puede lograr solo con un papel bajo la puerta.

Jeff Tunnell

Next time I meet with my coaches we will process M. Scott Boren’s book, “How Do We Get There From Here” by turning the pages from front cover to back.  We have all finished reading this one and now we want to take on some dialogue as to how the material relates to us in the various stages of transformation.  It should be fast-paced and highly interactive and hopefully a bit of fun too.

The part I look forward to most is the interaction with others in discovery of Vision, Strategy, Values, Practices, Priorities and Principles.  While we are not “reinventing the wheel” in this exercise, we are looking to strengthen our vision team and tighten up our processes that will lead to greater and more fruitful ministry.

Next week we will meet with Joel, share our results and receive additional coaching from him.  We don’t need to “go it alone” in the ministry of cell church!  There have been too many times in my life and ministry where saying “No thanks, I can do this myself” has cost me time and additional effort, ending in failure.  Pride still precedes a fall and we are saving ourselves the trip, pun intended.

Comments?

Jeff

by Rob Campbell

www.cypresscreekchurch.com

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the people who care for you. They are the ones who genuinely display their love to you.

As a matter of perspective, answer the following questions:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4. Name ten people who have won a Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last ten World Series Winners.

As you can see, very few of us remember the headlines of yesterday. Yes, the individuals above can be considered to be the best in their respective fields. Yet, one day the applause dies. Awards will tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Faces and names disappear from our memory.

To clarify your perspective, answer the following questions:

1. Name three teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Name five people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Name five people you enjoy spending time with.

Chances are high that you have been reminded of important people in your life who have displayed their love to you. Love is a verb. Love is action oriented. Love never fails. Perfect love casts out fear. Those who love and care for you– show up! They are present in your times of sorrow, discouragement and despair. They also can rejoice in your victories, successes and triumphs.

Take time to pray for those people in your life who mean the most to you. Pray blessings over them. Send them an encouraging email, note or card. Contact them via a phone call and say, “Thanks ……..I appreciate you!”

Comments?

Rob

I’ve had a great time this past week ministering in New York and New Jersey. I just finished ministering at Bethel International, pastored by Byron and Rosa Straube in Newark, New Jersey. Byron started the church in 2001, not knowing what strategy he was going to use.  Jesus showed him the cell-driven church strategy, and he started with a single cell. A few years later, he felt the need to connect his church to a network of churches, so he joined the Church of God denomination (Cleveland). Although Byron identifies with the Church of God, he is an apostolic leader and has spawned his own network of churches.

From a single cell in 2001, Bethel has now grown to 400 cells and 4000 people in the mother church (9 satellite churches) as well as ten church plants worldwide! I love this church because it raises up leaders from within.  Each of the full-time pastors at Bethel was converted in a Bethel cell group. They then followed the same process:

• go through the training track (3-day Encounter retreat, school of leaders, second encounter. They’ve created their own material)
• become a co-leader
• become the cell leader
• multiply the cell various times

Fruit and character has everything to do with becoming a pastor; Nationality doesn’t matter (2 are from Ecuador, 1 from Mexico, 2 from Honduras, 1 from Guatemala, etc.)

Spanish ministry in the U.S. is like working within the United Nations. Every country and culture is represented. Yet, what unites these various nationalities at Bethel is Jesus Christ and a shared vision to penetrate the nation with multiplying cell groups. Vision is very important.

I spoke each night for two hours. On Thursday night, Byron announced to the 800 leaders and co-leaders present that the new goal for 2010 was to go from 400 cells to 800 cells by October 2010! And I believe they can do it.

Byron’s vision goes beyond starting cell groups. His passion is to multiply new churches as well, and he encourages his leaders to dream of church planting.

The vision for cell ministry worldwide can be summed up in Christ’s Words: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38). Bethel is fulfilling Christ’s heart-beat to raise-up an army of leaders to reap the harvest.

Comments?

Joel

TRANSLATION IN SPANISH:

He disfrutado un tiempo maravilloso ministrando en Nueva York y Nueva Jersey. La segunda semana estuve ministrando en el Ministerio Bethel Internacional pastoreado por Byron y Rosa Straube en la ciudad de Newark, NJ. Byron comenzo en el año 2001 sin saber que estrategia usar. Habia sido un creyente apenas siete años antes de comenzar a pastorear a tiempo completo. Jesus le mostro la estrategia celular y comenzo la iglesia con una celula. Unos años despues sintio la necesidad de unirse a una red the iglesias, y se unio al concilio pentecostal, Iglesia de Dios. Aunque el Pastor Byron se identifica con la Iglesia de Dios, tambien es un lider apostolico que ha dado lugar a su propia red de iglesias.

¡De una sola celula en el 2001, Bethel ha crecido a 400 celulas y a 4000 personas en la iglesia madre (9 iglesias satelites), y tambien ha plantado 10 iglesias mas a nivel mundial! Amo esta iglesia porque levanta lideres de entre si. Con solo un excepcion que conozco, cada uno de los pastores a tiempo completo en Bethel se convirtio en una celula de Bethel. Ellos entonces siguieron el mismo proceso.

Ir por el camino de entrenamiento (Retiro de 3 dias(Encuentro), escuela de lideres, y re-encuentro. Han creado su propio material) Hacerce sub-lider Hacerce Lider celular Multiplicar la celula varias veces

El fruto y el caracter tienen todo que ver con ser un pastor; la Nacionalidad no importa (2 son de Ecuador, 1 de Mexico, 2 de Honduras, 1 de Guatemala, etc.)

El ministerio hispano en los E.E.U.U es como trabajar entre las Naciones Unidas. Cada pais y cultura es representada. Pero lo que une todas estas varias nacionalidades en Bethel es Jesucristo y una vision compartida para penetrar la nacion con celulas que se multiplican. Vision es muy importante.

Hable cada noche por dos horas. ¡El Jueves por la noche, Byron anuncio a los 800 lideres y sub-lideres presentes que la meta nueva en el año 2010 es de ir de 400 celulas a 800 celulas para el mes de Octubre 2010! Yo creo que lo lograran.

La vision de Byron va mas alla de levantar grupos celulares. Su pasion es multiplicar nuevas iglesias tambien, y anima a sus lideres a que sueñen con plantar iglesias.

La vision del ministerio celular al nivel mundial se puede resumir con las palabras de Cristo cuando dijo: “A la verdad la mies es mucha, mas los obreros pocos. Rogad, pues, al Señor de la mies, que envíe obreros a su mies.” (Mateo 9:37-38). Bethel esta cumpliendo con el latido del corazon de Cristo de querer levantar un ejercito de lideres para recoger la cosecha.

Comentarios?

Joel

by Mario Vega

Others have mentioned the importance of setting goals in cell ministry. However, goals are not just statements of expected results. They are also a measuring parameter that turns out useful for evaluation. At Elim, in addition to setting goals each quarter, we evaluate the goals to make sure they have served their purpose.

The first stage of evaluation is done every week. The leader and the cell nucleus evaluate the last week’s performance in relation to the goal. Each week, the supervisor conducts another evaluation with the leaders of the sector.

Finally, the zone pastors evaluate with their supervisors what took place. At the same time, every week each pastor hands over their evaluation report to the District pastor and this is always in relation to the goals they have set.

At the end of each quarter every Church of the Elim Christian Mission conducts an evaluation of their work. The third week after the end of each quarter of the year an evaluation of the entire Mission is conducted. The Branch Churches from each country send their data to El Salvador. In this way, we have an overview every three months of how Elim is doing worldwide and whether or not the growth targets are being achieved.

This evaluation system allows us to draw the maximum benefit of setting goals. If targets are only set but are not evaluated, many of the benefits are lost.

Comments?

Mario

Spanish translation:

Evaluaciones del trabajo celular

En otras ocasiones se ha mencionado la importancia de utilizar metas para el trabajo celular. Sin embargo, las metas no solamente son una declaración de lo que se pretende alcanzar. Son también, un parámetro de medición que resulta útil para la evaluación. Por ese motivo, además de fijar metas para cada trimestre. En Elim evaluamos el trabajo en relación a esas metas.

La primera instancia de evaluación se realiza cada semana. El líder evalúa con el núcleo de la célula el desempeño de la semana anterior en relación a la meta. Cada semana, el supervisor realiza otra evaluación con los líderes que pertenecen a su sector. Finalmente, los pastores de zona evalúan con sus supervisores y líderes el trabajo de la semana. Al mismo tiempo, cada pastor entrega cuentas a su pastor de Distrito cada semana y siempre en relación a las metas que se han establecido.

Al final de cada trimestre toda iglesia de Misión Elim realiza una evaluación de su trabajo. La tercera semana después de finalizado cada trimestre del año se hace también una evaluación de toda la Misión. Las iglesias filiales envían sus datos a El Salvador desde cualquier país donde se encuentren. De esa manera, podemos tener un panorama de cómo marcha la Misión cada tres meses y saber si las metas de crecimiento se están alcanzando.

Este sistema de evaluaciones permite sacar el mayor provecho posible al establecimiento de metas. Si las metas sólo se establecen pero no se evalúa, se pierde mucho de la riqueza que se puede obtener de ellas.

By Rob Campbell

www.cypresscreekchurch.com

In Dave Browning’s book, Deliberate Simplicity, he writes about “doubling up.” Let me paraphrase his thoughts.

As we venture into a new year, I believe Browning’s suggestion is timely.

Dave writes, “An exercise that every pastor should engage in regularly is to take out a piece of paper, write at the top, ‘My Ministry at Double the Size,’ and then start to bullet out what that would look like.”

“Would it require an additional service? Additional staff? Reorganization? A different meeting place?”

“Once you know what it would look like, you have ideas about what it will take to get there from here. A key question to always be asking is, ‘How can I serve twice as many people as I presently do in the coming year?’”

“The story Jesus told of the talents implied doubling as an expectation: The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more’”. Results certainly may vary from the story. We plant and water and God gives the increase. But in our planning and preparation, we should be getting ready for a 100 percent return on investment.”

May your work in the Lord’s vineyard produce great gains for the kingdom of God!

Comments?

Rob

by Mario Vega (filling in for Joel Comiskey who is ministering in New York).

As a result of last week’s blog, Mike Mack asked about the main differences between the Salvadorian and American culture.

I’d like to point out two important elements:

First of all, the Salvadorians are much more open to relations with their neighbors. All people know each other, greet one another, children play together in the street, and people frequently visit (sometimes for no apparent reason).

Second, the Salvadorian culture is highly religious and shows openness and respect for the Bible those who teach it. Churches are at the top of the list of the institutions that generate the highest confidence.

Obviously, this does not mean that the cell model can not work in the American culture. All it means is that the soils are different. And becuase of this, the expectations of results will should not be the same.

The cell model comes from the New Testament. Consequently, it is part of the gospel and of being the church of Jesus Christ. The principles are universal and not peculiar to a specific culture. The truth of God is the truth in every place. The seed will bare its fruit in its season, according to the type of ground where it was planted. Although in some cultures more effort is needed, the work must be accomplished with the certainty that the Word will not return to Him empty.

Comments?

Mario

Translation in Spanish

Cultura y principios celulare

En ocasión de mi blog de la semana pasada, Mike Mack pregunta cuáles son las diferencias principales entre la cultura salvadoreña y la estadounidense.

Puedo señalar dos elementos importantes: primero, los salvadoreños son mucho más abiertos a las relaciones con sus vecinos. Todas las personas se conocen y se saludan, los niños juegan juntos en la calle, las visitas son frecuentes y, a veces, sin mayores motivos.

Segundo, el salvadoreño es altamente religioso. Muestra apertura y respeto hacia la Biblia y a quienes la enseñan. Las iglesias se encuentran en el primer lugar de las instituciones que le generan mayor confianza.

Obviamente, esto no significa que el modelo celular no pueda funcionar en la cultura estadounidense. Lo único que significa es que los terrenos son diferentes. Las expectativas en cuanto a resultados no pueden ser iguales.

El modelo celular es el de la iglesia del Nuevo Testamento. Consecuentemente, es parte del evangelio y de el ser iglesia. Los principios son universales y no peculiares de una cultura específica. La verdad de Dios es verdad en todo sitio. La semilla producirá su fruto en su tiempo, de acuerdo al tipo de terreno donde fue plantada. A pesar que se necesite mayor empeño en ciertas culturas, se debe trabajar con la seguridad que la palabra no volverá vacía.

Jeff Tunnell

Recently I spent one-half of a day with a cell church pastor and his leaders for coaching and encouragement.  One part of our conversation was focused on having a good definition for their cell groups.  M. Scott Boren in “How Do We Get There From Here” states: “Without a clear definition, cell group leaders become confused, pastors lack a clear standard for measuring group success, and groups will be more likely to develop cancerous habits.”

Joel Comiskey Group has published the following definition:  A group of three to fifteen people who meet weekly outside the church building for the purpose of evangelism, community, and spiritual growth with the goal of multiplication.

While our definitions will vary and contain personalization for each congregation, they should reflect these vital elements: penetration of the surrounding population, regularity in meeting, being in community with others, spiritual maturing and multiplication.

This is a ‘basic’ building block for cell churches and I am wondering if you would be willing to post yours today?  If you don’t have or know the definition for your cells, just state that in a quick comment as well.

by Michael Sove (filling in for Rob Campbell)

The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.  I just returned from 16 days in India working with the Pastors of Jesus Holy Church Ministries. God is doing a great work among them.  I had both the experience of being in the Capital City of Hyderabad in Andrha Pradesh as well as the remote regions around Giddalur.

Everywhere I went I saw a hunger for God.  People would sit for hours just to hear His Word.  I was able to share many messages with the people as well as share cell church principles in certain settings.  Many people opened their hearts to the Lord as well.

These Pastors are doing a great job with very little resources.  I am so privileged to be able to mentor them and encourage them any way that I can.  Two observations I made while among them.  They really need a model for discipleship and to understand friendship evangelism.

Pastor Samuel from Giddalur has access to 60 villages and has really transformed some villages that were completely Hindu and now have a strong Christian presence.  He averages over 600 in his weekly worship and on New Years day had over 1000 in attendance.

The Indian people really understand their need for God and what really impressed me is that no one would leave a service without asking for prayer.  The team and I spent hours praying over people.  If any of you would like to get involved in India please contact me and I can connect you with this ministry or can partner with you to help them reach their nation for Christ.

Comments?

Michael