Fanning the Flames

When we are not actively teaching one of our church planting schools to equip teams to launch new churches, we are coaching new church planters, working with a cohort of leaders and pastors to equip, empower and encourage them and recruiting new, future church planters. Our end goal is to see a healthy church for every community of poverty.

There are numerous challenges to overcome when working with people living in poverty, but it is breathtaking watching God create beauty out of brokenness and bringing hope and justice out of inequality. Nelson Mandela said, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings”

Jesus echoed what is written in Deuteronomy: “⁷ If anyone is poor….¹⁰ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Part of our “being openhanded” and “giving generously” is truly believing that the Kingdom of God will advance through the Church, which will have key leaders, men and women, young and old from areas of poverty that will lead people to Christ and help the Church advance.

We have already worked with many of these leaders and are astounded at what they are doing…and often with so little. In a coaching time recently, I asked one emerging leader to draw out a life map indicating pivotal moments that have led him to be where he is today in ministry. Instead of a map or timeline he chose to draw a tree full of fruit; each fruit representing a key, life-changing experience that taught him or prepared him to love more deeply and have the skills and character needed to lead a group of people. His “map” was so unique to the life in the city that he has lived, yet there was no doubt that God’s fingerprints and guiding were all over it. While he didn’t have what might be the ‘normal’ training and preparation because he lacked resources, education, connections and opportunities, God still called and is equipping him to be a leader that not only leads and loves well, but also trains and empowers others to do the same.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and financial support to help us empower the urban poor to change this world with the Gospel.