Copenhagen is a modern city known for design and creativity. One American couple living there understands this so well that they have created an entire missional strategy around it. They are engaging creatives through a missional lifestyle using their combined skills of photography and creativity.

When asked what some of their needs are, here is what they said:

“There are several ways people/churches can partner with us.  We need people to come and help us dream on behalf of the creatives.  We need people to come and use their creative skills and talents to help us engage various creative segments around the city.  We also need people to serve as patrons for the arts here.  We have a need for various gear, websites and other tools for our creativity.  We need modern patrons of the arts to partner with us in order to help creatives in our city discover the role their to play in the greatest story of all.”

Is this something you or your church could get involved in? If so leave me a comment or send me an email and I’d be happy to get you in contact with this worker.

What does sixteen:fifteen stand for? Why did you create it?

16:15 is named after the Great Commission reference found in Mark’s gospel, chapter 16, verse 15.  We created the ministry in response to a growing wave of local churches across America who were desiring to move away from simply being request driven in missions to becoming more strategy driven.  For the last 15 years, wherever I have traveled, I have encountered churches that are no longer content to serve only in support roles in global missions, they want to be actively and  personally involved.  I guess you could say that we launched the ministry in response to something we saw the Holy Spirit doing, namely, awakening churches to their God-ordained role in finishing the Great Commission task given by Christ.

What do you do at 16:15? We do church missions coaching.  In a nutshell we help churches unleash their missions power and potential to reach the nations by coaching them into a strategic missions focus that fulfills the Biblical missions mandate while taking into account their unique gifts, talents and passions as local bodies of Christ. We call the coaching process 3-D, which stands for DISCOVER – DESIGN -DEPLOY, this also carries with it the idea that the coaching process will help a church bring her unique missions vision to life.  The process is highly personalized because we have a conviction that every church is unique, therefore an endemic process is required to effectively mobilize her people and deploy her vision.  This is not “open package, mix ingredients” mobilization.

In what ways has God used you and 16:15 for kingdom impact?

The impact, by God’s grace has been truly more than we could have imagined.  Let me give you some “before mission coaching and after missions coaching” highlights that churches have experienced:

Missions Approach Before Coaching: Shotgun
Missions Approach After Coaching: Focused and strategic

Church Leadership Before Coaching: No common vision for missions
Church Leadership After Coaching: Unified vision for missions

Short-term Missions Before Coaching: Reactive, random
Short-term Missions After Coaching:  Deliberate and part of larger missions vision

Understanding of and involvement in missions Before Coaching: Minimal and marginalized
Understanding of involvement in missions After Coaching: Significant and church-wide

It is also not uncommon to see missions giving grow exponentially.  When a missions vision is clear, heart-grabbing and it allows for church members to participate in it, they are compelled to be a part of it.  And the best kingdom impact I can share is how God is using churches mobilized through the mission coaching process to shine the light of Christ among hidden, forgotten and marginalized peoples all across the planet.

How do you work with/come alongside churches?  The process I described above usually occurs over a 5-9 month period of time but because it is tailored to each church, this can vary.  Typically there is a coaching workshop every 4-6 weeks during the 5-9 month period.  We also assist churches during the implementation phase of their missions vision as they work to bring that vision to life in partnership with carefully selected, like-minded, and synergistic missions agencies and/or churches.  So we remain engaged and available to assist even after the intensive portion of the coaching has tapered off.

For more information about Sixteen:Fifteen check out their site at www.1615.org

I recently heard of a church that is preparing to go on a week long mission trip. They have a project that requires hands on skills in collaboration with  a strategic partner on the field. They have been preparing specifically for this project for the last several weeks. They have also been meeting as a group for prayer. They have been working on logistics and had some needed security training. They have had some solid missiology lessons. In my opinion these are baseline preparations for a group.

What caught my attention was that they actually acquired the services of a language teacher and have been taking language classes as a group for the previous six months. This extra effort training on their part will be useful. It may just open the doors for some good gospel conversations.

How do you prepare your short term teams?

Have you found a language teacher to help you prepare your teams?

I always learn a lot when I am involved in this interaction. Two quick thoughts that stick out to me as I listen to their stories.

These guys really desire partners that will be willing to commit to the long haul. They have seen more success when churches send teams to work along side of them over and over again.  Most workers do not desire a  one-off type trip. They want sustaining partnerships.

The second thought  is that the North American church should seek to find ways to engage the same people group here.  I believe the Great Commission is both here and there.  Thanks to globalization many of the people groups throughout the world live here in North America. What an awesome opportunity.  Read this post about what we call “reverse mission trips”. If you are engaging a people group 5000 miles away why not seek ways to do the same here?

We are headed to this part of the world next year. Please check out www.jetset.theupstreamcollective.org

Let us know if you can come along.

1. We  need people who are  self starters.

2. People  who can live with ambiguity often do well on the field. We rarely know what lies ahead on the field.

3. We love  explorers. People who love to take a look into the unknown. Exploring often leads to creative ideas.

4. We need people who have  lots of energy.  People who will do whatever it takes to get the job done.

5. We like people who bold in their witness. I have noticed that most of these planters and young churches actively find ways to share their faith in natural ways.

6. We love risk takers. People who are not afraid of failing or taking a chance.

7. We need churches who are willing to commit for a long time. It rarely can be done in a few short trips or a year or two.

8. Churches who will look at the people that they send in a holistic manner. (re)member care is important to them.

9. We need churches who do well at thinking strategically while also being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

10. The key to all of this is a church that prays.  A prayer strategy really precedes all of the first nine.

Hope you will follow along at the Upstream Collective Page on Facebook or #sendingchurch on Twitter.

Three times this past week I was reminded of my time in Turkey this Spring.

First I read this excellent interview from Ed Stetzer and a worker in that part of the world. You should take time to read it.

Secondly, I  talked with two of the pastors that went with us on the trip and just looked at some next steps for their church. We revisited some of the fun times we had during the week. By the way we are doing several trips next year. If you have an interested in going with The Upstream Collective on one of our trips please shoot an email to info@theupstreamcollective.org. If you have an interest in opportunities there feel free to send an email as well.

Finally,  I was able to do some teaching this weekend from the book of Philippians. One of my favorite books of the bible. As I was studying the passages and getting more of the context I had to read the section just before Paul arrived in Philippi.  In Acts 16 he was in what is now modern day Turkey and in and around some of the places we toured.

Definitely one of those places I am having a hard time getting off of my mind and out of my heart. I hope that never changes. I hope I am reminded everyday to pray for them and seek out opportunities.

Here are some questions we asked him.

Why did you start the SENT Collective?

Chad Vandiver (CV): The SENT Collective is a group of missional networks serving together to implement Luke 10:2-3, “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few….’” These networks all exist to empower the local church to reach its community. We believe that as churches reach the mission fields around them they will be better equipped to reach mission fields in other parts of the world.

The SENT Collective is also a connection system that will seek to mobilize and equip workers while helping them know where the harvest is throughout Texas, the United States, North America and beyond, and how to share the Gospel in biblically correct and culturally appropriate manners. The SENT Collective can offer training in missiological leadership, research and engagement. This training begins with the SENT Conference continues with SENT Labs and the People Group Champions Project. We also have People Group and Multihousing Missionaries already serving as Jesus experts to people groups throughout Texas. They are available to lead local churches to mission fields in their communities.

Even though you started SENT just this past March, what are some things you’ve already seen God do through it?

CV: God is moving in amazing ways throughout Texas! Our state receives approximately 4,500 refugees each year, providing believers ample opportunities to serve as missionaries in their own backyards. One believer has shared how her boss helped connect her with a Muslim woman who was curious about the Bible. The two women would discuss the Bible weekly via Skype and talk about how the Old Testament prophesies were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. After consistently hearing Truth, the Muslim woman said, “You know, there’s no way around it. I know I’m a sinner, I know my good deeds are not good enough and I know I need a Savior.” She declared she is no longer a Muslim, but a follower of Christ.

Another Christ-follower realized her occupation—in apartment complex management—was her God-given mission field. Even though regulations keep her from openly sharing her faith, she has seen God create thousands of ministries in apartment communities across the United States. Today she is willing to talk with anyone who is interested in reaching out to apartment complexes for the sake of the Gospel. All it requires is committed and willing hearts and hands.

Who is the SENT Collective for?

CV: Anyone who believes Matthew 28:18-20. The SENT Collective is for all Christians looking for opportunities to be trained as missionaries to Texas and beyond. It exists to empower the local church to engage their community with the Gospel.

You can follow Chad on twitter at chadvandiver and their blog www.sentcollective.org.

I arrived in time to go to church this Easter Sunday morning. I went to the gathering at www.westpointchurch.org on the outskirts of Orlando. It was the first time that I have been able to worship there with my friends. I have known the co-pastor Jason Dukes for some time. I think a lot of him. He is top shelf. You also will want to read his book called “Live Sent”. Worth the read.

Westpoint is all about being the  church and living sent.

They live up to it from all that I can observe. I love seeing churches that are so concerned with thier community and even the other churches in their community. This morning I heard several examples of how they were trying to be a blessing to other churches in their city. Helping those churches with their outreach type events. Wow.

I also heard of examples of people in the church who are truly living sent. Maybe it is in their local business or profession or perhaps it is moving overseas but they empower their people to live outwardly focused lives.

Refreshing.

He is Risen.

More Soon from Orlando

In Budapest our team chatted with a couple of Hungarian church planters.

Take a look at this video about some ways they see American churches helping.

Upstream interview with Hungarian Pastors, Budapest from Upstream on Vimeo.

Interested in partnering in Prague or Budapest send me an email at info@theupstreamcollective.org

So I thought why not do a quick list on why short-term teams can be good?

Here you go!

1. If the church has a long term strategy for that place or people group then a short term trip can contribute to the overall strategy of engaging that people group. This takes pre- trip planning, being prepared for the work, good communication throughout and lots of prayer. For a related post take a look at this
2. It can be an encouragement to the missionary or national team in which they are partnering with.
3. With social networking today it is often possible to stay in contact with the people you meet or minister to during the week.
4. It provides missional training and discipleship opportunities for people in the church who go on the trip.
5. It can expand one’s worldview, which can help the church be more effective ministering across cultures in their own city.

Interested in leading your church on your first mission trip but need some help in preparation and training. Check out this site at Equipped to Go.

Another group that knows a lot about short-term teams is Delta Ministries.

Both of these are worth checking out.