It's Training Time!

Beginning tomorrow, August 10th, our region is hosting one of our Frontliner's Conferences immediately followed by our Strategy Coordinator Church Training. This event is being held in Leon, Mexico. The Frontliners Conference that I have mentioned in earlier posts is our version of a Missions 101 or Strategic Directions 101 course for U.S. churches and volunteers sharing with them many of the basic principles that we have been discussing for the past several weeks on this blog. Our SC Church Training is a training event that begins the process of preparing a church or group of churches so that they will be able to engage a people segment and become the missionary to that people segment. We assign SC Churches to places where missionaries are not.

This is an exciting and challenging time as we help folks who truly have a heart for missions know how to more effectively take on the missionary task. The emotional and intellectual rollercoaster ride that these participants will take is unlike any other missions education process I have ever been part of before. We literally, in many cases, completely shatter their view and perspective of missions before rebuilding a new way of thinking and doing. From an educators perspective it is really more fun than someone should have.

We would really appreciate your prayers during the next 10 days as we work through these two training events. I am hoping to give some updates along the way as well as continue our discussion on RIN and missions education in general. We present the R.I.N. Strategy of Missions on Friday to this group.

I do wish all of you who read this blog regularly could be with us this week. All that we have been discussing really comes to life as we see everyone's personal experience and understanding of missions interacts with the information presented. Maybe some other time. Below I have attached a list of the session titles so you can at least get a glimpse into the progress of thought that takes place during this training.

Remember, It's not about us!!!


Every morning begins with a time of Praise, Prayer, and Worship

FRONTLINERS CONFERENCE
Day 1:
Why Frontliners?
Remember Those Without Hope & Without God in Their World
The Word of God
The Works of God
Missions and the Missionary Task
Small Group Debrief of Day

Day 2:
The Greatest Commandment & The Great Commission
The R.I.N. Strategy of Missions - 3 sessions 45 min per session
Worldview Issues & Orality
Small Group Debrief of Day

Day 3:
The MAC Region Strategy Coordinator Church Model
Questions and Answers from Frontliners Topics

STRATEGY COORDINATOR CHURCH TRAINING

Every morning begins with Prayer, Praise, and Worship

Day 1:
Field Trip to the Highlands of Jalisco, San Juan de Los Lagos
a view of world class lostness up close and personal
Debrief Field Trip

Day 2:
The SC Church: Thinking Like an SC Church Planter - 2 hours 15 min
Acts Workshop - Defining What is Church - 3 hours
Overview of Master Plan Development and Endvisioning

Day 3:
Know Before You Go: Logistical Contingency Security
Worldview and Cultural Adaptation
Effective Prayer Strategies I
Effective Prayer Strategies II
Effective Gospel Saturation Strategies
Volunteer Team Logistical Helps and Hints
Small Group Debrief

Day 4:
Biblical Evangelism: Evangelism That Leads to New Churches
Obedience Based Discipleship: T4LT Workshop
Mid-way Checkup: Questions That Just Can't Wait
Israel Rodriguez: A Mexican Pastor's Perspective of Church Planting

Day 5:
Man of Peace Church Planting Model - most of day
Understanding Latin American Catholicism
Small Group Debrief

Day 6:
Spiritual Warfare
Issues Unique to the SC Church
Accountability Relationships with the MAC Region
Review and Final Thoughts
Graduation and Commissioning Service