We sneaked away this fall to Cape Cod to visit our daughter. It was a perfect weekend.
This fall had a first. We were intrigued how it would go. There was a lot of pieces to fit together. We needed many players to help. The pace picked up with the tasks as we got closer. We wondered how it would go.
The result was so gratifying.
I am speaking of our northeast Ohio conference our 28 staff put together. Our Disciplemaking Summit on Oct 4th went off so well. It was a one-day conference working to equip everyday people to strengthen their disciplemaking.
Five of our staff started work on the event in January. Each took a piece to work on. We did the work together. As we were working on the details, a pastor friend of mine said he wanted to help with the cost. I was blown away. Even before it was held the conference there were good things!
On the day of the conference 75 folks joined us. Five ministries and fourteen churches were represented. Wow! Our speaker Bill Mowry pulled us into thinking deeper about our spiritual investment. The workshops had lively discussions and processing.
I came away so grateful, encouraged. I wasn’t to only one, I saw the attenders benefitting and enjoying it. Here’s what a few of them said:
… “Bill Mowry made disciplemaking feel so simple, and that you really could do it.” – Adam, Family Pastor at The Chapel in Green
… “I got tools I can share right away with the women I am influencing.” – Missy, Regional Trainer in Young Life
… “This is so good. This is so needed. You all are running this again, right?” – Dan, Reclaim Ministry
It is just like God to go before us and pave his way ahead. I shouldn’t be surprised but that’s how He works. What a privilege to serve. This Christmas I’ll be sharing several of the stories of good that Jesus has been up to. They are the 2025 presents to unpack from the Lord. Some will be from my national work and others from my local service.
My year reminds me that, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT Christmas is a reminder of God’s clever ways, his twisty roads that he leads us on will surprise us. He did it two millenia ago. He also has something you and I have no way of knowing now, yet one day we will stand amazed forever. We have hope. His love is so good.
I am grateful for the Lord’s workings this year. I look forward to seeing more spiritual generations of disciplemakers reach and transform a world that desperately needs Jesus’ love. But reality is that full-time ministry requires full funding. This is why I’m trusting God and asking ministry partners for $12,700 in year-end gifts to help me start the new year on strong financial footing, enabling me to invest in Matt and others like him.
A year-end gift now enables me to:
- In my national ministry – to propel the 490 staff in six ministries as they equip everyday disciplemakers, where they live, work, worship and play.
- In my local ministry – galvanizing the 28 NavStaff in 6 ministry contexts in northeast Ohio to increase our combined influence.
- In my personal ministry – investing consistently in guys like Josh and Cody. I meet with 8 others regularly, equipping them for life and their own disciplemaking.
Will you pray about giving a year-end gift of $100, $200, or even $500 or $1,000? Anchor gifts of $2,500-$5,000 help significantly as well.
Thank you for prayerfully considering this request. Together we can reach more people in NE Ohio and beyond. Our partnership can create a ripple effect of generations of disciplemakers who impact many people—even the nations—for Christ!
Your partner in the gospel,
P.S. If God leads and enables you to give, go to navigators.org/staff/23817273, or fill out the enclosed giving card and return it in the envelope provided. Please make checks payable to The Navigators. May I hear from you by December 31? Thank you!