Author Archives: wwwestlake

Strategic Plan for Outreach

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Go out and share your faith wherever people will have ya. Seems simple enough, so why do we need a plan?

That’s probably what we’ve been assuming at OAC Ministries for ages. But now I’m realizing why we DO need a plan… 

A few months ago I summarized the state of OAC Australia in order to give the Aussie report at OAC International conference. I realized that due to staff retiring, some leaving to start families, and the imminent end of a business that funds our national admin dept. by next conference (2016) our organization could be diminished by half. Half the staff, half the finances, half the branches… which means less than half the outreach will get done!

Oh, we knew this was coming, but we never really knew what to do in a coherent way. None of us organizational leaders have been trained in leadership, we’re just doing it because there was no-one else. We were trained as evangelists, we wouldn’t know what an overall plan looks like. So we were just micro-reacting.

Until now.

I have 2 people on the WA Committee, who are trained in leadership, and I recently admitted to them, ”I dunno what to do!” They said, strategic plan. At the same time, OAC International said, “each branch should have a strategic plan in place by end of 2012.” So on Friday the WA planning begins.

And we’ve already been benefiting from thinking ahead about it.

First benefit is seeing how we fit in the bigger 5-fold ministry landscape. We do evangelism, a small part in the big APEPT picture. We need to be co-operating better with organizations that have Missionary, Prophetic, Pastoral, Teaching gifts. Synergy. If this rings a bell for you, contact me!

Second, I’m more focussed on our main ministry: multiple-presentation outreaches, in partnership with those who will continue the follow-up. I’d love to be doing more of those situations where I get to speak more than once to a group – camps, a series, community contact weeks, Core Stuff. These are by far the most effective in terms of bringing people to a point of decision about Jesus. And to do that in concert with a locals who continue the relationship, that’s the best!

From the locals’ standpoint, maybe they have been wondering “how do we say this?” and maybe need an outsider to voice the issues. Hearing it from a third party can reduce the danger to the relationship. Plus people tend to suspend prejudices when listening to an outsider.

Third, it is helping me see how each aspect of OAC reinforces the main outreach ministry. I really want supporters to see how they help make outreach happen (in fact I want them to be renamed “active members” of the work, not just supporters as if they are supporting our work. They are part of the work!) Let me show you where you fit:

So I’m already seeing more clearly where we have to improve (the red bits). And the strategic planning process hasn’t even started yet!

I’d value your prayers that we do a good job, and do it speedily. And that we find the human resources to put it all into practice. If you want to chat about how you can help this ministry to be more effective into the future, I’d love, love, love to hear from you! Right now, as part of the plan!

Which task?

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Here the word call becomes important.

We are not called to save the world, solve all problems, and help all people.  But we each have our own unique call, in our families, in our work, in our world. We have to keep asking God to help us see clearly what our call is and to give us the strength to live out that call with trust.  Then we will discover that our faithfulness to a small task is the most healing response to the illnesses of our time.

- Henri Nouwen

America and Mexico Humble me

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For the least 3 weeks, I’ve been in America & Mexico. I didn’t really know why I was going, but now I know I really needed it. What was this trip about?

 How many guitarists does it take to change a light-bulb?
One… and the rest to say to themselves, “I could have done that.” 

I laugh at that joke, because I recognise in myself the propensity to compare myself, to over-estimate myself and under-estimate others. Well, when it comes to guitar, I haven’t thought that way for a long time, knowing my priorities & limits mean I’m not a patch on most other players. But my field of comparison or positive self-illusion would be Christian ministry. Secretly I think I’m pretty good at my bit – maybe not so secretly as I’m aware of a certain arrogance of which I’m not proud… guilty as charged.

However on this trip I have been humbled by meeting, and seeing in action, the skills and ministry expertise of some very amazing people. I’m seeing quality outreach ministries out there that I could not do, not even close. And I’m seeing nuances and strengths of ministries I’d not credited enough previously. I’m finding myself saying, “No I actually couldn’t have done that: that’s amazing!”

I think I can see why God had me go on this trip in a mystery-listening mode. He wanted me to travel with open mind & heart, to watch & learn what He is doing with people who are submitting to Him their lives, skills, talents, gifts, in ways that are out of my league! 

I met simple street preachers who spearhead simple but effective churches. They have kept the gospel DNA pure, without losing the holistic implications of it. Their methods are winsome and bold, and locally appropriate. I’ve come to not just respect but greatly admire the international OAC family. They even let me have a go at it.

I met architects of incrediblycomplex networks-of-networks of evangelistic, transformative churches, who have managed to distill leadership development pathways into simple stages. And we’re talking complex leadership & strategic infrastructures at the top end - and it’s producing a new church-plant every 11 days, now that the networks have spread! And the number of men engaged is wonderful to see. Over my head… oh I understood what CCC and NewThing leaders were saying & doing, but because I haven’t done that apprenticeship, I don’t have that capacity to initiate or lead what they’re doing! I’ll have to start at the bottom if I want that.

Willow Creek baptisms

I met people whose corporate management systems and attention to detail have created a kind of hospitality & servanthood that left me shaking my head in wonder. Willow had 70 baptisms one weekend, and I saw it jump to 90 before my very eyes, and felt the truth of what was happening. And I saw how their generosity works to combat consumerism.

Too often I have crossed that fine line between simply articulating the benefits of what I’m doing vs devaluing the work of others. Positive illusions & negative attributions. And now I feel a bit like Job after God showed him a thing or two – I repent in dust and ashes.

I learned to appreciate anew what God can do with methods-other-than ours. Sure, Cheers is an extraordinary model, incarnated in Banksia Grove in ways that make real practical sense. Sure, hierarchical structures can create co-dependence but they don’t have to, and even if they do, God can still use them in spite of it. Cheers isn’t the best way, it’s just our best way – so far.

Forge prophetically espoused good missionary practices, and exposed problems with church systems in western cultures, but once the prophetic message was delivered and better practice inspired, more practical help would be needed by missio’s in the field, which we weren’t equipped to do. But…

Forge America has been learning those extra bits of know-how. Al & Kim have taken the humility dose, and learned new things from entrepreneurs, & skill-sets we didn’t have in Oz. Kim has garnered some great people and (WA-esque) synergies. Forge has returned to its core pioneering DNA; it’s found right people for the right tasks; it now has working, intentional strategies for reproducing; ways to actually structure networks of networks; and knows who to connect missios with for their next stages of development. It has a youth-forge, a better financial engine, and much better synergy within itself, and with other organizations. ForgeAm has both recaptured it’s pioneering edge, and matured a lot, learned lessons it needed if it was going to be more than a prophetic voice.

I’d like to think Forge Am can reboot a better Forge Aus, to make the prophetic dream real afterall. It will take a dose of humility, forgiveness, and lesson-learning, but I can see it happening because ex-Forgers are experimenters who don’t quit on the first failure. We’re not too proud to try something crazy for God’s Kingdom. Not afraid to eat some humble pie.

So the question for me amid all this inspiring stuff, is, what is my contribution? 

Jim Collins’ “Good to Great,” advises me to pare down to my core: evangelism is my sense of passion, gifting, and blessing, when I feel the Spirit at work in me. Putting into words concepts that help people find their way back to God – inSpiring faith in Christ’s mercy and grace, and its holistic implications.

Now also I have this excited respect for the rest of the Body of Christ, and I think that’s where this trip has been helpful, stirring in me a deeper appreciation for what’s possible in other parts. Maybe since I left Craigie  in ’95 in search of a “better way,” I have incrementally depreciated the norms. This trip has been a corrective, and perhaps might lead to greater co-operation between evangelists and the mainstream, and the other 5-fold ministries (apostle prophet evangelist pastor teacher).

So now I need to work out how this fits together. What I need to stop doing, and what to start. Please pray for me to get this right. 

The Trip itself:

  • LA: Whiteheads, Grant & Bev & Sam – Awww thanks so much for the soft landing in USA. For the water, the coffee, the shoe-shopping, the English pub, and sharing the LA-leg with me. Ssstaples?
  • LA – Mosaic, Hollywood: serving Hollywood artists, local community & associated people. Good chat with Erwin, filled in some of the story from his side about TW handover. EM had more of the knack of translating TW’s elegant planting theory on the ground. When took over leader job, he protected the pulpit – from TW.
  • LA – Tribe, dinner in biggest arts community in LA, which is found flourishing in sheds & buildings in industrial area, like a granny smith apple tree. Encouraged tribe to keep sewing together heaven and earth.
  • Long Beach - thanks Jensen’s for letting me crash, the great soup, and trusting me to share ecclesia with your crew. I love the community of straight up practitioners. Also a catch up on the other side of the EM/TW clash, which ended badly, clumsy at best. Looks like the board didn’t know how to handle the conflict, or the end, properly. Needed AO’s Teamwealth & T-Grids.

Mexico:

  • Misael – legendary job with the conference. Servanthood personified, and clearly uber-proficient guy. A pleasure to ride with you in the trunk! Robby G – for introducing me to the OACI family. Chris M – uber-skilled guy. Anatolly – festivals, street-preaching, with BU church-planters, 24-42 churches in 7 years. “If I get arrested it will be my sabbatical.” Holiday Inn, Guadalajara Centrico Historico, thank-you.
  • Street preaching > + contacts > Bible studies > church plants. Keep it simple where simple will do!
  • Secular westerners are hardened towards the gospel, everywhere.
  • Strategic Plan for OAC Australia 
  • Strategic Plan for OACWA

Chicago:

  • Whiteheads, Brandy, thanks for waiting for me, and still hosting me anyway, & Sidney, Scarlett, &Violet, thanks for the morning crazies. Darren, top book, top work, top bloke. Claimjumpers, yeah! Jake thanks for stoogie night, even tho Bulls lost.
  • Christian Community Church – Dave Ferguson, thanks for coughing up the goods when I put the stethoscope on your heart, and inviting me into the meet with Joe. Great to meet Eric & brian and Jon etc. Serious Franchise CEO-level strategies goin’ on there. And Joe’s network achievements in Russia, & reaching his limits. Yet CCC also simplified what they are doing in mission to Reach-Reproduce-Restore, & BLESS (Begin with prayer, Listen, Eat Serve, Story-tell). I was introduced to CCC office staff, and chatted with Kirsten who added Restore to their DNA.
  • New Thing does networks of networks, now there’s a new church plant every 11 days! Eric has some serious strategic skills. English clubs > BS > ch plants. KISS at coalface.
  • Willow Creek, Dr B’s cafe, 7 huge auditoriums, and multi-meetings per day. Alpha upgraded, Axis (way to go Laura!) Shifting restorative services to Sth Barrington to more closely align outreach gospel with services. Staff of 375+, need business/structure skills to run it. 5 campuses including DuPage. 7000-seat Big House. Closely guarded pulpit/teaching. tens of staff per service handling shop-front details etc… Gives heaps away for building funds (BH Fridays), cars, clothes, services, schools, partnering parents in intentional parenting. And remember all the Baptisms.
  • Steph, Lily & Chase, thanks for having me, and being so interested in how this “cousin” thing works. Reece, mate – thanks for the car-keys & TomTom, and all the insights into Willow, DuPage, and your world.
  • CCC-East Aurora – A piece of Mexico. Keep up the good work.
  • Hometown – a billionaire’s dream of infrastructure for community. And KH is doing a Cheers-esque work there. (Starting with 4 other couples).
  • Forge America – Kim has done great work. Networked in, slowed down, listened, learned the culture and from the past, made good connections > synergies, especially with CCC (auspice), & New Thing (structures of networks). Hubs, in KC, CA, KC, and with Wheaton, Johnson. People with necessary skill sets. Boot camps underway this year, 3.0 Youth-Forge, publishing. Renewed DNA (network of networks, pioneering primary, Reproducing systems, & structures for networks). Thanks Carter, Brian, Eric, for the insights and camaraderie. Thanks Kim for the honesty – pass on my love to Al. There is plenty of DNA for a better resurrected body. (The story doesn’t make sense without Phil’s part, but would he confirm it?)
  • Cheers 24 does Psalm 24 – there was nothing like our Cheers. You guys are so culturally amazing! :-) )) I really enjoyed watching the swimming pool version of Psalm 24 that you guys did while I was away!

The Take-home Lessons: 

  • AO’s Leadership Teamwealth & T-Grids. – are handy everywhere. Add them to my roles in OAC (WA,SA,Aus,Zone,International), and SU, and Cheers.
  • KISS at the coalface. Simple as can be: street-level evangelism (however its done) PLUS church planting is the kind of synergy we want to see.
  • Super-strategy-structures can work, are even necessary when you’re running thousands! And thousands at a time can work too (Willow baptism night). Churches sometimes need to be complex, and require specialist skill-sets. But if they have good DNA* they can do ecclesia-missionary work.
  • *DNA more important: It doesn’t matter what the structure, simple or complex, it’s what you do with it that counts – the DNA. The orientation, what you’re fundamentally trying to accomplish, how for-the-other you are, how you manage the inner animal-defaults, whether you have the basic elements of worship, discipleship (disciplines like BLESS – Begin w prayer, Listen, Eat, Serve, Storytell) and a mission (like Reach-Reproduce-Restore).
  • ForgeAmerica – is now better than Forge Oz: (more like WA was, and then some.) They’ve found people with necessary skill sets, to provide: auspices, synergies, renewed DNA (skills for networks of networks, ensured pioneering is primary, viable income streams, boot camp content got underway this year.) Plus a kind of Youth-Forge, publishing, reproducing systems, & structures for networks (New Thing). I think ForgeOz can get back to its feet, improved, and encourage the DNA-holders to do mission even better than before. (In addition I suggest we add Andrew Olsen’s leadership stuff, and evangelism skills.)

So there you go. That’s a lot to process in terms of recommendations and changes. Please pray for me as I make necessary changes, so I know what to add and to subtract - all to the glory of God! 

Chicago deep-dish pizza - seriously!

For these and other pics from my trip, go to my FB page.

Conviction to do

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Over-conferenced? It’s like trying to drink from a fire-hydrant, isn’t it! Everywhere I look there’s another one advertised: Transform, Surrender, Re-imagine, Sentralize, Renew, Forge, Focus, an endless stream of freakin’ excellent teaching!

a). After a while, I realize,I can’t go to them all! I can’t do what they’re saying because my diary is too full of hearing it being said! When all is said and done, is more said than done? Sure, I know we have to learn stuff that we don’t know and that’s humble and right, but eventually there’s a point when you start hearing the same themes repeating, when you know enough to get started, and the rest is on a need to know basis. Failing to act then cos you might miss something… may be just paranoid.

I have to choose. I have to do. What is it that I am going to do – at the expense of other options/conferences (good and right as they may be)? I choose to embrace the consequences of doubts like, what if I’m wrong, what if there’s something better later! Let those chips fall where they may! What am I convinced of the truth about, enough that I will do it – regardless of the “successfulness” of it, but rather I do it because it’s right/true/good? What does God require of me? Not you, others, them. Me. Us. You?

That’s why we developed Cheers, and why we continue to love these people, regardless of plateau or troughs.

Apologies to all those conferences out there that I can’t attend – many of you are my mates. But it’s not just the distance from Perth that’s the problem. I hope you understand.

b). So where does that leave me as a presenter at such conferences?

1. I’ll continue to speak and share my practical theology, to help others learn until they can DO their calling too. If people can’t attend cos they’re too busy DOING their convictions, then I’m happy!

2. Give me more meetings like last Monday, when I was asked to represent Christianity at an “alternative spiritualities” meeting: real live, actual faith-sharing times (not just talking about how to do it – though I’ll do that too.) If you have an outreach setting in mind and are afraid of it, throw me the ball. I like the Question and Answer format. It happens a few times every year, it energizes me, and seems to help the questioners, too, from what they say.

“That was a totally awesome evening Geoff. You so clearly presented the reality of the historical Jesus that I could almost feel the scene playing out in that room. I was totally amazed by the questions people were asking and thinking through. I felt like God had pulled these people aside for a moment in time and all heaven held their breathe as you so clearly presented the reality of our Savior and Lord Jesus. They will never be able to say they never heard. I loved the matter of a fact presenting of the historical Jesus which disarmed any thought of Christianity being an emotive plea to a faith without substance… Thanks again for your dedicate , loving attitude towards the lost and clear motivative presentation.”

Put me on the coalface. That’s where I really want to be.

Spiritual Guidance

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At Glen Echo 2012, a camper asks, “how do you know if you have God’s Spirit in you.” I start replying, then Emma Kelly shows up at the tent door, dropping in on camp for the morning. We pause to welcome her…

…then as I resume answering the question, something from Emma’s ordeal comes to mind, which she confirms:

Hurt, part-blinded, and lost in Argentinian bushland, Emma had been trying to make her way down to safety, following streams downhill… a good, Bear-Grylls-ish idea!
But as prayer for her safety increased, Emma received a counter-intuitive, but pressing inspiration to “head up.” Obeying this inner prompting, she soon came to a track where she was found by a hiker and spotted by choppers, and brought to safety.

Bear Gryll’s (in his book, Mud and Guts) says, “always listen to the Voice.” He too knows what God’s guidance is.

And in this bit of film you are watching me being guided, too!

Emma Kelly OK

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My phone is ringing off the hook with journalists! I can’t get any work done, so I’m writing here what I would say individually to journo’s, and then I’ll just direct them here for my comment.

With all the journo’s calling, I called Emma’s family to ask what to say, and they simply wish to not be distracted while they focus on Emma so far away at this time. They ask,

“in Emma’s best interest, please tell [media] to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”

I am an Outreach Specialist with OAC Ministries WA, and one of the many things I do is weddings. As such I am the celebrant for Emma’s twin brother’s wedding coming up in February, and I know him through his fiance, Mel. Hence I really know the bride more than the Kellys.

I did work with Mel and Emma on a Christian youth camp earlier this year, so I can say that Emma is a bright, energetic, sensitive, thoughtful young person, in her early 20′s, and a faithful attender at her church.

On Wednesday morning (Perth time) I received a prayer request from Mel: Emma had gone missing in Argentina, walking on a mountain trail. She failed to get to her checkpoints.  At that point she had been missing for over 20 hours.

A local church in Argentina was helping police and helicopter rescue efforts. We spread the word amongst other prayer-networks. My prayer-list is about 100 strong, and 21 replied to say they were praying. This was just one of many prayer networks. Word spread by facebook, text, emails… The size and scale of what must be thousands of praying people, is testament to the way Emma is loved, and the quality of people in her support networks. Pray, worry, pray, worry, pray…

Late Thursday night (Perth time) we received word that Emma was found. Scratched, bruised, but walking and safe, and was being transported to the nearest hospital.

One prayer-partner who lives in South America said he would pray in his “own feeble way.” When she was found, he noted that he “was amazed that the girl who went missing in Argentina, had been found.” God does amazing, even when we’re feeble. Just another adventure in Prayer-town.

Remember, Emma’s family do ask, “in Emmas best interest, please tell media to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”

And now, I have other work to do, too.

Urgent prayer for safety

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Update: Emma has been found – about 12 hours ago. She’s OK. Scratches, bruises, etc. but expecting to be discharged from hospital today sometime. The Kellys have spoken to her on the phone.

Hallelujah!

————–

Emma Kelly (the twin sister of the groom I am celebrant for this Feb) has gone missing in Argentina.

She was walking on a trail in the mountains and didn’t get to the other side to be picked up by a friend. She as been missing for 26 hours now. She didn’t check into any checkpoints on the trail.

She started with food and water. SES helicopters, police, and a local church have been looking for 20 hours now (11am WST, 28 Dec 2011).

Please pray for her safe return.

Cheers,
Geoff

Geoff Westlake
0411 324 245

 

2012 End of the World?

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2012 the end of the world?

Some people live in fear of that question, some plain ignore it. Neither work for me. I admit to mixed emotions when I think about 2012.

1) Bemused: The Mayans simply ran out of room on their calendar stone! Hollywood is great  at making block-buster, global events over stories based on the flimsiest of pretexts (Hello, Dan Brown.) If you’ve lived more than a decade, you’ve seen lots of these end-of-the-world predictions come and go. We know it’s just another fear-driven marketing tool!
2) Serious: I do take seriously that one day there will be an end to time-as-we-know-it. And it may even be within our life-time, because of the exponential way global limits are coming to a head, like over-population, economics, energy supply, environmental limits, and gospel communications. But not in 2012.
3) Steadfast, excited, scared, trusting: Things are coming to a head, but haven’t yet. I can’t tell the future, but I can tell you the end of the world won’t be in 2012, because Jesus says no-one knows the time of the end-of-the-world: it will take us all by surprise, like a thief in the night.

We know Who holds the future

So in 2013 I’ll be saying, “I told you so, no-one knows”… And then maybe, Bam! the end might come.

Whenever it comes, I’ll face it like I face death: with a mixture of grief, sadness, loss, fear-of-the-unknown, yes, but also excitement-about-the-Known, faith, love, relief, maybe even a sense of adventure. And I can only say those positive things because:
1. I’m convinced of the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection, and
2. the living dynamic of the Holy Spirit within me as the first deposit of that spiritual Life to come.

So then, you must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him. (Matthew 24 & 25)

Live as if He is already here – because He is!
Then the last day will have continuity with the New Day.

Easy on the differences

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I had to describe myself for a group that prides itself on open-mindedness, and which wanted to hear from a representative of mainstream Christianity… A strange thing emerged as I did:

Geoff Westlake works for OAC Ministries, a non-denominational outreach organisation educating people about the basics of Christianity. He’s a Baptist reverend, married to an Anglican-Uniting girl, sends his kids to Catholic schools, yet doesn’t regularly attend a normal church. Instead he voluntarily runs Cheers Neighbors’ Network in Banksia Grove under the auspices of Scripture Union WA. He is in good standing with the Nyoongar-Whadjuk people, and assists Together for Humanity when they are in town.

Having important differences doesn’t mean we can’t work together!

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