Escaping the Trap
We’re living just a little more free these days, Katrina and I. It’s an exciting moment, and I thought I would share it with you through this video:
Updates from May, 2008 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Mark
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Mark
Church Planting as Acupuncture
I’ve been thinking some about the an image that rolls well with how I believe church planters function.
An acupuncturist.
This eastern therapeutic technique specializes in improving circulation to all parts of the body, thus creating an increased ‘flow of energy’ that garners awareness, health, and growth. In an acupuncturist church plant, the planter is focused on facilitating the “flow of energy” to all parts of the church body. Giving each person and community ample growth and healthy energy for creativity and spiritual formation. Good acupuncture is not invasive – it is tangential to the body itself – so with church planting – a church planter’s leadership must not be overbearing, and truly must find ways to stay out of the limelight to allow others in the church to step up.
Unfortunately, most “church plants” have been functionally more like surgery (or amputation) than acupuncture. Most would call these “church splits”. The body goes through trauma and must be intoxicated with numbing agents before, during, and after such drastic invasiveness. It is never the same, and many times large parts of the body rot and leave scar tissue.
I don’t know if this metaphor can go on any longer, but at this hour I know I can’t. Just thought I’d pass along my thoughts du jour. Feel free to hyper-extend this metaphor for as long as you think it’ll go!
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Sean
Dude your heart on this issue is a challenge for me and an absolute blessing. Division is never a good thing. It means failure somewhere. Accupuncture to me means we should challenge and help people grow, never cut so deeply that people bleed. Good stuff man!
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Sean
dude have you thought about adding this to apostolic initiative in LK10. The metaphor could really help some people rethink some of our definitions and assumptions about leadership.
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Mark
thanks sean. i’ll think about it. are they accepting blog posts/articles etc?
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Mark
Survey Trip Reflections, Part Deux
So apparently one good turn deserves another.
Trina and I just returned AGAIN from Chicago, our second trip there this semester. Like most trips there, it was a world wind tour, though this one seemed to be right on target.  We had two main objectives. Find an apartment, and meet with the CDEA.
When we left Chicago back in middle March, we weren’t sure whether or not we were following God or just chasing our own tails. For the last 3 years we had been gathering contacts and notes about what we felt was a pull to Chicago to plant churches and to live as missionaries in an urban context.  When we went to Chicago in March, we were able to meet up with just about EVERYONE I had been in contact with for the last 3 years, and even pursued several job offers.
As we were flying home from Chicago, we both felt the same – we had worked our tails off to respond to what we felt was God’s call in Chicago. We felt like we had tied all the knots, set the sails, and prepped the ship. Now all we needed was God’s wind. We felt like if he didn’t provide then, we could walk away from it all. You might get the sense of this anxious waiting from my last post about it.Â
A few weeks went by. Â We waited.
Katrina went down to Austin, TX with the MRNA gang while I stayed up in Abilene to focus on my COMPS oral defense that was coming up. She had an amazing time down there and met some amazing people (I really wish she would write a post about that!). Through the workings of what can only be the Holy Spirit, Katrina came back a changed woman. Her boldness in the face of some of our doubts was inspiring to me. We had decided earlier that Katrina might be the one to hear from God WHEN we need to leave for Chicago. She came back from Austin saying we were ready to go.
That was nice, except we still didn’t have a job, or any kind of church planting network to work with there. But TWO days after Katrina got back, we got a call from Lance Hurley, executive director of the CDEA (Chicago District Evangelistic Association). CDEA wanted to support us, and Lance wanted us to meet the rest of the board! Totally a confirmation. We didn’t know how we were going to afford another trip up to Chicago, but then God provided funds that we didn’t even ask for!
So our trip in April (2nd trip – 24-29) was a focused trip to pick out an apartment and meet with the CDEA board, mostly consisting of church planters, and ministers.
Our time in Chicago was very encouraging. We found an AMAZING home in the city, close to the train, a wonderfully diverse neighborhood with a university nearby, not to mention the beautiful Lake Michigan only a few blocks away! Our new friends in the CDEA were very affirming and gracious, and we were surprised by their ability to boldly consider this opportunity for an exciting, innovative, church plant in the city.  They also committed to supporting us financially in a big way and hope to help out even more in years to come.
We’re super psyched!!!
We’ll be moving to Chicago at the end of May. Until then, we’re just waiting to see what God has up his sleeves!
Here’s a great shot of Katrina and our buddy Annie in a magnolia tree…g-e-oORGEOUS!
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Julie Elander (via Facebook)
That makes TWO whirlwind trips on top of school! You guys are BUSY!!!
That's exciting, guys!! And the house/location sounds perfect! So, do you have to do an internship with them or do they think having your degree is the same as? I'm assuming since they are related to the Christian church, the CDEA is OK with you teaching baptism as a necessity? Once you are there, do you think you'll be able to get others (A & H, for example) to join you??
Pretty pic with the magnolias!! : )
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Mark Willis (via Facebook)
thanks julie! yeah, things are a little hectic, but manageable. the CDEA is interested in hiring me as a church planter. its most of our financial support, though we still will raise some of our own. and yeah – we're hoping that we can team up with A and H next summer when they move up there! Know that you've got a place to stay up in Chicago next time youre heading through!
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Julie Elander (via Facebook)
Thanks! We def will come to see you next time we are in Chi-town!!! So, do you have to go thru some sort of training with them before you plant?? I know they often do that…but with your degree, I wondered what they were thinking about that…(if it's needed).
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Mark Willis (via Facebook)
no, no extra training was needed. they talked with me about the training i already went through in my degree and my missions residency program. they're really amazing people, and i'm looking forward to working with them!
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Julie Elander (via Facebook)
That's great! : ) I just saw on their site a testimony of a guy baptized in Lake Michigan. Wouldnt that be AMAZING? BTW, I was baptized in the Hudson River in October—brrrr!
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Mark Willis (via Facebook)
wow…now THAT sounds cold! talk about new life!
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Julie Elander (via Facebook)
yeah, it was very memorable–which i wanted it to be! Lol!
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angelabaggett
so excited for you- most of all the part where God just slammed dunked it all so that you know it’s totally him. That is the best feeling in the world- You’re on track. Awesome. It’ll be great to see what all the Lord does in this grand adventure you’re on.
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Sean
Man, hearing your story in person tonight was awesome. God is doing some great things with you and Kat brother.
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Mark
Angela and Sean- thanks for the encouragement. You two rock!
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thepriesthood
that’s sweet stuph. movement in mysterious ways. rock on.
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Amber Joy
I’m so excited for you guys! I know this has been a long time coming. Kent and I will be in Chicago near the end of June for the CMDA convention; I hope we can meet up and hear more about your work there!
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Jess
Wow ~ THIS May??? How exciting! Many, many prayers for y’all:)
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Mark
Thanks Jess! We should be sending out an update here in a few days! Thanks so SOOOOO much for your love and prayers. Love seeing new pics of Hugh. Blessings, mark
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Sean, 
rob horton 11:06 pm on May 17, 2008 Permalink
cool! now let us just hope that you do not need to rent a car anytime soon…
Mark 11:39 pm on May 17, 2008 Permalink
from what i hear, almost all rental car companies will rent to you even if you don’t have a credit card. the ones that wont are in the minority, and usually cost more anyway. if a rent-a-car company won’t take our business, i’m sure another one will. money lost is money earned elsewhere! bru haha!
rob horton 11:45 pm on May 17, 2008 Permalink
cool beans! be free brother.
Sean 10:45 pm on May 20, 2008 Permalink
dude, this video is so controversial I’m not sure I can show it to my kids….wait I don’t have any kids!
Yeah, I’ve rented cars from people before without a credit card. They do want
a decent debt card, and you normally have to have 500 dollars or more in the account. They lock down atleast 300 of that 500 as a safty deposit. Either way if you have the money it’s not the end of the world. Great video man!
Sean 11:29 pm on May 20, 2008 Permalink
Dude your resource page rocks don’t delete anything on it.
Sean
Mark 10:54 pm on May 21, 2008 Permalink
thanks sean! i’m tooling around with my site, so you might see some things go a little crazy for awhile, but i’ll continue adding resources as I can. question – what’s still missing?
good talking to you today. miss ya man!
Sean 5:18 pm on May 22, 2008 Permalink
dude, good question I’ll be thinking about that and will get back with you on that.
Agent B 4:53 pm on May 23, 2008 Permalink
Keep downing the red pill, man.
Bankers are becoming millionaires off the people’s little plastic nooses.
Keep it up.