Arctic Hope

In my life as a Christian, I wanted to be a good Christain.  Yet even though a Christian for over 20 years, I had become only somewhat of a disciple. I had spurts of growth when someone pulled along side me to personally disciple me. I had even heard the call of Christ to vocational service. Yet I lacked a vital, daily relationship with Christ.

In 2004, I was introduced to a tool (One on One with God) that not only helped me become a disciple, but helped me to become a reproductive disciple. This tool taught me the Christian disciplines, but kept the focus on the goal, “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, … (Phil 3:10, Amp) It helped me understand one of the best ways to get to know Christ is to submit to the mutual accountability of consistently sharing my faith in Him with others.

Through the discipleship process, God allows me to perform a faith transplant as I introduce a new disciple to the joy of knowing Christ deeply and intimately. Through the discipleship process founded on knowing Christ deeply, intimately and personally, I found the power of the Spirit transforming my life day by day.I have embraced the idea that Christ has recreated me for the purpose of reproduction. 

I can now say that I have 6th and 7th generation disciples. These generations happened in a little over four years. Yes, disciples who made disciples! Reproduction Christ’s way works. It starts off slow, but it builds an incredible momentum. Yet for each individual it is a simple math … make two disciples per year and help them to catch the vision to reproduce.

What would happen if we, the Church, systematically connected each believer into an intimate relationship with Christ? And through that process equipped them to reproduce their faith in others? And we kept the vision of Matthew 28:19-20 before them? That body of believers would grow and impact the world.

A single congregation could impact over 1,000,000 in only 10 years.What if only 50% of those discipled went on to reproduce regularly? That church would still transform the lives of over 190,000 in under 15 years. What if only 33% went on to reproduce regularly? The number would still grow to over 90,000 in 20 years. Even if only 33% of those discipled regularly made disciples, the current population of the US could be won in under 35 years and the whole world could be won in under 40 years. This is exciting math because it does not depend on every person reproducing, but on the power of God to give each one a big vision, the vision of the Great Commission.

A person in a church like that could impact the world. A church like that would send out a multitude of people to take the life changing good news to a lost and dying world. Ranther than churches full of people who do not really see the power of God in their lives, we would become Christ’s unstoppable, conquering, victorious, joy-filled, lasting fruit producing, spirit empowered, image of God reproducing Church!I believe God has given a vision on how to make a simple process result in rapid multiplication of disciples. The process is built on the simple concept of leading each member to know Christ - personally, deeply, intimately. (Phil 3:10)Michelle and I believe God has called us to help people, pastors and chruches to implement this vision wherever He takes us. I would welcome the opportunity to help any of you in any way to become more effective in making Disciplemakers.

Years ago I joined the US Air Force with the desire to become a pilot. The Air Force has a very successful method for reproducing pilots. Upon arrival at pilot training, I received four weeks of intensive theory, rules and practical knowledge on flying. This training was done using the big batch reproduction method with 60 in a class. Once we had grasped foundational truth, the Air Force sent us out to the jets. Then using the old style Grand Prix start, they told us, “At the starting gun, first one to run to a jet, safely take off, make twenty laps around the flagpole and land, wins!” Over the next few hours, some couldn’t get the jet started, some ran into things on the ground, some went off the side of the runway, some got the aircraft in the air, some ran into each other in the air, some crashed trying to land. A couple actually made it into the air and landed safely, but it was ugly.  You probably remember the sensational news reports about this failed Air Force experiment in making pilots. (more…)

When the astronauts of Apollo 13 made this statement, it was a massive understatement.  Their mission had gone terribly wrong.  Their rocket had vented much of their fuel and oxygen into open space. Rather than focusing on a Lunar landing they were now focused on survival.  Their lives hung in the balance. Heroic actions would be required. Business as usual would not provide a satisfactory result.

Today in the church we face a similar serious problem.  In many ways, our mission has gone terribly wrong.  Our Christian nation seems to be venting the younger generation faster than they are attracting them.  Rather than focusing on following Christ as He expands his kingdom, many churches focus on survival.  The future seems to hang in the balance.  Business as usual will not produce a satisfactory result.  What seems to be the problem? (more…)

One of our objectives for our summer was to get confirmation that God had called us to relocate to Ft McPherson, NT to partner in helping establish churches in the remote communities of the region.  As I mentioned in my last blog, most of the communities have an ongoing evangelical work. Our previous vision hinged on the great ‘need’ for a consistent gospel witness in multiple communities.  The plan hinged on building relationships in each community with the hope of planting a healthy church in each place. (more…)

Today I was reading about a celebration in heaven, the celebration over one lost person who is found. In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables highlighting the efforts expended seeking to find that which is lost. A shepherd diligently sought a lost sheep even though there were ninety-nine left.  A woman diligently sought a lost valuable coin even though there were nine left. A man diligently watched for a lost son even though he still had a son left at home.  In each case, that which was lost was found.  In each case this led to an amazing celebration.  You see God is very interested in finding the lost and when He does, there is a party in heaven. God knows how to celebrate the win! (more…)

Tsiigehtchic (prounounced sig-eh-chic) is located on the Dempster Highway where the Arctic Red River meets the Mackenzie River. It is reachable by car much of the year by using the Mackenzie river ferry or an ice river crossing. The community is also located approximately a one hour drive down the Dempster northeast of Ft McPherson.  Formerly called Arctic Red River, the community officially changed its name to Tsiigehtchic (Mouth of Iron River) in 1994 to honor it’s traditional name. This location has a very long history as a summer fish camp for the Gwichya Gwich’in (”people of the flat lands”) and was the site of many gatherings and trade (both friendly and not so friendly) between the Gwichya Gwich’in, Slavey and Inuvialuit. Many of the families in Tsiigehtchic have relatives in Fort McPherson, Old Crow and Inuvik.

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Tulita means, “where two rivers meet,” in the Dene language. Tulita is located on the south bank of the Bear River and east shore of the Mackenzie River approximately 40 miles upstream (southeast) of Norman Wells. Just across the Bear River from Tulita stands Bear Rock, which is a spiritual place held in high regard by the Dene people. Tulita was founded in 1810 by the Northwest Trading Company as Fort Norman and maintained that name until 1996.Today Tulita has approximately 350 resident whose homes are generally well maintained and whose morale seemed as high as any community we visited in the region. (more…)

Fort McPherson is one of the more accessible communities of the arctic region. Located just off the Dempster Highway approximately 170 miles south of the regional capital Inuvik, Ft McPherson and can be reached by car most of the year. There are however short periods during the fall freeze in October, and the spring melt when it is cut off because the ferries cannot run over the Peal and Mackenzie rivers and the ice bridge is either not formed or is melting. During this time all supplies are flown in prices increase dramatically at the two stores in town, the Northern and the Co-op. These stores carry mostly groceries and a few other items and are about the size of a typical pre Wal-Mart rural grocery store in the US.

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Tuktoyaktuk, (Inuvialuktun: it looks like a caribou) or Tuk, is located approximately 60 kilometers east of the mouth of the Mackenzie river where it flows into the Arctic Ocean. According to Wikipedia, “the settlement has been used by the native Inuvialuit for centuries as a place to harvest caribou and beluga whales. In addition, Tuk’s natural harbor was used as a means to transport supplies to other Inuvialuit settlements.” Most of Tuk’s current 900 population is made up of Inuvialuit people. (more…)

Just an update. Michelle and I completed our goal of exploring the ten communities of the Arctic that we had targeted. We have been stretched, pulled, amazed, encouraged and occasionally discouraged. We found that the people generally have a knowledge of God but few really know Him. We have posted some of the things we have learned and will continue adding our summaries of the communities over the next few days.

Additionally, we have met wonderful people in each these communities as well as Ft Simpson, Watson Lake, Ft Nelson, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Worsley, Fairview, Grande Prairie, Cochrane and Calgary. We hope to refresh some of our new and old friends as well as be refreshed as we work our way south.

We praise God for His answers to your prayers as He has sustained us, protected us and granted us amazing grace. We trust God will continue to do so as we travel to Orlando. We owe each of you a deep debt of gratitude and appreciate your continued prayers.