Posted By admin on March 28, 2008

For those engaged in discipleship or parenting, the new collection of articles about “Millennials” and the “Generation X” phenomena may prove helpful. The series highlights the target of Christian maturity in Time to Grow Up!, but then digs into the modern social phenomenon hindering maturity (in Raising Infantiles). A biblical framework for Christian parenting is then established in Reality Parenting. All these principles apply to discipleship.

We now have new material available from Katey Downs and the Love Ethics class thanks to Darlene McCallum, Lisa Beech, Kalie Brooks, Kathryn Hughes, Diana Michalek and others an meeting on Fridays at Kathryn’s house. They call their working group “The Love Squad”.

Katey Downs is now a contributing editor at the NeoZine (see http://neozine.org/downs).  As Director of Counseling at Columbus Xenos, Katey brings decades of experience to NeoXenos and the rest of the Web. Katey’s counseling is captured in much of our Love Ethics material and was successful with some of the toughest emotional issues.

In related developments:

• We opened a forum for discussing parenting and counseling issues with Katey!
• Dr. Ankenman has kindly offered to host a seminar for Northeast Ohio Xenos on disciplining with “Love Authority”.
• A new “Love Ethics” section in the NeoZine? is under construction, which will act as a repository of parenting, counseling, and other materials from our classes and research.

This week Keith McCallum drove to Cedarville with Katey Downs to spent another day with Dr. Ankenman discussing Love Ethics and reviewing some of the recent NeoZine posts. He enjoyed the “Punks / Sissies / Bullies / Tramps” paradigm discussed in Time to Grow Up!, and pointed out that Bullies would be called “Sociopaths” and Tramps would be “Borderline Personalities” in psychiatric terms (in their extremely dysfunctional states).

The additional hours of Ankenman interviews will soon appear in NeoZine in the Love Ethics section.

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Tags: counseling, Resources, webs

Posted By admin on January 15, 2008

a wild & wooly ride, but very much worthwhile!

“It was the best of times, period!” So should begin any recap of 2007 for NeoXenos (with apologies to Charles Dickens).

Why so upbeat? The past year triggered significant growth in all our ministry groups, despite considerable hurdles. More intriguing is what to expect from new frontiers opened in 2007, such as the Service Ministry, Missions, Discovery Groups, and classes for ministry-equipping. Even more frontiers will open up this year–including another college ministry with a new Akron-based ministry house–which could make 2008 yet another record-breaking year.

With all this growth in new and existing ministries, 2007 was a remarkable break from past years which often stretched scarce leadership resources to the limit. But an unexpected number of new ministers emerged to share the burden and make expansion possible. Veteran leaders were greatly relieved.

All this and more were part of a long weekend of revelations discovered at the 2008 annual SLUM retreat.

The Sphere Leaders’ Undershepherd Ministry (SLUM) gathered at Punderson State Park last weekend to prepare for the upcoming Fiscal Support Team (FST) retreat. The SLUM consists of the elders, trustees and their spouses charged with oversight of Xenos finances and activities. Currently the Board of Trustees consists of Joel Hughes, Keith McCallum?, Mark Michalek and Greg Morscher, bringing together representatives from all ministry spheres.

Keith opened with observations about the significant change underway in the fellowship. Since Xenos was first planted in this area, 2007 was unique as the first time a large pool of competent and unified leaders emerged, enabling ministry efforts never before possible. A welcome side-effect was the prevalence of loving relationships in all the ministry groups, he said, “which means we’re in a position of strength Paul described in Philippians 2.”

The passage reads, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:1-3 NIV)

This “one in spirit” is remarkable, but Xenos still faces a glaring hurdle, Keith said. Citing John Wesley’s efforts in the 1700s, the glaring difference with modern Christianity is the large numbers of “Itinerants,” as they were known. These were the people whose courage and Christian evangelism changed England and led the world in bringing God’s mercy and love to the common masses. They transformed inhumane “Work House” prisons, built the first humane orphanages and public hospitals for the poor and sick. They abolished the cruel slave trade, and as they spread into America they led the “Radical Abolitionists” who eventually killed slavery here.

They were called the Methodists because they were highly methodical in the way they grew. Xenos imitates their key strategies by meeting in Cell Groups, Home Churches and Central Teachings. These groups seem usual today, but not in Wesley’s lifetime. As a result, when Wesley died more than 100,000 Methodists sprawled across England and another 50,000 were penetrating America. All this rested on the backs of the Itinerants who led the movement.

The expanding frontiers in this fellowship not only requires a significant leadership population, but leaders with spiritual stature like the Itinerants. This research and the biblical issues it raises will be presented in more detail at the FST retreat.

The abundance of fruitfulness and God’s activity surveyed at the SLUM retreat left the participants exhilarated but thoroughly exhausted. Stay tuned to the Neo News front page as more details emerge.

Category: What's New? | Comments Off
Tags: finances, planning

Posted By Kalie Brooks on September 17, 2007

The sun shone brightly for the 2007 NeoXenos baptisms, which saw fourteen people get dunked at Walton Hills Lake Club. The September 16th event began with a potluck, followed by a short teaching by Greg Morscher. After he explained the biblical basis and spiritual significance of baptism, the real excitement began. Each of the fourteen shared their testimony, and then got baptized by the people who played a significant role in their decision to accept Christ.

Family and friends in the audience heard about the gospel repeatedly, as well as the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. One woman made the decision to receive Christ then and there. Pray that more spiritual fruit will result from the testimonies people shared.

Many who were baptized described how God has helped them learn to love others and build deep relationships in the Body of Christ. They also shared character issues He’s transformed in them from the inside out. Throughout the testimonies, the goodness of God and His amazing grace shone through, as bright as the sun that warmed the celebration.

Be sure to check out Joe’s Blog about these baptisms…

Angie was in the midst of a crumbling marriage and financial stress when she finally realized she couldn’t make her life work by herself. Abandoning her pride, she prayed for God’s help and forgiveness.

Brian, or B.K., came to high school Word events for two years before realizing the importance of salvation. After acknowledging his need for eternal life, he prayed to receive Christ.

Yana was lonely and depressed after moving to the U.S. from Russia. She turned to drinking in high school, and then school and career goals in college, before realizing that we are saved “by grace through faith, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).

Becky grew up in a church but learned more about God after coming to Word. After investigating these claims more, she made the choice to act on what she believed by asking God for a relationship.

Anele grew up in Xenos, but never understood her need to have a personal relationship with God until she acknowledged the lack of meaning in her life apart from Him. She prayed with her mom to receive Christ when she was twelve and has been maturing ever since.

Marilynn was a skeptical agnostic until she started coming to Bible studies, when she realized that there was evidence for Christianity. After acknowledging her demanding attitude toward God, she humbled herself to start a relationship with God on His terms.

John had many objections to Christianity, but slowly got his questions answered through teachings and conversations at Word. He prayed to receive Christ at last year’s all-night prayer meeting.

Cloe was lonely, scared, and confused until a friend invited her to Word and she learned about God’s love and grace. Her decision to accept Him has “melted her from the inside out” and motivated her to share His love with others.

Shelley was baptized after receiving Christ just the night before. She glowed with the enthusiasm of a brand-new Christian who now understands the power of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Josh never felt accepted until he met a fellow “nerd” who invited him to Word. For a long time he struggled with declaring “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9), but felt the excitement of salvation after he decided to proclaim this.

Antonio came to the U.S. from Mexico to get a Ph.D. After being invited to the college Bible study and learning that “we are saved by grace, not works,” he will be leaving with eternal life as well.

Tina was angry and frustrated before praying to receive Christ at age fifteen. God has helped her forgive the people she was angry with, restore those relationships, and have peace in her life.

Dan learned about God’s love at the college Bible study, but moved away before accepting Christ. At that same time that he was suffering from extreme loneliness, a friend from Bible study had a new burden to share the gospel with him. Since praying for salvation, Dan moved back to Ohio and got involved in the Bible study again.

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Tags: baptisms, events