Sphere Leaders Gather at Punderson
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.
