Legacy Shepherding Updates

Merry Christmas!

 Most of my life seems to be lived in the ordinary, day-to-day.

Here are some of the unordinary things that happened this year:

My Living Funeral:

In January, a group of young people I’ve mentored surprised me with my own “living funeral”.  What’s a “living funeral”?  The idea comes from the book, “Tuesdays with Morrie”, which tells the true story of Morrie, who was terminally ill. 

After attending a funeral, Morrie commented that it was such a waste for people to say all those nice things about someone when they aren’t there to hear them. 

 To remedy this, Morrie decided to throw his own funeral early, while he was still alive.  At his “living funeral”, people shared the things they wanted to say, and Morrie did the same.  His “living funeral” was a huge success.

So a group of people gathered to celebrate me and to tell me publicly the things they wanted to say to me.  It was really special.  I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such quality people.

Wait, a “living funeral”?  Like in “Tuesdays with Morrie”?  Do they know something I don’t?

The Blizzard of 2011:

Sno-pocalypse!                 Sno-mageddon!                  Sno-lapalooza!

Snowly Cow!

Need I say more?  That was a dump load of snow!

Couldn’t it have drifted on my lawn where it wouldn’t have caused me any trouble?  Nope, it had to drift up to 31 ½ inches in the center of my driveway.  Oh my aching back!

Milwaukee Visits:

I had numerous visits to Milwaukee this year: the Wisconsin State Fair, free tickets to Ten Chimneys (the summer home of a couple past Broadway stars), but the highlight destination was the Lakefront Brewery tour.  They got the crowd liquored up before (and during) the tour, rather than after, which made it possibly the smartest, funniest, and best brewery tour ever!  Plus our guide was hilarious…or was that the brew?

My Poor Windshield:

In September, I was driving North on 53 going about 60mph (the speed of traffic.  I swear), when an SUV in front of me ran over a log that was on the road.  I’m sure the driver of the SUV didn’t see the log or have much warning it was coming.  There is no way anyone would have driven over a log that big if they could avoid it.  The SUV’s back tires kicked the log up into the air, catapulting it straight at my car. 

It was almost like a 3D movie where everything went into slow motion for a couple seconds as I saw the log flying at my car, with no time to prevent it, as there was a car on either side of me.  Then everything went back into fast motion as the log crashed loudly into my windshield and roof on the passenger side.

 A protruding piece of the log penetrated the windshield upon impact, sending glass flying inside the car.  The main part of the log broke off immediately and went flying over the car, leaving a chunk of wood hanging out of the windshield, as you can see in the photos.  Thankfully, there were no cars behind me, so the log didn’t continue to do more damage, and no one was hurt.  I’m glad I didn’t have a passenger at the time.  It was crazy!

Oddly enough, only a few months before, in June, I was driving on 53 when a semi kicked up a rock that chipped a hole in my windshield.  Within an hour the chip became a crack and spread across the windshield.  So I had just had the windshield replaced three months before when the log came flying at me. 

What is going on out there on 53?  This wouldn’t have anything to do with the “living funeral” would it?

I Own an iPad!:

One of the guys I mentored, and his wife, bought me an iPad this year!  It was a complete surprise!  I was blown away.  So far I’m loving it!  I use it every day.  I’m so hi-tech!  I’ll miss you Steve Jobs.

Kelly’s Getting Married:

My niece, Kelly Sherlock, plans to marry Erich Neugebauer in January, 2012.  They are currently deep in the planning stage.  I look forward to celebrating their wedding.

11/11/11 in Iowa City:

When I was a freshman in college around thirty-two years ago, I made a crazy commitment.  The day was either November 11th or the time was 11:11pm on a different day.  A small group of newly found friends at the time (I don’t even remember who was all there) were walking back to the dorms from downtown.  Triggered by either the date or the time, someone mentioned that someday it would be 11/11/11. 

After some playful banter, I think it was my friend, Amy, who came up with the idea that we should all meet again on 11/11/11 at that very spot, the corner of Clinton and Market, in Iowa City.  Someone else added that we should meet at 11:11:11 on 11/11/11.  As I recall, we all agreed. 

At the time, I remember thinking, “Wow, I’ll be 51 years old!  I wonder what my life will be like then.”  It seemed so far away, a lifetime away at age 19.

I don’t think most of the group took the whole thing seriously.  I may not have either, if it wasn’t for my friend, Amy, who kept the dream alive with me throughout the years.  She was the only one I remember ever mentioning it again after that night.  We would sometimes mention, “Eleven, eleven, eleven,” as a phrase like, “I’ll see you again someday”.  Amy was the only one from that group that I thought might actually show.

A few days before the fateful day, I found out that Amy wasn’t going to make it.  It was completely understandable, though it was still a bit disappointing.  It seemed like such a cool idea to actually meet after all these years, on that day, at that time.  I hadn’t seen her in probably eight years.

I wrestled a bit with whether or not I should still go.  I felt melancholy about showing up with no one else there to meet, yet I had made a commitment that I would be there, and it’s important to me to live up to my commitments as best I can.  This was one I could easily keep.

So, thirty-some years after making the commitment, I found myself standing at the corner of Clinton and Market in Iowa City at 11:11:11am on 11/11/11!  I did it!  I went!  And it was awesome!

No one else from the group showed up, but I had a great day.  It was a day of celebrating my life, reminiscing on the past, experiencing the present, and wondering about what the future might hold.  I felt very grateful throughout the day.  And although no one was there with me physically, I did feel like someone met me at the corner.

A couple days prior, while I was wrestling with going and feeling blue, I sensed what I interpreted as God’s Spirit communicating to my heart an invitation, “Come. Meet Me at the corner.”  I sensed that I should definitely go on this pilgrimage.  I wouldn’t be there alone.  He planned and wanted to meet me there.  I felt His presence with me at the corner and throughout the whole day, celebrating me and the life I’ve been given.  We had a great day together.

My friend, Amy, and I tried to connect that day via cell phone and FaceTime.  Who knew thirty years ago there would be such technological advances?  Back then, I had a rotary phone in my dorm room and typed my papers on a portable typewriter.  That was hi-tech!  Unfortunately, my cell phone carrier didn’t have service in Iowa City and the University wouldn’t let me bum off their internet connection at the corner to use FaceTime on my iPad.  I guess technology still has room for advancement.  Though we tried, Amy and I weren’t able to connect that day.

I had lunch with my niece and nephew, Emily and Scott, who currently live in Iowa City.  Who would have guessed that I’d have a niece and nephew, and that they’d live in Iowa City when 11/11/11 came around?  That too felt like a piece of God’s provision for me, having people to meet in Iowa City after all.

Someday I would love to write a couple n0vels.  (Some of you may feel like this Christmas letter has turned into one!).  One of the novels in my head was birthed from the pledge we made during freshmen year, the idea of two people meeting again on 11/11/11 at 11:11:11 o’clock in Iowa City after 30 years and all the things that had happened in their lives in between.  It would not be the story of my friend and I; that was simply the seed that sparked the story in my head.  It was great to be there that day to experience the sights and sounds of the day, in case I should ever attempt to finish writing this fiction story.  I’ve felt somewhat inspired to write since then, so Lord willing, Oprah’s Book Club list, here I come!  Cha-ching!

I drove back home the same day and stayed up and celebrated 11:11:11pm in my living room, which has become a safe haven for so many people, including me.  It was like a meaningful closing ceremony, bringing the day to the perfect end, bringing both my past and my present together in one special day at 11:11:11 on 11/11/11.

Merry Christmas:
During this celebration of Christ entering the world, may Jesus lovingly enter into the ordinary and unordinary circumstances of your life.  May He meet you at a corner where you might need to be met.  May He help you deal with the heavy burdens and unexpected obstacles that may come flying at you.  May He celebrate and bless you while you are still alive.  May He shower you with gracious gifts, bring you love, and help you experience playful moments on this tour of life.  And may He draw you into deeper intimacy with Himself in a way that you’ll sense in your inner being somehow mysteriously saves you.

Merry Christmas!  And Blessed New Year!

In His Love,
Randy

Randy’s December, 2011 Update:

Dave’s Journey:

“Like many of us, I have experienced many struggles in my life.  Sexually abused at a very young age by adolescent boys, bullied all throughout school, a very abrupt passing of my loving father at age 12, my mother remarrying an in-disguise drug-addict three months after meeting him, emotionally and verbally abused at home throughout my teen years, and other numerous stories of challenge.

“While I count myself very fortunate to have known Christ since an early age, a lot of rage, bitterness and insecurity had built up in me over the years.

“I found myself newly relocated to the Chicago-land area, in a job I absolutely despised.   My son and wife were struggling and being wounded in their new work and school environments.

“I came to a breaking point.

“It was then I was able to meet with Randy for the first time in a long time.  I knew him through a mutual friend, and now that I was living in the Chicagoland area I was able to visit him.

“At the end of our visit, Randy posed the opportunity to meet with him on a regular basis for the purpose of spiritual development/mentoring.  It was a prayer waiting to be answered for a very long time.  I enthusiastically agreed.

“Today, a little over a year now of being mentored, I find myself, literally, a new man because of the work the Holy Spirit has done in me.

“It’s really not fair to put into just a few words all that God has done in me through this experience.  I know that I may have never experienced the breakthroughs in my life without the investment this ministry has made in my life.

Examples of Some Breakthroughs:

“1. Although I am still in the early exploratory stages of this process with God, I am shedding layers of shame.  This has granted me greater freedom: to not chastise myself, to not feel as deep a need to always achieve perfection in order to fill some internal void, to have a greater recognition of what I need/want, and to voice my needs/wants when appropriate.

“2. Throughout this process of recognizing, addressing, and correcting various sins and triggers in my life, God is granting me greater self-control and Truth over those things; they are rapidly losing their power.  I can now readily distinguish between my true self and my false self.  Because of that, I’m now better able to see in advance why I am reacting to different “triggers” in my life and am better able to cut them off at the pass and limit their damage.

“3. Because of the growth and healing God has empowered me with, through Randy’s guidance, I’m now more fully embracing my identity as a beloved child of God.  As a result, I now have better relationships all around and am also being challenged in the fruit of the Spirit, as the Holy Spirit matures me.

A Shout Out For Randy:

“Randy’s gifts and passions are as powerful as they are clear.  I know that because of the out-of-this-world insights he brings to my life every time we talk, the way he genuinely hears me out but also challenges me to take bold steps of faith and growth, and also treats me with dignity and friendship.

“I praise God for his care to not leave me the way I was/am and to do that by using Randy and Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc.” – Dave.

An Update On Dave:

Though Dave had many challenges in his life before I met him, I saw from the very start that he had a ton of potential just waiting to be unleashed. 

I deeply believe that our gracious God is passionate about redeeming things (especially us) and then using them (us) for unexpected good.  It’s been a joy and pleasure to have a front row seat, watching God use the difficult and unjust struggles of Dave’s past to transform Dave into a new and glorious creation.  One who is better able to be the image of Christ in a hurting world.

Today, Dave no longer works at a job he despises.  Instead, through a journey of liberation, he serves on staff at a church where he helps people make a positive difference in their lives through sports.  (I don’t want to communicate that being on a church staff is more important, impressive, or a higher calling than serving anywhere else.  Ministry is everywhere.  It’s important to flourish where God leads us, and to use our gifts wherever they are needed.  The church just happened to be where God led Dave in this season of his life).  I don’t think this position is his final destination, but for him, it is a very positive step on his journey toward discovering his true vocation. 

Thank You:

Looking back over these past updates, it seems clear that God is doing something profound here.  These young people are doing amazing things through Christ, as they more fully live out their true vocations and purposes in this life.  As they do, they are now better equipped to listen, love, and then lead.  I’m so glad we’ve all gotten to be a part of it.

Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity.  You have helped make all of this possible.  And it seems like this is just the beginning.  I dream of and envision multiplied impact, results, and life-change  in the future. 

This being the close of my year-end support-raising initiative, I’ll make one final unashamed year-end ask, because I believe so strongly in what’s happening here:

Will you please partner financially with me in this life-changing ministry?  And will you please support this ministry in prayer throughout the year?  You are needed.

The workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest field.

May God bless you richly, whether you partner with me or not.  Thanks for reading these letters!  I hope you are enjoying them.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In His love,
Randy

Note:  The photos are from Flickr – Creative Commons.

Randy’s November, 2011 Update:

As some of you may know, I come from a long line of German farmers.  One thing I learned from growing up in that culture is that, in general, German farmers don’t want to be served up a plate of fluffy nonsense with little substance, they want meat and potatoes!  You can keep your fancy-schmancy theological theories, existential exegesis of ecumenical eschatological ontology (Ach Du Lieber!), and all those other words most people don’t understand (including me)!  Just give them something practical that works; that fills them up; that helps them know and love God, and others, more deeply.

That cultural background has served me well in many ways.  As I meet with people, I try to keep things as practical and experiential as possible.  I love to share illustrations and exercises that I have found helpful and practical and life-changing, if taken to heart.  Below, Danielle shares a couple you may want to try:     

Danielle’s Story:

“My name is Danielle Squires and I have been meeting with Randy for eight months.  

“I am currently leading a small group in Student Impact, the high school ministry at Willow Creek Community Church.  I have served as a women’s small group leader in Axis, the 20somethings ministry, as well.

“On the first day I met with Randy, I had written in my journal, “My hope for this season is to better understand who God has designed me to be and how I can bless others through what I have learned.”

Renewing Her Mind…and Heart:

 ‘Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 ).

‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent of praise. Keep putting into practice all you have learned and received from me.”  (Philippians 4:8,9).

“The truth of these scriptures has been something I have learned on a deeper level, not just in my head but in my heart.

Danielle’s Struggle:

“I have always struggled with being fearful and with feelings of inadequacy.

“God has revealed cures for these fears through some of the illustrations and exercises that Randy has shown me.

Top Ten Lies Exercise:

“One spiritual exercise that helped me understand the verses in Romans and Philippians the best was writing down the Top Ten Lies I hear most consistently.  [Lies like: “You’re not good enough”, “You won’t be accepted if people know about your past”, “God won’t do that for you”, and “You won’t be able to make a difference in this world”.]  Followed by writing down the truths, from the Bible, that God has to say about those lies.

“I’ve found that there is healing when I write down my thoughts. When it comes to lies, it takes away the power from the words.  When I pair up the truths of scripture to my lies, the truths become that much more powerful. 

“Through this exercise, I began to hear the whispers of what God says about me and could recognize easier when a thought wasn’t of Christ.

Don’t Compare or Label Exercise:

“Another exercise that I connected with is practicing not labeling everything as good or bad, and being able to see things for what they are. 

“I have always been able to see the good in others. I started noticing that I would compare and label myself as bad because I didn’t have what they had. The enemy would whisper that I wasn’t as good as them and I would feel defeated being around certain people.

“God doesn’t want us to condemn ourselves for what qualities we don’t have. He wants us to embrace the gifts and strengths he has wired us with. We are all uniquely made.

“Through this exercise, I have been able to transform my thoughts to admire the beauty in others and not have to feel like I am not as worthy as them because they have something I don’t.

The Impact of Mentoring:

“Meeting with Randy has changed the trajectory of my life. This experience has made me realize how powerful meeting with someone can be.  It’s impossible to express it in print.  The wise counsel that I have received has given me a new perspective of who God is and how crazy in love He is with me.

“Learning about the strengths that God has created within me has rooted the idea of how much of a responsibility I have for developing those strengths to further the kingdom.   God has put it on my heart to share everything he has been teaching me to anyone who will listen, and has especially given me a heart for high school girls.” – Danielle Squires

Concluding Thoughts:

Studies have shown that when we learn something new, if we don’t put it into practice within 72 hours, we lose it.  So I encourage people to put things into practice immediately.  I ask them to share what they are learning with someone else; give it away.  Not only does it help the new learning sink in more deeply into them, it may also bless someone else.  Love gets multiplied.

Danielle is one of those people who continually shares things with the women around her.  She frequently comes back with stories of how the women, she shared with, related to what she has been learning.  Some even began applying the lessons in their own lives with positive results. 

Each person we’ve invested in through this ministry lives out what they’ve received in their own unique way, which is a beautiful thing.   Danielle is someone I could envision doing something similar to what I do someday, walking alongside younger people and being a spiritual shepherd and mentor.

I think the world is and will be a better place to live because of Danielle and the work God is doing in her life and through her life. 

Don’t let anything hold you back, Danielle.

Thanks:

Thank you for your prayers and support, and for investing in young leaders like Danielle!  Transform a leader and you hopefully transform a whole group, a neighborhood, a community, a state, a country, a continent, and perhaps the world.  It all starts with one, with ripples into eternity.

If you haven’t already, I’d love to have you partner with me in this life-changing ministry.

Your contributions are tax deductible.

Happy Thanksgiving!

                                                                                                          In His Love,
                                                                                                                      Randy

Randy’s October, 2011 Update:

Imagine not having clean water to drink and watching the people you love die from diseases caused by contaminated water.  This update highlights a young man, whom I’m currently mentoring, who is trying to do something about this issue.

Matt Creates Project Living Well:

Matt Johnson is 29 years old.

 A year ago, he left a lucrative job in wealth management to follow a calling he sensed to help provide access to clean drinking water to under-resourced people around the world who are physically thirsty, and simultaneously provide meaningful opportunities to those in the U.S. who are thirsty for purpose in their lives.  He formed an organization called Project Living Well.  

Here’s what Matt had to say:

The Need:

“There are 1 BILLION people in the world that do not have access to clean water.  Of that, 2.2 MILLION people die each year due to drinking contaminated water.”

“Without water (the most basic need), the more ‘advanced’ steps in society cannot exist, such as sanitation, health, education and a functioning economy.  Without a functioning economy, there simply aren’t resources available to just ‘dig a well’.” – Jodi Mohney, Living Water International.

Digging the First Well in Nicaragua:

“We scheduled our first trip to Nicaragua, the 2nd most impoverished country in Central America.

“After two days and 115 feet of drilling, our team (who had never been on an international trip like this before) hit water.  The well was less than 20 feet away from a school [for 110 children].  The children came out of their classrooms and swarmed around us to watch the water flow out of the pipe.  Within minutes, our team began splashing one another with the cold, refreshing water.

“Before we knew it, the entire school of children jumped in on the action.  Children began lining up in front of the pipe waiting for the next gush of water to come out.

[Wait for it!... ]

[Bam!]

“There was so much laughter, happiness and joy.  It was like we brought a water-park to a small, rural community in the middle of a 3rd world country.

‘These children had never before seen, touched or tasted clean water.

Living Well in Our Own Backyard:

[One day in downtown Chicago] “As we headed towards the train station, we saw a homeless man, all bundled up to stay warm.  I happened to have some change in my pocket, so I dropped it in his cup.  His head stayed down as he said… ‘Thank you, sir’.

“I stopped, turned and extended my hand and said… ‘Hi, I’m Matt.’

“The homeless man looked up with this big old smile on his face, set down his cup, took off his glove and extended his hand… ‘Hi, my name is Anthony.  It’s so great to meet you Matt.’

“As I shook his bare hand, I physically felt something inside of me warm up.  I can’t explain it.  It didn’t happen when I dropped change in his cup.  It happened when I physically engaged.  When my colleague shook Anthony’s hand, he felt chills.

“The entire exchange was over in seven seconds.  We said farewell and headed towards the train.  Then it hit us like a ton of bricks – we don’t just have to travel to third world countries to engage with people in need and feel that spark inside of our hearts.  It can happen here, right at home, right in our backyards.

“We knew we needed to do this again - to engage with homeless folks.  So [on another day] we headed back downtown with no agenda, just a backpack full of PB&J sandwiches.  It was a beautifully imperfect experience.

“To quote our new friend Dave, a homeless Vietnam veteran who’s confined to a wheelchair,… ‘It’s nice when people put money in my cup.  But what makes my day, is when people… people like you…stop and talk with me.  I love that.  Thank you for stopping and talking with me.  It means so much to me.’

[Since then, Matt and his team have invited others to join them.  Once they put an invitation on Craig’s List.  Five random strangers from different faith backgrounds joined them to be with the homeless.  Each felt a desire to do something more with their lives.  On another occasion, an atheist joined Matt and his team.  Sharing these experiences together opened up natural conversations about faith, love, and service.  The atheist later returned by himself to bring new socks to one of the homeless men he connected with.  Something amazing happens when we get out of our comfort zones and engage the poor in meaningful ways.  These encounters inspired the team to add a Challenge to the T-shirts and products they sell...]

The T-Shirt Challenge Project:

[The Project Living Well Challenge:]

“Your t-shirt comes with a ‘Challenge‘ that you get to create.  In order to get your t-shirt, you need to determine one thing that you will do to help someone in need.  It could be with a local organization… in your community… through your church… at your school or work place…  It’s a chance to help everyone involved begin Living Well.

[Recently, a potential contributor issued a challenge to Matt and his team.] “The challenge was to sell 100+ t-shirts we had in stock by the end of the next day, and they would help fund our project.

“Within hours (of complete chaos and extraordinary events) every t-shirt was sold.  For the first time, we had a glimpse into the potential this project has… People desire to engage with those in need, to do good.  They simply lack the invitation and encouragement to do so.  As one man said, ‘I’ve been meaning to serve in the inner city for a long time.  I am now going to go do it!’

[This picture is of a wall in their office showing some of the challenges people promised to take.  If you accepted the challenge to help someone in need locally, what would you do?]

A Trip to Guatamala:

[Their second trip was to…] “…Guatemala City where we provided clean water to 23 families living in the city dump.  The trip was made possible because of the countless individuals who purchased our limited run ‘Never The Same’ t-shirts and accepted the PLW challenge: to begin Living Well by helping someone in need.  A portion of each sale went directly towards funding water relief efforts with our partners in Latin America.

“We came away from the trip inspired with an audacious goal for this project: to inspire 1 million people to begin Living Well by engaging with those in need locally, while providing access to clean water to 1 million people who lack access abroad. 

“It’s a huge goal. But it’s already begun…

Email:

“This was one of the emails we recently received that left us speechless…

‘Dear Matt and team, I’m a 17 year old girl living in TX.  I was web surfing and I came across your blog.  I just wanted to say how inspired I truly am.  I often contemplate the mysteries of life, and finding a purpose in this world is something that I’ve searched for my entire life.  My heart dropped as I read your blog, because I know now that this is my calling.  I want to make a difference and do my part.  This has shed light onto my future.  I finally feel like I have a sense of direction.  I am a Catholic.  I’m slightly detached from my church and the religion itself.  I do believe in God but I don’t have ‘that’ relationship with Jesus that you talk about, but it does seem amazing.  I’m open minded and willing to explore that part of my faith.  I hope that I could have that understanding of him, that you do one day.  One of my favorite quotes that I want to share with you is that:

 ’I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  I will not let what I cannot do, interfere with what I can do.‘-Edward Everett Hale. 

‘ Maybe when I graduate in 2012, I will come and try to be a part of the team.  That would be amazing! – Danielle’

“Incredibly, messages like this one from Danielle are becoming more and more commonplace for us.  We’ve found that people of all walks of faith are seeing what we are doing and it is challenging and inspiring them.” – Matt Johnson. 

How you can make a difference:

One of the many hopes of this mentoring ministry is to continue to identify, develop, equip, and support the next generation of difference makers, like Matt, so they may better live out their unique redemptive purposes and bring more love, grace, truth, and life to the world. 

While you consider your year-end giving, would you please consider investing in the next generation of Christ following leaders?  What would the world be like without them? 

Contributions are tax deductible!

Thank you so much for joining me on this amazing journey.  You are making a difference.

In His Love,
Randy

You can contact me at randy@legacyshepherding.org

Randy’s August, 2011 Update:

20Something Leader’s Retreat:

I was recently given the opportunity to lead a session at an intimate retreat for eleven leaders of Axis – Willow Chicago (Willow Creek Community Church’s ministry to twenty-somethings in the city).

The topic they asked me to address was “Soul Care”.

Ideally, with proper Soul Care, I believe our souls could continually be so lavishly and extravagantly filled up by God, to a point well beyond overflowing, that they couldn’t help but gush and spill God’s abundance and blessings onto everything and everyone around us.  Everything we did for others would come out of the abundance of the overflow, without even really trying.  We simply couldn’t contain it.

Though I haven’t yet attained the ideal, over the years I’ve learned some beautiful lessons on how to care for my soul in ways that have helped me live and serve more fully and consistently from a well-nurtured place of abundance and overflow, which has allowed me to serve on a long-term basis, as opposed to living and serving from a slowly draining, neglected place that may ultimately lead to scarcity, weariness, apathy, and/or burn-out – a flash and crash basis.

I still don’t always effectively apply these Soul Care lessons to my own life, or allow what’s inside me to lavishly spill over onto others, but I’m continually learning what disciplines, experiences, relational connections, sacred rhythms, and pace of life work best for me in my unique design and with the specific limitations God gave me.

It was nice to be able to share some of the principles I’ve learned with this group of young leaders.  Hopefully it will benefit them as they continue to discover who God designed them to be and as they possibly discover and live out their redemptive vocations.

The Place:

The retreat was held on the beautiful property of a couple who live near Harvard, IL.  From what I’ve heard, this couple has a vision and heart for providing leaders and small groups with a place to go for much needed getaways to be refreshed.  They have created a wonderful environment for spiritual and relational connections to happen.

On their property they built a building separate from their house, perfect for a group of about twelve people to stay.  In the middle of the building is a living room, dining room, kitchen, and screened in patio.  On both sides of the main living area are bedrooms designed in a row like a motel.  Each “motel room” has an exterior entrance under a covered outdoor walkway.  Each room also has a sliding glass door leading out to a patio.

The grounds are landscaped with paths leading around the grounds and down to a lake.  There are benches and places for solitude and reflection.

I’ve never met these people, but I am inspired by the environment they’ve created as a way of living out their vision and passion.  It’s so cool to see people intentionally living out their callings, even when it goes virtually unnoticed.  So many unnoticed things carry huge impact behind-the-scenes.

Imagine what the world would be like if everyone contributed their energies, giftedness, and resources to loving others and making the world a better place, in their own unique way.  Way to go people I don’t know and may never meet!

Student Impact Retreat – Sand Blast:

Student Impact, the high school ministry at Willow Creek Community Church, recently had its annual four-day camp called “Sand Blast”.  This summer they had more than 1,000 students and 300 adult leaders attend!

I currently mentor five young leaders who serve in that high school ministry – one staff member, one house group leader, and three small group leaders within the house group system.

While at camp, one of the women I mentor had the privilege of praying with a high school girl in her group to receive Christ into her life.  It was the first time this young leader ever had that joyful opportunity.  She was very excited.  The entire weekend was a blessing for her and an all-time ministry highlight.

Over the course of the weekend, over 100 high-school students committed their lives to Christ for the first time.

One of the young men I mentor, who doesn’t regularly serve in this ministry, filled-in as a small group leader for the four days.  He was given a group of guys who had a bit of a reputation for goofing off and creating distractions.  Upon meeting them, this young leader immediately discerned that these guys really had a desire to make the most of the experience.  They wanted to connect deeply, grow spiritually, and goof off!  They just needed intentional guidance in balancing it all so they could accomplish everything they desired.  As he described how he handled the group and various situations, I saw incredible growth in this young leader.  He handled things beautifully.  One guy told him that he was the best leader they’d ever had.  So they all had a blast!  And grew!  Awesome!

Way to go, everyone who served at this event and who serves on an on-going basis!  What a blessing you are to the future leaders of the church, the community, and the world.

5K Run/Walk for Africa:
On another note, if anyone is interested in what’s going on these days around the horn of Africa, you may want to get involved in a 5K Run/Walk on the morning of August 27th.  Check out more info at: (click on photo)

Thank You:
Thank you for all you do, even when it goes unnoticed.

In His Love,
Randy

Randy’s July, 2011 Update:

The Ripple Effect:
One of my on-going hopes for this ministry is that people will pass on what they have received and bless others in the process.  Hopefully they will pass it on in such a way that others will be equipped to do the same, so that more and more redemption and love are passed on.  It doesn’t have to look like how I do it.  I don’t want anyone to be me.  I want them to be their own true self, shining their unique redemptive reflection in this world.

For the past five years, I’ve met with the current senior pastor of South Park Church.  Eric Flood has continued to shine more and more brightly each passing year.  Over that time, he has implemented numerous things that we’ve discussed on our times together, which has been a great source of encouragement and joy for me.

In last month’s update, I mentioned sharing with his staff some of the things I’ve learned about Spiritual Mentoring.  In that meeting was a woman named Renee Gerstmayr.

Renee has been on staff at the church, in the position of Executive Administrator, since 2008.  She began formally mentoring women in their 20’s as recently as this past spring.  It was both her personal experience of being mentored and the church’s mentoring initiative (Shout outs to R.A. and Becky!) that encouraged her to take the next step toward mentor others.

Here is what Renee wanted to share about a recent mentoring experience she had.  She entitle it “Serendipity”:

Serendipity:
“Serendipity is defined as the occurrence and development of events ‘by chance’ in a happy or beneficial way.  [Quotes added].

“Serendipity is a word that accurately describes what I have tangibly and consistently experienced throughout a current mentoring relationship.

“It began in early May.  A college student in her early twenties was planning on mentoring a few young girls.  She wisely committed to being mentored herself before solely mentoring others.

“She was expectant that God would work through a mentoring relationship with me.

“I, on the opposite end, wasn’t quite as expectant.  After all, I know me…and I’m supposedly the “mentor”.  I prayed that God would somehow, in some way, use me just a little.

“The first meeting allowed us to get to know each other, our histories, and our journeys.  Through that casual lunch and conversation, I was able to see where she desired to grow most.  We set an appointment to meet in a week.

“I started the next meeting out with the broad question, ‘Who is God?’

“Words like creator, protector, all powerful came to the front.

“Then…serendipity…she said, ‘I understand and can say all of this stuff, but I truly can’t even imagine being made in the image of God.’

“I looked in the ‘lessons’ section in the middle of the Serendipity Bible that I’ve been using as the primary resource in mentoring thus far, and there it was…Made in His Image: See Psalm 139.

“We read Psalm 139 silently to ourselves.  She followed it up with, ‘David is praising God for making him…I would never be able to do that.’

“ ‘Let’s do an exercise,’ I said.  ‘If I asked your friends about you, what would they tell me?’

“The words began to flow: gentle spirit/presence, patient, peace maker, insightful perspective, rational, grace-giving, just, examiner, relational, likes to laugh, a light, dependable, loyal, faithful, a good listener, safe, and prayerful.

“We paused a moment and I suggested we turn our focus to God.

“ ‘Are these words that would describe Him?’

“We went through every last one, and discovered they were.

“There was a look of awe in her eyes.

“ ‘That’s how you are made in His image!’ I said.

“A broad question, a simple statement, and God’s word allowed the Holy Spirit to work in one of His children so that she could begin to believe and know in her heart that she, in fact, is made in His image and is His beloved.

“If that isn’t an occurrence and development ‘by chance’ in a happy and beneficial way, I don’t know what is!

“We’ve continued to experience serendipitous revelations since then, however, not always on that scale.  Each week we both pray expectantly that His Spirit will guide us and each week we walk away a little closer to God and a little closer to each other.

“This young woman admits that the intensity in which she is now compelled to grow is much deeper than she anticipated.  Her experience in being mentored goes much deeper than the one-on-one Bible Study that many think of when they are first introduced to mentoring.

“Serendipity.  As a believer in Jesus Christ, I believe that ‘by chance’ is really the activity of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.” – Renee Gerstmayr

Questions to Ponder:
What words would your friends use to describe you? 
In what ways have you been made in God’s image?

Thank You:

Thanks for supporting the on-going ripples, through your prayers and financial support, so the ripples may continue to flow and make a difference in the lives of those they touch and impact.  Your generosity has made a difference in my life, in Eric’s life, and indirectly through the ripple effect, in Renee’s life, and more recently in this young woman’s life.  I’m very grateful for your prayers and support.  You are making a difference.

In His Love,
Randy

Ripple photos are from Flickr compliments of: robin24/5554306438, airosan/2252207105, and clearlyambiguous/25303234.

Randy’s June, 2011 Update:

This update will catch you up on a few things that happened over the past month and a half.

A Training Opportunity:
Periodically, I gather some of the young people I spiritually mentor together to go over the bigger vision of Spiritual Mentoring/Shepherding.  Recently, I gathered eight people together who weren’t around the previous times I shared this information.

We looked at things like:
1) The three main goals of Spiritual Mentoring (so in the midst of the process we stay focuses on the target and have a tool to assess whether or not we are accomplishing what we’d hoped to).
2) Possible character qualities to look for in the people we are considering investing in, and
3) The seven stages of faith development that may be helpful to consider when spiritually mentoring someone (so we meet people where they are at and with what they need).

This small group will probably meet a couple more times over the summer or fall to dive deeper into the practical aspects of doing spiritual mentoring in intentional ways, and to practice on each other.

Please pray for us. We plan to meet again the last Saturday in June.

A Sharing Opportunity:
Last month, I had the privilege of sharing an overview of Intentional Spiritual Mentoring/Shepherding with ten staff members and two elders of South Park Church in Park Ridge. 

They have a growing desire to do more spiritual mentoring within their church.  Recently they held a six-week workshop on the topic.  Over sixty people went through the training!  Since then, there has been a lot of excitement around the potential opportunities.

With the growing interest, the head pastor (Eric Flood) wanted the staff to receive an overview on Spiritual Mentoring from my perspective and learn about some of the specific processes and tools I uses that I’ve found work well.  He invited me to share with them what I’ve been learning.

It was a true joy being with them.  They have a great group of leaders, with teachable and humble hearts.  I felt warmly welcomed and could sense their openness to what I feel so passionate about.  I’ve continued to be impressed with the things they have implemented at their church over the past years, and with the quality of their staff and elders.

From what I hear, there have been many inspirational stories unfolding as some staff members and lay people have been putting into practice what they’ve learned about spiritual mentoring.

Please hold them in your prayers as they continue to implement Jesus’ model for impacting the world with God’s love, by investing in individuals who will pass it on.

A Men’s Retreat:
For the third year in a row, I went on a summer retreat weekend with a couple guys; one a previous small group member (Praveen) and the other a young man I currently mentor (Dave), who recently accepted a full-time position on a church staff. 

This year we returned back to a Catholic retreat center called Christ in the Wilderness.  The center has three hermitages (single person dwellings) on 80 acres of land designed for solitude and renewal.  We took over the place for the weekend.

Our retreat was a nice combination of solitude and group activities.  We usually each prepare a session to lead the group through – whatever God has been teaching us over the year or has been putting on our hearts specifically for our time together.  We try to make our sessions very experiential, rather than teaching, incorporating the outdoors when possible.

Our time together this year had some powerful moments of honesty, releasing things that God wanted us to let go of, relational connection, and fun.  There were many occasions over the course of the weekend where the question arose, “Why can’t life be like this all the time?”

One evening after dark, we sat out on the deck at my hermitage and watched thousands of lightning bugs putting on a light show across a grassy meadow and even high up in the trees.  I’ve never seen that many lightning bugs in one place, shining their unique and brilliant designs in the darkness.  It was a magical moment – beautiful, awe-inspiring, and surreal.

Thank You:
Thank you for your prayers and support.  May God bless you for your faithfulness.

In His Love,
Randy

Randy’s May, 2011 Update:

Neil in Full-Time High School Ministry:

Neil Sternberg and I have been meeting for about ¾ of a year.  During that time, Neil left a job in the financial world to take a church staff position in Student Impact, the high-school ministry at Willow Creek Community Church, a ministry he’d been volunteering in for many years.

Last month, Neil and his wife, Kaitlin (who I also meet with), led a trip to the Dominican Republic with seventeen high-school students.

It’s thrilling for me, seeing people go on trips like this, knowing the impact trips like this can have on the ones who go.  Something life-changing happens when we get out of our comfort zones and interact in meaningful ways with the poor.

Mother Teresa said, “Christ is hidden under the suffering appearance of anyone who is hungry, naked, homeless, or dying.”  In the poor, we see Jesus, in his distressing disguise.

When I’ve taken trips like this in the past, I not only experienced Jesus in new ways, I came back seeing material possessions in a new way.  I often started out feeling sorry for the poor people we served, for what they lacked.  I came back feeling sorry for us, for what we’ve lost by having so much.

It’s wonderful for high-school students to experience being with the poor at such an early age.  Hopefully, it will change their perspective for a life-time.  I’m so glad Neil and Kaitlin helped facilitate such a trip.

Neil Shares About His Dominican Republic Experience:
“It was an incredible experience being a part of another culture, seeing people in a different part of the world worshiping God, and getting the opportunity to create experiences with seventeen high school students, alongside two other leaders.

“God worked in powerful ways in all of our hearts and lives over the eight days we were there.

“My perspective has shifted towards the way I celebrate people, the way I worship, and my heart for those in poverty.

“One specific lesson God taught me while we were there is that it really isn’t about having more or less materially.  What matters is that you build the foundation of your house on a rock.

“You will see in the video a woman named Felicia.  We helped build her a house that is smaller than most of our bedrooms.  It was tough to see people living that way.

“I’ve struggled with the questions my entire adult life: Is it okay for us to have nice things when so many people don’t? -or- Should we sell what we have and give more away to the poor?

“As we helped build Felicia’s house, we were gathering rocks and large stones to lay as the foundation within the walls of her house before the cement could be poured over them.  We separated the rocks and stones from sand, dirt, and trash.

“As we were doing that, God gave me insight into the questions I had been asking.  It was a different answer then I expected.  The answer was to build my house on a rock, on the foudation of God at the center.  The focus is not on what we have (or don’t have), but on what we put our trust and hope in, as our foundation.  Out of the heart condition that a foundation with God at the center will produce, I can answer the questions of how I should live and how I should steward my resources with more clarity.

“This trip has marked our lives in a significant way and I believe God used us to make a significant impact in the Dominican Republic.” – Neil Sternberg

A Video About The Trip:
“Check out the footage from our trip” – Neil:

Mother Teresa Quotes:

“Get to know the poor in your country.  Love them.  Serve them.”

“If you have a sick or lonely person at home, be there.  Maybe just to hold a hand, maybe just to give a smile, that is the greatest, the most beautiful work.”

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”

“There is a terrible hunger for love.  We all experience that in our lives – the pain, the loneliness.  We must have the courage to recognize it.  The poor you may have right in your own family.  Find them.  Love them.” – Mother Teresa

Thank You:

Thank you for all the ways you serve the hungry, thirsty, homeless, naked, sick, and imprisoned.

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – Jesus (Matt 25:40)

I hope you encounter and experience Jesus through the ways you love and serve others.

In His Love,
Randy

Randy’s April, 2011 Update:

Mission Church Information Night:

I recently attended an Information Night for Mission Church – a church plant that will be officially launching on October 2, 2011.  The lead pastor of this church plant is Jon Peacock, a thirty year old who previously led Axis, the 20something ministry at Willow Creek Community Church.

I had the privilege of walking with and mentoring Jon during the years he led Axis.  Planting a church like this has been a long time dream of his.

I’m very excited to see a number of Legacy Shepherding alums and mentorees (Jon, Kelly, Brian, Jodie, Mike, Rob, Charity, and Casey) getting involved, following what they sense is God’s call, and even more fully living out their unique designs, purposes, passions, and belovedness through this pioneering endeavor.  No doubt, they are going to grow incredibly as they leave the familiar behind and step out into uncharted territory.  My hope is that it will draw them, and everyone around them, into an even deeper intimacy and humble dependence on God.

The Vision of Mission Church – per excerpts from Jon:

“Chicago land is 3rd on the list of most un-reached cities in the U. S.

“God has given us a dream.  We are convinced that He has invited us to plant a reproducing church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago—a church committed to seeing those far from God become redeemed and restored.

“He has downloaded a vision into my heart that grips me daily, a vision of seeing the Church re-claim it’s sent-ness, the Church becoming dangerous again, the Church truly living out the Jesus mission.

“God has invited us to take the Church into our culture, to be the Church on the move.

“We dream of the day when ‘The Ten’ (the towns of Bloomingdale, Itasca, Medinah, Roselle, Wood Dale, Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Addison and Bartlett) are transformed by the planting of a reproducing church; an epicenter of Hope and Redemption that brings change to these neighborhoods.

“ ‘The Ten’ is an area of over 262,000 people who are not in need of another church, but in need of a movement of people who live and love like Jesus.

“With Jesus as our consistent example of leadership, we recognize that if we desire to be a movement our leadership style will be different than if we are trying to lead an organization.

“In a movement, the goal is to release leaders;
in an organization the goal is to retain them.
In a movement the dream is transformation;
in an organization the dream is sustainability.
In a movement leadership is messy, unpredictable, and always changing; 
in an organization leadership is fixed, clean and predictable.

“This is not a Sunday morning dream—we are committed to living it out daily.

“We will begin by recruiting and building a launch team. In May of 2011, we plan to launch Life Groups, which will be a collection of people living on mission to serve and impact the communities around us.  Impacting these cities by living out the gospel in a tangible way is what fuels the dream within us.  Each weekend we will come together as a church body to celebrate all that God has done in our communities in the past week and be encouraged and challenged for the week ahead. The weekend Celebration Services will launch in October 2011.

“I dream of a day when Chicago Land is covered with hundreds of Missional Communities.

“We are convinced that this is not only an opportunity, but a call.

“Come dream with us!” – Jon Peacock

Love Thy Neighbor:

Recently Jon and Kelly bought a house in the area they feel called to serve and love.  As the weather warmed up a bit, Jon decided to move his fire pit from the backyard to the front yard, along with some chairs – yep, he’s got some red-neck in him!  The first night he sat out there alone.  The second night the next-door neighbor came over and sat with him.  They called another neighbor from across the street over to join them.  The three hung out until around midnight.  As the neighbor across the street left, he told them that he had lived alone in that house for the past sixteen years.  This was the first time he’d ever hung out with a neighbor.  I would guess that there are going to be many more hang out nights this summer.  It seems like something Jesus would do.  Hanging out with a wide variety of people, serving the community and the world, meeting tangible needs, doing life together, loving God and others as best they can, bringing healing truth and redemptive presence right where people are at – the other six days of the week.  That’s the kind of church they hope to build, the kind like Jesus modeled.

Mission Church will initially meet in the Bloomingdale area.

For more information, check out:

Peacock Journey

You can see more photos on Facebook, at Mission Church.
A church website will be coming soon.

Thank You:
Thank you for journeying with me on this adventure.  It’s impossible to describe all the fruit I’m seeing in a monthly newsletter.  Extraordinary things continue to happen.  Your investment is multiplying.  I think we are investing well in the next generation and in the future Church.

In His Love,
Randy

Randy’s March, 2011 Update:

Forgiveness is a common piece in the process of our transformation and healing.  I often see the need for forgiveness weaving its way into the work I do.  So this month’s update describes a Forgiveness Process you may find helpful.

Forgiveness Process:

1) As you consider the issue of forgiveness in your life, invite God into the forgiveness process.  You can do this by praying something like, “Lord, I invite you to be with me as I focus on this problem.  Please show me whatever you want me to know, and help me to forgive whomever and whatever I’m supposed to forgive.  Graciously permit me to perceive your presence and receive your truth.”

2) Acknowledge/recognize the offense(s) committed.  Name the offense(s) specifically and honestly.  Write them down if it is helpful.  Don’t minimize or make excuses for the other person’s behavior.

3) Name your judgments about the person who hurt you.  Write those down.

4) Offenses that wound us usually carry a perceived negative message or lie about ourselves that hurt us.  What was the message/lie you received?  By doing what they did, what did you believe the offender was saying or thinking about you? What did you come to believe was true about yourself?  Ask God to show you any lies about yourself that you internalized.  Name the lies.  Write down whatever surfaces. 

 (Note: Sometimes we refuse to forgive because we refuse to accept the message/lie attached to the offense.  It may help to separate the two.  We can forgive the person and not accept the lie we received through them.)

5) Acknowledge/recognize the feelings you have.  I feel sad, angry, scared, and/or shame (a vague feeling of inadequacy, not being good enough, or feeling flawed at the core).  If you feel anger or shame, what is under your anger or shame, sad (hurt) or scared (fear)?  What are you sad about?  What are you scared about?

6) Allow yourself to feel your feelings.  Though the painful feelings are often something we wish to avoid, rushing past feeling our feelings hinders our process of forgiveness and healing at the deepest layers.

7) Invite God and his love into those painful feelings, those wounded places.  Let the Lord comfort you.  Comfort yourself.  What do you desire to receive?  Imagine Jesus with you, giving you the comfort you desire to receive from the Lord.  Imagine what He would do or say.  Soak in His love as long as you need to. 

(Note:  If it is difficult for you to picture Jesus in this way, you may want to imagine the Father, the Spirit, a person who loves you, or even a beloved pet – for all love comes from God and God’s love is big enough to work through all things to bring about your healing and redemption.  Go with what feels best for you right where you’re at, without judging yourself.).

8 ) When you’re ready, state your forgiveness to the Lord.  “Lord, I have been angry at     (name)    for     (offense)   .  I forgive     (name)   for     (offense)  .” (Be specific).

9) Look at your judgments about the person who hurt you.  Own, confess, and release your judgments to God.  Release the offender of the offense, and let God be the Righteous Judge.  Which means you choose to release the person from owing you anything.  “Lord, I confess that I have judged     (name)    in the following ways:” (pray through each one specifically). 

“God, I give You permission to take this judgment and bitterness out of my life and remove it from my heart.  I choose not to blame or hold the actions of     (name)    against him/her.  I hereby surrender my right to be paid back for my loss, and in so doing, I declare my trust in You alone, as the Righteous Judge.  I turn from my judgments and instead pray blessing upon    (name)    .  I ask that you bless     (name)    in the following ways:” (be specific).

10) Hurt people hurt people – Often we do and say hurtful things when we’ve been hurt.  Confess/apologize to God for anything you need to take responsibility for.  “Lord, please forgive me where I have sinned and hurt others:” (Be specific).

11) Pray for inner healing.  Renounce and release the lies you received as best you can.  “Please heal me where I have been wounded and remove any lies I internalized that are holding me back:” (be specific with the ones you are aware of).  “Help me to receive, internalize, and live in the truth:” (be specific about what is true).  Consider doing more healing work around these lies at a later time.  These wounds heal in layers.

12) Give thanks.  “I am thankful to You for the following things regarding this person, relationship, and/or what I’ve learned through this situation.  I am thankful for:” (be specific).

If you wrote things down, you may wish to burn what you wrote at this point, as a symbol of letting it go and not holding onto it anymore.

But I’ve Already Done This!

I like to remind people that forgiveness often comes in layers, like an onion.  We often need to revisit the same issue repeatedly, each time at a deeper layer, until we get to the core, where we find complete forgiveness and healing.  It doesn’t mean we didn’t forgive on previous occasions.  We did forgive as best we could, whatever we were aware of and could face at that time.  There may be more there that God will bring us back to when we are ready to face it.  It’s rarely a one-time event, especially for big or on-going issues.  To treat it as such, stops the forgiveness process.

Helpful Insights:

Some helpful insights from “The Grief Recovery Handbook” by John W. James and Russell Friedman:
- Forgive does not mean condone.  Forgive = to cease to feel resentment against an offender.  Condone = to treat as if trivial, harmless, or of no importance.

- Any memorized resentment of past events will limit and restrict our ability to participate fully in life.  Successful recovery requires completion of the pain rather than retention of the resentment.

- Forgiveness has nothing to do with the other person.

- Forgiving does not mean forgetting.

- A feeling of forgiveness usually only comes after taking an action of forgiveness.  Action first, the feeling follows.

- Never give unsolicited forgiveness to anyone directly to their face.  An unsolicited statement of forgiveness is almost always perceived as an attack.  The person being forgiven need never know that it has happened.

- Asking others to forgive us is an incorrect communication.  If you are asking for forgiveness, you are really trying to apologize for something.  Don’t ask for forgiveness.  Make an apology.  Let them choose what they will do with it.

-While in the midst of the forgiveness process, do not minimize or rationalize other people’s behavior by thinking the offender did the best they could with what they had to work with.  Even though it may be intellectually true, it is not emotionally helpful.  When you do that, you inadvertently override the forgiveness you wish to issue.  Without realizing it, you are excusing bad behavior.  The intellectual fact is that whatever people do is their best, otherwise they’d do something different.  A sadder part of that fact is some people’s “best” nearly destroyed us.  We can have compassion without negation with a statement more like, “I have compassion on     (name)    for the things that affected him/her.”  This type of statement should only come after all necessary forgiveness has occurred.

Thank You:

Hopefully you found this helpful.  Thanks for joining me on the journey.

The pictures I included were photos I took after the Blizzard in February.  They show what was happening on the outside (Snowmageddon) and what was happening on the inside (new life), just like how forgiveness feels.

In His Love,
Randy

Randy’s February, 2011 Update:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Andy Mentors Morgen:

Andy Tucker is another example of the multiplication effect at work– lovingly investing in one person who will then be equipped to lovingly invest in another, which produces two loving investors, and then four, and then eight…and eventually the world.  You’ve probably seen the mind-blowing multiplication chart in the November, 2010 update.  If not, I encourage you to take a look back.  It’s worth it.

I’ve been meeting with Andy for a number of years.  From the very beginning, he exhibited some incredible inner gifts and strengths, as well as a strong desire to use those gifts to help people grow.  I immediately saw him as someone who would pass on whatever he received from God.  He is the type of man who puts the things the Lord speaks to his heart into practice.

At the time, Andy was leading a medium-sized group of 20somethings.  Attending the group he led was a dynamic young woman named Morgen.  Morgen exhibited a lot of leadership potential.  Andy encouraged Morgen to step up into a leadership role in the group.  He guided and mentored her through the process.

Morgen eventually took over Andy’s leadership role of the group, while Andy focused more on his mentoring gifts – mentoring Morgen and a couple other leaders.  Morgen has been successfully leading various medium-sized church groups ever since, practicing and growing in her strengths.

Guten Morgan Morgen:

I asked Morgen if she’d be willing to write something about her experience of being mentored by Andy.

She chose to do it in the form of a letter to Andy.  In it, Morgen focused on a specific event that exemplified the type of growth she experienced during their time together.  It sounded like a huge break-through in what may be a series of on-going life lessons that will help her become a better leader, lover, and person, as she continues to put into practice what she received.

With the help of Andy’s mentoring, Morgen was able to look at some things that would potentially hold her back from becoming all that she was designed by the Lord to be.  One of those things involved dealing with relational conflict.

What she wrote reminded me of my past mentor, Sheryl Fleisher’s mantra, “Seek to Understand”, as well as a quote I heard recently: “When you understand, you cannot help but love…And when you love, you naturally act in a way that can relieve the suffering of people.” – Thich Nhat Hanh, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1967 for his exemplary life of peace and non-violent reconciliation in Vietnam.

Morgen’s Letter To Andy:

“Hey Andy!

“You’ve spent a considerable amount of time with me over the last two years.  From the time you first pushed me to come to a leader’s meeting, you’ve always been a huge support, encouragement, and challenger for me.  It’s probably not always easy to set aside the time in your schedule, but it has truly helped me grow in ways even I can see!

“Today was a great break through for me.  We’ve often talked about handling conflict, from a friendship as well as a leadership standpoint.  We’ve also talked about how I am not quick to process through things.  I need time and am often left wishing I had handled situations differently.

“Well, this morning I had a chat on the phone with a friend of mine.  I didn’t feel that she was being forthright with me about an issue between us, but didn’t know how to call it out.  I got off the phone feeling frustrated.

“I was so bothered.  I knew that if I didn’t talk to her before I saw her that afternoon at church it would just eat away at me.  So I called her back!  AND (wait for this) rather than launching into an attack, I was ready with some questions about how she viewed our relationship. 

“We were able to talk through our issues, see the two different perspectives of the situation, and get on the same page moving forward.

“We were both so genuinely happy to see each other that afternoon.  It felt amazing!  I’m so glad we confronted the issue in a loving, understanding way.

“All of this is to say thank you.  Thank you for being a mirror for me, for not judging me (most of the time!), and for trying so hard to pass on the image of a Loving and Grace-giving God.

“You’re awesome!” – Morgen Reynolds  ”History starts now”

Here’s a note Morgen added for me:
“Thanks for supporting Andy, and for supporting Axis” (the 20-something ministry at Willow Creek Community Church).  “20-somethings really do need a little extra TLC sometimes, and I feel very blessed and fortunate that I am poured into by so many godly people.” – Morgen

Thank You:

Morgen chose to put what she was learning into practice, and the God of peace showed up.  What great leadership/loving lessons to be learning at a young age.

Thank you all for your love and support throughout this journey.  None of this would be happening without you.  We are all playing a role in what God is doing here.  Many young people (and I) are very grateful to you for your on-going prayers, encouragement, and support.

In His Love,
Randy

 Randy’s January, 2011 Update:

The Spice of Life:

This letter contains a variety of things that have happened over the past few months.

Al Gore Slept Here!

Al Gore stayed at my house for three nights!  It’s true, Al Gore!  What you may not know is that Al actually prefers the name Alex, and Alex is in fact only nineteen years old.

Before starting college, Alex decided to take a year off after high-school and experience parts of our country on foot without an agenda.  That’s right, he’s walking, with no plan.  He started in Maine and walked to Boston, New York and then to Philadelphia.  He took a time out from his walk to fly here to Chicago from Philadelphia to visit Moody Bible Institute, where he hopes to attend college in the fall.  Then he flew back to continue his walking journey.

This is how he described the start of his adventure, on his blog:
“On September 19, 2010, I flew to Portland, Maine from my home in Gilbert, Arizona.  I did not know anyone there and I had never been there before.  After picking up my giant backpack from baggage claim, I walked out of the airport.  And that was as far as my plan went.  From there, it’s been all God.  There is a time for everything and this year is my time to Trust.  I will walk, God knows where, for the entire school year.  I am excited and very scared.” – Alex

Housing Alex was a unique, random event.  He’s the son of a friend of a friend.  I love being able to open my home to people.  There are so many fascinating people to meet in the world, doing so many interesting things.

Please pray for Alex as he continues his journey of trust.  You can follow along at: A Time To Trust  (his first post).

Lutheran Church Outreach:

I was invited to share with a Board of a Lutheran church a couple months ago.  They have a desire to attract more young people in their twenties and thirties.  They were wondering what I’ve been learning through the ministry I’ve been doing.  It was a blessing to be with them.  It brings great joy to my heart when churches are open to asking themselves the tough questions about building bridges with the next generations.

Please pray for them, and other churches, as we all attempt to figure out how to best love and share the love of Jesus with the next generations and our world.

Spiritual Mentoring Lunch:

One of the pastors I meet with invited me to a lunch with a couple of his staff members.  The staff members are going to be leading a five-week workshop trying to develop some spiritual mentors among their congregation.  We discussed some of the things I do with people that I’ve found powerful and effective.

Please pray for them as they put on this workshop beginning in February.

Tuesdays With Morrie Eulogies:

In the book “Tuesdays With Morrie”, terminally ill Morrie attended the funeral of a colleague who had died suddenly of a heart attack.

“ ‘What a waste,’ he said. ‘All those people saying all those wonderful things, and Irv never got to hear any of it.’ ”

The book goes on to say: “Morrie had a better idea. He made some calls.  He chose a date.  And on a cold Sunday afternoon, he was joined in his home by a small group of friends and family for a ‘living funeral’.  Each of them spoke and paid tribute.  Some cried.  Some laughed.  Morrie cried and laughed with them.  And all the heartfelt things we never get to say to those we love, Morrie said that day.  His ‘living funeral’ was a rousing success.  Only Morrie wasn’t dead yet.”

Last weekend a group of young people I’ve mentored surprised me with my own “living funeral”, to celebrate me and to tell me publicly the things they wanted to say to me.  It was really special.  I tried to receive their loving words as best I could.  I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such quality people.

Hopefully this doesn’t mean I’m going to die soon!  

In my “thank you” email I commended them on their great idea and wrote, “I think we should kill off someone every week!  Who’s next? ☺”

When my mom died suddenly almost four years ago, it was a very real reminder of how important it is to have said the things you want to say to those you love while you still have the opportunity.  You never know if you’ll have another chance or which conversation may be your last.

I encourage everyone to speak your words of love, affirmation, apology, and whatever else you’d like to say to those you love today.  Maybe have a “living funeral”.

Word For The Year:

On the radio, I heard about a pastor who doesn’t make New Year’s resolutions, because those are often based on his own willpower – what he can accomplish on his own without God.  He prefers spending time listening to God and allowing a word to surface that may represent the work that God wants to do in him internally throughout the new year.

They gave the example of the word “Present” – to be more present in each moment and more present with the people you love.

I think my word for 2011 may be “Joy”.  I sense God wanting to do some internal work in me in that area of my life.  We’ll see what happens.

What might your word be?

Thank You:

Thank you for following along on this new beginning – a brand new year - and for your prayers, encouragement, and support that make this whole ministry possible.

May God bless you in this New Year, this new beginning.

In His Love,
Randy