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 … [Read more...]
Serendipity – The Ripples Continue!
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 … [Read more...]
Training, Sharing, and Retreating
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 … [Read more...]
Neil In The Dominican Republic
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 … [Read more...]
Mission Church
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. … [Read more...]
Forgive to Live!
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 … [Read more...]
Andy Tucker Mentored Morgen
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 … [Read more...]
Variety – The Spice of Life
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 … [Read more...]
Christmas Letter!
Merry Christmas! It’s Christmas letter time! Here’s a little glimpse into my world (outside of ministry) this year. Cat In On The Hat Pot! I visited my friend, Rusty, for a couple days this past summer. He was training his cat to go to the bathroom on the toilet! It was weird going to the bathroom knowing the cat had been in there before me! Or walking in on the cat and waiting for him to finish! omg! Note: Eventually the training … [Read more...]
Frequently Asked Questions
Randy's December 2010 Update: Frequently Asked Questions Edition How many people do you meet with/shepherd/mentor? I regularly meet one-on-one with between 20-30 next-generation leaders. What do you do with people when you meet with them? I attempt to build an intentional, loving, safe relationship with them. I listen to their life and their story. I ask questions and seek to understand their inner world, the truth and the lies … [Read more...]
Nuree’s Legacy
Who's In Church These Days? What percentage of people in the Y- generation would you guess currently attend church on a weekly basis in the U.S.? Per “The Bridger Generation”, by Thomas Rainer: 65% of the Builder Generation attend church weekly Only 35% of the Baby Boomer Generation attend church weekly Only 15% of Generation X (roughly ages 34-49) attend church weekly Only 4% of Generation Y (roughly ages 16-33) attend church … [Read more...]
Charity in Africa
Randy's October Update Imagine: Imagine sixty orphan children sleeping in a 20 x 20 ft. room, living on rice and bread, rarely being held, and never getting outside the walls of their compound. Imagine what would happen in our world if no one did anything about these things, if no one led the way to awareness, compassion and life-giving change. Y- Generation Leaders Making A Loving Difference Around The World: Charity is one of the … [Read more...]