CCS December 2005 Newsletter

At this time of the year we’re thinking of God’s great gift in His son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We’re also looking forward to 2006.

May I suggest a word to use repeatedly in 2006? The word SPOUDÉ, the Greek word for diligence. As I give cell seminars around the world, one particular session has emerged as a clear favorite—the session on diligence.

In that lecture, I highlight the numerous occasions that the Greek word spoudé is used in the Bible (e.g., 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Peter 3:12-14, Hebrews 4: 10,11, etc.).

Why is this session on spoudé so well-received? Because it encourages leaders to focus not on those areas beyond their control (e.g., talent, giftedness, education, or personality) but to focus instead on hard work, which anyone can do. Proverbs 14:23: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Seminar participants are reminded that persistence and diligence will eventually bring results. Spoudé!

As we all know, ministry is often disappointing. Strategies backfire. People say they’ll come to the cell and celebration and don’t. Just last week my family and I went down the street to invite our neighbor to a meal and to our special celebration service. Roland, originally from Texas, looked tired. “I’ve been on the freeway for four hours today. I’m certainly not going to spend time at church on Sunday. Sunday is my time.” We dejectedly remembered how many Rolands live in Moreno Valley. But Paul’s advice also came to mind, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9) Spoudé.

In my last newsletter, I highlighted rapidly growing cell churches around the world. Many of you reading this newsletter find yourself in just the opposite state. Ministry in western secular culture is hard.

The church is not growing and ministry is tough. Remember spoudé.

My survey of 700 cell leaders uncovered two key reasons for leadership effectiveness: prayer and diligence.Keep on praying, inviting, making contact, and sowing.

Although God is sovereign in heaven and earth, he expects us to sow, plant, and do it again. He will give the increase in unexpected ways according to His marvelous power.

Some of the pastors I’m coaching are in the planting stage of their cell church journey. Others have begun to see breakthroughs—like Lighthouse Christian Center in Big Bear, CA. They started 2005 with 19 cells and ended with 31. They experienced exciting growth in the celebration service. The

previous year, however, was dry. In the January newsletter I’ll share what they did differently.

Until then, Merry Christmas and spoudé.

CCS News

• CCS offers coaching for those planting cell churches or transitioning from a traditional church to cell church ministry.
• I’m now an official missionary with Cell Church Solutions. The CCS board approved plans for me to raise support from cell churches to replace the CMA denominational support. I continue to write, coach, and do cell seminars.
• My current book focus is to create a five-book training track to be published in September 2006 ( Scott Boren is the editor). The book titles are:

  Live! Experience Christ's Life

  Encounter! Receive Christ's Freedom

  Grow! Deepen Your Relationship with Christ

  Share! Make Christ Real to Others

  Lead! Guide a Small Group to Experience Christ

• Next CCS board meeting is on February 23-24, 2006 in Myrtle Beach, SC. All Suggestions to improve CCS are greatly appreciated and will be discussed.