As some of you know this week I am in Orlando, Florida for the Exponential 2013 conference. It was nice to venture out of the Northland winter that is still going on into spring. And yes my wife sent me a picture of the 8" of new snow.
This trip is not an escape from the snow, even though I saw 80 degrees today. This trip is about connecting and seeing the heart of other church planting pastors. Today during the worship and great teaching there was one inescapable fact. There are a lot of people here! 5,300 people on site and over 30,000 watching via free webcast around the world!! According to www.Exponential.org, this is the largest gathering of church planters.
The theme is DiscipleShift. We are discussing how to more effectively make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ. Today, speakers like Francis Chan and Jim Putman put forward a challenge to be more intentional in our relationships to disciple those God has place in our lives. Our hearts need to beat with the love of Christ to make discipleship the priority in our churches and church plants. You can join the remaining days via FREE webcasts at www.exponential.org/webcast.
As much as I enjoyed the teaching and fellowship, one thought keep coming to mind. We need more laborers! You might think we have enough pastors in this world and that is the problem. But today hearing pastors talk, the need is very clear. We need more leaders that are completely sold out to Jesus Christ to follow His example to make disciples. These Jesus-type disciples don't just sit there, they are reproducing disciple makers.
"Then He (Jesus) said to His disciples, 'The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.'" Matthew 9:37-38 (HCSB)
Jesus saw that the people were worn out, needing leaders to shepherd and feed them. Jesus said there was a problem, there is not enough workers. As pastors and leaders, we need to pray to God for more laborers. But prayer is not the only thing we can do. We have to disciple those people God has put in our churches and in our lives through relationships. A disciple of Christ impacts and models change for people in relationships as they do life together.
As I process all I've absorbed today, my heart is filled with joy and wonder. Joy that I have a Father in heaven that cares enough to love and teach me. Wonder in how I can impact my context and culture of the Northland with love and relationships that can cause people to grow as disciples in Jesus Christ. Join with me in prayer as we look to God for guidance in making disciples that impact the Northland.
Note: Stay tune for more updates from Exponential. If you want to see live post, follow me on Twitter @jhlemaster or Facebook www.facebook.com/jhlemaster. Blessings from Florida!
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