Converge Point - Winter 2016 by Converge

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president from the

VOLUME 8 n NUMBER 2 EDITOR Bob Putman

DESIGNER, PRODUCTION MANAGER Pam Nelsen

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Fran Anderson Alllison Hurtado Point (issn/1546-3257) is published quarterly (with a special edition in December) by the Baptist General Conference, 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Printed in U.S.A. Nonprofit Standard postage paid at Arlington Heights, Ill., and at additional mailing offices.

God is blessing Converge. I was convinced of this more than ever when I saw the favor God gave our movement this past season. In recent months we opened new fields in Poland, Moldova and Indonesia. We also opened many new churches and multisites in our country. One of the newest trends is that existing unaffiliated congregations are joining our cause. God has opened the front door of our movement. The gospel is being preached in creative ways in our churches, and we see more and more people responding. Many of you know the grace God has given us in the area of evangelism: in 2002 our movement recorded about 5000 baptisms; in recent years that number is far closer to 19,000 a year. God is at work! I believe Converge is headed into one of the greatest seasons of growth and impact in our history. The front door of our movement continues to open wider as individuals invest in relationships with nonbelievers and invite them to church; as pastors preach the gospel with boldness and clarity; as planters start new churches and as missionaries heed the call of God to carry the hope of Christ to foreign lands. In this issue, we are reminded of our individual and corporate opportunities to “open the front door” of our lives, churches and movement. So many need the love of Christ, the gospel message and the support of our team to meet, know and follow Jesus. Let’s heed Paul’s challenge: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message (Col. 4:2-3). Better Together,

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Scott Ridout President, Converge

ERIC JOHNSON

God has opened the front door

inside features

4 Cultivate, reap, plant

How to reach others with the gospel BY SCOTT RIDOUT

12 Four life-changing days

An inside look at a Church Planting Assessment Center BY ALLISON HURTADO

20 Nepal

The fastest-growing church on earth BY BOB PUTMAN

extras

8 Your God-given circles of influence

10 Meet ‘Doc Hop,’ our new Church Strengthening director OUR NEWEST MISSION FIELDS

16 Opening doors in Poland 18 Ulumanda: opportunity and urgency 19 East to the dawn: Sweden

on the cover We are inviters. We invite people to visit our church, to meet and follow Jesus, to start churches and to serve as missionaries. Recently, we’re inviting more likeminded, unaffiliated churches to join our movement.

23 Connection n 17 new Converge church plants n Unreached people groups targeted n Steve Smith transitions from Southeast

How to reach us n T o add/remove your name from our mailing list, call 800.323.4215, M-F, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST n E mail us at point@converge.org @convergeww Converge Worldwide converge.org winter 2016

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Cultivate, plant, reap — how to rea Sharing your faith doesn’t have to be scary, but it does take effort.

BY SCOTT RIDOUT

I met Dirk Young in spring 2002

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity” (Col. 4:5).

“Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…” (Col. 4:3).

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while I was pastor of Sun Valley Community Church in Glibert, Arizona. My son Jon had expressed an interest in playing football, so we signed up for a local league. I was thrilled he wanted to play the sport I loved so much. And, in spite of my incredibly busy schedule, I wanted personally to get involved. I got the head coach’s name, Dirk, from the league and called him immediately. “Dirk, my name is Scott Ridout, and my son Jon has been assigned to your team. I’m just calling to let you know if you’re looking for an assistant coach, I would love to help out.” “Well, that’s great. Why don’t we talk at practice this week?” “Sounds good. All right, I’ll see you Thursday.” I hung up the phone thinking, That could not have gone better. Little did I know on the other end the reaction was different. Dirk’s wife Pam had asked, “Who was that?” “Just another meddling parent trying to mess up my team,” Dirk responded.

Practice began that Thursday and, as it turned out, Dirk and I got along well. He was a very good coach and great in his interaction with the boys. I have to admit I was quite hesitant to let Dirk know what I did for a living. In numerous past conversations, whenever I mentioned I was a pastor, everything shut down. (Many friends said all they could think of then was how many times they had cursed prior to that point in the conversation.) I wanted time for Dirk to get to know me without knowing I was a pastor. So I didn’t tell him. A week before the season was over, Dirk approached me, saying, “So I hear you’re a pastor.” I was disappointed. One family who had started attending our church that spring had a son on the team and ratted me out. The game’s up, I thought, no more stealth mode. It turned out that Dirk’s and my connection was strong enough to bridge the gap. “Where’s your church?” he asked. I gave him directions and described the church’s atmosphere. We had a brief conversation about his not attending church. “Well, I would love you and your family to show up one Sunday,” I interjected. (You never know if comments like this are spoken too soon. But God provided the opportunity, so I took it.) “We’ll see about that,” he replied. In my experience, that statement can be translated “Not on your life.”

Practice went well, as did our last game. When we held our end-of-season celebration, Dirk and I were cordial to each other. I kept thinking, This might be the last time I see this guy. The following Sunday morning we did our usual setup at church. Sun Valley had met in rented facilities for 12 years, and the routine of arriving at 6 a.m. was ingrained in my life. Classroom setup, band and sermon prep were normal. I made my way to the front by 8:45 to greet people as they entered. Between services I took my post at the entrance again to say good-bye to first-service attendees and greet the second-service crowd. That is when it happened.

ach others with the gospel Dirk and his family parked in our guest parking. I was shocked. I watched them walk toward me as if in slow motion. I never thought I would see him come to church, but now he was there. I decided to play it cool, but inside I was jumping up and down. All the hard work of cultivating our relationship over the past months had resulted in Dirk and his family choosing to come to church. To my surprise, they kept visiting Sun Valley. In fact, Dirk soon became an usher (we made the distinction between “serving” and “shepherding” ministries to provide a place for pre-Christians to get involved). And his family were among the most consistent attendees at Sun Valley.

The Young family (l. to r.): Dylan, Dirk, Pam and Blake

That fall I went to his house to spend time together and talk football. On his coffee table I noticed a three-inch-thick book titled Introduction to Christianity. “Are you reading that?” I asked. “Yeah,” he said sheepishly. “This whole church thing has me thinking. So I thought I should catch up.” “Well, you’re not going to do it reading that! It will take you forever. Let me get you a book I read when I was on that same journey.” A few weeks later I gave him Lee Stroebel’s The Case for Christ. For the next several months we had many interactions as we became friends. By February, Dirk had finished the book I gave him and announced to me, “I’m in.” I asked him to clarify, and he informed me he now believed the Jesus of the Bible was real. But he still hadn’t gotten to the place that he would trust him for his salvation. In 2003 Sun Valley moved into its new facility. Dirk and his family became more and more involved. In fact, Dirk’s wife Pam painted murals of a cross and the verse John 3:16 in our auditorium: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Dirk and I continued to coach together, enjoying our boys, our football success and our talks about faith. I continued to pray God would do a work in his life.

Easter 2004 the auditorium was packed. As on most Easter weekends, I presented the gospel in the hope many of these ceos — Christmas-and-Easter-Only attendees — would respond. I asked people to acknowledge their need of Christ as Savior by raising their hands. Looking to the back, I saw it. Dirk’s hand was up. He finally was ready to acknowledge Jesus. His wasn’t a spontaneous, emotional decision. It involved two years of dialog, interaction, investment and friendship, working hand-in-hand with God’s Spirit to see a life transformed. In the ensuing months, Dirk’s younger son Blake received Christ in our home. Dirk and I continued to coach our sons together until they hit high school. We rooted for them as they played side by side on the high school team. When my younger son, David, started

“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Col. 4:4).

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Col 4:2).

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“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6).

“I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 6).

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playing, Dirk and his sons joined me and my oldest son, Jon, in coaching his teams. My relationship with Dirk had turned into a partnership, using football teams as an opportunity for outreach. Over the next eight years, many football players and their families began attending Sun Valley, and many more came to Christ. In all, about 30 families attended as a result of Dirk’s and my efforts together.

Dylan Young (2nd from l.) and Jon Ridout (2nd from r.) played on the team their dads coached.

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” He has called us to be workers in his harvest. Involvement in the harvest requires us to do the “hard work” (John 4:38) of cultivating and planting prior to reaping. How do we do this? Cultivate relationships. Take the time to get to know people and engage with them in real life. People are not projects. Allow them to get to know you, and commit to getting to know them. Enjoy life together. Decide to be their friend, whether they ever come to your church or to Christ. Plant the seed of Christ. As God provides an opportunity, share your testimony and God’s work in your life. Remember, you are not a salesman — you are a witness. Simply tell them of the hope that exists in you (1 Peter 3:15), and let the Holy Spirit do the work. Ask God for wisdom about when to invite them to church. Reap a response. Help your friends understand that it is not enough to know about Christ; they need to put their faith in him and his work on the cross for salvation. Consider using tools such as the One Verse Method1, More Than a Carpenter or The Case for Christ to help them see they need to make a decision. Your church may have a weekend when you know the gospel is being preached and a call to trust in Christ will be given. Invite them to join you. There are many ways to do this. But at some point, they need to know they must decide about Jesus. He himself said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In every stage, enjoy the process, make friends and be used by God. You can do that because God has called us, equipped us and positioned us to be witnesses. When we share our faith, life is fuller and more meaningful, and God uses us to impact eternity. n Scott Ridout is Converge president and former lead pastor of Sun Valley Community Church, Gilbert, Arizona. An evangelism method based on conversation, using one Scripture verse and a simple, hand-drawn explanatory diagram.

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Your

Go cir

Here’s how to invite someone to church and invest in their spiritual journey. BY LEE STEPHENSON

If you are anything like me, you have this deep-down ache to see everyone you

know sitting next to you on Sunday morning. It excites you to think about your dad, co-worker, the barista at Starbucks and your next-door neighbor all joining you and your family at church. You are sold on the vision. You have heard your pastor ask your congregation to invite someone to the Easter service or special church event. You prayed God would bring people to mind and, lo and behold, he did. This is the point, however, when fear begins to rise inside you, and your mind becomes flooded with such thoughts as “Will they think I am weird?” “What if they don’t like the music or the sermon?” “What if they ask me a question I don’t have the answer for?” Or my favorite: “They probably can’t come anyway.” If you have found yourself wrestling with any of these situations, your heart is in the right place. But, my guess is, you are looking for help in how to invite people in a way that feels natural, not forced or awkward. This moves the challenge into an area of developing more skill to be effective. A helpful way to think about navigating the invitation challenge is to think about it relationally. For example, you would never invite your grandmother to church the same way you would the cashier at the local grocery store — unless she happens to be the same person. I suggest categorizing your relationships and adjusting your invitations to be appropriate within the context of each. Here are three ways to think about it:

Inner circle People in your inner circle are those with whom you have the deepest relationships. These are your family, friends and special co-workers. It is safe to say you know them well, and they know you well. These are people you have spent a lot of time with and, as a result, you know their talents, dreams and deeper motivations. Together you have shared good times and bad times. They know if you are being you or having a bad day. You can invite those in your inner circle to church as naturally as you would ask them to a ball game or movie. Show them you genuinely care about them, and you simply desire to share an experience with them that is important to you. Keep it as simple as any other kind of invitation to hang out. The biggest key is to be real and ask from the heart. Integrate something tangible from your relationship showing what is important to you. For instance, consider positioning an invite similar to this: “I know you have heard me talk about my church before. It would mean a lot if you would consider joining me this week at church. After-

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od-given rcles of

influence

wards, let’s go grab a bite to eat.” Sometimes the perfect message series creates an opportunity to invite: “I remember you and Melissa shared that you were having some parenting issues. I think the new series on parenting we are starting at our church this week would be beneficial. I know we are excited to get some help in this area of our lives. What do you say?”

Outer circle The second category of people in your life are acquaintances, those you know but with whom you are not close. People who might fall into this category are those you see at work or run into at the gym or are parents of one of your kids’ classmates. Approach these relationships with a more generic and friendly invitation. Here is an example of what you could try: “I am not sure if you have plans for this Sunday. But we have been attending this great church, and I would like you to come and check it out with us. I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you.” You will find they are honored you actually thought of them. Even if they don’t attend, it will help move your friendship forward. Make sure you keep the conversation light and casual, but don’t let fear stop you from asking a question that could change their eternity.

No circle This last group of people are those you meet for the first time or once in a blue moon. He or she could easily be the person sitting next to you at Starbucks. As friendly hellos are exchanged, consider keeping the conversation going with a quick invitation that really has no cost to you. Say something like: “I was wondering if you go to church and, if so, where? If you don’t have a place, I’d like to invite you to my church this Sunday.” The conversation doesn’t need to be long or full of personal questions. Keep it short and sweet. No matter what the answer, you will feel the excitement of stepping out in faith. God has uniquely placed you where you are and given you circles of influence. Don’t let the next opportunity slip by without rising to the challenge of investing in someone’s spiritual journey. Will you be the one God uses to bring someone to life in Jesus? Only you can answer that. n Lee Stephenson is Converge Church Planting executive director.

Invite another church to join Converge

Recently, Eastern Star Church, a mega-church in Indianapolis, linked arms with Converge by affiliating with Converge MidAmerica district. This partnership became possible because a local Converge pastor built a relationship with Eastern Star Church’s ministry team, and they partnered to reach their city. Together they could accomplish more than they could on their own, and they saw they were Better Together. Eventually the Converge pastor made the invite to Eastern Star Church to consider joining Converge, partnering with a larger ministry. Since the relationship and track record were already established, joining Converge was an easy step to take. Eastern Star is one of many churches that have come to realize it is helpful to be part of a team rather than doing things alone. Know a pastor going it alone? Is there a church or pastor who would love to be a part of a team? Consider inviting them to join the movement that is Converge. Pray. Be an inviter. Connect them to your district office. We can accomplish more together than we ever can on our own. —Lee Stephenson winter 2016

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Bruce Hopler brings 25 years of experience and a doctorate to Church Strengthening. As director, he will lead our movement in keeping churches healthy. BY ALLISON HURTADO

Meet ‘Doc Hop’ What gets you the most excited about your new position? I have a heavy heart for the state of churches in America. To spend my time encouraging pastors and helping churches think through strategy and understand what healthy means is exciting. You started in ministry as a church planter. Tell me about that. My wife Terri and I planted a church in the D.C.-Baltimore area in 1993, the same year our son Caleb was born. We planted with no launch team or financial resources. For the first year we lived in three different houses, moving between them every two days with a newborn. I didn’t know very few church plants in our area survived. I had to think strategically. Our vision was to develop a missional church before people really knew what that was. It was pure survival. I started knocking on doors. I hated it. Then one day a guy opened his door and said, “We were just having a debate on what the Bible meant, and we all realized none of us are qualified. Here you are, knocking on my door. Want to start a Bible study with us?” From there, I found my core group. Wow, that’s a hard start. How did your church survive? We were in a very multicultural area where people worked for the embassies or were speech writers, Secret Service personnel or even NSA staff. They weren’t believers. Through our church plant, Terri and I led them to the Lord and discipled them. For 18 years this is what we did. I loved those years. But the last year and a half was very painful.

Fun Facts NICKNAME Doc Hop FAVORITE BAND Green Day SPORTS TEAM Baltimore Ravens (when I have to watch sports) HE’S ORGANIC “My wife cooks organic foods, and I like to eat what she cooks.” INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT? “I’m a closet introvert. As a pastor I learned to act like an extrovert.” HOMETOWN Fairfax, Va. LOVES Motorcycles, family and reading in a coffee shop or outside STRENGTHS Strategic, arranger, individualization, connectedness, activator (from StrengthsFinders)

What happened that made you leave? I was burned out. If I had a choice between spending time with the Lord or getting emails knocked out, I did emails. The church became a machine to run, and I was neglecting my spiritual formation. I was giving out so much that I was empty. In hindsight, I was trying to be the superhero pastor. In my burnout state, as healthy church leaders moved out of Maryland, I made quick, easy fixes instead of the right ones. Rather than grooming new replacements, I put leaders into place who had no business being leaders. This became the perfect storm when, in a down time, rather than leaders ministering to me, they turned on my family. In brokenness, I left. The experience was the most painful in my life. Out of God’s grace, he used it to rebuild my identity in him. Where did you go? I went to Bluefield College, in a coal mining region in Virginia. I became spiritual formation director for the campus and an adjunct professor. Due to funding issues we had to move on, to Las Vegas. What did you do while there? I became the spiritual formation pastor at The Crossing, then the eighth fastest-growing church in America. They had a lot of groups and ministries, but no spiritual formation systems. My role was to develop these systems and get the leaders to all play in the same sandbox together. I revamped and strengthened their systems and, four years later, worked myself out of a job. I handed over to my replacement the systems I had developed. Little did I know my next step would be this new position with Converge, where God has placed me to work from my true passion. Tell us about your family. Terri is a walking party. When she steps into a room, it lights up and women are drawn to her. She’s an out-of-the box thinker — creative and authentic. My oldest son, Caleb, graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics. He is a strong leader on the hunt for his career. Levi is my artist. He has an old soul. He would rather use a typewriter than a computer. A drummer, he has played on the Strip in Vegas. We’ve let our sons develop their own faith and identity, with boundaries of course. n Allison Hurtado is Point contributing editor.

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An entrepreneur FROM DRUG DEALER

BY PAUL ROOT

TO CHURCH PLANTER

Pastor Aaron Roy is planter and lead pastor

of Living Hope Neighborhood Church, Richmond, California. He had a rough start in life. With his dad imprisoned and his mom unable to care for him, he was raised by his grandmother. She did her best. At age 11, Roy decided to get into the “family business” — dealing drugs. An excellent entrepreneur, as a young man he enjoyed explosive success: houses, cars, girlfriends. But the business was risky. When a rival drug dealer assaulted Roy in an alley, he would have been executed if the gun hadn’t misfired. Eventually Roy was arrested in a sting operation and jailed on felony charges.

Alone and afraid in federal prison Sentenced to federal prison, the darkness of Roy’s future overwhelmed him. He wondered how he would survive. Terrified, he refused to eat or sleep. But lifer Durand Warren displayed amazing peace and joy. Warren shared the gospel, and one night in his cell Roy received Christ. With an insatiable appetite to learn more about Jesus, he attended every Bible study he could. His mentor Warren encouraged him. So did Gay Samples, a single white woman in her 60s who prayed with him and others weekly. Roy received a clear call from God to share the gospel he had found to be so transformational. He started teaching Bible studies to others and saw miraculous conversions. As they studied the scriptures, hardened criminals, some with life sentences, openly wept in repentance and in the freedom of God’s forgiveness. Soon it was time for phase two of Roy’s ministry preparation.

Parole and preparation At his second parole board appearance, Roy was miraculously released. He then enrolled in Moody Bible Institute for ministry studies. There, he met the love of his life, Sugar Mileissi, who had given her life to Jesus. She gave her heart to Roy. After seven years of urban ministry with Sunshine Gospel Ministries in Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods, Roy became convinced the church was the foundation for lasting transformation. He answered our Converge PacWest ad about interest in church planting, and I came to Chicago to meet him. He told me later he had thought, “Who on earth would hire a felon to be a church planting pastor?” Apparently, I would. Roy was approved at the spring 2007 Converge Church Planter Assessment Center. He, Sugar and their three children moved to Richmond, California, to lead a church re-start. The low-income ’hood was burdened with drug dealing, shootings and prostitution. Over the past six years the Roys struggled, sometimes to the point of despair. Some new believers lapsed into a life of drugs and crime. Others found healing but soon fled Richmond’s harsh urban environment. Yet by God’s grace, and the partnership of Converge PacWest churches, the Roys planted a thriving church.

Former felon training church planters Roy and his team wanted to reproduce growing, thriving urban churches like Living Hope Neighborhood Church in other cities. He needed to recruit and train leaders who could connect with the urban poor, broken families, the imprisoned, drug dealers, prostitutes and gang members. Roy didn’t have to look far from his roots. He partnered with Prison Fellowship and World Impact, organizations working in prisons and with urban churches. With World Impact, Roy and lhnc started a leadership home next to the church, where men trained in ministry inside prison can transition into the community. Here they receive further theological training and get hands-on experience to plant new urban congregations. The home’s new resident pastor, Anthony Ramirez, also has a compelling story of brokenness, gangs, prison and redemption through Christ. Trained through The Urban Ministry Institute’s theological program, Ramirez will continue training and internships and eventually plant churches in urban communities. Currently he is starting Living Hope Neighborhood Church Bible studies and providing tumi training in San Quentin and other regional prisons. Who can take an entrepreneurial drug dealer and make him an entrepreneurial church planter? God can. And he has. For more, see the lhnc video: convergepacwest.com/plant-churches. n Paul Root is Converge PacWest associate minister of Church Planting. winter 2016

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Four life-changing da An inside look at what happens at a Converge Church Planting Assessment Center.

BY ALLISON HURTADO PHOTOS BY GRACE CROSBY (pp. 12-13) AND PETER DAHL (p. 14)

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ays

DAYONE

You walk into Heartland Church, shake some hands, get your name tag and pose for your picture. Walk up the stairs into the main room. The Converge Church Planting Assessment Center has started. Marlan Mincks, co-director of the Assessment Center, fires off questions: What are the 16 building blocks that make a church planter successful? Why do we plant churches? What does the outcome of assessment mean? Are you a great number two? Mincks doesn’t sugarcoat. For every new church that opens, four close, he says. The next four days will be intense, emotional and rewarding. The candidates introduce themselves —12 couples with dreams to plant a church, or not. (Not every candidate is convinced church planting is his or her calling. It’s the assessors’ job to evaluate the candidates’ call and help them discover where God is leading them.) After brief hellos, the couples are assigned to groups led by assessors, and it’s off to the races. Listening to candidates give sermons keeps the room energized. They are passionate about Scripture and how to apply it to daily life. The session is fast-paced, the assessors keeping the schedule moving to get to a lot of activities before dinner. Once each couple completes their tasks, an assessor stands up, lays hands on them and prays. Each time is emotional and touching. The assessors have only just met the candidates but pray for them as if they have known them for years. After a long first day, the candidates return to their hotels. Going over the day’s events, Zach and Rachel Christians are overwhelmed. They had been invited to attend the AC just days before it began. The five-hour drive from Iowa to Indianapolis with their youngest son, 10-month-old Elliott, was all the preparation they had. The Christians weren’t sure about church planting, but exploring the possibility was exciting. Zach has youth ministry experience and likes starting new things. “This past year we have been open to anything God is calling us to,” Rachel said. “We were looking for clarity. We wondered if we were looking in the right area.” Another couple, Mike and Jen Satterfield from Washington State, are also overwhelmed, even though they came to the AC feeling relatively prepared. The Satterfields had extensively researched the town they wanted to plant in. Mike shared his knowledge the first day and left his expectations at the door, but he is still shaken as he goes back to the hotel. “I’m a people person, especially in a crowd,” Mike says. “I’m always going to say a joke so people know I’m connected. I had to push past the stoic assessors and trust the Lord and complete my assignments the way he wired me. It was hard.” Back in the assessors room there is a lot of discussion. Assessor Jerry Dahl, a psychologist, will evaluate the candidates’ personalities. Having scheduled one-on-one interviews with them for the next day, assessors share with each other their observations and questions and together calculate and plan. Mincks says most candidates are overwhelmed and excited after day one, but the schedule continually picks up steam. The assessors evaluate the candidates on the 16 building blocks to be a successful church planter. If blocks are missing in the candidates, the assessors do their best to find them or decide if they can be learned. “We start out assuming none of the building blocks exists in the candidate,” Mincks says. “The process allows us, through many different types of interactions, to discover them as the assessment goes on. Public ministry skills, team projects and counselor and assessor interviews keep up the pace as we discover the presence or absence of the building blocks.”

DAYTWO

he intensity of the first day left some feeling haggard. As T the candidates enter day two, it is clear some have already bonded. This day the assessors lead and observe a few group projects and conduct one-on-one interviews with couples. Tom and Joanna Kubiak are unique candidates. They came to the assessment with 30 years of ministry experience, having already planted a church in Chicago years ago. Entering the assessment with curiosity, Tom begins to realize it is a growth experience. As a couple they enjoy learning their personality profiles and hearing about assessors’ experiences. “I really enjoyed the little snippets Lee [Stephenson, executive director of Church Planting] and Marlan gave between sessions,” Tom said. “It was comforting and encouraging to hear we are not alone but have brothers and sisters who have gone through what we’ve been through. This came across as fresh.” During the exercises, the candidates are kept in groups. For assessment, most would think keeping people together in groups might make it difficult to figure out who had the original idea. After all, bouncing off a good idea in a group setting is easy. Stephenson says, “This is what makes assessment realistic. Having everyone together creates a specific environment. It can be hard to talk to an empty room. We make these exercises happen in situations that are as real as they can be. Stress and the expectations of your launch team are part of church planting.” winter 2016

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Should your church launch a multisite congregation?

We want to make it impossible for any Iowan to get to hell. That is our mission and what led us at First Baptist Church (founded in 1858) to move to a new site five years ago. What we really want is for people to know the life-altering love and salvation of Jesus, and for us, our continual mention of “hell” to them reminds us all of the stakes. After God enlarged our physical borders with a new building in Cedar Falls, and First Baptist was renamed Prairie Lakes Church in 2005, the nudge started. In time we knew we could either put our efforts into adding more seats and phases to our building, or we could care about all of Iowa. Iowa has some strong churches but is also filled with dead, irrelevant, “appease the insiders” churches. We chose to invade all of Iowa with the exciting, relevant truth of the gospel. Waterloo, Iowa, was our first multisite, established in 2010. Since then God has enabled us to launch four more sites, including Osage, Grinnell, Fort Dodge and New Hampton. Our six campuses aren’t enough. We must continue the work God began in us in our state. We currently have our eye on several communities throughout Iowa and are seeking God’s leading and direction. As with the pathway to our other cities and counties, we trust God in this. We pray, we listen, we drive across the state, we research, we depend on him. Excuses? You bet. Overwhelming to get started? Of course. But many Converge churches have launched additional campuses. Here’s how to begin. Start with God. Ask him if your church of 50 or 150 or 550 might be called to plant another church or site. Listen to God. Embark on a prayer drive. Are there counties or regions around you that seem void of fully alive churches with an open front door? Lean into Converge and into other churches and pastors who have already made and learned from mistakes and can offer coaching. Every church, in every corner, in every time period was planted by somebody. The church you call home was planted by someone. It cannot stop with us. The next generations depend on us. Yes, it’s costly. Yes, it’s draining in every conceivable way. Yes, it stretches us thin. But on what would we rather spend our time, energy and money? We get to do this. We get to be part of a movement and church that reaches lost people, helping them become disciple-makers who make disciples… who make disciples. By John and Kay Fuller. John is senior pastor of Prairie Lakes Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa, with five additional campuses across the state. John also serves on the Converge board of overseers.

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After many group projects, the candidates begin to realize how important teams are. Apart from learning how to work together and strategize, they learned about themselves. A private meeting with Dahl answers their questions and helps them understand how they can be effective in ministry. For Mike and Jen, it strengthened their marriage. “It bonded us tightly and helped us appreciate each other more,” Mike said. “God put us together as a team, and we learned how my strengths cover Jen’s weaknesses and vice versa.”

DAYTHREE

y the start of the third day, the tension has picked B up. Lunch and dinner with the assessors and candidates aren’t as relaxed. A lot still needs to get done, and many candidates are feeling the pressure. Outcomes are going to be shared the next day. Candidates will be given one of three outcomes: recommended, recommended with conditions or not recommended. Mincks compares them to traffic lights: green, yellow and red. Most candidates wind up with conditions, and as long as these are completed satisfactorily, they will plant. The dreaded NR isn’t given lightly. “The NR saves those who are not wired for church planting from a failure that could damage their family and others,” Mincks said. “When you fail as a church planter, it’s all on you. We have never had, to my knowledge, an NR who planted a successful church — financially independent and growing after five years.”

DAYFOUR

he final morning is D-Day. Mike says he and Jen are T ready for what God has for them. Zach and Rachel begin to doubt their calling to church planting, and Tom and

Joanna are sure of their call. “The absolute affirmation to plant is something you can’t put a price on,” Mike says. “To have people who really know this entire church planting realm say yes to you is more than encouraging.” Mike and Jen are going through a residency program in Converge Northwest at Cascade Community Church. Once completed, they will plant their church in the Seattle area. Zach and Rachel, who were not recommended, are waiting on God’s call. “Mincks told us we 100 percent had a call into ministry,” Zach says. “He encouraged us to stay in ministry and keep pressing for the right position. The assessors affirmed and confirmed us in the process. Even though we weren’t recommended, I left encouraged.” Tom and Joanna, confident of God’s call already, are encouraged that it was conditionally affirmed. Says Tom, “It’s by the grace of God that Joanna and I were called to do the assessment. It was clarifying. I felt OK with God using me as a catalyst to start things and move on.” They are working with Missio Dei, a Converge MidAmerica church planting team, to start a church on the South Side of Chicago. As I left Heartland Church for the airport, my heart was full. I arrived with expectations of just observing, but it soon became clear one can’t just observe. Learning about the candidates and the special call God has placed on their lives was personal. To hear raw emotion behind life stories moved me. I left Indianapolis with new relationships and an excitement to see where God moves Converge next. n Allison Hurtado is a Point contributing editor.

LEARNMORE

Go to converge.org/church-planting/assessment

Help us reach our goal! With the help of our 3100 investors, we are on track to make 2015 our biggest year ever in terms of churches financed. By the time you read this, we will have approved 40+ new church loans totaling more than $60 million for new church construction, land acquisitions and multisite expansions. These church projects represent more than 10 football fields’ worth of new ministry space. Our goal is to have a record year of new deposits and accounts from our Converge family. Your investment in Converge Cornerstone Fund will help make it possible for us to offer competitive financing to Converge churches looking to expand their reach. Also, you will join with 3100 investors who are already earning a competitive rate of return on their investment.

Investment Options Term Investments

Demand Investments

MINIMUM TERM RATE INVESTMENT

MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

6-month 0.875% $100 1.000% $100,000 1.125% $250,000 1-year 1.125% $100 1.250% $100,000 1.375% $250,000 2-year 2.500% $100 1.250% $100 2-year 1.375% $100,000 2.500% $100,000 BONUS RATE! 1.500% $250,000 2.500% $250,000 3-year 3-year 2.750% $100 1.625% $100 2.750% $100,000 1.750% $100,000 BONUS RATE! 2.750% $250,000 1.875% $250,000 4-year 4-year 3.000% $100 1.875% $100 3.000% $100,000 BONUS 2.000% $100,000 RATE! 3.000% $250,000 2.125% $250,000 5-year 2.250% $100 2.375% $30,000 2.500% $100,000 2.625% $250,000

0.875% $100

Church Savings Investments MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

1.000% $5,000

IRAs MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

2.875% $10 3.000% $100,000+

Rates subject to change without notice.

VISIT: cornerstonetoday.org EMAIL: csfund@converge.org CALL: 877.228.8810

This shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such an offer, solicitation or sale is not authorized. The offering is made solely by the OFFERING CIRCULAR. The offering involves certain risks, which are more fully disclosed in the Offering Circular under the heading “Risk Factors.” These investments are not FDIC or SIPC insured. In the event the Fund exercises its right to redeem a Certificate prior to maturity and upon 60 days notice to the holder thereof, payment of the winter 2016 point n 15 outstanding principal and interest will be made to the holder to the date of redemption rather than to the Certificate’s maturity date.

Opening doors

P in

Poland, the size of Ohio, is home to 38.53 million people, only 0.3 percent evangelical Christians. Converge is doing something to change that. BY DENNIS AND AMANDA MCMAINS

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oland

As we walk the streets of many Polish cities, Matthew 9:36-38 is often on our

minds. The people of Poland are like “sheep without a shepherd.” Coming back from years of servitude under Communism, they are disillusioned by the country’s cultural religion. And though their economy is strengthening, they find no peace in materialism. Like a city set on a hill (Matt. 5:14-15), Christian homes and churches in Poland are opening their front doors and leaving a light in the window, welcoming all who seek the truth. Over the past seven years we’ve had the privilege of ministering in many parts of Poland. We’ve witnessed firsthand the people’s heart and their openness to the gospel. Throughout our many visits, we’ve shared Jesus and watched many missions teams from our church, as well as nationals, share the gospel. The amazing thing is that, as a whole, Poles will discuss the gospel for hours, and many are coming to know and follow Jesus. God is opening a door in Poland for many to come to know his Son.

A dream of lights across Poland A pastor in Wroclaw, Poland, shared this story with us. Many months ago he dreamed he was changed into a light like a star and rose above his bed. He began to fly, as a light, over the city of Wroclaw. As he flew, lights began to appear throughout the city; one, then two, then three, then 10. Soon the whole city was alight. The next night he had another dream. Once again he became a star, a light, but this time he flew beyond his city. As he flew, lights began to appear in the surrounding cities. Soon all the surrounding cities were alight. The third night he also dreamt. Yet again he became a light. This time he flew over the entire country. As he flew, lights began to appear. Soon all of Poland was alight. With tears in his eyes he said, “Through these three dreams God showed me his Spirit is actively working in Poland. If I and other believers are faithful, thousands upon thousands will come to meet, know and follow Jesus in the land of Poland!” Bringing the truth and light is on the hearts of missionaries and of citizens of Poland.

God is sending his workers Seventeen people from Sun Valley Community Church, Gilbert, Arizona, served in Poznan and Kalisz, Poland, in summer 2015. They partnered with the Bread of Life Ministry and the Poznan International Church, serving the homeless at The New Life Center, a home for men. They also hung out with children in the local community. During this time, a team member shared his God-story with the men and children. Two men became very angry while listening, and one walked out. The other stayed. At the end of the team member’s story, he asked everyone to join hands and pray. The angry man who had stayed ended with his hands clasped by others and with tears in his eyes. The team members later went to Kalisz and worked alongside a national, Tomak, to lead a sports camp. It was the second year a Sun Valley team had worked with Tomak, and many children from the previous year had returned to the camp. They were so excited because they had already built relationships with some of the returning members of the Sun Valley team. The children asked the adults if they could join them each night for their adult Bible study. Not only did the kids come, but also several men from a professional rowing team staying at the public campground. Two years ago Steve and Jenny Valentine saw Poland’s need and felt God’s call. Converge International Ministries appointed them as Poland’s first Converge missionaries, and they arrived in Poland last August. Their first impressions: “In Poland, one of those things you really can’t know or understand until you come here is just how desperately needy the people are for a Savior. We knew, in general, there was a deep need for Jesus to transform lives here. From our visit here two years ago, we knew it seemed a dark place spiritually. What we didn’t know before we moved here were the stories people would share with us or how they lived day to day searching for something to satisfy a deep longing in their souls.” It’s our prayer that the people of Poland will find the only truth that will fill the emptiness in their lives; that they will no longer seek peace in religion but in a relationship with the one true God and his Son Jesus Christ; that workers will rise up and bring in the harvest as many Poles, through the power of the gospel, come to meet, know and follow Jesus. n Dennis McMains is Converge director of leadership development for Europe and married to Amanda. winter 2016

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Ulumanda: OPPORTUNITY and URGENCY

Our group of eight approached the remote village rumored among the developed world to exist. As we climbed the coastal mountains into the range area of West Sulawesi, Indonesia, we stepped into territory where, to our understanding, no foreigner had ever been. Neither had any of our Indonesian contacts ever set foot in this part of the country. What would we find?

Stunningly beautiful and unreached

A visit to this remote Indonesian village confirms Converge’s call to its newest mission field. BY IVAN VELDHUIZEN

One of our International Ministries values declares, “We prioritize least-reached peoples.” This priority drove us to this overlooked and stunningly beautiful region of the world. As many as 11 unengaged unreached people groups (uupgs) live in this 98-percent Muslim province of Indonesia. No known believers are among them and no one is attempting to bring them the gospel. The aroma of cloves assaulted us as we entered the small village of Ulumanda. Along the narrow gravel streets lay plastic sheets and tarps covered with freshly harvested cloves set out to dry in the equatorial sun. Cloves, cocoa and candlenuts are the primary income sources for Ulumandans. Our team prayed God would show us what we needed to see and give us favor among these people we had never met. We quietly walked along the main road noticing curious faces peeking out from houses. Their simple homes usually had beautiful front-yard gardens of exotic vegetables, herbs and spices with tropical fruit trees mixed in. The village felt a little like how the Garden of Eden must have felt. Stepping into one front yard and admiring the gardens, we uttered oohs and aahs of affirmation. Sure enough, three smiling women came out of the house to introduce themselves. Soon children followed from all corners of the village. Within minutes we were surrounded by gracious, hospitable Ulumandans excited to get in on this visit.

Honored guests in a Muslim nation

For two years our International Ministries team has been in conversations with IndoPartners and Terang Nusa (meaning “light of the islands”), a long-established Indonesian church planting organization. Both had asked us to consider becoming a major partner in reaching the unreached in Indonesia. Along with prayer, we had invested months into discerning whether this is something God has for Converge. My wife Susan and I asked God to show us whether Indonesia should be a Converge mission field. We wanted obvious indicators — signs that encouraged us it was God’s plan. Before our trek to Ulumanda, we spent a couple of days in Mamuju City, the capital of West Sulawesi Province. As we walked through the city, we “accidentally” met the director of tourism for the entire province. He asked us to consider helping to develop tourism in the area, offering visas for any Westerners who would come to assist. A work visa is often one of the most difficult hurdles to clear in serving the Indonesian people. Soon after, we were invited into an impressive Muslim mosque to observe hundreds of Muslims during their evening prayers. We were treated like honored guests. Our afternoon in Ulumanda was characterized by laughter, learning and Indonesian hospitality, with intense interest in our visit. The area high school English teacher invited any American to come at any time to help teach English. Though it was Ramadan, when Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink during daylight hours, they cut down coconuts, broke them open and gave us fresh nourishment. Our team was overwhelmed by these unknown and lost people. God had spoken so clearly to us: “I’ve called you to bring Jesus to them.”

Two haunting images

Indonesia is our newest mission field. We are developing a comprehensive strategy for West Sulawesi, making sure our engagement there is wise, effective and God-honoring. We are committed to having Indonesian church planters on the front lines, with Converge and our missionaries in support roles. Two images continue to haunt me since our visit to Ulumanda. First, a beautiful little girl who has a whole life to give for Christ if someone will tell her the gospel. She represents opportunity. Second, a kind old woman who will go to a Christless eternity if no one tells her about Jesus. She represents urgency. Converge is up for both. n Ivan Veldhuizen is executive director of Converge International Ministries.

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How you can join in this mission n Think Converge first when considering missions. nH elp us send quality missionaries to Indonesia in the years ahead. n Consider ministry support (financial and relational) for front-line Indonesian church planters. n Pray for a great harvest.

East to the dawn Sweden is one of the newest Converge mission fields. Why is that important? BY JIM JARMAN SWEDISH TRAVEL BOARD

Lynn and I love flying over the North Atlantic to Sweden.

Something about the trip grips our hearts. Perhaps it’s the Great Circle route that often takes us over southern Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and into northern Europe. Perhaps it’s the thought of new adventures with old friends in the country where God has called us to be Converge missionaries. From eastern usa, North Atlantic flights usually land in Europe between 6 a.m. and noon, welcoming the dawn. We love watching the new day approach.

‘The least-religious country’ We feel as if we are coming home because Converge had its beginning in Sweden over 150 years ago. We are returning just in time. We have great hope for revival in Sweden, one of the darkest of the earth’s spiritually dark places. Classified as a lost people group, it is the leastreligious country in the Western world. Twenty percent of its churches have closed in the past 10 years. Sweden is so loved by atheists it’s considered their number one country. To greet the dawn is an experience to relish every day. When light approaches, the darkness must give way. The apostle John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). When the sun comes up, the night must flee. Bold, courageous Christians live in the spiritual darkness of Sweden — Swedes and international immigrants. They stand in faith, believing God will have the last word in their country. They take great risks, understand the power of prayer, worship fervently and shed tears for their neighbors. And they are asking for our help. They need the very gift they gave Converge so long ago — the ability to multiply transformational churches. How can we, as a movement, not respond wholeheartedly?

Big vision for Stockholm and beyond In Sweden, we will work hand in hand with New Life Church and their pastor, John van Dinther, a true movement leader. Their vision is to plant 20 churches in Stockholm County and facilitate 10 more church starts in university cities. They already have five started, as well as two ethnic groups, Mongolian and Russian, within the church. On any given Sunday, a visit to New Life is a multicultural dream-come-true. People from more than 50 nations worship Christ in English and Swedish. Others listen through 90 headsets to the five formally translated languages. God is on the move in New Life Church. Groups are so excited about what’s happening that Converge also formed a strategic alliance with efca/ReachGlobal, with whom we will serve as their Stockholm city team leaders. Converge churches in the U.S. are stepping forward to partner in significant ways through church planting internships, strategic short-term teams and sister-church relationships. A renewed cooperation between Bethel University and the Örebro Missionsskola (Orebro Missions School ) is offering an important exchange of professors. What might God be asking your congregation to do to bless the very origins of our movement? Many sense a genuine awakening could be on the horizon in Sweden. What would it be like to have revival in a land so dark they’ve forgotten they’ve forgotten Jesus? This is Sweden’s time. This is her hour. n Jim Jarman and his wife Lynn are Converge’s first missionaries to Sweden. They arrived in Stockholm October 16.

Explore Converge missions opportunities http://cvrg.us/exploreMissions winter 2016

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NEPAL The fastestgrowing church on earth BY BOB PUTMAN

Kathmandu is a dusty, traffic-choked, pot-holed city of 8 million, located

13.6 miles from the epicenter of the powerful earthquake that struck Nepal last April. The surrounding Himalayan foothills, dust and exhaust fumes make the air nearly unbreathable. The city’s streets are flanked by rundown shops with silly English names. Converge missions executive director Ivan Veldhuizen and I traveled to Nepal last September for two purposes: first, to see how nearly $99,000 in Converge earthquake relief funds were being used; second, to visit more than a dozen Nepalese churches and to learn why the church in Nepal is experiencing explosive growth.

‘If you go to the church, you will be healed’ Ivan and I joined a team of American pastors and laymen from several church organizations. Pastor Kirt Wiggins of Converge’s Pathway Community Church, Elmhurst, Illinois, was among them. Our first stop was just outside Kathmandu on Saturday, when Nepal churches meet. Visiting Multi-cultural Christian Church, led by pastor Binod, we removed our shoes before entering the “holy place.” Inside, about 25 men and women, seated on mats woven from plastic bags, were divided by a center aisle. Children sat with either parent. During the two-hour service we sweated in the thick air as this group, nearly all new believers, sang full volume accompanied by an out-of-tune guitar. They prayed aloud simultaneously, a cacophony of voices. The church has met in their building two years, while also sending several church planters to start churches on the other side of the hill. Pastor Binod is training two more church planters.

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I asked our guide Shiva why churches are multiplying so quickly in Nepal. “One main reason is that people want healing,” he said. He described a 23-year-old woman who, demon-possessed, was unable to sleep for three months. Her family took her to an occult healer, who tried many times to free her from oppression. Finally he said, “I cannot heal you. If you go to the church, you will get healed.” She came to this church, and Shiva and pastor Binod prayed for her. She was freed. “Because of her testimony, many people are coming to the Lord,” Shiva told us. In 1960 at best only a few hundred Christians were in Nepal. Today there are more than 1 million, most coming to faith in the past 20 years. Converge and its Nepalese partners are responsible for starting about 2000 of Nepal’s 15,000 churches.

A big relief

IVAN VELDHUIZEN

Also traveling with us were Converge missionary David Nelms and Krishna, the Nepalese national leader. Krishna, Shiva and Bishwa, a third key leader, had worked tirelessly after the earthquake. They traveled to Converge-funded churches to bring tents, water, cooking supplies and a million meals for leaders and families in need. Five churches and 100 homes have already been rebuilt or are scheduled to be rebuilt when materials are available. On Sunday we attended the separate dedications of three of these churches. Alaporte Christian Church was started in 2009 among the Newari people group. Their building was badly cracked in the earthquake and unsafe for use. During its dedication we learned the pastor has started five daughter churches. Their church planters, combined with church-planting trainees from Alaporte’s membership, started 29 daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter churches. And they have nine church planters in training. At Balcot Christian Church, I gave the prayer of dedication, cut the ribbon and opened the door to the congregation’s new building. This four-year-old church of mixed tribes has planted 20 churches and helped host a church planters training conference. Twelve Balcot men and women are currently training to start new churches. Pastor Wiggins spoke at the third rebuilt site, two-year-old Balku Christian Church. Already Balku has discipled converts in five “generations” of new believers. We also visited four homes built for pastors or for village people.

DLs and Timothy training The next day we drove southwest into mountain and river country. Terraced hillsides, waterfalls and suspension bridges marked the route. In Kurintar we participated in an all-day training session for 47 district leaders, each with 20 to 30 “Timothys” in training to plant churches. Three of our group taught sessions in the hot, humid building. Then Nelms called on district leaders for testimonies. The first man, from near the Tibet border, in one year taught through 10 of the required training books, saw 17 families trust in Christ and baptized 27 people. His Timothys were penetrating another village. A man from far western Nepal had traveled 300+ miles to attend the training session. When he had become a Christian, his parents had thrown him out of their home. He has established churches and started a Timothy training center. Two of his students are now district leaders starting many house fellowships. “Revival has started in far western Nepal,” he said. “Many people are interested in multiplying churches and are asking me for training.” Another DL said six of his students established a church in four months. This church planting movement is structured for rapid multiplication. Every Timothy is required to work through 11 training books, start a church within two years, train one or two Tituses (the next church planters) and complete a humanitarian or social justice project such as caring for orphans or widows. Krishna, for instance, houses five orphans in his home.

The happiest man in Nepal Later, in Kurintar we visited the parents of Shiva, who wanted us share the gospel with his father. Like his grandfather and father, Shiva had been born into a Hindu Brahman family and raised to become a Hindu priest. From childhood he learned and practiced its rituals and traditions. At 21, he left his village in southwest Nepal to pursue an education in Kathmandu. There he became a Christian. Shiva is pastor of Nepal Multi-cultural Christian Church in Kathmandu and a national church planting leader. He and others had witnessed to his father 19 times. Always, the retired Hindu priest argued against the gospel. winter 2016

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Our group of 10 gathered in the cramped living room of Shiva’s 84-year-old father and chatted with him. Then Converge missionary David Nelms gently walked him through the gospel message. This time there was no resistance. Shiva’s dad followed along, asking questions and laughing. Then he prayed to confess his sins, turn from idols and trust in Christ as his Savior. As we left, Shiva was glowing with joy. The next morning his father called to say he had gotten rid of his idols and was full of joy in knowing Jesus. In late October, Shiva’s mother also came to faith in Christ.

Meeting the Magars The next three days we visited nine more churches, close to India. After a bonejarring ride and a one-kilometer hike through woods and fields, we ascended a steep hill to reach a church. The western Magars are animists, numbering about 792,000. They speak their own language and practice a distinct culture. Inside we found about 50 brown-faced western Magars, who had been meeting as a church only 18 months, the pastor trained by Shiva. Most had walked an hour to meet us. Others had walked five hours from another new western Magar church. After they greeted us with ceremonial scarves, they boisterously sang a song in their language. Then a young woman in bright-colored clothing danced as all clapped and sang a traditional song a capella. We felt we were participating in a National Geographic special. This Magar group had built their church by hand, complete with electric lights and fans. They had carried the rocks in baskets on their backs, cut down forest bamboo beams for rafters and constructed the walls using donated cement mix. Someone gave corrugated roofing and volunteered electrical work.

Experiencing first-century church growth

STRUCTURED FOR MULTIPLICATION n Nelms and national leaders Krishna, Shiva and Bishwa lead the movement — starting training centers and visiting, training and holding accountable district leaders (“Pauls”). Pauls are often pastors. n District leaders win, disciple and train “Timothys,” the initial church planters, visiting them monthly to ensure accountability. n Timothys train “Tituses” they select from their churches, the next generation of church planters.

We visited another four churches, then it was a long, sweaty walk through fields and along rice paddies to reach our final stop, Bhakati Christian Church. This remote mountain fellowship was just three months old, hosted in the home of a new believer. The pastor had led his mother and others to faith in Christ. Bhakati is a poor church among the Dalit people, the lowest Hindu caste. But already these new believers have led others to faith in Christ. The pastor pointed out his Timothy-in-training. When our time with the Dalits concluded, Nelms observed: “Men, you have just seen the firstcentury church. It’s a remote setting, new believers meeting in a home, with people worshiping and praying for one another. Unbelievers are listening in, and the gospel is spreading rapidly.” We nodded in agreement.

A departing gift On our homeward flight, I thought about the churches we visited, the stories we heard, the things we experienced. For years I had dreamt of someday seeing Mount Everest, but now that didn’t matter. I had just witnessed amazing things God is doing in a country that is 95 percent Buddhist. Christ is building his church in Nepal — at an astounding rate. And Converge is in the thick of this movement. n Bob Putman is Point editor.

LEARN MORE

Read the full-length version of this article and “Six characteristics of Nepal’s Christian leaders” online at cvrg.us/winter2016.

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connection converge

NUMBERS

2416

Number of churches started among unreached people groups through Converge work in Asia and Africa.

Number of new Converge churches holding their public launch in September to November 2015.

l Bothell, Wash. l Clermont, Calif. l Solana Beach, Calif. l Lusk, Wyo. l San Antonio, Texas l Maple Grove, Minn.

l Otsego, Minn. l Fridley, Minn. l Des Moines, Iowa l Washington, Iowa l St. Louis, Mo. l Peoria, Ill.

l Ann Arbor, Mich. l Blue Ash, Ohio l Millheim, Pa. l Penndel, Pa. l Providence, R.I.

one hundred seventy-nine Unreached people groups that have never heard the gospel now being engaged by Converge workers.

Number of church planting candidates approved to proceed during the November 3-6 Church Planting Assessment Center in San Diego, California.

MORE ONLINE... New books from Converge authors

don’t blink: The Life You Won’t Want to Miss, by John Merritt; The Edge: God’s Power Perfected in Weakness, by Dave and Joanne Beckwith; Fred’s Destiny, by James Carlson; Subterranean: Why the Future of the Church Is Rootedness, by Dan White Jr.; The Increasing Church Capacity Guidebook: Designing and Linking the 18 Systems, by Steve Smith; and The Stories We Live: Discovering the True and Better Way of Jesus, by Sean Post. Read summaries online: cvrg.us/winter2016

Steve Smith transitions from Converge Southeast Former Converge Southeast executive minister Steve Smith transitioned from that role November 6 to focus full time on Church Equippers, his new venture. The new ministry helps train pastors and churches in transformative discipleship, developing healthy church systems and addressing personal development. Smith led CSE since 2001, after church planting and pastoring in the district. Joey Mimbs, Converge missionary appointee to the Caribbean Initiative, serves as interim cse executive minister until Smith’s replacement is in place. winter 2016

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Baptist General Conference 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60005

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