EXPRESSIONS EXPRESSIONS EXPRESSIONS I S S U E N O . 1 / / J U LY 2 0 1 2
E NC EN COU O URA RA GE G E ME N NT T FFR RO O M RE R E NO N O VA VAR RÉ É FO F OR R LI L I FE FE W WII TTH H G GO OD
Gra ce In Serva Grace Serv a nt n thhoo od od Up dates from Arou Updates Around nd th e Wor Wo r ld Ne w Renovaré New R en ovar é Re so ur u r ce ces
CONTENTS
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends,
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Letter from the Executive Director
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Updates from Around the World
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Grace in Servanthood
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Meet John Bosco Habimana, pictured on the front of this publica on. He is the second highest ranking 9th grader in all of Rwanda! John Bosco was a house servant un l Africa New Life paired him with a sponsor and he began his educa on with New Life Chris an Academy. Now he is studying for the SAT, with a goal of going to college. My friend, Alan Hotchkiss, the U.S. Execu ve Director for Africa New Life, told me his story about talking with John in Rwanda. John Bosco came to Alan and pulled out a book he was devouring–Celebra on of Discipline by Richard Foster. John Bosco wanted Alan to help him with a few words that he didn’t understand. Alan then sent me a message to see if Richard would write a note encouraging John Bosco in his walk with Jesus. Richard gladly obliged! The story con nued when Renovaré friends in Houston and Denver bought 50 more copies of CelebraƟon of Discipline for the en re 9th grade class at John Bosco’s school.
DVD Resources
As you read the first issue of “Expressions” you will note our Interna onal focus. You will hear about what God is doing in South Africa, our latest Interna onal Expression, and you’ll get to know more about our other interna onal partners who are carrying the message of the “life with God” to people in their countries. I pray that as you are challenged by Tom Smith’s essay, you will take the me to consider your own journey and God’s calling on your life to serve others.
Fall Curriculum Ideas
The reach of the ministry of Renovaré is far and wide, and we could not do this without YOU–our partners in the ministry. Together, we are a great team! I hope you will find in these pages a confirmaƟon of your partnership with Renovaré – that the impact of your giving is one that reaches the world. Would you consider giving a special giŌ this summer? It will be a tremendous help to us. As we venture into new countries and new projects, it is giŌs like yours that extend the reach of Renovaré. Thank you for joining us in this journey! Our Mission Renovaré USA is a nonprofit Chris an organiza on that models, resources, and advocates fullness of life with God experienced, by grace, through the spiritual prac ces of Jesus and of the historical Church. Chris an in commitment, ecumenical in breadth, and interna onal in scope, Renovaré helps people in becoming like Jesus.
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Our Vision We imagine a world in which people’s lives flourish as they increasingly become like Jesus. The Renovaré Covenant succinctly communicates our hope for all those who look to him for life. In u er dependence upon Jesus Christ as my ever-living Savior, Teacher, Lord, and Friend, will seek con nual renewal through spiritual exercises, spiritual gi s, and acts of service.
Gratefully,
Rachel Quan Execu ve Director P.S. John’s life was changed because of a resource that Renovaré provides. You are a part of making that happen! Thank you!
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UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD {RENOVARÉ BRITAIN & IRELAND}
JOE DAVIS
Renovaré Britain & Ireland was formed over 10 years ago. Since that me, with James Ca ord as Chair, a diverse board of men and women have gathered promo ng the key messages and aims of Renovaré. In January 2012, we took on our first employee on a part me basis for an ini al three year period. Joe Davis is now tasked with developing our website www.renovarelife.org, our courses and resources, and working with churches, organisa ons and individuals. When asked about his ministry with Renovaré, Joe Davis commented: “I am so thrilled to have the privilege of working for Renovaré. The people of Britain and Ireland are so hungry for an authen c Chris an spirituality that actually works! Renovaré’s teaching on the kingdom of God and a balanced, prac cal strategy for discipleship is so desperately needed now.”
BRAZIL
B R I TA I N & I R E L A N D {RENOVARÉ BRAZIL}
PASTOR EDUARDO PEDREIRA
An expression of Renovaré in Brazil was officially launched in 2008. Since then God has been doing amazing things among us. We decided to adopt an organic approach as a primary way of moving forward and growing the ministry. Through spiritual retreats, mentorship processes and forma ve literature, we are pursuing three specific things for the ministry of Renovaré Brazil: • Spiritual forma on as a personal and individual process • Spiritual forma on as a community experience in the context of a local church se ng • Spiritual forma on as a body of knowledge that restores in us the Imago Dei (image of God), transforming us into Christ’s likeness. Keep praying for us!
{RENOVARÉ KOREA}
BRIAN KANG
In the past, Renovaré Korea has had many wonderful events with Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Siang Yang Tan, and others. Thousands and thousands have been drawn to find out what Renovaré is all about in many different parts of Korea, and their lives have been changed because of the ministry. The current focus for Renovaré Korea is the building of spiritual forma on groups all over the country. We have heard many tes monies from those in the groups. Some of them were on the brink of dying, but were spared. Their marriages, businesses, and families were strengthened because of the support they found in the spiritual forma on groups. These life-changing tes monies are happening because of the groups. Renovaré Korea will con nue its dedica on to helping people the way that Jesus did – by mee ng their needs and rela ng to them right where they are.
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KOREA
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was largely disembodied and not connected with the majority of South Africa's suffering. Today, eighteen years a er becoming a democracy, this disembodied version of Chris anity sadly s ll prevails. In many parts of our country spiritual forma on is s ll for the elite and does not reflect the balanced vision of Renovaré.
GRACE
WHAT GOD IS DOING
HROUGH IN SERVANTHOOD T R E N O VA R É S O U T H A F R I C A discovering conversa on partners from the difcoined by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, ferent streams. From after South Africa's first democratic elections in 2000─2003 Lollie, my wife, and I lived and 1994. It is a metaphor for South Africa's immense diversity. worked in Colorado This diversity is what makes it so exhilarating to live here. Springs and we had the wonderful opportunity to sign the Our country of almost fi y million people Renovaré Covenant. To this day I s ll have has eleven na onal languages. Another the Covenant Card as evidence in my walphrase that is used to describe South Africa let. I guess you can call me a card-carrying is that it is a 'world within one country.' This member of Renovaré! refers to our beau fully diverse landscapes In 2003 Lollie and I moved back to South that range from bush veld to mountains and Africa and planted a church in from spectacular oceans to deserts. Johannesburg. During the last nine years we have been on a journey It is within this Rainbow Na on that BY where we are figuring out what it we are "officially" launching the South TOM SMITH means to follow Jesus within our diAfrican expression of Renovaré. I call verse post-apartheid South African it the "official" launch because the context. One of the sad facts about work of Renovaré has been doing the South African story is that the its quiet fermenta on in many unofficial ways for some me now─whether through Jesus narra ve was used to legi mize the the resources published by Renovaré or inhumane system of apartheid. By reducing the forma on of covenant groups. In 1993 the gospel to just "accep ng Jesus in your my own journey with Renovaré started heart so that you can go to heaven", large when I bought DevoƟonal Classics at a por ons of white privileged South Africans book sale. I can s ll remember the joy of could pursue a version of Chris anity that outh Africa is called the Rainbow Nation; a term
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Since returning to South Africa we have slowly detoxed from this disembodied version of Chris anity. Part of this journey has been the development of rela onships that cross the boundaries that have been created by apartheid. For the last three years a group called Oasis South Africa1 has created a "rhythm of life" that bridges the apartheid-created boundaries between races, classes and genders. We have been experimen ng with what it means to follow Jesus together, not apart. Our experiments have benefi ed greatly from the work of Renovaré. It has been a slow but rewarding journey. We are learning that as privileged South Africans we have a lot to unlearn. We are seeing that the journeys of the rich and the poor are intricately connected with each other. We are discovering that the rich have to learn that they are not gods and that they have something to receive and that the poor have to discover that they are also made in the image of God and have something to give. As we break through the boundaries created by apartheid we are rediscovering a spirituality that is healthier. We are experiencing forma onal journeys that reflect God's aim in history of ".... the crea on of an all-inclusive community of loving persons with God himself at the very center of this community as its prime Sustainer and most glorious Inhabitant."2 During the next few months the ini a ng leadership team of Renovaré South Africa
(Trevor Hudson, Adri-Marie van Heerden, Suze e van Rooyen and Tom Smith) will invite people to an eight-month journey. We will start the journey with a retreat day on the 8th of September a er which we will create covenant groups that will journey together and explore the "balanced vision of life in Christ". In these groups we would like to recover Ubuntu, a concept that states, "A person is a person through other persons." We have experienced this rela onal emphasis through the work of Renovaré Brazil and we know these rela onships will also work in our similar Southern hemisphere context. A er the ini al eight-month journey we will have another retreat day during which we will reflect on our experiences and choose a leadership team that could discern the future for Renovaré in South Africa. We are excited to see how we can further contextualize Renovaré in our South African context. If you are reading this in South Africa and would like to join the journey or have already engaged with Renovaré in one of the "earlier ways", please email me or visit the website at www.renovare.co.za. We would love to hear from you, and have you join us. In the Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals book two lines of the "Servant Song" read, Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ for you? Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too3
We hope that through our South African expression of Renovaré we can serve the rest of the Renovaré body of Christ and we pray for the grace of allowing you to be our servants too. Tom Smith is married to Lollie and they have the sacred privilege of parenting Tayla and Liam. Tom is a pastor and is currently doing his PhD in spiritual formation. He is the director of Renovaré South Africa and can be reached at tom@renovare.co.za. Tom and Lollie are pictured above wwith Trevor Hudson
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www.oasisza.org Foster, Richard J., et al, ed. The Life with God Bible ( San Francisco : HarperBibles, 2005). 3 Claiborne, Shane, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro. 2010. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Grand Rapids Mich.: Zondervan. p.579 2
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THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY
HEARING GOD
Jesus’ Master Class for Life
Developing a Conversational Relationship with God
DALLAS WILLARD WITH JOHN ORTBERG
DALLAS WILLARD WITH RICHARD J. FOSTER AND JOHN ORTBERG
In this six session presenta on, Dallas Willard and John Ortberg weave together biblical teaching, popular culture, science, scholarship, and spiritual prac ce into one cohesive individual or group DVD study, showing us the necessity of making profound changes in how we view our life and live out our faith. Leader’s Guide included with the DVD and a Par cipant’s Guide is also available (ideally each group member has a par cipant’s guide).
Filmed at a gathering of the Renovaré Ins tute, in six thirty-minute sessions Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and John Ortberg introduce the core themes of Dallas’s now updated and expanded book Hearing God. Leader’s Guide wri en by Gary Moon included with the DVD. SESSIONS INCLUDE
You Were Created for In mate Friendship with God What Hearing God Is Not: Rivals to the S ll, Small Voice Trinitarian Fellowship: The Word, the Spirit and Life Together The S ll, Small Voice Hearing God in the Context of the Kingdom of God Hearing God as a Life
SESSIONS INCLUDE
The Divine Conspiracy The Path to a Blessed Life Becoming a Good Person Treasuring What Ma ers Most Becoming a Community of Prayerful Love Living as a Disciple of Jesus
DVD RESOURCE
DVD RESOURCE
JUST RELEASED
Visit bit.ly/NCRSFire to purchase CDs and DVDs of the May 4-5 2012 “The Fire of the Word” event at Trinity United Methodist Church, Denver. Included are talks by Chris Webb, Ruth Haley Barton, David Arthur deSilva, James Bryan Smith, Richard J. Foster, and others.
THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY
Hearing God
DVD Series – Reg. $24.99 > Renovaré Price $21.99 Participant's Guide – Reg. $9.99 > Renovaré Price $8.99 Book – Reg. $24.99 > Renovaré Price $16.99 Unabridged Audio CD – Reg. $39.95 > Renovaré Price $33.99
DVD Series – Reg. $30.00 > Renovaré Price $23.99 Book – Reg. $17.00 > Renovaré Price $12.99 Unabridged Audio CD – Reg. $26.98 > Renovaré Price $23.99
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View sample videos at www.youtube.com/renovareusa Purchase at www.renovare.us/shop
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FALL CURRICULUM IDEAS RENOVARÉ SPIRITUAL FORMATION GUIDES BY LYNDA L. GRAYBEAL AND JULIA L. ROLLER
The Renovaré Spiritual Forma on Guides bridge Bible study, reading of devo onal classics, spiritual forma on group accountability and prac ces, and larger inten onal discipleship themes. Each chapter includes a devo onal reading, a “My Life With God” prac ce, a Scripture selec on, numerous spiritual forma on teaching points, an historic Chris an exemplar, and addi onal ideas for reflec on and growth. Forma ed similarly to Renovaré’s much-used A Spiritual FormaƟon Workbook, the series is for individuals and small groups.
TITLES INCLUDE
Connec ng with God─on hearing God Prayer in Worship─on the Psalms Learning from Jesus─on the Gospels Living the Mission─on the book of Acts
Renovaré Spiritual Formation Guides Reg. $14.99 > Renovaré Price $10.99
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View a sample of each book at www.renovare.us/shop
ESSENTIALS CONFERENCE 10
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At a Renovaré Essentials Conference attendees learn the basic, essential elements of a vibrant Christian life– grace, traditions, community, disciplines, and covenant– from members of our Renovaré Speaking Team, led by Director of Teaching Ministries, Nathan Foster. We integrate teaching, conversation, experience, and worship to create a full day of insight and encouragement for anyone who needs their faith refreshed, their awareness awakened, or their spiritual formation deepened. For more information, contact Joan Skulley at the Renovare office: 303.792.0152.
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