We planted Lake Hills Church in North LA County in 1990.

Last month Larry Barker trained The Multiplication Workshop materials with a group of Philippine pastors via webcam. Last week he sent me a report of his follow-up briefing with these pastors as they implemented the training principles.

With all the people in the world (over 7,062,834,338) — it seems difficult sometimes to believe that God knows and cares about me. [click to see current population]

Over 50 years ago, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming were all spurred by a passion to share the gospel message with the Auca Indians in Ecuador. After making contact with this isolated tribe whose previous response to the outside world had been to attack all strangers, they together responded in obedience to Jesus — and tragically, all five men were killed by those they were trying to reach.

When Jesus sent His disciples to make disciples, He actually expected them to do what He said. He expected them to obey!

I just finished another week of training leaders in coaching skills.

As I coached with a church planter today, I got excited about his progress! Over the past several months they’ve completed an Alpha course with several non-beleivers and they are preparing to launch another one next month. They’ve held several preview services and they are planning their move to weekly worship soon. They’ve had a baptism, several prayer walks in the community, and a recent prayer retreat. They’ve also established clear goals and expectations for this fall season!

I have long understood that leadership is influence.

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.”

In Luke 10, Jesus sent His disciples “two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.”