On Expedition +

CHEESY HEADING?

2-4-6-8, who do we appreciate is what popped into my mind, as I reflected on the four two-day Global Training Network meetings just concluded in Phoenix Arizona.

The GTN Senior Executive Leadership Team (SELT) met for the first two days (the 2); Hud McWilliams led a “Soul Care” workshop for the next two days (the 4); the overall leadership of GTN came together for the next two days (the 6); and the last two days were focused on “outcome based training” (the 8).

Each of the two-day sessions was great. 

THE “2” — THE SELT

I appreciate being part of GTN’s Senior Leadership Team. Our purpose is to support and input GTN’s founder and president, Paul Madson.

While we discussed GTN’s vision, values, strategy, and organization, we also shared our lives and prayed for our staff, and the incredible impact they are having equipping, encouraging, and empowering indigenous leaders in the Majority World.

One of the things Paul Madson emphasized during our SELT meetings was the model of “Stewardship Leadership.”

THE “4” — SOUL CARE

The second two days of meetings were led by Hud McWilliams. I have had the privilege of working with Hud and Nancy McWilliams since the 1970s. We joined the staff of GTN together (along with Phil and Laina Graf) in 2012.

Hud is one of the most biblically rooted people I know and is a pastor’s pastor. His wife Nancy chimes in and adds to his sessions. Hud is “deep waters,” “a wise old owl,” who continually reminds us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

One of Hud’s phrases (we call them “Hudisms”) is to “access God’s story of us.”

I so appreciate Hud and Nancy and wish I could bottle Hud’s insights and distribute them more widely than Coca Cola.  Maybe the GTN staff is doing that.

THE “6” — THE GTN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 

During the two-day all GTN staff gathering, guest speaker Hans Finzle spoke on “Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make…and How to Avoid Them.” This was the title of one of the books he has written.

Several GTN staff members also spoke and shared but the highlight of this two days was the update given by Paul Madson. Paul and Lisa began GTN in 2004 with a vision to “equip and encourage indigenous leaders through out the Majority World.”

Paul pointed out that the global Christian movement is growing at the speed of a bullet train (77,000 new Christians a day). The challenge is that the leadership is only growing at the speed of a bicycle. More than 80% of leadership in the non-Western world have had no formal training and very little non-formal training.

The exciting thing is that since its inception in 2004, GTN has grow to a staff of 180. These staff are experienced, educated, and entrepreneurial…they are also gracious, humble, and mature. They are having a tremendous leadership training impact in 80 countries around the world.

I so appreciate the staff and leadership of GTN and being a part of it with our Divine Expedition training.

THE “8” — RE-FORMA TRAINING

The last two days spent with the founders of “Re-forma” focused on a “global standard for non-formal biblical trainings.” One of the shifts advocated during our time was away from teaching (though teaching is involved) to learning. “If you think you are teaching and no one is learning, you are just having a talk.”

So the question is not what am I teaching but what are others learning? What outcomes are being imparted?

Phil Graf and I spend the six hour return drive from Phoenix going though our Divine Expedition training with this in view.

WHO DO I APPRECIATE?

I appreciate the 2-4-6-8 days of meetings we just had. I also appreciate being part of GTN; I appreciate the leadership of GTN (including its board of directors); I appreciate the staff of GTN; I appreciate the vision and values of GTN; and I appreciate the indigenous leaders we have the privilege of training and working with around the world.

Most of all, I appreciate our great and gracious God and Savior… and I appreciate you…your friendship and partnership with us as we minister with GTN.

Because of His great grace,

Linus