NOWLeading

This is a recording of a presentation on MTC by Rev. Jonathan Priest, Director of Mission Training Center, at Best Practices for Ministry 2023, hosted by Christ Church, Phoenix. Mission Training Center https://missiontrainingcenter.com/ is a lay-training platform under the oversight of the three West Coast Districts of the LCMS (PSD, CNH, and NOW) in partnership with Concordia University, Irvine (CUI).

Jonathan and Dust share fun stories, a brief history of MTC, and look at the influence of MTC going forward. (An interview with the new director for MTC https://missiontrainingcenter.com/, Rev. Jonathan Priest, on "growing a leadership culture," and how MTC supports leaders and ministries across the West Coast and beyond in "just in time training" for leaders of all kinds.)

Pastor Zabdi Lopez grew up in Mexico. His wife Elizabeth grew up in the Mid-West. Their story is a mind-blowing account of God's faithfulness to them and God's "Missio Dei" -- God's sending heart. This episode captures the story of how they got together plus the sorrows, challenges, and joys of being a multi-ethnic couple committed to Jesus and His ways. Extra bonus! Great details on how Zabdi and Elizabeth identify and equip the next generation of leaders.

Mike Von Behren (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Amy Schweim, DCE, MSc., Director of Outreach and Connections of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Puyallup, Washington (and also a NOW Start Network Cultivator!). What happens when a DCE has a passion for "family resiliency" and decides to help families in her community? All kinds of stuff! Amy talks about her passion for "family resiliency" and launching new ministries that support families with education, children's day camps, coffee shops, and more to support a "one-stop community resource center for families."

Mike Von Behren (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Gerod Bass, DCE, Worship Arts Director of Our Savior Lutheran Church (OSLC) in Tacoma, Washington. How do the arts and having and "open door policy" for a church building serve as a bridge into the community? Gerod tells the story of how OSLC launched a theater ministry after their sanctuary was destroyed in a fire, and digs into what discipleship looks like when you cross boundaries to share the love of Christ.

Mike Von Behren (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Rev. Ruberto Ek Yah, of Trinity Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon. What happens when an Anglo congregation "gets out of their box" and practices hospitality with their Latino neighbors? How does a network of support (Lutheran Latino Ministries) influence young leaders? Rev. Ruberto Ek Yah is a bivocational Mayan-Latino LCMS Pastor whose story is an example of the grace of God, the power of God answering consistent prayers for new leaders, and raising Latino workers for His harvest.

Note: critical update! President Linnemann shares a story of how Concordia University, Portland, was a blessing to him as a young man and invites memories (saved in audio format) from others to be sent into the District Office in preparation for an evening remembering the blessings of Concordia University, Portland.

Note: critical update! President Linnemann highlights the NOW L.I. and invites every ministry to bring at least one name of a brand new leader or a leader "who is doing a new thing" to the district convention. The dream is to have over 230 names of new leaders across the NOW District.

Note: critical update! President Linnemann digs into the purpose of gathering in convention, and an appropriate mindset for followers of Jesus to have in tough conversations. Then, he provides an update on the "Speaking the Truth in Love about Racism" Task Force, and asks leaders and groups across the district to use the resources provided to prepare for helpful discussion at the convention.

Note: critical update! President Linnemann introduces the theme for District Convention from Hebrews 13:8 and highlights key topics for convention including the Speaking Truth in Love about Racism Task Force, The NOW District Leadership Initiative (L.I.), and an evening dedicated to celebrating the influence of Concordia University, Portland.

Get Inspired! The Rev. Dr. John Arthur Nunes (former CEO of Lutheran World Relief, former president of CU-New York, and author of Meant for More, and other books) joins Cultivators Todd Roeske and Mike Von Behren to give insights and encouragement for those eager to start holistic ministries. Holistic ministries care for the needs of people in “proximity to proclamation” -- the spoken conversation about Jesus. Dr. Nunes reminds us that it all starts with simple questions we learned to sing as kids: “Who are the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood?” and, “Please won't you be my neighbor?”

Jeremy Lucke (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Eric and Dennis of The Manna Project of Corvallis, Oregon. What happens when a pastor supports and encourages creative businessmen to launch a new way to care for the body and the soul through nutritious soup for people facing food scarcity? The story of The Manna Project is an example of trusting partnerships and the gritty details of taking a dream to reality. This conversation covers some steps along the entrepreneurial journey!

An interview with Rev. Kyle Blake of Longbeach, CA. Do we exist to serve the people who worship with us -- or those who live in the community? Engaging in ministry from a new mindset often necessitates starting new: a new ministry, a new outreach, a new worshipping community. This episode is full of ideas and encouragement on how to connect with our communities.

Get Looking! President Linnemann shares his own story of someone looking at him as a leader before he ever saw leadership in himself. A conversation about who to look for -- and how to look for -- new leaders.

Get Rolling! "Lift Your Eyes: Raising Up Leaders for God's Mission" is a new focus for the NOW District. God's focus is always outward giving His love away. President Linnemann sets the stage for implementing the toolkit with an important attitude focus towards leadership built around God as "The Sending God."

Get Started! President Paul Linnemann introduces a brand-new initiative for the NOW District: "Lift Your Eyes: Raising Up Leaders for God's Mission," a focus on identifying new leaders. Paul unpacks eye-opening results from a leadership survey conducted across the district and how those results connect with the NOW Leadership Initiative.

New starts aren't always formed out of nothing -- Sometimes they are the result of two existing ministries coming together to become something different. This is the subject of the latest NOWLeading Podcast, which features audio from the NOW Start Network's July Zoom call with Pastor Jon Mau in Bellevue, Washington.

What happens when your church helps launch an actual coffee-roasting business? This is something that Nick Larsen, pastor of Living Water Church in Clark Fork, Idaho, knows all about. A few years ago, Scotchman's Coffee was launched as a partnership between the congregation, a couple of members, and the church community. Listen to the latest episode of the NOWLeading Podcast to hear more about this exciting adventure.

COVID-19 has challenged ministries and leaders to make adaptive changes across the board. Pastor Matt of Our Savior Lutheran in Tacoma, WA, shares thoughts on how the staff of OSLC pivoted to support people over programs, kept the target on relationships, built healthy spiritual habits into their leadership calendars, and as a team is working together to strengthen their faith community every day of the week.

Paul and Dust talk about the role of mentors, Paul remembers his father's lasting influence, and they discuss how to be mentored and find a mentor. This one's good to share with anyone you know looking to grow in a particular area and not sure how to find a mentor!

President Linnemann provides an update on key changes in the calendar for the District Convention for June of 2022, and we celebrate NOW District Communication Director Vicki Knutsen's many decades of ministry leadership.

Tom and Matt share the values, leader behaviors, and steps to launching a new church plant. Take-aways include the need for trust between leaders, collaboration, knowing your community and its values and culture, and most of all, having a sense of joy and humor! This podcast is a hosted conversation (edited for time constraints) by the NOW Start Network (nowstart.net) on the launch of a church plant in Kuna, Idaho, by Friendship Celebration Lutheran Church of Meridian, Idaho.

Adaptive challenges are ambiguous, systemic challenges that do not have single, technical solutions. We cannot "arrange the deck chairs" and expect to solve adaptive challenges. This conversation with Amy Schweim unpacks a critical issue in her community that was amplified by COVID-19, and how she creatively faced this adaptive challenge. Amy shares how she and her team of leaders help families and children in their community through a new child-care support program that helps children do homework and have fun. Insights include foundations for understanding your community, dealing creatively with adaptive challenges, and the layers of influence that result from facing an adaptive challenge.

The NOWLeading Podcast launches 2021 with a double focus for helping leaders do their best work: "sustaining healthy ministry" and "starting new." This episode captures a far-ranging conversation hosted by the NOW Start Network (nowstart.net) with Pastor Matt Peeples of the Kairos Network (thekairosnetwork.com) on the "why" behind church planting and starting new, and how to connect your "why" to tangible leadership behaviors as a start new leader.

How do we start new, even in the midst of our current challenges? Dust has a conversation with Pastor Mike Von Behren, a founding member of The NOW Start Network, on how Jesus re-oriented his heart as a shepherd, and his change from “housekeeping” to community care in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along the way, they re-cap the recent online NOW Start Network video-conference attended by almost 50 participants from across the Northwest, Pastor Mike shares powerful stories from guest speaker Pastor Nate Schaus, and they discuss encouraging stories of starting new from across the Northwest.

How do we measure the influence of a century-old university when it closes? In the second part of this two-part episode, Dust returns to a personal conversation with Dr. Linda Borecki, adjunct faculty at Concordia, University—Portland, about its influence in her life as a student in the 1980’s and as an instructor of “Millennial" and “Gen Z” students in the last decade. If you’re into conversations that are more about people than institutions, more about relationships than programs, then you’ll find this podcast worth listening to! (This 2nd conversation occurred in the final week of Concordia’s closure at the end of April 2020.)

How do we measure the influence of a century-old university when it closes? In this two-part episode, Dust has a personal conversation with Dr. Linda Borecki, adjunct faculty at Concordia, University—Portland, about its influence in her life as a student in the 1980’s and as an instructor of “Millennial" and “Gen Z” students in the last decade. If you’re into conversations that are more about people than institutions, more about relationships than programs, then you’ll find this podcast worth listening to! (This 1st conversation occurred in the final week of Concordia’s closure at the end of April 2020.)

What is a mission-focused response for the challenges of the COVID19 Pandemic? Dust facilitates a national video-conference conversation (this podcast is the audio portion) hosted by the North American Mission Endeavor. NAME is the formal organization of LCMS district mission executives and other LCMS partner executive leaders. The bulk of the conversation is a presentation/response by Rev. Chris Paavola, church planter at All Nations Church, followed by a panel response, and some following questions. The four questions addressed by Rev. Paavola: 1. How does the church use this opportunity to multiply, equip, and release lay leaders in this new reality? 2. How can existing churches be proactive as a Spirit-led movement of multiplication, rather than merely conserving the normal by making it smaller? 3. What permissions and resources do missionally thinking lay leaders need from our leaders in the church? 4. What are some practical suggestions for sharing the Easter message with our families and neighbors?

Can ONE WORD really change how we connect with our community and neighbors? Listen to this episode to find out what the word actually is! Hint: it starts with “C” and ends in “us.” Dust explores one of the “golden threads” that runs through a number of interviews on the NOWLeading Podcast and unpacks the ramifications of living out this ONE WORD. Reminder: The NOWLeading Podcast is about ”exploring the art of leading from a Lutheran point of view.” The conversations and thoughts on the podcast are built on the assumption that we are living in an era of transition. This era requires leaders with a strong set of values who are resilient, compassionate, and flexible.

As part of the Catalyst Grant Program, Dust catches up with Doug and Julie of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley, WA, on the story behind launching the very first comfort dog ministry in the Northwest with Marie, Comfort Dog (through Lutheran Church Charities). Included in this podcast are great stories of the impact of this ministry and details on how to start a comfort dog ministry. For leaders interested in launching a comfort dog ministry, contact details for Doug and Julie and their ministry team are included in the podcast at the end.

PLANTING A NEW CHURCH WITH DISCIPLE GROUPS. Matt shares how a local congregation in the Boise, Idaho, metro area is mobilizing to meet the “wave of urban migration” by planting a new congregation through the use of small groups and an active disciple-making process. Matt describes the difference between membership and discipleship, and unpacks how “helping someone grow” can be the foundation for helping a new church plant grow too!

PLANTING A NEW CHURCH WITH A WHOLE-PERSON VISION (FITNESS CENTER INCLUDED). Clint and Mike share the impact of Xrossway on relationships with the community and the non-profit management model for a fitness center. Mike shares the incredible story of how he moved from Nebraska to Idaho to help manage Xrossway (thank God for mother-in-laws!)and the captivating power of a BIG vision for doing good in your community.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE CRITICS! A conversation with Ty (30-years starting new businesses including an investment company, Arbor Capital Management, and Denali Brewing Company in Talkeetna Alaska) at the NOW Start Networking event about his presentation. Warning! This conversation includes rare and powerful insight into the influence of critics on the entrepreneurial mindset.

BE A PART OF THE NOW START NETWORK! If you’re considering starting something new in the NOW District, this one’s for you! Dust interviews Brian and Mike about the influence of the NOW Start Network and its unique expression of the Pacific Northwest pioneering spirit. The conversation includes the vision for NOW Start Network and a focus on getting things started from scratch.

Paul and Dust discuss challenges to ministry locally, and offer suggestions and resources for leaders and congregations to partner together to impact a region.

President Linnemann provides a helpful introduction to the call process, and offers important steps every calling group should consider in the call process.

Paul and Dust focus in this episode on the actual document “Workers For His Harvest.” They remind the listener that Lutheran DNA includes creating space to listen to one another respectfully, and discuss theological issues in a meaningful way together. Paul shares why he thinks this document is meaningful for him and meaningful for the LCMS in our time. He provides a brief introduction to the document’s purpose and some of its perspectives and encourages the listener to not only read the document but make time to discuss it with others who have also read it. The document can be accessed at workersforhisharvest.com

Paul and Dust discuss the history of the service of Licensed Lay Deacons in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, particularly in the Northwest District. They introduce a document that began as a dissent by the Board of Directors of the Northwest District (in order to follow LCMS protocol), but is now a “public document” provided for discussion in the whole church. This episode is a “fly-over” of the history that led to the creation of the “Workers For His Harvest” document, and encourages the listener to make time to read the document carefully. The document can be accessed at workersforhisharvest.com

A conversation about community needs, equipping teens, and how the two can go together. For eleven years, Idaho Servant Adventures (ISA) has brought over 6,000 servant leaders (90,000 volunteer hours) to serve the people of Shoshone County in the panhandle of Idaho. Clint Kunze, the director of ISA, shares his vision for consistent service in Shoshone County, what it's like being called to love a specific community, and how ISA equips teenagers for a lifetime of service and leadership. Also included in this conversation are heartwarming stories (awww) of people being changed, a description of ISA’s leadership training model, and Clint’s undeniable Wisconsin accent. [ISA is a service and leadership experience for youth groups from across the U.S.] ISA is based at Shoshone Mountain Retreat, a part of Lutherhaven Ministries. You can find out more at http://www.lutherhaven.com/idaho-servant-adventures/about-isa/].

These creative new starts should get your spark going for building a blessing bridge in your community! Paul and Dust introduce the four recipients for the 2018 NOW District Catalyst Grants: 1. An activity center providing respite care for elderly people with memory issues, 2. a mission training process for congregations in a circuit, 3. discipleship materials for a new church plant, and, 4. helping a congregation launch a “comfort dog” ministry to provide care in their community during times of emergency and loss. They close by sharing crucial information and deadlines for NOW District organizations to access the grant cycle in 2019.

Paul and Dust offer a key metaphor for understanding the relationship between institution and movement. The conversation recaps the NOW District Convention “Being a Blessing to A Changing Culture,” with important take-aways for the next three years. The NOW District announces a new toolkit for leader discussions (especially congregation councils, boards, and other leadership groups) on Lutheran identity, how the institution supports the missional movement, and how to get traction on being a blessing to a changing culture.

Dust and Paul share the news about a grant that the NOW District received from LCEF (The Kaleidoscope Grant) for the MAP-West Coast program. The grant provides funds to help “first-call pastors” to the Northwest District grow in ministry applied practice (hence the acronym MAP!). Dust and Paul discuss the MAP-West Coast components, designed to "help brand new pastors move from being a student to being a practitioner.” They close with a brief introduction to a new leadership offering, GPS-Northwest, a potential “next step” for pastors who exit MAP-West Coast.

"Reforming for a Changing Culture,” was the theme for the NOW District All Worker’s Conference in 2017. We are in a different culture than the one in which we were raised, certainly from the culture 500 years ago when the Reformation occurred. Dust and Paul discuss key learnings from the plenary speakers at the Conference, and what this means during a time of transition for the church at large. They also preview what is to come in June 2018 at the NOW District Convention.

Mike and Tabea share their favorite stories of the impact and influence of “Cross My Art” on their community. Dust Kunkel visits with Mike and Tabea of “Cross My Art” of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Spokane, a growing mission to the community using artistic mediums to introduce and enrich faith in Christ. Anyone interested in starting something new, or launching a ministry that builds relationships in community will love this podcast! This is an interview (in two parts) with leaders in the field in the Northwest (NOW) District. The purpose of these interviews is to lift up good news stories and focus on ways we strengthen and add value to our communities. If you laugh a little, learn a little, and get encouraged along the way, then we are meeting our goal for this NOWLeading Podcast segment.

Mike and Tabea share the incredible story of the vision and genesis for launching “Cross My Art.” Dust Kunkel visits with Mike and Tabea of “Cross My Art” of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Spokane, a growing mission to the community using artistic mediums to introduce and enrich faith in Christ. Anyone interested in starting something new, or launching a ministry that builds relationships in their community will love this podcast! This is an interview (in two parts) with leaders in the field in the Northwest (NOW) District. The purpose of these interviews is to lift up good news stories and focus on ways we strengthen and add value to our communities. If you laugh a little, learn a little, and get encouraged along the way, then we are meeting our goal for this NOWLeading Podcast segment.

“The Listening Leader: A Sign of Maturity" The difference between “what” and “how.” We know the “what:” the story has a good ending. The challenge is the “how:” what happens between now and then. We spend a lot of time telling people how things ought to be, instead, we should follow Him in the moment with each person. Sometimes, we use Easter as a way to dismiss people and how they feel in their suffering. Instead, let go of coercing, or manipulating people to the place we want them to be. God’s agenda is much more relaxed and open. Paul shares a story about Jesus meeting two men on the road to Emmaus, a model for the patient, listening posture. The listening leader brings openness and flexibility, with a destination in mind. Resurrection = Transformation. “Death couldn’t maintain its hold on Him.” Jesus is “known by the scars,” the marks of strength and victory. Baptism joins us to Him. Alone is not the way, healing and transformation happens with others. Question to Grow: “How has God used suffering as ‘marks of life’ for me, as a tool for transformation.”

Dust and Paul have a conversation about suffering, on Wednesday of “Holy Week” (the week before Easter that includes Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday). Our leader knows the destination, but we don’t always see it clearly. The challenge is walking with Him and letting Him direct our walk. Paul shares a story from his youth about trying to avoid suffering. “If you could go back to that 15 year-old Paul, what would you say to him?” I would be there, listen, look for connections between faith and suffering, encourage him to “keep walking.” The mark of a real leader: Face your suffering, don’t go around it, go through it, with Him. Psalm 139 as a “way-sign” for the walk as a suffering leader. “God knows, and He still loves me.” Suffering can be like a scalpel in the hands of the Great Surgeon to help repair me. Question to Grow: “What is the suffering in my life today?"

Dust Kunkel sits down with Clint, Chris and Kaeshawn, some of the staff at Xrossway Fitness and Life Center, and learns how ball-room dancing is strengthening community in Twin Falls, Idaho. Also, according to the Xrossway staff, it is fun! This is the first interview (with more to come) with “real-live” leaders in the field in the Northwest (NOW) District. The purpose of these interviews is to lift up good-news stories, and focus on ways we can strengthen our communities. If you laugh a little, learn a little, and maybe get encouraged a little along the way, then we’ve met our goal.

Dr. Bob Newton and Author/Researcher Gabe Lyons are introduced as the plenary speakers for the 2017 All-Workers Conference for the NOW District. Paul and Dust have a brief conversation on the question: “Why these guys?"

Paul and Dust take a side-journey into Joy, and its more than fun! Joy is transcendent. We were made for Joy. A conversation about having joy like a child. The opposite of Joy is fear. Joy is independent of circumstance. Happiness and Joy are not synonyms. We don’t have to be happy about something to be joyful about it. Experiencing Joy is being a “participant-observer” instead of being the “actor.” Time-lapse photography and Joy. Connecting the dots in the painting to find a heart-shaped reality. “A foretaste of the feast to come”—experiencing the aroma that leads us home. Joy shows us we are made for something more, and we are. For leaders: “Come and See!” we don’t manufacture Joy, but we can help people experience it.

Truth can be used as a weapon to break people, but it is given for healing people. Paul shares a moving family story—restoring someone with a simple question. Healing truth is not passive, it “calls the question” We have a responsibility to pursue the truth, but it requires a humble spirit. Jesus is never surprised, this is your greatest strength because He is in the room with you. Why this family story is so emotional for Paul. Trust God to be the One to draw near and be the Truth. All three things go together in Jesus: Way, Truth, Life.