February 2009
Dear Friends,
OPEN DOOR WITH SOUTH COUNTY LEADERS
Just days ago, 40 key leaders in the Anderson/Cottonwood area convened for a prayer breakfast hosted by DeAnna and Mike Gallagher who lead South County Transformation under the WeR1Net. The Chief of Police, City Manager, City Council members, chamber of commerce director, county supervisor, business owners and over a dozen local pastors responded to the invitation. All were exceptionally open to the message and vision of transformation we laid out. Their police chief voiced his concern that reportable crimes could increase this year into the double digits. DeAnna thanked him for sharing and immediately applied prayer to this fear (felt need). The Church can play a major role in curbing crime and working for the safety of the community once envisioned and commissioned. One city council member approached me afterward saying, You’ve given me a push in the right direction today. One particular 'dark spot' in town, an apartment complex, really needs a turn around this year. I already spoke with that pastor over there and the youth pastor over here to join me to make a difference. Engaging this breeding ground of drugs and pain with hope and light could help our crime numbers decrease significantly. He understands transformation!
OPEN DOORS BEYOND OUR COUNTY
Earlier this month, I went as the guest of a Red Bluff pastor to the Chico Area Pastor’s Prayer Summit. We expanded our connections in the neighboring southern counties as I spent time with 50+ ministerial leaders from a healthy cross-section of denominations. God put it on my heart to “freely give as I had freely received,” so I handed out close to 30 Tracking with Transformation DVD’s asking only for their contact info and a short report about how their congregations respond to track 2 ONE DAY vignette. The time away was refreshing. The timely contacts and conversational seeds sown will yield fruit.
Bethel Church invited me to share with 48 ministry leaders from the UK, Singapore, Switzerland, France, and USA cities in Oregon, Minnesota and California as part of their Phase 3 School of Transformation. 3 hours went by quickly. The 7 congregations from Kent region of UK were especially envisioned, encouraged and challenged. What an honor to share with so many hungry implementers!
OPEN DOOR TO “LYNK” THE BODY
With over 50 sign ups and 20 small group coaches, we are poised to launch the LYNK this week! PRAY!! The input will bring sense of oneness, and the coaching will stir people to action in their own sphere of influence. Our observation is that strong, established congregations exist in many places, and if God was into changing cities through one fellowship operating autonomously, it would’ve happened by now. The missing link in most communities is the relational connect between the Body, the oneness of a shared vision to touch the city with love, and a way to intentionally marry those realities into an implementation strategy. LYNK will allow some our best local voices to deposit what they carry into entrepreneurial agents of change so they can successfully reach their area and bring others along in the process.
OPEN DOOR TO THE ARTS AND BUSINESS
The sound company selection has been made for Anderson's concert series, "Mosquito Serenade," and we won the bid. In a season when economic woes are plaguing many, we have been handed a golden opportunity. Doing business as NetSound lets us practice what we preach. We believe that all Christians everywhere are in full time ministry, touching others with God’s Kingdom message. The workplace is simply one of the platforms through which to connect and minister to others. Not only will we be able to bring the Kingdom into the arts and recreation side of community life, we will gain favor and influence in this key city of our south county and build rapport with other business owners. This is a door God opened up to us and frankly, one which will take some faith to walk through. Pray for us. We will need to upgrade our current sound system so it can deliver the standard of super-excellence required. We need to find investors who believe in what we’re doing to finance that $8000 upgrade.
OPENING NEW DOORS THROUGH “SAFETYNET”
Last month, I hinted about the “SafetyNet”, a community-focused initiative that will connect many of the present needs with the variety of giftings and resources within the Church. The Women’s Refuge needs a reliable conduit of safe homes for battered women (and their children) who are transitioning from danger and pain toward hope and life. Additionally, our local Probation Department has asked if we can shore up their exit strategy for Juvenile Hall with capable mentors who understand at-risk teens. Our law enforcement is facing cutbacks, and the uncertain times are creating more hardships which could translate into rising crime stats. So SafetyNet will deal not only with the Women’s Refuge and Juvenile Hall needs, but also feature a “MyWatch” element, reminiscent of the neighborhood watch system, but proactively carried forward by people of prayer who are aligned to the vision of transformation. Two planning meetings occurred this month with the directors of these three parts of SafetyNet. Pray for the Church to respond to the needs as the directors hammer out details and open these new doors to us.
OPEN DOOR THROUGH MEDIA
Once again, Karen and team have delivered a power-packed issue of the Track Record right on time. This issue carries stories from Chico to Etna (a span of 180 miles). If you haven’t seen this latest edition, (our best yet), visit us online at www.weR1net.net. While you’re there, you can also make a donation online with our simplified PayPal links.
If every month in 2009 shows as much promise as January did, we will be in for one adventurous year! We need your support and prayers now more than ever. There is a grace to connect and empower people now as never before.
I Corinthians 16:9a, “a great door for effective work has opened to me,”
Serving the King,
Jon & Natalia Thompson
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