How did your ministry get started?
In January of 2000, God awoke me in the middle of the night and instructed me to help guide His people into outward focused living. As I sought to prayerfully respond in obedience He led me to focus on practical, doable, and authentic ways His people could do this in their everyday world.
What is God's GPS?
The French Philosopher Simone Weil once wrote: “To be relevant, you have to say things which are eternal.” The great need of our times is not another outreach fad, method, or road map, which will soon become outdated. Historically such methods and tools have been useful for specific times in particular geographic areas but eventually become obsolete or lose effectiveness. As I’ve travelled the world, I’m convinced that many of God’s people are lost! Not for eternity, but in their ability to connect with the not-yet Christians in their life. They need to be equipped with His eternal principles (A.K.A. GodsGPS) so that they can effectively advance His Kingdom anywhere in the world at any time in history.
What is Kindness Outreach Ministries?
Kindness Outreach Ministries is the 501 3c that handles the financial gifts given to support this ministry. It is comprised of a team of people who are all committed to helping the church turn outward in an inwardly-focused world. To learn more about this 501 3c go to kindnessoutreach.com.
How is your ministry funded?
I have a faithful support team that makes it possible for me to devote myself full-time to training and equipping church / para-church and mission agencies in practical, doable, and authentic ways to cherish Jesus before others. If you’d like to join that team, please click on the donate button found on my home page.
Why do you charge for your workshops if you have a support team?
In a faith ministry, raising funds for administrative costs is often very difficult. Funds generated by workshops help take the edge off of this historical challenge. More importantly, it serves to create a healthy interest indicator. I have found the old axiom “nothing ventured, nothing lost” to be quite true. As a committed family man, I want to make sure that when I leave home I’m being a good steward of my time. The booking fee I require not only secures a specific date on my calendar. It also ensures a good faith effort to make the most of my visit.
Are you still on staff with Athletes in Action?
Yes, but as an affiliate staff member. After the first book I co-authored came out, numerous opportunities to speak and train God’s people in outward focused living came from all over the world. I believed God wanted me to respond to these opportunities despite the fact that most of them were coming from outside AIA. While no one inside the organization was opposed to this, I felt like there was a conflict of interest that needed to be resolved. In January of 2006, I made the transition from full-time AIA staff to affiliate staff. I still serve as the Evangelism Trainer for AIA, but I no longer office out of our national headquarters in Xenia, OH. This decision has freed me up to guide God’s people all over the world into outward focused living. My experiences with the larger body of Christ have empowered me to more effectively train and equip our AIA athletes and staff when called on to do so.
What have you learned from guiding God’s people into outward focused living?
I began the journey with somewhat of a cynical view that most Christ followers were “wimping” out when it came to living an outward focused life. As I’ve listened to the heart of God’s people, I’m convinced that most of the Christ followers I meet have the will, but lack the skill. Furthermore, many have said no to the unnatural kinds of outreach they have experienced or heard about. I have found that when God’s people are equipped with His eternal principals, which are natural, and doable by all, their increased confidence and competence overflow into outward focused living.
Do you have a link to access the video content from the "Activating God Space Kit"?
2. Go to the “Program” drop-down menu and select “Activating God Space.”
3. Download Handouts, Session Videos (mp4), or Bonus DVD Video Content (mp4) as needed.