For the past week, I’ve been in toasty middle America (Iowa) working with our Pathways leadership team developing and revising our curriculum and other related issues. We had full days making adjustments to our Whole Story of the Bible workshop as well as adjusting our application sessions and other elements. Each day we enjoyed sweet devotional times in the Word together, and challenged ourselves to shape Pathways into the most effective training we can create. We began to brainstorm on what an “oral-oriented version” of Pathways might look like, and I shared about my initial exploration into taking Pathways to Unreached People Groups. It was an encouraging and productive time with godly brothers.

After our four days of curriculum work, I transitioned to our biennial EFCA national conference. As a member of ReachGlobal, I am part of the Evangelical Free Church of America, an association of like-minded, autonomous churches that share a common statement of faith and core values. About one thousand EFCA leaders gathered in Des Moines for the conference.

Here is a three minute video of some of the highlights:

There was high-quality, Christ-honoring worship, good messages that were inspiring although generally not expositional, and great times connecting with new friends and old classmates stretching back to my seminary days at TEDS almost 30 years ago. I was encouraged by Graeme Shanks from Scotland who gave foundational principles for preaching. I was challenged by Brett McCracken (Scrolling Ourselves to Death) and Brent Kompelien (Discipleship in the Local Church) on the dangers of our internet infatuated society (i.e. Dopamine-addicted culture), and ways to guard against getting caught in the fatal flow. Pastor A (name withheld for security) gave a powerful message on being people who fulfill the Great Commission, and a seminar on the historic roots and reasons for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

One morning the ReachGlobal group present gathered for breakfast and a quick photo together, about 135 of our 550 missionaries:

I’m thankful to be a part of this association of Christ followers. Every group has their challenges, since we are all broken and sinful people, but by God’s grace we are moving forward together in building Christ’s kingdom and honoring our glorious God.