On the first warm day of March and the soon-to-be spring, about 60 New England staff disciples drove in to Worcester, Massachusetts, from Vermont, Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire and a few other places near and far. The day was planned for dreaming and it was certainly a full and inspirational one for looking ahead at what God can do.
The morning session began with Felipe Bascones from Worcester leading some rousing songs. Then followed several minutes of good news sharing. Many fascinating tales were told regarding Albania’s 10-year anniversary service, Connecticut’s first ever leadership team workshop, Boston campus baptisms and men’s/women’s events, and much more. Raul Fonseca was introduced. Raul is working with Mike and Jody May in Burlington, Vermont, at the present time. It was also announced that Roger and Sue Wine are now serving as evangelist and women’s ministry leader for the Syracuse Regional Church in New York.
Next, Bibles were broken out as Tom Caswell, Worcester evangelist, preached the Word. Using the text of I Samuel 14, Tom expounded on the theme “Move on a Maybe.” In speaking of Jonathon and his armor bearer, Tom preached, “Perhaps the Lord will act. However, we’ll never know if we stay here. It is time to try something!” In closing, Tom shared, “The most dangerous thing is to play it safe. The injuries that take place in God’s household are due to a lack of faith.”
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With dreaming on our minds from the message, Boston evangelist Douglas Arthur called us all to dream practically as well. What will take place for God in New England in the next 10 years? He called this, “The 2020 vision. We want to see clearly and also dream ahead for our part of the world – New England and America.”
What commenced was an hour plus of freelance dreaming. The floor was opened up to what we believed God could do in New England over the course of the next 10 years. Many ideas were laid out that will be discussed further and forged into concrete plans of action. Some of the thoughts were: thriving ethnic ministries around New England (Spanish, Portuguese, etc.), career specific ministries (daytime, medical, police officers, etc.), sending out many missionaries every year, radical plans for empty nesters, have a family group in every town in New England, have a singles ministry leader in every church, dramatically increase our per member giving, upgrade the quality of our worship, every church plants another church, go to new frontiers in the women’s ministry, and more. Some of the ideas were great. Perhaps some weren’t. We’ll pray and trust God to weed it all out.
The early afternoon session then concluded with specific plans for the Portland Maine Mission Team, marriage retreat planning for 2011, and exciting details regarding our all New England church service this summer on June 27 in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
But the best part may still have been to come. After an excited prayer by Jimmy Rogers, mysteriously found standing near the food table, lunch began. Many conversations were had over a great meal of sandwiches and salad. Fellowship and connectedness had been mentioned as a top goal of Jesus (John 17) for the next 10 years. We recommitted to it being our aim and ambition as well.
So the dreaming has started. We are even involved already in “the next 10 years.” What will we do individually? What will we do together? Only God knows and He isn’t telling quite yet. However, as we pray, plan and act – I Samuel teaches us that “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few . . . .” Let’s hold on to Jesus, dream and look ahead clearly with God’s 2020 vision.
