Missions Networking in Phoenix

The following was extracted from correspondence from Meg Crossman, one of Phoenix's networking firebrands for missions. We’ve got six PathWays classes running this Spring and they are getting excited about God’s Heart for the Nations! Since we‘ve now done more 100 classes here, our churches are extremely well mobilized. One of the medium sized churches, Grace Community Church in Tempe, has such an outstanding program! We have reason to believe that they are right behind Antioch Church in Waco in terms of their numbers being supported and sent. They have an incredible, intentional program from the youngest children right up to their Seniors. We are all learning from them! We also continue to develop our Consortium programs. The East Valley Missions Consortium meets for breakfast on the first Wed. of every month. We briefly introduce ourselves so we get to know one another for networking. We have announcements of all the relevant events coming up, whether sponsored by agencies or by churches. (Just as an example, the Frontiers Anniversary Banquet on Sat. has already filled their capacity of 1500 attendees.) Then we have a speaker or a panel. I’ll send you a couple of examples of what they look like. Building on this, Tucson started a Tucson Mission Network breakfast. Last month they had Bob Blincoe speak on “The Sometimes Delicate Relationship between Local Church and Mission Agencies: How Luther and Calvin Gave Us Half a Reformation.” This month, they are having a dear Navajo brother, Elmer Yazzie, speak on the relationship of Arts to Mission. They meet on the second Monday. Several years ago, a Local Ministries Consortium was formed and they decided to hold a similar meeting on the third Thursday. They organized a kind of continental breakfast at another church. They often have ministries who all work in the same area, say “Prison” or “Homeless” present together. It’s very interesting. We are delighted that the Westside Phoenix Consortium has now formed. They are having both a speaker and discussion on the last Wed. of each month. It seems to be engendering a lot of excitement and energy! We’ve wanted to see this for years and at last it is happening. These meetings and the networking they are producing mean the churches and the agencies here are really generating the kinds of “next steps” we all want to see, and doing them together, so we continue to see a great synergy. On top of that, we have the TOAG training with Nathan Lutz and Neil Hendershot. It is a full year of training of intensive practice integrated with spiritual depth especially focused on reaching the Muslim world. People come from many other states to go through this program. A wonderful guy, Mike Latsko, has had a vision for younger people and has brought us a kind of local "Urbana” Conference called Take My Life . It has engendered a 24/7 prayer movement on all the University Campuses in Arizona, as well as in other settings. This is all led by college students. Perhaps you already know that Arizona is going to be host to the Ethnic America conference next Spring. We are all excited about this major meeting that is actually coming, as the chairperson told me, “Because of the warmth of the relationships already established here.” It will focus on reaching the unreached who have been brought to our shores! Submitted May 2, 2008