QLD's Next Steps for 2010 |
Through consultation with Dana Heter, president of DirectStrategies (a marketing consulting firm working with non-profits to develop their vision, mission and strategy for development), we have identified the needed plans for establishing for Phase 1 of our vision for QLD:
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1. Schedule QLD Vision for the Future presentations for Sunday afternoons in October.
2. Consult with Christian market researchers to provide an overview of discipleship in America (who is doing, what are they doing, how is it similar or different ot QLD’s approach)
3. Redo the QLD Strategic Plan for future development and meet with key leaders to evaluate.
4. Meet with key Christian Discipleship Ministry Consultants for networking and advice.
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a. Dr. Larry Crabb...produced many books defining the need for trusted small group contexts to establish open and genuine relationships for God to produce authentic change in the lives of the participants.
b. Dr. Dallas Willard...wrote Divine Conspiracy defining the primary need for disciple ship in America and made proposals on what is needed.
c. Willowcreek Association,,,ReVEAL Survey-Research was conducted by Willow creek Church and found that they have been deficient in discipleship for their people.
d. George Barna / The Barna Group...did study regarding discipleship and wrote find ings in book entitled Growing True Disciples. |
5. Register QLD Discipleship Manuals and QLD Books with U.S. Copyright Office. |
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QLD Focus Groups
Reveal We Are
Fulfilling Our Vision: |
We have conducted all three of the Focus Panel Groups. Each group had 6-7 participants–with a variety of males and females. The feedback we have received provided outstanding evaluation for what we are doing as well as areas to refine for the future. Here are the overall responses to the value of QLD in these past participants lives:
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1. A New View of My Identity...I discovered that my identify in Christ is not tied to performance and achieving righteousness to please Him. I recognized how caught up I was in performance-based lifestyle–when God accepts me based upon my identity and is leading me to bring my behavior in line with who I am in Him (Mark 2:17).
2. A Place to Be Real & Take Off the Mask...The group made us feel comfortable. Because of the closeness and trustworthiness of the group, I could share anything—even where I fail. Such a grace environment lifted the bondage of remaining trapped in secrecy (James 5:16).
3. A Process That Brings Hope & Change...As I began to see and become committed to Christ’s discipleship process, I found that I was experiencing growth as well as seeing change in others’ lives. What an environment which stimulated my spirit to want to follow even more so, and find the hope I was seeing fleshed out in real life (Mark 6:13, 30).
4. A Change of Perspective About the Christian Life...God is in control of leading me to become transformed. I discovered a different way to live in which I don’t have to be in control. Following Him through what He allows to come into my life frees me to respond as I learn to trust in His ability to work in and through me (Mark 4:21-29).
5. A New Outlook on a Life-Long Relationship with God...I have a new outlook on my relationship with God. My job is NOT to try to become a better Christian. My job is to learn to follow Him as He leads me through life event’s. As I learn to respond in trust and repentance to what He is revealing through these circumstances, God is at work transforming me one response at a time. His job is then to make me become as I learn to follow Him (Mark 1:17). |
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Two Phases of Development for QLD's New Vision |
Phase 1 Development…This is our 6-8 month plan to establish our preliminary research, future strategies and plans, network with leaders and organizations and ultimately approach investors for Phase 2.
Phase 2 Development …This is our 5-year plan starting with an in-depth market research and then identifying from this target audiences in need of QLD Discipleship, such as groups, churches, home-churches, parents (for discipling their children), nonprofit parachurch organizations, Christian schools and seminaries.
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Financial Partners Needed to Reach Our Goal |
Joshua’s faith was initially tested by a “first step” in leading Israel to the new land. This step was demonstrated by communicating a bold plan and then leading the people to take the “first step” into the Jordan. God demonstrated His support by miraculously parting the river. And, a memorial of stones was to be built to remind them that God was leading in spite of future obstacles.
Nina and I find ourselves needing to adopt the same issues in following God in this new bold venture. We communicated God’s Vision to our board.
As a result of this first step, our board responded unanimously behind it—to the degree of personally funding 45% of the Phase 1 budget. What a miracle and memorial to hold on to as we move forward.
And, not unlike Israel’s possession of the land, there was still more steps of faith to be taken. For Joshua, the next step was Jericho. Notice what Joshua 6:1 says... “Now Jericho was tightly shut…; no one went out and no one came in.” This was not a good time to try to overcome this obstacle. And, God reminds us that the enomomy is “shut down.”
No one wants to open up their pocketbooks. So, we too are in need of a miracle, not trusting in our own abilities.
Our Jericho is raising the additional $18,500 of the total Phase 1 Budget ($35,000) approved by our board. Please pray and if God so leads, become a partner with us as we pursue the vision of “making disciples of all peoples” — those whom God would have us reach beyond our borders.
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and encouraged to be strong and courageous in implementing it. Now, this boldness was not because he was a natural-born leader, but because God was with him wherever He lead. And in this way, Joshua was faithful in following God as He unfolded the vision by taking “one city, one territory, one plan at a time.”
