Discipleship Houses Across America

God has used Discipleship House stuff to shape my life in many ways. Early on, God impressed it on me to buy a house and start living with a few guys in a tight community where we shared daily times of prayer & worship along with weekly times of accountability. This was definitely a high impact time for me (and hopefully for Aaron too). God then transitioned me into marriage and I watched over a house where Brandon Lehman and Seth Sanders discipled a couple young men. This was a time where I learned to facilitate more and lay back from the day to day – to trust others. Brandon and Seth did an excellent job until God led them in different directions post-college. Since that time, it’s been a struggle. I’ve asked time and again for God to give us a house to do discipleship in. At times my prayers have felt in vain, other times it seems like they are close to being answered. But on I’ve struggled.

It was a struggle just to achieve 501c3 status. A BIG struggle. God taught me a lot of perseverance through this process. It was a struggle when I felt abandoned by a close friend on the board as he resigned from DHouses and ran away from the Church. The biggest struggle of all was when the person I called my stepdad and whom I had leaned on for help the most abandoned me by leaving my mom for another woman. That was definitely the biggest blow. I can’t begin to put into words the pain & doubts that thrust in my heart. On I struggled, but God is good.

I’ve learned a lot over the last few years. Some lessons come directly from God, some through marriage, and now some through being a father. I’ve learned that you don’t always have to start up your own thing. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, and it’s always been natural for me to do my own thing: start my own business, launch a non-profit org, coach a basketball team, lead a housechurch, etc. But God is teaching me the value of community. It takes a LOT of effort and energy to start things and do them on your own. I often feel less and less energy for things as I get older and more responsibility is piled on my plate, but there is still a gifting of God in me to be a “starter”. I’m just not exactly sure where that will take me in life. I’ve learned that it is often valuable to jump on board with what someone else has started though. To be content with contributing to a cause instead of leading a charge. It’s not always easy for me, but it’s good.

Since meeting Andrew Brill and others from Lightbearer’s Ministry, I’ve felt we had a very similar mission. They had just been doing it for a lot longer. I’ve enjoyed receiving their newsletters and meeting with Andrew when he comes through town. There are some things I would do a little differently, but these are things I started feeling God to tell me to let go of. At the end of last year, Andrew called me up and asked if I would be interested in taking a position with Lightbearer’s here in Oklahoma City. My initial gut reaction was – “This is perfect! Just what I’ve been waiting for. A chance to do full-time ministry.” But… the Holy Spirit’s voice began talking to me. Some through my wife, some through the wise council of close friends, and some directly from the Spirit. After a few weeks of prayer & counsel, I called Andrew back and let him know that the position wasn’t for me. God has called me to something else, but I’m interested in helping in whatever way I can. I still want to see a discipleship house near UCO. I want to see young men discipled after Christ.

After God spoke to me in this way, I began feeling like I needed to partner more with Lightbearers. I prayed for a couple months on what to do. I felt that God would have me close our Discipleship House bank account and donate that to the Lightbearers cause. I’ve talked with Bridgeway staff & am helping to connect Andrew with our leadership. My hope is that through this we will find someone to facilitate Discipleship Houses here. My goal is to support and help in whatever way I can because my heart is to see young men discipled.

Please feel free to call me and discuss any questions you have. Our 501c3 expires this year and I’m not planning on renewing it. I want to say thank you again to each and every one of you for your support in this.

We had a quick meeting just after noon to discuss a couple quick business topics. It was announced that Steve Kreidler stepped down from our board for personal reasons. We also discussed potential replacements. Term cycles for all our members were discussed as we will want to rotate and not replace all members in the same year.

In addition to that business, I gave an update on our current relationship with Lightbearer’s Ministry and asked for a commitment to pray for God’s guidance.

We agreed to get together again in February to further discuss potential board members.

I had a meeting with Andrew Brill again this last week. It kind of let me talk about some hard stuff that I haven’t had anyone to talk to about. My stepdad & board member Steve Kreidler recently left my mom. I don’t believe that his reasons are justified, and they are clearly not in line with Scriptural views. He had been the only person consistently willing to help me with D-House stuff so I’m kind of left feeling alone in trying to bring this vision to fruition. This happened once before early on with a board member so that makes it even more discouraging. I had to honestly tell Andrew that even if Lightbearer’s could purchase a house right now in Edmond, I didn’t feel like we had the supporting staff to do it well. He asked if I would ever consider a ministry like this full-time. His statement was somewhat surprising to me, but it also rung a bell deep in my heart. I honestly told him I would love to do it full time; and that when I first started out with the vision, I thought I’d be doing it full time in a year or two. Anyways, I need everyone’s prayers for direction and support.

Andrew and I talked on the phone about the structure of a D-house and what kind of discipleship program we have in place.  He was also sharing with me they are planning to wrap-up their curriculum for discipleship in the next couple months.  Sounds like they would be complimentary.  Anyways, I’ll keep everyone informed on any new news.

Oh, and I also updated the Lightbearer’s link.  They have a new website check it out in the blogroll on the left.

I’ve switched hosting providers, and you’ll have to forgive me but the old posts are gone.  We’re starting over and I just wanted to give an update about what’s been going on.  We’ve met with the Lightbearers staff for a second time now, and we looked at a few properties this time.  God has a plan and it appears that a partnership with Lightbearers is it.  They are a great organization.  I would ask that everyone reading this do 2 things: 1. pray about our possible partnership with Lightbearers & 2. check out their website here.  (Although at the time of this writing their site looks down, make sure and try again later.)