The Kaye Family

This is a powerful video...especially appropriate to share with Muslim Brothers and Sisters.

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I dream about movements to Jesus.  I would give/am giving my life for them. I can't really define my dreams yet.  Well, I sort of can...but not here...not now....not yet. But this is a GREAT resource about church planting movements if you are interested: Click here. 

Well, what we can be sure of is this...if there are things that feed and start movements, then there are also things that stop movements. I recently heard a speaker share 3 things that kill movements. I added two more. Here they are...

Five Movement Killers:

1. Big Budgets 
2. Big Programs 
3. Big Buildings 
4. Big Shots
5. Big Gatherings 

Jesus, help us to do all we can to point people to you and not do anything or be anything that would stop movements to you!

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Confession: After almost 10 years of marriage, I still fail at it plenty! 

 

Now that this is out of the way, let me share openly (with Tricia's blessing) something I've learned from the Lord through our marriage witin the last few months.

 

Guilt does not bring change! Condemnation will not breed transformation. Beating yourself up will not lift you out. Guilt may help you make a change for a day or a week, but it will be a cover up, not a real repair. Feelings of condemnation and failure can be inspiring-- for all the worng reasons-- and none of the changes you make will really last-- not if guilt was their motivation. 

 

Let me prove my point with some transparency about my own life. I cannot count how many times Tricia (my wife) has let me know that I was not making her feel like my priority. She has found many ways to say it through the years, but it always comes back to the same things-- I want to feel like the most important relationship in your life, Noah! I want you to SHOW me that what you SAY about me is true." If I have heard it once, I have heard it 300 times. 

 

My reaction almost every time: I feel like a loser and a terrible husband. I feel guilty...becuase I am.  She is right. And out of my feelings of regret and sorrow, I launch a campaign to DO better. 

 

It never lasted. Becuase guilt ≠ change. 

 

A few months ago, while laying in bed it was : "Noah, I want to feel like number one to you after Jesus AND I really want you to lead me more spiritualy. You seem to be able to lead everyone else spiritually.  What about me?"  Now, stop here!  This was the exact place where, for the last 10 years, guilt would enter the scene.  Not this time. There was some pain.  It would be hard for anyone to hear this from their spouse. But something wild happened....

 

I felt LOVE! I felt Jesus loving on me. I felt him accepting me.  I sensed him hugging me. I heard him speaking to my heart and saying..."I love you, Noah, and the best motivation for change is love for me. When you love your wife, you love me." It was a powerful moment!  And it was one my first real tastes of love-motivated change. 

 

Since that night, things are different.  God's love for me is inspiring me to love Tricia more. The love and acceptance of Jesus is the engine that is propelling me ahead these days.  Not guilt! And it has felt WAY different and WAY more lasting than anytime before.

 

Guilt ≠ Change! 

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Recently, I have read about several churches in America that are so large that people need a ticket to enter for a service. Easter is fast approaching. And since they cannot fit the thousands of people into their multiple locations, people need to get their ticket if they expect to attend. 

Let's imagine that someone gets a ticket to church before they run out of available tickets...what is it that they receive? Basically...

1. They get to enter the building where a service is held. 
2. They get a seat - and will sit in it quietly for 90 minutes. 
3. They get awesome music by a talented band. 
4. They get an inspiring talk by the well known leader of the church. 
5. They may even get some type of spiritual nudge or food. 

I got to thinking...

Imagine a church of 2,500 people in a city of 250,000 people. Imagine that the church's desire is to reach every person in their city with the gospel. Now imagine that they all come to your church this Sunday. Imagine that they don't have a ticket. Where will you seat them? Nevermind seating, how on earth would you ever begin to disciple them? I guess they just go home. 

Ok, so they won't all come. What if only half come? 150,000 people. Same problem. Same questions. What do we do? What if only a shabby 10% come? 25,000 people! Same problem. Same questions. What if even just 1% come? 2,500 people show up on top of the 2,500 you already barely hold? We are still in a big jam! Are we ready? Where will they sit? How would we respond faithfully to disciple them? Is our "church" ready for this? 

The structure, strategy and function of many churches on earth today tell me two things:
1. They do NOT want to reach their whole city. 
2. They don't take the Jesus & the New Testament seriously. His commands are just suggestions. 

What are some ways that a church could prepare itself to reach all 250,000 people in its city? Is there a structure or strategy that could make this happen? 

Jesus said he wants us all-- all nations-- not just those with tickets. 

How? 

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Our family is sent and backed by Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) in Salunga, Pennsylvania of the USA.  We are very, very thankful for EMM and it's missions history and missions heart.  We consider it an honor to be EMM missionaries. One of the things that Tricia and I are most thankful for is that EMM requires all missionaries to form a Missionary Support Team when they begin the journey of responding to God's call. The Missionary Support Team (MST) is a group of people with an interest in and love for the missionary, and they serve as a vital link between the missionary, the supporting home community, and EMM. The MST led and walked with us through the discerning, fund-raising and sending process. In addition, they continue to encourage, support and advise us while we are serving overseas. They also lead the fundraising and administrative responsibilties that keep us on the feild.

We cannot begin to tell you what a peace of mind we have knowing that there is a team of people back home that have our best interest at heart and are walking with our family each step of the way. 

Here is our team. Note that each play a specific role:

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In the last four days, I have seen four major answers to prayer.  This is not normal for me (wish I could say it was). This has been supernatural. And it has me thinking. 

I am afraid that I have prayed many, many prayers of doubt in my life. A prayer of doubt is when I pray for something with my mouth while believing and questioning the feasability of what I am saying in my head and heart. When I ask God for something in a way that makes plenty of room for it not to happen, if he would so prefer. Those are prayers of doubt. When there is doubt on the inside, don't look for results on the outside. 

But, I want to pray prayers of faith! I want to believe what I am saying and believe what I am praying. I want to call upon the Lord with no excuses and no questions. Just faith. Faith that he will do what he has promised. Faith that He is always the greatest advocate for redemption, restoration, mircales and healing! 

Join me!  Pray in FAITH!

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

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I want to take a moment to tell you about one of the most major changes in my heart and views in the last year. I mean...MAJOR. 

Warning: this post is a tad hyper.  Please bear with me. I do this from time to time. ;-)

Most of you know that I was a Pastor for almost 7 years before moving to Africa where we now serve. What you may not know is that my sense of value, worth and ability as a Pastor rested mainly on how many total human bodies decided to get up and come to our "church building" on Sunday morning between 10:30am and Noon.  In addition to the number of heads, my week would feel high or low based on whether there was more or less than $8,000 in the offering that Sunday. Our planning sprouted from these two numbers.  Our board focussed on these two numbers. My eyes and heart lived for these two numbers. My emotions were linked to these two numbers.

Conference after conference, book after book focussed in one way or another on growing your church...because growth=health and bigger=better. (God help us and forgive us, please.)  And I am NOT saying that small is good and big is bad.  I AM saying that size is not to be our focus.

In the last year I have been on a journey of redefining what church really is anyway, and the reality I just expalined to you above has become totally embarassing and completely hilarious, in retrospect.

Let me say something clearly and boldy that will not make me very popular (I have read many Pastors blogs and tweets about why they proudly count and love numbers because God loves numbers because he loves people and people are numbers....not convinced of pure motivation...sorry):

For goodness sake, enough about church growth already!! More people coming to your church building on a Sunday morning is a pathetic and small minded goal to live for. We can do better.  We must do better. The Bible invites to a much larger dream! 

The Bible does not ask you to grow a church! HE builds His church (Matt. 16:18), GOD brings the increase (I Cor. 3:6), the LORD added daily to their numbers those who were being saved (Acts 2:47), and Jesus say that "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me (John 12:32).

Besides, when we count it, we are all the more tempted to take the credit for it. Being faithful is our task. Not being big! Faithful obedience is up to us. Size is up to God. 

I had this strong realization of the change in my own life about a month ago.  I went into Masi to have church with a group that usually numbers about 10 in size. We were supposed to start at about 10:30am.  By 11am, only 3 guys were present. So I thought (and said): "Hey, I kinda hope no one else comes this morning becuase this will be a sweet opportunity for us to go deep today into the scriptures and really work at personally applying them and holding each other acountable." Then I thought (but did not say): "Did you hear yourself just now? 2 years ago, if half of your 'church' did'nt show up, you would have been devestated. Now, you are rejoicing?!"

Look, I am not judging you.  I am just telling you that God has judged me, convicted me and changed me...and I hope that I never again measure success in numbers. I long to be a part of sometihng...

• Too deep to count
• Too broad to count
• Too far to count 
• Too big to count
• Too chaotic to count
• Too natural to count
• Too organic to count
• Too humble to count 
• Too busy to count
• Giving too many people away to count!!

Do I want big? You better believe it! Jesus wants big. And I want He wants. The Father wants the Son to be worshipped by all the people of the earth...every nation...and for his glory to cover the earth like the waters cover the sea.

How about we leave this size thing up to God and start radically loving Jesus, purley loving others and sacrificailly loving the lost so we can see the Father's dreams come true on earth?

Just an idea. 

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Tomorrow is Tricia's birthday. I intended to shop for her today. The reason that I waited until today is because we just do not have the money. I have been waiting on some of our support money to hit our bank account for a few days and it has not come.  Although it should have been here by today, it was'nt. I wanted Tricia to feel loved on her birthday tomorrow, so I went out today and got her three things that I know will mean a lot to her. I spent exactly $84.00 on everything. $84.00 that we do not even have, but I felt I was to do it. So I did. And I told no one.

Tonight, I got an email from PayPal that some friends of ours had transferred $85.00 into our PayPal account this evening. I transferred it into our bank account just now, and just like that...before bed...God has paid for Tricia's birthday gifts. And he has sent yet another reminder that he faithful, that he is provider and that we can place our trust in him. 

Is this cool or what?!

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Thruthfully, even though we moved across the world in part to explore simple/organic/house church stuff, I always had a bit of a skeptics eye. I mean, I spent 30 years in real church.  Ya know, the legitimate kind with all the bells a whistles a church should have. So, the idea of 5 or 10 people sitting in a living room being a church was a tad awkward to me.  A tad weird.  A little cheesy.

Well, off we went and here we are.  We are starting Discovery Bible Studies, planting simple churches and our family is a part of a house church with other staff and families at All Nations. 

Let me tell you a little about our cheesy house church:

• There are about 7 adults, 7 kids. 
• We meet weekly.
• We change the time and location just about every week.  It is mobile and flexible. 
• We talk and text almost daily.
• We swim, play, eat, travel, shop and hike together.
• We are in intentional discipling relationships with each other. 
• We give each other rides and share our cars.
• We confess and cry together. 
• We wacth each other's kids. 
• We pray for each other.
• We are talking about doing a vacation together. 
• We prohecy over each other.
• We speak God's heart for each other over one another. 
• We will spend two hours loving on one person if that is the Lord's agenda for the night.
• No one is in charge.  No one is the leader.
• But somehow every time, Jesus uses someone different to lead us.
• Our kids are incolved in some special way every time we meet. 2 weeks back we acted out a story in the Bible. Last week we made prayer houses over each kid one by one and prayed and prophecied over them. They only last about 15 minutes. Then we release them to go "fellowship" kids style.
• We talk, dream and live mission.
• We warn and caution each other.
• We worship together. 
• We share the Lord's supper.  The kids too.
• We anoint each other with oil.  The kids too. 
• It is different every week.
• Jesus is clearly and boldly the head.
• We eat.
• We eat.
• And we eat. 

So, that is some of what our cheesy house church is all about. Our cheesy house church is one of the most meaninful community experiences I have ever had in my life. I am officially a fan of cheesy house churches. 

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This week I taught at CPx on discovering the 5 equipping gifts of Ephesians 4. Over the last year, I have been become greatly passionate about seieng people discover who they are in the body.  I personally believe that everyone operates out of at least one of the 5 gifts...pastor, prophet, evangelist, teacher, apostle---and when people get it, they fly to new levels in faith and function.

(I have written about the 5 equipping gifts here, though there are some updates I would make now.)

Then, this morning Floyd followed up today with something that I thought was profound. Many struggle to discover which of the 5 they are. Here are 5 ways to recognize who you are:

1. Study.  Get to know Ephesians 4: 11-13. Study the scriptures in each place any of the five words/titles are used. Study the people with those gifts in the Bible. Read a book about the 5 fold gifts. 
2. Anointing. Soveriegn Appointing. God has celarly given the gift to you and is always trying to let you know about it and see you live into it. Listen to Him. He wants you to get it because he gets most glory when you are fully operating as He made you to be!
3. Confirmation. Listen when people tell you what they see in you. Ask people to share what they see. Others carry keys to God's heart for you. Let them speak to your heart and try to believe what you hear. It may be straight from God.
4. Modeling. Watch when others operate in a way that stirs something in you. If you are prophetic, prophetic people will stir you!  If you are an evangelist, you may find yourself dreaming to be like Blly Graham. This is one way to know your gift. If it fires you up, it may be who you are. 
5. Circumstances. Circumstances and experience will simply draw your equipping gift out.  Watch what flows out of you naturally. Pay attention to where you are flowing most freely--especially in difficult or emotional moments. 

In all of this, remember that you do not discover your gift as much by searching as you do by serving. Get on with serving the body of Christ and God will make things cleaer by the day. 

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Last week we sent this news to our partners and supporters. I thought we would go ahead and tell the rest of the world too. Exciting things! Here are some excerpts of the letter we sent out:

After hearing from the Lord on it as a family, seeking counsel from our leaders and our Missionary Support Team, we have decided that Noah and Davis will make a trip to America together in May!

 

Purpose of the trip: FUNDRAISING, meeting with Pastors and churches, speaking and sharing what we are learning, and strengthening the realtionship with our partners in ministry. And of course, it will be precious to see family and friends. Oh, and did I mention Fundraising (priority time and energy will go to current and potential donors)?

 

Dates of Trip: May 15 through June 4.

 

Why Davis? 1) Daddy does not prefer to travel alone, 2) Mommy does not prefer to keep two kids by herself when one of them is an infant, 3) There are a few people in America that would like some quality time with a certain 5 year old, and 4) after much prayer and waiting, Jesus paid for Davis's plane ticket through some special gifts!

 

Already looking forward to being with our home congregation, Capital Christian Fellowsip on Sunday, May 20th! It will be neat to be back home after 17 months on the feild!

 

While Tricia and Lily would love to come, we believe that it is right that they do not. Lord willing, we will be in the USA as a family in November and December as was originally planned.

 

With anticipation, 

Noah, Tricia, Davis and Lily

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This is a pretty cool week.  We have guests visiting us from America.  Their names are Nathaniel and Aletheia Elliott. The crazy thing is that we actually never met this couple until they landed here Friday night. We have skyped and emailed in preparation for this trip, but never me tin person. Aletheia has a heart for justice, Nathaniel has major gifts and a degree in film making and they are both in love with Jesus and Africa. The Lord put a desire in their hearts to come here to South Africa to film our story and the stoires of others here in Masi. This is such a special gift to us. This morning we filmed five hours of footage in Masi. Soon, we will be releasing some videos and photos (pic above is from today). We are thanking God for this chance to share what the Lord is up to.

(Video below was their promo video for this trip.)

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Last night I had a meaningful moment with a man I have been disciping.  He is an African Brother who has spent quality time in our home. He said this:

I love your son, David (cannot seem to get that it is DAVIS). He has taught me a lot. There are several times that I have watched him tell you the truth about something naughty that he did even though he was afraid you might be mad. When I watched him do this, it really taught me that I need to stop lying and being so afraid of protecting myself. I must have the integrity he has to admit that I was wrong. I have also seen him at bedtime, and he is so commited to prayer.  He cannot go to bed without prayer time.  That also helped me see the importance of prayer in my life. He was only 4 years old when I saw these things, but he taught me a lot. I have never learned from a kid before.

Am I proud of my son? Yes! Am I bragging on him? Yes. But, I am not doing so to make Tricia and I look good, but to prove a few points:

1. The young can disciple and impact the old
2. People are always watching when you model integrity and commitment to Jesus
3. 4 year old kids can make a difference
4. We should train our kids in the way of the Lord as young as they can hear and obey

I encouraged Davis with this story this morning so that he knew his life was making a difference. That led us into an awesome talk about sin nature, so this afternoon we studied Genesis 3 together and saw that when people do wrong, they:

1. Hide
2. Lie
3. Blame

Davis shared how he feels tempted to do that sometimes too and then ratted on a friend at school who lied to the teacher today to protect himself.

 

I am learning a LOT about discipleship in my relationship with my son.

 

Are you discipling your kids?  It is YOUR job, not the the job of their Sunday School teacher. 

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I feel like I meet a lot of people that are held back, hesitant, reserved, lacking confidence. Over and over again, I see incredible gifting and anointing in people that seem to not be operating to their potential.

 

In my short years of ministry and through prayer, the Lord has revealed to me what I believe are the three main areas that hold people back from being bold and confident with their voices and gifts. 

1. Pain. You have been wounded somewhere along the line and you are afraid of it happening again. The wounds are not healed, so you are held back.
2. Insecurity. For many varying reasons, you are just not secure in who you are and what you have to offer. Could be lack of affrimation, lack of theology of who God has made you to be or fear of man and desire to please them and feel important. Whatever the reasons, you are insucure and it compresses your gifts and your voice. (You may want to read this blog I wrote about Jesus and insecurity.) 
3. Secrets. Enough said. Secrets in our lives make us feel totally unworthy to assert ourselves into any leadership or to speak up and offer our gifts and voice.  Secrets place major drag on your life.  (I reccomed highly that you read this post I wrote recently about secrets.)

 

Are you held back? Take a look at these three areas in your own life.  Take them before the Father in prayer.

 

I long to see your gifts released.  Please stop hoding back on us and robbing us all of what you have. We need it. We need you! Come on.

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Whitney Houston died. I pray God's peace be with her family. Seems that most of the rest of the world jsut needed something to talk about. No prob. That's cool.  Her funeral was yesterday. I did not watch it.  Could not really get it here.  Not televised and slow internet. 

 

Today, I saw this clip of Rev. Marvin Winans speaking at the funeral.  He called it preaching.  I call it heartbreaking. A few quotes with some short commentary...all of which can be found in the first 3:00 of the video above:

• "I don't want anybody leaving here thinking God wants anyone here broke!" // Really, Mr. Winans? You were preaching to millions of people. Many were broke.  Flat broke.  What should they do with the fact that you have now told them that God isn't ok with their brokeness? And why are there 300+ mentions of God's love and care for the poor in the Bible you were holding while you preached?
• Mockingly, he states that folk say "I don't believe in this proserity gospel." To which Mr. Winans responds: "I don't know what other gospel there is!" // Really? I do. It is called the gospel of sacrifice and suffering.  The one that our Lord Jesus Christ modeled so perfectly by pouring himself out and humbling himself even to death. (Phil 2)
• "If God wants somebody broke, would you tell me who that is? Who's volunteering?" // To answer your question, I guess God wants more than 80% of the world to be poor, since they ARE. I assume most of Africa must have volunteered?!  Seems as though your church isn't volunteering, though.  No one raised their hands.  They just laughed. 
• "When God brough Israel out of Egypt, everybody came out with something." // Really, Mr. Winans? Where is that in the Bible? And what is this supposed to mean, anyway?  Because I want to tell some of my friends here in Africa who have nothing "in their hands" today how this can help them. 
• "For you to believe that somebody needs to be broke is to say that God does not have enough sufficiency to supply for everybody." // Really, Mr. Winans? Seriously? I am afraid you are deeply missing some vital principles about who God is and what He is up to. And now millions of other people can be as confused as you are.  
• "I want you to understand that what God desires for everyone, is for everyone to be healthy and prosperous." // Really? I am sure that this is in the Bible somewhere, but can you remind me of where? And then can you help me administer that reaity to the millions of people on the earth today that are neither healthy or prosperous? 

 

The prosperity gospel runs rampant in Ameirca and in Africa. It is a false gospel.  It is damaging and painful to our world. The guys propegating it seem must have AWESOME salaries, live in rich areas and must have rarely, if ever, traveled throughout the world.  My heart aches for them, with them and for the many impacted by the pain that their teaching causes. 

 

And sometimes, I just have to speak up. And so I have.  I wish I knew Marvin personally and could sit with him and challenge him and hear more from his heart. 

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I'm deeply honored to join about 15 staff as we host and train 38 students who came from the nations so that they can go to the nations to make disciples and plant churches.

Here are the 14 countries represented in this year's CPx student body:

Canada
South Africa
Sweden
Zimbabwe
Whales
Netherlands
USA
Malawi
Australia
Scotland
Switzerland
Zambia
Germany
Morocco

I get the honor of hanging out with these folks for three months as we prepare to take Jesus to the nations. Yippee.

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I stumbled upon something too cool not to share.

 

We pray with Davis every night when we put him to bed. It is a great thing to do and I am thankful for it.  However, lately I have been kinda unimpressed with the routine...same thing every night. Same basic words, same basic prayer, same basic mechanics. Might be ok for some, but not for me.  I want Davis to learn to express his heart to Jesus out of sincerity, not habit. I want to teach him early to pray with passion and intentionality. 

 

So, about a week ago I old him that we were going to take turns praying, alternating back and forth, kind of like popcorn popping back and forth...and that we would pray for whatever Jesus brought to our hearts.  

 

We did! And it was super special.  Now, every night, we employ our new popcorn prayer strategy.

• I prayed for Mom.
• He prayed for sister.
• I prayed for Family.
• He prayed for Masi.
• I prayed thanks for the day.
• He prayed safety for tomorrow. 
• On
• And on
• And on

It is totally rad to hear my son pray like this and it has significantly increased the value of our prayer times together.  I feel like we have stumbled upon a fairly good prayer strategy. I encourage you to try it a few times with your kids (or adults) and see what happens.

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Been needing to do this a long time.  I often talk with church leaders and pastors and other curious Christ followers who have questions about what we are learning and where they can read about it.  I have wanted there to be ONE PLACE where people could find it all. So, here we go.

 

Key Discipleship Posts:

• I am afraid we are in a discipleship Crisis. Read about that here: A Discipleship Crisis?
• Should initiate discipling relationships or wait for them to come to me? My answer: Finding Discipleship; Wait or Ask?
• We disciple pre-christians in this way: Disciple to Convert
• Discipleship is obedience based, not knowledge based. This is major. Read this: Obedience-Based Discipleship.
• The rule of two: Rule of 2
• There are three types of discipling relationships that all of us should be engaging in.  I write about them here: Discipling Up, Down & Across and here: Ahead, Behind and Beside. 
• We must ask good questions in discipleship relationships: Provocative Questions  And here are some more good questions: Can I ask you a question?

 

Key Church Planting Posts:

• Church is about living the three loves: The Three Loves 
• More then 2/3 of the world can't, won't or don't read.  What does this mean for the gospel: Making Disciples of Oral Learners
• As a result, many people of the world are oral. Storying is one creative way to teach scripture that sticks: Storying Video.  Another way to learn scripture could look like this. Locals came up with this idea: Storying by Acting
• Some things about church planting have really surprised me.  Here are some: 3 Church Planting Surprises
• Can you reproduce your church free and easy? If not, read this: Making Babies in Church
• Discovery Bible Studies are a brilliant tool: DBS.  The SPECK tool is also cool: SPECK

 

Some other geneal posts:

• I bleive that the five fold gifting in Ephesians is majorly missing in the church: 5 Gifts...which one are you?
• We ought to know them and give them away: Give it away!
• I am understanding Apostolic leadership more and more...and it is helping me understand myself.  Read this: The Apostle
• New thoughts I now have on Prophecy: Prophecy; A New View
• Here is a video I shot with some thoughts into redefining church: (Re)defining Church :: A Video Blog
• Want to experience a neat way to build simple church values into larger church gatherings? Read this: 600 Sermons
• Here are some neat ways to use your building when the "church" is not: How to use your church building the other 166 hours

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This year has taught me so much about discipleship. Here is one of the things that has crystalized for me rather recently...

 

I think that we all need to be engaged in three types of discipleship relationships:

1. Ahead: We need to ask someone ahead of us in their walk with Jesus to come over us and dsiciple us intentionally.  You open up to them and they speak into your life, challenge you and encourage you in the faith.
2. Behind: Inetentionally select people that are not as far along as you in their faith journey...particularly someone that is spiritually hungry and containing noticeable potential and then ask them if you can disciple them.
3. Beside: Engage in a few peer discipling relationships with people who are in a similar place as you in the faith. Challenge each other and walk with each other in an intentional way.

All three of these relationships must be:

1. Intentional
2. Accountable
3. Centered around Jesus
4. Focussed on obedience

I personally think that each of us should enter into at least one of each of these relationhips. Are you in any of them?  

-----------------------------------------------

Older related discipleship posts:

Previouly wrote about obedience based discipleship which I define HERE.

I have blogged about the fact that I think we have a discipleship crisis HERE. 

Then, I got lots of questions about whether you should pursue discipling relationships or wait on them.  I answered that HERE.

Even earlier, I had blogged about 2-way discipleship.  Read that HERE.

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Wanna hear a funny, but not so funny story?

 

For the last six months me and a group of men have been meeting with some brothers in Masiphumelele for church every Sunday morning.  We meet in one of the guy's rooms in Masi. It is a single rented room in a house. Not only did we meet each week, but we would swing in throughout the week and drop things off from time to time and visit him. 

 

Recently, my friend's landlord called him in and told him he had to vacate the property in 2 weeks.  He was shocked. After some prying he discovered that the reason he was being asked to move out was because she had concluded that he was running a drug ring out of his room with the white men.  Why else do several white men show up several times per week? Church?  Yeah, right!  Great excuse. 

 

My friend has moved and found somewhere else to live. 

 

This was a first.  Accused of being a drug dealer.  The truth is, I am just a Jesus dealer. 

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I can't believe that my baby is 5.  These 5 years have been the best years of my life! It has been such a joy and honor to raise Davis so far.  I am so proud of the boy he is becoming and pray this is the best year yet!!!

2 days old!

1 years old!

2 years old!

3 years old!

4 years old!

5 years old and his best birthday present!

 

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!!!!!

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A new school year here in South Africa.  Davis was very excited to start today with a new teacher and a new classroom.  He even brought a picture of Lily to show off his sister!

My baby is growing up!

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This blog post is dedicated to the most beautiful, little, sweet, precious, white African-Ameican baby in the entire Republic of South Africa!

 

Noah, Davis and I are thrilled to anounce the arrival of our sweet daughter, Lily Raelynn Kaye.  

 

Date: Saturday, January 7th, 2012 (EXACTLY 5 years after Davis- get ready for some MAJOR birthday partying January 7th, 2013)

Location: Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa

Time: 2:14pm

Weight: 6lb, 7oz

Length: 18.5in

 

Lily's name is spiritually significant...it means beauty and purity-- indicative of her future.  We belive that the Lord has great plans for Lily.  She will be a radical, Holy Spirit led, Jesus lover.

 

Lily's name is also practically significant in that she is our "Lily of the Valley"-- we live in the Fish Hoek Valley of Cape Town.  What is really cool is that Davis choose her name! 

 

She is a miracle and an answer to prayer and prophetic words over our family. Read about it HERE when we announced our pregnancy.

 

Join us in praying for Lily's life-- that it would shine for Jesus.

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I can't believe we have lived here in South Africa a whole school year! It just seems like yesterday we got of the plane and started this new chapter in our lives. 

Yesterday was Davis' last day of school.  He is now on summer holiday for the next 4 1/2 weeks. We are so proud of the growth and maturity we have seen in this last year. He has learned so much at school and got to play his little heart out each day!

 

Davis' first day of school (Jan. 2011)

Davis' last day of school (Dec. 2001)

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My friends got together and blessed Lily and I with a shower.  They showered me with lots of love, prayers, and gifts.  What a blessing they are to me!

Beautiful butterfly cake!  MADE by....

The famous Lancaster County and now South African baker Shawn (AKA Titi to Davis)!

Yummy Yummy Food!

Louisa getting into the chocolate machine!

Deby is the life of the party!

Tersia and I posing!

Julianna writing on a diaper!

Noah and I have alot of funny things to read during the middle of the night changes!

Anette, just one more pose!

 

Thank you ladies for making me feel so loved and supported!!!!

 

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Tricia Kaye
Blog: triciakaye.posterous.com
Family Site: kayefam.me

Sent from my iPhone

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One of Davis' favorite things to do right now is playing with his spinning top that he bought in Masi. It is what all the boys are playing with in Masi and so Davis wanted one too!

Here is Davis playing with some boys today in Masi with his spinning top outside of where we have our VC Kid's Club.

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I know it has been a long time since I have written a blog post but life got really busy and being pregnant I only had enough energy to give to my family and to ministry. That said I am feeling better and my energy level is getting better, so I promise to write more often!

My first post being back I want to talk about being blessed in the community I am living in. God knew exactly what I needed when He moved me 8000 miles away from my family and friends. While Noah was away for 2 weeks, I came down with the flu. It was pretty bad and it was hard for me to get out of bed and tend to Davis.

I have made some amazing friends here and they were ready and willing to take turns nursing me back to health and tend to Davis. I couldn’t believe the care they were giving me and they made it easy being sick without Noah home and having my family to lean on.

In these last several months I have never experience community quite like this. 8 months ago these ladies were total strangers and now they are there when I need them. One was even willing to hold the trash can as I puked my guts out and if that wasn’t bad enough, she insisted to clean it out so I could go back and lay down.

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One of my friends, Sarah Prince, that works in Ocean View (a coloured township) got some of the ladies she works with to come in a pray for some single moms in Masi (the township I work in). It was a powerful time of prayer and song and I felt so honored to be apart of this divine moment with these ladies.  The visit took place in the dark and the shacks had no working electritiy.

 

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Wanted to share some pictures of the kids I mentor in Masi

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This video captures something that we are really seeing the Lord bless. We call it storying. Since so many people do not learn by reading (close to 80% of the world are oral learners), we are experimenting with different ways that: A) People can learn the scripture in a manner that penetrates their hearts. B) They can reproduce it for others. I encourage you to try this in a group soon. Later, I will post some stories that we have crafted. Use, reproduce, tell others and let the Word of the Lord go forth.

 

Storying in Masi from Noah Kaye on Vimeo.

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What a week we have had!  Last Monday we woke up to the news that there was a massive fire in Masi, burning at least 1500 shacks.  People were left with no home and many with no possessions to their name. When I arrived on the scene, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  I have never seen a fire so big and do so much damage.  I felt for the people because I could remember what it was like to watch a home burn down.

The fire started in the middle of the night and when we got in at 9am the people were already clearing their site and starting to rebuild.

Even the kids lent a helping hand!

Each day there was more progress!

By the end of the week many shacks were rebuilt and people were trying to replace the things they lost from donations the community was providing.

 

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Praying through this today!

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Easter was very different for us this year being in another country.  We really missed our family and our church, but we managed to make the best of it.

I left Davis' Easter basket in the states so I bought this basket for him.

Davis' finished Easter basket!

Davis looking for his Easter basket!

 He found it!

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Davis and I had a very special moment tonight as I was putting him to bed.  We read the Easter story in the Jesus Book Storybook and then off to cuddle into some sweet percious dreams.  As we layed down I told Davis that instead of just praying tonight let finish this statement......

Thank you Jesus for.... 

Mom: Thank you Jesus for giving me such a wonderful son!

Davis: Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins!

Mom: Thank you Jesus for my husband!

Davis: Thank you Jesus for not staying dead and is alive!

Mom: Thank you Jesus for giving us food!

Davis: Thank you Jesus for giving food to Masi people!

Mom: Thank you Jesus for giving us a nice bed to sleep in!

Davis: Thank you Jesus for calling us to South Africa!

I am so proud of my boy and feel so blessed to call him my son! To think I wouldn't be having this special moment if Jesus didn't step in and let his own life be taken so mine would be saved! He LOVES us that much!

 

HAPPY EASTER!

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A few weeks ago we had a guest speaker that uses a prayer journal everyday and it really got me thinking. So I decided to start one and it was the best thing I could of done. I have been writing in it everyday and it has changed the way I think and talk to God.  It has been a powerful tool for my prayer life!  

Each day I do four things:

• Write at least 5 things I am thankful for from the previous day.
• Write words that express what I am feeling for God and in my heart, and what prayer needs I have.
• I have 28 people/families that I pray for, so on their day I spend time writing a prayer for them.
• Then I pray it out loud and add anything else I feel that I didn't write.

 

 

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I have been meaning to share two special gifts that I got for my birthday.  I have been so blessed by all the amazing new people in our lives. They have been so loving, caring, and supportive!  Recently, I was given two gifts that had meaning for my life. They represent things that God was showing me before I left for South Africa and continued when I got here.

My friend Tersia (staff of All Nations) bought me these flowers for my birthday to go along with a word she gave me the second week of lecture. She came up to me one day to tell me that I am here for a reason and that God wants to continue to bloom me into what He has always intended me to be. When Tersia gave me the flowers the buds weren't open. She went on to tell that this is a beautiful flower that hasn’t bloomed, but it will, and when it does it will be beautiful. Just like the flower I am ready to bloom into something beautiful!

My friend Julianna (staff of All Nations) gave me a painting that she painted of a tree with this Psalm 1:3 on the back. “You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.” Julianna had no idea what was going on in my life and yet she thought this would be a perfect gift for me.  It is hanging in my room with the verse under it so I can see it everyday and be reminded that God is changing me everyday!

 

God is doing amazing things in my life these last 3 months and He is far from done.  It has been painful at times but I know that in the end it will be so rewarding! My greatest prayer right now is, "God please don't stop until you are done with me!"

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Davis' first school project

Davis' class was studying countries and we were asked to put a poster together for the USA. I really had fun getting this project ready and teaching Davis how to present it to his class.  He did such a great job and he was so proud to show his classmates where he is from!

 

 

 

 

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We had an awesome visit from Noah's sister these past 10 days.  We were so blessed to have her and so sad to see her go!

We are waving at Selah as she gets off the plane!

Selah's welcoming committee! 

Their first hug!

Selah with kids in Masi!

Selah giving out candy!

The view from Table Mountain!

Selah taking us out for the night!

Awesome view!

Selah was amazed by the African Penguins! 

 

 

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We put Davis to bed tonight in our bed. When we left the room there was an adorable 4 year old in our bed.

Noah's heart stopped when he came into the room and saw this.

This is where Noah found him! Noah thought it was cute to come running into the kitchen to tell me Davis was gone.  Not Funny! Not cute!

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