Barnabas Task

When we celebrate the 2010 Christmas there will be a new church in Santiago, Dominican Republic.  I believe that.  For more than two years we have been going to Santiago with medical teams, prayer teams and investigation teams.  Each time the circle of influence there has expanded.

Three things have marked our time there:

Prayer

Fasting

Connecting

God spoke to me about Inside/Out; that He would watch over things and give me direction if I took time with Him and that He would form/create a pattern.

This seems to be working.  A rhythm has brought success that equates to “God works.” Imagine that?!  For the first time I am publicly sharing in writing what God has spoken to me. I have bounced this off of about 15 people whom I respect. What God has spoken is a bold declaration and I speak it humbly.

Vision for Santiago, Dominican Republic

To be people of influence so that others know Christ.

The most effective agent for influence is a vibrant and strategic church, which becomes self-supporting, self-governing, self-propagating and self-sending. Secondly, we desire to influence through just relationships (meaning–without agenda) with those that have need and in so doing encourage community development.

1.  Vibrant and Strategic Church*

The location for the church is a middle-upper class area that is notably non-evangelical with a population of about 250,000.  This area was carved out with prayer and fasting, investigative questions, and significant consultation. We will influence this area with the establishment of a vibrant and strategic church.  Long-term strategy includes the development of emerging leadership as they develop others who in turn will be people of influence establishing other leaders and churches.

2. Community Development**

We have brought Health Care teams to the Cien Fuegos neighborhood, considered to be the poorest area of Santiago.  More than 200,000 people live in this area.  There are neither titles to properties nor official representation to the city.  In effect it is a “squatters rights” domain.  After much prayer and reflection, the “best practice” is to encourage the establishment of on-going community development with others in this area, in lieu of establishing a church. Three areas of focus are:

1.  Micro-Finance                                                                                                

2.  Health Education

3.  Clean Water

Six principles of community development and just relationships include:

• Sustainable Solutions–local resources and skills
• Active participation–vision sharing, decision making
• Shared Vision–a dream that is Kingdom minded
• Servant Leadership–listening, learning from each other
• Effective Institutions–opportunities that fit shared vision
• Restoration of the city–people restored to God and each other

*We just had our first Getting to Know Meeting at the Hotel Almirantes in Santiago.  (El Primer Encuentro de Conocer)  What a joy it was to share vision with those who had expressed interest.   (Picture at top left) These meetings are part of the unfolding vision for starting a church in Santiago.  Information and Connection.  I shared three main values for the church.

• Amar a Dios (Love God)
• Amar a los demás (Love Others)
• Servir el mundo (Serve the world)

**I shared these principles with Cien Fuegos community leaders recently.  It was historic in that I was told they had never come together like this in the past.  (Picture to the right) Relational equity and doing good has paved the way for everything that has taken place and will take place.