Top Ten Reasons for using SASHET in your church

* Top Ten Reasons for starting simple church by using SASHET to "check in" with each other...

#2. It helps me know what part of me is present. How many times have we gone to church meetings without thinking deeply about where our own hearts are? As a result, we end up merely "going through the motions". We relate on a superficial level. But, when I take time to think through SASHET (Sad - Angry - Scared - Happy - Excited - Tender), I can be authentic with my community. I present my "true self" and the result is meaningful relationships with both the community and with God.

What benefits have you found from "checking in"? Add your thoughts in the "Comment" section below. Also, if you are new to SASHET and the CO2 concept, see the resources in the right column.

*National House Church Conference. September 2-4 in Jacksonville, FL. http://www.cvent.com/events/momentum-basics-and-beyond/event-summary-35d9eb8b489245b383c00068e2ebd074.aspx

*Letters to the House Church Movement by Rad Zdero. Chapter Four is titled "Letter to Women in House Churches". Rad comments that "Women (in the early church) were full participants in church life and mission. They could pray, prophesy, teach, encourage, and use all their spiritual gifts." He lists a number of roles that women functioned in. One particularly significant role was that of apostle. "Women were apostles. In Rom. 16:7, Paul greets two outstanding apostles. One is a man named Andronicus. The other person's name, however could either be read "Junias" (male) or "Junia" (female), ... the evidence overwhelmingly favors the female name "Junia." p. 50. (Rad goes on in the book to outline that evidence.)

When we pray Lk10:2b, we beseech the Lord of the harvest to send forth both male and female apostolic church planters! And, it's happening!

Perhaps you've seen the video below - Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy. What are the lessons for the LK10 Community?

"The power of two"

I want to continue to give you snapshots of the Apprenticeship. (Perhaps God will want you to be a part when we begin new cohorts in January.)

The following is a post (shared with permission) from Sharon Hutchinson in Queensland, Australia. Let me point out a few aspects of the Apprenticeship that are illustrated in what Sharon writes...

• Each cohort has 10-12 members who connect with each other in multiple ways. One way is a private online discussion group. What you will read below is Sharon's post to that group last week.
• Each week there are Learning Assignments for the cohort. Sharon is sharing with the group her reflections (which are excellent!) on last weeks assignments.
• Every cohort member is in a "church of two" (CO2). Sharon's partner is Maree Watson who lives in a whole different part of Australia. (What this illustrates is that distance in no deterrent to effective CO2s!)
• Every cohort connects via period conference calls. From Sharon's response you can see that relationships are already forming.
• This cohort is already becoming a community after 3-4 weeks even though it's members are around the world (Australia, the Philippines, Eastern Europe, the US)

So, take a moment to enjoy Sharon's post below.

John

Hey everyone, I'm Sharon checking in for the first time. Please forgive me as I was away on a camping trip in the rain with my dog in the red mud!!! Taking me a while to recuperate!!

Have a day off today and have been catching up on all 3 assignments - Maree and I have been CO2ing and listening most days and I have listened to the phone call you had yesterday. Wow, I feel like I know you all already!

God has been revealing so much to me over the past 4 weeks about 'the power of 2"! Maree and I had 2 days together recently (we live 1000kms apart) - I notice that our listening time is much more powerful when we are physically together. He started then speaking about this 2 concept and creating culture.

This is an excerpt from my journal from then, "Unity - not loneliness or aloneness. Isolation is a tool of the devil in mind, body and spirit. We were designed to live, love and work together. There is power in 2, not 1. Laughter comes where there is 2, joy and passion also. I created 2 to stand alongside each other, to be helpers, to bear each others burdens. This is My heart, to bring people back into unity, groups of 2 - to break the cycle of depression and addiction"

After reading through assignment 3 I feel that God is reinforcing this "Power of 2", there is a huge spiritual key here. I absolutely loved what Eugene Peterson had to say about the Song of Songs - " ... the lonely isolation of the solitary person must be invaded. Life to be meaningful must be joined; intimacy is a requirement of wholeness"

I look back into my own life and realise how alone I have been, how there has been a misconception of mistique and strength over the "lone ranger" type ... women especially made to feel isolated in their jobs or through suburban neurosis. I have been asked to pray for quite a few people this week with depression or some sort of addiction or neurosis and I just feel that the Lord is saying "this is the answer" .... I am flat out excited that God is revealing a key to fighting off all these things that have been plaguing His people all these years, and whats more - offering a real solution to those who are yet to become part of His body!

Sharon

Women in MRTs?

Yesterday's post featured a video of one of the Denver MRTs sending greetings to a similar group in New Zealand. In the video, five men share some of what they appreciate about their team.

Carolyn Spencer (Clovis, NM) responded with an important question...

Hi, Are all the seven MRT's (in Denver) a group of guys only? Is connecting together this way something done more easily when its just a group of guys, or is it just as effective when its mixed company? Would this group be as comfortable if a female leader joined you at Sojourner's Coffee Shop? What is your take on including women in MRT? Carolyn

Carolyn,

Thank you for asking this question! Some of the MRTs in Denver do have women members. And, I believe my MRT would actually be more effective if there were women as a part of the team. I believe that female apostolic church planters are just as "called" and just as effective as men. I believe that it is preferable to have a MRT with both men an women.

As you know, we are coming out of a period when women were often limited in their leadership roles in the church. In the Luke Ten Community, we believe that church = family and, in that context, spiritual mothers are just as important as spiritual fathers for a healthy family. I want Luke Ten to be an environment where women are encouraged to function that way both in house churches and as apostolic church planters.

So, Carolyn, thanks for asking that question so that I could clarify our values! And, to both men and women readers, please send me stories where you see women functioning in this kind of leadership.

John