What happens in a Foundations Course?

The video above is an interview with Walt Hastings who is one of our LK10 Coaches.  Walt has just finished leading one of the Cohorts in our six week Foundations Course and is describing what happened during the Course.  (See below for comments from members of that Cohort.)

Five new Cohorts are beginning in January.  One in Africa.  Two in Australia.  Two in the US.  To find out more information and to register see the right column.  Further questions?  Send me an email at john.lk10@gmail.com 

John White

Comments from members of Walt's Cohort...

Phyllis:  I had gotten God's messages before, but had never thought of it as hearing His voice. I had never tried a dedicated "listening time" before either. So I guess you'd have to say I am leaps and bounds beyond where I was.  I'd love to live my whole life as a "listening time"...   The class has emphasized for me that "church" is about relationship (to God and to each other) more than it is about worship. Worship flows from the relationship. 

Joseph:  The class has strengthened my marriage. We have checked in with each using "SASHET", which helps us to state where we are much more quickly. Sometimes we can't put emotions into words but this method helps. The class also has helped me to be more in tune to God and to listen to Him.  

Angie:  My highlight was meeting new people.  I also liked the roadmap that LK10 presented.  Doing check-ins using SASHET helped me understand where others are and be more tender toward them. I learned to listen to others, without offering advice. I was able to hear God's Voice every day and journal. I am appreciating that God wants to be with me each day, and that He desires relationship. Observing Walt when coaching allowed me to see a good example of listening well and asking good questions, without telling people what to do.   

Troy:  I liked the course material, especially how the role of the Holy Spirit was presented. It was great having a coach to whom to be accountable. My coach made observations and asked good questions that led to personal growth.  I also like the training options for the future that LK10 is planning.   

Raymond:  For me, the highlight has been the Skype session with the group. The fellowship with the other members in Skype was so welcome and refreshing. One member came through with some useful info on home churches that he sent to me. It has been a great encouragement to me to have fellowship with others of like mind and desires.  

Audrey:  I've learned better skills for listening to God.  Taking out more quiet times to spend with God, has made my relationship with Jesus seem more real to me...  I think that just knowing someone is committed to connecting with me each day (CO2) is pretty great, as well as knowing that I have a non-judgmental ear ready to listen to what's going on with me... When we arrive at our church meeting, I already feel connected to her, not like I'm only seeing her for the first or second time during the week. 

Bob:  I see more clearly the presence of Jesus in people in our cohort. I have new friends via the cohort. I want to hear what God does in their lives in the future, and to find opportunities to encourage them in their journey. 

Youth Ministry: A 50-year-old failed experiment (2)

Reggie McNeal, author of The Present Future, weighs in on this issue of youth ministry...

We typically hire children's and student ministers to run programs for children and young people.  In fact, this approach by the church may do more to decimate the home as a spiritual center than anything coming into the home on television or the Internet.

Reggie hasn't quite gotten to the house church concept (home = church) yet but he's headed in the right direction.  Here's more from Reggie...

From Classroom to Living Room


In the new world the place of learning has shifted from the classroom (academic model) to the living room (life learning)...


This shift raises the question of why churches spend millions of dollars building file cabinets to put people in for an hour or two each week (we call it "educational space") when the most effective spiritual formation does not occur in these settings...


This issue in spiritual formation is bigger than just location.  It involves a philosophy of where spiritual formation is centered.  In the modern world spiritual instruction was owned and operated by the institution of the church.  In premodern and postmodern cultures the home was and is the center for spiritual formation...


The typical church family leaves spiritual stuff to what happens at the church thereby delegating spiritual formation to the institution.  And the institution encourages it! ...  I'm amazed a how our best church families have no clue as to how to have conversations at home about spiritual subjects.  p. 88




The good news is - there is a revolution underway.  More and more Christians are rising up and saying "No!" to this institution-centered model.  They are returning to the New Testament model of the home as "the center for spiritual formation".

And, LK10 is a "community of practice" for these revolutionaries.  Here are some ways you can connect with this community:

Two Foundations Courses are starting in January.  For more information on what this is an how to register go here:  http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/2011/09/foundations-course.html

Also coming in January:   "The Family Blessing:  Reclaiming the Home as the Center for Spiritual Training".  More information to come.

Youth Ministry: A 50-year-old failed experiment (1)

A recent book on youth ministry by Scott Brown is causing quite a stir.  Here's the title...


A Weed in the Church:  How a culture of age segregation is harming the next generation, fragmenting the family and dividing the church.


What's the weed?  


Age-segregation.


"There is a crisis among the Christian youth. They drop out of church. They remain childish. They are biblically illiterate. The church is losing the next generation. 


Church youth ministries are failing to reach children and teens at an unprecedented rate. Depending on what survey you look at, these ministries have a failure rate of somewhere between 70 and 88 percent. We are losing 7 to 9 out of every 10 kids to the world. This is a time of emergency. People are wondering what is wrong with the youth."


What's the answer according to Scott Brown?  


Stop age-segregation and start age-integration (especially get the fathers involved).


Our view?


As a former youth pastor, I completely agree with Scott Brown.  This is a huge step in the right direction of restoring the biblical values for church and family.  My only concern is that it doesn't go far enough.  In the New Testament, families didn't "go" to church together. Rather,  it was understood that the home, and not some church building was the center of spirituality.  In other words, the marriage, and then the family, was the first and most foundational expression of church.


Our motto?  


Every home a church.


This is a biblical value that the LK10 Community is seeking to restore.  Coming in January, a new course called "The Family Blessing:  Reclaiming the Home as the Center for Spiritual Training".


John White