From Doug Lucas, President
Thank you for praying for the Connect Gathering, which just occurred this past month in an undisclosed location. We had the biggest group ever and an incredible line-up of gifted speakers.
Here’s a testimony from one worker:
In early July we spent five days in fellowship with our global Team Expansion family for the annual Connect Gathering. We had several guest speakers who inspired and equipped us for the important ongoing work of making disciples among the unreached. The days also included workshops that helped us fine tune our focus and efforts in our ministry.
On top of the enriching teaching we received, it was very beneficial for me to be near and interact with [other] workers….
Of course, the best part, though, was how much fun the kids had. There was a wonderful group of volunteers who gave our kiddos the time of their lives and we’re so thankful for their incredible contribution. Oh, and they thought it was cool to see an alligator lurking in the lake right outside our lodging!
Connect was a great time for everyone, and an important boost for Team Expansion as a whole.
Connect Gathering 2018 Pictures
- Join us in thanking God that we were able to engage Caleb Bislow, author of Dangerous: Engaging the People and Places No One Else Will. If you have a moment, google his name and watch some of his videos. This guy is courageous, direct, and pulls no punches: We need to finish the Great Commission regardless of what it takes. Thank the Lord for the inspiration he shared with the group.
- Give thanks to God for Curtis Sergeant. He doesn’t have time to accept every invitation — but he came to Connect and we’re grateful. Curtis has helped launch numerous movements toward Christ, including his original work on an island off the coast of China, where over a half-million inhabitants have given their lives to Christ. His presentations were heartfelt and relevant. We learned much.
- Ask God to bless Steve Smith, author of several books (including best-seller, T4T: A Discipleship Re-Revolution), who came and shared amazing biblical views about making disciples and following the lead of the Holy Spirit in doing so. Steve came despite being in the middle of battling cancer. Pray for him and his wife, Laura, that God will lead them to victory in these challenging times. Steve helped with a movement toward Christ in China that has resulted in 1.7 million people accepting the Lord (so far).
- Please ask God to bless Christ’s Church of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ, who gave the precious gift of sending 3 members of their worship team, including their Lead Worship Pastor, Jordan Howerton, to lead our praise times. Give thanks for CCV’s partnership with Team Expansion.
- Many of these workers labor in places where group worship, if it can occur at all, can only take place with hushed whispers in secret. Imagine how vibrant and heart-warming it is for them to belt out a song to God like, “Your love never fails, and never gives up, It never runs out on me! Because on and on and on and on it goes! Before it overwhelms and satisfies my soul! And I never, ever, have to be afraid. One thing remains, This one thing remains: Your love never fails, and never gives up, It never runs out on me!”
- These workers from throughout the world came together for Connect Gathering 2018 last month to celebrate what God was doing around the world, reconnect with one another, and to renew their vision to work together in Team Expansion to change their world.
A Special Thank You
There are many other pictures we could have shown of all the friends reconnecting, sharing testimonies of what God is doing in their respective lands, and lots more. But one thing is for sure: God showed up at Connect. And we’re grateful for your prayers and for those who made it possible.
We’re especially grateful for the sponsors who underwrote the costs of staging it, so we didn’t have to ask our workers to pay even a registration fee.
Thanks to Compassion Christian Church (Savannah, GA), Shepherd Church (Porter Ranch, CA), CCV (Phoenix), Calvary Christian Church (Omaha), Brownstown Christian Church (Brownstown, IN), Church of the City (Nashville), an anonymous donor family in southern California, and an anonymous donor in Gallipolis, OH, along with numerous volunteers and Board Members, who made the week possible.