| The first month of 2022 is in the books. What was an unknown adventure, living as supported missionaries, has begun to take some fuzzy shape as we outlined our goals and strategy for the year, began to have transforming encounters with the lost, and started filling the calendar with trainings and mobilization trips. Thank you so much for praying, supporting, and partnering with us in many ways! “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”” Luke 10:8-9 Seeing the “Boomers for Bernie” sign on the yard as we went through our neighborhood, we weren’t sure what we were in for as we knocked on the door. Mike answered with a warm and familiar face. I came to realize he was the man I had stopped to check on after his car accident six months prior. He had brought us a watermelon as a thank you back then and now he was inviting us in to sit and visit and have some tea. I’m more of a coffee man myself, but the words of Jesus rang in my head, “eat what is set before you”. Kristen and I have begun making our way through our neighborhood, hoping to meet the scores of houses tucked in the country corners around us. As we have just scratched the surface we are already seeing how God has gone before us. This was meant to be the first “casual” visit but before we left Mike took it to a spiritual place and we are praying for more open doors with him as we pray for God to move in these roads. Not only that but we are finding other believers who have a heart for the kingdom harvest around them. Would you join us in praying for our neighborhood as you pray for yours?  |
| Amanda* had served me and my Wednesday morning guys group coffee for about a year. Very open and friendly, we had talked about life and spiritual things during those few seconds in the ordering transaction. One morning after asking the common question, “How are you doing?” She began to open up about the heartbreak she was feeling about losing her dad. This past Sunday, she met with Kristen and I for a DBS (discovery Bible study) and warm time of hearing each other’s stories. It is beautiful to see God approaching a broken heart with the intention of redemption. Tonight she and her boyfriend will be joining us for dinner. Would you also pray for this couple to take further steps in hearing, obeying and sharing God’s word? “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2 As a DMM Mobilizer, the Lord has opened a great opportunity to partner in helping more workers find their calling and step into the global field through Mission Connexion. All last year, I was involved in coordinating the workshops for this annual missions conference and it culminated in an amazing weekend of training, inspiration, encouragement and most of all networking and connection. Kristen and I got to serve the workshop leaders and conference attenders and many were blessed with the first in-person MCNW since 2020. |
| The other important trip I took in January was my first visit to the World Venture headquarters in Denver, CO. I helped with Discover Weekend which is the first step candidates take to familiarize themselves with our sending agency. As I led worship in the closing meeting, you could tell that God was wrestling and speaking, as the young adults were considering the global opportunities to be part of the harvest. I am proud and full of joy to be on such a sincere and humble team of mobilizers. “Go your way; behold I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” Luke 10:3 The disciple making journey we are taking is leading us off any ministry map we have known so far. Therefore, with trembling and desperate prayer, we have sought the Lord for significant simple steps as we purse modest but faith fueled goals for 2022. I’d like to share some highlights so that you can pray and we can be accountable to. Ten goals I’d like to share with you: Develop my family as a community of disciples using regular DBS, character goals, and shared mission. Be involved in 3 hours of corporate prayer a week, with a significant focus on the lost and great commission. Host a half night of prayer once a month by the end of March. Invite a team to pray for our neighborhood and develop into a DMM team by May. Share the DMM vision with one local pastor a week over coffee or lunch. Help FIVE DMM teams get mobilized, trained, started or coached this year. Go out among the lost (including our neighborhood) three hours a week. Start FIVE DBS discovery groups this year. Develop two or three avenues for others to be coached as DMM practitioners. Take a first try at a residential training program (DMM hub) here in Corvallis in the fall. Thank you so much for your interest, love and support. As you noticed I linked the sections of this letter to key passages of Luke 10. This passage, along with Matt 28, Acts 2, and 2 Tim 2:2, are the backbone for the direction we are taking from the Lord. If you were to do a DBS on all these passages, you’d see how the discipline of making disciples who make disciples is the baseline of our ministry. We appreciate that you are on this journey with us. If you have any questions or want to connect with us, we heartily encourage it. Blessings, Russ Richmond |
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West Coast Disciple Making Movements 