February TEAM Day 2019
by Linda Boyce
When Eric asked if I would assist with the planning for Bob and Pam Rognlien’s visit, I was honored; the joy and the many blessings that would come from it were greater than I could have imagined. Boone and I spent two life-changing weeks with them in Israel last April, so I knew we would enjoy having them in our home, but the overwhelming ways in which they touched so many people here could not have been more exciting.
Preparing for TEAM day, Saturday, February 9th was definitely a team effort! We hosted nearly 100 FPCE brothers and sisters in the Great Hall and I can confidently say that every person left the session filled with a renewed spirit of Missional Discipleship. Bob invited us all to reflect on our way of life and look to the simple concepts that Jesus used to change the world.
Like our first core practice, Jesus shared himself with others. For a connected relationship, we, like Jesus, share who we are as people of God. We care for one another as Jesus cared for those whom he loved; in Capernaum, at the beginning of his ministry, he opened his ‘family’ or Oikos, to the sick, maimed, demon-possessed… those who were outside of the mainstream of his time. Bob reminded us that prayer should be at the foundation of all we do. Jesus did nothing without speaking to His Father. Bob walked the TEAM through many circumstances in the Bible where trust in the LORD created monumental change in the world; simple people, through their trust in God upended their lives. Are we willing to do the same?
Jesus invested in people in every story we attached to his ministry. He invested in the disciples, he invested in the woman at the well, the gentlemen on that walk to Emmaus and countless others. He shared himself willingly and consistently.
Through Bob’s elegant delivery style, encouraging and challenging at every turn, he stressed the importance of serving others, as our Father shared his life unselfishly. When Jesus selected the 12, he was creating our future, for in those 12 men comes our faith story today. He created a covenant relationship with them, as we can now create a covenant relationship with Christ and within our community outreach. He created leaders, and we are called to do the same. Bob shared with us his recipe for creating and sending leaders and showing them how we endeavor to live a Jesus-centered life. He helped us see how our covenant with the Father is strengthened through our obedience when we identify with the way he lived. His kingdom grows in us, as we use the authority, he gave us through the Holy Spirit and his teaching. The authority He gave us gives us the power to bless others in the Kingdom of Heaven. We need only to grab it and run.
Bob walked us through a simple and elegant message about how we can expand our disciplining in ways that are easy, non-threatening and can bring joy to the receiver AND to us as disciples! Coupled with wonderful pictures of Israel, Bob weaved a message for all of us to consider as we look to live out our Vision: New Life, through Jesus, for Edmond and the World.
I have had many people already share with me the powerful message which has affected them already and caused them to reconsider how they exercise our 7 Core Practices, weaving Bob’s teaching into our own Vision.
On a personal note, spending four days with Bob and Pam in and away from the ‘formal session’ on Saturday and the Monday/Tuesday seminar, I can tell you that this IS HOW THEY LIVE. Every step they take is grounded in love and prayer. Eric, thank you for the blessings that came from your trust in me.