Destiny Kids International: Investing in the development of youth leadership!

Posted by Bill on April 12, 2013

Fredrick and the DKI Team prefer to be on the cutting edge in the development of their teen-leadership in Cairo. In partnership with CCI, DKI facilitated small groups development training for seven African youths. Fredrick kindly shares with us the following testimony …

“Greetings in Jesus Name. I would like to testify regarding to the Youth Cell Groups leadership training that took place on the 28th of March, 2013 which lasted for six weeks. We bless the Lord for how He moved during the training. It was a big blessing to the lives of the trainees; we were eight in number, including myself.

During training, the young leaders came to have a better understanding of the meaning of reaching out to the lost for Jesus. It was an eye opener to them and a refresher to me also. We all benefited in the training: we started very well and also with the help of your prayers and God the training ended very well. On the last day we had a little celebration where we provided them with refreshments. I prayed the Prayer of Empowerment over them (Ephesians 3), and we had a time for questions that related to the training experience.

Prayer Point

Next week (Thursday) we will be starting training for a second set of young people. Commencing on April 11, the training will continue for six weeks. I wish you could see the excitement in the eyes of the candidates for the next session. I am so ready to be used by the Lord. Please join us in prayer that the second training group will fire-up like the first group. Thanks to the CCI Team for their support through prayer and finances. May Almighty God bless you all, Amen.”

Coaching Connection: Developing Disciples

Posted by Bill on December 4, 2012

My Friday nights are dedicated to meeting with a group of young, committed adults in the church building at South Hedland, Western Australia, for the express purpose of intensive discipleship development. Learning is conducted in a relaxed and friendly way (sitting/reclining on a carpeted floor) … modelling where possible the biblical truths under discussion.

There is a clear understanding that serious effort will be made by each person to the application of discovered truths to every-day life. We’re not into developing hypocrites. Unsolicited feedback from participants keep me encouraged and convinced that the ‘investment’ of my time is well made. What do I expect to see? Developing disciples!

Friends, nothing wears me out more in life, and discourages my spirit, than to ‘spend’ time with half-hearted, spiritually lukewarm people. Such people are happy to remain where they are, marinating in mediocrity … forfeiting a life of excellence with the King of Kings. Such people don’t need my gifting and experiences.

Attached is a picture of my developing Timothies – nine seriously minded, ‘new wineskin’ developing disciples of Jesus Christ. We have journeyed through Small Groups Development and Relational Evangelism. At present, we are making amazing discoveries in God’s Word through Growing Up Into His Likeness. At the completion of this topic we will focus on Inspiring Leadership.

One of the members in the group has since given her life to Christ and asked me to baptise her at a nearby beach. Her family and friends (approximately 30 people) came to enlarge our usual congregation size of thirty to sixty people! This group is not learning about harvesting, they are doing it! The pastor of the church has expressed delight with what the Lord is doing with this group of developing disciples and is happy for them to continue in their development by inviting them to share in the facilitation of communion, prayer, preaching, and baptism.

Developing Disciples … is our Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Developing disciples is my passion.

Joel Comiskey

Posted by Bill on October 30, 2012

Joel Comiskey says …

I count it a privilege to have worked in cell group ministry for over a decade with my good friend, Bill Joukhadar. Bill has ministered to me over and over. He also has contributed many articles to our daily JCG blogs. Our JCG blogs cover different aspects of cell group life, and I’d like to encourage you to sign-up to receive each blog daily in your email to help you grow in your cell knowledge.

If you’d like to receive the blog into your email each day, please click HERE.

In December 2011 we had less than 1000 people receiving the JCG blog in their emails. At that time, Bill felt in his spirit that JCG would have 2000 people by the end of December 2012. I didn’t really believe it was possible but felt an excitement and even took it as a challenge. Right now we have 1930 people, and it’s possible to reach 2000 by December 31!

I pray that you will be part of that number.

Please sign up today.

Joel

www.joelcomiskeygroup.com
www.comiskey.org

Please consider this worthwhile opportunity to ‘drink’ from a variety of streams of thought on this important subject and share this opportunity with others whom you feel may also be interested.

Hindrances to Oikos Expansion

Posted by Bill on October 13, 2012

A healthy Oikos (cell/small group) is an expanding Oikos. For those who are passionate about seeing their Oikos expand, it’s important to navigate around the many hindrances that stand in the way of expansion success. Satan does not want to see your Oikos survive, and thrive. He will do everything in his power to fail you in this endeavor. However, we are advantaged … in Christ we have the victory!

Here are a few of the many hindrances you, or others in your Oikos, may encounter along the way:

Not having a close walk with the Lord is a mega-hindrance … attend to this right now!
Not having a target group of close relationships (un-churched family, friends, and associates)
Not praying constantly for these people (remember, without prayer you will not succeed!)
Distracted and caught up in the busy-ness of every-day life
Failing to see the need to build genuine, long term, loving relationship with un-churched friends (like Jesus, become a ‘friend of sinners’)
Fear of rejection when you share the good news about Jesus
Believing that …
- “I don’t know enough” of the Bible (If you belong to Jesus, you know enough!)
- “I’m not the type” (Moses was slow in speech, Jeremiah was too young)
- “I’m not good enough” (that’s ok … just have a firm belief that the Lord is good enough)
- “I’ll be rejected” (yes, that may well happen – it happened to Jesus, and His disciples)
- “There are no obvious results” (evangelizing is your business – results is God’s business!)

Whatever is standing in your way; get sound, godly counsel … then navigate around your hindrance as soon as possible. An expanding Oikos is a blessed Oikos.

Resource Updates

Posted by Bill on August 21, 2012

I hope you will be pleased to hear that some of our resources have been updated and added to.

I am also pleased to tell you that we are very close to publishing a brand new Swedish version of our Small Groups Development Manual – we will keep you posted!