Casting Vision

We feel like one of our primary roles is to cast vision to the people we work with.  You see, from the very beginning, we want to be working ourselves out of a job.  We do this in two steps (though each step has various components).  The first step is to cast vision for others to have a heart to reach the Agta; the second is to empower those who catch the vision to be effective.  This past term, our focus has been on casting vision and empowering the Bugkalot tribe to effectively reach the Agta tribe.  But one of the things that we believe will help them to be effective is if they are also trying to work themselves out of a job.  The first group of Bugkalot partners that came down here to work with the Agta are now seeing the first fruits of their ministry; many have come to faith and several baby churches have been planted.  This past weekend we gathered together with our Bugkalot partners AND the new leaders of these baby Agta churches.  We cast vision for Agta men and women reaching the Agta and gave them some practical tools for how to do this.  While we are so very thankful for all the God is doing through our Bugkalot tribal partners, we know that they are not just our partners in reaching the Agta; they are our partners in empowering the Agta to reach their own people.  We want to make sure that the Agta believers do not depend on the Bugkalot to reach their people; we want them to catch the vision for Agta reaching Agta.

They had some worship and training time with the whole group...

...and also lots of small group discussion times. 

 Time for fellowship and just hanging out is key as well.

 One of the Agta leaders helping to lead a session.  Apply the principle right away, right? :) 

At the end of the time, each leader/group of leaders developed a plan to implement what they feel God is calling them to do at this time.  For some, that meant stepping up and taking more leadership in their new church.  For others, that meant new outreaches in new areas.  Exciting!  One of the coolest was hearing about what God is doing down in one of the most recent outreaches - now a baby church.  This guy is from an area several hours away where some of our Bugkalot partners have been doing an itinerant outreach off and on the last 2 months.  The leader from that baby church came up for this training, and it was encouraging to hear how he is not only faithfully leading his baby church, but that church has already started another outreach group!  He said he came up in order to get some tools on how to teach more effectively.  This guys has caught the vision! :)

Here's a picture of most of the group, though some had already left by the time they took this shot.

We are so very thankful for this great group of partners in the work, and we can't wait to see what God will do through them!