Overflow was designed as a “reset” event to begin 15 months of focusing on creating a culture of rapid kingdom expansion and I think that a number of pastors and churches have leveraged it so that it has reached that objective. But Overflow was always conceived of as a “beginning” not a stand-alone event.

ARE PASTORS GOING TO BE TRAINED SO THAT WE CAN TRAIN OTHERS?

I hope not. I hope there isn’t training needed, beyond the bare minimum. The assumption of Rapid Kingdom Expansion is that God’s Kingdom will expand most easily where we have very simple reproducible systems. So there really isn’t a lot to train. It’s more a matter of jumping in. Small groups (if you keep them really small) aren’t too hard.  Just tell a Bible story, ask each other some accountability questions, and pray for each other.  Then watch what God does!

There are a few options: One way  is for the pastor to start a small group (3-4) and model what a small group does (Tell the story, Ask the questions, Pray for each other). Another way is to identify the persons in the church who might serve as group starters and train them for 3 weeks. Then have them start a small group of 2-3 people. It’s not really very hard.The harder part comes several months down the road…if groups are continually multiplying as they add new people it stays quite simple. If you get a larger group (over 4) then you need skilled leaders, which means you need training, and then the possibility of RKE is diminished.

IF THE DEADLINES AREN’T REALISTIC FOR US, SHOULD WE ATTEMPT TO DO SOMETHING HASTY AND SLIPSHOD TO SATISFY THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE BISHOP AND SUPERINTENDENT?

Of course we don’t want something slipshod. On the other hand, what about the deadline isn’t realistic? Perhaps we’re communicating something that seems bigger or harder than it is. Make 3 phone calls, invite them for Tuesday at 7:30PM. It’s not harder than that.

I wouldn’t make anyone do small groups, it would be counterproductive.  But given that small groups are essential to the Wesley method and our Book of Discipline, (see Paragraph 6050 in BOD #6),  we see smaller groups and cells within the larger body of Christ as the best environment for the birth, mentoring, encouragement and care of believers.  I think I’d start to wonder about a pastor who isn’t able to encourage and lead his/her people to this “best environment.”

WHAT IF PASTORS DON’T DO WHAT’S BEING ASKED?

The assumption is that not very many would say, “I won’t do what my spiritual overseers are asking me to do.” But that many might say, “I don’t know how,” or “I don’t think this is going to be fruitful,” etc.  A real case of defiance would need to be dealt with, but that isn’t normally the case; we simply need to keep explaining what it is we’re wanting to do and to understand why a pastor might not want to do that.The other part of the answer is that leaders will work more directly and provide encouragement to those who seem to be engaging with their leadership.

WHAT DO I DO WITH OUR PRESENT GROUPS IN OUR CHURCH?

There is no more pressing issue than the central issue for which God has raised up His church, “to go and make disciples.” The pastor’s task is to lead the church toward this, to keep them on track, and to not let them get sidetracked. But I can certainly understand that this particular emphasis might have fallen at a particularly difficult time for a particular church. Write to us and explain what’s going on, why you can’t participate right now, why you want to participate, and how you’ll participate once you get over this particular challenge. We are all on the same side!

The first four sessions are now posted at the Live the Story, Tell the Story site.  They are also available on ReelFM.tv:

• “Pasion Por Las Almas”:  Pastor Hector Fernandez:  http://reelfm.tv/2010/07/pasion-por-las-almas-passion-for-souls/
• “The Company of the Creative”:  Bishop David Roller:  http://reelfm.tv/2010/07/the-company-of-the-creative/
• “The Company:  Telling the Story Together:  Bishop David Roller:  http://reelfm.tv/2010/07/the-company-telling-the-story-together/
• “Liberating and Liberated”:  Bishop David Kendall:  http://reelfm.tv/2010/07/liberated-liberating/
• “How to Cross Bridges Once You’ve Built Them”:  Bishop Matt Thomas:  http://reelfm.tv/2010/07/how-to-cross-bridges-once-you-have-built-them/

Contents

DVD One:

• Pasion Por Las Almas (Passion for Souls): Pastor Hector Fernandez
• Liberating and Liberated: Living into the Story: Bishop David Kendall

DVD Two:

• How to Cross Bridges Once You Have Built Them: Bishop Matt Thomas
• The Moses Story: Superintendent David Harvey

DVD Three:

• The Company of the Creative: Bishop David Roller
• The Company: Telling the Story Together: Bishop David Roller

Company of the Creative, originally uploaded by Free Methodist Overflow.

Extra copies of the “Company of the Creative” booklet which Bishop Roller introduced at Overflow Conference are available as downloadable PDF’s |  Company of the Creative Booklet [PDF]. Print them out for your church and your leadership. Adobe Acrobat is needed to view the file. Download it free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. Feel free to share this link with anyone as well as download the booklet to e-mail. Post comments or questions regarding the booklet here and enjoy this resource as we labor toward “rapid Kingdom expansion.

Background, originally uploaded by Free Methodist Overflow.

Some of you had requested the Powerpoint backgrounds or design elements from the conference. For those of you who are interested, you can download the JPEG file for your own systems or the Powerpoint File we used at the conference. Feel free to pass these resources along to those who would benefit. Enjoy!