Are we keeping the main thing the main thing—or are we slowly drifting away from God's true north?

(Please click the image to enlarge for viewing.)

Note: According to Barna, only 17% of churchgoers affirmed that they have heard of "The Great Commission" AND were able to articulate what it is.

Interesting. Very interesting.

I'm not married to the term, "The Great Commission." For the record, it isn't found in the Bible. Might this be a reason for the lack of clarity that shows up in the research? Is there a better question that could have been asked? I'm just thinking out loud with you here.

However, Jesus' command to "go and make disciples" IS in Bible. In fact, there are at least five very clear, diverse, and complementary disciplemaking commissions expressed by Jesus. (Hint: See the end of all four Gospels and the beginning of the book of Acts.*) All five of these disciplemaking commissions together give us a full understanding of the main mission Jesus gave to his disciples. So, sadly and ironically, Jesus couldn't be more clear about what our job is—and how to live it in our everyday life.

And yet, if this research is accurate, churchgoers seem dismally unaware and unclear.

This raises lots of questions in my mind—here are two...

* Why/how did this happen?

* And what can and should be done about it?

I'd like to use this post as a launching pad into an honest conversation amongst friends. Please click the comment link below and respond to the two questions I have posed. I'm deeply interested in your take on this. But before you respond, I encourage you to get a better understanding of the research by taking a moment to read the fuller-yet-brief Barna survey.

p.s. Still wondering about WHAT our job as disciples of Jesus is and HOW to live it out in our everyday lives? This might help you.

*BONUS for reading all the way to the end: The five recorded commissions of Jesus.

You, Me, and Coffee Monday... 

Let me encourage you and make you think ONE time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.
2. Check your email to confirm.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Will you please pray for us... RIGHT NOW?

We are your Cadre Missionaries and we'd deeply appreciate your prayers to God on our behalf! Below is how you can be praying for us—as your disciplemaking missionaries—for the first quarter of 2019. If you're not already on our "knee mail" email prayer team, we'd love for you to join. All you have to do is pray "RIGHT NOW" when it hits your inbox. And if you reply to that email with your request, we'll pray "RIGHT NOW" when we receive your email. To join our "knee mail" email prayer team about 1-2 x a month, send us your email address and put "RIGHT NOW prayer team" in the subject line. 

Friday, January 18th

The Peoria Area Leadership Community (PALC)—and wives will be gathering for a time of disciplemaking friendships.

Thursday, January 24th

PALCO lunch gathering for disciplemaking friends. 

Saturday and Sunday, January 26-27th

I'll be speaking in three weekend services at Grace United Methodist Church, Pekin, IL.

Thursday, February 7th

A day-long gathering of the Peoria Area Leadership Community—where we seek to study, live, and multiply The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus.

February 8th-10th

I'm speaking to junior high/middle school students and their youth leaders at Timber-lee.

February 15th-17th

Ministry Is Relationships training experience at Geneva Evangelical Free Church in NE on Saturday, and then preaching in the Sunday morning service.

February 18th

The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus training lab at the EFCA Midwest District in KS.

February 23rd

Speaking and training volunteer ministry leaders and pastors who love and invest their lives in the next generations in FL. Here's what I'm doing...

1. The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus for Friends and Families 

2. Ministry Would Be Great If It Weren't for People 

3. How YOU Can Learn to Teach Like Jesus

The Next Ministry Conference is a ministry of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

February 24th

Speak in the morning service at Neighborhood Alliance Church in FL.

March 8-9

Speaking and training volunteer ministry leaders and pastors who love and invest their lives in the next generations in MN. Here's what I'm doing...

1. The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus for Friends and Families 

2. Ministry Would Be Great If It Weren't for People 

3. How YOU Can Learn to Teach Like Jesus

The Next Ministry Conference is a ministry of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

March 15-16th

I'm bringing disciplemaking training to students, volunteer ministry leaders, and pastors at the Ignite Youth Leadership Conference in Des Moines, IA. Here's what I'm doing...

1. The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus

2. Why Volunteers Quit—and What You Can Do About It

3. Leading Small Groups: Disciplemaking Friendships that Multiply

This Ignite Youth Leadership Conference is a ministry of the Southern Baptist Church of America.

March 24-26th

Disciplemaking at Home Conference, Texas. I put this picture in just to see if anyone was actually reading. At the same time, I do think this is a good representation of what disciplemaking looks like at home. Don't act like you don't pick your nose... or your kids don't. Thanks for reading Cup O' Joe. I really appreciate it.

April 5-6th

I'm bringing disciplemaking training to students, volunteer ministry leaders, and pastors at the Ignite Youth Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL. Here's what I'm doing...

1. The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus

2. Why Volunteers Quit—and What You Can Do About It

3. Leading Small Groups: Disciplemaking Friendships that Multiply

This Ignite Youth Leadership Conference is a ministry of the Southern Baptist Church of America.

WHY we need your prayers and encouragement.

Breaking News: Now on Kindle, Nook, and Apple Books!

BREAKING NEWS!

The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book is now digital! You can now read it right now on your iPad (Apple Books), Kindle (Amazon), or Nook (Barnes and Noble).

Just go here.

Or you can get it directly from Kindle here.
And the printed book is here.

 Cadre's Recruiting, Motivating, and Retaining Volunteers book is now digital! You can now read it right now on your iPad (Apple Books), Kindle (Amazon), or Nook (Barnes and Noble).

Just go here.

Or you can get it directly from Kindle here.
And the printed book is here.

The Teaching Genius of Jesus book is now digital! You can now read it right now on your iPad (Apple Books), Kindle (Amazon), or Nook (Barnes and Noble).

Just go here.

Or you can get it directly from Kindle here.
And the printed book is here.

Disciplemaking Missionaries Multiplying Disciplemakers in Arizona and Southern California!

Click any image below to enlarge for viewing...

Why all this talk about disciplemaking? Here's why.

We recently returned from a 10-day disciplemaking adventure that took us to ministry leaders in Phoenix, AZ, then to Tucson, AZ, and then to Anaheim, CA. We tagged along with our dear disciplemaking friend, Derrick Smothers. 

We invested every part of our days being missionaries of encouragement to various friends and ministry leaders wherever we went. Why? Because the real mission of Cadre is to make disciplemakers who make more disciplemakers—like this. Above: Lunch with Pastor Kyle Glenn, Sun Valley Community Church, Tempe, AZ.

What does it mean to be Jesus-like leader? If you're the daring type, here's a surprising thought. Above: Coffee and encouragement with Pastor Josh Matteson, a church planter, Grace Life Church in the Phoenix area.

More coffee and more encouragement with Ryan Buskirk, Central Phoenix Area Dirctor of Young Life.

Dinner with dear and longtime friends, Scott and Carla Bauer, originally from Peoria but who now live in AZ. Love these folks so much because they live like this.

Encouraging and being encouraged by Mike and Genia Bertelsen, who serve in Calvary Chapel, Surprise, AZ. What's our goal in all this? Multiplying a Jesus-like disciplemaking way of life like this.

We met Pastor Brett Gray, a pastoral missionary serving with Rural Home Missions Association, at Don's Cactus Bar and Grill.  It was the only place to stop in the middle of the desert for miles. We call it "Cadre Country."

In Tucson, AZ, Derrick and I did The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus training experience for the ministry leaders of Hope Community Church.

In Anaheim, CA, Derrick and I did some more Cadre training for the ministry leaders Sanctify Church. 

Of course, the goal isn't doing disciplemaking training workshops across the country. It's coming alongside of our friend Derrick Smothers so he can bring disciplemaking training to his sphere of influence. And we had a lot of fun with Pastor Jack (photobombing).

It was my honor to preach God's Word at Sanctify Church. But make no mistake about it. We couldn't be disciplemaking missionaries like this without friends like you.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end, tracking with this blog, praying for us, and $ partnering with God, us, and Cadre Missionaries. We thank God for you!

YOU and Your Friends Should Read the Bible Together in 2019! Here's why and how...

Would you like a better, stronger relationship with God?

By far the single most important thing I've done that has helped my relationship with God is reading through the Bible—with some friends.

News Flash: 
A better, stronger relationship with God will not happen accidentally.

This is your invitation to invite your friends and family to take a life-changing AND guilt-free Bible reading adventure together.

Are you interested?

If yes, you can explore the complete details here. 

So, are you in?

If yes, then invite your friends to join you in this guilt-free Bible reading adventure starting January 1st.

This begs the question:
WHO needs to do this with you this year?

Why not share this post with them right now?

This is what Jesus' disciplemaking friends do.

You, Me, and Coffee Monday... 
Let me encourage you and and make you think 1 stinking time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.
2. Go to your email and click the Feedburner confirmation link.
You can unsubscribe at any time with no questions asked simply by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email you receive from Cup O' Joe with Bill. Honest. You got nothing to lose. Try it.

The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus—The Training Experience

What?
There’s a lot of talk about disciplemaking these days. But what does that really look like in everyday real life? If you’re interested in exploring what Jesus-like disciplemaking looks like in a 21st century Western world, this training is for you! In each of the following three sessions below, we’ll look at a nonnegotiable for making disciplemakers like Jesus.

Session 1 Be a Disciple
Everything in life and ministry will try to pull you off the simplicity of following Jesus together.

Session 2 Who Makes Disciples
Following Jesus isn’t a subject to be mastered, but an infectious way of life that is lived together and shared with others.

Session 3 Who Make More Disciples
If those we disciple don’t make more disciples, then we haven’t made disciples like Jesus.

Training Materials?

Each person will receive a Disciplemaker's Living Guide for living what you learn with others.





Need More Info on Content?

Read The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book.







Want to Schedule This Training?

Contact Bill Allison.

You, Me, and Coffee Monday... 
Let me encourage you and and make you think 1 stinking time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.
2. Go to your email and click the Feedburner confirmation link.
You can unsubscribe at any time with no questions asked simply by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email you receive from Cup O' Joe with Bill. Honest. You got nothing to lose. Try it.

12 Cadre Days Till Christmas...

What is this all about?

It's 12 days of special gifts at rock-bottom prices (including some freebies) from your disciplemaking friends at Cadre Missionaries! Each daily deal expires in 48 hours—so check back every day.

It's all right here.

How God Used YOU via Us for HIS Glory in 2018!

Click any image below to enlarge for reading and viewing. 

Thank you SO MUCH for every prayer you pray on our behalf and every penny you give to our disciplemaking mission as Cadre Missionaries. We couldn't be disciplemaking missionaries without friends like you. 

* To join our email prayer team about 2x a month, email me.

* To $ partner with the Allisons and Cadre Missionaries, go here.

From all of us Allisons, THANK YOU!

Can we be on your refrigerator? 

All you have to do is email me your snail mail address and we'll our send our missionary photo with a magnet on the back—perfect for putting on your fridge so you'll be nudged by God from time to time to pray for us. (Thanks to Jarrod and Ky Briggs for sending me this picture and making our day!)

The 2018 Keeping It Real Allison Christmas Letter

So Stacy I were taking a walk in our neighborhood when a car pulled up next to us and asked for directions. As Stacy gave directions, I knew she was mistaken. A newly married man might say she was “wrong.” I’m sticking with “mistaken.” After a “lively discussion” with her, I convincingly showed her why she was wrong… I mean mistaken… about the directions she had just given. A “conversation” ensued. When she finally realized I was right, she quit talking and kept walking. I said, “Go ahead and say it.” She said, “Say what?” I said, “Say that I’m right. I would love to hear you say that I was right.” Stacy kept looking ahead and said, “You’re right. However, I would have been right had I explained it another way.” There you have it. Thirty years of marriage in one story. And I love her all the more for it. Have I ever mentioned we’re both first-born children?

One morning before school, Sadey, our favorite 17-year-old, and I were quickly taking a minute to read Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for men.” I asked, “What is your greatest challenge in living a Colossians 3:23 way of life?’ Sadey responded, “Probably not being a turd to everyone.” I said, “I love how you keep it real.” Sadey replied, “I do have a way with words.”

Ivy, our favorite 7-year-old, and I were sitting on the couch. Ivy tooted. I heard it. She looked embarrassed. I said, “That’s okay. Lots of living things pass gas.” Ivy replied, “Well, there’s proof that I’m living and yet also so very deadly.” Ivy really enjoys Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Mailbox Club where she reads Scripture, answers the questions, and sends the lesson back to be checked by CEF. She was working her way through one of the lessons and came to the question: What part of the Bible tells us about creation? Ivy responded, “The Old Testament.” The next question was: “What part of the Bible tells us about Jesus?” Ivy replied, “The New Testament.” Then she stopped, thought for a moment, and added, “Technically, the Old Testament tells us about Jesus too because of prophecy.” Touche’ young ninja Bible warrior.

On a very rare occasion, I found myself shopping for clothes with Stacy. I love Stacy. Shopping for clothes? Not so much. (You may have noticed I’m a big fan of concert T-shirts. Classy. I know.) Once I got into the changing room, Stacy began to give me nice clothing she thought I might like. I didn’t. But she kept trying. Finally, I said, “I don’t need you to dress me. I’m a grown man.” It was only two days later, I was getting ready to preach at church, I asked her, “Does this match?” Like a Venus Fly Trap, she said, “You don’t need me to dress you. You’re a grown man.” Even I laughed. Well played love of my life. Well played.

We're not joking when we say: We hope this is your best CHRISTmas ever! Thanks for tracking with us via Cup O' Joe with Bill.

More Christmas Fun...

* Why we don't write regular Christmas letters

* How NOT to tell your kids about Santa

* It's NOT a wonderful life

You, Me, and Coffee Monday... 
Let me encourage you and and make you think 1 stinking time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.
2. Go to your email and click the Feedburner confirmation link.
You can unsubscribe at any time with no questions asked simply by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email you receive from Cup O' Joe with Bill. Honest. You got nothing to lose. Try it.

Why Focus on Disciplemaking?

"All you ever focus on is disciplemaking. When is Cadre going to do something new?"

Those were the words of a friend of mine. I love him deeply. And I still do : )

I smiled and said, "When King Jesus gives us new marching orders, then I will focus on that. Until then, the last I heard was, 'Go and make disciples….’"

I know. The newest thing is always so... sexy, cool, and shiny. And there is always a new thing coming down the pike.

But this is precisely where we must not confuse that which is sensational with that which is significant.

Cadre has never been—nor ever will be—sensational. But the Jesus we follow has given us a very significant way of life and mission: to make disciples who make disciples—who make more disciples.

As Cadre Missionaries, our passion is proliferating Jesus-like disciplemaking.
* It's what we aspire to live and do.
* With everyone.
* Everyday.
* Everywhere.

But here's a fact: We need your help.

We can’t multiply disciplemakers without friends like you who $ partner with God and us. Not joking. 

So we're asking you to prayerfully consider this question:
Can you help us?

If you can't, we love you. (period) Our friendship is NOT on the line.

If you can, go here.

Trust us when we say that no $ gift is too small and any gift will be deeply appreciated. From our hearts to yours, THANK YOU for investing in disciplemaking—and changing the world forever. Thank you for being God's wind in our disciplemaking sails with Cadre Missionaries.

Here are two other FUN ways to $ partner with God and Cadre Missionaries...

1. Shop on Amazon and bless Cadre Missionaries. Designate "Cadre Missionaries" as your preferred not-for-profit recipient.

2. Purchase Cadre's BRAND NEW disciplemaking book—all proceeds go directly to Cadre's disciplemaking mission.

Brand New Disciplemaking Book!

Audacious title.

Simple message.

Profound way of life.

"For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk;

It is living by God's power." 

1 Corinthians 4:20

Precisely because you subscribe to Cup O' Joe with Bill, you are the very first to hear about Cadre's brand new book, The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus: The Why, What, and How of Disciplemaking Friendships that Multiply.

Here's how the brand new book is laid out...

Section 1 The WHY of Disciplemaking Friendships
* Introduction: Are We Confidently Walking In Circles?
* Chapter 1 Why Disciplemaking Like Jesus?

Section 2 The WHAT of Disciplemaking Friendships
* Chapter 2 It All Starts with TW
* Chapter 3 Add Generous Amounts of K4
* Chapter 4 Stir It All Together with D3

Section 3 The HOW of Disciplemaking Friendships
* Chapter 5 Start Here Start Now—with PIE
* Conclusion: Your Disciplemaking Friendship Stories

The book explores...

• Why disciplemaking friendships is a way of life is for every follower of Jesus.
• The three irreducible minimums for Jesus-like disciplemaking friendships that multiply (a.k.a., Jesus' disciplemaking "secret sauce."
• Tons of real-life stories that reveal the nuts and bolts of Jesus-like disciplemaking friendships.
• Almost 400 questions to make you think and wrestle what disciplemaking friendships that multiply look like in real life with your family and friends.
• The three most important first steps for engaging God and others in a disciplemaking friendship.
• How to listen and respond to the Holy Spirit's leading in the formation and development of disciplemaking friendships that multiply.

Plus, each of the five chapters conclude with application and discussion questions perfect for reading and wrestling what you learn together with family and friends.

What are you waiting for?
* Get the printed book here.
* For Kindle, Nook, and Apple Books, go here.
* To purchase through Kindle, go here.
* The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus—Training Experience.

This could be you.

This could be you.