Disciplemaking Friendships that Multiply...

The real mission of Cadre Missionaries is to make disciplemakers who make more disciplemakers. (True confession: We totally stoled that from Jesus. And we think Jesus is totally okay with it.) Here is a short, true, disciplemaking story—all for the glory of God and the extension of His kingdom (Psalms 115:1)!

Meet my young disciplemaking friend, Ethan Smith. Ethan is part of a team of four disciplemaking missionaries (all in their late teens and early 20s) who are choosing to live in one of the most spiritually challenging rural areas in the state of Illinois—so people of that community can have a 1 Thessalonians 2:8 opportunity to find and follow Jesus. Ethan and his other three partners are in our Disciplemaking Learning Community in Central IL known as the Peoria Area Leadership Community. Would you please pray for Ethan, Braden, Clint, and Josiah right now?

If you're interested in becoming part of God's movement of making disciplemakers, perhaps a good first step might be to take a nice slow walk through this—and maybe join us for this.

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.
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What If Disciplemaking IS Leadership?

One of my friends who is a leader in his denomination asked me, “Do you do any leadership training?”

I said, “Yes. We call it disciplemaking training,” and then I winked at him. (We’re still good friends.)

There is so much talk about "leadership" in ministry these days—and yet, so little disciplemaking.

Here’s a crazy thought on leadership: 

What if disciplemaking is leadership? If that's true, then whoever initiates disciplemaking friendships is a leader—even if he or she doesn’t hold a “leadership” title or position. Real leaders don’t need a title or position. They just live it. It’s a way of life for them, not a job. 

While I’m jumping off a cliff, let me say this: 

All disciplemakers are leaders, but not all “leaders” are disciplemakers.

There. I said it. But before you reject it, run what I just said through your understanding of Jesus' life and ministry. Think with me: Jesus doesn't just make disciples, he makes disciplemakers. Jesus doesn't simply collect a large group of followers and call that success. No, Jesus seeks to transform every follower into a fisher.

Hence, Jesus is the ultimate "leader." But he lived as a humble servant who made disciplemakers. Pardon me, but I’m a little suspicious of any talk of “leadership” that is not centered on Jesus, humility, servanthood, and disciplemaking.

The more I study Jesus the more I question current conventional wisdom on leadership.

We really need to pause and rethink what it means to be a ministry leader or church leader in light of the biblical Jesus. I contend that making disciples like Jesus is the fullest and truest expression of what it means to be a spiritual leader. And if that’s true, then whoever initiates, lives, and shares The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus as a way of life with others is a leader. 

What if instead of defining leadership as “influence,” we defined it as initiating disciplemaking friendships that multiply? What might happen if every paid and volunteer leader in a church or ministry actually led—not just with their lips—but with their lives like this? 

I dare you to try to find out.

p.s. Maybe Jesus wasn't a "leader" after all and perhaps we should reconsider who is the real leader.

[Note: This post has been excerpted from The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus, (c) 2018 CadreMissionaries.com. Used by permission.]

Five Lunch Gatherings for Disciplemaking Friends...

(Above: The Peoria Area Leadership Ongoing PALCO)

You're invited to a "disciplemaking tune up" with some great disciplemaking friends (see pic above) over five lunch gatherings in the first half of 2019.

1. The Book

We'll be taking a slow, interactive walk through each chapter of Cadre's brand new book, The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus: Jesus-Like Disciplemaking Friendships that Multiply. For complete information about the book, go here. Whether you have a book or not, you're still welcome to be a part of this disciplemaking tune up. Can you say, "Havering"?

2. The Time

You don't have to commit to all five lunch gatherings. Come to any of the lunch dates you can make—just be sure to RSVP with me before each gathering. Can you say, "Flexibility"?

3. The Lunch

Each person pays for his/her own lunch. Can you say, "Yummy"?

4. The Friends
Seating is limited, but you may bring friends to any of these gatherings as long as there is space and and you RSVP with Bill. The sooner the better. Can you say, "Everything is better with a friend"? (See Barney video below.)

5. The Dates

Can you say, "Save these dates"?

Thursday, February 28th

11:30 AM to 1 PM

Pizza Ranch, Morton, IL

We'll explore: WHY Disciplemaking Like Jesus?

Before you come, read the Introduction and Chapter 1 (pages 1-28) in The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book.

* Seating is limited, so RSVP with Bill ASAP!

Thursday, March 14th

11:30 AM to 1 PM

Pizza Ranch, Morton, IL

We'll explore: It All Starts with TW

Before you come, read Chapter 2 (pages 29-46) in The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book.

* Seating is limited, so RSVP with Bill ASAP!

Thursday, March 28th

11:30 AM to 1 PM

Pizza Ranch, Morton, IL

We'll explore: Add Generous Amounts of K4

Before you come, read Chapter 3 (pages 46-68) in The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book.

* Seating is limited, so RSVP with Bill ASAP!

Thursday, April 11th

11:30 AM to 1 PM

Pizza Ranch, Morton, IL

We'll explore: Stir It Altogether with D3

Before you come, read Chapter 4 (pages 69-88) in The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book.

* Seating is limited, so RSVP with Bill ASAP!

Thursday, May 9th

11:30 AM to 1 PM

Pizza Ranch, Morton, IL

We'll explore: Start Here, Start Now—with PIE

Before you come, read Chapter 5 and the Conclusion (pages 89-123) in The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book.

* Seating is limited, so RSVP with Bill ASAP!

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.

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. 

Sunday, February 3rd

Preach in the morning service at Living Faith Fellowship Church, Eureka, 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 9-10th

Speaking the weekend services of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, IL, and doing Ministry Is Relationships training experience on Sunday after immediately after lunch.

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

We're on a mission to have fun encouraging and equipping families who are a part of the Disciplemaking at Home Conference in Texas.

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.

Now on Kindle, Nook, and Apple Books!

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.