We LOVE Small Town Pastors and Churches...

I had so much fun bringing a Word of encouragement to about 500 pastors, wives and ministry leaders from over 30 different states at RHMA's Small Town Pastors' Conference! I contend there is no such thing as "small" church.

Why do we love small town pastors & churches?
Disciplemaking like Jesus requires robust relationships—i.e., disciplemaking friendships—and the small town church is poised to lead the way in this movement.

Instead of only counting attendance this week at church, try counting disciplemakers.

Related Post...
* How YOU Can Encourage ALL Pastors
* True Stories of Encouraging Pastors
* Small Church, World-Wide Impact

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.

Boom! Drop-the-Mic Moments in the Bible...

The Apostle Paul drops the mic.

Here's another "drop-the-mic" moment—about what it REALLY means to be educated and knowledgeable.

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 Peoria Area Leadership Community Ongoing (PALCO)... a Disciplemaking Learning Community

(Click any image below to enlarge for viewing.)

The Peoria Area Leadership Community Ongoing (PALCO) is growing group of disciplemaking friends from a wide variety of Gospel-centered churches and ministries who gather together to study, live, and share the disciplemaking genius of Jesus.

We never lecture when we gather as PALCO. There's a reason we have groups of 3-5 gathered around round tables with out Bibles open. We call it havering. 

 Here's what we drilled down on at this particular gathering.

 Some came all the way from Galesburg, IL.

We explored how Jesus, disciplemaking and servanthood are the essence of what it means to be a leader. Then we unpacked this a little more. We came to this conclusion and affirmation: Whoever initiates this IS the real leader. Such a great time of havering and disciplemaking friendship!

 Here's the REAL mission of Cadre. 

Lots of praying for one another!

PALCO: Where disciplemaking friends gather to live out Romans 1:12.

Our disciplemaking friend, Derrick Smothers of E3 Connection in Nevada shared his story of ministry burnout and how God has restored him. If you missed this and you need encouragement, go here.

Thank you God for disciplemaking friends and the encouragement and equipping that comes from the Holy Spirit via those friends.

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.

On leading movements...

On March 22, 2018, The World and Everything In It had a fascinating report on how Christianity is thriving in Viet Nam. At the end of the war in 1975, the estimated number of Evangelicals was about 160,000. Since then it has multiplied nearly ten-fold (1.6 million).

Why? How? Who?

When asked to describe the remarkable growth of Christianity in Viet Nam, the reporter, June Chang, explained that after the war when the Communists took over, churches were closed and a lot of the pastors were put into prison. Some pastors who had connections to the U.S. left on U.S. military planes.

This created a crisis as the remaining Christians in Viet Nam were without leaders. However, Chang says, despite the onslaught of persecution and the lack of leaders, Christianity began to grow in Viet Nam—especially the first ten years when there was no communication with the outside world.

Stop.

Think about this for a moment.

How can a Gospel/disciplemaking/church-planting movement start, grow, and multiply without identifiable "leaders" and "leadership"?

We are told "Everything rises and falls on leadership"—right? That is conventional wisdom these days.

But what about this example in Viet Nam?

Seriously. What do you really think?

No. Don't keep reading. Answer the question above first. I dare you.

Here's a question that came to my mind as I pondered what God is doing in Viet Nam: What if we've missed who the real "leader" is in a Gospel/disciplemaking/church-planting movement?

To chew on this some more, go here and here.

If you really want to get your leadership head messed with, go here.
(I dare you.)

And if you're still puzzling over who is the real leader in any true movement of God, take a moment to ponder the depth of Larry Norman's understanding during the early Jesus Movement of the 60s and 70s...

"A reporter came up to me and asked me if I was the leader of the Jesus Movement, and I said, 'No. Jesus is.' Then they said, 'Well, someone said that the Jesus Movement started in your living room.' To which I responded, 'Well, if it did, I wasn't home at the time.'"
—Larry Norman, circa the early 1970s

Hope you're smiling.

For The World and Everything In It report on the growth of the Church in Viet Nam, go here. (It starts at about 20:28).

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.

Can we really trust the Bible?

This is such a good and important question.

Whichever way you answer, this question has incredible—some might say eternal—ramifications.

So let's get the discussion started!

On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at 7 PM, the movie, Fragments of Truth, is showing for one night only in a theater near you.

Whatever you do, don't just watch the movie!

How cool would it be if you invited (and maybe even paid for) your family and friends (of all sorts of spiritual persuasions) to join you for the movie—and then went out for ice cream (or whatever) to discuss the question: Can we really trust the Bible?

That's what we're going to do.

What are the ramifications if the Bible is NOT trustworthy?

What are the ramifications if the Bible IS trustworthy?

What are you waiting for? Contact your family and friends and invite them. (Share this post with them.)

To find the nearest movie theater near you (type in your zip code) and to purchase tickets online, go here. 

You can't make disciples from a stage...

(Ironic, ain't it? I'm preaching from a stage. Keep reading.)

Making disciplemakers is a strategic way to invest one's life. Making disciplemakers with the next generations and those who love the next generations is even more so. Think about it.

Disciplemaking is the only thing worth my short life because it's the way to bring God maximum glory. It's why I've hovered around the next generations and ministries like Timber-lee for years. 

"Bill, I was just at Timber-lee and God really spoke to me. I am a believer and I LOVE GOD. I have been following him and sharing my faith, but I never really had my parents help me. So when I got back I went up to my dad and told him that I love him. And what I had learned. Then I asked him to do the 21 Day Challenge through the Gospel of John with me. He was so happy!! I also am I a group chat with one of my friends. We are going to video chat every day after we read to talk about what we are learning together. I thank you so much for teaching us!! P.S. some of our friends do not believe that we added into the chat. We are going to help each other minster to then. And be disciples for Christ!" —a student

"You have simply no idea how much of a blessing you were to our youth this weekend. They can't stop talking about how they heard God speak so clearly through you. You have an incredible gift and I am extremely challenged by your knowledge of the Word and how God is using you. Such good stuff! Thank you for the resources and will definitely look into seeing about the training you do. Always love learning and growing! Thanks again Bill."

Laura Burke

Director of Junior High, Calvary United Methodist Church, Normal IL

It's so much fun to encourage and equip youth leaders because they are disciplemakers.

And because of friends like you who pray for us and $ partner with Cadre Missionaries, we get to do this ministry as a family! We thank God for you!

You can't make disciples from a stage. That's why we spend time WITH students and youth leaders in between sessions. I contend that this time off the stage is just as important—and many times more important—as anything that happens on a stage. Here's why this is true.

Yeah, but does anything that happens at a camp really last more than a couple of days? Here's a fun and crazy story. This young lady in the blue-ish hair was at Timber-lee with me the year before this year. She told me that last year she took the 21 Day Challenge to read one chapter a day through the book of John for 21 days with her friends. And, after she finished reading the Gospel of John, she never stopped reading until she had read through the entire Bible. God is transforming her life! She wrote me saying that those closest to her "have pointed out daily that I seem to be a new person—stronger and ready to face demons in my path instead of falling prey to them." It turns out, God's Word is enough.

This is from a student. This makes my day.

"Thanks for bringing God’s Word to our students in such a relatable way. I really saw hearts open in powerful ways."
Pastor Greg Lynas
Hope Evangelical Free Church
Associate Pastor of Student Ministries and Young Adults, Roscoe, IL

Here's a picture that screams, "Disciplemaking friendship" over the years!

If video doesn't appear, go here.

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness." —Psalms115:1

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.

Do you feel like we do?

I'm in that weird stage of life where I have difficulty remembering the names of my kids, but when I hear a song from the 70s, I can instantly name the band, album, and sing all the lyrics. (And I can play a darned good air guitar on the solo to boot.)

Recently, I reunited with Scott Davis, a friend from junior high, to take-in the legendary Peter Frampton in concert. It was delightful. Mostly...

As we got settled into our seats, I turned to my left to talk to Scott, but I couldn't help but see all the walkers piled up against the wall. I pointed this out to Scott. We looked at each other and burst out laughing... at ourselves and our generation. Ironically, one of the songs Peter Frampton sang to the geriatric crowd was "I Don't Need No Doctor." This picture suggests otherwise. So I guess the answer to Peter Frampton's question, "Do you feel like we do?" is, "Yes, thanks to wonders of Iburofen." 

The good news: The crowd sat down for most of the concert. The bad news: I can honestly say that I have never been at a concert where I had to stand up so many times to let people pass by so they could make their way to the bathroom. Let's face it, to the Peter Frampton generation, "pulled an all-nighter" means "I didn't have to get up in the middle of night to use the bathroom."  :  )

On that note, here's Tim Hawkins on old rockstars... 

If video doesn't appear, go here.

If you liked this, you might like these...

* Everyone is old except me 

* I see my future and this is it  

* My strategy for staying young 

* If you can't laugh at yourself, laugh at me 

* My keys to long life  

* Why I'm gonna live forever  

What does Easter have to do with your life?

Stop.

Think about this.

Is it true?

Do you "understand" what this means for you?

What would it look like in real, everyday life for you, your family and your friends to live "the incredible greatness" of God's resurrection power?

The same power that rose Jesus from the dead is at work in and through you and every believer.

Understand?

Do you believe it?

Does your life reflect it?

Enough tough questions for now. I have a long way to go in understanding and living this too. Nevertheless, we've got to stop ignoring this and start grappling with its ramifications for us today.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Happy Resurrection Day.

More Easter goodies here...
* Two of my fave Easter songs and lyrics
* What resurrection power looks like in real life
* Easter has always been God's plan
* Happy real meaning of Easter

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.

True Story: The REAL mission of Cadre Missionaries...

Last fall, in partnership with the Evangelical Free Church of American, we traveled to Minnesota to equip a cadre of trainers to take Cadre's Evangelism Is Relationships training back to their churches, ministries, and spheres of influence.

Pastor Dan Nyquist, Elim Mission Church in Cokato, MN, recently sent us this picture and this note:

Bill, Dave, and Rennie,

It was a sweet blessing to spend time with about 15 individuals and couples from our church going through the Evangelism Is Relationships training! Thanks for praying with us!

God brought a lot of things to the surface of our lives, and it was challenging, yet encouraging, to wrestle with these things together. I’ve heard some encouraging things from those who participated and hope to hear more in the days to come!

I'm so thankful for Holy Spirit’s instruction, exhortation, and encouragement through the Word, Prayer, and Fellowship with each other.

With love for JESUS,

Pastor Dan

We're not joking when we say Cadre Missionaries is all about making disciplemakers. If you pray and/or $ support us as Cadre missionaries, THANK YOU for investing in us... so we can invest in others... who actually invest in others... who will invest in others, ad infinitum. In other words, thank you for investing in disciplemaking—which the life of Jesus shows us is the most powerful and way to change the world—starting right where you live.

Want more?
* Are you interested in becoming a trainer?
* Want to know more about Evangelism Is Relationships training?

* Why disciplemaking—not just discipleship?

* Becoming a disciplemaker—step #1 

Can You Help Me Make Disciplemakers in Albania?

That's right. I'm going to Albania! (Lord willing.)

It's all going to happen May 26-June 4, 2018.

And make no mistake about it. I need your prayers and $ partnership.

I'm prayerfully trusting God to the provide the $2,000 needed for this disciplemaking adventure.

Can you help send me to multiply disciplemakers in Albania?

Any gift of any size is a huge encouragement, much needed, and greatly appreciated.

To give securely online, go here.

Or you can mail a check to...
Cadre Missionaries, PO Box 278, Sycamore, IL 60178
(Please attach a note: "Albania")

Note: Cadre Missionaries is recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit and as such all gifts are tax deductible.

From our hearts to yours, THANK YOU for your friendship, prayers and $ partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ! To God and God alone be the glory!

Just in case you missed it...
Here's the fun backstory on how God made this all happen.

We really are your disciplemaking missionaries.

"Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through.... Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord.... So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth." —3 John 1:5-8

The Exciting Adventures of God, YOU, Us, and Cadre Missionaries!

The fact that you're reading this right now makes our day! THANK YOU!  As you view our pictures that tell stories, please take a moment to thank God with us. (You can click on an image below to enlarge for reading or just go here.)

Can you help send me to Albania to make disciplemakers?

Would you please pray for us? About 1-2 times a month, I'd like to send you a short email with details about how you can say a quick prayer for us. If you are willing to be on our email prayer team, please email me and put "prayer team" in the subject line. We'd be glad to pray for you too.

More here on our ministry out west in UT, NV, and AZ!

Can you help us? We couldn't take any of part of this disciplemaking adventure without people like you who love us, pray for us, and give $ to Cadre. Every expression of partnership breathes life into our souls… and enables us to do the same for many others! For more information about how you can partner with God, the Allisons, and Cadre Missionaries, go here.  Cadre Missionaries is a recognized 501(c)3 ministry and donations are tax deductible.

For up-to-date ways you can pray for us, go here.

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.

There is no such thing as a "small" church...

If you read the word "small" and think "inferior," I couldn't disagree with you more.

Think about it.

Here's why.

More on this here...
* There is such a thing as a crazy pastor
* Some of the best pastors I know 
* How do you define church success?
* Leaders, vision, and church 
* Why church matters
* Rethinking what it means to be a healthy church
* If all this is all too serious for you
* Jesus' church growth chart

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.