Year: 2014

Quick Announcement and a Favor

no responses

3_D Beyond Awkward #3688Book Launch in 65 Days!

I am really close to wrapping up my long-awaited book “Beyond Awkward”. I will be releasing it September 19th! But before I do, I have to ask you a couple of questions. Can you help me out?

I would love to know what you as APE’s are thinking about evangelism and would love to have some of your collaboration in this!

You can answer the questions here (and get a little more detail on the book) at this link:

http://beaucrosetto.com/?p=392

Thanks so much!

Beau

How Does Environment Effect Mission?

no responses

This is a guest post by Nick Johnson. He is the Director of InterVarsity for the State of GA and he is working hard with his team to make a culture shift to own the whole field of college campuses and commit to reaching all 90+.

Shortly after my wife and I got married we were wrestling with how we could better love the poor in our city. After reflecting on why it was hard for us to make it a priority, we realized it was where we lived. The Starbucks, nice shopping mall, and trendy restaurants nearby were a distraction. To fully press into this value we had, we needed an environment change. So we moved into a low-income neighborhood.

I wonder for how many of us our environment is hindering our abilities to fully press into our mission?

Continue Reading

Proclaiming the Gospel Always Comes First…

no responses

By Chris Nichols

2 Cor. 5 :11, 20

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others…20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Tim 4:2,5

2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching… 5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Planting new ministry is complex, exciting, and all consuming work. The apostolic leader and the community they develop must be able to communicate a kingdom mission, gather others around it, and keep an outward focus even as they are deepening community centered on Jesus.

Continue Reading

Uncontrollable Joy

no responses

[tentblogger-youtube Ls9Cg8iaq1s]

This is a great video of a son who sets up a secret camera to capture his dad’s reaction to his C grade in math.

The he kid has been working hard, hasn’t been able to pass and now finally he makes it over the hump.

Shawn Young shared with us a great word about the joy of the Father in planting and he uncontrollably celebrates our success (even a C) in planting. For some of us planting is so hard and we feel like we’re working so hard to pass.

How does the fathers reaction help you glimpse The Father in Heaven’s reaction towards you?

Don’t Let Your Weakness Fray Your Leadership

no responses

“People are going to judge you by your weakest areas, not your strongest.”

I was having a great conversation with my father in law and brother in law yesterday and this is one golden nugget was shared with me by my father in law. He just retired as the President of AT& T in the South East and he has led thousands of people.

He went on to inform me that once you start to rise in leadership, people are going to judge you by what you are weak in.

Continue Reading

Can You Lead Someone to Jesus? 

no responses
BeFunky_14240223372_6ee2c03bc7_z.png

*Photo Credit: Conversacion, Creative Commons

By Beau Crosetto

My online friend Miguel raised an interesting question on FB:

And it got me thinking (as he usually does) about the tensions that this questions raises.

  • Do we have a role in leading others to faith in Jesus?
    • If so what is it?
  • Is it total arrogance to say something like that? Of course God saves people not us.
  • If it is all God’s role then why am I needed?
  • Maybe what bothers us has nothing to do with what is actually being said, but more to do with the type of people who say that kind of statement?

Continue Reading

An Amazing Healing Story

6 responses

10155555_10100308198419720_377600269_n

182290_10100105939568080_2102746915_nThis is a guest post from Nicole Voelkel. We met in grad school at Wheaton College. She is a really great example of a prophet and evangelist and really moves powerfully in the gifts of the Spirit. She, herself, is a free spirit and is always moving around the globe. I think she is in Spain right now. Enjoy a fresh story of healing below. 

[How to Pray For Healing: 7 Crucial Steps]

“Hey, how many of you guys would like to see a miracle right now?” Jerry and I had just walked up to a group of about 10 students sitting in the student lounge at the local college. We were met with some bemused (and some confused) looks. “No, I’m serious. Who of you is sick? Right now, I’m going to tell you about God, and you’re going to see a miracle in front of your eyes. Who here needs a miracle?”

One of the girls pointed to her friend. “She needs a miracle. She lost her voice and can’t sing, and she’s a voice major.” The kids nodded.

Continue Reading

4 Ways My Dad Has Shaped Me As A Leader

no responses
one thing I didn't get from my dad was his jump suits :)

one thing I didn’t get from my dad was his jump suits 🙂

Bobby Clinton, an expert in leadership development, talks a lot about the sovereign foundations the Lord gives us growing up. Even if we are not believers growing up, the events good and bad, lay a foundation that God uses to shape our character and our calling in ministry as we grow old.

I did not grow up a Christian, we never talked about it in my family, and so my dad did not lead me in the way of the Lord. But who my dad is in his ethic as a person and the way he developed me and modeled for me life growing up were essential to who I am as a planter of ministry today. So much of how God has used me as an evangelist and apostolic (planter) leader is because of my dad’s life and input.

In honor of Father’s Day (I was going to post on Sunday but my neighbor came to faith), here are four concrete ways my dad shaped who I am and how God in His sovereign plan has used these qualities to extend the Kingdom through me.

Continue Reading