Recalibrate

Recalibrate

When you have a compass, you need to recalibrate it depending on your current location. With the electronic compass on my iPhone I move the phone in a figure 8 several times to allow it to calibrate to my current location. I can’t just pull it out and use it. If the...
The impact of compassion

The impact of compassion

My friend Mark Fields went overseas with The Vineyard Missions to The Philippines. While he was there, he had the opportunity to go visit a marginalized people group who were Muslim in background and not recognized by the government. Because they don’t have birth...
Fresh expressions of being the church

Fresh expressions of being the church

My friend and colleague Mark Fields recently drew my attention to a UK website: Fresh Expressions. It focuses on new ways of being church. This group seems to be asking the question:  How can we empower people to experience Christian communities in the context of...
Where mission and formation intersect

Where mission and formation intersect

A while back I posted a blog entry from Mark Fields with Vineyard Missions about how much better his board meeting went when he scheduled spiritual formation retreats just before them. Mark makes some interesting points about how mission and formation intersect. He...
Where spiritual formation retreats meet leader gatherings

Where spiritual formation retreats meet leader gatherings

Today’s entry is by Mark Fields, National Missions Director for Vineyard USA, about his work with the Vineyard Churches of Brazil. Brazil is a large country, covering 49% of the South American continent. Consequently, it’s also a very diverse country. Southern Brazil...