Coaching Leaders

One of my favorite ministry activities is helping those in ministry think through their gifts and passions and find the right place at the right time. Here is an encouraging note from Angie Dexter who is a missionary in Mexico with Campus Crusade for Christ. "I happened to be in Puebla this February when Rich was doing some team building/evaluating using the Birkman with the Mexico national team. I was able to meet with him and receive some much needed direction regarding my future. Rich helped me understand why I was feeling “burned out” and ineffective in my prior job. It was a tremendous blessing and God-send for me to meet with Rich. He really understood me and gave me advice based on who I am… I’ve since decided to change ministries in Mexico and do something that’s more in line with my abilities and personality. I’m currently in Colorado and have been able to peak into Rich’s office and talk with him. I know I can trust him to give me good, solid counsel. He’s so good at ministering to people in ministry and speaking truth into our lives....Thanks Rich!"

Transforming Cities/Transforming Lives

The great cities of the world are the greater context for individual people who live, work, study, shop or play in that city. When I think of tranforming a city it is both about the context and the individuals. In the past I have thought that if there are a sufficient number of individuals who are transformed by the power, presence and purpose of God that they would somehow be able to transform the environment of the city and the city would reflect the power, presensce and purpose of God. But as I look back over more than thirty years of service to transform individuals, the environment of the city has not improved. The approach of missional leaders today must face the reality that our cities and the underlying problems in the cities are overwhelming individuals who many times feel powerless to change things.

As we continue to focus on transforming individuals we must also create collaborative missional leadership communities that will focus on transforming the city in which they live. As I have spent time in Atlanta that is what I see these 40 to 50 men and women from 15 different churches seeking to create. They have developed a 2020 vision for the city of Atlanta and the relationships that they are forming will be a basis for the ongoing deliberate actions to see transfromation. I hope that other missional leaders in the great cities of the world would begin to work in this way.

Restoring The Soul of the City

Many people think that if you help someone get a new haircut, a new wardrobe and/or a new job you’ll transform a person. But those barely scratch the surface of what is really going on deep in a person’s soul; hurt, loneliness, pain, anxiety, and confusion. Yet to be able to love and care for your friends who are hurting we must listen, spend time and learn all that is going on deep in their lives.
When I was in Mexico struggling to communicate with an interpreter I realized that just as God has created a person with a soul, He has created cities with souls. I believe that the millions who live in our cities are shaped by the “soul” of the city: the cultural and ethnic heritage, the industry and commerce, the history, the art and education, the spiritual life, and the social life of the city. The soul of the city also bears the hurts, the crimes, the loneliness and anxiety. In order to see a city-wide supernatural, spiritual and physical transformation we must take seriously "restoring the soul" of our city. A recent UN report states, “In 2008, the world reaches an invisible but momentous milestone: For the first time in history, more than half its human population, 3.3 billion people, will be living in urban areas.” We’re doing our best to learn, listen and observe the soul of a city. Our dream is to bring together the whole church to share the whole Gospel to the whole city. We believe this city transformation will take humble and collaborative partnerships with civic, social, business, cultural and religious leaders. We’re trusting God that in the next 12 years our ministry will instigate movements of city transformation in 20 cities around the world so that more people will experience the love of God.

Prayer One Denver

Monday Morning at 7:30 I gathered with 15 church and ministry leaders to connect and to take a helicopter ride over Denver Metro. Over the last two years a business man who loves to fly and his pastor have ministered to others by flying them over the city to gain a new perspective on the city and of God’s heart for the city. This ministry is known as “Prayer One.” For 25 minutes we flew 500 feet over Denver. As we flew we prayed and ask God to use us to transform the city. I was struck by how small Denver looked and was reminded that ministry is not about us; it is about God. He has always cared for cities and most importantly He cares for the people who live there. Pray with us that God will connect us to the right leaders, partnerships, ideas and plans that will leverage our efforts.

Team Consulting with CCC Mexican National Team

On Monday I traveled by bus to Puebla. At the invitation of the Mexico National Team of CCC, I was there to help them work together more effectively. They have some significant challenges both internal and external. Kim Cranson had made the arrangements and set up the schedule for my time. As I have gotten to know Kim and her husband Robin, I have a great appreciation for them. It was great to be back in Puebla. I meet with the team on Monday night and I enjoyed seeing Carlos Miranda, Steve and Terry Morgan again. On Tuesday I met non-stop with team members individually or as couples to review their Birkman report. On Wednesday we meet as a team for twelve hours. Thursday I meet with the Campus Ministry team and then after lunch I continued to meet with individuals and follow-up appointments from the day before. Friday at noon back by bus to Mexico City and then a flight home. I pray that the Lord will use my time with these wonderful people to be a blessing to them.

City Transformation Minatitalan, Veracruz

Early Saturday morning Agustin and I were off to Minatitlán, a city in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz. A pastor of a church and Agustin's good friend named Ceasar invited us to come and a lead a pastor's conference on Saturday and speak in his church on Sunday. We flew to Villa Hermosa which is the capital city of the state of Tabasco where the floods had occurred in the fall. It appeared as we drove through the city that most of the commercial center had recovered, but many of the poor who lived along the river banks were still in need of assistance.

When we arrived there were 80 to 100 people gathered for the meetings. They had actually come from several surrounding cities as well. One of largest oil refineries run by PeMex the national oil company is near Minatitlan. We met in a facility that was owned by the PeMex workers union. After an early lunch, Agustin and I made our City Transformation presentation. It is always a challenge when you are tired from traveling to stay sharp in speaking and then Agustin had to interpret for me, but the Lord was with us and we delivered a strong challenge. We ending the meeting in prayer for the city by having everyone in a circle face outward. That evening we had a great dinner with Ceasar at a local cafe (Sea Bass "VeraCruz" style and homemade corn tortillas!) That we evening we had a great time of fellowship in the Lord. Ceasar told me his life story and what God was doing in his life and ministry. What an encouragement it was to me. God used that time to give me some deep spiritual lessons, but I will save that for later. Sunday morning we had a great time of worship and then Agustin and I gave a message on "The Kingdom." What a great response. A couple from the church drove us back to Villa Hermosa for our return flight to Mexico City. (After really bad service on American Airlines it was a pleasure to fly Mexicana Airlines.)

Mexico City "Enfoque Mexico"

I have continued a ministry friendship with Agustin the former national director of CCC. Agustin also attended the Global Learning Community that Eric Swanson and Sam Williams hosted at the Lost Antler Ranch in Estes Park. Together Agustin and I have been presenting a message of City Transformation to ministry and church leaders in Mexico City. We met the first time in the fall, and on the 24 and 25th of January we made a second presentation in Mexico City. Jorge Dorcas, Jose'(Joe Cross) and Eduardo (Craig Joring of Camp Ed renown). The first day we discussed launching a movement of City Transfomation in Mexico City. We shared some of the lessons we are learning in other cities, we discussed a Biblical framework for working together and for setting a course of direction. Most were very excited. The second day we sought to create an experience of a Leadership Community gathering with both presentation and interaction. It was interesting to watch as these leaders responded to a different way of "meeting" and to a different style of communication. We were encouraged. We also meet several leaders who want to follow through on our time by sharing these ideas through their relational network and to continue to meet with Joe and Craig to discuss a plan for the city!

Denver Student Conferences

There were two student conferences in Denver from January 2 - 6. While the students were meeting I was ministering to the staff leaders of Campus Crusade for Christ and Campus Ventures, a campus ministry in Wyoming and South Dakota. I use the Birkman Method® as a tool to assess strengths, interests, needs and spiritual gift patterns. The individual appointment issues ranged from personal and leadership development, marriage, and ministry career coaching. I also spent time with 25 year CCC staff veterans to discuss the next 25 years of life and ministry.

Global Service Associates

I am a member of Global Service Associates, which is an association of "leaders in mission." We are a non-profit missional order who are followers of Jesus who desire to live and serve our world in a way that reflects the grace of God at the dawn of the 21st century. As a community of leaders we want to experience a common vision, a common commitment, and an uncommon comraderie. We desire that our ministries would overflow from our life of faith, our hope in the reign of God, and our love for God and others. As each member-leader seeks God's direction and blessing for various ministry initiatives we expect the result of our ministries will be greater innovation, collaboration, and inspiration. As an organization we want to be known for financial integrity, authenticity, shared responsiblity and goverance by an independent Board of Directors. Our ministries may have different names but our foundation is the same. Currently I manage our order of global servants and Jay Gary is the Chairman of our Board.

Calling

One organization that I am a member of is the Colorado Career Development Association (CCDA) is a state affiliate of the National Career Development Association (NCDA), and a division of the Colorado Counseling Association (CCA). The organization exists to serve those who have an interest in career and workforce development issues in Colorado. I have found this to be good experience that has put me in contact with dedicated career counseling professionals.

On April 20th CCDA has invited Gregg Levoy to be the keynote speaker for its annual conference. Gregg is the author of "Callings: Finding and Following An Authentic Life" (Random House). The conference brochure says, "His writings and workshops focus on the idea that any significant change you want to make in your professional or personal life will align or re-align you with your passion and sense of purpose, with your deepest values, with a fit between who you are and what you do. This then is his definition of a calling. That calling could be to make a career change or creative leap, take on a new role or let go of an old one, launch a new venture, or simply make a course-correction in your life or work. Levoy's seminars take a creative approach to the challenges of listening and responding to those calls. The result of engaging your deepest passions-----and thus motivations-----will show up in your work and in your life as greater enthusiasm, creativity and health." Unfortunately I will not be able to attend because I choose to attend the City Impact Round table in Texas, but his description of calling is very compelling.

For leaders in mission knowing God's calling has always been an important motivation for getting involved in a mission effort, launching a new mission, or making a career decision. As a college student the call of Isaiah in Isaiah 6 was an important step for me to make in realigning my life and career with what I believe to be God's will for my life. How do we know God's calling for our lives? It begins with surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. As the good shepherd in John 10 Jesus goes before us and call us to follow, as sheep. "the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out... his sheep follow him because they know his voice." John 10: 3-5.

From my experience it comes after we have made some decisions and begin to act on those decisions then God "confirms" His call. Isaiah writes, "you will hear a word behind you when you turn to the right or to the left, 'This is the way walk in it." Ephesians 2:10 provides assurance that because we are God's workmanship He will guide us to the good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I also believe that God's calling will always be consistent with our design. As we recognize our strengths, our interests, our spiritual gifts, and our abilities that are demonstrated through life, these are guideposts to know God's calling. John WP Oliver was my pastor when I was a college student. I met with him to discuss my future. He gave me some advice that I have never forgotten, "Discerning a need does not constitute God's call. In life you will be exposed to many needs but you will have to choose which need God intends for you." This took the pressure off of me and caused me to look to the Lord to direct me.

City Impact Roundtable - El Paso Texas

This is the first time I have attended the City Impact Round table. I decided to attend this year because of the invitation of Glenn Barth who serves as the convener. This year's focus is The Dynamics of Transformation, A Consultation for City-Reaching Practitioners. Glenn has recently agreed to serve as the president of the ministry that was founded by Jack Dennison known as CitiReach International. Sam Williams and Eric Swanson of Tango have been working with Jack to launch a "Good Cities" initiative which Glenn will lead.

Another reason I wanted to attend is that I am gathering information about city reaching so that I might use that information in resourcing the growing number of city reaching movements including the growing Denver Metro movement where I live. My interest has been growing because of my relationship with leaders from around the world who have been part of the Global Learning Community at the Lost Antler Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado. Another reason my interest has grown is because I also served as the lead facilitator in a Leadership Network Leadership Community on the Externally Focused Church that Eric was directing. I sense that God is working in the lives of the leaders and churches to bring about a new way of communicating the person, presence and power of Jesus Christ to the unbelieving world.

I have often thought that the Old Testament example of Israel when they were in exile is the example for the church in a "Post-Christendom" world. Therefore, the words of the prophet Jeremiah serve as a statement of mission for the church "...seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:7.

Leadership in Short Term Missions

I prepared a paper for a recent meeting of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Evangelical Missiological Society on "principles of partnership" that were important to the success of the Short-term Mission efforts of the US Campus Crusade for Christ. I hope to continue to develop this "case study" of a successful mission effort from 1980 through 2000. In sharing the story I hope that some of the lessons we learned can be instructive to the next generation of mission leaders. Here is the link to the paper:

http://www.christianfutures.com/shortterm.shtml

21st Century Leaders

In leadeship development circles there has been a great deal written about "Transactional versus Transformational Leadership." Is the movement to "transformational leadership" simply a cultural trend from modern to postmodern leadership or is this the leadership style that will be most effective in the 21st century? Another question, "Is there something lacking in the 'win-win' leadership strategies that misses the heart of God for people in relationship?" The next question then is, "How can I become a transformational leader?"

That has lead me to think of a three dimensional model of leadership. The two dimensions of leadership I was taught by Howard Hendricks was that a leader knew where he or she was going and could persuade others to follow. These two elements are related to having a clear purpose and then the power to move a growing number of people toward that purpose. Now I believe the unstated element that was always in the background now needs to be in the foreground. The third dimension is "presence." We have always discussed the character qualities of leaders but what about the way in which all of those qualities blend and are being used in light of the spiritual and emmotional health of the leader? What presence do we bring? Perhaps this is at the heart of the question about "vulnerablity and humility" in mission. Not simply changing our tactics in mission and restating our purpose but to bring the presence of the one we follow, the one who washed the feet of his disciples, the one who poured out his life so that we might live.

I have become more and more convinced that as leaders we need to be developing our sense of "self awareness," so that we always anticipate our "presence" as we move into different contexts of ministry. Secondly then we need to know how our "presence" contributes to our understanding of our purpose and any given time and place and to how our "presence" affects our "power" to influence, direct or manage those who we serve.

Leading from the Future

I just read an article by Jay Gary who is a long-time friend and now ministry associate. He is the Chairman of the Board of Global Service Office, directs the Christian Futures Network and is on the faculty of Regent University School of Leadership Studies. Here are some highlights:

"What has occupied your executive team's attention the past three years? Chances are you have been restructuring departments or re-engineering core programs for immediate gain, rather than regenerating your strategies or reinventing your organization for the future. It is said that on average, corporate management devotes 90% of their time on the "Inside and Now," leaving 10% of their energy to focus on the "Outside and Then."

That forward focus might be even less in the non-profit or small business sectors given that the urgent often preempts the important due to limited resources. While shoring up today's operations is vital and necessary, it is no substitute for creating tomorrow's programs. So, how can we lead from the future, rather than the past?"

Jay's answer is to develop "strategic foresight." He writes, "Planning develops strategies for present operations while foresight creates the framework for future actions, five to ten years out." When asked about the secret of his goal scoring success, Wayne Gretsky said,"I don't skate to where the puck is, I skate to where the puck is going to be." In times that are changing it seems to me that we should reorient our actions toward the future by cultivating foresight.

The Barnabas Ministries

Spoke today by phone with Dale Frimodt. Dale married Marlene Root. Marlene and I worked together here in Colorado as a part of the CCC International University Resource Team before she married Dale. Dale was a staff member with CCC as well and was a part of the "I found it" campaigns. Dale had a burden for pastors and started the Barnabas Ministries in 1977. The Barnabas Ministries is an interdenominational ministry seeking to serve the body of Christ by providing encouragement, counseling and consulting for Christian leaders, including pastors, church leadership and missionaries.

Dale writes, "In today's world, ministers, missionaries and other Christian leaders are all on the front lines of spiritual conflict. Even in the best of times, those in ministry can feel isolated and alone, overwhelmed with the demands of ministry, burned out, and experiencing relational difficulties with family, staff, or those with whom they serve. In America today...
1400 pastors leave the ministry each month,
70% of them say they have no one they can consider a close friend,
and almost a quarter will experience a forced exit some time in their ministry.*"
*Research by Pastor's Institute and Fuller Institute Study 1991

Dale has helped many in Christian leadership address personal problems in their lives, resolve conflicts in their churches, and get refocused for ministry. Dale has chaired a steering committee to offer a Care Givers Forum, which is an annual gathering of people from across the U.S. and elsewhere who are involved in the ministry of caring for professional Christian workers and their families. Find out more about Dale and the forum at their website http://www.caregiversforum.org/

Innovation and Leadership Styles

Of course any human enterprise requires leadership. In business there is a continuous stream of study on leadership. These studies often influence leaders in the church to create organizations that reflect the latest trends in business. Once structured a leadership style can actually become a part of the organizational culture of that church and over time it is simply reinforced by a succession of leaders. In rapidly changing times when new ideas are needed innovation of strategy can be implemented, but will not create the results hoped for. The problem was not in the strategy but in the leadership structure. What may be needed is innovation of management not strategy which could be much more difficult and even painful.

Since the failures of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and with the threat of a global outbreak of the avian flu, there has been much discussion about crisis management. “In the complex and uncertain environment of a sustained, evolving crisis, the most robust organizations will not be those that simply have plans in place but those that have continuous sensing and response capabilities.” (Noria)

Noria created a comparison between two types of organizations, which reflect two styles of leading, which I’ve adapted this article.

Directive Styles:

1. Hierarchical
2. Centralized Leadership
3. Tightly Coupled (greater interdependence among parts)
4. Concentrated workforce
5. Specialists
6. Policy and procedure driven

Delegative Styles:

1. Networked
2. Distributed Leadership
3. Loosely coupled (less interdependence)
4. Dispersed workforce
5. Cross-trained generalists
6. Guided by simple yet flexible rules
   

From “Survival of the Adaptive,” Nitin Noria, Harvard Business Review, May 2006, pg 23

• Which of these leadership structures do you thinking would more likely accelerate innovation in a rapidly changing context?
• What changes would I need to make in my leadership style to create an environment for innovation?
• What changes would I need to make in the way in which I train or equip others to implement innovative strategies?
• Could I state the simple guidelines or flexible rules for leading in my organization?

I am not suggesting that one style is “good or bad.” We need both styles, but it is important to be aware of the impact on those we are leading. We then need to communicate why the structure we have chosen is appropriate to our situation. Finally, we should either develop in the leadership style that is needed or we should ask someone else to lead out of their strength. 02/04/2007

Birkman Leadership Styles

In my work in developing local campus ministry leaders with Campus Crusade for Christ around the globe, one of greatest lessons I tried to pass on was the importance of adapting a leader’s natural or preferred style of leading to the context of their ministry. Often younger leaders either tried to follow the leadership style of a more senior leader that they admired or reacted to a leadership style of a senior leader that had offended them. Often a cultural model of “leading” may have a great impact on developing leaders from among university students in one context but fails in another cultural context.

As a consultant, one of the tools I use is the Birkman Method. Roger Birkman has identified three styles of leading: knowledge specialists, directive managers, and delegative managers. A person may have an intense preference for one style or they could have a balanced preference. This affects their perspective on whether one style is “good or bad.” It may also affect their view on issues such as spiritual authority or decision making. (If you have your Birkman report you can find your natural or preferred style of leading on the Interview Guide top right column. The scores reflect the intensity of your preference with 1 being the least preferred and 10 being the most preferred.)

When we look at the Bible and see examples of leaders it is very easy for a person to pick examples of leaders that fit one’s own perspective. Of course when we look at Jesus we often see him fulfill the roles of a prophet, a priest and a king. I can compare these roles to Roger Birkman’s three styles of leading. A prophet is like a knowledge specialist bringing truth and wisdom to our lives which points us toward a future; a priest is like a delegative manager serving as our representative to a higher authority then ourselves, and who empowers and serves us to accomplish the responsibilities’ that we own; while a king is like a directive manager serving as a representative, of a higher authority then themselves, and uses their authority so that we might accomplish a shared outcome. Which style is right? I believe it all depends on what God’s purpose is for His people who are being led at that moment. The issue is to develop a flexible style of leadership in light of God’s purpose, our context and the people who God has asked us to lead.

Serving Leaders in Mission

Recently at a Global Learning Community at Estes Park I heard Sam Williams sharing about the future of his ministry and he repeated a statement that he had heard Bob Buford make which went something like, "At this point in my life the fruit of my ministry is growing on the trees of others." I felt as though that was what I wanted to be true of my ministry. Even though I still want to be directly involved in ministry locally when I think globally I want to be more involved in serving others who are leading in mission.

Since 1984 when I moved to California, I have seen myself as a part of a "global mission" labor force. Since then I spent most of the time living in the US, and I traveled to minister for various lengths of times in more than thirty nations in every part of the world. In 1989 when I moved with my family and became a resident of Manila, Philippines for two years, it changed everything but this sense of global ministry.

Because of that perspective on ministry when I think of leaders, I think of pastors, missionaries, staff members of mission organizations and professional volunteers in ministry. I believe that today leaders in mission should not be defined by place of ministry, position in ministry, or means of support. I desire to serve leaders regardless of national, ethnic-linguistic, and cultural background. I do think that leaders and their families who have been called to live "make their home for two years or longer" in a culture other than their original culture need additional services.

When I think mission I want my focus to be on those who are "crossing boundaries or borders" to advance the mission of Jesus Christ. Those who are going with the love of God to reach people on the "margins" of the gospel. In light of globalization I believe the distinctions of home and foreign missions are no longer as important, because the ability to adapt to and work in diverse cultures, to understand how to minister in different contexts and to collaborate in multicultural, ethnic or national teams are all a part of mission today whether at home or abroad.

Qualities Associated with Contextual Intelligence

I believe every leader has different starting points in life. The challenge is not where a leader starts but where a leader finishes. I have been certified in several assessment tools to help leaders understand where they are starting in order to help them take the next steps toward their goals. My perspective on the tools is that they can provide valuable information to help a leader have greater self awareness and to then act on that information. Some of the tools that I have used are the DISC profile, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the Birkman Method. Of these the Birkman Method provides a better framework for leaders who are passionate about accomplishing their mission in a business or organization. (For more information - here is a link to the Birkman website www.birkman.com) Using the Birkman in a systematic way for building leaders in an organization can shorten the time involved in decision-making, problem-solving and strategic planning, as well as improve the performance of working groups or teams.

When the idea of contextual intelligence was introduced to me, because of my experience and training, I instinctively asked the questions: How would I recognize a leader with contextual intelligence? What are some distinquishing characteristics of a leader with contextual intelligence? How would I measure those qualities? How could I help a leader develop his or her contextual intelligence? Has anyone done the research and created a tool to assess a leader's starting point? If I were selecting someone for a leadership position how would I know that the person would have a capacity for contextual intelligence? I am in the process of answering those questions. If anyone is interested in collaborating on this subject please feel free to e-mail me.

Here are some of my initial thoughts about the qualities associated with contextual intelligence. The first quality that comes to mind is the ability to take decisive action in the midst of apparent paradox. In times of rapid change there will be many trends that seem to be moving in two different directions and important decisions need to be made. A leader who can see the path and move forward without having "it all figured out" would demonstrate contextual intelligence. How many executive meetings seem to be a waste of time because someone can not see a clear option to take because of contradictions. Thomas Friedman in his book The World is Flat, writes,"The great challenge for our time will be to absorb these changes in ways that do not overwhelm people but also do not leave them behind." pg46 By the time everyone can "figure it out" the world will have left them behind.

Jesus often presented his followers with a paradox and asked them for decisive action. In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Can you imagine that some in the crowd who heard these words were thinking, "Now how does that work? How can I save my life by losing it? If I want to live I must first die?" They stayed where they were trying to resolve the tension, but those who understood their times who heard these words took decisive action, they followed Jesus. And they "turned their world upside down."

Understanding the Times

Here are two Biblical examples of Contextual Intelligence

The first example is of leaders who did demonstrate that they understood the context they were living in and took action. I Chronicles chapter 12 is the account of the warriors of Israel gathering together to support David as the new king over Saul. In verse 12 the warriors from the tribe of Issachar are described as those "who understood the times and knew what Israel should do."

The second example is of those who did not have contextual intelligence. In Luke 12:54 Jesus said: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?" Unfortunately John describes what happens in his gospel to this generation, chapter 1 verses 10 and 11, "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to those who were his own, but his own did not receive him."

We are living in a time that requires leaders who will seek together to understand the times, to recognize the presence of Jesus in the world today (perhaps in places and ways that we did not expect), and to take collaborative action. Will we show up at "Hebron to support the king as the warriors of Issachar did in their day?