FaithWalking expands to meet challenges and opportunities...

Getting from an introductory Faithwalking (101) Retreat and the 12 week (201) follow up seminars to a functioning Vision Community is filled with many challenges. It is rare to get a Vision Community started right out of the 201 series. We have been interviewing, praying with, and listening to those who have and who have not yet launched a vision community, and we are discovering some additional resources (beyond the 101/201 experiences) that help Faithwalkers stay focused, get unstuck and begin to experience measurable progress.

• Coaching – a major obstacle to establishing a Vision Community is the auto-pilot that runs your daily life. A functioning Vision Community requires some interruption of that auto-pilot in concentrated time blocks so that you can establish actions for which you are willing to be accountable. Having a coach is an excellent way to achieve that interruption and accountability. We now offer coaching to all those who complete 101 and enroll in 201. The coaching process involves a weekly 30 minutes call that focuses on encouragement, problem solving, and resourcing. To take advantage of the weekly coaching process beyond the 201 seminar series, you must declare an intention to establish a vision community and request a coach. When you do, a coach – one who has a functioning vision community – will be designated to work with you.

• Missional Marriage – we recognize that the radical discipleship of Faithwalking challenges the comfort and assumptions of all participants’ marriages. We seek to support marriages and to strengthen practices of sacrificial love and healing between couples. We truly believe that as couples experience God’s ideal of “one flesh” intimacy, they will be powerfully released to channel their gifts and energies on mission toward a hurting world. Trisha Taylor will lead Missional Marriage and dates for 2009 will be forthcoming.

• The Pipeline – virtually every Vision Community that is making significant progress has more than one person who has completed Faithwalking. Beginning in 2009, we are working diligently to find ways to eliminate cost as a factor that detracts people from registering.

1. We encourage those who have completed 101 and 201 to pay the way for a new participant. Even when money is not an issue, potential participants can’t distinguish the distinctive nature of Faithwalking. Apart from actually attending the retreat, potential participants hear the invitation like another Bible study or enrichment retreat. So, in their thinking, “Why spend this money for another one of those.” By paying for another to attend, you communicate powerfully your value of the experience and your value of the one whose way you are paying.

2. We will establish a scholarship fund to be available beginning with the January 2009 Faithwalking retreat. Perhaps you cannot provide $650 (full tuition) for someone to attend but you could make a one-time gift or a small monthly contribution to contribute to providing a scholarship for someone. Please consider making that commitment.
The thing that is clear is that there is a direct relationship between you enrolling others from your Vision Community in the Faithwalking journey and in achieving success – in our individual Vision Communities and in our overall Faithwalking Community.

• Faithwalking 301 – the Faithwalking training and support has thus far focused on personal transformation that results in establishing a Vision Community in your home, neighborhood, workplace, or third place. There is a larger body of knowledge concerning community transformation, and we believe that community members need to master that knowledge base. In 2009 we will offer an additional retreat, open to all who have completed the 201 course (whether you have a Vision Community in place or not). This retreat is not 101 on steroids. It’s a different kind of content with a somewhat different format.

Faithwalking 301 will be offered on September 18-19, 2009, noon to noon, at a location and cost to be determined.

Movements: Move Ahead on Deep Commitment

Faithwalking is a movement, not a program. It is our hope and belief that there will come a day when hundreds, if not thousands, of homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and third places will have a functioning Body of Christ who are unified in their commitment to the transformation of the city. Clearly, as a movement, we are still in our infancy. We will move ahead based on the commitment of those who really get this vision and are willing to sacrifice to see it move from infancy to the childhood level of its development.

On November 15, 2008, the Faithwalking Community gathered at the home of Jorge and Mary Martinez. We shared success stories and problem solved obstacles. At the conclusion, our leadership called us to make four commitments in 2009 that would accelerate the movement. In the language of our community, we urged each community to consider making at least four commitments to which you give your word for 2009.

1. Prayer and Fasting: Commit to join others in the Faithwalking Community who are praying and fasting around the retreat times in which new Faithwalkers join our movement. Real time updates will be sent as the retreat unfolds. This prayer support made a huge difference in our last retreat. Retreat dates for 2009 include: January 23-25, April 24-26, June 12-14, and October 2-4.

2. Focus on your vision community: If you don’t have a functioning Vision Community, take the necessary steps to give birth to one. If you do have one, get clear about the next stages of development for your Vision Community and commit to taking those steps.

3. Contribute financially: After giving at tithe to your local congregation, consider making a sacrificial financial contribution to Mission Houston, either to our general operational fund or to the Faithwalking scholarship fund. Also consider paying the way of at least one person in your Vision Community to attend a 101 retreat.

4. Sign up for the 301 retreat. The worship, prayer support, new information about community transformation, and encouragement will be very valuable to you and your Vision Community.

May the Lord bless you and keep you as we move forward under His provision and leadership. 2009 is filled with hope and possibility, in large measure due to your sacrifice and commitment.