When we planted a church three-and-a-half years ago, our vision was to cultivate and multiply communities of mission and discipleship, seeing new expressions of the good news of Jesus planted in every cultural nook and cranny of Fort Wayne and beyond.
Early on in this journey we connected with 3DM, an organization that represents a movement of putting discipleship and mission back into the hands of ordinary people through investing in leaders and churches all over the world. They really helped us gain traction in implementing the vision God had put in our hearts.
Along the way God led us to graft our church plant in with Grace Gathering, another church in Fort Wayne involved in this movement, forming one network of missional communities in the Fort Wayne area. Over the past couple years, we have become more and more involved with 3DM, coaching and investing in leaders all over North America. As we engaged in these opportunities we began to discern a call toward dedicating more of our time in this arena, resourcing the movement we’ve been part of for the past three years.
It seems that God confirmed this call during our sabbatical in Pawleys Island this past winter, so this summer we will be moving to Pawleys Island, the epicenter of this movement, to join the 3DM team full-time. This will allow us to dedicate our full attention and energy to coaching leaders, facilitating learning communities for churches, and developing new content that will resource and equip leaders all over the world to cultivate and multiply movements of discipleship and mission.
So while the scope of our assignment is changing, it simply represents another chapter in the same mission we’ve had all along: cultivating and multiplying communities of discipleship and mission to join God in the renewal of all things.
We are excited about this, of course, but it is also a daunting challenge: moving to a new home, leaving a place we’ve lived for almost 15 years, engaging in new work, facing new challenges, new levels of sacrifice, etc. We know that we will need prayer in this endeavor! We will be sending periodic updates to those who are supporting us in prayer. If you’d like to be on this list, please contact me and let me know.
Just wanted to “make it official” for those of you who read my blog regularly. I am sure that our new role with 3DM will simply serve to deepen and strengthen the content of the blog. I am looking forward to future conversations!
Blessings to you and the congregation you have served faithfully during you time in Ft. Wayne. I know your leadership will be missed there. See you soon in South Carolina!
RustyGraves Thanks Rusty!
Congratulations! May God bless you and your family in this new and exciting season of ministry.
Joshua Rhone Thanks Joshua!
Congrats on the new gig Ben. 3DM produces some great resources already, but they’re smart to hire you!
FVmomentum Thanks! It was more of a sense of us feeling called to it than being hired, but we are excited about the new season nonetheless!
Ben, So thankful for your sacrifices and willingness to BE an adventure with Christ. I’m excited for all of the “new wineskins” and wine God will create through your obedience. I’m also in prayer for the community you began, that they will know how much you love them and appreciate their release of you to God’s breath.
sandyboone Thanks Sandy, for your prayers! Means a lot.
Congrats, Ben! You will be a great addition to the team. They are lucky to have your family in Pawley’s Island!
Zak Eltzroth We feel blessed to have the opportunity. Thanks Zak!
Congratulations Ben! You guys are going to be a great addition to the team! Praying for blessing and.favor n the transition …
BobRognlien Thanks Bob!
Congrats Ben! Blessings as you begin the transition with your family.
@Jeff Hyatt Thanks Jeff!
Ben,
It will be sad to see you and Deb go,but so pleased that God is using you both in this way. You and your family will be in our prayers. Who knows maybe we will see you there.
Bob and Michelle
Bob Atkinson Thanks guys, for your prayers – the great thing about the fact that we’re still all part of the same movement is that I’m sure we’ll see you soon!
Fantastic Ben! Excited to hear this…
scomarsh Thanks!