COLLABORATE: Working with others to do a task. It is a process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals. This is more than the intersection of common goals as seen in co-operative ventures, but a deep, collective determination to reach an identical objective.
Synonyms: Co-operate, co-labor, join forces, team up, pool resources, band together
God has Given All Christ-Followers an Identical Objective:
The Great Commandment & the Great Commission
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
THE NEED
There are over 2 million people living in the Greater Orlando area, and over 60 million tourists who visit us every year. It is estimated that the 1,000+ congregations in the Orlando area are only reaching 15% of the population; leaving an estimated 1,870,000 not connected to a local church family. As the Church of Jesus Christ this mission should be greater than anything that has divided us in the past.
VISION
For THE CHURCH of Orlando and Central Florida to Partner Together To Bring the Transforming Life of Jesus Christ into Every Community, Every Sphere of Influence, Every Ethnicity, Every Denomination, and Every Generation.
STRATEGY
To Fill the Region with Multiplying Christ-Like Disciples who are Equipped in a Lifestyle of Deep Intimacy with God that Results in Effective Prayer, Evangelism and Discipleship. Then send these Multiplying Christ-Like Disciples to bring the Transforming Life of Jesus Christ into their sphere of influence in a sustainable way.
Within this strategy we are forming Spiritual Focus Teams in each of the following areas:
– Prayer: Raise the level of prayer in Every Community, Every Sphere of Influence, Every Ethnicity, Every Denomination, and Every Generation across Orlando and Central Florida.
– Evangelism: Mobilize more ministries to participate in raising the level of evangelism in Every Community, Every Sphere of Influence, Every Ethnicity, Every Denomination, and Every Generation across Orlando and Central Florida.
– Discipleship: Increase the quality of discipleship in Every Community, Every Sphere of Influence, Every Ethnicity, Every Denomination, and Every Generation across Orlando and Central Florida.
Eventually forming a team of multiplying Christ-like Disciples within every Target Group:
Spheres of Influence (Church Leadership, Marriage & Family, Business, Government, Education, Media, Arts & Entertainment, Generations (Children, Youth, Young Adults, Adults, Seniors), Ethnicity, Denominational Distinctions
Goal: To equip 10,000 trainers and 100,000 Multiplying Christ-Like Disciples across Orlando and Central Florida; in a lifestyle of deep intimacy with God that results in effective prayer, evangelism and discipleship.
INITIAL PROJECTS:
- Strengthen & expand the network of relationships among key participants in the region.
(Ex: Weekly Transformation Groups, Monthly Pastor’s & Ministry Leaders Fellowships)
- Host Regular Regional Solemn Assemblies / Concerts of Prayer (Tentatively set for Spring 2016)
- Annual Region-wide Training & Activation in Effective Prayer, Evangelism & Discipleship:
We would like to build a coalition of 200-600 congregations towards a massive “Love Orlando” outreach in the fall of 2016 in which over a period of 40 days Every Person in the City/Region would receive an opportunity to be Prayed for, Cared for, and Shared the Gospel. (Tentative dates: Oct. 4th – Nov. 12th 2016)
POTENTIAL FUTURE PROJECTS:
- Community Adoption: When at least one local congregation makes the commitment to adopt their community by prayerfully involving at least 10 other congregations in their community. These congregations will purpose to equip their members in a lifestyle of deep intimacy with God that results in effective prayer, evangelism and discipleship. In time they will seek to hear God’s strategy to reach all spheres of influence in their community.
- Church Planting by the Regional Church (In which a need is identified, a team is equipped, resourced and sent to plant a church – traditional & non-traditional models.)
- Fill the Region with prayer, evangelism & discipleship at every level: Every Community, Every Sphere of Influence (Individual, Marriage/Family, Local Congregations, Businesses, Schools, Government etc.), Every Ethnicity, Every Denomination, and Every Generation.
Defining what we mean by equipping thousands of “Multiplying Christ-Like Disciples”:
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God. Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
The heart of a Christ-like disciple is someone who is seeking to live out the reality of a covenant relationship with God in which they surrender all of their lives to Him on a moment-by-moment basis, and He in turn gives them all of His Life to live on their behalf. This is the heart of the Gospel message that Jesus and the early Church preached. (Matthew 10:39, 16:25, Gal. 2:20, Romans 8:14).
With this as its foundation, a Multiplying Christ-Like Disciple is someone who maintains:
- A Lifestyle of Deep & Sustained Intimacy with God – Through reading the Word of God, worship, and prayer.
- A Lifestyle of Total Dependency on God – Living moment by moment in step with God’s will and ways.
- A Lifestyle of moment by moment Repentance of any sinful thought, speech or action.
- A Lifestyle of a Prayer Warrior – Daily interceding for the purposes of God.
- A Lifestyle of a Soul Winner – Constantly seeking opportunities to witness Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him.
- A Lifestyle of Discipleship – Taking the time to teach and model what God has taught us in a depth of relationship with others.
- A Lifestyle of Sending Disciples – Sending others to go out and multiply Christ’s Life in their sphere of influence.
Spiritual Focus Groups:
Establishing a Christ-like Lifestyle of Prayer, Evangelism, and Discipleship in every facet of the Body of Christ across Central Florida.
- Prayer (Personal & Corporate Prayer, Worship)
- Evangelism (Prayer Care Share, Service, Social Justice, Mobilization of the Regional Church)
- Discipleship (Leadership Development)
Specific “Target Groups” within the Body of Christ:
Geographical Distinctions
- County
- City
- Community/Neighborhood
Spheres of Influence
- Church Leadership
- Marriage & Family
- Business
- Government
- Education
- Media
- Celebration (Arts & Entertainment)
Generations
- Children
- Youth
- Young Adults
- Adults
- Seniors
Ethnicity
- Latino
- African American
- Asian
- American Indian
- Anglo
Denominational Distinctions
- Liturgical
- Evangelical
- Charismatic
- Pentecostal
We know that to see sustainable fruit, the only way forward will be in deeper humility, consecration, prayer and in preferring one another above ourselves.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3-5
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then, make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.” Phil 2:1-2
Will You Prayerfully Consider Joining with Us To Bring the Transforming Life of Jesus Christ into Every Community,
Every Sphere of Influence, Every Ethnicity, Every Denomination, and Every Generation Across Orlando and Central Florida?