Some Summary Ideas from the 2008 National Missionary Trainers Forum

Leighton Ford

Leighton shared his heart of the primacy of intimacy with God-- practically summed up in simply “paying attention to God.”  He quoted another’s perspective that “we are now in a state of continuous, partial attention.”  We are always busy.  We have before us a wealth of information that leads us to a poverty of attention.  And “a faster world can use a slower church.”  Quoting Dallas Willard’s admonition to “ruthlessly eliminate hurry,” Leighton referred to guidance he received when considering painting: “If you could see what I see, you could paint what I paint.” 

Paying attention happens when we abide, contemplate, and relate with the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus.  This process of stopping to pay attention to God calls us to the discipline of making our first thoughts of the morning about God.  One of our participants testified of his use of “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”—a prayer attributed to St. Patrick as his first morning prayer, invoking the worship and protection of the Lord (you will easily find this prayer through an internet search).  David said “Seven times a day do I praise Thee” (Psalm 119:164), which would be a reminder admonition for us to mark certain hours during the day.  And then, at night, let the last thoughts be of evaluation of the day and praise of God.

Leighton used a powerful metaphor, as recorded in a book he wrote (“The Mentoring Tree”) in which a banyan and an aspen tree dialogued about their differences.  The banyan is a huge tree which, unfortunately, kills off the sunlight so nothing can grow beneath it.  But the aspen has its roots go out broadly underground, spring up new aspen trees from its roots until the one organic tree covers hundreds of acres.   In his later years, the Lord indicated to Leighton that he would make a more effective impact, not by the large crowds of his large evangelistic meetings, but through mentoring young leaders as an aspen tree.  He founded “Arrow,” taking the picture of keeping the cutting edge of evangelism, with a broadening ministry as seen at the bottom of the arrow, but a long shaft indicative of going deeply into an intimate relationship with God.

Mindy Caliguire

One of Mindy’s passions is “to speak to anyone who will listen that leaders must care for their souls.”  Many times, the leader is teaching “out of memory”—not out of his or her present reality and experience.  No Christian intends to neglect the soul; it’s just something that happens to those who become too busy or to those who don’t know how to nourish their soul and simply believe the soul continues on its own.  “And yet,” says Mindy, “my soul’s well-being drives everything that matters to me.”  It is critical: the soul is the deepest center of our mind and emotions.  And how tragic would it be if a man were “to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:35).

Acknowledging that the soul is alive, then—like any living thing—its health can be assessed by symptoms.  She asked the conference participants for symptoms of “soul neglect” and the list numbered 25 in a couple minutes (anxiety, short temper, complaints, soul-level fatigue, compromise with the world, difficulty forgiving, etc.).  She then asked for symptoms of “soul health” and the last also began quickly (fruit of the Spirit, time, orientation to others, selflessness, nothing to prove, contentment, etc.).

Mindy led us in an exercise adapted from one of her books, “Discovering Soul Care, Spiritual Friendship, & Simplicity” © 2007/8, Intervarsity Press to self-assess the current state of our own souls, using the lists that were developed for Soul Neglect and Soul Health.  How did we feel about the assessment?  Were we resistant?  Did we feel it was false?  Did we feel hopeless, light, or desirable?  The third question was “What do you most need to receive from God right now?  Perhaps it is a sense of joy, or a nap, or forgiveness, or encouragement, or clarity on a decision, or more peace, or restoration of a ‘first love.’”  And then we were directed to read Psalm 145:16-19 and note how we found ourselves responding to God in this psalm.  It was a very effective exercise, which led us forward in our relationships.

Relationships are important in growing spiritually.  We were all encouraged to initiate life-giving relationships that promote a transformational relationship with God; opening the gates so the Spirit can move.  Find a safe person who can draw you closer to God, to other people, and to our true identity. 

Those involved in the conference (left to right: Jim Roche (Next Step Board Chairman), Speakers Leighton Ford & Mindy Caliguire, Susan Atkinson- (Next Step local logistics), Steve Hoke (Next Step Board/Program Chair).