|
Dear
Friends,
My concern in this pastoral letter is to write
to you about the vision and mission of RENOVARÉ.
In one sense I am talking out loud with you, for
our entire RENOVARÉ
Team is right now working together on this subject
with the hope of hammering out a substantive position
paper on the matter. We would love to hear your
thoughts.
CLARIFYING
THE VISION
The RENOVARÉ vision
is simple and straightforward: a life of flaming
love for God with all our "heart, soul, mind,
and strength" (Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:30).
•
It is a vision of genuine, solid, substantive
life in the kingdom of God, available to you and
to me. Here. Now.
•
It is a vision of the continuing, experiential
reality of "righteousness and peace and joy in
the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17).
• It is a vision of Jesus high and lifted
up drawing all peoples to himself (John 3:14).
• It is a vision of us constantly returning
to our first love, Jesus . . . and falling in
love with him over and over and over again (Rev.
2:4-5).
• It is a vision of an ongoing forming, conforming,
transforming life in and through Jesus—a transformative
character development into Christlikeness.
• It is a vision of radical community life;
an all-inclusive community of loving persons gathered
in the power and fellowship of the Trinitarian
presence.
This
is a vision of LIFE. For you. For me. And I urge
you: never leave off pursuing this life. Though
it be difficult, seek hard after it. My friend,
you can learn to love God with all your heart
and soul and mind and strength. You can learn
to love your neighbor as yourself. You can learn
to love your enemies. You can learn to overcome
evil and to do what is right. Believe me, you
can learn these things. We here at Renovaré are
committed to helping you find just such a LIFE.
To be sure, this life is not automatic . . . though
God bestows innumerable graces upon the earnest
seeker. Still, developing and sustaining a life
of loving abandonment to God involves an overall
plan of living, incorporating special practices
that care for the inner person. These are the
familiar disciplines of the spiritual life. These
we put into regular practice: prayer and solitude
and study and service and worship and confession
and celebration and more.
Through all of life's vicissitudes we must never
allow anything to replace this vision of white-hot
love for God. It is our first and last order of
business. Nothing is more important than this.
Nothing. Not good deeds. Not faithful service
in the church. Not even missional labor in the
name of Christ. Nothing. Love God alone. Adore
God alone. Worship God alone. Be blinded to all
other loyalties.
UNDERSTANDING
THE MISSION
If
our vision is simple and straightforward, the
RENOVARÉ mission
is complex and multifaceted. It is a mission deeply
rooted in Jesus' commissioning words to his disciples:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything that I have
commanded you. And remember, I am with you always,
to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:18-20). This
threefold task of "discipling" and "baptizing"
and "teaching" is essential, and essential in
that order.
The
"discipling" task brings us to the point of decision
. . . decision to live under the kingdom rule
of Christ. This is an act of will, a choosing
to become Jesus' student, his apprentice. It is
also the action that turns us from being creatures
dead in our trespasses and sins and makes us alive
to God (Eph. 2:1; ROM 6:11). As his student we
are now enrolled in the School of Christ 24/7.
As his apprentice we follow the Master Journeyman;
listening to what he says, watching what he does,
and seeking to live our lives as he would live
our lives if he were we. All authority is given
to Jesus and as his disciple (student or apprentice)
we are yielding to this authority.
While
physical baptism is a right and good initiating
action, "baptizing" involves a whole lot more
than just getting people wet. It involves our
being immersed into the community life of the
triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are
being baptized into the reality of the Trinitarian
presence. As Jesus is in the Father and the Father
is in Jesus, so we are in Jesus and Jesus is in
us (John 17:21). We are baptized into the life
described in Chapter 14 of John: participation
with Jesus as the way to the Father and the truth
about the Father and the life of the Father, and
participation with the promised Holy Spirit who
is the Spirit of Truth and who abides with us
and in us.
It is only after experiencing the realities of
"discipling" and "baptizing" that we are ready
for "teaching." This involves learning to come
into the conforming reality of obeying everything
Jesus commanded. No small task, to be sure, but
a task in which Jesus promises to be with us right
up to the end of the age. This is the work of
spiritual formation which is so inextricably tied
to the work of evangelism. Frankly, it is often
"the great omission" from "the great commission."
But the good news of the evangel is that a formed
life really is possible, that we truly can learn
to obey him in all things. Not perfectly and not
automatically, but purely and fully as we learn
to walk in the Way of Christ day by day. Accomplishing
this demands Spirit-inspired, Spirit-driven teaching.
RENOVARÉ seeks to
provide just such teaching.
A
MOVEMENT AFOOT
A movement is afoot today. It extends far beyond
RENOVARÉ and can
be seen in seminaries and colleges and churches
and hosts of seeker groups everywhere. In more
recent years it has coalesced around the concept
of "spiritual formation," and it expresses the
deep yearnings of people for a life of spiritual
substance. All of this could go in many different
directions, but in its Christian expressions there
is genuine hope for individuals and churches to
find a sure footing in character formation in
Christlikeness. RENOVARÉ
has been the pioneer in the modern spiritual formation
movement, and I see our future role here in three
ways.
First,
we need to fuel the growing spiritual formation
movement. Speaking and writing, conferences and
retreats, seminars and training sessions, all
aimed at continuing to fuel the movement.
Second, we need to resource the growing
spiritual formation movement. Churches need coaching
and consulting; individuals need teaching and
spiritual director training; emerging church expressions
need historical perspective and wise counsel.
And more.
Third,
we need to model a unique community life
for the growing spiritual formation movement.
In our recent venture into East Africa Glandion
Carney was asked how our RENOVARÉ
Team could possibly function together
with its immense diversity of denominations. His
answer, "When we gather together it is like heaven!"
And it is, it truly is! Oh how we need models
of reconciliation and unity, compassion and caring,
vigorous social ministry and loving, respectful
evangelism.
OUR
GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY OF PENETRATION
RENOVARÉ
has always sought to "light the tails of the foxes
and let them go" (see Judges 15:1-8), and so we
fully expect the ideas and vision for life that
we encourage will go far beyond our actual organizational
structures. This has already occurred and we desire
its increase.
In
addition, we have targeted five major geographic
areas for penetration. Since we began in the States
we established RENOVARÉ
USA as a model for the penetration of all of North
America. While we have been at this for a
while there is still much for us to do, especially
when we consider Canada and Greenland and Oceania
and the many island countries in and around the
Caribbean Sea.
Next,
we established RENOVARÉ
Britain and Ireland to function as a model for
the penetration of all of Europe. They
are now a registered charity in the UK with full
independence and with an entirely British/Irish
board. I continue to go across the pond as I can,
but the bringing of the Renovaré message to Europe
is really in their hands. And, believe me, they
have their hands full.
RENOVARÉ
Korea has been in formation as a model for the
penetration of all of Asia. I have just
returned from being with a combined gathering
of Korean leaders from the U.S. and from Korea.
The meetings were exhausting . . . and glorious.
In their Board gathering (thrilling to participate
in) they made the decision to begin the process
of being fully independent of the US Board. They
even want a RENOVARÉ
International Conference to be held in Korea and
we are looking into the feasibility of this. I
will be going to Korea with a team in the fall
of `06 and again in `07. We even have some contacts
and possibilities for forays into North Korea.
These leaders are highly visionary and energetic.
Do pray for their efforts.
Our
2004 trip to Africa was most encouraging. In June
we brought Anastase Rugirango of Rwanda to the
States to meet with us. I was deeply moved by
his pastoral skill, his deep commitment to Christ,
and his ability in articulating the RENOVARÉ
message. In November I will meet with Peter Mutisya
of Kenya from whom I expect to learn much. Could
these be the future leaders who could spearhead
a RENOVARÉ
East Africa effort that might be the model for
the penetration of all of Africa?
A fifth continent is in our sights though nothing
firm has developed as yet. I am referring to a
RENOVARÉ
effort in Central and South America.
I made several forays early on in Costa Rica but
nothing lasting developed. We still await God's
timing here, but we are very much wanting to move
in this direction. (Note to the purist: I'm fully
aware that Central America is categorized as part
of North America, however, it seems best for our
practical strategy to think of it in conjunction
with our efforts toward South America.)
You
can see that our mission strategy is a large one
indeed. But we must not get carried away here.
We cannot allow the mission to squeeze out the
vision. First things must remain first. Mission
must always flow out of a deeper vision and experience
of love for God. But, as you see, we sense God
calling us to large areas of our world as he gives
us strength and resources.
Our
mission and opportunities to serve most certainly
exceed our means. For this reason I ask for your
help. In time I would like to call upon us together
to raise a million dollars for each of the five
continents I have described to you. For now I
am asking you to give generously, even sacrificially
at this year-end. Will you help us? Thank you.
Peace
and joy,
Richard J. Foster
P.S.
Enclosed with this pastoral letter is "A Service
of Commitment" which is tied to our RENOVARÉ
Covenant. I hope that during the Advent season
or on New Year's Day you will affirm and re-affirm
this commitment to follow Jesus Christ in all
things and in all ways. May God bless you as you
do so, whether individually or in a group setting.
Remember, even when we are alone, we are together
in our Covenant commitment and together always
in the glorious fellowship of the Trinity—Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. - RJF
Next
Page: Reaffirming the RENOVARÉ
Covenant >
|
