J.R. Briggs
Attempting to behold the miracle long enough without falling asleep
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The 4 expressions of Kairos Partnerships
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m developing a new initiative with the other half of my time called Kairos Partnerships. It is an initiative seeking to walk alongside of and partner with leaders, pastors and church planters as they experience the significant kairos moments of their lives. (A special thanks to my friend and graphic designer Michael Smith for creating the Kairos Partnerships logo above).
Over the past few years I’ve had a handful of opportunities to do just this, but I have had to decline many of the opportunities due to the time constraints in my full-time role with The Renew Community. However, with the shift to half time with Renew, it frees up some time to be able to say yes to more of these opportunities as they arise. Overall, Kairos (pronounced KIE-ross) Partnerships is a shift of my time and ministry to lead by multiplication – equipping people to train, lead and equip others (the heart behind 2 Timothy 2:2). As I mentioned earlier, this fall I am spending time inviting people into this vision and asking them to partner with us as we launch Kairos Partnerships.
What exactly will this new initiative focus on primarily? I’m extremely excited to announce the four main expressions of Kairos Partnerships:
- The Ecclesia Network: Since its inception, Renew has been a part of The Ecclesia Network. For the past few years I have had the privilege serving on the Board of Directors. I love being part of such a healthy, life-giving network that provides much-needed support for church planters seeking to make the gospel relatable in diverse contexts. Because of Ecclesia’s growth as a network, I have been asked by Dr. Chris Backert, Ecclesia’s National Director, to join the staff as Ecclesia’s Northeast Region Coordinator & Church Coach. Each week, I’m in communication with a handful of church planters who have heard about Ecclesia and want to know more about the network and/or are seeking ways they can potentially join with us officially and unofficially. I’m also connecting with other Ecclesia pastors collaborating, debriefing and processing unique issues that come up when planting a church. I love these opportunities, but I have not been able to keep up with the amount of connections. This shift of my time allows me to focus on connecting and networking with these pastors and church planters with more focused intentions to provide guidance, direction and share the vision of the network. While this role is an unpaid staff position, it is an investment of my time that is strategic, fulfilling and fruit-bearing for both the network – as well as the kingdom.
- Fresh Expressions U.S.: Fresh Expressions US is a new initiative birthed out of Fresh Expressions U.K. This movement works with both older, established denominations and newer, emerging churches to see new works of the Holy Spirit take form in diverse ministry contexts. I find this movement to be extremely hopeful, collaborative and necessary, especially during a time of such need in the North American Church context. Recently I accepted the role as Northeast Regional Coordinator for Fresh Expressions U.S. In this role, I’ll spend my time connecting with established and emerging churches who desire to see new works of the Holy Spirit spring up in their contexts, as well as help host and facilitate Fresh Expressions training events in and among the Northeast part of the country. (One of theFresh Expressions U.S. Vision Days is scheduled for October 6 in the Philadelphia area. There is still room available if you would like to register.). I’m thrilled to be involved in this movement and to help communicate how denominations and churches can be more involved in its efforts.
- The Metro Philly Church Planter Community: I live in the Greater Philadelphia Area and I have a passion to see a growing number of churches and church starts in the area that are healthy and following the mission of Jesus faithfully. Metro Philly CPC is an equipping network of church planters throughout the Philadelphia area (including Center and Eastern PA, New Jersey and Delaware). CPC Director Bruce Finn oversees this ministry which seeks to train, encourage and equip church planters in the region. This fall I joined the CPC Advisory Board to coach church planters, provide feedback to Bruce and to help support, guide, train and offer direction to individuals and the community of church planters. In November, I am scheduled to help facilitate a training session for a CPC gathering.
- Spirit-directed times with young leaders and pastors: The first three expressions are more formalized and official, but this fourth expression is still needed. There have been many opportunities to mentor, teach, listen to, instruct, guide and/or disciple other leaders and pastors informally. It may be a phone call or a lunch or a cup of coffee. (For example, in the past two weeks, I’ve spent time with a struggling and discouraged youth pastor in the area, talked on the phone with a young leader in the south who just became a dad for the first time and had a pastor ask if I would disciple him because he told me that he’d never been discipled before and couldn’t possibly dare to lead his church to make disciples if he didn’t have someone discipling him personally). I am convinced that creating a portion of space and time to purposefully connect with hungry leaders as the Holy Spirit guides is a significant investment of my time.
These four primary expressions of Kairos Partnerships will require that I raise support for my time. By making this shift we’re purposefully moving into a place of uncertainty because we believe in it so much. Sure, we sometimes feel nervous about this shift, but above all we find this risk to be exhilarating and landing us right in the middle of God’s purposes. We sense this is the best way I can steward what God has entrusted me with. I am absolutely convinced that we’re involved in a much-needed role in the kingdom of God within the current North American Church context. I’m grateful for the opportunities that are surfacing.
I’ll be sharing ways that you – yes, you, blog readers – can help us in creative ways to make Kairos Partnerships get off the ground starting officially in the new year.