J.R. Briggs

What I’ll be doing with ‘the other half’ of my time

September 16, 2011

• Tweet

We’re encouraged about the support and grateful for the excitement from many people since the significant announcement of our transition was made public. One of our leaders within Renew said it reminded him of Acts 15 when the people said, “It seemed right to the Holy Spirit and to us.” We sense this as further affirmation that we’re moving in the right direction.

The main question people have been asking: how I’ll spend ‘the other half’ of my time when I am not serving within the context of The Renew Community.

As we’ve been processing this potential transition, I’ve realized how energized I get when I am given the privilege to walk alongside of leaders in times of deep significance. Sometimes it is leaders who are starting new things or pastors who are hungry to learn or church planters who are dreaming of impacting a particular context or people who feel ‘stuck’ but are actively trying to learn and listen in order to get ‘unstuck.’

The Greek word kairos has become a very significant word for me. It’s one of the words in Greek for time – meaning time that is pregnant with possibility and opportunity, space that impacts us good or bad. It is qualitative (more than quantitative), moments (more than minutes). It is the opportune time ripe with possibility. Another way of putting it is God’s activity breaking into our lives. It’s a word that carries significance – and as humans we have these kairos moments all the time. Growth and maturity happens when we can have the sensitivity to recognize them and then respond appropriately to them. It is an invitation for formation and growth. I blogged on it a while back in greater detail. [Take a moment and read about the full explanation of kairos here].

I’ve realized that I really enjoy coming alongside of people and working together when they are experiencing kairos moments. Asking questions. Listening. Providing support and encouragement. Guiding and equipping. (The posture reminds me of the Home Depot’s old tagline: “You can do it. We can help.”) This energizes me.

Starting in January, with what we know now, the other half of my time outside of Renew will be devoted to developing a new initiative called Kairos Partnerships.

Very simply put, the vision is to partner with leaders and pastors in the kairos moments of their lives.

We’re continuing to process exactly where (and how much of) my time will be spent in multiple and diverse opportunities, but we’re confident and excited about this new direction.

Who you commit to praying for me in this transition as we develop Kairos Partnerships?

Posted in: Uncategorized