Lanny Richardson - Awakening Fully-Alive Followers of JESUS

From one who visited Haiti with AIM last month ...

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

About YM Mentorship Training Videos Podcast

An amazing opportunity to partner with a Haitian church

One of the main objectives for our trip to Haiti last month was to meet with local pastors, build connections and explore the possibility of coordinating an effort for American churches to partner with them. (My pictures of one such meeting here, here and here.) Thankfully, that objective is now coming to fruition due to Adventures In Missions's leadership in Haiti.

There's a couple reasons why I'm very excited about the opportunity for American churches to partner with churches in Haiti.

Compassion International, World Vision, and many other organizations have already proven that these kinds of partnerships can be mutually edifying for the body of Christ, both for churches in America and in other countries.
Relief efforts could go to a lot of different organizations in Haiti, but this is an opportunity for relief to go through the body of Christ in Haiti, directly to the people from people who are already known and trusted in their communities.
Every single pastor I met in Haiti is a rock-solid spiritual leader. In fact, this man is probably the wisest pastor I've ever met. Just sitting near him, listening to him speak and pray left all of us on the team with a sense of awe. These men are tremendous spiritual leaders who are well respected.
Through Adventures In Missions, you can visit your Haitian partnership church, both in the short-term and in the future.
The need is so great in Haiti right now, especially as the rainy season is upon them with very few shelters. Our support can help the Haitian churches rise up and be both a spiritual and physical shelter in their communities.
The average Haitian lives on an average of $400/year, so small amounts of money can make a very significant impact. That means American churches of any size, of any financial status, can make a huge difference.

Here's a video from our trip about the Haiti Church to Church Partnership.

MORE INFO: If you're interested in learning more about partnering with a church in Haiti, read more about the Haiti Church to Church partnership on Adventures In Missions' website. An AIM representative will be happy to contact you personally about the partnership opportunities and talk through it with you, as well. Just use the contact form on their site.

Haiti ... Oh what a mission!

Tue, 9 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Home from Haiti with a few pictures and thoughts about my journey.

Everywhere you look there are 2 different overall views that you will see in Haiti. The devastation is on every street and the results of the earthquake has impacted every level of the nation - rich/poor, churched/unchurched and government/civil.

The tent cities are everywhere and the people within them are helpless and hurting. When you go in a tent city the people automatically rush to you thinking you are there to give food, water or tarps. One of the most amazing things is that if you start to pray for people in the tent cities, they will take your hand and place it on the part of the body they want you to pray for. The rainy season is approaching ... Can you imagine having your whole family live in one of these communities below during all of the floods and rain that are about to hit your tent?

Yet, among all of the devastation and chaos, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE & WELL! The Kingdom of God is moving mightily and I was humbled to see the palpable presence of our King _ JESUS in Haiti. Every person that God introduced me to in Haiti - Haitian or Non-Haitian - all shared the same stories ... "We have never experienced a move of God like this in our lives."

Imagine being in the central park of your capital city and watching & participating with over 500,000 people worshipping and crying out to "Petit Jezee" (Creole for Son, JESUS) for Him to rule and reign in your country.

Every Haitian Pastor that you speak with agrees that God is calling the Spiritual Fathers of Haiti to AWAKE, ARISE and ALIGN themselves for the ADVANCEMENT of the Kingdom of God. Keep praying for all of the pastors of Haiti. God is on the move and we are moving with Him! Pray especially for the pastor in the picture below with me. Pastor Christian Maisonneuve is a mighty man of God who has been anointed by God to lead the coalition of 1,000 pastors that God had me network with while in Haiti.

I stand amazed at all that God accomplished in and through me while in Haiti. Your prayers and financial support enabled me to serve uninhibited. Knowing that God is using others to help send some is exciting. Because you gave, I followed God and Haiti is being changed forever and me, too!

I believe we will see a reverse of the curse in Haiti. Keep praying ... Keep watching and Keep Partnering with me and AIM to reap the eternal rewards of your investment.

I Love YOU and praise God for YOU!

Lanny

2 Mission Teams here in Haiti ... Many lives being touched, thanks for praying for me & giving so I can be here

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

2 AIM Mission Teams land in Haiti tomorrow...pray for God to use them as His hands & feet.

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Getting ready for many mission teams to Haiti ... Are You Coming? Go to www.adventures.org for how you can serve

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ministering in a tent city we found ... Have had no assistance until our team ... Pray - God is moving mightily!

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Worshipping on a rooftop in Haiti - may we all return to our "First Love" - JESUS

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

PRAY for the Haitians ... Been raining all night. First rain since earthquake.

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

God at work in Haiti ... In powerful ways. Follow my upates on Twitter ...

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Follow me on Twitter for updates - lannyrichardson Can't sync iPhone to blog

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

on the ground in Haiti

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On the ground ... crossing over to Haiti @ 4 AM ... wow!

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Just a heads up for all of you who. Having some connectivity issues with how to sync to this blog from the AIM Project phone.

Therefore, until I can get things fixed; please follow what we are doing in Haiti by following this twitter address: aimhaiti

Long day today ... had it not been for an "angel" of God at the airport, I wouold have never found the YWAM base 40 minutes outside of Santa Domingo. THANK YOU, LORD for making Yourself known again.

Keep praying ... I praise God for all of you who are praying and giving to this cause!

Haiti ... here I come!

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As I leave for Haiti, I praise God for His love and your support!

Please pray ...

... that God be Glorified

... that His Church in Haiti be Unified

... that His Kingdom be Multiplied

... that His Purpose & Plan be Magnified

... that His banner over me & my family (Laura & Jacob) be LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Please consider how you can join in this mission by clicking here

I praise God for each of you and will thank Him in every remembrance of you!

I will be home on March1st ... until then ... May He make His face to shine upon you in His full favor and give you His Peace

Haiti Bound

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I leave for Haiti this THURSDAY (Feb. 4th) to direct all of AIM's Haiti missionary efforts.

I will be responsible for networking with 100+ Haitian Pastors to mobilize the Church in America to respond in partnership missions. Be looking for more on AIM's "Isaiah 58 Project".

We will also be receiving, cataloging and warehousing all supplies flying in to Port-a-Prince by military air cargo. It is possible that I will be flying in the jump seat of a C-130 Cargo Plane with many supplies and an AIM Van. (Yes, a very cold and very loud ride, I am told). I will let you know more afterward ... stay tuned.

I will also be setting up all logistics for many teams to "Follow God ... Reach Our World" in Haiti. Now, is the time to prepare and pray for the harvest and the laborers. It is ready! God has called me to go in a "dig the ditches" for His blessing to come.

God has given AIM unique favor with many Haitian National Pastors who have also heard the Voice of the Lord. It is our joint vision that God is calling AIM to serve the Haitian Church in reclaiming and rebuilding a nation for God's Kingdom. It is the rebirth of a nation of many sons and daughters of God.

Please pray for my safety, my families protection and provision, as well as wisdom and discernment as we at AIM seek to hear and follow the LORD.

ASK THE LORD to show you what your role is ...

- PRAY ... Are you to be a prayer warrior as we seek to advance the Kingdom of God in Haiti?

- GIVE ... Are you to give a sacrificial one-time offering or a regular monthly contribution to help support me as I serve with AIM? You can give here to support Lanny! Or, you gave give here to to the overall AIM Haiti Relief Fund.

- GO ... AIM has posted our first mission trips into Haiti here - search the Caribbean for Haiti.

It is time fo rthe Church of JESUS CHRIST to AWAKE, ARISE & ALIGN to ADVANCE the Kingdom of our God.

Missional Leadership

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Eddie Gibbs in his book LeadershipNext says this,

"Missional Leaders do not look for social affirmation

but are prepared to take risks with the realization

that mission often entails a launch into uncharted waters

against the prevailing tide of public opinion."

I am not a "status quo" type of guy. I am a challenger of "maintenance mentality" and an influencer of others to discover, develop and deploy any way that will extend the Kingdom of God.

No, not all change is good. But, we must pursue the missional move of God that seeks to get us out of our "holy huddles" beyond the 4 walls of the building to impact our culture. The "Come To Us" Strategies of Evangelistic Invitation are not going to cut it anymore. We need leaders who will lead their people ... to Be Missional, Relational & Incarnational!

Are you a "Missional Leader" that is challenging those following you to take risks into uncharted waters of engaging those within your community?

Joy, Unspeakable Joy!

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Click on this link to see a recent photograph of an 8 Year Old Boy just delivered from the rubble of the Haitian Earthquake ...www.eveningstar.co.uk

Get ready to shout! Praise the Name of Our LORD! He is showing Himself mighty on our behalf.

Help for YOU to respond to the need of Haiti

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Pray. We can never neglect the power of prayer. Pray for the nation of Haiti, our missionaries on the border, and their ministries. Also pray that we establish relationships in communities where we can begin long-term rebuilding.

Give. One of the easiest ways to make an impact in Haiti is to give. You can give through AIM at http://adventures.org/haiti. This money is being directly funneled to our people on the ground, who are using it to provide much-needed supplies for those affected by the earthquake.

Go. We are currently working on sending short-term trips to to Haiti. This week, we're sending initial teams to help with setup and relief work. Check for more information about upcoming trips and the latest Haiti news at http://haiti.adventures.org.

Share. Do what you can to help us get the word out! Our hearts go out to Haiti, and we want to see God transform and redeem this country for His glory. Help us mobilize as many people as the Lord may be calling.

Video Update from Haiti ...

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In this video our National Director in the Domincan Republic, Miguel Shaul, is able to walk the streets with local pastors because of our trusted ministry in the nation of Haiti.

Watch and pray as we seek how God will have us to respond and rebuild. If God places a burden on your heart to be apart of the response teams or rebuilding teams, please email or call me.

Lanny Richardson

AIM Missions Mobilization

800.881.2461 (ext. 294)

God's Laborers

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In these short days since the earthquake that has devastated Haiti, I have been ASKING THE LORD (ATL). Here is what I hear Him saying ...

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest

to send out laborers into his harvest.' "

(Matthew 9:35-38)

As Jesus traveled from place to place, He was keenly aware of the profound needs of people all around Him. He was moved with compassion. At one point, He turned to His disciples and shared in one word what a world of "harassed" and "helpless" people needs most. This word represents His plan for meeting the greatest human needs. That one word is ...

Laborers

God's laborers are His plan to the need of a ready harvest and the need of the hour in Haiti. Yes, there will be many people who go to Haiti and do great things to help. What is Jesus saying that is His plan to the needs of the helpless and hopeless of this hour?

Kingdom Laborers

What makes a Kingdom laborer? I believe a Kingdom Laborer is a disciple in action. Not just a life of action but BEING in a love relationship with Jesus that propels you with passion to let your light shine so that others will see your good works and glorify your Father.

I see 3 characteristics of a Kingdom Laborer:

1) Love - Is your life characterized by being so in love with Jesus that it causes you to passionately bring Him glory? Have you come to understand that the only thing you have to offer the world is your love for Jesus?

2) Life - Does your deep abiding love for Jesus result in a life of distinct, personal ministry? Because you are unique, your personal ministry will result in a distinct way to share and show your love for Jesus each day to others.

3) Legacy - Making an impact upon other people's lives - one life at a time. Are you reproducing other Kingdom Laborers because of your love and life for Jesus?

What are you doing with your love for Jesus?

What are you doing with your life for Jesus?

How are you leaving a legacy of love for Jesus that others can follow?

Praise the Name of JESUS ... a video report from Haiti

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Even though the CNN Reporter can't say the word JESUS, the trapped Haitian man tells all that his life is in Jesus' hands ... watch ...

A Personal Email from a Friend with Realtives in Haiti

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Shirleen called us shortly after 5 yesterday directly following the first major earthquake tremor, to tell us of the major earthquake and to assure us that she and family on La Gonave, the big island in the mouth between the jaws as seen from satellite, and Andy and Joel in Port-au-Prince were safe at that time. She and children spent the night on a hillside returning for a little rest to their home at 6 AM. We were concerned about Andy and so happy to hear his voice at 12:20 early this morning. The ground was still shaking, but he was safe about ten miles from Port-au-Prince at the Baptist Haiti Mission, the place where we have spent our month's vacations in Haiti and the place Andy and Shirleen and our other missionaries have spent for Thanksgiving get-together's.

Our mission property on the island did not receive major damage. Several of our people's home were destroyed and our Nan Cafe church had damage. Throughout the day we will be hearing more, I am sure.

Thankfully Shirleen was able to communicate with us on their satellite home phone. Andy's cell phone is not responding today. The cell tower phones are not working. The capital city of Port-au-Prince is destroyed. That means that support facilities: banks, grocery, supply stores, churches, hospitals, and government buildings have collapsed plus many dwellings. We wonder how Andy will even get back with his family.

God is working out His purpose. When all crumbles, our faith in God stays firm.

Thank you for your concern and prayers.

Church @ Starbucks ... What you might do to have church when the next snow comes

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This is a Guest Post by Sam Mahlstadt.

A couple weeks ago, Winston-Salem had quite a freak snow storm, at least by North Carolina standards. The result was our church's trailer, full of our equipment - stuck in a storage facility by the snow and ice.

Enter the advantage of being a small, mobile, flexible church: We went to Starbucks.

We honestly only expected a couple people to show up. After all, we weren't having "church" and didn't think people would respond. Wrong. Over 30 people crammed into the Starbucks, including a couple first-time guests.

And the most shocking thing? The guests knew we weren't having a service. This was eye opening to me, and I think speaks to the nature of our corporate gatherings. Let me say this before I proceed: I love a good corporate gathering, worshiping together, hearing a sermon (and/or giving a sermon). I love it all.

Here's the thing though. Something happened...

One guy made the comment at Starbucks, "this was great, I love talking to people."

Yes, we allow talking at our weekend gatherings. Yes, we encourage people to connect, and we make space for it. But, people who have ever come in contact with, or even heard of church, have a mindset that they are there to observe. Passively. And people aren't just passive by nature, but we lead people to be passive by producing a good show. You watch a show.

Over a cup of coffee, crammed in a Starbucks, all church growth principles go out the window. We encouraged people to meet someone they haven't talked to before, and share what's going on in each others lives. That's about all the control you can have in that type of setting. And that's all it took.

I talked to a girl who goes to our church regularly who had just gotten accepted into college the day before, and had the opportunity to celebrate with her. I would have never known that otherwise. Some things can't happen during a "church" service.

It proved to be one of our coolest Sundays to date.

Scrap the weekend gathering? No. Hold random church services off site? Maybe. Probably not.

Create environments where community can begin, grow and thrive? YES!

We, as people who follow Jesus, have to acknowledge that some things can happen over a coffee, latte, doppio espresso or chai tea that simply cannot happen while people are watching a production and listening to one person talk.

Abiding also means Aligning = Prunning

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We have a rose bush in our front yard that I prune once every year. The first time after I had pruned it, Laura drove up shocked to find that the bush had been pruned down to a mere stump with a few fully pruned branches sticking out of it. She was horrified and absolutely convinced that I had killed the bush. The fact that the rose bush was a planting from her grandmother's famous rose bush didn't help ease her mind when she saw it cut down to the ground.

I must admit that it looked ugly. In fact, if I were totally honest, the bush was pathetic looking. I was concerned that I had over-pruned it. I tried to convince Laura (and myself) that it would be fine, but she struggled to believe my advice. How could it possibly grow back when it had been pruned to a mere stump? Sure enough though, in a few months, the rose bush grew back in fullness. The resulting roses were rich and luscious-absolutely stunning-and many remarked on their beauty.

Jesus said that every branch IN HIM (abiding in Him) that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit (see John 15:2). It is good to invite the Lord to prune us when needed in order to bear more fruit. Pruning often deals with alignments to His purposes for a particular season. He calls for fresh consecration, sometimes downsizing and streamlining. We downsize and streamline not out of fear but in faith and obedience, knowing that the pruning does not decrease us in fruitfulness, but ultimately brings great increase and oftentimes invites us to engage in new assignments.

Increase comes through pruning seasons in our lives. So, do not be surprised when alignment = pruning comes in 2010. No, the process is not fun, but the resulting fruit is very healthy.

Abiding is also about Sowing & Reaping

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Another key to Abiding is found in the sowing and reaping law of the Kingdom. In Genesis 8:22, God makes a perpetual promise to us all. He said, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest...shall not cease." Well, since the earth still remains, there is a time to sow seed and a time to reap a corresponding harvest.

Jesus taught about sowing and reaping in Mark 4, and emphasized the type of soil you sow into. If you sow a seed into good and worthy ground, it will grow and multiply. The fruit is always more than the seed, and within the fruit are many more seeds. If you plant one bean seed, you will reap a bean plant that has many beans on it. You always reap more than you sow. If you then took one of the beans on that plant and sowed the seeds that were in it, you would reap many more bean plants the next season.

When you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly and when you sow bountifully, you reap bountifully (see 2 Corinthians 9:6). If you desire fruitfulness and multiplication to be activated in your life, you need to give the Lord something to work with. You need to sow seed according to what you desire to harvest.

Isaac sowed in a time of famine, and he reaped a hundredfold in that very year (see Genesis 26:12). No matter what is happening in the world around us, we can sow into the good ground of His faithful promises and reap abundantly. We do not live by the world's systems or ways. We live in the Kingdom.

Abiding is about Listening & Delighting

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Since the Key to Asking, Seeking and Knocking is Abiding, it would be good to know what characterizes Abiding.

Abiding is about having ears to hear God's words and eyes to see God's ways.
Abiding is being still and knowing that He is God.
Abiding is delighting yourself in the LORD.
Abiding is about listening before doing. For all doing is a result of being with JESUS.

All of your fruitfulness in 2010 is a result of being connected ... abiding, delighting, listening, being.

Abiding ... the key to Asking, Seeking and Knocking

Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Our fruitfulness comes through abiding in Christ (see John 15:1-8). When we are born again, Christ's Spirit comes inside us and makes us a brand new creation. We also come inside of Him. We are "in Christ". He abides in us and we abide in Him.

You empower what you focus on. If you focus on Christ's presence within, then you will empower His life in you. You cannot bear fruit on your own. Your fruitfulness as a branch comes from abiding in the vine. Jesus is the vine. His life flows into you like sap does in a tree or like blood does in the circulation system of the body. He is your life! You have no life of your own!

Begin 2010 by making these decrees of truth: "Jesus, I am in You. You are my life. You are my strength. You are my health and my vitality. You are my wisdom and my sanctification. You are my righteousness and my provision, etc."

The purpose of abiding is to wait on Him and listen for Him to speak. I listen for Him to share His heart and desires. I make inquiry of Him and journal what I believe He is speaking to my heart.

Jesus promised in John 15:7 that if I abide in Him and His words (the words I receive in His presence) abide in me, then I can ask what I wish (according to what He has spoken) and it shall be done for me. This is how fruit is created. Fruitfulness and increase are birthed out of abiding in Christ.

2010 ... a New Decade to Ask, Seek & Knock!

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

May 2010 be the beginning of a decade where we ASK, SEEK & KNOCK for ...

... a generation of radical followers of JESUS who intimately know the love of the Father

...a generation of radical followers of JESUS who intercede

for the the world to know the Savior

... a generation of radical followers of JESUS who embrace incarnational living

and missionally live as the hands and feet of Christ each day

This decade will become the greatest years of the Bride of Christ.

Let us Stand and Withstand for our Bridegroom ... JESUS!

merry CHRISTmas & a Blessed New Year!

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

May you enJOY the Greatest Gift of all - JESUS

and may you receive all of the gifts the Father has to give you throughout 2010!

FREE LEADER COUPON FOR AIM MISSIONS

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Free Leader Coupon for Youth and Adult Groups!

Commit to a 2010 Edge mission trip by December 31st, and get one leader on your trip for free!*

Between planning church fundraisers and preparing your group for their mission trip, who has time to raise personal funds? Sign up early this year to take your group on a life-changing journey with Adventures In Missions... and you won't have to worry about it.

With a wide range of locations -- from your backyard to the other side of the world -- there's a short-term mission trip to fit every group's budget and goals.

*Group minimum of 20 participants.Deposit must be in to qualify. Offer only good between November 23 and December 31, 2009.

>> See a List of Upcoming Edge Mission Trips <<

CALL LANNY RICHARDSON ... TODAY ... to reserve a trip for you and your team!

Adventures In Missions

Online: www.adventures.org

Email: lannyrichardson@adventures.org

Phone: 1.800.881.2461 (ext. 294)

Counting it ALL JOY ...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here's a good reminded from a friend ... Read and let God have His Way ...

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,

lacking nothing.

James 1:3-4

In 2002 I was anxious to leave an organization I had been a part of for many years because it became clear to me that I needed to move on. I was hurt and disappointed because of how I felt I had been treated.

As I prepared to leave, I did something I always do before making any major decision. I prayed, sought the council of others who I respected, and then I went to the Lord again for final confirmation. The answer the Lord gave me was "Count it all joy and allow your trials to work patience in you so you may be complete lacking nothing." I said Lord, how will I know when I am complete lacking nothing?

He said to me you are complete lacking nothing when your conversation changes. The word of God says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. I was hurt and when I spoke about my experiences hurt came out of me. Had I left then, I would have been a hurt person who would later hurt others.

I have discovered that hurt people, hurt people who then hurt people and the cycle continues. The Lord's instruction to count it all joy was the best advice which led to great fruits later in my development.

Counting it all joy means to maintain and internal peace that passes all of your understanding with an external praise knowing that no matter what your circumstances, God will work all things together for your good. And remember, the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in you.

What trials have you gone through or are you going through right now that may be causing you great internal pain? Count it all joy. Have customers and employees disappointed you lately? Count it all joy. Have you been mistreated by those you love the most? Count it all joy.

Patrice Tsague
Nehemiah Project International Ministries