One of the strategic adjustments we implemented for our 2024 cohort was a summer break. This decision was influenced by the challenges our 2023 cohort faced in balancing our training with mission trips, outreaches, and family vacations. Despite the majority of June and July being dedicated to the break, I am delighted to share some of the summer’s most significant moments with you.
During the summer some of our planters got to preach in our churches. I’m finding that supply preaching is one of the best ways to serve our planters. They provide a break for busy pastors while they end up gaining preaching reps and expanding their networks. They also come with their “A-game” and end up blessing the church. This summer planters preached at FBC Flower Mound, FBC Lake Dallas, and Redeemer Church. Please reach out if you want one of the guys to preach at your church.
Our team also met with Send Network leaders about changes they are making with their training. We have the freedom to continue using our current material, but they are offering to let us use their new 3.0 material. They have also allowed us to speak into the process. They are making some of the changes we had hoped they would make. The new material will have a tighter focus on making disciples, the reading will be better for our international planters, and there is more space given to theology. We are excited to get to use this new material in 2025.
During the summer I also prepared a couple of workshops for our DBA Leadership Training. My biggest prayer is to create a culture of church planting in Denton County. I was grateful for the leaders who attended my workshops and the connections that were made. It was helpful for new leaders to better understand our process and how they become church planting churches.
I am also pleased to report that our recruiting process for next year’s cohort is ahead of pace compared to previous years. We won’t have a final headcount until later in the fall, but we already have two commitments for the 2025 cohort and a number of guys interested.
Finally, we ended the summer by welcoming Joy Chinese Church as a new DBA church plant at our August 27 Executive Board Meeting. Pastor Jack Tai has been coached by Bryan Galloway and is attending this year’s cohort. They have already seen converts and baptisms as they seek to minister to the 90,000 Chinese immigrants in North Texas. We are thrilled to see what God does through Pastor Jack and Joy Chinese Church.