Nov 30 2021 November Review
We sure are thankful for you and we hope you enjoyed a thankful Thanksgiving holiday with the ones you love!
November was a really full and really strong month for us at the Tolson Group. We held our Disciple-Making Summit at Dallas Theological Seminary, hosted three Gathering of Men lunches, and I made a trip to Houston to meet with The Group (a group of leaders from around the country whose 4-part strategy is to bring transformation to their city and then to the nation). More on that later!
Some people get exhausted just hearing all that. But me? I’M FIRED UP!! I love having a calendar full of disciple-making work!
MULTIPLYING DISCIPLE-MAKERS
We had the first of many Disciple-Making Summits with our friends over at Dallas Theological Seminary. It was a great day of training focused on Jesus’ plan to change the planet with people from Oklahoma, Georgia, Nashville, Houston and right here in Dallas. We received great feedback from those who accepted the challenge of bringing disciple-making to their cities!
GATHERING OF MEN
For the first time in a year and a half, The Gathering of Men was back in person at Northwest Bible Church!! Each week, the room was full of energy as men enjoyed being together again, shared a meal, and listened to an encouraging message. For many men, it was their first time ever coming to a Gathering luncheon. I was excited to see so many new and familiar faces and look forward to seeing you all again in January 2022.
If you missed this series, be sure to catch it online.
DISCIPLE-MAKING IN AFGHANISTAN
Would you pray for the Christians and Afghan Allies in Afghanistan who are being hunted down and executed daily? One of my friends who visited this month works with an international disciple-making ministry called Biglife in Afghanistan, one of the 140 countries they work in. Biglife’s mission is to empower believers worldwide to reach and disciple their own people for Jesus Christ. These indigenous disciples make disciples who create Disciple-Making Movements worldwide.
In the last 12 years, through their Afghan and Pakistani staff of over 120 (a high percentage of whom are former Taliban), they have baptized and discipled over 12,000 Afghans!
Since the Taliban takeover, they have rescued over 3,000 Christians and Afghan allies and moved them into Pakistan, and other countries, with another 8,000 moved to safer areas. This weekend alone, another 100 crossed the border to safety. BUT, the cost is high, as fourteen have been executed in the last few months before they could be moved to Pakistan.
The good news is the gospel continues to be shared through this Afghanistan crisis as locals and Taliban are coming to Christ, being baptized and discipled! However, they need our prayers as they are prime Taliban targets for their faith in Jesus and for leaving the Taliban.
HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU
Punky and I consider it a great privilege to do life with you and we want to pray for you, specifically, for what God is doing in your life. Please respond to this post and let us know how to pray for your unique situation.
Warmly in Him,
John Tolson
P.S. Don’t forget about The Four Priorities and Take A Knee when you’re buying gifts for your loved ones this holiday season!
P.P.S. And don’t miss the special #RedGlassesTalk video messages on Gratitude every Monday morning in November! Click here to receive these short messages delivered directly to your inbox.