Groundswell Year In Review

Narrowing Our Focus In 2022

Last week I had lunch with a friend who was interested in learning more about Groundswell. We began our conversation talking about the weather, sports (go Niners!), and family, and then the subject matter turned to ministry.

“Tell me a bit more about Groundswell”, my friend asked.

I started to explain the history of our non-profit, our partnerships along the way, and a few of the highlights from the previous year when he asked,

“So what exactly does Groundswell do?”

I hope to answer that question in this brief review by sharing a few ways we have narrowed our focus in 2022, and how we are preparing for the new year.

If you would like to subscribe to this bi-weekly email, you can do so by clicking the link below.

An Honest Answer

“What exactly do you do?” I get asked that question a lot. Listed below is an honest answer to that question from a variety of other professions.

• “Take numbers on pieces of paper, rearrange them, and put them on different pieces of paper.” Tax Accountant

• “Stand on a field and get yelled at for hours.” Baseball Umpire

• “Write words that no one wants to read”. Technical Writer

• “Persuade kids that it's really fun being wet, cold, and scared out of their minds.” Sailing Instructor

• “Ensure that stupid people stay in the gene pool.” Lifeguard

• “Go to strange people's houses and take their money.” Pizza Delivery Boy

• “Help people hate each other.” Divorce Lawyer

When my friend asked the simple question, “So, what exactly does Groundswell do?” I gave him the textbook answer.

“We partner with pastors and network leaders to mobilize a growing wave of disciple makers and pioneers”

This is our mission. We are a mobilization ministry that equips pastors to mobilize their people. However, if I were to give a more candid answer in line with the above descriptions, I might say,

• “We train pastors to do what they already want to do by reminding them of what they already know.”

Let me unpack that statement.

Very few pastors or leaders resist the idea of mobilizing their people to make disciples or pioneer new ministries. Instead, the challenge is focus. Ministry has become increasingly complicated over the years, and we help pastors “do what they already want to do” by refocusing their efforts around mobilizing their people.

We do this through focused training on simple principles of mobilization. We don’t offer “7 Secrets of Successful Ministry”, or “10 Things You Were Never Taught in Seminary”. Instead, we help simplify ministry by focusing on the things that matter most, highlighting a handful of principles that have been proven to spark action.

Groundswell serves as a catalyst for mobilization.

Narrowing Our Focus

“Focus Daniel-San”!

I can still hear Mr. Miagi’s thick accent as he shares an important lesson on focus. The training program he offers is extremely simple, and Daniel repeats the same movements over and over again.

• Sand the floor.

• Paint the fence.

• Wax the car.

• Paint the house.

The result is a victory over Johnny in the “All Valley Under 18 Karate Championship”.

As we approach the end of 2022 and prepare for a new year, I want share two of our signature courses that will help bring focus to mobilization in 2023.

The first will help mobilize more disciple makers and the second will mobilize more pioneers.

Mobilizing Disciple Makers

This is where it all begins.

Every church has already been given a mission by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20. Our role is to equip and train people to faithfully live out the Great Commission and make disciples.

Our signature course at Groundswell is simply called “Mobilizing Disciple Makers”.

“Mobilizing Disciple Makers” is a 12-session course that uses an online platform and virtual workshops to train pastors in the philosophy, strategy, and tactics for mobilizing more disciple makers.”

This course has distilled our key learnings over the past few years and provides laser-focused, practical training on equipping disciple makers.

If you are interested in bringing this course to your district or church, please fill out the partner form below.

Mobilizing Pioneer Leaders

Everyone is called to be a disciple maker. However, there are some who are called to reach a specific group of people and pioneer something new.

We call them pioneer leaders.

Pioneers are everyday missionaries called to find creative ways to reach a group of people who are uncomfortable (de-churched) or unfamiliar (unchurched) with the established church. We are currently building a growing online community of pioneers through the Pioneer Training Center, and our signature course is now called “Pioneer Basic Training”.

“Pioneer Basic Training” is a 13-session online residency that provides training for pioneers by focusing on the pioneer (being), the process (doing), and the project (going).”

If you know of any pioneers interested in starting a new outreach ministry, non-profit, home gathering, or expression of church in the community, please encourage them to fill out an application for “Pioneer Basic Training” by Clicking Here.

Also, if you are a district leader or denominational/network leader interested in how you can partner to raise up more pioneers, please fill out the partner form below.

End-of-Year Gift

To supplement the two courses I’ve mentioned above, we have also developed a wide range of tools and resources like “Live Sent”, “Banding Together”, and the “Pioneer Field Journal”. These resources continue to bring alignment around mobilization.

“I want to close by thanking you for your prayers, support, and participation this past year.”

A few weeks ago I released a short video explaining a bit more about our ministry as well as our need for financial partners. If you are interested, you can click the image below or Click Here to learn more.

We can’t do this without you!

Over the last two weeks of the calendar year we are believing God will spur dozens and dozens of people to help us achieve our goal of raising $50,000 to spark a few new initiatives for 2023. Our desire in the new year is to expand our regional trainers, provide more scholarships, and continue to develop a few exciting global initiatives around the world.

Here is my simple request.

“If you have been positively impacted by the ministry of Groundswell OR if you believe in our mission and are able to give, please consider an end-of-year gift by clicking the button below.”

We are a 501c3 non-profit and all gifts are tax-deductible.

If you would prefer to give in the mail, please make the check to “Groundswell” and send it to 7646 Meadow Ridge Dr. Fishers, IN 46038. Thank you for your partnership and giving.

I look forward to 2023 and sharing articles every other week on disciple making, pioneering, and mobilization. We are so excited for what God has in story and our prayers are with you!

Merry Christmas!