Our last DisciplePath Summit (Summit 7) was held on February 18-19. We had 21 people attend - most of them had taken part in Summits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and/or 6).

Recap
Friday: We spent most of Friday night working through the notes for Module 30, "How to Develop a Ministry Community." Unlike other Summits, we did not go through a model session of such a group but we went through the basics of what such a group is and how it would work at Northside. Our Ministry Community would be a team meeting of all the qualified people involved in our Discipleship groups - particularly those in our DisciplePath group; elders; ABF teachers/leaders; Discovery, Growth and Life group leaders; Lifelink and Benevolence people; and any others in people-oriented disciplemaking tasks.

Saturday: We spent Saturday going through Modules 30-31: "Building Commitment" and "Assimilation Strategies." With Commitment, we looked at commitment in Scripture and through church history to today; the importance of commitment to making disciples; the kinds of commitment required to make disciples; and a definition of commitment. With Assimilation Strategies, we looked at the main principles of assimilation and the bridges in the assimilation process.

Important Principles to understand and remember
1.) "Churches who continue to make disciples are those in which the person in the pew is willing to make the sacrifices asked of them."

2.) "It is not weakness that causes churches to die. It it lack of commitment that causes them to grow weak!"

3.) "Trying to make a disciple without commitment is like trying to bake a potato without turning the oven on."

4.) We are looking for three commitments from our disciples: Sunday morning worship and an open group; a discipleship group; spiritual gifts in ministry.

5.) "Commitment is a compound created in the life of an individual (and in a church) by wisely mixing the elements of priorities and discipline."

6.) Priorities are values - what we value we will prioritize.

7.) Discipline is built on and through the combination of accountability and relationships.

8.) Parable of the lake and the river.

9.) Assimilation is a process of helping people feel like they belong to the group.

10.) We must be willing and working to assimilate those looking to become a part of the group but recognize not everyone will want to be a part of the group and, therefore, cannot or will not be assimilated.

11.) There are multiple bridges of assimilation that we must actively work to help people cross to become a part of the group.

Summit 7 Participants
These individuals were at the full Summit - Friday and Saturday.
     Rob Blenis
     Dan Bowman
     Kerm Carlberg
     Kevin Clifford
     Devalin Drennon
     John and Cindy Duff
     David Henniger
     Tim and Debbie Hoelle
     Kurt Hoff
     Fred Kistler
     Barbara Knudsen
     Timothy Kroll
     John Lonardo
     Peggy McClung
     Mark Meier
     Phil Thomas
     Larry and Patty Webster
     John Wedlock

Homework for Individuals - From Summit 7
1.) Make a goal of sharing the gospel and seeking to win at least one person to Christ
2.) Work on your own "5 Most Beloved" card

Homework for DisciplePath Team - From Summit 7
1.) Meet together as a Team
2.) Work on homework from previous Summits - Finalize public and full documents on definition and process for disciples; update infrastructure charts; choose curriculum for all four phases; recruit Outreach coordinators for every ABF class; launch at least one Discovery group
3.) Lead Elder Board through preparation and finalization of a church Philosophy of Ministry
4.) Continue processes from previous Summits - Transition ABF groups; Institute Discipleship groups; Gain commitment in congregation; Evangelism through open groups