when dissolving does not mean disaster.

“when dissolving does not mean disaster”
by Jason C Dukes

For those church starters out there whose church starts don’t always turn out like the GRAND vision they had dreamed, remembering our purpose to be fruitful and multiply, no matter how noticed or unnoticed it is, is important. We pray this might be encouraging.

My wife and I say farewell to Westpoint Church, a local church family we helped start a little over 10 years ago that has been living sent on the westside of Orlando, FL and around the world. This is not a story of dissolution and disaster, of farewell and failure. Rather, it is a story of actual multiplication.

Here is a history of Westpoint Church. Having helped start 10 new churches in 10 years, having helped birth a church starting network called ReproducingChurches.com with countless new church starts, having helped create a disciple-making environment in the marketplace among business leaders and community residents called HouseBlendCafe.com, as well as having sent hundreds of people to live sent to make disciples in their everyday relationships in Central Florida and around the world, Westpoint Church actually gave themselves away. Eventually, a multiplier dies, leaving those whom have been multiplied to keep multiplying. As Erwin McManus wrote in Unstoppable Force, death is part of the life of any fruitful church, just as death is part of the life of any fruitful grandmother or grandfather.

In a culture where church planting successes are touted as large and loud, here is a story of when dissolving does not mean disaster because strategic and subtle equipping resulted in transformed lives who continue to make disciples in West Orange County and beyond. All glory to God.

May you be encouraged, whatever your church starting story is, to keep equipping for disciple-making in everyday relationships and to keep equipping for living sent in everyday rhythms. Even when giving yourself away means an eventual dissolve.

Here is the link to a 4-minute video in which Jen and I share about a truly prophetic challenge that one mentor gave us just two months into helping to start Westpoint Church.

share your “one day without shoes” story

April 5th is “One Day without Shoes” Day. See the post below to watch the promo video. It is an effort to make people more grateful for the shoes we get to wear as well as encourage them to buy shoes for more than just themselves. Will you join me April 5th and go without shoes all day and everywhere.

If so, will you come back on Wednesday, April 6th, and share your “one day without shoes” story? What was it like? What did you notice? Why was it hard? What was the weather like? What did you stick in your foot? How will you be different? Or whatever else you want to share about the experience.

And you may do it and wish you hadn’t. If you thought it was dumb, share that too, including if you think it was the dumbest thing you ever did your whole life since that time in 8th grade when you gave Joey Weatherspoon a swirly in the locker room toilet. Or whatever dumb thing you did.

But I don’t think you will think it was dumb. You may even want to do it more than just once a year. Especially if you live in Florida.

And if you don’t own a pair of Toms, go to Toms.com and get a pair and you will also be buying a pair of shoes for a child who needs one.

Can’t wait to hear your stories!

So, who’s gonna be barefoot with me April 5th? Don’t forget to share with folks why you are doing it and how they can join in, too.

And no excuses here! I have fungus on the two smallest toe nails of my left foot, and I ain’t gonna hide it. No shame in this game. Especially if people who have no shoes get a pair of shoes because of the awareness it causes.

Grateful for Toms and the purpose of their business. Looking forward to next Tuesday.

-jason