If you hang around me long enough, you will hear a "Michael Cahill" story. Mike and I served for four and half years together in New Hampshire. It was some of the most trying and exciting days of ministry I have ever experienced. We dealt with Multiple Personality Syndrome mumbo jumbo, fought para church parasites and saw a church grow and dissolve in front of our very eyes. Yet the most fulfilling aspect of my time with for me was learning two ministry-defining lessons.... how to do expositional preaching -- I had never heard of it up to that point --and learning to be strategic in making disciples. Michael would say things like..."you have to start with the end in mind....what do you want a disciples to look like when they are fully functioning." It was Michael who developed the WISDOM acrostic...his was a bit different then what NewSong's has become. Nevertheless, he was the originator of it.
Long before Rick Warren unfolded his five-purposes for the church and Bill Hybels 5-G's for growth....Cahill was attempting to help people walk in WISDOM. Over the years, I have tinkered with it, but the reality of it, is that we have built a church from the ground up saying that every person needs SIX ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS TO MATURE IN CHRIST...Worship, Instruction, Stewardship, Discipleship, Outreach and Meaningful Fellowship. I have found that when those six things are operative in a Christian's life -- "all the cylindars are firing and growth happens. Even when counseling, I start with asking questions that tell me whether the person struggling is doing the basics - WISDOM!
Thanks Mike -- you are brilliant! We continue to benefit from your wisdom. How about you...are you "walking in WISDOM' today?