Winning American Cities

visionSynergy continues to work with the Mission America Coalition to develop a “cadre” of partnership specialists who will continue to widen the core value of collaboration within the city-reaching movement of American churches, denominations and para-church ministries.

Monthly reinforcement calls were held in 2008 and were met with a high level of acceptance. visionSynergy staff Phill Butler and Bill Sunderland delivered another eleven hours of class during the City Impact Roundtable in Boston in the Spring of 2008.

A second tier of training is being developed for delivery in later months.

Orality and the Global Church

The International Orality Network (ION) assisted ministries in India and Africa this year by conducting multiple Orality consultations. visionSynergy Associate Bill Sunderland says, “The local leaders are taking ownership of this movement and are moving ahead with or without us.”

This is a welcomed development as this new but centuries-old method of sharing Christ’s message is gaining recognition by the Global Church. On the North American front, ION has taken a huge step forward in its development as more task forces have been formed to take on critical projects.

The research task force will be looking at the impact of Orality on Church Growth. A new task force, Music and Arts, will explore the impact of all culturally-appropriate arts in Oral-based cultures.

European Alliances in training

visionSynergy continues to develop the core partnership training sector with the leadership of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA).

Associate Director Bill Sunderland represented our vS team at a pre-meeting of the European Evangelical Alliance, where the seven global regional secretaries and some 30 general secretaries of European Alliances will gather with the WEA design team.

The gathering discussed elements of the training package being developed for all the alliances within the WEA.

Orality

Two thirds of the world cannot or chooses not to read.  The communication of the Gospel to cultures which are primarily oral or to those that use oral methods over the written word encompasses the broad concept of Orality.

visionSynergy has been instrumental in serving several major networks and partnerships in this arena.   We continue to serve these networks through coaching leadership teams, helping train participants in the collaboration paradigm and acting as a sounding board as these entities continue to mature and develop.  Phill Butler and Bill Sunderland are currently leading several initiatives in this area.

For more information see Orality In India / communicating-in-oral-cultures or go to the following web sites.  www.oralbible.com;  www.oralstrategies.com;  www.siutraining.org

If you wish to donate to the visionSynergy efforts in this arena, click here to donate.

Staff Support

Phill Butler,  Executive Director – Phill travels extensively and is the intellectual engine behind the vision.  Currently, the majority of Phill’s time is being spent working with new staff, helping them to understand and learn collaboration skills while networking with global contacts.  If you wish to donate towards Phill’s travel and overhead expenses, click here.

Rev. David Hackett, Associate Director – Dave is our internet and communications savvy expert.  He is involved in major internet evangelism initiatives around the world and connects us into the wired generation.   If you wish to donate towards Dave’s travel and ministry expenses, click here.

Bill Sunderland, Associate Director – Bill brings his administrative and management skills to the table while also coaching a variety of global networks.  He is involved in a number of visionSynergy’s initiatives.  If you wish to donate towards Bill’s travel and overhead expenses, click here.

Michael McGill: Associate Director, Younger Leaders Initiative – Michael has extensive experience in developing global networks and has a burden to see emerging church leaders develop collaboration skills.  He is responsible for the Younger Leaders Inititative team, its strategic development and the tactical execution of this emphasis.  If you wish to donate towards Michael’s expenses, click here.