Note:  Following the initial posting of this blog on 3/23/15, we discovered that Jim Burgen was actually the one leading this “check in” in Africa.  Turns out that he had learned this practice from some of the same sources that had been helpful to us.  -JW

Jim Burgen is the Lead Pastor at Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, CO.  Reportedly, this is the 23rd largest church in the US with over 15,000 attending.  Recently, Jim was in Africa and he was having breakfast under a tree with six African leaders.   He said that the seven of them were around a table “and we did this thing called “we check in with one another”.  To hear exactly what Jim said, click on his picture below and go to 34:40 in his talk.  See if it sounds like what you know of “checking in”.

Back in 2010-11, Walt Hastings introduced our two rhythms (one of which is “checking in”) to several hundred African house church leaders. Even at that time, the rhythms were being passed on like a spiritual virus (to the third and fourth generations).  To hear Walt’s story go here: https://www.lk10.dev.cc/sashet-is-viral/

Now, I’m not 100% certain that what Jim Burgen experienced was from the LK10 “strain of the virus” but I think it’s very possible.  (I’ve email Jim about this.  I’ll let you know if he replies.)

What if church was more like a virus than an organization?  What if that virus began to spread through your city or country?  Love to hear your thoughts about this in the comment section below.

Warmly,

John