The Crandall family is under the direction of MESSAGE OF LIFE MINISTRIES, which is under the spiritual supervision of Western Hills Christian Church in Lawton, OK. The Crandall’s work in Guayaquil, Ecuador to train leaders to plant new churches.
Our mission statement
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (KJV)
Joshua 24:15b …but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (KJV)
PRIMARY MINISTRY DIRECTION
A. Staying the course with the discipleship ministry which is the base for the believers and leaders at all levels.
B. Continue administrating and teaching in the Advanced Leadership Training program.
C. Mentor the leadership in the four congregations using the “Natural Church Development” paradigm as a framework for the leaders to discern God’s direction for their churches.
D. Provide special training seminars and series for the believers in needed areas of Christian living.
E. Developing people to replace me in teaching in the Advanced Leadership Training program and the administration of LICRE.
Primary Objectives for 2009-10
1. To encourage the leaders in the four congregations to mature in areas of leadership and vision.
2. To mentor the leaders of the discipleship programs for the congregations as we phase them in and us out of this part of the ministry.
3. To continue the Advanced Training program for the church leaders.
4. To pray and search out missionary families who will partnership with existing congregations to plant new churches.
5. To lead LICRE (Las Iglesias Cristianas en el Ecuador) in its legal function and direction for the benefit of the churches as president of the legal entity.
6. To organize and/or lead special seminars and activities for the congregations.
Goals for 2009-10
1. To encourage the leaders in the four congregations to mature in areas of leadership and vision.
A. Mentoring the Pastoral Ministries as they learn to pastor by attending their meetings to offer suggestions and training:
B. Attending the monthly ministry coordinators meetings. I only lead one of those meetings in one church; the rest are led by Ecuadorians.
C. Training and guiding the ministry coordinators.
1. Guiding the ministry coordinators in developing and continuing the “Natural Church Development” cycle.
2. Holding a yearly planning retreat for the coordinators to set objectives and goals.
2. To mentor the leaders of the discipleship programs for the congregations as we phase them in and us out of this part of the ministry.
A. Samanes – The first two levels are pretty much being taught and administrated by the Ecuadorians. Karleen will continue to teach in the third level as she irons out and polishes this level. Otto and Elena Cevallos are filling in as we phase out.
B. Orquideas – Bill just “filled-in” teaching a second-level trimester since the Ecuadorian that is prepared to teach this level was busy teaching two first-level groups. Karleen is teaching two third-level groups. We now have a person that is in charge of the discipleship ministry in Orquideas, and we will be mentoring Piedad Mosquera as she learns to administrate and lead the overall ministry.
C. La Fuente – We are working on coordinating a time for Bill to teach a second-level group which will span a year in order to get the leaders moving in this area and model for them the teaching process. There is a person in charge of this ministry but has not consistently followed through.
D. Los Vergeles – They are improving their follow through with the discipleship program. There are two leaders teaching the first level that need mentoring.
E. To lead at least a yearly training seminar for tutors. I need to visit each of the groups at least once per trimester in order to offer suggestions and training to the tutors. This is VERY difficult as they often meet when I have meetings with Advanced Training classes, ministry coordinators or pastoral ministry groups
3. To administrate and teach in the Intensive Training program for church leaders.
A. Teaching the different modules:
- Module 2 (Old Testament Survey) starting in August 2009
- Module 3 (New Testament Survey) starting in January 2010
- Module 4 (Expository Preaching) starting in April 2010
- Module 5 (Bible Doctrine) starting in August 2010
B. Meeting Assisting the Ecuadorians who are teaching.
- Module 6 (Personal Spiritual Life) starting in August 2009
- Module 7 (Church Administration) starting in August 2009
C. Maintaining the students’ records and the communication with the office in Quito that is in charge of this program in Ecuador along with other administrative needs.
4. To pray and search out missionary families who will partnership with existing congregations to plant new churches.
5. To lead LICRE (Las Iglesias Cristianas en el Ecuador) in its legal function and direction for the benefit of the churches as president of the legal entity.
A. Leading its annual meeting in February and other seminars and joint worship services (see #6).
B. Calling meetings as needed of the executive committee.
C. Making a few trips to Cotacachi to teach and meet with the new provisional congregation.
D. Fulfilling the other functions as president of LICRE.
6. To organize and/or lead special seminars and activities for the congregations.
A. To give orientation to the churches about “Natural Church Development”.
B. Organizing the joint worship service for the LICRE churches on Good Friday. Karleen does this very well each year.
C. Other seminars as needed and time permits.
