Would you please take a few minutes and join us in a “ridge moment?”

You know, sometimes our journey brings us to a mountain summit. From those ridges we can pause, look back, and gaze into the future. Inevitably those points evoke deep gratitude for the Lord’s faithfulness throughout our journey.

We want to share some of what we see up ahead.

Looking Back

Most of you know that LaMar Boschman founded and led the ministry we now call WorshipInstitute.com. We freely acknowledge that LaMar, with Teresa’s full and fine support, helped to change and expand expressions of devotion to the Lord for many Christians and churches.

Over time, LaMar’s ministry fell into a malaise, a breakdown of personal maintenance as well as mission focus.

However, true to an ancient pattern, just when disorder and sin seemed to trample, grace trumped everything (Romans 5:20). Through a strange confluence of factors – including personal sin, loss of a founding visionary, the 2008 IWI financial crisis, and global economic convulsions – the Lord is renewing something in our walk together.

Here is a summary of what we see for our future:

Disperse

The 2008 IWI helped us to see the need to move our gatherings into smaller, local church-based settings. This was far more than a reaction to economic crisis. We really believe that the large singular event can too easily bring in dynamics, agendas, and financial interests that are foreign (even adverse) to the Presence and the simplicity of a Spirit-led gathering.

We believe the Lord is calling us to disperse, or decentralize the work. At the present time we have no plans to convene a large “international” worship institute. It is time to move out of large, neutral, and expensive venues (like hotels) and return to the smaller and more intimate “houses” of worship (such as a local church).

That is why, in 2009, we are only supporting two regional worship institutes – the Philadelphia area Northeast Worship Institute this past April and the July 8-10 Unveiled Worship Institute in Dallas.

Commission without Control

By releasing local or regional Worship Institutes, we as a leadership team, are deliberately moving toward more of an advisory (rather than administrative) role. We believe the Lord is directing us to commission emerging leaders, but not manage them or the events.  We want to see local leaders take responsibility for church-based events, allowing the four of us to release and serve.

We will not “franchise” the institutes.  In other words, we will not establish standards on what and how things are done. Franchising does not engender a familial culture. We believe we should simply represent and impart the DNA of God’s entrustment to us. We will leave it to the Lord to carry that burden into the hearts of younger leaders.

How they receive, care, and steward is between them and the Lord.

Build Relationships

Sometimes we forget the very organic and personal nature of biblical relationships.

As a leadership team, we see and accept a responsibility to guard an entrustment. We believe the best way to do that will be to spend time with emerging leaders. Values are set in place through fellowship, not programs, strategies, or institutions. As our brother, Bob Sorge, has reminded us, “It’s not business; it’s personal.”

Two guiding principles are essential to understand this:

• When purpose precedes relationship, it produces a bond that can remain agenda-based.
• When purpose follows relationship (in the pattern of our Lord and His disciples), it flows from a transcending call.

Therefore, we will make time for fellowship with those who want it. We will continue to convene an annual gathering (usually in January) where we can all gather, worship, fellowship, eat together, and minister to one another.

We also plan to invite certain emerging leaders (whom the Lord calls to our attention) to join us for certain occasions and purposes.

Faith for a new Generation

Leadership is a temporary mantle. For that reason, continuity is always a major issue for those serious about the Lord’s entrustment.  Read Ecclesiastes 2:18–19.  

In our counsel together, we considered the Genesis 48 drama of Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s sons. Joseph tried to control the flow of his father’s blessing into conformity with the tradition of blessing the firstborn (Genesis 48:17–19). But Jacob refused to go with that tradition.

We heard the Lord remind us that His blessing belongs to Him and He will direct it in accordance with the patterns and pleasures of His own will. Like Jacob, we have faith for a new generation and a new era. We will do our best to walk into that future by faith.

As we now roll down from the ridge in community with so many others, we are confident that the future and its new generation of leaders rest firmly in His hand.

We will all be in Dallas, July 8–10, for the Unveiled Worship Institute. We hope to see you there.

We’ve tried to reveal what the Lord says and shows to us. This letter represents further unfolding of His continuing word to us. We invite you to ask, affirm, or question anything about the future. To do so, just click reply.

Sincerely, 

Howard Rachinski         Steve Fry              Glen Roachelle           Ed Chinn

P.S. Although we have downsized our operations, we are still faced with monthly expenses. Keeping addresses current, managing the website, providing support for the regional events, and other actions do require funds. Would you consider making a donation to help with these costs? You may do that by clicking here. Thank you so much for your consideration of these needs.