What I Learned from Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton and Danny Silk
Nov 22, 2023
Happy Thanksgiving to those in the USA!
This is a great week to pause, reflect, remember and be grateful.
I've been somewhat forced to do the pause part of this as I fight off COVID!
So I got reflecting on the 3300 mile move from Redding, CA to New Hope, PA. That was now just over a year ago! In reflectin,g I stumbled over a post I wrote ONE WEEK before the moving truck arrived and we drove from west coast to east coast. It's really good remembering, so here it is.
"For fourteen years my family and I served, learned from and worked closely with the Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, and Danny Silk of Bethel Church, Redding, CA.
So what did I learn that you will never get in a book?
Listen to the podcast here: Authentic Conversations Podcast
Here's some inside stories:
1. Danny silk - Trust people more than they trust themselves
- Relationship is more important than being right
- The level of trust is the level of connection and means EVERYTHING when you are trying to lead people they don't want to go: tissue paper vs. leather 'connection'
- Two new words for my vocabulary: "What do you need to feel from me in order to thrive?"
- Keep walking and stay close: when you have someone in disagreement or conflict
- Why do you trust me? Because you recognized the culture and protected it...
Best book : Culture of Honor - How to sustain a supernatural environment
2. Kris Vallotton - Confrontation and courage to go after what God has spoken.
- Humility and confrontation: "You are a father in the house, you carry the culture better than anyone I know, including me and I'm sorry for any pain I caused you."
- Then WE made a mistake story
- The value of disagreement pushing back on ideas, challenging to get a bigger perspective
- Texting every few weeks when our daughter was going through crazy physical asking how she was doing and praying for us
3. Bill Johnson - Unwavering resolve to pursue Jesus and His kingdom on earth above all else.
- Friendship with God is entirely possible and accessible for all and is simple - surrender and trust and keeping your eyes on the Father
- Family above everything : Earl Johnson (Bills' father) leaving his own annual conference to go watch Bob (Bill's younger brother) play basketball...
- Courage under fire: Enduring Faith - the message recorded the week before and the week after Bill's father died of cancer. Also, watching Bill navigate his own wife battling and succumbing to cancer and yet Bill is on fire for the Kingdom of God and miracles.
- Love for word of God and voice of God above all else - honors people who disagree including writing them a check... Early on at Bethel turning to Beni saying 'this is it...'
- Passion for the Kingdom - I've had this as a philosophy for years but haven't known how to do it - you are doing it.
Best book: Strengthen Yourself in the Lord - How to release the hidden power of God in your life
We came here with a career and left with a story.
We came here with cracks in our foundation and left knowing if God is for me then no other opinion matters.
We came here with 12 suitcases and leave with a moving truck.
We came here with four children under the age of 8 and leave with four young adults who are more confident and secure in themselves and God than I was.
We came here out of obedience, we leave here out of vision and love.
We came here as a fat caterpillar and leave as a butterfly, having broken out of the cocoon!
I'm sad. I'm excited. I'm grateful.
Thank you Danny and Sheri, Kris and Kathy, Bill and Beni: my life in Christ and His Kingdom is stronger and more secure AND more fruitful because of you.
The things that I heard from you among many witnesses, I have committed these to faithful men and women who are now teaching others also!
NEXT STEPS:
1. Pause - take time to reflect on the last year.
2. Remember - who helped you? What did you learn?
3. Express gratitude - send a text, say a prayer, send a card... THANK YOU
