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These are excerpts from the 2007 year end evaluations:
From a 201 participant May 2007
MLDN has been for me an incredible opportunity to take the life experiences and circumstances, some difficult, more joyful, always rewarding in Gods timing, as I realize each are necessary for a deeper understanding of God and a closer relationship with Jesus the Son.
MLDN has definitely provided a means of continuing to developing this deeper relationship in the journey for me to discover His will in my life. I know that God requires a deeper intimacy with me than I want with myself! MLDN has provided for me a busy but some how balanced pace for doing ministry and to truly realize and appreciate once again the joy of not just being used by God but that he desires to use me.
MLDN has so many positive strengths and resources that the full potential is not yet realized! The cost is very reasonable.
What an incredible personal encouragement all of you have been. To sum it up, I am Thankful to God for this opportunity and for bringing each of you into my life. You each truly do come not simply as leaders looking to serve but servants using your gifts to lead!
From a 201 participant May 2007
Midwest LDN truly has been a blessing to me. It has helped me deal with difficult circumstances and given me a better understanding of God’s Word. It’s helped in sharing that Word in private conversations as well as in public speaking.
This past year a book that kind of woke me up was “Spiritual Leadership” by Blackaby. It helped me realize how our lives are not about us, but about God. Spirit’s Fruit was also a real blessing. The section that touched me most was the section on faithfulness. How important it is that we stay in close fellowship with God in order to remain faithful. Maybe that’s why we need to experience so many trials.
I especially enjoyed the triads. It was great to be able to share with a couple of other men our joys and struggles in our walk with God. It was always good to be able to pray for each other in very specific ways and then see how God answered these prayers.
MLDN truly has been a blessing. We were really blessed these past three years to be able to learn from God through such professional leaders. They valued each one of us and allowed us to grow and develop in different ways and taught us to appreciate each other. None of us came to MLDN by accident.
I thank God for bringing me here. I hope I have helped contribute to others walk with the Lord in some way, because my walk has definitely been touched by many of those who came, and especially by those who led. I am sure God will continue to use each one of us to be a blessing, and I believe that blessing will be greater because of MLDN.
From a 101 participant May 2007
I have truly seen the consistency of one story throughout the entire Bible. I have always read the Bible much more fragmented. I would read it chapter by chapter, but without the guidance of making connections between stories and the Old and New testaments, or even from book to book. One reading that helped me better understand the “continuing story” was the book, Covenants. This put many things into perspective, especially the promises of God and how they are consistent throughout all history. Second, I have definitely learned about leadership, and how there are so many different styles of leadership, yet one guideline — the Word of God.
MLDN is a very well put-together program. I think it is great how there are the three main areas that are carried out at each session (skill, knowledge and character).
I honestly think that there is a whole lot of reading, that it makes the class quite overwhelming. I found myself just doing many of the readings to get them done, but not really taking the time to dig into them at all.
From a 101 participant May 2007
After just graduating college one year before taking this class, I figured that my brain was still pretty fresh in being able to soak in new information. Turned out that it took a little while for it to be turned back on once I started doing all the readings, especially when it came to Berkhof. Thinking back on some of the things that I learned, I look to back and see that all of the things that were talked about were in some shape or form about who I was becoming as a leader, which is something that I had never really focused on all that much before. Each week I was challenged when learning about our character development and then really emphasizing the biblical mandate for that type of character to be displayed.
Some of the strengths that I found from MLDN were that it definitely was more than what I had first imagined that it would be. I remember auditing the class the March before I had started, and my appetite was wetted for what was to come. I thoroughly enjoyed coming and meeting on Saturday mornings and soaking in the new material that the teachers had prepared.
One of the resources that I have enjoyed the most has been The Mind of Christ. Each time I open that book to read it, my heart really gets racing for it is the very works of Christ that jump out at me the author put a virtually the end of every sentence. I enjoy reading books like that because then I know that the author’s thoughts are directly guided by God’s living word and make it very enjoyable and trustworthy to read. I would also have to say that some of the handouts were excellent material and that often they would speak to my heart just when they needed to. I will most definitely keep my MLDN folder in a safe and easily accessible place.
From a 101 participant May 2007
The Midwest LDN (101) was an awesome experience for me. The biggest thing that I learned was that my relationship with God is not where it is supposed to be, but also that God loves who we are and as we are and where we are. We do not have to become somebody else so that He will love us more. In fact He WANTS us who we are and as we are.
The only recommendation that I would have is to have the sessions longer so there was more time to discuss and learn more. It has been a great year and I hope that God leads me back next year.
From a 201 participant May 2007
Over the course of the program I think I’ve become more Self-Aware. This awareness is not only in knowing my own beliefs or strengths and weakness as a leader, but my awareness of the calling, guidance and assistance given to me by God. “God did not give us a spirit of timidity but the spirit of Power, of Love, and of self-discipline.”
I can’t write that I am now 100% sure of my calling and effectiveness in that calling; but I will say God has produced more and better fruit because of my time spend in MLDN. What more can a man do than fulfill the function that God created him for? At this point, I feel equipped for function God has given me, and that is largely due to MLDN. Thank you.
From a 201 participant May 2007
What have you learned? The Spirit’s Fruits was a big part of the study this year, as well as many other things. One of the things that I found interesting is that we all struggle with the affects of sin in this world. In out triad time I have discovered that we all struggle with the same stuff in one form or another, the neat thing is that we don’t have to go through life alone. I feel it has been privilege to share and bear each others burdens of our class and especially in our triad.
What are some strengths and weaknesses of MLDN this year? The strengths would be the class time, it continues to be the most valuable to me. Also the time to discus ideas and concerns about respective ministries with the class, is very helpful and much appreciated. The time with our peers in our triads were the most valued to me, the time to share our personal concerns, and to ask questions and spend time in prayer was great.
The education that I have received has been very useful when reaching others for Christ, not only at home with my family and through my church, but mostly in my dealings with the people God gets me in involved with, in the every day dealings of life.
From a 201 participant May 2007
There are two key things that have impacted me through MLDN this year.
Christ’s Humanity — It is hard to comprehend how God could choose to live with us. Not a divine being masquerading around in a body, but fully human as well as divine. To know that he experienced the same problems of life as us without sinning gives me hope that I can handle life if I am willing to embrace Christ more fully. I think this realization has given me a more realistic perspective on the failings I experience and the failings I see in other people’s lives. It helps me understand better how to relate to people who are struggling in their lives.
Sacrificial Leadership — I learned first hand this year why it is important (crucial) to remember that spiritual leaders are dealing with people’s lives. The importance of letting God guide my thoughts, words, and actions has been emphasized through MLDN and personal experience. I think I understand now that I cannot look to myself and what I think I can do, but have to trust that God is leading me and he will accomplish far more than I can imagine if I let him.
From a 201 participant May 2007
What I have really come to know about all the readings from the Old Testament is about God’s sovereignty. How He is in control of everything that happens. I have really come to understand in a better way how God dealt with His people in the Old Testament. … I have really appreciated the Old Testament readings that we did this year. I think I have come to know my Heavenly Father in clearer way.
I enjoyed the series on the Spirit’s Fruit by Dr. Mike Johnson. After studying Ascending Leaders - Spirit’s Fruit I have come to a deeper understanding of how blessed I am to have a Heavenly Father who loves me. The Spirit’s Fruit gave many examples of how Jesus related to His Heavenly Father while on earth and challenged us with how to relate also to our Heavenly Father and putting the fruits into action with our fellow man.
The strengths of MLDN is how it gets you into the Bible so you come to know God better. It is in a growing relationship with our Savior that we come to value our relationship with God so much that we don’t want to do anything to threaten that relationship or do anything to ruin it.
A weakness that I see with MLDN is just the amount of work that needs to be done each month. At times it can seem very overwhelming. This is more a weakness on my part than on MLDN.
The changes that MLDN is making in my life are that it is helping bring me into a closer relationship with God. Through the reading of God’s Word and with the other reading for the month I am gaining a deeper perspective of what an awesome God we serve and of His love for me. Being in a relationship with God that has gone from just a head knowledge of God to having Him in my heart and with me 24/7, not just when I am in church or when I’m reading His word. This change will hopefully show in my personal walk from day to day with my Savior.
From a 201 participant May 2007
1. What have I learned? There is not enough time in a day to write down what I have learned over the past three years, some of the important things to me are:
A. God has a specific plan for me, He has tasks in mind that he has invited me to participate in. These tasks will be done, it is up to me weather I do them or not.
C. I have a better set of tools today available to me that I did three years ago. I have learned that if I need to have a opinion on a topic, there has been a book written on it already and all I have to do is look for it.
D. I have learned that every time I get out of the boat, I develop more trust in God.
G. I have started to develop trust in other individuals, the triad has helped me with this.
2. What do I see as strengths and weaknesses of MLDN?
One of the strengths has to be the excellent leaders we have had over the last three years. I do not believe that there are better people available to lead MLDN that the 4 of you, so thank you Lord.
Another strength is the material we have covered, it was always interesting and lead me to thinking about application to myself and my ministry.
If there were a weakness, and you can not get away from this, it is the amount of work to do this past year. I am extra busy with work and family this year and I struggled to get through the amount of reading. However there is no way to get around this, this reading is also a strength.
From a 201 participant May 2007
What have I learned? (More than I can write here) Better understanding of the Bible, God the Father, Depravity, Election. The history of Israel, history of the church. Incarnation of Jesus. Some things about leading meetings, message preparation, and team based ministry. A lot about myself and how to develop my character. Humility!
Strengths of MLDN. The leadership. Interactive style of teaching. Good to excellent materials. Small groups of students. Sharing times. Ascending leader’s materials. Format- Knowledge, Character, and Skill areas. Variety of leadership styles.
Weakness of MLDN. Shortness of sessions.
Changes MLDN is making in my life. The character development aspect has challenged me and led me to deal with many of my weak areas and helped me grow significantly with character. I am in a closer relationship with God than I was. I have more confidence with where God’s leading my life. I have more sense of purpose, God’s purpose.
Changes MLDN is making in my ministry. God has led me to the point of bringing his word to others through preaching. MLDN has equipped and encouraged me to do that with a message of confidence. MLDN has helped me understand the Bible better and helped me develop skills to prepare a message and lead worship.
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