How it began...
In the middle of 2021, a group of Jesus-followers in Tampa Bay began to experience a call to plant a church. They were convicted by the amount of lostness they saw in the world around them and felt led by God to do something about it. The Outpost was about to be born.
These faithful disciples loved the Church, but they dreamed of more than Sunday morning services and middle-class Christianity. They felt the tension between how things are and how things ought to be. God began to draw them out of their self-created comfort zones and onto His mission. He caused them to wrestle over how He wanted them to move forward.
Here is what they wrestled with...
The State of the church in america:
Involvement is at an all time Low...
Missional priorities are out of focus...
Missional priorities are out of focus...
Percentage of Adults in Tampa Bay who seldom or never attend a religious gathering.
Missional priorities are out of focus...
Missional priorities are out of focus...
Missional priorities are out of focus...
Percentage of American churchgoers who say they do not know the term "The Great Commission."
A Lack of Urgency and intentionality...
Missional priorities are out of focus...
A Lack of Urgency and intentionality...
Percentage of Christians who say they have a personal responsibility to share their faith. In 1993 it was 89%.
"But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions..." - Romans 15:23
Jesus foretold that one day his kingdom would extend to every people and to every place, and then the end would come (Matthew 24:14). Following Christ, the Apostle Paul's "No Place Left" vision, seen in Romans 15:23, encapsulates his determination to share the Gospel where Christ is not yet known. He aspired to visit regions previously untouched by the Good News, ensuring that every corner of the earth heard of Jesus. This radical commitment drives us to continue his legacy—reaching the unreached, planting churches, and making disciples until there's "No Place Left" without the life-changing message of Christ.
Simply stated, The Outpost Network's vision is to see #NoPlaceLeft in Tampa Bay through local ownership of the Core Missionary Task until all have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:14).
The Four Fields of Kingdom Growth
Field One (Empty Field) - ENTRY
Field Three (Growing Field) - DISCIPLESHIP
Field Two (Seeded Field) - GOSPEL
GO!:
Jesus expected his followers to engage lostness, EVERYWHERE!
A Disciple learns to enter into new (or existing) communities/peoples/places in order to engage them with the Gospel.
Field Two (Seeded Field) - GOSPEL
Field Three (Growing Field) - DISCIPLESHIP
Field Two (Seeded Field) - GOSPEL
GOSPEL:
Jesus taught his disciples to sow the seed of the Gospel broadly!
A Disciple learns how to rely on the power God and engages those far from God with the Gospel.
Field Three (Growing Field) - DISCIPLESHIP
Field Three (Growing Field) - DISCIPLESHIP
Field Four (Harvested Field) - CHURCH FORMATION
GROW:
Jesus trained his followers how to help other followers grow in obedience to God.
A Disciple learns to disciple those who believe in the Gospel, leading to more laborers being sent into the Harvest.
Field Four (Harvested Field) - CHURCH FORMATION
Field Four (Harvested Field) - CHURCH FORMATION
Field Four (Harvested Field) - CHURCH FORMATION
GATHER:
Jesus taught his disciples how to gather new followers into spiritual families, what we call churches.
A Disciple learns how a group of believers can come together to form a healthy, biblical church.
Part 5 - LEADER MULTIPLICATION
Field Four (Harvested Field) - CHURCH FORMATION
Part 5 - LEADER MULTIPLICATION
SEND:
Jesus modeled, trained, and sent out his followers to reproduce his pattern of ministry, until all have heard.
A Disciple learns how to raise up, train, and send out leaders equipped to repeat the 4 Fields process.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations..."
The Outpost Network "Missionary Pathway"
Want to explore your calling to be discipled and to make disciples who make disciples? Our team is ready to help you by providing the training and tools you need to make multiplying disciples until there is #NoPlaceLeft!