This Friday will mark the eleventh anniversary of the Daniel Training Network. We praise God for His faithfulness! At this special Good Friday Emmaus Road Gathering, we will talk about some of the stories and Scriptures that lie behind the formation of the Daniel Training Network, and which give context to why we function, operate, and organize ourselves the way we do. We invite you to join us as we ask God to give us fresh vision, encouragement, and strength for the days ahead!

Tim Miller

Crisis

<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">Today marks DTN’s eleventh anniversary. It has been a refining and yet joyful journey in many respects. God has been faithful! We praise You, O Lord!</li>
<li class="li1">At the heart of DTN: The message of the cross and the call to a cross-shaped way of life, with the hope of the Second Coming of Jesus ever before us. Hence, we decided to make Good Friday our official launch day.</li>
<li class="li1">What is DTN? Why do we function, operate, and organize ourselves the way we do? May God give us fresh vision, encouragement, and strength for the days ahead.</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>

DTN’S ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY

<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">Africa: “Look to the example of the Chinese church” (Dream December 2005); “this good news of the kingdom; an “army of worms”</li>
<li class="li1">Spring 2008: My first visit to Bethany (Contend Conference); John and I were becoming friends, he came up with me; Ps. 22; worms on the ground; “opening a can of worms”</li>
<li class="li1">Fall 2009: back to the US from Egypt; persecution coming, “build an ark”; Emily: God calling us to Minnesota; disappointment, but confirmation</li>
<li class="li1">The Lord highlighting Daniel at this time; also, a number of people diving into John’s teaching around this time; clearer understanding of the gospel</li>
<li class="li1">“Feed my sheep”: KC, Emily, Jenn, prayer meeting</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>

THE CONTEXT

<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">Organizationally, we are an “ant” or “worm” ministry; often does not make much sense to people in the West, but makes a lot of sense to believers in places like China, North Korea, and the Middle East; desire to maximize time and focus on people and the message, and not get bogged down in things that won’t be resilient in times of difficulty, pressure, and financial duress</li>
<li class="li1">Want to go beyond business/ministry cards: not just interested in theology, but in a way of life</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me (“follow my example” [NCV, TEV]). 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Cor. 4:10-17, NIV)
<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">Knitting hearts to people rather than an organization</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:12-15, NIV)
<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">Functioning and building like this in a Western context has not been easy, but God is faithful, and we trust Him to lead us</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>

NETWORK

<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">An equipping focus; a love for “the scroll” (the Scriptures); urgency to see the flock equipped and strengthened to “follow Jesus faithfully until He returns”; creating resources that are centered on the cross and the return of Jesus, and which inspire and call forth patient endurance and steadfast loyalty to Jesus</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Lk. 12:42-48, NIV)

TRAINING

<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">His life: Resolve not to be defiled as an exile in Babylon; loyalty and faithfulness to God as kings and kingdoms rise and fall (Israel falls, then Babylon and its kings, then Persia and its kings); prayer, fasting, repentance, fear of God, integrity, deep concern for God’s plan and people; loyalty and faithfulness to Yahweh through persecution and accusation; no shrinking back from declaring God’s message</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” (Dn. 6:5, ESV)
<ol class="ol1">
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol class="ol2">
<li class="li1">Wisdom and understanding: Concerning the Scriptures, concerning God’s will and ways, concerning dreams and visions, concerning the little horn, concerning the Messiah’s kingdom, concerning the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked, concerning God’s plan and timing, concerning the Messiah’s death the destruction of the second temple, concerning God’s sovereignty and authority (over empires and nations [Dan. 2, 10-11], over the times [Dn. 2, 8-9, 12], over Israel [Dn. 9, 12], over boastful kings [Dan. 4, 5], over the anti-Christ [Dan. 7, 12], over Daniel’s life [Dn. 1:6, 12:13]), concerning the importance of leading and turning people to righteousness in light of what is coming (Dn. 12)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds…. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. (Dn. 1:17, 20, NIV)
19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; 20 Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. 21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs (“seasons” [ESV, NIV]; “He controls the course of world events” [NLT]); He removes kings and establishes kings (“sets up kings” [NRSV]); He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding (“you are the source of wisdom and knowledge” [CEV]). 22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness (“what lies hidden in darkness” [NLT]), And the light dwells with Him. 23 “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, For You have made known to us the king’s matter.” (Dn. 2:19-23, NASB)
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. (Ps. 119:144, ESV)
92 If your law (“your instruction” [HCSB], “your teachings” [NCV]) had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. (Ps. 119:92, ESV)

DANIEL

At this special Good Friday Emmaus Road Gathering, we will talk about some of the stories and Scriptures that lie behind the formation of the Daniel Training Network (DTN), and which give context to why we function, operate, and organize ourselves the way we do.

Renewing the Vision