Noble Call Weblog

Relationship Matters Curriculum Introduction

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 06:00:00 GMT

Relationship Matters Introduction from Chris Hogan on Vimeo.

Brazil 2013

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The mascots of the church were a couple who have both been delivered from a life of drugs and delinquency. It was a wonderful experience to see so many people functioning in the power of God’s Spirit with His fruit being manifested in their life. The church was one that reached outside it’s four walls on a daily basis. This was right before the marriage conference with 200 couples in attendance.

I enjoyed the Brazilian style BBQ. We never lacked for good meat, rice and beans.

One of the drug rehabilitation centers we visited. It was amazing to see how much the church was doing with so little resources.

Puerto Rico Episode

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Transform World Summit in K.C. 2013

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Leaders from Korea, John Hur and T.C. have become friends since meeting them in Chicago a year ago. They invited me to join the Transform World team as a Family Challenge Catalyst.

This leader of the evangelical churches of Egypt took the time to share many wonderful testimonies and insights of God’s power being manifested among the Egyptian people. He is the man Hillary Clinton and other world leaders consult with when going to Egypt. The president of Egypt stays in touch with him because he has the influence and boldness to speak the truth. He was one of the few Christians on the constitutional committee who stood up for women’s rights and human rights. He led the walk out when the committee refused to consider the rights of minorities and women.

This group of Egyptians are the leaders of the church in Tahrir square, Cairo, Egypt.

George Otis, Jr. has done an amazing job of documenting the transformational power of prayer and the Word of God on entire cultures around the world in our present day. Get the Transformation Video Series from the Sentinel Group.

A Father Learns How to Course Correct and Reconnect Quickly

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A couple things we are learning..

Terri and I have gone through a lot the last year or so. Much to learn about ourselves and how we respond to each other. By God’s grace and great teaching I am learning to pursue Terri all over again. It takes much humility and brokenness on both of our parts but the fruit is undeniable. We are learning to connect and share like no other time in our marriage. Our children are responding because they no longer see the hypocrisy in lives. We have learned to pursue our children and even at 22,18,16 and 14 they are responding. Basically, we did NOT have a voice in their lives because of the guilt and shame which produced blame. That blame was pointed at each other and our children to measure up even if we failed to do so.

The burdens are light and the yoke is easy. We are starting to share this with many couples that we had thought were in great shape and other couples that were near dead. They all had pride and resentment built up over the many years of marriage and child-raising. Like us, the fear of our children moving on to their next stage and us left with each other was a bit scary for some and others a huge dilemma. “Do I stay in this painful relationship or do I quit and move on”. Terri and I have learned how to reengage, rekindle the love for each other and pursue each other like no other time in our marriage. Yes we have failures (arguments) but instead of disconnecting for days or weeks we have learned to talk through the issues and hear each other’s heart in the matter and reconnect within the same day. Simply put, those messes are becoming teaching points to encourage other couples. It’s not the absence of failure or trouble in a marriage but how quickly you learn to course correct and reconnect with each other that determines success.

Organization Development in the Home (VIDEO)

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Part 1 is about developing the system for handling the purchase, preparation, and clean up of FOOD for meals in the home. The other systems of the home deal with clothing, shelter, education, and life purpose. These systems are analogous to departments in a business. They are the backbone of a household and need managed to experience the peaceful fruits of a safe, joyful home. The alternative is a chaotic home with feelings of bitterness and apathy. Chris and Anne have spent 18 years applying scriptural principles and organizational development to systems in the home. (8 min.)

Pachuca, Mexico Marriage Conference

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We began the Zero to Hero conference in Pachuca, Mexico on Friday night with almost 600 people in attendance.

We shared about the 4 heroic deeds of marriage and how to resolve issues using the 10 questions of a Courageous Conversation. Couples learned how to encourage themselves in the Lord by remembering Whose they are and then who they are in Christ Jesus as they discovered their Noble Identity.

Husbands learned how to rescue their wives in the ocean of emotion by calling them into the conversation and listening with an understanding heart. Wives learned how to become women of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance as they learned how to bless their husbands and draw them into safe conversations with a defined issue and a set of standard operating procedures for resolving issues or for strategic decision-making.

Couples learned how to overtake the enemy’s lies with mercy and truth. As each spouse learned how to listen with mercy, the truth was able to come out and overtake the lies both had come to believe during the times of silence or shallow conversations.

On Saturday about 120 new people attended the conference and by 2:00 they were ready to attempt their own Courageous Conversations.

We gave the couples a four hour break after preparing them with tools and a wonderful demonstration of a couple who volunteered to be coached through the 10 courageous questions. We followed Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 18:15-19. They were to attempt to do a conversation in private and to hear one another, if that failed they could ask another couple to witness their conversation and help them establish an understanding of each word if necessary so they could truly hear one another. I told them the next step would be to come back to the church and we would coach them personally in front of the whole crowd. I was kidding but they took me serious. I greeted the couples as they came back and was surprised to see so many smiles. One lady was holding a cold drink to her head and I asked her if she was okay. She said, “I am tired but I have much peace now.” We had an hour of testimonies from couples who had made significant breakthroughs.

I shared a final session on navigating the nine levels of understanding and then we finished with a wonderful and entertaining question and answer period. The people of Mexico have such a hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness and for practical tools to create meaningful relationships.

In the end, many of the couples were able to recover all God had intended for them during that weekend. They were able to go from Zero to Hero by rescuing one another from the enemies lies, half truths, and accusations.

When people resolve issues they regain the energy that comes from experiencing the joy of the Lord. When we are connected to God, to one another, and to the vision God has for our lives we experience the one accord power of God.

San Jose Marriage Conference

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We held the conference in a beautiful facility at the Home Church in San Jose, CA.

Craig and Athena head up the team of people who organize and facilitate the Noble Call conferences in the bay area. The team is qualified to coach couples through conversations and some of them lead noble identity workshops.

Susan and Carl host follow up groups and coach couples through conversations just like Jesus instructed us in Matthew 18. Couples go to each other in private, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone:” If they fail to hear one another then Jesus instructs them to get a witness. “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Our goal at Noble Call Institute is to train these witnesses as conversation coaches. We equip them with tools and processes for helping people have meaningful conversations that resolve issues and build trust and intimacy. We have begun a new initiative called Course Correct and Reconnect to help people learn how to resolve issues quickly so they can maintain connection and a one accord spirit in their relationships.

Warren and Liz host us each time we come to San Jose. They are like the household of Stephanas in the scriptures who refreshed the saints. (See 1 Cor. 16:15)

Couples learned to navigate through nine levels of understanding. The conference was designed to teach, then give time to apply and when needed to coach a couple through the Connecting Conversations. This process is based on Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

Special Date with Dad

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When I go on ministry trips I prefer to go with my family. Warren and Liz invited my two daughters to come along and helped me be successful as a dad. We enjoyed a day in San Francisco with a special visit to China town, a dim sum lunch, a Sushi dinner, arts and crafts, cooking lessons, and shopping at ethnic food stores.

We walked through China town for an up-close look at the chinese culture in America. This is the largest Chinese Community in America. We found out that this was the only place a Chinese person could own land in California during the 1800’s and early 1900’s.

We could hear his music a few blocks away as it rang out through the busy streets.

We went to a special Dim Sum restaurant for lunch right in the middle of China Town. Dim sum is a type of Chinese dish that involves small individual portions of food, usually served in a small steamer basket or on a small plate. We tried many new dishes and enjoyed them all. I especially enjoyed the Chinese BBQ.

We walked down to Fisherman’s Wharf to see the Sea Lions and walk on the pier. My 11 year old daughter Savannah came with me along with my 15 year old Emily.

We took a walk through the Italian section of San Francisco, it is amazing the change of culture you experience when you walk across the street from China Town into the Italian section. I so enjoyed experiencing the city by walking through it vs. driving in a car.

Discover the Nations: Making International Disciple-Makers

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:44:06 GMT

This 2nd annual disciple-making conference imparted deep revelation and practical insights for making and becoming an international disciple-maker. Disciple-makers from around the world shared insights from their own 20 plus years of experience.

I was able to share the message I’m passionate about, Noble Discipleship, which included sharing the purpose, phases, process, practices and the products of bringing a person to full maturity in Christ Jesus.

Speakers such as Rachel Ong who leads Trybe in a volunteer capacity (a youth development organization in Asia with 85,000 youth in Singapore and 80,000 in Taiwan plus other nations), shared her belief that every young person is destined for great things. Her full-time profession is a consultant at Rohei, an organization she founded in 2007 that has international clients. Rachel also serves on the board of Every Nation Church. She is a full-time disciple-maker in whatever capacity she serves. To find out more about the organizations Rachel works with see Rohei for her business Trybe is the volunteer organization she developed and she is a servant leader in Every Nation Church

Dale & Jan Crall were the hosts of the conference and the disciple-makers who shared the vision and personally discipled all of us who came back to speak at the conference. If was quite an amazing reunion to be back with friends who all had a common bond, we were discipled and have all gone on to become disciple-makers. We could all sense the one accord spirit among us. We are truly of one heart, and one mind and like the first century church we experienced the power that is released when people are in one place and in one accord. Find out more about this powerful ministry at SIUC Chi Alpha Website

Rueven and Yanit have taught the vision of disciple-making to the nations. They have been invited by city-wide pastors groups and national organizations to teach them the lost art of disciple-making for the past 35 years. He began his ministry after being in a discipleship group with Dale and a few other men who have become life-long friends. Here is what Rueven had to say about the conference.

The conference in Carbondale, Illinois was one of the greatest events I have ever attended. That is a powerful statement, I know, but it is sincere! Even the title thrilled me: “Discover the Nations; Making International Disciple-makers.” As most of you know, the Great Commission (in Matthew 28:18-20) has been at the center of our calling to the nations over the past several decades. We wholeheartedly believe that the Lord’s last command should be our first priority towards people. The Great Commission is carried out to the Lord’s satisfaction when it is motivated by the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-39). When we love God with all that we are, we will be able to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. A friend of mine once said: “If we do not love ourselves, our neighbors are doomed!”    For eight days, I saw a wonderful demonstration of disciple-makers graciously serving the Lord and His people. Everything about this gathering had the fragrance of heaven! It showed me what it looks like when people willingly surrender ALL of their rights to God and serve without expecting appreciation. I saw the Kingdom of Heaven manifested in the lives of genuine disciples who are making disciples who are making disciples. These men and women are living extraordinary lives because eternity is written in their hearts and expressed in their service.    I am changed and challenged after being in that environment. Thank you so much for praying for that conference. The 220 participants left excited and motivated to make disciples on the university campuses in their cities.  With much love and appreciation from Jerusalem,   Reuven & Yanit

Find out more about Rueven and Yanit’s ministry see Making Disciples Website

One of the speakers is making disciples in a part of the world where believers were first called Christians. Her life is her message and it reflects the balance of the Christian life. The balance of suffering and joy that glorifies the Lord.