QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CARROLL’S

What are the Carrolls doing now?

Andrew will be working for a missions organization called NOVO. Part of Andrew’s assignment with NOVO will be launching a network of Christian communities (mini-churches) in Ventura County.

Essentially, Andrew will be helping Christians, who have a sense that there’s got to be more, live in the fullness of what God has for them so that new disciples of Jesus are made. He will be working with both churches and individual Christians. Every believer is called to be a disciple who makes disciples right where they are! 

Are the Carrolls moving?

No, we are staying in Ventura County.

Are the Carrolls starting a church?

Not in the way you’re probably thinking. Most people think of “church” as the place they go to on Sunday mornings to worship and hear a message. But is there another way to think about the church?

Have you ever wondered? What would it look like if Christians, who discovered their calling, were surrounded by believers with the same passion and purpose? What impact would that community of Christians make in their neighborhoods and network of friends?

Now, imagine, what if there were 50, or 100, or 300 or more groups (small communities of Christians who were driven by a desire to share God’s love with others) scattered all throughout the county? Would that family of Christian communities change the world around them? I think so!

To all of our Ventura County Friends, if you are interested and want to find out more, let us know and we’ll keep you updated.

QUESTIONS ABOUT NOVO

What is NOVO?

NOVO (formerly Church Resource Ministry/ CRM) is a missions organization whose purpose is to send missionaries to multiply movements of the gospel and to mobilize the church for that mission around the world. NOVO has been serving the church and the global mission in incredible and dynamic ways for the last 40 years. 

What is ChurchNEXT?

ChurchNEXT is one of three major collectives within NOVO that shape the direction and focus of NOVO’s ministry. The three collectives are Ethne, InnerCHANGE, and ChurchNEXT 

Ethne teams cross beyond cultural boundaries to develop healthy, apostolic leaders who will make disciples among all nations. Ethne teams work in over 15 nations around the world.

InnerCHANGE teams minister among the poor and marginalized. They draw from the inspiration of classic orders within the historical church by holding to rhythms of covenanted community life and prayer.

ChurchNEXT teams mobilize existing churches to live on mission, pioneer new expressions of church, and address the soul and sustainability of leaders at the center of it all. ChurchNEXT is called beyond the familiar to shape the church and her leaders to reach the world of tomorrow.

What is ReFocusing?

ReFocusing is one of the teams within the ChurchNEXT collective at NOVO. The goal of the ReFocusing team is to mobilize the church for mission. There are a few ways that this is accomplished. 

The first is through the Missional Pathway. The Missional Pathway is a process that serves as a culture-change agent that mobilizes the church for mission. Through this process the ReFocusing staff works alongside Pastors and Leaders as they lead their churches to intentionally live on mission.

The second way is through ACTIVATE(D). ACTIVATE(D) is a collaborative network of mobilized followers of Jesus from around the country who are committed to making new disciples of Jesus! The ACTIVATE(D) process consists of three steps designed to help people discover their calling, build community, and live on mission.

Additionally, Refocusing provides coaching and support to pastors, leaders, and everyday Christians. They are encouraged, supported, and resourced in order to help them live on mission, making new disciples!

What is ACTIVATE(D)?

ACTIVATE(D) is a collaborative network of mobilized followers of Jesus from around the country who are committed to making new disciples of Jesus! They are supported and coached to effectively launch and live into new strategic disciple-making initiatives and relationships. 

ACTIVATE(D) consists of three parts: The Discover A(D) Workshop, the A(D) Break Out Sessions, and living on mission as an ACTIVATE(D) Team. 

What is Discover A(D)?

Discover A(D) is part 1 of the Activated process. It consists of a four week workshop that will help people discover and develop their personal calling statement. In this short, self-assessing intensive, participants will:

• Create a life Storyboard that identifies all of the pleasant and painful events, people, places, and circumstances over the course of your life, for the goal of developing a Personal Calling Statement that includes:

  • Value Statements (How and why you do what you do)

  • Identity Statement (What God thinks about you)

  • Impact Statement (Whom you are most compassionate for and what you want to see changed in their lives)

• Grow your awareness of God’s active work in your life.

• Encounter the Good News that begins to transform your life in powerful new ways.

• Draw nearer to Jesus as he reveals his heart and affection for you.

• Discover the unique life messages God has given you to draw others to Himself, so that they might become new followers of Jesus.

What is the A(D) Breakout Series?

A(D) Breakout Series is part 2 of the Activated process. It consists of a 10 critical follow-up conversations that will help form a community centered around living on mission.

This Breakout experience is designed to inspire a vision for effective lasting teams who are connected, encouraged, and resourced. Through the Breakout Series, people will experience important discipleship concepts, be given space to experiment and build ministries, and grow even more in their affection for Jesus.

Want to know more about the 10 critical follow-up conversations? Check out an overview of the Breakout Series Here

What are ACTIVATE(D) Teams?

After people discover their personal calling and form a community around mission through the A(D)Breakout series, they become an ACTIVATE(D) Team. These ACTIVATE(D) Teams live like a mini-church on mission in partnership with A(D).

These teams are connected with experienced A(D) staff for support and strategic coaching. Teams are provided with one-on-one coaching as they work to launch and lead new missional initiatives, and live into new discipleship relationships.

The dream is that whole neighborhoods or networks would come to know Christ!

QUESTIONS ABOUT FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Is giving tax deductible?

Yes, NOVO is a 501-C3, non-profit organization. When you give to us through NOVO (formerly CRM) you receive a receipt for your taxes just like when you give to your church.

How much of my gift goes to support the missionary I am giving toward?

The central office keeps 12% for online support, marketing, legal, accounting, HR, etc. In comparison, many other mission organizations typically assess donations at a much higher rate (15-25% or more).

So, 88% of all you give goes directly to the missionaries for living and ministry expenses. Additionally, NOVO sets limits on how much money we can raise based on IRS guidelines.

Is there accountability for the monthly support?

Yes. We believe in high accountability! An outside auditing agency monitors the monthly support of every missionary within NOVO. Every missionary has parameters for a minimum and maximum funding amount. If their monthly support is too low then they are not launched into their ministry until the needs of their families are taken care of. NOVO wants all of their missionaries to have healthy families who have their needs met!

At the same time, every missionary has a ceiling to their budget so that they cannot keep raising monthly support with no cap. The beauty of this accountability system is that every missionary has what they need and are being wise stewards of God’s resources. 

Why fundraise?

Great question! Here are three reasons why fundraising is a key part of NOVO’s ministry.

First, all throughout the scriptures there is a basic theological principle that the people of God support the work of God. In a local church setting, this principle is demonstrated through the tithes that come into the church. Those tithes are the means by which God provides for the needs and ministry of the church in the local setting.

In the missionary setting of the church, this same theological principle is demonstrated through the financial support from ministry partners. These ministry partners are the means God uses to provide for the needs and ministry expenses of the missionaries who are sent out.

In both models, it is important to remember that God is the provider. Although people partner with financial support, the ultimate responsibility to provide is God’s and God’s alone. 

Secondly, the process of raising support requires a certain level of trust, surrender, and dependency on the Lord. That process is one of the ways that God prepares the missionaries with the spiritual authority needed to serve God in this capacity. You have often heard it said, “You need to practice what you preach.” Why? Because people are molded into what we model. So if a missionary is not living a life modeling surrender and dependency on Jesus, how will they encourage those they are working with to do the same? Living by raising support is one of the ways that missionaries model a life of surrender and dependency on the Lord. 

Lastly, in the same way that God calls people into ministry, God will call people to support the ministry. The pressure to raise support does not fall in the hands of the missionary. Rather, God is responsible to provide and He is faithful. 

If I start supporting can I stop or change the amount as needed?

Absolutely! You can stop anytime or change the amount of money given as needed. It is completely flexible!