Today I went to a Celebration of the Life of Lyn Montgomery…who entered eternity earlier this week to join her Lord and her love Jim. I have known Lyn only in these last 4 years, but I know I missed her most fun and fruitful days. The years wore on her beautiful body and soul, yet I long to know the woman that I heard the stories of today…at least to taste her carrot cake!
I’ve had the privilege of knowing the Montgomery’s son Len (who is an amazing man in his own right) and Len’s wife Mishal (amazing too!). My two boys are the same ages as their three boys (they have twin 6th graders). In fact, all those boys are right now at our house enjoying video games together!
I never had the privilege to know Jim either, as he passed in 2006. Never-the-less, I’ve been deeply impacted by his work, vision and writings. He brought us in the church/missions world the idea, strategy and success of saturation church planting. On his shoulders, the ministry of DAWN (or Discipling A Whole Nation) was birthed. The most popular work of his, was DAWN 2000: 7 Million Churches to Go. In modest numbers, the implication of Jim’s ideas have catalyzed more than 3 million churches around the world. What a wake!
In a time of hype about movements and changing your world, Jim and Lyn are the true thing. I truly believe that even though less than 100 people gathered to celebrate the life of Lyn Montgomery in Anaheim today, there are thousands of saints in glory who welcome Lyn home because of her influence for Jesus around our globe. Certainly her Lord Jesus said, “Well done good and faithful servant!”
Links for you:
Jim Montgomery’s Writings – Free Downloads from DAWN
Jim’s Impact in starting DAWN Ministries (Discipling A Whole Nation)
From 2006 – Tall Skinny Kiwi: In Memory of Jim Montgomery.
Jim Montgomery telling the story of Campus Churches, Students of Peace and @JaesonMa
Thank you for your blog about Jim Montgomery. My father had the opportunity to work with him through the Christ the Only Way Movement in the Philippines.
On my blog post, I shared some documents on Jim Montgomery’s work in the Philippines through the Christ the Only Way Movement. Much has been said of DAWN Philippines but based on existing documents, COW Movement preceded DAWN in the Philippines.