Discussion: Implementing an “Ark”

How to build an … ARK? An interview with Chris Lucey and Jonathan Friz…

They go by various names: The ARK Collaborative; Apostolic HUBs; Training; Equipping and Sending Centers; Holy Spirit Hot-spots; Cities of Refuge. Whatever we want to call them, they are part of the new wineskin of what God is doing on the earth as part of advancing the Kingdom and networking the Church. The city of Antioch served as a type of ARK back in the book of Acts:

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

Acts 13:2

We interview Chris Lucey, Chief Administrative Officer, JAMA Global (with Jonathan Friz also as guest) on how to build an ARK. Jonathan, Chris and I have been collaborating on the ARK concept for sometime now. Here was a proposed description from 2016 regarding the Northfield D.L. Moody Campus in Western MA…

4-in-1 ARK Concept

4+1 Sound of Music DVD set in dream

Functionally, what do we understand so far? We are speaking with respect to the proposed “uses” of the campus. There seems to be several common threads to all the ideas (whether the Pioneer Team, NE Alliance, the ARK, as well as the legacy of what historically has happened on the D.L. Moody Campus). They are:

  • Prayer (e.g., Moody Chapel, Mt. Zion HOP, intercession, Tabernacle of David 24/7 worship and prayer)
  • Missions (e.g., Student Volunteer Movement, US Center for World Missions, Inherit The Nations)
  • Education (e.g., Moody girls and boys school, Training and Equipping for the NE Church, CS Lewis University)
  • Church Unity (e.g., summer campground gatherings, NE united nights of worship, 10 Days events)
  • Local Community (e.g., Trinity church Northfield, farming, local commerce, housing)

Shortly thereafter in 2017/8, Chris relocated to East Texas having agreed to be brought on as CAO for JAMA Global. This came out of advising Dr. Kim and the JAMA board in purchasing the old Keith Green’s “Teen Mania” Campus, now headquarters to J.A.M.A. Global (Jesus Awakening Movement for America) in order to form an “Ark” style collaborative. Here is an excerpt from Chris:

JAMA-GLOBAL-LOGO-01.png

JAMA is building a “collaborative kingdom community”. A mix of program offerings challenge young adults to top-level senior executives. JAMA is raising up the next generation of global servant-leaders, business innovators, missionally minded entrepreneurs and thought leaders.

It is like a Spiritual Military Base

Dr. Kim founder of JAMA Global

Notes: Our campus is 471 acres with approximately 300,000 sqft – admin, dorms, gym, auditorium, cafeteria, etc. 

Components of the JAMA “Ark”:

Lindale Kingdom College – 4 year undergrad accredited college

JAMA Global Foundation – serves as a type of impact investment fund- think tank research projects to imagine new kingdom ventures

JAMA Global Church– JAMA is structured as a church 

JAMA Global Ministries – we also offer a post-grad leadership program Global Leadership Development Institute (it has over 700 alum/ 100 from SK)

JAMA Conference Facilities – dorm style services for up to 300 guests- pool with water slides & park areas- gym for indoor sports and archery – hunting on 300 acres back of the campus

The Furnace – a podcast to discuss the integration of faith and entrepreneurship as a founder

Incubator (some on campus, some virtual)- working with first time founders to co-create what they’ve been entrusted/ assigned to do

Mission Grove Homes – A pilot senior missional-living community- Beta is 50 units ( duplex/triplex ) in 2020- Full scale up to 350 homes (college, etc.)- missiongrove.org

Mission Grove – Farms & Gardens – 5 acre organic farm w/ 3,000sqft greenhouse (supports churches & food banks) and feeds our campus – approximately 25 acres of planned farms with chickens for laying and meat processed on site ( this is in design stage )

Next stage discussions – creating a “complimentary currency” for campus and community use in US & S Korea- EB5 program possible interest for real estate development ventures – QOZ & Qualified Opportunity Fund- Seeking business that create revenue [when non-profit tax deductions for away this next decade ( over $300B+ annual revenue industrywide that is not being taxed today – it could change].

more at: https://www.jamaglobal.com/