OPEN USA Team Update | April 2026
I took the month of February to pray, think, and listen to the LORD. It didn’t go at all as I hoped or expected, but the LORD did sharpen my thinking as to what I should focus on and what I need to not focus on. As I spent time reading through the gospel of Luke, the LORD reminded me that our purpose in this life is to make disciples and the point of making disciples is to see His Kingdom filled with worshippers from every tongue, tribe, and nation. That means the purpose of business is to make disciples. The purpose of OPEN then is to support those who are making disciples among people groups who still don’t have native expressions of the Body of Christ. These people living under extreme gospel poverty will not hear unless someone is sent to them from the outside. If angels in heaven are rejoicing over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:3-7) then we have cause to rejoice! I just heard from one of our members that a young woman has entered the Kingdom and another is getting close.
I spoke at the B4T Forum on March 21 in Germany. We prayed that the attendees would hear, not my words, but God’s, and would orient their lives around proclaiming His Kingdom. It was an encouraging time together.
OPEN Connect is almost upon us. Pray that our God, who supplies all of our needs, would provide for those who will otherwise struggle to get there and be refreshed. May all who want attend be able to by the grace of His provision!
We are working on OPEN Expo planning and look forward to sharing God’s vision with the attendees there as well. Pray for us as we plan, that we would have His mind and His goals in view.
A lot is going on in the world, and as we watch events unfold – sometimes with horror – let it drive us to our knees in dependence on the One who is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. Amen!
Many of you expressed words of affirmation re: my 4th anniversary as COO. I was humbled by them, realizing each one of you deserves similar appreciation for the unique, special work you do, often unseen by others. I’m SO grateful for you! Your Father is intimately acquainted with all your ways – AND your work in his name. All is seen, and appreciated by the one who equipped you to do what you do.
It’s all about the EXPO these days. Nailing down the venue was a great exercise in waiting and resting in God’s promises. Being in a (beautiful) hotel conference facility will be a first – staying under the same roof, meeting attendees in the halls, elevators, at breakfast. I hope we can leverage OPEN USA’s strong staff contingent in the Dallas area, to see a larger-than-usual local attendance.
I’ll be inviting each of you to step up to the many roles that will be required (as usual). Another new element will be having an event coordinator – Shannon Mahoney, introduced to us by Hudson Lorfing. She’s been a huge help already. Please pray for her!
More EXPO focus – a new EXPO website, new logo, new videos, new promotional materials – printed and digital. You’ve already seen a test version of the new registration tool as well. Keep your eyes peeled for more!
Coaching
The coaching team has finished the preparation of a new “Coaches Directory” and have published it on the Network Member website. B4Ter wanting a coach, or to explore having a coach, can review the Directory and contact a potential coach directly to establish a relationship. Those B4Ter’s wanting assistance can contact the Coaching Coordination team (coaches@openusa.net).
Do you know a B4Ter who is, or should be concerned with succession planning for their B4T business? The coaching team is putting an information/training program together to help. Contact the coaching team if you see, or have, interest.
The coaching team is busy with getting coaches assigned to Founders who are pitching at Connect 2026 in Cyprus in July. Let them know if you know someone who might be interested in pitching this year.
Mentoring
It’s here! Jay Shifley’s book “Mentored” has been published (PDF, EPUB, and audio) and OPEN USA is supporting an effort to get Jay’s book into the hands of every B4Ter. B4Ter’s can go to https://payhip.com/mentored to get, and donate to, a copy of the book.
Internships
As of March 2026 we have 7 interns that are scheduled to go overseas to various B4T companies to serve, learn, and experience B4T. Please keep these interns in your prayers for preparation, travel, safety, and serving to His glory.
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B4T Prep
B4T Prep–The Beccues are currently working with two young women: one who is heading to Turkiye in late June and the other who is investigating Tajikistan, but wherever the Lord leads, she hopes to arrive in Fall 2026.
B4T Champions
Violeta has facilitated a host of new participants – in the Spanish version of Champions. This is an exciting expansion of the influence of this foundational material.
Pray with us for more Champions cohorts – English and Spanish. Wouldn’t it be great to see groups forming within individual churches, to go through the course together?
Church Relations
We’re excited to add Renee to the team – she is helping design the curriculum for our new, remote B4T 101 course. We’re optimistic that this course will give participants a foundational understanding of B4T as well as setting them on the road to further connection with B4T and increased impact in their own workplace.
We are also working to better understand B4Ters’ relationships with their churches and need for support. We have created a survey for B4Ters to describe their relationship with their “sending” church. Jay Shifley has utilized his mentors to begin getting responses from some of the B4Ters. We still need more respondents, but we are beginning to see some patterns that we can address over the next couple of years.
Future B4Ters
The EXPO is catalytic in initiating conversations, connecting, increasing focus and building momentum. Pray with us as we anticipate the impact of the EXPO on many who are on their journeys and may need clarity on what next steps might look like.
Email us any time with prayer requests or prayer updates: victoriah@openusa.net.
If you have a for-profit business and would like a prayer team praying for you and your company at least weekly visit www.prayingbusiness.com and sign-up. Totally confidential and free.
Additions
Renee was mentioned above; we’re SO glad to have her with us! I’m hoping you’ll have an opportunity to interact with her soon, if you haven’t already…
Openings
As the leadership team has grappled over time with how best to recruit individuals to serve in open roles, we came to the realization that one good strategy would be to – drum roll please – create another vacant role!
In all seriousness though, we feel there would be a lot of value in having a dedicated individual take on this important responsibility. As such, we created a Team Engagement Advocate role, the details of which can be seen on the OPEN USA website here. We imagine that this advocate would reach out to individuals to build relationships and draw people into roles; one possible strategy would be to start outreach to our list of OPEN network alumni. Please let us know if you have any ideas for someone to take on this role!
Other than that, please continue (or start!) to pray for God to raise up people into the vacant roles.
Finally, the OPEN USA website now has an up-to-date list of positions so please take a look!
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