North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM) is in the process of conducting three round tables across the state discussing the ministry needs of ministers 65+. I was able to attend the first of those round tables in Kinston on Tuesday. The issue is close to my heart and skin since I’m barreling down on that magic age.
The issues facing aging ministers are many and varied, as with any demographic. Some age in good health with reasonably good retirement income and family close and involved in their lives. Others are alone, facing health crises and/or financially strapped.
The need I advanced at the round table in Kinston was that of support, community and ministry and service opportunities. Those are the kinds of issues that present for seniors who do not face financial or health crisis, but might well face crisis of meaning and connectedness.
These are the issues that need to be addressed by the Jabez Project. I was bold enough to suggest to the NCBAM reps present that the Baptist State Convention and its entities should undertake development of Christian Cohousing communities addressed to retired, active seniors. That’s way different from the life care communities traditionally developed by Baptist Retirement Homes in most states.
Since NCBAM is under the auspices of the North Carolina Baptist Children’s Homes and the NCBCH has major campuses in all three regions of the state, each with empty units and vast undeveloped land, it would seem to be a natural extension of the family ministry of NCBAM and NCBCH to develop such senior communities. Most of the retiring seniors I’m talking about would be quite capable of participating in the financing of their units and could pay monthly fees associated with its support.
A retirement community populated by Christians fully committed to using their senior years, energy and resources to bless one another and continue to carry the Gospel of Christ to the world through mission projects - that’s what I’m talkin’ about! If I can be a lead agent to make that kind of community happen…. color me there!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
A Clearing in the Jungle
My house was robbed a few days ago. I don’t know exactly when, because the thief was so careful to leave everything as untouched as possible, locating and taking cash and even leaving a little cash so that I wouldn’t notice the theft until I did a thorough count.
It was enough money that I felt the loss. But what I felt even more was a deep loss of security and confidence. These years in the country I have believed my home secure and, although I lock the doors when I leave, I have frequently left tools about and when I’m working on the place, sometimes have not locked the house doors.
Now there are security cameras and new deadbolts and I lock up to go to the yard. And there is a new level of cynicism that there are few, indeed, places left where one does not have to watch ones back. I was never particularly innocent, but what might have been there ebbs.
And now I reflect on what that says about spiritual warfare. From time to time the edges of our civilized world become scorched and we are given shocking reminder that, as Albert Schweitzer observed, civilization is at best only a clearing in the jungle.
It is as a jungle clearing I have been describing in these posts - a place, a clearing, where for ever-a-brief-moment defenses may come down and trust vouchsafed. The clearings in the jungle are further and further apart. But, like any clearing, they do not come accidental but by design and immense effort.
It was enough money that I felt the loss. But what I felt even more was a deep loss of security and confidence. These years in the country I have believed my home secure and, although I lock the doors when I leave, I have frequently left tools about and when I’m working on the place, sometimes have not locked the house doors.
Now there are security cameras and new deadbolts and I lock up to go to the yard. And there is a new level of cynicism that there are few, indeed, places left where one does not have to watch ones back. I was never particularly innocent, but what might have been there ebbs.
And now I reflect on what that says about spiritual warfare. From time to time the edges of our civilized world become scorched and we are given shocking reminder that, as Albert Schweitzer observed, civilization is at best only a clearing in the jungle.
It is as a jungle clearing I have been describing in these posts - a place, a clearing, where for ever-a-brief-moment defenses may come down and trust vouchsafed. The clearings in the jungle are further and further apart. But, like any clearing, they do not come accidental but by design and immense effort.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Intentional Interim
I am in the process of field work for training as an Intentional Interim. The idea is the interim period when a church is without a pastor is a unique time for self-examination, refinement of mission, handling brokenness and being intentional about the direction of the future.
Such is also the case with “interim” moments in our lives. Some of those interim moments are imposed upon us by job changes, relationship issues, health matters, life passages and a host of other dynamics. Some of them we control and some we don’t. Always, however, there is the opportunity to be intentional about the way we handle change and interim periods in our lives.
It should come as no surprise that people chose moments of crisis or great change (often “interim” moments) to reconnect with church and deepen their spiritual moorings. Interim moments may also be mined for mission and ministry options that are swept away by routine outside those interim periods.
I looked for a biblical reference to shed light on the interim period. I found it in none other than Jesus himself. Jesus’ ministry began and ended in Judea. But one of the turning points of his life (There were 4, I think including baptism, Transfiguration and Gethsemane) came when early on he withdrew (intentionally) from Judea and spent the next number of months in Galilee. There in Galilee Jesus’ public ministry took its shape, complete with miracles which had their start in Cana of Galilee. The early formation of those disciples began in Galilee. The Teacher found his voice in the Sermon on the Mount, also in Galilee. The Great Galilean Ministry of Jesus was an Intentional Interim.
Such is also the case with “interim” moments in our lives. Some of those interim moments are imposed upon us by job changes, relationship issues, health matters, life passages and a host of other dynamics. Some of them we control and some we don’t. Always, however, there is the opportunity to be intentional about the way we handle change and interim periods in our lives.
It should come as no surprise that people chose moments of crisis or great change (often “interim” moments) to reconnect with church and deepen their spiritual moorings. Interim moments may also be mined for mission and ministry options that are swept away by routine outside those interim periods.
I looked for a biblical reference to shed light on the interim period. I found it in none other than Jesus himself. Jesus’ ministry began and ended in Judea. But one of the turning points of his life (There were 4, I think including baptism, Transfiguration and Gethsemane) came when early on he withdrew (intentionally) from Judea and spent the next number of months in Galilee. There in Galilee Jesus’ public ministry took its shape, complete with miracles which had their start in Cana of Galilee. The early formation of those disciples began in Galilee. The Teacher found his voice in the Sermon on the Mount, also in Galilee. The Great Galilean Ministry of Jesus was an Intentional Interim.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Wait...That's The Church!
“But, wait!” I can hear you say it. “Isn’t all that the role of the local church?”
And you’re right … sometimes. In the best of times and in the best of churches people really do identify the needs around them, pray them through, experience calls to do something unique and creative and faith-filled. Mission is engaged and acknowledged and the church and the people become missional.
But the fact is, these are not the best of times. And the fact is most churches are focused on maintaining what has always been going on … at the expense of what might be new or innovative.
It’s not that a mission cohort would take the place of the local church. Never could. Never will. But it just may be an important addition to the existing mission incubator we call the local church.
You don’t have to be a systems thinker to see the potential impact on the local church in a community that is blessed of the Lord to have a missions cohort. Entrepreneurial Christians focused on bringing Christ to bear upon their community can’t help but bring new sparks of life to the church - especially if they are active members and leaders in one or more of those local churches.
And you’re right … sometimes. In the best of times and in the best of churches people really do identify the needs around them, pray them through, experience calls to do something unique and creative and faith-filled. Mission is engaged and acknowledged and the church and the people become missional.
But the fact is, these are not the best of times. And the fact is most churches are focused on maintaining what has always been going on … at the expense of what might be new or innovative.
It’s not that a mission cohort would take the place of the local church. Never could. Never will. But it just may be an important addition to the existing mission incubator we call the local church.
You don’t have to be a systems thinker to see the potential impact on the local church in a community that is blessed of the Lord to have a missions cohort. Entrepreneurial Christians focused on bringing Christ to bear upon their community can’t help but bring new sparks of life to the church - especially if they are active members and leaders in one or more of those local churches.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Mission Incubator
Across the country entrepreneurial incubator sites and organizations are springing up to assist people in launching new businesses. Sometimes they have commercial kitchens with them which can be rented by the hour and people trained in all the regulations and business requirements of the food business. In Candler NC is Advantage West, the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council and Blue Ridge Food Ventures. The commercial kitchen idea has been copied in Burgaw NC where the town’s historic depot has been converted, and in Warsaw NC where Sprunt Community College has developed the site.
I see the need to have the same kind of entrepreneurial incubator environment for mission projects. Something close is offered through conference centers. North Carolina Baptist Men have “Mission Camps” at Shelby and Red Springs. But even these are not quite what I have in mind. In all these cases established programs are promoted and pursued. But what I have in mind is a place where people with a unique vision can come and find practical help in bringing it to reality.
I see the need to have the same kind of entrepreneurial incubator environment for mission projects. Something close is offered through conference centers. North Carolina Baptist Men have “Mission Camps” at Shelby and Red Springs. But even these are not quite what I have in mind. In all these cases established programs are promoted and pursued. But what I have in mind is a place where people with a unique vision can come and find practical help in bringing it to reality.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Kinston Cohort Leaders Chosen
I am pleased to announce the filling of the Cohort Leaders position in Kinston NC. Henry and Carol Ann Davis are a strong Christian couple who came to Kinston less than a year ago and have been living in a rented home that did not meet their needs.
With some special financing efforts the huge house on Highland Avenue is now under contract for their purchase. They’re exactly the family this house cries out for - a total of 8 in their family. Carol Ann is a stay-at-home Mom.
Now they have consented to serve as the Cohort Leaders in Kinston and will be helping identify the mission projects the Lord already has in mind for us to undertake in Kinston and the surrounding areas.
With some special financing efforts the huge house on Highland Avenue is now under contract for their purchase. They’re exactly the family this house cries out for - a total of 8 in their family. Carol Ann is a stay-at-home Mom.
Now they have consented to serve as the Cohort Leaders in Kinston and will be helping identify the mission projects the Lord already has in mind for us to undertake in Kinston and the surrounding areas.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Missional
The concept of being “missional” has been around for several decades. But it’s only now beginning to make its way into Evangelical circles and especially among us Baptists.
Being missional is a bit different from seeing oneself as a mission-minded person. We may be mission-minded and see the mission as primarily of our own origin and responsibility. Sometimes we act and even pray as though the mission is ours and we are inviting God to go along.
“Missional” means we see God as having gone out before us and planned his work. We are invited to join what he has already initiated. So the mission does not belong to us. It belongs to God. We belong to God and, in a way, we belong to the mission as well.
As missional, we are always asking, "What is God doing?" "How should my family and I be involved?" "How has God purposed us to make this effort a practical reality?"
Being missional is a bit different from seeing oneself as a mission-minded person. We may be mission-minded and see the mission as primarily of our own origin and responsibility. Sometimes we act and even pray as though the mission is ours and we are inviting God to go along.
“Missional” means we see God as having gone out before us and planned his work. We are invited to join what he has already initiated. So the mission does not belong to us. It belongs to God. We belong to God and, in a way, we belong to the mission as well.
As missional, we are always asking, "What is God doing?" "How should my family and I be involved?" "How has God purposed us to make this effort a practical reality?"
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Christian Cohort Living
Families who are embedded in a community and actively seeking ways to serve the Lord and build strong family and church share that in common with other families trying to do the same thing. Trouble is, these families may not be in the same church or move in the same circles, so they never make contact.
There’s another need to meet - linking entrepreneurial Christian families so they can support one another in ministry project, pray for each other and grow from their fellowship. Like iron sharpening iron, these families will find they spiritually respond to each other and are more vitally active in the service of the Lord because of their fellowship.
Not only ministry families, but lay families need to be involved in the cohorts. They become valuable to each other in many ways:
- prayer support
- encouragement
- practical help in mission projects
- information
- providing services and
- providing job opportunities
- co-laboring on mission/ministry projects
Now ask yourself, wouldn’t you like to live in a community where you have a group (cohort) of Christians you can call upon when you have a need, pray with, and who are gung-ho to do missions and ministry projects and impact the community for Christ. You may be semi-retired and be thinking “I’d just like to live in that kind of community.” That’s the Christian Cohort living I’d love to see emerge.
There’s another need to meet - linking entrepreneurial Christian families so they can support one another in ministry project, pray for each other and grow from their fellowship. Like iron sharpening iron, these families will find they spiritually respond to each other and are more vitally active in the service of the Lord because of their fellowship.
Not only ministry families, but lay families need to be involved in the cohorts. They become valuable to each other in many ways:
- prayer support
- encouragement
- practical help in mission projects
- information
- providing services and
- providing job opportunities
- co-laboring on mission/ministry projects
Now ask yourself, wouldn’t you like to live in a community where you have a group (cohort) of Christians you can call upon when you have a need, pray with, and who are gung-ho to do missions and ministry projects and impact the community for Christ. You may be semi-retired and be thinking “I’d just like to live in that kind of community.” That’s the Christian Cohort living I’d love to see emerge.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Home Ownership
The dream of home ownership is vanishing in America. Foreclosures are still everywhere and the economy is still sputtering.
Along with the difficulty in owning a home comes a further difficulty in launching home churches. It costs more to rent than own in many communities. That means called families on marginal incomes often must choose smaller accommodations to afford the rent.
We need to place Christian families and help them own their own homes. Then they can have greater latitude in opening those homes to groups that may one day become churches.
This is yet another need that can be grouped together with ministry challenges needing networking and solutions reached together. The time is right to rescue some of these foreclosed homes, rehab them and then make them available to Christian families wanting to impact a neighborhood. If that neighborhood is a bit transitional, all the more reason to have a called family in that house to help stabilize the community. That’s especially the case if they are not alone in their efforts of bringing Christ to their neighbors.
Along with the difficulty in owning a home comes a further difficulty in launching home churches. It costs more to rent than own in many communities. That means called families on marginal incomes often must choose smaller accommodations to afford the rent.
We need to place Christian families and help them own their own homes. Then they can have greater latitude in opening those homes to groups that may one day become churches.
This is yet another need that can be grouped together with ministry challenges needing networking and solutions reached together. The time is right to rescue some of these foreclosed homes, rehab them and then make them available to Christian families wanting to impact a neighborhood. If that neighborhood is a bit transitional, all the more reason to have a called family in that house to help stabilize the community. That’s especially the case if they are not alone in their efforts of bringing Christ to their neighbors.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Embedded Christians
There is in our community a man who made his fortune in restaurants. Now he has sold them and spends his time planting churches and helping others do the same. I sat with him not long ago and talked about church planting in this new day. He tells people to move into a community and settle down there. Then go out and get a job, any legitimate job. Work in fast food if you have to. With your Christian lifestyle and work ethic, you’ll be managing the place in six months. Do what you have to do to make a living. Then do what you have to do to bring together that core group to start your church.
His approach is not only entrepreneurial, but also includes Christians being embedded in their community. Our greatest goal should be to insert into a community called people who are trained and connected, then help empower them to support themselves while doing viable and vital ministry through existing small churches and/or through planting new house churches.
We want Christian families to become embedded in their communities. Many people today never make a place for themselves in their neighborhood or community. They are present only as a resident and only as long as their jobs keep them in that location.
While we recognize the necessity of being mobile, we should also seek to become contributing members of a community. We should seek to know our neighbors and introduce them to Christ. And we want to know and fellowship with other Christian families.
His approach is not only entrepreneurial, but also includes Christians being embedded in their community. Our greatest goal should be to insert into a community called people who are trained and connected, then help empower them to support themselves while doing viable and vital ministry through existing small churches and/or through planting new house churches.
We want Christian families to become embedded in their communities. Many people today never make a place for themselves in their neighborhood or community. They are present only as a resident and only as long as their jobs keep them in that location.
While we recognize the necessity of being mobile, we should also seek to become contributing members of a community. We should seek to know our neighbors and introduce them to Christ. And we want to know and fellowship with other Christian families.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Entrepreneurial Minister
In a day of economic challenges and shrinking churches and denominational bodies comes a call from God that we enlarge our territory of ministry. The calling comes not only to churches, but to those called to do the ministry.
For those called to ministry, carrying out the call of the Lord often means taking more responsibility for raising their own support. An entrepreneurial attitude toward ministry must be developed.
An entrepreneurial minister is creative. The Lord works in the heart to bring vision - sometimes a new vision no one is even attempting. But that means there are no tried and true ways to make it happen.
An entrepreneurial minister is self-sufficient. The entrepreneurial minister recognizes it is up to them to make things happen. The final responsibility is not shifted to a church or organization, though those partners are gladly welcomed.
An entrepreneurial minister is connected. That sounds like a contradiction to being self-sufficient. We all depend on each other. And it is the wise person who realizes that dependence. While the entrepreneurial minister is not afraid to take the lead in developing, planning, funding ministry, that same minister welcomes and develops contacts through various networks. No entrepreneurial effort is likely to succeed without a network of support.
An entrepreneurial minister is ready to fail, if need be. An entrepreneurial minister is prayerful. No one is more prayerful than someone who carries so much of the responsibility themselves. An entrepreneurial minister is willing to do what is necessary to support a family and to make that ministry happen.
Let this be a summons to people with a burden for ministry to take the necessary steps to make that ministry a reality. Maybe you can depend upon a church to make it happen. Maybe you’ll have to find other support. Likely it will take it all.
For those called to ministry, carrying out the call of the Lord often means taking more responsibility for raising their own support. An entrepreneurial attitude toward ministry must be developed.
An entrepreneurial minister is creative. The Lord works in the heart to bring vision - sometimes a new vision no one is even attempting. But that means there are no tried and true ways to make it happen.
An entrepreneurial minister is self-sufficient. The entrepreneurial minister recognizes it is up to them to make things happen. The final responsibility is not shifted to a church or organization, though those partners are gladly welcomed.
An entrepreneurial minister is connected. That sounds like a contradiction to being self-sufficient. We all depend on each other. And it is the wise person who realizes that dependence. While the entrepreneurial minister is not afraid to take the lead in developing, planning, funding ministry, that same minister welcomes and develops contacts through various networks. No entrepreneurial effort is likely to succeed without a network of support.
An entrepreneurial minister is ready to fail, if need be. An entrepreneurial minister is prayerful. No one is more prayerful than someone who carries so much of the responsibility themselves. An entrepreneurial minister is willing to do what is necessary to support a family and to make that ministry happen.
Let this be a summons to people with a burden for ministry to take the necessary steps to make that ministry a reality. Maybe you can depend upon a church to make it happen. Maybe you’ll have to find other support. Likely it will take it all.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Networking in Ministry
When I wrote Making It In Ministry several years ago (still available on Amazon - shameless plug), I suggested that future ministry will require networking. Fact is, the days when a seminarian could graduate and expect to be called to First Church, County Seat USA and spend a lifetime in ministry reasonably well provided for are gone… at least for many if not most people. Making It In Ministry arose from the senior seminar I taught in an urban, interdenominational seminary. Even then it was my dubious privilege to make those students aware they might have to create their own opportunities and approach ministry as a bi-vocational calling.
In my first blog entry, when I talked about what I wanted to be when I grow up, I didn’t say “I want to start a network.” But, actually, networking is the only way to make some of the other goals come together.
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!” I Chronicles 4:10 NIV
“Enlarge the place of your tent…”
Isaiah 54:2 NIV
For several hundred years, congregationally governed churches have networked into associations of churches to do ministries and missions and conduct training that would have been impossible for individual churches. Ministers and staff persons of those churches found some support and training from the associations, but for the most part remained on their own - virtually as individual contractors.
I believe the time has come for ministers to network together in associations of their own. Without competing with associations of churches, these minister associations would serve to network and resource those seeking to do ministry. They would also be prayer partners and in some cases provide needed representation in finding placement and raising funds.
It’s “seasoned” (please don’t say “old”) preacher types like me that should probably lead the way in putting these associations together. We bring experience. We’re often already placed in ministry and the association should not interfere with existing ministry placements. We may not be financially secure, but we’re probably enough along in life and have enough of the pressing financial responsibilities behind us that we can take on a new task without having to depend upon it for income. We ready to have the Lord enlarge our tents.
If you want to follow this line of thinking, there’s a Squid page for that: www.squidoo.com/jabez-project. I’ve put together the first effort at describing a ministry association I’m launching. You might want to be more involved in the visioning process or in the association itself.
In my first blog entry, when I talked about what I wanted to be when I grow up, I didn’t say “I want to start a network.” But, actually, networking is the only way to make some of the other goals come together.
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!” I Chronicles 4:10 NIV
“Enlarge the place of your tent…”
Isaiah 54:2 NIV
For several hundred years, congregationally governed churches have networked into associations of churches to do ministries and missions and conduct training that would have been impossible for individual churches. Ministers and staff persons of those churches found some support and training from the associations, but for the most part remained on their own - virtually as individual contractors.
I believe the time has come for ministers to network together in associations of their own. Without competing with associations of churches, these minister associations would serve to network and resource those seeking to do ministry. They would also be prayer partners and in some cases provide needed representation in finding placement and raising funds.
It’s “seasoned” (please don’t say “old”) preacher types like me that should probably lead the way in putting these associations together. We bring experience. We’re often already placed in ministry and the association should not interfere with existing ministry placements. We may not be financially secure, but we’re probably enough along in life and have enough of the pressing financial responsibilities behind us that we can take on a new task without having to depend upon it for income. We ready to have the Lord enlarge our tents.
If you want to follow this line of thinking, there’s a Squid page for that: www.squidoo.com/jabez-project. I’ve put together the first effort at describing a ministry association I’m launching. You might want to be more involved in the visioning process or in the association itself.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
What I Wanna Do When I Grow Up
I’ll turn sixty in a few days, and lately I’ve been trying to decide what I wanna do when I grow up. You see, lots of guys my age are beginning to count down the days to retirement. Not me. I’m doin’ what I love - serving the Lord, serving churches. As long as health and opportunity holds out, I’ll be in active ministry.
But that doesn’t mean no change or nothing new. In fact, that’s exactly the reason for starting this blog. I’m contemplating, praying about something so dramatically new it’ll take a lot of ruminating to bring the concept together. I need you to jump in and react and maybe help in some very hands-on ways down the road.
Here are some things I want to do when I grow up:
When I grow up, I wanna help small churches. I believe in small churches. While there are plenty of folks who are saying the day of the small church is past and being supplanted by the mega church, I believe just the opposite. In the future there are likely to be a good number of mega churches. And there are likely to be tens of thousands of tiny churches meeting wherever they can. And maybe not much in between. Unless we want Christianity to be totally a collection of a few mega churches (with multiple campuses all over the country), we’d better start finding ways to breathe new life into the small church.
When I grow up, I wanna help struggling ministers. There are likely to be a lot more struggling now and in the future. I want to help those just starting out find ways to make it financially in the ministry to which God has called them. I want to help them dream big about ministry, evangelism and missions. I want to help them find places to rest and spiritually and physically recover. I want to help others in their middle senior years find ways to continue being effective.
When I grow up I wanna write more. This blog’s a start. But there are several writing projects in the hopper as well. A couple of them are almost ready for the light of day.
When I grow up I wanna share the spirituality that’s been developing in my heart. The presence of the Lord is amazing. There’s likely to be a separate blog on that very soon.
When I grow up, I wanna be even more urgent and direct in calling people to salvation at the cross of Jesus. I’m evangelical. No apologies. Ever more focus as the time grows shorter.
Whachuwannado?
But that doesn’t mean no change or nothing new. In fact, that’s exactly the reason for starting this blog. I’m contemplating, praying about something so dramatically new it’ll take a lot of ruminating to bring the concept together. I need you to jump in and react and maybe help in some very hands-on ways down the road.
Here are some things I want to do when I grow up:
When I grow up, I wanna help small churches. I believe in small churches. While there are plenty of folks who are saying the day of the small church is past and being supplanted by the mega church, I believe just the opposite. In the future there are likely to be a good number of mega churches. And there are likely to be tens of thousands of tiny churches meeting wherever they can. And maybe not much in between. Unless we want Christianity to be totally a collection of a few mega churches (with multiple campuses all over the country), we’d better start finding ways to breathe new life into the small church.
When I grow up, I wanna help struggling ministers. There are likely to be a lot more struggling now and in the future. I want to help those just starting out find ways to make it financially in the ministry to which God has called them. I want to help them dream big about ministry, evangelism and missions. I want to help them find places to rest and spiritually and physically recover. I want to help others in their middle senior years find ways to continue being effective.
When I grow up I wanna write more. This blog’s a start. But there are several writing projects in the hopper as well. A couple of them are almost ready for the light of day.
When I grow up I wanna share the spirituality that’s been developing in my heart. The presence of the Lord is amazing. There’s likely to be a separate blog on that very soon.
When I grow up, I wanna be even more urgent and direct in calling people to salvation at the cross of Jesus. I’m evangelical. No apologies. Ever more focus as the time grows shorter.
Whachuwannado?
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