Todd Summits Mountains!

Randy’s March 2010 Update

Todd Katter plans to summit the tallest peak on each continent.
So far he has made it to the top of two.
The way things are going, I think
he’ll summit more than just mountains.

 

Spring, 2006:

When I first met Todd Katter, he was 27 years old and working as a manager at Deloitte Touche, a public accounting firm.  Outside of work, as a volunteer, he was leading a medium sized group of 20somethings in the city of Chicago (Metro212), as well as leading a small group in that ministry.  At the same time, he was getting his masters degree at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management…and dating!  (I needed a nap just hearing his busy schedule!)

Todd, like myself, was a CPA with a passion for the Lord, which flowed out into a passion for people and transformational ministry.  It wasn’t hard to see that God was going to do some cool things through Todd, things that would truly bless our world.

Todd Goes Into Full-Time Ministry:

Not long after I stepped into full-time shepherding ministry, Todd was asked to join the staff of Willow Chicago (the downtown campus of Willow Creek Community Church) as the Ministries Director, where he oversaw all the ministries and staff of the church.  Willow, like myself, saw his enormous potential.

At that point, Todd and I began meeting regularly.  He desired to have a mentor pouring into him, so he could live out this new role to the best of his God given design.

About a year ago, Todd was asked to serve as the Interim Campus Pastor – the lead role at Willow Chicago, a church that has grown to about 1,000.  In my opinion, he has done an amazing job of leading and growing the church.

I may be biased, but I believe our investment in Todd over these past years has paid huge returns.  From my viewpoint, the mentoring process has prepared, supported, and personally developed Todd in many ways essential for what he is doing now.  It has helped him live out more of his full potential by removing things that were holding him back.

 

 

 Todd has run in 4 marathons (a Boston qualifier),
the last two raising support for World Vision.
He runs as one reaching the goal set before him.
He is currently training for a 56 mile ultra-marathon in Africa!

Here’s what Todd shared about some of the things God has done in his life through Legacy Shepherding Ministries:

Todd’s Testimonial:
“Four years ago, I first met Randy Guenther.  His reflective and thoughtful way of building our relationship struck me from the very beginning.  But I had no idea how profoundly his mentorship would impact my life.

“When we meet together on Wednesday mornings, Randy patiently listens to me rant and rave about my crazy struggles.

“One of his favorite quotes is ‘seek to understand’.  He models this in his conversations with me better than anyone I know.  As a church leader, whenever the inevitable ‘suggestions’ for improvement come my way, the ‘seek to understand’ advice has been VERY helpful!!

“While I know I’m definitely still ‘on a journey’, God has grown metremendously through my times with Randy.

“Randy has helped me step away from the prison of people-pleasing, by teaching me to have a more healthy view of God and more fully realizing the infinite worth that He sees in me .

“I have seen how living in community adds color and meaning to life through sharing the deepest parts of our daily lives with others.  Through Randy’s encouragement, I’m now living this out by sharing an apartment with three other guys in Wrigleyville.

“Randy has taught me how celebrating God’s work in my life makes the work He is doing all the more lasting and memorable.  One summer day, Randy, his roommate Andy and I ended up dancing in a field as we banged away on pots and pans (don’t ask why!).  During one session in Autumn, we left the confines of his lovely ‘retreat center’ and danced around in the leaves outside (come to think of it, Randy seems to have a thing for dancing!).

“Whether we’re celebrating or crying together, Randy never fails to provide me with an endless supply of ice cold water—yes, he lives the simple life, and coffee and orange juice would be a bit too extravagant except on special occasions!

“Four years later, I am still a broken man.  But through my times with Randy, I have learned how to see my brokenness more clearly and have seen how God’s grace can find its way to heal my deepest wounds.

“More importantly, I have learned that, by ‘seeking to understand’ both the beauty and brokenness in others, I can love them more unabashedly as I pass on the baton of God’s wisdom and love that Randy keeps pouring into me. – Todd Katter

Randy’s Closing:

Todd has a huge heart for the city of Chicago.  He is an amazing leader, facilitating life-change in hundreds of lives.

And ladies, he’s still single!

 

Please hold Todd lovingly in your prayers.

In His Love,
Randy

Prison Fence photo by dogbomb on Flickr
Glass of water photo by OiMax on Flickr