Are you aware that poor sponsorship is endemic throughout the Tres Dias ministry?  It’s the root cause of many of the problems that EVERY community deals with; particularly during the weekend phase.

SOME OF THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE:

• Candidates who are struggling with social or emotional problems and are sponsored with the hope that Tres Dias will “fix” them.
• Candidates who do not have a relationship with Jesus, but are sponsored in the hope of having them come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as their Savior.
• Candidates who have agendas that are contrary to our Statement of Belief.
• Sponsors who view their role primarily as getting their candidate on the weekend, with minimal preparation prior to the weekend or follow-up after the weekend.
• And the list goes on….

As you can imagine, this is too large a subject to be handled effectively in a blog, but I want to share some important take-aways that, if implemented, might just begin to make a difference.

PRINCIPLES TO CONSIDER:

• Sponsorship is more than just checking off some boxes to see how many people can be sponsored. Everything in Tres Dias is purposeful – and nothing should be more purposeful than choosing who to sponsor for a weekend.
• Pescadores learn how to sponsor by the example of how they were sponsored. This means that whenever there is poor sponsorship, it will very likely have a far-reaching effect on future candidates.
• The entire focus of the Tres Dias Movement is preparing the candidate for the 4^th Day – which as you know, is the rest of the person’s life! This must be the focus of the Sponsor as well!
• The purpose of the 4^th Day is to enable the person to live a Christian life of Piety, Study & Action by focusing on the following goals:
  1. PERSONAL GROWTH AND ACCOUNTABILITY: This is accomplished by meeting regularly with other Christians in small groups who create an environment of trust and accountability.  The purpose is to develop relationships where they hold each other accountable in living out their Piety, Study and Action.
  2. EVANGELISM: This is accomplished by encouraging the person to return to their home church empowered to be a servant-leaders and to impact their environments with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
  3. DISCIPLESHIP: This is partially accomplished by maintaining a connection with Tres Dias, primarily through Reunion Groups and Secuelas.  The goal is to use the tool of Tres Dias as a means of discipleship for other Christians through sponsorship.
• Tres Dias is NOT for everyone! (This is one that we often don’t think of, but It’s important to keep in mind).

HOW CAN SPONSORS HELP TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS?

• RESPONSIBLE SPONSORSHIP: Bear in mind that our goal should not be to sponsor the largest numbers of candidates.  In most cases it’s better to have a smaller number of committed candidates than a large number of poorly vetted ones.  Yes, people may be blessed by the weekend, but the purpose of Tres Dias is to empower Christians to return to their home churches and assist the leadership as servant-leaders.  Blessings received on the weekend are wonderful, but that’s not (or shouldn’t be) the purpose or focus of this ministry – it’s simply a great by-product!
• PURPOSEFUL SPONSORSHIP: Seek out those Christians who you feel would benefit from the Tres Dias experience in ways that will enable them to accomplish the 4^th Day Goals – rather than simply people you feel would enjoy the weekend.
• ACCOUNTABLE SPONSORSHIP: Bear in mind that, as a sponsor, you have serious responsibilities to your candidate, and you need to be accountable to them for each phase (Pre-Weekend, Weekend and 4^th Day).

HERE ARE SOME BRIEF TAKE-AWAYS THAT MIGHT HELP IN YOUR DECISION-MAKING WHEN CONSIDERING WHO TO SPONSOR:

• How well do you know the person that you plan to sponsor?
• Does this person have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
• Is the person active in a local Christian church?
• Is the person someone who will work to improve his or her environment by bringing Christ into the workplace, home, church and society-at-large?
• Is the person a mature, responsible adult of at least 21 years of age?
• Have you considered the person’s health and stamina for this weekend? If they have a disability, is the facility equipped to accommodate them?
• Is the person mentally and emotionally stable and free of stressors that might interfere with the Tres Dias experience?
• Is the person aware of the Tres Dias Statement of Belief so they’ll understand the foundational beliefs that they’ll be exposed to for an entire weekend?
• Does the person advocate for social activities that are contrary to Scripture? If so, have you discussed the issue with them to determine if they are a suitable candidate?  Are you comfortable that they will not advocate for these positions when exposed to contrary views on the weekend?
• In the case of a married couple, are both husband and wife willing to attend a Tres Dias Weekend?

If you find yourself answering “No” to one or more of these questions, this person may need more time and nurturing before Tres Dias will benefit him / her the most.  That’s a decision that you must make; relying on the Holy Spirit for direction!

HERE’S THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF:  Are you willing to commit yourself to the person you’re planning to sponsor for all 3 phases:  Pre-Weekend, Weekend, and especially their 4^th Day?

TO CLOSE:  I hope you found these goals and tips helpful, and agree that if we implement steps like these, we’ll have a more positive outcome not only for our communities but also for our congregations and our environments.

I’d like to know how you feel about this topic.  Please feel free to join the conversation on our private Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/tresdiasinternational).

De Colores!

Jeff Mehl
President
Tres Dias International