The TOV community is a collective that meets Friday Evenings at the White River Field and Freedom NRA Gun Range (6715 Hwy 50 Lake Geneva WI) during the summer months and in homes throughout the fall – winter – spring seasons.
WHAT DOES TOV MEAN?
TOV is the Hebrew word we translate as “good” but biblically meant the way things were designed by God to be in partnership with humanity as the family (body) of Christ. Tov is a small but infinitely expansive Hebrew word. Most commonly translated as good (as an adjective; but also used as an adverb well) – beautiful, best, bountiful, cheerful, favor, glad, graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, loving, prosperity.
It means capable of, presently engaged in the process of, and destined for, completely fulfilling the Divine purpose for which you were created.
In Genesis 1, we see that creation is far-reaching and encompasses everything from the textured dirt into which we dig our toes to the core fibers of our very beings. YHWH speaks seeds of life into the earth, & life into us as well. Now it’s our turn to bring forth the seeds of life within us—seeds of encouraging, teaching, interceding, healing, designing, building, creating, and so on. YHWH’s invitation is on the table for us.
WHAT IS TOV?
The TOV community is a Jesus culture collective. To some TOV is a weekly church initiative, to others it is simply another aspect of their life in Jesus. TOV is discipleship culture. A deeper walk with Jesus. An all in community. In the first century Jesus asked his disciples’ total commitment. They were to put the “kingdom of Heaven” before all else. The essential qualities of first-century disciples were biblical literacy, community, transparency and devotion. This included a passion together with zeal to give up their former life and fully follow Jesus.
TOV is an inspiring community that manifests the physical hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and broken world. We are ambassadors of light. Even though deepest discipleship is our goal, our group thrives by helping our neighbors. This can mean day to day practice, combining our gifting to come together and do great things, service, philanthropy, and often influences the least of these such as the homeless and hurting.
FIND YOUR TRIBE:
One aspect of TOV is to find your “tribe.” We believe that people were meant to live in deep community with those that practice covenant faithfulness. That together we can grow so tight as brothers and sisters that we are literally surrounded by the Love of Jesus, day in and day out. In a first-century culture they literally left their former lives and moved into the church community. Modern America has made this difficult, but the mindset should still be the same. We believe that you were meant to walk in deep relationship with others, to share in the burdens and revel in the joy. We believe that two are better than one (not simply meaning marriage but community endeavor) and that unity in the body is found in faithfulness to each other founded by the example of Jesus. We hope that the bigger TOV initiatives spark regular community whether it be with a life group, Bible Study, men’s or women’s group, or whatever God may have for you and that you find lifelong deep covenant friendships.
Giving:
We believe in a first century (ACTS 2) new covenant giving initiative. In the New Covenant Jesus didn’t ask for a tithe or even an offering, He asked us for everything through a vast assortment of gifts, His new covenant body – “all in community” as we image Him. His calling was that we might be living sacrifices unto Him, following His self-sacrificial example. Therefore, we believe that Jesus asks for all of our time, treasure, and talent. Everything that has been endowed to us should be entrusted back to Jesus and His kingdom. In other words, you don’t need to “make time or space” for God if all of your time, treasure and talents (sacred space) is His. In the same regard, you don’t need to consider giving a percentage of your financial resources if you are of the mindset that it is all His and you are merely the Spirit led steward of it. Usually there is a donation box at Tov and occasionally we “pass a plate” for an Acts 2:45 specific need of the body. You can also give digitally below. There is no hidden agenda other than the guiding of the Spirit.
Everything given goes towards those in need. There are no salaries, mortgages or bills to pay (that the patron givers haven’t covered). There is very little “entanglement” to the world, which is often tied to money, hierarchy, and materialism. Although we believe our primary loyalty is to the kingdom of Jesus, we recognize a limited dual citizenship to which X44 belongs as a 501c3 entity.
Some have chosen to underwrite the few costs we have as “patron” partners. If you would like to dedicate a regular monthly amount please do so here:
http://www.venmo.com/u/expedition44 or simply @expedition44
PAY WITH A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD
prayer team: Andrew Voight, Cynthia Deletzke, David Hey, Dina Kloss, Tracy Van Keuren, Troy Barstow
CLICK HERE TO READ HOW TO SAY TOV
Original Word: טוֹב
Pronunciation: tobe or “tove” (In Hebrew the V often takes on a soft “B” sound.)
Definition: all things that are of God – GOOD
USED 562X in the OT SUCH AS:
pleasant, agreeable, good Genesis 2:12, Micah 7:4, Deuteronomy 6:18, Esther 2:2
to the sight, Genesis 6:2, Exodus 2:2, 1 Samuel 9:2; 1 Kings 20:3
to the taste, Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:6, Genesis 41:5,22,24,26
to the smell, Songs 1:3, Jeremiah 6:20
of time: I Samuel 25:8, Esther 8:17, Esther 9:19,22, Zechariah 8:19, Genesis 41:35
of word or message, 2 Samuel 18:27, 1 Samuel 2:24, Proverbs 15:30,
of land, soil, Exodus 3:8, Numbers 13:19, Numbers 14:7
The word tov would best be translated with the word “functional” as part of God’s order over chaos. In contrast to this word is the Hebrew word “ra”. These two words, tov and ra are used for the tree of the knowledge of “good” and “evil”. While “ra” is often translated as evil it is best translated as “dysfunctional” or chaotic. This is also described as a person’s desire (yetzer) or inclination towards good or evil. At a very simple level what God desires for us as his image bearers is to be the physical representation of Him on earth. We are those that bring peace, balance, order, and the things of the Lord to a world that has turned to dysfunction (ra) instead of function (tov) and chaos instead of order.
EXPEDITION 44 