Treasuring Christ Together Network

The TCT Network Website Has Changed Locations

noreply@blogger.com (Kenny Stokes) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:37:00 +0000

We have outgrown our Blogspot site and have launched our own website. Please visit us at our new website.

Building the Network

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:16:00 +0000

The GCA Winter Conference http://www.gca.cc/events/2012-winter-conference/ is just a little over 4 weeks away and we are pleased to announce our registered attendance stands at 9 with 5 of our church planting group and 4 leadership guests. We also have invited 4 other leadership individuals to attend who are undecided. We have one church from Madison, Wisconsin who will be attending to learn more about our TCT-CP Network. Another church in the Twin Cites is seriously considering partnering with us.
We joyfully work at Building the Network and give praise and glory to our Lord and Savior!

DG Pastor's Conference

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:21:00 +0000

Just a quick reminder that the Desiring God 2012 Conference for Pastors (Jan 30 to Feb 1) is quickly approaching. The early bird rate of $130 is good until December 30.

Senior pastors, given the theme of this year's conference, consider using this as opportunity to build into the lay leaders and elders of your church. We have a group discount of $100 (per person) when you bring five or more guys from your church.

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:49:00 +0000

May all that He is

come alive in your heart

this Christmas!

"For unto you is born this day in the city

of David a Savior, who is

Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

TCT Church Planting News

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

You won't want to miss the Desiring God Pastor's Conference this year. (January 30-February 1, 2011)
Go to http://www.desiringgod.org/events for more information on the upcoming conference.

This year Treasuring Christ Together Church Planting Network will be having a more prominent place and will be much more visible than in past years. Plan on attending to help us in hosting the following events.

Sponsoring the Prayer Room
Table in the Exhibit Hall
A special one hour seminar on Tuesday afternoon
An advertisement in the conference journal stating we are looking for church planters and parent church partners
We plan to have the TCT-CPN website up and running by late January.

Pastor for Global Outreach

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:40:00 +0000

Bethlehem Baptist Church is seeking a full time Pastor for Global Outreach. The aim of the position is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ, particularly as it relates to the communication of that passion among people groups overseas, and in cross-cultural contexts, so that the mission of the church is carried out, the theological teaching of the Elder Affirmation of Faith is joyfully embraced, ad the “10 Dimensions of Church Life” are made manifest.

Applicant shall have a good grasp and hearty endorsement of the biblical and theological orientation of the leadership of Bethlehem as expressed in our Elder Affirmation of Faith. The Pastor For Global Outreach needs to meet the spiritual and character qualifications of elder as found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 and to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22. He should be wise, discerning, decisive, sensitive, tender and firm. He should be a man of prayer and a man of the Word, sensitive to what the Spirit is saying to Bethlehem. He should devote himself to daily prayer and Bible reading for the sake of guarding himself from sin and stirring up his heart and mind to renewed passion for Christ and should lead his family in regular times in the Word and prayer.

He shall have significant cross-cultural ministry experience.

More information is available in the job description.

If interested please complete our pastoral pastoral job application.

More information is available in the job description.

Joby Morgan

Office Manager Bethlehem Baptist Church, 720 13th Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55415 612-338-7653 x460

Lighthouse of Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Lighthouse of Prayer

Over the last few weeks I've written about becoming a "Lighthouse of Prayer" in our neighborhoods, schools or places of work, and so far I've addressed five questions: What is a Lighthouse? Who can be a Lighthouse? Why should I become a Lighthouse? Why do Lighthouses work effectively? Who should I reach out to? and How should I pray?

To put it briefly, a Lighthouse of Prayer is a person or family who takes the responsibility to pray for his/her neighborhood, school or place of work, to seek opportunities to care for the people there, and to seek opportunities to share the love of Christ with the people there-prayer, care, share. Being a Lighthouse is that simple and anyone who knows Jesus Christ can do this! For today I want to answer three more questions.

First, how do I get started? Start with a prayer of confession for any failure to pray, or care or share in the past. Then make a Lighthouse prayer list beginning with those who are closest and most open to you. Make a commitment to pray for them at least five times a week. Ask the Holy Spirit for the help you will need to do this. Set a regular time and place, if possible, to pray for those on your list. Start immediately or sometime within the next 24 hours. The longer you delay the harder it will be to start, so why not start today!

Second, as I pray for people, how should I care for them? Start by building a relationship with each person you are praying for. Learn as much as you can about them-the names of family members, their work, friends, interests, concerns and needs. Try to understand what life is really like for friends, acquaintances and coworkers by putting yourself in their shoes. Do acts of kindness. Love people just for the sake of loving them! Remember how much they matter to God. Let God love them through you without ulterior motives. Freely you have received from Christ, now freely give for the glory of Christ.

Third, how should I share with people? In order to be saved people must somehow "hear" the good news (Romans 10:14). Do what you can to make sure that happens. Ask the Lord to open a door of opportunity for you to personally present the gospel. Give them a tract or book or video that focuses on Christ, involve them in a Bible study or take them to a church service or an evangelistic event where they will hear a gospel message, or share the gospel with them yourself. And as you do, remember that "the gospel ... is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). In other words, trust that as you share the Word of God the Holy Spirit will move by the power of God and work in people's lives. It's not about you and how you share, but about God and how much he loves to seek and save the lost.

Being a Lighthouse-prayer, care, share-is really that simple so why not start today and see what the Lord will do?

With hope and joy in Christ,

Pastor Charlie Handren

Glory of Christ Fellowship

Elk River, Minnesota

Global Church Advancement Conference

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Time is approaching quickly.

Conference is in Lake Mary, Florida, (Orlando area) at the Lake Mary Marriott.

Schedule: Tuesday, January 24, registration 10am - noon, meeting begins at 1:pm and the conference concludes Friday, January 27 at noon.

Don't miss the special TCT Church Planting Network Working Lunch Meeting, Friday, January 27, noon to approximately 3pm at the same location.

Please let me know if you and others form your church are planning to attend the conference so that we will be able to adequately plan for the working lunch meeting following the conference.

Special rates at the Lake Mary Marriott for $99 per night. You will need to go to GCA's website and click on accommodations to receive the special hotel rate.

http://www.gca.cc/events/2012-winter-conference/, use code "GCA GUEST" to receive free admission when registering.

Jason Vaden Recommended for Ordination

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:10:00 +0000

"On Monday, November 28, 2011, at his ordination council, Jason Vaden was unanimously recommended for ordination with the SBC."

Desiring God 2012 Conference for Pastors

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:25:00 +0000

The theme of the 2012 Conference for Pastors is "God, Manhood and Ministry: Building Men for the Body of Christ" — being held in Minneapolis from January 30 to February 1. We encourage senior pastors in particular to take advantage of our group rate of just $100 (per person) as a great opportunity to build into your elders and lay leaders.
Register Now!

Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Psalm 106:1-5

1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise? 3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, 5 that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.

Pray for the TCT Church Planting Network

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:59:00 +0000

October 25, 2011
Pray_for_TCT_Church_Planting_Network.pdf
Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you.—2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NASB)

In 2002, we embraced a strategy to fulfill our church mission that has come to be called “Treasuring Christ Together” (TCT). The strategy has three aspects: multiplying campuses, multiplying new churches, and multiplying mercy through our Global Diaconate.

From the beginning, our prayer was that we be used by God to plant not just one church but a network of churches that work together to plant more new churches. All of our TCT church plants embrace our mission, our Elder Affirmation of Faith, and our essential commitments to church life. My aim is to give you some highlights in that journey and ask for your prayers.

Earlier this year, the elders approved a partnership with Global Church Advancement (GCA), a church planting consultation ministry lead by Dr. Steven Childers of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida.

In April of this year, we called together all of our church planting pastors (listed below) along with leaders from the TCT churches to a church planting vision summit meeting.

2003—Desiring God Church, Charlotte, North Carolina
2005—Treasuring Christ Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
2006—All Nations Christian Fellowship, Brooklyn Center
2006—Grace Community Church, Memphis, Tennessee
2007—Glory of Christ Fellowship, Elk River
2009—Kaleo Church, El Cajon, California
2010—Jubilee Community Church, Minneapolis
2010—Urban Harvest Fellowship, North Little Rock, Arkansas
2011—Christ Redeemer Church, Woodbury
2012—Redemption City Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan

At that meeting, we took steps to establish a national TCT Church Planting Network, as well as a subordinate Twin Cities Regional Network, the first of what we pray are many regional networks. We identified a leadership team for both the national and Twin Cities networks to think, pray, and draft vision and strategy plans.

October 10–12 we gathered again for our second summit meeting, this time on the topic of ongoing spiritual health and renewal. We thought and prayed about ways to build into our network a relentless pursuit of God in worship, individually and corporately, as a network of local churches whose desire and treasure is Christ Jesus.

Join us in prayer as we look ahead to the next few months. Pray for:

A new church planting resident slated to begin in January 2012.
At least six spiritually mature men who sense a call to become church planting coaches and are willing to attend a coaching training at the GCA Church Planting Conference held January 24–25, 2012.
Monthly meetings of the Twin Cities Network to begin in February 2012.
Brett Louis, lead planting pastor of Christ Redeemer Church in Woodbury, as he plans for a public church plant launch in late Winter/early Spring 2012.
Anticipated church plant launches in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Dayton, Ohio.
God to continue to call church planters from Bethlehem, the TCT churches, Bethlehem College and Seminary, and from our networking at Desiring God events.
That the Word of the Lord will spread and be glorified,

Kenny Stokes, Lead Pastor, Downtown Campus

GCA Winter Conference - Orlando, Florida

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Global Church Advancement Church Planting and Revitalization Conference
Lake Mary, FL: January 24-27, 2012 (Tuesday-Friday)
This GCA Conference is an inter-denominational training event designed to equip church planters, coaches and supervisors to start, grow and multiply healthy, gospel-centered churches that result in the spiritual, social and cultural transformation of entire cities and regions.
Christian leaders from more than 50 countries, representing over 200 denominations and mission agencies, have taken this church planter training.
Plenary presentations, peer-group discussions, practical workshops and leadership forums will allow participants to formulate their own "culturally contextualized" values, mission, and church planting strategy. The Seven Seasons of Church Planting will be surveyed from pre-birth to reproduction. http://www.gca.cc/

Following the conference, on Friday, the Treasuring Christ Together Church Planting Network will be meeting with Steve Childers and Bob Orner for a working lunch meeting 12:30pm - 3:00. Please plan your flight schedules to stay for this meeting if at all possible. Please contact Cleon Engel with your questions or comments. cleon.engel@hopeingod.org

New Church Planting Resident

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:02:00 +0000

Pastor Kenny Stokes announced that Erik Hyatt has been accepted into the TCT Church Planting Residency with an aim to plant a multi-ethnic church in the Twin Cities. Erik will resign from his position as Pastor for Global Outreach, effective December 31, 2011, and begin the residency in January 2012.   Steven Stein, Elder, and Ken Currie, Lead Pastor for Outreach, are presently leading a committee aiming to identify and install a new pastor in Erik's place by January. Pray for the Hyatt Family and the search committee—for God's wisdom in this transition.

Worship Concert

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Friends,

Join us this Friday evening (Oct. 28), for a worship concert with a 50 voice choir from Bethlehem Baptist Church campuses, Twin Cities church plants, and New Hope Evangelical Free Church for a concert on Friday, 7 pm, at All Nations Christian Fellowship (6830 Quail Ave N, Brooklyn Center, MN), as we record songs for an upcoming CD featuring original songs and hymn arrangements that glory in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be an opportunity to give a tax deductible gift towards the completion of the project. Special guests include: Sara Renner, Tonia Hughes, Steve Goold, Johannes Tona, and Cory Wong. Contact Wally Brath, 763-245-3068 ( wally.brath@gmail.com)

Even if you do not live in the Twin Cities or are unable to attend, please visit www.musiciansinmission.org to learn more about the project and how you can partner with us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3W9WKG8ROI

Schedule Planning

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:55:00 +0000

The GCA winter conference is just three months away, so I want to remind you to begin planning to attend the conference which is scheduled in Orlando, January 24-27, 2012.
This conference is specially designed for our church planters and coaches to attend. More information will be coming. Please contact me early for any travel requests you may have.

This conference will take the place of our National TCT Church Planting Network meeting usually scheduled around this time. Our next National TCT Church Planting Network meeting will take place mid April, 2012.

The Twin Cities Regional Church Planting Network will begin our regular monthly meetings in February, 2012.

An Invitation to All the TCT Churches

noreply@blogger.com (Will Barkley) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:35:00 +0000

BCS Special Event:

Topic: Does Theological Education in Missions Matter When the Unreached are Dying and Going to Hell?

For the better part of a century, the Protestant church has been focused on "finishing the task" of world evangelization. By God's grace, the concerted effort to proclaim the gospel among unreached peoples has not been fruitless; the global church grew more in the 20th Century than the nineteen before it - combined. But, as evangelical leadership around the world has noted, gospel expansion has not always resulted in doctrinal depth. The genocide in Rwanda took place in a country regarded as 90% Christian. Tragically, the church in many places of the world is facing theological famine.

But the task of global evangelism is substantial. The Joshua Project and the International Missions Board have identified 700 people groups whom no one is known to be targeting with the gospel. Nearly 6000 people groups around the globe have no access to the gospel. Given these realities, what posture should the church take? Bethlehem College and Seminary is pleased to welcome Jason Mandryk and M. David Sills to tackle this important question. Jason Mandryk is editor of Operation World and a frequent speaker on the status of world evangelization. The colossal task of organizing a prayer guide to all the nations of the world has uniquely exposed him to the riches and poverty of the global church. David Sills is Professor of Missions and Cultural Anthropology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. As a former missionary, he has given his life to training leaders to pass along the riches of Christian doctrine to growing church leaders around the world. Both are particularly equipped to discuss this pressing issue for the church and academy.

Please join us on Thursday, September 22nd at 7:00pm at the downtown campus of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Admission is free. More information is available online at www.bcsmn.org.

Scam or not?

noreply@blogger.com (Kenny Stokes) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:23:00 +0000

If you are a TCT Church Planter, yesterday you received an email asking you to complete a TCT Church Planting Pastor's Salary Survey. Several of you replied asking if the email was a Scam. The email was not a scam. I apologize and take responsibility for the confusion.

Here is the context. As Sean Cordell and I talked last week, it seems like it would be helpful for the TCT church planters to send in their salary info to compile into a salary survey. The survey could then be handed to you at the October meeting and may be helpful feedback for you and your church in having some sense of your salary in a broader context.

Treat this an optional request, hoping to serve the TCT planters. If you are not comfortable submitting the survey, either tell us or do not complete it.

Again, I apologize for the confusion.

Kenny

Christ Redeemer Church News

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:35:00 +0000

News from Thomas and Karena Rydland ---
Karena and I are excited to share that God's "yes" to 4+ years of prayer showed up on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8:57pm, weighing 8lbs 2oz, stretching 21in. After two nights in the hospital, we brought our new baby daughter home on Monday - one week ago today! Her name is Kyrkja Noel Grace. Kyrkja is pronounced like "keer-kuh" and is the Norwegian word for "church." As the church is adopted in Christ, so we are adopting Kyrkja; and, our prayer for her is that she one day, too, will be adopted by God in Christ.
THANK YOU, for your loving support and prayers and encouragement over the past year as we've experienced some hard providence in our adoption pursuits. We are really grateful to God to travel this particular journey in this particular community. We feel very loved. Thank you so much.
Please continue to pray for us in the days to come. Technically, we are still in the "legal risk period" for about the next 36 days during which time the birth mom could change her mind.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise our God who promises that "if we ask anything according to his will he hears us" (1Jn.5:14).
Peace in Jesus to you all.

Mark Your Calendars

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:12:00 +0000

National TCT Church Planting Meeting - October 10&11, 2011
Downtown Campus
Monday, October 10
1pm - 9pm
Tuesday, October 11
9am - 12 noon

Regional TCT Church Planting Meeting - October 11&12, 2011
Downtown Campus
Tuesday, October 11
12:30pm Join BBC Staff Lunch
2pm - 9pm
North Campus
Wednesday, October 12
9am - 3pm

The above dates are listed for your information as to the agenda for the National and Regional TCT Networks. However, you are invited to attend and participate in all the sessions. Please also remember to invite your lay leaders to these meetings as they are most important in helping us to develop our Treasuring Christ Together Networks.

Kenny Stokes -- New Role

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:42:00 +0000

At the all church Quarterly Strategy Meeting July 24, 2011, Kenny Stokes was appointed to a new role of Downtown Campus Pastor which includes Church Planting. When he returns from vacation the first week of August he officially begins that new role. We wish Kenny and Kathy God's richest blessing as he begins his new role of shepherding the downtown flock and guiding and shaping the TCT Church Planting Networks.

Mercy Cordell Update

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:17:00 +0000

As for her progress, it is slow but there is improvement. Her muscle enzymes are moving closer to normal but there is one enzyme that is not decreasing much. When this decreases more they will pull her off of the prednisone (steroid with nasty side effects). We are at Duke today for an 8+hour treatment. Pray for her side effects from the treatment to be minimal (usually she is really sad, her stomach really hurts, and she goes from full of energy to extremely tired.) Pray for our faith as parents to be strong. It is tempting to get tired of seeing her body go from riding a bike to crying out because her stomach hurts from running through the house to not able to climb steps. Not being able to go in the sun has really limited our summer activities and tempted us to weariness at times (many times because of the things we miss with others). Pray for us to continue in prayer and to not give up. Pray for us to stay intentional with our boys as a lot of our attention has been turned to Mercy. Please pray for us to make this more about God's glory than about Mercy- specifically as we are tempted to only think about Mercy while at the hospital and not how we can get the gospel to nurses and doctors. However Dana was trumpeting God's goodness to us and sharing gospel truths with our nurse today. May God save. Pray that our marriage to take its appropriate place as we live out this new sense of "normal" for the next few years. Thank you for your prayers for healing and for faith.
Loving Christ and His church with you
Sean

Redemption City Church

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Mike Bartlett was unanimously approved to become Bethlehem's eleventh TCT Church Plant. Elders voted to present Redemption City Church at the July 24th Quarterly Strategy Meeting for congregational approval. Mike and Jamie Bartlett will be moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan to begin their ministry this summer.

National TCT-CPN Meeting - June 20-21

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Sat, 28 May 2011 15:52:00 +0000

We have had have some discussions with Steve Childers over the past couple of weeks in regard to not losing the momentum and the vision for the National TCT Regional Network. We would like to invite you to a special meeting Monday evening June 20th and Tuesday morning June 21st (two four hour sessions) to discuss some thoughts and ideas on how to implement. Then our Vision Summit meeting would begin at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 21st ending on Wednesday June 22 at 4pm.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING?
This meeting will focus on the National TCT Network, but all are welcome to participate.

Mercy Cordell Update

noreply@blogger.com (C Engel) — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Mercy has responded well to her first round of treatments. She has been able to climb the steps periodically and has overall more motivation/energy. Monday they cleared her regarding her Tuberculosis (TB). So TB is official "in the past" and will not effect the treatment of her present disease. Praise God!! Mercy has recently been spiking fevers, and has been weaker over the past several days. So, TOMORROW we will begin her second round of treatment. This treatment will be 8+ hours of IV's. She will have one "pulse" of steroids, a chemo-type drug that also suppresses her immune system (Dana and I will have to learn to give that to her via shot), and the Immunogloblin infusion (IVIg) tomorrow. We are pleased with our doctor's hesitancy to use steroids on Mercy. Our doctor is even saying she might not do steroids after this or that we will only do a couple of doses.

So how to pray:
Pray that Mercy handles the Infusions well tomorrow. (ie limited to no immediate or long-term side effects)
Pray for us as we have to learn how to give Mercy weekly shots of medicine.
Pray for the doctors to treat Mercy with what is best (we pray a limited steroid route),
Pray for her complete healing, Pray for the gospel to advance to Duke Hospital and neighbors through this (that many would come to faith).
Pray for a sharpness to our of faith, that is, that we may not grow lethargic or dulled to the Holy Spirit but more alert and alive in our faith.
Pray that we would be faithful with any platform given to proclaim God's faithfulness and goodness in giving this to us.

Thank you for caring for us and for your prayers. We have been comforted by Christ and by your petitions on our behalf. Believing with you in the powerful grace of God in all things.
Sean Cordell