Everything

Friendship: Enjoying God and People

Elizabeth Long — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:40:29 +0000

Leadership in the sands of Wilmington? Sign me up!

Click here to register!

Brazil Missions Readiness Training

Richard LaComa, Jr — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:40:33 +0000

TRAINING THE INDIGENOUS CHURCH

WANTED: Volunteers to train Gospel workers in Brazil

REQUIREMENT: Attend a one-day training workshop at Manna Church, Fayetteville, on Saturday, January 9, 2010, 10:00 AM – 4:00PM

This is the people: They speak English, Portuguese, Macuxi, Ingarico, Wai Wai and Yanamomi. Their cultures are Primitive, Tribal, Brazilian and Guyanese. In education there is no written language, they are Illiterate, some with a Sixth-grade education, some with a High school education, and a few with a College education.

This is the project: To take a week of your valuable time to teach an intensive on the Kingdom of God to the above mix of students. You will teach twice a day repeating the same material in the morning from 8 to 12 and in the evening from 6 to 10. Unlike the morning sessions the evenings all of the students will have at least a sixth grade education and will be Portuguese speaking. Thank you for taking your valuable time to invest your life for Kingdom advance in northern Brazil.

This is the process: Training to equip you to minister in the unique context of the Brazilian, Amerindian, church to prepare leaders for church planting and church leadership. The gospel is advancing rapidly in this area of the world creating unique opportunities and challenges.

This is the plan: To teach you the background, history and culture of the Amerindians of that area of Brazil and to train you in the unique ways needed to communicate and teach in this context. This is not your Momma’s Sunday School class! We do not want to teach western culture and concepts to a people who have no reference for these concepts but who have a foundation for understanding the gospel. This day of training includes: their background, methods of effective teaching, appropriate cultural practices and sensitivities that are of the utmost importance, and principles for an effective ministry among these key kingdom people.

This is the program: You will participate in training the different levels of leaders among the Amerindians and Brazilians so they can plant hundreds of churches among hundreds of open villages reaping the harvest of thousands of Amerindians in remote villages. This is a first century type of open door and ministry. The Macedonians have called to us and we must answer but the answer cannot be any answer! It must be an answer that is full of proper strategy and proper preparation. This is who we are; this is the right time and the right place. Join us!

This is the cost: -- $30.00 for lunch and a book

Register Now

Why We Conference Together

Dr. Clem Ferris — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Dr. Clem Ferris, Prophet
Grace Church, Chapel Hill, NC

In just a few weeks, the family and friends of Grace Churches International will gather for what we call the “International Leadership Conference.” So, why do we conference, anyway?

We are all most certainly busy enough in our own spheres of responsibility and influence without adding another set of meetings to our calendars. But as a Kingdom family and network of local churches, we must realize that we need to “caucus” together on a regular basis. Caucus is a political term that speaks of a meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same faction to decide on policy. Also, it is a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause.

These are truly “political times!” Politics speaks of the total complex of relations between men and society. It is the arrangement of human life into form, for execution. The Kingdom is both a political and diplomatic endeavor. Jesus came to re-arrange our lives to execute His Kingdom! So we MUST conference, for mutual Kingdom advance!

When we gather, we realize that:

1. We are to bring our lives into a particular arrangement, under God, for Kingdom execution.

We originate and renew relationships and fellowship; and we sample individual uniqueness and culture. Don’t you love hearing testimonies from afar and seeing old friends and meeting new ones?

2. We set a pathway for participation.

This is a crucial time for enlistment and joining in the corporate vision of GCI.

3. We are provided with spiritual sight.

Every time we gather together and touch God, we should see more. Sight is the spiritual muscle and strength we have!

Let us gather November 19 – 21 with great anticipation and migration in our heart. We can’t touch God without something moving . As God unveils more of Himself at our Conference, be ready to change and re-arrange for greater Kingdom purpose!

Keeping Tabs on Elder Brothers

Jerry Daley — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:07:16 +0000

Jerry Daley. Senior Pastor
GraceLife Church, Columbia, SC

I, like many of you, read The Prodigal God and loved it. He asks a telling question: “Why do people like Jesus but not the church?” His answer: Sinners were drawn to Jesus. The younger brother types. Keller seems to think that churches have a lot of elder brothers.

I’m not sure he mentions this; but I think we have all started out as younger brothers only to discover a creeping little tendency toward the elder brother thing. In fact, I suspect that we can, at times, find a little of both brothers in our hearts. Darn!

I could give you some peeks at thoughts that are from the elder brother; but I’ll bet you already know.

Now that I think about it, both Galatians and Hebrews were written to Christians who had lost their peace and joy as elder brothers.

Maybe this is why I so often need a Refresher Course in: “Cease trying so hard, stop worrying, knock it off with the “under it stuff”; and rest in the finished work of Christ! Do you read Gal.3:1, the way I do? “What is the world is wrong with you Jerry? Did somebody bewitch you? Did Christ die for you or not? Is it by you or Me? Are you trusting me for your worth, adequacy, sufficiency?”

Then maybe, its just me.

Jerry Daley

GCI Podcasts on iTunes

The Webmasters — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:22:32 +0000

Subscribe to GCI's audio podcasts in iTunes
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411 Summer 09 - Leader's Meeting Phil Cana's Talks and Delane's Prophecy (Audio)

Richard LaComa, Jr — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:18:48 +0000

Listen to and download guest speaker Phil Cana's two high impacting talks, revealing God's wisdom and Dalane's Prophecy, at the GCI 4:11 Summer 2009 Leader's Meeting

Downloads (right cick link and select "save target as" or "save link as" depending on your browser)

Phil part 1

Phil part 2

Dalane's Prophecy

Current Events

Michael Cotten — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:50:26 +0000

Michael Cotten. Prophet
Antioch Ministries

I read the newspaper each morning (I know, totally analog) and this week I have seen sermons jumping off the page.

First Item (Thursday, June 25):

“Mauritania -- Al-Qaida says it killed American -- NOUAKCHOTT -- Al-Qaida’s North African branch has claimed responsibility for the killing of an American aid worker shot dead in Mauritania’s capital, Al-Jazeera TV reported Thursday.
An audio statement by Al-Qaida of the Islamic Maghreb spokesman Salah Abu Mohammed said the group killed 39-year-old Christopher Ervin Leggett on Tuesday because he was allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.”

This was not one of our GCI people, but it easily could have been. It’s a stark reminder that we as Christians are in a death struggle with Satan. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV) Every time we go out our door, whether to the mall or to a foreign country, we enter into that struggle.

Second Item (Thursday, June 25)

GOP leaders want Sanford to step down -- THE DISGRACED POLITICIAN IS FINDING LITTLE SUPPORT AFTER HE ADMITS CHEATING ON HIS WIFE”

The Governor of South Carolina, who proclaimed his evangelicalism, has been caught in as torrid affair with an Argentinean lover. It seems astonishing that anyone would throw family and successful political career away for a fling. My morning reading took me here: “People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.” (Proverbs 6:30-33 ESV)

I see more and more of these sad affairs being aired. So often I am asked to have a part in the restoration of fallen leaders. It’s certainly possible, but the problem becomes the wreckage left in the wake of these affairs. That wreckage is human and hurting, and failed leaders bear responsibility for that before God.

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1 ESV)

Third Item -- From Twitter (Yeah, digital) Saturday, June 27

“RT@JohnPiper Elizabeth Taylor on Michael Jackson: ‘He will live in my heart forever but it’s not enough. My life feels so empty.’ Pray.” We see people living life with so much effort trying to achieve significance, and whatever they do it’s never enough. So, they try to find heroes they can believe in and worship. But that's not enough either.

Here’s the real stuff -- “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV)

God will make you a great nation and give you a great name and bless you and make you a blessing for the world. Go for that.

Michael Cotten, Prophet
Antioch Ministries

A Leadership Gut Check

Jerry Daley — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:50:26 +0000

I regularly tell our men, “I’m not your wife’s pastor. You are. My job is to help you do a great job!”

Which brings me to us. The Pastors with a capital P. Leaders have to be at least one step ahead. The future growth and reaching power of your Church is located right where husbands lead, nurture, cherish, and feed their wives…or not!

Certainly one of the most common complaints of those married to Pastors is the sense that the Church comes before them. I think all of us would say that there have been times when we failed in this department. So, what about now? How are we demonstrating to our children that their mother is more important than the Church?

If our children were asked, “Does your father put your mother above the Church?” Well, o.k. we won’t do that.

We all believe that our wives are more important. Absolutely. No question. But we aren’t the ones asking the question. No, it’s what our wives think and feel that is the issue.

Think friendship. Think quality time looking into one another’s eyes with the spark of delight!

Are you sharing one’s another’s current insecurities? What if I ask us all, “Am I going where she is emotionally and sharing that space with her? Am I assisting her to overcome her fears?”

I have a great marriage. We are deeply in love; but I also find that busyness is an on-going challenge to what I believe. Perhaps it is helpful for us all to ponder the words of Hebrews 3: “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is called ‘Today’, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of (busyness).”

Jerry Daley, Senior Pastor
GraceLife Church

The Church Empowered

Michael Fletcher — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:41:21 +0000

What makes some churches successful and other churches not? This question and many others like it have been asked and answered in a variety of ways over the many years the church has existed. And, honestly, the answer is often complicated by internal contextual factors and external cultural factors rendering a short and simple answer impossible to give. But are there some factors that universally lend to empowerment? Are there some factors, that if neglected will lead to stagnation? I am sure these questions would draw many and varied responses if put before key leaders and researchers in the ecclesiastical and missiological communities. Here I propose that while there may be many answers, there is at least one factor that cannot be ignored. That factor is related to Pneumatology and its impact on Ecclesiology.

In the New Testament, in church history, and in the present era in various parts of the earth, we see churches whose life and ministry are full of passion, purpose, and pneuma (spirit.) By pneuma here I mean “spirit” with a small “s” like one might ascribe to a person who loves their school – “school spirit.” The church has passion; it is full of love, love for God, love for others, love for each other. The church and the people of whom she is comprised seem to understand, more than most that they exist for a purpose. Even if they cannot clearly articulate that purpose they have a sense that there is a “bigger picture,” one they are somehow a part of and that excites them. And they have “spirit” – “pneuma.” Or better put, it exists about them, around them, with them. There is an indescribable air about the church gathered, an “electric feeling,” an excitement in the air, a magnetic, contagious attraction. This “pneuma” defies definition but it is not unlike “school spirit.” It resides in the church gathered and dispersed and does not at all rely on the function of internal affectations much like school spirit can be felt at a pep rally, in the hallways the day of the game, and in the hearts of the students even after they go home for the evening. In reference to the church, it does not matter if the music is loud or quiet, if the mood is somber or energetic, if the room is large or small, if the speaker is a pulpit pounder or simply reads the message. When “pneuma” is present you know it. You can feel it when you walk in the door. Where does it come from? Can one “manufacture” it? Can one “pump it up?” Is it simply synonymous with enthusiasm? What is the source of “pneuma” in a local church? Is it possibly somehow related to Pneuma, the operation of the Holy Spirit? If so, how? Simply put, my proposition is that “pneuma” in the church is at least a key if not the key to success. Further, “pneuma” is the product of Pneuma, the Holy Spirit.

What is your relationship with the Holy Spirit like? Is He revered and worshipped as God or do you view Him as something less? Do you regularly express your gratitude to him and whisper words of dependence upon Him? Do you welcome Him into every meeting, into every effort into every initiative? Is He central to everything or simply an “add-on?” If you want “pneuma” in the church, Pneuma, the Holy Spirit, must be elevated to His rightful place!

--
Until All Have Heard,

Michael Fletcher, Senior Pastor
Manna Church

GCI Leadership Transition

Richard LaComa, Jr — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:31:13 +0000

For some time I have felt that my tenure as leader of the GCI Apostolic Team might be coming to an end. There are a number of factors that contributed to this, all of which I articulated at the GCI Retreat in March. (May I suggest you get that message from the GCI office if you have not heard it?) The bottom line is simple, I am not leaving the Apostolic Team; I am just not leading it. Instead I am shifting roles. GCI has a reputation for being a strongly apostolic, church planting network but that is more “rep” than reality. I want to change that. My focus will now be in the church planting realm, both domestically and abroad. So the shift is from “Leader” to “Research and Development;” still on the team, just not riding in front. Michael Cotten will be our new Apostolic Team Leader for the next leg of the journey, a leg that I hope will witness a marked increase in opening new churches and campuses at a heretofore unprecedented rate for GCI!

Until All Have Heard,

Michael Fletcher
Senior Pastor
Manna Church, Fayetteville, NC