National
Pastors'
Prayer
Network
RESOURCES For Pastors, Prayer Leaders, City Reachers
-
02/09/2004
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I N T H I S U P D A T E . . . . . and for our prayers:
1.
JESUS "DVD" RELEASE
2. PASTORS DESIRE INTERDENOMINATIONAL COOPERATION
3. A CONFERENCE, A VIDEO, A QUOTE
4. GOOLE? BLOGS?
5. BILLY GRAHAM
6. WORSHIP WEBSITE
7. POINT & CLICK
8. CREATIVE PLANNING RESOURCE
9. PRAYER SITES
10. CELEBRATE RECOVERY - #1 OUTREACH PROGRAM
11. TRUST & OBEY - LAW & GOSPEL
12. FOLLOW PASTOR PHIL'S MINISTRY...
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_______________________________________________>>>
1. JESUS
"DVD" RELEASE
>Contact pholt@jesusvideo.org
Palmer Holt 704-662-8764
View “JESUS” movie/Download Press Kit at www.jesusvideo.org
SAN BERNARDINO, CA – JESUS Video Project America (JVPA), a ministry of
Campus Crusade for Christ, announced today it is releasing the “JESUS” movie in
digitally remastered and expanded-content DVD format on Feb. 2, making it “one
of the most powerful and effective tools for mass evangelism available today.”
A more current and versatile technology, the DVD features enhanced video quality
and offers “JESUS” in seven languages and four subtitle languages, plus a
scene-by-scene commentary. It includes the movie “The Story of Jesus for
Children” and other features.
“The release of the new ‘JESUS’ DVD is especially relevant at this time, given
increased interest in the life of Jesus and ‘faith and film’ created by movies
like ‘The Gospel of John’ and Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ,’” said
Kevin Mascaro, JVPA executive director.
“We have a divine window of opportunity in 2004 to convert the interest of this
‘sight and sound’ generation into decisions for Christ by distributing free
copies of the new ‘JESUS’ DVD to as many homes as possible across America.”
Mascaro said JVPA is looking for Christian leaders with a heart for evangelism
for their communities to head up local or statewide “JESUS” DVD distribution
efforts across the country. Those interested in viewing the new “JESUS” and
JVPA’s “Vision” video, or requesting a free “Vision Kit,” should visit
www.jesusvideo.org
or call toll-free 1-888-JESUS-36 (537-8736).
The “JESUS” movie is a 94-minute United States edition of the two-hour “JESUS”
film developed by Campus Crusade for Christ. The meticulously accurate,
non-confrontational motion picture, translated into more than 800 languages and
viewed more than 5 billion times worldwide, is the most watched film in history.
JESUS Video Project America, founded in 1992 by the late Dr. Bill Bright, plans
to mass mail free copies of “JESUS” to all 122 million homes in the United
States using its volunteer “saturation evangelism” strategy. Almost 20 million
“JESUS” videos – one for every six homes in the United States – have been
distributed to date. Three states – South Carolina, Alabama, and Hawaii – have
completed statewide distributions.
_______________________________________________>>>
2. PASTORS DESIRE INTERDENOMINATIONAL COOPERATION
>From: "Ron Sellers" <RonSellers@EllisonResearch.com>
Summary: Newly released study results show most Protestant ministers want more
cooperation among churches of different denominations, while at the same time
also feeling there are too many differences of opinion within their own
denomination.
Full Release:
Just how "denominational" are denominational churches in the United States?
Newly released survey results show that most Protestant church pastors in the
U.S. are committed to their denomination, but also frustrated at the lack of
agreement within their own denomination, as well as the lack of
inter-denominational cooperation.
Results from the study, conducted by Ellison Research of Phoenix, Arizona among
a nationally representative sample of 567 Protestant ministers, are being
released for the first time in the January/February issue of the magazine Facts
& Trends, which is published by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern
Baptist Convention. The research was independently funded and conducted by
Ellison Research, and included churches from all Protestant denominations.
The study asked pastors from denominational churches to agree or disagree with a
number of statements about denominations.
Fifty-eight percent of all ministers agreed strongly with the statement "You
feel committed to your denomination." Another 33% agreed somewhat with this
statement, while 8% disagreed (7% somewhat, and 1% strongly). Ministers who
were 60 or older, as well as those from Pentecostal/charismatic denominations,
were particularly likely to be committed to their denominations.
While many pastors are committed to their denomination, there was not an
overwhelming feeling that "Your denomination is an important part of the
identity of your church." Just 38% agreed strongly with this perspective,
although another 45% agreed somewhat.
Lutherans and Pentecostal/charismatic ministers were particularly likely to feel
that their denomination is an important part of their church's identity, while
Methodists were less likely than average to feel this way. Older pastors were
over twice as likely to agree strongly with this statement than were young
ministers (55% among those 60 or older, 36% among those 45 to 59, and 26% among
those under 45).
On the subject of identity, one recent trend has been the exclusion of a
denominational reference in the church's name (e.g. "Medford Community Church"
rather than "Medford Baptist Church"). Excluding the denomination from the name
is still relatively uncommon in denominational churches; just 11% of churches
associated with a denomination did not reference the denomination in their name,
while 89% included a denominational reference in the church's name.
Although over nine out of ten pastors felt at least somewhat committed to their
current denomination, that didn't stop some of them from saying they might
consider leading a church in another denomination. Fifty-nine percent agreed
with the statement "Your current denomination is the only one you would
considering pastoring in" (31% agreed strongly, 28% agreed somewhat), but 41%
disagreed with this statement (30% somewhat, 11% strongly). Interestingly,
although Lutherans were no more likely than other ministers to feel committed to
their denomination, they were much more likely than others to say their current
denomination is the only one in which they would consider serving.
Fifty-three percent of all ministers agreed with the statement "There are too
many differences of opinion among churches in your denomination." While only
10% agreed strongly with this statement, 43% did agree somewhat.
This was particularly a problem in mainline Protestant churches with membership
in the National Council of Churches (Presbyterian Church U.S.A., Episcopal,
United Methodist, etc.). Among NCC-member churches, 63% agreed that their
denomination suffers from too many differences of opinion. Members of the
National Association of Evangelicals were considerably less likely to complain
about internal differences (34%). Baptists, too, were particularly likely to
feel that there are too many internal differences (62%).
Pentecostal/charismatic denominations were the ones least likely to raise this
complaint from member pastors (39%).
A significant proportion of ministers struggled with at least some feelings that
their denomination is headed the wrong way. One-third agreed with the statement
"In many ways, your denomination is moving in the wrong direction," although
only 6% agreed strongly with this. Methodists were particularly concerned about
this (54% agreed with the statement), while Pentecostal/charismatic pastors were
among the least likely to have this worry.
A significant percentage also said they don't always feel as if they fit in
their denomination. Four out of ten agreed that "You sometimes feel like an
outsider in your own denomination." Ten percent agreed strongly with this, and
another 30% agreed somewhat with it. This was especially an issue among
mainline churches in the NCC (51% agreed); even more particularly among
Methodists (58% agreed).
Regardless of how pastors felt about their own denomination, the vast majority
felt there should be more inter-denominational cooperation, both at the
denominational level and among individual churches.
Eighty-six percent of all Protestant pastors agreed with the statement "There
should be more cooperation among different Protestant denominations." Forty
percent agreed strongly with this, and another 46% agreed somewhat. A majority
of just about every group of ministers agreed with this sentiment, but some were
more vocal about it than others. The strongest agreement came from Methodists
and other members of the National Council of Churches, while Baptists were among
those less likely to feel strongly about this. Among Baptists, 30% agreed
strongly, and another 49% agreed somewhat.
Even stronger was the feeling that "There should be more cooperation among
individual churches of different Protestant denominations." Forty-seven percent
agreed strongly with this, and another 42% agreed somewhat. Again, churches
from mainline denominations were the ones most likely to agree strongly. While
most Baptist ministers agreed with this, only 35% agreed strongly, which was
lower than average.
Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research, noted that it's not surprising that
mainline churches were the ones most likely to call for ecumenism and complain
that there are too many differences within their own denomination. "Mainline
denominations are being split apart by severe differences between liberal and
conservative elements on major issues such as abortion, homosexuality,
syncretism, and the primacy of Scripture. Many pastors in these denominations
find they have more in common with like-minded conservatives or liberals from
other denominations, rather than with pastors holding opposing viewpoints within
their own denomination."
Sellers also pointed out that pastors are the ones who must make inter-church
cooperation work. "The vast majority of ministers wanted more cooperation among
churches of different denominations, but that level of cooperation will not
happen just by hoping or desiring. The pastors themselves will have to make
this happen. Maybe knowing that there's a strong chance other ministers in
their community also want more inter-church cooperation will encourage that
cooperation to take place."
Study Details:
The study was conducted by Ellison Research, a marketing research company
located in Phoenix, Arizona. Although Ellison Research has numerous clients,
this study was funded and conducted independently by the company. The sample of
567 Protestant ministers included only those who are actively leading churches.
The study's total sample is accurate to within ±4.1 percentage points at the
95% confidence level with a 50% response distribution.
The study was conducted in all 50 states, using a representative sample of
pastors from all Protestant denominations. Respondents' geography, church size,
and denomination were carefully tracked to ensure appropriate representation and
accuracy.
More complete data from these questions is available at
www.ellisonresearch.com.
If you would prefer to receive additional news releases by mail or by fax,
please contact Laura Stump at Ellison Research (phone 602-493-3500 x143), or at
laurastump@ellisonresearch.com.
Facts & Trends, where this information is being published, is designed to assist
pastors, church staff and denominational leaders in their roles of ministry by
informing them about LifeWay resources and how they relate to current issues in
Christian ministry. For information about Facts & Trends, contact Chris Turner
at 615-251-2307.
Data summary:
* "You feel committed to your denomination" - 58% agree strongly, 33%
agree somewhat, 7% disagree somewhat, 1% disagree strongly.
* "Your denomination is an important part of the identity of your church"
- 38% agree strongly, 45% agree somewhat, 14% disagree somewhat, 4% disagree
strongly.
* "Your current denomination is the only one you would consider pastoring
in" - 31% agree strongly, 28% agree somewhat, 30% disagree somewhat, 11%
disagree strongly.
* "There are too many differences of opinion among churches in your
denomination" - 10% agree strongly, 43% agree somewhat, 31% disagree somewhat,
15% disagree strongly.
* "In many ways, your denomination is moving in the wrong direction" - 6%
agree strongly, 27% agree somewhat, 27% disagree somewhat, 39% disagree
strongly.
* "You sometimes feel like an outsider in your own denomination" - 10%
agree strongly, 30% agree somewhat, 26% disagree somewhat, 34% disagree
strongly.
* "There should be more cooperation among different Protestant
denominations" - 40% agree strongly, 46% agree somewhat, 10% disagree somewhat,
3% disagree strongly.
* "There should be more cooperation among individual churches of
different Protestant denominations" - 47% agree strongly, 42% agree somewhat, 7%
disagree somewhat, 4% disagree strongly.
* "Does your church's name include a reference to your denomination?" -
89% yes, 11% no.
Ron Sellers, President, Ellison Research
ronsellers@ellisonresearch.com
Phone: 602-493-3500 x130
Additional data on this topic from the study can be found at
www.ellisonresearch.com
_______________________________________________>>>
3. A CONFERENCE, A
VIDEO, A QUOTE
>From: <IRM@multnomah.edu>
What would happen if your congregation was passionately involved in seeking the
face of God together in worship fed prayer? For more than ten years Daniel
Henderson, as he pastored Arcade Church and president of Strategic Renewal
International, has been in the process of discovering the answer to that
question. This year International Renewal Ministries will be offering a track
at the Imagine Conference on implementing Prayer Summits in the local church.
For more information contact SRI at
www.strategicrenewal.com
or 916.489.4774
Imagine What God Could Do
March 18-20, 2004
Sacramento, California
Sponsored by Strategic Renewal International, International Renewal
Ministries, KFIA710, Pray! Magazine and Western Seminary
A resource I (Dennis) would encourage you to see is "The Quickening: Entering
into the Firestorm of God's Grace", another video available from the Sentinel
Group. This video is not simply about stories of what God has done and is
doing, but it also about hope. It states some principles (not formulas or
strategies) that help as well as some obstacles that hinder God's work in an
area. One key principle stated is that "God's work will always be unique." I
fully agree. As they say, "God doesn't do repeat performances." Or as I
have said, "God's last creative act was not His last creative act." One
hindrance they point out is "Misplaced motives." Often times we approach God
because we want Him to "fix" something. But "God is not a handyman, He is our
lover!"
This 50-minute video is available from the Sentinel Group at 1.800.668.5657
or at
<http://www.transformnations.com/listsvideo_list.asp>.
"Suppose Christianity is not a religion but a way of life, a falling in love
with God, and through Him a falling in love with our fellows. Of course, such a
way is hard and costly, but it is also joyous and rewarding even in the here and
now. People who follow that way know beyond all possible argument that they are
in harmony with the purpose of God, that Christ is with them and in them as they
set about His work in our disordered world." - J. B. Phillips
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you know of anyone who would be interested in receiving our monthly IMPACT
update, reply to the eddress at the top of this posting or contact the IRM
office at (503) 251-6455.
To receive specific updates about how to pray for IRM, please contact us at
<irmintercession@multnomah.edu>.
We would love for you to be one of our intercessors.
_______________________________________________>>>
4. GOOLE? BLOGS?
>From: IFC List Owner <ifc-owner@lists.gospelcom.net>
If you're still just using Google to search for one word at a time, you're just
scratching the surface. PCMag talks about twenty great Google secrets[1] that
can make your searching much more efficient. From searching for words only in a
page's title or a page's text, to restricting your search to just one website,
you'll probably find something here you didn't know about Google.
Courtesy of our recommend page[2] comes LifeWay's technology page[3]. Containing
helpful articles on things like demystifying video
connectors[4] and securing your church computer network[5], it looks like this
site is a great resource for anyone who needs to worry about technology in their
church or ministry.
Finally, with all this talk of blogs[6], it seems appropriate to point out
Wiblogs[7], which contains not only freshly-updated blog content,
but all sorts of other great stuff, as well.
-- Links in this story --
[1]
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1306756,00.asp
[2]
http://ifc.gospelcom.net/recommend/?internet_tech
[3]
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/mainpage/0,1701,M%253D200241,00.html
[4]
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D155730%2526M%253D50088,00.html
[5]
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D155282%2526M%253D50088,00.html
[6]
http://ifc.gospelcom.net/internet_tech/335/
[7]
http://www.wibsite.com/wibblethorpe/
Internet for Christians content may be posted and distributed without charge for
non-profit use. Non-profit organizations must give credit to the newsletter and
to Gospelcom.net. Commercial media may quote from it with proper attribution to
both the newsletter and Gospel Communications. (Copyright 2003 Gospel
Communications International, Inc., (http://gci.gospelcom.net/).
To subscribe, simply visit the Web site and use our automatic subscription
feature (http://ifc.gospelcom.net/subscribe/)
or send a blank email to (ifc-subscribe@lists.gospelcom.net).
Gospelcom.net is a Ministry of Gospel Communications International (the
21st-Century Gospel Films). The history, mission statement and statement of
faith of Gospelcom.net are available on the Web
(http://www.gospelcom.net/home/about_gospelcom/).
_______________________________________________>>>
5. BILLY GRAHAM
>From: PastorsInPrayer@aol.com
1959-October 20-Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, IN~ This has been
a most enjoyable and profitable day! Billy Graham spoke at Butler University
convocation, then visited our seminary. He spent an hour and a half with the
students, eating and leading a discussion. He gave us these pertinent thoughts-
1. Be sure you've had a personal encounter with Christ (the blind can't lead the
blind).
2. Be sure you've had a call from God.
3. Have systematic daily devotions. You need at least a half hour alone with
God, daily. He reads five Psalms a day to learn how to get along with God. One
Proverb to get along with men.
4. Have a consuming love for man. Show compassion by entering into their
emotions.
5. Be sure you have a message to preach; with authority, simplicity urgency,
preach to a decision.
6. Above all be an example! Bill told of a Hindu saying, "I'd become a
Christian if I could see one," while he looked at Billy. Be tolerant and
understanding of ministers in other denominations, and back up your witness with
your life. When asked about doubt, he stated his belief in the Bible as God's
Word and believes Christ is God. Here his mind is closed--just as he considers
no other woman but his wife.
--------------------
2004 January 15-REFLECTION~ Is it any wonder that Billy Graham has withstood the
test of time? 44 years ago he gave the above instruction to a group of young
men preparing for ministry. I took what he said to heart and have never been
sorry. Graham, in his 80's, fell and broke a hip last week, but is expected to
recover. A recent survey showed only one in ten pastors finishing strong. I
thank the Lord for this Evangelist and his example for pastors, young and old.
Be sure to pray for him today.
"Thus says the Lord, Stand by the ways and ask for the ancient paths, where the
good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls." Jer. 6:16
SAYING YES TO GOD- Pastors In Prayer-bob and marilyn yawberg- Vol.V #2
_______________________________________________>>>
6. WORSHIP WEBSITE
>From: "Phil Mehrens" <pmehrens@chcchurch.org>
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to tell you I launched a new website
www.PhilMehrens.com
(so original) with music and chart downloads. Also check out Sovereign Lord on
the #5 spot on this month's Worship Leaders Magazine's Song Discovery Disc
http://www.songdiscovery.com/prod-cur.htm
Lord Bless You, Phil
_______________________________________________>>>
7. POINT & CLICK
Register / Revise / Research A Pastors' Prayer Group:
http://www.nppn.org/ppg/
Share A Resource
Email us a 1-3 paragraph explanation of the resources you have that equip
or inspire pastors into a deeper, more powerful prayer experience... especially
resources that relate to pastors praying with other pastors to reach their
community with the gospel.
Contribute:
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay/T2CW7KGWMPZ9UY/058-7005927-3646454
NPPN Discount Resource Center:
http://www.nppn.org/Offers.htm
Subscribe To The NPPN:
http://www.nppn.org/subscribe.htm
(To Unsubscribe - See Bottom of This Message)
_______________________________________________>>>
8. CREATIVE PLANNIG RESOURCE
>From: pastorsweekly@mcjonline.com
>At:
http://www.christian-news.com
Year-Round Church Event Book (Towns/Toler)
http://www.mcjonline.com/store/0830720405.htm
Before you plan your next church event, consult this creative planner. From
baptisms to block parties, Sunday school campaigns to homecomings, here are
ideas, plans, and strategies for over 50 special events and celebrations -- many
of them evangelistic
-- to help you host outstanding gatherings. Includes cross- indexes,
reproducible letters, surveys, clip art, and more.
Copyright (C) 2004 Matrix
Development. All rights reserved. May be reproduced in any medium for
noncommercial purposes as long as full credit and a link back to
http://www.mcjonline.com is given.
_______________________________________________>>>
9. PRAYER SITES
>From: "Rev Cramer" <hishealinghand@pastors.com>
Just a short message to let you know of a few things available for prayer.
The first can be found on
http://www.strategicnetwork.org
This is a listing of prayer needs for those in ministry and others throughout
the world .
To subscribe:
prayer-needs-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org
The second is a prayer ministry for those in ministry, whether a lay person, an
evangelist, or a pastor, etc.
If you need prayer or would like to pray for those in ministry, subscribe.
To subscribe:
ministry-prayer-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org
If you need prayer e-mail us at;
hishealinghand@pastors.com
Join the army of the Lord, a prayer army that goes undefeated through battles
small and large.
Rev. David Cramer
_______________________________________________>>>
10. CELBRATE RECOVERY - #1 OUTERACH
PROGRAM
>From: "ASSIST News" <assistnews@adelphia.net>
>By: Jon Walker, Director of Creativity at www.pastors.com
<http://www.pastors.com/>
LAKE FOREST, CA (ANS) -- In the last 12 years almost 6,000 people have come
through Celebrate Recovery at Saddleback, many of them staying as members. In
fact, 43% of Saddleback's Celebrate Recovery® alumni are now serving in some
form of lay ministry at the church.
If you're interested in bringing more lost people into your church, you'll want
to read this interview with Celebrate Recovery's John Baker. (Pictured: John
Baker).
Walker: Tell us about Celebrate Recovery.
Baker: Celebrate Recovery is a life-changing ministry. We have groups for all
different types of addictions, compulsions … all different types of hurts,
hang-ups and habits. People come to Celebrate Recovery in order to work on
issues that have been keeping them trapped and separated from the life that God
intended them to live - and in some cases - things that have kept them separated
from God.
It's a ministry based on God's Word, and, therefore, it's different from secular
recovery programs. Secular recovery programs are based on a particular addiction
or compulsion. On the other hand, Celebrate Recovery's material is
Christ-centered and biblically-based, so the same material is used in all the
different groups, regardless of the issue - or addiction - being dealt with.
For instance, if a woman has an alcoholic husband, he'll go to our
chemically-dependent men's group WHILE she goes to our co-dependent women's
group. They don't work the program together, but they're learning the same Bible
verses, and they're getting the same material. So a family that's been torn
apart for years by a hurt, habit, or hang-up can now start to meet on the common
ground of God's Word.
Walker: What are some other reasons a pastor would want to bring Celebrate
Recovery to his church?
Baker: Because he'll see a lot of unchurched people coming to his church and
many of them will accept Christ as their Savior. He'll see lives transformed,
marriages healed, and families together again.
When we first started Celebrate Recovery, probably 70% of the participants came
from Saddleback Church, so we were already getting a good 30% from the
community. Today those figures have flip-flopped. About 70% of those who attend
every week come from outside the church.
It's an outstanding form of outreach. There are almost 6,000 alumni from
Saddleback's Celebrate Recovery ministry, and about 85% of them now call our
church their home. Of those, over 40% have completed the basic CLASSES (101,
201, 301, 401) and are now serving in other ministries around the church. So
Celebrate Recovery will not only get people into the church, it's also going to
teach them to serve.
Pastor Rick Warren did the Beatitudes/Recovery sermon series in 1993. When he
preached recovery for eight straight weeks, we grew by 1,500 people. And those
visitors didn't go away after the sermon series was completed! It represented a
MAJOR growth spurt for Saddleback Church: during those eight weeks, 500 people
accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Now, keep in mind, you need to develop lay leadership for that kind of growth
spurt. You have to be ready for this influx of people. I say that because
sometimes a church will try to jump start their Celebrate Recovery ministry
without completing Celebrate Recovery’s '90 Day Start Up Strategy,’ and then six
months or a year later, the pastor will call me and ask, "We haven't grown much.
What's wrong?"
My response is usually, "What would happen if next week God tripled the number
of people at your meeting? In other words, if you have 20 participants now, next
week you'll have 60. Would you be able to take care of all those additional
people? Do you have the lay leaders in place to handle that kind of growth?"
Not one pastor yet has told me, "Yes, we would!" So I ask, "Why would God send
you people if you can't take care of them?"
That’s why the Leadership Training Key is so important. A church needs to always
be developing new leaders, co-leaders, and apprentices. Every time we have two
or three new leaders, I know we're going to grow. But when we don't have a farm
system for developing new leaders, then we don't grow; we have a dry period.
Walker: But the ministry of Celebrate Recovery also serves to develop new lay
leadership, right?
Baker: That's right, the whole program progresses toward the final recovery
principle of giving back, of serving. We talk about a fork in the road to
recovery: it's either that you're going to come back and serve at Celebrate
Recovery or serve in another ministry of the church. It doesn't matter where you
serve as long as you're serving.
So for a pastor who's looking for an outreach ministry, Celebrate Recovery will
not only get people into his church, it will teach those people to serve and
give back their time, treasures, and talents to God and to the church.
Walker: What do you say to the critic who suggests recovery programs are just so
much 'psychobabble'?
Baker: If somebody says that, they haven't read the material. They're getting
hung up, thinking it's a 12-step secular program. In the first workbook alone,
there are over 100 Bible verses. In fact, if you took my part - what I wrote -
out of the workbook and just left the Bible verses and the questions, you could
work the program. It's all based on God's Word.
Walker: Won't a program like this overwhelm the pastor and staff with
counseling?
Baker: A senior pastor may be thinking, "What happens if I say it's OK to hurt
and be real in this church? I'd have half my congregation coming up to me
saying, 'I have a problem.' How could I handle that?"
It's important to understand that this program helps the laity help the church.
Properly done, it doesn't become the senior pastor's responsibility, rather it
creates an atmosphere of the church helping the church.
Certainly in the beginning, it requires the senior pastor's support, so everyone
in the church will take the program seriously. The pastor needs to announce it
from the pulpit and then continually offer testimonies of successful recoveries.
I have had the honor of helping coordinate the testimonies for Rick Warren ever
since he preached the first Celebrate Recovery series. I'd say one out of two
testimonies at Saddleback come from people who've come through the Celebrate
Recovery ministry. The change is just so dramatic.
Walker: It's easy to assume that Celebrate Recovery is just about the headline
issues, such as drug addiction or alcoholism. But you really offer help for all
sorts of problems.
Baker: When people hear the word ‘recovery’ they think it only involves those
struggling with drugs and alcohol. At Saddleback’s Celebrate Recovery,
chemically dependent groups represent only about one-third of the participants.
Our fastest growing groups deal with men's sexual addiction. It started with
about 20 guys, and it's now up past five groups. I believe sexual addiction is
going to be the addiction of the new millennium.
We also have groups that deal with overeating, with shame and guilt, with sexual
abuse, co-dependency, financial struggles, and love-addiction groups. These all
meet on Friday nights.
Now, when a church launches a Celebrate Recovery ministry, they don't need to
start with all these groups. They can start with some basic, core groups.
In the material, there's a 90-day start-up plan that we developed after
receiving input from over 200 of the 2500 churches currently using Celebrate
Recovery. It's a very simple, church-tested plan. If a church follows it,
they'll get up and running with good results in ninety days.
Walker: What about the pastor who's looked at the material, and he's impressed,
but he's a little afraid of how it's going to change his church?
Baker: It will change his church, so that's a legitimate concern, but it's going
to change it for the better. It's going help people in the congregation become
real, no longer afraid to talk about their hurts or their issues. They won't
stay stuck in their problems, rather, through Christ's power, Recovery members
will begin giving back to the church.
Walker: And it sounds like this program gets the church outside its own walls?
Baker: Yes, and I think it's time for us - the churches - to get outside of our
boundaries and into the community. This is a program that will do that.
For instance, we go to Christian therapists and let them know the different
groups we have, and they send a lot of people to us. We work with Christian
halfway houses, and what's so neat about that is, they used to just come to
Celebrate Recovery meetings. Now they show up on Sunday mornings for church.
If Celebrate Recovery is going to succeed in a church the number one thing is
this: the church has to be a safe place. At Saddleback Church, Celebrate
Recovery is a mainstream ministry. It's the Friday night service. As Rick says,
we're all in need of recovery, we're all broken, we've all missed the mark, and
we've all fallen short. Some of us need more work than others and that's what
the Celebrate Recovery program does - it gets people into a loving and healing
relationship to Christ.
Walker: Tell us about your background and how you got involved in Celebrate
Recovery.
Baker: I'm a believer who struggles with alcohol. My identity is in Jesus
Christ, not in my sin addiction. I felt called into the ministry at age 16, but
my major issue was a non-existent self-esteem. I attempted to cover that up with
the world's largest ego. Instead of answering God's call, I went to the
University of Missouri and started drinking and that filled the emptiness for a
while.
For a lot of years, I was a functional alcoholic. I was vice president of sales
and marketing of two major food manufacturers. Finally, alcohol became the
problem of my life. It was time to make a choice - to admit that I was wrong and
surrender it and start doing it God's way or continue on drinking. I chose the
world's way and turned my back completely on God for five years.
My wife and I went through a thirteen-month separation during that time. That
got me going to A.A., and I also started to get back into the Bible. My wife and
kids had started attending Saddleback Church and the kids asked me to go with
them. I did and that Sunday morning I heard Rick Warren's message and heard the
music, and I knew I was home.
Five months after that, my wife and I renewed our marriage vows (we've just
celebrated our 34th anniversary). We took all the classes - 101, 201, 301. It
was in class 301 that I finally realized I would never be good enough on my own
power to serve God and that he loved me in spite of that. I finally answered his
call.
For six weeks I worked on a vision that God gave me called Celebrate Recovery. I
didn't know Rick very well when I submitted a 13-page, single-spaced letter. He
called me into his office and said, “Great John. Do it.” That plan is exactly
what we're still doing twelve years later.
<http://www.celebraterecovery.com/global.asp>
-Pastors.com®-
Related Links: www.celebraterecovery.com
<http://www.celebraterecovery.com/>
Upcoming Celebrate Recovery One Day Training Conferences:
Fort Myers, FL – Feb. 28
Toronto, Ontario, Canada – March 6
San Antonio, TX – March 27
Atlanta, GA – April 17
Binghamton, NY – May 1
Anchorage, AK – May 22
New Orleans, LA – June 26
You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a
friend. <http://sheperd.com/assist/SendFriendJava.asp?aURL=http://www.assistNews.net/stories/s03120098.htm&aTitle=CELEBRATE
RECOVERY® IS SADDLEBACK S 1 OUTREACH PROGRAM>
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_______________________________________________>>>
11. TRUST & OBEY - LAW & GOSPEL
Trust Obey: A Symposium on Law & Gospel
May 11-13, 2004
Warrenville, IL
PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY TEACHES that individuals are saved fully by the
grace of God on the ground of Christ’s atoning death and victorious
resurrection, and that they appropriate this salvation by faith, apart from any
merit or law-keeping. It has also taught that obedience and good works in the
believer's life are the inevitable effect of this salvation and, in fact, that
faith itself is an act of obedience. How is it possible then to safeguard the
fully gracious character of salvation without diminishing the necessity of
obedience and good works, apart from which none will be saved? This symposium
will address such questions, from within the confessional traditions of
Protestant Christian faith, as well as from Roman Catholic and Orthodox
perspectives. The goal is to listen, to dialogue and to better grasp the message
of the Bible and the Christian Church.
In this three-day symposium our hope is to address these very old questions with
honesty and candor in an environment of love and respect. We invite all who are
seriously interested to participate.
Speakers
THOMAS A. BAIMA is a priest of the archdiocese of Chicago and provost of the
University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. He holds a doctor of
sacred theology degree in ecumenical studies from the Pontifical University of
St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
ROBERT BENNE is professor of religion at Roanoke College and the author of
several books on the theological-ethical framework of Christian public policy.
JOHN FRAME is professor of systematic theology and philosophy at Reformed
Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He previously taught at Westminster
Theology Seminary in California and Pennsylvania. He is both a published author
and a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America.
DON B. GARLINGTON has served as a professor of New Testament for several
decades. He is the author of several academic works on Paul and a theological
consultant to Reformation Revival Ministries and contributing editor to
Reformation Revival Journal.
DOUGLAS J. GREEN is associate professor of Old Testament at Westminster
Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
I. JOHN HESSELINK served as both professor of systematic theology and president
at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. He was as a missionary in
Japan with the Reformed Church in America and is the author of several books and
scores of scholarly articles.
NELSON D. KLOOSTERMAN is professor of ethics and New Testament at Mid-America
Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana. He has served as a pastor, is a published
author and a minister in the United Reformed Churches in North America.
GERALD R. MCDERMOTT is professor of religion and philosophy at Roanoke College
and associate priest at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Fincastle, Virginia. He
is a published author and respected Jonathan Edwards scholar.
PATRICK HENRY REARDON is the pastor of All Saints’ Orthodox Church in Chicago
and senior editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity. He is the
author of Christ in the Psalms.
P. ANDREW SANDLIN is president of the Center for Cultural Leadership in
Coulterville, California. He is a speaker/writer and serves as an associate
editor for Reformation Revival Journal.
STEVE SCHLISSEL is pastor of Messiah’s congregation in Brooklyn, New York, and
serves as overseer of Urban Nations, a mission to immigrants in New York City.
He is the author of numerous articles appearing in various publications.
NORMAN SHEPHERD taught systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary
in Philadelphia for eighteen years. Subsequently he served as a minister in the
Christian Reformed Church.
REGISTRATION FEES:
· Individual $75.00 (After 2/27/04 $100.00)
· Full-time student $30.00 (After 2/27/04 $45.00)
PHONE: 630-221-1817 FAX: 630-653-3050
ONLINE: www.reformationrevival.com
<http://m1e.net/c?12887289-GUCwlCt/xvmh.%40421010-cfcBYqpgVkdOY>
MAIL: Post Office Box 88216, Carol Stream, IL 60188
_______________________________________________>>>
12. FOLLOW PASTOR PHIL'S
MINISTRY...
Track Activity ...
http://www.nppn.org/Schedule.htm
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National Pastors' Prayer Network
1130 Randville Drive ID, Palatine, IL 60074
847-991-0153 * 847-358-9337(fax)
http://www.nppn.org * email: phil@nppn.org
Register your PPG:
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Phil Miglioratti - Coordinator
Carol Miglioratti - Office Manager
Sheila Straka - Intercession: sheila@nppn.org
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Carol Karr - Administrative Services
___Unless clearly identified as "Personal To _____" or "Confidential" all
information and comments sent to phil@nppn.org will be considered for use
in a future NPPN Update.
___Copyright 2004. However, permission is granted to freely redistribute to
those who will partner in praying for and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
with everyone in our nation and beyond.
___Opinions reflect the views of each author or respondent, not the NPPN or any
other person or organization
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