From Mark Dever’s The Gospel and Personal Evangelism (browse the book online).
1. Pray
2. Plan
3. Accept
4. Understand
5. Be Faithful
6. Risk
7. Prepare
8. Look
9. Love
10. Fear
11. Stop
12. Consider
Read more detailed summaries at JoeThorn.net.
Read John and Becki Rusk's latest newsletter from South Africa here.
More information about their ongoing work in Africa can be found at their website - Maniac 4 Missions.
More than 3,200 Foursquare pastors, leaders and church members from across the nation and around the world gathered for Foursquare Convention 2008, held in Houston last week.
During the four days spent at the Hilton Americas--Houston and at the George R. Brown Convention Center, attendees heard from dozens of speakers and teachers, including Kirbyjon Caldwell, senior pastor of the largest United Methodist Church in the nation; Robert Morris, founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas/Fort Worth and author of The Blessed Life; J. W. Macklin, who serves as bishop of the Northern California Prelate of the Church of God in Christ; Steve Riggle, senior pastor of Grace Community Church in Houston; Doug Stringer, founder and president of Somebody Cares in Houston; and Ron Luce, Teen Mania founder.
"The Word of God is getting out to a lot of people in Houston, Texas, right now," said the Honorable Bill White, mayor of Houston, who offered his greetings to the group during the first night of the event. "We are so proud that a faith community like this has come from [all over the world]." Native Houstonian Joel Osteen, best-selling author and senior pastor of Lakewood Church, offered his welcome to congregants via a special video message.
Leaders within the Foursquare family who addressed the convention body included Tony Krishack, local convention chairman and senior pastor of Victory Christian Center in Houston; Dale Evrist, senior pastor of New Song Christian Fellowship in Brentwood, Tenn.; Randy Remington, senior pastor of Beaverton Foursquare Church in Beaverton, Ore.; Jim Tolle, senior pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, Calif.; Peter Bonanno, senior pastor of Grace Capital Church in Pembroke, N.H.; and Tammy Dunahoo, national director of Foursquare Women.
Pastor Jack Hayford, president of The Foursquare Church, hosted and pastored every session, praying for speakers and offering confirmation after their messages. "The Holy Spirit met us in Houston," said Pastor Jack. "Our together time was important in setting a pace for the coming year in our Foursquare family. We will move ahead and move together as a church and as followers of Jesus Christ!"
The theme throughout the event was "The Unchanging Christ and the Unshakable Kingdom," with a special emphasis on equipping the next generation for leadership. "God is indeed working in young peoples' awakening in the Foursquare church," said Pastor Jack.
All of the proposed bylaw amendments passed during the business session, and several items of Foursquare news were also announced to the convention body. The Foursquare NextGen Summit 2010 will be held in December 2009 in two cities that will be connected by satellite in an effort to make the summit more accessible; in addition the Foursquare Women's National Gathering will be held in Atlanta February 19-21, 2009. General Supervisor Glenn Burris Jr. announced that more than 400 people have expressed interest in the newly formed Foursquare Association, and Pastor Jack introduced two new leaders: Jonathan Hall, the newly appointed missions director for The Foursquare Church, and Robert Flores, interim president of Life Pacific College, also known as LIFE Bible College.
Jim Hayford, chairman of the Foursquare Foundation board, announced that $20,000 had been placed in the ARC account of each district to assist the Foursquare churches in the United States; the five regional counsels of FMI received $100,000 each. Stating that "The Foursquare Foundation wants to say yes more often and no very, very seldom," he announced that a "major policy change" has been put in place at Foursquare Foundation--grant requests as low as $10,000 will now be accepted, with a cap of $100,000.
The convention included praise and worship from worship group Israel and New Breed (leader Israel Houghton comes from Houston's Lakewood Church), as well as Foursquare's own Roger Thrower (New Hope Foursquare Church, Fairmont, W.Va.), Carolyn Foster (New Life Foursquare Church, Everett, Wash.) and Eric Green (New Life Foursquare Church, Canby, Ore.). Convention attendees had the opportunity to choose from 24 workshops and to explore more than 90 exhibitor booths.
"We don't have dry meetings, dead times, lifeless events," said Pastor Dale Evrist, in his Tuesday evening sermon. He noted that the church's work in the lives of young people and said: "In our event we're not content with anything other than the fullness of God's Spirit being fully on display whenever we gather, whatever we do."
On the final night, Pastor Jack encouraged those in attendance to contribute to an offering that will provide relief to those affected in the recent Myanmar and China disasters. The spontaneous offering brought in over $185,000, including $155,000 promised from local churches.
Read more about what happened daily by visiting http://www.FoursquareChurch.org
To download MP3s of select workshop sessions, click here. To order CD or DVD copies of general sessions and workshops, click here.
Foursquare Convention 2009 will be held in Anaheim, Calif., May 25-28, 2009. The annual conference will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hilton Anaheim and Marriott Anaheim.
Reverend Richard A. (Dad) Casteel passed into the presence of the Lord on Sunday, May 25, 2008, surrounded by his family, in Tucson, AZ. Rev. Casteel was born on July 6, 1912, in Kemmerer, WY. He served in the civil service for many years in Utah and California before answering the call to missions. Rev. Casteel served as a missionary with his family in Cuba, the Bahamas, and Mexico. He was preceded in death by his wife, and mother of his children, Phebe, and is survived by his 2nd wife, Louise; three sons, Robert (Carolyn), John (Marguerite), and Richard (Becky); two daughters, Micki (Carroll) and Patty (Les); his niece, raised as a daughter, LeRae; as well as 22 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed as the Patriarch of Faith by his adoring family but also by all those who lovingly called him "Dad" Casteel. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, May 30, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. at Grace to the Nations, 6180 E Pima, Tucson, AZ 85712. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the "Dad Casteel Memorial Fund" c/o Grace to the Nations, 6180 E Pima, Tucson, AZ 85712.
I moved to Flagstaff in the mid-ninties to start (and end) my radio career. Before moving there I went up and scoped out the town. I wanted to make sure that it had all of my basic needs (Jack in the Box, Slurpee, Record Store, Guitar Shop). I decided that I would have the basics covered and made the move.
What I found out quickly is that I don't like living on just what I need. Who does? There is more to life than just the basics.
In addition to basics of life, such as protection, provision, and love, our Heavenly Father has given us other necessities. Those are all more than I deserve. However He still provides hope, peace, purpose, and joy. Thank you, Jesus!
C
Go deeper! Listen to my podcast on this subject on iTunes or at our podcast page for TruthCast.
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From John Piper's sermon, Conversion to Christ: The Making of a Christian Hedonist
The most terrifying news in the world is that we have fallen under the condemnation of our Creator and that he is bound by his own righteous character to preserve the worth of his glory by pouring out his wrath on the sin of our ingratitude. But there is a fourth great truth that no one can ever learn from nature or from their own consciences, a truth which has to be told to neighbors and preached in churches and carried by missionaries: namely, the good news that God has decreed a way to satisfy the demands of his righteousness without condemning the whole human race. He has taken it upon himself apart from any merit in us to accomplish our salvation. The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God without compromising the righteousness of God. And what is this wisdom?
And in a sentence:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God crucified, is the Wisdom of God, by which the love of God can save sinners from the wrath of God, and all the while uphold and demonstrate the righteousness of God.
(found at Pure Church)
The vision of Grace Chapel is that we would be missionaries to the world we live in. If we are willing, God is able to open great doors of influence to us. Ken and Laura Sharp have been active members of Grace Chapel for years and a year ago Ken decided to confront one of the serious issues in our community - driving under the influence. Ken started a radio show, www.duiradioshow.com, on KFNX AM 1100, to inspire people to change their behavior and ultimately save lives. His show has won national awards and is having a positive impact on our world. Way to go, Ken!
Here is the information that Ken sent me; I wanted to share it with you so that we could all raise our expectations as to how God can use us in unexpected and wonderful ways. This week, in a special show, Ken will focus on the Carrollton school bus accident and he will speak with survivors from that tragic accident. You will want to tune in!
Pastor Richard
---------------------------------------------------------
Pastor Richard,
June 1 will mark the one-year anniversary for Ridin' Dirty. Ridin' Dirty is the only radio show in America dedicated to the issues of drinking and driving. It is designed to inspire and motivate people to learn and practice new behavior when it comes to their alcohol use. Eradicating drinking and driving behavior, as we've known it, is the biggest social change of this generation. The show has been nominated for both local and national awards for its content and method of delivery.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 13 and 14, I will be hosting two important shows.
REMEMBERING CARROLLTON
Twenty Years Later
The Carrollton Bus Crash remains the worst death and injury drunk driving crash in United States history. A school bus rented by the Radcliff, KY Assembly of God, carrying young people from a day trip to King's Island, was struck by an alcohol-impaired driver at 10:55 pm. The bus's gas tank was ruptured and 24 children and 3 adults were burned to death. We will take a historical look at this event and hear from the people who were there.
Ridin' Dirty can be heard live Monday through Friday, from noon to 1pm on 50,000 watt KFNX am1100 or at our website www.duiradioshow.com and through the portal to KFNX.
Thanks,
Ken Sharp
Foursquare Missions: Presidential News Brief
May 12, 2008
Over the weekend Cyclone Nargis struck the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar--also known as Burma--with 120 mph winds and caused widespread devastation. The cyclone may have claimed the lives of 100,000 people. More than 70,000 are still missing and 1 million are now homeless. This disaster is already being compared to the 2004 tsunami that hit south Asia. The most recent report received states that 15 churches (some of which are not Foursquare) were destroyed as a result of the cyclone. Many Foursquare family members are among those who are homeless. The urgent needs are for drinking water, food and shelter.
The Foursquare Church in concert with a few other non governmental organizations (NGOs) has begun a relief effort to help meet the needs of the people. Due to the great difficulty in reaching the areas most affected by the cyclone (because of travel restrictions placed on foreigners by the government of Myanmar) Thailand has been chosen as the staging area for this relief effort. Teams of people are in the process of securing and shipping solar water purifiers and PACP (Personal Assistance Care Packages) units to the team that will soon be in place in Thailand.
Intercession is requested by the Foursquare family for the relief response action plan to be effective. Please pray along these lines:
If you would like to give financially to assist in this Foursquare relief effort, please send contributions to Foursquare Missions International. Make your check out to ICFG, and write "Relief Fund" on the memo line. Mail checks to:
Foursquare Missions
ATTN: Paulette McCammon
P.O. Box 26902
Los Angeles, CA 90026
I was praying a couple of weeks ago about Grace Chapel and what God wanted to do in us and through us as a church in this season of ministry. I began to hear this word over and over in my heart: "Cast out your nets, again. Cast out your nets, again."
I remember well the story of how, in Luke 5:4-10, Jesus instructed the disciples to do that very thing after a long night of fishing that had left their nets empty. Jesus had been ministering to the people and after he finished, he told his disciples, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch". Peter responded by explaining to Jesus, probably with some frustration and weariness, how they had been fishing all night and had not caught anything.
This is a lot like where I am; I feel like I have already been "fishing," or ministering, for a long time without any great results. And, as I have prayed, I have asked God for new and exciting strategies for reaching more and better disciples. Yet, here He is saying to me, like he did to the disciples, "Cast out your nets, again". Why would we do what we have already been doing and expect any different results?
Peter, though, did have enough sense to submit to Jesus' instruction out of obedience. He ultimately replied, "But because you say so, I will let down the nets". Of course, once they obeyed Jesus and cast out their nets again, their nets were filled beyond capacity!
I now understand God's gentle instruction to me to "cast out our nets, again" as a promise that He will add new power and effectiveness to our weary acts of ministry. Many of us have ministry ideas, experience, and strategies but have become discouraged in doing them. We are disappointed in the lack of results.
Yet, the Holy Spirit is breathing new life into those acts of service and ministry, which will bring new results. His "fresh anointing" will revive the old and proven basic strategies of the church to reach the lost. If you let Him encourage you to renew your willingness to obey Him and do what you already know to do, you will see a new harvest. So, lets all "cast our nets, again".
Pastor Richard
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