Acts 2 Reflection

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

I am writing today about systems for church planting in diverse neighborhoods. I was challenged to identify what we can do better as men and women who equip church planters for their journey. I started with scripture and today I received an insight on a text that I read often.

Do we spend enough time praying and waiting on the Holy Spirit to give us direction in our endeavors to develop new faith communities? WIth a 3-year funding clock and the need to be self-sustaining in 5 years most planters rush through the process. The focus becomes on getting member rather than making disciples.

The goal is 1,000,000 new disciples for Jesus Christ not 1,000,000 new members for the UMC. Developing new faith communities must be focused on organic community engagement and intentional disciple making. My encouragement to you is to find a place to speak to God and wait on the Holy Spirit then to speak to you for direction in your new faith communities. The gift of the Holy Spirit was for all disciples. It is our responsibility to get ready to receive and act!

 

National Church Planters Gathering

Final 24 hours to  register for $99 that includes lodging
http://ow.ly/3yfJE3‪#‎NCPG‬ 2015 ‪#‎rethinkchurch‬‪#‎umc‬

Dear Church Planters

There are just24 hours left to take advantage of our fantastic registration deal for the Path 1 National Church Gathering October 27-29 in Orlando Florida. $99 includes your lodging, several meals and awesome speakers like

Ron Martoia – Quantum Integral Coaching – http://ronmartoia.com/

Derek Jacobs   – The Village UMC- http://www.thevillageumc.org/

Michael Baughman – Union Coffee Shop –https://uniondallas.net

Amanda Garber – RISE UMC – http://www.riseharrisonburg.com/

Paul Moon – Broken Builders UMC – http://www.b3m.org/

Iosmar Alvarez – Global Empowerment Ministries – https://www.visualcv.com/iosmaralvarez

Steven Barr – Cast Member Church – http://www.castmemberchurch.com/

Jerry Herships – Afterhours Denver – http://afterhoursdenver.org/

Elaine Heath  – Perkins School of Theology -/ Missional Wisdom Foundation – http://missionalwisdom.com/

And over 20 more speakers

You will be uplifted by the preaching of Rev.  Matt Miofsky Lead pastor at The Gathering UMC with 4 locations in St. Louis, MO.

Rev. Suzanne E.  Katschke Co- Pastor of Crosswinds UMC with two locations in Harvest Alabama and Rev. Dr. Candace Lewis the Executive Director for Path 1 New Church Starts of Discipleship Ministries.

You will get an opportunity to connect with other church planters from across the Connection and relax at the beautiful Doubletree Hotel SeaWorld in Orlando Florida.  Register Today so that you so not miss the first UMC Church Planters Gathering designed for Church Planter for Church Planters. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!

William T Chaney Jr
SEJ New Church Strategist
New Church Starts (Path 1)
Discipleship Ministries | The United Methodist Church

www.UMCdiscipleship.org
www.UMCdiscipleship.org/new-church–starts

(877) 899-2780 Ext. 7077

Cell: 240.405.9808

Our Website address and my email address have changed.  Please update your records.

 

UMC Church Planters

 

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH PLANTING AND MULTIPLYING: THE NEXT GENERATION

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH PLANTING AND MULTIPLYING: THE NEXT GENERATION

Expo 2015 Spark Booklet Path 1

Mon, April 27 | 1pm – 5pm
Idlewild Baptist Church | Tampa, FL
Attend this Free Bonus Session by Registering for a Pre-Con Forum or Lab as part of Exponential East for only +$59

Hosted by Path 1 and AACPI facilitated by Dr. Candace Lewis and Rev. William T. Chaney Jr. 
Featuring Olu Brown, Lia McIntosh, George Ashford and Alex Shipman

Connect with successful African American Church planters and receive insights on planting and multiplying Ministries in a new church reaching African Americans as next generation leaders!

Our forum includes planters leading new churches of various sizes! What they have in common is a calling from God to share the gospel, impact their community, and multiply ministries. Come hear succinct Ted Talk style presentations w Q & A and receive cutting edge research & resourcing in African American Church planting.

In this session you will experience:* The importance of Vision & Momentum as you Plant & Multiply

* Connecting w your community & creating successful partnerships
* The Heart & Soul of an African American Church Planter
* Making Disciples & Multiplying Leaders
* The mindset and essentials of a multiplying movement
* The Emerging Black Church & The Next Generation

 

Why We Gather

“Let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22-25 (NRSV)

Why is it important for Christians to gather? Some people would say we need to gather to collect offerings, so the church can survive. Others may think that it is necessary to gather because church is the place where God can be worshiped by God’s people. I have heard also that when people miss church, people feel empty. We need to remember that Paul is writing for the first century church, which is not probably the same image we think about church today.

Churches back in that time were basically houses hosting a few people who gathered clandestinely to know more about this Jesus, the son of God. They were simultaneously surrounded by multiple gods lifted up by people who praised living kings and rulers from the empires.

Paul, once convicted about Jesus’ love, talks about the power of gathering because by getting together, it gives identity to the people of God; identity in love, compassion, grace, and favor. Identity that is marked by the faith. Faith in the one who came to give his life against all political systems imposed. Through Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, Paul was able to teach that a king is not the one who rules through oppression, but who loves with such power that brings hope to those that were lacking of it.

Gathering on a regular basis helps us to build self-discipline, and while the discipline takes place, our souls are transformed gradually to become what God intents for us. How? Through gatherings, we may see the reflection of our sinful nature in each other and at the same time we may reflect the grace that God provides. As part of congregational formation, the transformation may occur to help us grow as individuals as well as Body of Christ.

Now, the challenge that Paul brings us in this letter is to not only taking the image of gatherings in a place like our church, but also taking this personal and communal formation to other spheres of lives: home, work, friends, and enemies with the purpose to see “one another to love and good deeds.” It liberates us, frees us, and reshapes us.

Prayer: God almighty. Guide us to intentionally be open to your voice, so we can take the church -your church- with us wherever we go. Break the barriers of our minds, hearts, and souls, and change us in such a way that the transformation never ends. Please, forgive us for limiting your gatherings to one place. Merciful God, in your powerful son’s name, we pray. Amen.

Carlos Reyes

 

You Might Not be A Church Planter if…….

Rev. Dana Rice

Rev. Dr. Rod Miller – Towson UMC

Rev. Dr. Ken Averils – https://www.facebook.com/KAMinistries

Rev. Dr. Matthew Poole – Glen Mar UMC

Rev. Ashley Hoover

Rev. Jay Voorhees

Rev. Dr. Paul Nixon – Path 1 Strategist

Rev. Bessie Hamilton – The Source UMC

 

Power Quote by Isaiah Redd

“My greatest hope as a campus pastor of  Infinite Grace Fellowship is to, “authentically” minister to those Believers and Non-Believers who have been “Beat up and set aside” by the World. My deepest concern is inspire Youth and Young Adults to draw closer to Christ, majorly focusing on Young Men.  My prayer is that by the Grace and Sovereignty of God, their eyes open wide enough for them to see and receive God’s Majesty and they will feel led to leave the World, and cling to God.”

~Isaiah Redd, Sr. ~

Campus Pastor, Infinite Grace Fellowship