October – November 2012 Issue 5
Greg Haslam
Has your church become a non-prophet organisation?
Jarrod Cooper
Go back to the source of God’s power to see revival
Dave Mansfield
The Holy Spirit was sent to equip us for service
REVISITING WHAT WE DO We talk to Jake Smith, leader of Willow Creek’s massive ministry to young adults
David Harvey believes that a true church will struggle if it is worldly
25 NEW MINISTERS ORDAINED
Phil Pye reports on a great day for the future of the Movement
1
Editorial
ISSN 2049 - 2014
Contents Features 03
18
A NON-PROPHET ORGANISATION?
09
22
A HISTORIC DAY FOR THE MOVEMENT
KEEP REVISITING WHAT WE DO
American mega church leader Jake Smith reveals his most important role and how he’s dreaming of ways to change doing Church
A FRESH WAVE OF THE SPIRIT FOR CHURCH
If we go back to the source of God’s power we will see a great revival sweep Great Britain again, says Jarrod Cooper
13
MY FAITH HELPED ME DEAL WITH WOES
Star striker Darren Bent talks about how having a strong faith in Christ helps his ups and downs in professional football
14
THE SPIRIT COMES TO EQUIP US
People are searching for something real and the Church, empowered by the Spirit, should be the answer, argues Dave Mansfield
Westminster Chapel pastor Greg Haslam gives his thoughts on the subject we either love or hate – prophecy
More than 25 new ministers were ordained into Assemblies of God at Mattersey Hall. Phil Pye reports
Regulars 08
GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO SAVE GIFTS
Put your little in the hands of God for remarkable results, says Del Jones
25
LAST WORD
with Gary Rucci
09
J
ust recently, my wife and I were discussing the names of our six grandchildren, and I was once again expressing that, for me, I thought them all to be rather unique – not that I should be surprised by that with a wife called Andrene! She rightly reminded me that able’ names of boys and girls, and would be considered unusual and somewhat old-fashioned – a comment that I took rather personally and begged to disagree. However, our discussion prompted me to think about how
My own son shares his name with Moses’ right hand man – Aaron, whose name means of my youngest daughter – has its roots in the Hebrew language
13 ADVERTISE in Re Online – call the National Office on 01777 817663 Re Online is the official magazine of Assemblies of God GB Editor in Chief: John Partington The purpose of Assemblies of God is to give every man, woman and child the opportunity of understanding the gospel and to provide a church where they can grow and develop in ministry for the glory of God. 2
which I’m certain must really thrill her, whereas we named daughter
All content is copyright and must not be reproduced without prior written permission from the Editor. Submitted articles are subject to editing. By submitting articles you accept this to be the case.
Abigail: The father’s joy Andrew: A manly man Anna: Gracious David: Dear and beloved
Mary: Strong Nahum: Comforter Naomi: Gracious and pleasant
by God
Stephen: Crown Timothy: Honoured by God
So, these are just a few names but whatever your name, in these
Scriptural meaning whatsoever, but certainly is a children’s classic and a must read, for every boy and girl.
our Healer, our Saviour and the
vital and important for every one
all those who will call upon him. Your friend,
Re Online is published by Assemblies of God Incorporated, PO Box 7634, Nottingham, NG11 6ZY. Tel: 0115 921 7272 Email: info@aog.org.uk Publishing agents: New Life Publishing Co Write to: Re Online, PO Box 777, Nottingham, NG11 6ZZ. Tel: 0115 824 0777 Email: editor@newlife.co.uk
I suggest that you make them
in which we are living. Here is a short list of names found in the meanings. If yours is listed, may
John
Jake Smith leads AXIS, American mega church Willow Creek’s ministry for young adults. Kate Kent caught up with him on a recent trip to the UK
We must revisit what we do all the time
0 3
W
hat was life like when you were younger? I moved around a lot growing up. My parents are from the deep American South – so every couple of years we were on the move – new school, new house, new church, but because cultures so I’ve been entrenched in the American South, the American West, the American mid -
– how was that? and thought that was what I was going to do with other half I was married and about two years into if we’re going to be married and have a healthy be away from home for nine months of the year.” So that was my easy road into the church, be a worship pastor. So I started out in church life worship pastor job and about six months into it me if I would step up and see us over the hump.
years. It was there that I discovered a passion for teaching, preaching, learning and theology and
allowed me to embrace my new calling. I felt I wanted to see the powerful impact of people’s
Ministry is hard but all the lowlights would have to do with my own shortcomings. So, having moved around a lot growing up I only ever had to keep re-
ministry asks you to go for longer than a two-year skill and muscles to go deep and I think that hurt big impact. So I learnt there that I needed to get
Jake speaks during an AXIS meeting. Inset, member s of Willow Creek
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Community Church
5
and at the end of that run I wanted to become a senior pastor or plant a church was walking that journey with me. had a call at the church from Willow Creek a twenty-somethings pastor and to cut the story short I began to feel the burden
going to have a community focus that is radically aligned, that shares resources and vision but contextualises we could build a Church that can truly have a shot, by having a presence in every part of the city – the poor part, the wealthy part, the hipster part, the urban part, the suburban part, the university part... having a network of churches that saturates the renewing and redeeming that place. I think people start to watch the news
that it would have a bigger impact.
The fact that I am forced to constantly re-
church over that side of that city!” There are certain needs that emanate from the city. We can send our resources out, so you can achieve the same scale and resources of a mega church but it’s a net-
I would take a boat, and a motor that’s really strong and powerful that runs on solar energy and a back-up motor!
a lot. I really enjoy American football so I follow a certain team, their moves, their friends so we’ll get together and watch a movie, or play a game of some kind or go out for dinner. I also enjoy the outdoors. It’s hard to do that beyond just running around the block which is all I get to do these days these days I’m into fort building with blan-
making with my children. ministry, about my understanding of the gospel, about who God is, and about the way Church is supposed to work. There are some very obvious things not working So if you just do things you’ve always done you’ll always get what you always have to revisit why we do what we do and my job that I love. The toughest challenge in my role is learnings. It’s not black or white. It’s not that we learn some things and say we can blow up everything that’s been done before and introduce these new ideas; it’s like trying to turn the Titanic in many ways.
I’m dreaming about a new way of doing church. I’m dreaming about a network of churches that don’t necessarily achieve scale individually but instead create spiritual acupuncture in the city. Diversity is a really important thing in America that a lot of racism over in the States and the Church needs to lead the way in racial
within my children so I’m taking them to when you go by yourself! to do anything tomorrow I hope that I would do it. It’s hard to imagine how I would feel. Unless it’s reality, you never know how the Holy Spirit of God is going to equip you with an infrastructure and capacity to face whatever he puts in front
'You never know how the Holy Spirit of God is going to equip you' not a single guy who’s living within the responsibility of his own decisions, I’m a married guy of 11 years with three chil-
the decisions that my wife and I make together. I would say there would be some fear. I’d probably feel some anxiety, some excitement and would hope I would have
My pride is such that I don’t like to do anything I’m not good at, so my lack of humility won’t let me do golf, hence the something I’d like to do with my boys – we could maybe do a day trip or take them away for a week. What do you love most
Stonehenge. Where else can you go to I live in a country that’s about 200 years do and then to come to a place like the UK, seeing the architecture, the statues
that God wanted me to go. anything spiritually?
invite diversity to come to us. I don’t think
I met my wife in college... in the library, and neither of us was studying so I don’t even know why we were there!
saying any church does do this, but perhaps a way to create a generic culture that
If you were stranded on a desert
be to just come together and not appeal
you take with you?
6
GIRL POWER
God doesn't want us to save our gift Taking your very little and putting it into the hands of a God who has very much will produce remarkable results, says Del Jones
T
osity, which is more than an act of giving – it becomes a culture for living.
they do nothing with them. This woman -
what she had to serve and bless others. never asks for equal giving, but equal
so much more than we think. in the hands of a God who has very much, you will be surprised what he does with it. doing, rather than the simple small things they decide to do it, the opportunity is
.
people’s lives such as the simple touch, the smile, the encouraging word and the helping hand.
been impressed by all the gold going into
woman seemingly had nothing to give; yet
God is always more interested in our heart than what is in our hand, yet we fall
important things:
ministry by what is in the hand.
He wants us to do today what we can with what we have and when we do he prommore to use tomorrow. I don’t know what you feel you can offer, but I know this – God has placed into every life the seeds he wants us to sow
to bless others, share with others and This woman didn’t look at what she had
She was willing to give all that she had, even if in the scheme of things it was only small. It was not what she had that was important, but what she was willing to do
favour of heaven on your life. This woman did a small thing and yet people have spoken about her for
encouraged millions of people over the years to do the same. Who knows what your seemingly small -
8
words, smiles and whatever else he has
Unless we sow what we have we cannot expect to reap the harvest he wants to give us. Stop despising the day of small things and use what you’ve got and you will be amazed what God will do in you and through you.
Where have all the gifts gone? If we go back to the source of God’s power we will see a great revival sweep Great Britain again, says Jarrod Cooper
Is a fresh wave of the Spirit ready to be released in the Church?
0 9
I
A Listening Ear Next. The presence of him, but the true power of the presence
who believe will drive out demons, speak in tongues, heal the sick and know super-
or the call to repentance, the gospel is not proves that our world respects truthful
gentle whisper from God and I know what ther doing’, choosing not to enact his own
If we look back at early Methodism, when world, this is a challenge. to the message.
of poverty and brought into meaningful -
. You see, the power
phere of radical preaching and presence.
at preachers who were ablaze with truth! power.” This is, of course, a huge challenge to many of us leaders and churches today. sonal walk, our depth of spirituality and -
released as we obey his voice. So our cultural zeal, Wesley died a hero of the geared towards hearing his voice, than in his day. Great challenging moves of
. A guest speaker recently came to our church and in the ourselves that right through church books of Acts makes it quite clear that part of church life, not something to be
reaching the world. In our own church, miracles have sat comfortably alongside church growth for being overwhelmed by the Spirit’s power is common place. You are just as likely to be healed of deafness as counselled out of debt at our church. I believe this is Church
carried an incredible atmosphere, and not simply a truth. When Wesley preached, young men would fall out of the trees
'The fear of man is probably the greatest hindrance to the gifts of healing and signs' overwhelmed by God. Tremblings, falling to the ground and open confessions of sin
So how, with all our great preaching, such an atmosphere swept 3,000 into the kingdom at the challenging words of
out of a wheelchair! Around 250 leaders were gathered for the leaders’ forum, got the t-shirt’ look on their faces, but were suddenly up on their feet, yelling, dancing, transformed, all because one man brought passionate faith back to the party! We will never know the miraculous without it. . The fear of man is probhealing, knowledge, signs and wonders. At a recent service I felt God say there was a man with two hearing aids in, and that he would be healed. Now there needs to be
divine commission, but also using the di-
with integrity in a contemporary church
knees when he passed by. Atmosphere is not just the passion that comes from vision or the excitement of a good event, but pure heaven unleashed through men
The Power Of Hunger. Without a doubt,
man responded to the word of knowledge
people have been healed of deafness at our church – and every one took a leap of faith!
hope will help: again, someone, somewhere has to pasmiracles are never about the glitz of gospel we simply can’t avoid. Whether it’s
it clear that for the Spirit to be present, there must be a thirst and a hunger for people out of sickness and despair. God’s
10
Jarrod Cooper says apostles are not accredited by the size of their platform but by signs and wonders
and grace of the gospel. Without love in cymbals, banging gongs.
ity was to heal people through miracles. passionate boldness that takes cancer, and give people their lives and dignity
. So, where do we
return to the biblical culture of signs and wonders, we must return to the biblical source of them, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on, in and through the Church!
. Two chapters later they Whether you speak of Wales, Azusa of China, South America or parts of Africa, with the source, God’s powerful presence! -
-
– another infusion of Heaven. When he comes, to a church, a preacher, a young and knowledge. Hands will be placed on sick bodies and sickness will leave. Demons will cry out and depart. Miraculous
described in Mark 16.
11
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DrGlenn Phil Jones OBE Dr Balfour As President Glenn studied of at CE Kings Electric and UK,then Phil Jones College completed high with levelthe organabrings Doctorate university of Nottingham isational expertise from whilst leading a church in the business sector Cambridge. He moved and is also leader of to be athe fullFive timeTowns lecturer at ChrisMattersey in 2000 and tian Fellowship. became principal in 2012.
MA in Missional Leadership with Mattersey Hall
Daz challenge! Star striker Darren Bent talks about his faith in Christ and the ups and downs of professional football
E
ngland striker Darren Bent says
-
good things come to those who wait and I begood things will happen to me in my life and in my career.”
every day. because she used to carry me to church every up. You’ve got to have faith! me and put it beside my bed so it’s there for me to read every day.
my grandma needs me to do something for the church – to go along to an event or sign something – then I’m more than happy to do that. dressing room and I think the lads realise it is a personal choice of mine and they respect that.
be a bit clichéd, but I have got my faith and it is important to me. my household and with my family it’s a big part of our lives and what we do.” 13
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The Spirit comes to equip us 14
People are searching for something real and the Church, empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, should be the answer, writes Dave Mansfield
supernatural display of the power of God
response was, “You’re telling us that we
Spirit so that we don’t upset anyone, it
'We must allow God to be God. It is his power that brings revelation'
the new age, the age of the Spirit, the
the Spirit are for today, they are for us
15
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Pastor Steve Uppal`s Impressions of CfaN Recently, we had the opportunity to ask one of the Assemblies of God pastors Steve Uppal, Senior Pastor of All Nations Christian Centre in Wolverhampton, about his journey with Christ for all Nations. Pastor Steve has been connected to the ministry of Evangelists Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda for many years; both in the capacity of employee for a short period of time, and more importantly, as a local pastor we have interacted with over a number of years.
was it like?
'The power of God was palpable throughout the whole six days'
I think the one word I would use to Daniel?
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Is your church a non-prophet organisation? 18
Westminster Chapel pastor Greg Haslam gives his thoughts on the subject you either love or hate – prophecy
P exaggerated claims to divine authority – no one can understand or explain, or
anyone.
purchased for his people. preacher AW Tozer challenged this. In the
ecy.”
and speaks to us frequently in accusaput-downs, nightmares and blasphemous am convinced he does not. He can access words or screen images for our personal encouragement and that of others, if only we knew how to listen to him.
The value and importance of prophecy has been recognised by countless worthies, past and present. Here are some
0 Prophecy requires wise handling. Try not to give in to doubt. Step out in faith. 0 Learn to follow God’s leading, rather than ignore promptings and hunches. Ask questions of God, about what you’re seeing. Give time to clarify God’s ‘word’ in your spirit. Interact with it: “What does this mean? Who is it for? Should I announce it now, or wait a while?” Be at peace, never feel pressurised to perform or act impetuously. Await God’s timing, deliver it. Stop when God stops, avoiding distracting embellishments. 0 Be natural. 0 Be humble and teachable. 0 Sense the right timing for the meeting or the individual. 0 Be submitted to godly leaders and willing to be corrected. 0 Avoid ‘heavy’ directional words, leave room for people to manoeuvre. Write the words down (Habakkuk 2:2), then let others ‘weigh’ them. Use language that’s easy for others to receive and weigh it carefully. 0 Avoid secretive, private approaches or a desire to impress others. 0 Be careful with personal prophecies by checking with leaders, and never manipulate people. 0 Take special care over predicting ‘births, marriages, and deaths!’
Christ deploys a diversity-in-unity of word apostolic church planters, gathering evancal teachers, guardian caring pastors and major dimensions of Christ’s voice won’t be heard.
his plan to his servants the prophets.”
blind and deaf, lacking vision and direc-
pleted. Seers like Haggai and Zechariah ets do is go around just building everygreatest need.
from God, or knowledge that is beyond speak the mind of God on a given subject, Holy Spirit. God has presented to the mind in visual or verbal form. lenge. It is God’s present voice to a par-
of the mind of God in the power of the Holy Spirit, with a special bearing on the The New Testament teaches not only
discovered that only ten per cent of believers have heard clearly about God’s per cent of those are actually doing it –
every outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there
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church focused and moving!
1. Just as evangelists make churches evangelistic, teachers impart doctrinal depth, pastors shape caring compassion, and apostles move churches into mis-
ic ministry, since it’s absence can result in
2. Prophetic churches are welcoming and responsive to travelling prophetic ministry as well as to the ‘simple’ gift of prophecy. 3. Prophetic churches mature in conspicuous vision and irrepressible hope. 4. Prophetic churches frequently see prophetic gifts operate in their members. 5. Prophetic churches discern God’s wider purposes for their church, town, nation,
ing and re-furbishing the Church as a
6. Prophetic churches continually provoke themselves and others to action.
to experience and desire.
gelism, social action, leadership, community life, small groups, worship, sense of momentum and their enjoyment of God’s presence among them.
us back to God in order to hear his coun-
Calming our fears and bringing profound peace to the troubled and distressed.
prompted by God for someone present. You can voice personal prophecies to God wants us to address. We thus preach ing.
and convincing both sinners and saints alike of their true state, as God prepares
imparts boldness, directness, and relevance to the ministry of biblical preaching, worth a thousand words!
Downloading heaven’s truth and insight to our minds, for depth and stability in our lives.
interpreted dreams, Daniel ministered If God can beam pictures or download words to us like this, we need to have ing up and a few consoling thoughts. The of the hum-drum into the great movement of God in history. The paraklesis is
well. Her response to his spot-on accurate
modus operandi includes: the Spirit through close proximity to mayou. A careful process of inquiry and elimi-
very core and stand him on his feet again and we can do this also, in our encounters with unbelievers, publicly or privately.
A dream while you are asleep – true God-given visions and dreams are persist-
speak the mind of God on a given subject threshing the remains of his stolen
thing God has brought to mind. This happens in many ways:
A scripture comes with insistence into our minds.
commissioned him by prophesying truth rior!” God alone can tell us who we are, and what to do. More than 90 per cent of prophecy is the restatement of the obvious in the power of God’s Spirit!
objects. knowledge’ for healing or supernatural words and melody come spontaneously.
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Area Safeguarding Training - 2012 For Church Leaders and Workers with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults ‘Facing the Unthinkable: Child Abuse and the Church’ followed by AOG-only session As part of the ongoing partnership between AOG and CCPAS, we have agreed to deliver a series of training events especially for Ministers and other church leaders across the AOG movement.
SCOTLAND: Venue: Central Hall, 2 West Tollcross, Edinburgh* Date: 06 October 2012 WALES: Venue: North Coast Church, 87 Gors Road, Towyn. Date: 27 October 2012 LONDON: Venue: Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street* Date: 17 November 2012
Each of these events will include the standard ‘Facing the Unthinkable’ seminar during the morning (open to anyone wishing to attend) followed by a bespoke AOG-only session in the afternoon to look at a range of practical, legal and policy issues relating to operating a ‘safer church or organisation’. This training is being endorsed by the AOG National Leadership Team for all status and probationary ministers. We have agreed a special reduced rate of £10 per delegate for all attendees who identify themselves as AOG at the time of booking.
Times are 9.00am – 4.30pm *Please note that these are non-AOG venues.
CCPAS
S
To book, please call Karen on 0845 120 4550 (x208) and ensure you quote AOG2012 at the time of booking otherwise you will be charged the full delegate price of £19.50
setting standards in safeguarding
More than 25 new ministers were ordained into Assemblies of God at Mattersey Hall. We report on an eventful day for the Movement
S At a special service to mark the occasion, the newly accredited ministers enjoyed a wonderful day in
address from Acts 20 encouraging the leaders to engage with what is really important.
The event began with lunch for all
an opportunity not only to speak to the leaders but also family members who had come to show their support. Mercifully, in a very wet summer, everyone made their way to the giant marquee in the campus grounds for
worship, courtesy of the musicians and singers from the student body at
22
individually to all the new ministers – it was at this point that friends and -
The service drew to a close with a of the ministers receiving the laying on of hands from fellow AoG minis-
that this was really just the start of a -
25 new ministers ordained
23
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LAST WORD
Why the last words are so important It is time to reprioritise our priorities and to re-examine the reasons why we plan and preach what we do week in and week out, writes Gary Rucci
H
Martin Luther King during his last speech
Have you ever waited for the crescendo of a huge symphony orchestra or the
Do you remember the last words of
last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.” Winston Churchill's short but remarkable speech to the House of Commons just Minister in the midst of war with the Nazi then, let us go forward together with our united strength.”
cal resources given to us by God.
-
churches, it is the great omission. Mission is no longer on the periphery
Sunday-centric, survivalist state. We must
Ghandi. All have spoken words that echo the world in which we now live. I want to reiterate the truth that last words are important.
and supported by a minority – but at the core of our vision; no longer a department compassing reason for our existence. We
power of the gospel and the compassion the reasons why we programme, plan and preach what we do week in and week out. Here are my last words: Christ’s last
again fallen on deaf ears. -
cal’ mandate. We have a responsibility to respond to the needs in our world locally 25