twentyfour7 issue 30

WWW.CARMELCENTRE.ORG

A MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY CARMEL: MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL

ISSUE 30

TEACHING BY GERRI DI SOMMA

CARMEL VISION 2011 SHARE - CARE - PREPARE - DARE ARTICLE BY GERRI DI SOMMA

KEEPING YOUR SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE

carmel: MINISTRIES

TEACHING BY GERRI DI SOMMA

SHARE

CARE

INTERNATIONAL

PREPARE

DARE

THE PERFECT GIFT

BY GERRI DI SOMMA

SPECIAL PRICE! ONLY £6.99!

‘The Perfect Gift’ offers more than money can buy. It shows the way to receive the most perfect, priceless and precious gift ever made available to mankind.

Other books in the series just

£5.99*

*All prices correct at time of publication

www.carmelbookshop.org

0117 977 5533

CARMEL: PARTNERSHIP A partner is a sharer, an associate, one who engages with another in business, one who plays on the same side as another.

Partnership is important – It releases power to get the job done. We can accomplish the Great Commission together in unity.

United Kingdom Bank of Scotland Carmel Christian Centre Sort Code: Account No: 80-11-00 06085191 BIC: BOFSGB21012

Partnership in prayer – We believe it is vital for every partner to develop a strong personal prayer life, and to pray for the leadership for godly wisdom and direction from the Lord.

IBAN: GB67 BOFS 8011 0006 0851 91

Partnership in caring – We are instructed to watch over and take care of the partners in our charge (Acts 20:28).

Should you wish to donate by Gift Aid please contact the Church office.

Partnership in sharing – The whole ministry of sharing is to give oneself in the areas of love, time, talents and finances.

South Africa Anchor Ministries International First National Bank, Cresta Branch Sort Code: Account No: 25-49-05 51440080590

carmel: ministries international is a registered charity (Charity No. 1094052) with Luke 9:2 as its mission statement.

All finances sown go into the work of establishing God’s Kingdom through evangelism and preparing labourers for the harvest.

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Account Details:

SERVICES Sun 09.00HRS SuN 11.00HRS SUN 6.30PM CONTACT CARMEL:CENTRE 817a Bath Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5NL T: (0117) 977 5533 F: (0117) 977 5678 W: www.carmelcentre.org

carmel: MINISTRIES

EXECUTIVE EditorS: GERRI AND Michelle Di Somma PRODUCED BY: WWW.CRE8ION.CO.UK Bible quotations are from the New King James Version unless stated otherwise.

INTERNATIONAL

All teachings in this edition are abridged.

Full versions are available to order on CD or DVD.

‘He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.’ Luke 9:2

We are pleased to bring you the Carmel Vision issue of 24/7 and trust its content will be of particular value to you.

HI FRIENDS...

Jesus told His disciples that without Him they could do nothing. This is no less true for us now the Holy Spirit is with, in and upon us. The article ‘Why We Need the Holy Spirit’ looks at this and establishes root principles which are essential for successful Christian living.

Many have thought that the demands made of a woman in Proverbs 31 are virtually impossible. However, when seeing the revelation concerning the Church embedded in it, it reveals a clear exhortation towards God’s planned expectation of the Church. The teaching ‘Keeping Your Spiritual Influence’ opens the first nine verses pointing to the warnings which must be observed for greater understanding of the remaining text.

In this issue we have also emphasised the importance of mentoring for both men and women. There has never been a time quite like ‘now’ when the proper discipling of men and women has been so important to the Church and the work of God. We trust that you are blessed as you read and inspired to serve the Lord with all your might.

Gerri and Michelle Di Somma

EVENTS

CONTENTS

Tuesdays 1 - 12 Sat 5 Thurs 17 - Sat 19

MARCH

Grief Share 1:30pm Valiant Men’s Breakfast 8.30am Exceptional Women’s Conference

APRIL Fri 22 Sun 24

Good Friday service 10:00am Easter Sunday services 9:00am, 11:00am & 6:30pm

Valiant Men’s Conference Knowle West Fest Exceptional Women’s Breakfast 8:30am

JUNE Sat 18 Fri 24

Carmel Vision 2011

08 TEACHING

Why We Need The Holy Spirit

By Pastor Gerri Di Somma

12 ARTICLE

Exceptional Women’s Ministry

By Pastor Michelle Di Somma

13 ARTICLE

Valiant Men’s Ministry

By Pastor Gerri Di Somma

MAY Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Fri 13 - Sat 14 Sat 14

04 C:VIEW

Valiant Men’s Breakfast 8.30am Exceptional Women’s Outreach, ‘Vintage Vault’ 7.00pm

14 TEACHING

16 TEACHING

Keeping Your Spiritual Influence

By Pastor Gerri Di Somma

19

PRAYER WORKS Testimonies

20 ADVERTISING

Please note some of the dates and times of up and coming events may be subject to change.

See carmel: website for all the latest information.

Facebook: carmelcentre.org

Valiant Men’s Strategy

By Pastor Gerri Di Somma

Conferences 2011

twitter.com/carmelcentreorg

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C:VIEW CARMEL VISION 2011

CARMEL VISION 2011 ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Over the years, since 1996, Carmel Ministries International (CMI) has seen steady growth, both in Bristol linked to Carmel Centre, the UK and beyond as its influence has increased.

With both clear Vision and focused Mission based on biblical Values, the Ministry has been able to move forward from strength to strength, fulfilling its mandate despite the increased hostility to Christianity from the secular and non-Christian world.

Mission Statement In line with the Word of God and God’s purposes in the world today, CMI’s Mission Statement is clear and concise: He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2.

Vision Statement Vision is a practical and purposeful necessity for believers in today’s world: If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. Proverbs 29:18 (Message). Paul’s vision on the road to Damascus became the captivating force behind his success in ministry.

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It helped him focus his attention and energy on that which was purposeful and productive in the sight of God. All Vision comes from God and with this He gives a strategy for its fulfilment. Carmel’s Vision is rooted in four basic instructions to: • • • •

Cover our City Bless our Neighbours Send to the Nation Touch the World

The core message remains the same: repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Acts 26:19-20.

Values Statement CMI is committed to preaching and teaching the rule and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the practical outworking of His kingdom purposes on the earth in the lives of those who come to Him through His people, the Church.

The Church, the body of Christ, is the central vehicle through which God’s strategy is worked through to completion. Every member of the body has a partnership role which combines blessing with responsibility. (Ephesians 4:11-16.)

2011 – 2016 ENJOY THE JOURNEY Though the strategy for the Vision is set out for the next five years, the expectation for this year is expressed by the word ‘Inception’.

The word ‘Inception’ refers to things which involve new origins and beginnings; things which germinate and cause an outcome which is productive and fully expresses the purpose of its being. Some of these are complete in themselves, while some are integral to others for the development of the whole.

In all cases, there is a sense of freshness and a quickening which is characteristic of the Holy Spirit at work continually unfolding to us the mind of God as to His desire for His children. Our journey of faith is one that brings new unfolding revelation of the plans God has for His bride the Church. ‘Inception’ best describes this process as we enjoy the journey with Him. Some things are new to Carmel, and some are already part of us. As with the growth of anything that is organic, healthy cells are key to the effectiveness of the body as a whole. Some cells need to be set aside, some regenerated, some renewed and others are attached to stimulate further growth and maturity.

Christ is Head of the Church, and we function under His authority and by the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as we look at the elements of the Vision, we see that God has called the Church at Carmel to be an equipping ministry that helps to mature believers so they can effectively minister the grace and love of God to others.

Clear Objectives Help Direct The Journey Underlying the Vision are foundational objectives which keep our focus in the right direction. To be distracted leads to a deviation which delays the fulfilment of the Vision and uses up resources unnecessarily. These foundational objectives are: •

To bring God’s message of love to the city, nation and world;

•

To help equip and mature believers to effectively minister the grace and love of God to others;

•

To establish city-wide campuses that can practically benefit the local community:

•

To empower related Churches with equipping to better facilitate the work of the ministry;

•

To be a resource centre for other Ministries to draw from.

Every Journey Requires Wise and Strategic Planning Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.

Proverbs 24:3-4 (TLB).

Wise and prudent management is at the centre of any successful enterprise, and this is true for the Church if it is to accomplish what God has called it to do.

Diligence to the task and energetic application to the process are essential if that wisdom is to be applied.

To suppose that we can casually head in the general direction of what is being aimed for is unlikely to achieve the mission of God for His people. Christ’s Church is built on the wisdom of God. This is the Rock that makes its foundations secure.

We are told in Proverbs 24:6: Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel [Message]. Another version puts it this way: Don’t go to war without wise guidance; there is safety in many counsellors (TLB).

Wisdom needs to be translated into a structure and process which fully facilitates the objectives of the Vision. It is naïve to suggest that goals can be achieved without insightful and properly considered strategy for the journey from beginning to end. Merely aiming at something does not take into account real-time issues that have to be faced, the hurdles that will need to be overcome and the positive steps needed to secure the path to reach the end of the road.

Structure Is What Makes Strategy Become Reality At Carmel there are five key components. First of all there is Pastor Gerri through whom the Vision and wisdom of God comes to work it through to fulfilment.

He also acts as CEO of the whole Ministry. Then there are the Trustees who look at the internal processes on behalf of the partners and who keep the requirements for charitable status in mind.

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C:VIEW CARMEL VISION 2011 There is an Advisory Board consisting of godly people who are successful in business or vocational work, who give their time to look at the Ministry from outside.

They advise the best way of applying Carmel’s Vision in the world today.

Then, internally, there is the essential Pastoral Team which oversees and cares for those who attend Carmel. The process of Ministry for the Vision is

SHARE SHARE: The first stage of the journey is SHARE. This is primarily concerned with sharing the Gospel with unbelievers and those disillusioned with Church, and provides their first point of contact with Carmel. SHARE also covers our initial contact with people who are already believers, but who have come to Carmel for the first time.

SHARE, thoughtfully and caringly, concerns itself with every point of contact a person may have with Carmel from the moment they arrive on site until they leave again. The aim is that they should have every opportunity to experience the presence of God while in the Carmel community.

DARE DARE: This is the final stage of the journey’s cycle. Once people are equipped and carrying the Vision by playing key roles in the Ministry, they are positioned to help facilitate the process of the journey for others with SHARING. DARE involves all forms of outreach and missions, whether local or overseas. The effective use of media tools such as the production of films, books and other targeted publications becomes an asset for communicating with the non-Christian world.

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headed up by an Executive Team of five experienced leaders who each oversee an area of the work.

Each area - share, care, prepare and dare - form what we call the cycle of life. Welfare is what joins these areas all together to meet all the needs of a person from before they became Christian until they become able to resource themselves and fulfil God’s calling on their lives.

CARE CARE: This is the second stage of the journey’s cycle. CARE is primarily for people who have given their lives to the Lord and who need help to adjust to a Christian way of living. Many support structures are in place for these people so that they become part of the Church family and find a place for themselves from where they can most effectively live their lives as believers. CARE concerns itself with the whole life of a person, spirit, soul and body and encompasses a person’s social, economic and relational responsibilities.

CARE includes Home Groups which are a vital part of Ministry, providing a pastoral and fellowship environment which is safe and small enough for all to be valued members.

PREPARE PREPARE: This is the third stage of the journey in which those who have become partners with the Vision of the Church are equipped so that they can be an important part of taking the Vision forward.

PREPARE covers other opportunities for growth and personal development, such as the ‘Basics’ course. Also, a wide-ranging subjects in books, DVDs and CDs are always available for individuals who want to pursue and develop their Christian life.

WELFARE:

At the hub of the journey’s cycle is WELFARE, a department which concerns itself with the whole picture and the logistics for making the process work. Nothing in this nation can be done without reference to the governing authorities. Nothing can be done without the financial resources needed. The practical mechanics of all this are within the responsibility of the WELFARE Team. Theirs is a great task which often requires special skills.

SHARE

(COVER OUR CITY)

DARE

(TOUCH THE WORLD)

WELFARE (CARMEL MINISTRIES)

CARE

(BLESS OUR NEIGHBOUR)

PREPARE

(SEND TO THE NATION)

View the vision presentation

vision.carmelcentre.org THE NECESSITY OF THE HOUR This structure has been set in place in order to advance the Vision and accelerate its fulfilment. We are constantly aware of the Lord’s imminent return and don’t want to be found lacking in what He has called us to do as we keep the end in mind.

In this we are not just focusing on the end of the age, but on the key that gives the Vision its importance: the people who, as yet, do not know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Let us in this last hour, focus on what it is all about: the redemption of mankind.

We have inherited, as God’s children, the great commission: to go and make disciples of all nations.

(Matthew 28:18-20.)

We continue to do the works of Jesus in the power of the Spirit. He said: “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19.

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TEACHING BY GERRI DI SOMMA

WHY WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHING BY GERRI DI SOMMA

There are some Churches where there have been no salvations and no signs and wonders in years. Why? Because the Holy Spirit is not present. No Holy Spirit means no power. No power means no demonstration.

We need to be a Church of power and demonstration, led and anointed by the Holy Spirit.

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1. The Prophet Pointed People To Jesus And The Holy Spirit John the Baptist was a sign pointing to the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. John said: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11.

John knew who Jesus was and broadcast it to everyone in his teaching and preaching. He had witnessed the anointing of Jesus with the Holy Spirit and heard God declaring Jesus to be His Son to do His work as the Anointed One, the Christ. And so we read how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38.

2. Signs And Wonders Point People To Jesus After His death and resurrection, Jesus stayed with His disciples for a short while until He ascended into heaven. Having done this, He sent them the Holy Spirit on His behalf so that greater works could be done through them by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told His disciples what was going to happen before He left them. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:4-5.

So Jesus pointed the way ahead to a time of powerful ministry under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. As the disciples were sitting in a certain house, they suddenly heard the sound of a rushing mighty wind. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:3-4.

It being Pentecost, devout Jews would have made a connection between what they saw and when God came down on Mount Sinai to give Moses His Commandments for the Israelites. Clearly the anointing that came upon the disciples carried God’s special authority to preach His Word and do His work; and as the disciples spoke by the Spirit with other tongues, the people gathered around heard what the disciples said in their own languages.

Christ’s new Church clearly had a mandate and the power to go into the world with Christ’s authority to do Christ’s work in greater measure than when He was on earth. Before He ascended, Jesus said to His disciples: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20.

When the disciples were being discipled by Jesus, He gave them power and authority over all demons and told them to cure diseases; He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2.)

Following the Lord’s ascension, having been anointed and baptised with the Holy Spirit, they were to go out into the wider world and do the same.

As the Church and disciples of Christ today, we have inherited the same mandate from God for which we require the same anointing and baptism with the Holy Spirit.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38.

3. The Baptism With The Holy Spirit Points Us To People However, we may well still be embarrassed to speak in tongues publicly or attempt to assist in healing and we expect our pastors and leaders to do it all. We live in a world where many flock to hear ‘personalities’ speak, hoping to ‘catch’ it from them instead of having their own encounter and ongoing intimate relationship with the Spirit. We run to worldly counsellors when we have the ultimate Counsellor already within us. We rush to programmes, theories and people instead of the Spirit’s power to heal, deliver and set free.

The world needs to both hear the Word and see the evidence. Demonstration happens when Word and Spirit come together and the multiplication of believers

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TEACHING BY GERRI DI SOMMA The Holy Spirit Works In Us

follows supernaturally. Jesus came to do three important things:

To become a disciple of Jesus Christ and do His work, we need to be born again and become a new creation so the Spirit can dwell in us and lead us as God’s people. Jesus’ disciples were the first to experience this: Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22.

Take away the sins of the world.

Give us eternaL life.

Empower us to serve.

Earlier in His teaching of His disciples, Jesus helped them understand and become ready for the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Included in that was the revelation of the Holy Spirit being in them; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:17.

It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be effective signs to the world concerning God and the return of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit Works With Us The Holy Spirit is with us in the world. He convicts people of sin so that they will believe in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit Works Upon Us

He sets Jesus forward as the righteousness of God and shows people the way to God through Jesus. The way has been opened because Satan has been judged through the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ Jesus.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:7-8.

DAY

NIGHT

To be effective witnesses to Jesus in the world, we need the power and ability of the Holy Spirit upon us.

We can have all the conferences in the world, but without the Holy Spirit’s presence upon us there will not be the signs and wonders that point to Jesus following the Word that is preached. (Mark 16:17-18.)

So Jesus told His disciples: You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8.

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0117 977 5533 WWW.CARMELBIBLECOLLEGE.ORG 10

4. Four Things We Need To Do To Be Endued With Power We need to fellowship with the Holy Spirit We need to fellowship daily with the Holy Spirit. This means first, before all else, sharing our deepest concerns with the Holy Spirit. Too often we look elsewhere for answers and advice before listening to the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t force Himself on us if we don’t consult Him for His help, wisdom and understanding, but if we want truth that brings freedom and power for increase, then the Holy Spirit must be our daily Counsellor. He transformed the ministry of such people as John Wesley. Yonggi Cho, the leader of the largest Church on earth, is well known for his close fellowship with and continual dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Then we will be able to fulfil Jesus’ expectation: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12.

These works show the genuineness of our relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are One.

We need to partner with the Holy Spirit Develop a partnership with the Holy Spirit. He is our senior partner. His power and wisdom are far greater than ours. Very often we use the words ‘God said’, but often this represents our best thoughts rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must constantly check whether we are in line with His will and leading.

We need to move with the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the Holy Spirit’s gifts. They are meant to function not as we choose, but as He chooses. (1 Corinthians 12:11.) As we move with Him, the Holy Spirit empowers us to do what He desires.

God said: I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Ezekiel 36:27. In this way we see the fruits of our righteousness.

Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit to do what He was sent to do. We need to live the same way.

We need to be united through the Holy Spirit Because there is one Spirit, we are told to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3. The gifts of the Spirit are for the common good, not just for individual experience. The same Lord and God works all in all no matter how different the gifts and activities are. In that same Spirit, let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...

Hebrews 10:24-25.

5. The way forward Jesus depended on the Holy Spirit to do what He was sent to do. We need to live the same way. We need an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit by being born of the Spirit and then being baptised with the Holy Spirit and remaining continually filled with the Spirit.

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ARTICLE BY MICHELLE DI SOMMA

THE EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN’S MINISTRY The ministry of ‘Exceptional Women’, founded and run

by Michelle, wife of Rev Gerri Di Somma, is an integral part of Carmel Ministries International, sharing the mission: He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2.

The concept originated from Michelle’s commitment towards today’s women. They face many challenges, pressures and changes in busy and demanding lives, often feeling unprepared for situations that confront them, while longing to deal with them effectively.

Michelle has faced and overcome many challenges in her own life. With a marriage that has come through from failure to success, four grown-up children and three grandchildren, Michelle has learned how to draw on God. She successfully balances the demands of a busy life and has gained a wealth of godly wisdom and understanding, which enables her to speak powerfully into women’s lives.

The purpose of this Ministry is to impact women, to help them appreciate God’s exceptional purposes for them and to enable them to fulfil their potential and destiny as they walk in His will. In this way they become equipped to be exceptional women in their homes, families and Church, as well as to reach out to other women in the community, particularly to those who are hurt, broken or lost.

The functions of the Ministry include: Breakfasts.

Four times a year, these provide occasions to meet one another and invite others to enjoy good food and company, and hear the Word of God. Outreach events.

These twice yearly fundraising events help organisations that Carmel supports, like the Iris Project for orphans in Mozambique. Ladies, look through your wardrobes for good quality clothes, shoes and bags to donate to Carmel in time for the ‘Vintage Vault’ event in June. After the fashion show, ladies can browse, try and buy.

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Mentoring.

This is part of Carmel’s discipling process to enable women to grow strong in faith and wisdom in their daily living. This is done through reading, studying and applying the biblical principles and wisdom revealed in six books chosen for their particular relevance.

Small groups meet together weekly for an hour on different days at different times and in different locations, thus offering plenty of opportunity to participate. The groups are led by women who have gained experience within the mentoring process already.

After completing a book, each woman chooses another book in another group, which widens the scope for developing relationships within the Church. After completing all six books, the women are invited to a Commissioning service which acknowledges their faithfulness. After this, those who want to lead a group are encouraged to do so.

Conferences.

These take place annually. They provide an opportunity to reach out to women from other Churches and the wider community, to encourage all women to consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.

Hebrews 10:24. Guest speakers minister the Word and share how God has equipped them and changed their lives.

Exceptional Girls’ Conferences.

With a vision to captivate girls’ hearts for God before the world captivates them, Carmel will host its first Girl’s annual conference in September, tailored specifically for young women aged from 12-25.

Together, these functions of Exceptional Women enable women from all walks of life, different backgrounds and experiences, to become disciples of Jesus Christ. As they focus on building a strong relationship with God and abiding in His Word, they build His kingdom and their lives become transformed and become exceptional.

ARTICLE BY GERRI DI SOMMA

Among Christians, and particularly within the Church, it appears that a large portion of what is done both in the Church and in the community is in the hands of women.

They, with all believers, are undoubtedly important to God’s purposes on earth, and we must acknowledge that importance. However, the men have a special responsibility as leaders in the Church, in their homes and community. (Matthew 16:17-19; 28:18-20.)

Manhood And Christ–likeness Are Synonymous The late Dr Edwin Cole, the father of the Christian Men’s Network, often said about his ministry: “I have been called to speak with a prophetic voice to the men of this generation and commissioned with a ministry majoring in men to declare a standard for manhood, and that standard is that ‘Manhood and Christ–likeness are synonymous.’”

Of all people in the Church, it is the men who must take up the greater responsibility of leadership because of the authority given them by Christ Jesus to build His Church. It being Christ’s Church, means that those who carry this responsibility must do so based on the instruction given in the Scriptures for life and godliness.

(2 Peter 1:2-4.)

The Valiant Men’s Mentoring Groups The Valiant Men’s Mentoring Groups at Carmel follow Dr Cole’s ‘Majoring in Men’ curriculum, which is designed to help the men develop in Christlikeness and apply their leadership responsibilities both in the Church, in their homes, their work and community.

VALIANT MEN

Men of God are vital as a testimony to the redeeming love of God wherever they are. Men of God are vital to the life of the body of Christ in enabling the Church to do what Christ has called His Church to do.

The 9-book curriculum follows a series of books written

by Dr Cole. This takes the men progressively through the course to a place where they are fully equipped to be ‘Valiant Men’ and fulfil God’s purpose for their lives.

The course takes place in Mentor Groups. Each Mentor Group has a leader who has already completed the course successfully.

The Valiant Men’s Ministry Solution.

The course is structured to meet the needs of men in becoming leaders who make a difference in Church and the world around them. This is expressed in the Valiant Men’s Mission to be: Honour bound, purpose driven, faithfully committed and spiritually inspired. And we acknowledge each man’s commitment by commissioning them as a Valiant Man. The Commissioning Of Valiant Men Pastors commission the men on completion of the curriculum. Men ‘graduate’ to the next book in front of the congregation. For a man to receive a full ‘commission’, he must demonstrate that he is an active member of the Church at Carmel and that he participates in its ministry. Commissioning ceremonies are the ‘line in the sand’ that sets a man apart from mediocrity and starts him on a challenging ministry journey.

www.valiantmen.org 13

TEACHING BY GERRI DI SOMMA

VALIANT MEN’S

STRATEGY

VALIANT MEN

Jesus is coming soon. It’s time for the Church to repent for esteeming the traditions of men above the will of God and for continuing to have Church ‘as usual’ despite the dramatic change in the spiritual climate of our world.

God has a specific plan to save mankind

God’s strategy is to restore men and resurrect families

The Ark Noah built came from specific design and construction instructions given by God for man’s salvation. God gave Noah all the wisdom and information he needed to save his generation; Noah’s job was to obey and build. God has also given us all the blueprints, tools and materials we need to rescue humanity and build the local Church. All we need to do is obey and build. As Dr Ed Cole once said, “Man wants victory, God gives strategy.”

As a pastor, I have seen the devastating effect a lack of manpower creates in the home and House of God. It was when I was seeking God for a solution that God revealed to me His strategy to restore men and resurrect families.

In rectifying today’s situation, unless the problem is connected with a working plan to reverse the curse, the problem will only get worse.

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This strategy we call VALIANT MEN. It is a men’s mentoring programme based on the teachings of the late Dr Ed Cole who developed a men’s ministry solution called ‘Majoring in Men’. Other curriculum may be added as a supplement.

What Makes The VALIANT MEN Strategy So Effective?

Spiritual leaders are recognising the problem

1. VALIANT MEN Strategy creates father and son relationships within the Body of Christ

The Spirit of God is stirring His leaders across the world to focus their efforts on a common purpose and passion. The Body of Christ has recognised the need to rescue men out of their spiritual slumber and restore them to right-standing with God. Multitudes of ministries have formed around the objective of helping men become Christ-like.

Paul wrote: For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. 1 Corinthians 4:15. Our country is steadily becoming a fatherless nation and the result is a generation of dysfunctional children. Likewise, the Church has lacked the stability and accountability spiritual fathers provide.

The VALIANT MEN Strategy utilises men’s mentoring relationships that allow one spiritually mature generation to pour wisdom, guidance and instruction into the next generation of believers so they don’t have to struggle with the same issues all over again. Jesus trained twelve men to disciple others; shouldn’t we do the same?

This challenge keeps men focused and motivated.

The men in our Church serve in all areas of Helps Ministries and take ownership of the move of God because they’ve invested their life into it. As a result of spiritually employing our men, our congregation is about 50% male, which is 30% higher than the average Church today.

2. VALIANT MEN Strategy instils

This Strategy results in having a Church full of hardworking, driven men and makes my job as a pastor so much easier. We’re able to impact our community in a major way because the men are excited about doing the work of an evangelist.

morality in men God’s Church is not a building. God’s people are His Church. Therefore, a Church is only as strong as its members. Immorality in a Church cripples its effort to run with God’s vision for His Church.

4. VALIANT MEN Strategy maximises the ministry of the Church

As men study the VALIANT MEN curriculum with their wives, they are challenged to love their spouse, nurture their children and live an upright life before the Lord.

Those qualities enable the men to focus on winning the world for righteousness. The truths in each step are reinforced during weekly mentoring meetings.

Dr Cole teaches that ‘manhood and Christ-likeness are synonymous’. The VALIANT MEN Strategy gives men an organised, consistent way to renew their minds and take on the very nature and character of Christ.

The Strategy also serves as a ‘do it yourself’ marriage counselling tool, helping couples open up their doors of communication and apply biblical principles to their relationship.

3. VALIANT MEN Strategy spiritually employs men When a man faces unemployment, he often feels discontented, anxious and frustrated. That’s because men have an intrinsic desire to be creative and productive. Without the means to do so men often feel emasculated.

For centuries now the Church has failed to provide men with an outlet to exercise their creativity and productivity within the ministry of the local Church.

Consequently, men pour their time and talent into building their career and then ‘sit on the bench’ at Church.

The VALIANT MEN Strategy makes it possible for every man in the Church to take an active role in the ministry through home group (or cell group) leadership. He and his wife can serve as under-shepherds and use their ability and creativity to produce a thriving, growing home group. They become a role model of God’s order and plan for the family unit. As mentored men are promoted to leadership roles, they are charged to find twelve men to mentor and raise up to leadership.

God’s vehicle to gather the End Time harvest is the local Church. Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

Matthew 9:37. The local Church is the Strategy House where believers are mobilised and organised to evangelise the world!

The VALIANT MEN Strategy restores men and raises up leaders who remain active in the local Church; thus we are producing fruit that remains. (John 15:16).

We have a system in place that allows men and women to use their testimony and growth in Christ to help someone else grow in Christ. We teach people to teach people to teach people....

As believers, our ultimate goal is to destroy the works of the enemy. (1 John 3:8). God has established the local Church as His official army-building headquarters.

Jesus said to Peter, “on this rock (the revelation that Jesus is the Christ) I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Matthew 16:18.

Any ministerial efforts within the Body of Christ that do not somehow build the local Church are less than God’s best and do not adhere to His strategy.

We must focus on fulfilling the Great Commission and put down our differences so we can lift up the name of Jesus. It’s time to exchange ignorance for strategy and become experts at winning souls. It’s time for the Church to tap into its purpose, move forward with passion and unite world-wide around a common strategy to help God win His men back!

Get involved if you are not already involved. Encourage men who are not being mentored to join and become part of God’s strategy for the End Times. Our city and nation is ready for harvesting. Let us be the labourers that are sent by God to usher in the return of Christ.

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TEACHING BY PASTOR GERRI DI SOMMA

KEEPING YOUR SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE: Let us look beyond the obvious and natural implications of Proverbs 31. The references to both the king and the wife point to deeper, spiritual truth which speaks of leadership and function.

This is about a king and his responsibilities in the kingdom to which he is betrothed. It is a picture of the Church in relationship to Christ, a Church which is to fulfill God’s plans and purposes by influencing the world, governing on the earth as kings with Christ, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people. (1 Peter 2:9.)

Christ is also the groom and husband of the Church.

(Ephesians 5:32.) The bride of Christ has His authority and power to multiply, producing a harvest of souls as people are re-born spiritually into God’s kingdom. We are “to preach the Gospel to the poor; … to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19.

When married couples fail to give birth, or a baby doesn’t thrive, they grieve. How much more God grieves when His bride is spiritually barren or neglects to nurture the spiritually weak, vulnerable and immature. A natural mother’s responsibility doesn’t end after giving birth. The Church must nurture and disciple spiritual babes to ensure they reach maturity and become productive and effective.

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GODLY INSTRUCTION TO THE CHURCH God’s Word teaches the Church everything necessary to achieve His purpose today. The book of Proverbs is particularly relevant. The first thirty chapters, which instructed Solomon how to understand and fulfil the purposes of his natural father and heavenly Father, also apply to us: To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel… The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law (teaching) of your mother. Proverbs 1:2-8.

Proverbs 31 then records a mother’s wise teaching to her son, ‘King Lemuel’. It is commonly believed that the mother is Bathsheba, and Lemuel is Solomon. ‘Lemuel’ means ‘towards’, or ‘dedicated to God’. Solomon was dedicated to God, but had become distracted and was failing in certain responsibilities as a king.

We are dedicated to God as His called-out people but, like Solomon, we too can become distracted and lose our spirituality, effectiveness and influence in the world. His experience reveals four particular ways in which we can fail in our responsibilities and is a

warning to the Church today. Let us therefore heed his mother’s exhortations to set him back on track and let us apply them to ourselves.

HOW THE CHURCH LOSES SPIRITUALITY, EFFECTIVENESS AND INFLUENCE

preached for personal gain. (2 Timothy 4:3.)

Often believers are self-indulgent with God’s grace, failing to use God-given gifts and abilities for His purpose, misusing what He has given to gratify self.

3. IGNORING THE ROLE AND HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. PRE-OCCUPATION WITH WORLDLY ATTRACTIONS On the day the Temple was to be dedicated, Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter, an unbeliever and idol-worshipper. The Word warns the Church against becoming ‘unequally yoked’ with the world because of its potential to draw us away from God. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.) We’re also told evil company corrupts good habits. 1 Corinthians 15:33. Solomon became pre-occupied with worldly attractions that distracted him and diverted his attention from his spiritual responsibilities. His wife kept him awake with music, he overslept and the morning sacrifice was delayed. The significance is that the delay of the Temple dedication relates to the fitness of the Church to become kings and priests in the kingdom of God. All kinds of distractions can cause us to neglect our calling and responsibilities. Solomon was legally married, yet he allowed his wife to distract him. Thus his mother’s warning: Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

Proverbs 31:2-3.

2. CARELESS HANDLING OF GRACE FOR PERSONAL GAIN God’s grace is His equipping, ability, presence and Holy Spirit within us. Solomon was equipped to rule as a king, but he carelessly handled God’s grace and used it for his own purposes. He used his position to party all night instead of to govern. Solomon’s mother warned: It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Proverbs 31:4-5.

Intoxication leads to indignity, loss of others’ respect, dulled judgment and increased carnality. But this is not just talking about wine; the Church can become so intoxicated with worldly pre-occupations it no longer does God’s work well, forgets His law and perverts justice. When justice is perverted, so is righteousness.

When a king judges and rules righteously, everyone is blessed, but when his motives are impure, everyone suffers.

Pre-occupation with worldly distractions diminishes our responsibility, negatively affects our behaviour and leads to our use of God’s grace for selfish reasons. Paul recognised that many even

Solomon’s mother said: Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart, let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Proverbs 6-7. This illustrates proper use of intoxicants as sustenance and spiritual strength in Solomon’ day, for the unsaved, dying without the strength of the Holy Spirit. However, this and the previous warning indicate that Solomon was using the wine for his own pleasure and failing to minister to others’ needs.

The concept of strong drink fortifying refers to the ‘new wine’ of the Holy Spirit, to help, strengthen, refresh and empower the new believer for life and God’s purposes: Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18. The Holy Spirit enables believers to kill fleshly desires, fulfil God’s purposes and not fear natural death. Birthing and nurturing new spiritual lives to that place is the responsibility of the spiritually strong, who have died to self and live for Christ.

All leaders have the responsibility to empower their subordinates with the means to act and understand in knowledge and righteousness. That is the preparation of the saints. We also have a responsibility to prepare ourselves in order to do a bigger job. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are effective in everything that God has called us to do.

4. NEGLECTING THE RIGHTEOUS DUTY OF THE CHURCH The righteous duty of the Church is to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves: Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9. Solomon failed to defend the defenceless.

Often the Church remains silent, failing to decry politically correct, but ungodly and amoral principles, because we don’t want to face unpleasant consequences. However, if we don’t oppose ungodly legislation concerning parenting, for example, parents will lose their right to influence and control their own children. Recent news concerned a same-sex couple legally raising a child born to a surrogate mother. This appears to have more support than opposition, but it is an abomination according to God’s Word. (Leviticus 18:22.)

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TEACHING BY PASTOR GERRI DI SOMMA Jesus and the Holy Spirit have given authority and empower the Church to act against injustice. We don’t need a command. Twenty-four thousand Israelites died of plague through fornicating with idolaters. (Numbers chapter 25.) Phinehas killed a couple caught in the act, God moved on behalf of His people and the plague stopped.

The Church must judge its own affairs righteously, and must not ignore injustice in the world. Justice must be swift, complete and merciful. (James 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.)

Though we obviously won’t follow this exact example, we should take the initiative to oppose anything which upholds unrighteousness. Unrighteous law, if not stopped, gives rise to the ‘plagues’ of our time.

The Church must guarantee righteous judgment to those who cannot speak for themselves, who cannot obtain righteous judgment from the world’s systems.

Don’t let worldly influences distract you from God’s purpose. Isaiah summarised this by saying: “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought and strengthen your bones... You shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” Isaiah 58:11-12.

You and I are “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free and… break every yoke… to share your bread with the hungry… to bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked… cover him.” Isaiah 58:6-7.

There is an urgency to bring in the harvest before the return of the groom, our Lord Jesus, for His bride. There is no less an urgency for us to restore our spirituality, effectiveness and influence in the world. Let us be diligent and maintain our spiritual influence.

Conclusion

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ARTICLE PRAYER WORKS

PRAYER WORKS!

HAVE YOU AN ANSWER TO PRAYER? EMAIL US: INFO@CARMELCENTRE.ORG

Andrew and Mwaka Smallridge Mwaka – In November 2010 I had a scan for my baby.

During the scan the doctor thought he saw a cyst on the right side of the baby’s brain.

Andrew – As soon as we got home we prayed for quite a while. I laid my hands on Mwaka’s tummy and just asked God to administer His healing, and the baby jumped and leaped around and I knew that God was healing him straight away. In the meantime we had to wait a couple of weeks for an MRI scan, but God gave us complete peace in that time. (Isaiah 26:3.)

Mwaka – The result of the MRI scan and an ultrasound showed that there was nothing wrong with the baby.

He was perfectly healthy, Andrew – We’re so happy and delighted that God has healed our baby and kept us in perfect peace the whole time.

John and Sarah Pearce

showed I was pregnant. We then went to do a dating scan at St Michael’s Hospital and actually the scan showed that I had conceived in Christmas week 2009.

John – As it turns out, Sarah was pregnant by the end of 2009, so the thing we actually trusted God for, we saw happen in the natural.

A Carmel Leadership Academy story This year CLA were running the Christmas Hamper Project to provide hampers of food for those in need.

A few weeks before we were due to give the hampers out we only had £10, but we needed £5,000 to make this project happen. So we prayed together as a team and we stood in agreement that God would provide for our need. (Philippians 4:19.)

We took up offerings at Carmel, and money came from other places, some were unexpected, and we were able to reach our target. We’d really like to thank all those who gave generously and helped, particularly those at Carmel.

Sarah – Back in December 2008 John and I prayed that I would be pregnant by Christmas 2009 with our first child. Then in June 2009 I did a pregnancy test and found I was pregnant, but that pregnancy didn’t carry through. However, we were still trusting in God’s promises that I would be pregnant with our first child by the end of the year.

Alex Lamb

John – While we were going through this time, our faith was challenged and we just decided we weren’t going to be moved, and we kept standing on the Word of God which says His promises are yes and amen and that He stands over His Word to perform it.

(2 Corinthians 1:20; Jeremiah 1:12 NASB.)

Straightaway my wife and I started to pray. I also asked the elders of the Church and close family to pray as well. We prayed according to scripture that no weapon formed against me shall prosper and that I am healed

by His stripes. (Isaiah 54:17; 53:5.)

Sarah – At the end of 2009 the evidence suggested that I was definitely not pregnant.

However early in 2010 I did a pregnancy test and it

ALEX

Three years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through all the necessary treatment at the BRI Oncology Centre and was cured. At the end of last year, I had some symptoms recurring and I had to go back to the hospital to endure more tests.

A couple of weeks ago I got the results back from the doctor. He told me that I was all clear from the cancer and that no sickness or disease lay within my body.

ANDREW AND MWAKA

JOHN AND SARAH

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