unite june/july 2012
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One Region, One Church, One Mission
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“ARISE & BUILD” Nehemiah: A Guide for City Ministry PAGE 11
CHURCH ON THE BEACH Jim Cymbala on Prayer Family Blessing
EDITOR’S NOTE CONTENTS Nehemiah heard about the condition of Jerusalem and he wept, he fasted and he prayed. Before doing anything else he returned with all his heart to the Lord. Then he took action after receiving divine guidance from the Lord and God met him every step of the way. I love that book. I believe it gives us a blueprint for how the Church can and needs to be working together. Along the wall in Jerusalem every leader, priest and citizen did their part to restore the city and to protect it from further destruction by keeping the enemy out. Nehemiah knew the promises of God for his people and for Jerusalem and they acted on it and ended up making history. While cities no longer have physical walls around them to protect them from enemy attacks, I truly believe the ―wall‖ today is a wall of prayer and worship. That is why I have been investing my time and energy into a work in the heart of downtown Buffalo called Prayer Collective. You see, the ministry is seeking to do just what Nehemiah did, call the Church in our region together around the cause of rebuilding the spiritual wall in our city. It‘s something that no church or ministry can do on their own. Rather, it‘s one of the few things that all believers can agree upon. How can you argue about doctrine when you are wholeheartedly seeking the face of Jesus? You can‘t. And how can you argue with a place as centrally located as The Buffalo Christian Center? The 66,000 square foot structure is a untapped resource to the Church in our region. It‘s also something that few other cities have. My prayer is that you would join the rebuilding. Our cover story features a teaching by Dr. Ron Burgio did for us explaining city transformation by the power of God as found in Nehemiah. Enjoy!
Kyle R. Patterson
JUNE/JULY 2012
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unite june/july2012 www.unitemagazine.us PUBLISHER
5 Events Nehemiah
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6 News Prayer Collective, Crisis Response, Kingdom Bound, more.
Beach Church
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9 Cover Story
Kyle Patterson kyle@thrivebuffalo.org Editor-in-Chief....…...……………………Kyle Patterson kyle@thrivebuffalo.org Operations Director…………………...Julianna Patterson Contributors………………………………….. Lou Perez Robert Stearns Nurline Lawrence Ron Burgio Photographers… …………….....Matt and Angela Brown Troy Teague Bob Caple
Nehemiah, Arise & Build…Dr. Ron Burgio unite is published bi-monthly, December/January, February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November. The entire contents of unite is copyrighted by THRiVE! Media Group and may not be reproduced in any manner, either whole or part without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Advertising Of Pancakes & Praise...Stephen Jenks rates may be obtained by emailing info@thrivebuffalo.org or by calling Who Is Your Child‘s Teacher?….Nurline Lawrence (716)809-0496.
14 Columns Jim Cymbala
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PARTNERS GOLD PARTNERS ZION DOMINION GLOBAL MINISTRIES Pastor Roderick L. Hennings 716-250-7040 www.ziondominion.org ELIM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Bishop Troy Bronner 716-832-7698 www.elim-world.org THE TABERNACLE Bishop Tommy Reid 716-675-2888 www.thetab.org
BRONZE PARTNERS CLARENCE CENTER UMC Pastors Chuck and Kim Smith 716-741-2410 www.thewayonline.net THE CHAPEL AT CROSSPOINT Pastor Jerry Gillis 716-631-2636 www.thechapel.com BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Kevin L. Wright 716-688-8668 www.bethel-nab.org
SILVER PARTNERS
NORTHGATE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Pastor Jon Hasselbeck 716-912-5477 www.northgatebuffalo.com
LOVE JOY GOSPEL CHURCH Pastor Ron and Judy Burgio 716-651-0400 www.lovejoy.org
EAGLES’ WINGS Dr. Robert Stearns 716-759-1058 www.eagleswings.to
PENTECOSTAL TEMPLE Pastor Matthew L. Brown 716-852-5502 www.pentecostaltemplechurch.com
GRACE IN COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastor Mark Sterlace 716-655-4145 www.graceincommunity.com
NEW BETHEL COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastors William and Toni Clark 716-835-8300 www.newbethelonline.com DESTINY CHRISTIAN CHURCH Pastors Lou and Louisa Perez 716-297-2656 www.destinychristianniagara.com NORTHEASTERN SEMINARY JP Anderson-Director of Admissions 1-800-777-4RWC www.nes.edu GLOBAL DOMINION INT’L ALLIANCES Dr. Melody Barclay 716-603-5436 drmelody2011@hotmail.com HOUSE OF WORSHIP Pastor Migdalia González 716-512-0794 www.cdaelshaddai.com
For more information or to become a partner email kyle@thrivebuffalo.org
EVENTS JULY 2012
JULY 2012 Summer camp at The Buffalo Christian Center takes place July 2-26 from 10am-3pm every Monday through Thursday except the 4th of July. Lunch is provided and arts and crafts, cooking, field trips, worship and sports are some of the other entertaining activities for children ages 6-11.
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Breakout/Love Buffalo takes place July 9-13. Projects include renovating homes on the west side, painting, siding, roofing, landscaping, doing carpentry and general cleanup. The Tabernacle and Hamburg Wesleyan are two of the major sponsors of this initiative as well as NorthGate Church and Xertion Youth.
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Church On The Beach is taking place every weekend in July and August at Crystal and Bay Beach in
Creflo Dollar will be speaking at New Creation Fellowship as part of the Empowered to Prosper series. Other speakers will be Kate McVeigh and Jesse and Cathy Duplantis. Meetings are held at 3325 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga at 7PM.
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at 7PM.
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July 21 and 22 Cathy and Jesse Duplantis will be speaking at Empowered to Prosper at New Creation Fellowship in Cheektowaga, NY. Call 631-8595.
BUSINESS + MINISTRY bmfbuffalo.com
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Zion Dominion Global Ministries presents Legacy 2012 with Mali Music and a host of other guests. The three day event takes place August 3-5 at Zion Dominion Global Ministries in Amherst and at their Rochester location.
Kate McVeigh continues the Empowered to Prosper Conference at New Creation Fellowship. Meeting begins
Canada.
SEPTEMBER
Weekend of Miracles at Sword of the Spirit Ministries in Buffalo. The three day event takes place July 27, 28, 29 and includes a Women of Destiny Breakfast on Saturday morning the 28.
AUGUST 2012
Join us for our next monthly meeting Tuesday, September 18 Protocol Restaurant 6766 Transit Rd, Williamsville
11:30 Open Networking 12:00-1:00 Lunch and Speaker. Guest Speaker Rev. Terry King ($20) RSVP to kyle@thrivebuffalo.org
Don‘t see your event? email kyle@thrivebuffalo.org to get listed. Small fee applies. Space is limited.
Family Blessing Conference
NEWS Transforming Conflict From the Inside Out
By Kyle Patterson
By Kaitlin Harding
Conflict can be messy. In fact, most of us would rather avoid it if we can. Conflict only leads to pain, hurt feelings, and judgment, right? According to Rev. Dr. Theresa Latini, conflict can lead to healing and understanding. Conflict can, in fact, be the impetus to transform communities for the better. Latini has seen firsthand how conflict can either tear a church community apart, or build it up. At a recent conference hosted by Northeastern Seminary for ministry leaders, Latini told a story of a church that had to reevaluate the way they worship. Changes were made that several people disagreed with, but those issues were not openly or honestly discussed. Avoiding the conflict led to negative accusations and outbursts from those who did not like the changes. It also led to hurt and embarrassment for church leadership. Latini described these two typical responses as ―lashing out‖ and ―lashing in.‖ When we lash out we attack others and we feel justified in doing so because they hurt us first, while lashing in magnifies our own faults and sets us up for shame and failure. What, then, is an appropriate response to conflict? Latini turns these responses inside out for us. When, rather that lashing out, we ―open hearts out,‖ we participate in empathy. We put ourselves in the other person‘s shoes and attempt to truly understand where that person is coming from, what their needs are, and how those needs are not being met. When we ―open hearts in‖ we participate in what Latini calls ―self-empathy.‖ We have compassion on ourselves and understand that we, too, have core values that need to be met. How can we go about enacting these responses? According to Latini, the answer is simple: we listen to each other. She asks, ―What would it be like if instead of demonizing each other we listened to each other, really listened to each other?‖ When we have empathy for a person, we set our own feelings aside to hear the other person and meet them where they are. By reflecting back the content of what the other person is saying, making sure the person feels they are being understood, and considering the feelings of the other person, we verify what happened, how the person feels about it, and can connect their response to a need. In the case of the church mentioned above, Latini facilitated listening circles for people to speak simply about their experiences with the council, helping the elders hear people without taking sides. Acting out of empathy doesn‘t necessarily lead everyone to agreement. However, the council was able to evaluate what they heard from the congregation, and explore God‘s mission through that understanding. A conflict that could have had more severe consequences, instead, led to better understanding between leaders in the church and the congregation. More on the topic can be found in Latini‘s books The Church and the Crisis of Community: A Practical Theology of Small-Group Ministry (2011), which was named by Jesus Creed as a book of the year, and an upcoming book, Transforming Church Conflict: Compassionate Leadership in Action. A graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College, Rev. Dr. Theresa Latini is associate professor of congregational and community care leadership at Luther Seminary and is parish associate at Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.
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June/July 2012
Uta Milewski, left, Gale Chappel, Neil Armstrong brought the Family Blessing Conference to Lovejoy June 15 and 16. Families are in crisis and unfortunately the church is not exempt. In fact statistics suggest there are as many if not more divorces in the church than outside the church. Christian families are experiencing their children rebelling against Christ and frankly the church hasn‘t been equipped to handle it. The book of Malachi however says before the coming of the Lord, God will turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to the children, lest he strike the earth with a curse. A unique opportunity to respond to that very promise presents itself at Lovejoy Church this June as the Family Blessing Conference made its way to Lancaster this June 15 and 16th. The two day event featured speakers Craig Hill, Dr. Tony Wheeler and Neil Campbell who taught how to impart a father‘s and mother‘s blessing to the next generation including how to conduct a rite of passage. ―Blessing is an impartation that comes from God through a father or mother that changes something in the heart of a son or daughter and empowers them to prosper,‖ explains Craig Hill, keynote speaker at the conference and author of Ancient Paths and Senior Leader of Family Foundations International. ―When you bless your son or daughter you empower them to prosper in their future life and not just financially but in every area. In their future marriage, relationships, health, career and their ministry. In every area of their life.‖ In terms of practical steps, ―Start practicing blessing in your own family. The next step after that would be to come to a conference,‖ explains Pastor Neil Campbell who will be speaking at the event and also serves as the National Coordinator for Family Foundations International. Campbell encourages people to seek healing from their own hurts which will translate into blessing for future generations. According to Campbell it is about breaking off old negative generational habits and releasing the blessing over our children. ―We highly believe if you win the family mountain that is the highest peak. You start winning the families, getting this process of blessing started in families and start reaching out to other families.‖ Campbell cited as much as 90% fatherlessness in some urban areas. ―There is probably nothing more powerful than to find a way to build relationships with those men and boys and find a way to bless and empower them.‖ Campbell went on to explain that the process really starts with forgiveness. If you can start with forgiveness, the healing process can begin. Lovejoy is expecting hundreds of families and singles to join us and learn how to receive the Father‘s blessing for themselves, and also how to bless others and create a culture of blessing in the Buffalo region. Worship will be led by Love Joy Church and Robert Stearns with Eagles‘ Wings Ministries. The event took place Friday, June 15 at 7 PM and Saturday and June 16 from 9 AM to 4 PM with an evening start at 7 PM. As Campbell explains that after attending a conference and learning the tools and education needed to release blessing to the next generation, ―It just rocks people‘s world.‖
NEWS Business Men’s Fellowship USA is happy to announce the formation of the Buffalo Niagara Regional Chapter of the fellowship that seeks to reach men in the marketplace with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The formation of the Buffalo Niagara Chapter comes after months of hard work by Rochester Chapter Vice President John Frattare who helped network together the Buffalo chapter. The first meeting was held May 15 at Protocol Restaurant in Williamsville. The next meeting is set for June 19 at Protocol. July and August the fellowship will take off and meetings will resume in September.
Pastor and Evangelist Benny Hinn will be speaking at The Tabernacle in Orchard Park, Saturday August 11 and at Zion Dominion Global Ministries in Amherst, August 12 at 6pm. Hinn is known for his faith filled healing meetings seen on television all over the world. Hinn actually has a long history of ministering in WNY dating back to the early days of his ministry at the Tabernacle.
QUESTIONS
Kingdom Bound 2012 has an impressive lineup of Christian musicians and speakers for the festival this coming August 5-8 at Darien Lake. A few of the headliners include Casting Crowns, Kari Jobe, Jason Upton, Toby Mac, David Crowder and Switchfoot among many others. Speakers include Kevin Leman, Carol McLeod and Tommy Reid. More artists are being added so check back for updates.
The Buffalo Christian Center has announced that funding has become available for the renovation and restoration of the pool. The 66,000 square foot facility includes the swimming pool, gym, Forbes Theater and much more. The pool is expected to be completed and back up and running by late summer. Prayer Collective (www.prayercollective.com), a regional collaborative of intercessors, musicians and worshippers seeking to worship Jesus on earth as he is in heaven has taken up new residence at the Buffalo Christian Center. Due to facility renovations at Lafayette Presbyterian Church the ministry sought to find a place of common ground in the Christian community. The natural place for that was the Christian Center. ―The Buffalo Christian Center has been the one place where for generations past Christians of all denominations have gathered together. We are happy to be able to do this once again and what better way to do it then through prayer and worship,‖ said founder Kyle Patterson. Churches and ministries wanting to be involved in the effort should contact the Collective through their website at www.prayercollective.com Crisis Response International has announced a Disaster Preparation training this coming September. The ministry released this statement, ―The generation alive today is seeing the greatest shakings the earth has ever seen, meanwhile God is raising up an army of end-time mercy missionaries who will release great demonstrations of His power and love. Crisis Response International will help prepare you to respond to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs that arise in the midst of crisis and disaster. Come get yourself, your family or your whole church trained to respond in times of disaster. Group rates available!‖
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INTERVIEW
Branches of Niagara is open for the camping season at the 70 acre site situated right on Grand Island. The camp was started by a group of Christians in 2010 and has seen excellent reviews of the facilities and camper experience.
Zion Dominion Global Ministries presents Legacy 2012 August 3-5 at their Buffalo and Rochester locations featuring top musicians and speakers in the Christian scene.
WITH >> Jim Cymbala Author, Pastor Brooklyn Tabernacle Interview conducted at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church by Kyle Patterson.
Tell me about the House of Prayer mentality? The burden that is in my heart is to encourage pastors. There are many areas where we all fail as James says and stumble and we aren't doing it exactly as we need to. As I talk to pastors one of the things that does come up a lot is pastors tell me, ―I am preaching the word, it‘s doctrinally right, we‘ve got good health we‘ve got good music but there isn‘t a real spirit of prayer as we see in the New Testament so what do you think about that?‖ If I preach on that it seems to resonate. So it‘s not like I am telling people make your model into a house of prayer because I don‘t know what that looks like. I think it looks different in each church. I think we can all agree as Christian leaders that there has to be a real return to prayer and calling on God because look at all the promises that are connected. Is there a place for regional prayer gatherings? It seems in the Bible it is always right to be praying. Whether you pray within the church, minister all alone or cross denominationally, it‘s all very good. You mentioned prayer as a outward symbol of people’s spiritually maturity, what do you mean by that? Usually it (prayer) can be linked to the spirituality of the people to practice prayer because we know it is probably the highest spiritual discipline. Pastors, I think need to preach more and more effectively on God‘s promise about prayer so that the people through the Spirit and the Word get an appetite for it. Like, ―Yeah I‘ve complained, I felt bad, I called my aunt, my uncle, I complained, I felt sorry for myself, hey, I didn‘t pray about this.‖ It seems like it‘s simple and basic but we know sometimes we do everything but pray. You mentioned your story about starting your church and your first week’s offering was $85, how did you persevere when ministry wasn’t easy? By the grace of God. What advice would you give someone today? Mark 3. He called them that they may be with him. You have to spend time with the Lord so your batteries can get recharged, that your faith can be built up. He is the God of all comfort the Bible says who comforts us in all our troubles. You have to be with him to let that comfort be effectual. You preach, you pray, you plod. At the beginning there was a lot of plodding and there still is. God gave me grace to do it one more day because you don‘t see changes overnight, you have to keep at it and at it and at it. So he is the God who gives us perseverance so we just have to go to the throne of Grace because, ―God we not only need mercy I need the grace of perseverance so I don‘t quit.‖ I tried to quit twice and he blocked me. I got so discouraged. Really, there is no other formula that I know of.
The theme for this year‘s event is out of 1 Peter 2:9, ―Called and Chosen.‖ Don‘t miss this opportunity. Read more news at www.unitemagazine.us Have news to share? Email info@thrivebuffalo.org (space is limited)
June/July 2012
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PICTURES
Corey Coogan of Elmwood Drives ministers at City Church in Batavia . Photo by Matt Brown
Dr. Robert Stearns raises a shout to the Lord at The River Conference hosted at the Tabernacle this past April. Photo by Matt Brown
Prayer in the Square was May 5 in Niagara Square, Buffalo. Photo by Bob Caple
City Hall/Niagara Square was the host of Prayer in the Square. Photo by Matt Brown
Paul Baloche plays at CMS @ The Chapel Photo by Matt Brown
Benji and Jenna Cowart play live at CMS @ The Chapel by Matt Brown
Pastor Tommy Reid prays for young people at Eagles‘ Wings River Conference. Photo by Matt Brown 8 www.unitemagazine.us
June/July 2012
Submit your pictures by emailing info@thrivebuffalo.org
PEOPLE
S. Hein, a Buffalo businessman who spends his summers each year at Crystal Beach. Hein, during his early years, spent considerable time traveling to places like Florida and Hawaii. He would often visit a local beach based church and was inspired. After looking for a church experience during his summers at Crystal Beach, Hein started talking to a couple of friends about organizing a beach service right at Crystal Beach. To Hein there is something special about enjoying the beauty of God‘s creation and worshipping in Church on the Beach is in its second year and plans to run July 1-August 26 in the open air and beautiful beach of Crystal/Bay Beach, Canada. the midst of it. So, after much prayer and planning Hein called on long time friend Neil Boron, the former host of NBL on WDCX 99.5 and Mike Failla, board member of Kingdom Bound Ministries and Associate Pastor of Evangel Church to organize something that would not only meet the desire for a strong worship experience for the community at Crystal Beach but a way to reach out to the many local residents and Mike Failla (left), Neil Boron and William S. Hein are in their second year of running fellow vacationers enjoying Church on the Beach, a summer Sunday service on Crystal Beach. the opportunity summer time affords them. ―Living up in Canada during the summer I Many local musicians and speakers will be at Church on the Beach this said why not have a church on the Beach? So the first summer including Jill Kelly and Dr. Kevin Leman. person I contacted was Neil. Neil could locate speakers and we needed someone to find musicians. We had mentioned Mike (Failla) and as we were coming out of the restau―People found a place to help whether with set up or tear rant, there he was. So we felt that God was saying that was down. People wanted to serve and they found a place to.‖ OK,‖ explained Hein who is careful to give Jesus all the glory The neighbors even got involved including Ron and Sharon and credit for his work in business and ministry. Adimey who provided free electricity for the sound system By Kyle Patterson Hein is Chairman of William S. Hein & Co., Inc. and gives throughout the summer and on occasions provided a second oversight to two foundations that assist Christian ministries Summer for many people means time at the beach, vacatent. Dick and Mina Potts, also of the Crystal Beach Hill and good causes in the area both monetarily and with other tion and a little extra rest and relaxation. This year, thanks Association, provided the coffee and chairs throughout the resources, so ministry is nothing new for him. ―I have always to a pioneering team of business and ministry leaders, the whole summer. believed you have to give to receive. There are other minisbeach doesn‘t have to mean you leave church and God at The speakers this year include Dr. Kevin Leman, Jill tries that I am involved with and have a separate foundation home. The ministry, Church on the Beach is an effort to Kelly and Brett Larson among others. Donna Russo, who that supports Christian organizations,‖ explained Hein. So for give believers from across the region an opportunity to serves as Executive Director of Kingdom Bound Ministries Hein this is a natural extension of his ministry that has for enjoy fellowship, teaching and worship in the natural is excited about the outreach as well saying, ―Church on many years been going on behind the scenes, undergirding beauty of God‘s creation. The venue is the open air, beautithe Beach is an innovative, creative approach to presenting and supporting works like SonRays Ministries and others. ful lakefront, sandy beaches of Crystal and Bay Beach the Gospel, which fit perfectly into our mission. Since our For Failla, getting musicians in the community involved located on Lake Erie about 10 miles over the border into inception, Kingdom Bound Ministries has endeavored to was not a problem. ―It wasn‘t a difficult task at all. There are Canada. The ministry‘s services will be held each Sunday serve the community and church as a resource, linking a lot of musicians out there with great talent and that have a from July 1—August 26 with the purpose of providing a speakers and musicians to share their faith. Our prayer is heart for the Lord. When they heard about the outreach this non-traditional opportunity for people to hear and see the that this fresh approach will allow another generation to was and where it was, it wasn‘t a problem getting people to gospel. The idea is to bring a fresh church experience to hear the Gospel and respond.‖ contribute.‖ Failla credits Kingdom Bound for helping to locals while providing an outlet for believers to meet with Crystal Beach is located on Lake Erie about 10 miles connect many of the musicians and community together. others from around the area. The open air setting on the after crossing the Peace Bridge into Canada. With no comBoron explained that the services will go on throughout the beach creates an atmosphere where families can come and mittees, no building and no trustees, a family friendly 45 summer and are geared at both Christians and those who may enjoy some time together, seek the Lord in worship, hear minute services that welcome kids, pets, and walk ins and not yet believe. Last year there were at least a dozen decisions God‘s word from some distinguished speakers and enjoy welcomes a mix of pastors, authors, students and musifor Christ. Boron explained, ―It‘s an open venue where people fellowship with one another. cians, Church on the Beach is getting back to the core of are walking down the beach and it just drew people with the The ministry, while not associated with a specific deChristianity and reminds all of us what Church is really open worship. It‘s just a blessing to whoever wants to come. nomination is part of the Kingdom Bound umbrella of minabout, worshipping God and enjoying Him (and fellowship It‘s for believers but it is clearly designed with unbelievers in istries, a prelude if you will to their Summer Festival in with his people) forever. mind.‖ Boron explained it was a blessing to see people join August, taking takes place at Darien Lake each summer. June/July 2012 www.unitemagazine.us 9 them last year and begin to serve and build relationships. The idea for Church on the Beach came to William (Bill)
Summer Worship On The Beach
FEATURE
Arise & Build
Nehemiah: A Guide for City Transformation
By Dr. Ron Burgio
While in exile in Babylon, Nehemiah received bad news from his brother who had just returned from Jerusalem: "The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire" (1:3). The wall, of course was the protection for the city. The gates represent the entry points for the people and for trade as well as the place of government. Nehemiah, an official in the court of King Artaxerxes, was deeply and personally affected by this news. His concern for the poor spiritual, moral and economic condition of the city led him to grieve for Jerusalem. Do we grieve for Buffalo when we see her poor spiritual, moral and economic condition, or do we complain like everyone else? Do we just hang in there or think of moving away? What if we would grieve, like Nehemiah, and start a time of fasting and prayer? Genuine, real remorse should come from genuine concern which leads to fasting and prayer. Nehemiah knew that the condition of Jerusalem was a result of sin. Really, any negative condition on earth is the result of sin, ours or someone else‘s. Nehemiah didn‘t spend any time laying blame on anyone in particular. It didn‘t matter, here is his prayer: ―I pray before You day and night for the Israelites, Your servants, confessing the sins of the Israelites which we have sinned against You. Yes, I and my father's house have sinned‖ (1:6). He made no excuses. He put no blame on any one person, but he blamed everyone including himself. Repentance becomes powerful when it incorporates confession of the sins of the people and our own sins. ―If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land‖ (2 Chron. 7:14). After confession, we need to believe God for success. Nehemiah prayed in full faith that God would keep his word. ―Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‗If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name‘ (1:8-9) God had put it in Nehemiah‘s heart to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. God‘s covenant never fails. Even today, as we recently celebrated Israel‘s 60th birthday, His covenant with Israel still stands. O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray… (1:11) A few years ago the Lord spoke to me when I read Psalm 2:8: ―Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.‖ He told
me ―Ask of Me, and I will give You Buffalo for your inheritance, and the suburbs for your possession.‖ He wants us, the Church at Buffalo, to make this declaration: ―God has given us the city, the suburbs and the rural areas of Western New York.‖ They are ours to minister to, to pray for, to serve in, to lead and to win to Christ. After his long trip from Babylon to Jerusalem, Nehemiah inspected the city. He saw firsthand what his brother had reported to him. The gates and walls of Jerusalem were indeed broken down and destroyed, but Nehemiah encouraged and motivated the Jews, ―Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.‖ (2:17) Nehemiah had an infectious faith. And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me…‖ (2:18). He had a history of the goodness of God. It caught on. The officials declared, ―Let us rise and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work‖ (2:18). The gates of our city are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, the churches, political and community leaders and the believers of Buffalo. We must pray, encourage each other and strengthen all with the Word of God. The builders of Jerusalem‘s walls worked together. There is strength in unity and in united purpose. Chapter 3 records the details of the work. At least 38 times it mentions ―next to him‖ or ―after him‖ as indicating they worked side by side to build up the walls. The people and the clergy and the officials all partnered together, each doing the work in their own sphere of influence. When the Body of Christ of all denominations and races comes into unity we will see a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our area. Psalms 133 speaks of this type of unity and blessing. Psalm 133 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing— Life forevermore. Nehemiah won a great victory when he unified the people and when he motivated and encouraged the officials. He didn‘t have long to enjoy his success however. No sooner did the work begin, the attacks came from the outside. Nehemiah 4
records the assault by Sanballat and his companions. ―But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews (4:1) We can learn valuable lessons from studying Sanballat‘s assaults, threats and schemes. We need to expect distractions. One of the great tests of leadership, of being a person with vision, is how to handle opposition. Nehemiah faced the usual tactics of the opposition: 1. Ridicule (4:1-3) 2. Resistance (4:7-8) 3. Rumor (4:11-12) Nehemiah was not about to let the whining and complaining of a few unbelievers get in the way of his Godgiven purpose. John Maxwell says Nehemiah modeled the right response to all three of these challenges. He… 1. Relied on God (4:4,5) 2. Respected the opposition (4:9) 3. Reinforced his weak points (4:13) 4. Reassured the people (4:14) 5. Refused to quit (4:1) 6. Renewed the people‘s strength continually (4:1623) The Apostle Paul said it this way: For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:9). He also said, But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:25) Persistence is the secret to outlasting our critics. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews
10:36) Nehemiah‘s vision, work and persistence resulted in a revival in Jerusalem in his day. What will revival look like in Buffalo? Revival in Buffalo will include many people, young and old and of all backgrounds, coming to faith in Jesus Christ, joining the Church and being discipled. (continued page 13) June/July 2012
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(continued from page 11) I believe the Church will finally be seen as having the solution to people‘s suffering. There will be signs, wonders, miracles and healings, not only in church buildings, but in the streets, the market place, in schools or wherever believers share their faith. We‘ve only scratched the surface of what God wants to do through the Church. Jesus‘ commission to us includes the miraculous: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:15-18). My vision for the Church in Buffalo is that we achieve unity across denominational and racial barriers. If we do this we will through our cultural and ethnic diversity be able to reach many more people in Buffalo and the world. Our natural tendency is to examine weaknesses in each other, rather than embracing strengths. In order for the Church to be united across racial boundaries, we need to enlarge our hearts to receive those that are different from us. The problem is that many of us deal with prejudice in our lives. Webster says that prejudice is ―a judgment or opinion formed before the facts are known, preconceived ideas, favorable or more usually, unfavorable.‖ It's usually suspicion, intolerance, or irrational hatred of other races, regions, people groups, or occupations. People of different nationalities, races, creeds and geographic areas are looking for someone to come and bandage their wounds as the Good Samaritan did to the man who was robbed and left for dead. He poured on oil and wine; a healing element to soothe those wounds. And then he put him on his donkey and took him to an inn and took care of him. Jesus was speaking into a racial situation with this story. He was speaking of the need for reconciliation and love between ethnic groups. Jesus said, "Go and do likewise." Revival in Buffalo will result in more than spiritual or physical benefits for individuals or local churches. Recently I read a paper by Dennis Hussak entitled Let The Light Return, a marketplace approach to transform the Buffalo/Niagara region into The Center of Light. Dennis gave me permission to quote his paper extensively, so here is part of his chapter called ―Vision.‖ Imagine walking the streets of Downtown Buffalo on a warm summer evening with a cool breeze coming in off the lake. As you travel through the Theater District to Lafayette Square you pass numerous boutiques and delis open for business and drawing a good crowd. Many of the buildings have the soft glow of light illuminating their architectural wonders of a century ago. New housing on the second and third floor lofts is drawing increased numbers of young and retired from all over the region. People from as far away as Arizona and Oregon are hearing of a transformation sweeping a community that was once referred to as the ―armpit of the east.‖ What strikes you about the people you encounter is that many exhibit a joy and unity that is uncommon for this day and age. There is a sense of excitement and optimism that didn‘t exist in Buffalo years back. Something dramatic has happened that has taken a metropolitan area, which was the brunt of jokes, to a jewel that reflects a new light of optimism. As you disembark from the trolley you get a copy of the Buffalo News. The headline is ―Police Precincts Reduced Again.‖ That sounds familiar considering what the Control Board did just a few years ago. Your first thought is ―here we go again‖ but you read on and discover the subtitle indicates that crime is down dramatically and the closing is good news saving the city additional thousands of dollars. Another article reports that Buffalo Public schools have gone from the worst in the area to number 3 in Western New York. It talks about how parents are getting involved in their children‘s education resulting in a whole new climate in the city‘s schools. Walking through the magnificent floral gardens with fountains bathed in colorful light you reach a kiosk advertising numerous neighborhood ethnic and cultural festivals. The local churches have come together with residents to sponsor and fund events that highlight the significant contributions of their neighborhoods. Do we dare to dream that big? Dennis Hussak‘s paper starts with the vision and then outlines a project plan for achieving that vision. If you examine this transformation at www.ltlr.org you will see that the cause is not the infusion of multiple millions of dollars by the government; it is not the result of the addition of thousands of jobs by a corporate giant; it is not powered by some climactic change that results in better weather. Instead it is the result of a dramatic new way in which people think, and live their lives. Imagine a society in which people life by the motto: ―Love your neighbor as yourself.‖ This vision is too big for one individual. It will need everyone who calls on the name of Jesus Christ in Buffalo. Under Nehemiah‘s leadership the people of Jerusalem worked side-by-side to rebuild the city. They maintained unity in spite of attacks and ridicule. Let‘s support those who have great vision for our city. Let‘s each be a light to our community and do our part to live as Christ has taught us.
Of Pancakes & Praise BY STEPHEN JENKS
“On Earto As It Is In Heaven” Matthew 6:10
My wife is a great cook. Throughout our marriage I have watched her prepare (and joyfully partaken in) literally hundreds of unique dishes. She is more of an artist in the kitchen. Each time it is a little different. Recently we had some children over to make pancakes. My wife patiently helped them find each of the ingredients; they had a grand time cracking eggs, stirring flour, getting the ingredients ready, in anticipation of the delicious breakfast to come. For me, worship is a little like cooking. As I have had the privilege to minister in worship with the Eagles‘ Wings team in nations around the world (from churches of 25 to stadiums of 25,000) I have tasted a lot of different flavors of worship, but have seen some common themes that seems to be ingredients that move worship from just singing songs, to a lifechanging encounter with the Creator King. Lift Up – What are we focused on when we worship? Is it the great sound, the amazing skill, the flashing lights? If we only focus on the externals, we can inadvertently lead people into ―spectator mode.‖ As leaders, we have the opportunity to model a ―God-first‖ approach, inviting people to interact with the Living God. Beginning with prayer to God, not just about God, and reading portions of Scripture throughout the time can realign people‘s focus on Who this is really all about.
prayercollective.com/schedule (Daily worship and prayer sets hosted at The Buffalo Christian Center Forbes Theater)
Listen Up – Developing sensitivity to the voice of the Spirit and being able to respond to what He is doing in the midst of His people is so important. One of the best ways to do this is to make space – to literally ―wait on the Lord.‖ This can mean a pause before worship begins, or it can be in the midst of worship where we don‘t just go through our list of songs, but make space for our hearts to linger in a moment and truly listen. Train Up – I don‘t know if we realize it, but every time we worship it is just a rehearsal. It‘s just a warm-up for the eternal worship service we‘re going to be engaged in for all time. We shouldn‘t be afraid to train people in worship. If you feel the need for an instrumental interlude, tell the people. ―Folks, we are going to take a moment and wait on the Lord. Don‘t be distracted; just focus your hearts on Him.‖ You will be helping them grow in their worship life personally as well as corporately. Link Up – Another thing worship provides is the opportunity to love and encourage one another. Paul admonishes the Ephesians that they should encourage one another in ―psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,‖ (Eph. 5:19). As leaders there are times when we should facilitate this interaction. Maybe it‘s breaking into prayer clusters of 2-3 people and speaking a 30-second blessing over one another, or it could be declaring God‘s word that you are singing over one another. There is something powerful released when worship becomes about ―we‖ not ―me.‖ Just like my wife‘s artistry in our Saturday morning pancake adventure, the Holy Spirit knows how to take our simple offering and make something amazing out of it. As we enter the Presence of God each time in worship, perhaps we should think of ourselves more as kids in the kitchen. We have been invited to bring the ingredients and follow His direction, but ultimately the end result is something only He can make happen. As we smell the aroma of heaven rising, we can only say, ―Oh taste and see that the Lord is good,‖ (Psalm 34:8).
On Earth As It Is In Heaven
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Stephen Jenks is a member of the Eagles’ Wings team, a international ministry community focused on touching Israel and the nations, strengthening and empowering believers, and training up the next generation. A gifted worship leader and psalmist, Stephen has ministered with Eagles’ Wings for the last 15 years. Through conferences and services across the United States, in Latvia, Germany, Brazil, Mexico and Israel, Stephen has had the privilege of bringing tens of thousands of believers into a living encounter with the Presence and Person of Jesus Christ. Stephen and his wife Veronica live in Upstate New York.
COLUMNS
Who Is Your Child’s Teacher? BY NURLINE A. LAWRENCE
Daily, we hear about and experience the challenges that face Christian schooling. We can choose discouragement and/or fear, or we can see the events as opportunities for growth. At CCA, we choose the latter because, at no time have we seen this endeavor called Christian Central Academy as anything other than a God-sized adventure. There are noticeable shifts in the culture that make private Christian education at CCA a more difficult option to consider. The cost to families gets more daunting; to other families, there is a preference for home schooling for a variety of reasons. Then there are numerous, competitive, well-established, high-quality private school‘s within the Buffalo and surrounding area that offer college preparation. We seem to be competing for the same students, while their parents compete for the same jobs. CCA must, therefore, make a compelling case for those distinctives that will encourage any family to choose a Christ-centered education in the search for an excellent education for their children. With that in mind, let‘s take another look at CCA!! 1. CCA believes that the principles of Kingdom education are set out in God‘s Word, the Bible. The home, the church, and the school must be in agreement if our children are going to be trained in the ―nurture and admonition of the Lord.‖ 2. At CCA, we aim to develop a worldview consistent with all of life – not a man-centered part and a God-centered part. In short, a complete Christian worldview cannot exclude God from any part of a child‘s life. 3. At CCA, the question, ―Who is your child‘s teacher?‖ is a serious one. For almost seven hours each day, a child sits under the influence of the teacher. We take care that this instructor is one who completely believes God‘s word. The teacher, whether in the secular or Christian school, also influences your child through the other curriculum – the hidden, wordless curriculum conveyed through the teacher‘s life. It does make a difference what worldview the teacher espouses. 4. At CCA, diversity does not mean a compromise of God‘s truth. Today society retreats on biblical standards, especially with regard to marriage and the family. The Bible is clear on marriage as being a holy union between one man and one woman. It also makes clear that single-sex unions are contrary to God‘s divine purpose for mankind. The Bible also affirms God‘s love by stating clearly in II Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. It is God‘s will that no one should perish. The Bible wonderfully supports one unified worldview – a God-centered worldview – even though dualism suggests that there is a secular and a spiritual part to life – making the two parts as unrelated. Everything impacts the development of children. When we divide life into unrelated compartments, we encourage fragmented humans. We can only find true meaning and purpose in life through the unifying factor, Jesus Christ. CCA does not believe in compartmentalizing life, that is making God relevant in some areas but irrelevant in others. We do not separate beliefs and values from any area of knowledge. Walter Ediger puts it this way, ―It is impossible to separate God‘s word from God. How then is it possible to teach about God‘s word and leave him out?‖ The Christian teacher knows that ―all truth is God‘s truth.‖ (Gaebelein). 5. The Christ-centered school is often at odds with popular culture. Choosing it can be both daunting and expensive. It is, however, a sacrifice that perhaps should not be reasoned away. The future of children‘s lives and of our country will depend, to a large extent, on the kind of education that shapes their worldview. Such a sacrifice will, in the long run, be worth the expense and determine the people they become. Having said all of the above, the challenges facing CCA and all like-minded Christian schools are great. We see the roadblocks as opportunities to train students to experience a life of wholeness in God. We are in a fight to the death for the hearts and minds of children. Do not allow the culture to swallow them up. CCA invites you to choose an educational experience for your children that will help them understand God‘s plan for their future.
Nurline A. Lawrence is the Head of School at Christian Central Academy in Williamsville, NY. She was born in Jamaica, married 38 years to Alphonse Leslie Lawrence (deceased). She is the mother of 4 children and enjoys Christian education administration, 17th and 20th century literature, walking, reading, friends and traveling. Mrs. Lawrence previously served at The Stony Brook School (Stony Brook, NY) and The Covenant School (Charlottesville, VA). Mrs. Lawrence holds a B.A. from the University of London, International College of the Cayman Islands, B.S. ,SUNY at Stony Brook, M.A., Dowling College, SAS, Dowling College, SDA
“Toat all of toem may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am nn you.” John 17:21
prayercollective.com/schedule (Daily worship and prayer sets hosted at The Buffalo Christian Center Forbes Theater)
On Earth As It Is In Heaven
Get the latest schedule updates by scanning this QR code with your smartphone
RESOURCE REVIEW
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The Honorable Gregory W. Slayton, best-selling author and father of four, doesn't beat around the bush: "Being a good dad isn't only vital for the future of our families and our society . . . it is critical to our own development as men." "Be a Better Dad Today "is an inspirational and practical guidebook for every father who wants to become the best dad he can be--for his family's sake and his own. With humor, empathy, common sense, tough talk and engaging stories from his personal experience, Slayton reveals user-friendly, simple-but never- simplistic techniques that will help every dad fulfill his God-given responsibilities. Whether readers are parenting younger or older kids, boys or girls, they will find wise insights and practical, doable action steps for becoming the father God created them to be.
Are you a follower of Jesus? Don't answer too quickly. In fact, you may want to read this book before you answer at all. Consider it a 'Define the Relationship' conversation to determine exactly where you stand. You may indeed be a passionate, fully devoted follower of Jesus. Or, you may be just a fan who admires Jesus but isn't ready to let him cramp your style. Then again, maybe you're not into Jesus, period. In any case, don't take the question---Are you a follower of Jesus?---lightly. Some people don't know what they've said yes to and other people don't realize what they've said no to, says Pastor Kyle Idleman. But Jesus is ready to clearly define the relationship he wants with his followers. Not a Fan calls you to consider the demands and rewards of being a true disciple. With frankness sprinkled with humor, Idleman invites you to live the way Jesus lived, love the way he loved, pray the way he prayed, and never give up living for the One who gave his all for you.
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Hillsong Chapel is a newly created series of intimate and devotional arrangements of popular Hillsong songs led by the Hillsong worship team. Recorded live in the Hillsong Chapel, Yahweh, the first installment in the series, contains organic and contemplative versions of top CCLI songs including "Mighty To Save", "Hosanna", "From The Inside Out", and the title track "Yahweh". Comprised of 13 songs, Hillsong Chapel's Yahweh is perfect for smaller gatherings, personal devotional, and will help resource churches wanting more intimate worship expressions.
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DVD #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer teaches readers how to create change in their lives and truly receive God's blessings. Includes powerful Scriptures covering over 50 topics, such as patience, loneliness, and wisdom.
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From bestselling and award-winning author Robin Jones Gunn--a poignant novel about a woman who must care for her ill and elderly father, hoping to mend both his health and their relationship. Erin's new business as a wedding planner is running at full speed and her empty nest years are full of promise when she receives a call that puts everything on hold: her estranged father has had a stroke. The twinkle is fading from Jack O'Riley's Irish eyes and his calloused second wife leaves, making it clear this is not what she signed up for. Suddenly Erin's visit to her father's cottage by the sea is extended indefinitely. At first the task before her is as daunting as the wild Oregon coast that has become her unwanted second home. Yet in the many hours she spends beside her ailing father, Erin finds a treasure hidden in the darkness. She reaches out and, at long last, receives the gift of healing.
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June/July 2012
The Courageous Soundtrack is available at your favorite Christian store and wherever you buy or download music. Hear from some of your favorite bands while reliving the heart of the movie. The Soundtrack features music by Casting Crowns, Third Day, Sanctus Real and Building 429.
Orlando-based progressive worship collective, Bellarive, use every instrument at their disposal, whether it be organic or synthetic, to creatively build the grand style of worship found on debut The Heartbeat.
Johnny is an inspirational family story about loss and how one young boys mission, before he is called to heaven, makes a difference for a family struggling to find their way back after a tragedy devastates them. When Dr. Drew Carter (Mel Fair) tragically lost his ten year old son in a car accident while his wife Julia (Musetta Vander) was driving, he didn't expect to lose his whole family as well. Since the accident, Julia is emotionally absent from Drew and their daughter Kayla (Aubyn Cole). When Dr. Miller (Lee Majors) refers Johnny (Jerry Phillips), a foster child with leukemia, to Drew the wheels start to turn as he sees a chance to heal his family. Based on a true story and the book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher, Amish Grace chronicles the community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, forever changed when a gunman senselessly takes the lives of five girls in a schoolhouse shooting before taking his own life in October of 2006. What transpires takes the town by storm, as the media descend on the city and criticize its Amish leaders for their notion of unconditional forgiveness.
All Books, Bibles, Music, Gifts, and Stationery are available at: Bender’s Parable Christian Store, located at 8550 Sheridan Drive in Williamsville, NY. Open Monday-Friday from 10:00am-9:00pm; Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm. Shop online at: www.ShopBenders.com
FINAL THOUGHT
Mission:
By Lou Perez
Generation Flux Have you ever noticed that every time you use Google or Facebook something has changed? And more than often, irritatingly so because change implies abandoning the way you did it before. If there is one reason why modern phenomena like Facebook, Google, and Twitter have thrived is because they are committed to constant change. They are always cranking out new ways of doing it. At the helm of these modern movements are young twenty-somethings who have redefined their generation. leaving older generations to scratch their heads in reservation. Constant Change. They have been called the ―Google Generation‖, ―The Social Networking Generation‖, and even ―Generation Flux‖. They are today‘s generation of twenty-somethings who are defined by constant change that is fueled by technological innovation. The ―Gen-Flux Generation‖ (as we will refer to them for this article) are like chameleons, always morphing into new things so that they become like constantly moving targets. Not only are they constantly changing, but they are doing so while they are on the move. While they are walking, watching TV or (we hope not) driving, they fire off emails, thumb out texts, and update their Facebook. Non-Nostalgic. ―Gen-Fluxers‖ prefer to adapt to new situations than to perfect the status quo. To them, there is no status quo; there is only a process of change. The new generation of young innovators has been described by technologist Peter Diamandus as in ―Permenant Beta‖ (works in progress). In other words, when it comes to new ideas, instead of remaining on shore, they continually launch out into the unknown. This young, elusive generation possesses a non-nostalgic focus on the future that resists being stuck in the past. Just ask a ―Gen-Fluxer‖ when is the last time they visited a post office or used a stamp and you will see what I mean. They would sooner send a text and on a rare occasion an email. Always plugged in. ―Gen-Fluxers‖ get their life perspective from multiple sources of media without even being there. Just when you think they miss a church event they will say, “I caught the pod cast on my phone”. To ―GenFluxers‖, the conversation never ends because they are always connected through technology. There are, however, limits to getting all your interactions, and revelations from media. Media can be remixed and manipulated to service unique points of view. It also goes without saying that media can never compensate for the absence of face-toface connection. Too much is missed when you are not together within the same time and space. Uncertainty. Because of this type of culture, ―GenFluxers‖ must endure ambiguity with their lives going in many directions at once. They no longer rely on established business models that promise long careers up corporate ladders. So they become jacks of all trades with many spinning plates in the air. These can include more than one
job, carrier, or business venture. The uncertainty that comes in the wake of all the spinning plates is accompanied by instability, a vague sense of identity, and in many cases moral relativism. How did we get here? A question must be asked in all this. If this new generation is called Generation Flux, than what is the older generation called? Leonard Sweet, in his book Viral, calls them the ―Guttenberg Generation‖ because of Johannes Gutenberg‘s invention of the printing press around the year 1440. Before the printing press, books were hand-written by scribes and very rare in the world, resulting in the slow progress of knowledge. With the printing press also came the multiplication of knowledge throughout the world. With that knowledge came the culture of getting our perspective from ―paper‖ or words on a page. The ―Gutenberg Generation‖ tends to enjoy holding a book in their hands versus reading on a device. They focus on knowledge and ideas while ―Gen-Fluxers‖ on relationships and connection. Interestingly, for some Gen-Fluxers, when it comes to spirituality, they gravitate away from the ever-changing evangelical culture that has been marked by heavy emphasis on evangelistic preaching, testimonies, extemporaneous prayer, and strong emotion, They do this in search of what they perceive as a deeper and richer worship experience. Their image-based customs attract them to the visual representation and the mystery in liturgical worship, the sacraments, the communal element of worship, the focus on Scripture and prayer. These produce beautiful, immutable visuals which appeal to a small segment of this generation. When things began to change. When the first personal computer came out in the late 1970‘s, the way knowledge was distributed started making a quantum leap from paper to digital. Today, people read books on their tablets and reading devices as well as research information on the Web. Even some of us older ones have adapted using our Apple and Android devices for speaking.
How do we reach Generation Flux? Although much can be said about reaching them, we can only give some places to start. Celebrate their passion for finding spirituality through connecting with people. Remember this young generation is addicted to relationships through media and not necessarily attending a local church. I know this may sound strange to us Guttenhergers, but this is the way the Church in Acts began. After the proclamation of the gospel came establishing the believer through connecting with other believers. This happened when they went ―house to house‖. Making disciples does not simply classroom instruction, but living out life stories together. The older generation can also come along-side ―GenFluxers‖ by helping them see the difference between hating nostalgia (the past) and learning from it. Although the past is not a hitching post, it should be a guide post. Truth is relevant to every generation regardless of culture, philosophy, or innovation. The Ten Commandments come from our past and regardless of what age we live in, it is still wrong to kill, covet, and worship other gods. ―Gen-Fluxers‖ can be helped by the preceding generations if we stop trying to correct them before we connect with them. We older Christians love perfectly laid-out scriptural
“To them there is no
Status Quo; There is Only a process
OF CHANGE.” arguments and well-reasoned doctrine, but this young generation is more interested in questions like: Am I loved? Is there hope? Do you really care? These are not just lovely ideas but questions that invite encounter. God is not some abstract idea we put in a test tube, but a living Being who longs to touch humanity. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Lou and Louisa Perez both grew up in New York City and met in the first Church Lou pastored in Schenectady, NY. In 1999 they started Destiny Christian Church in Niagara Falls with the vision of taking Church outside the four walls. Visit their website at www.destinychristianniagara.com.
June/July 2012
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