SPRING 08

SPRING >> 2008

PLANTING CHURCHES IN THE TOP 100 U.S. CITIES 1

New York, NY

26

San Diego, CA

51

Jacksonville, FL

76

Portland, ME

2

Los Angeles, CA

27

Hartford, CT

52

Las Vegas, NV

77

Rochester, NY

3

Chicago, IL

28

Charlotte, NC

53

Wilkes Barre, PA

78

Omaha, NE

4

Philadelphia, PA

29

Raleigh, NC

54

Austin, TX

79

Spokane, WA

5

San Francisco, CA

30

Nashville, TN

55

Albany, NY

80

Syracuse, NY

6

Boston, MA

31

Milwaukee, WI

56

Little Rock, AR

81

Shreveport, LA

7

Dallas, TX

32

Cincinnati, OH

57

Fresno, CA

82

Champaign, IL

8

Washington, DC

33

Kansas City, MO

58

Dayton, OH

83

Huntsville, AL

9

Atlanta, GA

34

Columbus, OH

59

Richmond, VA

84

Columbia, SC

10

Houston, TX

35

Greenville, NC

60

Tulsa, OK

85

Chattanooga, TN

11

Detroit, MI

36

Salt Lake City, UT

61

Charleston, SC

86

Madison, WI

12

Seattle, WA

37

San Antonio, TX

62

Mobile, AL

87

South Bend, IN

13

Tampa, FL

38

Grand Rapids, MI

63

Knoxville, TN

88

Cedar Rapids, IA

14

Minneapolis, MN

39

West Palm Beach, FL

64

Flint, MI

89

Jackson, MS

15

Cleveland, OH

40

Birmingham, AL

65

Lexington, KY

90

Burlington, VT

16

Phoenix, AZ

41

Norfolk, VA

66

Wichita, KS

91

Davenport, IA

17

Miami, FL

42

New Orleans, LA

67

Roanoke, VA

92

Waco, TX

18

Denver, CO

43

Memphis, TN

68

Toledo, OH

93

Colorado Springs, CO

19

Sacramento, CA

44

Buffalo, NY

69

Green Bay, WI

94

Baton Rouge, LA

20

Orlando, FL

45

Oklahoma City, OK

70

Ft. Myers, FL

95

Johnstown, PA

21

Pittsburgh, PA

46

Greensboro, NC

71

Honolulu, HI

96

Harlingen, TX

22

St. Louis, MO

47

Harrisburg, PA

72

Des Moines, IA

97

Savannah, GA

23

Portland, OR

48

Providence, RI

73

Springfield, MO

98

Evansville, IN

24

Baltimore, MD

49

Albuquerque, NM

74

Tucson, AZ

99

Youngstown, OH

25

Indianapolis, IN

50

Louisville, KY

75

Paducah, KY

100

El Paso, TX

Newfrontiers is a worldwide family of churches together on a mission to establish the kingdom of God by restoring the church, making disciples, training leaders and planting churches.

A N E W F R O N T I E R S - U S A P U B L I C AT I O N

IN THIS ISSUE

>>

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Interviews conducted by the Midwest FYT From March 6th-8th over three-hundred leaders representing forty-one churches from the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom gathered at the Westport Sheraton. Terry Virgo spoke about Newfrontiers’ values and being filled with the Spirit. Along with John Lanferman’s message on the power of grace and Sam Poe’s teaching on walking in Jesus’ authority, the talks were simultaneously foundational and envisioning. This is not to mention the six high-intensity seminars! All talks are available on the Newfrontiers-USA website. Please, help yourself!

WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU? Worshiping in the presence of God. >> Rob DuFour

JUBILEE CHURCH OF ATLANTA

>>

ATLANTA, GA

WAS THERE A SEMINAR YOU FELT WAS PARTICULARLY TIMELY OR EXCELLENT? Lee Yarbrough’s seminar about cross-cultural mission was great. God used it to speak to me about a possible role in the nations in the future. >> Seth Hoffman

HARBOR CHURCH

>>

PORTSMOUTH, NH

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT TO EAT AT DURING E4M? 1ST PLACE The Trainwreck Saloon (took 40% of the votes)

SILVERTON, OR

JUBILEE CHURCH

>>

ST. LOUIS, MO

2ND PLACE Pujol’s 5

3RD PLACE

COME JOIN US NEXT YEAR! MARCH 5–7

JOPLIN, MO

Yes, definitely! The conference is a great opportunity to meet others in the Newfrontiers community and gain further insight as to what leadership is all about. >>

A tie between Ozzie’s St. Louis Bread Co, & Casa Gallardo

Equipped for Mission ’08 Interviews by FYT

Our new website prominently displays us planting churches in the top 100 cities. It has been suggested that with this issue of The Link I share my vision for seeing a “reproducing church” planted in our nation’s top 100 cities. These cities represent 87% of the United States’ total population. [SEE THE LIST ON THE BACK OF THIS ISSUE]

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS CONFERENCE TO YOUNG ADULTS?

Rebekah Kruvand

Planting Churches in the Top 100 U.S. Cities

100 REPRODUCING CHURCHES

Being around other leaders is encouraging and the teaching is really focused on developing leadership skills… which is exciting! >> Cory Walz >>

The Cranes & The Sweetmans

Team Leader >> Newfrontiers-USA

HOW HAS THIS CONFERENCE HELPED RAISE YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE?

SILVER CREEK FELLOWSHIP

Church Planting Internship

Soundbite from John Lanferman

It strengthens our foundations together. God speaks things into both of us that unite our vision and strengthen our resolve for what we are doing. >> Justin & Kari Nevins >>

Regeneration & Jubilee Church

Matt Sweetman

HOW DOES THIS CONFERENCE INFLUENCE YOUR MARRIAGE?

CHRIST’S CHURCH OF JOPLIN

A CLOSER LOOK

Oneblaze Weekend ‘08

cities where Newfrontiers currently has a presence

Equipped for Mission ‘08

Newfrontiers-USA churches, church plants and pioneering efforts are currently working in 12 states.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED

BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH LEADERS WHO HAVE KNOWN JESUS FOR A LONG TIME?

I am presently reading The Multiplying Church by Bob Roberts Jr.; a man I greatly respect. The following story in his book is very stirring: ”One of my heroes is a pastor named Mark Harris, pastor of Oasis Church in Tucson, Arizona. Mark, a businessman who went into the ministry, was on a mega-church staff before planting his own church in Tucson. Fifteen years later, Mark’s church runs around 150, twice the typical church size in America—not bad. But it doesn’t stop there—Mark’s church in Tucson has planted about eighteen churches, and now on a given weekend, close to four thousand people are in church every single Sunday! Only 135 churches in the United States have four thousand or more worshipersway to go, Mark! He has accomplished what only 135 pastors have done, but in multiple locations through multiplying pastors” (86).

As an apostolic father, I have a passion to see God’s people equipped and sent out in order to bring Christ and His community to the world. For this reason I have committed Jubilee Church as an apostolic base to serve our Newfrontiers family. Training vehicles, such as The Trilogy Project, Church Planting Internship and From the Nations to the Nations are practices that effectively aid our growth. Publications, such as The Link and numerous books aid this as well (check out www.amazon.com and search Newfrontiers to view our publications).

Additional tools are being developed so that our churches may become more reproductive, such as the future launch of a new Church Planting Boot Camp. Within this new track, we will cover three different components: assessing calling and vision, team-building, and the practicalities of starting a church. I encourage you to take full advantage of these available resources and training opportunities.

Now this is a “reproducing church!” It’s encouraging to know that you don’t have to grow a megaAlthough I may lack the gifts of those that lead church to multiply. The church of Acts understood A REPRODUCING CHURCH WILL BE EAGER mega-churches of multiplied thousands, I am the great commission as starting churches that confident of my calling to see leaders and church TO GIVE AWAY MONEY, PEOPLE AND JUST were communities of God’s presence among the planters developed and to invest in others who people. We are an apostolic movement of churches ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE TO SEE THE will do far more in their lifetime than me. I now sent to engage the world with the gospel. Paul believe that my role, and that of all leaders, is to KINGDOM EXPANDED. commends the Thessalonians for carrying this commit to raising-up additional leaders! This is apostolic spirit. “For the word of the Lord has not just to fill needs in our own churches, but for sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and the broader purpose of seeing more churches Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so started. I believe that your church does not exist merely for itself, but for that we have not need to say anything” (I Thess 1:8). The Thessalonians reproducing more churches that transform society. were certainly a reproducing church. Our desire is not only to see people in our area come to Christ and function in community, but to see our We currently have a presence in seven of those top 100 cities. We’re also continuing to establish infrastructure for accelerating leadership developchurches become bases for reproduction. ment and new church initiatives. It’s clear no one can do this alone. In order A reproducing church will be eager to give away money, people and just to see our churches reproduce future ones, it’s going to take all of us! Bob about anything else to see the Kingdom expanded. Looking beyond Roberts agrees, “May we have such an impact that it will merit the attenourselves enables us to be about giving, rather than keeping. We must do tion of historians. Upon research, the conclusion of the historians should so if our desire is to see the world transformed for Christ. As Bob Roberts be, ‘It wasn’t because of any single one of them, but because of every Jr. writes, it’s about “starting churches for the world and not just some little single one of them’” (172). spot on the map” (172).

The experience has been amazing. To meet with others and to receive and enjoy God has been a “forever changing” experience. The boldness of the leaders and the faith they live in is absolutely contagious. >> Benjamin Roed

LIVING HOPE CHURCH

>>

ST. JOSEPH, MO

NewfrontiersUSA Today

A WORLD WIDE FAMILY OF CHURCHES TOGETHER ON A MISSION

>>

www.newfrontiers-usa.org

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a

CL SERlook

On Easter Sunday in March, two Newfrontiers churches had significant days. Regeneration (Fayetteville, AR) officially launched and Jubilee Church (St. Louis, MO) hosted their first Preview Service for their second location in Wentzville.

Weekend ‘08 Matt Sweetman JUBILEE CHURCH >> ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI In February, ONEBLAZE gathered yet again with Living Hope Church (St. Joseph, MO). Last year we looked at Jesus, who He was and what He did. This year we are focusing on what it means to follow Jesus.

Regeneration Launch

>>

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS

>>

Jack Lankford

ALMOST ALL OF THE NINE VISITORS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RETURNING.

We sent out invitations and on the launch day our team was ready, committed to serving others and meeting with God.

Jubilee Church, Wentzville Launch

We made our building feel like home and gave our guests a hospitable welcome. We enjoyed them and they seemed to enjoy us. The worship was enthusiastic and the teaching was clear and engaging. Conversations were pleasant and sincere. Almost all of the nine visitors expressed interest in returning.

In the coming months we’re planning several events such as an “Improv Night” and a volleyball picnic to help build community with our guests. We will have begun life groups in May and are hoping to get people partnering with us in our community service activities like Alpha, Job Ready and food drives.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

WITH PREVIEW SERVICES SCHEDULED ONCE A MONTH AFTER EASTER, WE WILL BEGIN WEEKLY SERVICES STARTING AUGUST 17TH, 2008.

One of the helpful things we discovered was the response of many of our guests to the service. With the help of an online

THE CPI WILL GIVE US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRAINED THEOLOGICALLY AND PRACTICALLY WHILE BEING ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF

NEWFRONTIERS We’re praying God uses us, teaches us, and guides us through the next year or two

>>

Rick Hein

of the internship. The CPI will give us a great opportunity to be trained theologically and practically while being on the cutting edge of Newfrontiers church planting. We will learn while in the thick of the battle! Check out our blog at www.6cranes.com to see and read more about who we are and what we’re doing.

Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I really living for?” or “What do I REALLY want to do with my life?”

Well, Heather and I have known the answer for awhile… and we’ve been waiting. To make it simple, we are passionate about Jesus and His church, and about the church being restored to its original intent.

In the United States each year 3,750 churches close and 85% of churches have reached a plateau or are declining. This is alarming. Since Jesus has given His church a clear mandate to establish communities of disciples, we feel compelled to answer the call.

survey we were able to note our guests’ first impressions, helpful comments and notable observations about the Preview. This information will enable us to serve our guests more effectively in upcoming services.

We are grateful to God for the people He brought to the first Preview. We believe there are many more He wants to join our hearts with in the months and years to come. We look forward to all He has in store for us in Wentzville, the greater St. Louis area, and beyond.

MACAULEY, EUAN, POPPY, HOLLY, KENZIE, AND SARAH >> www.6cranes.com

THE SWEETMANS >> JUBILEE CHURCH (ST. LOUIS, MO | ST. LOUIS CITY)

MATT AND HEATHER

>> www.thesweetmans.com

SINCE JESUS HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH A CLEAR MANDATE TO ESTABLISH COMMUNITIES OF DISCIPLES, WE FEEL COMPELLED TO ANSWER THE CALL.

A WORLD WIDE FAMILY OF CHURCHES TOGETHER ON A MISSION

Now we are looking forward to ONEBLAZE Celebration during Celebration Midwest (Warrensburg, MO) as well as ONEBLAZE in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) where we will look at “The Miracles” of a disciple.

About a year ago, Sarah and I felt stirred by God to continue to step further out of our comfort zones after being in our church, The Kings Arms (Bedford, England), for the last thirteen years. While knowing this would involve some kind of church leadership, we really didn’t have a clue what or where that would be. So, we prayed that God would open or close some doors for us. We looked locally to Bedford (which is where we thought we would end up) but the doors closed and (cutting a very long story short) a door flung wide open for us in St. Louis. After organizing a quick visit last November, God spoke clearly to both of us that this is where He wanted us. With our four kids (ages ten, nine, two, and nine months), we sold everything we owned (except some clothes), jumped on a plane, and are embarking on the most amazing adventure of our lives.

Banners? Check. Table skirts? Check. Name tags? Check.

Sound system? Check. On and on went the list until finally all that was needed was people. On Easter Sunday the people came; 109 of them to be exact. Such was the first Preview Service for Jubilee Church’s new location in Wentzville.

After months of preparation, planning and training, Jubilee Church launched a second location with approximately 50–55 first-time guests present. With Preview Services scheduled once a month after Easter, we will begin weekly services starting August 17th, 2008. In order to start off with a strong sense of momentum, incorporating guests into a fully functioning launch team is our top priority.

Rick Hein, our guest speaker, taught on being mentored by Jesus through the Bible.

Everyone at the weekend received a Youth Life Journal to help them find meaning in the Bible as they study. This message gave ONEBLAZERS the inspiration and structure they need to effectively hear God through the Bible.

THE CRANES >> JUBILEE CHURCH (ST. LOUIS, MO | WENTZVILLE)

CHURCH PLANTING. >>

Saturday afternoon we canvassed the city with practical love by trying to meet people’s needs and make Jesus famous. I ended up at The Special Olympics and cheered for various basketball teams. What a joy it was to meet some of the players, coaches and referees and tell them that Living Hope Church was there to serve and make the event as special as it could be!

In order to fulfill our mission to plant new churches, Newfrontiers-USA has introduced the Church Planting Internship (CPI) with Jubilee Church in St. Louis, MO. CPI is designed to equip church planters in a church-based, team driven and apostolically guided format. The one-to-two year program involves hands-on experience for the interns.

In the weeks leading up to our launch, we sensed a heightened awareness of the Spirit’s presence. Oscar Suarez from Fuente de Vida (Guadalajara, Mexico) and Tommy Stanley from Grace Church (Lee’s Summit, MO) visited our team on separate occasions and delivered timely words to the church.

God not only provided for our spiritual needs; He also supplied our physical resources. We took up a special offering the week before the launch to cover building preparation expenses. The collection came to $7,500. It was a sweet surprise considering the small size of the group! We also received some hands-on support from Christ’s Church of Joplin (Joplin, MO). Two guys made a short-term commitment to join our worship team and several families came to worship with us and help care for our guests.

During the weekend, the teaching time was split in four ways: The Meaning, The Ministry, The Mentoring, and The Message of a disciple. We started off with a team preach on “The Meaning” of a disciple given by Elijah Stanley, Ben Fothergill and Grant Barnes. Ben and Grant have been on the Frontier Year Team serving Living Hope Church and Grace Church (Lee’s Summit, MO). The theme of “being with Jesus” was clear.

We have a deep vision to see vibrant, genuine, and generous churches established. We both grew up in new churches that sought to build genuine communities, positively impact the society around them, and make Jesus famous. Having seen this firsthand, we are making a big life change to embrace this dream ourselves.

At work one day I heard the voice of God say, “I’m with you all the way!” Jesus was giving me the thumbs up to pursue church planting—something we had been praying about. Heather also clearly heard God speak to her about the nations through prophetic words and inner whispers.

The Church Planting Internship is an opportunity to receive focused training. The leadership of Jubilee Church and Newfrontiers-USA are providing a dynamic environment where we can receive apostolic input and personal development in our calling to plant churches. To follow our journey, please check out our blog at www.thesweetmans.com.

BABY JONES

>>

www.newfrontiers-usa.org

‘lkj lllw\h444llllllllliiy

a

CL SERlook

On Easter Sunday in March, two Newfrontiers churches had significant days. Regeneration (Fayetteville, AR) officially launched and Jubilee Church (St. Louis, MO) hosted their first Preview Service for their second location in Wentzville.

Weekend ‘08 Matt Sweetman JUBILEE CHURCH >> ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI In February, ONEBLAZE gathered yet again with Living Hope Church (St. Joseph, MO). Last year we looked at Jesus, who He was and what He did. This year we are focusing on what it means to follow Jesus.

Regeneration Launch

>>

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS

>>

Jack Lankford

ALMOST ALL OF THE NINE VISITORS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RETURNING.

We sent out invitations and on the launch day our team was ready, committed to serving others and meeting with God.

Jubilee Church, Wentzville Launch

We made our building feel like home and gave our guests a hospitable welcome. We enjoyed them and they seemed to enjoy us. The worship was enthusiastic and the teaching was clear and engaging. Conversations were pleasant and sincere. Almost all of the nine visitors expressed interest in returning.

In the coming months we’re planning several events such as an “Improv Night” and a volleyball picnic to help build community with our guests. We will have begun life groups in May and are hoping to get people partnering with us in our community service activities like Alpha, Job Ready and food drives.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

WITH PREVIEW SERVICES SCHEDULED ONCE A MONTH AFTER EASTER, WE WILL BEGIN WEEKLY SERVICES STARTING AUGUST 17TH, 2008.

One of the helpful things we discovered was the response of many of our guests to the service. With the help of an online

THE CPI WILL GIVE US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRAINED THEOLOGICALLY AND PRACTICALLY WHILE BEING ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF

NEWFRONTIERS We’re praying God uses us, teaches us, and guides us through the next year or two

>>

Rick Hein

of the internship. The CPI will give us a great opportunity to be trained theologically and practically while being on the cutting edge of Newfrontiers church planting. We will learn while in the thick of the battle! Check out our blog at www.6cranes.com to see and read more about who we are and what we’re doing.

Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I really living for?” or “What do I REALLY want to do with my life?”

Well, Heather and I have known the answer for awhile… and we’ve been waiting. To make it simple, we are passionate about Jesus and His church, and about the church being restored to its original intent.

In the United States each year 3,750 churches close and 85% of churches have reached a plateau or are declining. This is alarming. Since Jesus has given His church a clear mandate to establish communities of disciples, we feel compelled to answer the call.

survey we were able to note our guests’ first impressions, helpful comments and notable observations about the Preview. This information will enable us to serve our guests more effectively in upcoming services.

We are grateful to God for the people He brought to the first Preview. We believe there are many more He wants to join our hearts with in the months and years to come. We look forward to all He has in store for us in Wentzville, the greater St. Louis area, and beyond.

MACAULEY, EUAN, POPPY, HOLLY, KENZIE, AND SARAH >> www.6cranes.com

THE SWEETMANS >> JUBILEE CHURCH (ST. LOUIS, MO | ST. LOUIS CITY)

MATT AND HEATHER

>> www.thesweetmans.com

SINCE JESUS HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH A CLEAR MANDATE TO ESTABLISH COMMUNITIES OF DISCIPLES, WE FEEL COMPELLED TO ANSWER THE CALL.

A WORLD WIDE FAMILY OF CHURCHES TOGETHER ON A MISSION

Now we are looking forward to ONEBLAZE Celebration during Celebration Midwest (Warrensburg, MO) as well as ONEBLAZE in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) where we will look at “The Miracles” of a disciple.

About a year ago, Sarah and I felt stirred by God to continue to step further out of our comfort zones after being in our church, The Kings Arms (Bedford, England), for the last thirteen years. While knowing this would involve some kind of church leadership, we really didn’t have a clue what or where that would be. So, we prayed that God would open or close some doors for us. We looked locally to Bedford (which is where we thought we would end up) but the doors closed and (cutting a very long story short) a door flung wide open for us in St. Louis. After organizing a quick visit last November, God spoke clearly to both of us that this is where He wanted us. With our four kids (ages ten, nine, two, and nine months), we sold everything we owned (except some clothes), jumped on a plane, and are embarking on the most amazing adventure of our lives.

Banners? Check. Table skirts? Check. Name tags? Check.

Sound system? Check. On and on went the list until finally all that was needed was people. On Easter Sunday the people came; 109 of them to be exact. Such was the first Preview Service for Jubilee Church’s new location in Wentzville.

After months of preparation, planning and training, Jubilee Church launched a second location with approximately 50–55 first-time guests present. With Preview Services scheduled once a month after Easter, we will begin weekly services starting August 17th, 2008. In order to start off with a strong sense of momentum, incorporating guests into a fully functioning launch team is our top priority.

Rick Hein, our guest speaker, taught on being mentored by Jesus through the Bible.

Everyone at the weekend received a Youth Life Journal to help them find meaning in the Bible as they study. This message gave ONEBLAZERS the inspiration and structure they need to effectively hear God through the Bible.

THE CRANES >> JUBILEE CHURCH (ST. LOUIS, MO | WENTZVILLE)

CHURCH PLANTING. >>

Saturday afternoon we canvassed the city with practical love by trying to meet people’s needs and make Jesus famous. I ended up at The Special Olympics and cheered for various basketball teams. What a joy it was to meet some of the players, coaches and referees and tell them that Living Hope Church was there to serve and make the event as special as it could be!

In order to fulfill our mission to plant new churches, Newfrontiers-USA has introduced the Church Planting Internship (CPI) with Jubilee Church in St. Louis, MO. CPI is designed to equip church planters in a church-based, team driven and apostolically guided format. The one-to-two year program involves hands-on experience for the interns.

In the weeks leading up to our launch, we sensed a heightened awareness of the Spirit’s presence. Oscar Suarez from Fuente de Vida (Guadalajara, Mexico) and Tommy Stanley from Grace Church (Lee’s Summit, MO) visited our team on separate occasions and delivered timely words to the church.

God not only provided for our spiritual needs; He also supplied our physical resources. We took up a special offering the week before the launch to cover building preparation expenses. The collection came to $7,500. It was a sweet surprise considering the small size of the group! We also received some hands-on support from Christ’s Church of Joplin (Joplin, MO). Two guys made a short-term commitment to join our worship team and several families came to worship with us and help care for our guests.

During the weekend, the teaching time was split in four ways: The Meaning, The Ministry, The Mentoring, and The Message of a disciple. We started off with a team preach on “The Meaning” of a disciple given by Elijah Stanley, Ben Fothergill and Grant Barnes. Ben and Grant have been on the Frontier Year Team serving Living Hope Church and Grace Church (Lee’s Summit, MO). The theme of “being with Jesus” was clear.

We have a deep vision to see vibrant, genuine, and generous churches established. We both grew up in new churches that sought to build genuine communities, positively impact the society around them, and make Jesus famous. Having seen this firsthand, we are making a big life change to embrace this dream ourselves.

At work one day I heard the voice of God say, “I’m with you all the way!” Jesus was giving me the thumbs up to pursue church planting—something we had been praying about. Heather also clearly heard God speak to her about the nations through prophetic words and inner whispers.

The Church Planting Internship is an opportunity to receive focused training. The leadership of Jubilee Church and Newfrontiers-USA are providing a dynamic environment where we can receive apostolic input and personal development in our calling to plant churches. To follow our journey, please check out our blog at www.thesweetmans.com.

BABY JONES

>>

www.newfrontiers-usa.org

Newfrontiers-USATODAY WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you have any news briefs such as these and would like to submit them to The Link, please contact us at news@newfrontiers-usa.org. Examples could include miraculous healings, successful outreaches, church initiatives or anything unusual or noteworthy. We welcome news from all over the U.S. and Canada.

Increase in Spiritual Gifts

Alpha Success

LIVING HOPE CHURCH

GRACE CHURCH >> LEE’S SUMMIT, MO

>>

ST. JOSEPH, MO

It has been an amazing privilege to see “Living Hope in the Ville” (located in Maryville, MO) growing toward all that God has for it. Maryville is a town of 10,000 people with 7,000 university students added in during the school year.

One striking change has been in the attitude towards worship. People are becoming freer in times of praise, with a greater openness to the Spirit. We have started to see spiritual gifts used in the meetings. Prayers, words, pictures, and tongues with interpretation have become a real focal part of our Sunday evenings together. The Holy Spirit is with us!

Exciting things are happening in Maryville and the Holy Spirit is making ripples throughout the week in unexpected places. Alex Raymond, a twenty-two year old college student, is currently on a pre-marriage course with his fiancé at Living Hope. During one of these meetings, the question, “Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit?” arose, leading to much discussion. The next morning at work, Alex was contemplating the discussion and decided to do some research on the internet. He read a report that went through certain parts of the Bible explaining that the Holy Spirit, and His gifts, are freely given; all we have to do is ask. As he began to understand this, he prayed, was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and suddenly spoke in a different language [what the Bible refers to as “tongues”]. It was slow at first but then began to flow freely! God loves to give gifts!

GUITAR HEROS

The Alpha course lets anyone explore spirituality from a Christian perspective.

Relaxed, non-threatening, low-key and fun, Alpha is a place to ask anything. No question is too simple or too hostile. With over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions, we give guests great food, listen to a series of talks and then have a discussion. Each talk covers a fundamental question, such as “Who is Jesus?”, “Why and how do I pray?” and “Does God heal today?” Last fall we saw our number of guests grow during the course. All grew in their relationship with God. Jason discovered Jesus, got baptized and became a discussion leader for this spring’s course. Now we’re seeing guests bring other guests! Hear Jason’s exciting story at www.GraceChurchLS.org/Alpha.

FORGIVENESS AND HEALING LIFE CHURCH >> UNION, MO Joe Hainline experienced God’s healing. “The flu put me in bed for seven days in January. I am not used to being inactive and God used this to deal with a forgiveness issue I had been trying to ignore. I came out of my illness spiritually strengthened. The end of that week I had my annual cardiac stress test and the next day, my doctor called. The results were abnormal and would require either stints or more surgery. I went before our church for prayer. It was fervent and uplifting. The following Wednesday I went for further tests and procedures. On the way, I felt a great warmth in my chest and sensed God had healed me. The test results proved this true. No blockages! God is good.”

READ the Link on the recently updated

NEWFRONTIERS-USA WEBSITE!

Rockin’ Out BRIDGE CHURCH >> WILTON, CT Lately there’s been a lot of rockin’ going on in Bridge Church and it has nothing to do with video games! Having had one guitarist for ages, the church began praying for more musicians. We now have SIX guitarists (both youths and adults) on fire and ready to worship! In March these musicians began to meet as a worship team and we’re expecting God to do great things. More good news is that two friends we met during our outreach to the poor in Norwalk were wonderfully saved. One is currently receiving job training at NEON (Norwalk Economic Opportunity–Now!).

MEN ON A MISSION Conference CANBY, OR Over a hundred men participated in the Newfrontiers-USA Northwest MEN ON A MISSION conference, held February 15th–16th in Canby, Oregon. The conference included men from all four Newfrontiers churches in the Northwest and leaders from six other churches who were also there to look in. For more than half of the men, this was their first Newfrontiers event. Lee Yarbrough, leader of the Newfrontiers team in Mexico, and Sam Poe were the main speakers. The conference was filled with passionate worship and a wonderful prophetic flow.

The final session included a ministry time where many of the men encountered the Holy Spirit, including many for the very first time. An offering of over $4,000 was taken to support Newfrontiers relief work in Kenya, Africa.

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Newfrontiers-USATODAY WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you have any news briefs such as these and would like to submit them to The Link, please contact us at news@newfrontiers-usa.org. Examples could include miraculous healings, successful outreaches, church initiatives or anything unusual or noteworthy. We welcome news from all over the U.S. and Canada.

NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH

Salvations FENWAY CHURCH >> BOSTON, MA In December, two Boston University students were saved. One attended a talent show we hosted and read the testimony track of one of our team members who had recently left a homosexual lifestyle. The young man could not sleep for two nights. He then came to a prayer meeting, repented and met Jesus. He was baptized at our church retreat in February [see photo below]. A week later a young woman who had been attending a seeker Bible study, but had refused to become a Christian, had a dream of Jesus. The next day she met with two women from our church and became a Christian!

FEBRUARY BAPTISM

BIG Sunday NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH >> TACOMA, WA We recently hosted a week of outreach and had what we’ve dubbed a “BIG Sunday”. The Frontier Year Team from Silverton, Oregon joined with us to get the word out about New Community Church. The week was exciting and challenging. We gave out a lot of free water, engaged dozens of people using a community questionnaire and hung 1,000 door hangers. The amazing thing is we didn’t see a drop of rain! Even more amazing, we’ve seen nine first time visitors and a total of eighteen new people over the last three months! Our desire is to see everyone go through Alpha and then on to The Foundations Course. Please pray for us as we press on to continually meet new people and see them added to us.

FIre Nights FENWAY CHURCH >> BOSTON, MA After receiving several prophetic dreams, we began forty days of daily 6–8am prayer on January 14th. On February 21st, we hosted the first of two “Fire Nights”. During worship, God gave a young woman an image of a person with a noose around their neck. She felt God saying there was someone who had tried to commit suicide but was afraid of death. She asked if that person would come for prayer. There was no immediate response but later during the meeting and then at different points during the conference three people received prayer who had attempted suicide in the past year! Five other words were given that night that were all 100% accurate, including a young woman who had been struck by her parent when she was fourteen years old and a person with a pain in their hand. God’s power was on display for both believers and non-believers that evening. On the last night, one young man was saved and baptized!

On a Journey JOURNEY CHURCH >> SALEM, OR “Christianity: it’s not a destination, it’s a journey.” That thought was foremost in our minds last fall as we changed our name from Valley Christian Fellowship to Journey Church. Two years earlier a prophetic word was given that God was going to move us out of the building we had met in for twenty-five years. We had our eyes open to what the Lord would do. Without advertising, God brought a buyer and sent us on our journey to re-locate. Now we pull up our trailer every Sunday at a local school and set up our “portable church”! Already we are seeing people from the neighborhood added and have had the opportunity to work with the school to bring dinners to families of needy students. Many are Hispanic and we are asking the Lord to give us opportunities to reach the many people groups in Salem, Oregon. We have started an Alpha course, are caring for the homeless and have a prison ministry. Please keep us in your prayers and check out our new website at www.journeysalem.com.

Men’s Fraternity CHRIST THE KING CHURCH >> ROCHESTER, NH

FENWAY CHURCH

Approximately 75% of the men at Christ the King Church in Rochester, New Hampshire have participated in Men’s Fraternity, the popular course developed

by Dr. Robert Lewis. Each session has a small group discussion where men can be honest and real. We’ve been meeting regularly at six a.m. on Wednesday mornings. There has to be a good reason to come to anything at six in the morning… and there is! We have seen them set free from issues and struggles which have prevented them from being the men God intended.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR SUBMISSIONS Newfrontiers-USA >> P.O. Box 2626 >> St. Louis, MO 63116 phone

314.832.9042

fax

314.832.9044

email web

thelink@newfrontiers-usa.org www.newfrontiers-usa.org

Copyright Newfrontiers-USA | June, 2008

SPRING >> 2008

PLANTING CHURCHES IN THE TOP 100 U.S. CITIES 1

New York, NY

26

San Diego, CA

51

Jacksonville, FL

76

Portland, ME

2

Los Angeles, CA

27

Hartford, CT

52

Las Vegas, NV

77

Rochester, NY

3

Chicago, IL

28

Charlotte, NC

53

Wilkes Barre, PA

78

Omaha, NE

4

Philadelphia, PA

29

Raleigh, NC

54

Austin, TX

79

Spokane, WA

5

San Francisco, CA

30

Nashville, TN

55

Albany, NY

80

Syracuse, NY

6

Boston, MA

31

Milwaukee, WI

56

Little Rock, AR

81

Shreveport, LA

7

Dallas, TX

32

Cincinnati, OH

57

Fresno, CA

82

Champaign, IL

8

Washington, DC

33

Kansas City, MO

58

Dayton, OH

83

Huntsville, AL

9

Atlanta, GA

34

Columbus, OH

59

Richmond, VA

84

Columbia, SC

10

Houston, TX

35

Greenville, NC

60

Tulsa, OK

85

Chattanooga, TN

11

Detroit, MI

36

Salt Lake City, UT

61

Charleston, SC

86

Madison, WI

12

Seattle, WA

37

San Antonio, TX

62

Mobile, AL

87

South Bend, IN

13

Tampa, FL

38

Grand Rapids, MI

63

Knoxville, TN

88

Cedar Rapids, IA

14

Minneapolis, MN

39

West Palm Beach, FL

64

Flint, MI

89

Jackson, MS

15

Cleveland, OH

40

Birmingham, AL

65

Lexington, KY

90

Burlington, VT

16

Phoenix, AZ

41

Norfolk, VA

66

Wichita, KS

91

Davenport, IA

17

Miami, FL

42

New Orleans, LA

67

Roanoke, VA

92

Waco, TX

18

Denver, CO

43

Memphis, TN

68

Toledo, OH

93

Colorado Springs, CO

19

Sacramento, CA

44

Buffalo, NY

69

Green Bay, WI

94

Baton Rouge, LA

20

Orlando, FL

45

Oklahoma City, OK

70

Ft. Myers, FL

95

Johnstown, PA

21

Pittsburgh, PA

46

Greensboro, NC

71

Honolulu, HI

96

Harlingen, TX

22

St. Louis, MO

47

Harrisburg, PA

72

Des Moines, IA

97

Savannah, GA

23

Portland, OR

48

Providence, RI

73

Springfield, MO

98

Evansville, IN

24

Baltimore, MD

49

Albuquerque, NM

74

Tucson, AZ

99

Youngstown, OH

25

Indianapolis, IN

50

Louisville, KY

75

Paducah, KY

100

El Paso, TX

Newfrontiers is a worldwide family of churches together on a mission to establish the kingdom of God by restoring the church, making disciples, training leaders and planting churches.

A N E W F R O N T I E R S - U S A P U B L I C AT I O N

IN THIS ISSUE

>>

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Interviews conducted by the Midwest FYT From March 6th-8th over three-hundred leaders representing forty-one churches from the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom gathered at the Westport Sheraton. Terry Virgo spoke about Newfrontiers’ values and being filled with the Spirit. Along with John Lanferman’s message on the power of grace and Sam Poe’s teaching on walking in Jesus’ authority, the talks were simultaneously foundational and envisioning. This is not to mention the six high-intensity seminars! All talks are available on the Newfrontiers-USA website. Please, help yourself!

WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU? Worshiping in the presence of God. >> Rob DuFour

JUBILEE CHURCH OF ATLANTA

>>

ATLANTA, GA

WAS THERE A SEMINAR YOU FELT WAS PARTICULARLY TIMELY OR EXCELLENT? Lee Yarbrough’s seminar about cross-cultural mission was great. God used it to speak to me about a possible role in the nations in the future. >> Seth Hoffman

HARBOR CHURCH

>>

PORTSMOUTH, NH

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT TO EAT AT DURING E4M? 1ST PLACE The Trainwreck Saloon (took 40% of the votes)

SILVERTON, OR

JUBILEE CHURCH

>>

ST. LOUIS, MO

2ND PLACE Pujol’s 5

3RD PLACE

COME JOIN US NEXT YEAR! MARCH 5–7

JOPLIN, MO

Yes, definitely! The conference is a great opportunity to meet others in the Newfrontiers community and gain further insight as to what leadership is all about. >>

A tie between Ozzie’s St. Louis Bread Co, & Casa Gallardo

Equipped for Mission ’08 Interviews by FYT

Our new website prominently displays us planting churches in the top 100 cities. It has been suggested that with this issue of The Link I share my vision for seeing a “reproducing church” planted in our nation’s top 100 cities. These cities represent 87% of the United States’ total population. [SEE THE LIST ON THE BACK OF THIS ISSUE]

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS CONFERENCE TO YOUNG ADULTS?

Rebekah Kruvand

Planting Churches in the Top 100 U.S. Cities

100 REPRODUCING CHURCHES

Being around other leaders is encouraging and the teaching is really focused on developing leadership skills… which is exciting! >> Cory Walz >>

The Cranes & The Sweetmans

Team Leader >> Newfrontiers-USA

HOW HAS THIS CONFERENCE HELPED RAISE YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE?

SILVER CREEK FELLOWSHIP

Church Planting Internship

Soundbite from John Lanferman

It strengthens our foundations together. God speaks things into both of us that unite our vision and strengthen our resolve for what we are doing. >> Justin & Kari Nevins >>

Regeneration & Jubilee Church

Matt Sweetman

HOW DOES THIS CONFERENCE INFLUENCE YOUR MARRIAGE?

CHRIST’S CHURCH OF JOPLIN

A CLOSER LOOK

Oneblaze Weekend ‘08

cities where Newfrontiers currently has a presence

Equipped for Mission ‘08

Newfrontiers-USA churches, church plants and pioneering efforts are currently working in 12 states.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED

BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH LEADERS WHO HAVE KNOWN JESUS FOR A LONG TIME?

I am presently reading The Multiplying Church by Bob Roberts Jr.; a man I greatly respect. The following story in his book is very stirring: ”One of my heroes is a pastor named Mark Harris, pastor of Oasis Church in Tucson, Arizona. Mark, a businessman who went into the ministry, was on a mega-church staff before planting his own church in Tucson. Fifteen years later, Mark’s church runs around 150, twice the typical church size in America—not bad. But it doesn’t stop there—Mark’s church in Tucson has planted about eighteen churches, and now on a given weekend, close to four thousand people are in church every single Sunday! Only 135 churches in the United States have four thousand or more worshipersway to go, Mark! He has accomplished what only 135 pastors have done, but in multiple locations through multiplying pastors” (86).

As an apostolic father, I have a passion to see God’s people equipped and sent out in order to bring Christ and His community to the world. For this reason I have committed Jubilee Church as an apostolic base to serve our Newfrontiers family. Training vehicles, such as The Trilogy Project, Church Planting Internship and From the Nations to the Nations are practices that effectively aid our growth. Publications, such as The Link and numerous books aid this as well (check out www.amazon.com and search Newfrontiers to view our publications).

Additional tools are being developed so that our churches may become more reproductive, such as the future launch of a new Church Planting Boot Camp. Within this new track, we will cover three different components: assessing calling and vision, team-building, and the practicalities of starting a church. I encourage you to take full advantage of these available resources and training opportunities.

Now this is a “reproducing church!” It’s encouraging to know that you don’t have to grow a megaAlthough I may lack the gifts of those that lead church to multiply. The church of Acts understood A REPRODUCING CHURCH WILL BE EAGER mega-churches of multiplied thousands, I am the great commission as starting churches that confident of my calling to see leaders and church TO GIVE AWAY MONEY, PEOPLE AND JUST were communities of God’s presence among the planters developed and to invest in others who people. We are an apostolic movement of churches ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE TO SEE THE will do far more in their lifetime than me. I now sent to engage the world with the gospel. Paul believe that my role, and that of all leaders, is to KINGDOM EXPANDED. commends the Thessalonians for carrying this commit to raising-up additional leaders! This is apostolic spirit. “For the word of the Lord has not just to fill needs in our own churches, but for sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and the broader purpose of seeing more churches Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so started. I believe that your church does not exist merely for itself, but for that we have not need to say anything” (I Thess 1:8). The Thessalonians reproducing more churches that transform society. were certainly a reproducing church. Our desire is not only to see people in our area come to Christ and function in community, but to see our We currently have a presence in seven of those top 100 cities. We’re also continuing to establish infrastructure for accelerating leadership developchurches become bases for reproduction. ment and new church initiatives. It’s clear no one can do this alone. In order A reproducing church will be eager to give away money, people and just to see our churches reproduce future ones, it’s going to take all of us! Bob about anything else to see the Kingdom expanded. Looking beyond Roberts agrees, “May we have such an impact that it will merit the attenourselves enables us to be about giving, rather than keeping. We must do tion of historians. Upon research, the conclusion of the historians should so if our desire is to see the world transformed for Christ. As Bob Roberts be, ‘It wasn’t because of any single one of them, but because of every Jr. writes, it’s about “starting churches for the world and not just some little single one of them’” (172). spot on the map” (172).

The experience has been amazing. To meet with others and to receive and enjoy God has been a “forever changing” experience. The boldness of the leaders and the faith they live in is absolutely contagious. >> Benjamin Roed

LIVING HOPE CHURCH

>>

ST. JOSEPH, MO

NewfrontiersUSA Today

A WORLD WIDE FAMILY OF CHURCHES TOGETHER ON A MISSION

>>

www.newfrontiers-usa.org