For the Record, it is important to remind those who are reading these blogs and making their comments regarding my doctrinal soundness, that for the past 40 years we have ascribed to the doctrinal statement of the ABA. My church, Greater Heights Baptist Fellowship, and XSTREAM Global Missions ascribes to the same doctrinal statement.
Therefore, the problem that some have with these blogs is one of 'practice' and not 'doctrine'. The vast majority of us believe strongly and agree wholly with our doctrinal statement but have issues with the way in which some 'practice'.
Therefore, any further unnecessary comments about this blogger being unscriptural or that he ought to leave the ABA will not be posted simply because they are false and presumptive statements that are willfully designed to malign another person's character and not done in the spirit of Christian love.
David
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Ukraine team returns with great reports
Our Ukraine team returned from nearly two weeks of ministry behind them. They report 17 souls saved and lives changed forever.
The team gave their report (two Georgia team members not present) and it was an hour and a half service! Everyone received a blessing of how God worked on their hearts and the lives of the Ukrainian children to whom they ministered.
Danny Mendoza was their team leader and did an awesome job leading the team.
We're looking for more teams for next year. Ukraine, and wherever else God may lead.
David
The team gave their report (two Georgia team members not present) and it was an hour and a half service! Everyone received a blessing of how God worked on their hearts and the lives of the Ukrainian children to whom they ministered.
Danny Mendoza was their team leader and did an awesome job leading the team.
We're looking for more teams for next year. Ukraine, and wherever else God may lead.
David
Friday, July 18, 2008
Post 101
I am delighted to report that we saw 3 souls saved last night during visitation. We have been sowing a lot of seed here in Angleton for the last 5 months (that how old our work is) and are now beginning to see the beginning of the harvest. Alice and I were praising God all the way home last night. Alice led an Hispanic man to Christ, I led a young lady, and we found out about one that was saved as a result of an earlier visit we made. Praise God!
We are getting ready for a Marty Haggard concert on August 3rd. It's an outreach event, not just entertainment. Also we are getting ready for Labor Day outreach picnic (not just fellowship, but outreach). We are planning to do Jerusalem Priority in November (the only time we can do it) and we are excited about reaching many more new contacts.
We started our first New Members class two weeks ago. Two families showed up I wasn't expecting and the couple I was expecting never showed up! That's the way it is sometimes.
Our Ukraine team is coming home next Wednesday. We have already heard reports of souls saved, Amen!
This is what it is all about my friends. Let go to tell the Good News to everyone everywhere.
David
We are getting ready for a Marty Haggard concert on August 3rd. It's an outreach event, not just entertainment. Also we are getting ready for Labor Day outreach picnic (not just fellowship, but outreach). We are planning to do Jerusalem Priority in November (the only time we can do it) and we are excited about reaching many more new contacts.
We started our first New Members class two weeks ago. Two families showed up I wasn't expecting and the couple I was expecting never showed up! That's the way it is sometimes.
Our Ukraine team is coming home next Wednesday. We have already heard reports of souls saved, Amen!
This is what it is all about my friends. Let go to tell the Good News to everyone everywhere.
David
My 100th Post!
Wow! I never thought that this blogging thing would continue to the point it has. I am so appreciative of all my blogging friends, and even some who may not be my friends. That's ok too!
Over the past year it has become quite evident that there is a desire for change in our Associated work. What kind of change is still the issue at hand. I don't believe in change for the sake of change, but for the sake of Christ's work. And believe me, there needs to be some changes. I will leave that for another blog.
It has also become apparent that we are not doing as well as we thought we were. 13 new works is wonderful, but it falls far short of what could be done. Although there are those out there who want quality over quantity; and others who don't want us to count the new works; and still others who think I am going SBC; I will not give up in my quest for positive, productive change that brings about an increase of church planting and global missions.
Yes, I will continue to count the new works. No one else is. If you all would help me, I would appreciate it very much. I don't want to miss anyone in the count. I believe that counting the new works and the ones that have closed their doors will reveal the true extent of our real work. It will reveal whether or not we are moving forwards or backwards. Presently, it appears to be more to the rear than to the front. There are many issues that have created this, and it is complex, but not beyond fixing.
My most recent challenge of starting a "church planting fellowship" has stirred up some folks in the negative track rather than the purpose for which it was written. I was looking for some positive feedback as to how we could see more new churches started and some of the response from the bloggers was negative. I really don't understand that kind of thinking. Maybe some wise one will help me out.
I have believed and still do that positive change can be implemented if enough of us will rise up and speak out about it and then do something about it. Wise action must follow all of this "outloud" thinking that I do. I am not afraid to act on my thinking. Just making sure I'm thinking in the right direction before I jump.
OK, so this is my 100th post. Sounds a lot like the first. But let's keep on working for positive changes among some of the greatest churches in the world.
David
Over the past year it has become quite evident that there is a desire for change in our Associated work. What kind of change is still the issue at hand. I don't believe in change for the sake of change, but for the sake of Christ's work. And believe me, there needs to be some changes. I will leave that for another blog.
It has also become apparent that we are not doing as well as we thought we were. 13 new works is wonderful, but it falls far short of what could be done. Although there are those out there who want quality over quantity; and others who don't want us to count the new works; and still others who think I am going SBC; I will not give up in my quest for positive, productive change that brings about an increase of church planting and global missions.
Yes, I will continue to count the new works. No one else is. If you all would help me, I would appreciate it very much. I don't want to miss anyone in the count. I believe that counting the new works and the ones that have closed their doors will reveal the true extent of our real work. It will reveal whether or not we are moving forwards or backwards. Presently, it appears to be more to the rear than to the front. There are many issues that have created this, and it is complex, but not beyond fixing.
My most recent challenge of starting a "church planting fellowship" has stirred up some folks in the negative track rather than the purpose for which it was written. I was looking for some positive feedback as to how we could see more new churches started and some of the response from the bloggers was negative. I really don't understand that kind of thinking. Maybe some wise one will help me out.
I have believed and still do that positive change can be implemented if enough of us will rise up and speak out about it and then do something about it. Wise action must follow all of this "outloud" thinking that I do. I am not afraid to act on my thinking. Just making sure I'm thinking in the right direction before I jump.
OK, so this is my 100th post. Sounds a lot like the first. But let's keep on working for positive changes among some of the greatest churches in the world.
David
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Church Planting Fellowship?
What is a church planting fellowship? Simply, a number of churches willing to fellowship together for the specific purpose of church planting. This is not an attempt to start another association of churches or create any kind of a schism.
This "fellowship" (for the lack of a better word) would be like the IMD (Interstate Mission Development, or any other ministry) where churches would choose to work together to achieve a specific purpose in finding resources for church planting and developing new workable strategies. Church Planters would be recruited, assessed, trained, mentored and coached in order to successfully establish reproducing churches. This "fellowship" would incorporate other ministries that have a similar interest which could facilitate success in church planting. This ministry would go beyond the "training" of church planters to the actual establishing of new churches: locating strategic areas, recruiting church planters, mobilizing teams to help the new work off the ground, etc.
Presently our association does not have the structure to accommodate deliberate and strategic church planting. As a result, our church planting efforts are very limited and our vision lacking.
There would be a need for a "sponsoring church" that would be responsible for the clear direction of this plan working with other churches that would agree to the standards and the challenge set before them.
If you are interested in learning more about a possible "church planting fellowship" or would like to become a part of an effort like this please contact me and let me know.
David
This "fellowship" (for the lack of a better word) would be like the IMD (Interstate Mission Development, or any other ministry) where churches would choose to work together to achieve a specific purpose in finding resources for church planting and developing new workable strategies. Church Planters would be recruited, assessed, trained, mentored and coached in order to successfully establish reproducing churches. This "fellowship" would incorporate other ministries that have a similar interest which could facilitate success in church planting. This ministry would go beyond the "training" of church planters to the actual establishing of new churches: locating strategic areas, recruiting church planters, mobilizing teams to help the new work off the ground, etc.
Presently our association does not have the structure to accommodate deliberate and strategic church planting. As a result, our church planting efforts are very limited and our vision lacking.
There would be a need for a "sponsoring church" that would be responsible for the clear direction of this plan working with other churches that would agree to the standards and the challenge set before them.
If you are interested in learning more about a possible "church planting fellowship" or would like to become a part of an effort like this please contact me and let me know.
David
13 new works in 07/08
Last year proved to be a real disappointment in the number of actual new works being started. However, we praise God for 13 works total that we were able to count. There may have been some we didn't know about.
At the missionary share time we challenged everyone to rise up to double the amount of new works started nationally, that would be 26! It would be wonderful if we could do this. It will take a lot more than a simple challenge to do this though.
There needs to be a number of things put into place that would enable any increase in church planting to occur:
1. Everyone would need to understand the new terminologies associated with current church planting methods.
2. There would need to be new ministries formed with an eye for church planting and development (our association is incapable of this process in its present structure).
3. There is a need for a "church planting fellowship" of churches to be formed within our association for the sole purpose of planting new churches in the USA and Canada.
We can make the changes necessary for success in church planting. However, the desire for change is not well enough established in order for us to see those changes occur in the future.
David
At the missionary share time we challenged everyone to rise up to double the amount of new works started nationally, that would be 26! It would be wonderful if we could do this. It will take a lot more than a simple challenge to do this though.
There needs to be a number of things put into place that would enable any increase in church planting to occur:
1. Everyone would need to understand the new terminologies associated with current church planting methods.
2. There would need to be new ministries formed with an eye for church planting and development (our association is incapable of this process in its present structure).
3. There is a need for a "church planting fellowship" of churches to be formed within our association for the sole purpose of planting new churches in the USA and Canada.
We can make the changes necessary for success in church planting. However, the desire for change is not well enough established in order for us to see those changes occur in the future.
David
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Ukrainian Team leaves July 10
Our Ukrainian team of 10 with leader Danny Mendoza will be leaving July 10th. They are getting excited. They will be working with Dr. Bill Pennell in Zhitomyr, Ukraine. The team will be involved with the annual youth camp and working with the Ukrainian staff teachers and workers. Every year souls are saved. Many new friends are made and the work of God is spread further.
We will be posting more info about the team when they return.
David
We will be posting more info about the team when they return.
David
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Greater Outreach
Our Greater Heights group went out last Thursday and did the opinion poll survey. Everyone enjoyed it and we're looking forward to going out again in the next week or so. A number of contacts were made and we are looking forward to follow-up.
This Friday, July 4th, we will be doing an Outreach Picnic. We have a tent set up on Manna Fields Farms and we are anticipating a good number to come out with their friends. We will be doing games, and hotdogs, and hamburgers, etc. Later on we will have a chalk talk artist draw for us and after dark the fireworks begin. Pray for wet ground!
We are really praying for souls to be saved and unchurched people to be reached. The doors are open we just need to walk through them. I am excited about the growing outreach vision that our people are beginning to show.
David
This Friday, July 4th, we will be doing an Outreach Picnic. We have a tent set up on Manna Fields Farms and we are anticipating a good number to come out with their friends. We will be doing games, and hotdogs, and hamburgers, etc. Later on we will have a chalk talk artist draw for us and after dark the fireworks begin. Pray for wet ground!
We are really praying for souls to be saved and unchurched people to be reached. The doors are open we just need to walk through them. I am excited about the growing outreach vision that our people are beginning to show.
David
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