Simplicity Church Network

Simplicity Church Network

Reflection

The Foundations

Reflections On Africa – Looking Ahead

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Editor’s Note: This post was written in the very earliest days of what would become the Simplicity Church Network. It reflects the process of letting go of old models, listening to Jesus, and learning to follow the Spirit into a new way of being the Church. I’ve been back from Africa for a week now. The jet lag is slowly wearing off, but I still find myself going to bed before 9:30 and getting up around 4:30 or 5. Over the past week I have been reflecting on this journey and I realize that it has been the most challenging of all of the trips to Africa that I have made. The challenges were not just limited to this journey, but they are indicative of some of the challenges that lay ahead. These are all issues that I will be committing to prayer going forward. I look forward to returning to Africa again in the near future, but I also realize that I will need to structure my future journeys much differently to be more effective. The first issue I am seeing is the need for stability. There is little infrastructure in the region to support ongoing mission work, so the need for raising up stable leaders is critical. Time and time again I saw challenges that came about due to leadership issues. Grooming leaders takes ongoing interaction. Determining how best to create this interaction is one of the challenges ahead. The second issue also relates to leadership, but deals with making the best use of available resources. On this trip we ran into issues of budgets that were not followed, schedules that were modified without consideration of the consequences and promises that were not kept. One of the challenges for leaders in this region is that they are often unwilling to say “no.” In an effort to accommodate others, they will disregard financial resources, time availability and other critical factors. In our own circumstance, even though we had covered the agreed on budget, more money was still requested. There were days that we would spend 8 hours in a van to speak for 1 hour. The cost in both time and fuel was a poor stewardship in our resources. The next issue is that for many church leaders, status is more important than personal growth. The intent of this journey was to conduct conferences with leaders. Instead we found ourselves speaking in church meetings that were meant to bolster the “reputation” or “credibility” of a pastor, instead of building up the leaders who would build the church. In 3 weeks I only had about 8 hours of one on one time with the church leaders I came to spend time with. The next issue deals with the integrity of church leaders, particularly in Kenya. As I travel through the region I learn of leaders who charge their churches 20% of the giving and demand special offerings for things like vehicles. I learn of leaders who are continually found in immoral relationships. When these leaders are given money by Western missionaries and organizations, they squander it and quickly return to a place of demanding more from their churches. The final issue deals with foundation. Each leader I was able to spend personal time with identified a need for foundation. Many of the issues described above come down to this issue. Without proper biblical foundation, these leaders are developing theology and practice from conferences and television. With the growing advance of Islam into the region, the need for knowing your foundation has never been greater. I believe my work in the days to come will be less about speaking in conferences and more about spending extended periods of time with leaders, laying a solid foundation. To do this will take both time and resources. My final 5 days were spent with Pastor Nimrod Masau the bishop of Faith Ministries East Africa. Pastor Masau is an indigenous pastor working to accomplish many of the same tasks that I am. We both see the need for the West to be a catalyst, but we both agree that the work needs to be entrusted to indigenous leaders. Pastor Masau recognizes the same leadership and character issues as being the greatest challenge to this model. It is my hope to spend more time with Pastor Masau in the days to come as I believe the Lord has connected us for a greater purpose. I was initially going to return to India at the end of February, but felt as though the timing was not correct. This past Sunday after speaking at 4CI, one of the men I attend church with asked me if he could accompany me on my next journey to India. As we talked we set a target date of September and will be praying towards that. I’m not sure when I will return to Africa, but it is my hope that I can be there again later this year.

The Foundations

If the gospel comes….

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Editor’s Note:This post was written in the very earliest days of what would become the Simplicity Church Network. It reflects the process of letting go of old models, listening to Jesus, and learning to follow the Spirit into a new way of being the Church. Since returning from Africa, we have been praying about the direction of our ministry here in Corpus Christi. With our local population being transient, we have struggled to meet the ongoing expenses of the building rent and utilities. Yet, in spite of the struggles, we also see the need for our presence. In the past 9 months we have watched 3 churches in our area close their doors. The crime, addictions and broken lives continue to go on seemingly unchecked. What were we to do? A friend of mine called me for lunch last week and we met. I shared with him my uncertainty over the next step we were supposed to take and he responded with this story. He had just come from a meeting with 2 other pastors, who were wanting to turn their focus on to our ministry neighborhood. During this conversation, one of the pastors related a conversation he had undertaken with a relative who was a drug dealer in the area. In this conversation, the pastor asked what it would take for the drug dealers to leave. The relative responded with this answer: “If the gospel comes we will leave.” He went on to elaborate that in his lifetime, he had seen the gospel come into an area so forcefully that the drug trade could not continue. When the pastor inquired if just by planting churches and doing ministry the drug dealing would leave…the man corrected him. He restated: “If the gospel comes we will leave.” He went on to elaborate that he was not worried, because he had only witnessed such a happening twice in his life. For the next 24 hours, I found myself haunted by those words. Last Tuesday night as we were praying, I found the Lord giving me a vision and a renewed sense of purpose for the corner of Staples and Coleman. The vision was simple, the gospel would be proclaimed and lived out at that location 7 days a week. As others begin to join with us to carry this load, this proclamation will ultimately be done 3 times per day, 7 days per week. The Lord also impressed upon me that this message was to be declared, even if no one was present. This Sunday we began this new chapter in our journey. My wife prayed as I preached to chairs and passers by. Interestingly enough I had just finished reading God’s Smuggler, one of the stories told in that book was of a minister in Holland who was led to do a similar thing. It was noted that even when no one was in the building, the message and invitation always seemed to be received and responded to by someone on the street.

The Foundations

Reflections, re-acclimation and renewal

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Editor’s Note:This post was written in the very earliest days of what would become the Simplicity Church Network. It reflects the process of letting go of old models, listening to Jesus, and learning to follow the Spirit into a new way of being the Church. I’ve been back from India for just over a week now. My body is finally getting back to normal and the case of Delhi Belly that hit me upon my return home is finally gone. I’m finally sleeping at normal hours and getting back into my normal routine. As I’ve taken time to reflect on my time in India, there are a few things that stick out: First of all, God used my absence to bring about some strengthening in those around me. My first Friday out of the country, Mike and Kim learned that their brother-in-law had been killed in Afghanistan. Mike and Kim were able to be a source of strength to their family, even though they did not have my presence to draw from. Mike and Kim were forced to lean on the Lord in a way they had not had to draw on His strength before. Carol also felt led to join some meetings that I normally attend, and also led out with our monthly overseer’s meeting. This was a large growth step for Carol as well and she now sees her role as my ministry partner much more clearly. I believe the second primary purpose of this trip was my influence on some key people: My interactions with Tom and Santhosh, in particular were part of a molding, shaping and directional process that the Lord is taking them through. In the case of both of these men, I watched God take them through some stretching of their comfort zones and standard modes of operation. Additionally, in two of the cities where I led meetings, the pastors came under conviction about their need to work cooperatively towards the purposes of God’s kingdom. In the wake of our meetings, these pastors have committed to working together towards the fulfillment of God’s plan for their individual communities. The third key issue was the reminder of the completeness of God’s power and strength. On two particular occasions, I was speaking with almost no physical or mental strength. On both of those occasions, I spoke not with force or vigor, but the power of God was incredibly overwhelming. On the first occasion a demon manifested in a man as I was speaking and threw this man into the adjacent river. He was immediately delivered from the demon and received the life giving touch of Jesus that night. The second time I gave the invitation after making a very simple gospel presentation and I watched as over 30 people came forward to give their lives to Jesus. It was good to be back home on Sunday. Sunday was the first anniversary of the launch of Simplicity – Corpus Christi and the Simplicity Church Network. We all marveled at how quickly the year has gone, and how much God has molded, shaped and changed us in this first year. We also decided to replace our big orange water cooler outside with some of the sack lunches we have put together. Sunday we set out 6 lunch bags with Vienna Sausage, fruit cups, and crackers. By the time church was over, only one bag was left. Tuesday was a great day of victories as well. Carol and I were short on making our house rent. Our rent is $1,000/month and we only had $179 to our name. We asked some people who are close to us to pray with us over this need. One of those individuals told Carol, “I’m praying that someone will show up at your doorstep with a check in hand.” Not 10 minutes later this same individual called back and said she would be bringing a check by…she ended up being the answer to her own request. Tuesday evening we were praying at the church when we heard a knock on the door. A young man entered and said, “I believe God sent me here.” We then told him how he got to us and he agreed…I told him we were praying for him to come, we just didn’t know it was him that we were specifically praying for. This man has been in Corpus for 2 weeks. In the past his life has included many pitfalls, and of course he found himself in the epicenter of those things here in Corpus Christi. He knows he has a call on his life, but his frustration with his circumstances had led him back to some places he swore he would never go again. After speaking into his life we offered to walk with him as he works to rebuild his life. Over the past two days I have had the opportunity to help him find new housing arrangements and to begin looking for work. While I was in India, the Lord spoke to me about someone he was raising up to become the leader of Simplicity – Corpus Christi…something in my spirit, says this man may eventually be the one God was speaking to me about.

The Foundations

India wrap up

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Editor’s Note:This post was written in the very earliest days of what would become the Simplicity Church Network. It reflects the process of letting go of old models, listening to Jesus, and learning to follow the Spirit into a new way of being the Church. After an all night train ride to Chennai, we arrived at 6AM yesterday. We went to our dorm room at teh campus of Emmanuel Methodist Church and I tok a 2 hour nap. After a shower, we were off to Church of the Living God in Chennai. This was my second time to preach in this particular church. There are approximately 2000 people who attend each Sunday. This church was founded by Pastor Paul’s brother Paul Kiraburakan. The service was very energized with fervent prayer and several pieces of music by a group of children. After I had finished preaching, I spent the next hour praying for several hundred people. I was also privileged to have Pastor Sam who has a television ministry here in Chennai, come by to seee me. Pastor Sam and I have been communicating by phone and internet for over a year. In the evening, I returned to Hebron Prayer Incense Church. This church is pastored by David Anand Kumar. The church meets on the top floor of his home, near the local medical university. Since my last visit, his congregation has grown and become somewhat international. He now has people from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania worshipping in his church. This has forced him to move his services to primarily English. Once I was done speaking, I prayed for about 30 minutes with those in attendance. Yesterday I also discovered that the power cord to my laptop was no longer working. I think a power surge killed the power box on my cord. Unfortunately, I didn’t discover this until I needed to charge the battery. Today, I packed my bags to get ready for the airport. After breakfast, Paul took me to a shoe store, because he felt my sandals were in poor condition and I needed better shoes. So I am now breaking in a nice new pair of Indian sandals. We are having lunch today with Pastor Victor and his family. I led conferences in Pastor Victor’s church last year, but was unable to do that this year. It is good to see old friends again. After lunch, I will be going to the airport. My first flight leaves at 6PM for Delhi. I will be in Delhi until 2AM when I leave for Frankfurt. Then on to Chicago and Houston. I will arrive in Houston Tuesday at 6PM. I am spending the night in Houston and will catch the 8AM flight to Corpus Christi. I love India, but I am ready to be home. My mind is exhausted, it has been a great journey. I will try to post pictures in the next few days…I have plenty, but an unpowered laptop is pretty uselsess.

The Foundations

Final day in Madurai

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Editor’s Note:This post was written in the very earliest days of what would become the Simplicity Church Network. It reflects the process of letting go of old models, listening to Jesus, and learning to follow the Spirit into a new way of being the Church. I started my day with a visit to a local colony of lepers. I had preached in an adjacent village last year and had encountered of few of the lepers then. This colony houses about 200-300 lepers. Many are missing toes, fingers and various facial features. For many of them they have other serious mental and physical challenges as well. Benjamin and Elishba have adopted this colony as their ministry focus. Benjamin brings food out weekly and shares songs and Bible stories with them. Many of the lepers believe in Jesus, but they doubt His power to heal them. For the past two days, I had found myself praying for the miraculous healing of 7 lepers within this community. My understanding is that God is going to do some miraculous healings within this colony as building blocks of belief. There was one woman in particular that caught my attention and I found myself praying over her quite extensively. I believe she will be one of the 7. After distributing food to the colony we headed back to town and I spent the afternoon resting. I am beginning to feel the physical drain from nearly two weeks of multiple speaking engagements and long hours of ministry. Tonight I spoke in our final open air meeting in Madurai. I told the crowd that I wasn’t feeling very strong, so I knew it would be a great meeting. I emphasized that in our weakness, God’s strength is revealed. Several testimonies were given during the service including a testimony of a man who was healed from being very sick after I had prayed for him on Wednesday. I used these testimonies to talk about why God heals in the first place. I explained that He wants us to see His power to save and deliver us from sin. The miracles are simply the building blocks of our faith. I told the crowd that ultimately we all must decide who Jesus truly is. When I was finished approximately 30 people came and gave their lives to Jesus. I was also asked to pray for another 100 or so for healing, family problems, etc… It was a great ending to another wonderful visit to Madurai.

The Foundations

Filling in the blanks

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Editor’s Note:This post was written during the early days of what would become the Simplicity Church Network. It reflects the raw process of listening, letting go, and learning to follow Jesus into something beautifully simple and deeply alive. I’ve now had some time to process the events of the weekend and wanted to share them with you. After Pastor Adams and I left the museum on Saturday we went to the church where I preached an afternoon session on temptation, using the temptation of Jesus as the passage to teach from. During the afternoon session several came forward to make commitments of renewal and repentance. When I was done preaching, a local pastor from the mountains, Apostle Musa Kibet, stood and began to speak. He taught the congregation a Swahili song he had written that talks about the greatness of God, being greater than all other things. As Musa was singing, the Lord impressed upon me two things that needed to happen in the evening. The first was that Musa needed to lead the congregation in that song and that he needed to lead out in worship. The second thing was that I needed to solicit the testimonies of the people as part of the worship. When this service was over the people were asking if we could just go straight through until the next service later in the evening; however, it was decided that we should break for dinner. While we were at dinner the Lord prompted me that I needed to preach on the healing of Naaman. The Lord also directed me that I needed to get alone with Him in prayer. I informed my hosts, that as soon as possible I needed to return to the church and spend some time before the Lord, that I believed something great was going to happen. After dinner we returned to the church. Pastor Adams, Pastor Wachira and his wife Esther joined me, each of us praying individually. I could hear Pastor Adams weeping and his prayers in English were just as clear as if he were a native English speaker. In his prayers I could hear him weeping. As I was praying the Lord told me that He would reveal His healing presence in the service tonight. He told me to not be intimidated by any condition, but to trust that His hand would be at work. He also told me that the Esther had a word for me. When I inquired of Esther as to what the Lord had been speaking to her, she responded that He had shown her that His Spirit was falling upon the people and that miracles would occur during this service. We then joined hands and consecrated ourselves as vessels in the Lord’s hands. When I walked out to the platform, I observed the worship team on their knees with their faces to the floor, weeping as they were singing. I was overcome with an overpowering joy and began to weep, the only words coming from my mouth were “Thank You Jesus.” The people were visibly moved by the presence of God. Some were prostrate, others had their hands raised, many were weeping. Once the worship in music was finished, many came forward giving testimonies of God removing obstacles, so they could attend. Many talked of delivery from physical symptoms and others talked about the birthing of revival in their hearts. As I prepared to speak, Pastor Musa approached me and said: “You are to pray for the sick tonight, God is going to use the testimonies of healing from this service tonight, to fuel His the worship of His presence tomorrow.” Before I spoke the Lord led me to pray for the removal of the spirit of stubbornness and the spirit of unbelief. Applause rang out as this prayer was prayed. I then proceeded to teach for the next hour on the healing of Naaman and the importance of his obedience in seeing the power of God in his life. When it was over the Lord directed me to begin praying for the sick and those who needed deliverance. The Lord prompted me to have Pastor Musa, Pastor Wachira and Pastor Adams lay hands on the sick with me, as I prayed. The second person I laid hands immediately fell when I said “In Jesus name…” I have seen God do many amazing things, but have never had anyone become dead weight under my hands. In this first round of prayer, I prayed over some 40 people…this falling out occurred one other time as I prayed over the sick. As I finished praying, Pastor Adams said that we needed to call everyone forward to pray for the fire of revival to take hold in each of their lives. As he called them forward, Pastor Musa began to lead worship in song. One woman screamed out and began to weep. Then each of the minister went through the crowd touching each person, asking for the fire of revival to come upon each one. As these prayers were prayed weeping was heard throughout the congregation and 2 or 3 others went to the floor. As I finished praying all I could do was weep and cry out “Thank You Jesus.” It was now 11:30PM and many were crying out, could we continue on. We told them to go and testify, so that others would be present on Sunday morning. When I got back to my room, I found myself weeping again. I could not even record my video journal, I was so shaken…I told the Lord, I don’t know what just happened there…but I have never felt You so strongly. Please let me continue to walk in the intensity of your presence. Sunday morning as I came to the platform, there was a line of visitors standing in front of the church. Each one was stating that they had come, because they had heard of the miracles that had happened as the “man

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