Hungry?

We were at Angelus Temple (aka The Dream Center) in Los Angeles on Sunday morning. Yes, we go to church on holiday!

As I sat to listen to Pastor Matthew Barnett, one of the foremost Christian leaders in America, I was both surprised and encouraged. Pastor Matthew was talking about how important it was to be a church that lived and operated in the supernatural and by the power of Holy Spirit.

Surprised why? Aren't they already operating in the supernatural?This is a church that has over 200 ministries that serve the city, they visit and feed the poor, they house the homeless, they disciple the addict, they rescue the prostitute, and on and on it goes.

YES, and here's the encouraging part - they don't ever want to become a church of 'good works'. Pastor Matthew was reminding himself and the church that everything that they do or hope to do - amazing things that are happening today and that God has yet in store - must flow from a growing and hungering relationship with and for the presence of Jesus.

Here's some quotes from Pastor Matthew's talk -

"We go in and out of supernatural strength way too much in our calling. We need the presence of God in and through our lives. Let God minister to you regularly. We must never only be a people of good works but must be built on prayer and times of refreshing in the presence of God. This is God's work that is far beyond what we are able to do.

Compassion without the favour of God is not enough." We must live in the supernatural filling of God."

This is also what we are hearing from God for our Church family. God is speaking the same thing to His people no matter where we are. "Be hungry for relationship with Me!"We need Him and His strength if we are going to see a world changed. Nothing less will do...

Arrows of the Lord

Another one of the highlights of Saturday was for Shanda and me was to be there with Tristen and Clara. They were part of our church’s Master’s Commission. They are both serving now in the LA Dream Center / Angelus Temple (Foursquare Church) They're pictured here with Alexandra in front of Angelus Temple - built in 1923 by Amy Semple McPherson, the founder of the Foursquare Church movement.

Anyhow, we watched in amazement as Clara (she’s the block ‘pastor’) fluently gave instructions in Spanish (learned while serving), saw people come up to her and give her hugs and greet their ‘pastor’. Clara comes here on a weekly basis, although her main ministry is Metro Kidz. At Metro Kidz she goes out into the places others don’t want to go (gangland) and gives kids hope, the love of God and a vision for a better future.

Tristen volunteers at other ministries although her main ministry is coordinating the delivery of all the tons of food donations to the Dream Center. She uses her administrative gifts and puts that together with a love for the people and children of Los Angeles and does a fantastic job! Tristen was excited to be with us handing out the food on the front lines - food that she had arranged to be delivered.

At the end of it all, we gathered in a circle and Clara went off praying in Spanish as these precious people gathered around to pray and be prayed for. More than food – hope, encouragement and love were given in large quantities.

These girls arrived to our MC in 2004…look what God has done in and through them as they have hungered after Him and followed His leading. No passivity, no procrastination – simple hunger and following the leading of Father. One prophetic word over Northgate is that there will be ‘arrows of the Lord’ (people) sent out or shot out to the nations. These girls are two arrows…shot out and making a difference. It’s a family sending out family seeing His ‘kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Northgate readers you can be proud. We were moved to tears and are proud to be part of a church family that sends out such as these.

Kids In Action

Well, Saturday was a great day. We started the day off with Adopt-A-Block with the LA Dream Center. This is a program where hundreds of people head into various neighbourhoods that are troubled and disadvantaged. To name a few; they go to the downtown hotels, skid row, gang areas, and among the working poor. Our particular site was into a dead end street surrounded by old old walk up apartments 3 and 4 stories high. We were distributing food, picking up trash and cleaning a vacant lot that was full of trash (diapers, broken chairs, alcohol bottles, old clothes, general trash). Our kids helped hand out food and played with one of the neighbourhood children. There were about 30 adults (plus kids) to get food. Our kids saw very clearly how others have to live – “No place to play except the street! No grass. They don’t have enough food? It’s so dirty here. There’s garbage everywhere!” We were able to engage them about how these are the places that Jesus has called all of us to. Not just inside a church, but taking His love out into a world and to a people that the devil is intent on destroying. We were so proud to see them stepping out of their Courtenay comfort zones and loving, giving and serving others in the inner city. It is important for children – not just adults – to have an opportunity to ‘go about doing good’ (Acts 10:38) and experience the affirmation and presence of God in it. We all had a great time together! This picture is taken afterwards as we went to the Citadel.

Rob Update #5

Further to this, here's an update on Rob from his family -it was written this past Sunday. It is encouraging to see prayer at work! There's a lot of challenges yet, so please continue to pray for Rob.

Things have improved this weekend. He is again off the vent and is breathing well with no oxygen help at all. He is in good spirits. He has started to eat real food and has been told he should be able to eat a subway sub by Wednesday. He will be working with various physiotherapist's and speech therapist's this week and may have another embolization. I left his black berry with him tonight so he will be getting through e-mails slowly but surely. He is still a bit groggy and has most moments of lucidity with some moments of confusion, he assures me that his mind is coming back though. We are very grateful for the amazing care he has been receiving in the cardiac ICU unit at the Toronto General Hospital and of all the progress he has made through his own sheer determination. Thanks to all for your positive thoughts and prayers...keep them coming!!!

Spiritual Warfare / Favour

I'm in Surrey at Revolution Master's Commission for the next few days teaching on Spiritual Warfare. I've actually loved the hours of preparation that I've had to put into it. It has only caused my own hunger to grow! Reading, praying, studying...It's been great. The director is Angelina Hunt, who came to our MC for her first year, went there for her 2nd year and then became the Director. It is always so encouraging to be around young people that are passionate for Jesus and to do their part to see things change for good in the world.

While I have been preparing, I have realized that I've come to a resignation to some situations in my extended family. I hadn't realized that this is something that I've grown passive about! Well, no more! As God has directed us, I'm going to pray and contend and seek after God to see relationships restored to what God intended them to be. I'm walking in a season of unprecedented, unparalleled favour of God - and I'm going to ask, seek, and knock to see it released in my family!! (Matt. 7:7-11)

Living HIS Mission

It is encouraging to see our Christian School actively involved in restoration. Our staff have been diligently working together to raise awareness among the students - and our community - about our responsibility to respond to the needs in the world. You can read all about it in the Record (click here)

It is great to see our staff and students seeking to actively living out what Jesus did, who "went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil"(Acts 10:38) It also shows the world that Jesus is alive! We're promised that people will see the good works and glorify God because of them. (Matt. 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12).

As we proclaim the gospel with words, our willingness to help and bless others gives a greater credibility to our message. It opens the door for people to hear the good news. If you look at successful missionaries of history, as well as those of today, they have always put good works (clinics, hospitals, skill training, clean water, education, orphanages, leper treatment, etc.) together with the proclamation of the good news. However, it is important to note that it is always right to be a blessing to others - even if they do not respond to the gospel.

In our day to day life it is very important that we be dispensers of God's grace and favour - that is what Jesus modeled! That is also what these students are participating in and modeling - lovers of Jesus and lovers of people. We're proud of our students!

Rob Update #4

Further to this, Rob was responsive and awake on Saturday. In fact, he was taken off the ventilator and breathing on his own. Things were looking up. Unfortunately, his lungs began to fill up with fluid yesterday and he went back on the ventilator. Apparently, he will need 7 more surgeries over the next while. However, he needs to get stronger to get through them one by one. Please keep praying for increasing strength for Rob, and an awareness of the presence of Jesus. Also, pray for his family as they walk through this. They are aware that people are praying and are thankful for it!