God's Charge: Change the World!

A number of years ago I had a dream.  I'm not sure I ever said before that God spoke to me in a dream, but this time I believe He did.  In the dream I was led to Genesis 2:10-14 & Joel 2:28-29.  If you read those verses you find that there were 4 headwaters in Eden taking life to the area, and the life that God gives is often likened to a river, or water source, as in Ezekiel 47.

I felt that God was bringing a divine convergence of events that would lead to a fresh wave of revival, much like the 4 headwaters in Eden took precious things to the area.  The 4 headwaters I felt were streams of change that God was bringing to the Church:

1.  Change in Structure
2.  Change in Leadership
3.  Changes on the National and International Scene
4.  Change in Focus

I had the dream in February of 2003.  I prepared the thoughts into a message, but never felt released to deliver the message until September of 2003.  I delivered the message at New Life Church in Kokomo - but I was not the pastor of the church at that time.

One month after I gave the message, New Life's pastor of 26 years resigned to take another position of leadership.  Two months after I gave the message, the Deacons of New Life unanimously invited me to submit myself to become the Pastor and the church family unanimously asked me to become the Pastor.

Less than four months after I gave the message, I became the pastor of New Life, I brought with me the leadership of Sharon Daniel, and together as a church family the structure of ministry began to change in a way that has opened up opportunities for many in ministry through our Free Market Small Groups.  Upward has been incredibly successful.  Alpha is bringing people to the Lord.  We have seen nearly 8 years of almost continuous growth, this past year being our greatest year of growth yet.  The church family is larger now than ever in its history, and we gave as much or more to missions last year than we ever have.

I believe the dream and its message was prophetic.

Now, change never stops, but there are times when the dynamics of change increase.  We either ride with it, or fight it, but CHANGE HAPPENS!  New Life continues to change, and we are getting ready to enter a season where the changes will be great and they will lead to greater opportunities to touch our city, our county and our world for Christ.

I believe God has already spoken to me about 2012 the way He spoke to me in February of 2003, and the way I shared in September of 2003, before I became the pastor here - and God fulfilled that Word.

I believe God is speaking again - and I believe we are going to see great change!

Every change will have at its heart reaching people.  If we don't, what will be the perception of those who don't have a relationship with Jesus?

On Sunday, November 20, I will be sharing more about these specific changes.