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In my last blog I began to address a phrase that I use as an important ministry strategy:

“Every believer a minister (servant), every minister a leader, and every leader a reproducer”

As equippers, we are called to “equip the saints for the work of ministry,” teaching and training those under our care to become mobilized, servant-hearted believers. God does not expect us to merely build a congregation of attendees; rather, our goal is to mobilize skilled, servant-hearted workers.

It is time to be brutally honest with ourselves and recognize that there is a problem in the church world. It is futile to do the same old thing in the same old way and expect to get different results. We don’t have to look too far to see that we have a problem, perhaps in our own congregation.

We see the following symptoms of a failing church system:

1. Lack of growth resulting from little or no soul-winning
2. Lack of interest in any activity that requires effort or commitment
3. Prayerlessness
4. Loss of spiritual hunger for the things of God
5. Low attendance for special events (other than those which offer free food)

I believe that the problem starts with our inability to define our purpose as equippers. We are not called to merely take care of the flock, though this is a part of our ministerial responsibility. In our role of making disciples we do offer pastoral care, but our supreme role is to raise the people in our trust to become servant-hearted ministers and leaders.

Making leaders is to be a priority

After calling the fishermen to follow Him, Jesus said that He would make them fishers of men. In just three years, He exceeded this goal by not only making them successful soul-winners but very effective leaders as well. Through the process of discipleship, He made simple fishermen into leaders of the emerging Apostolic Church. They would successfully lead the Church in a society that was violently opposed to its very existence. The Church thrived despite this opposition, and so I believe that it’s also part and parcel of our calling to grow leaders who will operate in a God-resistant environment.

Some things for you to consider:

1. Do you have a process for training believers to become servant-hearted leaders?
2. Have you established basic requirements for entry-level leadership training?
3. Do you offer ongoing training for those who are already leaders in your church?

Every tree produces fruit according to its kind

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. (Genesis 1:11)

Apple trees produce apples…leaders produce leaders

Leaders should establish a process for leadership selection and training. This training should consist of two levels:

1. Entrance into leadership
2. Ongoing leadership

Before granting formalized positions of leadership, you will need to ensure that candidates are already functioning as leaders. They will need to have evidence of character, conduct, attitude, stewardship, and spirituality. You can start training individuals for leadership who don’t yet have a proven track record, but don’t make the mistake of placing them in leadership positions without the evidence of shared values and vision.

I have two manuals in the GMBI Extension School Program that you can use as part of the training. The topics dealt with in these manuals are:

Leadership 1

1. Jesus Followed Before He Led
2. Jesus Understood the Importance of Godly Character
3. Jesus Christ: Leadership Defined
4. Jesus: A Man of Vision
5. Jesus Recognized and Released Potential
6. Jesus Pressed Through Barriers, Obstacles, and Difficulties
7. Jesus Knew the Value and Urgency of Time

Leadership 2

1. Jesus Turns Little Into Much
2. Jesus Delegated Leadership
3. Jesus Understood Accountability
4. Jesus Raised A Leadership Team
5. Jesus Communicated With His team
6. Jesus Avoided Conflict
7. Jesus: The Servant Leader

Another training manual that I would highly recommend using is Christian Character:

1. Development of Christian Character
2. Servanthood I
3. Servanthood II
4. Servanthood III
5. Excellence of Ministry I
6. Excellence of Ministry II
7. Integrity
8. Faithfulness
9. Submission to Authority I
10. Submission to Authority II
11. Diligence

Be sure that those selected to be elders and deacons have been specifically trained for these roles; generic training is not enough. The same goes for roles such as worship leader, youth leader or children’s leader, all of which require job-specific training. If you place them as interns alongside an existing leader, make certain that the one training them is a good leader. Don’t expect anyone placed next to a sloppy leader to be properly trained. The leader-in-training must also be given some exposure to the overall operations of the church/ministry. Though they may produce well in their department, without seeing the big picture they may develop tunnel vision and thus not benefit the overall vision.

Making leaders is not an option but a priority. Every believer can become a leader, not necessarily in an official capacity but informally in:

• family
• career
• society

Most of all, every believer should be able to lead someone to the Lord and then take that convert into basic discipleship.

If you make believers into leaders who are servant-hearted, you will never lack workers and you will have established a solid foundation for ongoing growth.

INFUSE Pastors and Ministers Conference

If you haven’t already signed up for the Infuse Conference in January, I sincerely encourage you to consider making this time to be encouraged and equipped to take your team to the next level. I am confident that you will come away from this conference with the knowledge and honed skills to build your dynamic leadership team.

Unity and strategic planning and implementation are needed now in the church more than ever to combat the forces coming against us in these trying times. Please consider this opportunity to learn how to build and maintain an effective team for this purpose and successfully impact your community and enlarge your sphere of influence.

For more information, please visit http://www.gmrinc.org/pdf/infuse.pdf. I hope to see you there!

Since those who have been around me awhile have often heard me quote the above phrase, I would like to use this blog to define the strategy behind it.

As equippers, our task is not to grow our membership but rather to launch ministers. Clubs grow  membership, but the problem with today’s Church is that we have grown an audience.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Romans 12:4-5)

In this passage, members are not merely the attendees or an audience or even those who subscribe to our style, philosophy, or doctrines; instead, members are parts that carry out a function in the Body of Christ.

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)

In saying that the body has many members, it is apparent that Paul expected churches to grow numerically.

But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (1 Cor. 12:18)

Each member is essential to the overall functioning of the body and is uniquely placed in the Church by Christ for a divine purpose (1 Corinthians 12:22-23).

We are not just called to grow numerically but to equip and mobilize those entrusted to our care.

Ephesians 4:11-16 stresses the spiritual offices and equipping believers to train.

Col 1:28 admonishes us to raise believers into maturity.

Some pastors are growing the crowd but we are called to grow ministers.

Ministers

The Greek word for “minister” is “diakonos” (from which we get the word “deacon”), which means ”one who runs errands and attends to others, a waiter, a servant.” We may appoint some to the position of deacon or deaconess, but every member ought to “deac,” i.e., be a servant in attitude and deed.

Qualities found in servants:

1. Selflessness
2. Sacrificial serving
3. Diligence
4. Faithfulness

I know that these are not popular words in the modern-day Church, but maybe that is why the modern-day Church is in its present state.

According to Ephesians 4:11-12, our ministry is to make ministers (servant-hearted people who will represent God’s interests and priorities on the earth).  These servants will serve mainly in two areas:

1. In their local church
   • according to their gifting
   • according to the work that needs to be done
2. In society as a witness and ambassador
   • according to needs
   • according to opportunities
   • according to strategies employed by the church

A servant is one who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, without regard to his or her own needs or interests.

In our relationship to God we are not servants but sons and daughters, but in our relationship to the Church and our society, we are servants. We do not serve in order to gain approval, acceptance, recognition, or promotion, but because we love God.

Remember that your work is to train, mentor, and make servants (members who are servant-hearted).  When you grow the people to be large in vision and passionate about Him who called them, your church will grow.

My next blog will deal with the need for every minister to be a leader.

Leon

Infuse Pastors and Ministers Conference

January 12 - 15 2009

Tampa, FL

This will be a great opportunity to be trained and shaped in leadership skills. Please visit the following link for more information:

www.gmrinc.org/pdf/infuse.pdf

Last month’s blog dealt with “Vision Casting”; this month I want to address “Vision Catching.”

As a leader you can cast vision, but will the people following you catch it? I am reminded of Moses who sent the spies into the land. Though he cast vision, they were unable to catch it to the point of laying down their lives for it. Their inability to catch the vision caused that entire generation to miss God’s provision and their opportunity.

As a fly fisherman, I can cast my fly into the water, but if I do not make a good presentation it is unlikely that the trout will take the bait. It takes skill and experience to select the best fly for the conditions. I also must be proficient at casting the line so that I don’t spook the fish.

With this example of casting a fly, let’s look at casting vision:

As a leader, you are not only expected to share the Word of God to equip the believers but also to share the vision of the church. People follow a leader who can take them somewhere while at the same time help solve their problems. These followers don’t simply need their problems addressed, but also their aspirations and potential awakened. Casting vision will take the people into something bigger than their own world and needs.

Nehemiah was a leader who cast vision in such a way that the people caught it:

Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. (Nehemiah 2:17-18)

Nehemiah’s presentation succeeded in getting the people to willingly throw their entire weight and support into his cause. They said, “Let us rise up and build.” Not only did they affirm that they would be a part of the plan, but they matched their words with action: “Then they set their hands to this good work.” Now that is vision catching!

Some hints on “Vision Casting” so that others will catch it:

1. Unless the vision is truly yours, it will never be theirs – As the leader, you must first be the possessor of the vision; you can’t give away what you don’t have. This is where the vision and who you are become inseparable. This process can happen rather quickly, especially when produced by an encounter with the Lord, or it can be a drawn-out process in which you spend time in meditation until it becomes fully established in your being. One thing I know is that people can tell whether your vision is from your heart or your head. They will catch a “God idea,” but if it’s just a good idea they will be suspicious and unlikely to buy into it.
2. Write out the vision – This simple exercise will enable you and those partnering in the vision to stay focused. So many things clamor for our attention in today’s world, but writing out your vision will help keep you from becoming distracted. A clearly-defined vision statement will also keep you accountable to your goal. As a leader, you must translate your vision into reality. By writing out your vision, you are creating a plan of action to bring your dream to fruition. Use banners, brochures, and e-mails, and feature the vision in a prominent way on your home page.
3. Communicate, communicate, communicate – “Men will never cast off their dearest pleasures upon the dreary request of someone who doesn’t ever seem to mean what he says.” (Richard Baxter)

   For a vision to be caught, it needs to be communicated in a way that motivates people to want to partner in it. This should be done in stages. Ensure that the leaders closest to you hear about it as early in the process as possible. This will allow for their input as well as give you a real sense of the response from the people. If the leaders closest to you are not excited, then those farther from you will probably be equally unenthused. Once the leaders closest to you are in full support, go to the rest of leadership and ensure that they are also on board. Finally, present it to the people without rushing it or cramming it into a five-minute window as people are getting ready to leave. Take sufficient time to present it but don’t go on for too long, either; your presentation of the vision has to be just right.

   Use graphics or media to make a memorable presentation. Marketing companies have found “teasers” to be very effective in the build-up to a launch, so you might try these to arouse curiosity and create interest.

   Rehearse your presentation so that you are comfortable with it. Have an audience (preferably not your dog or cat) and watch their response. Get their feedback and make adjustments. Once launched, keep the progress in front of the people for some time. You can do this with updates, videos, articles, and letters.

4. Build a leadership team that can help you get the job done – Empower your leadership team through training, inspiring their loyal support, and giving them resources to do their part. Your leadership team is critical; unless they catch the vision and help you in the work, you are unlikely to advance.
5. Measure the progress - Set regular feedback meetings so that you can measure the progress that has been made and then make adjustments where necessary. I recommend holding monthly meetings with the leadership team to discuss the momentum, pace, and progress that has been established.

Accomplishing God’s will, growing the church, and winning the lost will require the following:

• Faith
• Passion
• Character
• Anointing
• Vision

As discussed above, it will also require a team of leaders and people who will participate in this process. To gain their support you will need to be skilled at vision casting, and your leadership team will need to be developed to catch the vision. I trust that this blog will inspire you in your ministry. If I can be of help, please feel free to call or e-mail me.

Leon

INFUSE CONFERENCE

Tampa, Florida (January 12-15, 2009)

If you have not yet signed up to attend this dynamic ministry training conference, please visit this link:

http://www.gmrinc.org/pdf/infuse.pdf

Through years of experience in ministry, I have discovered that churches stagnate because the congregants are disconnected from the vision of the church. When I talk about the vision of the church I need to qualify a few things:

1. The vision of the church is souls; reaching the lost will always be our primary mission and the supreme responsibility of every believer. If we lose our passion for the harvest of souls, we lose the right to say that we are the church.
2. The vision of the church is also to make disciples or students of those who are saved, taking these baby believers to maturity. The discipling process is not accomplished merely through public pulpit teaching but also includes mentoring in small groups (or better yet, in one-on-one relationships). Spiritual maturity is not measured by the number of years that one is a believer; rather, it is the result of being raised to the point where one can become a leader and reproducer.
3. The vision of the church must be upwards, for we are a worshiping community that gathers to magnify God.
4. The vision of the church should also be aimed at being a caring and loving family, a place and people where love is the glue that keeps us together.

In all this, God will direct lead pastors and their ministry teams in specific assignments and areas of focus such as children, youth, prayer, men, women, business, etc. The progressive vision will also include building projects, missions projects, and other short-term goals.

People stagnate spiritually because they are disconnected from the vision and don’t share the blazing passion of the pastoral team, thus becoming an audience rather than connected “joints” and members. Their participation consists of attending meetings and supporting the work financially (even then, this financial support is often guilt- or fear-driven rather than generosity born of shared vision). Other symptoms of being stagnant and disconnected:

• There is a low level of participation at extra events outside of the main church service.
• Volunteerism is left to a handful of overworked members.
• Pastors who ask for help are met with a blank stare that says, “Leave me alone, I already have too much to do.”

We often interpret these symptoms to mean that the church needs revival, but in reality the people just need to catch the vision. More than needing a fresh touch from God, they need to belong; they need a sense of divine purpose and a holy mission. This sense of loyalty and “connectedness” is imparted by consistent vision-casting.

The struggle to raise people into leadership

The reason we cannot get people to be involved as leaders or to take areas of responsibility is that they do not share our vision and passion for what we think is important. The people “belong” more as an audience than as a vital membership. The goal of the pastoral team is to impart the vision that every member is a partner in this mission. The members share in this vision through:

• Prayer
• Financial stewardship
• Enthusiastic volunteer service of time, gifts and abilities, becoming active as leaders and workers
• Committed participation in all events
• Standing with the leadership in loyal submission

This level of participation can only be expected when people have caught the vision. Such participation was found in the early church (Acts 2), which was the product of a discipling model of leadership. Jesus made disciples or students who became leaders and then went on to become reproducers. In just three years, Jesus had established a leadership team that communicated God’s grace and purpose in such a passionate way that multitudes of followers committed their entire lives to the advance of the Kingdom.

Let us!

We need the ability to cast vision in such a way that the audience becomes a team. The response of the people after hearing and catching the vision should be, “Let us!”

A good “vision-casting” leader can impart ownership of this vision

We see this take place under Nehemiah’s Leadership

So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode. And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work. Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.” (Nehemiah 2:11-20, NKJV)

From this text we see the following keys in casting the vision:

1. Nehemiah had vision and developed a strategy by going out alone at night and viewing the need. The vision was not only in Nehemiah’s heart but in his mind as well. He developed a plan of action to see his vision fulfilled.
2. Nehemiah did not seek the endorsement or approval of the people to do what God had placed in his heart; rather, he was resolved to do it because God had commissioned him to take on the task of rebuilding Jerusalem. He did, however, seek the people’s participation and support. He had the vision but needed to communicate it in such a way that the leaders and the people would join him in the work.
3. Nehemiah communicated the need and asked for their help. He did this by reminding them that this was not just his responsibility but theirs as well. He also shared how God had called him to this work and that this was a holy task. He implied that by joining him, they were actually joining God.
4. Nehemiah faced some ridicule and opposition from some. As leaders we need to be secure enough in our calling and in our vision that we don’t become discouraged if we face resistance.

To summarize:

When people join a local congregation, they are not merely attendees of “meetings” but are strategically placed there by God for a purpose. When we are part of a church we are also part of a vision. Pastors who want people healed teach on healing; likewise, any subject that is felt to be important to the well-being of the congregation will be taught with passion.

For the people to get the vision of the church they need to hear it, see it, and feel it so that they can be part of it.

• Every week before preaching the Word, take 2-3 minutes to share on one aspect of the vision. Once this brief presentation is over, ensure that the people know how they can be involved. While talking about this subject, have a PowerPoint that will describe what you are saying in images.
• Set up posters depicting the vision and display these prominently in the foyer and even the sanctuary.
• At your new members training/orientation, be sure to allot adequate time to share the vision.
• In your leadership training do the same, but add a dimension: the following week, ask them to describe the vision of the church in writing.

Leaders are people with vision who know where they are going (vision) and how to get there (strategy). They also have people following them. Without people following, they are just people with an assignment; having people following is what defines a leader.

The task of a leader is to keep the followers moving in purpose and vision toward the goal. To accomplish this, all good leaders must cast vision.

My last blog dealt with the following question that I received concerning the raising up of leaders:

“Over the past five to ten years I have noticed a large drop in the number of people who really want to be leaders. Ten years ago we had numerous people who wanted to be leaders, but not so today. The prevailing attitude is to let someone else do the work. People will still volunteer to help, but fewer want to take on any additional responsibilities to be leaders of an area. It’s almost as if they would rather the church hire someone to be the leader. How can we reverse this trend?”

Too busy

I had said that the main reason believers didn’t want to become volunteer leaders was not that they were too busy, as they claimed, but that their priorities were out of order. When people are too busy for God and growing the Church, there is a problem. Could you imagine Stephen or Philip telling the Apostles who had appointed them that they were too busy?

Just imagine how the scriptures would have read:

“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, but he was too busy with his own flourishing business and thus was unable to assist with the task. Philip had just bought some land to expand his family business and so he withdrew. Prochorus had committed to a season of rest. Nicanor was planning an extended vacation to the Mediterranean and he also resigned. Timon was already overworked and declined this additional responsibility. Parmenas insisted that he was undeserving and could not be persuaded otherwise. Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, was fearful of what the task might entail and returned in haste to Antioch. The Apostles were therefore unable to commit their time to the word and prayer as planned. (Acts 6:3-5)

I am not good enough or I am not worthy

Quality people who are under the misconception that they are inadequate or unworthy to be leaders in the church will be robbed of their immeasurable potential unless this issue is addressed. Tragically, this “stinking thinking” will contribute to souls remaining unreached, children or youth untaught, and cell groups unformed. Not only might these Christians never reach their own personal potential or calling, but they might also affect someone’s eternity by their failure to step out.

Pastors must not allow such people to linger in this self-deception but need to minister hope and awaken the dormant skills and potential that lie within them. Ministry is not just public preaching and problem-solving but also awakening the personal potential of the congregants. Pastors should interview their flock to inquire about the state of their soul and the development of their ministry. They should never wait for people to come to them to then find out that there is a problem; rather, pastors must be proactive and reach out to uncover and unleash the potential of Christ in those entrusted to them.

A number of people felt unworthy to be vessels for God:

• Moses (Exodus 3 and 4)
• Gideon (Judges 6:15)
• Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:1-6)

Though to feel inadequate may sound humble, note what God says to Jeremiah:

But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.” (Jeremiah 1:7)

Catherine Booth chided those who asserted that they were unable: I am tired of hearing the words “I can’t.” Jeremiah said, “I am a child,” but the Lord didn’t pat him on the back and say, “Jeremiah, that is very good, I like that in you; your humility is beautiful.” Oh no! God didn’t want any such mock humility. He reproved and rebuked it. I do not like the humility that is too humble to do as it is bid. The Lord wants us to “go and do it.”

Some feel unworthy because they do not have clarity on what is expected of them; this is why they need a clearly defined job description that lays out what is expected and what sort of time commitment will be required. Informing people in a professional way will help them to understand the conditions and requirements for the position, but most of all, the expectations. Once they know these details they can decide whether or not they are suitably trained for the job.

A proper leadership equipping course must be set up so that all the student-leaders and the already-functioning leaders will be on the same page.

The leadership course must include subjects such as:

1. The biblical requirements and the church’s requirements for a leadership position
2. The vision and values of the church
3. The biblical truths taught as non-negotiable subjects
4. Christian character
5. Conflict resolution and problem-solving
6. Relational skills and communication
7. Relationships with the leadership team and the pastoral staff
8. Administration
9. Special skills related to the department that they will lead
10. Ministry skills such as leading people to Christ, praying for the sick, ministering to their needs, etc.

During this training, I would advise the lead pastor to devote a number of hours sharing details of the church history, culture, values, and vision. Since the lead pastor’s personal involvement is critical, he should also discuss how he operates and relates to the team.

Another recommendation during the training would be that various tests be carried out in which the student-leaders relate how they will handle situations (this could be done as a role-play). The student-leaders need to have the assurance that they understand and have a thorough grasp of all the work.

I would caution you against guaranteeing any positions of leadership to student-leaders until they are qualified. Advise them that the training will prepare them for fruitful service but that selection will only take place once all the training and mentoring is completed. Some will need to become apprentices to a leader until they have sufficient experience and have actually practiced leading.

Most of those who feel unworthy are in this frame of mind because they have not been trained. Proper training will give them a confidence that only comes by knowing their subject and by being fully persuaded that through Christ they are able ministers and leaders. Special leadership training is essential to grow the people and to create an environment for God to grow the church.

Since feelings of unworthiness can result from unresolved issues or areas of compromise, those who feel unworthy need to bring their lives into forgiveness and restoration. It is important to note that the sense of guilt and unworthiness does not come from God but from their own minds (Romans 8:1). The Lord has made provision for the cleansing from all sin (1 John 1:9) and the blood of Jesus has given us a place of acceptance and approach. We are made worthy to be carriers of the Word and the power of God by His grace. Therefore it is our responsibility to stay free from anything that would limit our confidence in the work of God.

INFUSE Conference details:

http://www.gmrinc.org/pdf/infuse.pdf

This time of ministry for pastors and ministries promises to be powerful. Be sure to register today!

I recently received the following question which I felt would make an interesting topic to share. This blog is an open forum, so please feel free to contribute your thoughts on this subject.

The question:

“Over the past five to ten years I have noticed a large drop in the number of people who really want to be leaders. Ten years ago we had numerous people who wanted to be leaders, but not so today. The prevailing attitude is to let someone else do the work. People will still volunteer to help, but fewer want to take on any additional responsibilities to be leaders of an area. It’s almost as if they would rather the church hire someone to be the leader. How can we reverse this trend?”

Too busy?

The number one reason that people give for not wanting to take on added responsibility is their “busyness.” However, I believe that the problem is not that people are already too busy, but rather that their busyness is really just a symptom of a mismanaged life. Believers should not be “too busy” to be involved in the expansion of the Kingdom and the growth of the Church. I am not suggesting that we as leaders should expect our members to neglect their families or businesses or that they should have no interests outside their church.  However, a balanced life is a life of order in which God is placed first. When people are born of God, they are to grow in the grace and knowledge of God as well as in their gifts and callings. Those called into a leadership position should see this as a top priority. Promotion and leadership come from God, and those whom He has raised up should rearrange their lives to give God His rightful place. They should not merely accommodate the call of God and try to make it fit conveniently into their schedule, but should pursue it actively and diligently.

Many members of the Body of Christ are living their lives in the pursuit of the temporal and not the eternal. Their lives are disordered and they’re actually not “too busy”; they just perceive that they are. The reality is simply that they are putting others and themselves before God.

Let me spell this out for you:

They are not too busy- they are out of order!

Here Jesus finds fault with all those whose worldly priorities prevent them from pursuing the call of God:

Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’

“Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’

“Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’

“And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’

“The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.’

“The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded—and there’s still room.’

“The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.’”

One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. (Luke 14:16-26, Message Bible)

How can we reverse this trend? Here is part of the solution:

As leaders, we must ensure that our message and example will inspire devotion born out of a white-hot love for God. This passion will not allow our members to easily excuse themselves from doing what is a God-priority. We must constantly address the real issue: a heart not fully devoted to the Lord. This problem will not be solved by preaching legalism or condemnation, but by preaching the power of the blood that transforms the life. Our message must win people to follow hard after God because they are captivated by His unconditional love. Involvement comes because people are in first love with God.

My next blog

In my next blog I will address another reason that keeps people from pursuing leadership–they consider themselves unworthy or incapable of being leaders.

Remember

To leave a comment on this topic, simply click on the link entitled “Leave a comment” under this blog’s title, type your message, and hit “submit.”

Heads up

Change your schedule to join me in Tampa for our upcoming conference for pastors, associate pastors, and itinerant ministries.

Pastors and Ministers Conference

Tampa, Florida

January 12-15, 2009

Overview:

This practical and inspiring leadership conference will infuse you with the skills needed to move your ministry team from mere potential to a results-producing reality. Avoiding clichés and cheerleader-hype, the relevant topics addressed will motivate you as a team builder to create long-lasting impact with your ministry. You will learn effective relationship skills, how to build a winning team, how to expand your current leadership team for even greater influence, and much more. Benefit from 35 years of experience in leadership and ministry with this solid training.

Subjects:

Common flaws that can cripple or even kill a ministry

This session exposes the most common and even fatal mistakes that pastors and leaders can make in developing and working with leaders, e.g., spending more time nurturing people instead of developing leaders and lowering standards to appoint someone into a position to fill a need. By recognizing these and other flaws, you can be forewarned and forearmed to avoid these obvious and sometimes not so obvious mistakes.

Discovering and training new leaders

Discovering and developing a new crop of leaders who are willing to serve is vital to the growth and effectiveness of any ministry. Yet, sometimes there are many difficulties and obstacles to finding, training, and enlisting these people. This session will help you to identify real leadership potential and teach you how to create a climate in which people will enthusiastically throw themselves into the work at hand.

Vision and vision-casting

To grow the church and ministries requires vision and passionate workers who wholeheartedly embrace their role. One of the most common hindrances to expanding the work is the leader’s inability to effectively communicate the vision. This session will explore the process of discovering and communicating your vision. You will learn techniques of how to cast vision in such a way that the leaders and members around you catch the vision and enthusiastically join in.

Appointing and removing leaders

The future growth and strength of a ministry lies in appointing leaders who will join forces with you to reach your goals. There is a correct way to connect this emerging team with the existing leaders and church family. However, even the best of us will appoint people who are unsuited for the job and need to be removed from their position; though this is a job we all hate to do, there is a proper way in which to do it. Welcome to leadership! This session will help you forge the way ahead and avoid traps that can rob you of momentum.

Effective team-building

Great teams achieve great things! This session will help you transform a group of individuals into a cohesive team. Once you have been part of a “Dream Team” you will never be satisfied to work any other way. Exponential growth will be achieved through the synergy of a team and God’s grace. We will discuss the characteristics found in an effective team and its individual members, as well as how to cultivate the atmosphere for such a team to be built.

Teams, committees, and boards

As a leader to leaders, you will need to appoint teams, committees, and boards. Admittedly, there is a stigma attached to this as many pastors have been disappointed or hurt while working with a board. Someone once said, “For God so loved the world that He never sent a committee.” However, if we are unable to work past our suspicions, hurts, and painful experiences, we will never know how to work with a team, nor the benefits of doing so. This session will teach you how to work with boards, build unity of purpose, handle difficult people, develop a reporting system, and turn decisions into action.

Conflict resolution

When working with a team composed of a variety of personalities and ideas, conflicts will often arise. Relationships in general often involve conflict, but this does not mean that we avoid relationships; rather, we develop the necessary skills to resolve the inevitable. As a result, it is imperative that leaders be trained to handle conflict and failed relationships that develop within the teams they build. Negative circumstances and situations can be turned around and actually become positive. By contrast, to do nothing will result in damage to the vision and organization. To do what is right, wise, and redemptive is what is required. Learning to handle wounds in the correct way will prevent them from festering and adversely affecting the health and well-being of the church. This session will explore these strategies and methods.

I will send you the REGISTRATION details in a few days but wanted you to know about the conference as early as possible so you can set these dates aside.

God wants His work to grow:

It goes without saying that it is God’s intention for every church and ministry to be alive and flourishing. Wherever there is life, there is meant to be growth and expansion.

Then the master said to the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23

It is God who gives growth and increase:

…And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1

At times there is no growth, regardless of what you do:

1. Pruning

There are times of pruning when God will trim back and rid us of unimportant things even though these may outwardly appear successful. He happily trims these things from the ministry, knowing that their removal will soon make way for new life and new growth. This period can be difficult, but we will all pass through these times of refinement and divine adjustment.

2. Death

We can also face periods when God wants an area of ministry to die so that He can then resurrect it to even greater potential.

3. Attacks

In times of Satanic attack or when people rise up in rebellion to legitimate authority, it is possible that the growth of a ministry may come to a standstill.

4. Man’s failure

The ministry may face severe growth hindrances when leaders fall or fail in their role as ministers of God. A leader’s failure can actually prevent the work from ever growing again.

God does not work independently of man:

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1

Most times when we see a ministry increase, it is because of God’s grace and man’s participation. The environment for God to bring increase is normally dependent upon our involvement. Obviously, God is not going to bring increase if those whom He adds will be neglected or abused. If we work in accordance with certain principles that foster health and growth, eventually we will see expansion. Likewise, if the leaders don’t follow certain growth principles, the advance of the church will be impeded. It is not God who has limited the growth, but we can be hindered by our own ignorance or blindness to these growth principles.

I don’t have the answers for all of the issues that inhibit or promote growth, but here are a few guidelines for you to consider:

1. A strong sense of God’s presence: This is cultivated by worship as well as the people’s expectation and hunger for God. The aesthetics, i.e., lighting and décor, will also be an important factor to consider. The worship team should be talented and anointed, of course, but their choice of music is also important; most growing churches use contemporary music.

2.  A friendly, upbeat, and positive leadership team with whom the people can relate: The senior pastor, though prominent, is not the center of everything; the Lord alone occupies this place. The people can feel the camaraderie in the pastoral team and leaders and find it easy to join in the vision.

3.  Dynamic youth and children’s ministry teams: The youth and young adults will be noticeably active in worship and participation.

4.  The proper length of the meetings: This does not mean that they must be one hour in length, but just take care not to have long meetings unless God’s presence and the people’s hunger dictate that decision. You can see this in the Lakeland healing revival–people don’t mind being there for hours (but remember that 80% are from out of town and come for only a few days).

5.  Preaching relevant to the needs and potential of the congregation: The listeners must be able to engage and connect to the preacher. Media such as film-clips and PowerPoints can help to draw the audience into the message.

6.  A strong sense of vision shared regularly: The people want to belong in a place of purpose and hope.

7.  A well-situated building: As the old realtor saying goes, “location, location, location.” However, if there is a strong presence of God, people will go out of their way to be a part. An example of this would be the Smithton revival, where people went far out of their way for years to get in the move of God. This tells me that well-appointed buildings with good facilities are secondary to the presence and power of God.

8.  A marketing budget that allows the church to become visible: This will include signage, website, advertising, mail-shots in the neighborhood, radio and TV. However, the best advertising will remain the excitement of the people–word of mouth. Also, keep in mind that it is one thing to attract people to the place, and it is another to connect them to the people and vision.

You should regularly evaluate every area and program of the church–the leadership team, administration, communication, etc. Discover what is working and producing in the church and then begin to develop these areas to be even stronger. Also be aware of weaknesses and activities that don’t produce growth. Either make changes to improve these or possibly eliminate them altogether, whether permanently or temporarily. Remember that you don’t grow churches by merely solving problems, but by building on strengths and potential.

I will gladly make myself available to assist you in evaluating your church. Once we diagnose the issues, you can make some changes and begin to see growth.

My closing thoughts on growing the church numerically:

Qualitative growth is as important as numerical growth. Merely to grow numbers is not as important as to grow people to be mature and fruitful in God. Cults also grow!

We should not feel like failures if we are not the biggest and the best in town. What matters most is that we are doing all to the glory of God. We are not in competition with any other churches; we are all on the same team!

While we are to work hard and to be diligent in our calling, at the same time we should be at peace and rest in the Lord. This is a strange but wonderful balance.

Grow your leadership team and let them be instruments that will help you grow the church. Invest into the future by training and raising up leaders.

After visiting what has become known as the “Lakeland Healing Revival,” I wrote my initial opinion of it in my blog. Since then, however, I have found some very troubling information about Todd Bentley and want to address what I see as some dangerous trends. By the way, this will be my first public stand warning about another ministry after 35 years in ministry, so obviously I am not out to hastily label other ministries in a negative way. However, after a few weeks of prayerful consideration, I thought it to be dangerous to remain silent.

First, I want to state that there is no doubt that God is at work in the healing and miracles that are taking place. This is not limited to those in Lakeland but wherever people are perpetuating the vision for a global healing revival. I am confident that God always hears the appeal of a desperate person who comes to Him in faith. Because the atmosphere in the revivals is charged with expectation, people are being healed. To his credit, Todd has hired several people within the last week whose job it is to investigate and verify the healings.

Second, I would like to place on record that I am not looking for the downfall of any ministry and especially don’t want to hinder people from the true impact of revival. It has always been in my heart to see the Church in North America awakened from spiritual apathy and indifference. I have also longed to see miracles and healings be a part of the Church. People expect to hear about miracles in India or Africa because in their minds, that is where people “need them,” but we don’t get miracles because we are in poverty and deserve them. Rather, we get them because we trust God who has (through the cross) provided access to all men, everywhere, to be saved, i.e., healed, delivered, and saved from sin.

This blog is not my attempt to see Todd Bentley put in his place or brought down. On the contrary, I would like to see him prosper in God but would also like to see him get some apostolic help from those around his life. He has some serious issues that if not dealt with will harm him as well as all who are associated with him. Souls are being saved in these meetings and the contagious impact on believers is undeniable, yet we must still ask ourselves, is this enough?

According to the politically correct world in which we live, it is wrong to have strong convictions about anything; people who do are viewed as narrow-minded and intolerant. Because they will be labeled as critical or judgmental, you will not find a lot of voices that will make a stand for justice and truth. If you examine Scripture you will see that much of the apostolic input was to attend to evolving trends that brought error in the Church. The apostles saw the key role of elders to secure sound doctrines within the Body of Christ.

Ignorant believers will misuse scriptures such as, “Judge not, lest you be judged,” or “Touch not My anointed,” thereby eliminating any possible voice of correction and order. We as leaders have a God-given mandate to protect the Body of Christ from error, false teachers, and false prophets. We are to make a stand for doctrinal integrity that is based on sound biblical practices of interpreting Scripture.

Before discussing some of my concerns about Todd Bentley, let me stress that this information does not come from hearsay but mainly from his own writings and teachings.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)

Paul met Todd in the third heaven:

In an article dated November 26, 2007, Todd describes an encounter he had with Paul while in the third heaven:

Paul took me to his house. (I was still in paradise [the third heaven]. His house wasn’t a mansion. It was actually a small cabin. There was an open field and a forest there.) Inside his cabin I saw books wall to wall, and scrolls. I saw every book that’s in the Bible as well as Paul’s diaries/journals that covered things that had happened in his meetings, things God had spoken to him, and things he had written that aren’t in the Bible. Paul said, “Not everything’s in there, Todd. Not everything’s in the Bible.” Just so you know, Paul didn’t give me a new gospel and all my revelation is based on the Bible. I’m not talking about a new gospel!

…Next he took down another scroll; this time it was Hebrews and he told me to eat it. This book is one of the most prophetic books in the Bible, and in that connection he told me something that I want to share with you even though I’m probably “stepping out” on theology now.

First of all, I want you to understand that Paul always made it clear when he authored an epistle—”Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ” or “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ.” Always! Yet, for the Book of Hebrews, although most Bible scholars believe that it was authored by Paul, there are those that really can’t say it was him because the authorship is never clear. Paul told me why.

Here is what he said to me. “Do you know why I know so much about Abraham?” [So much of Hebrews is based on other things that you just can’t pull from in other scriptures.] Paul said, “When I was in the third heaven, Abraham was with me like you are with me now. Abraham himself shared (information) with me and I simply wrote it” (in the Book of Hebrews). “The authorship isn’t clear because it was Abraham and I; Abraham shared the content with me.” [Much of Hebrews is about Abraham; i.e. Hebrews Chapter 11.]

He said (paraphrased): “Remember, when I was caught up into the third heaven, I heard inexpressible words. I actually spoke with Abraham, and Abraham shared details with me about what took place, about Melchizedek and all these things that only Abraham knew. I authored the book as the Holy Spirit moved on me, supernaturally. Some of what I wrote, I learned by talking to Abraham face to face when I visited him in heaven.” That’s what Paul told me! (Reference)

When the apostle Paul wrote about his third heaven encounter in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, he approached it with great humility and even referred to himself in the third person. Such was the danger of pride that Paul was kept “human” by harassing attacks. I think that third heaven encounters are not a common thing for every believer, we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This should be celebrated!

In 2003, Todd wrote about a vision in which he saw Sundar Singh:

It was also during this time of prayer that I was taken in a vision to what I believed to be the Himalayan Mountains. I saw an Indian man with a turban on his head. I heard the whisper of the Spirit say this is Sundar Singh. I am releasing anointing of revelation like this. I had no communication with this old saint nor did he say anything to me.

Sundar Singh (1889-1929) was a “Christian Universalist” who believed that all people are saved based on the atonement of Jesus, regardless of whether or not they place their faith in Him. Singh wrote that “if the Divine spark in the soul cannot be destroyed, then we need despair of no sinner…Since God created men to have fellowship with Himself, they cannot forever be separated from Him…After long wandering, and by devious paths, sinful man will at last return to Him in whose Image he was created; for this is his final destiny…There was punishment, but it was not eternal…Everyone after this life would be given a fair chance of making good, and attaining to the measure of fullness the soul was capable of. This might sometimes take ages.”

Though this is clearly at odds with the biblical means of salvation, Todd wrote:

Sundar Singh was a true example of a seer prophet, powerful evangelist, life in the spirit and holy devotion to Christ his master. We need this anointing for effective Evangelization today. I also believe that for those totally devoted to the Lord in holiness, consecration and remain in the tent of his glory will begin to receive visits like this from the Lord. God also wants to speak to us as friends and in plain sayings. The life, commitment and prayer of this man are a true picture of the friend of the Lord…God is also wanting the church to remember the life and anointing of this great man before the church forgets completely. Sundar Singh was a true example of a seer prophet, powerful evangelist, life in the spirit and holy devotion to Christ his master. We need this anointing for effective Evangelization today. (Reference)

I wish that Todd would stick to the anointing of the Holy Spirit rather than that of William Branham, Sundar Singh, and an assortment of angels. I was in a meeting where Todd asked all those who wanted the gifts of healing to hold up their left hand because that was the hand in which Branham felt the healing power of God. I thought that we as believers walked by faith and not by feelings, and was amazed that gullible people actually raised their left hand to receive. I don’t want the anointing of Todd Bentley, Sundar Singh or William Branham; I want the flow of the Holy Spirit.

Emma and other angels:

Todd seems to put an unhealthy emphasis on angels and believes that a healing angel was assigned to his life, the same one that was with William Branham and John G. Lake. In an article dated November 13, 2007, he writes:

Then on December 5, 2000 an angel appeared to me and said he was the angel that appeared to me in April 1998 (before the Lord Jesus Christ came to me in the kitchen). He said that the day he came to me in 1998 was the day he was assigned to me. This time (on December 5th) the angel said, “I am the angel that has been assigned to your life. I am a healing angel . . . You are going to take miracles, signs and wonders around the world. I was with William Branham” (the Voice of Healing movement), the angel said. He told me about William Branham’s angelic encounter in 1946. Two years later the Voice of Healing was born there was a revival. The angel appeared to me again, February, 2001 in Albany, Oregon. He said, “I am the angel that was a part of the Healing Rooms…John G. Lake.”…You know in the Book of Revelation, the seven churches, each one of the churches had one angel assigned. There was an angel for the church of Philadelphia, and so on. The Lord said, “It is not a strange thing. I assign angels to churches. I assign angels to ministries. Look at John Chapter 5. An angel came down and stirred up the water.” I said, “God!” Then, He said, “And there is a healing angel; I have assigned it to your life; and this angel will be at your meetings around the world.” (Reference)

In a lengthy article about angels, he stated:

I first saw the angel called Healing Revival on December 5 of 2000 in Grant’s Pass. The angel came to me again in Albany the next February. He stood in the church service with his body going through the ceiling of the church. Then the Lord told me the angel’s name and that he was the same angel I saw in Grant’s Pass earlier. God also revealed to me that this angel was involved in the ministry of John Lake, William Branham, and John Knox in Scotland. This angel, the Lord said, is from the Northwest Healing Revival and is manifesting again as a sign that God is restoring the Voice of Healing revival and opening up the ancient wells. (Reference)

In the same article, Todd wrote that Bob Jones told him that:

Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, “Here’s Emma.” I’m not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor… She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people. “God, what is happening?” I asked. The Lord answered: “She is releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church. I want you to prophesy that Emma showed up in this service-the same angel that appeared in Kansas City-as a sign that I am endorsing and releasing a prophetic spirit in the church.”…During this visitation the pastor’s wife (it was an AOG church) got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost- she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her. Also, as this prophetic anointing came on her, she started getting phone numbers of complete strangers and calling them up on the telephone and prophesying over them. She would tell them that God gave her their telephone number and then would give them words of knowledge. Complete strangers. Then angels started showing up in the church.

I believe Emma released a financial and prophetic anointing in that place. That was the first angel that I have ever seen in the form of a woman. Some angels I’ve seen seemed like they were neither male nor female. However, Emma appeared as a woman who was like a Deborah, like a mother in Zion. When she came, she began to mentor, nurture and opened up a prophetic well. The people in the church began having trances and visions and the pastor began getting words of knowledge and moving in healing. That congregation also saw more financial breakthrough than they had ever seen before.

Seeing angels is not evil but we need to test the spirit to determine whether it is an angelic being sent from God. The devil can even appear like an angel but he cannot operate in consistency with the Word of truth. He is a liar and will always draw attention away from Jesus to a man or an anointing or on itself.

For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Roaring like a lion and other strange behavior:

Apart from the whole question of Emma, you will have noticed in the above account that the “barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken” by a pastor’s wife is attributed by Todd to the Holy Spirit.

Todd himself describes an incident in which he himself roared like a lion:

Suddenly, I fell under the power in the convenience store and, on all fours, roared like a lion. Then the shop clerk ran with fear and dived behind the counter with the two dope heads right behind him. By now, the entire atmosphere had changed. Then the atheist gets up, points his finger at me, and says, “Is that your God?” (Reference)

Incidentally, the quotes about the healing angel, Emma, and roaring like a lion, were all excerpted from an article which has all but disappeared from Todd’s site within the last ten days; only two paragraphs remain of this long, three-part article called “Angelic Hosts.” All references to the healing angel, to Emma, and to the roaring lion are now gone. Does this mean that he is distancing himself from these strange views or does he simply want to avoid further debate about them? If he really wanted to disavow these views, then why not issue a statement to that effect in order to clear up and put an end to the continuing controversy over them? You can compare the original article that is no longer on Todd’s site with the two paltry paragraphs that are found there now:

http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html

http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Act=read&status=teaching&Id=40&pid=954

Pushing People:

Todd has also been accused of pushing people at the meetings. In Lee Grady’s first posting about Lakeland, he wrote, “After one elderly woman fell, Bentley told the audience:’She doesn’t know why she fell down.’ The woman then laughed and said to him in the microphone: ‘Because you pushed me!’”

Violent Behavior:

In a very disturbing video from a Lakeland meeting, Todd is overtly gleeful as he recounts engaging in violent behavior to get people healed. As if this weren’t alarming enough, he claims that it was God who told him to do these things. Here is the transcript of the five segments of this brief video:

(First segment)The woman was standing in the back of the room when the faith of God hit the meeting, and her tumor exploded out of her right leg, slid down her leg onto the floor! I said, “God! I prayed for like a hundred crippled people. Not one?” He said, “That’s because I want you to grab that lady’s crippled legs and bang them up and down on the platform like a baseball bat.” I walked up and I grabbed her legs, and I started going, BAM! BAM! I started banging them up and down on the platform! She got healed!

(Second segment) And I’m thinking, “God, why is not the power of God moving?” He said, “Because you haven’t kicked that woman in the face.” And there is this older lady worshiping right in front of the platform. And the Holy Spirit spoke to me, the gift of faith came on me. He said, “Kick her in the face with your biker-boot.” I inched closer and I went like this (Todd demonstrates the kick). BAM! And just as my boot made contact with her nose, she fell under the power of God.

(Third segment) And I saw him and the gift of faith came on me and I said, “What do I do, God?” and God told me to just run him down. So I jumped up in the air and I went “BAM” and I hit him to the ground, jumped onto him, and got into a full mount-—ground and pound….And something came over me, and instead of punching him, I grabbed him by the neck and started choking him, and I said, “Come out of him, devil! Come out of him, devil!”

(Fourth segment) I was at another meeting one time and I called out this Chinese gentleman and all of a sudden I went running down the aisle and I hit this guy so hard, it drove him back several feet. He hit the ground and his tooth popped right out of his mouth.

(Fifth segment) The pastor was lying on the floor, and I was standing up on the platform and I said, “God, I want revival.” He said these words to me, “Leg-drop the pastor.” I said, “What?” He said, “Leg-drop the pastor.” (Reference)

Interspersed between Todd’s shocking statements is the sound of much laughter from the audience, many of whom apparently found this hugely entertaining. One wonders how Christians react when they watch this video; are they laughing along with it because they consider Todd to be so anointed that nothing he says or does is open to question, or are there some who still have a shred of discernment who will call it for what it is.

Another video shows Todd kneeing a man in the stomach, presumably to impart the anointing to him. Once again, he claims that God told him to do this: “I kept hearing the Lord say, ‘If he really wants it, just knee him in the stomach and he can have it.’”

Bob Jones and Patricia King:

Another problematic issue is Todd’s relationship with Bob Jones and Patricia King, perhaps his closest mentors. He seems determined to use them as a voice of direction and affirmation for his ministry. Though I could discuss any number of their strange teachings which emphasize mystical experience at the expense of Scripture, I will focus on their claiming to go into the third heaven at will, which they also encourage for all believers, including young children.

In one of Patricia King’s television programs in which she speaks with both Bob Jones and Todd, she calls Bob a seer prophet who “has so much wisdom to give.” She calls him “one of the champions of the seer realm; in fact, as a prophet, he is probably one of the most accurate prophets in our generation.” She goes so far as to say to him, “You are the most spiritual man I know.”

In the program, Todd tells of his first meeting with Bob:

The first time that I had met Bob was actually in Grants Pass, Oregon. And we were sitting in a restaurant and I was really hungry; I knew Bob was a real seer prophet. And I thought, “Lord, I’m going to get an impartation.” I’ve been having all these encounters and all these visions and experiences already soaking, but I thought, “Lord, I need to talk to somebody that’s been walking in this that’s really a senior prophet.” And So when I met Bob, I thought, “Lord, I’m going to get an impartation,” and I remember talking with Bob in a restaurant about going into the heavens and what it was and we were talking about the “third heaven,” going into the immediate abode, into that place, of the dwelling place of God. And I thought, “That’s awesome!” I was hungry for it too; I wanted more, ‘cause up until that point, sovereignly God was just visiting me. And I was just waiting in His presence and sovereignly God was visiting me. And Bob said to me, he said, “We can go right now!” And I said, “What do you mean, we can go right now? We can make the decision right now and enter into that realm of the spirit?” And he said, “Sure we can! Don’t you have faith, boy?” Or something like that. That’s what he said to me.

After Todd goes on to describe this experience, Patricia King says:

Well, I remember when you (Todd) were telling me about it, I got so hungry for it. And right after that Bob was coming to a conference that we were having…I was going to just ask him all kinds of questions about this third heaven…because I wanted to experience God in a new way, and I think we all do; we’re all so hungry for Him, right? But I hadn’t caught yet, because you had told me about the experience but not the faith dimension, so I was just still thinking “Sovereignty.” God’s sovereignly going to move, take me out, well whatever. So I’m asking Bob questions and Bob, you said, “Well, I do my raptures every day!” I said, “What do you mean, your raptures every day?” He said, “I go up every day!” And I said, “You go up every day? I’d love to go up every day!” And he said, “Well, it’s by faith!”

Bob Jones says, “I think it’s very important that people go to the third heaven because if they’ve got hooks in them down here, when they go past the second heaven, the hooks come out, so whatever the enemy’s got hooks into them, when they go up to the throne, they’re coming out..When you go into the third heaven, the angels come to greet you, the winds come on you.”

Patricia King says, “I remember you (Bob) saying to me one time, you said, ‘If you can teach children to ascend into the third heaven and live out of that place, then you will have a generation that will not be affected by the devil because the devil can’t go there.’ Isn’t that profound?”

Bob Jones then replies, “Yep! Well, youth and children, they hardly have any problem at all going there, especially 6 to 12. They go right up and I’ve seen them take them up and turn them loose! And then after you turn them loose, the first thing they’ll do, they’ll tell you what they’ve seen. So a lot of times with them, I let them tell me what they’ve seen, and then I interpret it to them…” (Reference)

There is much more that I would like to say about the prophets that he uses in his meetings as a reference to provide authenticity to his ministry. Some of them had been removed from ministry for sexual impurity and then restored themselves back to leadership while ignoring those who worked with them for restoration. These things are public knowledge. Remember that God does forgive and He does restore, but if they have been rebellious against authority, then their authority in relation to Todd is questionable.

I am concerned that Todd will sidestep the truth and just move on in his error because he has chosen to closely align himself with these people he so highly esteems.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (Matthew 24:11)

For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22)

It is abundantly clear that Todd desperately needs to be surrounded by more “balanced” mentors than these. The fact that he appears to have genuine gifts of healing from God does not automatically mean that his teachings are also from God. William Branham fell into grave error when he stepped outside his gifting, and Todd needs people to bring him correction now before he suffers a similar fate.

We are warned that signs and wonders can be worked by those who are deceivers as well as those who have fallen into deception. Therefore we must check to ensure that the ministry has biblical accuracy. The feelings, impressions, and even the miracles themselves are not enough; we must ask, how does it measure up against the Bible? Though we know that in these last days we will face deceivers who work miracles, I am not suggesting that Todd is a false prophet or false teacher, but I am saying that his doctrines and practices are in error and he needs help. If unaddressed and left to his ignorance and immaturity he will cause disaster to the Church and its already marred reputation. Lee Grady brings some much-needed perspective on Lakeland in his latest posting, “An Appeal for Unity in a Divisive Season.” (Reference)

Wrapping up:

We do not want to throw out the baby with the bath water and say that what’s happening in Lakeland is not from God, but we must be careful not to go to the other extreme by blindly accepting everything that is being said and done there, either.

Let me highlight some positive results that are reported in these meetings:

• Healings and miracles
• Hunger for God and the flow of the healing anointing
• Fires of revival spreading to many nations
• Youth and young people being drawn to God
• Intense worship of God

Many pastors and members of their congregations are flying into the area to receive a fresh touch from God. Members of my staff are arriving from Africa and Canada. I need to place these concerns on record because I am unable to give a blanket endorsement to the ministry of Todd Bentley or everything that is taking place in Lakeland. Please approach with caution.

Leon

The Lakeland Healing Revival has reached day 41 from when it first began and I eventually attended my first meeting last night. In my last blog, I stated that I would give you a personal description of the meetings after I had participated, so here it goes.

Some very exciting observations:

1. The worship is passionate, vibrant and abandoned throughout the meeting. God truly receives the glory. The worship last night continued for almost 4 hours. There were ministry and testimonies but all were packed around worship.

2. At least 25% of the crowd consisted of youth and young adults. These young people were pressing into the glory as if their lives depended upon it. In fact, Todd began the ministry last night by focusing on youth between 13 and 18 years old. It was a delight to see the emphasis placed on mobilizing the youth for their generation. These young people were so innocent and abandoned in their worship of the Lord. I am confident that the future of the church lies in good hands.

3. least one-third of those attending last night were there for the first time. However, I believe that most of them were not gawkers and critics but earnest seekers of God. I believe that every night at least 30-50% are first time attendees.

4. The ministry team did not receive an offering up until I left at 10:30 PM. Some criticize the “money-issue,” but I saw no evidence of excess or abuse in this regard. On the contrary, Bridge and Jon Zuckerman both agreed that there is no pressure to give. One person criticized the use of a plastic bucket to receive the offering. This dear soul is just plain ignorant. It is strange how people will always criticize the offering. The operational costs must be huge, yet I sensed no panic or pressure regarding money.

5. Todd Bentley desires for the fires of revival to spread throughout the earth and does not see these revival meetings as the measure of success. He wants to see the fire spread throughout the churches and the people. Last night, he focused on praying for the youth and for Hispanic leaders, that they would be carriers of revival to their churches. He also prayed for revival in the nations of the Middle East.

6. There were a number of outstanding miracles of healing that took place last night. It was reported that over the last few days, 5 people have been raised from the dead.

7. The impact of the meetings has enjoyed favor with God TV and internet hook ups, with well over a million people watching at home.

8. I did not stay for the “altar call,” but I believe that every night many people are responding to the power of God’s grace and goodness and are being saved.

I observed some things in the congregation that I thought were “weird,” but that does not detract from the authenticity of this revival. Proportionate to the size of the crowd and the intensity of the anointing, these weird incidents were insignificant.

Todd Bentley carried himself in a humble way and gave God glory. I am sure that people will find fault with his methods, style or doctrine, but what I can see for now is a God-desperate man who desires to see revival.

I will keep going back whenever possible and will draw from what God is doing for my life and ministry. A friend of mine, Pastor Al Leonhardt, sent this relevant quote by Jonathan Edwards to his mailing list recently:

“It is the duty of every generation to find out what God is doing and then be a part of it.”

By the way, Pastor Al and his wife drove all the way from Beulah, Michigan to Lakeland to put into practice what he wrote. Let us all “move with the cloud.”

Dr. Leon van Rooyen

I have been receiving a number of calls from various Pastors and Leaders inquiring about the Healing Revival taking place in Lakeland. My friends want to know if this is the real deal. In response, this blog will be devoted to promoting what I believe is a genuine move of the Spirit.

I arrived in Tampa on December 28, 1998 and after one night in a “hell-hole” of a hotel in the ghettos, we traveled to Lakeland, Florida, a city approximately 30 minutes east of Tampa on I-4. We were there to attend the Rodney Howard Browne extended meetings hosted by Carpenter’s Home Church. I believe that those meetings were a significant revival and a genuine move of the Spirit. What God did through Rodney in Lakeland would affect the state of the church world-wide.

Now 15 years later, God has chosen to move in Lakeland again. This time the vessel is a humble man by the name of Todd Bentley. Night after night for the last few weeks, revival has rained down on Lakeland, with the emphasis in these meetings on the worship of God, followed by the working of God in powerful healings and miracles. The greatest result is that thousands of people are flocking forward to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. As thousands of earnest seekers attend these anointed meetings, simultaneously millions of people are watching via God TV and live web-castings. I believe that had these tools been available for Rodney’s meetings in Toronto and Pensacola, the impact of what God did back then would have been so much greater.

Todd Bentley started the meetings on April 2 at Ignited Church. The meetings were pregnant with the anointing and a sovereign outpouring of the Spirit began. Soon the facilities became too small to contain the flood of people hungry for an encounter with God, forcing a change of venue to a larger church. The meetings soon outgrew this venue as well, moving to the Lakeland Civic Center. This 8,000 seat venue would soon prove not large enough to accommodate the flocking crowds, prompting a move to the Joker Marchant baseball stadium where the Detroit Tigers host their annual Spring Training. People are flying in from all over the USA and the nations of the world to be a part of this new move of God.

I have not had the opportunity to attend the meetings yet, but I will do so during the next week after my meetings. I have taken some time and watched portions of the web-cast in between my own meetings. However, my trusted friends Jon and Chris Zuckerman have been attending the meetings almost daily since they started. They speak extremely well of the quality of the ministry and are personally revived. They have enjoyed the atmosphere of faith and anointing and trust Todd Bentley as a man of God. My wife has also been attending the revivals, and if she is not physically in Lakeland then she is online watching. Bridge is no fool and has seen and been a part of many moves of God. She is thrilled, stirred and so God-hungry that she can barely contain her passion- something in my estimation that is as important as being healed. Some other friends of mine, Dr. Ron Burgio and his son Jonathan flew into Tampa from New York and spent one night at the meetings. They too were stirred and touched by God. (Dr. Ron Burgio is the President of the Elim Churches and pastors a large church in Buffalo, NY.)

People all over the world are taking note of what is occurring in Lakeland.

The editor and owner of Strang Communications, Steve Strang had this to say:

http://www.strangreport.com/

The anointed and passionate Editor of Charisma Magazine, Lee Grady, had this to report:

http://www.fireinmybones.com/Columns/042308.html

A close friend from New Zealand sent me this prophecy from his home church delivered by his pastor:

Prophesied on March 8, 2008

This is exactly word for word what was spoken over Todd Bentley (from Fresh Fire Ministries) at the “Downpour Conference” on the Gold Coast in Australia, on March 8, 2008, by Pastor Rob DeLuca from New Zealand.

“Todd, I saw a vision, and it’s concerning four revivals that are going to take to place in the world.

“I saw a human boomerang flying out of Canada and it hit the nation of England, it hit the nation of Australia, it hit the nation of New Zealand, and it came spinning around.

“I saw ‘Todd Bentley’–your name on the boomerang, but I knew that it was the Lord showing me that it was you, and I saw it fly back around and it came and hit America.

“But, there was a bit more accuracy to it. It hit the state of Florida. The Lord is showing me that what took place in Pensacola, and also what took place in Lakeland with Rodney –you’re gonna bring something very strong to Florida.

“I see something BIG in Florida. Then I saw the Lord turning you into a human nail, you know, like a spike nail. I saw the hand of God, I saw the Father hit this hammer and it hit you and it went straight into the ground of Florida.

“I saw a scroll attached to this nail and it said, “The Kingdom of God has now come.” I really believe that what has taken place in the last 20 years in Florida, will be rekindled and re-birthed from your coming and going to Florida. A matter of fact, I will be even more bold to say that I believe that there is going to be a massive work where it’s so fruitful, that there will be seasons of time in Florida from Canada.

“I saw it hit England, Australia, New Zealand, but I saw it going back and forth, back and fort