Tuesday evening I had the honor of joining men from the Ephrata Area Grace Brethren Church in studying the Bible. Their guidebook helped us examine 1 Chronicles 28, where the writer chronicles David's preparation for building the Temple. Barry led us in the study, designed to help us learn how to be truly successful men.
But God said to me, "You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood." (v.3)
David really wanted to build the Temple, having collected and stored diligently and systematically for years all of the materials needed to build a worship center worthy of the LORD, his God. But his God said, "No."
God's reason for not allowing David to build the Temple had nothing to do with David's "big," or "little," sins. It had nothing to do with David's adultery or murder or taking a census of the fighting men. What a wonderful lesson of God's awesome forgiveness and wise sovereignty.
God's reason for not allowing David to build the Temple was simply that it was not David's role in God's great, sovereign and wise plan. David had been the warrior; his son, Solomon, would be the builder. And David had done his part:
I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.
For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his father, (Acts 13:22&36)
Each of us who are forgiven and redeemed disciples of Christ are playing our part in God's great story of redemption; forgiven and redeemed men and women, bringing and living forgiveness and redemption to all the nations of the earth. This happened in ancient Israel, and still does in present day Ephrata, PA.
Pray for Dwight, AJ and others in the NAF church in Ephrata PA, led by Kim Robertson.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
WE ARE A VERY DIVERSE FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES!
A week ago I was soon to leave for Pottstown, PA. Kork and Missy Moyer were expecting me to join them for the evening as Kork led the meeting of one of the churches of Still Waters Home Churches and Worship Center. I was halfway through the home church experience before I was able to orient myself. I was on the mission field!
Doing ministry among the poor and homeless is very different than the experience which most of us have in mind when we think "church" and "ministry." It is raw and basic. I remembered that this was what ministry looked and felt like among refugees in Germany-one of the ministries we were privileged to do while in Europe years ago with GBIM (Grace Brethren International Missions).
After home church at Melvin and Nancy's, we drove some of the people to their simple homes. Then, we went "scouting" for some of the folks who would be spending the night at the homeless shelter which Kork helps oversee. Kork and Missy's son, Taylor and friend Emma were busy making supper with food supplied by Amy, who had recently been evicted from her apartment.
"I'm glad my children know these people," Kork remarked on our way to his place as the clock was nearing midnight. "I feel like Jesus, serving these people. This ministry really is 'follow me, as I follow Christ.' And tomorrow, I'll get up and do it all over again!"
Pray for our NAF church in Pottstown, PA, led by Kork Moyer.
Doing ministry among the poor and homeless is very different than the experience which most of us have in mind when we think "church" and "ministry." It is raw and basic. I remembered that this was what ministry looked and felt like among refugees in Germany-one of the ministries we were privileged to do while in Europe years ago with GBIM (Grace Brethren International Missions).
After home church at Melvin and Nancy's, we drove some of the people to their simple homes. Then, we went "scouting" for some of the folks who would be spending the night at the homeless shelter which Kork helps oversee. Kork and Missy's son, Taylor and friend Emma were busy making supper with food supplied by Amy, who had recently been evicted from her apartment.
"I'm glad my children know these people," Kork remarked on our way to his place as the clock was nearing midnight. "I feel like Jesus, serving these people. This ministry really is 'follow me, as I follow Christ.' And tomorrow, I'll get up and do it all over again!"
Pray for our NAF church in Pottstown, PA, led by Kork Moyer.
Monday, April 16, 2007
REGION-WIDE PRAYER MEETING
During the month of April, both a women's brunch and a men's rally are taking place within the NAF. Last Saturday my wife, Rachel, went to the Women of Grace brunch in Leola, PA to bring greetings on my behalf. This Saturday, I plan to attend the men's rally at Wrightsville, PA hosted by the Susquehanna GBC.
At both of these events the following information has been made available to assist people in praying for our churches in the Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. I hope you will join in the region-wide prayer meeting!
Pray for NAF churches!
A plea from your NAF moderator
I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
(Matthew 16:18)
This is the promise of Jesus Christ to His disciples. This is also our prayer.
Make disciples of all the nations.
(Matthew 28:19)
This is the command of Jesus Christ to His disciples. This is also our prayer as the people of NAF churches.
In response to the promise and command of Jesus Christ, each of our gathered churches of the NAF last month was challenged: “Bring back a daughter church to our gathering next year!” This is my challenge to our NAF churches, and I ask that you also make it your prayer.
You will find more to help you pray at the website of our regional Fellowship of churches: gbnaf.org.
Yours for discipling the nations,
Dan Jackson
NAF -Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
During the month of April, both a women's brunch and a men's rally are taking place within the NAF. Last Saturday my wife, Rachel, went to the Women of Grace brunch in Leola, PA to bring greetings on my behalf. This Saturday, I plan to attend the men's rally at Wrightsville, PA hosted by the Susquehanna GBC.
At both of these events the following information has been made available to assist people in praying for our churches in the Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. I hope you will join in the region-wide prayer meeting!
Pray for NAF churches!
A plea from your NAF moderator
I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
(Matthew 16:18)
This is the promise of Jesus Christ to His disciples. This is also our prayer.
Make disciples of all the nations.
(Matthew 28:19)
This is the command of Jesus Christ to His disciples. This is also our prayer as the people of NAF churches.
In response to the promise and command of Jesus Christ, each of our gathered churches of the NAF last month was challenged: “Bring back a daughter church to our gathering next year!” This is my challenge to our NAF churches, and I ask that you also make it your prayer.
You will find more to help you pray at the website of our regional Fellowship of churches: gbnaf.org.
Yours for discipling the nations,
Dan Jackson
NAF -Northern Atlantic Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Pray for NAF churches
Today I am posting an eletter which was sent out to everyone on our NAF mailing list. This monthly eletter from your moderator is intended to encourage our regional Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches to stay focused on making disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:16-20) from “our neck of the woods.” So, here it is:
I have appreciated so much hearing from many of you during and following our recent gathering of churches in Telford. Added to a general excitement and sense of purpose among us that day, several mentioned to me their appreciation of a clear focus on and passion for evangelism, and the challenge to plant a church this next year.
In light of this, let us remember our purpose as an association of churches:
Our NAF purpose
This association exists to encourage and unite member churches in obeying the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). (NAF Constitution, Article IV)
Please consider with me my responsibilities as your moderator, and action points for each one:
My NAF responsibilities and corresponding goals
1. He shall act as chairman of all meetings of the officers of the association.
Ø The officers of the NAF executive committee will meet at least quarterly to prepare our regional fellowship of churches for next year’s conference.
2. He shall prepare the agenda and preside at all sessions of the annual meeting of the association.
Ø I will continue to challenge and encourage each NAF church to bring a daughter church to conference next year which has made application to join the NAF. One of several ways to facilitate this goal would be to visit each NAF church.
3. He shall initiate the appointment of committees or the designation of persons by the officers to carry out
specific tasks with a one-year term, including a defined job description.
Ø I will initiate the appointment of committees or the designation of persons as deemed necessary to further our work of discipling the nations from the northern Atlantic.
4. He shall be responsible for the publication of the report of the annual meeting.
Ø I will publish highlights of our recent Celebration 2007 in Telford, PA at Penn Valley Church, including the report of our annual meeting. (NAF Manual of Procedure, Moderator)
Therefore, Lord willing, and together with the NAF executive committee, I will accomplish these four goals by our annual meeting in 2008.
Two days after conference a number of our NAF pastors gathered for breakfast in Lititz, PA. Upon returning home from encouraging fellowship, I wrote down three action items, the first being: Pray for the churches of the NAF.
This I am doing. Perhaps you will join me in bringing our NAF churches before the throne of grace. I know our executive committee would appreciate your prayer support as well-we meet this month on the 30th at 10:00 a.m.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel. Pressing on in His glad service,
Dan Jackson, Moderator
P.S. Now that you have heard again from me, I would like to hear more from you.
I have appreciated so much hearing from many of you during and following our recent gathering of churches in Telford. Added to a general excitement and sense of purpose among us that day, several mentioned to me their appreciation of a clear focus on and passion for evangelism, and the challenge to plant a church this next year.
In light of this, let us remember our purpose as an association of churches:
Our NAF purpose
This association exists to encourage and unite member churches in obeying the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). (NAF Constitution, Article IV)
Please consider with me my responsibilities as your moderator, and action points for each one:
My NAF responsibilities and corresponding goals
1. He shall act as chairman of all meetings of the officers of the association.
Ø The officers of the NAF executive committee will meet at least quarterly to prepare our regional fellowship of churches for next year’s conference.
2. He shall prepare the agenda and preside at all sessions of the annual meeting of the association.
Ø I will continue to challenge and encourage each NAF church to bring a daughter church to conference next year which has made application to join the NAF. One of several ways to facilitate this goal would be to visit each NAF church.
3. He shall initiate the appointment of committees or the designation of persons by the officers to carry out
specific tasks with a one-year term, including a defined job description.
Ø I will initiate the appointment of committees or the designation of persons as deemed necessary to further our work of discipling the nations from the northern Atlantic.
4. He shall be responsible for the publication of the report of the annual meeting.
Ø I will publish highlights of our recent Celebration 2007 in Telford, PA at Penn Valley Church, including the report of our annual meeting. (NAF Manual of Procedure, Moderator)
Therefore, Lord willing, and together with the NAF executive committee, I will accomplish these four goals by our annual meeting in 2008.
Two days after conference a number of our NAF pastors gathered for breakfast in Lititz, PA. Upon returning home from encouraging fellowship, I wrote down three action items, the first being: Pray for the churches of the NAF.
This I am doing. Perhaps you will join me in bringing our NAF churches before the throne of grace. I know our executive committee would appreciate your prayer support as well-we meet this month on the 30th at 10:00 a.m.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel. Pressing on in His glad service,
Dan Jackson, Moderator
P.S. Now that you have heard again from me, I would like to hear more from you.
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