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Ministry Chat Thread

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Actually, I do have something on my mind.

What is happening to the church of God? What is happening to an Outreach in our assemblies? Why are various ministries dying out? What is the problem with the Church? Why have we lost our passion for God, for seeing souls saved?

I live in Australia, and from what I can gather many of the people on this forum are from American states? What I am beginning to realise more and more is that slowly but surely the assemblies in Australia are growing smaller and smaller. It is frustrating to see this happening and I feel powerless in the face of it.

In my own assembly, we used to have a huge youth group and a growing outreach into the small community but slowly, perhaps as the 'leaders' have grown older they have lost their passion for these minstries, these ministries have simply fell by the way aside with no one to continue them.

And the young people are not stepping up to the plate! Why is there such a complacency in our churches? Young people, we are the future of our assemblies, when the older brethren grow too old to continue their work in various ministries, we are the next generatio to take up the work. We have such a HUGE responsibility! It breaks my heart to see the compacency araound me!

Not only that but it is the responisibilty of the elder brethren to encourage the young people to take up these roles in the church. To pass on their experience, their knowledge, fight to see that various ministries continue.

Am I confusing you? I hope not. Let me give you an example. In my assembly, first the youth group was stopped, then the Open air meetings, now even the Tuesday night prayer meetings are lagging in numbers, and the Sunday night gospel was cancelled just the other week because they would rather watch the grand finals of a football game! To place a game of football over the spreading of the gospel, its beyond belief! And yet, when suggestions have been made by myself and other young people as to various ministries that could be started up, youth group, a womens bible study, etc, they were met with cold apathy. There was no encouragement or support. why?

Is it the same in the United States? New Zealand? the Uk?

This is a cry for help as much a challenge for young and old to use thier gifts, pratice active fellowship with one another, reach out to the dying world around us.

Time is so short there is not a second to waste.

The words of a Keith Green song come to mind,

"Asleep in the light"

Do you see, do you see
All the people sinking down
Dont you care, dont you care
Are you gonna let them drown

How can you be do numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the jobs done

Oh bless me lore, bless me lord
You know its all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts
No one even sheds one tear

But he cries, he weeps, he bleeds
And he cares for you needs
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in
Oh cant you see its such a sin

cause he brings people to you door
And you turn them away
As you smile and say
God bless you, be at peace
And all heaven just weeps
cause jesus came to you door
Youve left him out on the streets

Open up open up
And give yourself away
You see the need, you hear the cries
So how can you delay

Gods calling and youre the one
But like jonah you run
Hes told you to speak
But you keep holding it in
Of cant you see its such a sin

The world is sleeping in the dark
That the church just cant fight
cause its asleep in the light
How can you be so dead
When youve been so well fed
Jesus rose from the grave
And you, you cant even get out of bed

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead
Come on get out of your bed

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the jobs done
You close your eyes
And pretend the jobs done

Dont close your eyes
Dont pretend the jobs done
Come away, come away, come away with me my love
Come away, come away, come away with me my love
 
First thing: did you actually repeat those lyrics from memory? On to the rest of the post...:tongue

To be honest, I've been wondering about this lately myself. I was thinking about a verse I heard a while ago, talking of the end times (Joel 2:28):

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

It seems like Christians are going through life these days as if God is alive, but only there, not here. God is involved, even to the point of giving prophecies, dreams, and visions. Even if you don't believe we're approaching the "end times," taking a look around you is enough to show you proof of God.

Part of me wonders if the reason Christianity as a whole has become so complacent is because we've become scared. Not many people want to travel to crowded areas and spread the Gospel anymore, either because they feel they're not properly prepared, or because they're scared for their lives. We live in dangerous times, but shouldn't that drive us even more?
 
Interesting thoughts Ted.

Haha, just so you know, I'm not that good :wink: Definitely copied and pasted those lyrics LOL

I don't think you're right about the fear factor because it is clearly evident in places such as China and India where christians are PERSECUTED for their faith that in these places they are the most bold!

I believe it is because we have become so self-satisfied, so full with our 'blessings' that we feel we don't need God anymore. isn't this the definition of western coutnries?
 
A wise man once said, show me a persecuted christian, and I'll show you a growing church.

Christians are not challenged to live out their faith anymore. The older Christians don't teach the younger ones how and why to stand for and proclaim their faith.

Do what God calls you to do, and don't hesitate. be the example of God to others, even those who claim to be the examples of God.
 
UK-wide day of prayer at NEC last Sat reminded us that every effective revival in history has been reseded by folk feeling called to pray persistently

& that more folk are praying like that now, worldwide, than at any other time

We Brits can identify with the heart cry of Aussies - we rejoice in what God has been doing, & is doing, in Africa, Asia, Latin America etc & we plead for Joel 2 outpouring of the Spirit of God

I came on site thanking God for calling folk from those centres of revival to come to UK/EU - I'm sure Oz & Canada have been impacted, & will be moresoby such enthusiastic black Christians as this guy in USA:-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 12.52.html

I get much inspiration each day from Christian TV, as many do globally:-

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=24248

On my way here - even before I left home, I was crying out to God for young folk in this final weekend of half term break: I began using the 'Net within a week of 9/11, aware of getting older & wanting to encourage younger Christians as much as I can: these past 5 years have been among the most exciting & fruitful of my life

Not least because the awareness that time is running out is no longer confined to folk getting older: the Bible tells us that the entire world groans like a woman in labour, that what can be shaken will be shaken so that only what can't be shaken will remain

"Let us work while it is day, for the night comes, when no-one can work"

"This is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith!"

So let's complete our Great Commission, hasten the Lord's return & cut short the awful persecution of our brothers & sisters in Christ


God bless!

Ian
 
Re:

Blazin Bones said:
Let's talk ministry people, what's on your minds?

The Persecuted Church. We as Christians need to support our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ before sending food around the world. Out brothers and sisters are being tortured and in prisons around the world for the faith and in general the church has been silent.
 
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Re: Ministy Chat Thread

Maybe I'm missing something here. What's wrong if the food is going to those missions. If they aren't being tortured, some are being starved.
 
Re: Ministy Chat Thread

Well I will try to bring this thread back to life.


I am only 13. At a church camp I went to in Texas my life was changed. I can't wait to wake up and go to church, Sunday school or youth. I love to help others even more. I like to talk to other Christians even more about Christian stuff. I have accountability partners. But I am getting off subject. At that camp I was called into missions and Ministry by God. I want to fulfill this in every way possible. I pray to God that he helps me do this. He already has. Last Sunday at Sunday School I started talking and befriending a kid that I verbally bullied. I am trying to restore something that should have never been broken. I also got most of my youth to help be nice to this kid and his friend So far this is going really well and I am so happy God called me into this.

:yes
 
Re: Ministy Chat Thread

Really awesome Colton! :)

I wish this thread was more lively, it's a great topic. I recently finished the Foundations class at my church, a prerequisite to serve in any ministry there. We are (hopefully soon) going to begin our prison ministry, where we will be visiting a local correctional facility once a month. I am a bit nervous, but also excited to go to a not often thought of part of our community and share God's word. I've never done anything like it before, so any good that comes of it will be all the Lord!! But God is that way, no? Using the weak and small to do His work. All the more for His glory to shine! :clap
 
Great testamonies of the works of our AWESOME God Colton~ and Ruby!

Colton I will pray pray pray for you~ There is nothing more wonderful than a young man in which our Lord can work His will! Have you read all about Daniel? He purposed in his heart to be set apart for the Lord's work ~ just as you have done. :yes

And Ruby~ you are brave in our Lord. :thumb I cannot say I would ever be able to go into a prison to minister, however the Lord calls us as His Spirit has gifted us! I will be before Him requesting wisdom and grace for you in abundance!

Jesus bless you two! :nod

Bonnie~
 
Let's talk ministry people, what's on your minds?

That God has been calling my husband and I into ministry and we have continuously returned to the wilderness. My hometown is our Ninevah. We hate it there, we aren't fond of the people, and we want to escape. The story of Jonah sounds like the solution is simple (to reach out to the people where God sends you). How many of us shake our heads while reading Jonah? I even do, but I totally understand his struggle.

My husband wanted to move right after we got married, but I felt we should focus on settling in before getting up and moving. I didn't want to leave friends or family. We stayed for the time being. I became bitter while leaving my parent's church by my own decision. My closest friends of many years no longer spoke to me and I shut myself away from people. I then said to my husband, "There is nothing left for me here. Let's move."

We saved up and were moving all the way to the opposite end of the country. About halfway through our trip, something was getting to me. I felt something tell me, "You must go back." It troubled me so. I tried to ignore it and dismissed it as anxiety of moving somewhere new and hid this from my husband. On ths drive, a few states later, my husband says to me, "I have this odd feeling we shouldn"t be here." I said, "Oh no, not you, too." We finished the drive to our destination. We used the time to rest, pray, and write everything down in a notebook that we were gonna do when we got back. This notebook got lost somehow. We trusted in ourselves and when we figured out we were going to have a baby, we lost focus.

We got tangled in making enough money. Before our baby turned 1, we moved about 4 hours away and followed this promise of money.

We wound up in a corner. Suddenly everything was falling apart. We moved back to our hometown. God set my husband up with a job and place to live before we got there. We praised God, thanked him for a fresh start. We felt oddly at home.

Things got super difficult, and we felt like it was unbearable. We found out we were pregnant. His old job offered him his job back. We traveled back 4 hours away.

Here we are, only days before moving back to our hometown again. We realize we have been going in circles and it is no accident. We have been running into the wilderness and God turns us around each time. Thankfully, a big fish swallowing us whole is not involved.

We realize we need to listen to God calling us into ministry, get past our fears, and persevere through the hard times. We need to lean on God and cast our cares upon him rather than run. Everytime we returned to our hometown God gave us a blessing (a child) and we can't believe we did not see this sign before among everything else.

I know Christ will shine through our weaknesses if we let Him.
 
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