Just thinking about...

Africa

I'm leaving the 19^th for two weeks in South Africa. Cindy Schirle, our Discipleship Counselor, is a denominational leader with True Love Waits International facilitating work in South Africa. She trains nationals, church leaders, and their teams to battle HIV-AIDS with this prevention program taught by the local church. God has really been evident in the work there.

Recently the pastors and nationals that Cindy worked with expressed an interest in church structure and leadership. They expressed an interest in training for their pastors and church leaders. Riverbluff Church is organized in the Purpose Driven Model. While there are some obvious cultural differences in western churches and African, the Purpose Driven model is trans-cultural. Churches of every culture will worship, fellowship, disciple, minister, and share their faith. The specifics of the delivery system for each culture will differ, but the core purposes apply worldwide. So we are on our way to train South African pastors in the Purpose Driven model of church. Latest reports indicate we may have hundreds come to the training.

At a recent gathering of the Purpose Driven Church community, we committed to equip leaders as part of the P.E.A.C.E. Plan. We consider this to be part of that commitment. Please pray for us during this trip and for the church leaders in South Africa as they build the Kingdom there. Remember that we have been blessed to bless.

Freedom

Many people (including me) have expressed gratitude this weekend for our freedoms and rightfully so.

Our Discipleship Counseling Ministry often takes people through a process called Steps to Freedom in Christ. It's not about political freedom, but is a fierce inventory done with two trusted others to deal with the "stuff" of one's life. It's truly amazing. The steps take you through Scripture, declarations, confession, and prayers, following the principles of "walking in the light" (1 John 1:7) and confession and prayer (James 5:16).

The whole process takes about three hours, and is intense, empowering, and (I believe) used by God to set people free from strongholds, footholds, guilt, and even oppression.

After several years of helping people become free, I have come to understand that becoming free and staying free are different issues. I know people who have been through the steps- acknowledging sin, confessing, and genuinely becoming free- only to later walk back into the same or similar sinful/destructive practices. Of course there are multiple explanations one could give, but I think one is most obvious.

I believe (after all these years) that one may not live (stay) free, unless the spiritual disciplines are foundational practices in one's life. Not just habits but foundational practices like eating and drinking and sleeping. Of course, I don't think the disciplines can save you; but in my years as a pastor, I have never seen anyone consistently live free, developing the fruit of the Spirit, or cultivating the character and practices of Jesus, without the practice of personal spiritual disciplines. In other words, becoming free in Christ is one thing; living free is another. You can be saved in an instant, but change takes a lifetime.

I think that is why we have tried to re-orient our church to help people not only become free in Christ, but to live free in Christ. Changing the way one lives is a process that takes time. The Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and the Community of faith work in tandem to help a freed soul become a transformed soul.

I suppose the consumer mentality wants transformation that comes in a box or change after attending a meeting. But "fruit that remains" (true freedom) is a work of the Spirit and the disciplined soul who wants to not only be free but to live free.

Just thinking….