Ambassadors of Reconciliation Report on SGM Out

So the report we have all been waiting for is out, and available (I've downloaded the file in case it gets "removed" later!);

Here (40 pages worth).

Once again this point stuck out to me;

"We observed that this lack of declaring God’s grace to people is a weakness of people
throughout SGM, including leaders and members. Although the name of the organization is
Sovereign Grace Ministries, and grace and forgiveness are often preached and taught, there
does not seem to be a similar emphasis on the teaching and practice of declaring God’s grace".

The response has been mixed (unsurprisingly). I don't think the AoR team were ever going to make all happy. My hope is that with the changes in SGM - their move to Kentucky and so on, God will work out His purpose and that His kingdom WILL come despite mankind. Even more so I pray that the "Survivors" of SGM will find a measure of peace despite the wrong done them.

Thy Kingdom Come!!

I am in the middle of composing a blog about some thoughts about my current thinking on church, organised religion, denominations, movements and so on. Many old friends and colleagues of mine have declared themselves agnostics or even atheists through difficulties that they have been through (similar to mine) with the church. Yet I remain agonizingly stuck - still. God will not let go of me (because I cannot and refuse to believe that I am maintaining hold of Him).

At times of uncertainity we need to look at that which is unshakable. And those truths are better expressed by no man - no hero - of mine better than Dr Ern Baxter. I've found a precious video that has merged one of my favourite sermons of Ern into song - "Thy Kingdom Come" - and it brings into light, life and worship THE moment of all time (not Calvary, not the Tomb, but the Resurrection, the Ascension and the Enthronement of Jesus Christ).

Here it is! The Lord strong and mighty! The Lord strong and mighty in battle!

Ern Baxter and Rob Rufus - Celebrating Connections!!

I was absolutely thrilled to receive an email from Steve Schroeder - President of Christian Ministers Association in Vancouver, Canada - who is hosting a conference this week with Rob Rufus as the keynote speaker.

I trust those of you who read here frequently know by now that I don't dare to think highly of myself. I write assuming no one will read here - it's more for my benefit. So to hear that some of my transcripts meant that a major leader developed my love and appreciation for Rob Rufus and has in fact enabled Rob to go to a conference in Canada (where he's never been before) to minister to them - just THRILLED me! My only ache is that the Lord would release the finances for me and Pete Day to go to these events! Or release finances to pay for Rob to come back to the UK!

Until that time - its great to follow this.

The key connection here is my two major heroes - Ern Baxter and Rob Rufus. Steve and his leadership team have been actual spiritual sons of Ern himself. Yet have sensed that Rob Rufus has so much to offer them. I earnestly believe there is so much similarity between Ern and Rob's ministries - yet so much difference too. The combination of great Kingdom themes - wow!

Here's the email;

FROM:

stevecma@telus.net

TO: Dan Bowen
Message flagged Monday, 17 October 2011, 2:02

Hi Dan

Just a note to say that your great work on honoring Ern Baxter had caught my eye some years ago. I had contacted you once before regarding some of Erns material that we have here in Canada. Ern was my Fathers pastor and mentor. We knew him well. He was also the Father to our ministerial fellowship here in Canada.

As a result of my cruising your site I connected with Rob and Glenda. Tomorrow night and for the next three days they are ministering to our group of leaders from across Canada. It is his first visit to our Nation. We are anticipating a powerful time together.

You are part of this great connection. Thank you for your faithfulness. I will be posting the sessions on our web site after the convention is over. You can access them at Canadacma.org.

I will send another note when we conclude.

Deepest blessings from Canada

Steve Schroeder
President
Christian Ministers Association Canada

Terry Virgo on Ern Baxter at Brighton 2004

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that looking into the past is a tremendous encouragement when it's hard sometimes to see clearly into the future. Looking into the past is a reminder of how God moved before and builds faith for how He will move again and indeed how He is moving - even unseen. It occured to me that it's been a while since I've sorted through my video sermon collection. I'm so glad that I spent hundreds of pounds buying videos at the Stoneleigh Bible Weeks and the Brighton Newfrontiers conferences because there is something special about seeing these key moments in the flesh! (What I would give to see Ern Baxter at the Dales Bible Weeks in the 1970's .... )

Here is a clip from the Brighton conference in 2004. I wasn't able to go to the whole week due to work commitments so Pete had to attend alone. However we were able to get down for the final day - Terry Virgo's closing session and then the evening session; "Does the Future Have a Church?". It was an incredible coincidence that I had just completed my first transcript of "Life on Wings Interviews with Dr Ern Baxter" and had sent it to both Terry and to Stanley Jebb.



There is nothing more thrilling than prophecy that is being fulfilled. That look into the past is an amazing reminder that God spoke powerfully to the Charismatic Movement in the 1970's and we are seeing it come to pass in these days. Jesus Christ said; "I WILL build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!". Ern Baxter frequently used to remind us that statement of Jesus Christ's was not a defensive statement. Who has ever seen gates jump off their hinges and chase Christians down a street? No - this statement is an offensive statement. There is not one gate that can stand against the relentless advance of the Church - not even hell's gates themselves!

Part 3 of "The King and His Army" available online!

Brother George Kouri has posted the third session of this monumental series by Dr Ern Baxter on his website and it is available here:

"Transitioning Between Kingdoms".

I am amazed at how many church leaders within the charismatic movement are testifying to the impact of this series on their lives - testimonies keep coming. Don't miss reading this and allowing the dynamic truth and prophetic vision stir up the fire within your hearts. I am so grateful to Brother Kouri for making this available for me.

The other parts of the "King and His Army" series are here:

"A Prophet as Untimely Born" - my personal tribute to Ern Baxter.

"The Head and Shoulders Man" - Session 1 from the Lakes Bible Week 1975.

"The Decline and Death of the Head and Shoulders Man" - Session 2.

Enjoy.

Looking Forward!

I have just posted the "Kadesh Crisis" transcript. This is probably one of the most heart-wrenching messages that Ern Baxter ever preached. It was his closing message to the Dales Bible Week 1976. It's heart-wrenching because the gathered thousands there didn't really seem to be listening. I know for ourselves back in Dunstable, I was never aware of the concept of "Going into the Land" being mentioned again. I transcribed it on commission by Brother George Kouri - Ern Baxter's spiritual son for use in his theological seminary but as I typed it, I became increasingly persuaded that it is a message that must be heard again and again and mustn't die!

In light of Greg Haslam's prophecy at Brighton, I have been striving to break out of the Newfrontiers stream of thinking and begin to enjoy, read and watch material from other charismatic streams of churches. So with that in mind I brought "Forward!" - a DVD from the GroundLevel stream celebrating 25 years of the Grapevine Bible Week held in Lincoln. I was amazed at the powerful, passionate, Spirit-filled worship led by Chris Bowater and Andy Bromley. As a bonus, they have included the message to the Bible Week by Stuart Bell - the father of the movement and I was profoundly stirred by it. Here are my notes from what he said:



"The Importance of Looking Forward" by Stuart Bell.
Grapevine 2006.

1. Looking Back.

- Only to give thanks.
- Only to learn lessons.

Stuart quoted from John Maxwell who had a useful way of how we must learn from the word "MISTAKES".

M - Messages that give us feedback about life.
I - Interuptions that cause us to reflect and think.
S - Signposts that direct us to the right path.
T - Tests that push us towards greater maturity.
A - Awakenings that keep us in the game mentality.
K - Keys to use to unlock the next door of opportunity.
E - Explorations that let us journey where we've never been before.
S - Statements about our development and our progress.

2 - Looking Forward - How to Keep Moving Forward.

i) Don't give up gained ground - we must hold on to charismatic life - "It is under attack these days". We must hold on to worship. We must keep allowing youth to come through. We must hold on to fellowship.

ii) Don't compromise Scriptural standards.

iii) Be willing to change (Matthew 18:13). The only organisms that are not constantly changing are dead.

iv) Honour Relationships.

v) Don't opt for easy options. "We need more people who are plain passionate like Andy Hawthorne. I want to be numbered with them".

vi) Stop friendly fire. "The church has yet to discover the full unity that Jesus prayed for". Gerald Coates said, "We are Christ's representatives so our actions speak louder than His Words".

vii) Prepare the way for the next generation. Stuart Bell focused on this point especially and made some very moving points. He said,

"We will do our best to make space for the young coming through. Forgive us if we have had the kind of approach where we won't let you do anything mature until you are 40. I was planting a church when I was 23 but if a 23 year old came to met and said he wanted to plant a church I would tell them to get stuck into the Word and perhaps in a decade or 5 they would be ready. Forgive me if that has come across.

To the young generation - keep dreaming! Don't get disillusioned with us! Too many have held on to things they hold dear - robbing the next generation of it's creativity and passivity. Our future forward movement will depend on generations walking together".

I was profoundly stirred by this message. My experience throughout my church life has been of pastors verbally whipping the young in their congregation with tales of "when we were young - we were preaching" but in practice the young aren't allowed anywhere near anything of responsbility never mind the pulpit. I am so grateful to God for true fathers - true apostolic fathers - that are emerging throughout the church like Stuart Bell who was humble enough to stand on the Grapevine stage and ask forgiveness from the young for a defensive, protective attitude. Or like Terry Virgo who will invite Mobilise to attend the Leadership Conference in Brighton and who will actively involve them in his messages. Or like Ern Baxter who frequently preached and prophesied to the younger generation that he loved to be with.

May God raise up more fathers like these men with a heart that loves enough to let the young make mistakes but is willing to take that chance so that the passion and fire of the young is allowed to sweep through the church.