Category Archives: American Church

-Hope in the Hispanic Ministry at The Crystal Cathedral

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

The exteriors of Crystal Cathedral. Garden Gro...

(Image via Wikipedia)

Last Christmas Eve I attended along with several of my family one of the services at Crystal Cathedral and was shocked at the changes taking place there. The congregation had declined significantly and the choir was a quarter of the size it use to be plus none of the top name professional musicians were there like they usually are.

Our family has been going to Christmas Eve services at the cathedral for more than 20 years and it always is a wonderful holiday experience but not so much this last year.

Since then, the Crystal Cathedral has gone into bankruptcy and the buildings and property are being sold. Meanwhile the graying and depleted congregation that was a mega church for an entire generation in Southern California is left to leasing their own former buildings.

Now for the Good News

However in the midst of all of the trouble and depressing decline there is an unlikely move of God going on in the Hispanic Ministry at the church. The Spanish speaking services continue to grow at an exponential rate.

Since former Argentine Assemblies of God pastor Dante Gebel was put in charge of the Crystal Cathedral’s Hispanic ministry 2 years ago it has grown from 300 to 3,000 people, and is actually now larger than its parent English speaking congregation. Plus the services are far more Charismatic and Pentecostal and nothing like the traditional English services there.

Pastor Gebel expects his congregation to reach over 10,000 in the next year or so. It is a real blessing to see this kind of growth and this hidden move going on especially when all we hear about locally is all of the bad news when it comes to the Crystal Cathedral. *Top

Posted in Megachurch, Move of God

Tagged Crystal Cathedral

-Baptist Revival: Candies Creek Move

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Michael| 1 Comment

(by hickory hardscrabble via Flickr)

According to Jamie Work, pastor of Candies Creek Baptist Church in Charleston, Tenn.:

God turned an “11-day summit into a six-week revival” at Candies Creek, and the revival is continuing.
“As a result of corporate prayer and repentance, God is birthing us into a brand-new church.”

In his testimony before the SBC Executive Committee, Pastor Work told how Candies Creek spent weeks in prayer before the initial April 10-20 revival meetings at the church. As a result, the Holy Spirit birthed a move of God that resulted in over 25 hours of public confession of sin:

“We are still dealing with what God has been saying to us. Our world has been turned upside down.”

Also the church itself ended up confessing its corporate sin. The following were some of the sins covered:

prayerlessness; superficiality with God and one another; failure to practice biblical, redemptive church discipline; lukewarmness (a lack of commitment); preoccupation with mammon (money and stuff); and programmatic worship (non-Spirit led).

Though the revival meetings officially ended after six weeks, regular prayer meetings continue to be well attended by the members. Pastor Work says that as a result of the move:

Candies Creek will “push all ministries off the table and put prayer in the center. Then, we will rebuild our ministries around prayer.”

We need to take people deeper into their walk with the Lord in order to get them into a deeper relationship with each other.”

As a result of their experience, Pastor work put forth a resolution before the recent SBC conference in Phoenix,Arizona seeking revival across all of America beginning with prayer and repentance.

See the following resolution adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention:

Posted in American Church, Move of God, Prayer, Repentance, Revival

Tagged Revival, SBC

-Double Dip Recession, Depression, and Israel?

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Michael| 1 Comment

Map of Israel, the Palestinian territories (We...

(Image via Wikipedia)

The news this week is full of gloomy economic reports for America. Major financial experts are fearful of an expanding ‘double-dip’ recession at a time when they were expecting and proclaiming recovery.

Worse yet, some are even whispering that we may ultimately end up in a major depression before it is all over.

This morning I read a report that China had divested itself of 97% of their U.S. treasury bills (trillions) in the last couple of months. It was their purchase of our debt up to now that has kept everything afloat and from going south. THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS!!

What does the future hold economically for America?

Three years ago when this recession started in America, several major prophetic folks gave words that this economic downturn could last far longer than anyone expects and depending upon how Americans respond, it could mean that things will never be the same again.

Although my own personal business has suffered considerably, I have maintained a hopeful outlook. However several events in the last month including the Chinese dumping our treasuries have caused me to now be rather concerned about our future.

From my perspective, it is no surprise that this recent turn for the worse follows President Obama’s announcement that Israel must give up Jerusalem and all of the holy lands and sites that it gained in the 1967 war.

It is my contention that if our present administration is allowed to continue down the road toward unwitting support of Arab Muslim anti-Semitic goals then America will surely continue in its decline.

Right now in Europe there is considerable pressure being placed upon the Euro governments to support a new Palestinian state whether Israel agrees or not. In the UN there are several bills sponsored by Middle Eastern countries that would make Israel an international pariah unless they revert to 1967 borders without any concessions from the so-called Palestinians or radical Arabs that continue to call for the utter destruction of Israel and the complete eradication of the Jews from ’Muslim lands’.

Worse yet, mainline Protestant Churches are being encouraged to allow imams to come and teach from the Quran in order to foster better relations between Christians and Muslims in America. However, also in the process Muslim organizations are asking to speak in the same churches in order to present their propaganda in favor of establishing a new Palestinian state that would include Jerusalem as its capitol.

Folks, we are living in interesting times and how American Christians respond to the challenges before us could very well determine whether the USA rises up once more or descends into the dust bowl of history.

I believe that how we handle Israel as a nation could be an important factor in determining our future. Here’s a great article by Jack Hayford listing all of the Biblical reasons why Christians should be supporting Israel and taking action right now: Why Stand With Israel Today?

Hayford starts out with this proclamation:

President Obama’s May 19, 2011 announcement regarding Israel needs to be heard as a trumpet call from God’s Spirit: “Beware – Take Action!”

Amen! *Top

Posted in American Church, Economy, Israel

Tagged Israel

-Is the Baton Being Passed to the Asian Church?

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

Here’s a link to the latest article by J. Lee Grady: “Has the Baton Been Passed to the Asian Church?”

Grady asks this question in a visit to Singapore and observes that the Asian Church is coming of age. For years, those of us in the West have looked upon the church in Asia as a mission area. Now I have heard many talking about how the Asian church might actually be found leading the way in the near future.

I have a cousin that travels to South Korea on business who mentioned to me 10 years ago that Korea was well on its way toward becoming a Christian nation. Then recently I have read about the expanding house church movement in China and have seen several forecasts that China could actually become a Christian nation within 20 –25 years at the current pace. Remarkable and exciting.

In his article, J. Lee Grady list 3 reasons why the Asian Church will be come a major factor globally in the future:

1. They are taking world evangelism seriously.

2. They understand the importance of the Holy Spirit’s power.

3. They are investing in the next generation.

It is really amazing what is transpiring in Asia but also in Africa and in South America too, along with a secret harvest going on in Muslim countries. A world wide harvest/revival is ongoing just about everywhere except in North America, Europe, and the West.

Asian churches are beginning to send missionaries into North Korea and the Middle East plus African churches are actually sponsoring new missions in the UK and Europe.

If the current trends do continue then Grady could be correct. What use to be the mission field and the tail is well on the way toward becoming the head. *Top

Posted in -Asia, -China, -The Church, Harvest, Revival

Tagged Asia, Harvest & Revival

-California: Everything That Can Be Shaken…

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, one o...

(Image via Wikipedia)

The LORD will march out like a mighty man,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies. -Isaiah 42:13

There have been a lot of prophetic words lately about California suffering a major earthquake. Meanwhile the earthquake scientists at Caltech are warning us that a major quake is coming our way sometime within the next 5-10 years so all Californians need to be prepared.

In the news, around here there is concern about how the state will be able to pay its bills and avoid bankruptcy. Unemployment is as high as it has ever been in the Golden State. Remember that during the Great Depression of the 30’s folks came out west to California to find work. Now jobless people here are going the other way heading for Arizona and Texas. Last month 75 major companies left California for different less taxing states.

Meanwhile among my friends and family, many have had dreams and visions of major catastrophes coming our way. One of my sons who is one of the most accurate prophetic folks that I know even had a very real and vivid vision of a flash of light and a mushroom cloud appearing on the horizon as we were in the car together heading down the 91 freeway toward LA.

If you look at what happen in Missouri this week and the tornados that sweep across other areas in the last couple of months it is easy to see that we are living in different and chaotic times. I can’t remember a period in my lifetime when so many natural disasters have occurred one right after another.

A lot of us out here have been praying about how we are called to respond. A major word that was read to our congregation on Sunday indicated the following:

Everything that can be shaken will be…what remains will be solid. It is not a time to run and leave, but a time to gather together and fight, a time to prepare for harvest.

Isaiah 42:13 was also cited (see above).

I believe that this message not only applies to our area but the entire country. We are living in chaotic times on many different levels both natural and spiritual, but the Lord is ready to do battle and bring forth a great Harvest in the midst of it all. *Top

Posted in American Church, Harvest, Natural Disaster, Revival

Tagged Harvest & Revival, Natural Disaster

-Church Today Not What God Intended?

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Michael| 2 Comments

fresco at the Karlskirche in vienna (by Johann...

(Image via Wikipedia)

The Christian Post put up some observations by mega pastor Francis Chan about the American Church.

Pastor Chan questions whether today’s church is anything like what God originally intended. Here’s some of the quotes –well worth reading:

"You go to a building, someone gives you a bulletin, you sit in a chair, you sing a few songs, a guy delivers maybe a polished message, maybe not, someone sings a solo, you go home."

"When you read the New Testament, you see the Holy Spirit was supposed to change everything so that this gathering of people who call themselves Christians had this supernatural element about them."

"Do you really see this supernatural power at work when the believers gather together for what we call church? Isn’t it the same Holy Spirit that’s supposed to be available to us today? Why is it so different?"

"I heard one person say the church nowadays is neither super nor natural," he says. "Everything is predictable and everything is expected."

"There’s a truth to that. I feel bad about it. Being around a church culture, even leading a gathering of believers, I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting what’s going to happen in a church service. Was that the way it was supposed to happen?"

"When Jesus said this power (of the Holy Spirit) would come upon you, it really did come upon them and they were powerful beings (Jesus’ disciples). Why is it that in the church so many people are weak or defeated or we get so insecure because we look at ourselves rather than God? It doesn’t make sense."

“…the response among His people today is: "Hi, welcome to church. Here’s your bulletin. We’ll get you out in an hour. Come back next week."

"I mean, really? Is that all God intended for us?"

"What would the church look like today if we really stopped taking control of it and let the Holy Spirit lead?"

"I believe this is exactly what the world needs to see."

Response: I really like the ending. Here’s one pastor who obviously gets it. Those of us who have been seeking revival and renewal have all talked along the same lines about what we observe in the American church.

This is why many of us believe that when revival does come to America it will happen in the public square and in the Marketplace first just like where it started in the first century with the Apostles and also in the ministry of Jesus. The church will be substantially dragged along later kicking all of the way.

This does not mean that there will not be churches involved in the revival. There will be key congregations and groups all across North America that will prepare their members to respond, facilitate, accommodate, and make a place for the move of God. Come Holy Spirit. *Top

Posted in American Church, Revival

Tagged American Church

-Revival Issues: America is Like Nazareth? It’s a Matter of Honor

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Michael| 3 Comments

(Image via Wikipedia)

“And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.” -Mark 6:5 (ESV)

“…for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” -1 Sam 2:30-31 (ESV)

Is America like Nazareth? So much of the time we get excited when a few sick people are healed while blind eyes see and the dead are raised in Africa and the lame walk in other places around the world. It reminds me of the ministry of Jesus and all of the miracles he did except when he went home to Nazareth. There he was only able to heal a few sick folks.

We send missionaries to India and they lay hands on folks and the blind see and the lame walk but the minute they come back home it no longer works in the same way. Why it that? It is obviously a different faith atmosphere and jurisdiction.

We live in a secular culture that no longer honors Jesus and it even rubs off on those of us who are Christians. The church in America thinks we know all about Jesus and we even have him clearly boxed up and defined in 1,000’s of books that have been written over the years.

There are even many Bible teachers here that have taught and have theologically concluded that miracles ended in the first century when the Bible was completed and the Apostles died out since they personally never saw any. Since they rarely happen here we have concocted all sorts of theological reasons for it. The only problem, around the world for nearly 2,000 years folks continue to be healed in the name of Jesus and in every generation the miracles have continued.

Intellectually we think we know Jesus and what he can do and in our case not do. We even pray- “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth” and have no clue what that might really involve.

Whereas major healings and miracles seem to be a natural part of the Gospel in the 3rd world here in America and much of the West we assign them to the separate category of the ‘supernatural’. Then Western philosophers seriously argue over whether there is even such a thing or not.

However, any evangelist or minister that travels to India, Africa, or the 3rd world will confirm that major healings and miracles still take place all the time even if they cannot duplicate them when they get back to the states.

It is all matter of expectations and world view –but ultimately it is really about faith and honor. Jesus is no longer honored in the public square in America – guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in our schools and colleges -guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in our businesses –guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in our neighborhoods –guess where revival must go. Jesus is no longer honored in many of our homes in America –guess where revival must start.

Jesus is honored in our churches for a short time on Sunday –guess when revival must happen in America –Monday through Saturday. *Top

Posted in American Church, Awakening, Healing, Miracles, Move of God, Revival, Revival Issues, Signs & Wonders

Tagged Revival Issues

-A Call of Revival from the Past

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Michael| Leave a comment

"In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice, the path of faith, the path of hope and the path of love toward our fellow men." FDR- Detroit, Michigan, October 2, 1932

Two weeks ago we were in Washington DC. While there we visited many of the more famous monuments. I could not believe how many ‘God’ references there are in DC Chiseled in stone and there for all to see the great religious heritage of our past.

While on the way to the Jefferson monument we walked through the huge FDR monument and were immediately taken back in time when America was far more ‘religious’ than today even in the midst of a depression and a war that was even more severe than what we are facing today.

I never considered FDR to be a very religious president until I read one quote after another calling Americans back to faith and hope in God in the midst of the incredible trouble faced by that generation economically and death and destruction of World War II. Not only that, but repeatedly calling Americans to join together in prayer. The ACLU would have fits with any president that made some of these statements today. But there they are, some of them chiseled in stone including the quote above.

When I read the quote above, the Holy Spirit immediately spoke to me and said that this statement contained the call of revival to America today. It is a Call of Faith and Hope in God, plus Love and Social Justice toward all humanity. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, but completely built upon the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and anchored in the Love of The Father. *Top

Posted in American Church, Revival

Tagged Revival in America

-8.9 a Sign of the Times?

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Michael| 1 Comment

NASA Satellite Image of Japan Captured March 1...

(NASA Goddard Photo and Video via Flickr)

The earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan is one of the largest recorded in history. I have heard it referred to several times as an event of Biblical proportions. Is the earthquake also a ‘sign of the times’?

Yes.

But it depends on what you mean by that. Is it a sign of the ‘last days’? That remains to be seen however it is a ‘sign of the times’ that we are currently going through for sure.

Everything that is happening in the world right now is exceptional or unique. No one can explain the convergence of economical and political upheaval along with some of the greatest natural disasters the world has ever known.

Is this God’s judgment or is the enemy at the bottom of it all or a combination? Some prophetic folks are referring to all of it as ‘the perfect storm’.

Most prophetic people are saying that everything right now is being shaken that can be shaken. In that sense the 8.9 earthquake is a natural sign for what is taking place. Economies, political structures, alliances, churches, religions, and cultures –everything is being turned upside down and up for grabs.

Lately a lot of prophetical words to God’s faithful have been warnings that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. How much worse? A lot depends upon the prayers of His people. I don’t know what is is like where you are but out here we are receiving a definite call to prayer. Our church is right now trying to set up 24 hour prayer. As it stands now just a few hours in the middle of the night will probably not be covered.

Now For The Good Part

Our enemy has his plans but so does our God. Remember the word that Joseph spoke to his brothers after it was all over. After years in slavery and prison to finally be lifted up as the prime minister of Egypt:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” –Genesis 50:20

The plan is to save many lives for all eternity—the greatest harvest and revival of all times. A world–wide harvest but also a major revival for America.

Increasingly we are living in times in which knowledge is expanding at an exponential rate and what is wrong is being presented as good and what is good according to God’s law is now considered bad. But a new day is coming when the faithful church will rise up and shine for a moment like never before as a light and beacon to the whole world. *Top

Posted in American Church, Harvest, Natural Disaster, Revival

Tagged Sign of the Times

-What is it About the Marketplace?

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Michael| 1 Comment

(Charles Finney via Wikipedia)

What is it about the marketplace that makes it an important venue for Revival? What is the marketplace anyway. Really the word in the context I am using it involves where we spend the majority of our waking hours. Our occupations, jobs, schools, businesses, markets, and shopping malls.

American Christians have looked for revival in all of the wrong places. Churches, conferences, special tent meetings and etc. The church bound forms of revival are really church renewals- They are wonderful, I love them, and they are life changing and ‘body of Christ’ renewing. However they seldom if ever touch culture and the greater society as a whole. Nothing like the ‘Great Awakenings’ in the past. We really need to look for something greater and expect to be surprised.

It is time for a revival in America to touch the very culture and places where we spend our days. What if the Holy Spirit descended at the office where you work – would it make a difference. What if people found themselves on their knees praying (unplanned) in a mall and everyone passing by was also touched and joined them –even those who don’t know what is happening to them and have never really prayed before? What would you call that?

It has happened before in America in the 19th century when Finney went into the factories and businesses of NY City and 500,000 inexplicably came to Christ. It is said that as Charles Finney merely walked through businesses hardened workers fell on their knees and responded to the Holy Spirit flooding the whole place. The whole culture of NY City was changed.

We are now in the midst of a recession that is touching every business in America. I read yesterday that unemployment is now at 10.3% but that doesn’t include the other 9-10% that didn’t get a job in a year so they statistically dropped them from the rolls. The unemployment figures in the USA are really closer to 20% if not over.

A lot of the prophetic folks I know and listen to are saying that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better? Meanwhile the media and the politicians keep trying to put a good face on the economic and political mess we find ourselves in since they really don’t have a handle on it and don’t want to do the hard stuff that it will take to get us out of it.

The problems we face economically are in the marketplace but what if revival came to the marketplaces in America would it make a difference? Would it change America for the better? I believe that the answers are obvious. Americans spend most of their lives at work and in the marketplaces and if God is really going to bring a Revival today in America that is where it has to go.

Come Holy Spirit.