Kindling Ministries, Ron Allen's Blog

Winter letter from Pastor Ron

Dear co-laborers in Christ,

I trust that the God of all grace is blessing you abundantly. I love your willingness to partner together with the saints of God to do His Kingdom work. All to often in the church today Christians reflect the narcissistic plague of our society. It’s not that we don’t want to keep people happy, but the church is called to mission, to do God’s will together. I love your willingness to step up in partnership with your time, energy, money, and prayer. We are doing together what we can’t do alone. We are not perfect yet, (LOL) but we are progressing and the bottom line is we want to know and do God’s will for our lives personally and corporately. Obedience is better than sacrifice. We are glad later, when we make good choices now. You are an amazing group of Disciples.

With the arrival of winter, there has been an increase in the requests for help from our mercy, benevolence, and helps ministries. We are running short in food resources for our Pantry. Larry Snider tells me he can always use the large cans of hearty chunky soup. So when you are shopping how about picking up some extra and make a contribution to our food pantry.

We have increases in maintenance and utility costs. It is good to share our building with CrossPoint, New Life, and Gospel Community Churches. We appreciate their financial help in covering our facility costs. But like our own home costs these days, money is really tight. We work hard to be good stewards of our mutual financial partnership and there are few attendees who do not give something to partner in this way. Thank you for your tithes and offerings.

We are rejoicing in God’s continuing favor upon our gatherings and ministries. What an amazing series of Sunday morning gatherings we have been experiencing. The Body is ministering to the Body by the power and gifting of the Holy Spirit. Again, we are doing together what we cannot do alone.

Our small groups are thriving. The Truth Project is proving to be a very valuable learning experience. Our Wednesday evening School of the Holy Spirit is well attended in the five classes we are offering. I feel like my study on Old Testament characters is going extremely well. I think the class we had last Wednesday is the single best group sharing we have had for a long time. Find a group and grow. Or make one. We will help. Do it before a crisis comes and you will be amazed at the support and help that will be yours from your fellow believers.

We are launching our campus outreach at IPFW this month. Kristen Strom from KU, Called to Greatness, is here as a catalytic missionary to help jump start our campus ministry. It is exciting to think of the many lives and cultures that we can redemptively touch on our university campuses.

Our involvement in the city church is highlighted this Saturday as the March for Life on the 40^th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. 55 million babies have been murdered. May God have mercy on America, forgive us, and send revival to our land. I will be marching with other clergy from the area declaring our conviction that all human life is precious from conception.

I continue to work with 11 different networks and denominations to cultivate evangelism, discipleship and church planting. When the enemy comes in like a flood God will raise up a standard of up righteousness and Kingdom life and work. These are days of great challenge and great opportunity. Let’s do Kingdom business till He comes. Maranatha. Come soon Lord Jesus.

May the Blessings of God rest upon you all,
Ron Allen for the Heartland ministry support team

Christmas Eve 2012

I am reflecting on our gathering at HC yesterday morning. I never take God's continued favor upon our gatherings for granted. His Presence and His presents bless us all week after week. Our singing of worship and praise, especially the fourth prayer for Advent that Dave composed, as the Beauchemin family lit the Advent candles was moving. I loved Karen Harvey's explanation of the Advent painting that she and Barb Yoder have been doing. She was powerful. Where do we put our hope? I love it when the dance group leads us in worship; such grace and innocence. The children reading the scriptures for the day blessed my heart. I love how much our children participate. And as we shared the day with CrossPoint Church, wasn't it a joy as Pastor Chris Wild and I baptized a dozen folks who followed Christ into baptismal waters? Wasn't it powerful when the whole church renewed our baptismal vows to radically follow Christ? The prayers of family and friends for the newly baptized was so moving. I was blessed as Pastor Chris and I served the Eucharist to these newly baptized believers. And to cap it all off, Ingrid Robison's testimony of being completely healed of cancer set us all to rejoicing. God still brings us tidings of great joy. I am now preparing for the Candle Lighting Christmas Eve service for tonight. Jesus is the Light of the World and the darkness cannot extinguish His light. Let our lights so shine that men may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Rejoice, and again, I say rejoice. Amen+

Thanksgiving 2012

Late fall reminds us that winter is just around the corner. I love Thanksgiving dinners and celebrations. We have so much to be thankful for. The teaching point last Sunday morning was this. Gratitude positions me for blessing. Gratitude is evidence that I have been blessed and don’t take it for granted. Gratitude is evident when I know I have been blessed to be a blessing. Gratitude is when I actually become an agent of blessing for others. Thanksgiving is “thanksliving”.

We find ourselves in this season abundantly blessed. HC is growing and becoming more fruitful everyday. We are gaining ground on the reality of seeing God add daily to the church those who are being saved. We have over a dozen small groups meeting for study, mutual encouragement, and outreach. “The Truth Project” has really taken off with new groups learning how to have a Christian world-view and understand how God is about setting the world right through Spirit-filled believers. If you want to be a part of a home group or would like to facilitate a group, please check in with Pastor Jim Wyrostek. We will help you become a person of divine destiny and kingdom impact.

Our Wednesday evening School of the Holy Spirit just finished up the fall term. We had some outstanding classes that were well attended. It says something for the quality of the classes when week after week folks keep showing up with enthusiasm having done their homework. Our winter term starts January 9. Classes will be announced soon. It looks like we are going to have six classes. One class that I am very excited about offering is Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. This will dramatically help you with your finances. Check in with Bethany Frincke if you want to know more or click here.

We are so proud of Terry and Darlene Wildman and RainSong Ministries with the native American Indians. Their new DVD is amazing. Great songs and inspiring video make a great gift for your loved ones.

Every month, Clearwater Ministries, with Dan and Fern Utz are in prison somewhere doing ministry. Thousands of men and women have heard the gospel because their teams have gone to the incarcerated all over America.

In January, we kick off our university campus outreaches. We are building mission teams that are going to be on campus, evangelizing and making disciples. We gather for worship and communion and then share life, the Word and mutual ministry together. We are especially praying to make an impact on the more than 70 countries represented by the student body. We have an opportunity to touch the nations with the Gospel. I am praying that our church will see our campuses as our primary mission field for evangelizing, discipling, and church planting. I am praying that we will raise up an army of missionaries to our college and university campuses. We have an opportunity to change the world.

New Life Church now meets in our small auditorium at 9am on Sunday under the leadership of Pastor Rick Leone. Crosspointe Church meets in the smaller chapel at 10am with Pastor Chris Wilde and his team. Gospel Community Church with Pastor Eric Wood is still meeting in our facility on Sunday evenings. Our Shane Chellis is the staff pastor at the Rescue Mission and Charis House. We want to continue to love as much of the church as God loves and partner together where we can as we seek to live our callings and mission.

Pastor Dave Frincke continues to give leadership to our worship community at HC and increasingly to other ministries in our region and nation. He has developed quite a team of instrumentalists, vocalists, songwriters, sound technicians, dancers, and painters. I love seeing the fine arts being a part of our corporate worship experiences. We have several new projects in the works this winter and into spring.

Pastor Carolyn Allen, PhD. continues to lead our pastoral care ministries especially Restoring the Foundations ministry teams. We are raising up several new teams to facilitate this pastoral care as an opportunity to help people who are stuck, wounded and overwhelmed to become whole and healthy.

Larry Snider and his Food Pantry crew do an outstanding job of helping feed hundreds of people who need help in this tight economy. Every person who gets food gets personal prayer and ministry as well.

Jordan Numbers, as our new high school pastor, already has a significant core of young people whom he is discipling as missionaries to reach their generation with the Gospel. Kim Rockett has an amazing team of teachers who are really impacting our kids in Children’s Ministry.

Thanks to Pastor Jon Youse and Jen Skaggs we have very functional facilities and equipment. And thanks to your partnership we have all bills paid and head into winter prepared to continue to fulfill God’s calling for HC. Pray that we will be good stewards and that by God’s grace we will be able to continue to say yes to all our opportunities to express God’s love in practical and significant ways. We are doing together what we can’t do alone. God has planned for the church to be the way we corporately express His kingdom rule of grace and righteousness in the earth today. Each week as we come to the Table of the Lord we are strengthened and nurtured in Jesus Christ to be the representation of the heart of our heavenly Father for a sick and dying world. What we are doing is making a difference for now and for eternity. Thank you.

This is how Dave Ferguson says what John Wimber taught us and what we endeavor to do.
1. I do, you watch.
2. I do, you help.
3. You do, I help, we talk.
4. You do, I watch, we talk.
5. You do, someone else watches.
Many who mentor never let others do. So all that happens is talk.

Gossiping Intercessors

THE GOSSIPING INTERCESSOR 
Bill Click
 
These are usually in a close relationship with Jezebel, and could be said to be in preparation for functioning in alignment with the Jezebel spirit. You could almost call this one a ‘Jezebel in training’ or ‘assistant Jezebel.’ I know this is strong, but we need to look at it.
 
When desiring attention, tired of work, bored, or wanting to assert themselves, the Gossiping Intercessor will announce by phone call, Email, Social Media or in a group where there is no covering authority, “God showed me this sin, and that (thus and such) is going on with (whatchamacallit).” The truth of the matter is not as important as the impact desired, so the more the story becomes enhanced, the more urgent its need to be “shared.”
 
The Gossiping Intercessor will also tell you about problems others have, those which were shared with them in strict confidence. If the situation were reversed, you would not want these difficulties shared with anyone. Betrayal, humiliation, and rejection are the fruits of their work. For years I have known and warned that: “if people talk about others to you, they will talk about you to others.” That most certainly applies in this case.
 
One way to avoid the poison of the Gossiping Intercessor without direct confrontation is to refuse to listen to that which is being said about others. It doesn’t help them, but it helps you. But make no mistake– you cannot help them. If you judge them for gossiping, you will either repeat their instance to another or offend them in a way which makes them talk about you! Another self-protection is refrain from offering information that you don’t want shared, because you can count on it being broadcasted (Lk.12:3). Otherwise, how can you avoid being pulled in by the magnetic charm, enticement or demonic “pull” of that spirit? Just excuse yourself politely, move along, and do not look back.
 
If you claim to be an “intercessor,” you should never tell anyone about the revelation you received when you believe you’ve heard from God about someone’s sin. Instead, pray through it, and if any sense of burden doesn’t lift, wait on the Lord to confirm it without anyone else’s knowledge of it. Even then you must move only by the Spirit and in order with leadership. If such a revelation is the truth, refrain from calling someone to ask their opinion or that they will come into agreement with you, because this is exactly what the enemy is after. Instead, pray for mercy and cover. If you actually do discern that someone– whether a leader or not– is caught in a sin, you may only share it with the one you believe is ensnared. And even and especially then, do so by the mercy and love of the Lord.
 
This also means that intercessory groups with representatives from multiple congregations should never lament their leadership when assembled to pray or privately when gathered with one another. If God has called you where you are, then you must dignify Him and yourself by showing confidence in His choice for you. You do not want to shame yourself by belittling the placement of the Lord. When you run down your leadership, church, city, husband, wife, children, family, friends, and/or your employer—you demean yourself.
 
I am convinced in my heart that many curse such relationships in the presence of others because they are under the curse of the law themselves. Remember, God has not punished you by putting you where you are and among those with whom you find yourself. Therefore, do not punish everyone in His presence by demeaning His placement, your own life, and those you love.
 
Intercessors, your primary purpose is not of being a ‘support group,’ but instead of becoming an emerging “strike force.” Did David lament Saul in public? The only place he took his problem was to the Throne (& his was much more significant than ours). We have seen the last few years that when the military murmurs and complains about their leadership, the result is division, loss of morale, ineffectiveness and failure. Will such behavior have less effect on those of us fighting an eternal war? No. In fact the consequences are even more serious, even fatal. If God has called you where you are, then you must dignify Him and yourself by showing confidence in His placement of you.
 
This is especially dangerous when speaking and acting in flagrant disagreement with His desires in the presence of the Body of Christ. By manifesting your personal rebellion in a group setting, you place others in a difficult position. They must then either agree with your lament (& instigate rebellion), correct you while battling the content of what you have shared, or even worse, endorse it as acceptable by doing nothing to either agree or disagree.
 
Why is God truly showing you someone’s sin, weight, or snare? So you will pray. If you act on a revelation in order to confront sin, make sure you do so only at the beckon of the Spirit. Most of what He shows in prayer in this regard should never be spoken. The Lord desires you to agree with Him for their restoration through His purity. If you honestly feel led of the Lord to confront, remember: usually when God wants you to, you really don’t want to. When He is leading you to confront, you will not feel up to the task. In fact, you will look for ways out of it. When God calls for confrontation, it can only be accomplished (rightly) in the Spirit.
 
If you must confront, be absolutely certain and then lean on Him to do it through you. When taking that approach, you insure your positioning is done rightly and will have the right result. Otherwise, it’s just religious zeal cloaked in self-righteousness. Always remember, Galatians 6:1-5 is our guide:
 
“Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own load.”
 
When we consider ourselves in light of such a sober responsibility, we will truly move in Godly fear, trembling, and with much reluctance. When you really desire to talk with someone about their sin, that’s a good indication that the timing is wrong and your spirit is not right . . .  even if you are a leader! In those instances, quickly find something else to focus on or you will end up causing harm. Going beyond the Spirit’s leading or sharing with someone else (instead) is always inappropriate.
 
Some things to remember:
 
• Having “nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” does not mean exposing people (Eph.5:11).
 
• “Love covers a multitude of sins,” so if someone exposes sin more often than they cover people, there are some issues that need to be dealt with (1Pe.4:8).
 
• When the Spirit says through Paul “those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning,” the context is that this pertains to those “set” in the ministry, and that the Senior Leader (Timothy) should do it (1Tim.5:20-21).
 
• Who are to receive such a public humbling? The Elders (1Tim.5:17-19). “Elders” are Gift of Christ ministers “set” within the congregation according to their spiritual grace, released through God’s choice which comes by way of development in character as well as the overall timing of the Lord (1Tim.3; 1Cor.12:28; Ac.20:28).
 
• In any setting, it is the responsibility of the overseer to rebuke. So don’t do an ‘end around’ leadership to get to them. Pray—that’s what interceding is all about. God is after the restoration of the Earth, which does not happen apart from the restoration of His own. This began at the Cross and will culminate at His return. Judgment definitely “begins at the house of God” (1Pe.4:17), but it will be announced prophetically and then tangibly administered by Apostles (Ac.5:1-11; 1Cor.5:1-7).
 
In accordance with the promise attached to the primary New Testament passage on intercession, those who truly intercede stand in the gap so that God can have His way in reconciliation, restoration, mercy and faith (Ro.8:26-34).

Indications of a Jezebel spirit at work in the church

Fourteen Indicators of a Jezebel Spirit at work in the church. John Paul Jackson, The Veiled Ploy, p.169f.

1.             While it is almost unrecognizable at first, this individual is threatened by the prophetic which they target. Although the person may seem to have prophetic gifts, their aim is to actually control those who move in the true prophetic anointing.

2.             To increase their favor, this individual often zeros in on a pastor and church staff, and then seeks to find the weakest link in order to subdue it. Their goal is to run the church by manipulating leadership.

3.             Seeking to gain a popular and pastoral endorsement, this individual will form strategic affiliations with people who are perceived by others to be spiritual or influential.

4.             To appear spiritual this individual will seek recognition by manipulating things to gain an advantage. Such individuals often conjure up dreams and visions from their imaginations, or they borrow them from others.

5.             When this person receives initial recognition they usually respond with false humility. However this trait is short-lived.

6.             When confronted about controlling or manipulating others, this person will become defensive. They will justify their actions with phrases like, “I was just following God.” Or “God told me to do this.”

7.             This individual will often allege having great and special spiritual insight into church government and affairs, but he or she will not appeal to proper authority. They will appeal to others outside of leadership. Their opinion is the last word on matters thereby elevating their opinions above pastoral leadership.

8.             They will draw others to themselves and seek to lead by themselves. They need constant affirmation from their disciples.

9.             Without any accountability, this person will seek to draw people off to themselves to pray for them.  They will not be held accountable by others for their words.

10.          They begin to draw others to themselves and become the sole teacher of the group. Gradually their teaching strays from the Bible and cannot be supported by the Word of God.

11.          They prophesy to folks but increasingly by their words people grow to depend more and more on getting their revelation from the teacher. They use the prophetic to draw people into dependency upon them.

12.          This person will use the laying on of hands to confer higher spirituality on their followers.  But the fruit is delusion, confusion, and control.

13.          These individuals are often very demonstrative. Using their “signs” and “wonders,” to attract and control their followers who become addicted to the phenomena.

14.          Sadly all too often these individuals have a very shaky marriage and family. Others in their family are either controlled or ostracized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telos postponed till spring 2012

Telos Event with Bishop Todd Hunter at Heartland Church

http://www.telosevents.com/  Telos, living with the end in mind.

Nov. 11-12, 2011

         Friday, 7pm, Journey Inward. "What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now… As obedient children,   let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness… Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God" (1 Peter     1:3-4, 14, 18).

         Saturday, 9am, Journey Outward. "Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to   bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them     down, not cut them out" (Colossians 4:5-6).

         Saturday, 2pm, Journey Onward. "Christ has set us free to live a free life… It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy yourfreedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom" (Galatians 5:1,    13-14). 

Nov. 13

         Sunday, 10am, Instructive Eucharist, how do we experience the ancient foundations of early church liturgy in the convergent church today.

No registration fee, but preregistration is requested so that we may be able to graciously host this event with appropriate resources.  A love offering will be taken. Books by Todd will be available for purchase.

 

Kindling Ministries Workshop

 

Kindling Ministries, training consultation for pastors and church planters will gather on Saturday, September 24 from 9am to noon at Heartland Church. We will be meeting on the fourth Saturday of the month through winter and into spring. We will focus on inspiration and instruction to equip ministers to see their ministries advance in church growth and development. We will address the practical issues of starting where you are, with what you have and growing from the inside out, and the bottom up. Topics include removing the obstacles, building teams, multiplying groups and community impact. If you plan on attending an email would be helpful to make sure we have enough handouts for everyone. Please RSVP to Pastor Ron at ron@heartlandfw.org

 

Planted, not Buried

Rom 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raisedChrist from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” 

John 12:24 "The truth is this. A kernal of wheat must be planted in soil. Unless it germinates it will be alone--a single seed. But its transformation will produce many new kernels--a plentiful harvest of new lives.” 

The difference between being planted and being buried is the expectation of what is going to happen next. Destruction and decay, or development and increase.

You may feel like you are being buried, but the truth is you are being planted.

A seed must be planted to germinate and grow, and mature and be fruitful.

Eph 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His resurrection power that works in us.”

I am not facing the end, but a new beginning.

I Cor 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

You face big challenges when you have a big destiny. Gen. 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Burial is permanent, planting is temporary.

No matter what is happening to you, you can do the right thing. That’s the difference between being planted and being buried.

Came to pass, not to stay, I am anointed, equipped, well able, I am more than a conqueror.

The new shoot of life from the seed just wiggles through the dirt.

Don’t get discouraged, the very thing the enemy sends to harm us, God allows to promote us. 

Bitterness, self-pity, condemnation, shame, will all cancel out faith.

What are you expecting a new beginning or an untimely end.

No matter what comes it is not a surprise to God

James 5:7, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waitsfor the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”

The farmer knows. He does not guess or hope. He does his part and God does the rest.

James 5:11 “We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy.”

Job got double for his trouble. 

I’ll never get out debt. I’ll never get well, I’ll always be single, this child will never be any different…. Have unshakeable confidence, you are planted, not buried.

Like Job, expect to come out on the other side better. Increase.

Don’t concentrate on your problems, concentrate on your God. No difficulty can defeat you. No person can keep you from your destiny.

Numbers 10:35, “Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.” 

What are you letting arise?

Psalms 34:3,4 “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.