Destiny Kids International: Investing in the development of youth leadership!

Posted by Bill on April 12, 2013

Fredrick and the DKI Team prefer to be on the cutting edge in the development of their teen-leadership in Cairo. In partnership with CCI, DKI facilitated small groups development training for seven African youths. Fredrick kindly shares with us the following testimony …

“Greetings in Jesus Name. I would like to testify regarding to the Youth Cell Groups leadership training that took place on the 28th of March, 2013 which lasted for six weeks. We bless the Lord for how He moved during the training. It was a big blessing to the lives of the trainees; we were eight in number, including myself.

During training, the young leaders came to have a better understanding of the meaning of reaching out to the lost for Jesus. It was an eye opener to them and a refresher to me also. We all benefited in the training: we started very well and also with the help of your prayers and God the training ended very well. On the last day we had a little celebration where we provided them with refreshments. I prayed the Prayer of Empowerment over them (Ephesians 3), and we had a time for questions that related to the training experience.

Prayer Point

Next week (Thursday) we will be starting training for a second set of young people. Commencing on April 11, the training will continue for six weeks. I wish you could see the excitement in the eyes of the candidates for the next session. I am so ready to be used by the Lord. Please join us in prayer that the second training group will fire-up like the first group. Thanks to the CCI Team for their support through prayer and finances. May Almighty God bless you all, Amen.”

Coaching Connection: Developing Disciples

Posted by Bill on December 4, 2012

My Friday nights are dedicated to meeting with a group of young, committed adults in the church building at South Hedland, Western Australia, for the express purpose of intensive discipleship development. Learning is conducted in a relaxed and friendly way (sitting/reclining on a carpeted floor) … modelling where possible the biblical truths under discussion.

There is a clear understanding that serious effort will be made by each person to the application of discovered truths to every-day life. We’re not into developing hypocrites. Unsolicited feedback from participants keep me encouraged and convinced that the ‘investment’ of my time is well made. What do I expect to see? Developing disciples!

Friends, nothing wears me out more in life, and discourages my spirit, than to ‘spend’ time with half-hearted, spiritually lukewarm people. Such people are happy to remain where they are, marinating in mediocrity … forfeiting a life of excellence with the King of Kings. Such people don’t need my gifting and experiences.

Attached is a picture of my developing Timothies – nine seriously minded, ‘new wineskin’ developing disciples of Jesus Christ. We have journeyed through Small Groups Development and Relational Evangelism. At present, we are making amazing discoveries in God’s Word through Growing Up Into His Likeness. At the completion of this topic we will focus on Inspiring Leadership.

One of the members in the group has since given her life to Christ and asked me to baptise her at a nearby beach. Her family and friends (approximately 30 people) came to enlarge our usual congregation size of thirty to sixty people! This group is not learning about harvesting, they are doing it! The pastor of the church has expressed delight with what the Lord is doing with this group of developing disciples and is happy for them to continue in their development by inviting them to share in the facilitation of communion, prayer, preaching, and baptism.

Developing Disciples … is our Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Developing disciples is my passion.

Hindrances to Oikos Expansion

Posted by Bill on October 13, 2012

A healthy Oikos (cell/small group) is an expanding Oikos. For those who are passionate about seeing their Oikos expand, it’s important to navigate around the many hindrances that stand in the way of expansion success. Satan does not want to see your Oikos survive, and thrive. He will do everything in his power to fail you in this endeavor. However, we are advantaged … in Christ we have the victory!

Here are a few of the many hindrances you, or others in your Oikos, may encounter along the way:

Not having a close walk with the Lord is a mega-hindrance … attend to this right now!
Not having a target group of close relationships (un-churched family, friends, and associates)
Not praying constantly for these people (remember, without prayer you will not succeed!)
Distracted and caught up in the busy-ness of every-day life
Failing to see the need to build genuine, long term, loving relationship with un-churched friends (like Jesus, become a ‘friend of sinners’)
Fear of rejection when you share the good news about Jesus
Believing that …
- “I don’t know enough” of the Bible (If you belong to Jesus, you know enough!)
- “I’m not the type” (Moses was slow in speech, Jeremiah was too young)
- “I’m not good enough” (that’s ok … just have a firm belief that the Lord is good enough)
- “I’ll be rejected” (yes, that may well happen – it happened to Jesus, and His disciples)
- “There are no obvious results” (evangelizing is your business – results is God’s business!)

Whatever is standing in your way; get sound, godly counsel … then navigate around your hindrance as soon as possible. An expanding Oikos is a blessed Oikos.

Investing in Liberia 3

Posted by Bill on May 12, 2012

Pastor Elijah Samuel

This concluding part of Elijah’s report begs your patience – it’s lengthy. Your patience in reading this report, however, will be greatly rewarded. Elijah testifies of God’s generosity, grace, and power at work in the lives of His people at Christ Harvest Miracle Ministry church in Monrovia. He says …

Revival Power!

The evening revival meeting on the first day began with a low turnout. However, the second day saw an encouraging number of attendees. We recorded some healings in the house and nine people, mostly youths, gave their lives to Jesus. On the third night of the revival, the people gave their finance to the work of ministry. I asked the pastor to use this money to help fund the purchase of sound equipment for the church (they don’t have their own sound equipment).

Testimonies

The following is a selection of the large number of testimonies received on the fourth and fifth day of the small groups development conference. I hope you will find them inspiring:

Your teaching is very fantastic. I like nearly everything about your teaching, especially how participatory it was. I truly learnt a lot; real understanding about the Great Commandment and Great Commission, the ice breaker session was real and educative. You did with lots of illustrations, pictures, and diagrams. This helped me get the real concept of cell-based church.
Brother Roosevelt M. Washington (Christ Harvest Miracle Ministry).

Through the years in ministry, I have been trying the cells church principles on my own without detailed understanding of how properly these principles work. But this cell church conference has opened my eyes to see and understand these principles. Through your teachings, my understanding has been enlightened, I will surely implement these principles for church growth through multiplication.
Jayston Tonnelle (Senior Pastor, Christ Harvest Miracle Ministry).

I am now made to understand NOT to be afraid to invest in anyone in the church. If any member decides to go away, he/she is at liberty to do so. The people, the church, or the work itself is not ours BUT the Lord’s. And that we are only co-labourers. We are all fishing for the same Master; we should fish, though from the same river, but not from other people`s net/boat.
Mother Angeline Eyedo (Life Line Ministry).

Learning of cell method of growing the church will not only help in the numerical growth of the church but also in delegating responsibility to other members in the church. It also pointed out the weakness in our local church; as love is not seen and felt the way it should. So, I now have a better understanding; that growth is not only in number (quantity) but how well they are disciples in love (quality).
Pastor ED Eyedo (Senior Pastor, Life Line Ministry).

The strategies for soul winning are very unique and sensitive for multiplication of the church of Jesus. I like to recommend that Cells-Church Consultants should take this teaching to the whole world, to win the lost at all cost.
Pastor Jonathan Tukar (New Creation Int`l Church).

This training has stirred my spirit to do more for God and has given me a broader picture on the importance of evangelism. I did not know that evangelism goes beyond just telling people … “God loves you”. I thank God for Cells-church Consultants and Pastor Elijah who left his family in Nigeria to come to teach us in Liberia. May God also bless the vision bearer of Cells-church Consultants International.
William Kollie (Faith Empowerment Outreach Ministries).

This has given me such a great insight that I have longed for over the years. Indeed this is God`s answer to my prayers and His way of meeting the deepest need of my country, my church, and me. This was really an enrichment for me, especially the method (illustration) used for the presentation.
Pastor Barromi G Davis, Sr. (Christ Witness Mission).

I believe what you have taught will help us and when you return next time you would be proud of the fruit of your labour. This few days of learning is equalled to a year of education. I would not afford to miss this great teaching. It will be a true help to our churches here, thanks. I pray that you would not forget us. You should not stop at this point BUT come many times over.
Sister Jessica Robert.

I like to suggest that the training must not only be at one location. Let zones be set up in other parts of the city as well as outside the capital and counties/states. Lastly, establish a Liberia base of this vision by selecting a targeted number of willing pastors that you will give some intensive training in a given period of time here or aboard who will afterwards take the training to places in Liberia that you alone will not reach in the next 5 years.
Apostle Samuel Elijah Goodridge (General Overseer: Divine Love Resurrection Word Outreach Min International).

The lesson being taught these five days is a wakeup call to the Body of Christ to rise up to the task of soul winning. The teaching has been strategic to church growth. We dearly need this kind of approach every year; if not every month. I actually believe you came to change our worldview on house fellowship and crusade/evangelism. I understand that all these do not work outside of love. Love is the key to make it work. I humbly recommend that you will discuss your return with your office to continue being a blessing to the church on this side of the world. The church of Liberia needs your prayers in her post war land to open the minds of the members for sincere service to Christ. If you wouldn’t mind sir, we would like you to pray about how you could elect/appoint some regional heads who could plan meetings and invite you to facilitate. We believe this will help to speedily enhance your ministry; bring growth that would introduce your ministry to the nations. Finally I appreciate you and the ministry that sent you.
Rich Coopers (Associate Pastor: Christ Harvest Miracle Ministry).

Conclusion

I like to affirm that God was faithful in this trip. The conference was well attended and the good news and principles of small group was well embraced. I saw no deception in their attitudes; the testimonies shared were genuine from their hearts. The people did not show any signs of being hungry for ‘natural’ food – they were hungry on getting knowledge on how to move their work forward. Their hunger and excitement was visibly written on their faces. And exuded joy like a man who found a new treasure, and with hope now fanned into flame, ready to carry out what they have learned. I am convinced, there is going to be great harvest from this meeting. (Elijah.)

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Friends, it’s been a long time since I’ve sampled such inspiring testimonies. God’s servant, Elijah, is truly deserving of the divine commendation … “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Friends, CCIs investment in Liberia has only just begun. Lord willing, Elijah will return to continue CCIs investment in Liberia. May the Lord use Pastor Jayston’s church to ignite a spiritual blaze throughout all of Africa!

Bill

STOP PRESS! News just received from Liberia (received by Elijah on Wednesday, 2^nd May) … “Dear Pastor Sam, how you and the family are. Hope it is well. I write to inform you that my church have started with 3 cell groups and they are doing very well. Pastor, everybody here is doing great, even my daddy and the church. Thanks,” Teta Eyedo (Life Line Ministries).

Myth: Change the Church by Criticizing It

Posted by Joel on April 21, 2012

Some in the cell movement excel in putting down others, while exalting the cell structure as the new wineskin. They construct an “us and them” mentality. Everyone else is doing ministry wrongly and the only group doing it right is the cell church. Many, in fact, embrace the cell church because they are disillusioned with the conventional church. Yet can negativity sustain the cell church movement?

Truth: Let People See It Worked Out

Churches and ministries lay a very weak foundation with a negative message. Granted, scripture critiques our lives and ministry and never sugar coats the truth. Yet, once the theological foundations for cell ministry are laid, people need a positive message of how to implement that biblical message in their own culture and context.

Just do it. Let people see the results in action. I personally believe that cell church ministry is the best strategy out there. Yet, I realize that it’s not the only strategy, and that God is using various ministries to bless his body and grow his church. God has supernaturally placed me in his body to encourage and fine-tune cell church ministry.

All those living under the Lordship of Jesus and committed to his inerrant word are part of his organic church. Leaders in Christ’s church need to be very careful about badgering and bad-mouthing Christ’s blessed body.