Do you tend to be more open or more resistant to change? Change can be scary!
Charles Darwin observed, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” In this he got it right: the one with the ability to adapt wins. The feet of the red-eyed tree frog have developed suction cups on their toes, allowing them to climb trees and stick to leaves. Their beautiful coloration allows them to be covert, camouflaged under a leaf until the timing is right to emerge and strike their prey.
In human terms, it is not the kid in class with the highest I.Q. that ends up the wealthiest or the greatest leader; it’s the one with the most E.Q.—Emotional Intelligence. The ability to read a situation and adapt your strategy is the greatest indicator of ultimate success in relationships and business innovation.
How about in the movement Jesus started 2000 years ago? Historically, the Church has always had the ability to adapt to different environments and survive. From the catacombs of Rome to the underground Church in China, sincere believers have always discovered new ways to create flexible forms of meeting and growing.
But what about the current Church world? The decline of influence in western civilization is astonishing. In particular, the impact of believers on culture is in rapid decline and forecasting an alarming erosion among young people 25 years old and younger. We know the formula for building a certain type of church, but we don't have models to shape modern nation states. If we don't adapt we may be finding our way back into a moral and spiritual dark ages.
Don't settle for merely “going to church.” The front lines are now going to church and planting a new kind of church. They are a covert company of praying entrepreneurs who go into every system and occupy the landscape with new models of heaven invading earth.
I am interested in learning how you have adapted and what you see emerging in the Church landscape. How are you going into systems? Tell me what strategies you are deploying…I want to hear from you!
Hi Lance; I’ve enjoyed your writings and videos over the years, thank you.
Wondering if you have heard about the Jesus film app that uses per to peer sharing (phone to phone with no phone internet) enabling copies of the Jesus Film in 2032 languages to be downloaded and passed from one person to another.
It’s being used productively in many places, especially in remote areas and closed countries, and is being shared on social media channels.
In one country 18 million people have viewed the content and 1.8 million took the next step to chat with a local believer, and at least 67,000 prayed to receive Christ and 13,000 are involved with a local church.
For decades the The Jesus Film ministry has been one of the most economically productive evangelistic efforts through use of technology and partnering with local churches, and I urge you and your readers to check them out.
Joseph
Stepping out in faith to host a Gathering Of Eagles at the hotel adjacent to the National WW2 Museum to strategize a worship and prayer gathering in the largest room in the world. That is the Superdome, where the SAINTS play. This is following an open vision the Lord gave me in 2018 and has consistently, repeatedly confirmed since then. The Flashpoint Truth and Freedom Tour I recently attended in Pensacola was another confirmation and encouragement.
You are invited.
Going into the prisons (Bill Glass Ministries) and schools (anti-human trafficking education). Sharing Jesus’ love and compassion regardless of how people respond. As the Spirit leads, using our opportunities, in interacting with them, to show what a Christ loving Christian is really like and allowing His Spirit to attract them to Himself. Also, learning Christian apologetics, e.g. answersingenesis.org, in order to be able to (with meekness and kindness) defend the faith (speaking the truth in love) in a convincing way. Praying for a group of Believers to gather to pray together with the strategy of being catalysts to cause another outpouring of His Spirit (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8uYmVyCTA)
Christians are leaving churches that are steeped in doctrine and are heading to churches that actually preach and teach from the Bible. But what is it that Jesus preached while He was here? It wasn’t the Holy Scriptures, as great as they are, being the very Word of God.
No, He preached the Kingdom of God!
When we were Born Again, we became citizens of His Kingdom, and through right of adoption we also became sons and daughters of God, which in turn makes us Kings. That is why He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God is glorified when we show our love for each other in our everyday lives and also in our business dealings. Win-wins are always a win for you in your relationship with God.
Suggestions:
1. Read “Re-Discovering the Kingdom” by Dr. Myles Munroe
2. Follow Pedro Adao and learn about Kingdom Entrepreneurship
Dear Lance, thank you for the opportunity to be in contact with you and your request to do so. As I live some distance from the Church God had connected me to when I came here where I live, I watch the Sunday service on uTube Live-streaming. I love to be connected to Victory Life Centre in Perth Western Australia. (Pastor Margaret Court) It is the Church I give my tithe and offerings.
I also watch on uTube Morning Star Ministries, Chris Reed , now the new CEO . I love being connected to that ministry – Rick Joyner.
I also am connected to My Church in Windsor , England, Dr Sharon Stone and Pastor Rob Cates.
I love being part of this ministry as well.
God has truly blessed me through these ministries. even though I am a long way away.
They have great teams of people who have God at the centre of their lives and where Jesus is Lord.
Thank you for your encouragement.
God is with us all. He loves us.
Kind regards
God’s blessings As One,
Kerry Lee Angel 🇦🇺
The Lord instructed my husband & I to go back into the marketplace, not as cooperate people, but Kingdom-minded & by applying kingdom principles. We have opened a coffee cabin in Shreveport, LA. We minister to, pray for and disciple those who walk in. Most are “wired” in religion & we have watched lives transformed, healings, deliverance, etc and then people going into their spheres of influence doing the same! We are available in a non-religious atmosphere to share the good news over a cup of coffee! Jehovah Jireh paid for the entire remodel of a 100 year old church, our equipment, and our daily operations! (Matthew 6:33) Everything is a testimony to those who come & the presence of the Lord is tangible. We love being about our Father’s Business!
I think we need to stop thinking local church and we need to start thinking kingdom. We are constantly hearing “come experience a new way of doing church.!” We go and we see the pallet wall, listen to music, hear a spiritual pep talk, get asked for money and then we leave. And what’s so new? Nothing. People aren’t leaving God. They are leaving the stale, typical concepts in “marketing” Him. Every home a church (gathering place). Start meeting and serving your neighbors. 70% of church growth is usually transfer growth. Christians moving or looking for something better for them or their kids. 30% is broken up into smaller amounts and some of it is new Christians but 5% of the church ends up doing 95% of the work covering all the programs. I have been in church leadership. I have seen the burned out leaders and staff. I was one and fell hard. Many wives of staff leadership call themselves spiritual widows and try and laugh it off.
Many leaders are involved in quite a lot of sexual sin and they hide because they can’t even trust the church of all places to become vulnerable and confess their brokenness. They all feel they have to be impermeable to sin and must set the example while they get exposed almost daily now.
Lastly many giftings in the body but some people behind the pulpit are not gifted to be there. It’s their interpretation of ministry. Many times their motivation is all wrong. And although their hearts are big they are simply in the wrong position. There is so much dysfunction. I believe everyone who attends church and claims the name of Jesus should know where their gifts are – 5-fold – and other spiritual gifts. EVERYONE PLAYS. It’s not just the staff who can lead people to Christ. Who better to draw your neighbor to God than you??? Around the grill at a cookout! We stay accountable to each other for the spread of the gospel. Not dissing gathering on Sundays but that should be the culmination of a life lived daily in pursuit of God’s kingdom!
Hi Lance,
I want you to know I am not a pastor, but a missionary alongside my husband. I tend to be prophetic, and listen to you and several different vessels trying to get His heart on what He is doing in the Earth and what He plans to do.
I was around during the late 60’s and ‘70’s during the Jesus People movement. I always felt almost everyone expected Jesus to come,” tomorrow”, and we would be raptured out of this mess. I believe the folks from Azusa St. revival did the same thing.
You, among several others, are talking about changing the areas of influence around us. Johnny Enlow, ( 7 mountains of Influence) and Danny Steyne , and Dutch Sheets are talking about us being His Re-presentatives, here on the earth at this time, right now, where we are and where we live. I live in Oaxaca, Mexico, in Cuilapam de Guerrero. Mexico has lots of evident corruption all around us. (But perhaps it is not any different than what we are seeing in the US).
So, what am I doing? I go to Zumba class, and I am a light there.( God told me to step into more prayer for each one. ) My husband and I have a ministry here, building homes for the poor.. So wherever we go talking about building and what we do, God is opening doors for us-Doors of influence.
I also am a bit of an “ odd duck” but God loves using me, because I am bold- I have an online health and wellness where God told me He would build a platform for me. I believe this is all about Being Salt, and Being Light wherever we are, and being bold, not shrinking away from it, not shrinking away from who He has called us to be.
One of those tools is prayer walking, wherever God tells us to do it. I have seen phenomenal changes, even political ones (here), when I have done it.
I cannot vote here. But I can pray and love my neighbor. We can effect change, wherever we go. If we believe we can, we can-be His Change Agents.
Wendy Hogan
Greetings Sir Lance, Knight Catalyzer.
Forty some years ago I left Tulsa after Bible School assuming ‘ministry’ looked like pulpit or mission field—only to find my vision best adapted to my father’s example, who had worked in corporate America forty years, and through friendship—through marketplace ministry—had influenced many friends to join him on his journey to Christ. Now, all these years, I am doing the same through my own agency: gaining friendships, sharing my faith, praying and walking together toward Jesus. (Miracles of healing, deliverance, salvation.)
Also: on the wave of American Cultural Change: For years I have taken our seven children on missions trips far away, far from our small, rural, mostly-Christian, monochrome Minnesota town—away ‘to the ends of the earth’—but now, with my little town having transformed recently into one-third Latino and one-third Somali (Muslim), the ends of the earth have come here. (America’s future trend. ) And this is a golden, mission-field opportunity—to help them find HIM, ‘for HE is not far from any one of us.’ Acts 17:26,27
And this is exactly what we are doing.
Thank you for your powerful service to the body of Christ. (My wife loves Mercedes Sparks)
Epic Days Unfolding!
I pray without ceasing .What the Holy Spirt tells me to do ,I have to obey Him .When He said you preach the word of God in a certain place so I ha w to do it and it worked .I went from one home to another establishing friendships to the people .I went to the depressed areas .I expected rejection .Sometimes the people that you give most of your love ,time ,money and efforts ,prayed continuously are the ones being used by the enemy .Taught the children how to pray ,.worship and memorize verses of the Bible ..Like last Sunday ,I listened and obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit of where to go and really God is amazing .I was sitting in the cottage near the sea , praying that Hod will bring souls from the east ,west ,north and south and there the children of different ages came and so with the adult brothers and sisters .
I connected to my sister ,who is a teacher of a National High School here in my city .She introduced me to the principal of the said school and the gospel of God is to be preAched ,given permission to preach every Thursday and Friday .I reached out also in different places .I prayed to a woman Pastor ,and she was delivered , it resulted to a new home churches and children ministry as well ass young people in school .Bibles I asked and prayed from God was answered and I gave them also English bibles and visayan and other religious books .The pastor that had been delivered connected me to the tribal people up in the mountain .Thank God I was able to go up to the tribal church with 650 members from 100 families .God moves mightily and I sent them also bibles .They are praying that I can comeback this coming August .Wherever I went ,I preached the gospel of salvation ,People are hungry and thirsty to receive the word of God and it has to be preached .Lifting up the name of Jesus alone ,tell the people to worship God in spirit and in truth .Tell them to trust Him and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and believe in His words to have eternal life .