I don't know if it's because I am getting older or not (which I am) or the option that I would like to believe, which is that I have entered a time in my spiritual journey where I am resolved to take a stand for those things that God has led me to believe are clearly taught in the Bible.

For the next few blog posts (and maybe more), I have committed myself to writing about some of these. It is important for me to say at this point that I do not think that I have the final word on Truth or the correct interpretation of various topics in the Scriptures, but I do believe that the Holy Spirit is in this and the Bible makes it clear that He will guide us into truth (John 16:13).

Without question, the first matter that comes to my mind is my commitment to the Word of God. During the priestly prayer of Jesus (John 17), he declared that the way to be used mightily by God is to be "sanctified" by the Word of God and that his Word is truth. By doing this, the believer is kept apart and protected from the influence of the evil one. Without a full commitment to the truthfulness of the Word of God, we are not fully set apart for his work.

There has been for years, even among those who serve in the church, a shift in the commitment to a belief in the Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Word of God. Slowly, but surely, pastors and church leaders have allowed the thought that God's Word cannot be fully trusted creep in. As a result, man has replaced God in determining what is true or not true. We have become the ones who tell people what can be believed or not believed.

I want to say that I believe it all. This does not mean that I understand everything perfectly or fully but it does mean that I believe it. My belief is in the reality of God and that he is capable, by virtue of his character and attributes, of insuring that the message he has given us is valid and trustworthy.

What this does mean is that I must spend significant time in His Word seeking to understand his original intent and how I must contextualize his message into my context of life and ministry. This is not easy but it is a task that I am willing and eager to do.

I have never been fully there but I am more than ever determined to move away from the idea that I have the "idea." More than ever, I do believe that God's Word confirms what I think is or isn't the way to think about a subject. I am fully committed to finding out what His Word teaches and making sure that this is what I communicate in all that I do.

Therefore, Paul's words in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 must be my guide as I live my life and I conduct my ministry. Here are his words...

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching , for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God (hopefully me) may be competent, equipped for every good work."

2010-12-15T21:43:00.003-05:00

Years ago, I made monthly trips to the Lawtey Correctional Prison near our church. For years we would make our monthly trip which consisted of meeting and greeting the prisoners prior to our service, singing and the preaching of the Word. We usually ended by praying together, sometimes in a circle holding hands.

I can remember many of our trips to the prison, especially the impression that was left on my mind as I interacted with the prisoners and shared the message. I can still remember a phrase I would used with the prisoners, one that sounded good and still may be true, even though now it seems kind of lame.

The phrase was this: "You don't have to be in prison to be in bondage!" It usually got a favorable response but it was said by someone that had never been incarcerated. All of this has come back to me as I recently finished reading the book of the month (on my blog, "Costly Grace" a book about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was imprisoned by choice under the evil regime of Adolf Hitler.

I was moved by the fact that Dietrich was in prison and three months after he was killed, the allies came through and rescued those in prison. Perhaps he never knew that when he chose to return to Germany to be with his people during the war that it would end up taking his life.

Nevertheless, he discovered for himself what it really meant to trust in Christ and live out his faith in conditions that were unimaginable.

I am moved by the faith of Bonhoeffer and troubled by how little my walk of discipleship has cost me. However, my heart and mind has been moved through this experience and I am determined more than ever to live my life in faith, regardless of what might be expected of me. How about you?

2010-11-30T20:19:00.003-05:00

A picture of a church conjures up all kinds of mental images of what my life was like growing up in the church. The fact that my father was the pastor certainly had something to do with the way I ended up thinking about the church.

Fortunately, my dad had what I believe to have been a biblical and positive perspective on the church and its purpose. Unfortunately, I was young and had not yet begun to wrestle with the specifics of what it meant to be the church in the midst of a world needing to hear the gospel message and to see it lived out in practical ways.

Now, years later, in a time when I am thinking on a daily basis about the health of the church, the question of what the church was meant to do and how it should function is of utmost interest to me. And, I think it should be for anyone who serves Christ and understands that it is God's desire to use the church to accomplish his will.

After much study of the Word of God and reading what many godly and insightful teachers have written concerning the role of the church, along with years of experience in trying to live out God's plan for the church, there has emerged for me and others a tremendous dissonance between the status of the church today and the church that God wants to exists.

Recently I read a book (Mere Churchianity)that has stirred within me a heart for the type of church that God wants for everyone who desires to be obedient to his plan for the church. Could it be that we, especially in America, have settled for a church that for all intents and purposes is anemic?

Could it be that we have traded in the biblical pattern of the church for an Americanized version? Could it be that we have become so blind to the biblical teaching about the nature of the church that we no longer recognize how far we have moved away from the real deal?

My heart is committed to trying to get back to the life of the church that is revealed in the Scriptures. I wonder what you think. Are you concerned as well? What have you noticed as you have been part of the church? This is a subject that I will definitely return to but in the meantime, I would love to hear from some of you and know what you think.

Do you want a "Do Over?"

2010-11-02T19:31:00.004-04:00

It was during my first visit to the Billy Graham museum (in the picture)in Charlotte, NC that I reflected back on my graduation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA as I received my Masters degree in 1982.

Billy is one of the men who has made an impact on my life. As I walked across the platform at graduation that day and shook his hand he said "congratulations on your accomplishment!" Those words reminded me of a very important truth...I didn't get there alone.

Throughout my life many have been used by God to help shape my life, beginning with my dad and mom. It seems amazing to me that my dad has been gone for over ten years now but I still, almost daily, feel the difference he made in my life. His wise advice continues to guide my life.

The Lord knew what he was doing when he brought Shelly (my wife) into my life. She continues to bless me in so many ways.

As I get older and realize how much certain people have been used by God to teach me and shape me into the person God desires, I long to have the same impact. Interestingly, Billy Graham was asked a few years ago whether or not he would do anything differently if he had his life to live over again.

His response was amazing. He told the inquirer that he would pick 12 men and spend the majority of his time investing his life into them. That way he could make an incredible impact on them and the world. This is even more amazing when you stop to think about the impact Billy Graham has made on the world by the way he has already lived his life.

This alone makes me want to stop right in my tracks and make an even more concerted effort to challenge those around me to live according to the ways of God. This extends even beyond my boys. It goes for anyone I touch with my life.

What if all of us did this? What might the church experience in these days if this was the way we lived their lives? What about the church as a community of believers? What kind of impact might we be able to make if we had a "Do Over" and this time we did it His way?

2010-10-21T15:48:00.004-04:00

I am happy and excited to tell everyone about our latest installment of the LEAD team in the Midwest and its continued development across the landscape of the Advent Christian denomination.
For those who are not familiar with the ministry, it is an intentional gathering of AC pastors/leaders who gather at least four times per year to do life together. This might mean reading a book, studying a biblical passage, fellowship with laughter, rest, sharing and much, much more.
This recent LEAD team launch proved to be a great time for those involved. Much was gained as we dove into the Word of God and began, if only at a surface level to share our lives with each other. The picture above will show who was involved.
It is my belief, based on their response, that a new Lead Team MW Mmidwest) will be established. This will be the 10th lead team that has begun across the United States. If you would like to know more about the ministry of the LEAD team feel free to contact the ACGC department of nurture.

2010-09-09T14:01:00.004-04:00

David wrote in Psalm 42:1-2 that "As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

I am sure that this is a familiar saying from the writings of King David for most of us. If not, we have probably sung a version of this in song many times. It is truly a passionate plea from David about his hunger and thirst for a right relationship with his God.

The ESV states that he pants for "flowing" streams. I think this is significant. It cannot be stagnate. It must be flowing, moving and alive. David was eager to know and experience the living God in and through his life. He did not want to simply know some theological thought about God. He wanted to be still in the midst of God flowing/existing and truly know him.

I am troubled by what I see going on around me in the church. I sense that we have reduced what it means to follow Christ to a particular doctrine or practice and missed out on what God really wants for us, namely him. Donald Miller has a tremendous saying in his book "Searching for God knows What" that speaks to the heart of this issue. Miller writes that if we are not careful we can substitute our lists, bullet points, latest projects etc., for the very thing that God wants most and that is that we would engage him personally.

We can never as believers replace God with our pet doctrine or belief. We must never act like our list of what it means to be a believer is more important than what God has said all along, namely to know his Son, Jesus Christ-God come in the flesh as our Savior. Only this and living out our life in obedience to his will can be the priority in our lives and ministry.

What this might mean for us is big. It may mean that we must rethink what we believe and what we think is important. I can't imagine sitting down with the Word of God and asking him to guide us in this matter and not coming to the same conclusion. Why don't we? What is it that keeps us from getting this?

Sedro-Wooley Church Plant & Youth Center

2010-08-09T22:19:00.005-04:00

Depending on who you talk to, one will find a number of ways in which the gospel needs to be advanced in a community. In northern Washington the pastor (Rick Qualls), elders and others believe that you find the need and meet it.
Through a series of "divine appointments" God has brought the Fountain Community Church in Bellingham, WA, the Western Washington conference of churches and others to believe that God is leading them to begin a new and exciting ministry in a small town called Sedro-Wooley, WA. It just so happens that this town needs a ministry that targets middle and high school kids. For some reason, this town with a fairly good-size high school has nothing to meet this need. Enter the Sedro-Wooley church plant and youth center.
Fountain Community church in Bellingham, pastored by Rick Qualls, brings some experience into this type of ministry venture as they have been in partnership with a number of entities in Bellingham for sometime and the primary work they share is in the running of a youth center. God often takes our strengths and passions and gives us the opportunity to use them for his glory.
Pictures above include Rev. Rick Qualls and Dr. Jim Crouse in front of the site where the church and the youth center will be run. Inside you can see the remodeling work going on for the ministry with hopes to be up and running in a few months. Much still needs to be done but great progress is taking place and there is incredible excitement in the city for this new ministry.
I wanted you to have a glimpse of what's happening and begin to pray for this good work. Let's pray even now that God is going to do wonderful things in this place and that he will receive glory for it all.

Let us BREAK BREAD Together!

2010-07-20T11:07:00.003-04:00

I don't do it too many other places but when I am in Jacksonville, my home for the last 20 years, I do. I go to Panera Bread and spend time working on things like sermon preparation, reading, following up on emails or making calls to friends and contacts.

I just finished a 20 minute call to a dear friend that I played basketball with in Bible College. God has enabled me to get closer to this dear brother over the past few years and I am so thankful for this.

You might wonder why I go here rather than anywhere else or for that matter why don't I stay at home. That's a good question, and one of the reasons that I am writing this post today.

As I sat here, drinking coffee and thinking about my life and ministry it dawned on me that there are more reasons for coming to Panera than just food. Yes, they have good coffee and breads and desserts that aren't that good for the waist line but it hit me that there's more to it than these.

In fact, I think the food is just icing on the cake. Deep down and not so deep down, people love community and the blessing they get from contact with another individual, especially friends that share a common interest in life.

I often take time to look around and listen (eavesdrop)carefully to the conversations that are going on throughout the restaurant and am amazed at all of the different types of people that meet and greet in this place.

There are grandmothers, grandfathers, baseball coaches, teachers, business partners, cheerleaders, pastors, SS teachers, high school friends, golfers, and the list goes on and on. Common to their discussion are the things that are at the center of their relationships. They love this place because it is friendly in its environment, relaxed, and meets some of their basic needs.

All of this has caused me to think about the church. I don't know about you but I am concerned about the church. Here I am talking about the gathered community of believers that we know as the local church. I am concerned about how we look at the ministry we have been given to each other and to those yet to become a part of God's body.

It has to be more than a building. We know that it is much more than this. It is according to the Scriptures, something quite mysterious. We can not limit our view and practice of the church to a service on Sunday or Wednesday morning. We must begin to see the body of Christ on the local level as the functioning arms, hands and feet of Christ going to those in need, whether they are believers or not.

Where is the relaxed and friendly environment of the church today that draws people into its web of relationships so they can meet Christ personally. One of the drawbacks to the traditional approach to "doing" church is that it is so one directional. I have often called it "monologish" in its nature. Perhaps that is a new word or not even a word, but what I mean is that we preach (in one direction) and we never really provide a place where the people of God can be challenged with the Word of God in such a way that they can voice their ideas, even differences in a safe environment, without condemnation or being told that they are wrong and all the bad things that are going to happen to them if they do not believe the way we do.

I believe that's the reason that many churches are moving out into the world by going to places like Panera or anyplace where this kind of relationships can be born and nurtured. Many leaders are reluctant to go in this direction for no other reason than they are concerned about being in control.

What if they talk about something that I don't agree with? What if they don't stay on the subject? These are the wrong questions. We should be talking about what they might be doing, like discussing the things that are on their hearts. What if this approach to ministry gave people a safe, friendly and relaxed environment to discuss their differences with the church or what it believes? What if it gave the leaders of the church a great place to love on people and show them what it truly means to be a believer grounded in the Word of God and living with the presence of Jesus Christ on their mind every moment of their life? WHAT IF?

Jesus is Coming Again!

2010-07-10T21:31:00.006-04:00

During the month of June I was privileged to visit New England (which I love) and participate in the annual Advent Christian Heritage Sunday service which was held at the William Miller chapel. A number of folks shared but the message was given by the President of the AC denomination, Rev. Brent Ross.

William Miller's grave, along with his wife's, is near the chapel where he preached the message that Jesus is coming again. Some say that he waited with others on what is known as ascension rock in order to greet Christ upon his return. As we all know, Jesus did not come at the time they thought, but he is coming according to the Scriptures and from all the available signs, it will be soon.

On Sunday, the 27th of June many folks gathered together in worship at Hope Church in Lenox, MA. Afterwards, we made the trek to the Miller chapel. During the service, many of those gathered that had been part of the Berkshire Christian College choir joined together to provide special music. It was a lot of fun and sounded pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

We have much to proud of and thankful for as Advent Christians; message, music and men and women willing to share the good news that Jesus is coming again, maybe Today!

LEAD TEAM PW

2010-06-17T09:20:00.007-04:00

One of the most exciting things to happen in the department of Nuture and Women's ministries was the launching of a LEAD TEAM for pastors' wives. On June 11-12 a group of pastors' wives (seen above) met for the first time to consider this kind of mutual ministry.

No one can argue, in my opinion, that the pastor's wife is not key to the health and success of a local church ministry. She is the right hand to the pastor. She serves as an encourager, friend, advice giver and helpmate in so many ways. Few pastors would want to tackle the demands of the pastoral ministry without their wives beside them.

While this was the first LEAD TEAM PW (Pastors' wives) launch, others are being planned. Our hope and dream is to make this available for all of our pastors' wives. If you are interested in this ministry be sure to let us know.

Lead Teams are Growing!

2010-05-27T10:48:00.005-04:00

I can't begin to tell you how meaningful it has become for me to be part of the LEAD team SE. Pictured above is LEAD TEAM SE sharing around the table a Blowing Rock, NC. These guys are building a relationship by spending time together. God continues to bless as we read, study, pray and share our lives with each other.

The other picture is part of the newly established LEAD TEAM ME Coastal. Recently, this group met for the second time and one can already see lives being blended together around their common bond in Christ. This is a new group, while the LEAD TEAM SE has been together for over two years. Nevertheless, in both groups there is evidence of God working in and through those who commit to such a commitment to being with each other on a regular basis.

If you are interested in knowing more about LEAD TEAMS, please contact me at the ACGC Nurture department (800-676-0694) or call me personally (704-999-7098). I can also be reached via email at swarren@acgc.us.

Two Sides of the same Coin!

2010-03-29T21:37:00.004-04:00

Years ago, I participated in a small group as part of my Doctor of Ministry program. What started out to be an exercise to meet a requirement for the class ended in being a life-changing experience.

We were suppose to work up to the point where we would share a time in our life when we committed sin and be willing to tell how it happened. If possible, we were asked to talk about why it happened and what we did about it.

I must admit that it was interesting to sit in the group and listen as each person shared (what I call transparency) about their sinful behavior. What amazed me and surprised me at that time (and still today) was what happened when members of the group sought to speak into the pain and situation that had just been shared.

For some reason, most of us are okay with the idea of sharing about our lives but not as comfortable with another person speaking into our life (what I call vulnerability). This reaction comes about when someone on the outside of our inner lives seeks to offer a critique on what we did or should have done, even if the person seeks to help.

I know that it's a stretch but let's apply this to our disciple making discussion that has been at the heart of my blog posts for weeks. For example, everything is fine (even with little growth) if the pastor or leader talks about their disciple making experience. If they only share their perspective they can make it sound like they tried and it just didn't work out or if this or that hadn't happened they would have more disciples. However, the minute someone begins to take a closer look and suggest that what they are doing is not really disciple making and never would be seen as disciple making-things get a little rough.

It seems to me that this is what we have going on in many situations throughout the world of Christianity. We have learned how to talk in such a way that we make people think that we are making disciples but with little progress. The reality is, however, that when it comes to making disciples in most of these situations and for most of these pastors/leaders, they are not really making disciples nor do they know how to make them.

I know that this may sound harsh but let's be real. If we really were making disciples according to the plan of the Master (Jesus) wouldn't we see a different kind of church as we move forward into the 21st century?

Let's Be Honest!

2010-03-13T18:55:00.002-05:00

I want to pick up on the subject of making disciples that I have been posting about for the past three or four posts. It has been sometime, due to a busy schedule,

If you have been following the discussion, one of the last things I mentioned was the task of pastors and leaders finding people in whom they can invest spiritually. For some, getting started is the biggest hurdle. However, in this post I want to suggest that somethings else lies at the heart of our hesitancy to get started.

Honesty, in my way of thinking, is our biggest problem. Not necessarily honesty with others (although this is critically important), but honesty with ourselves concerning our own readiness to disciple another person.

I am quite confident that some will disagree with me but my experience tells me that many leaders, even pastors, are not capable of making disciples well. Too many times we assume that simply because a person has a position or role in the church, they are spiritually mature enough to disciple someone else. This is not the case.

They may have a grasp on the big picture of what it means to be a believer, but what about the basic principles involved in being a faithful and obedient believer (a disciple). Are these present in the life of the leader and being demonstrated in and through the way they live their life? If they are absent, why?

Perhaps the best place to begin is with an evaluation of the leader's personal walk with the Lord? What exactly does his/her prayer life look like? How much does the leader read and study the word of God? Is this a consistent part of their life or is it done only to meet a need of speaking or teaching someone else? How much are the principles of the Scriptures at work in the life of the believer?

I could go on and on about the importance of these basic principles in the life of the believer but a final question is perhaps the best way to bring this post to a close. Can we be honest with ourselves and not fall prey to the temptation to inflate our importance and in particular, our maturity with regard to these basic principles.

If we can be honest, and realize that for most of us we have a long way to go or at least ways in which we must improve and mature, then there is a good chance that we can be a part of a movement of disciple making in our churches.

What do you think? Where do you think you are in regard to this important issue? Let me know what your thoughts are...I would love to hear them.

Just Think About It!

2010-01-11T22:31:00.003-05:00

For years, I had always thought it was kind of strange to hear that Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee and called out to men (we would later know as the disciples) and see them leave their jobs without a minute of hesitation.

Then, a little later, I found out through the counsel of someone that a careful study revealed that Jesus did not meet or extend a call to discipleship until about two years into a three and one-half year ministry. No wonder they followed him. During that two year time period Jesus built a relationship with these men that would give them the desire to commit to following him and leaving their families and jobs.

This seems to me to be an important point when we consider what it means to do the work of disciplemaking. Most churches and pastors/leaders fall prey to the idea that if someone (i.e. man) comes to our church, hears us preach and generally likes people, will automatically want to get involved in a relationship that will lead them to become disciples.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work. Oh, yes, some men do come and get involved but unless these connections are based on more than the fact that they are comfortable or that they like our personality, it usually falls through. What is needed is a relationship that provides the glue to the making a real disciple that will hold, even when things get rough.

Let's be honest. Most pastors have too much to do (expected by others) most of the time that to spend large quantities of time with those who are lost, seems to many to be a waste of time. In many cases, to spend time with men in order to make this relationship thing begin to work, even if they are believers, doesn't make sense to some either.

My question is this. With whom are you spending time with? As a pastor, are you spending time with men who will come to know your heart? Do they know you beyond the point of whether or not you can preach? Do they see the character of your heart? Would they join you if you challenged them to join you in a journey to become a disciple? Just think about it!

To Be a Real Learner....

2009-12-30T22:04:00.004-05:00

Years ago, my dad helped me put up the privacy fence around my new home. He did it the old fashion way. We started by putting up the first section of fence and made sure it was plumb with the house.

I looked on with interest as my dad used a piece of string with a weight tied to the bottom of the string to make sure everything was lined up properly. Dad said it was important to make sure the first section was right or all the other fence sections would be off. It was hard work but it became easier as we made our way around the yard since the first section was plumb.

This principle makes sense and applies to the work of making disciples. If we get off to a bad start, then the rest of the process won't work. This may sound crazy but hear me out. We do not and cannot make disciples out of non-believers unless they are first saved. I say this because in many cases it seems that we have dummed down what it means to confess your sin and believe in your heart that Jesus died for one's sin. It is much more than a verbal statement. It means much more than being baptized. It means much, much more.

One thing that is visibly absent in many churches today is a clearly defined process whereby recent "confessors" are being transformed (Rom. 12:1-2)into disciples. It is my conviction that many churches are weak due to the fact that they are being led by people who are believers but they are NOT moving forward in maturity and are definitely not disciples.

Unfortunately, being busy has become a substitute for real ministry. In many situations, the ministry that produces disciples according to the standard of the Scriptures is clearly absent. Pastors and church leaders are tempted to replace this type of work with busyness. To reverse this pattern something must be done.

Our first step must be to follow Christ in every way. The basic root meaning of the New Testament word for disciple is learner. This seems in contrast to our usual approach to following Christ. We become believers and too often we are off to the races spiritually. We are duped into thinking that once we learn a few basics that it's all we need to make it work. No wonder we get into trouble.

Perhaps our best place to start is to learn from the Scriptures exactly what it means to be a learner of Christ. There's no better place than to look inside the relationship that existed between Christ and his disciples. That's where we'll go next in our discussion. See you then!

What Now?

2009-12-22T13:33:00.003-05:00

It is interesting to me that a number of people have spoken to me personally about my last blog post regarding discipleship, but none have share their comments publicly. I do wish they would as I think their thoughts are worth sharing but more than this, this is a topic that must not be dropped.

Could it be that so few respond because when you get right down to it, few of us know little about discipleship because we are not truly functioning disciples ourselves and as a result we have not discipled anyone oursleves?

It seems to me that many times we talk about things within the community of the church that in reality we have not experienced or practiced personally. When we criticized preaching, have we preached perfectly? When we get concerned about how we carry out Christian Education, do we in fact know how to carry out a biblical plan of educating people in a Christian manner?

To carry this one step further, do we take a stand against and speak against the way others do the work of disciple making and the truth is that we are not actively engaged in the work of making disciples ourselves? How can we let this happen? How can we stand idly by and not see the hypocrisy of our statements?

So, what now? What is the first step toward being involved in disciple making? Does it begin with me first? If so, what must I do and what must you to be able to carry out this mandate from the Lord Jesus (Mt. 28)?

For discussion sake, it seems to me that we must first know what a disciple is according to the Scriptures. Without a clear picture in our minds of what Jesus meant when he said "make disciples" it will be virtually impossible to complete his mission.

What does it mean to be a disciple to you? Do you possess these characteristics in your life? Are you practicing the principles that should guide the life of a disciple in your life on a daily basis? Are you sharing these with others?

Until later, why not read through the NT, especially the gospels and see if you can identify some the characteristics connected with being a disciple. Next time, we will examine these up close.

Discipleship...What exactly does it take?

2009-12-12T16:16:00.003-05:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about a subject that I think is very important. In fact, it may be one of the most critical questions for us to ask and answer when it comes to the future vitality of the church. I am talking about this matter of discipleship.

Like me, you have read the OT & NT many times and we have seen the power behind one leader passing the mantle on to another person (i.e. Elijah to Elisha; Moses to Joshua, etc.,). When I read or see movies depicting these relationships, I am moved to want to be part of that same kind of relationship today. The question is, "what does that take and what will it look like today?"

The men (in the picture) are two of my good friends. Two men whom God allowed to be part of my life while pastoring a church. These guys are godly men and today they continue to serve God in their own way. I see the character of God in them and at times I hear them talk about things that we shared during our ministry.

Is that it? When we see the things of God present in a person that we have spent intentional time with, is that it? As I travel around and visit many churches, a lot of times I see mostly individuals doing their own thing rather than a movement of godly men and women who are different, yet very much the same due to some effective discipleship having gone on for years.

If we are going to carry on the gospel to those who do not know Christ as Lord yet, we must pass the essentials of the faith on to them and put into motion the process/relationship of disciple making. I wonder, into whom are you passing on the faith? Do you see men or women growing up around you who are able to do the same with their own mix of personality and giftedness?

I would be interested in anyone's post that might respond to these questions. Please let me know your victories and your struggles regarding this matter. I will continue these thoughts in my next blog post.

Lots of FUN and then some....

2009-11-18T21:09:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine has been asking me to go for a few years now, and this year I finally did. What am I talking about? Well, I am talking about the Carolina Opry show in Myrtle Beach, SC.

It's a Christmas show that will rival any of those in Nashville, TN, or Branson, MO. I thought it would be good but I had no idea how much I would enjoy it. Ten of us met in Myrtle Beach on Friday night, checked into our motel rooms and headed off to enjoy a delicious meal. After a good night's sleep we met for an early lunch or a late breakfast before heading to the theater.

The bottom line is that it was great. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would but now that I have been, I am already looking forward to going back again. I am tempted to say that the best thing about it all was the comedy but there was so much more to this show.

If you like singing, outfits that are incredibly beautiful, staging, orchestral music, good ole country singing, laughter and wonderful Christmas songs, then this show is for you. Perhaps the best thing of all is the strong Christian emphasis running throughout the show. Without question, the closing of the show with the singing of He's Alive made an amazing finale.

I'm already making my plans for next year...why not you too!

Picture This!

2009-11-10T22:28:00.004-05:00

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I h have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (J. 3:16).

Last year, I took a trip to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. For me it was a very moving experience. As I walked through the Library many things caught my attention, in fact too many to mention, but one picture made a significant impression.

It was a picture of faces, in fact, it was a room full of pictures near the end of the walk through. All I could think of was the many faces like these that I have seen all over the world. Faces in Africa, India, Philippines, Honduras, Japan continue to flood my memory. The good thing about all of this is that I have come to love many of these people through our contact and communication.

But this isn't enough. Our purpose is to reach them with the gospel and to make them into disciples. As I consider the life and ministry of Billy Graham, I am struck by the fact that he is one person who made this officially his goal in life. He just turned 90 years old and continues to do this as he nears the end of his life.

What about you and me? Regardless of our occupation, is this our goal? Are we committed to doing everything we can to make disciples out of people we meet in life? Do we see our life's goal as an attempt to please God by bringing lost people, those whom he loves, into a right relationship with Him?

It's amazing what a picture can cause you to consider. I will never forget this picture and hope you don't either!

2009-10-29T16:39:00.004-04:00

Take a look across the page and check out the plan to revise "The Alexander Antidote" and let me know whether this resource might be helpful to you as you do the work of the ministry, whether it's in the local church context or in Christian ministry in general.

2009-10-25T22:21:00.003-04:00

I have to give the Mechanicsville AC Church credit for doing something that few churches ever do. Are you wondering what that something is? Well, it's quite simple. They reached a point in their ministry life as a church where they decided that they needed help.

Their first step was to realize that if they were going to make it in the future, they would need to work with others who cared and could help. That was the beginning of the LMT (Leadership Ministry Team). Those pictured above include the Pastor and members of the in-house LMT, along with myself (Sam Warren-Director of Nurture). The members include (Front Row L to R)...Trish Harrington, Ruth Williams and Kari Phillips. The back row includes (L to R)...Ron Sties, Director of Nurture Sam Warren, Pastor, Rev. Warren Conary and Student Ministry Pastor Chris Phillips. Missing are Superintendent Marshall Tidwell and T.G. Ayers.

Beginning in January the in-house LMT will take over the full leadership responsibilities for the church. In the meantime, much work is being done in order to get ready for a month (January 2010)of vision casting for the entire church. There are many ways perhaps to stir renewal in the life of a hurting church and this is only one but we have found it to be effective.

Becoming what God wants us to be is hard work, even for a local church. I encourage you to pray for the Mechanicsville, VA AC church as they walk into the future. I, for one, think that they are going to make it work.

2009-10-24T15:06:00.006-04:00

One of the real joys for me in my role as Director of Nurture for ACGC is the opportunity I get to attend various conferences and conventions held by Advent Christians across the country.

Last week, I was able to be in New England and participate in the Eastern Regional Convention led by Rev. Clint Taber (Eastern Regional Convention). This year was a real treat as the keynote speaker was a friend and biblical scholar, Dr. Edward Fudge.

It was exciting to hear him teach out of Scriptures on the book of Hebrews which is the subject of his newest commentary. There was excellent attendance from pastors, and lay leaders from across New England, especially given the economic times.

I am happy to provide some pictures along with this blog post of the conference, as well as a picture of Dr. Edward Fudge and Rev. Clint Taber. Hope you enjoy!

Lead Team ME: four and counting!

2009-09-05T16:32:00.002-04:00

Last week I spent some time in the beautiful state of Maine with a group of pastors. Our meeting site was the Advent Christian campground found in Mechanic Falls, ME. It couldn't have been a prettier site for the most recent gathering of pastors who are interested in the establishment of a Lead Team ministry within the conference.

For two days we shared our lives and studied the Scriptures together. It was a refreshing time of interaction and fellowship. The end result was the desire to use the Lead Team ministry within the conference. This involves a commitment to meet together at least four times per year for a 24-hour uninterrupted period of doing life together.

Many pastors are alone, even if there are others near by, because they lack this kind of iron sharpening iron fellowship with others who can listen and if necessary, speak into one's life for good. This is an exciting development since we now have four Lead Teams that exist across the Advent Christian horizon (United States) plus one more in the process of being developed.

If you are an AC pastor and want to know more about getting involved in the Lead Team feel free to contact me at the department of nurture, ACGC.

Make it your Business!

2009-08-19T21:57:00.008-04:00

I’m not a business man and I have never owned a business but I have had the privilege of sharing the ministry of the local church with a number of business leaders. Involving them in the ministry was one of the best decisions I have ever made. One thing I discovered is that they have a lot to offer but rarely get asked to contribute. We often think that they know business; we know ministry. But, the truth is that they are not incompatible.
Early on in my last pastorate which lasted for 18 years, I was blessed with three men who soon became my friends and over the years have taught me many things about ministry as they grew in their walk with the Lord. I can only hope that I blessed them as much. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend and take a group of business owners with me to a conference on “Doing Business as Unusual.” What this means became clearer the longer we participated in the conference. It became obvious that the world has a way of operating and it is not totally bad but the Bible clearly has something to say about how one does business and treats people.
In the picture you will see Steve Thigpen, Gene and Helen Stephenson, Dave and Sandy Carpenter and myself (Sam Warren). The retreat took place in Rome, GA at the beautiful Winshape Retreat center. Over twenty business leaders from around the country sat under the teaching ministry of Dr. David Ferguson of Intimate Life Ministries and Brian McCoy, CEO of McCoy building supply. McCoy’s has 84 stores across eight states and does 600 million dollars annually. David and Brian did a fantastic job of driving these principles home.
I certainly want to encourage every church and pastor to take a look across their congregations and pay special attention to the business leaders that might be present. Pray for them and ask God how you might include them in the ongoing ministry of the church. You might be surprised how eager they will be to share the load.

2009-08-06T23:07:00.002-04:00

Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity and privilege of meeting a variety of wonderful people. One such person is Dr. Claude Thomas (on the left).

I first met Claude in Austin, Texas while attending a Strategic Partners meeting with Intimate Life Ministries. Later, I sat under his teaching at a Church Redefined conference (dedicated to Church Planting), also in Austin, TX. Claude is the Sr. VP of Strategic Ministries for the Feed the Children ministry.

Recently, Claude gave me a call and we set up a time for him to visit our ACGC offices. I took the opportunity to invite him to share in our chapel service and then we were able to share a meal.

People like Claude are a special gift. He is the type of person that makes it a great experience to be part of the Kingdom of God. I look forward to continuing our relationship and to see what God will do as we work together for the Lord we both love and serve.

Antioch School...could it be for you?

2009-07-13T11:12:00.003-04:00

We find ourselves in the midst of some interesting days as the church. Things are different than they were when my dad grew up and for that matter, for me too.

For years, we have taken the position that if someone was going to be trained for the work of the ministry, they would need to "go" away to Bible College or Seminary. In recent years, online education has taken off as one way to circumvent this very expensive option. And, I must admit that it is a very attractive option, yet on at least one front, it does not meet the need completely

I guess that's why the Antioch School approach, which is tabbed as church based theological education is so attractive to me and many others. It offers the best of both worlds. In the first place, it is reasonably priced. Next, it is available to the average pastor attempting to develop himself/herself as a leader in the context of the local church. Thirdly, it is education that is not in isolation from other leaders/pastors and carries with it a high degree of accountability. Fourthly, it is grounded in the church which biblically is the center of operations for the work of Christ in the world. And finally, at least for my purposes, it is competency based rather than a traditional approach to meeting the requirements for an education. For more on the Antioch approach to church based theological education, go to bild.org and click on the Antioch link at the bottom of the page.

Recently, a small group of pastors/leaders attended a three day training for the Antioch School certification in Hartford, CT. It was exciting to sit around the table for three days and immerse ourselves in discussion over the Word of God and its implication and application to the various ministry contexts represented around the table.

I believe that God has given us many great tools for study (Berkshire, BICS, GCTS, Antioch School) which can meet the variety of needs across our denomination when it comes to theological training. I suppose that I am more specifically saying that the Antioch approach might really appeal to the pastor who never thought he could get this kind of education without going away.

2009-06-30T10:40:00.004-04:00

In recent months, I have been playing around with the work of preaching first person narrative sermons. Drama is not new to me as I have always had an interest but this is new.

After preaching this way once, Dr. David Ferguson, the founder and director of Intimate Life ministries asked me if I would do it again during an upcoming Strategic Partners meeting in Austin, TX. I said yes, and this is where i met Ben Terry.

Ben is the pastor of a church plant which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The pictures are of me preaching this first person sermon during the anniversary service in Hutto, TX. It was a real joy for me to do this and a wonderful way to drive home the meaning of a text in a way that is not often seen or heard.

I would encourage all pastors and leaders to consider doing this. If you have interest let me know and I can pass on some helpful information on how to get started.

2009-06-16T21:32:00.000-04:00

I received an email recently from Ernie Schache, our Missionary in India from the country of New Zealand. Ernie informed me that Rani, the wife of Emmanuel, our mission office manager, had completed the translation of my book "Dead Men Talking" into the Tamil language and that they had received 500 copies of the book.

Today, I opened a package that had five copies of my book and I thought that I would show you a copy of the book. It looks quite different but it is exciting to know that the truths of Conditional Immortality can be read in another language.
Yesterday, I was told that David Vignali had completed the Spanish translation of "Dead Men Talking" and has had it checked by a native of Mexico who is fluent in the native tongue. Perhaps in the near future we will have DMT into another language, one that is probably the second largest language in the good ole USA.

Faith First is Happening

2009-06-15T15:46:00.006-04:00

From the very first time I heard the proposed name of the new church plant in Jacksonville, FL, I loved it!

This name is reflective of its pastor, the Rev. Terry Sullivan. Terry, along with his wife Misty and two boys TJ & Wyatt recently moved to Jax, FL in order to pursue God's calling upon their lives.

They accepted the call from the FL conference of Adven t Christian churches to begin this ministry and things are really happening.

Last Sunday, Shelly (my wife) and I visited this new work and were amazed at what God is doing. Faith First Community Church is located presently in the midst of the Oakleaf area on the westside of Jax and is positioned perfectly for a great ministry.

Through relationships, Terry and Misty have made contacts with many people and God is giving them favor. As you can see in the picture above, God has already begun to bring people together for this new and exciting work.

The minute we walked into the room (Community center of Oakleaf) people began to welcome us. The message provided by Rev. Terry Sullivan was biblical and practical. This particular Sunday Terry spoke on the importance of hanging on to Jesus in the midst of the trials and struggles of life. He was able to take the experience of Paul and allow the Holy Spirit to apply it to our lives.

The group meets on Sunday morning from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. On each side of the meeting, the church eats, shares fellowship and spends time in the word. On Wednesday nights the Sullivans have been hosting a Bible study at their home which is nearby.

Church planting is something that we have talked about alot but we must start doing it more and more and this is true for more than one reason. First, it was a biblical practice. Next, there are people everywhere that need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Additionally, it is an exciting and cutting edge experience. Many local chruches would do well to adopt a "church planting" mindset of ministry into their present work.

I want to encourage you to pray for this good work and believe with us that God is going to build another great ministry in the city of Jacksonville, FL that is reaching people for Christ.

2009-06-04T22:23:00.004-04:00

I am so excited to talk about the LEAD TEAM SE which is a group of pastors who are committed to be together on a regular basis.

I am finding the Bible coming to life as we allow "iron to sharpen iron." This happens both accidentally and intentionally. Accidentally as we talk with each other and share the mere basics of what's happening in our lives. All of a sudden God speaks into the situation and we are all touched by his presence.

Intentionally, as we do things that are designed to speak into our lives. These things include discussing a book that we have all read or seeing something together and then spending time to reflect out loud on what God said to us through the experience.

And then there's the pure fun of just being together. Through our time with each other we begin to get familiar and comfortable with each other. All of a sudden, we are bonding and blending our lives together. It has been especially cool to see how we are coming to care for each other in ways that are unfamiliar to us but nevertheless refreshing.

This is what we all need. We all need someone and it's really great when it's a group of people who care enough to listen and to speak into our lives so that we can become everything God wants us to be. The Lead Team is becoming that for me and for a number of men around the country. I want to encourage you, especially if you are a pastor to consider being a part of the Lead Team. If you aren't near one, please get in touch with me and we will start one.

2009-04-21T23:30:00.002-04:00

What's happening across the United States among our pastors? Alot!

Last week, I spent some quality time with a group of pastors in the midwest part of our country in an attempt to start a new Lead Team.

I am happy to say that God met us there and now we have the beginnings of a Lead Team Missouri Valley (to be called from this day forward-Lead Team MV).

While a few other pastors were not able to join us, we met at the beautiful Heartland facility which was a major blessing. In the picture above (L to R) you will find Kevin Skipworth, Mike Gardner, Sam Warren, Terry Cook and Roy Gilkey. In the future, the group will find a place central to all of the pastors and begin their journey to mold their lives together.

The Lead Team's primary purpose is to get pastors together four to five times a year in order to share their lives with each other. This may include studying the Word of God, reading a book, spending time in prayer, eating meals together or just some good old fun.

Being a pastor can be a very challenging and draining experience. If you are a pastor and this is your need, you can contact my office and I will help you get connected to a Lead Team near you.

2009-04-13T21:27:00.005-04:00

Easter Sunday has always been a special time for me. I can almost imagine that first Easter when the disciples went to the tomb and discovered that Jesus was no longer in the grave.

What could be more exciting than to discover that what you had hoped was true, was really true. Once the disciples found this out, their lives were never the same. They did nothing less than turn the world upside down through the exercise of their faith.

This is a story worth telling (as Danny Williams declares), a message that we must communicate with those who do not know Christ in a personal way.

I long to live my life in such a way that it cannot be interpreted as play acting. My hope is that someone will see in me the reality of Christ and be encouraged to consider the claims of Christ upon their life. I hope an pray the same thing for you too!

2009-04-03T08:52:00.002-04:00

Last week, I made my first trip to Lancaster Bible College, and Eastern University in order to connect with Advent Christian Students.

I must say that I had a great time and was impressed with both campuses and the students that we have at both institutions.

Picture here are some of the students studying at Lancaster Bible Students, along with one of the LBC staff member (Micah Story-front kneeling with son). Micah is the son of Rev. Tim Story, former pastor of the Oxford, ME AC Church. His wife, Jennifer is next to him.

These students are at various levels in their studies but all interested in pursuing what God has for their lives.

While on the Eastern University campus, I was able to meet with one of our students (Katie Gallagher). Katie is in the music program and is thriving at Eastern. I also ran into a teacher at Eastern that I met a number of years ago, Duffy Robbins. Duffy and I had talked previously about a visit to the campus and the possibility of me sitting in on some classes. Well, he was true to his word: he invited me to sit in on his class which was about to start. I did and it was a lot of fun. Before the class was over, Duffy was asking me to share my opinion with the students on a number of subjects. Thanks Duffy!

Please pray for these students and these institutions. May God give them favor in the work of expanding His Kingdom throughout the world.

May I ask you a question!

2009-03-22T21:56:00.003-04:00

During my last thirty years of ministry I have often been approached by people with questions ranging from the "simple to bizarre."

It is a dangerous position to be in because those of us in ministry can falsely begin to think after some time that we somehow have the answers. I believe that we must be careful, as people quite often accept what we say without much deliberate thought themselves.

This past weekend I was asked a very challenging question, one that I took very seriously and realized that the person asking me was not only sincere in asking but troubled with the possible answers I might give.

It is a troubling thought to think that what we say in response to a question might push someone down a path that could create more problems rather than solve the one presented. In the past, I would have given a response more quickly than I should, but I am prone now to think a little more, hoping that God will lead me to say something useful and able to build another person up in their journey to do what God wants them to do.

The distance between a question and the answer given must be bathed in prayer, if only for a few minutes and guided by the word of God. The Bible does not speak to every issue specifically but it does speak to every issue generally or at least in principle. The believer who wants to make a momentary and perhaps even an eternal difference will find the distance between the Q & A worth the time and effort in order to know the truth and to be able to share it wisely.

The next time someone seeks you out for an answer to a very important question (at least to them), take the time to give them one that will make a difference.

2009-03-13T13:30:00.004-04:00

One of the things I have learned to a greater degree over the past few years, while serving as the Director of Nurture, is that God created a big world and in this world he wants to use each of us for his glory.

Sometimes, I commit the mistake of thinking ahead (even of God) and believe that I have figured out just exactly what God wants to do, but then realize that I missed the mark by a long shot. This can be humbling but it can also be a good learning experience for those of us in the work of the Christian ministry, whatever that might look like.

Those I have met around the world (literally) are as different as night and day. However, there are some common characteristics held by all. First, they discern the leading of the Lord, based upon a clear leading and understanding of the Word of God. Next, they are confident of the leading of the Holy Spirit, knowing that He would never lead them to do something contrary to the Bible. Therefore, if He confirms their convictions they can move forward with great confidence. And, finally they are committed to action, willing to take people with them but determined to do God's will no matter what.

I for one love to be around people like this. I hope that you are one of them, if not, God has a place for you in His world. You just have to ask Him to let you in on the FUN!

Youth Pastors Summit

2009-03-06T11:35:00.002-05:00

Partnerships are wonderful things and the one we (Advent Christians) have with Intimate Life Ministries is a real blessing. This past week, I was able to take four youth pastors with me to Orlando, FL. While in Orlando, we attended the Youth Pastors Summit. On the first day we met with 2000 youth pastors and experienced a tremendous time of worship, study and fellowship. People like Francis Chan, Jay Strack, Darren Whitehead and many others ministered to us and encouraged us. Those in the picture are Chris Phillips, Logan Mullis, Matt Adams and Matt Larkin, along with myself. The second day we went to the First Baptist Church of Orlando and continued our time together. Oh, by the way, the conference was FREE. I will continue to partner in this way and experience the fruit of such a connection.

80, 90, and then some...

2009-02-25T19:42:00.006-05:00

Last weekend, I celebrated along with my sister and number of friends my mom's 80th birthday. It was a miracle that we were able to keep it a secret. She was very surprised!

The next day I participated in the 90th anniversary celebration of my former church. We had a wonderful time and shared many memories with former and present members, along with a number of the former pastors. It too was a great time!

All of this made me think about a trip I took a few years ago to England with a college choir. I can clearly remember being in churches when the pastor made a statement like this, "We have been worshiping God in this church for over 900 years." We were all amazed, but I guess we were used to thinking that being old meant a couple hundred years since we were all from America.

Even more, this will all pale to the fact that we are going to be able to worship and serve the Lord in his kingdom for all of eternity. I am looking forward to that incredible experience but not before I get the chance to experience all of the earthly celebrations the Lord wants to give me.

2009-02-12T14:58:00.007-05:00

It is amazing how God works to bring about his will. I first met Terry, Misty, T.J., and Wyatt Sullivan a number of months ago during a visit to Virginia.

Terry has become a dear friend and partner in the work of the Lord. Terry is a member of the Southeast Lead Team. It is here that God moved upon Terry's heart and has led him to begin a move to work in the area of Church planting.

Terry and his family are being considered for a church plant in FL. As this develops, I will keep you informed. Please pray for God's leading in this matter and keep alert for other information on church planting in the AC denomination.

Let Us Rise Up and Build (Nehemiah 2:18 ESV)

2009-02-02T10:25:00.010-05:00

>Last weekend I was in Mechanicsville, VA for a special time with the LMT (Leadership Ministry Team) of the church along with a number of other interested folks. Their purpose: think strategically about the present and future ministry of the church. The pastors are committed to building a ministry that has purpose and focus. They realize that this will take time and intentionality on the part of the leadership and church body. This kind of weekend training event is available for your church too.

In the month of March (13-15) and (20-22) similar events will be taking place in NC, perhaps you can bring a team from your church to one of these events and get the process started for your ministry.

Please contact the department of nurture for further information.

A House of Prayer...for all peoples (Is. 56.7)

2009-01-21T10:41:00.006-05:00

I just finished my second (2008,2009)trip to be part of the DPLN (Denominational Prayer Leaders Network)which was held in Austin, TX.

The title is a little misleading, even though representatives from some of the major USA denominations were present, due to the fact that virtually nothing was said regarding denominations during our entire time together.

However, my mind was drawn to the text in Isaiah through the phrase, "...for all peoples." At times, I felt like I was a foreigner among all of these folks but all that was quickly dissapated through our times of prayer.

I know that this event is a once a year thing, but I must admit that during my time at the conference, especially while we spent time in prayer, the Lord impressed upon me that this is what we must be about in our ministries. He said, "...for my house shall be a house of prayer" (Is. 56.7).

We all know this saying, made by Jesus, while he was cleaning out the temple (Mt.21.13). Here, Jesus adds an addendum by stating, "...but you make it a den of robbers."

Now you're probably saying to yourself, "I'm not robbing God of anything! But, is that really true? How many times have we come together as the church and failed to meet God in an acceptable manner? How often have we come with our own agenda, never thinking that God wants to meet with us in that place so He can reveal his will to us?

This may sound strange but I personally need to hear this word and I think our denomination does too! I believe that we have for too long pushed our agenda, after all we are "congregational"-no one can tell us what to do. My question is simply this, "Does this include God too!?"

In the year before me, I plan to commit myself to becoming a man of prayer, not only in proclamation but in practice too! I invite you and your church to join me!

A Divine Appointment!

2009-01-06T09:01:00.005-05:00

Most of you know that I travel a great deal in my role as the Director of Nurture so it's not unusual to get caught in a traffic jam or in some cases a "parking lot." This happened to me recently as I made my way to FL to share the Christmas holidays with my family. Just north of Darien, GA on interstate 95 south I sat for two hours. I told my wife that I would call her as soon as we started moving. Finally that time came and we began to move.

Immediately, I made the move to call her and let her know what was happening, but there was NO phone to be found. My heart sank as I pondered what to do. My first thought was to get off at the Darien exit and give Shelly a call on a pay phone so she would know what had happened and why she wouldn't be able to get me on the phone. Now, this is where the story gets good!

As I am talking with my wife and telling her what took place here cell phone rang (as I had called her on the house phone). She said excitedly, "Sam, it's you calling me!" Well, of course it wasn't me as I did not have my phone. I could hear her talking to the person on her cell phone. "Yes sir, this is Shelly!" Apparently, this is what happened. When we started moving, a person in a car behind me thought they saw a phone (or something) lying on the ground. They were able to drive slowly enough to simply open the door and pick it (whatever it was) up. The great thing is it was my phone that obviously had fallen out the last time I got back into my car.

As the conversation proceeded, my wife asked where they were and they said that they were off exit #49. Shelly quickly asked me what exit I was on and I responded, "Exit #49!" Amazingly, they were on the same exit. After telling them where I was located, they drove over to me and handed me my phone. As they drove up, the lady rolled down her window and asked me, "Are you Sam?" The man hopped out of the car and laughingly said, "Prove it!" We both had a good laugh and I thanked them so much for their kindness in searching for me.

Now, I do not want to make too much of this but God blessed me on this night. I am thankful that I was on the phone with Shelly so these kind people could locate me. I am grateful that they were conscientious enough to seek me out. I am thankful that they were honest people and did what was right. I was thankful for the saved expense of having to buy a new phone. I'm sure this was just a coincidence. Yeah right! For me, it was a divine appointment so God could remind me again that he cares for me in every way

National Youth Workers Convention

2008-12-17T10:11:00.010-05:00

Every year a number of student Ministry leaders and workers take a trip to the National Youth Workers convention. It is regularly held in at least three sites across the United States.

This year a good number of people attended the convention held in Nashville, TN. These are Advent Christian leaders and workers who are committed to reaching the next generation for Christ.

I hope you will pray for this group (4-5 were missing from the picture) and others who work in this important area of God's kingdom.

If you want to know more about student ministry work in the AC denomination, be sure to check out the link in the ACGC web page (acgc.us)

Be sure to check out my blog at sam-thinkingoutloud.blogspot.com for regular posts concerning the work of student ministry and other Advent Christian ministries.

Strategic Planning is a MUST!!!

2008-12-02T11:41:00.004-05:00

The mere mention of planning scares many people but when it comes to ministry, it is a MUST!

Recently, I spent some valuable time with a group of leaders at the United Advent Christian Church in Wilmington, NC. It was a time for taking a close look at where the church stood in terms of priorities, values and implemented plans.

As the end of our time together, everyone sensed that the purpose of the local church was a lot clearer and plans could be made to carry out those things that were considered to be priorities.

Thanks to a committed pastor and a group of laity that shared his concerns, good things are likely to happen. If this kind of exercise might benefit your church, feel free to contact me at swarren@acgc.us and let me know of your interest for a similar exercise with your leadership. I would love to serve you in this way!

This is another ministry offered to Advent Christian Churches through the Department of Nurture, ACGC.

Thank You Lord, very, very much!

2008-11-24T21:58:00.006-05:00

As we approach this year's Thanksgiving celebration, I am moved to think about more than food, and family. My heart is drawn to all of those special people God has brought into my life. As I ponder this collage of people, a high school teacher, a college coach, my dad and mom, a convert in my last church and now my best friend, and a few more if I continued the list become the focus of my thanks. These are the very special people that God has used to shape me and hopefully mold me into the person he wants me to become. A few months ago, I made a trip the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC and realized that Billy Graham would not have become the man he is unless he had many mentors and advisors in his life. I am learning that the true and effective leader is one who grows from the input that comes into his/her life from the people in their lives. During this year's Thanksgiving time, make sure that you identify those who have and are now shaping your lives to be his godly servant.

Grace Bearers-Camp Dixie Style

2008-11-17T11:48:00.007-05:00

It's hard to believe but three months of conducting Grace Bearer conferences across America has come to an end. The Lord has been with us as we have partnered with men from across the United States to talk about and consider what the Lord might want us to do in regards to being disciples.

One thing's for sure. We haven't done a great job of making disciples, at least in the way that the Bible portrays this mandate (2 Tim. 2:1-2). The encouraging thing is that there is a group of men who are willing and ready to turn this around.

Disciple-making or mentoring is not as complicated as we tend to make it. We are simply called to pass on the Lord's presence and purposes to others that new believers might be born and they too will become a part of this great work of the kingdom.

Nothing can replace it, no program or special event. This must be our purpose and it must be filled with passion. May God continue to bring fruit from our labors and lead us clearly into the new year, showing us how to build upon what He has accomplished during these times.

One More GB to GO!

2008-11-12T00:09:00.002-05:00

The numbers were smaller than expected but our time together in Millsboro, VA at the 5^th Grace Bearer conference was great. Once again, God met with us as we considered h calls upon us to be disciple makers (Mt. 28:16-20). I applaud these men who took the time to come together for this important purpose. My thought is simple, "what could be more important than to commit ourselves to doing what God told us to do?" I believe with all my heart that if most of our pastors, and churches would suspend much of what we commit our time and money doing, and focus on building relationships with lost people and then with new believers as they come to know the Lord…our churches would be revolutionized.

There is one more Grace Bearer conference that will take place at Camp Dixie in St. Pauls, NC this week (13-15). If you cannot attend, please pray for this gathering of men across the southeast. Pray that God will stir the hearts of these men to be the men of God, that we so badly need to be!

Seriously Ridiculous!

2008-11-04T10:15:00.005-05:00

I love the life and vitality I see in those who minister to students today. They are on the cutting edge of where we must be if we are going to reach this generation. It is not an easy task but one that cannot be avoided or taken lightly. Any church that expects or wants to make a kingdom difference in our 21^st century culture today must target their efforts toward reaching this generation with the gospel and turning them into mature and fully devoted disciples of Jesus.

This past weekend, I spent a few days at the National Youth Workers Convention held in Pittsburgh, PA. In the picture, you will see the group of AC student ministry leaders who attended the conference. They are (L to R): Greg Twitchell (Port Clyde, ME); Matthew Larkin (former YP at Lonestar ACC, Clifton Forge, VA & new pastor of Long's Grove ACC, Monroe, NC); Jen and Randy Olson (Oxford ACC, Oxford Hills, ME; Josh Duncan (Faith Evangelical Church, Melrose, MA); Ethan Twitchell (in front from Port Clyde, ME); and Sam Warren (in back-Director of Nurture, Charlotte, NC). We had a great time of fellowship, worship and some spiritual stretching.

In a few weeks, a larger group of AC student ministry leaders will meet in Nashville, TN. Please be in prayer for them as they too will experience a conference that will seek to stretch, encourage, challenge and equip them to reach this generation with the gospel. Pray for all of our churches that they will take seriously the call to go after the lost of this generation. We may have to be stretched a bit in our methodology in order to achieve this, it may even seem "seriously ridiculous" but it is the mandate that God himself has given each of us.

That's a VERY GOOD Question!

2008-11-02T17:00:00.004-05:00

I love the Bible and I have read and studied it for many years. Nevertheless, I am regularly challenged with how I read and interpret it. As an Advent Christian, I am committed to a perspective that sees in the Bible a specific way of understanding the nature of man and because of this, a particular eschatological viewpoint regarding what happens once Jesus returns.

However, I cannot be guilty of allowing this perspective to negatively influence how I read and interpret the Bible, just because it does or does not fit into my perspective. I have been reminded recently that the Bible is the unfolding story of God's redemptive plan to bring sinful man back into a right relationship with him others and even the world. This must be the guiding light as I read the Scriptures.

As examples, I am suddenly aware that people read the Bible and interpret it accordingly through a Calvinist lens or an Arminian lens (as well as through many other self-determined or imposed viewpoints). These can not be the determining factor. Our perspective must be guided by Jesus and the unfolding of his story throughout the pages of the Bible.

As a result of these thoughts, I am committed to a process of reading the Bible where I do not allow these kind of thoughts and convictions to overly influence how I read the Word of God.

What about you? Are you conscious of those things that guide you in the reading of the Bible that may not be enable you to truthfully discern the Word of God? If so, what kind of things are in the way for you? What might happen to you if you began an entirely new way of reading the Bible?

Four Down, Two to GO!

2008-10-27T14:50:00.007-04:00

I am sitting in the Atlanta airport but I wanted to get these pictures to you as soon as I could because I am excited about what God is doing in the midst of each Grace Bearer conference. The Northwest GB conference was no different.

The GB conference which was held at the Coachman Inn, in Oak Harbor, WA was the largest yet in terms of attendance. We had 40 guys (pastors and laymen) from WA and OR spending three days with each other and once again God was in our presence.

Our focus is making disciples and I believe God is raising up a more dedicated and committed group of men who want to be obedient to this biblical mandate (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

There are only two more GB conferences to go so I want to encourage every man that reads this blog to sign up for Camp Accovac (Nov. 6-8) and Camp Dixie (Nov. 13-15). Go to acgc.us and register now. You will be glad you did.

Thanks to all of the northwest guys who made this a great conference, especially Jim Crouse (western Sup't), Jason Hudson (pastor-church on the hill), Clio Thomas (Asia-Pacific Area director for world outreach, ACGC) and the worship team led by Pastor Bob Goodwin, Nooksack ACC.

Don’t Forget it!

2008-10-12T21:24:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, I was reminded of a very important lesson that everyone should learn in life and more importantly, it should never be forgotten. It happened during my annual golf tournament that I run in honor of my father who died in the year 2000. Two men, one a good friend and the other a new one, were used by God to remind me of a very important truth.

Each of these men shouldn't have been able to participate in the golf tournament. First, Josh was hit by a car on interstate 95 and eventually lost his leg. Now, he walks with an artificial leg. The other, Willie, was recently saved, after a lifetime of serving himself and the world of Satan. Both are now believers and both are here because of GRACE. Neither one of them are very good at golf, by their own admission but without a doubt both are filled with the JOY of the Lord and loving life.

They reminded me of how often we can go through life and not realize how blessed we are, even taking it for granted. As I watched and interacted with them, the JOY of the Lord welled up in my heart and I found myself giving God praise for his incredible goodness to me, especially in light of how little I deserve it.

Today, I thought it might be great for each of us to pause for a few minutes and give God praise for his goodness, grace and mercy, especially since we live in a world where anything can happen, even tragedy.

Half-way and Going Strong!

2008-10-06T14:55:00.009-04:00

Grace Bearer's 2008 is going strong. This past week it was our pleasure to conduct the third of six conferences. This time we were in Iberia, MO at the Missouri Valley conference campground, Camp Wilderness.

I was able to enjoy the conference with Matt Larkin and Terry Sullivan and we felt the presence of God throughout the conference. Testimonies declare that God is using the conferences to encourage pastors and the men of their church to take more seriously the work of making disciples, especially the role of mentoring.

We arrived home safely but quite late and then it was off to Hickory, NC where I shared a Homecoming message about being the church in the community of the church. The message was entitled "What's in your wallet? I will leave it up to your imagination to figure out what this message was about.

Be sure to check online at acgc.us for information on Grace Bearers and plan now to attend. It's free except the price for you to get there.

If you want more information about ways in which the Department of Nurture, ACGC can partner with you and your church, please contact acgc.us, or Dr. Sam Warren personally at swarren@acgc.us/704-615-8545

Blessings!

THIRST!

2008-09-25T21:42:00.005-04:00

This last week Lana Jernigan, Matt & Beth Larkin and myself spent a couple of days in Rome, GA on the campus of Berry College at the Winshape Retreat Center so we could attend a conference called THIRST!

THIRST is a conference about reaching the Millenials with the gospel of Christ. Veterans of youth ministry like Ron Luce, Jay Strack and David Ferguson were among the presenters and facilitators to a great experience.

ACGC is blessed to be partnered with ministries like Intimate Life that make opportunities like th, is possible. The entire conference was free, all we had to do was get there.

They provided us with a great site (beautiful), incredible facilities, delicious food and some refreshing fellowship. If you are reading this, you too can take advantage of this kind of training. All you need to do is contact me at ACGC, department of nurture, and I will provide you with the information you need.

Taking advantage of opportunities like these are too good to pass by.

Surprise, Surprise!

2008-09-25T21:13:00.003-04:00

I have always like surprises, especially if I was the one doing it. It’s a lot of fun watching the reaction of people as they encounter the “surprise.” Sometimes, it’s a different story when I am surprised by the actions of another person. This is exactly what happened to me this past weekend.
On Saturday, I traveled up to Morrisville, NC to spend the afternoon with my good friend and church planter Dean Skinner. On my way home, I had to get some gas. After finding a station that did not have plastic bags over the gas pump handles, I refueled. Apparently, I was in a hurry or my mind was in a daze but I failed to put the cap back on my gas tank.
A few minutes later, while sitting at a stop light, I was startled by an aggressive rap on my driver’s side window. It actually scared me for a second. I didn’t know if was being robbed or what was happening. Thankfully, that was not the case. It was a kind man from the car behind me telling me that he was going to put my gas cap back on. I watched as he did it and hurried back to his car before the light changed.
As I drove away from the light, I thanked the Lord for the act of kindness and praised the Lord for the many times he shows up in my life in unexpected ways. The best thing is this, I don’t have to worry about God’s purpose for me, as he always acts for my good (Rom. 8:28).

Grace Bearer's- 2 Down, 4 to GO!

2008-09-13T21:09:00.006-04:00

God is going something exciting among the men who have chosen to attend the Grace Bearer conferences being held across the United States. Just today,we completed the second of six conferences. This one was held in Mechanic Falls, ME at the Mechanic Falls Advent Christian campground.

This time, thirty-seven men joined together (not all present for picture) in a time of worship (led by Heath Keniston and the Oxford Hills ACC praise team, study of God's Word, fellowship, great food and much, much more. By the end of our time together, there was a clear sense among all who were present that we needed to repent for the fact that we have not been obedient. We have not made disciples according to his Word.

And yet, we left with a great sense of hope because we had been better equipped to do something about it. Jason Hudson, from the Church on the Hill, in Seattle, WA led the guys through a spirited study of God's Word, while Frank Jewett, Bob Fredrich and Sam Warren joined the team to make for an exciting time of ministering to each other and receiving the grace of the Lord through others.

If you haven't considered going to one of the GB conferences, I want to encourage you to reconsider. You won't be sorry! Be sure to check out the dates for the other conferences at acgc.us Be sure to pray for the next conference to be held in Iberia, MO at Camp Wilderness.

Grace Bearer's Maranatha: One down Five to Go!

2008-09-08T13:38:00.008-04:00

This is hot off the press! Grace Bearer's at Camp Maranatha is over. Believe me it was a great time for all the men who attended.

If this is an example of what we might expect from the remaining 5 Grace Bearer conferences, then God is going to be doing a great thing among our men in the Advent Christian denomination. Jim Crouse, the regional superintendent, Matt Larkin and myself were privileged to be a part of this initial Grace Bearer conference at Camp Maranatha in Idyllwild, CA

Twenty-five men joined together in order to hear the voice of God regarding what it means to disciple and mentor men. The air was filled with worship, good and sound biblical teaching, along with a lot of laughter. And, oh yeah...great food!

Along with the GB staff, I want to say a BIG thank you to Keith Shirley, Josh Tate and Lisa Richard for making our conference at the camp a great time! I am heading home now and gearing up for the next GB conference to be held at Mechanic Falls campground in Mechanic Falls, ME. We are getting up near 40 registrations and are expecting another exciting step in the work that God is doing among our men.

If you are reading this blog (and especially if you are a man) please pray for the next GB conference and plan to attend if you are in the area of New England.

Blessings on you and I will try to keep you updated on the good things that God is doing!

2008-09-01T19:11:00.002-04:00

Last week, Shelly and I made our way to Rome, GA to attend a Galatians 6:6 marriage retreat. Years ago, we attended the same kind retreat but wanted to get acquainted once again with this great ministry to pastors and their wives. This time, Wayne and Ruth Lucas joined us and from their report it was a great time for them as well.

In my weekly If Team (acgc.us) I suggested that my dream is to have 100 pastoral couples attend an If Team conference by the year 2010. If you fit this description, please let me know (swarren@acgc.us)and I will make sure that you get the right information. Be sure to check the greatcommandment.net link on the blog for information concerning a variety of ministries provided by Intimate Life Ministries.

At a later date, I will provide the actual dates, etc., so you can plan to attend a Galatians 6:6 retreat that will fit into your own personal schedule. Until then, blessings!

Lead Team Southeast!

2008-08-24T18:31:00.003-04:00

It's always nice when you see something that you have prayed about and believed that God wanted to happen come about. That's how I felt after this weekend following the first offical gathering of the Lead Team Southeast.

We met in Charlotte this time and had an incredible experience of sharing our lives together with each other. It was apparent to me that God was beginning to do something special in our midst.

In the next few months and hopefully years, it is going to be exciting to see what God will do as we open up our lives to each other. If you are intested in hearing more about the Lead Team, email (swarren@acgc.us)me or call at 704-615-8545 for more information. By the way, check out Matthew "Bodine" Larkin's blog on my link section for an fresh insight to what went on this past weekend at the Lead Team.

Blessings,

Sam

To Love or not to Love the Lost

2008-08-19T23:53:00.001-04:00

A few years ago, our family became a "cat" family for the very first time. Over the past thirty –three years we had always had a dog. Unfortunately, we had to put both of our dogs (16 years each) to sleep. We really loved them and hated to lose them.

The fact that I never grew up having cats apparently has not been a big factor in the growth of my love for our animals. I love my cats. That's why this story means so much to me. The other night, I arrived home in Jacksonville very late (actually early in the morning) after driving from Virginia. Unknown to me, my youngest son came home later than I did and "Joey," our biggest and very lovable cat got out of the house. My son, being tired too, and not having any luck getting Joey to come in, went to bed.

My wife and I did not discover that Joey was gone until the next morning. Loving our cat, I began a concentrated search for him. I walked our neighborhood, drove around and even talked with people I met, taking time to describe our missing cat. PTL! our Joey came home a day and a half later, but during this time Shelly and I learned a valuable lesson, one I want to pass on to you today.

During the time that Joey was missing, we were sad, even despondent. There was no life in us as we were saddened by the thought that Joey was gone. On Sunday morning, Shelly (my wife) and I were struck by the thought that we should be this caring about the people we know that do not know the Lord. We thought about how little we think about and pray sometimes for those who are lost and do not know Christ.

I don't know everything about the call of God upon our lives but I am certain that he loves the lost and he wants us to do the same. When's the last time that you were despondent because someone you loved was lost and has not been found by the love of Christ? May God increase in each of us the desire to fulfill the mandate of Christ.

Today, let us pray for a renewal of compassion for the lost and a passion to see them found.

In Your Life...there are many people within in circle of friends that do not know you Lord. Help me to daily pray for the type of relationship necessary so that I might describe them to you. I long for the day that they too might come to known you.

In Your Church…the church can be concerned about many things that aren't that important to the Lord and the work of his kingdom. Help me Lord to do whatever I can to help the church regain the priority of reaching the lost with the good news of Christ.

In the World around You…help me Lord not to run in Christian circles alone, but give me relationships with those in the world that do not know you and give me the opportunity to make you known to them by the way I live and talk.

Calling all SWINGERS!

2008-08-15T21:50:00.004-04:00

I love the game of GOLF and I get it from my dad! He was a lefty and had a passion for this wonderful game.

Every October I get the chance to say thank you to my dad by holding a golf tournament in his honor. That's when I run the TPLC (The Pastors and Layman's Championship), a two day tournament in the city of Jacksonville, FL in honor of my father.

This year's dates are October 10-12, 2008, to be held at the Hyde Park Golf Course. The two-day tournament will cost $70 and include two rounds of golf, 2 meals and all prizes. To download a flier click the following link:

http://www.lonestarac.org/TPLCTournamentflyer.pdf

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 704-615-8545 or email me at swarren@acgc.us.

See you on the links....

Grace Bearers is UPON us...

2008-08-14T16:20:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I first talked with you about Grace Bearers. Now it's time to get serious.

We are holding six of these conferences, which will target discipling and mentoring by men in the local church. They are literally to be held all over the country. Check out acgc.us (click the Grace Bearers link) and you will see on the map exactly where they will be held.

To REGISTER, go to the web page and fill out the form. Be sure to note which conference you will be attending. This will help us with the FOOD. The cost is FREE, all you have to do is get there.

Each conference will focus on the ministry of discipling/mentoring among men. While each conference will have this as it's theme, the players will vary. Each time we will have men who will come to share from their study, experience and mostly from their hearts what God has taught them and shown them through the ministry of mentoring.

I hope you will make every effort to come and begin a new work among the men of your church and perhaps a new work in your own heart.

What's in a Name?

2008-05-02T10:25:00.003-04:00

I've been on the road a lot lately, but all of my trips are filled with adventure and blessing. The most recent trip which has taken me to Grand Rapids, Chicago, IL and Springfield, MO has been more of the same.

During my trip, I had the opportunity to visit with some friends from the past. Their hospitality was great and I was so happy to see what God has been doing in their lives.

As a part of our discussion, we talked a great deal about worship. As a part of the morning service in their church (in which I spoke)this person led the worship. While eating lunch, he gave me a phrase that I can't seem to get out of my mind (not that I want to). He told me that he prefers to talk about the one who leads worship as the "lead worshipper" rather than the "worship leader."

Now, you might think "what's the big deal?" If so, that's okay but I see a difference and this time it's in a name. We don't need, at least in my mind and in the mind of my friend more worship leaders but more people who stand before us and they are the "lead" worshippers.

I can tell you that I was incredibly blessed by the way my friend led us in worship during the morning service. It was a wonderfully powerful experience. Perhaps, this is what God wants for all of us in ministry. He desires that we not just fill a position but we practice and model what we say the people of God should do.

DEAD FISH DON'T SWIM UPSTREAM

2008-04-18T16:22:00.003-04:00

On a recent trip with a friend, I was walking in a well known store (L.L.Bean) in Freeport, ME and as we walked by a huge aquarium He shared with me a statement that he had heard some time ago. He said, as I noticed how the fish were lining up, almost positioning themselves, "Well, you know what they say...Only Dead Fish Go Downstream!"

Later as I thought about this phrase, I could not get it out of my mind that this is what God wants of us. He wants us to swim upstream. He wants us to fight against the current, which represents anything that might fight against us and the cause of Christ. He does not want us to give up and float downstream as if we are defeated.

We are called to find a way to swim upstream. We must allow God to challenge us with the thoughts of others, and the opinions that come our way, even though they might seem strange. Of course, we must check these thoughts against the Word of God, but we can not be intimidated by our culture, the sin in our culture or the ones who so strongly speak into our lives from this context.

How about you? Are you swimming upstream? Do you daily feel the victory of Christ in all that you do? Is serving Christ FUN, even though it is sometimes tough? It is always encouraging for me to hear the stories of triumph from believers who are willing to swim against the currents of today, and yet they find tremendous success in the work of the Lord.

Let me know what kind of currents you are swimming against and I will gladly rejoice with you.

Grace Bearer Conferences (con't)

2008-03-26T12:21:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, I first introduced the idea of hosting 6 conferences on mentoring and discipling among men around the country in an effort to light a fire under our Advent Christian men.

I want you to know that God is moving in regards to this dream. One of things I had hoped was that the sites where these conferences would be held, would be offered free of charge so all we had to do was get there. Well, it's happening. I won't give you the places and dates yet, as we have two more sites to confirm but I can say that we have 4 of 6 confirmed sites that are partnering with us to make this happen.

One thing you can go ahead and do is to begin to pray about the men you think should come to the conferences. If you are a pastor begin to pray for the men you would like to see be a part of this exciting ministry. If you are a layman, tell your pastor about it and pray together that God will use this ministry to ignite the ministry of your men like never before.

Later, and there will be much more to come...

We've Got a Problem

2008-03-26T12:16:00.002-04:00

Recently, I experienced a wonderful service where 15 people were baptized and to add to the excitement, this was on Easter Sunday.

Now, I don't want to throw a discouraging bucket of water on this happening but I do want to challenge this church and all churches who baptize believers. I want them to realize and remember that this is just the beginning. They must go on in their walk of faith and mature into believers that "get it!"

I have, unfortunately, seen far too many churches that baptize children and adults for that matter, only to see these people lose interest and never become what God has called them to become in Him.

The real test for this experience in our churches is this. Mark the calendar for next year (Easter 09) and evaluate then exactly how mature these baptized believers are then. If they are, praise the Lord and if they are not, regroup and think again on how we can close the gap between confession of faith and the practice of it.

Let me know what you think!

Learning, Living & Linking

2008-03-03T11:48:00.002-05:00

In case you have been following my blog and have read with interest the talk concerning mentoring, I wanted to update you on some of my thinking.

The plan is to hold five conferences across the country called "Grace Bearers" conferences (2 in the West, central, Eastern (north), Southern). Our desire is to have a Thursday night through Saturday morning schedule.

There will be worship, praise, and much, much more. The theme will be based on 2 Timothy 2:1-2, perhaps the clearest New Testament verse on the mandate to disciple/mentor men in the faith.

During our time together, we will focus on three components of mentoring: Learning, Living, and Linking. First, from whom have you learned or from whom are you learning what it means to be in the faith? Everyone needs a mentor. Next, how are you living? What are the disciplines of your life that help you fulfill the command to mentor? Finally, with whom are you linking? Do you have a mentor into which you are pouring your life?

These conferences are not intended to be ends in themselves. We will send you home with the hopes that you will begin or further develop your local ministry to and by men. Plan now to be a part of these conferences. Dates and locations will be posted and communicated as soon as they are finalized.

Blessings,

Sam

GRACE BEARERS CONFERENCES

2008-02-15T11:24:00.002-05:00

I am so committed to the biblical teaching of and practice of discipleship through mentoring that I am moving ahead with a plan for holding 4 Grace Bearers (2 Tim 2:1-1) conferences in 4 of our regions across the United States.

These conferences would call men together (Pastors & Laity) to confess that we have not been obedient to God's simple plan and that we want to do His will in the area of mentoring. All men who want to be obedient in this matter should plan on attending.

All you have to do is "Get There!" these events will be subsidized so the cost will be minimal. Our goal is to use our own people and others who are gifted in this practice to lead us into the future as we call our men to become disciple-makers.

These events will take place in the month of September 08. Actual dates have not been determined as yet, but I will keep you informed.

Let me know of your interests and please pray for this important step!

Blessings,

Sam Warren

2008-02-07T15:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks for checking in today and reading my "Thinking Out Loud" blog. I really believe that when we begin to share our true thoughts and feelings we make progress in our effort to become all that God wants us to be. I promise you that I will do my very best to be honest with you and as He leads me "stretch" you in your thinking too!

In the book of Acts (14:22), Paul stated that we "...must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." I am beginning to think that some of the hardest hardships to deal with include our faulty thinking and beliefs about how God works in our lives. Perhaps together we can forge a new way of thinking, based on the Word of God, that will help us to actually become and be all that He desires. Thanks for joining the adventure!

Sam Warren

LEAD TEAM LAUNCH

2008-02-06T18:14:00.000-05:00

The LEAD team is a group of pastors and lay leaders who join together for the purpose of encouragement, challenge and the sharing of their lives.

On April 24-26, on the campus of Blowing Rock Campground in NC, men from around the southeast will join together for the launch of LEAD teams in our region. Dr. Jim Crouse, the regional superintendent of the Western region, who was very instrumental in the establishment of the LEAD team ministry in his region will be with us to share about the dynamics of this kind of ministry and show us how we might do the same.

All you have to do is get to the campground. This LEAD team launch retreat will be longer due to Jim's ministry among us. We will begin on Thursday night at supper and be done before noon on Saturday so everyone can get back home before it gets too late.

If you have questions about this exciting event let me know by emailing me at swarren@acgc.us