Seeds of Vision: by John J. Turner

Barbara Hale of our Discipleship Ministry Team, examined three plans for providing ongoing discipleship for our congregations. She chose “The 9 Ways” plan as best for this congregation.
One handy feature is that the author of the plan, Dr. David Artman, FCC, Harrison, is only a hop, skip, and jump away. He will be easy to consult as we make this plan our own.
There is also a website that David prepared a couple of years ago when he was still in Chicago: http://www.the9ways.com . You can get a pretty good idea of the content of the plan by visiting this website.
David introduces his plan thus: The 9 Ways are:

1. PRAYER
2. STUDY
3. WORSHIP
4. FELLOWSHIP
5. SERVICE

6. GIVING
7. SHOWING COMPASSION
8. SHARING YOUR FAITH
9. SPIRITUAL HONESTY

“Each of The 9 Ways is a fundamental way to grow in our relationship with God as we exercise our faith in Christ. The 9 Ways initially came about in response to repeated requests from church members to be given a practical, reliable, and workable method to mature in Christ. The 9 Ways are not a fool proof check-list of spiritual practices since they can all be used in self-righteous, self-promoting ways. However, if The 9 Ways are practiced faithfully and with the right spirit, they will lead to spiritual growth, health, and maturity. To find out more about each of The 9 Ways, see the pages on the website devoted to each of the practices. If you are ready to start training for maturity see the page titled “The 9 Ways Challenge.” God bless you as you seek to mature in Christ!”
At this point, we are adopting The 9 Ways as our ongoing discipleship plan. It should benefit us greatly in that way. It could become more than that as we live with it.

Looking Up: by Judy G. Turner

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire describes what happened to a broken-down church in one of America's meanest neighborhoods when the people of the church started praying together. From barely being able to draw twenty people to a Sunday service, now the Brooklyn Tabernacle draws thousands for worship every week. Lives are continually being changed by the living power of Christ who comes in answer to prayer. Pastor Jim Cymbala says, “Have you ever noticed that Jesus launched the Christian church, not while someone was preaching, but while people were praying? In the first two chapters of Acts, the disciples were doing nothing but waiting on God. As they were just sitting there …worshiping, communing with God, letting God shape them and cleanse their spirits and do those heart operations that only the Holy Spirit can do … the church was born. The Holy Spirit was poured out. What does it say about our churches today that God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, and prayer meetings today are almost extinct?”
I first read Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire some years ago, but recently felt compelled to read it again. Why? Not because I think our church should become a replica of Brooklyn Tabernacle, with thousands of people in worship every Sunday. But because I believe God has so much more for us as a congregation than what we are now experiencing. The greatest days of our church are yet ahead of us. The most meaningful worship services have yet to be offered, the most magnificent songs have yet to be sung, the most powerful witness to the transforming power of Christ has yet to be lived, the most helpful outreach to people in need has yet to be made. But this bright future is only possible through God’s power. And the only way we access God's power is through prayer. Power comes when an individual Christian prays. There is a spiritual power surge when Christians come together to pray.
When you hear or read announcements of prayer gatherings at the church, it is your personal invitation from God to come and ask and receive. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

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