Obstacle of Faulty Paradigms and Ministry Pursuits

A clear unfolding revelation of the Biblical Gospel challenges and changes everything. The Biblical Gospel demands repentance, change and adjustments in all areas of life, and therefore it must be rightly defined, defended and declared. As we grow and mature in our relationship with God, various obstacles arise that are actually contrary to this Biblical Gospel. In this session we will discuss, in context to personal testimony, two issues that have great potential to impede the advance of the gospel on various levels: Faulty theological paradigms, and misguided ministry pursuits.

A. Contributions (Theological, practical and technical – Thank You)

B. Withdrawals (2011-2016 / Clarity, confidence and courage in the Biblical Gospel)

C. Humility (going low)

D. Hunger (going deep)

A. Encountered by God 1981 “Salvation” and 1983 “Rededication”

Unfortunately out of deep insecurities and brokenness I hid behind my testimony of “coming out of darkness” rather than having clarity, confidence and courage in Jesus and the Biblical Gospel.

B. Theological Education (1985-1989) CBC Columbia Bible College

I came out of Bible College with a hodgepodge of theological views and a foggy gospel like a puzzle with missing corners and no box to see the big picture. I leave four years of good theological education without having clarity in the Biblical Gospel.

C. Youth Pastor (1985-2002)

I am busy with tons of activities in the pursuit of ministries, models and movements to bring about change and surely the right ministry, model or movement is the key to revival and awakening among these students and our region. Many students walk away with a mixture of good activities and disconnected truths but no solid foundation to stand upon in the face of college liberalism or cultural relativism. Obviously without having clarity in the Biblical Gospel it becomes implausible to lead others to have confidence and courage in it as well.

D. Father Wound (1992)

After four years of theological education and now in the pursuit of full time ministry for several years, God comes to me at an adult weekend conference and reveals a deep wound specifically in connection with my father. This deep place of pain and brokenness becomes a front and center issue in my life and I began to realize that the pursuit of knowledge (theological education) as well as full time ministry were safe places for me to hide and cover up the shame, fear and pain that resided deep within me. Emotional healing is a real and necessary ministry but there must be the revelation and foundation of the Biblical Gospel to bring about inner healing and lasting change. The Biblical Gospel brings healing and stability to the wounded and broken as the heart clings to faith and hope in the redemption, resurrection and restoration of Jesus our Messiah.

E. Call to Romania (1997-2011)

After a clear and specific call to Romania I step in faith and begin the journey of training pastors and youth pastors, leading youth camps and conferences through teaching the word of God and ministering in spiritual gifts (healing and prophecy). I watch many Romanians temporarily set free of various issues but they are not staying free by coming into maturity. After many years of ministry trips there I realize that I gave away so much of myself (time, energy and resources) but I lacked to simply establish them in the Biblical Gospel.

F. Planting Churches (2002-2013)

From Burlington NC to Romania I see God begin to raise up a few churches while I am in a major pursuit of word (evangelical) and power (charismatic) ministry. In this context I am also involved in a lot of activity and pursuits of calling people to ministries, models and movements whereby we are declaring and demonstrating the kingdom of God just like Jesus, right? I eventually get very frustrated with myself and others because of a lack of depth in God and the absence of some sense of revival and awakening. Again I now realize that I did not help establish people in the Biblical Gospel.

G. IHOP-AC (2005-2013)

I begin to find depth in God and personal revival through prayer and fasting (spiritual disciplines) and I step out to pursue God and the house of prayer full time calling our region as well as many in Romania to pursue God in prayer and fasting (spiritual disciplines) … revival and awakening are sure to come. After 8 years it comes tumbling down and for me it was the pursuit of building the house of prayer with a faulty foundation of calling people to the house of prayer (prayer movement) and spiritual disciplines instead of establishing God’s people in the Biblical Gospel (NC and Romania).

H. Burning Heart Fellowship (2012-2013 / 8 months)

Before I shut down IHOP-AC I seek one more way of bringing a real and serious move of God to our region by planting another church with 20 couples (some of my best friends over the years). For sure as we build this church upon the vision and values of the house of prayer, spiritual gifts, spiritual disciplines and strong eschatology we surely have the recipe for that great move of God I have been laboring for over the years. Within 6 months I begin to sense a deep issue in my heart that something is wrong among us and several of the couples begin walking away from the church and by the 8th month my closest friends walk away as well. At this point I am disillusioned, disappointed, discouraged and distraught. What has gone wrong – what is wrong with me – what is wrong with them – what is wrong with the church?

I. The ARK Network (2013 – present)

When I look back over the years of ministry I see that I gave myself to God, His word and His people with great zeal and sincerity. I assumed by observing Christianity in the west that spiritual disciplines and spiritual gifts build ministries, models and movements that bring revival and awakening. In many ways for many years I desired to be a change agent and I fixed my hope on a brand of kingdom now – western Christianity to bring forth revival and awakening in people and the culture of this age. But it becomes obvious that I have lacked personal clarity, confidence and courage in the Biblical Gospel. Along the way on the journey August 5, 2005 God spoke to me one of the clearest and most defined words I had ever received “Build Me an Ark … Preserve My People”. After seeking the Lord for many years, in the fall of 2013 I came into greater clarity that in my later days I was to primarily “make disciples for the Day of the Lord”. The primary focus of the ark network is prayer, discipleship and missions with the heartbeat of the ministry to diligently seek for clarity, confidence and courage in the Biblical Gospel. In light of this Biblical Gospel we are to discern the times in which we live and to help give direction to God’s people as the Day of the Lord draws near. As we observe the life of Noah, I am persuaded that it is wisdom that we order our lives based on the coming crisis at the end of this age in light of the Day of the Lord and the establishment of His Kingdom.

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. [Heb 11:7 nasb])

[one_half]Opening Session – Conference Vision – Tim Miller[/one_half][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_half]DAY 1[/one_half][one_half_last]DAY 2[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 1 – Obstacle of Insincere Motives- Tim Miller[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 1 – Obstacle of Faulty Paradigms and Ministry Pursuits – David Gordon[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 2 – Obstacle of Falsehood – Hans Kim[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 2 – Obstacle of Unmet Expectation – Richee Parks[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 3 – Obstacle of Not Embracing the Cross – Caleb Scofield[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 3 – Obstacle of Relating to Knowledge Pridefully – David Rickman[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Session 4 – Obstacle of Failing to Love our Enemies – Matthew Paul[/one_half][one_half_last]Session 4 – Obstacle of “Man’s Interests” – Jeremy Johnson[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Group Discussion[/one_half][one_half_last]Group Discussion[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Solemn Assembly[/one_half][one_half_last]Solemn Assembly[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Where From Here?[/one_half][one_half_last]Extra Session – Apostolic Prayer[/one_half_last]