Do we have a prayer for Chicago, 2016?

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A lot of people I have spoken with about a new model for evangelism in Chicago have expressed concerns that Chicago has not been chosen yet for the Olympics. Some know in their heart that we don't need another experience like Say Yes Chicago. Many other objections exist.

Today I read a story which can be found at the very end of an article by Walt Kallestad published by Fuller Theological Seminary. He writes about one of his parishioners:

'One parishioner named Lee told me his grandson was dying and asked me to go pray for him in the hospital. “I could do that,” I said, “but so could you.” We walked over to the altar where I gave him a small vial of oil. “Take this with you to the hospital and put a drop on his forehead. Pray that God will heal him.”

I didn’t go to the hospital to pray for Lee’s grandson, Lee did. Instead of controlling the ministry, I held Lee accountable and gave him the tools he needed to be a priest to his own family. “Grandpa is going to pray for you,” he said. The boy watched as his grandfather’s trembling hands took the lid off the vial, and listened as he said, “I pray in Jesus’ name that you heal my grandson.” Then he placed a drop of oil on the boy’s forehead. Thirty-six hours later, his grandson returned home.'

There is much more to the article if you have the time to read it. Here is the link.
http://documents.fuller.edu/news/pubs/tnn/2008_Fall/2_entertainment_to_worship.asp

Churches have become boring and irrelevant, he says. We can whoop it up and put on the glitz...and if we build it, they may come...for a while. But will lives be changed. Of all those born in the next decade...perhaps 2-billion, world-wide, fewer than 5% will ever darken the door of any church. We will need to go out into a very unfriendly world to share the story of God's grace and mercy...and His healing power.

We have 8-years to Pray and to Plan and to Prepare and to Participate. God give us the strength we need to do His will.

Thanks and kind regards,

Mark Anderson
Lifegate Capital, Box 11, St Charles, IL 60174
630 587 6620 / www.PrayTheLoop.Info

===> Check out http://www.BlessYourBlock.org for a creative strategy to get your congregation out of their seats and into the streets ...
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Chicago Netowrk Leaders Meet

Greetings Chicago Network Leaders!

Nearly 30 Church Led Network Leaders from around Chicago met on Thursday, October 2^nd to get acquainted with each other, to identify existing church-led networks around Chicagoland, and to learn from one another in the area of collaborative church networking. What follows is a quick recap of our time together:

1. We identified several EFFECTIVE METHODS whereby churches are connecting and collaborating together (by regions or communities)
1. Demonstrating God’s love through Community Service Projects (i.e. ShareFest, CareFest, Helping Hands, etc.)
2. Prayer & Worship Services (i.e. When We Pray, Celebrate Jesus, etc.)
3. Shared Ministry Events/Resources (Alpha – evangelism; DivorceCare; Marriage Mentors; Prison Ministry; Family Bridges ; etc.)
2. Challenges facing Church Led Networks around Chicagoland:
1. Building relationships across denominations and race / culture / class lines
2. Urban vs. Suburban needs and strategies
3. Keeping it local!
3. Key Elements of Successful Church Led Networks:
1. Building Relationships of Trust
2. Taking “ Hills ” Together Locally for Christ
3. Prayerful Dependence on God Together
4. Next Steps:
1. Continue meeting and Identifying Local Church Led Networks around Chicago . Send contact information to me at byaccino@catalystweb.org
2. Next Meeting à tentatively scheduled for Thursday, January 22^nd. Time = 11am – 2pm (lunch included); Location TBD. Please plan on attending and building this Chicago Movement!
3. Chicago Wide Synergy in 2009? Every network represented at the meeting stated they are ALREADY PLANNING to coordinate a Collaborative Community Service effort involving several churches in their area in fall of 2009. We will continue taking steps to link these efforts across Chicago , thus multiplying its effectiveness and sharing…

i. SHARE a common weekend of service or season of service (i.e. we all target October 3 & 4; or the month of October; etc.)

ii. SHARE a common website and media/promotional tools (so the city can see the church is leading the way for real change, real transformation)

iii. SHARE a common vision and passion to see the reputation of Christ restored in our great city!

iv. Note: this does not mean we complicate the effort or necessarily plan events together. We merely link what is happening across the city, multiplying the fruitfulness, making the church hard to ignore!

5. It is imperative that we understand that when we gather as fellow network leaders, we are NOT attempting to add one more THING or program to our ministry plate. Instead, we are coordinating and communicating things we are ALREADY DOING and sharing best practices – collaborating to make our community a better place in the name of Jesus!.
6. We all agreed that unity in each particular network (or region) takes intentional effort – we can’t pray for unity and then ask God to show us when we are “there”. We need to take steps to get to know and build trust with fellow servants and fellow ministers of the Gospel. A key part in that is CONNECTING. Every network has one or two strong leaders that takes risks and leads the way to ensure the network has relational integrity. Each of us is committed to build bridges and relationships within our own God directed networks (city, county, etc.)

Hope that helps… pray about increasingly being an active servant leader along with others across Chicagoland!

Bill Yaccino

Executive Director
(847) 281-3370

===> Check out http://www.BlessYourBlock.org for a creative strategy to get your congregation out of their seats and into the streets ...
---> Receive periodic updates on new One Great City postings: Email phil@nppn.org / Subject: OGC Updates
---> Type keywords in the "Search This Blog" box above

"Should I not be concered about that great city?"

"What unspeakable grace to pray to God in intercession for the needs of a city and the world!”

We need a new direction on how to share our faith as a natural part of our daily walk with the Lord. Preparation for an Olympic outreach in 2016 as a community could provide the vision and the opportunity to make evangelism as important in our lives as worship and prayer. Paul could hardly contain himself when he met the Lord, and it became his life's main goal as he continued to pursue his secular work. We must 'get out of the building and into the marketplace' with the Good News.

PrayTheLoop begins with Pastor-leaders of Chicago’s churches. These Pastor-leaders will provide the spiritual direction, guidance and authority for prayer in every building in the central city and throughout the Greater Chicago Area. Each Pastor will identify those who will host prayer in the work-place setting. These prayer efforts can be weekly or monthly and held in generally locations so that participation can be encouraged.

Prayer is the point of beginning when we seek our God. Prayer allows us to become one before God as we ask for his leading in the enterprise to which he has called us. Every channel of outreach must be explored in order to provide full participation and ownership starting with the churches and missions in Chicago, which are laboring to connect with seekers in each of their communities.

As a church, you are already meeting for prayer and Bible studies; working in street ministry and friendship evangelism; planning mission trips; providing food and shelter for the needy. Your list of programs may include MOPS, pork-chop dinners, drama, new music, radio and television programs, special speakers, men's & women's groups, VBS, and I could go on. We don’t need more answers to the question; what we do need is more focus, which will raise our level of motivation to share the ‘greatest story ever told.’ Working together as a community of believers will build on the work you are already doing through your ministry. Working with others who are ‘bold for evangelism’ can bring encouragement, resources and working partnerships we need to be effective as we serve Him in Chicago.

We know it is God’s will that we evangelize, and we know that it is God’s will that we evangelize if the Olympics come to Chicago in 2016. I believe we can work together to do His will. The challenge of evangelism warms the hearts of believers in Chicago perhaps unlike in any other city. Overlaying an outreach to Chicago and the world at a time when the Olympics captures the imagination of a city presents an opportunity we must not miss. Linking 2016 churches in Chicago under a joint effort for evangelism will be a large order. The ‘church’ in Chicago has worked together before and with God’s power can do so again.

Let us demonstrate that the Christian message continues to be true and still resonates in spite of growing skepticism. Supporting Christian witness in the secular culture and environment will begin to set the table for an authentic life model in the community and in the church. The ministry of evangelism becomes as natural and important as discipleship, music, education, and pastoral care.

I pray that churches take ownership of outreach in Chicago and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in these difficult days. I want your ideas. I am asking that you pray with me and let me know what God is saying to you.

Mark Anderson, St Charles, IL - Lifegate Capital 630 587 6620

PrayTheLoop.Info PHOTOS: Chris Anderson/Ben Jasek ===>Click headline to access PrayTheLoop . .

===> Check out http://www.BlessYourBlock.org for a creative strategy to get your congregation out of their seats and into the streets ...
---> Receive periodic updates on new One Great City postings: Email phil@nppn.org / Subject: OGC Updates
---> Type keywords in the "Search This Blog" box above