New Wine Report - Feb 2010
Bishop Doc Loomis finally made it to Flint for our first official episcopal visit. Doc represents the wider work of the mission to us and we gave him a first hand experience of our life and ministry.
Six of our members were formally received into the Anglican Mission and Communion, two of whom were marking a reaffirmation of faith after having come to a new and deeper relationship with Christ. We have two other folks who could not attend our service but are already looking forward to the next round of receptions for New Wine. Doc was able to spend time with several groups of us over his two day visit and hear the testimony of how God is growing our relationships with others and His Word through authentic Christian community as experienced in our cell churches.
We have started the new year with a great expectation of the Spirit moving among us and in our community in 2010. Doc, too, sensed the Lord's anointing on this flock and spoke many prophetic words of encouragement over us. I recently learned that under Doc's oversight our Network, which includes MI, OH, IN, KY, WV and part of Western PA, is one of the fastest growing parts of the Anglican Mission. We support Doc's ministry through our tithe to The AMIA. With the addition of new leaders less money is now available to plant new works just at a time when more is needed. Doc will soon be sharing how we can join in supporting new church plants in the area, so that others can benefit with some seed money to start a new work. Some may not know that for the last 3 years we have received funds from the national mission funds to help with our operating costs. (We started out receiving $500/month but are now currently receiving $200/month.) In July this support will stop so other new works can get off the ground Please begin to pray that new sources of support will join our work by July and consider how you might give above your regular offering to support other new works like ours. We have received and now it is time to pray about giving for this greater work.
Last week Pat and Judy Self and I had a chance to attend Winter Conference (although the final days were affected by an unusual winter storm). Gathering with fellow mission-minded Christians for a 4 day event was uplifting and challenging. One of my favorite moments was a time of sharing when our Network members got together and shared how God was working. A church in Fort Wayne shared how a skeptical Pentecostal visitor came to check out the church where his daughter was worshiping. Extremely skeptical of anything liturgical he was planning on discouraging his daughter from further involvement. The Spirit surprised him, however, when at the consecration during Eucharist he saw a vision of the Holy Spirit descending on the elements. He is now coming regularly! Another church in Michigan reported an inexplicable healing in a hospitalized infant that nearly died. The doctor was amazed to find that a lung condition was no longer present after the church had been mobilized in prayer.
Several of the conference teachers were adamant in calling us to focus on discipleship and evangelization through relationships. Who are we pouring our lives into? Who are the Timothy's and the Lydia's who want to grow in a knowledge and experience of God in their lives? As times grow hard and harder at every level, who will lovingly point the people around us to Jesus who is able to sustain them in the most difficult times? I know He is calling us at New Wine to be disciple makers.
Persistent and Expectant,
Dave+ and Deb
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