Team Lorenzini News Nov 09

MINISTRY NEWS

We are keeping busy with church ministry here in Española. We had a Harvest Festival outreach on Oct. 31 that drew many from our community. Last Friday we had our Thanksgiving service and dinner that drew many new faces. In addition to leading and preaching two services each Sunday, Massimo is now teaching the newly re-formed youth group each Wed. evening.

 

Three weeks ago we launched a new radio ministry program called "Hope of Glory." It airs each Sunday afternoon on KKIM from South of Albuquerque to Southern Colorado. You can listen to it live over the internet at www.mykkim.com. It's on from 1:05 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time. You can also download complete sermons anytime from www.sermon.net/solafide.

 

Massimo will be ordained to the gospel ministry on Nov. 22 at FBC Española. Anyone in the area is invited to attend the service at 4 p.m. The pastors from Mars Hill Church in Albuquerque are planning to attend (yes, this is the ABQ campus of Mars Hill Church of Seattle).

 

At a recent annual meeting of the Santa Fe Baptist Association, I was elected team leader for leadership development. My goals are to develop regular seminar-type meetings with speakers who can pass on expertise in ministry. Also, I hope to initiate a seminary extension program for our association (www.seminaryextension.org.). There is a need for theological education in Northern NM to train church leadership.

 

We are hoping to make some presentations of our Italy ministry with WorldVenture in 2010. If you'd like to host a presentation for a group in your home or church, please let us know. We really need to make some headway on our partner development and being in New Mexico when most of our contacts are in other states makes it difficult. Please pray for us to be able to present our ministry on a regular basis.

 

Massimo is planning a trip to Louisville, KY in April to attend the Together for the Gospel conference April 13-15 and will remain in the area until April 19. If you are attending this conference or live in the area please let us know and so we can connect during this time. If you are unaware of this conference, it is a great time of hearing some of the best Bible teachers of our time. You can listen to past conference messages at www.t4g.org. If you'd like to attend you can also use the coupon code T4GINVITE to save $20 when you register.

 

Massimo's books are now available from amazon.com and if you'd like to purchase a copy of his Witnessing Without Fear you can save 20% by using the code HHEJBSV8 when you place your order at www.createspace.com/3370631.

 

FAMILY NEWS

Kimberly is staying busy managing the home and home-schooling Aemilia who began kindergarten this year. Loris is now walking and is a very happy child who enjoys tackling Gianna and screaming. We also are enjoying having a neighbor girl over very regularly who is an orphan living with her elderly grandfather. She repeatedly tells us how much she loves being part of our family and wishes she could stay with us.

 

Massimo recently became a Big Brother with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico. His Little Brother is an 8 yr. old boy named Christian who lives with his grandmother. He is a passionate boy who loves to talk and explore new things.

 

If you FaceBook, you can find us at www.facebook.com/klorenzini and www.facebook.com/mlorenzini. We regularly communicate on FB and Massimo is also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/maxmassimo. Our ministry web site is at www.fuelingfaith.com. If you haven't visited there yet, please check it out sometime.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

·         For ability to schedule a lot of ministry presentations in 2010 (would you be one?).

·         That Massimo's time in Louisville would produce some meaningful connections with potential ministry partners.

·         For the ministry in Española to continue to develop towards biblical health and maturity.

·         For the radio program to bless listeners in NM and around the world via the internet and for God to raise up a donor base to pick up the expense.

·         For Massimo's work with Santa Fe Baptist Association in leadership development.

·         For our family to have time together and maintain balance in a busy lifestyle.

·         That God would draw Rebecca (the orphaned girl) to Himself. That we would be an example of God's love to her.

·         That God would draw our children to Himself and help them to understand the gospel.

·         That Massimo would be a good mentor to his Little Brother, Christian.

 

The Lorenzini Family

 

Massimo Lorenzini

mlorenzini@hotmail.com

FBC Española, Home Church

WorldVenture, Mission Agency

fuelingfaith.com, Ministry to Italy Site

fuelingfaith.blogspot.com, Blog

frontlinemin.org, Teaching Site

massimo.ws, Personal Site

Books I Wrote

Frontline Bookstore

Pray for Italy

Facebook

Email List

What is A Pastor to Do?

I think it would do us some good to examine the expectations we place on a pastor. Are they realistic? Even better, are they biblical? Where do we get a job description for a pastor? What if we were to poll church members and come up with a composite summation? Well, we might just end up with the following want ad. One wonders who would apply for the job.

"Minister Wanted"

A real challenge for the right man. Opportunity to become better acquainted with people. Limitless benefits! Applicant must offer experience and know-how as:

Office Manager, educator, artist, theologian, circus clown, audio engineer, politician, salesman, diplomat, writer, missionary, traffic cop, psychologist, funeral director, wedding consultant, master of ceremonies, athlete, and teenage specialist.

Must know all about the problems of birth, schooling, marriage, children, diets, and death. Also conversant with the latest theories and practice in economics, nuclear science, nutrition, pediatrics, and women’s liberation.

Right man will hold firm views on every subject, but is careful not to upset people who disagree. Must smile habitually, sing softly. Must be forthright, but flexible; return backbiting and gossip with Christian love and instant forgiveness.

Should have friendly disposition 24 hours a day. Must be a captivating speaker and intent listener.

Education preferably beyond Ph.D. requirements, but always concealed in homespun modesty and folksy tale. Able to sound learned, however. Familiar with literature read by congregational members. Will spend at least 30 hours per week in the study, but remain ever available and adaptable to sudden interruption.

Must certainly be "up" on current events, novels, the arts, and periodicals – reading a minimum of 15 hours weekly in fields outside the ministry.

Applicant’s wife must be both stunning and plain – smartly attired, but conservative in appearance. Gracious, yet discerning, loving, yet disciplined. Efficient, yet casual and available. Must be thrilled to work in church kitchen, teach Sunday school, run copy machine, baby sit, never become discouraged, never listen to gossip, and yet be fully aware of all church problems so she might "pray more intelligently."

Applicant’s children must be clean-cut, all-American models. No long hair, beards, mustaches, bare feet, overalls, or pukka-shell necklaces. Well-behaved, yet no different from other youths at church. Tanned and handsome, but seldom at the beach (unless witnessing). Present and quiet at all church services.

Applicant’s auto must not be new…or old. Adequate, but not stylish. No van, camper, sports car, convertible, or motorcycle permitted. Home near the church and always available for gatherings. Must be neither large nor small, lest others feel uneasy. Swimming pool questionable, since family must appear humble, slightly strained, decent, and unoffensive.

Directly responsible for views and conduct of all church members and visitors. Impervious to criticism, yet teachable and transparent. Visionary, yet budget-minded. Creative, yet traditional. Defender of the faith, yet pleasant and positive.

All replies kept confidential. Anyone applying must undergo full battery of exams…to determine sanity. (Source unknown)

Ridiculous? You bet. Exaggeration? Sure. But is there some truth to it? Yep! While you won’t find this want ad listed in any employment directory, many churches post them in the pew.

So what is a pastor to do? We don’t have to guess. God’s Word tells us plainly that Christ gave to the church gifts including that of pastor-teacher, "for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ" (Eph 4:12, HCSB). I like to think of a pastor as a player/coach if we use the metaphor of a sports team to picture the church. The pastor is a fellow player in that he too serves the body with his gifting and he is a coach in that he also trains and leads the church similar to a coach training and leading an athletic team.

What are the qualifications for a pastor? Again, God’s Word doesn’t leave us in the dark. You may read those qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. You will find there that almost all of the qualifications have to do with character qualities. Only one qualification has to do with function and that is to be able to teach God’s Word and refute those who contradict it.

Training season never ends this side of eternity. When the church is not trained, the ministry will flounder. Christ has given pastors to His church to provide training for your spiritual growth and personal ministry. Two questions for you to consider at this point: (1) Do you see yourself in need of training? (2) What kind of ministry does the Lord have for you to put that training into practice?

Repentance and Faith: A Marriage Made in Heaven

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15, NKJV).

Repentance and Faith Must Always Be Joined
Jesus preached both repentance and faith. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin: Tails, we turn tail on the corrupt fruits of sin and unbelief; heads—we head straight for Jesus and trust His promises. Repentance is not optional anymore than faith is optional. Repentance and Faith are both commanded by Christ. The gospel is both an invitation and a command.

What is repentance? Repentance is a turning from sin and to God (Acts 3:19). In true repentance, one cannot turn to God without turning from sin and one cannot turn from sin without turning to God. Two Greek words are translated “repent” in the New Testament. First, metanoia means literally “a change of mind.” This word is used in Acts 17:30, “God . . . now commands all men everywhere to repent.” The other word is epistrophei which means “to turn to, to cause to return, to bring back.” It is used in 1 Thess 1:9, “you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Both words are used in Acts 26:20, “repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”

What is faith? Faith is unwavering trust in the promises of God. Saving faith is not mere mental assent, but an active response to God in trust and obedience. The Reformers identified three aspects of biblical faith: (1) I understand with my mind – notitia, (2) I accept with my emotions – assensus, (3) I trust with my will – fiducia. Peter put it this way, “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Pet 1:20-21).

We must not think that we can be saved by reforming our lives without trusting in the righteousness of Christ. We must us also not think we can be saved by trusting in Christ without having a change of life. Christ preached both repentance and faith and what Christ has joined together let no man separate!

We create hideous and monstrous distortions of the gospel when we separate repentance and faith. Imagine what you would have with repentance without faith:

• Repentance without faith leads a man to despair by not hearing or believing the promises of God in the gospel (God’s love, forgiveness, acceptance, security). He is left with bitter regret, no hope, no assurance.
• Repentance without faith leads a man to pride in thinking he can “pull himself up by his own bootstraps.” He doesn’t need a Savior. He’s a self-made man or woman.
• Repentance without faith makes God a liar: “he who does not believe God has made Him a liar” (1 John 5:10).
• It’s impossible to repent without faith: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6).
• Repentance without faith cannot save. Two examples in the Bible of those who had repentance without faith are Esau and Judas Iscariot. Neither is a positive role model!

Imagine what you would have with faith without repentance:

• Faith without repentance presumes on the grace of God.
• Faith without repentance is not real faith because it doesn’t actually believe God’s Word (ignores the command to repent).
• Faith without repentance is nothing more than the faith of demons: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas 2:19).
• Faith without repentance cannot save: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21).
• Those who never repent of their sin will never inherit the kingdom of God: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor 6:9-10).
• Those who refuse to repent will end up in hell: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev 21: 8).

What we need is to proclaim both and practice both. We need repentance that causes us to deny ourselves and follow Christ because He has redeemed us through faith in His shed blood. We need to be stripped of our pride and our sin in repentance, and clothed with grace and righteousness in faith.

Repentance ejects sin from the heart and faith enthrones Christ as Lord. Repentance purges the soul from dead works and faith fills the soul with living works. Repentance tears down the fortress of hostility to God and faith builds a temple for the habitation of the Spirit of God. Repentance is the time to weep and mourn over sin and faith is the time to rejoice in the grace and salvation of God.

The Problem of False Converts
The greatest hindrance to the purity of the church and the spread of the gospel is not the existence of unbelievers in the world. Rather, it’s the existence of unrepentant and unbelieving people in the church. Nominal Christianity is the greatest obstacle to real Christianity.

There are many who profess faith in our churches, but never manifest the fruit of repentance and faith—a heart that loves to obey God. You’d think I was nuts if I tried to explain to you a sun that never did shine or a fire that never did give heat. That would be no kind of sun or no kind of fire. If you saw a body lying still with no signs of life you’d say it was dead.

If you see a professing believer who does not love God, does not obey God, does not produce any evidence of being born again, then we must conclude we are dealing with someone who does not know God.

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4).

The Greatest Need We Have
What is the greatest goal of salvation? To escape the consequences of Sin? To go to heaven when you die? To make your grandmother happy?

No! The greatest goal of salvation is to have every obstacle that interferes with your enjoyment of God removed, namely, the eradication of your sinful nature in exchange for a new, Holy Spirit-wrought nature that is able to truly love God and delight in God. Your greatest need is not to escape judgment, or go to Heaven, or experience forgiveness for past sins. Your greatest need is for conversion, for transformation, for regeneration! Prior to conversion, your sin nature dominates your heart (emotions), mind, and will. You need to be liberated from the bondage of sin so you can: (1) Understand and believe the truth of God in your mind, (2) Obey God with your will, (3) Love God from the heart (affections).

As a Christian, you will continue to need to practice repentance and faith because not one of us does these perfectly (believe God, obey God, love God).

If you’ve never been converted, allow me to summarize the main issue for you. (1) Your sins are an offense to God and have separated you from God. (2) You are totally unable to remedy your situation. (3) Only Christ, as He is offered to you in the gospel, can save you. If you agree with and believe these three truths, seek God for salvation. Plead with Him for deliverance from the bondage to sin. Appeal to His grace to grant you repentance and faith. Ask Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit to give you a new heart and to bring you to a sound and thorough conversion.

Why must we keep faith and repentance joined?

• You cannot dirty your hands and expect to be clean.
• You cannot run from God and expect to be reconciled to Him.
• You cannot be ignoring Him and be believing Him.
• You cannot be saved by faith without repentance.
  

What We Believe, Part 1

The following is the first in a series of posts on Christian doctrine. These studies originate from my teaching ministry at First Baptist Church of Española, New Mexico.

WHAT WE BELIEVE
A STUDY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

By Massimo Lorenzini

INTRODUCTION

GOALS OF THIS STUDY

1. To Attain Assurance of Eternal Life
   1. and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 3:15).[1]
      
   2. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13).
      
2. To Grow in the Knowledge of God
   
   
   1. Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people (Exod 33:13).
      
   2. This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent--Jesus Christ (John 17:3).
      
3. To Strengthen Our Love for God's Word
   
   
   1. 97 How I love Your teaching! It is my meditation all day long. 98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers because Your decrees are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the elders because I obey Your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow Your word. 102 I have not turned from Your judgments, for You Yourself have instructed me. 103 How sweet Your word is to my taste-[sweeter] than honey to my mouth. 104 I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way (Ps 119:97-104)
      
   2. 7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold-than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey-than honey dripping from the comb. 11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them (Ps 19:7-11).
      
   3. 1 How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Ps 1:1-3).
      
4. To Be Equipped for Ministry
   
   
   1. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).
      
   2. 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ (Eph 4:11-15).
      
5. To Be Able to Share and Defend our Faith
   
   
1. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Pet 3:15, NIV).
   

WHAT IS SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY/DOCTRINE?

1. We all do Systematic Theology.
   
   
   1. Any time you say, "The Bible teaches . . . " you are doing systematic theology.
      
2. Systematic Theology should be done right (i.e., biblically).
   
   
   1. It's possible to have bad/unbiblical theology.
      
   2. When someone says, "I think God would never send anyone to hell," that is a person who has bad/unbiblical theology.
      
3. What is Systematic Theology? What is Doctrine?
   
   
   1. The word "theology" comes from two Greek words—theos meaning "God" and logos meaning "study"—theology then is "the study of God."
      
   2. Systematic Theology answers the question, "What does the whole Bible teach about a particular topic?"
      
   3. The biblical teaching of a topic is a "doctrine."
      
      
      1. The word "doctrine" means "teaching."
         
   4. Anyone who thinks about God is a theologian. The question is, "Is our theology biblical and true?"
      
4. We must be careful to base our theology on God's Word.
   
   
1. All theology must find its basis in a careful study of the Bible.
   
   
   1. The Bible is our source of authority for learning about God because it is God's revelation of Himself to mankind.
      
   2. The Bible contains God's redemptive acts and the inspired interpretation of those acts.
      
   3. If God did not reveal Himself to us, we could never know Him.
      
2. We can also refine our understanding of theology by reading/hearing the teaching of those theologians and teachers God has given to the church.
   
   
   1. You could and should try to develop your theology from a personal study of Scripture, but it would take you many years of diligent study. We can benefit from the study of others who have gone before us.
      
   2. Someone said, "Christian theology is entering into a 2,000 year old conversation."
      
   3. "Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean you have a lot of wrong ones." –C. S. Lewis
      
3. Theology and doctrine must be written down for clarity and correction.
   
   
1. The church has always written down its beliefs to clarify teaching and protect the church from error.
   
2. The early creeds were written in response to heresy.
   
3. Confessions of faith also clarify the doctrine of the church.
   

The Baptist Faith and Message

1. The Baptist Faith and Message is the statement of faith adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.
   
2. Who are Southern Baptists?
   
   
   1. Since its organization in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has grown to over 16 million members who worship in more than 42,000 churches in the United States. Southern Baptists sponsor about 5,000 home missionaries . . . [and] . . . more than 5,000 foreign missionaries in 153 nations of the world.
      
   2. The term "Southern Baptist Convention" refers to both the denomination and its annual meeting. Working through 1,200 local associations and 41 state conventions and fellowships, Southern Baptists share a common bond of basic Biblical beliefs and a commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world.[2]
      
3. What is the purpose of the Baptist Faith and Message?
   
   
   1. On June 14th, 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a revised summary of our faith. The committee's report says in part:
      
      
      1. "Baptists cherish and defend religious liberty, and deny the right of any secular or religious authority to impose a confession of faith upon a church or body of churches. We honor the principles of soul competency and the priesthood of believers, affirming together both our liberty in Christ and our accountability to each other under the Word of God. Baptist churches, associations, and general bodies have adopted confessions of faith as a witness to the world, and as instruments of doctrinal accountability. We are not embarrassed to state before the world that these are doctrines we hold precious and as essential to the Baptist tradition of faith and practice. As a committee, we have been charged to address the "certain needs" of our own generation. In an age increasingly hostile to Christian truth, our challenge is to express the truth as revealed in Scripture, and to bear witness to Jesus Christ, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
         
      2. The 1963 committee rightly sought to identify and affirm "certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely identified." Our living faith is established upon eternal truths. "Thus this generation of Southern Baptists is in historic succession of intent and purpose as it endeavors to state for its time and theological climate those articles of the Christian faith which are most surely held among us."
         
      3. It is the purpose of this statement of faith and message to set forth certain teachings which we believe."[3]
         
4. The fact that the SBC has an official confession of faith demonstrates that Southern Baptists are a doctrinal people and what we believe matters.
   
   
   1. The BF&M demonstrates that we hold essential doctrines in common with other Christians and denominations, thus testifying to our basic unity.
      
   2. The use of such confessions is voluntary and in no way should be imposed upon believers or churches against their consent.
      
   3. Confessions are used to testify to the world our basic beliefs.
      
   4. Confessions also are to be used to prevent false brethren from entering the fellowship of a church and thus pollute and destroy the fellowship and to discipline those who have erred in their doctrine.
      
5. As a church and denomination, we must know, defend, and pass on the deposit of divine truth that has been entrusted to us. A study of doctrine helps us do that.
   
   
   1. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the "knowledge" that falsely bears that name (1 Tim 6:20).
      
   2. 13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you (2 Tim 1:13-14).
      
   3. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
      
   4. Contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all (Jude 3).
      
6. Throughout this study your theology will be clarified, challenged, and possibly corrected.
   
   
1. We must remain teachable. Our theology should be "corrigible."
   
   
1. Dictionary definition of corrigible: "subject to being revised, improved, or made more accurate."
   

APPLICATION

1. What would be the gradual result in a church that did away with or neglected their confession of faith?
   
2. What would be the gradual result in a church that affirmed, taught, and utilized their confession of faith?
   
3. Read Matthew 28:18-20. How does a study of theology help us fulfill the Great Commission (note the following "…teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you…")?
   
4. Think of a jigsaw puzzle. If you have ever tried to complete a jigsaw puzzle you know that in the beginning it is hard to put the pieces together. But the more pieces you have put together, the easier it becomes to put the remaining pieces together. In what way is systematic theology like doing a jigsaw puzzle?
   
   
5. How would a better knowledge of all that the Bible teaches benefit your life?

Notes:

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

[2] From the official SBC web site under “About Us,” http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/.

[3] from the Preamble to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 found at http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfmpreamble.asp.

God Has Gifted Us to Participate in His Eternal Purpose, Part 2

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, (Eph 4:11-12, NKJV).

Here we find the divine plan for ministry. The Lord Jesus has gifted His church with leaders who equip the believers for ministry. Verse 11 lists those Christ has given as gifts to His church: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” The gifts are the men themselves, not just the capacities given them or the offices they hold.

The first two offices are “apostles” and “prophets.” These appear to be limited to the first Christian generation as foundational to the church (cf. 2:20; 3:5). Apostles were those who had seen Christ (1 Cor 9:1-2), were witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:8, 21-23), and were immediately commissioned by Him to preach the gospel (Matt 10:5; Gal 1:1). In a broader sense, others closely associated with the apostles directly commissioned by Jesus are also called apostles (Barnabas in Acts 14:4,14; Timothy and Silas in 1 Thess 2:6).

Prophets performed a preaching function; they spoke under the direct inspiration of the Spirit of God. Through them, God gave guidance and instruction to the church when there was no written New Testament (NT). After the writing of the NT, the offices of apostle and prophet appear to have ceased. Evangelists and pastor-teachers are needed for every age and so continue.

The word “evangelists” occurs only three times in the NT, to describe Philip (Acts 21:8), Timothy (2 Tim 4:5), and here in Ephesians 4. It means “one who announces good news.” This is a special gifting and ability to preach the gospel clearly and effectively to the unconverted, often in an itinerant ministry. It also may be a special enablement to equip others to share their faith. Our text certainly indicates that the function of these gifted men is for the equipping of the saints for their ministry.

The next office is translated “pastors and teachers.” The original Greek text signifies one office with a dual function. Note the text reads “some pastors and teachers” rather than “some pastors and some teachers.” When the modifier “some” is used with the conjunction “and” then it applies to both nouns.

Rather than being itinerant, the emphasis of the teaching pastor is on shepherding and instructing in a settled ministry. This office is synonymous with bishop/overseer and elder. We find all three terms used together by Peter:

1 The elders [elder] who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd [pastor] the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers [bishop/overseer] (1 Pet 5:1-2a, emphasis added).

The pastor-teacher is to give himself to the teaching of the Word of God. He is to present every believer under His charge mature in Christ: “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”(Col 1:28). They are not to be distracted by other tasks that can be delegated to others (see Acts 6:1-6).

Christ’s gift of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers are given for a specific purpose: “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (v. 12).

The word “equipping” means “to make fully ready.” The dictionary defines equip as, “to supply with intellectual, emotional, and spiritual essentials.” The believers are equipped “for the work of ministry.” We can define “work of ministry” as whatever role God has for you that either directly or indirectly contributes to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. “Ministry” means service; to minister means to serve. Every Christian should be “in the ministry.”

And what is this work of ministry or serving supposed to achieve? It all should contribute to “the edifying of the body of Christ.” To edify means to build up. It refers to growth in maturity.

The process then is: (1) The gifted men equip the saints, (2) the saints then serve (using their own gifts, (see Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12; 1 Pet 4:10-11), (3) the body is then built up or edified and we all grow into maturity (i.e. Christlikeness). Every Christian is to contribute to this goal.

Every Christian is commissioned, for every Christian is a missionary. It has been said that the gospel is not merely something to come to church to hear but something to go from the church to tell—and we are all appointed to tell it. It has also been said, “Christianity began as a company of lay witnesses; it has become a professional pulpitism, financed by lay spectators!” Nowadays we hire a church staff to do “full-time Christian work,” and we sit in church on Sunday to watch them do it. Every Christian is meant to be in full-time Christian service . . . There is indeed a special ministry of pastor-teachers and evangelists – but for what? . . . For the perfecting of the saints for their ministry. –Vance Havner

What an amazing plan God has for us! What a privilege to be part of His church! I trust you are already engaged in ministry or moving in that direction. If not, what is keeping you from it? God has a plan for His church and that plan includes YOU! A body needs all its parts functioning to be healthy. Ask yourself, “Am I doing my part?”

New Website Devoted to Our Ministry to Italy

I am pleased to announce a new web site to be the internet home of our ministry to Italy. Visit the site at fuelingfaith.com. Please visit the site and if you have not received our August mailing with our prayer card, please send me your mailing address to be added to our mailing list.

Please keep us in your prayers as we seek to develop ministry partners in order to get to the field as soon as possible. We are free to go just as soon as we raise 100% of our financial support. Feel free to contact me with any questions or to schedule a presentation for yourself, your group, or church.

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (1 Thess 5:24, NKJV).

God Has Gifted Us to Participate in His Eternal Purpose, Part 1

Have you met the Tate family? Every church seems to have some members of the Tate family. Perhaps you have met some of them.

There is old man Dic-Tate who wants to run everything, while Uncle Ro-Tate tries to change everything. There's sister Agi-Tate who stirs up plenty of trouble, with help from her husband, Irri-Tate.

Whenever new projects are suggested, Hesi-Tate and his wife, Vege-Tate, want to wait until next year. Then there is Aunt Imi-Tate, who wants our church to be like all the others. Devas-Tate provides the voice of doom, while Poten-Tate wants to be a big shot.

But not all members of the family are difficult. Brother Facili-Tate is quite helpful in church matters. And a delightful, happy member of the family is Miss Felici-Tate. Cousins Cogi-Tate and Medi-Tate always think things over and lend helpful, steady hands.

And of course there is the black sheep of the family, Ampu-Tate, who has completely cut himself off from the church.

Sound familiar? That humorous story illustrates the diversity found in churches. It is amazing that God has brought people together from such diverse backgrounds to work together as a local church carrying out gospel ministry. While the diversity can sometimes cause friction, God intends that the diversity of members should serve to strengthen the church as each one makes his or her unique contribution.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says:
"When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."　　
9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Eph 4:7-10, NKJV).

First, observe in v. 7, "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift." Christ is the source of spiritual gifts given to every believer. Spiritual gifts are divinely granted capacities for spiritual service. The purpose of spiritual gifts is for mutual edification. These gifts are sovereignly and graciously given to individual members of Christ’s body. Spiritual gifts are granted to us for the purpose of conducting good works that edify the body.

Secondly, we also learn that Christ’s grace gifts are given "to each one of us." No Christian can rightfully say that he or she has nothing to contribute to the life of the church. Christ not only calls us to spiritual service, He equips us.

Paul next quotes from Psalm 68:18 demonstrating that Christ is the One who leads His people out of captivity. In verse 8 we read, "When He ascended on high." Paul identifies the One who ascended is Christ who "first descended into the lower parts of the earth," v. 9. In His humility, Christ descended to earth in His incarnation to serve us. Possibly, though not likely, it can refer to descent into the grave or Hades, in other words, the death of Christ (cf. Acts 2:27, "For you will not leave My soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your holy one to see corruption.")

After His resurrection, Jesus "ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things," v. 10. He is the ascended Lord of the universe who has all authority in heaven and on earth (Mat 28:18). The extent of His authority is unlimited. His grace and gifts supply sufficiently to every need. He fills all things.

Jesus is Lord of His church. He purchased His bride with the price of His own blood. He has a purpose and a plan for His church. That purpose is to glorify the grace of God among all people. His plan is to give gifts to His church to equip and mobilize the saints of God to spread the Good News. Jesus loves His church and supplies His church. We are His captives being led His glorious train. How wonderful it is to be part of His triumphal procession! We will learn next week about the various gifts Christ gives to His church. But for now, take a moment to thank and praise God for calling you and gifting you to be part of His eternal purpose.

God Has Given Us a Calling to Contribute to His Eternal Purpose

Several years ago a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Interstate 280. Please be careful!" "It's not just one car," said Herman. "It's hundreds of them!"

How important it is that we know we are going in the right direction! The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians instructs us on what the right direction is for us as believers and as a church body. The theme of Ephesians is the mystery of God’s eternal purpose was hidden in ages past, but is now revealed in and through the church.

Ephesians helps us answer questions surrounding our identity and purpose in Christ: What is our purpose as a church? What is our aim? What should we be doing as disciples of Christ? A mystery is a previously unrevealed truth related to God’s redemptive plan.

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him (Eph 1:9-10, NKJV).

God has chosen to display His glory in and through the church (to the nations and the angels). In previous articles we learned that (1) God has given us participation in His eternal purpose which is to gather a body of worshippers who glorify God and enjoy Him forever, (2) God has given us the means for fulfilling His eternal purpose through our involvement in the local church. This week we will see that God has given us a calling to contribute to His eternal purpose.

Ephesians 4:7-16:

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says:
"When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Eph 4:7-16, NKJV).

The key verse is 4:1. It makes an appeal based on all the blessings in chapters 1-3, and announces the emphasis of chapters 4-6. Notice the order: indicative → imperative. The moral commands flow out of redemptive realities. We are given the commands of chapters 4-6 only after learning of all the blessings we have in Christ in chapters 1-3. We obey God not to earn His favor, but to express it!

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called (Eph 4:1).

In v. 1 the word “walk” describes the course of one’s life (cf. 1 John 2:6, “walk even as Jesus walked.”). We are to walk in a manner consistent with our “calling.” What are we called to? To holiness, to sonship, to service. Another Bible translation puts it this way: “live the kind of life which proves that God has called you” (God’s Word).

The apostle Paul details the various ways we are to live out our calling in a worthy way in chapters 4-6.

1) In relation to the church (4:2-16).
2) In relation to society (4:17-5:21).
3) In relation to the family (5:22-6:9).
4) In relation to the invisible forces of evil (6:10-20).

In the coming weeks we will examine 4:7-16 to find out just how God wants us to contribute to His eternal purpose in a detailed study of this passage of God’s Word. For now, consider how amazing it is that our holy and almighty God would invite us and equip us to play a significant role in what He is doing in the world. You and I are part of something great. There is no such a thing as a pew potato Christian in His plan. Let’s commit ourselves to finding out more of God’s plan for us as a church and let’s apply what we learn. He has great things in store for us! Praise His name forever!

The Means for Fulfilling God’s Eternal Purpose

God has given us the means for fulfilling His eternal purpose—the local church. "The local church exists as God’s chosen vehicle for aiding believers in the fulfillment of the Great Commission." I like this definition of the local church. God is the one who thought of and formed the church. It is not a man-made invention. Sometimes people say, "I’m spiritual, just not into ‘organized’ religion." Well, I think organized is better than disorganized. But, we must remember that the church is God’s idea. He has given to us the means for carrying out the ministry He has called to participate in.

The first instance of the word "church" in the New Testament is in Matthew 16.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matt 16:18, NKJV).

Jesus, the King, is building His church on the confession of faith that He is the Savior-King. The church of King Jesus is the manifestation of the kingdom of God in the present age. Local churches are really outposts of the kingdom. They are not just religious organizations that exist as one among many communities in the "global village." No, a church is made up of kingdom citizens who will one day live in the fully-realized and established kingdom of God during the Millennial reign of King Jesus.

God the Father has promised to Jesus, the Davidic King, the right to rule the world: "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall [rule] them with a rod of iron" (Ps 2:8-9b; Cf. Rev 2:26-27). Jesus will one day rule the world physically. In the meantime, King Jesus exercises His authority in and through the local church.

Any Christian who is not participating in the God-ordained structure of a local assembly of believers is in disobedience to God. The first Christians were drawn to each other out of mutual love and fellowship. It was their new identity in Christ that drew them together seemingly without having to be told "this is what Christians do." What they did can give us insight into the ministries of the church that we should emulate.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, NIV).

From this description of the early church we can identify five ministries of a local church:

1. The ministry of teaching: "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching."
2. The ministry of fellowship: "they devoted themselves to . . . the fellowship. . . . All the believers were together and had everything in common.　. . . They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
3. The ministry of worship: "they devoted themselves to . . . the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe . . . . they continued to meet together in the temple courts . . . praising God."
4. The ministry of service: "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. . . . enjoying the favor of all the people."
5. The ministry of evangelism: "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

It is quite evident from a study of the New Testament that a believer cannot live out the Christian life apart from the local church. Yes, it’s true that sometimes churches do not live out their calling to love one another and many people have been disappointed and even hurt by a church. But that is no reason to abandon the local church. God uses the local church, as imperfect as it is due to being filled with imperfect people, to refine and sanctify us as we participate and exercise the "one anothers" of the New Testament. God will never abandon His church. May we give ourselves to loving and serving our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, through our participation in the local church.

In service of the King,

Pastor Massimo

The Purpose of the Church

You and I were created with two needs that knowing God and participating in the church provides—meaning and belonging. It is now scientifically demonstrated that human beings are biologically wired to seek meaning and belonging. This observation explains a lot of what we see in society, doesn’t it? Of course God knew about this long before we did; He’s the one who formed us this way!

We are blessed to live in an era when we have a complete Bible that reveals to us the plan and purpose of God. This plan and purpose was once a mystery in previous ages.

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him (Eph 1:9-10)

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him (Eph 3:8-12).

In Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians we learn about God’s purpose for the Church. We learn that this purpose was a mystery. A mystery is a previously unrevealed truth related to God’s redemptive plan. We might fairly describe the theme of Ephesians as “The mystery of God’s eternal purpose was hidden in ages past, but is now revealed in and through the church.”

Ephesians helps us answer questions surrounding our identity and purpose in Christ: What has God done for me? Who am I in Christ? What is my aim? What should I be doing as a disciple of Christ? How do I relate to the church? We will look at some of these questions in more detail the in forthcoming weeks.

First, we must understand that God has given us participation in His eternal purpose. Is our ultimate purpose worship or evangelism? John Piper said, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church, worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When people from all nations are before the throne, missions ends. Missions is a temporary necessity, but worship is eternal.”

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9).

The purpose of the Great Commission is to be the means of gathering worshippers together in Christ to the praise of the Father’s glory.

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:11-14).

So when somebody asks you why you go to church, you could tell them you do so because you find God and His people to be your all-satisfying source of joy, meaning, and belonging. The church is at the very center of what God is doing in this age and we get to be a part of it! God has met two of our deepest needs by creating the church and calling us to participate in it. This is why there’s no place I’d rather be when the church gathers for worship then with the people of God to the praise of the glory of God. The next time the church gathers, will you be there to find your meaning and belonging?

Why the Gospel is Good News

19 Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God's judgment. 20 For no flesh will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed—attested by the Law and the Prophets 22 —that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. 28 For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law (Romans 3:19-28, HCSB).

Here we find the clearest explanation of the gospel in all of the Scripture. In seminary, I was required to memorize this passage of God’s Word through to the end of the chapter (along with many other passages). I immediately saw the wisdom of my professor’s choice in selecting Romans 3.

Too often, we as Christians are easily led away from the simplicity and purity of the gospel of grace into an unbiblical extreme. Some Christians may have a careless and low view of God’s holiness and righteous law and live as though it doesn’t matter how one lives. Or on the other hand, we over-shadow God’s grace by emphasizing God’s standards for righteousness and live in constant dread and shame because we fail to keep God’s law. Then there are those miserable souls who make everybody else miserable because they wrongly believe that they actually do keep God’s law, unlike everybody around them.

So we have those who err by emphasizing God’s grace to the neglect of His law, and those who emphasize God’s law to the neglect of His grace. The biblical balance is placing the proper emphasis on both God’s law and His grace. The apostle Paul understood and vigorously defended this balance.

In the opening chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul writes as God’s prosecutor with the entire human race on trial in the court room of Almighty God. In 1:18-2:16, Paul demonstrates the sinfulness and guilt of the Gentiles. In 2:17-3:8, Paul condemns the Jews. In 3:9-20, Paul brings the case against humanity to a head with a series of references to the Old Testament showing how sinful mankind is. The law stops every mouth and holds all the world guilty before God (3:19). The law cannot justify, only condemn (3:20).

But in 3:21 we find one of my favorite phrases in the Bible—“But now.” I love the “buts”of the Bible. Paul has just pushed us all below the line of despair up to 3:21 where he introduces the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. Here Paul declares that though we are all unrighteous in God’s sight due to our violation of the law of God, there is a rightouesness apart from the law which is available to those who exercise faith in Christ.

Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God against our sin (3:25), satisfying the righteousness of God so that God could show mercy and justify “the one who has faith in Jesus” (3:26). God has demonstrated infinite wisdom in the way He chose to save us. It is profoundly significant that God chose to save us by the death of His Son on the cross. God maintained His justice against our sin by punishing sin in Jesus. God can also show grace to us and declare us righteous becuase our sin has been taken out of the way.

What effect does this amazing reality have on the believer? For one, it excludes boasting (3:27). A proud Christian is as much an oxymoron as trying to imagine dry water. Left to ourselves, we are guilty sinners deserving of God’s eternal wrath. “But God…,” praise His name, God has intervened and redeemed us from our sin by the cross of Christ.

“We conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law” (3:28). In relating to God, we must be careful to avoid unbiblical thinking. We must avoid emphasizing God’s law to the exclusion of God’s grace and vice versa. When we embrace the gospel of grace we find ourselves responding to God out of pure love and devotion rather than legalistic pride, shame, or carefree indifference. God has removed every barrier to Himself in the gospel. Because of His grace, the child of God has His favor, acceptance, and right standing. The believer has been reconciled to God, adopted as His child, declared righteous, and purified from sin. Now all that remains for us to do is live like we believe it!

Ministry Update #1

Ministry in New Mexico
A brief report for you about my first day in the pulpit here at FBC Espanola, NM. It went really well. Received a lot of positive feedback. The church seems to realize they are pretty much a restart, but they do a have a lot going for them. They love God's Word and want to reach people with the gospel. I made a new web site for the church last week at http://www.fbcespanola.com/. Our biggest need right now is a children's program during the worship service. We also need to form a worship band.

I had a meeting with the deacons tonight and we are agreed that the priority is to get the Sunday morning ministry at the level it needs to be and then from there branch out to other ministries. I'm surprised at how many attend even without a children's ministry in place. I'm posting the sermons here: http://www.sermon.net/solafide.

Ministry with WorldVenture
As for our ministry with WorldVenture to Italy, we really need to find a Partner Development Coach. This person is sort of an accountability/encouragement person to keep us on track with our support discovery. This person has to be able to attend training with me in Colorado. We really need God to provide someone soon. I asked one person in ABQ and he is willing but cannot attend the training. I'm hoping WV will let him be the one even without the training. Please pray with us about this need.

We have our prayer cards and would love to send you one. Please reply with your request and mailing address and we'll get one out to you. You can read our ministry profile on the WorldVenture web site here: https://worldventure.com/Missionaries/Missionary-Directory/Missionary/Lorenzini_Massimo_Kimberly.html (If you get a security notice, click "no" to see all the content)

Family News
The kids love being in a house now instead of an apartment (they can run and jump without disturbing neighbors below). They have a swing set in the backyard. It's really nice living across the street from the church. Kimberly loves having a normal sized kitchen and being in driving distance of family. Her mother has already been over and my mother, sister, and neice came over today. I'm enjoying riding the Ducati in the mountains of Northern NM. Now need to find a place to play racquetball. Here's some photos I took recently around our area.

Let us know if you are ever in beautiful New Mexico. We'd love to visit and show you around.


Massimo, Kimberly, Aemilia, Gianna, and Loris.

New Prayer Card and Ministry Profile Posted Online

Here's a sneak peak at the front of our new prayer card. Our information is now online at the WorldVenture site if you want to read up on our ministry profile, prayer focus, or our personal stories. You can even make an online donation or commitment there.

Let us know if you are interested in receiving our prayer card or if you'd like more information about our ministry. We are seeking individuals and churches to join our support team.

In August we have another training to attend on how to go about support raising. We still need to find a Partner Development Coach to attend this training with us. This person would be someone to keep us on track and encouraged during our support discovery stage before we head to Italy. Thank you for your friendship and prayers. We are trusting the Lord of the harvest to send us forth in His time and in His way.

We Are Now WorldVenture Missionaries to Italy

We had an intense 2-hour interview yesterday and survived to be appointed as WorldVenture missionaries to Italy in church ministries and leadership development. Today we began our orientation meetings which go from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm. We now have a week and a half left of orientation and then begin the process of support discovery (fund raising).

We are excited the Lord has allowed us to begin this new phase of our journey and look forward to how He will bring together our support team. We will be seeking individuals and churches to be part of our team to strengthen the local church in Italy through evangelism, discipleship, and training Italian church leaders.

More to come!

Unity at the Expense of Truth‏

[The following post is reproduced with permission of Mike Gendron.]

Many evangelicals are unaware of the Vatican’s relentless strategy to unite all of professing Christianity under the power and authority of the pope. Everywhere we look we see a compromise of the Gospel for the sake of ecumenical unity. Following are just a few of the several disturbing events that we have experienced:

We were asked to counsel a Christian young lady, and her Roman Catholic boyfriend of two years, who were contemplating marriage. After 90 minutes of presenting the light of the true Gospel against the errors of Catholicism, the young Baptist lady was very disturbed. It was clear that no one had ever warned her that the gospel of Catholicism is fatally flawed.

I was asked to counsel a student at Dallas Theological Seminary who had decided to join the Roman Catholic religion after he had been told it is the one and only true church.

A pastor asked me to meet with his youth pastor who was leaving to join the Roman Catholic religion. He was told they offer "the fullness of salvation" because without the Eucharist, no one could be fully saved.

A young lady came up to me in tears after one of my seminars. She was so distraught because she recently married a Catholic and no one had ever warned her of Rome’s false gospel. She had been in an evangelical church all her life.

After teaching a seminar at Moody Bible Institute, a student asked me to talk to an "born again" Catholic accountant in Moody's business office who was proselytizing the students. Within minutes into the conversation, the Catholic accountant offered me a 4-page publication that explained why the Eucharist is necessary for salvation.

It is for reasons like these that we all need to be educated and equipped to earnestly contend for "the faith" and to proclaim the true Gospel to souls who are lost in this huge mission field. May I encourage you to ask your church leadership to do the following:

1) host a Proclaiming the Gospel seminar

2) place our web site (http://www.pro-gospel.org/) in your church bulletin to give people access to important information concerning Roman Catholicism.

3) offer our six different Gospel tracts in your bookstore or tract racks. Five of them were created specifically to reach Roman Catholics.

4) obtain our video series on DVD and my book Preparing Catholics for Eternity for your church library and/or bookstore.

Serving you as you serve our Lord Jesus Christ!

Proclaiming the Gospel Blessings,

Mike Gendron
Proclaiming the Gospel
(972) 495-0485
http://www.pro-gospel.org/