MARG’S spiritual Adventure. Building ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and.

MARG’S spiritual Adventure

Building

‘‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the

second is like it: second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39

SPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDESPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDE

SPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDESPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDEWhat will it take to reconnect the Church & What will it take to reconnect the Church &

Culture?Culture?

Living Proof of a

Loving God

The great chasm can be bridged!!The great chasm can be bridged!!WWITH CHRIST WE CAN…ITH CHRIST WE CAN…

• The church must The church must rediscover its essential role rediscover its essential role and craft as bridge builder. and craft as bridge builder.

• We must connect, We must connect, otherwise, the greatest otherwise, the greatest unbridged chasm will unbridged chasm will remain the gap between remain the gap between the stunning vision of the stunning vision of Jesus Christ and the ever-Jesus Christ and the ever-receding influence of the receding influence of the contemporary church in the contemporary church in the world. world.

JESUS WAS A DARING BRIDGE JESUS WAS A DARING BRIDGE BUILDERBUILDER

He imagined a bridge of He imagined a bridge of unprecedented spiritual unprecedented spiritual influence—one that influence—one that could span a chasm could span a chasm roaring with skepticism, roaring with skepticism, indifference, hostility, indifference, hostility, even persecution. He even persecution. He imagined a bridge able imagined a bridge able to connect his peopleto connect his people—”my church,” he called —”my church,” he called them—to a disbelieving, them—to a disbelieving, disinterested world.disinterested world.

Dr. Robert LewisThe Author

“THE CHURCH OF IRRESISTIBLE INFLUENCE”

““INSPIRINSPIRE”E”

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‘‘Bridges of Love’ VisionBridges of Love’ VisionGOD’S VISIONGOD’S VISION

““Let your light shine before men, that Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”. praise your Father in heaven”.

Matthew 5:16Matthew 5:16

To To “INFLUENCE”“INFLUENCE” the Christian the Christian life to be expanded beyond life to be expanded beyond self-interests to the greater self-interests to the greater

concerns of the community and concerns of the community and world around them. To world around them. To

transform the church back to a transform the church back to a ‘guiding light’ of influence & ‘guiding light’ of influence &

love.love.

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NEHEMIAH – A Man of Prayer & NEHEMIAH – A Man of Prayer & PersistancePersistance

• God put the God put the desiredesire & & burdenburden of the task on of the task on Nehemiah’s heart Nehemiah’s heart

• God gave him a ‘God gave him a ‘visionvision’ for the work’ for the work• Trusted Trusted God to use his talents & blended God to use his talents & blended

divine & human resources to achieve his goalsdivine & human resources to achieve his goals• He used He used careful planningcareful planning, , problem solving,problem solving, and and

couragecourage to get the work done to get the work done• Nehemiah was a man who Nehemiah was a man who made things made things

happen happen & he was not afraid to take ‘& he was not afraid to take ‘ACTION’ ACTION’ because he knew that because he knew that God’s blessingsGod’s blessings were were upon Himupon Him

‘‘BBYSSIW’BBYSSIW’……but because you say so, I will - Luke but because you say so, I will - Luke

5:55:5OBEDIENCEOBEDIENCE ‘The Key to God’s ‘The Key to God’s Heart’ for Servant LeadershipHeart’ for Servant Leadership

To build bridges that are suspended To build bridges that are suspended by the steel cables of the Great by the steel cables of the Great Commandment as well as the Great Commandment as well as the Great Commission. Faith—without worksCommission. Faith—without works—is dead and so , too, will be our —is dead and so , too, will be our influence.influence.

““Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20

• ByBy spanning the ‘Great Divide’ between spanning the ‘Great Divide’ between the church and the community ‘Bridges the church and the community ‘Bridges of Love’ will endeavor to of Love’ will endeavor to engage peopleengage people into meaningful relationships that will into meaningful relationships that will foster a bridge of love and an open door foster a bridge of love and an open door to lead people to a personal relationship to lead people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.with Jesus Christ.

• Realize that with God even theRealize that with God even the impossible is possible!impossible is possible!

A man’s heart plans his way,A man’s heart plans his way,

but the Lord directs his steps.but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9Proverbs 16:9

BRIDGE SUPPORTSBRIDGE SUPPORTS

• Set up an ‘advisory team’ who will give council and Set up an ‘advisory team’ who will give council and prayer supportprayer support

• Actively seek support for ‘Bridges of Love’ and to bring Actively seek support for ‘Bridges of Love’ and to bring others in to form a team of ‘servant heart’ leadersothers in to form a team of ‘servant heart’ leaders

• Become involved with compassionate ministries and Become involved with compassionate ministries and churches across Canadachurches across Canada

‘‘Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.’ Proverbs 15:22counselors they are established.’ Proverbs 15:22

MISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENT

LIVING PROOF of a

LOVING GOD

Your ‘Mission Statement’

should fit on a T-shirt!Bill Hybels

Willowcreek Church

‘Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth’. 1 John 3:18

THE CHALLENGETHE CHALLENGE

• To change the perception of our missionTo change the perception of our mission

Put our mission first – to reach the worldPut our mission first – to reach the world

(those outside Christ) and ourselves second(those outside Christ) and ourselves second

• To lead by example the Great Commission To lead by example the Great Commission – to multiply our efforts by discipling– to multiply our efforts by discipling

• To lead by example the Great To lead by example the Great Commandment – to make a shift of our Commandment – to make a shift of our church from ‘Proclamation to church from ‘Proclamation to Demonstration’ of God’s unfailing loveDemonstration’ of God’s unfailing love

REAL INFLUENCE GOES DEEPREAL INFLUENCE GOES DEEP

• One of the tragedies of neglecting God-given One of the tragedies of neglecting God-given opportunities is that we are never aware of the opportunities is that we are never aware of the breadth of influence and outcome that we have breadth of influence and outcome that we have missed.missed.

• Influence can do what command can never do; Influence can do what command can never do; it can win the hearts of people. it can win the hearts of people.

• Influence is born out of a person, who that Influence is born out of a person, who that person is, and translates to how it affects the person is, and translates to how it affects the heart of another person.heart of another person.

• Character does breed influence. Whether it is Character does breed influence. Whether it is godly character or ungodly character, the godly character or ungodly character, the principles still apply. principles still apply. Edwin McManusEdwin McManus

CHALLENGE SET BEFORE US…CHALLENGE SET BEFORE US…

We not only take initiative, but we We not only take initiative, but we maximize our sphere of influence as we maximize our sphere of influence as we

grow in depth of charactergrow in depth of character

PEOPLE NEED TO SEE PEOPLE NEED TO SEE

PROOF POSITIVE … TO BELIEVEPROOF POSITIVE … TO BELIEVE

THE STARTING POINTTHE STARTING POINT

1.1. Heartfelt Confession, Repentance & PrayerHeartfelt Confession, Repentance & Prayer The true measure of a church is not ‘how The true measure of a church is not ‘how many’ but ‘how loving’, not ‘how relevant’ but many’ but ‘how loving’, not ‘how relevant’ but ‘how real’.‘how real’.

2.2. Bold VisionBold Vision – The New Testament Vision– The New Testament VisionCOMMUNITY FOCUSED…NOT CHURCH COMMUNITY FOCUSED…NOT CHURCH FOCUSEDFOCUSED

3.3. StructureStructure – Only well-developed structure – Only well-developed structure

which effectively unleashes people with which effectively unleashes people with

purpose, can get results. purpose, can get results.

LOVELOVE

Jesus was focused on Jesus was focused on His Dream: a church His Dream: a church built not only upon built not only upon truth but one built out, truth but one built out, like a bridge, into the like a bridge, into the world. Why?world. Why?

““By this all men will know that you are My By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”disciples, if you have love for one another”

John 13:35John 13:35

CAN YOU IMAGINE…CAN YOU IMAGINE…

♥ Can you imagine the community in which you Can you imagine the community in which you live being genuinely thankful for your church?live being genuinely thankful for your church?

♥ Can you imagine city leaders valuing your Can you imagine city leaders valuing your church’s friendship and participation in the church’s friendship and participation in the community—even asking for it?community—even asking for it?

♥ Can you imagine the neighbourhoods around Can you imagine the neighbourhoods around your church talking behind your back about your church talking behind your back about ‘how good it is’ to have your church in the area ‘how good it is’ to have your church in the area because of the tangible witness you’ve offered because of the tangible witness you’ve offered them of God’s love?them of God’s love?

CAN YOU IMAGINE…CAN YOU IMAGINE…

♥ Can you imagine a large number of your church Can you imagine a large number of your church members actively engaged in, and passionate about, members actively engaged in, and passionate about, community service, using their gifts and abilities in community service, using their gifts and abilities in ways and at levels they never thought possible?ways and at levels they never thought possible?

♥ Can you imagine the community actually changing Can you imagine the community actually changing because of the impact of your church’s involvement?because of the impact of your church’s involvement?

♥ Can you imagine many in your city, formerly cynical Can you imagine many in your city, formerly cynical and hostile toward Christianity, actually praising God and hostile toward Christianity, actually praising God for your church and the positive contributions your for your church and the positive contributions your members have made in Jesus’ name?members have made in Jesus’ name?

♥ Can you imagine the spiritual harvest that would Can you imagine the spiritual harvest that would naturally follow if all this were true?naturally follow if all this were true?

The Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert LewisThe Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis

Suspended by these two towers, Suspended by these two towers, prayer prayer and and good deedsgood deeds, a broader and more , a broader and more powerful bridge of spiritual influence is powerful bridge of spiritual influence is being constructed to the Glory of God.being constructed to the Glory of God.

What if there were a way What if there were a way to not only turn churches to not only turn churches outward but also to join outward but also to join them together in unity of them together in unity of purpose? Nothing brings purpose? Nothing brings churches together in a churches together in a city better than prayer city better than prayer and good works. We and good works. We cannot do this alone. cannot do this alone.

To God be the Glory

Local Churches

CompassionateMinistries

Bridges of Love(Vision Canada)

By

Bridges of Love (Vision Canada)Local Churches and

Compassionate Ministries

‘Bridges of Love’ (Vision Canada), Local Churches and Compasionate Ministries share in:

A Common VisionA Common Vision –– the gospel for every person and a church for every people … together we can do it!

A Common Mission --A Common Mission -- to “EMPOWER”“EMPOWER” the whole church, to bring the whole gospel, to the whole nation.

When these groups are joined together, they will have added strength for the task of reaching Canada for Christ.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

There’s Strength in There’s Strength in

PARTNERINGPARTNERING

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COME LET’S GO!COME LET’S GO!

• No matter how rich we become we must No matter how rich we become we must always remain pooralways remain poor

• We must ensure that while we celebrate We must ensure that while we celebrate the goodness of God, we do not neglect the goodness of God, we do not neglect the purpose of Godthe purpose of God

From ‘Seizing Your Divine Moment’From ‘Seizing Your Divine Moment’

Edwin McManusEdwin McManus

If our definition of being a Christian is simply to If our definition of being a Christian is simply to enjoy the privileges of worship, be generous at enjoy the privileges of worship, be generous at no expense to ourselves, have a good, easy no expense to ourselves, have a good, easy time surrounded by pleasant friends and by time surrounded by pleasant friends and by

comfortable things, live respectable and at the comfortable things, live respectable and at the same time avoid the world’s great stress of sin same time avoid the world’s great stress of sin and trouble because it is too much pain to bearand trouble because it is too much pain to bear—if this is our definition of Christianity, surely —if this is our definition of Christianity, surely we are a long way from following the steps of we are a long way from following the steps of Him who trod the way with groans and tears Him who trod the way with groans and tears and sobs of anguish for a lost humanity; who and sobs of anguish for a lost humanity; who sweat, as it were, great drops of blood, who sweat, as it were, great drops of blood, who

cried out on the unreared cross, ‘My God, my cried out on the unreared cross, ‘My God, my God, why hast though forsaken me?’God, why hast though forsaken me?’

““In His Steps” Charles SheldonIn His Steps” Charles Sheldon

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•influence - RELATIONSHIP

•inspire - PASSION

•empower - ACTION

SWEET CHILD OF MINE

PRAYER

“You do not have, because you do not ask God” James 4:2