Session 3 National conference 'Towers of Babel'

Hi incredable leaders! Dave Gibbon's next session began with a humourous video of the new 'corporate' unemployed - fighting over a job offer from a latino business owner, the point was that the world is not the same anymore there have been huge shifts in where the 'needs' are, but is the church 'shifting' with this change and identifiing where it needs to be?
At the recent TED conference Ps Gibbons coined the phrase 'vertical obsession' - where he is observing that mega churches are obsessed with a 'vertical structure' along a corporate model and missing the horizontal move of God, i.e. the Pastor as a corp 'CEO' rather than a shepherd, servant & equiper of the church for the 'horizontal' ministry in relationship with the community. We can MAKE it happen or RESPOND to the leading of the Holy Spirit i.e. Jesus responded to what the father was doing.
Ps Gibbons likes to get involved with the locals in any city that they have a presence - he affirms that the locals always know more about how to reach the people than we do!
He went on to liken many of the 'signifigant' ministries operating today in the 'Mega-church' stream as Christian 'Babels' (Ouch) Idol-like structures bringing glory to men, methods & movements. This was in direct disobedience to God's command to "fill the earth & subdue it" (not build vertical 'Structures') What makes the Christian church unique is that we minister to the community on the horizontal level and love the unlovley, focusing on the 'essence' of what it really means to be Christian; The Holy Spirit initiating & we responding to the need. The quantum mindshift needed is that with 'less we can do more' - we don't need huge churches to get God's work done. 300 men in Gideon's army achieved victory as God was focused on quality not quantity.
Dave's throughts on the task of a leader:
1. To love, learn & serve in any culture (where is the need? ask a local!)
2. Build trust (trust & respect are the fruit of genuine love)
3. Bear pain ('endure hardship, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ' Paul to Timothy)
Daves poinant question finished this session "What does it really mean to lay down your life for the next generation? again 'less is more' or 'small is the new big' He encouraged us as leaders to apply the principle of 'concentrate' to our leadership; (small but potent) & we all need to start somewhere and apply faith to rise above relational, emotional, finacial, circumstancial, & habitual factors.
I was deeply challenged to assess the 'essence' of my own leadership and redefine my ministry focus. I trust as leaders we can move together through this ministry mindshift and find a more productive impact on our community.
Ps Rhett.

Session 2 National conference "A colony of Heaven"

Hi Incredible leaders, here are some notes from session two of the conference, the speaker was our new national leader Tim Jack.

Tim spoke about the wonderful work 'Eternity' church are doing in Sydney and asked us the question 'how are we engaging with the community around us?' His Scripture was Heb 3:1 'Consider Jesus the Apostle and high priest of our faith.' Tim explained what the concept of an 'Apostle' was; lit a colonizer of heaven bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. They were 'sent ones' , ambassadors establishing distinctive communities where God reigns supreme. I wonder is that the way you see yourself? The 'Go ye" command is an apostolic command & our heritage is distinctly Apostolic in theology practice - it was the early pioneers of the Apostolic movement that obeyed the 'Go Ye' and brought this movement to Australia.

Tim sees the future of our movement as being very exciting. Opportunities abound locally & internationally.
there are 3 phases of change the national leaders want to initiate:
1.Every Church 're - engineer' change inward to outward / our focus must be outward to the needs in the community. (How are you doing this in your personal life / small group?)
2.Cultivate a selfless spirit. Sacrifice was the hallmark of early apostolic pioneers - we need to focus on the quality of our churches not quantity. Our members living out of a full gospel experience, a grand vision for their lives and a readiness to make sacrifices ( If your service to God is not 'hurting' you anywhere then are you living a 'sacrificial' life for Christ?)
3. Passion for souls translated into practical mission. the ACA has a desire to plant churches and ministry into Loas and is looking as a movement how to do this in the near future. (Love is the fuel of missions can you honestly say that you love the lost - and do nothing / give nothing to see them won to Christ?)
This session was a pivitol 'word' from God for me to review the relivancy of my leadership and ministry. I was heartened as some of it was also an encouragement and affirmation by God as much of this has been stirring in me this year. I challenge you as leaders across our church to let this sink deep into our spirits and allow God to  'shift' us and 'reposition' us with a loving dedicated & practical focus on the lost for the rest of 2010.
In Christ
Pastor Rhett.

Conference leadership notes

Hi incredable leaders,
As you know we attended the Apostolic conference in Melbourne last week, It was a great time of focus and gathering as leaders to encourage each other in the work God has given us to do. I was deeply challenged and renewed by the 'Chief Shepherd' in term of maintaining a 'shepherding' focus to my leadership - Dave Gibbons reafirmed that its 'all about people' and not a structure or the managment of a 'corporate' entity. I have summarised some of my personal notes below:

Its important that we define our mission as an 'Apostolic' fellowship - i.e. look into our history and remind ourselves of our roots. Dave spoke about 'running' towards the purpose of God and David the Shepherd/King ran towards Goliath. (Sometimes our mission seems GIANT!)
Isa 58:1-5 was his text. Are we in the worship 'business'? distracted by  corporate branding, Styles, forms & fads over essence, nature and the impact of our faith on the community around us? (Measure of success is not numbers its impact, influence & transformation)
He spoke of the 'Glory' or beauty of God as our rear guard and that which 'attracts' people to our minisrty. He cautioned us not to become so consumed with building a movement or monument to ourselves that we forget about individuals & their needs.

What is the Sabbath for? it is a soul searching rest to re focus us on whats in our hearts - a spiritual audit time to remind us of whats important ( I thought that was a great understanding!)

We trend towards vertical structures over horizontal relationships (Akin to Babel! Owch!) Dave gave three factors that effect each local church or movment of churches in their ability to impact a community

• Calling - What are we uniquely called / gifted by God to do?
• Context - It what 'setting' are we ministering? i.e. City, rural, third world etc.
• Capacity - what are the limits of our capacity

Dave finished this session with the thought of 'Blessing' in the Hebrew context:

• Blessing can be 'tactile' imparted by touch, laying on of hands
• Blessing can be visual, demonstated by practical prosperity
• Blessing can be verbal, spoken over our lives, into the lives of others.

Parable of the lost son demonstrated all aspects of blessing in the actions of the Father toward his lost son. Dave closed this with a video of returning soldiers & the joy of family reunions.

More notes to come...