'Go for souls' debrief

Well on the weekend we had the "Go for souls" conference to equip and empower solders to go out and spread the word about Jesus.

We had some great sessions and training electives and then put it all into practice and hit the streets. The total tally was 10 people saved and 2 sanctification's!! Amazing, and all due to James Thompson's vision that we need more evangelism but first more training!!

You might like to see other wrap ups of the conference - see James' blog, Stephen's and Xander's - all on the right hand column of blogs.

Read James' blog today bout the election too! Amazing insight from Jason from Catch the Fire ministries on Saturday - might get you thinking about the election on November 24th!

Remember the great commission - go out and make disciples of all race, country and political background!

"Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”"

Matt 28:18-20

'Go for Souls' conference

Hi all,

Just in case you haven't heard, or had and need a reminder, the 'Go for Souls' conference is on this weekend - Friday 12th and Saturday the 13th of October at Plenty Valley Salvation Army.

You realise as a Christian you have been given the great commission but don't know how to go about it or where to start?? You think you're not good enough and no one will listen to you??? You think it's not your gift, so you'll leave it up to those 'evangelists'??!!

Come along to the 'Go for Souls' conference - you'll unleash a part of yourself you didn't realise you had. There's going to be some amazing guests/speakers - you won't want to miss this opportunity.

Check out http://www.goforsouls.blogspot.com/ for schedules and other info.

It's going to be great!! Catch you there!

Action and Re-Action

"However do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven"

Luke 10:20

I remember in high school learning in Physics about laws of motion and stuff like that. One of the things I remember was Newton's third law of motion which says basically, when one object places a force onto a second object, the second object places an equal, but opposite force back onto the first object. How was that basic summary? Action and re-action!

Thinking about 'action and re-action' when I read this passage in Luke today (above), I thought of God's 'action' of love and grace and my/our re-action and how we re-act to it.

How do you react to the love God has shown you, all the prayers He answers, that way out he showed you in a desperate time, His Son that stepped into your shoes and took away your debts, His grace?

There should be a re-action to God's action - Matt 28 from verse 16 tells us our re-action should be to go and tell the world all He has done for us.

Think about how your life is showing a re-action of God's action today.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen."

1 John 4:18-20

Uniform

I found this on Blood and Fire (see right column) (and photo from thewarcollege.com) and thought it was a great excerpt of why the Salvation Army have our unique uniform wearing approach to salvation, being an obvious presence and how it opens up so many doors and opportunities.

Why a uniform?

Although uniform wearing is not compulsory for Salvation Army Soldiers, most soldiers still chose to be identified by the clothes that they wear to church. Elijah Cadman an early pioneer of the Salvation Army was the first Salvationist to don a uniform. He did it because he wanted the devil to know that he meant to "fight to the death".

The uniform has changed over the years to reflect modern trends and undoubtedly will change in the future. However, many Salvationists could not envisage carrying out their distinct mission without one. The uniform has made Salvationists vulnerable to approach from the needy. When worn by a soldier with an on-fire testimony it becomes a passport to countless opportunities for service.

Salvationists continue to ensure that their uniforms to link them with the unsaved and do not serve as a barrier between us and those we long to serve. Military soldiers have different uniforms for different types of combat. Salvationists too need to know when to keep uniforms on and when to take them off.

One thing that was mentioned at ACC was human trafficking along with sex trafficking and talking about going into brothels and places connected with them, and our uniform was a great 'door opener' where if we had no uniform it would be a totally awkward situation if we wanted to go in to make a network and get our 'foot in the door' if you understand what I mean!

Sure uniform takes many different forms these days, but still whether it's a shirt with a red shield on it or a high neck uniform, it still is the symbol of SALVATION and a great reminder we're ultimately after leading a person into a relationship with Jesus!!

Join the war, become a soldier!

I have a dream....the Salvation Army

We've just had a great week at ACC (Aggressive Christianity Conference) with so many great things for us to challenge us, to think of and to expand us, now we just have to take it with us and put it all into action.

Many within this great Army of God had lost our vision, but what I'll post below is a solution to that.


Our TC (Territorial Commander) has a dream, that one day...

...The Salvation Army will in its entirety, be what God wants it to be

…that every soldier, young and old would be sanctified through and through

…and out of the passion of their love in Christ, would be an undeniable force for God’s love in the
world

.…that this love would be seen between each soldier to demonstrate that God has sent His Son into the world not to condemn it, but that the world through Him might be saved

…and by this would all people know that we are His followers and represent Him

.…that our love would be seen through intentional and overt acts of mercy and justice, all the while in humility before God, not needing to publish our works, only doing them to glorify God

.…that our mission would have such integrity that every expression of our ministry would be marked not so much by a red shield or even a crest, but by the love of God for people

.…that every corps would embrace the gospel for everyone in their community, not discriminating by culture, language, social status, or age

…and that the helping ministries would be woven into the fabric so that even under a nuclear microscope we could not distinguish between spiritual and social

.…that every social programme would be inviting to any one in need to be helped towards eternal affect, still maintaining our resolve to dispense such love indiscriminately and unconditionally

…and that their connections with the corps ministries become seamless to the point that they would become a type of corps in their own right

.…that we would have effective ministries to eradicate homelessness, human trafficking, prostitution and other indecencies currently common in our society

.…that our social programme strategy will be based upon the needs of people in the context of Biblical mandate, not necessarily the offerings of government contracts

.…that headquarters support units would be understood as such, not diminishing their purposes for accountability, but wholly in the context of authentic support and encouragement

.…that programmes such as Salvo Stores and Employment plus would also become saving stations for the lost and fully integrated into the mission of the territory

.…that Salvo Stores and the Trade become responsible outlets for Fair Trade goods

.…that our commercial department at THQ become a resource and focal point for facilitating our increasing efforts in Fair Trade

.…that the Family Tracing Service be expanded to find those souls who have been lost to the Army, assisting in bringing them home, where they belong

.…that we would never have another day in our existence where someone was not brought to Christ

…that our soldiers roll would only be an increasing reality as would our worship and discipleship meetings

.…that the proliferation of new ministry openings would be so common and normal that we would have to appoint personnel just to keep track of it, most often after the fact

.…that those gifted with creative ministry gifts would have every opportunity to employ these very skills in the work of the Army

.…that our worship would be filled with creative means to celebrate God’s provisions and presence among us

…that our 24/7 Prayer Initiatives will be adopted by individual corps throughout the territory all the time

…that we would establish Lighthouses of Prayer to cover our neighbourhoods with grace

…that we would have numerous prayer destinations where people could go for prayer retreats, learning opportunities and resources

.…that our systems would be less restrictive and more imaginative to accommodate the new things God wants to do among us

.…that as a movement, we would be marked by holiness in corporate and individual praxis

…that there would be such an out pouring of the Spirit upon us that we would be courageous and effective witnesses in our families, communities, cities, Australia and the world

.…that our compassion would be large enough to be understood as authentically global throughout what we do at home and abroad

.…that our people would be quick to respond to the voice of God for whatever He calls them to

…that our officer training programmes would be taxed by the unusual response of the called to serve as officers in TSA

…that our local officers would be so empowered to understand their foundational role in the corps ministries and fully embrace the priesthood of all believers

.…that our women would have appointments and responsibilities commensurate with their gifts, abilities and experience

.…that our young people would be filled with the Spirit and recognised as contributors in the fight

…that our children would be welcomed as authentic soldiers with proper opportunities to celebrate the presence of Christ in their lives and in their environments

.…that an extraordinary forgiveness and healing of past sins and hurts would prevail upon all people victimised by our practises or inattention

.…that God would see that we love Him supremely through Christ and that our reliance on the Holy Spirit completes His hope in us that God would see that we love Him absolutely and are expressing our love for Him by our active love for others.


So after reading all that.... watch out - we'll be hitting a town like yours soon. Also, watch out if you've been buying sex and supporting things like sex trafficking or Human trafficking. There is an Army of Holiness sweeping through this land with the Sword of God in hand.

What gets you up in the morning - what gives you passion?

A new saying in the Army - 'Mother of a Pharisee'!

Something to remember - WHAT GOD COMMANDS - GOD ENABLES!!

Learn to be like Jesus - serve others!

In one word what the week was about - OTHERS

A final thought to think about;

"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord"

Hebrews 12:14

The Great Omission?

Before Jesus' ascension, His last command to us was to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19). Are we making 'Christians' these days instead of 'Disciples' so are we turning the 'Great Commission' into the great omission??

So what is a disciple? The definition says;

• One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.
• An active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy.
• (So my Salvation Army paraphrase - an active Soldier/Officer, believes in our doctrines and assists in spreading the word of Jesus)

Are we spreading the good news? How many people are we telling about Jesus? We need to be following Jesus and using him as our role model - the model of Holiness. Did you notice the word active? How many 'Christians' are actually active in spreading the Word??

Are we walking in Jesus' footsteps. The fruits we bear will show whether we are or not. Jesus said; "... even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." John 10:38

What fruits are you producing? Does the Holy Spirit have free reign in your life today?

Follow!

"After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come', He said. 'The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!'

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen. 'Come follow me' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'

At once they left their nets and followed Him"

Mark 1:14-18

Is Jesus telling you to leave your nets today and to follow Him?