Unity News

February, 2003

“FIVE PRINCIPLES of UNITY” IN ACTION

As God gives our ministry opportunities to join Him in what He is doing in churches, we often have the privilege of having a front-row seat to His activity. Read and praise Him for this testimony from a friend of ours:

For years it seemed as though God had not spoken to First Baptist Church , Anahuac , Texas . Some even thought that God might have removed His lamp stand. The deacons, like the body as a whole,

were restless and unfocused. Darkness had descended upon the Body of Christ. Yet, because of bountiful resources of treasure and talent, we continued to function.

As deacons, we attempted a family ministry plan. After an extreme effort by the deacons over a long period of time, it was not well received by the Body. We abandoned those efforts.

We became aware of a new program written by Mike Lowery. After re­viewing it, the deacons implemented it. Again, after some effort, the program was a fail­ure. We then invited Mike to come and teach his program. He agreed and came for a weekend session. After the Friday night session and dur­ing the Saturday morning session, Mike got a chair, turned it around and sat down. He said, “You guys do not have a clue about your calling as a deacon. You have no idea what the Church called you to do. You need to apologize to the Body and ask them to forgive you.” He then left and returned home.

You can probably imagine the hearts of the deacons. There was an attitude of “How dare him say such things that are not true.” Shortly, a special deacon’s meeting was called to discuss Mike’s inappropriate behavior. During the meeting God revealed himself to each of us. Clearly, Mike Lowery was a messenger from God bringing a word from God.

Over the next several months, each deacon appeared before the Body asking for­giveness for failing the Body and, more importantly, for failing God. It seemed that this did something to the heart of God. He unleashed His supernatural power in the life of our local body of believers. One by one, a member here, a member there, would appear before the Body and ask for forgiveness. The darkness began to recede, as the light became brighter. The Body could see where previously it could not.

God had other things on His mind. Life Action Ministries called to inform us that, though they were not scheduled to be with us for another 2 years, because of a cancellation, they could come in 6 weeks. In anticipation of their arrival, the deacons began to meet. During these meetings, God con­fronted us about our arrogant attitude toward other churches in the community. God burdened the deacons with the desire to ask each

church to forgive us of our arrogant attitude and to participate with us and Life Action Ministries. During the 6 weeks prior to the arrival of Life Action Ministries, the deacons had the privilege of standing in the pulpits of our neighboring churches to invite them and to ask for forgiveness. Again, there is something about forgiveness that touches the heart of God. From all over the community, people came, were confronted by God, made commitments to God, and made peace with Him. Barriers that had existed between Bodies of Christ were lowered and, in some cases, re­moved completely. God gave us a glimpse of the reality of John 17:20-21.

Life Action Ministries was the genesis of a Men’s community Prayer Meeting at 6:00 AM on Tuesday and Thursday that continues to this day, over 3 years later.

God persistently and with great perseverance dealt with us. We received a call that Avery Willis wanted to present his new work, “On Mission with God” to our Body. Avery came and during the last session during the Sunday morning service, we saw an unbelievable work of God. A young man who was separated from his wife came forward to ask the church and his wife to forgive him. God demonstrated His desire that all men be reconciled with Him and to one another.

God revealed to us that the next great revival will come when Christians understand that not only is your relationship with God to be intimate, personal and passionate, but so is your relationship with your brother.

God has done and continues to do wonderful things in the life of this Body:

•  He has started a school to teach us how to help local and global pastors learn the ba­sics of shepherding.

•  The Five Principles of Unity have been taught throughout the community, neighbor­ing communities and even in Australia .

•  The government of Guinea has deeded to this Body 250,000 acres of land so that we can show their people how to feed themselves and, in addition, share the Good News of Christ with them.

•  A request has been received from Sierra Leone to duplicate the same thing in their nation.

•  An inquiry has recently come from the Philippines for help.

•  There is a continuing need for an ongoing ministry in the Ukraine .

•  An Indian reservation in New Mexico has called and we have gone to preach, teach and conduct vacation Bible Schools.

•  Numerous other opportunities, too numerous to recite, have been presented by God for us to be obedient.

Presently, it seems that God is allowing time for us to process all that He has re­vealed. This Body feels that God is gathering His people for something special. We are watching, preparing ourselves, learning to love God in a deeper way than ever be­fore, reconciling with brothers and sisters, allowing God to build His character in us, so that He can trust us with His purpose.

Warren Clark, FBC Anahuac , Texas

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